High School Competiton

(A/N: Yay! I finally can work on Loving Laura again! While you read this story, also take the time to enjoy my quickie Jessie/James romance, Fantasy, which is being published at the same time as this. Lots of fluffy stuff. Okay, let's proceed!)

Six years have gone by, and Adam is now a strong young man. After he obtained his Pokemon Trainer License, he captured a great many Pokemon, and now his collection was very impressive. Buddy had grown into a large, powerful Mightyena, and to this day was still Adam's best friend in the whole world. His Taillow, now in its evolved stage, was also his trusted partner. Of those others closest to him were a Numel, a Kadabra, and a Tentacruel. They were a team, a team of friends and fighters that nobody could break apart.

Kristal and Chris were very proud of their son and how well he was doing. Adam excelled in school, and he couldn't have been more excited when his high school announced the opening of the Trainer's Club as an elective. Every day, trainers in the school met to have battles and to talk about their Pokemon, and every Friday night, there was an exhibition battle in the back of the school, which always drew great crowds. It is at one of these battles that we now join Adam.

"Swellow, use Wing Attack!" Adam cried. Swellow drew a great double-whirlwind with its wings and send it hurtling into the enemy Linoone. The Pokemon collapsed, and Adam had won.

"All right!" Adam whooped, jumping in the air. "I'm the best!"

His parents met him as he came down from the platform.

"You did great, kid," said Chris, slapping his son on the back. "Think you'll win round 2?"

"I know I will," Adam said confidently.

"Well, good luck, sweetie," Kristal said with a smile.

"I'm just going to run to the snack bar and get a soda pop, and then I'll be back."

Adam hastened over to the snack area, and paid for a soda and a hot dog. However, he had barely taken two steps away from the counter when he collided with a figure walking in the opposite direction and they both collapsed to the ground. Buddy whined in concern, sniffing the form of his fallen comrade.

"Ohhh… I'm so sorry, miss!" Adam cried. "Are you okay?"

The girl looked up, and their eyes met for a moment, and Adam detected something familiar about them.

"I'm fine…" she said. "You look awfully familiar though. Do I… know you?"

"I'm Adam McManson. Don't you go to my school? What's your name?"

"Ah, Laura. Laura Clayton." she looked around. "We should get up off the ground, what do you think?"

"Yeah."

They stood up, and Adam gave Laura the once-over. She was tall for her age, and she had long blonde hair covered by a blue bandanna. She wore black pants and a black and white striped shirt, with a small "A" near the left sleeve.

"Yeah, I think I remember you now," she said. "I've seen you around. You're the one with the Poochyena, right?"

Adam nodded. "Well, he's evolved now, but yeah. How's your Marill?"

"AZUmarill," she corrected him, "and she's doing wonderfully. We're actually up in a few minutes to battle."

"Really?" Adam scratched his head. "So am I. Looks like we'll be fighting each other."

"Yeah…" There was a moment of awkward silence, and then Laura said, "Well I'm gonna go prep my team. See you on the field!" She flashed a bright smile as she jogged off towards the stands.

Buddy barked curiously and gazed up at his trainer.

"What do you think, boy? Cute, wasn't she?"

Buddy barked again.

"You're right. Gotta stay focused. Let's go." And so they went back to prepare for the match.

Finally, it was time for round 2. Mr. Cole, the announcer, introduced each team over the speakers.

"On this side, we have young and talented Adam McManson, who will be competing with Mightyena, Tentacruel, and Swellow! On the opposite side of the field is Miss Laura Clayton from Brandywine City, who will be entering Azumarill, Pelipper, and Gyrados!"

"Hmm… all water types," Adam mused. "She's lucky. My Pokemon don't have any grass or electric moves."

"BEGIN!!!" Mr. Cole roared.

"Go, Buddy!" Adam called. Buddy dashed off into the center of the field.

"I choose you, Azurette!" was Laura's cry, and the blue rabbit-eared Pokemon joined the match.

"Buddy, howl! Pump yourself up!"

"Azurette, use Rain Dance! Let's get things wet!"

Rain began to drizzle over the field, while Buddy's howl echoed across the whole stadium.

"Okay, Azurette, let's see you surf!"

"Buddy, evasive tactic!" One thing Adam had worked on with his Pokemon was to avoid many popular attacks and take minimal damage.

(Author Note: The text *in stars* indicates results of battle commands, like in Pokemon stadium. ~M.J.)

*Azumarill conjured a huge tidal wave and swept towards Mightyena. Mightyena used his strong legs and leapt over the wave, and got hit only by the tail of it.*

"So you think you're clever, hmm?" Laura sneered. "Azurette, use the waterfall technique we worked on!"

"Buddy, clear that one too!"

*Azumarill spit a huge, swirling fountain of water from it's mouth and aimed it at Mightyena. Mightyena jumped, but as he did, Azumarill tilted her head upwards, and the jet hit Mightyena full blast. Mightyena landed on the ground, still on his feet, and still ready to fight, if not a bit shaken.*

"Buddy, use Crunch! Attack formation P! And use your speed!"

"Azurette, surround yourself in Mist! Become invisible!"

*Azumarill attempted to create a swirling cloud of ice to shroud herself, but with surprising agility, Mightyena sped forward and chomped down on the poor water type. The force of the special attack caused Azumarill to stumble to her knees and moan.*

Laura growled. "Okay, Azurette, return! No more Ms. Nice Girl. Go, Gyrados! Teach him a lesson with Hyper Beam!"

"Buddy, jump it, then run in and bite it!"

* Gyrados reared back and spewed forth a brilliant, multicolored beam from its mouth. Mightyena tried to jump over it, but a few stray charges from it struck Mightyena, and he fell to the ground.*

Buddy looked up at his trainer and whined.

"Okay, Buddy, you've done your share. Return! Let's go with Swellow! I choose you!"

In the red flash of the Poke Ball's light, the large, red-breasted bird appeared.

"Swellow, fly over anything he shoots at you, and then use your Drill Beak attack!"

"Ice Beam, Gyrados!" Laura cried.

*Gyrados shot a thick, narrow beam of ice at the ascending Pokemon. With ease, Swellow dodged, and dodged again and again as several Ice Beams were fired. As he flew evasively, he got closer and closer to the writhing Atrocious-class Pokemon, and finally, he pointed his beak downwards and flew straight into Gyrados. Gyrados howled in pain, then snapped at the bird, which dodged, and Gyrados lunged forward and snapped again, and again, and finally he bit down on part of Swellow's wing. Swellow collapsed.*

"Impressive," Adam whispered as he returned Swellow to the Poke Ball. "Most impressive. All right, Tentacruel, it's all up to you! Give it everything you've got!"

*Tentacruel emerged and immediately launched a Sludge Bomb towards Gyrados. Gyrados took it, but was unfazed, and shot another Hyper Beam. Tentacruel used Reflect, and most of the beam was deflected. Tentacruel then sent a torrential column of water at Gyrados, but in a surprise move, Gyrados used Thunderbolt, electrifying the water, and of course, the source of the water, and Tentacruel was out of commission.*

(A/N: Check your Pokemon Stadium 2 libraries, people. Gyrados CAN learn Thunderbolt. ~M.J.)

The crowd was in silence for a few seconds, and then erupted in thunderous applause for the winner. Adam stood on his platform, scratching his head in disbelief.

"We lost…? But how…? Damn, she's good! I still can't believe… Oh, man…"

"Son!" called Chris, who was waiting for Adam at the bottom of the stairs. "Come on down, kid!"

Adam sighed and stepped down from the platform. Chris slapped him on the back, and his mother gave him a warm hug.

"We're very proud of you," she told him. "You may have lost, but you gave it your all, and that's all God asks from you."

"And look at the bright side," Chris said, ruffling Adam's hair, "At least your opponent was a cutie!"

"Dear!" Kris whispered, elbowing her husband.

"Come off it, pops," Adam chuckled. "There's no way…"

He couldn't finish, however, as he was then approached by none other than Laura herself.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here," she said, mockingly. "Who's hot stuff now, huh?"

Adam was befuddled. "I never said I was…"

"Oh quiet! You're just embarrassed! You know I'm soooo much better than you! Admit it!"

Adam glared at her. "I think you'd better leave while I'm in a good mood."

"Hmph! See you later… loser!" she said, and turned on her heel and strode off with her friends, who were laughing and pointing back at him.

Adam growled to himself.

Chris patted his back. "Don't worry about it, son. There's plenty of women in the world like her. And if you ask me, I think she's playing hard to get."

"What what WHAT?"

"You know… she's teasing you."

Adam snorted. "Yeah, right. Like I'd give her the benefit."

"Well, let's go on home. We'll stop at Dairy Quick on the way, to celebrate the battle bravely fought!"

"Sweet!"