Chapter 11
For a moment, silence held sway, but Shalla spoke eventually.
"I am part of the Nelprin Clan..."
Tom let loose a gasp. The Nelprin Clan was one of the best in Martial Arts; despite having relatively few members. It was renowned for churning out world-class fighters, and only those who already possess a certain command of the skill were even allowed to petition for a position.
Shalla gave Tom a weary glance -- one that seemed to say, "Do you mind?" He promptly shut up.
"I am sure that you know what being a member there entails; however there are many vows to be taken -- ones which I thought unimportant at that time. There is one particular one, which involves you... *us*."
Tom waited with bated breath, wonder where this would lead.
"The vow involved abstaining from falling into relationships -- the romantic kind."
Tom gawked, incredulous. "I thought... That the clans..." Tom paused. He had no idea how to put it inoffensively.
Anticipating Tom, Shalla answered the unspoken question. "Well, yes. We do treasure loyalty, dedication, and above all, honour. However, this vow is only required to be a member of the inner circle. It was the chance of a lifetime... And I accepted the offer."
***
The sun set, seeming to accelerate, as it dipped below the distant snow-capped mountains. It lingered for a slight while, as if desperate to cast the last rays of radiance upon the plains before departing -- to return another day.
Tom and Shalla were still seated at the cliff's edge. Neither was speaking, yet Shalla appeared restless, shifting around every couple of seconds. Tom was staring out into the expanse, eyes glazed over and dull.
Shalla, occasionally peeked at Tom, but a faraway look greeted her. She got up -- unable to bear the hushed calm any longer. Twirling around, Shalla was abruptly jolted by Tom's voice.
"Shalla." Tom's tone was clear and steady, betraying no emotions what so ever. As if on cue, both turned around, and their eyes met -- for a split second. But that instant was all it took; Shalla flinched. The moment of eye contact revealed more about Tom than, possibly, what Shalla had ever known.
*That desolate look. its like... an abyss of despair; an empty void. I don't know what to do... its all so confusing.* "Tom... I..."
Tom held up a hand, gesturing for Shalla to halt. Turning back to face the twilight, Tom closed his eyes, and spoke. "its your choice, Shalla. No one can make it for you. I can... no. I *will* be here for you, but its all up to you..."
"I... Thanks. That means so much to me..." Shalla's voice trailed off, as she remembered something from her past. Whatever it was though, she shook it off.
"Shalla... Do you have to make the decision now?"
"Wha..."
"I mean can it wait? Or must you tell the inner council now?" Tom had twist around, his hazel eyes pleading.
"I... no." The simplicity of the answer was stunning, yet Tom heaved a sigh of relief. His own thoughts however cut off his elation. *I have to prepare for it. Running away, unfortunately, won't solve anything.*
"The inner council gathers once every five years, each time right after the Azure League Championships. So we still have four years."
"Is there... anyway that we can... convince the council to make an exception?"
"I d..." Unexpectedly, a fleeting image came to Shalla's mind. "There is... Once chance."
Tom listened intently.
"I'm sure you know the hierarchy of command. The champion of the league will get to battle Elite 4. Should the trainer win, he or she will be crowned the rank of Pokemaster. Then, he or she can make a request. That request can be anything -- unless it is impossible. Only one person in history has actually declined this honour. And that is Pokemaster Ash."
Tom knowing the history of the leagues rather well, nodded. Only seven trainers have ever defeated the Elite 4; the last being Ash. Only trainers who had emerged champion of the Azure League could challenge them, a rule implemented after the Elite 4 had a hard time coping with the many requests for battles. Therefore, now they only had one challenger every five years, although sometimes, previous champions would contest them once more.
"But what does that have to do with us?"
"I was thinking, although it might be thought selfish by some -- should you defeat the Elite 4, maybe you could request for the council to revoke that rule."
Tom eyes held a eerie gleam, as he whispered, "I'll do my best."
***
Tom and Shalla, dressed warmly, trekked up the mountain. A week had passed since the last gym victory, and they were headed for the ice gym, training along the way. There, according to Shalla, the challenge laid not in how to find the gym, but how to get there. The most direct, and fastest route was of course to climb up the eighty-degree slope, but Tom had chosen a less treacherous approach -- to follow the winding track that meandered up the slope.
The ascent was strenuous and demanding, requiring frequent breaks to find ways around rockslides and the like. But after a few days' climb, their hectic pace dawdled; their movements getting more sluggish by the second. The snow, only a light coating concealing the hard-packed ice beneath, decreased the friction, allowing for inevitable slips and falls. The warmth was nonexistent, the bitter winds howling as stinging needles of pain slapped once and once again into the pair. Tom was no stranger to subzero temperatures, but these conditions soon had even him chilled to the core. They huddled together, straining even to breath. Each and every inhalation was a nightmare, the icy air seeking to soak up every last bit of heat from their lungs. There was nothing to soothe them -- the peak was forever shrouded by fog, effectively cloaking it.
The only comfort was the view below. It was breath taking to say the least, the vast plains; or rather what was visible of the pastures and such below. Even this had its detriments however -- the sheer distance of the ground would put everything in perspective. Even people without acrophobia would not be able to restrain a shudder at the sight.
Tom and Shalla struggled on, arms wrapped around each other for warmth and solace. Their bodies were packed together, but neither was aware of the intimacy, choosing instead to focus on the task at hand.
***
Tom and Shalla toiled on through the mist, the cloudy vapour effectively concealing all signs of the rest of the mountain, and visibility was reduced to only a few metres. They had long since given up speaking, alternatively squeezing each other each time the other stumbled or wanted to stop -- to stop in these conditions was to commit suicide, for the bodily function would cease to function once the blood flow slowed from lack of exertion.
"Let's stop. I'll let magmar out for some warmth."
The couple gathered around magmar, taking a much-needed rest. They had stopped at a place much like a plateau, but somehow the howling air currents seemed weaker.
***
The mist had lifted, and so had the relatively weak blizzard. They awoke, both dizzy from the lack of oxygen caused by the altitude. Tom was the first to something that none of them had seen the previous day -- a building. Ironically, they had stopped the previous time, ending up just a few metres from their goal.
It had been a taxing scramble, but they made it. The gym itself was the peak -- being the highest point. Tom studied it; the goal for which they had risked their very lives. The building seemed to be constructed from ice, like an igloo. It was huge, about the size of a standard 400m running track, leaving Tom to wonder how the ice blocks were kept in place. There were no visible carvings in place, yet a few ivory statues of Articuno were erected at regular intervals across the gym, or at least, what Tom could see of its exterior.
The dome shaped building did not have much of an original design, bar the frozen material used to construct it.
"Magmar return!"
"Tom, why bother?" Shalla was rather alarmed when magmar suddenly disappeared.
"I don't exactly want to burst in there with my only fire pokemon for the gym leader to see."
"Suit yourself."
They walked in, thankful for their gloves, shielding them from the intense cold radiating from the door. The interior was not much better than the rest of the mountain. It was still freezing, yet the sight was more than welcome.
The entire building, contrary to what Tom expected, was supported by huge steel beams, and where they criss-crossed, lights hung, illuminating the entire stadium. As Tom strolled forward, even more was apparent.
A battle was in progress, evident when a huge blast of fire illuminated the entire arena. Tom went forward to get a better look. Angus was battling, his familiar form gesturing wildly for emphasis on his commands. In fact, the movements were so comical, that Tom burst out laughing, Shalla joining in a moment later.
Angus looked back, his eyes brightening in recognition, and waved; soon however, he returned to the match. Tom looked at the billboard, and saw that the battle had gone well for Angus... Or rather, as well as a battle can get in an Azure League gym battle. Angus and the gym leader were both down to their last pokemon, Angus using his humongous charizard, and the leader using a sneasel.
Tom glanced back to the arena, a sunken pit in the ground. It continuously moved up and down, driven by unknown mechanisms. The field itself was rather scenic. It had a layer of snow, with a miniature river snaking through it. In some places, the snow had melted, revealing hard packed snow underneath, playing to the gym leader's advantage. The battle ended, with charizard somehow pinning the speedy sneasel with a fire blast.
Angus received his badge and prize, and dashed over to Tom.
"Hi!" Tom just grinned in response.
"How come you are still here?"
"Well, I had some things that needed doing."
"Like?"
"Well... I did pick up some company and stuff."
Angus snigger, and gave Tom a friendly shove. "You fiend. Who is she?"
Tom explained, leaving out some portions. "Oh well, I'll challenge the gym leader now. Care to watch?"
"Sure thing! I want to see if you have any new pokemon anyway."
Shalla, in the mean time, had gone over to the gym leader, chatting with the guy. They both looked up as Tom approached. The gym leader was rather plump, similar to an ursaring in build. Unlike the fierce pokemon however, the gym leader had a Santa Claus like face, a joyous smile etched onto his face. He was flushed red, whether from the cold or from the battle, Tom couldn't tell.
"I'm Chuck. I suppose you want a battle. Three on three. Standard gym rules... But could you hold on a second? The snow has to be replaced."
A transparent dome now covered the pit, and a miniature blizzard seemed to be brewing inside. When the storm settled, the bubble lifted, revealing the entire pit, covered in snow.
The two took their positions, and a "Ding!" signalled the start.
Magmar landed in the fluffy snow, bringing those that came into contact to a sizzling boil. Steam rose, shrouding magmar in a natural covering of mist. At the opposite end, A dewgong appearing, popping right into the river, and stuck its head out, grinning. The platform in the pit, housing the entire field, shifted, slowly moving up and down.
The battle commenced, with dewgong immediately diving into the water, out of view. A wave rose out of the river in its wake, rushing towards magmar, enveloping it. The attack drained away swiftly, revealing magmar -- thoroughly soaked, and irritated.
Running over to the river, magmar charged up both fists, each cracking with electricity. With out much force, he struck, sticking the duo thunderpunch into the water. Although the attack carried little force, the result was impressive. Yellow bolts arced over the water, lighting up the entire arena in a sickly glow. Before the surface, dewgong received much of the brunt, and bubbles rose to the surface, the marine pokemon unable to contain the air in its lungs.
In response, dewgong shot out of the water, summoning a giant snowstorm around its opponent. Magmar however, simply sent a massive column of flames towards the blizzard -- and dewgong. The blazing pillar started spinning, engulfing the blizzard attack, and swallowing it with ease. Continuing on, the fire spin overwhelmed dewgong, leaving behind but a charred mass that plunged back into the water in a wild tumble, unconscious.
Magmar, however did appear drained from sustaining the powerful fire attack, stood heaving for breath, visible billows of cloudy vapour emerging with every pant. *Damn it! This atmosphere is taking its toll on magmar. None of them are really equipped to cope with this climate, and the lack of oxygen.*
"Lapras! Go!" The transport pokemon materialised in the water, humming a soothing melody. Magmar was far less cheerful, the home ground advantage giving his opponents huge benefits. Concentrating, magmar shot a fire blast, the symbol travelling swiftly across the field. Lapras seemed amused at the attempt, and gushed a tremendous amount of water at the incoming inferno. The fire blast was easily overpowered in a misty vapour, but the rest of the water kept coming, heading straight for magmar, who was in no condition to dodge it.
A few seconds and a bellow; and magmar was returned. Lapras waited patiently, the calming melody still present. Tom sent out electabuzz, confident that the electric type would fair well. The striped pokemon emerged, assessing the situation nervously. His soles were hardly suited for walking on this icy terrain, and furthermore the entire field was moving up and down, disorienting to say the least.
"Rain dance!" Tom gave his first command in the battle, forming a strategy. Chuck on the opposite side, knew the implications of the move -- the arena would be wet, allowing electabuzz to shock lapras from anywhere. Chuck chuckled. He would have to take the enemy down as well. "Perish song! Whirlpool!"
Electabuzz closed his eyes, swaying slightly from side to side, mouthing a silent chant. From nowhere, storm clouds gathered, pouring rain into the field, melting the snow, and thickening the ice at some places. The greatest boon came from the artificial weather warming up the place, enabling electabuzz some comfort.
Lapras however wasn't idling. It sang softly, maintaining the song as a tornado formed, rushing towards electabuzz. Electabuzz allowed himself to be trapped, seeing to difference as to where he shot the electricity. From within the twisting mass of liquid, a bright flash occurred, the charge instantly travelling around the arena, breaking up some of the ice just by its sheer power alone. *He's staking everything on this single attack... its far larger than what he should be using...* Tom realised.
The effort was not wasted, as the thunder attack rippled through lapras, leaving it whimpering in anguish, painful spasms arising in its wake. The perish count dropped, leaving both pokemon shuddering from the prophecy of doom. With its creator paralysed, the whirlpool subsided, releasing electabuzz, letting him pummel unceremoniously to the ground. Both pokemon struggling to get an attack in, the perish count nevertheless dropped once more. The duo winced, and electabuzz abandoned all efforts to rise, letting a mild charge -- what's left of his energy reserve travel throughout the moist surroundings, shocking lapras for the last time.
The perish song ended.
Both pokemon collapsed, moaning from unseen forces. *I have a pretty good idea what Chuck's going to send out next... But who should I use? Rhydon is out of the picture; kingdra is definitely not suited to the next battle... Skarmory is not accustomed to the climate. Alakazam will have very little attacks to counter a sneasel... And I sure don't want to use shadow. Eevee... is a possibility... no -- a must. I have no choice. She's not that experienced, but she will do her best.*
Sneasel materialised in the field, observing the chunking of ice ripped out with disdain. Seeing no opponent as yet, it settled down, calmly sharpening its claws by digging them through a relatively softer patch of ice. This sneasel did not look evil -- rather, it had a determined air about it, signifying that the next battle would not be easy. Not that Tom expected it to be. After all, he had seen the sneasel battle Angus's Charizard -- and he had battled the charizard before.
"Go, eevee!"
In the stands, Shalla was jolted. *What is Tom thinking? Eevee just doesn't have the experience needed here...* But as she went over Tom's other pokemon, Shalla understood. She wasn't happy about it, but accepted Tom's decision.
Eevee was deceptively cute and cuddly in appearence, and yet Tom knew that she was a fierce fighter, albeit inexperienced. However, what she lacked in skill she more than made up for in enthusiasm, and was nicknamed "the devil" during training. She wore a necklace, one that had an everstone secured unobtrusively to it, preventing eevee from evolving. After all, Tom already had psychic and dark type pokemon.
Tom wondered how the battle would go; this was eevee's first.
For a moment, silence held sway, but Shalla spoke eventually.
"I am part of the Nelprin Clan..."
Tom let loose a gasp. The Nelprin Clan was one of the best in Martial Arts; despite having relatively few members. It was renowned for churning out world-class fighters, and only those who already possess a certain command of the skill were even allowed to petition for a position.
Shalla gave Tom a weary glance -- one that seemed to say, "Do you mind?" He promptly shut up.
"I am sure that you know what being a member there entails; however there are many vows to be taken -- ones which I thought unimportant at that time. There is one particular one, which involves you... *us*."
Tom waited with bated breath, wonder where this would lead.
"The vow involved abstaining from falling into relationships -- the romantic kind."
Tom gawked, incredulous. "I thought... That the clans..." Tom paused. He had no idea how to put it inoffensively.
Anticipating Tom, Shalla answered the unspoken question. "Well, yes. We do treasure loyalty, dedication, and above all, honour. However, this vow is only required to be a member of the inner circle. It was the chance of a lifetime... And I accepted the offer."
***
The sun set, seeming to accelerate, as it dipped below the distant snow-capped mountains. It lingered for a slight while, as if desperate to cast the last rays of radiance upon the plains before departing -- to return another day.
Tom and Shalla were still seated at the cliff's edge. Neither was speaking, yet Shalla appeared restless, shifting around every couple of seconds. Tom was staring out into the expanse, eyes glazed over and dull.
Shalla, occasionally peeked at Tom, but a faraway look greeted her. She got up -- unable to bear the hushed calm any longer. Twirling around, Shalla was abruptly jolted by Tom's voice.
"Shalla." Tom's tone was clear and steady, betraying no emotions what so ever. As if on cue, both turned around, and their eyes met -- for a split second. But that instant was all it took; Shalla flinched. The moment of eye contact revealed more about Tom than, possibly, what Shalla had ever known.
*That desolate look. its like... an abyss of despair; an empty void. I don't know what to do... its all so confusing.* "Tom... I..."
Tom held up a hand, gesturing for Shalla to halt. Turning back to face the twilight, Tom closed his eyes, and spoke. "its your choice, Shalla. No one can make it for you. I can... no. I *will* be here for you, but its all up to you..."
"I... Thanks. That means so much to me..." Shalla's voice trailed off, as she remembered something from her past. Whatever it was though, she shook it off.
"Shalla... Do you have to make the decision now?"
"Wha..."
"I mean can it wait? Or must you tell the inner council now?" Tom had twist around, his hazel eyes pleading.
"I... no." The simplicity of the answer was stunning, yet Tom heaved a sigh of relief. His own thoughts however cut off his elation. *I have to prepare for it. Running away, unfortunately, won't solve anything.*
"The inner council gathers once every five years, each time right after the Azure League Championships. So we still have four years."
"Is there... anyway that we can... convince the council to make an exception?"
"I d..." Unexpectedly, a fleeting image came to Shalla's mind. "There is... Once chance."
Tom listened intently.
"I'm sure you know the hierarchy of command. The champion of the league will get to battle Elite 4. Should the trainer win, he or she will be crowned the rank of Pokemaster. Then, he or she can make a request. That request can be anything -- unless it is impossible. Only one person in history has actually declined this honour. And that is Pokemaster Ash."
Tom knowing the history of the leagues rather well, nodded. Only seven trainers have ever defeated the Elite 4; the last being Ash. Only trainers who had emerged champion of the Azure League could challenge them, a rule implemented after the Elite 4 had a hard time coping with the many requests for battles. Therefore, now they only had one challenger every five years, although sometimes, previous champions would contest them once more.
"But what does that have to do with us?"
"I was thinking, although it might be thought selfish by some -- should you defeat the Elite 4, maybe you could request for the council to revoke that rule."
Tom eyes held a eerie gleam, as he whispered, "I'll do my best."
***
Tom and Shalla, dressed warmly, trekked up the mountain. A week had passed since the last gym victory, and they were headed for the ice gym, training along the way. There, according to Shalla, the challenge laid not in how to find the gym, but how to get there. The most direct, and fastest route was of course to climb up the eighty-degree slope, but Tom had chosen a less treacherous approach -- to follow the winding track that meandered up the slope.
The ascent was strenuous and demanding, requiring frequent breaks to find ways around rockslides and the like. But after a few days' climb, their hectic pace dawdled; their movements getting more sluggish by the second. The snow, only a light coating concealing the hard-packed ice beneath, decreased the friction, allowing for inevitable slips and falls. The warmth was nonexistent, the bitter winds howling as stinging needles of pain slapped once and once again into the pair. Tom was no stranger to subzero temperatures, but these conditions soon had even him chilled to the core. They huddled together, straining even to breath. Each and every inhalation was a nightmare, the icy air seeking to soak up every last bit of heat from their lungs. There was nothing to soothe them -- the peak was forever shrouded by fog, effectively cloaking it.
The only comfort was the view below. It was breath taking to say the least, the vast plains; or rather what was visible of the pastures and such below. Even this had its detriments however -- the sheer distance of the ground would put everything in perspective. Even people without acrophobia would not be able to restrain a shudder at the sight.
Tom and Shalla struggled on, arms wrapped around each other for warmth and solace. Their bodies were packed together, but neither was aware of the intimacy, choosing instead to focus on the task at hand.
***
Tom and Shalla toiled on through the mist, the cloudy vapour effectively concealing all signs of the rest of the mountain, and visibility was reduced to only a few metres. They had long since given up speaking, alternatively squeezing each other each time the other stumbled or wanted to stop -- to stop in these conditions was to commit suicide, for the bodily function would cease to function once the blood flow slowed from lack of exertion.
"Let's stop. I'll let magmar out for some warmth."
The couple gathered around magmar, taking a much-needed rest. They had stopped at a place much like a plateau, but somehow the howling air currents seemed weaker.
***
The mist had lifted, and so had the relatively weak blizzard. They awoke, both dizzy from the lack of oxygen caused by the altitude. Tom was the first to something that none of them had seen the previous day -- a building. Ironically, they had stopped the previous time, ending up just a few metres from their goal.
It had been a taxing scramble, but they made it. The gym itself was the peak -- being the highest point. Tom studied it; the goal for which they had risked their very lives. The building seemed to be constructed from ice, like an igloo. It was huge, about the size of a standard 400m running track, leaving Tom to wonder how the ice blocks were kept in place. There were no visible carvings in place, yet a few ivory statues of Articuno were erected at regular intervals across the gym, or at least, what Tom could see of its exterior.
The dome shaped building did not have much of an original design, bar the frozen material used to construct it.
"Magmar return!"
"Tom, why bother?" Shalla was rather alarmed when magmar suddenly disappeared.
"I don't exactly want to burst in there with my only fire pokemon for the gym leader to see."
"Suit yourself."
They walked in, thankful for their gloves, shielding them from the intense cold radiating from the door. The interior was not much better than the rest of the mountain. It was still freezing, yet the sight was more than welcome.
The entire building, contrary to what Tom expected, was supported by huge steel beams, and where they criss-crossed, lights hung, illuminating the entire stadium. As Tom strolled forward, even more was apparent.
A battle was in progress, evident when a huge blast of fire illuminated the entire arena. Tom went forward to get a better look. Angus was battling, his familiar form gesturing wildly for emphasis on his commands. In fact, the movements were so comical, that Tom burst out laughing, Shalla joining in a moment later.
Angus looked back, his eyes brightening in recognition, and waved; soon however, he returned to the match. Tom looked at the billboard, and saw that the battle had gone well for Angus... Or rather, as well as a battle can get in an Azure League gym battle. Angus and the gym leader were both down to their last pokemon, Angus using his humongous charizard, and the leader using a sneasel.
Tom glanced back to the arena, a sunken pit in the ground. It continuously moved up and down, driven by unknown mechanisms. The field itself was rather scenic. It had a layer of snow, with a miniature river snaking through it. In some places, the snow had melted, revealing hard packed snow underneath, playing to the gym leader's advantage. The battle ended, with charizard somehow pinning the speedy sneasel with a fire blast.
Angus received his badge and prize, and dashed over to Tom.
"Hi!" Tom just grinned in response.
"How come you are still here?"
"Well, I had some things that needed doing."
"Like?"
"Well... I did pick up some company and stuff."
Angus snigger, and gave Tom a friendly shove. "You fiend. Who is she?"
Tom explained, leaving out some portions. "Oh well, I'll challenge the gym leader now. Care to watch?"
"Sure thing! I want to see if you have any new pokemon anyway."
Shalla, in the mean time, had gone over to the gym leader, chatting with the guy. They both looked up as Tom approached. The gym leader was rather plump, similar to an ursaring in build. Unlike the fierce pokemon however, the gym leader had a Santa Claus like face, a joyous smile etched onto his face. He was flushed red, whether from the cold or from the battle, Tom couldn't tell.
"I'm Chuck. I suppose you want a battle. Three on three. Standard gym rules... But could you hold on a second? The snow has to be replaced."
A transparent dome now covered the pit, and a miniature blizzard seemed to be brewing inside. When the storm settled, the bubble lifted, revealing the entire pit, covered in snow.
The two took their positions, and a "Ding!" signalled the start.
Magmar landed in the fluffy snow, bringing those that came into contact to a sizzling boil. Steam rose, shrouding magmar in a natural covering of mist. At the opposite end, A dewgong appearing, popping right into the river, and stuck its head out, grinning. The platform in the pit, housing the entire field, shifted, slowly moving up and down.
The battle commenced, with dewgong immediately diving into the water, out of view. A wave rose out of the river in its wake, rushing towards magmar, enveloping it. The attack drained away swiftly, revealing magmar -- thoroughly soaked, and irritated.
Running over to the river, magmar charged up both fists, each cracking with electricity. With out much force, he struck, sticking the duo thunderpunch into the water. Although the attack carried little force, the result was impressive. Yellow bolts arced over the water, lighting up the entire arena in a sickly glow. Before the surface, dewgong received much of the brunt, and bubbles rose to the surface, the marine pokemon unable to contain the air in its lungs.
In response, dewgong shot out of the water, summoning a giant snowstorm around its opponent. Magmar however, simply sent a massive column of flames towards the blizzard -- and dewgong. The blazing pillar started spinning, engulfing the blizzard attack, and swallowing it with ease. Continuing on, the fire spin overwhelmed dewgong, leaving behind but a charred mass that plunged back into the water in a wild tumble, unconscious.
Magmar, however did appear drained from sustaining the powerful fire attack, stood heaving for breath, visible billows of cloudy vapour emerging with every pant. *Damn it! This atmosphere is taking its toll on magmar. None of them are really equipped to cope with this climate, and the lack of oxygen.*
"Lapras! Go!" The transport pokemon materialised in the water, humming a soothing melody. Magmar was far less cheerful, the home ground advantage giving his opponents huge benefits. Concentrating, magmar shot a fire blast, the symbol travelling swiftly across the field. Lapras seemed amused at the attempt, and gushed a tremendous amount of water at the incoming inferno. The fire blast was easily overpowered in a misty vapour, but the rest of the water kept coming, heading straight for magmar, who was in no condition to dodge it.
A few seconds and a bellow; and magmar was returned. Lapras waited patiently, the calming melody still present. Tom sent out electabuzz, confident that the electric type would fair well. The striped pokemon emerged, assessing the situation nervously. His soles were hardly suited for walking on this icy terrain, and furthermore the entire field was moving up and down, disorienting to say the least.
"Rain dance!" Tom gave his first command in the battle, forming a strategy. Chuck on the opposite side, knew the implications of the move -- the arena would be wet, allowing electabuzz to shock lapras from anywhere. Chuck chuckled. He would have to take the enemy down as well. "Perish song! Whirlpool!"
Electabuzz closed his eyes, swaying slightly from side to side, mouthing a silent chant. From nowhere, storm clouds gathered, pouring rain into the field, melting the snow, and thickening the ice at some places. The greatest boon came from the artificial weather warming up the place, enabling electabuzz some comfort.
Lapras however wasn't idling. It sang softly, maintaining the song as a tornado formed, rushing towards electabuzz. Electabuzz allowed himself to be trapped, seeing to difference as to where he shot the electricity. From within the twisting mass of liquid, a bright flash occurred, the charge instantly travelling around the arena, breaking up some of the ice just by its sheer power alone. *He's staking everything on this single attack... its far larger than what he should be using...* Tom realised.
The effort was not wasted, as the thunder attack rippled through lapras, leaving it whimpering in anguish, painful spasms arising in its wake. The perish count dropped, leaving both pokemon shuddering from the prophecy of doom. With its creator paralysed, the whirlpool subsided, releasing electabuzz, letting him pummel unceremoniously to the ground. Both pokemon struggling to get an attack in, the perish count nevertheless dropped once more. The duo winced, and electabuzz abandoned all efforts to rise, letting a mild charge -- what's left of his energy reserve travel throughout the moist surroundings, shocking lapras for the last time.
The perish song ended.
Both pokemon collapsed, moaning from unseen forces. *I have a pretty good idea what Chuck's going to send out next... But who should I use? Rhydon is out of the picture; kingdra is definitely not suited to the next battle... Skarmory is not accustomed to the climate. Alakazam will have very little attacks to counter a sneasel... And I sure don't want to use shadow. Eevee... is a possibility... no -- a must. I have no choice. She's not that experienced, but she will do her best.*
Sneasel materialised in the field, observing the chunking of ice ripped out with disdain. Seeing no opponent as yet, it settled down, calmly sharpening its claws by digging them through a relatively softer patch of ice. This sneasel did not look evil -- rather, it had a determined air about it, signifying that the next battle would not be easy. Not that Tom expected it to be. After all, he had seen the sneasel battle Angus's Charizard -- and he had battled the charizard before.
"Go, eevee!"
In the stands, Shalla was jolted. *What is Tom thinking? Eevee just doesn't have the experience needed here...* But as she went over Tom's other pokemon, Shalla understood. She wasn't happy about it, but accepted Tom's decision.
Eevee was deceptively cute and cuddly in appearence, and yet Tom knew that she was a fierce fighter, albeit inexperienced. However, what she lacked in skill she more than made up for in enthusiasm, and was nicknamed "the devil" during training. She wore a necklace, one that had an everstone secured unobtrusively to it, preventing eevee from evolving. After all, Tom already had psychic and dark type pokemon.
Tom wondered how the battle would go; this was eevee's first.