Chapter 8: Jake's Island Challenge Pt 3
"A battle?" Jake repeated.
"Yes," Kai said. "I want to see how much stronger you've become since our last meeting. I suspected you had two other Pokémon on you, since you gave up oh so easily last time."
Jake thought of his chance to prove he could defeat Kai. "All right, I accept your challenge."
"Good," said Kai with a smile before he pointed to the battlefield nearby. "We shall take our battle there."
"Would you be the referee, professor?" Jake asked Kukui.
"You can bet like a Bullet Punch," Kukui nodded.
They walked over to the battlefield, with Kai and Jake ready for their second battle.
"This battle between Kai from the Galar region and Jake from the Kanto region will now commence," started Kukui. "You may both use five Pokémon each. The battle will be over once all of your Pokémon are unable to continue. Bring forth your first Pokémon!"
"Buizel, I choose you!"
"Cinderace, standby for battle!" Kai said as they sent their Pokémon out. Kai looked at Buizel with intense eyes. "I see you've learned your type matchup, but don't think that will take down my Cinderace easily, Jake."
"Cinder!" Cinderace agreed with its Trainer.
"Let the battle begin!" Kukui said.
"Buizel, Water Pulse!" Jake said.
Buizel nodded and held its paws together as it began to create a blue ball of water in between its paws.
"Use your Pyro Ball," commanded Kai.
Cinderace nodded before kicking a stone from the ground up with its feet before it lit up in flames, which grew into a ball form, just as it kicked it towards Buizel, who fired its blue ball of water at the same time. The two attacks collided, creating smoke between both Pokémon.
"Tsk," Kai said. "That was a draw. You were lucky for that. Cinderace, use Blaze Kick!"
What's he up to? Doesn't he know that Fire type attacks are not very effective against Water types? Jake thought in wonder. "Buizel, Aqua Jet!"
Buizel gave a battle cry as he surrounded himself in a vortex of water before shooting himself straight for Cinderace, who kicked with its foot which was ablaze, causing Buizel to struggle in winning the collision before he was kicked by Cinderace's other foot. Buizel cried out in pain and landed on the ground.
"How could a Fire type beat a Water type?" Jake wondered aloud.
"Haven't you seen Cinderace's higher level?" Kai asked. "Whether it's a Water, Rock or Ground type we're facing against, we will withstand them and defeat each and every one of those types while still growing stronger."
"Cinderace!" Cinderace agreed with a nod.
He's good, I'll admit that, Jake thought to himself. What should I use now?
"Bui!" said Buizel as he looked at his Trainer with a smile.
"Buizel…?" Jake started before giving him a smile of his own. "Okay. If you want to, my friend. Use Water Pulse!"
Buizel gave a battle cry as he created a blue ball of water between his paws, firing it at Cinderace, who was surprised for a moment before the attack hit it.
"Cinder…" it groaned.
"Not bad," Kai commented. "To think that Cinderace actually took damage from that Water type attack. Not bad at all. However," he grew serious, "it's our time to attack. Cinderace, Blaze Kick!"
Cinderace jumped in the air as its feet were lit ablaze before it kicked Buizel from above, with Buizel who was hurt badly.
"Buizel!" Jake gasped in shock.
Buizel fell to the ground.
"Buizel is unable to battle, Cinderace wins!" Kukui said.
Jake recalled Buizel to his Poké Ball. "You did a great job, Buizel. Take a good rest." He took his second Poké Ball from his belt. "Let's see if Cinderace can handle this one. Litten, go!"
Litten came forth from his Poké Ball, while Cinderace was quickly recalled back. This surprised Litten and Jake.
"I will pick this one," Kai said. "Tyrunt, standby for battle!"
"Runt!" said Tyrunt as it came out to the battlefield.
Jake immediately recalled Litten to his Poké Ball. "I will save you for later, Litten. Lucario, let's go!" He sent Lucario out of his Poké Ball, with him letting out a battle cry.
"So you have an advantage," Kai said. "Big deal. I will defeat you like I did the other time. Tyrunt, use Rock Tomb!"
Rocks began to form from white orbs around Tyrunt, who was roaring aloud.
"Bullet Punch!" Jake ordered Lucario, who nodded.
Lucario's fists glowed white as he rushed towards Tyrunt, dodging the rocks thrown at him before punching his opponent, as Tyrunt cried out painfully at the super effective attack.
"Dragon Tail!" Kai ordered.
Tyrunt's tail glowed a light green, while growing longer as it began to swing it at Lucario.
"Dodge!" Jake commanded.
Lucario avoided the Dragon Tail attack by jumping to the side.
"Use Extreme Speed, and then Bullet Punch!" Jake added.
Lucario ran faster around Tyrunt before attacking its side with white glowing fists, as Tyrunt cried out in pain again. Lucario continued with punching Tyrunt until it fell to the ground.
"Tyrunt is unable to battle!" Kukui announced.
"Yes!" Jake cheered. "Our first victory!"
Lucario cheered alongside his Trainer.
"Don't let this get over your heads," Kai reminded them. "You were just lucky that my Tyrunt hasn't evolved yet. But this time, I will use this one again. Cinderace, standby for battle!"
Cinderace came out of its Poké Ball once more.
"Blaze Kick!" Kai ordered.
Cinderace's feet lit ablaze as it jumped towards Lucario, who was recalled back to his Poké Ball by Jake, with Cinderace missing its target and landed on the ground in annoyance.
"Litten, I choose you!" Jake said and sent Litten out again.
Litten growled at Cinderace, who looked bored at its new challenge.
"Litten, Flame Charge!" Jake commanded, with Litten nodding understandingly before surrounding himself in reddish orange flames as his spine grew visible on his back before he charged towards Cinderace, who blocked him with a foot.
"Use Blaze Kick!" Kai ordered.
Cinderace nodded and lit its feet ablaze before jumping in the air before diving towards Litten.
"Dig!" Jake commanded.
Litten dug a hole in the ground, avoiding the attack from Cinderace. Litten came back up from behind it, ready for Jake's next call.
"Flame Charge!" he ordered.
Litten surrounded itself in reddish orange flames as his spines grew visible on his back before charging at Cinderace, hurting its back before running around and hitting its side.
"Pyro Ball!" Kai ordered angrily.
Cinderace began kicking to a rock that lit up in flames, but it missed Litten after he ran to the side and charged into Cinderace's stomach, causing some damage to the Fire type.
"Not a bad choice with attacking," Kukui stated from the side. "It feels like a hot Flamethrower while Litten attacks."
"Heh," Jake chuckled. "Surprised yet, Kai? Or are you too scared to move a muscle?"
"I'll let you eat those words," Kai growled, enraged. "Cinderace, Pyro Ball!"
"Dodge, then continue using Flame Charge!" Jake commanded.
Cinderace kicked to a rock as it lit up in flames before kicking it towards Litten, who dodged it to the side and surrounded himself in reddish orange flames as he charged towards Cinderace, hurting it once more in the stomach. Cinderace cried out in pain.
"What insolence!" Kai growled angrily. "Are you telling me that you are giving up after all we've been through in order to get stronger, Cinderace?! Pathetic."
Cinderace blinked, realizing its mistake.
"Telling your Pokémon it is useless was a mistake, Kai," said Jake. "Pokémon have feelings too, you know."
"Whatever," Kai snorted. "If it doesn't do as I tell it, then I have no further use of it. I seek only the strongest Pokémon to defeat anyone who opposes me."
"You're…so cruel," Jake realized. "I never expected you to be so cold towards your own Pokémon." He grew angry. "I do not tolerate those who mistreat their Pokémon without being given a reasonable explanation. It feels like you're discarding Cinderace's hard work for you."
"Who cares about that?" Kai snarled. "If it's useless, it's no good to me. Get to work, Cinderace! Pyro Ball, full power!"
Cinderace kicked to a rock as it lit ablaze before kicking the rock towards Litten.
"Dodge!" Jake ordered.
Litten jumped to the side, avoiding the blazing rock.
Kai grew angry. "Do not fail me, Cinderace. Pyro Ball again!"
Another rock was kicked up in the air by Cinderace as it fired it towards Litten, who was hurt by the blazing rock and cried out in pain.
"Litten!" Jake gasped.
Litten stood on his feet, ready for battle again.
"Are you still able to continue, Litten?" Jake asked.
"Meow," he said with a nod.
"Okay," Jake smiled. "Flame Charge!"
Litten surrounded himself in reddish orange flames as his spine was visible before charging towards Cinderace.
"Don't miss it this time, Cinderace," Kai said angrily. "Blaze Kick!"
Cinderace's feet grew ablaze before it managed to kick hard on Litten, sending him across the ground. After a while, Litten grunted before falling on his side.
"Litten is unable to battle, Cinderace wins!" Kukui announced.
Jake smiled, recalling Litten to his Poké Ball. "You did well, Litten. Take a good rest." He looked at Kai and Cinderace, who was panting a bit. "My next Pokémon: Trumbeak, go!"
Trumbeak came out in the air. "Trumbeak!" it said.
"Return," Kai said, recalling Cinderace to its Poké Ball. "I will deal with you later," he added. He glared at Jake, before unclipping a Poké Ball from his belt. "The next one. Manectric, standby for battle!"
Manectric came forth from its Poké Ball and growled at Trumbeak, who was nervous.
"Electric Terrain!" Kai ordered Manectric, who roared as a terrain of electricity appeared around the battlefield.
"Electric type attacks will now get a boost thanks to Electric Terrain," Kukui noted. He looked at Jake, who was feeling prepared. "I wonder how he will deal with this."
Jake smiled. "Trumbeak, prepare yourself. Manectric will be a challenge for you, but just keep your head up and you will be alright."
"Trum," Trumbeak nodded understandingly.
"Are you sure now?" Kai asked with a dark smile. "Because I am getting tired of battling you. I am going to end this now. Manectric, Thunder!"
Manectric nodded to its Trainer and roared as a thundercloud appeared above the field as lightning began striking down from the black clouds, while Trumbeak began evading the lightning strikes.
"You can't keep running from me," Kai reminded Jake. "I am going to end your career as a Trainer, right here, right now. Manectric, use Thunder Fang!"
"Dodge! Then, use your Feather Dance!" Jake commanded quickly.
"Useless," Kai spat.
As Manectric ran up and jumped with electricity between its fangs, Trumbeak's wings glowed white before it was bitten by Manectric and cried out painfully, before losing its flight in the air and landing on the ground with a loud thud.
"Trumbeak!" Jake gasped in shock.
"Finally," Kai said.
"Trumbeak is unable to battle, Manectric wins!" Kukui announced.
Jake recalled Trumbeak to its Poké Ball. "You did what you could, Trumbeak. Take a good, long rest. Lucario, I choose you!"
Lucario came out of his Poké Ball and gave a battle cry.
"Not using your Sprigatito from the last time?" Kai asked with an evil grin. "Fine. Looks like I will be finishing your Lucario off and take the win. Manectric, use Thunderbolt!"
Manectric fired electricity from its body and electrified Lucario, who cried out painfully before kneeling down on one knee as he was exhausted.
"Lucario, Aura Sphere!" Jake commanded.
Lucario began creating a blue ball of energy between his hands before firing it at Manectric, who took damage and staggered backwards.
"Extreme Speed!" Jake added.
Lucario ran quickly towards Manectric and started hitting it. Manectric snarled in annoyance before Lucario was in front of it.
"Aura Sphere!" Jake ordered.
A blue ball of energy was fired at a surprised Manectric, defeating it as it took damage once more and fell to the ground.
"Manectric is unable to battle, Lucario wins!" Kukui announced.
Kai recalled Manectric to its Poké Ball. "Looks like I will need to get stronger Pokémon in order to defeat even the strongest among Trainers in the world. Cinderace, time to come out and do some damage!"
Cinderace came out of its Poké Ball. "Cinderace!" it said.
"Time to finish this," Kai said with an angry voice. "Cinderace, Pyro Ball!"
"Aura Sphere!" Jake added.
Cinderace kicked to a stone that lit ablaze while Lucario created a blue ball of energy between his hands before they both fired their attacks at each other. Lucario grunted painfully while Cinderace panted heavily from its previous fights.
"Looks like Cinderace might be at its limit," Jake noted. "Lucario, Extreme Speed!"
Lucario nodded and ran towards Cinderace, who was surprised before being taken down after some hits on its body.
"Cinderace is unable to battle, Lucario wins!" Kukui announced.
"Yes!" Jake cheered.
Kai recalled Cinderace to its Poké Ball. "Pathetic. I expected more from you, my so-called partner." He looked at Jake in annoyance and rage. "I am through with you. Time for me to end this."
Jake grew anxious, as the Ultra Ball was held in Kai's hand.
"Moltres, let's finish this!" Kai shouted as Moltres came out with a screech.
"There it is," Jake looked stunned, staring at the Flame Pokémon in all its glory. "Moltres. This will get tough, but I must win. Lucario, Aura Sphere!"
Lucario nodded and fired a blue ball of energy at Moltres, who was hit but looked like nothing happened. Lucario was surprised.
"Don't worry, Lucario!" Jake said. "It looks like it didn't receive damage, but it did."
"You are correct," Kai agreed, but his expression soon grew dark. "Moltres, use Flamethrower!"
Moltres nodded to its Trainer and opened its mouth before firing reddish orange flames at Lucario, who flinched and was hurt by the flames.
"Lucario!" Jake gasped before Lucario fell to the ground.
"Lucario is unable to battle, Moltres wins!" Kukui announced.
"Take a good rest, buddy," Jake said with a smile before recalling Lucario to his Poké Ball. "Sprigatito, go!"
Sprigatito came out on the field. It looked up at the hovering Moltres and grew nervous and scared.
"Don't worry, Sprigatito," Jake assured it. "As long as we fight together, we will win."
"You sure?" Kai asked. "You only have Sprigatito left, while I have Moltres, a Legendary Pokémon. Are you really certain that you will win, even with a Grass type?"
"It might not look like it, but I believe in Sprigatito," Jake said. "I believe in our strength to win and overcome even the strongest Fire type Pokémon."
"Brave words, for a worthless Trainer," Kai said. "Moltres, finish it off with Burn Up!"
Moltres' flames under its wings, crest and tail enlarged as it brightened up in a yellow and orange glow. It then flapped its wings and unleashed a massive wave of fire at Sprigatito, who was feeling helpless as it was immediately surrounded by the flames and screamed painfully.
Soon, after the move was done, Sprigatito was lying on the ground, unconscious.
Kukui was stunned. "Sprigatito is…unable to battle, Moltres wins, and that means the winner of this match is Kai!"
Jake ran up to Sprigatito and held it in his arms. "Sprigatitio, I'm so sorry…"
"Meow…" came a low sound from it as it smiled weakly at him.
Kai approached. "You were lucky to defeat my other four Pokémon. They were weak. I expected more from them. However, it was a good battle nonetheless. Thanks for giving my Moltres a bit more to look forward to once you grow stronger."
Jake glared at him. "You were being harsh to your Pokémon!"
"So?"
Moltres hovered down to its Trainer.
"If it weren't for your training method, your Pokémon would be much stronger," Jake continued. "But since you're only seeking strength and power, while I seek friendship and bond, we are vastly different."
"We're different, yes," Kai said. "But unlike you or the Kanto Champion, I am seeking something far more than power."
"Like what?"
"I won't say. Yet," Kai added. He turned, recalling Moltres to its Ultra Ball. "Good luck with your Island Challenge. You will need it, loser."
He walked off, laughing.
Jake sighed, standing on his feet. "I wonder why he's like that," he said to Kukui.
"I have no clue either," the professor said honestly. "But let us focus on healing your Pokémon. They must be tired after that battle."
"Right," Jake nodded in agreement.
Once they were inside the Pokémon Center, Jake healed his Pokémon with the help of Nurse Joy. He thanked her and approached Professor Kukui. "Where is the next trial again?" he asked.
"Wela Volcano," Kukui replied. "You should remember the name of the place we're going to if you wish to continue the island challenge."
"Right, sorry…" Jake apologized, rubbing the back of his neck.
"No sweat," Kukui smiled. "You were so focused on the battle with Kai, that you forgot where we were supposed to go. It's fine."
"So, let's go to Wela Volcano!" Jake said enthusiastically.
Kukui chuckled heartily at the boy before walking out of the Pokémon Center with him.
Author's Note: We're now halfway with the island challenge for Jake's story arc, and then we will be switching back to Kanto and the other heroes of the story. I hope you guys enjoyed the battle in this chapter. I tried to make it at least last a bit longer than in the previous chapter. Part four will arrive when I've finished it.