Author's Notes :
To begin with, Merry Christmas to y'all, readers!
Whew...After a hiatus, Ultra Brawl is finally back! Again, this chapter has quite a lot going on as plot developments begin to accumulate. Here comes your Christmas present! I was actually struggling to get back into writing after my exams; it took longer than expected to visualize the scenes; it was only a week before I could get into full gear again.
Enjoy your Christmas present!
TurboBolt99
The bedroom was as black as night. Snowball, curled up in the small bed, began to twitch her eyes. Her eyelids raised soon after, her white pupils dilating to better discern her direction in the darkness. The Glaceon rose to her paws and stretched her body with a restrained yawn. She trudged to Luke, who was lying beside the fireplace as usual, and nudged his head, aiming to wake him up.
Her gesture did not affect him. She could hear Luke's breaths trill. "Luke, will you please wake up?" she whispered in his ear, "The sun has just risen."
Luke did not respond one iota.
Snowball made a frown and sprinkled a pinch of Powder Snow on his snout. The Lucario's nose crumpled, his jaws jerked opened, and he let out a big sneeze.
"AAAAAAAAHHHH...SHISSSHHHHHHHEKKKKKKK!"
Snowball found herself thrust to one of the walls with a crash.
Luke woke up, sniffling, and made a yawn. "S-Snowball!" he said, scooting toward her, "What are you doing at this time? It's still dark..."
"Actually, it's early morning right now," replied Snowball, heaving herself off the wall, "Come outside with me and see for yourself."
Luke plodded behind Snowball out of the bedroom as he took a gander at Cannon, who lay sunny side up in his bed as his snoring droned.
Once the two Pokemon were outside their dwelling, Luke was greeted by the gentle oranges of dawn as the sun reared from the horizon in the east. The Lucario blinked and rubbed his eyes. "I-is it..." he said, turning to Snowball, "...morning?"
"Of course," said the Glaceon, "Since we live in a cave, we had to work to begin our day at this time."
Luke rose his head and glanced at the pinkish-golden sky.
There was only one thing on his mind that morning.
Later, Cannon strode through the streets of Square City as Luke and Snowball rode on his back discussing about Shade. After around ten minutes, they arrived at the hospital and Luke and Snowball unmounted the Arcanine. Luke checked in at the counter and they headed for Shade's ward.
The three Pokemon opened the door to the ward after a knock. Shade, who was lying on her bed as usual, recoiled with a gasp as she stuffed her head in her pillow, while her Vileplume caretaker maintained her professional stoicism.
"Hey, these mons are my employers!" Luke said with worry, reaching out with a paw, "They won't hurt you!"
Cannon and Snowball joined him in trying to make Shade reconsider, but to no avail. The patient kept her head buried in her pillow as she clenched her unthreatening fangs and shut her eyes tight.
"Shade, please respond to them," the Vileplume goaded as she scurried to Shade's bed, "That Lucario saved you, remember?"
Shade ignored her caretaker as she continued to cringe.
"How's Shade?" Luke asked.
"Shade is deprived of sleep. I had to use Sleep Powder to sedate her last midnight," said the Vileplume, "She also doesn't have an appetite. This morning, she did not show any excitement for the fried fish we gave for breakfast."
"What happened to her?" Cannon hushed with a frown. He and Snowball duly received the caretaker's explanation of Shade's predicament.
Meanwhile, Luke glanced at Shade, and then his paw. Something's really wrong with her, he reflected, I can't think of letting her shudder anymore...He closed his eyes and slowly curled his paw, which radiated a faint aura.
He remembered the soft vignette of monlethood inside Snowball's mind. That ability...would be perfect for this. From here onward, I must not shy away from less-than-fond memories. But...I need Shade's permission first...
"Shade?" Luke whispered, walking toward the Absol, "Can you please let me read your mind?"
"No," Shade muttered, her face buried in the pillow. The Vileplume made a frown.
I'll leave it at that, Luke backed away from the Dark-type, Mind reading might violate the privacy of an unsuspecting individual. Especially if the individual in question is weak-willed...
"Um, sister," Luke asked the Vileplume, "Do you think Shade has a mental condition?"
"Mental condition?" she replied, "What sort of disease is that?"
"Um, I..."
"Luke, do not think too much about it. She could just be reclusive."
I knew it. Luke thought as he gave a nod to the caretaker, A warrior culture like this will have no room for psychiatry. Now, how do I make Shade feel well again?
"Meteor Mash!"
Later that day, Luke was in the middle of a heated battle with Hammer in the Smackdown Gym's ring. He was blazing high in the air with his right fist outward, as his opponent was flung to the ground.
The Machamp got up just as Luke landed, and what followed was a rhythm of colliding fists between the two Fighting-types. Hammer looked at Luke's face in the middle of the parries. There was a hardened look in his red eyes; more fitting for a seasoned master than the fresh-faced rookie who visited him yesterday. Hammer took it as a sign of improvement, but there was a gut feeling about his pupil's sudden change in personality.
After an extended period of time, Luke broke the series of parries with a leap to the other side of the ring. He immediately threw an Aura Sphere, which Hammer blocked with crossed arms as he was pushed a few inches backward.
Luke responded with another Aura Sphere, and Hammer blocked again.
And then came a third Aura Sphere. Hammer widened his eyes and felt a little irritated as he resorted to defense.
And then came a fourth. And a fifth. And a sixth. The projectile spam arrested Hammer in a single spot as each step forward was interrupted by a disgruntled block. Meanwhile, he searched for a retention time, the perfect opportunity to strike back.
"Body Slam!" After the ninth Aura Sphere, Hammer leaped at Luke with all four arms outstretched. He crashed right at the Lucario's feet, but refused to hesitate as he grabbed his opponent's ankle just as he was about to back off.
"Spinning Submission!" Hammer heaved Luke up and made a spinning jump, pounding him to the ground with staggering force. He followed up his special technique with a low kick, two jabs and a slug to the stomach, all in a succession so quick that Luke had no opportunity to even block.
"Millennium Fist! HUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUE!" Hammer punctuated his comeback with an overkill of Bullet Punches which stung every part of Luke's upper body. The Lucario let out a howl of excruciation as he collapsed.
Wiping sweat off one side of his head, Hammer took a look at the Pokemon he just defeated. His customer told him about last night's rescue, and he could not ignore his longer and more dedicated bouts of bench presses and crunches; when Luke asked for another round of workouts, he rejected it out of safety and suggested that they battle already. Hammer felt unsettled. Why did Luke decide to push his body to the limits like this? The potential purge of Luke's cash didn't matter to him.
Hammer sighed. He went to the refreshment corner of the battle room and came back with a Reviver Seed and a Sitrus Berry. He drew the Reviver Seed close to Luke's nose, rousing him back to consciousness in the process. Luke rubbed his head and rose to his feet.
"Luke, you've made a significant improvement," Hammer congratulated, holding his paw for a moment, "How'd you fling so many Aura Spheres at once?"
"I wanted to win," Luke whispered, "At any cost."
"I suggest you don't stick to that," said Hammer, his fingers feeling the smooth texture of the Citrus Berry, "Initially, you may do fine, but over time, Pokemon will recognize your fighting style and devise counters. You could become predictable. Not to mention it would annoy the heck out of some..."
"Um, Hammer?" Luke said with a steely expression, "I would like to fight you again."
"Aw mon, cut it out!" Hammer refused, shaking one of his palms, "You can't overwork your body like that. Especially somemon you have a three-match long losing streak against."
"Hammer, this is all for a purpose," Luke uttered, "Yesterday, I only managed to beat the gang leader after a Reviver Seed. Imagine if I didn't have one. What would have happened to Shade?"
"I know already."
"This is why I have to accept battling," Luke clenched his fist and his voice became slightly huskier, "In this world, most problems are solved with fists and claws. Might is the spirit. I'm a Pokemon whose duty is to solve every problem I approach, especially if there's an air of dread. And for that, I must strengthen my fists and claws."
"I understand. Your pursuit of power has good intentions, but wouldn't there be a chance of taking it a tad too far?"
Luke was silent for a moment as he soaked up Hammer's question, "I agree with your point," he replied, "They say that he who fights injustice must take care, or else he may become more unjust than his own enemies."
"Hey, where'd that saying come from?"
"Never mind. I can't let time fly. I can't cower at a madmon stronger than me as he brutalizes an innocent. I have to seize this time for improvement."
"You already have plenty of time, mon!" Hammer gave a pat to Luke's back, "You can make this gym a daily hideout. That alone is enough to toughen yourself up. Anyway, that monne is safe, ain't she? Why do you have to worry about made-up crises?"
"They're not made-up, Hammer. They're chances."
"All chances are made up, after all. Just go back home and relax with a good snack. I'm already believing that you'll become an awesome battler in the future."
"Thanks for the words, Hammer," Luke ended the conversation with the first smile of his day, "See you tomorrow," He lent Hammer a bag of coins and left Smackdown Gym.
That evening, Luke had regained his happiness through friendly banter with his customers and employers. He never went to bed without sadness, however, pitying not only Shade, but also his family and friends, who he had forcefully abandoned. He spent the rest of the week moving on with his new life - a trip to the hospital in the morning and a bout in Smackdown Gym in the afternoon, interspersed with his gentle job as the lone waiter of Hotshot Bakery, while waiting for Shade's stay in the hospital to complete.
Of course, battles were not left out of the equation. This time, Luke never fled from battles anymore. He did not even challenge other Pokemon to battles; he accepted every challenge thrown at him, as if they were commands to be obeyed. His win-loss ratio had improved, with such standouts as hard-earned wins over a Piloswine, a Ninetales and a Pelipper, and his first effortless victories, against a Ledian, an Arbok and a Wigglytuff. He still struggled with Fighting, Fire and Ground-type Pokemon, given his type disadvantages against them. And he gave up on Hammer after he wiped the floor with him on Wednesday, acknowledging that he was in a different league altogether. Nonetheless, all the new strength gave him something to be contented with.
It was now Sunday afternoon. Luke, Cannon and Snowball were in Shade's ward. Shade herself was standing on the floor and feeding on a bunch of Oran Berries in a basket, her face as frozen as usual.
"Shade, how were those berries?" Cannon asked with a smile.
"Uh, okay..." Shade replied in a monotone as she sniffed the pulpy scent of the berries.
Shade, I can see light at the end of the tunnel, Luke remarked, At least you started to finish your food and actually look at us. That said, there's still a long way to go...
Just then, the Vileplume caretaker arrived inside the ward along with a Noctowl. Luke, Cannon and Snowball did not hesitate to greet them.
"As you are aware, monsters, Shade is being discharged today," hooted the Noctowl, ruffling his feathers, "What are you planning to do with her?"
"We'll let her stay with us," Snowball replied. Indeed, yesterday the Hotshots made a decision to be the guardians of the powerless Absol, rather than let her continue to suffer on the streets. The hopes were slim, but Luke could muster the possibility of seeing her normal again.
"Will she be able to fight again?" asked Cannon.
"Unfortunately, no," the Vileplume said, nodding her head sideways, "As you know, there is no known cure for powerlessness. She could have even been hatched with it as a defect or so."
Luke, Cannon and Snowball frowned. The former rolled his eyes toward Shade, who was taking tiny bites of the berries one by one.
"How much poken should we pay for her treatment?" Snowball asked.
"The medical expenses have been estimated to be around 30 million," said the Noctowl.
"Um, I don't think we could afford it..." Snowball hushed with her head down, "Our fortune may not be enough..."
"Monstress Snowball, please understand that we had to conduct physical surgery in order to save Shade's life," said the Vileplume, "She was in great pain after that, requiring the use of a combination of ointments. We had to give her additional treatments to complete her recovery. And have you forgotten about the broken leg?"
"In fact, 30 million poken is the minimum cost," added the Noctowl, "We can't accept anything less." He tried to remember the last time he admitted a gravely injured Pokemon.
Snowball turned away from him and began to ponder about the hole of livelihood she was about to face. Even a loan from the most reputed banks in Square City would look puny in comparison to the medical bills. She couldn't think about raising the prices of items in Hotshot Bakery; that would be financial suicide, by the way. Her white pupils shrank, her fur bristled, and there was a sting in her heart.
Cannon looked at his wife in concern, resonating with the metallic burden on their shoulders. He inched toward her and whispered. "Snowball, what are we gonna do? Sell off the TV?"
"I can't do that," Snowball replied in an equally wistful whisper, "It's a special thing to you, right? We can't squander our livelihood like that."
"Does that mean you don't want Shade to recover?" Cannon's worried question pierced Snowball's heart.
"Why do you ask such a stupid question like this?!" Snowball lashed out with frosty fangs, slamming her paw, "I'm your own spouse and you don't believe in me?" She tried to keep her voice as quiet as possible, but she could do nothing against the Noctowl's heightened hearing. Luke turned around to see them and frowned. Their auras made him feel solemn.
"Hoot! What is this argument?" the Noctowl said, his bushy eyebrow jumping, "A payment is a payment. Already our staff members receive low wages and they need more money to support their own families!"
"Monster Omnivision," Cannon pleaded, "At least show some mercy for working mons like us! Can you please make this treatment free?" His pupils expanded across his irises.
"We are extremely sorry, but payment is obligatory for every medical appointment," Omnivision responded with guilt, "It is your duty to find a way out of your impending troubles."
Snowball took a glance at Shade, who was finishing the last morsels of her Oran Berries. Her heart petrified. Out of the frying pan, and into the fire. In exchange for an act of altruism, why should she and Cannon receive the desolation of bankruptcy? Why should their humble bakery, born from their shared love of cooking and hospitality, crumble to dust to justify something admirable?
"Snowball, don't worry," Cannon consoled her, pawing her glossy mane, "You're smart. There can be a way to pay all this, right?"
"Right," Snowball replied, rolling her eyes toward Cannon's.
The Glaceon turned around and stared at Omnivision with confidence, "Monster Omnivision, please give us some time to accumulate our medical expenses," she told. Luke gave a concerned look at her.
"Hoot, time?" said Omnivision, "Please make that time short. We at Heal Pulse Hospital are in dire need of a financial powerup."
"What is the minimum time you can provide?" asked Snowball, "Five years? Three years?"
"That's a stretch," Omnivision nodded his head sideways, "I can only provide six months."
"Six months?" Snowball questioned, "How can the average business raise 30 million poken in six months?"
"Please get your head together, monstress. You can pour effort into it."
Snowball sighed and nodded her head, thinking about everything she had to force herself to do. "I accept," she relented, "We promise to pay the full cost within the stipulated time," She turned to see Cannon, Luke and Shade before facing Omnivison and the caretaker.
"Shade, come with us," Snowball called as the Hotshots prepared for their departure.
Shade rose her head out of the bowl and slowly walked toward her.
"Listen, Shade," Snowball looked into her clueless red eyes, "From today onward, you will have a better life. Get it?" She gave a smile.
Shade nodded.
After a matter of time, the ward was empty.
Luke, Snowball, Cannon and Shade checked out of the counter. The wind cut into their fur as the four Pokemon stepped out of the hospital door.
"Shade," Luke said to the Absol as the foursome traveled, "My employers have a medical debt. What do you think about it?"
"What's that?" Shade asked, her voice as flat as ever, rolling her eyes toward her savior.
"Cannon and Snowball had to pay a lot of money for your treatment," Luke explained.
"How much?"
"30 million poken."
"Why so much?"
"You were on the verge of death. And the doctor told me that such cases are very rare in this world."
"What does that mean?"
"See, Cannon and Snowball did not have enough money, but they agreed to amass it in six months."
"So?"
"They care about you, Shade. How many Pokemon cared about you when you lived in Sneak Street?"
"What do you mean by 'care'?"
"They are nice to you. Be happy about it."
Shade fell silent. No other Pokemon had been so soft to her. The only emotions she saw in others were anger, pain and hate. She couldn't understand it. She simply fixed her eyes forward as she walked alongside Luke, Cannon and Snowball.
Cannon tried to call Snowball, but she never listened, continuing to walk the way back to their dwelling.
"ICE BEAM!"
In the middle of the streets, Snowball and a Mamoswine were blasting columns of cryokinetic energy at each other. The Ice Beams streaked through the air and collided. Ice crystals bled out of the impact as the two beams clashed back and forth, akin to a lock between wrestlers.
Snowball breathed harder, her bangs flying past her head, trying to overpower her opponent's attack. The Mamoswine narrowed her tiny eyes as her nostrils squeezed out more concentrated cryokinetic energy. Both Pokemon were pushed back by the force of the struggling beams.
Cannon watched their battle from the pavement along with a horde of other Pokemon. While his peers were fixated on the crystalline wail of the clashing Ice Beams, Cannon stared at Snowball's face. He hadn't seen such a deep intent in battle in her for a long time, not even in their own squabbles. Ever since leaving the hospital, she never spoke to him, even in response to his own words.
Snowball and the Mamoswine kept on muscling their Ice Beams against each other, as one intensified after the other. Eventually, the Mamoswine lost her rhythm and misdirected her Ice Beam a few angles past Snowball's face, allowing the Glaceon to fire her own Ice Beam at her opponent's face.
Cryokinetic energy pierced through the Mamoswine's dense wool and she fell off her hooves.
"Hail!" Snowball called out to the air, and stones of ice began to fall from it. The surroundings became chill and the spectators swarmed away from the two battling Ice-types.
"Ha! What use will hail do against an Ice-type?" the Mamoswine bragged as she got up. She stomped her hoof and brandished her tusks.
"Evasion," Snowball hissed, smirking at her. Thick gusts of cold air streamed across the street as hailstones plinked on the ground. Snowball appeared to flicker in and out of the hail. The pride of her Snow Cloak ability swelled in her heart, until she took a focused look at the Mamoswine.
The Mammoth Pokemon flickered in and out of the hail just like her, emitting a haughty snort. Snowball gasped. Her opponent had the same ability. She felt like slapping herself when the Mamoswine bellowed, "Earthquake!"
The Mamoswine drove her hoof into the ground, shaking it and generating tall ripples of energy which coasted across the distance between her and Snowball. Snowball tried to jump across the energy ripples, but she could only manage a meager hop before they crashed into her body. She slunk to the ground as the rumbles of earth quietened and the ground immobilized.
"I won't back off!" Snowball roared to rouse her spirit. She ran toward the Mamoswine and fired another Ice Beam. The Mamoswine vanished in the hailstorm, causing the Ice Beam to strike through only air.
"Rubbish," the Mamoswine snorted, "Ice Beam!"
What followed was a reverse of the previous attack. Snowball hid herself in the hail before the Ice Beam could hit her.
"Don't be so proud," Snowball taunted as hailstones bounced off her back, "You're just on an equal playing field with me!"
"Come on, Snowball!" Cannon cheered, wagging his tail, "Finish her!"
"Stone Edge!" The Mamoswine stomped her hoof, causing the ground to shake, albeit not as violently as in Earthquake. Snowball barely blinked when a stalagmite of rock harpooned out of the ground and dug into her stomach, causing her to scream in pain. Within a moment, she was hoist in the air by the tall stalagmite. The stalagmite tossed her off its peak and her fainted body fell to the ground.
The Mamoswine made a trumpet of victory, accompanied by the cheers of the spectators. Cannon whimpered with globular eyes as he scurried to his unconscious wife and gave her a Reviver Seed.
"Damn TMs..." Snowball muttered as she was restored to full health. She saw the Mamoswine bask in the jubilance of the crowd.
She could hear the crowd's comments, "How strong you are, monstress Iceberg!" "The kickass landlady!" "That Stone Edge won you the battle!"
And two comments which ticked her off : "If only Snowball knew Water Pulse..." "Her bakery is too small to afford the TM..."
"Why...why is money everything..." Snowball sobbed as tears rolled down her cheeks. She nudged her head against the dense fur of Cannon's chest.
"Everything will be fine, Snowball," Cannon comforted her, caressing her mane, "I'll be ready to sell stuff for Shade's benefit."
Snowball barely listened to him. She was staring at a Victreebel among the crowds.
"Hello, monster!" Snowball yelled, slipping out of Cannon's embrace, "I challenge you to a battle!"
The Victreebel agreed and the two Pokemon drew near each other.
"Hey, Snowball!" Cannon barked, raising a paw, "Where are you going? I thought you're sad!"
That night, Luke, Shade, Cannon and Snowball were seated in front of the TV. Snowball had closed the bakery for the rest of the day, struggling with her upcoming duties.
"Snowball, this is gonna be the last Detective Membrane episode you'll ever watch," Cannon whimpered, "Am I right?"
"Stop talking to me!" Snowball shot a gout of ice into his snout, causing the Arcanine to fall over, Gee, she's bean really broken, he pitied as he got back onto his paws.
The TV depicted an Inteleon actor, the show's protagonist, in the midst of a dark street, his yellow eyes rolling back and forth, "Hmm. Where did the culprit run to?" the Inteleon growled, hovering his finger gun across the screen.
Then, an Alcremie entered the scene. Not so much an Alcremie as what appeared to be a Pokemon covered in a bedsheet with fruit accessories taped on it and a cutesy face scribbled on it. That Pokemon was also much bigger than any regular Alcremie.
Another lame TV show, huh? Luke remarked, They seem less educated in the realm of entertainment than humanity...
"Oh, monstress," Detective Membrane hissed, paying full attention to the 'Alcremie', "What brings you to this dingy place?"
"Why are you talking to me?" a growl ground from beneath the Alcremie costume, "I'm just a perfectly fine Alcremie on a stroll. Get away."
The Inteleon grabbed the bedsheet and flung it away, revealing a Rampardos.
"Wow, that Alcremie turned into a Rampardos!" Cannon yelped, "Wasn't that fun, Snowball?"
Snowball ignored him, continuing to absorb herself in the show. She looked like a statue as she sat still and emotionless.
"I challenge you to a battle!" exclaimed Membrane as he leaped backward, "Snipe Shot!" He fired a blast of water from his finger right into the Rampardos' face.
"Grr, don't be so cocky!" the Rampardos grinned, "You can never lay your scales on this Xerneas statue!" With his tiny arm, he showed what looked like a yellow-painted wooden Xerneas, "I'm gonna beat you fair and square!" He manifested a boulder in front of him and threw it at Membrane. The Inteleon did not bother to evade it as he was hit by the boulder.
"Ouch!" said Membrane, "Give that statue back, Patch!" He pointed to the Rampardos.
Patch took an about turn and exited the stage, followed by Membrane.
Suddenly, a commercial bumper appeared on the TV screen, "This program will be right back," said the narration, "Brought to you by RF Real Estate."
"Arrgh!" Snowball slapped the floor, "Why do they interrupt such a pivotal plot point?!" she groaned.
The first commercial began. "Good evening to all brave mons and monnes with your eyes in front of this box," said a deep, rocky voice from the TV. There was a logo on the screen, the same one which was engraved right below it. "This is the chairmon of Rock Foundation himself on the mic."
"Geovil Rockwrecker?" Snowball commented with a smile, "What new innovation is the Rhyperior up to now?"
"Rock Foundation honorably presents the greatest event monkind has ever conceived."
The scene faded to a Scyther sitting cross-legged on a wooden floor with a bent neck and closed eyes. There was a large tree behind the Bug-type and a metallic Bisharp statue flanking her on each side.
"Pokemon are hatched...for a purpose," began a higher-pitched, raspy narration, presumably the Scyther's, "They pierce every upper echelon throughout their life. This...is about the highest of them all."
The camera made a quick close-up to the Scyther's face, "The echelon...OF POWER!"
The Scyther's blood-red eyes opened with a glare that filled the screen. What followed next were two loud slashes.
The camera cut away to show the Mantis Pokemon in a determined stance with one of her bladed arms airborne. Cuts were grooved in the Bisharp statues' necks and the tree's trunk. The statues' heads slid and clangored on the ground while the tree became a stocky zig-zag.
Wailing electric guitars, bombastic brass and pounding percussion began to blare from the TV. The scene had switched just as the fanfare commenced, revealing a Sigilyph flinging a large Air Slash.
The scene quickly showcased other Pokemon to the beat of the background music. A Kommo-o in a frenetic Dragon Dance, a Toxtricity screaming an Overdrive, a Sharpedo lunging at the camera with a Waterfall, an Electivire slugging a crackling Thunder Punch, a Pidgeot enveloped in a brilliant Brave Bird, and a Politoed summoning a downpour of a Rain Dance were among the dozens of passionate monsters who graced the TV with each guitar riff.
Once the music's intro segued into the chorus, another narration, an enthusiastic yet smooth RP accent, began. "Welcome to the festival of fighting. Welcome to the celebration of monkind's spirit. Welcome to the Ultra Brawl!" A Flygon and a Crobat rammed against each other in the background, "One hundred and twenty eight hopefuls from all four continents of the world challenge their destiny in this historic knockout tournament!"
The scene transitioned to an Amoonguss bombing an Azumarill with Stun Spore, "The best battlers will accelerate their legacy in the upcoming Pro Battling League, an extravaganza which will bewitch generations of Pokemon in the future to come!"
A diverse series of battles cut to one another sequentially and in tune with the music. A Lurantis locking her scythes with a Sawsbuck's antlers, a Toucannon heating up a Beak Blast, a Talonflame divebombing onto an Indeedee and a Walrein blasting ice at an Abomasnow. "Rise up. This is the place to satiate your thirst. The gateway to glory. The dream come true. Are you ready for a challenge?"
The RP-accented narrator continued his gung-ho ramble which was half of advertising and half of made-up philosophy related to battle. Several other tense Pokemon battles flashed in and out in accordance with the narrator. The music swelled, becoming more and more triumphant with every note.
Luke could not help but widen his eyes at the TV screen. His interest did not lay in the flowery narration and premise, but the slick editing and choreography of the video. It reminded him of blockbuster trailers, designed to stuff even the most down-to-earth with hype. Seeing such a well-crafted project in a seemingly primitive world only strengthened his appreciation.
More and more Pokemon appeared as they brandished powerful attacks, till the music approached a crescendo. Right at that moment, the TV showed only a blank white void, catching Luke, Shade and the Hotshots off-guard.
In no time, a tall and muscular humanoid feline man with off-white skin, icy lavender eyes, and a long purple tail teleported in front of the camera. Cannon and Snowball were filled with awe, might and shock. To Luke, this Pokemon was the most imposing he had ever seen. There was something about him which even the most monstrous could not possess. Even Shade stared him with an open mouth and wider eyes.
The feline man charged a Shadow Ball in his three-fingered palm and thrust it into the camera, forming a screen-wide explosion.
"MEWTWO!" Cannon and Snowball stood up and screamed in excitement. Shade looked at them, only slightly surprised.
So this is the mon who defeated Eternatus? Luke recalled from Snowball's history book, The God of Battling! So that's why they're so amazed to begin with...
Two Pokemon suddenly appeared behind Mewtwo as the explosion subsided. One was a Rhyperior, whom Cannon and Snowball immediately recognized as Geovil Rockwrecker himself. The other was a delicate and spiffy Alakazam, his luxuriant blond mustache billowing under his purple eyes.
"Registration for the Ultra Brawl begins next week on March 28!" Mewtwo announced, pointing his finger to the camera, in a gruff and commanding baritone, "Monkind, gather yourselves at Rock Foundation HQ and begin your journeys to ultimate existence!" He gave a dominant grin.
It was at that moment where the announcement finally closed with a scrolling text depicting important information and the staff who worked on it. "Date of Registration : March 28. 1st Preliminaries : April 2. 2nd Preliminaries : May 10. Tournament Date : June 15-21."
"Wow..." Cannon gaped, "This is the best commercial I've ever seen."
"I agree," Snowball added, "A perfect example of publicity, isn't it?"
Shade only found herself blinking aimlessly with a raised heartbeat.
A bright light suddenly spread through Luke's mind. The prize money...It'd be a lot, right? This tournament...It's a fighting tournament...but...Yes!
"Snowball!" Luke gushed with electric eyes, getting up and scurrying to her, "I have a way to pay Shade's bills!" He kneeled down to make close eye contact with her as his tail wagged vigorously, "I can participate in this tournament and utilize the prize money!"
"Are you crazy, Luke?!" Snowball snapped, "This is a survival of the fittest! You're just an ordinary Lucario. There are many more Pokemon across the continents who will be way out of your league!"
"Don't worry, Snowball. I can work to raise myself to that league," Luke assured, "Think of paying the loan as normal. You have to bid farewell to cherished possessions and make a lot of sacrifices that you will regret in the future. Even raising the prices of your items does not guarantee increased profits," Shade stared at Luke, listening to his words, "Sure, you may achieve paying off the debt, but will everything be retained? Will you be able to win back your alienated customers?"
"No way!" Cannon agreed with him, "If Luke gets money from that tourney, I won't need to sell off the TV!" he told Snowball, "Nor would everymon find our food too costly! Right, Snowball?"
"You're right, Cannon," Snowball said, "But...why should all the burden be placed on him? There will be a lot of competition in a high-profile tournament like this, let alone the preliminaries. Wouldn't that be too much for him to fathom?"
"No," said Luke, standing up, "Do you remember how I saved Shade? How improbable did you think it was?" He took a brief glance at the Absol, who responded with a small nod.
"Yes," replied Snowball.
"My strength comes from all of you," Luke beamed, "I am always free to reverse hardships. For you and your husband..." He turned to Shade and pointed to her, "...and especially you," Shade widened her eyes.
"I promise that I will push myself to the limits...for the benefit of yourselves," Luke placed his paw on his chest spike, "And possibly far beyond that."
"Make it happen!" Cannon woofed, jumping with joy, "Go and become the champion!"
"At least prove you can do it," Snowball challenged.
It was now bedtime. The Hotshots have already had dinner. Cannon and Snowball were preparing the beds while Luke was outside the cave with Shade, wanting to have an interaction with her before sleep.
"Shade," Luke said, looking at her, "I'm going to participate in the Ultra Brawl to earn the money for your treatment." He gave a warm smile at her.
"You want to be a pro battler?" Shade asked as her fur bristled in the cold night wind.
"I have no interest in all this fancy business," Luke replied, observing the stars twinkling in the sky, his paws behind his back, "I'm only doing this for you and my employers."
"Really? You don't like battling?"
"That was the recent past. But after saving you, I realized that battling can be meaningful. I can fight criminals to save innocents like you. Since everymon else loves to fight, I always accept the offer to heat their blood. And now, it has become much more important to me than ever. Because I want to make you feel better."
"Me? You don't want to hurt me?"
"Hurt you? That's blasphemy!" Luke's feelers jumped, "There's nothing I hate more than other Pokemon being emotionally hurt."
"But will you really get far enough in the tournament? Other Pokemon may be much stronger than you."
"Watch," Luke threw an Aura Sphere in the sky. The projectile of energy blasted off far in the sky like a rocket.
"Your Aura Sphere is bright," commented Shade, staring at the sky. Her mind flashed back to the seething, glowing mass of fury who took down a gang of thugs last week. She remembered all those powerful Aura Spheres, Meteor Mashes, Extreme Speeds and Bone Rushes he doled out, "But...you fainted when you tried to rescue me, right? If you were strong enough to win the Ultra Brawl, you would have not fainted."
"You...are my main motivation, Shade," Luke assured her, "I will become as strong as you wish me to be," He kneeled down and brought out his paw. Shade tried to back off when he gently caressed the fur on her head. She blinked at him, dumbfounded by a feeling she was not even cognizant of.
Luke took his paw off Shade's head and brought it in front of his eyes. He rolled his paw into a clenched fist, and embers of aura emanated from it.
"I will fight...for you."
Author's Notes :
This is it. Finally, the first real arc of PMD : Ultra Brawl begins...Expect a lot of training, whining, monologuing, and of course, fighting in the next few chapters. Here are some footnotes.
-I had to spend two whole hours researching on medical finance to finalize a doable amount for Shade's treatment (read - two words!). I am well aware of the financial crunch caused by paid healthcare systems. Note : poken is based on the yen, not the US dollar, so I was converting USD bills to yen.
-I also found it quite difficult to write about Snowball's feelings. I wanted her to be incredulous at how saving somemon could lead to bankruptcy, without making her come off as ignorant of Shade.
Happy holidays to all of you, readers, and feel free to post any reviews or concrits if you'd like!
TurboBolt99