"Ladies and gentleman, welcome to this league final match. We've seen a lot of action this year at the league competition. We've seen stunning upsets and come-from-behind victories, but I think everyone can agree that the two finalists this year are some of the finest that we've ever seen. Both of these trainers have earned the right to face off against the elite four, but as we all know, this tournament still needs a champion. Battling today on the blue side will be Conrad from Cherrygrove City. He will be facing Marlow from Olivine City on the blue side. Marlow is eighteen and has been always wanted to become a pokemon master since his childhood and he has entered this tournament to perfect his skills. Conrad is thirty-six and he says that he has been around for a while. He has entered this tournament because he was hoping that it could open some doors for him. Incidentally enough, both of our finalists this year are traveling companions and made the trip up to Indigo together. Let's hope they don't take it easy on each other. As you all know, the rules for the final match are the same with one exception. Final round matches are six on six instead of the usual three on three. Both Conrad and Marlow have requested that we not announce the actions of the battle and that request will be honored. There is no time limit for this match. Trainers, are you ready?"
"Yes," replied Marlow.
"Fire at will," put in Conrad.
"Begin!"
"Lead us in to battle, Lapras," said Conrad.
"Tentacruel come out," commanded Marlow.
The jellyfish pokemon emerged and faced its equally aquatic opponent. Lapras wiggled its ears and turned back to Conrad for a quick moment before looking back at tentacruel. The two pokemon knew each other and their respective trainers. Both seemed intent on battling. It was okay with them.
"They that thrive will take counsel from friends," Conrad said solemnly.
"Hold nothing back. Surprise them all," put in Marlow.
"Lapras, use thunderbolt," ordered Conrad.
"Mirror coat tentacruel."
Lapras bowed its head and began to glow a yellow light. Electrical energy began to channel itself around its body and it increased until it was shot up into the air and crashing down onto its opponent. Tentacruel glowed a reflective glow and Lapras could see its own attack in a mirror. A few seconds later Lapras could feel its own attack and the pain it caused. It was not terribly pleasant.
"Good job lapras, now confuse ray."
"Tentacruel, swords dance."
Tentacruel began to spin around gracefully and it stiffened its tentacles and it stiffened the muscles around its mouth and then relaxed them. The muscles all around its body tensed and relaxed and as it finished spinning and it felt a new, heightened sense of balance. It was ready for a doubly effective attack. Lapras cared nothing for the movements as it channeled its energies and fired a disabling beam right at tentacruel. Tentacruel became confused and its target now became increasingly unclear. Marlow's expression remained unchanged. Tentacruel would stay in.
"Whirlpool, Lapras."
"Continue swords dancing."
Tentacruel attempted to boost its offensive power further, but it could not direct its attention properly and it wasted all the energy it exerted. Lapras raised its head and fired a stream of water near tentacruel. It flung itself into the stream and began to propel itself upward. With a good deal of spinning and its own mastery of water itself, Lapras created a water tornado that sealed in its foe. Though certainly not damaging, the watery jellyfish could not get out of it.
"Tentacruel, try swords dance again."
"Perish song," ordered Conrad.
The confusion's effect left tentacruel and now it was free to use another swords dance. Tentacruel performed its graceful movements to a very haunting melody. Lapras begun to sing a melody that was both dark and haunting while being attractive at the same time. As Lapras finished, it smiled to itself, for it was no longer its opponents enemy. The song of destruction would win the battle for him. Perish song would faint tentacruel in a short period of time and Marlow could not recall it as it was still trapped in the whirlpool.
"Sludge bomb."
"Protect."
Tentacruel was not visible within the huge spinning wall of water, yet it still managed to accurately launch a sludge bomb right through the watery prison. As the sludge bomb neared lapras, the ferry pokemon put up a glowing clear blue barrier. The poisonous glob faded away as it came into contact with the barrier and lapras remained completely unharmed. As the attacks finished, the song of destruction echoed another time.
"It will not be enough," said Conrad.
"I know," replied Marlow solemnly.
The two battlers exchanged glances. Conrad was his usual self, but Marlow surprisingly still kept that same look of power and confidence from the previous day. Marlow was pouring everything into this without regret. He was in full control.
"Lapras, protect again."
"Whirlpool."
Surprise swept across Conrad's face. The watery tornado surrounding tentacruel began to increase in size until it became large enough to envelop Lapras. Lapras attempted to put up its barrier another time, but it failed and both pokemon were now trapped in the whirlpool, unable to free themselves. The song of destruction echoed louder another time.
"Protect."
"Sludge bomb."
Neither pokemon could gain any ground within the veil of the water. The song of destruction repeated itself again, but this time it was as loud as it had first been. The great force of the whirlpool faded away and the wall of water came splattering down to the ground. Both of the two pokemon were completely unconscious and helpless.
"Very sly of you, Marlow, very sly. That was also very well played, although you'll have to gain ground if you want to win."
"My endeavors have ever come short of my desires," quoted Marlow.
"Quite so," affirmed Conrad.
"Lapras and tentacruel are unable to battle. The match is tied at 5-5."
"Tauros," said Marlow.
"Granbull," said Conrad.
The huge wild bull met the bull dog. Tauros raised a hoof and brought it backwards quickly, readying itself for a charge. Granbull lowered its jaw and licked its lips. It was going to try something a little different today. It had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
"Tauros, body slam it."
"Use charm."
Tauros broke out into a mad charge and with incredible speed it plowed straight through granbull. The canine was knocked backwards, but it rolled back to an upright position. It was damaged, but nowhere near beaten. Granbull had a special charm attack in mind. An attack that would be especially effective against this particular foe. Granbull locked eyes with tauros and a wordless exchange took place. Psychologically, granbull seemed to make itself into an innocent creature of fragility with whom there was familiarity and friendship. The initial rage tauros could unleash on command now softened. Though it would still obey the orders of its trainer, it could not exercise its full power.
"Body slam again."
"More charm."
With a smaller amount of force, tauros stampeded forward again and gave its foe a smaller hit. Granbull recovered quickly and locked eyes again. This time it seemed even more innocent, after it had suffered an attack without retaliation. The seriousness of the battle escaped tauros as it looked at granbull.
"Body slam."
"Return."
Tauros simply could not unleash powerful force. It charged up and did a weak body slam, barely knocking granbull down. Granbull arose and returned with a charge of its own. This one was much more punishing.
"Horn drill."
"Return."
This time tauros was going for the kill. It lowered its head and charged horns first. Granbull's charm would do nothing to stop a fatal hit of this caliber. As tauros charged forward, granbull made a quick leap to the side and it narrowly missed defeat. Tauros slowed its charge and moved back towards its own side of the arena granbull advanced and crashed into it again. The wild bull remained afoot, but it staggered slightly. The next attack would decide the fate of both pokemon.
"Horn drill one more time."
"Hyper beam."
Granbull held its position and focused all of its energy into a massive beam. Tauros advanced in a mad rush, trying to finish the dog off before getting blown into next week. Granbull was ready to fire as tauros rapidly closed the gap. Granbull targeted tauros, but it was coming in too fast. It would surely connect this time. It did. Tauros seemed to impale granbull on its horns. With its massive strength it then lifted the bull dog off and flung it backwards in a crumpled heap.
"Granbull is unable to battle. Marlow now leads 5-4."
"Excellent work Marlow. Now let's see how you handle porygon," said Conrad happily.
As porygon2 emerged Marlow realized that he had not gained much ground by taking down granbull. Tauros had lost his offensive powers and Marlow wasn't about to let porygon2 get an extra hit on any of his bench. All that was left to do was try another single hit knockout.
"Horn drill," said Marlow again.
"Finish it with a thunderbolt," Conrad commanded.
Tauros tried its horn drill another time, but its death charge was inaccurate. The wonder of science dodged it easily and was now about the business of launching a thunderbolt. Tauros was toppled as a bolt of electricity pulsed out from porygon2.
"Tauros is unable to battle. The match is now tied 4-4."
"Dodrio, come out," ordered Marlow.
The three headed bird emerged and each head was fixed on the electronic bird that they knew so well. Marlow had en elaborate combo in mind, but he would have to butcher it down to the minimum if it was going to have even the most remote chance of working.
"Tri attack," said Marlow.
"Thunderbolt again."
Each of the heads of dodrio began to open their beaks and a beam of light expelled. Three different color beams hit porygon2 from different angles. Porygon2 was still functioning. Damage systems to the systems was considerable, but not critical. No status effect remained. The thunderbolt attack initiated. The bolt of lightning caused severe damage to its target. More than half of its health was depleted.
Marlow sighed to himself. He was hoping he could've started a run with dodrio but it was too late. He would have to settle for taking down porygon2. Conrad was not giving him any room to get a foothold. Marlow had to break even.
"Dodrio, endure!" exclaimed Marlow.
"Oh no you don't. Porygon2, icy wind."
Dodrio closed its eyes and braced itself to withstand another attack. The three headed bird simply focused on retaining consciousness. It would surely survive anything porygon2 was capable of. The porygon2 unit was not aiming to inflict pain. It unleashed a huge mixture of cold wind and ice. This ice was unique. It would implant itself on its target. As the winds died down, dodrio found much of its body crystallized with shards of ice. The speedy bird was now weighed down with ice and its stride was cut short.
"How do you like the idea of icy wind on porygon2?" asked Conrad.
"It's definitely paying off here. I think it could work as a good setup for a kill or at least allow something else to do the work," replied Marlow calmly.
"Flail."
"Thunderbolt.
Marlow frowned. Conrad knew him too well and he was too well prepared. Marlow again could not switch into another powerful special attack. Dodrio was about to turn all of its pain and weakness and rage into pure destructive power that would devastate most anything. Porygon2 didn't mind. The icy shards slowed the bird down enough for it to administer a light bolt of thunder, finishing the bird off before it could finish it off.
"Dodrio is unable to battle. Conrad now leads 4-3."
"Nobody has taken it down faster than you, Conrad," congratulated Marlow.
"Thanks. I try,"confessed Conrad.
"Meganium."
The fully evolved grass starter was very familiar to the crowd. Marlow had given it a more unique set for this battle.
"Swords Dance."
"Icy wind."
Meganium did a graceful dance not only to relax and to prepare for the next attack, but to warm up and stretch out its muscles giving it full freedom of movement. Porygon2 unleashed another icy wind on meganium, causing only moderate damage and the leftover ice constricted the movement of its grass adversary.
"I'll have to settle for just that. Time for a switch," said Conrad.
"Earthquake," commanded Marlow.
Porygon2 was withdrawn and in its stead emerged rapidash. Conrad knew what was coming, but he had some other things in mind. Meganium raised both of its front feet and brought them down to the ground. The ground began to shake and a huge mound of earth bulged up and caught rapidash before it had any time to do much of anything. The earth did great harm to the flames along the horse's body. Rapidash was not yet defeated. It was ready to return the doubly effective attack for one of its own.
"Fire blast."
"Come back meganium. Out flareon."
The huge wall of flames meant to burn up some vegetation were instead received by the fiery evolution of eevee. Flareon hardly flinched as it endured the fire.
"Body slam flareon," said Marlow.
"Hypnosis," said Conrad.
Rapidash galloped forward and began to utter another of its lulling melodies hoping to incapacitate flareon. Flareon was not effected and it dropped its weight before springing upward and straight into rapidash. Rapidash let out a cry of pain as it staggered and tried to get back to its feet. Though nearly beaten, the fire stallion still stood erect and awaited its next command.
"One more hypnosis."
"Finish it off with another body slam."
Another soothing melody was uttered by rapidash, this one successfully put flareon under. Sleeping and unable to attack, flareon now became helpless and immobilized.
"Now you will see why I have bothered. It's time to take more pot shots with single hit KO's," remarked Conrad.
"Joy," Marlow said in the most monotone voice he could have used.
"Horn drill."
"Body slam if and when you happen to wake up."
Rapidash tried to line itself up with flareon. In order for the single hit knockout to be successful, the strike would have to be a dead on body shot while going at considerable speed. This was incredibly difficult. Lowering its head, it galloped forward. Lying on the league arena asleep, flareon went its first round of unconsciousness unharmed. Rapidash had missed its mark with horn drill as its charge had put it just a few feet away.
"Horn drill again.
Marlow had not issued a command as he noted that his fiery pokemon was not to awake on that round. Still not flustered, rapidash retreated several paces before it charged forward again. Again, the pokemon missed its target, this time off by less than half an arm's length.
"Horn drill, and don't miss this time."
Marlow knew flareon would be taken out soon. He would not switch. He would not allow rapidash two chances to get a single hit knockout on his most powerful pokemon. He simply would not.
Rapidash, a bit enraged at its previously failed attempts to connect with horn drill, smothered its anger and calmly envisioned its opponent mentally. The fire stallion charged forward horn first and went straight into flareon. After a moment it raised its head and it shook to one side causing flareon to topple over limp.
"Thanks," said Conrad.
"Flareon is unable to battle. Conrad now leads 4-2."
Marlow had to use him. It was the only way to win.
"Go, nidoking," Marlow said boldly.
"I've waited the entire battle for this," admitted Conrad.
"Nidoking, amnesia."
"Rapidash hypnosis."
Conrad bit his lip. Marlow was taking a risk. Why?
Nidoking resumed its meditative stance as a melodious song filled the air. The noise did not seem to penetrate its concentration, for it was just another outside distraction that was of no consequence.
"Hypnosis."
"Earthquake."
Nidoking pounded the ground and as it did, underground shock waves split the arena apart. Rapidash attempted to calm the storm by putting nidoking under, but the attempt failed. In a few seconds, nidoking had caused a massive tremor and a powerful uplift came out right under rapidash, knocking it painfully upwards. Rapidash was unconscious well before it came back down.
"Rapidash is unable to battle. Conrad leads 3-2."
"Porygon2, out."
"Psychic."
"Amnesia."
After launching such a terrible earthquake, nidoking went back into its meditation fairly easily. Porygon2 unleashed its most powerful blast of artificial psychic energy, but it left nidoking unfazed.
"Again," ordered Conrad.
"Earthquake."
Nidoking leaped into the air and pounded out another powerful earthquake. Porygon2 was definitely damaged by the attack, but that did not stop it from using a psychic attack in reply. Nidoking would not be stopped. The damage dealt was negligible.
"Earthquake."
"Recover."
"This is not working. I see your plan now, Marlow. You were going to simply sweep away when the time was right for nidoking. Taking out lapras was a smooth move. You pulled it off well," uttered Conrad in a respectful tone.
"Thanks, but I trust you'll put a stop to this?" inquired Marlow.
"Of course friend, of course." replied Conrad.
"Well, let's hope you can withstand a certain one hundred base power ground with stab."
"Porygon2 return, come parasect."
The bug grass type mushroom emerged to take another of nidoking's earthquakes. Unlike the others, parasect was hardly phased by the assault.
"It's only good for one thing," explained Conrad, "And that's spore!"
"Ice beam, nidoking."
With its superb versatility, nidoking now began to launch an icy assault. A chilling beam hit the parasite and its body began to freeze and harden. The ice did harden on to the host bug and parasect wiggled the bigger cubes off its mushroom. Turning to nidoking, the bug let loose its powerful spores that began to fill the air, leaving no escape from sleep to any opponent.
Nidoking was forced into unconsciousness as parasect tried to get rid of its icy wounds. Both pokemon were healed by berries. A tiny gold flash of light restored a small amount of parasect's strength. A berry awakened nidoking from its sleep. Parasect was not happy that its spored adversary was awake again.
"So this was why you chanced sleep earlier. It would be nice if you could escape it now. Spore again, parasect," ordered Conrad.
Nidoking launched another icy beam. Were it not for parasect's berry, it would not have survived the assault at all. Still hanging on, the mushroom launched another spore. This time, nidoking could not escape from sleep.
Marlow paused. He would have to wait a turn to find out what he would do next. If parasect had growth, he could wait it out until nidoking woke up again. If it was swords dance, he would have to switch out to meganium. There was only one way to find out. Nidoking remained asleep.
"Parasect, swords dance."
Marlow sighed. He would have to switch out.
"Return nidoking. Finish it, meganium."
"Hyper beam, parasect."
Parasect concentrated its energy and blasted meganium with a powerful glowing beam of energy. Meganium was forced backward and it continued rolling until the beam subsided. Meganium had sustained a powerful hit, but it was not yet beaten. It boldly returned to its feet and it was not free to eliminate its helpless adversary anyway it chose.
"Swords dance, meganium."
Meganium pumped up its attack power as parasect now completely immobilized from its last offensive.
"Ancientpower."
"Hyper beam."
Parasect had no chance. Before it could even begin to form a hyper beam, meganium had sent rows of gigantic boulders coming up from the earth. Parasect itself was uplifted by one and it was forced upwards until it collided with another boulder. The poor host bug did not have a chance.
"Parasect is unable to battle. The match is now tied at two."
"Things are down to the wire, dear friend," said Conrad.
"Isn't it grand?" asked Marlow.
"Very much so," replied Conrad.
Conrad had sent out his next pokemon during the brief exchange. A raichu emerged. Marlow would make short work of it.
"Bring it down with an earthquake," said Marlow.
"Endure, raichu."
Meganium unleashed a powerful earthquake that would under most circumstances obliterate the evolved version of the ever-so popular electric mouse. Raichu's eyes remained closed as the ground attack hit it with full force. After being shaken up and tossed violently by the earth, its eyes opened and it rose up again.
"Reversal."
Marlow ordered nothing upon hearing this. Raichu now took all of its pain and weakness and channeled it. With its directed energy, raichu bolted straight towards meganium and delivered a swift kick that was so powerful that it flipped the grassy pokemon backwards.
"Meganium is unable to battle. Conrad now leads 2-1."
Without any alternative, Marlow brought out nidoking. The drill beast was still asleep when it emerged.
"Raichu, surf," commanded Conrad.
A wave of shock swept through the audience all the way down to Marlow as to how such a feat was possible. Everyone eyed the league referees, expecting some intercession, but there was none. Marlow put away his surprise. Conrad always had connections.
"Nidoking. Wake up now and finish him with an earthquake!" exclaimed Marlow.
Conrad's raichu had been extremely well trained and equally well gifted. The masses were more than a little surprised when Raichu began to spew forth water. It was not a very strong stream, but it was a burst quick enough to propel itself into the air. Instead of riding a wave down, raichu cheated and propelled itself directly towards Nidoking. It unleashed a drop kick and then followed up with a spray of what little water it could store. The attack was extremely damaging.
Shock swept across the crowd. What type of new power was this? Would there be other pokemon with moves of this nature coming? Nidoking lay motionless and face down in a small puddle of water. Raichu looked on curiously. Fingertips began to move. Legs began to stretch. Nidoking's head turned around. Its eyes were open.
Nidoking simultaneously jumped to its feet and launched a booming earthquake that knocked raichu into the air. It landed several yards away.
"Raichu is unable to battle. The match is now tied at one."
"Let's wrap it up Porygon2."
Porygon2 and nidoking faced off once again. Their respective trainers looked into each other's eyes and each others souls. Seconds became minutes that seemed like hours. Marlow and Conrad were both in deep thought. Suddenly, Marlow nodded at Conrad. Conrad nodded back.
"The coup de grace," uttered Marlow.
"The coup de grace," repeated Conrad.
With all of its might, nidoking shook the ground for one final time. It seemed as though the entire arena shook a bit from its foundation. A huge dune came up just above porygon2, violently crashing the unit and landing it on the ground.
Porygon2's sensors calculated that it had the strength left for one more attack. It would be an ice beam as its trainer had previously ordered. The front end of the man made pokemon glowed a deep blue and a frosty ray was sent forward. The ray caused huge chunks of ice to form all around nidoking.
The two pokemon faced each other again. Nidoking struggled with every last bit of strength it had to remain on its feet. The porygon unit was too damaged to continue hovering at its usual place above the ground for much longer. Conrad and Marlow exchanged one final glance. Nidoking collapsed.
"The champion has been decided!"
"Yes," replied Marlow.
"Fire at will," put in Conrad.
"Begin!"
"Lead us in to battle, Lapras," said Conrad.
"Tentacruel come out," commanded Marlow.
The jellyfish pokemon emerged and faced its equally aquatic opponent. Lapras wiggled its ears and turned back to Conrad for a quick moment before looking back at tentacruel. The two pokemon knew each other and their respective trainers. Both seemed intent on battling. It was okay with them.
"They that thrive will take counsel from friends," Conrad said solemnly.
"Hold nothing back. Surprise them all," put in Marlow.
"Lapras, use thunderbolt," ordered Conrad.
"Mirror coat tentacruel."
Lapras bowed its head and began to glow a yellow light. Electrical energy began to channel itself around its body and it increased until it was shot up into the air and crashing down onto its opponent. Tentacruel glowed a reflective glow and Lapras could see its own attack in a mirror. A few seconds later Lapras could feel its own attack and the pain it caused. It was not terribly pleasant.
"Good job lapras, now confuse ray."
"Tentacruel, swords dance."
Tentacruel began to spin around gracefully and it stiffened its tentacles and it stiffened the muscles around its mouth and then relaxed them. The muscles all around its body tensed and relaxed and as it finished spinning and it felt a new, heightened sense of balance. It was ready for a doubly effective attack. Lapras cared nothing for the movements as it channeled its energies and fired a disabling beam right at tentacruel. Tentacruel became confused and its target now became increasingly unclear. Marlow's expression remained unchanged. Tentacruel would stay in.
"Whirlpool, Lapras."
"Continue swords dancing."
Tentacruel attempted to boost its offensive power further, but it could not direct its attention properly and it wasted all the energy it exerted. Lapras raised its head and fired a stream of water near tentacruel. It flung itself into the stream and began to propel itself upward. With a good deal of spinning and its own mastery of water itself, Lapras created a water tornado that sealed in its foe. Though certainly not damaging, the watery jellyfish could not get out of it.
"Tentacruel, try swords dance again."
"Perish song," ordered Conrad.
The confusion's effect left tentacruel and now it was free to use another swords dance. Tentacruel performed its graceful movements to a very haunting melody. Lapras begun to sing a melody that was both dark and haunting while being attractive at the same time. As Lapras finished, it smiled to itself, for it was no longer its opponents enemy. The song of destruction would win the battle for him. Perish song would faint tentacruel in a short period of time and Marlow could not recall it as it was still trapped in the whirlpool.
"Sludge bomb."
"Protect."
Tentacruel was not visible within the huge spinning wall of water, yet it still managed to accurately launch a sludge bomb right through the watery prison. As the sludge bomb neared lapras, the ferry pokemon put up a glowing clear blue barrier. The poisonous glob faded away as it came into contact with the barrier and lapras remained completely unharmed. As the attacks finished, the song of destruction echoed another time.
"It will not be enough," said Conrad.
"I know," replied Marlow solemnly.
The two battlers exchanged glances. Conrad was his usual self, but Marlow surprisingly still kept that same look of power and confidence from the previous day. Marlow was pouring everything into this without regret. He was in full control.
"Lapras, protect again."
"Whirlpool."
Surprise swept across Conrad's face. The watery tornado surrounding tentacruel began to increase in size until it became large enough to envelop Lapras. Lapras attempted to put up its barrier another time, but it failed and both pokemon were now trapped in the whirlpool, unable to free themselves. The song of destruction echoed louder another time.
"Protect."
"Sludge bomb."
Neither pokemon could gain any ground within the veil of the water. The song of destruction repeated itself again, but this time it was as loud as it had first been. The great force of the whirlpool faded away and the wall of water came splattering down to the ground. Both of the two pokemon were completely unconscious and helpless.
"Very sly of you, Marlow, very sly. That was also very well played, although you'll have to gain ground if you want to win."
"My endeavors have ever come short of my desires," quoted Marlow.
"Quite so," affirmed Conrad.
"Lapras and tentacruel are unable to battle. The match is tied at 5-5."
"Tauros," said Marlow.
"Granbull," said Conrad.
The huge wild bull met the bull dog. Tauros raised a hoof and brought it backwards quickly, readying itself for a charge. Granbull lowered its jaw and licked its lips. It was going to try something a little different today. It had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
"Tauros, body slam it."
"Use charm."
Tauros broke out into a mad charge and with incredible speed it plowed straight through granbull. The canine was knocked backwards, but it rolled back to an upright position. It was damaged, but nowhere near beaten. Granbull had a special charm attack in mind. An attack that would be especially effective against this particular foe. Granbull locked eyes with tauros and a wordless exchange took place. Psychologically, granbull seemed to make itself into an innocent creature of fragility with whom there was familiarity and friendship. The initial rage tauros could unleash on command now softened. Though it would still obey the orders of its trainer, it could not exercise its full power.
"Body slam again."
"More charm."
With a smaller amount of force, tauros stampeded forward again and gave its foe a smaller hit. Granbull recovered quickly and locked eyes again. This time it seemed even more innocent, after it had suffered an attack without retaliation. The seriousness of the battle escaped tauros as it looked at granbull.
"Body slam."
"Return."
Tauros simply could not unleash powerful force. It charged up and did a weak body slam, barely knocking granbull down. Granbull arose and returned with a charge of its own. This one was much more punishing.
"Horn drill."
"Return."
This time tauros was going for the kill. It lowered its head and charged horns first. Granbull's charm would do nothing to stop a fatal hit of this caliber. As tauros charged forward, granbull made a quick leap to the side and it narrowly missed defeat. Tauros slowed its charge and moved back towards its own side of the arena granbull advanced and crashed into it again. The wild bull remained afoot, but it staggered slightly. The next attack would decide the fate of both pokemon.
"Horn drill one more time."
"Hyper beam."
Granbull held its position and focused all of its energy into a massive beam. Tauros advanced in a mad rush, trying to finish the dog off before getting blown into next week. Granbull was ready to fire as tauros rapidly closed the gap. Granbull targeted tauros, but it was coming in too fast. It would surely connect this time. It did. Tauros seemed to impale granbull on its horns. With its massive strength it then lifted the bull dog off and flung it backwards in a crumpled heap.
"Granbull is unable to battle. Marlow now leads 5-4."
"Excellent work Marlow. Now let's see how you handle porygon," said Conrad happily.
As porygon2 emerged Marlow realized that he had not gained much ground by taking down granbull. Tauros had lost his offensive powers and Marlow wasn't about to let porygon2 get an extra hit on any of his bench. All that was left to do was try another single hit knockout.
"Horn drill," said Marlow again.
"Finish it with a thunderbolt," Conrad commanded.
Tauros tried its horn drill another time, but its death charge was inaccurate. The wonder of science dodged it easily and was now about the business of launching a thunderbolt. Tauros was toppled as a bolt of electricity pulsed out from porygon2.
"Tauros is unable to battle. The match is now tied 4-4."
"Dodrio, come out," ordered Marlow.
The three headed bird emerged and each head was fixed on the electronic bird that they knew so well. Marlow had en elaborate combo in mind, but he would have to butcher it down to the minimum if it was going to have even the most remote chance of working.
"Tri attack," said Marlow.
"Thunderbolt again."
Each of the heads of dodrio began to open their beaks and a beam of light expelled. Three different color beams hit porygon2 from different angles. Porygon2 was still functioning. Damage systems to the systems was considerable, but not critical. No status effect remained. The thunderbolt attack initiated. The bolt of lightning caused severe damage to its target. More than half of its health was depleted.
Marlow sighed to himself. He was hoping he could've started a run with dodrio but it was too late. He would have to settle for taking down porygon2. Conrad was not giving him any room to get a foothold. Marlow had to break even.
"Dodrio, endure!" exclaimed Marlow.
"Oh no you don't. Porygon2, icy wind."
Dodrio closed its eyes and braced itself to withstand another attack. The three headed bird simply focused on retaining consciousness. It would surely survive anything porygon2 was capable of. The porygon2 unit was not aiming to inflict pain. It unleashed a huge mixture of cold wind and ice. This ice was unique. It would implant itself on its target. As the winds died down, dodrio found much of its body crystallized with shards of ice. The speedy bird was now weighed down with ice and its stride was cut short.
"How do you like the idea of icy wind on porygon2?" asked Conrad.
"It's definitely paying off here. I think it could work as a good setup for a kill or at least allow something else to do the work," replied Marlow calmly.
"Flail."
"Thunderbolt.
Marlow frowned. Conrad knew him too well and he was too well prepared. Marlow again could not switch into another powerful special attack. Dodrio was about to turn all of its pain and weakness and rage into pure destructive power that would devastate most anything. Porygon2 didn't mind. The icy shards slowed the bird down enough for it to administer a light bolt of thunder, finishing the bird off before it could finish it off.
"Dodrio is unable to battle. Conrad now leads 4-3."
"Nobody has taken it down faster than you, Conrad," congratulated Marlow.
"Thanks. I try,"confessed Conrad.
"Meganium."
The fully evolved grass starter was very familiar to the crowd. Marlow had given it a more unique set for this battle.
"Swords Dance."
"Icy wind."
Meganium did a graceful dance not only to relax and to prepare for the next attack, but to warm up and stretch out its muscles giving it full freedom of movement. Porygon2 unleashed another icy wind on meganium, causing only moderate damage and the leftover ice constricted the movement of its grass adversary.
"I'll have to settle for just that. Time for a switch," said Conrad.
"Earthquake," commanded Marlow.
Porygon2 was withdrawn and in its stead emerged rapidash. Conrad knew what was coming, but he had some other things in mind. Meganium raised both of its front feet and brought them down to the ground. The ground began to shake and a huge mound of earth bulged up and caught rapidash before it had any time to do much of anything. The earth did great harm to the flames along the horse's body. Rapidash was not yet defeated. It was ready to return the doubly effective attack for one of its own.
"Fire blast."
"Come back meganium. Out flareon."
The huge wall of flames meant to burn up some vegetation were instead received by the fiery evolution of eevee. Flareon hardly flinched as it endured the fire.
"Body slam flareon," said Marlow.
"Hypnosis," said Conrad.
Rapidash galloped forward and began to utter another of its lulling melodies hoping to incapacitate flareon. Flareon was not effected and it dropped its weight before springing upward and straight into rapidash. Rapidash let out a cry of pain as it staggered and tried to get back to its feet. Though nearly beaten, the fire stallion still stood erect and awaited its next command.
"One more hypnosis."
"Finish it off with another body slam."
Another soothing melody was uttered by rapidash, this one successfully put flareon under. Sleeping and unable to attack, flareon now became helpless and immobilized.
"Now you will see why I have bothered. It's time to take more pot shots with single hit KO's," remarked Conrad.
"Joy," Marlow said in the most monotone voice he could have used.
"Horn drill."
"Body slam if and when you happen to wake up."
Rapidash tried to line itself up with flareon. In order for the single hit knockout to be successful, the strike would have to be a dead on body shot while going at considerable speed. This was incredibly difficult. Lowering its head, it galloped forward. Lying on the league arena asleep, flareon went its first round of unconsciousness unharmed. Rapidash had missed its mark with horn drill as its charge had put it just a few feet away.
"Horn drill again.
Marlow had not issued a command as he noted that his fiery pokemon was not to awake on that round. Still not flustered, rapidash retreated several paces before it charged forward again. Again, the pokemon missed its target, this time off by less than half an arm's length.
"Horn drill, and don't miss this time."
Marlow knew flareon would be taken out soon. He would not switch. He would not allow rapidash two chances to get a single hit knockout on his most powerful pokemon. He simply would not.
Rapidash, a bit enraged at its previously failed attempts to connect with horn drill, smothered its anger and calmly envisioned its opponent mentally. The fire stallion charged forward horn first and went straight into flareon. After a moment it raised its head and it shook to one side causing flareon to topple over limp.
"Thanks," said Conrad.
"Flareon is unable to battle. Conrad now leads 4-2."
Marlow had to use him. It was the only way to win.
"Go, nidoking," Marlow said boldly.
"I've waited the entire battle for this," admitted Conrad.
"Nidoking, amnesia."
"Rapidash hypnosis."
Conrad bit his lip. Marlow was taking a risk. Why?
Nidoking resumed its meditative stance as a melodious song filled the air. The noise did not seem to penetrate its concentration, for it was just another outside distraction that was of no consequence.
"Hypnosis."
"Earthquake."
Nidoking pounded the ground and as it did, underground shock waves split the arena apart. Rapidash attempted to calm the storm by putting nidoking under, but the attempt failed. In a few seconds, nidoking had caused a massive tremor and a powerful uplift came out right under rapidash, knocking it painfully upwards. Rapidash was unconscious well before it came back down.
"Rapidash is unable to battle. Conrad leads 3-2."
"Porygon2, out."
"Psychic."
"Amnesia."
After launching such a terrible earthquake, nidoking went back into its meditation fairly easily. Porygon2 unleashed its most powerful blast of artificial psychic energy, but it left nidoking unfazed.
"Again," ordered Conrad.
"Earthquake."
Nidoking leaped into the air and pounded out another powerful earthquake. Porygon2 was definitely damaged by the attack, but that did not stop it from using a psychic attack in reply. Nidoking would not be stopped. The damage dealt was negligible.
"Earthquake."
"Recover."
"This is not working. I see your plan now, Marlow. You were going to simply sweep away when the time was right for nidoking. Taking out lapras was a smooth move. You pulled it off well," uttered Conrad in a respectful tone.
"Thanks, but I trust you'll put a stop to this?" inquired Marlow.
"Of course friend, of course." replied Conrad.
"Well, let's hope you can withstand a certain one hundred base power ground with stab."
"Porygon2 return, come parasect."
The bug grass type mushroom emerged to take another of nidoking's earthquakes. Unlike the others, parasect was hardly phased by the assault.
"It's only good for one thing," explained Conrad, "And that's spore!"
"Ice beam, nidoking."
With its superb versatility, nidoking now began to launch an icy assault. A chilling beam hit the parasite and its body began to freeze and harden. The ice did harden on to the host bug and parasect wiggled the bigger cubes off its mushroom. Turning to nidoking, the bug let loose its powerful spores that began to fill the air, leaving no escape from sleep to any opponent.
Nidoking was forced into unconsciousness as parasect tried to get rid of its icy wounds. Both pokemon were healed by berries. A tiny gold flash of light restored a small amount of parasect's strength. A berry awakened nidoking from its sleep. Parasect was not happy that its spored adversary was awake again.
"So this was why you chanced sleep earlier. It would be nice if you could escape it now. Spore again, parasect," ordered Conrad.
Nidoking launched another icy beam. Were it not for parasect's berry, it would not have survived the assault at all. Still hanging on, the mushroom launched another spore. This time, nidoking could not escape from sleep.
Marlow paused. He would have to wait a turn to find out what he would do next. If parasect had growth, he could wait it out until nidoking woke up again. If it was swords dance, he would have to switch out to meganium. There was only one way to find out. Nidoking remained asleep.
"Parasect, swords dance."
Marlow sighed. He would have to switch out.
"Return nidoking. Finish it, meganium."
"Hyper beam, parasect."
Parasect concentrated its energy and blasted meganium with a powerful glowing beam of energy. Meganium was forced backward and it continued rolling until the beam subsided. Meganium had sustained a powerful hit, but it was not yet beaten. It boldly returned to its feet and it was not free to eliminate its helpless adversary anyway it chose.
"Swords dance, meganium."
Meganium pumped up its attack power as parasect now completely immobilized from its last offensive.
"Ancientpower."
"Hyper beam."
Parasect had no chance. Before it could even begin to form a hyper beam, meganium had sent rows of gigantic boulders coming up from the earth. Parasect itself was uplifted by one and it was forced upwards until it collided with another boulder. The poor host bug did not have a chance.
"Parasect is unable to battle. The match is now tied at two."
"Things are down to the wire, dear friend," said Conrad.
"Isn't it grand?" asked Marlow.
"Very much so," replied Conrad.
Conrad had sent out his next pokemon during the brief exchange. A raichu emerged. Marlow would make short work of it.
"Bring it down with an earthquake," said Marlow.
"Endure, raichu."
Meganium unleashed a powerful earthquake that would under most circumstances obliterate the evolved version of the ever-so popular electric mouse. Raichu's eyes remained closed as the ground attack hit it with full force. After being shaken up and tossed violently by the earth, its eyes opened and it rose up again.
"Reversal."
Marlow ordered nothing upon hearing this. Raichu now took all of its pain and weakness and channeled it. With its directed energy, raichu bolted straight towards meganium and delivered a swift kick that was so powerful that it flipped the grassy pokemon backwards.
"Meganium is unable to battle. Conrad now leads 2-1."
Without any alternative, Marlow brought out nidoking. The drill beast was still asleep when it emerged.
"Raichu, surf," commanded Conrad.
A wave of shock swept through the audience all the way down to Marlow as to how such a feat was possible. Everyone eyed the league referees, expecting some intercession, but there was none. Marlow put away his surprise. Conrad always had connections.
"Nidoking. Wake up now and finish him with an earthquake!" exclaimed Marlow.
Conrad's raichu had been extremely well trained and equally well gifted. The masses were more than a little surprised when Raichu began to spew forth water. It was not a very strong stream, but it was a burst quick enough to propel itself into the air. Instead of riding a wave down, raichu cheated and propelled itself directly towards Nidoking. It unleashed a drop kick and then followed up with a spray of what little water it could store. The attack was extremely damaging.
Shock swept across the crowd. What type of new power was this? Would there be other pokemon with moves of this nature coming? Nidoking lay motionless and face down in a small puddle of water. Raichu looked on curiously. Fingertips began to move. Legs began to stretch. Nidoking's head turned around. Its eyes were open.
Nidoking simultaneously jumped to its feet and launched a booming earthquake that knocked raichu into the air. It landed several yards away.
"Raichu is unable to battle. The match is now tied at one."
"Let's wrap it up Porygon2."
Porygon2 and nidoking faced off once again. Their respective trainers looked into each other's eyes and each others souls. Seconds became minutes that seemed like hours. Marlow and Conrad were both in deep thought. Suddenly, Marlow nodded at Conrad. Conrad nodded back.
"The coup de grace," uttered Marlow.
"The coup de grace," repeated Conrad.
With all of its might, nidoking shook the ground for one final time. It seemed as though the entire arena shook a bit from its foundation. A huge dune came up just above porygon2, violently crashing the unit and landing it on the ground.
Porygon2's sensors calculated that it had the strength left for one more attack. It would be an ice beam as its trainer had previously ordered. The front end of the man made pokemon glowed a deep blue and a frosty ray was sent forward. The ray caused huge chunks of ice to form all around nidoking.
The two pokemon faced each other again. Nidoking struggled with every last bit of strength it had to remain on its feet. The porygon unit was too damaged to continue hovering at its usual place above the ground for much longer. Conrad and Marlow exchanged one final glance. Nidoking collapsed.
"The champion has been decided!"