Phantom Rider: Chapter 7
A/N: The chapter you've been waiting for is here, the traitor: revealed. Please review.
Disclaimer: Pokemon will never be mine.
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"Here it is, ladies and gentlemen! The Phantom Rider! The one who is a mystery in itself, nobody knows who she is, and where she came from! She has been beating the Elite Four with ease! Will she beat Karen? Or will she fall to her powerful Dark pokemon?"
I tune out the rest of announcers words as approach of the last of obstacle: Karen.
She eyes me warily as I reach her, "you're not welcome here." She hisses, through a smile.
"I know, and that's some greeting you give to someone who's supposed to be dead." I hiss back, offering my hand.
"Good luck," she says, shaking my hand with the fake smile still on her face.
"You too." I say, and turn for hundredth time to the platform my ever- present Buddy next to me.
"READY?" The ref asks us as we look at each other, and nod.
"BEGIN!"
"Go Umbreon!"
"Go Kicker!"
My Hitmonlee comes out in a flash of light, letting out his fighting cry as he eyes his opponent.
I tsk at the sight of her Umbreon, already sensing victory. "Still haven't learned, have you, Karen?" I ask mockingly.
She glares daggers at me, "don't get cocky, Phantom Rider, it'll be the end of you. Psybeam!"
"Hi-Jump Kick!"
Kicker gets the first blow, kicking the Umbreon in the chest, with enough force to crack a rib or two; it stumbles back, in obvious pain, but still willing to fight.
Then, the Psybeam hits Kicker.
He stumbles, swaying dizzily on his feet, just barely keeping on them, and then at the end of the attack, straightens and glares daggers at the Umbreon.
"Your pokemon are strong," I comment at the end of the attacks.
"And so are yours," she says, glaring at me.
"Kicker, finish it! Another Hi-Jump Kick!" I shout.
"Psybeam!"
Kicker attacks again first, this time nailing the poor Umbreon on the head, knocking it out before it can even whimper.
"Umbreon, return! Go Murkrow!" She shouts, letting loose the Dark/Flying pokemon.
"Kicker, return! Good job! Go Sandy!"
My Sandslash is next, hissing as she spots the Murkrow.
"Icy Wind!"
"Quickly, use Rock Slide!" I yell, knowing that Icy Wind is pretty weak, but it could knock Sandy out easily with the type advantage.
Sandy acts fast, hurling a large amount of rocks at the Murkrow, causing it to squawk in pain.
But it's not enough to knock it out.
The snow and ice come raining down, totally covering the battlefield, and for a second, I think that Sandy isn't going to make it...
She steps out of the icy attack, holding on just barely with her focus band.
I smile proudly as I give the next attack: "Swift, and quickly before the Murkrow can attack!"
She complies, and soon Karen is recalling her Murkrow, while I'm recalling an exhausted Sandy.
"You won't be able to beat this one! Go Gengar!"
"Go Sara!" I shout, releasing my Steelix.
The two pokemon eye each other warily, waiting for orders.
"Crunch!"
"Rock Smash!"
Sara attacks first, surprising even me with her speed, her jaws clamping around the ghost before it can react.
And it flinches.
I smile, "Great, now do it one more time!" I order.
She happily complies, knocking the ghost pokemon out once and for all.
Karen scowls as she returns her Gengar, "your Steelix is surprisingly fast," she comments dryly.
I shrug, deciding not to comment, "are you going to let out your next pokemon? Or am I going to fall asleep from boredom?"
She scowls as she lets out her Houndoom. "Take that out so easily, Phantom Rider." She taunts.
I smile; she's letting me get to her, good.
"Sara return! Excellent job! Go Swirler!"
Poliwrath is next, letting out his watery cry as he smashes his fists together in preparation for battle.
Karen's scowl deepens at the sight of the water/fighting type pokemon.
"Houndoom, Roar!"
"Plug your ears, and then use Hydro Pump!" I say calmly.
He obeys, wincing a little bit as the Roar echoes through the stadium, but doesn't retreat as he uses his own attack.
"Great, now finish it off with Dynamic Punch!" I shout.
"Use Solarbeam, Houndoom!"
I cluck my tongue, "that's a boo-boo in your part, Karen. You forgot to use Sunny Day first, it'll take two turns for him to attack."
She glares daggers at me for pointing out her mistake as Houndoom is knocked out with Swirly's Dynamic Punch.
Karen, visibly steaming, threw out her last pokemon:
Vileplume.
I smile; time to let out the big guns.
"Swirler, return! Good job! Go Charmy!" I yell, tossing my only pokeball out into the stadium.
My Charizard appears, roaring as he spreads his wings, shooting out a massive flame in eagerness.
I smile proudly, knowing that he's one of my best pokemon.
Karen pales at the sight of Charmy, already knowing the outcome of the battle.
"Fire Blast!"
"Toxic!"
"Dodge it!" I yell.
Charmy takes flight, dodging easily to the right to avoid the poison, not missing a beat as he collects flames for his own attack.
He hits Vileplume in the face, and I wince as it cries in pain from the attack.
Karen recalls the badly injured pokemon as I recall Charmy, knowing that tomorrow is going to be the hardest as I walk up to her.
"Good luck tomorrow, you're going to need it." She says shortly, turning around and leaving before I can say a word.
I smile, some things never change.
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"So," Tracy starts when I stumble back into camp that night. "Tomorrows it, then."
"Yes," I yawn, recalling all of my pokemon except Sue and Buddy, preparing for tomorrow.
"What are you going to do if you win?" He asks, staring at the fire.
I snort, "isn't it obvious? I'm going to change the Elite Four so it isn't corrupt. It's going to be hard tomorrow, the traitor isn't going to go down without a fight."
"Are you scared?"
I glance at him sharply, "I'm always scared. I'm scared that some morning I'll be found dead, or that I'll be found out. Tomorrow, if I lose, there's no chance for trainers to compete against the Elite Four. Remember what I told you the night you found me when you said that's what any good pokemon watcher does, draw the impossible?" I ask, lying down in front of the fire.
Tracy nods, "yeah, you said that I succeeded, and that's what makes me different from the others."
"That's why I do this, is because like you, I'm the only one who can." I yawn, trying to forget for a moment what I need to do tomorrow. "Goodnight."
I roll over, and soon fall into a dreamless sleep.
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This is it.
I let out a nervous breath as I hear Tracy say "good luck," before going to find a seat in the stadium.
My footsteps echo in the hallways, I barely hear the soft padding of Buddy and Sue as a precaution as I walk to the stadium.
Every step brings a new memory...
Step: Me living a humble life with my parents in the now ruins of Pallet Town.
Step: Saving the drowning Charmander with the help of a Lapras, starting a whole new part of my life.
Step: Me training for the Elite Four, raising and loving my pokemon.
Step: Finding my hometown being burnt to the ground, my parents never found, presumed dead.
Step: Spending a year going through the Johto League, training pokemon I barely knew about.
Step: Going on a rampage, attacking any Rocket who I met on the way.
Step: Finally beating the Elite Four, only to flee weeks later because of the traitor.
Step: The assassin's bullet grazing me, changing my life once more.
And finally...
Step: Me becoming the Phantom Rider.
All these memories, all these thoughts, go by in just seconds, but seem like hours. The corridor seems like miles, but is just a few feet long.
My hand brushes against my pokeball belt, all of my finest and best pokemon except Charmy are on the belt.
I don't know if even they're enough...
I step into the arena, my face shown to the public to see for the first time in a year.
Instead of cheers, I hear shocked murmurs, them rising as I approach him.
He glares at me, hatred clearly showing on his face as I approach him.
"You're supposed to be dead." He says, spitting the words out with venom.
I look at him the same way evenly, "hello, Lance."
TBC...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Please review.
A/N: The chapter you've been waiting for is here, the traitor: revealed. Please review.
Disclaimer: Pokemon will never be mine.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Here it is, ladies and gentlemen! The Phantom Rider! The one who is a mystery in itself, nobody knows who she is, and where she came from! She has been beating the Elite Four with ease! Will she beat Karen? Or will she fall to her powerful Dark pokemon?"
I tune out the rest of announcers words as approach of the last of obstacle: Karen.
She eyes me warily as I reach her, "you're not welcome here." She hisses, through a smile.
"I know, and that's some greeting you give to someone who's supposed to be dead." I hiss back, offering my hand.
"Good luck," she says, shaking my hand with the fake smile still on her face.
"You too." I say, and turn for hundredth time to the platform my ever- present Buddy next to me.
"READY?" The ref asks us as we look at each other, and nod.
"BEGIN!"
"Go Umbreon!"
"Go Kicker!"
My Hitmonlee comes out in a flash of light, letting out his fighting cry as he eyes his opponent.
I tsk at the sight of her Umbreon, already sensing victory. "Still haven't learned, have you, Karen?" I ask mockingly.
She glares daggers at me, "don't get cocky, Phantom Rider, it'll be the end of you. Psybeam!"
"Hi-Jump Kick!"
Kicker gets the first blow, kicking the Umbreon in the chest, with enough force to crack a rib or two; it stumbles back, in obvious pain, but still willing to fight.
Then, the Psybeam hits Kicker.
He stumbles, swaying dizzily on his feet, just barely keeping on them, and then at the end of the attack, straightens and glares daggers at the Umbreon.
"Your pokemon are strong," I comment at the end of the attacks.
"And so are yours," she says, glaring at me.
"Kicker, finish it! Another Hi-Jump Kick!" I shout.
"Psybeam!"
Kicker attacks again first, this time nailing the poor Umbreon on the head, knocking it out before it can even whimper.
"Umbreon, return! Go Murkrow!" She shouts, letting loose the Dark/Flying pokemon.
"Kicker, return! Good job! Go Sandy!"
My Sandslash is next, hissing as she spots the Murkrow.
"Icy Wind!"
"Quickly, use Rock Slide!" I yell, knowing that Icy Wind is pretty weak, but it could knock Sandy out easily with the type advantage.
Sandy acts fast, hurling a large amount of rocks at the Murkrow, causing it to squawk in pain.
But it's not enough to knock it out.
The snow and ice come raining down, totally covering the battlefield, and for a second, I think that Sandy isn't going to make it...
She steps out of the icy attack, holding on just barely with her focus band.
I smile proudly as I give the next attack: "Swift, and quickly before the Murkrow can attack!"
She complies, and soon Karen is recalling her Murkrow, while I'm recalling an exhausted Sandy.
"You won't be able to beat this one! Go Gengar!"
"Go Sara!" I shout, releasing my Steelix.
The two pokemon eye each other warily, waiting for orders.
"Crunch!"
"Rock Smash!"
Sara attacks first, surprising even me with her speed, her jaws clamping around the ghost before it can react.
And it flinches.
I smile, "Great, now do it one more time!" I order.
She happily complies, knocking the ghost pokemon out once and for all.
Karen scowls as she returns her Gengar, "your Steelix is surprisingly fast," she comments dryly.
I shrug, deciding not to comment, "are you going to let out your next pokemon? Or am I going to fall asleep from boredom?"
She scowls as she lets out her Houndoom. "Take that out so easily, Phantom Rider." She taunts.
I smile; she's letting me get to her, good.
"Sara return! Excellent job! Go Swirler!"
Poliwrath is next, letting out his watery cry as he smashes his fists together in preparation for battle.
Karen's scowl deepens at the sight of the water/fighting type pokemon.
"Houndoom, Roar!"
"Plug your ears, and then use Hydro Pump!" I say calmly.
He obeys, wincing a little bit as the Roar echoes through the stadium, but doesn't retreat as he uses his own attack.
"Great, now finish it off with Dynamic Punch!" I shout.
"Use Solarbeam, Houndoom!"
I cluck my tongue, "that's a boo-boo in your part, Karen. You forgot to use Sunny Day first, it'll take two turns for him to attack."
She glares daggers at me for pointing out her mistake as Houndoom is knocked out with Swirly's Dynamic Punch.
Karen, visibly steaming, threw out her last pokemon:
Vileplume.
I smile; time to let out the big guns.
"Swirler, return! Good job! Go Charmy!" I yell, tossing my only pokeball out into the stadium.
My Charizard appears, roaring as he spreads his wings, shooting out a massive flame in eagerness.
I smile proudly, knowing that he's one of my best pokemon.
Karen pales at the sight of Charmy, already knowing the outcome of the battle.
"Fire Blast!"
"Toxic!"
"Dodge it!" I yell.
Charmy takes flight, dodging easily to the right to avoid the poison, not missing a beat as he collects flames for his own attack.
He hits Vileplume in the face, and I wince as it cries in pain from the attack.
Karen recalls the badly injured pokemon as I recall Charmy, knowing that tomorrow is going to be the hardest as I walk up to her.
"Good luck tomorrow, you're going to need it." She says shortly, turning around and leaving before I can say a word.
I smile, some things never change.
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"So," Tracy starts when I stumble back into camp that night. "Tomorrows it, then."
"Yes," I yawn, recalling all of my pokemon except Sue and Buddy, preparing for tomorrow.
"What are you going to do if you win?" He asks, staring at the fire.
I snort, "isn't it obvious? I'm going to change the Elite Four so it isn't corrupt. It's going to be hard tomorrow, the traitor isn't going to go down without a fight."
"Are you scared?"
I glance at him sharply, "I'm always scared. I'm scared that some morning I'll be found dead, or that I'll be found out. Tomorrow, if I lose, there's no chance for trainers to compete against the Elite Four. Remember what I told you the night you found me when you said that's what any good pokemon watcher does, draw the impossible?" I ask, lying down in front of the fire.
Tracy nods, "yeah, you said that I succeeded, and that's what makes me different from the others."
"That's why I do this, is because like you, I'm the only one who can." I yawn, trying to forget for a moment what I need to do tomorrow. "Goodnight."
I roll over, and soon fall into a dreamless sleep.
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This is it.
I let out a nervous breath as I hear Tracy say "good luck," before going to find a seat in the stadium.
My footsteps echo in the hallways, I barely hear the soft padding of Buddy and Sue as a precaution as I walk to the stadium.
Every step brings a new memory...
Step: Me living a humble life with my parents in the now ruins of Pallet Town.
Step: Saving the drowning Charmander with the help of a Lapras, starting a whole new part of my life.
Step: Me training for the Elite Four, raising and loving my pokemon.
Step: Finding my hometown being burnt to the ground, my parents never found, presumed dead.
Step: Spending a year going through the Johto League, training pokemon I barely knew about.
Step: Going on a rampage, attacking any Rocket who I met on the way.
Step: Finally beating the Elite Four, only to flee weeks later because of the traitor.
Step: The assassin's bullet grazing me, changing my life once more.
And finally...
Step: Me becoming the Phantom Rider.
All these memories, all these thoughts, go by in just seconds, but seem like hours. The corridor seems like miles, but is just a few feet long.
My hand brushes against my pokeball belt, all of my finest and best pokemon except Charmy are on the belt.
I don't know if even they're enough...
I step into the arena, my face shown to the public to see for the first time in a year.
Instead of cheers, I hear shocked murmurs, them rising as I approach him.
He glares at me, hatred clearly showing on his face as I approach him.
"You're supposed to be dead." He says, spitting the words out with venom.
I look at him the same way evenly, "hello, Lance."
TBC...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Please review.