Chapter 50:
Four Clashes on the Cliff Top
Location: Unova Pokémon League
I had made it. After many days of earning Gym Badges, taking down Team Plasma and raising a strong team of friends, I had reached the Pokémon League.
I had stocked up Potions and Revives for this moment. And with Hugh leaving the potential post of Champion to me, I wasn't going to disappoint him.
"Hey!" I looked above me and saw Alder standing on the roof of the entrance.
"Hey!" I said. "Coming to wish me luck?"
"Yes," he said. "I won't give any hints towards what will happen, though obviously you've read Hilbert's Journal so I think you have some idea. But I'll go ahead and tell you that the new Champion is no joke."
I gulped. "That's what I'm here for." With that, I walked into the grand castle.
When I walked in, the gate behind me closed. As Hilbert described, there were four entrances. So, I chose the first one; the entrance to the south-east.
I walked into what looked like a giant metal cage with a white platform. Was I in prison? No, this was Marshall's chamber, why would he do that? I stepped on the platform, and I was shot upwards. The white platform slotted into a red platform, and lights were flashing everywhere. Marshall was waiting.
"Rosa Wright. It seems that I am your first challenge, and I am honoured to be just that. My name is Marshall, and I focus on Fighting Types. Pokémon battles are like boxing or wrestling matches, you know with fire breathing and laser beams. Fight like you mean it!"
Rosa Vs. Marshall
"Throh, you're first!" Marshall yelled.
"I choose Serperior!" I replied. I remembered that I didn't have much to counter Fighting Types. Heck, two of my Pokémon were straight up weak to them. The best I could do was plough through. "Serperior, Giga Drain!" Serperior sapped some health away from Throh.
"Throh, Payback!" Throh surrounded itself with dark energy, and it charged into Serperior. Since damage had been done to Throh already, it was quite a big hit.
"Another Giga Drain!" Seprerior continued to drain HP from Throh. It got quite a bit of health back. I was confident that I had this.
"Use Storm Throw!" Throh picked up Serperior and threw it to just in front of my feet. It was strong alright.
"Use Leaf Blade!" Serperior swiped Throh. It was a Critical Hit and barely left it hanging.
"Another Payback!" Throh once again surrounded itself in dark energy and charged into Serperior.
"Giga Drain one last time!" Serperior sapped away the last HP from Throh.
"You're off to a good start. But let's see how you do against Sawk!" Marshall said.
"Serperior, Giga Drain!" Serperior managed to steal some energy from Sawk successfully.
"Brick Break!" Sawk ran up to Serperior and chopped it.
"Use Leaf Blade!" Serperior swiped Sawk across the face.
"One more Brick Break!" Sawk chopped Serperior once more, finishing it off.
"Nice one Serperior." I decided that Speed was needed, so taking a risk would be a good idea. Or a bad idea. That's the whole point of a risk. "Cinccino, go!" I shouted. "Tail Slap!" Cinccino slapped Sawk across the face enough times to knock it out.
"Impressive. It's like Alder himself trained you. Mienshao, go!" I figured I might as well keep Cinccino out; it's not like there was going to be a Type it wasn't weak against.
Mienshao (コジョンド)
220
Fighting Type
Martial Arts Pokémon
4'07" (1.4 m)
78.3 lbs (35.5 kg)
Using the long fur on its arms like whips, it launches into combo attacks that, once started, no one can stop.
Mienfoo -Lv 50- Mienshao
"Okay Cinccino, Tail Slap!" Cinccino ran up to Mienshao and slapped it five times again. It did quite a bit, but I knew that's all that Cinccino would be able to contribute.
"High Jump Kick!" Mienshao ran up to Cinccino and kicked it in the face, knocking it out at once.
"Good job," I said. "Okay Azumarill, go!" Out came my Water Type, much slower so I guess I had scrapped the Speed strategy.
"Use High Jump Kick!" Mienshao ran up to Azumarill and kicked it in the face. Azumarill survived thankfully.
"Use Aqua Tail!" Azumarill's tail went blue, and it bashed Mienshao with it. It was getting weaker.
"High Jump Kick!" Mienshao went in for another attack, but it missed! It kept going and crashed, fainting upon impact. "You got very lucky. But I'm not Grimsley. Okay Lucario, you're up next!" The Fighting and Steel Type was next in line. "Use Aura Sphere!" Lucario created a ball of energy between its palms, and fired it at Azumarill. It hit, and Azumarill more than took it.
"Superpower!" Azumarill got strong, and then charged into Lucario. It was taken out in one go.
"That was good. But I have one Pokémon left, and that Pokémon is Conkeldurr!" In front of me stood the large-brown Pokémon holding a pillar in each hand.
Conkeldurr (ローブシン)
075
Fighting Type
Muscular Pokémon
4'07" (1.4 m)
191.8 lbs (87 kg)
Rather than rely on force, they master moves that utilize the centrifugal force of spinning concrete.
Timburr -Lv 25- Gurdurr -Trade- Conkeldurr
I recalled Azumarill due to the lowering of Attack and Defense, something I didn't want to take on with Conkeldurr. "Okay Arcanine, go!" I shouted. "Use Flare Blitz!" Arcanine charged forward, covered in fire. When it hit, Conkeldurr was burned.
However, Marshall was smiling. "Stone Edge!" he said. Conkeldurr fired stones at Arcanine. They hit Arcanine for lots of damage and knocked it out. Conkeldurr had the Guts Ability; it raises Attack when inflicted with a status condition like burn.
"Go Flygon!" I shouted. "Earth Power!" Flygon sent a shockwave through the ground. It hit Conkeldurr, finishing the match.
"Yes, it's like Alder trained you. You know, I was trained by Alder himself, and I can tell from you that you would be worthy of him."
"Woo, that wasn't easy," I said.
"Don't breathe just yet," Marshall said. "You have three more challenges to go. Please continue, and don't give up. You deserve this opportunity for saving Unova."
I decided the next room I would enter would be the northwest.
In this room was a large staircase inside a dark library. I ascended the staircase to find Shauntal, writing in a book.
"There is one man who wanders the world with a white dragon to search for truth… that is part of a novel I am writing." She closed the book. "Well, it seems I have reached writers block. Hopefully this battle will inspire me."
Rosa Vs. Shauntal
"Okay Cinccino, go!" I shouted.
"Go Cofagrigus!" Shauntal replied.
"Okay Cinccino, start with Night Slash!" Cincinno slashed Cofagrigus across the face with some claws.
"Psychic!" Cofagrigus attacked Cinccino with Psychic energy, but it didn't do a thing.
"Nice try! Cinccino, Night Slash again!" Slowly but surely, Cinccino kept chipping away at Cofagrigus.
"Use Grass Knot!" Below Cinccino's feet, Cofagrigus made a blade of grass that tied round it. It then made Cinccino trip up, revealing it to be Zoroark.
"Another Night Slash!" Zoroark jumped forward and used Night Slash again, this time striking with a Critical Hit. Cofagrigus was down.
"Okay Drifblim, you're up next!" Shauntal sent out Drifloon's purple evolution.
Drifblim (フワライド)
209
Ghost/Flying Type
Blimp Pokémon
3'11" (1.2 m)
33.1 lbs (15 kg)
They carry people and Pokémon, but the wind can catch them, so there can't be a fixed destination.
Drifloon -Lv 28- Drifblim
"We can do this Zoroark!" I said. "Night Slash!" Zoroark came in with another Night Slash, doing a lot to Drifblim.
"Use Thunderbolt!" Drifblim shot a bolt of electricity at Zoroark for a Critical Hit; it was down.
"You did good," I said. "Now Arcanine, you're next!" My Fire Type was sent out. "Use Crunch!" Arcanine chomped down on Drifblim, finishing it off. However, I forgot about one thing; Aftermath. It's an Ability that does damage to the opposing Pokémon when one has got knocked out. Thankfully, the damage wasn't too severe.
"Okay then. Next is Golurk!" Shauntal sent out a Ground Type; didn't want my Fire Type Arcanine against that, so I switched it out for Serperior.
When Serperior came out, it started swirling round leaves. "Wait… I think I know what that is! Serperior, Leaf Storm!" Serperior fired a barrage of leaves at Golurk, knocking it out instantly. "Oh wow! Serperior, you learned one of the strongest Grass Type moves!"
"It comes at a price though," Shauntal said. "Leaf Storm also lowers stats, so use with caution. You'll also need to be cautious of my final Pokémon, Chandelure!"
Chandelure (シャンデラ)
192
Ghost/Fire Type
Luring Pokémon
3'03" (1 m)
75.6 lbs (34.3 kg)
The spirits burned up in its ominous flame lost their way and wander this world forever.
Litwick -Lv 41- Lampent -Dusk Stone- Chandelure
"Thanks Serperior, but we can't have you taking on a Fire Type. Azumarill on the other hand, go!" I thought I had this. But I didn't.
"Use Energy Ball!" Chandelure fired a green ball at Azumarill, doing Super Effective damage to it.
"Use Aqua Tail!" Azumarill hit Chandelure with its tail very hard.
"Use another Energy Ball!" Chandelure fired another green ball at Azumarill, finishing it off.
"Okay Flygon, finish the fight!" I shouted. "Earth Power!" Flygon sent a shockwave through the earth towards Chandelure. It hit and Chandelure was knocked out.
"Yes. I think I know where to take my novel now. Thank you for the brainstorm."
"Oooh, I'm halfway there!" I said.
"Yes, but don't take that lightly. Grimsley and Caitlin mean business. And then you have the Champion to deal with."
Two down, two to go. And the next one I battled was going to be Caitlin.
When I walked into her room, I saw a very faint outline of a staircase. Knowing that Caitlin was a Psychic Type Trainer, I stepped forward with little worry of falling.
At the top was a large-white rose. The rose opened up to reveal the blonde-haired girl who seemed to wake up.
"It was me who opened up the flower. You. Trainer. You have potential. May you treat me to a marvellous battle."
Rosa Vs. Caitlin
"Okay Serperior, you're up first!" I shouted.
"Go Musharna," Caitlin replied sending out the pink Pokémon.
"Okay Serperior, use Night Slash!" Serperior came forward and slashed at Musharna in the face, dealing a Critical Hit. I kept forgetting how high Musharna's HP is though, and it did almost half.
"Use Energy Ball." Musharna fired a green ball at Serperior, revealing it to be Zoroark. "Even a Dark Types Illusion is no match for me."
"Come back with another Night Slash!" I shouted as Zoroark came forward and slashed at Musharna again.
"Use Reflect." Musharna created a forcefield around itself.
"Interesting. Okay, one more Night Slash!" Zoroark dealt with Musharna with that move.
"Yes. You are living up to my expectations. Okay Gothitelle, go."
Gothitelle (ゴチルゼル)
138
Psychic Type
Astral Body Pokémon
4'11" (1.5 m)
97 lbs (44 kg)
It can see the future from the movement of the stars. When it learns its Trainer's life span, it cries in sadness.
Gothita -Lv 32- Gothorita -Lv 41- Gothitelle
"More Night Slash!" Zoroark slashed at Gothitelle, but a lot of potential damage was sponged from the Reflect.
"Gothitelle, Thunderbolt." Gothitelle started sparkling, and it fired a bolt of electricity at Zoroark. It was finished.
"Clever. Looks like Special moves will have to do. Flygon, you're next!" Flygon was sent out to not worry about Thunderbolt. "Use Earth Power!" Flygon created a shock wave through the ground, and it hit Gothitelle. Sp. Defense was also lowered.
"Use Psychic." Gothitelle lifted up Flygon with Psychic energy, then slammed it down. Flygon's Special Defense was lowered.
"Another Earth Power!" Flygon used the move again, this time finishing off Gothitelle.
"You are doing well. Sigilyph, go." Yeah, I'm not gonna describe it.
"Flygon, Hyper Beam!" Flygon shot a powerful beam at Sigilyph. It hit, but Sigilyph survived. It also meant that Flygon was a sitting Ducklett for the next turn. Not that it would see the next one anyway.
"Ice Beam." Sigilyph shot a cold-white beam at Flygon. It was Super Duper Effective, and Flygon was finished.
"Okay Cinccino, you're up next!" It was the final turn of the Reflect, but I had a feeling that Rock Blast could do it. And sure enough, it did! The five rocks that Cinccino fired were just enough to take down Sigilyph! Things were going in my favour!
"Reuniclus, go." The green blobby Pokémon was next.
Reuniclus (ランクルス)
141
Psychic Type
Multiplying Pokémon
3'03" (1 m)
44.3 lbs (20.1 kg)
They use Psychic power to control their arms, which are made of a special liquid. They can crush boulders physically.
Solosis -Lv 32- Duosion -Lv 41- Reuniclus
With the Reflect down, I struck. "Tail Slap!" Cinccino hit Reuniclus in the face five times.
"Focus Blast." Oh drat. Reuniclus created a ball of energy that it threw at Cinccino. It was taken down instantly.
"You did your best," I said. "Okay Serperior, go!" I was sure my Starter would be able to do something. "Coil!" Serperior coiled round, and its stats rose.
"Psychic." Reuniclus lifted up Serperior with Psychic energy, then slammed it down again. It got up.
"Leaf Blade!" Serperior slashed at Reuniclus. It was a Critical Hit.
"Focus Blast." Reuniclus gathered up another ball of energy which it threw at Serperior; it missed!
"Huzzah! Use one more Leaf Blade!" Serperior took down Reuniclus with one more blade of the leaf.
"Well, my final Pokémon. Okay Metagross, come on out." Well, this was a strong way to end.
Metagross (メタグロス)
264
Steel/Psychic Type
Iron Leg Pokémon
5'03" (1.6 m)
1212.5 lbs (550 kg)
With four linked brains, it's more intelligent than a supercomputer, and it uses calculations to analyze foes.
Beldum -Lv 20- Metang -Lv 45- Metagross
"Serperior, Leaf Storm!" Serperior fired a barrage of leaves at Metagross. It did about as well as it could on a Steel Type.
"Zen Headbutt." Metagross' head started glowing, and it rammed into Serperior.
"Enough!" I shouted, recalling it. "Go Arcanine!" A Fire Type would do the trick.
"Hammer Arm." Metagross brought its arm down onto Arcanine when it was sent out, doing quite a bit to it.
"It ends! Flare Blitz!" Arcanine charged forward covered in fire. It tackled Metagross with all its might, and it was barely left standing.
"Use Hammer Arm again." One more Hammer Arm and Metagross was finished.
"We're almost done. Azumarill, go!" I shouted. "Aqua Tail!" Azumarill hit Metagross with its tail, and the match was mine!
"You and your Pokémon are both excellent and elegant. To have been able to battle against a splendid team… thank you."
"Thank you," Caitlin said once again. "It seems I have more training." Without warning, she faded away. Eh, it was Psychic stuff, none of my business.
The final room was Grimsley. Inside, it was dark and gothic. There were some stairs in front of me. I walked up them and saw a red and black talon-like object. It quickly opened, revealing Grimsley.
"Hey, pick a card. Any card."
I thought a minute. "How about… the Jack of Diamonds?"
Grimsley flipped over a card. "Sorry young lady. It's the seven of diamonds. But you were close. That's the thing with luck. It can get you far, nowhere near of almost there. And I will show my skills in battle. Feeling lucky?"
Rosa Vs. Grimsley
"Azumarill, go!" I shouted.
"You're up Liepard!" Grimsley yelled, sending out his Pokémon. "Tell me, you recently saved a Liepard for your friend. Am I right?"
"Yes!" I said. "So I know a thing or two about this Pokémon!"
"Oh, do you know? Fake Out!" Liepard clapped in front of Azumarill, forcing a flinch. Didn't want that. "Now use Attract!" Liepard fired a heart at Azumarill, infatuating it. His Liepard was a female and Azumarill was a male. Well, it was a female as an Azurill but it changed after it… never mind.
"Can't be doing with this. Come back Azumarill. Go Flygon!" Out came Flygon, a female Pokémon who I was more confident using against Liepard. It took a Night Slash. "Now use Earth Power!" Flygon sent a crack in the earth towards Liepard who was hit.
"Use Night Slash again!" Liepard slashed at Flygon once more. It was a Critical Hit.
"Use Earth Power once more!" Flygon hit Liepard with another attack.
"Night Slash!" Liepard sliced at Flygon one final time, knocking it out.
"You did good. Okay Cinccino, go!" I shouted. "Tail Slap!" Cinccino slapped Liepard in the face multiple times until it fainted.
"Impressive. But let's see how you take on Scrafty!" With a Fighting Type, I couldn't risk it.
"Come back," I told Cinccino. "Go Serperior!" I was hoping that it would work. "Use Leaf Storm!" Serperior fired many leaves at Scrafty who blocked some of the damage with its baggy skin.
"Poison Jab!" Scrafty came back by jabbing Serperior in the face with poison fists. Serperior was poisoned to.
"Another Leaf Storm!" Serperior fired another barrage of leaves at Scrafty, but due to the lowering of stats, Scrafty didn't go down.
"Poison Jab again!" Scrafty used the move once more. Serperior was hanging on.
"Leaf Blade!" Serperior swiped at Scrafty, and it was down.
"Time to get lucky. Go Krookodile!" Grimsley sent out a Ground Type, not the first thing I would use against a Grass Type I'll say. "Use Crunch!" Krookodile chomped down on Serperior, dealing the final blow.
"No!" I shouted. "Okay then. My next Pokémon. Azumarill!" Azumarill needed to use brute strength for Krookodile.
"Earthquake!" Krookodile made the entire ground shake below our feet. Azumarill took it very well though.
"Aqua Tail!" Azumarill hit Krookodile in the face with its wet tail, and it was almost down.
"Use it again!" Krookodile used another Earthquake, and Azumarill was hanging on by a smidge.
"Surf!" Azumarill made a large wave that swamped Krookodile, knocking it out.
"Okay then. You're lucky this fight. Absol, go!" Grimsley yelled. "Night Slash!" Absol came over and slashed at Azumarill, dealing the final attack.
"You did good," I told Azumarill. "Cinccino, come back!" How would this cute one take out the bringer of disaster? With Tail Slap of course! Cinccino slapped Absol across the face multiple times.
"Night Slash again!" Absol swiped at Cinccino for a Critical Hit. It almost went down.
"Tail Slap once more!" Cinccino continued slapping Absol, but it didn't quite do it.
"Night Slash a final time!" Absol used it again, and Cinccino was finished.
"No!" I shouted. "Okay Zoroark, go!" Would this work?
"X-Scissor!" Absol's claws started glowing green, and it attacked Zoroark in an X formation. It was Super Effective.
"Flamethrower!" Zoroark spat fire at Absol, and it was the final hit.
"Well. Down to my final Pokémon. How lucky are you? Let's find out! Bisharp, go!"
Bisharp (キリキザン)
224
Dark/Steel Type
Sword Blade Pokémon
5'03" (1.6 m)
This pitless Pokémon commands a group of Pawniard to hound prey into immobility. It then moves in to finish the prey off.
Pawniard -Lv 52- Bisharp
"Flamethrower!" Zoroark spat another flame pillar, but Bisharp dodged.
"X-Scissor!" Bisharp finished off Zoroark with a Bug Type move.
"One final chance," I said. "Arcanine, go!" Out came my Fire Type. I didn't need luck! "Flare Blitz!" Arcanine darted forward, flames coming off it. It hit Bisharp, and it was down.
"Well, you got lucky in this match. I applaud you. After all. There are bad ways to win and good ways to lose."
"Hey," I said. "I've beaten all the member of the Elite Four!"
"Indeed!" Grimsley said. "But now is not the time for celebrating. There is one more challenge to go; The Champion. They wait at the top of the League."
When I got back to the main room, the statue in the middle was glowing.
"Here we go," I thought as I went up to the statue. It started going upwards.
Once it had stopped rising, I found myself at the bottom of the staircase. It was going to the top of the League; its green dome towering over me. I walked up, step by step, taking me closer to my destiny. All the things I had done to get here. And Hilbert will be waiting for me soon to.
I entered the room and came face to my face with the Champion. And it was a certain acquaintance.
"Rosa!" Iris said, her pink princess dress blowing in the subtle wind. "Long time no see!"