The attack came without warning.
Both teenagers yelped and dove in opposite directions as the huge Onix's head crashed into the wall behind them.
Ralthi and Ultimateon managed a high jump. While the huge rock snake lay temporarily stunned, they landed on it's back, running swiftly out to the side, and the small group spread out around the giant Pokemon.
Ralthi attacked first, causing the Onix to roar in pain as a jet of water slammed into its head. It reared up, it's eyes reddened with rage.
Sheila and Matt attacked together, dual Psywave attacks striking the rocky beast's body. Ultimateon flapped up to the high-domed ceiling, raining combination attacks of Razor Leaf and Water Gun.
The Onix seemed to be at an extremely high level, because the attacks only seemed to aggravate it. Faster than anyone could expect, it swung it's mighty tail-
Striking Ralthi and sending her flying with a pained squeal.
Matt yelled, warping into the little Pokemon's path and catching her in his arms. She curled into his chest, whimpering as he directed a Recover at her.
Meanwhile, Sheila had become the Onix's target, as Ultimateon was too high up to grab. She was hard pressed to avoid the lashing body of the rock snake, jumping and dodging to the best of her ability.
Up above, Ultimateon growled, beginning to charge up a massive attack.
A newly revived Ralthi and Matt began to fire Psybeams from a safer distance, the powerful attacks weakening the enemy.
Suddenly, everyone's attention was taken up by Ultimateon, who had suddenly been surrounded by a globe of whirring colors and symbols.
With a howling cry, Ultimateon released the mighty attack, straight at the Onix's head.
The powerful, rainbow beam, containing the energy of the most powerful known elements, struck the giant and exploded with a burst of blue-white.
The behemoth gave one final roar and toppled over, narrowly missing the astonished figures on the ground below.
Ultimateon glided softly to earth, tottering to Sheila's feet and collapsing, completely worn out by that one attack.
And then there was silence, broken only by the sound of slow clapping.
Simultaneously, the heads of the four turned towards the high placed balcony, where their inhuman eyes picked out the shady form of a tall man, with a Pokemon at his side.
Matt nudged Sheila, mouthing, "Giovanni."
"Very good," came the voice of the Rocket Boss, as he moved a little further into the light. The form next to him revealed itself to be a smug-looking Persian, who emitted a purr before slinking back into the gloom. "Dr. Dawes has truly done an amazing job on you all. However, my Onix is not the only thing you must face. You must be trained to the peak of your abilities, all of you."
Sheila bristled. How dare he talk about them as though they were mere objects, inanimate robots with no will?
The Onix next to them shimmered and disappeared, vanishing into Giovanni's Pokeball with a flash of red. "You may go."
Matt took Sheila by the arm, leading her out of the battledome's exit. Once back in the room, she shivered and sat down hard on the bed.
"HOW can you just stand there and follow his orders, Matt? It's possible to just warp up there and end it! Or get away! How can you stand it?"
Matt rubbed his arms, where goose bumps had appeared. "He's way too powerful to just do that. Better to improve our skills while we can. That man is very, very dangerous. He has powers that we can't beat."
She shrugged, throwing up her arms in exasperation. "I guess you're right." She *had* sensed something unnatural about Giovanni, a kind of aura that made her feel uneasy. "We'd better just rest up. If that was a beginner's battle, I'd had to think of what we'll face next."
Ultimateon was already asleep, sprawled tiredly on the floor of the room. The other three were beat, but they managed to stumble to the food dispenser in the corner of the room.
Sheila hated the tasteless nutrient bar Matt handed her, but she was to hungry to argue and consumed it, then immediately hopped into the bunk, Ralthi curling up lightly on top of the sheets.
Matt groaned and slapped his forehead. He'd have to take the couch. Again.
Both teenagers yelped and dove in opposite directions as the huge Onix's head crashed into the wall behind them.
Ralthi and Ultimateon managed a high jump. While the huge rock snake lay temporarily stunned, they landed on it's back, running swiftly out to the side, and the small group spread out around the giant Pokemon.
Ralthi attacked first, causing the Onix to roar in pain as a jet of water slammed into its head. It reared up, it's eyes reddened with rage.
Sheila and Matt attacked together, dual Psywave attacks striking the rocky beast's body. Ultimateon flapped up to the high-domed ceiling, raining combination attacks of Razor Leaf and Water Gun.
The Onix seemed to be at an extremely high level, because the attacks only seemed to aggravate it. Faster than anyone could expect, it swung it's mighty tail-
Striking Ralthi and sending her flying with a pained squeal.
Matt yelled, warping into the little Pokemon's path and catching her in his arms. She curled into his chest, whimpering as he directed a Recover at her.
Meanwhile, Sheila had become the Onix's target, as Ultimateon was too high up to grab. She was hard pressed to avoid the lashing body of the rock snake, jumping and dodging to the best of her ability.
Up above, Ultimateon growled, beginning to charge up a massive attack.
A newly revived Ralthi and Matt began to fire Psybeams from a safer distance, the powerful attacks weakening the enemy.
Suddenly, everyone's attention was taken up by Ultimateon, who had suddenly been surrounded by a globe of whirring colors and symbols.
With a howling cry, Ultimateon released the mighty attack, straight at the Onix's head.
The powerful, rainbow beam, containing the energy of the most powerful known elements, struck the giant and exploded with a burst of blue-white.
The behemoth gave one final roar and toppled over, narrowly missing the astonished figures on the ground below.
Ultimateon glided softly to earth, tottering to Sheila's feet and collapsing, completely worn out by that one attack.
And then there was silence, broken only by the sound of slow clapping.
Simultaneously, the heads of the four turned towards the high placed balcony, where their inhuman eyes picked out the shady form of a tall man, with a Pokemon at his side.
Matt nudged Sheila, mouthing, "Giovanni."
"Very good," came the voice of the Rocket Boss, as he moved a little further into the light. The form next to him revealed itself to be a smug-looking Persian, who emitted a purr before slinking back into the gloom. "Dr. Dawes has truly done an amazing job on you all. However, my Onix is not the only thing you must face. You must be trained to the peak of your abilities, all of you."
Sheila bristled. How dare he talk about them as though they were mere objects, inanimate robots with no will?
The Onix next to them shimmered and disappeared, vanishing into Giovanni's Pokeball with a flash of red. "You may go."
Matt took Sheila by the arm, leading her out of the battledome's exit. Once back in the room, she shivered and sat down hard on the bed.
"HOW can you just stand there and follow his orders, Matt? It's possible to just warp up there and end it! Or get away! How can you stand it?"
Matt rubbed his arms, where goose bumps had appeared. "He's way too powerful to just do that. Better to improve our skills while we can. That man is very, very dangerous. He has powers that we can't beat."
She shrugged, throwing up her arms in exasperation. "I guess you're right." She *had* sensed something unnatural about Giovanni, a kind of aura that made her feel uneasy. "We'd better just rest up. If that was a beginner's battle, I'd had to think of what we'll face next."
Ultimateon was already asleep, sprawled tiredly on the floor of the room. The other three were beat, but they managed to stumble to the food dispenser in the corner of the room.
Sheila hated the tasteless nutrient bar Matt handed her, but she was to hungry to argue and consumed it, then immediately hopped into the bunk, Ralthi curling up lightly on top of the sheets.
Matt groaned and slapped his forehead. He'd have to take the couch. Again.
