The Matches Continue

Though I was proud of myself for winning my first two matches, my fellow Ruach League members kept informing me that it was "nothing" and that I would be "eliminated soon enough." But I didn't let this deter me as I re-entered the stadium for the third match.

The first matchup was Peeps versus a Charizard. Charizard went first and hit Peeps hard with a Fire Blast, but his next attack missed, allowing Peeps to fly high up in the air and swoop down, dealing a critical hit. Charizard snapped at Peeps as he came down, but Peeps threw a cloud of sand in his face, and then used a Drill Peck to put Charizard out for the count.

The second matchup was RingDing against a Lanturn. Lanturn immediately paralyzed Ringding and shocked it. Ringding made a valiant effort to survive, but got knocked out before it could attack. The score being 1 to 1, I sent out Hertz against the next Pokemon, a Jynx. Jynx's ice attacks did little to Hertz's steel frame, and with a Thunder Wave and Zap Cannon, Jynx fell.

Finally, it came down to Seltzer against a Dragonite. I don't think the Dragonite's trainer knew that Seltzer had blizzard, and the dragon was wiped out in two turns. VICTORY!

Have you ever had a time when things were going so good for you that you thought you were dreaming, only to wake up and have it all disappear? I've only felt that way twice in my life… That first night I had shared with Chris, and right now. I kept thinking that I would come up against an invincible trainer, but then I found myself sitting back in the break area during the 5 match break, having won all 5 so far.

"How'd you guys do?" I asked as Tracy, Cindy, and Lisa came over.

They sighed. "We lost."

"What???"

Cindy giggled sadly. "Our third match. Each of us. I guess we got cocky."

"Well, have a seat." I told them with a smile. "Mozzarella Sticks are on me."

"SCORE!" They cried, sitting down.

"Hey Chris!" I called, seeing that handsome devil enter the eating area, "Over here!"

He found us and came walking over. "Good afternoon, ladies!"

"Hey Chris!" the three of them said in unison, giggling.

I moved over so Chris could sit down, and then we started on a feast of Mozzarella Sticks and popcorn chicken.

"So?" he said after a little while, "I heard good things about you. Won 5 matches so far, huh?"

I blushed. "Yeah. It's gotta be a miracle. How about you? You still in the running?"

He grinned. "Yup. So far."

"Hey, what happens if you two have to fight each other?" Lisa asked.

The question took me by complete surprise. "What???"

"Well, what if you both become league winners, and then you both have to fight each other?"

"Um…" I had never really thought about that before. Of course I couldn't take Chris's dream away from him, but did that mean…?

"It's still up in the air," Chris said, interrupting my thoughts. "I'm sure it'll all work out."

"ATTENTION! WILL ALL TRAINERS PLEASE REPORT BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE LEAGUES FOR THE CONCLUSION OF THE TRAINER ELIMINATION MATCHES!"

"We're gonna hang out and watch you guys battle." Lisa said. "Good luck, you two."

We stood up. "Well, I'll see you this evening." I said to Chris.

He smiled. "Yup. Hopefully you'll have won all 7."

"I hope you win all of yours too." I said. "Good luck!"

Matches 6 and 7 were similar to my fear of coming against the aforementioned invincible trainer. One trainer taught his Alakazam a most surprising technique. The Pokemon ditched his spoons and put Seltzer in a stranglehold! Luckily, Seltzer gave him a nasty bite to end the matchup. The seventh trainer must have trained all his life, because he battled just like a god. I never thought I would beat him, but because I believed in my Pokemon and my Pokemon believed in me, I just BARELY pulled it off. I was the League Winner!!!!!!

"Chris!" I cried when I saw him at the end of the day, "Chris! I won! I won!" I leapt into his arms, hysterical. "I can't believe it!"

"I won, too." he whispered. "You know what that means?"

"What?"

"That we may have to fight each other."

"What what WHAT???"

"ATTENTION! WILL ALL TRAINERS PLEASE RETIRE TO THEIR ROOMS FOR THE NIGHT! THE STADIUM IS CLOSING!"

"Come on, let's go." Chris said, taking my hand.

"Hey you guys!" called Lisa, coming over with Tracy and Cindy. "What floor are you guys staying on?"

"12." I told her.

"Wow, us too! Can we walk back with you?"

"Sure."

After Tracy, Cindy, and Lisa went to their rooms, Chris took me back to my room.

"Do you really think we'll have to fight each other?" I asked as we watched TV.

Chris sighed. "I hope not. I mean, well… It's not like I want you to lose, but I just can't let my family down… none of them got even this far."

"I'm sure I'll get eliminated soon," I said, squeezing his hand. But the truth was, I really wanted to win as well. It would make everybody back in New Bark be so proud of me! I felt myself being torn between Chris's dream and my own.

Chris sat up. "Well, I'm gonna go to my room…"

"Hey!" I cried, grabbing his arm, "Don't I even get any congratulations for making League Winner?"

He grinned. "I guess maybe a kiss or two is in order."

"NOW you're talkin'."

What followed was possibly the best 10 minutes of my life.