Chapter 61:

The Winona in the Willows

Location: PWT Lobby

"Rosa, Rosa, she's our girl! If she can't do it, no one… er… I'm not good at rhyming," Bianca said.

"Wirl?" Mr. Cheren suggested. Even for a teacher, he was having trouble coming up with something. Bianca blushed at his idea.

"Okay," I said. I looked up at the ranking board. I was up first against…

"Winona!" Bianca said. "She's the Gym Leader of Fortree City! That's in the Hoenn region! I've always wanted to go there; the environments are so abundant!"

"She uses Flying Types," Mr. Cheren told me. "I'm afraid it may be a good idea for Serperior to sit out of this one."

I knew that. But I did need to give things a think. And I did.

"My team will be as followed. Flygon may be a Ground Type, but it has Rock Slide. Cinccino knows Rock Blast and I'll use Arcanine for miscellaneous coverage!"

Location: PWT Battlefield

"Welcome one and all to the PWT! Today's first opponents are appearing now! First of all, you all know her as the person seeking out Hilbert, all the way from Aspertia City, the Unova Champion, Rosa Wright!" I walked to the Stadium waving everyone down. "And, the Gym Leader of Hoenn's Fortree City, please welcome, the bird user taking flight into the world, Winona Strife!" Opposite me walked a woman wearing a blue suit. She also had goggles on.

"Let's take this match sky high!" she said.

Rosa Vs. Winona

"I choose Flygon!" I shouted.

"You're up Altaria!" Winona replied. It was a good thing I choose Flygon.

"Okay Flygon, Dragon Claw!" Flygon flew forward and swiped at Altaria, doing Super Effective damage.

"Use Dragon Dance!" Altaria surrounded itself in blue energy, then roared. It's Attack and Speed rose. "Now use Sky Attack!" Altaria cloaked itself in white energy.

"Don't worry Flygon, we have a turn to get some damage in!"

"No you don't!" Winona yelled as I saw an herb on Altaria's neck glowing. Great. It was a White Herb, which gets ride of the charging turn used in moves like Sky Attack. "Now!" Altaria flew forward and hit Flygon for lots of damage.

"Dragon Claw again!" Flygon swiped once again at Altaria. One more would do it.

"Use Sky Attack again!" With the White Herb used though, Altaria couldn't charge up quick enough.

"Dragon Claw!" I yelled, as Flygon attacked once more. Altaria was finished. The crowd roared.

"I'm impressed. But you'll have to do more than that to beat me! Go Swellow!" Winona sent out a black Pokémon with a red chest that flew with its large wings.

Swellow (オオサバメ)

277 (National)

Normal/Flying Type

Swallow Pokémon

2'04" (0.7 m)

43.7 lbs (19.8 kg)

It circles the sky in search of prey. When it spots one, it dives steeply to catch the prey.

Taillow -Lv 22- Swellow

"Okay Swellow, Brave Bird!" Swellow surrounded itself in blue energy. (Okay Winona, we get it. You like energy!) It then charged into Flygon, doing the final bits of damage to it.

"You did well Flygon," I said. "Okay Cinccino, you're up!" My fluffy Pokémon was sent out.

"Swellow, Brave Bird!" Swellow cloaked itself in energy again and flew into Cinccino. Cinccino managed to stay standing, albeit barely.

"Use Rock Blast!" Cinccino fired five rocks at Swellow. Each of them hit, and there was even a Critical Hit on one of them. Swellow was almost down.

"Now use Brave Bird again!" Swellow did just that, attacking Cinccino. It was down, but the recoil damage from Swellow also got to it. Swellow fainted.

The crowd cheered again. "We are down to our last Pokémon!" I shouted.

"Yeah, and I'm going to win! Skarmory, go!" Winona shouted, sending out her Steel Type.

"Nice try! Arcanine, go!" I replied. "Flare Blitz!" Arcanine charged forward covered in fire and hit Skarmory, who stayed alive because of Sturdy. However, the burn ensured that Skarmory would faint next turn anyway.

"Brave Bird!" Well, yeah never mind. Skarmory hit Arcanine with a Brave Bird, and the recoil fainted it.

"Thanks Skyla!" I said.

"No, thank you! You took this battle sky high!"

The crowd cheered.

"And with that, the first winner is Rosa Wright! Thank you both for a wonderful match!"

Location: PWT Lobby

"Congratulations!" Bianca said. "Winona is nothing to scoff at!"

"Yes, congratulations indeed," Mr. Cheren said. "But it's not over yet."

"Then I need a break," I said.

"I'm afraid that won't be happening," came a voice.

"Wait, I know that," Bianca said just as Colress came from round the corner.

"You!" Mr. Cheren said. "I know exactly what's been going on!"

"Stop!" I said, trying to stop Mr. Cheren from beating him. "He's on our side! He needs my help."

Colress was typing into a computer. "The storm is headed towards Undella Town. We can make it if we hurry."

"I'll see you guys later," I told Bianca and Mr. Cheren. "I think this is serious. Wish Hugh luck! He's going up against that Jules kid with Sylveon."

Location: Undella Town

It was refreshing seeing the sea waves crash against the beach. However, now it was autumn, and the bustling Undella Town was almost like a ghost town in comparison to when I last visited.

"That's it," Colress said as we could see the rain in the distance. "Got the Reveal Glass?"

I got it out my bag. "Yep. Let's do this."

"Put this inside your bag," Colress instructed. He got out a piece of metal. "Trust me on this."

I put it inside, wondering what he wanted. "How will this help?" I asked.

"This is why. Go Magnezone!" Colress shouted, sending out the magnetized Pokémon. Immediately, I clung to it. "Magnezone has such a strong magnetic energy that you won't be falling off. You are going to fly into the storm. All you need to do is thine the Reveal Glass at Tornadus, which is the one controlling the storm."

I gulped, and said I was ready. Magnezone bolted towards the raincloud.

In the cloud, I could see the silhouette of Tornadus. Except, it looked different to how Hilbert described it. When it revealed itself, it had wings and a beak.

Tornadus (Therian Forme) (ツルネロス)

198 (Unova)

Flying Type

Cyclone Pokémon

4'07" (1.4 m)

138.9 lbs (63 kg)

In every direction it flies, creating winds so powerful, they blow away everything.

Legendary Pokémon

Thankfully, Magnezone's Types resist Flying Type moves, so it could navigate them easier.

"Magnezone, ready?" I asked, going into my bag and getting the Reveal Glass. "Get me closer! It's a risk, but we have to do this!"

Magnezone gave an affirmative grunt and tried getting closer. I tried shining the Reveal Glass at Tornadus but Magnezone kept jolting about, which prevented me from getting a clear shot.

"It's too much!" I said. "Magnezone, I can't have you risking yourself for this." I slipped my arms out from the straps of my bag with the Reveal Glass between my legs. Without the magnetism, I fell. Doing this gave me the perfect viewpoint to shine the Reveal Glass at Tornadus. There was a large glow as I went out of the storm cloud.

I fell towards the ocean, scared that it would be the end. "I'm sorry Hilbert," I said.

Before I hit the water however, I felt something grab me. It was Tornadus! It had reverted and saved me!

"Thank you!" I shouted.

"Well, I never," Colress said once Tornadus dropped me back onto dry land. "It's not everyday that happens."

"Thank you Tornadus," I said. Tornadus simply flew away.

"I doubt that the rest will be that easy," Colress said. "I saw what happened from a distance; it was very risky of you. But risks are what we will need to revert Thundurus and Landorus."

"And I'll be there!" I said.

Today I helped a Legendary AND beat a Gym Leader from another region! More exciting stuff is to come, as the journey continues!