The Friend.
By Lakyan.
Disclaimer: I don't own pokémon. Satoshi Tajiri created them and Nintendo owns them. But I can dream, can't I?
"Please! Mr Eusine! Please tell us another!"
"Very well." Eusine looked over at his old friend, Noctowl, and smiled.
"One more couldn't hurt." And Eusine began again.
14 years ago…
Dale drifted back to the waking world. The last thing she remembered was entering Entei's nickname into her PokéDex. She gazed up through the skylights of the Blackthorn Hospital, and saw blue sky.
"How long have I been out?" she asked not expecting an answer.
"Two days." A familiar voice said.
Dale looked around and saw three worried people and a fretful pokémon by her bed.
"Eusine? Nurse Joy? Sven?…Irwin!?" she almost leapt out of bed with joy at seeing her friend. But she was feeling weak, from lack of real food, and so she collapsed back onto the bed. She looked up at the drip beside her bed.
"I want outta here." Dale said absently, as she traced the tube leading from the drip to the back of her hand, and pulled a face when she saw the needle barely visible beneath her skin.
"Yuck!" she said disgustedly. "Get this thing outta me!"
"Get the doctor." Nurse Joy said calmly to noone in particular.
Eusine stood and left the room, soon returning with the doctor. The doctor calmed Dale down, removed the needle, much to his patient's relief.
"She's still a little groggy; she won't be able to concentrate until the drugs wear off. She should be able to go once she is fully aware of what is around her." The doctor explained then left.
"Wonder how long that will take…" Irwin wondered. Dale had fallen into a quiet sleep.
"I don't know, but she should probably be out today." Nurse Joy said.
"Hmmm." Eusine sighed thoughtfully.
"Well I'm returning to the Pokémon Center." Nurse Joy stood, and walked to the door. "Bring her in when she gets out." Then she was gone.
Eusine and Irwin sat in silence, waiting. Hours passed and Dale still slept. Not much was said between Eusine and Irwin, apart from the occasional "Do you want some coffee?" from either of the two. They didn't really know each other too well, only recognizing each other, from chance trips to the pokémon centers around Johto.
"So how do you know Dale?" Irwin finally got sick of silence, and started a conversation.
"She was chasing Suicune when I first met her. I later found out she was my cousin," Eusine offered an explanation. "You?"
"I met her in Kanto about three years ago. We traveled together for a bit, before we were separated during the last eruption of Cinnabar Island. I haven't seen her since. That was about a year and a half ago. I've been looking for her all over. However, noone in Kanto could remember seeing her, so I came to Johto, and right away heard rumors about her. I've been on her trail since." Irwin told his short story.
"How long had you been in Johto?"
"About a year, give or take a few months, I don't honestly remember."
"Did you know she captured Suicune a few weeks ago?"
"I heard about that. I would've liked to see the battle. But I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Stuck on the Whirl Islands. I knew if I followed the old legends I would find her, she likes that stuff."
"You have no idea how deeply she is involved in the old legends. She is the Chosen One, and has already captured two of the legendary pokémon."
"Yes, she is quite the trainer, I must say. I witnessed the end of her battle, and the subsequent capture of Entei a couple of nights ago."
"I'm glad you did, I wasn't in Blackthorn in time." Eusine sighed. He'd missed another great battle.
"I only just got into Blackthorn that night. I don't normally travel at night, but my Voltorb, was badly injured against a wild Geodude. I should know my type alignments by now!" Irwin jokingly scolded himself.
Eusine chuckled quietly at that statement.
"Oh, well, My Hoothoot got knocked out by a wild Mareep. Every trainer has their weaknesses." Eusine added his one of his own losses.
"Hmm…" Irwin agreed.
They fell into another awkward silence.
"What is it with guys and lack of conversation?"
Irwin and Eusine looked over at Dale, who lay awake on the hospital bed.
"Irwin…" She whispered.
"I think I'll leave you two alone to get reacquainted." Eusine stood and left the room.
Irwin looked over at the door where Eusine had left. He knew what Dale was going to say.
"I thought you were dead…Mt. Cinnabar… the eruption… the debris…"
"I know…" Irwin comforted.
"I looked and looked…but I could not find you." Dale burst out into tears.
"Now, now, no need for that," Irwin shifted to the bed, and took her into his arms. "I'm here now, I've found you."
"I gave up looking when I read your name in the Cinnabar Daily Times…"
"I saw that, I rang the paper, and sorted it out."
"So I left Kanto, too many memories." Dale appeared not to have heard him.
"Well, here we are, together again, many more adventures to come. Have you heard from Silvie?"
"No, not since…We had an argument not long after the eruption, and we parted ways."
"Gee…I'm sorry to hear that, you two were like sisters."
"I know. But enough of nostalgia, can we get out of here, I want some real food, not that liquidy drip stuff."
"Sure thing."
"One more request?" Dale asked.
"Shoot."
"We ditch Eusine, or else all we'll hear about all night, is Suicune. I know he is my cousin and all, but he gets annoying." Dale complained.
"Okay. Lets try and sneak out."
"Okies." Dale got out of bed.
Irwin looked away while Dale got rid of her hospital gown, in exchange for her normal clothes.
"Lets go." Dale said, and away they sneaked, away from the hospital, away from Eusine, to go find some food.
They found it in the form of a small Chinese shop, on one of the back streets. They got their food, and made for the Pokémon center. They took the seats closest to the fire, as Dale had done two nights before, as they had done since they first started traveling. It had been the same place, in Vermilion City that they had met Silvie.
"Where is Sven?" Dale asked.
"He put himself back in his pokéball, when he saw that you were going to be fine." Irwin looked up from his meal.
"Ok, thanks, Come out Sven." Dale pressed the button on the pokéball she retrieved from her pocket.
The Arcanine appeared in a flash of white light. He saw Dale and lay down beside her armchair. He placed his head on the arm of Dale's chair, and nosed at the food in her lap.
"No you can't have any, my friend, this is people food, not pokémon food." Dale put down the tray on the other side of the chair and retrieved her backpack from the floor. She fished out a jar of pokémon chow, and gave Sven some of its contents, before returning the jar and bag to the floor. Sven gobbled it up quickly.
"There you go mate." Dale said, planting a kiss on the top of the Arcanine's head.
Dale returned to her meal, and soon they were finished.
"What was with your Dratini? Is it really that strong?" Irwin asked.
"No. The trick is to make your enemy think he is that strong."
"How do you do that?"
"You'll have to figure that out for yourself."
"So when are we gonna hit the road?" Irwin asked.
"Probably tomorrow morning. I'm gonna start the hunt for the next legendary pokémon. Raikou, the Friend."
"The Friend?"
"All the legendary pokémon have titles. Raikou's is the Friend."
"Where did you learn all this?" Irwin asked.
"From the Time Traveler himself. Celebi."
"Celebi?" Irwin tried the unusual word on his tongue.
"Yes, apparently I catch him last. He said so himself."
"Do you know what Raikou looks like?"
"Yes, I have a picture on my PokéDex. You can have a look, to see what to look for on the road." Dale passed her PokéDex to Irwin.
Irwin brought Raikou up on her PokéDex, and seeing the picture, gasped.
"This one has been on your trail for days. He was traveling with the one you caught the other night."
"They caught up with me outside Blackthorn City. You can't have been far behind."
"I never stopped looking for you. One must always have hope."
"I'm sorry I gave up…" Dale offered quietly.
"That's okay, you had every reason to believe I was dead."
"I kept the newspaper article, to hang on to my last memory of us all together." Dale took a well-handled scrap of paper out of her wallet. "I guess I don't need this any more, now that you are back." And she threw the paper into the fire, where it caught, it's edges black and curling. "I really missed you, my friend."
"I missed you too." Irwin said quietly, tears glittering in his green eyes.
18 months later…
"Van! Wrap attack!"
Van the Dratini curled around the Rattata's body and begun to squeeze.
"Rattata!" the young boy wailed.
"Van! Return!" Dale recalled Van, thus ending the battle.
"Oh, my Rattata!" The boy scooped his fallen partner, from the ground.
"Here, give him this." Dale handed the boy some medicine.
"Thank you, Miss. Your really strong, Miss. I hope one day I will be as strong as you." The boy smiled as he watched his Rattata awaken.
"I'm sure you will be." Dale smiled at the kid.
"Buh-bye!" The kid yelled as he ran off in the direction of Violet City.
Dale watched him scamper off, before turning to her companion.
"You know, Irwin, you should really battle more often, get your pokémon's experience up."
"I know," the blonde haired teen replied. "But watching you battle is like watching the Kimono Girls dance."
"Don't exaggerate. I'm good, but not that good." Dale smiled.
A rustle in the nearby bushes got their attention.
"Probably just a Spearow…" Dale shrugged it off.
"I dunno…" Irwin listened carefully.
Raikou stepped out into the clearing, purple mane flowing. He saw Dale and Irwin, and with a quick Not yet. he dashed to the opposite side of the clearing and made off.
"Raikou…" Dale murmured.
"Quick! After it!" Irwin quickly jumped up onto his Rapidash's back.
"No."
"What, but it was right there. We can still get it." Irwin urged.
"It is not time. Something is telling me that I have to wait a few more days yet." Dale said firmly.
"Okay then. We can wait." Irwin sighed. He knew that once his friend had made up her mind, you would have to move Heaven and Hell to change it.
"Shall we set up camp?" Dale asked quietly.
Irwin looked to the West, where the sun was beginning to set.
"Okay." He agreed.
They pitched the tent, and got the fire going. They sat by the fire cooking Irwin's stew. They talked of old times, about how they met, when they met Silvie, and some funny moments of when they traveled before the eruption of Mt. Cinnabar. The fire crackled and popped, as the pair sat, indulging in nostalgia.
So young. Yet she has achieved much. In her seventeen years she had accomplished more, than Mason had done in his seventy-four. A good man. Good blood. Mason did well. Dale you shall do very well indeed. To have come this far, and not give up hope. That young man you travel with, he taught you to always have hope. That is why you are still on my trail. Raikou spoke quietly to himself.
He sat in the old Ruins of the Brass Tower, where he had first seen her, two and a half years ago. The basement had stood well against the weather of the last two and a half years. The polished statues had lost none of their shine. The only sign that the room had been exposed to the elements, was a pale patch on the polished floor, where the harsh sunlight had bleached the wood. Raikou remembered the look on Dale's face when he revealed himself to her the other day.
It will soon be time. Come hither. Raikou spoke those words, and a few miles away, Dale sat bolt upright in her tent.
"Go back to sleep." Irwin muttered grumpily, from beside the wide awake figure.
"I can't." Dale told her sleepy friend.
"Whatever it is, it can wait for morning." Irwin rolled over and went back to sleep.
Dale watched her friend for a few minutes, before lying down on her bed. She could have sworn that she heard Raikou calling her. He had chosen a place for battle, and now he wanted her to go to him.
'In the morning.' Dale told herself, and she too drifted to sleep.
"What was that about last night?" Irwin asked as the stuffed the tent into its small carry bag.
"Raikou was calling me." Dale said.
"Calling? You mean…?" Irwin slung the pack over his shoulders, and mounted up onto his Rapidash.
"Yup. It is time." Dale said, picking up her own pack, and climbing onto her own Rapidash.
"Any idea where he was calling from?" Irwin asked.
"We have to make Ecruteak by nightfall." Dale urged her Rapidash into a trot.
"Why Ecruteak?" Irwin wondered, as he sped up to match Dale's pace.
"Raikou is the last of the three I saw at the Burned Tower. My guess is that's where he is going to wait for me. We need to hurry if we are going to make it." And Dale sped up to a gallop, and with Irwin close behind, she was on her way to catch the last of the legendary felines.
And so she draws closer. Raikou murmured in the dark of the basement.
The sun dropped below the horizon, as Irwin and Dale arrived in Ecruteak. Their Rapidash were thoroughly exhausted after the long trek. They were soon resting in the comfort of the pokémon center.
"Well, here we are. What next?" Irwin plopped himself onto one of the armchairs with a heavy sigh.
"I'm going to head over to the Burned Tower. But, not before we have ourselves some dinner."
"I like that idea!" Irwin agreed.
Dale stood and walked off, leaving Irwin to sit and stare into the flames of the roaring fire. He thought about the past year and a half, of being reunited with his closest friend after such a long time, and then of how much they both had changed since the past three years. A deep broke his train of thought, yet, an oddly familiar voice.
"Has she caught any more?"
Irwin looked up to see an older looking Eusine standing before him.
"No, not yet. How are you Eusine?" Irwin asked.
"Not bad. Been home in Celadon, since you two ditched me in Blackthorn." Eusine put a hurt expression on his face.
He looked older than he did a year and a half ago. Irwin found himself wondering just how old Eusine was. His best guess was his mid twenties.
"No hard feelings I hope." Irwin shrugged off the guilt trip Eusine was trying to play on him.
"Nah," Eusine dismissed the subject, seeing that his plan had backfired.
"She's going after Raikou tonight. She's been tracking him for the past eighteen months." Irwin changed the subject.
"I tracked Suicune for ten years, only to lose him to another trainer." Eusine sat in Dale's chair and pouted jokingly.
'This guy has one weird sense of humour,' Irwin thought. "Raikou, the last of the three. Should be a good battle."
"Oh yes it should be, I don't plan on missing this one." Eusine was idly playing with a coin, making it disappear, then reappear in various pockets.
"How do you do that?" Irwin asked.
"A magician never reveals his tricks." Eusine said firmly and put the coin away, to confirm the end of that topic.
Dale appeared next to Irwin and handed him a mug of soup.
"Thanks." He said, before sipping at it.
Dale saw Eusine on her seat, so she sat on the arm of Irwin's chair.
"What brings you to Ecruteak, Eusine?" Dale asked.
"I came to visit Morty. He's going to be the new gym leader on a few weeks."
"Oh, good on him. I always knew that Harold would turn the Gym over to his son." Dale said thoughtfully.
There was an awkward silence as Irwin and Dale finished their soup.
"You know…" Eusine broke the silence.
"Hmm?" Dale looked up from the floor.
"You two look so cute sitting there like that!" Eusine smiled.
Irwin's eyes widened, and Dale jumped off the chair as if it was on fire.
"What!?" Dale choked. "That's the stupidest thing I've heard." She burst out laughing, inviting strange glances from the other patrons of the pokémon center.
"To honest, I never thought of Dale like that." Irwin said calmly.
"Hahaha. At least that got some sound out of you." Eusine burst out laughing, to prove he was joking.
"Eusine! Gawd!" Dale jested and the clock o the wall chimed nine.
"We have to go." Irwin said.
"Right." Dale said and together, they dashed from the pokémon center, before Eusine could say a word.
Bailey walked ahead of them, the golden orbs on his head and tail lighting the path before them. They walked in silence to the Burned Tower, where, if it wasn't for Bailey, they could barely make out the outline of the ruins in the faint moonlight. The moon itself was waning. A thin crescent was all that was visible in the sky, and that was almost completely covered by a layer of cloud.
"So this is it?" Irwin asked as Dale stepped up to the carved doors.
"Yes, this is it. It has been almost two and a half years since I've been here." Dale placed her placed her hands on the heavy door, and gave a hard shove. The door creaked loudly, and she cautiously waited for the creaking she remembered. Bailey stepped in beside her and Irwin close behind. They could see a dim orange glow from the center of the ruined building.
"Come on, that's where he is waiting." Dale stepped forward, the others following. The rotten wood creaked loudly, and Dale figured that it would hold, like it did two and a half years ago. However, she was wrong, for then there was only the weight of one, and now there was the weight of three. The boards gave, and the three of them found themselves, slamming into the polished floor.
"Owwwww…" Irwin moaned pitifully.
"Well, we made another hole in the roof…" Dale said, looking up at the large gap.
Indeed thee did. Raikou said from his place on his raised platform.
Dale sat up, wincing as pain shot through her back. She crawled over to where Irwin and Bailey lay, and helped Irwin into a sitting position. Bailey however, was out for the count.
"Bailey, return." Dale recalled her fallen friend, and turned to her future opponent, her hand on Irwin's shoulder for balance.
Thee art down one. Thou Ampharos cannot fight. Now thee are down to five. This should be interesting.
"Why are you speaking like that? Why all the thees and thous?" Dale asked.
This is how we have always spoken, to each other at least. We have always had to cope with the lingual shifts. That's is why we speak normally when the situation calls for it. However, I feel that the old speech is appropriate for this event. Don't you agree Dale?
"Yes, I guess so."
Two and a half years ago, thee saw us as we slept. This is where it all started, this is where it all ends. I shall enjoy this battle.
"Shall we begin?" Dale said, and Raikou stood.
Indeed we shall. Sent out the first. Raikou jumped gracefully from his seat, to the floor.
"Okay then. I have prepared well for this battle. Go! Lahar!" Dale threw her first pokéball into the center of the room.
The Magcargo crept slowly toward Raikou, it's black skin of hardened lava breaking open, and releasing flares of brilliant yellow flame as it did so.
Ha. This slow creature could never hurt me! Raikou said, as he circled the molten pokémon with glee.
"Okay Lahar, do your stuff." Dale said quietly.
Lahar, named after a hot mud flow, lived up to it's name, as it combined a Mud Slap and a Flamethrower. The super heated mud raced towards Raikou at an incredible speed. So fast, that the hot mud slammed into Raikou's side, scorching his skin and turning his vibrant yellow fur into a mucky grey colour, before Raikou knew what was happening.
Raikou jumped back, roaring in pain, before leaping back onto his platform, where the burning mud could not reach him. Lahar, calmly advancing towards the platform, let a burst of fire out the top of his head, where a new crack had formed. The mud cooled quickly, leaving the polished floor coated in a thick brown layer.
Raikou sat on his haunches, contemplating his next move, while Lahar slowly edged forward.
Ah-ha. Raikou stood, and jumped down off his platform, sliding on the mud a little.
"If you are thinking of using your electricity against her, it won't work." Dale smiled.
Thee must always think carefully when choosing a molten pokémon. So many things can go wrong. Raikou said.
"Huh?" Dale balked, as Raikou dashed past Magcargo.
A small ripple of wind blew past, and Lahar began to cool. Raikou doubled back, and a slightly larger breeze blew past. Dale could see what Raikou was trying to do, and what was worse; she could see it working. Lahar was slowing, cooling, cracking less, as Raikou blew around her, placing his paws always in the exact spot, to avoid slipping on the partially solid mud.
"Lahar!" Dale called, as Raikou shot past her one last time, and Lahar's skin completely hardened.
"Lahar! Return! Go! Xylem!" And an Exeggutor stamped into battle.
Raikou tried to charge the Exeggutor, but he slid on the mud, and slammed into the wall. He shuddered as he felt the burn ripple pain across his flesh.
"Xylem! Barrage!" Dale called.
Xylem planted it's feet firmly on the floor, ignoring the mud that squeezed between its toes.
"Exegg!" Xylem launched each of its six heads at Raikou, one after the other. Raikou nimbly dodged the first two, but the third slammed into him, and so did the rest, as Raikou scrambled to get himself off the floor. Raikou watched as the heads repositioned themselves around the crown of leaves on top of the Exeggutor's trunk. The large feline knelt close to the floor, and let off a bolt of electricity.
"Exegg!" Xylem took the blow, channeling the electricity to the floor.
I should have known… Raikou scolded himself. He stepped back a little, watching the Exeggutor carefully.
Xylem stood there, all twelve eyes on his opponent, a silly grin on each of its six faces.
"Yes you should have," Dale taunted. "Xylem! Psychic!"
Xylem immediately bathed both itself, and Raikou, in a pool of pale blue light.
Raikou felt himself lift up off the floor. He struggled as Xylem began to move him around the room, shaking him like a dog shakes a bone.
"Rarghh!" Raikou roared in his real voice. Aaaarrgh. in his mind.
"Okay Xylem, I think we can finish shaking him like a rag doll, don't you think?"
"Utor!" Xylem agreed, and it broke it's psychic bond.
Raikou landed on the floor with a dull thud, its burn causing another painful shudder.
"Razor Leaf!" Dale called, and Xylem flung many sharp cutting leaves at Raikou.
Raikou somehow managed to avoid being sliced by the whirling foliage, and he edged closer to Exeggutor, close enough to strike. Raikou clamped his jaws down on the large pokémon's leg.
"Bite? You would have to have something stronger." Dale said, relaxing a little.
Thee are correct. Raikou said, without softening his grip. Instead, he clamped his teeth down harder, grinding them in.
Xylem cried out in pain, kicking his leg in an attempt to dislodge Raikou, who held on like a bulldog.
"Xylem! Return!" Dale called back her pokémon.
Thee have three left. Thee should think wisely before thou next choice. Raikou taunted, spitting Xylem's rough bark out of his mouth.
Dale gritted her teeth, thinking about all the moves Raikou had used so far. She had seen him use Gust, Spark and Crunch, the move that finished her Exeggutor. She knew he had one more attack to reveal, and she guessed Raikou would bide his time for it.
"Go! Baron!" Dale hurled another pokéball forward.
A Nidoking stamped forward, after being released from his blue and white sphere.
Raikou took a step back as Baron advanced, sweeping most of the mud from the floor with his powerful tail.
Hmm, this could get interesting. Raikou stopped.
"I think you should find this one more of a challenge." Dale said.
Indeed. Raikou said, before lunging at Baron, fangs bared.
Baron saw the attack, flung out his fist, opening his clawed fingers as he connected with Raikou's face. Raikou jerked in surprised, but Baron had a grip strong. Baron threw Raikou over his shoulder, behind him, executing a perfect Counter attack Raikou twisted agilely in the air, landing nimbly on his feet. He bunched his shoulders, preparing to attack. Baron prepared for the attack, instead it never came. They stood there, looking at each other, each calculating the others next move. Raikou made a move.
He charged at Baron, watching as the Nidoking launched is right fist. Raikou ducked to the left, under and away from Baron's Counter. He jumped up, and sank his teeth into Baron's soft unprotected neck. Raikou's teeth missed any major blood vessels, but the attack still provoked a gasp of fear from Dale. The force of the attack flung Baron and Raikou to the floor, where Raikou withdrew his fangs, satisfied with his result.
"Baron!"
Thou Nidoking is done, it can no longer battle. Raikou moved away from his opponent.
"Do not underestimate my pokémon. Baron, once he has started a battle, will not give up. He will continue to fight until he is knocked out. That's the way he is, stubborn to a fault."
Indeed, Baron was now standing shakily behind Raikou.
"Baron! Rollout!"
The Nidoking pulled itself into a ball, kicking off into a spin. Baron rolled, in a spiny ball, towards Raikou. Raikou, astonished that the Nidoking was still able to move, tried to move, but Baron was too quick. It rolled over Raikou, pressing the large feline into the ground.
I've had enough of you! Raikou shouted the last word. He put all his remaining strength into pulling himself from the dirty floor, still slightly slick with Lahar's mud.
Baron went flying, crashing into the edge of the hole in the roof. The wood groaned threateningly, and twisted, a yell echoing into the chamber below. The unconscious Nidoking fell to the floor with a crash, covered in wood splinters.
"Baron! Return!" Dale gritted her teeth in frustration. She could only use two more.
Thee have two more to go! Raikou crowed. No doubt you have grown in power since the capture of Suicune, but I have also been in training, perfecting my power to overcome most types of pokemon.
"Would you care to prove that to me?" Dale said, a small grin on her face.
Certainly. Send one forth. Raikou sat on his mud stained haunches.
"Alright then! Go! Zircon!" Dale hurled a ball forward, releasing a large Rhydon.
Too easy. Raikou said, and nimbly dodged the Rhydon's immediate attack.
The Rhydon paused, searching for it's opponent. Upon locating Raikou, Zircon roared loudly, before charging again. Raikou again dodged the attack, jumping to the side. Zircon thundered past and slammed into the wall. The whole ruin gave an ominous shudder, and the roof creaked as it sunk a little. Zircon stood shakily, shook it's head, ridding itself of the dizziness.
Pathetic Raikou looked on, one eyebrow raised as the Rhydon again searched the room.
Zircon charged a third time, and Raikou dodged again, but Zircon pivoted on one foot, turning it to slam into Raikou's muddy flanks. Raikou slammed into one of the support pillars holding up the slowly sinking roof. The pillar crumbled, brittle after being sealed away for so long, then being exposed to the air two and a half years ago, and with a scream of tearing wood, a piece of the roof dislodged. It crashed to the floor and started sliding on the last of the mud, the figure on top of it screaming in a deep voice.
"Irwin!" Dale screamed, leaping at her injured friend, grabbing him, her momentum carrying them both to the corner of the room. The ceiling fragment crashed into the wall where Irwin had been sitting a split second before. The figure on top of the broken wood groaned loudly and fell to the side, towards Dale and Irwin.
"Eusine!" Dale cursed angrily. She grabbed him by his shirt and yanked him into the safety of the corner.
Raikou stood, snarling as pain rippled through it's muscular body. He looked up to see Zircon, poised on the dirty floor, shoulders bunched, ready to charge.
I've had about enough of you! Raikou raged, growling deeply in it's true voice.
Zircon charged again, Raikou did also. As Zircon drew closer, Raikou leapt up, planting it's paws on Zircons back, vaulting over and sinking its fangs in Zircon spinal region with a swift and deadly Crunch attack.
"Zircon! Return!" Dale called back her Rhydon, who was vigorously shaking, to dislodge the oversized feline.
Raikou stood before Dale, the caked mud, now mostly dry, flaking away from his fur.
Thee have one left. Send him forth now! Raikou ordered.
"Very well." Dale said, grasping the Ultra Ball in her hand. The surface was dulled slightly, from years of frequent use. Not even frequent polishing could remove the dirt from all the cracks.
"Go! Sven!" Dale called, and sent her oldest friend into battle.
Sven leapt into the arena, his golden mane waving in the breeze that now blew through the room.
Ah, yes. Your precious Arcanine. I might have known. Raikou said, taking a small step back.
"Who were you expecting?" Dale asked, a mischievous grin on her face.
That Dratini of yours. Raikou said.
"Van huh?" Dale asked cautiously.
Yes. I hear he gave Entei a run for his money.
"That he did, nonetheless, this battle is not for him. Sven, old pal, shall we show this kitty who's boss?"
"Arrrr!" Sven agreed, a growl rising in his throat.
Kitty! Ha! I'll show you what this kitty can do! Raikou shouted, and as he spoke he charged at Sven.
The large Arcanine dodged easily, Raikou's battle lust had blinded his judgment.
Sven let out a long burst of flame, at the passing form, but only succeeded in singing the muddy fur on Raikou's jagged tail.
Raikou ignored the pain, Lahar's burn had hurt more. He came around, claws scrabbling on the floor, leaving gouges on the polished wood. He made another attempt at a Crunch attack, and failed again, as Sven let loose another torrent of flame. This time it hit home. Raikou slammed into the wall, howling in pain. Sven prepared for another attack as Raikou picked himself up off the floor, shivering from the sever burn, which was just worsened.
And now! Raikou said, breathing heavily, each exhalation rattled in his throat. It is time to end this!
Sven bunched his shoulders tighter, but his adversary did not move. Raikou stood against the wall, muddied and singed fur crackling with electricity.
"Sven! Move!" Dale shouted, as Raikou shot a bolt of thunder at Sven. Sven dodged it, but just barely. The lightning flew past Sven, and in his haste, he forgot about his trainer. The bolt struck Dale, causing her to cry out in pain as the electricity coursed through her fragile body. She collapsed to the ground, barely conscious.
Raikou did not heed the actions of his opponents trainer, he was trapped in his battle lust. He leapt forward to begin his final attack.
Sven did not know what Raikou had in mind, but he knew that by attacking his trainer, Raikou had sealed his fate. He watched as Raikou sped towards him, sparks crackling at every touch of those clawed feet. Sven moved as Raikou blew past, sending a bolt of lightning into his body. He picked himself up off the ground, and dodged again as Raikou's onslaught continued.
Raikou ran around the room, moving with such speed and glace, that he almost appeared to be flying. He let off bolt after stinging bolt of crackling electricity at his opponent, who was desperately trying to avoid them. Sven succeeded most of the time, although a fair few shot hit him, which devastated his already damaged flesh. The large orange pokémon with the seared mane let fly a torrent of flame, but Raikou dodged it, launching another jagged arc of lightning.
Are we having fun yet!? Raikou crowed his entire body now sparkled with the glistening arcs.
"Stop this madness!" Dale shouted at the badly wounded pokémon.
Madness!? Raikou boomed, lightning bouncing all over the room, poorly aimed from his fur.
"Yes," Dale stood, Eusine helping her balance. "It is madness the way you are battling. No aim, no strategy, no point other than to win. At this rate neither of you will survive! Call it quits now!" Dale begged the ruined beast that stood before her.
Never! Raikou said and let off all the pent up energy that he had carefully been saving up, while releasing small pieces of it, still active in battle.
A beam of light shot out of the ruins of the Brass tower. The citizens of Ecruteak City, emerged sleepily from their houses, to gaze at the mysterious light in the sky. An explosion rocked the ground, and an immense ball of flame shot into the night sky. Thunder rolled as the last vestiges of the once magnificent Brass tower vanished once and for all.
Dale groaned as she regained consciousness, pain rippling through her body. She tried to stand, and after a couple of times, she managed a crawl. She looked around and saw Irwin, lying on his side, arm twisted at an odd angle, and with his back to her she could see a large cut running down his back. She crawled over to him as fast as her battered body would let her.
"Irwin?" She shook him lightly, trying not to worsen the bruises which already covered his body.
He stirred, opening his glazed blue eyes, indicating that he was awake, but not yet fully aware.
"Are we there yet?" Irwin asked groggily.
"No, not yet." Dale said as she pulled her hurt friend into a somewhat painful embrace.
Sven staggered up behind them, grunting a question about their wellbeing.
Very well. Raikou's voice spoke from their left.
Dale, Irwin and Sven looked over at the blackened animal which lay before them.
"Yes Raikou?" Dale asked.
I concede defeat. Raikou said, before giving up the last of his strength.
Dale tossed a pokéball at the silent form, and with a flash of red light, Raikou withdrew into the ball. Dale waited until she heard a chime, then she crawled over and picked up the sphere.
"Now we are there…" She looked back to where Irwin lay, smiling at her friend.
"Tell me I didn't miss the capture again!" Eusine wailed from somewhere in the dark ruins.
Present day...
"And there you have the capture of the first three…" Eusine reached for the cool remnants of his coffee.
"Can we hear another?" a small girl asked.
"Thats quite enough for today, I'm rather tired. And if I'm tired, then this late hour must be way past your own bedtime. Now off you go, and next time I shall tell you how she captured the Hunted, Lugia." And Eusine left, the door clicking shut behind him.