Chapter 14: Fighting With Style
After Unhaus's victory over Crusta, he was set to move on to the next round. As for Moody's son Tanner, his match was next against a Pokemon named "Wire". However, Tanner bumped into an old "acquaintance" named Chilli, who was a Junior member of the Dirty Delinquents. Little did Happy and the gang knew trouble was brewing elsewhere from the tournament.
At the village, Chibi and Maga were on their way to the Pokken Arts Tournament Arena, which would be a three-hour trip by either Wailord or ship. Of course, Honori was with them perched on Maga's back. As they reached the local village market, something was amiss. The market appeared to be empty, with stands broken, food spilled all over the place and fires in the distance. There were flying Pokemon that passed over them, launching attacks onto nearby houses such as bazookas and dropping bomb-like Mutant Pokemon such as Pinetorbs and Forretrodes to cause explosions. They missed the police station, which wasn't their target.
Chibi: W-What's going on?!
Maga: Get behind me!
?: Freeze!
They turned slowly to see a Wartortle with a shotgun and a blindfold on his right eye approaching from behind, pointing it straight at them. The Wartortle was joined by his other accomplices, a Stunky, a Metang, and a Combusken. The Combusken wielded a pistol, while the Stunky had a saddle-like minigun strapped on his back. They were also wearing orange cloaks with a shade-like logo on them.
Wartortle: *grins* You two are coming with us.
Chibi: No! We...We didn't even do anything!
Wartortle: Yes you have. You saw too much. Now you're going to be in our custody.
Maga stepped forward, with his voice somewhat stern by the situation.
Maga: You guys are those "Dirty Delinquent" characters I heard about!
Stunky: Correcty. But you two will be good. Someone's been dying to meet you.
Wartortle: You! Tie them up!
Metang: Understood.
The Metang threw ropes and tied both Maga and Chibi separately. Honori cawed as he flew off, prompting the Wartortle with some quick thinking.
Chibi: Honori! Find Baye!
Wartortle: Shoot it!
The Combusken took aim at Honor and fired, only to miss as Honori was quicker in the air. The Wartortle aimed his shotgun at Honori, only firing two rounds that also missed, forcing them to leave it be.
Wartortle: That's enough. That's bird's dumb anyway.
Chibi: Please! We're just going to see our daughter! *sobs*
Maga: What the hell did you guys do here?!
Wartortle: And that's why you're coming with us. No Pokemon will be spared here. Let's go.
...
Back at the Pokken Arts Tournament, Tanner was prepared for his match against Wire. However, the comment made by Junior Chilli made him somewhat worried, as he was afraid that there was more to what he said. Still, Tanner didn't let it bother him for now, as his match was coming up. He had to remember one thing: to keep going with the groove.
Tanner was known for what he tends to hear in his head. He would think of music he made from certain sounds and move his arms and body to it, which would be considered weird to common Pokemon society. He continued grooving his way to the main stadium ring until he was stopped by the Great Foodini, a.k.a. Zamenza.
Tanner: Huh? Who are-
Zamenza: Shh! Keep it down.
Tanner: Wait...Are you-
Zamenza: Shh! Keep your voice down.
Tanner: *whispers* ...Zamenza, is that you?
Zamenza: *whispers* Yes, it's me.
Tanner: But why are you wearing that?
Zamenza: Because I don't want Happy and Charles to know who I am. They're inexperienced, so they have to understand that this tournament is crucial to their development.
Tanner: ...I'm lost.
Zamenza: Look, by the time they start fighting and winning, they'll start thinking that they can take on the world. I have to teach them that in life, you can't always win at everything.
Tanner: ...No offense Zamenza, but isn't that going a little too far?
Zamenza: Too far? Pfft. Nah.
Tanner: My father's going to say something. I just know it.
Zamenza: Aw, let him talk. Besides, it's not like I'm doing this for fame, you know.
Tanner: ...I get the feeling you are.
Zamenza: What? Me? If I was, I'd be going by the name "Zamenza".
Tanner: ...Riiiiight.
Zamenza: So, did anything happen?
Tanner: ...You know, don't you?
Zamenza: The Dirty Delinquents. You spoke with one of them not too long ago, didn't you?
Tanner: I did.
Zamenza: What did he say to you?
Tanner: ...I...don't know. That hermit crab was being vague. He said something like "we're always one step ahead"...
Zamenza: Then that means they have something else planned.
Tanner: The problem is, just what are they planning?
Zamenza: ...We'll have to figure that out later. Your match is about to begin.
Tanner: Sure.
Zamenza: Oh, and another thing...Don't tell Happy or Charles who I am. I like to keep the mystery going here. Break a leg!
Tanner: Alright. (...Pretty sure Charles figured it out...As for Happy...I don't know…)
Tanner headed into the round ring, with Nester there providing commentary as usual. On the other side stepping into the ring came his opponent, who was a green Electivire with yellow eyes, with the three wires on his back having the same color on the tips as his eyes.
Nester: Ladies and gentlemen! Our next match of the tournament is about to go underway! Tanner vs Wire!
The crowd cheered as there was another match about to take place. Moody hadn't seen his son in a long time, so to see him fight was something that he was curious about.
Happy: Alright! It's Tanner!
Charles: Go get him, Tanner!
Eve: Go, Tanner!
Baye: I wonder what he's going to do.
Unhaus: I think he's got something up his vines.
As they squared each other up, there was a size difference. Tanner was somewhat taller than Wire, but Wire had a bulk difference, being heavier than him. When Wire spoke, his voice was monotone-like.
Wire: You. I saw you. Knocking them away. Those Pokemon.
Tanner: Dude, what kind of voice is that? It sounds...dull. Like, "unsteady vibes" dull.
Wire: Hmph. Dull. You are dull. And your color is ugly. Ugly of yellow. Makes me die inside.
Tanner: *sweat drop* Seriously, what's wrong with you? Did you get knocked on the head coming here?
Wire: You are a head. You will knock. The ground will answer.
Tanner: (...What the hell is wrong with him…?! He's speaking in broken language…! No wonder I get unsteady vibes coming from him…!)
Nester: It seems that the two of them are engaging in friendly banter!
Tanner: Okay, Mr. Announcer...This is not "friendly banter". I have no idea what he's talking about. It's like...he's on another wavelength with no groove in life.
Nester: …Um, come again?
Tanner: ...Never mind.
Nester: Anyways! Fighters! Are you ready?!
Tanner: Was born ready to dance.
Wire: Dance. You say dance. I put you on a burner.
Tanner: *frustration mark, growls* Dude, shut the hell up! I can't stand the words coming from your mouth!
Nester: *sweat drop* Er...Get set...Begin!
The gong was struck, with Tanner and Wire charging at each other. Tanner threw a left punch, to which Wire easily caught it with his right. With a left fist, it blazed fire and punched Tanner squarely in the face. As he let go, Tanner was sent flying a few feet but managed to recover as he stood near the edge.
Moody: Tanner!
Nester: Amazing, folks! It appears that Wire is gaining an advantage as he blocked Tanner's punch! But, it seems that he's recovered. Will he get a foothold in or will he answer the ground like Wire said?
Tanner: Dude! Don't you start too!
Nester: *shrugs* Sorry. Can't help it!
Tanner: (...Oh, shit...I can't feel anything…! No groove from his footsteps…!)
Wire stood still, not even taking his eyes off Tanner.
Wire: Start. We are starting. You are end. Submit now. Finish in place.
Tanner: (...Oh, for the love of Arceus…! I have to end this fight…! I can't stand him talking any longer…!)
Wire: I have a back burner.
Tanner: *growls* Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up!
To Tanner's surprise, he saw Wire inhaling before he spat out a fiery star-shaped Daimonji towards him.
Tanner: Oh shit!
He jumped up, only to see Wire behind him in the air, punching him in the back with a Fire Punch. It knocked Tanner into the ring, slamming him face first onto the tiles. The impact created some broken tiles, as well as leaving a hole in the spot Tanner lay at.
Moody: Tanner!
Eve: Oh no!
Unhus: This is bad!
Charles: Tanner's getting hurt! I thought he had a type advantage!
Happy: He did?
Baye: Come on, Tanner! You can do it!
Nester: Amazing! It seems that Wire is malfunctioning today! Using a Fire Blast to force Tanner to jump, and deliver a surprise attack!
Wire landed and walked towards Tanner as he struggled to get up and face him.
Tanner: ...Dammit…! Dammit…! Dammit…!
Wire: Damned. Damned, you are. Continue, yes? Hell hath no fury.
Tanner: (...I can take hits, but this…? I'm going to kill myself if I have to hear that over and over…!)
Wire: Problem solved. I have no repercussions. Silent movement.
Tanner: (...There's gotta be a way to take this buffoon down...and shut him up for good…! Wait...Movement…)
Tanner had to relax for a moment, focusing on his thoughts.
Tanner: (...Alright, Tanner...Take a deep breath...and listen to the sounds of something...Use it like a rhythm...and move to the beat...)
He took a deep breath and listened closely, blocking out the sounds of the crowd to find something to use as a form of rhythm. As he did so, he heard a certain sound. Not the footsteps of Wire, but flapping. Flapping of wings that seem to form a rhythm in Tanner's head.
Tanner: (...That's it…! The announcer's wings…! They make a good rhythm…! I'll use that…!)
He then started dancing in tune to match Nester's wing flaps to form a rhythm in his head, which confused the entire stadium into silence.
Moody: *facevines* ...Oh, Arceus no.
Unhaus: He's dancing…
Happy: Cool!
Charles: Is that...weird…?
Baye: *sweat drop* Okay, on a serious note, how many of you decided to treat fighting like dancing today?
Unhaus: Don't look at me. I didn't start this.
Nester: Uh...It uh...appears that Tanner is...dancing…?
Wire: Dance. Like a monkey. He knows no bounds. Will rise with no intent. Very shock. Confusion uproar.
He inhaled again, only deeper before he breathed out a stream of fire towards Tanner. However, he leaped out of the way and turned to where Wire was, which was from behind and delivered a flurry of punches coated in a purple similar to Nester's wings flapping before knocking him to the concrete tiles. He landed on his feet, but Tanner kept going and as he landed, delivered the same punches before knocking him out of the ring and onto his with an uppercut. Weakly, Wire responded with…
Wire: ...I am...disappoint...No father he has...Die...bottle...trash…
…Before he fell unconscious, to which silence stirred in the air as Tanner kept dancing until the referee said something.
Referee: Out…Wire! Winner...Tanner!
The crowd's cheering built up slowly, forcing Nester to speak up.
Nester: The winner is Tanner! Surprisingly, he wanted to fight with style! Not certain what caused it, but whatever! Tanner will advance to the next round!
Moody: *sweat drop* ...I...can't believe that worked…
Unhaus: At least he advances to the next round.
Happy: Tanner is awesome!
Eve: It looked like fun!
Charles: I don't get it.
Baye: Will he be okay?
Moody: I'm certain. There's medical staff here that treat wounds.
Nester: Referee, if you will.
The referee checked the paper and revealed the next two contestants.
Referee: Number 24 vs Number 22! Tengu vs The Great Foodini!
Nester: While the two contestants will prepare for the next match, we shall take a short break.
Happy: Alright!
Moody: (...They don't know who he is...I think they'll know sooner or later…)
...
In the fighter's hall, Tanner was being treated by medical staff for the damage he sustained. His battle against Wire was bizarre, yet interesting. Despite this, he managed to find his groove to win it. When the staff was done treating his wounds, Zamenza came to the scene as the Great Foodini.
Zamenza: Good job.
Tanner: Thanks.
Zamenza: I never thought that using the announcer's wings was a way to feel the groove.
Tanner: Well, he flaps in rhythm, so I went with that. I'm actually relieved that the battle is over.
Zamenza: Oh? Why?
Tanner: Well...That Electivire...His dialogue is weird...I felt like I was being tortured by it.
Zamenza: ...I see… (...I hope he doesn't feel that way around us…)
Tanner: I think your match is next.
Zamenza: Of course it is. I'm well prepared. However, I suggest watching your back. That Dwebble and his minions are watching us.
Tanner: I will. I'm going back to the others anyway. Good luck out there.
Zamenza: Tanner. It's "break a leg".
Tanner: Isn't that for stage performances?
Zamenza: Yes. But I'm old. I'd prefer being on my two feet.
Tanner: Okay…?
Zamenza: But thanks anyway.
He took his leave with Tanner doing the same thing. However, Tanner had something on his mind as he went.
Tanner: (...Chilli...What do you and your group have planned…?)
...
Back where Happy and friends were, Tanner joined up with them. Everyone was glad to see that he was alright, but Moody was somewhat embarrassed by his performance earlier.
Unhaus: Welcome back.
Baye: You're not hurt, are you?
Tanner: I'm fine.
Happy: You were awesome out there!
Tanner: Thanks.
Charles: Um, Mr. Tanner...What's that thing you were doing before?
Tanner: Oh, that? I was dancing.
Charles: I don't get it.
Eve: It's just moving your body to the rhythm.
Unhaus: Yeah. It's fun.
Tanner: Dad…
Moody on the other hand, didn't meet his eyes as he said in a stern voice…
Moody: ...Save me from that "embarrassment"...
Tanner: Huh?
Moody: You did good, but please don't do that.
Tanner: What do you mean?
Moody: ...Nothing. Just know that you did good today.
Baye: Mr. Moody…?
Moody: ...Let's watch this next fight. You boys might learn something.
Baye noticed that Tanner was bothered by his father's behavior. She could feel the animosity building and peter out at the same time. But she wasn't the only one. Unhaus and little Eve could see something was wrong in the air, but didn't want to say anything to prevent it from escalating.
Baye: (...Mr. Moody…)
...