I'm back! Sorry about the delay. Got caught up in the E3 stuffs, and I'm totally stoked for X and Y! For Game of Thrones fans, I have a new fic up called A song Of Ice and Fire: Honor of a House, and it has 2 chapters up. Thank for the continued views and support, JIRO!
Tossing the herb to Simba, Krom shook his head and turned to Shauntal, who was wearing the odd cat-faced cushion around her neck. Krom watched her smile, pen in hand, and laugh. "Are you ready?" she asked. Krom nodded, sending out his first Pokemon. The Buddhalax was a calm figure, but odd looking. He was much leaner, but still weighed about the same. His flabby pectoral muscles hung over a jolly belly, and loose orange robes covered his body. His pointed ears were pierced with an orange and black piercing, and he wore prayer beads around his wrist. He had five claws that were abnormal for Snorlax, like five thick knives on blue flab. He smiled, his knee bent, arm on his leg. Shauntal blinked, and scribbled in a notebook before sending out a Banette.
Shauntal called for Thunderbolt. The voodoo doll Pokemon unleashed a powerful electric charge, and the Buddhalax curled his toes, his sharp claws digging into the ground. The electricity struck the enlightened Pokemon, and flowed into his toes, where the electric shock was nullified. Shauntal smiled, calling for Will-O-Wisp, and the doll launched the white flames at the Snorlax. He nodded slightly, and the barrier of Protect stopped the attack with ease. The Pokemon's face seemed to glow, and the ground under Banette split. Shauntal called for the Pokemon to move, and the Pokemon floated upward, zipper smile on it's face. The ground exploded, and a Shadow Ball controlled by a Psychic came up, slamming into the Banette, knocking it to the ground. Shauntal called for Destiny Bond, but the Buddhalax seemed to chuckle.
The Buddhalax used some move, but Shauntal couldn't tell what. He looked up, and nodded. The clouds grew dark, and thunder rumbled. Rain began to fall, and Shauntal realized this was Rain Dance. She smiled, calling for Thunderbolt again. The Snorlax used Protect without a movement, and opened his expansive maw. He blew out, using Blizzard, and Shauntal called for a Thunderbolt. The electricity met with the ice and wind, and exploded. Before the dust could clear, sharp stones flew threw, striking the Banette and defeating it. Shauntal gasped, returning her Pokemon. She wrote in the notebook before sending out a Mismagius.
Shauntal wasn't going to play with the powerful Pokemon, and called for Perish Song. The Snorlax laughed heartily, swiping his clawed hand at himself to taunt the magickal Pokemon. She growled, and charged, using Headbutt. Shauntal screamed, calling for her to use Thunderbolt, Energy Ball, something else. She didn't listen, too angered by the fat Pokemon's Taunt. She closed in, and he lifted a clawed hand, coming down with Shadow Claw. Unlike normal Shadow Claws, the Shadow Claw of the Buddhalax was more pure. He came down with his shining claws, which only trailed purple energy, almost like a dark afterimage.
The Mismagius closed in, glowing blue. She ducked her head down, floating with the signature speed her species was known for. She reached the Buddhalax, who came down with his pure Shadow Claw. He struck, looking more like a Scratch then a Shadow Claw, and she stumbled back. Grunting, she reared back to attack again, but ghastly energy erupted around her, causing her to call out and fall to the ground. The Buddhalax knew she wasn't done, and looked up at the raining sky. He smiled, nodding again. The Pokemon floated into the air slowly, but a massive lightning bolt came down, striking her and smiting her. The bolt dissipated, and the smoking Mismagius fell to the ground defeated.
Shauntal scribbled in her notebook, and then sent out her third Pokemon, a Chandelure. Her most powerful Pokemon, Krom made sure to be weary of it's expansive power. Shauntal called for Focus Blast, and the Buddhalax responded with his own. Launched from an open palm, all the weak attack did was stall the more powerful Focus Blast. It flew around, striking the Buddhalax and exploding. Krom cursed, calling for Stone Edge, hoping the Pokemon could hear him. The rain stopped, and the clear sky peered through, and the ghost shimmered in the light. When the dust cleared, the Buddhalax was gone, no where to be seen. Shauntal blinked, and then a shadow appeared over the Chandelure. Looking up, the Pokemon blanched at the sight of the Snorlax coming from above. It crashed into the ghost using Heavy Slam, and then used Thunder. The electricity coming from it's body shocked the crushed Pokemon, who grunted in pain. The Buddhalax stood, walking forward and discarding his tattered orange robe.
Smiling, the Pokemon turned to the weakened Chandelure. He lifted his hand, and rocks appeared, floating around them, a small Stone Edge. He flicked his wrist, and the small rocks struck the Chandelure, defeating it. Shauntal returned the Pokemon, frowning. "Your Pokemon are abnormally strong. Doesn't it get boring when you're that powerful?" she asked. Krom shook his head. "No. Even if you're a god, it doesn't hurt to indulge yourself with mortal activity. I'm a prime example of that." he said, smiling. She nodded, writing in her notebook. She then sent out her Golurk, and The Buddhalax tilted his head. Stones surrounded him, as if he were about to use Stone Edge. Instead, he put his hand out, discarding his bracelet of thick prayer beads.
A staff formed, and then it formed into a weapon, A Buddhist ringed staff, he wielded it with a sense of familiarity. Shauntal called for Ice Beam, and the massive hands of Golurk shot forward, and a beam of frozen ice came flying. The Buddhalax swung down, shattering the beam. He looked up, and a small smile graced his fat, enlightened features. He twirled it in his clawed hand, and smiled. He exploded forward, moving with such speed, none saw it coming. He struck the Golurk in the chest with Aerial Ace, and the Pokemon stumbled back. He twirled it overhead, coming down. He then came up, and spun with a horizontal slash. Rolling, he came down diagonally again. Rolling, he came up in the opposite direction, and the Golurk stumbled back. He leaned back, and then jabbed forward, striking the Golurk.
The Pokemon grunted, then fell back, but remained on it's feet. Shauntal called for DynamicPunch, and Krom called for Protect. The Pokemon shook his head, and tapped his belly with Shadow Claw. The fist of the Golurk passed through the Buddhalax, who jabbed up with his weapon, hitting the Golurk in the face. The Pokemon stumbled back, where the Snorlax smiled, leaning back and lifting one leg up, bending at the knee. He held it, and then launched a kick, one with no type whatsoever. He just kicked. The Pokemon flew back, hitting the ground with a crash. A grunt followed, and the massive Pokemon was defeated. Shauntal returned the Pokemon, and she sighed.
"You know what? I'm in shock at your skill. I've seen much in my life, but never something like this." She said, shaking her head. She wrote in her notebook. "You know what? I have a request for you. When you do reach Sinnoh, I'd like you to do something to Volkner Sunnyshore. Kill him, maim him, what have you." she said, shrugging as she sent out a Gengar. Krom chuckled, calling for Shadow Claw. The Snorlax shot forward, claws gleaming in the sunlight. Shauntal called for Focus Blast, followed up with Energy Ball. The Gengar placed her hands together, then launched a bright blue energy ball, followed by a green one. The Buddhalax stopped, humming.
The staff dissipated, and the balls of energy struck the bear like Pokemon, forcing it back and exploding. When the dust cleared, the Snorlax faded, and Shauntal blinked. Then, the Snorlax came into view behind the Gengar, smiling darkly. The ghost turned around, and the Snorlax's long, thick tongue came out, and struck the Gengar, a super effective Lick. The Gengar stumbled back, cackling electricity surrounding it. The Snorlax then came down, using Zen Headbutt, causing an explosion that defeated the Gengar. Shauntal grunted, waiting for the dust to clear. When it did, she returned her defeated ghost, sighing.
"Impressive. How is it that a Snorlax can do all this?" she asked. Krom laughed. "He's become enlightened through unknown methods. However he ended up in a place like Pinwheel is beyond me. I don't think I could abandon such a Pokemon, nor could I imagine anyone doing such a thing." He said, smiling at the seven and a half foot tall, half ton Pokemon. The Pokemon smiled at him. Shauntal smiled happily, and then wrote more and more in her notebook. Krom looked up to the stands, where Birisu nodded to him, and Simba gave him a thumbs up. Shauntal sighed, closing the notebook. "Alright. My last Pokemon." she said, flinging the Pokeball. A Cofagrigus erupted, a dark smile on her face.
Shauntal called for Calm Mind. The Pokemon dropped the smile, and glew. Krom frowned, calling for a Calm Mind of his own. The Buddhalax hummed, and glew with power. Shauntal growled. "Kick it up a notch and use Nasty Plot!" she called. The Cofagrigus laughed loudly, and used the move to it's full effect. Krom frowned, and called for Calm Mind again. Glowing brighter, Krom called for Dark Pulse. The rings flew at the sarcophagus, who used Protect to block. Krom took the advantage to call for Double Team. The Snorlax multiplied, and Krom then called for Calm Mind. Humming, the Pokemon and it's clones began to raise their power. Shauntal growled, calling for Shadow Ball. Launching the now massive ball, all of the clones began to disperse by Krom's next call of Calm Mind. When there were two Pokemon left, they looked across the field at each other.
"Cofagrigus, use Shadow Ball!" she called, and Krom smiled. "Use Hyper Beam!" he called. The panda cupped it's palms behind it, then launched forward, unleashing a massive beam. The Shadow Ball was harnessed into a beam, and the beams met, thrusting against each other. Each Pokemon poured all of their power into the attack, and Shauntal called for Nasty Plot. The Cofagrigus laughed, and it's attack grew in power, beginning to overpower the enlightened Pokemon's attack. Krom cursed, then blinked. He called for Psychic and Stone Edge, and the Snorlax smiled. Forcing their power in a struggle for power and victory, neither trainer would give in, nor would their Pokemon. Both called for their Pokemon to go all out, and and their cries and power caused a massive explosion, and Simba had to use a massive Light Screen to stop the arena from crumbling.
When the dust cleared, the Cofagrigus was standing, and the Buddhalax was one one knee, panting from the exertion. He looked to Shauntal, who smiled. "Looks like I may still have a chance." she said. Krom hummed. "Possibly. But most likely not. We still have one trick up our tattered sleeves." he said, and Shauntal blinked. The Buddhalax grunted, falling back. But, he managed to lift one paw into the air. His rock staff, reformed, rose into the sky. It began to spin, and energy cloaked it. Krom called for the Pokemon to use Slack Off, and the lazy Pokemon yawned, and healed itself. Standing, he leapt into the air, grabbing the energy charged staff. He moved, coming down. A singular slash caused an explosion, and the Cofagrigus called out before falling defeated to the ground.
Shauntal gaped. "Impressive beyond words. I don't even understand how you did that." she said. Krom laughed. "Simple. Using Psychic and Stone Edge, we made the weapon. Then, Psychic lifted it into the air, where Solarbeam charged it. And finally, Giga Impact and Natural Gift took care of the rest." he said. She blinked. "I must say, you sound as though you've been training Pokemon for hundreds of years." she said, and Krom shrugged. Simba laughed. "One night under my paw is worth a hundred years of training. And besides, a little wit goes a long way." he said, his tail flicking. She nodded. Krom turned to Grimsley. "Your next. I hope your prepared. Kooky won't go easy. Even I don't know what he'll do." he said. Grimsley laughed. "Trust me, we'll be fine." he said.
That night, Krom spoke to Simba in private. "If I beat Grimsley, I have to face Alder. Do you recommend anything?" he asked. Simba hummed. "Nope. Just be yourself. If you become Unova Champ, you hold a status close to Iris. Conquer the Indigo League, and you'll be her equal. After Johto, you'll be higher than her on the ladder of Pokemon authority. And then you can change the laws she set." he said, laughing. Krom tilted his head. "Which ones?" he asked. Simba chuckled. "That place Iris basically cut off from the rest of the world? It's called the Kalos Region, and it's home to unusual Pokemon. Some of which I own." he said. Krom tilted his head. "How did you come into possession of these Pokemon?" he asked. Simba sighed. "After the law was passed, all trainers in Unova were banned from using Kalos Pokemon. And that lead them to abandon the Pokemon, where me and my people find them. I have nearly every species from Kalos, only missing a few." he said. Krom nodded.
"I see. Could any of these Pokemon help me against Alder?" he asked. Simba nodded. "Of course. Alder will likely use Volcarona, so Noivern would be a recommendation. Litleo would be nice, but I prefer Talonflame myself." he said. Krom froze. "Talonflame?" he asked. Simba nodded. "Yes. It's a Fire and Flying Type Pokemon. Most people I've met hate the name, and say it's underbelly looks like a pair of baggy pants. It's a damn bird, why would it wear pants?" he asked. Krom shrugged. "I don't know. I like the name. Do you have one I could use?" he asked. Simba nodded. "Of course. But be careful, your battle with Alder will be public, so Iris will be watching." he said. Krom nodded.
The next morning, Krom walked into the arena, and saw Alder watching. He nodded to the champion, and Alder nodded back. He seemed more focused, less of the laid back shaman Krom knew. He looked to Grimsley, who held a small case. "What's that for?" he asked. Grimsley smiled. "This is for when I win our bet." he said. Krom smiled. "You won't win. Unlike you, I don't make bets I can't win. I was looking for a reason not to kill you, and your arrogance is giving me one." he said. Grimsley chuckled. "I quiver where I stand." he said. Krom held Kooky's Pokeball, stained brown from caked, dried blood of his victims. "You'll be doing more than quivering when I'm done with you." he said.