Chapter 31
Setijin backed away, the assailant clad in his brash, space age silver suit steadily strutting
forwards. Continuing backwards, he stumbled over the crumbling debris of a shattered
coffee table, rearranging his posture to guide his arm slowly down to his pokéballs.
"Dueling then eh?" the man sneered, halting his approach. He stood tall, sneering down
on Setijin, standing a clear foot higher, as he dropped his pokéball to the floor. The room
was illuminated from the cyan sparks erupting from it as the man leapt backwards, his
pokémon emerging.
"Scizor," it hissed, its small glass like wings throbbing as they beat at speeds beyond
sight, creating the illusion that it was floating. Its sleek, red chrome body shimmered in
the sunlight streaming down from the gaping hole in the roof, its eyes sharpening and
brightening as they focused on Setijin.
"You'd better put up a good fight. I don't want to have come this far for nothing," the
man scowled once more, Setijin finally unleashing a pokémon. As Ninjask exploded from
its case, and fidgeted in the air, facing the imposing figure of Scizor, a second pokéball
falling to the floor from Setijin's belt.
"Cham?"
"Fine. Use two if you think it'll up your chances," he retorted, sending Scizor charging
forwards. Setijin stood frozen and confused as Ninjask reeled backwards from Scizor's
take down.
"Setijin?" Winona cautiously asked through the noise of the battle. He remained still,
Scizor, arching back around for a second assault.
"..."
"Setijin!" she repeated sharply, nudging him eagerly. His eyes were fixed forward, his
Ninjask proceeding to remain still, at the mercy of the steel pokémon's almighty claws.
Medicham watched, with a smirk growing on his face as Ninjask's stamina depleted, its
eyes slowly fading as Scizor continued to pummel it further and further into the floor.
Winona pushed past Setijin, calling out to Medicham. "Medicham, use counter!"
"?" he paused, turning to Winona, then twisting back around to the fight. Unsure of
Winona's command, he wandered over, tapping Scizor on its right plated shoulder. It
spun around, Ninjask twitching limply on the floor as Scizor stared at Medicham angrily.
"Scizor!" It leapt forwards, Medicham thrown to the floor as the hybrid bug pokémon
swept past with frightening agility. Picking himself up off the floor, Medicham lunged
forward, pulling his fist back. Heaving it forwards, he connected with Scizor's arm,
sending the two backwards from recoil. Scizor shook off the attack, charging forwards
once more, forcing the fighter to the floor again.
"Setijin, do something!" Winona shouted, slapping him around the back of the head. He
flinched, turning back to her.
"Back off!" he snapped, sharply twisting his arm away from her grip. She edged
backwards in shock, taking her place alongside Lucia. "Ninjask, use fury cutter! Now!"
"Jask..." it feebly droned, wobbling back up into flight. It hobbled forwards, simply
scratching the shinny coating of Scizor's skin.
"And again! Do it!" Ninjask continued, driven simply by fear, as his owner grew more
and more frustrated by the action. Sweeping around, Scizor effortlessly batted Ninjask
aside, retuning its sight to Medicham.
"Can't take the pressure, eh kid?" the man scowled. He ordered Scizor back, the steel
pokémon floating away from Medicham, before creating multiple copies of him within
the blink of an eye. Medicham watched in confusion as the copies shot back towards him,
the fighter unsure of what to do.
"Mega punch it!" Setijin called angrily. Medicham obeyed unwillingly, firing himself
forward, flying straight through one of the copies, and falling to the floor. Before he
could pick himself up, Scizor threw himself downwards, attempting to force Medicham
into submission.
"Setijin, what's wrong with you?" Lucia cried, pushing Setijin to the floor. He scuffled
back to his feet, staring her in the eye.
"I..." he paused, spying his fallen Ninjask on the floor over Lucia's shoulder. He rotated
his head, watching Medicham take the brunt of Scizor's beatings, everything slowly
filtering into perspective.
"Forget the rules," Winona bellowed, launching a collection of pokéballs into the fray.
From them emerged Pidgey, Pelipper and Graveler. Lucia nodded, adding to the squad by
releasing Staryu and Gulpin.
"So, you want to play it this way, huh?" the man responded. "No rules? You've got it!"
he slung a series of brashly designed pokéballs forward, from them emerging a new
collection of pokémon: a Charmeleon, Electrike and a second Electrode. The two teams
faced each other, each standing in a line, side by side. Winona was first to act.
"Graveler, Magnitude 8!" Graveler hopped forward twice, the second time forcing
himself hard to the floor. The resultant shockwaves collapsed some more of the already
tattered ceiling onto the mans pokémon. Charmeleon seemed unaffected, Electrode and
Electrike appearing to take the brunt of the attack.
"Charmeleon, use flame thrower!"
"Staryu, water gun!" The flames from the fire lizard hissed as they snaked out of his
mouth, Staryu's water bursts filtering in through the flames. Steam and smoke bellowed
from the extinguished fire, neither attack making any progress. After a short tussle of
power, both pokémon desisted, Staryu looking expressively tired.
"Pelipper, wing attack Scizor!" Winona called, the sea bird sweeping over to the bug.
With a short sharp blow, Scizor leapt backwards, sharply locking on to Pelipper. Striking
out, he latched on to Pelippers foot, dragging him to the floor, Medicham picking himself
up, considerably battered and bruised. He staggered over to Setijin, collapsing to his
knees as he looked up. Setijin gazed down, Medicham staring back, as if begging for
something. As Setijin lowered himself, Medicham slapped him around the face.
"Wha...?"
"Cham!" he protested, leaping back to his feet.
"I think he's trying to say you went nuts," Winona explained, quickly glancing over to
the two before returning to the battle. Setijin sighed as he dropped his face to the ground,
Medicham grunting before hopping back into the fray.
Electrode, use rollout," instructed the man, his orb pokémon trundling forwards, picking
up speed as he approached Pidgey. The tiny bird ascended sharply, whipping up a small
gale of winds, guiding them towards Electrode. The winds did little, simply nudging
Electrode onto his side, aiding him in turning back around. Using a heap of rubble as a
ramp, the Electric pokémon launched itself upwards, exploding in an array of fire and
electricity on impact. The two fell helplessly to the ground, more of the room
disintegrating from the blast. The floor creaked unsteadily, the spectators slowly making
their way out of the room. Winona was down to her Graveler while three of the mans
pokémon continued to fight formidably.
Medicham paced forwards, looking around at the fighting, unaware of Scizor's copies
presence. Jumped from behind, the copies merged into a whole, charging full force into
Medicham's back. Forced to the floor yet again, Medicham picked himself back up, the
rage growing in his eyes. Screaming nomadically, he blazed forward in a fit of fury,
swinging wildly at the bug pokémon, blurring and weaving out of each attack with ease.
Physically exhausted, Medicham's assault slowed, Scizor brining his claw back for a
finishing blow. Its crimson tip twinkling in the tropical sun, his vice like hand swept
forwards, only to be knocked away by a swift tackled from Ninjask. With this, Medicham
leapt forward, bringing his leg around, driving it straight into the disheveled Scizor,
crumbling him to his knees.
"Medicham," Setijin whispered to himself, watching his partners fight. Ninjask and
Medicham waited side by side for orders, both looking admirably worn. "Go and help the
others," Setijin ordered, slowly rising to his feet, his voice filling with confidence.
"Gulpin, use sludge bomb," Lucia called, the tiny poison pokémon rolling forwards,
launching a bubble of gunk at Charmeleon. The ball shattered like a balloon, releasing its
contents over the lizards face, forcing him backwards, releasing a stream of flames
aimlessly into the air.
"Return Scizor. Electrike, use thunder!" the man instructed, the small electric dog,
bounding forwards, howling to the sky. Rain clouds gathered high above, throbbing with
lightning, a single bolt rippling downwards, striking the center of the ship. The blast
ripped through the floor, dancing around uncontrollably before fizzling into nothing, the
seawater bubbling below through the heaving hole in the boat. Medicham sprinted
towards the fighting; tripping on a severed plank, brushing himself off as he shamefully
picked himself up. Ninjask chuckled subtly, Medicham turning back towards him.
Striding forwards, the fighting pokémon slipped his foot through the steaming hole,
staggering onto the edge, Ninjask's chuckle growing to a guffaw. With this, he picked
himself back to his feet once more, swiping a chunk of wood from the floor, launching it
at the bug.
"Ninjask!" it squealed, bolting off around the room, Medicham controlling the path of his
projectile. Ninjask picked up speed, weaving its way through around and under debris,
before accelerating directly towards Electrike, the dog thoughtlessly watching, preparing
for attack. Banking sharply to the right at the very last minute, Ninjask avoided
Electrike's lunge, the electric pokémon leaping straight into Medicham's wood, flooring
him in a single blow. Engulfed in red, Electrike was returned, Charmeleon still clearing
the sludge from his face.
"Charm..." it growled, slinging the last paw of gunk to the floor. It reared its head, its tail
flame howling intensely, heat blurring the air around its open mouth. With a bark and a
wail, it bellowed another stream of fire, engulfing Gulpin, the poison pokémon squealing
until it was returned to the confines of its pokéball. Staryu hopped up to order next,
leaping into the air, floating almost mystically. It span, its core shimmering majestically,
before it unleashed a scattering of tiny stars. The stars threw themselves in a flurry at
Charmeleon, the fire lizard shaking them off as if it were a light rain. Waddling forwards,
it took an almighty swipe with its gargantuan claws at the star pokémon, scraping it to the
ground, it too being returned to its pokéball by Lucia.
Ninjask's speed continued to raise itself, as Medicham persisted chase. The bug started to
shimmer with power, leaving a dim glow resembling the shape of a sword as it ran, its
claws sharpening and its focus tightening. Arcing away from the wall, it fled towards
Charmeleon, whom was proceeding to approach Graveler, Medicham closing in.
Swatting the bug out of the air, Ninjask trailed downwards, like a damaged plan, spiraling
into Charmeleon. Upon contact, the bug released a spark of energy, a light copy of it
whisking through the air, embedding itself into Charmeleon, as if to pass a baton in a
race.
"Charmeleon?" it grumbled, admiring its shiny new claws and its now rippling muscles.
"What just happened?" asked Winona.
"If what has just happened is what I think just happened, then I think we need some
backup," Lucia replied, releasing Plusle, Minun and Espeon from their respective pods.
"So what is it that you think that happens which makes you think that we need some
backup?" Winona interrogated.
"Baton Pass," Lucia responded.
"I see."
"Setijin, release the rest of your pokémon!" Lucia called, Setijin standing frozen once
more.
"I'm sorry," he sighed, the teams squaring up to each other: Charmeleon versus Graveler,
Ninjask, Medicham, Espeon, Plusle and Minun. Round two was about to begin.
Setijin backed away, the assailant clad in his brash, space age silver suit steadily strutting
forwards. Continuing backwards, he stumbled over the crumbling debris of a shattered
coffee table, rearranging his posture to guide his arm slowly down to his pokéballs.
"Dueling then eh?" the man sneered, halting his approach. He stood tall, sneering down
on Setijin, standing a clear foot higher, as he dropped his pokéball to the floor. The room
was illuminated from the cyan sparks erupting from it as the man leapt backwards, his
pokémon emerging.
"Scizor," it hissed, its small glass like wings throbbing as they beat at speeds beyond
sight, creating the illusion that it was floating. Its sleek, red chrome body shimmered in
the sunlight streaming down from the gaping hole in the roof, its eyes sharpening and
brightening as they focused on Setijin.
"You'd better put up a good fight. I don't want to have come this far for nothing," the
man scowled once more, Setijin finally unleashing a pokémon. As Ninjask exploded from
its case, and fidgeted in the air, facing the imposing figure of Scizor, a second pokéball
falling to the floor from Setijin's belt.
"Cham?"
"Fine. Use two if you think it'll up your chances," he retorted, sending Scizor charging
forwards. Setijin stood frozen and confused as Ninjask reeled backwards from Scizor's
take down.
"Setijin?" Winona cautiously asked through the noise of the battle. He remained still,
Scizor, arching back around for a second assault.
"..."
"Setijin!" she repeated sharply, nudging him eagerly. His eyes were fixed forward, his
Ninjask proceeding to remain still, at the mercy of the steel pokémon's almighty claws.
Medicham watched, with a smirk growing on his face as Ninjask's stamina depleted, its
eyes slowly fading as Scizor continued to pummel it further and further into the floor.
Winona pushed past Setijin, calling out to Medicham. "Medicham, use counter!"
"?" he paused, turning to Winona, then twisting back around to the fight. Unsure of
Winona's command, he wandered over, tapping Scizor on its right plated shoulder. It
spun around, Ninjask twitching limply on the floor as Scizor stared at Medicham angrily.
"Scizor!" It leapt forwards, Medicham thrown to the floor as the hybrid bug pokémon
swept past with frightening agility. Picking himself up off the floor, Medicham lunged
forward, pulling his fist back. Heaving it forwards, he connected with Scizor's arm,
sending the two backwards from recoil. Scizor shook off the attack, charging forwards
once more, forcing the fighter to the floor again.
"Setijin, do something!" Winona shouted, slapping him around the back of the head. He
flinched, turning back to her.
"Back off!" he snapped, sharply twisting his arm away from her grip. She edged
backwards in shock, taking her place alongside Lucia. "Ninjask, use fury cutter! Now!"
"Jask..." it feebly droned, wobbling back up into flight. It hobbled forwards, simply
scratching the shinny coating of Scizor's skin.
"And again! Do it!" Ninjask continued, driven simply by fear, as his owner grew more
and more frustrated by the action. Sweeping around, Scizor effortlessly batted Ninjask
aside, retuning its sight to Medicham.
"Can't take the pressure, eh kid?" the man scowled. He ordered Scizor back, the steel
pokémon floating away from Medicham, before creating multiple copies of him within
the blink of an eye. Medicham watched in confusion as the copies shot back towards him,
the fighter unsure of what to do.
"Mega punch it!" Setijin called angrily. Medicham obeyed unwillingly, firing himself
forward, flying straight through one of the copies, and falling to the floor. Before he
could pick himself up, Scizor threw himself downwards, attempting to force Medicham
into submission.
"Setijin, what's wrong with you?" Lucia cried, pushing Setijin to the floor. He scuffled
back to his feet, staring her in the eye.
"I..." he paused, spying his fallen Ninjask on the floor over Lucia's shoulder. He rotated
his head, watching Medicham take the brunt of Scizor's beatings, everything slowly
filtering into perspective.
"Forget the rules," Winona bellowed, launching a collection of pokéballs into the fray.
From them emerged Pidgey, Pelipper and Graveler. Lucia nodded, adding to the squad by
releasing Staryu and Gulpin.
"So, you want to play it this way, huh?" the man responded. "No rules? You've got it!"
he slung a series of brashly designed pokéballs forward, from them emerging a new
collection of pokémon: a Charmeleon, Electrike and a second Electrode. The two teams
faced each other, each standing in a line, side by side. Winona was first to act.
"Graveler, Magnitude 8!" Graveler hopped forward twice, the second time forcing
himself hard to the floor. The resultant shockwaves collapsed some more of the already
tattered ceiling onto the mans pokémon. Charmeleon seemed unaffected, Electrode and
Electrike appearing to take the brunt of the attack.
"Charmeleon, use flame thrower!"
"Staryu, water gun!" The flames from the fire lizard hissed as they snaked out of his
mouth, Staryu's water bursts filtering in through the flames. Steam and smoke bellowed
from the extinguished fire, neither attack making any progress. After a short tussle of
power, both pokémon desisted, Staryu looking expressively tired.
"Pelipper, wing attack Scizor!" Winona called, the sea bird sweeping over to the bug.
With a short sharp blow, Scizor leapt backwards, sharply locking on to Pelipper. Striking
out, he latched on to Pelippers foot, dragging him to the floor, Medicham picking himself
up, considerably battered and bruised. He staggered over to Setijin, collapsing to his
knees as he looked up. Setijin gazed down, Medicham staring back, as if begging for
something. As Setijin lowered himself, Medicham slapped him around the face.
"Wha...?"
"Cham!" he protested, leaping back to his feet.
"I think he's trying to say you went nuts," Winona explained, quickly glancing over to
the two before returning to the battle. Setijin sighed as he dropped his face to the ground,
Medicham grunting before hopping back into the fray.
Electrode, use rollout," instructed the man, his orb pokémon trundling forwards, picking
up speed as he approached Pidgey. The tiny bird ascended sharply, whipping up a small
gale of winds, guiding them towards Electrode. The winds did little, simply nudging
Electrode onto his side, aiding him in turning back around. Using a heap of rubble as a
ramp, the Electric pokémon launched itself upwards, exploding in an array of fire and
electricity on impact. The two fell helplessly to the ground, more of the room
disintegrating from the blast. The floor creaked unsteadily, the spectators slowly making
their way out of the room. Winona was down to her Graveler while three of the mans
pokémon continued to fight formidably.
Medicham paced forwards, looking around at the fighting, unaware of Scizor's copies
presence. Jumped from behind, the copies merged into a whole, charging full force into
Medicham's back. Forced to the floor yet again, Medicham picked himself back up, the
rage growing in his eyes. Screaming nomadically, he blazed forward in a fit of fury,
swinging wildly at the bug pokémon, blurring and weaving out of each attack with ease.
Physically exhausted, Medicham's assault slowed, Scizor brining his claw back for a
finishing blow. Its crimson tip twinkling in the tropical sun, his vice like hand swept
forwards, only to be knocked away by a swift tackled from Ninjask. With this, Medicham
leapt forward, bringing his leg around, driving it straight into the disheveled Scizor,
crumbling him to his knees.
"Medicham," Setijin whispered to himself, watching his partners fight. Ninjask and
Medicham waited side by side for orders, both looking admirably worn. "Go and help the
others," Setijin ordered, slowly rising to his feet, his voice filling with confidence.
"Gulpin, use sludge bomb," Lucia called, the tiny poison pokémon rolling forwards,
launching a bubble of gunk at Charmeleon. The ball shattered like a balloon, releasing its
contents over the lizards face, forcing him backwards, releasing a stream of flames
aimlessly into the air.
"Return Scizor. Electrike, use thunder!" the man instructed, the small electric dog,
bounding forwards, howling to the sky. Rain clouds gathered high above, throbbing with
lightning, a single bolt rippling downwards, striking the center of the ship. The blast
ripped through the floor, dancing around uncontrollably before fizzling into nothing, the
seawater bubbling below through the heaving hole in the boat. Medicham sprinted
towards the fighting; tripping on a severed plank, brushing himself off as he shamefully
picked himself up. Ninjask chuckled subtly, Medicham turning back towards him.
Striding forwards, the fighting pokémon slipped his foot through the steaming hole,
staggering onto the edge, Ninjask's chuckle growing to a guffaw. With this, he picked
himself back to his feet once more, swiping a chunk of wood from the floor, launching it
at the bug.
"Ninjask!" it squealed, bolting off around the room, Medicham controlling the path of his
projectile. Ninjask picked up speed, weaving its way through around and under debris,
before accelerating directly towards Electrike, the dog thoughtlessly watching, preparing
for attack. Banking sharply to the right at the very last minute, Ninjask avoided
Electrike's lunge, the electric pokémon leaping straight into Medicham's wood, flooring
him in a single blow. Engulfed in red, Electrike was returned, Charmeleon still clearing
the sludge from his face.
"Charm..." it growled, slinging the last paw of gunk to the floor. It reared its head, its tail
flame howling intensely, heat blurring the air around its open mouth. With a bark and a
wail, it bellowed another stream of fire, engulfing Gulpin, the poison pokémon squealing
until it was returned to the confines of its pokéball. Staryu hopped up to order next,
leaping into the air, floating almost mystically. It span, its core shimmering majestically,
before it unleashed a scattering of tiny stars. The stars threw themselves in a flurry at
Charmeleon, the fire lizard shaking them off as if it were a light rain. Waddling forwards,
it took an almighty swipe with its gargantuan claws at the star pokémon, scraping it to the
ground, it too being returned to its pokéball by Lucia.
Ninjask's speed continued to raise itself, as Medicham persisted chase. The bug started to
shimmer with power, leaving a dim glow resembling the shape of a sword as it ran, its
claws sharpening and its focus tightening. Arcing away from the wall, it fled towards
Charmeleon, whom was proceeding to approach Graveler, Medicham closing in.
Swatting the bug out of the air, Ninjask trailed downwards, like a damaged plan, spiraling
into Charmeleon. Upon contact, the bug released a spark of energy, a light copy of it
whisking through the air, embedding itself into Charmeleon, as if to pass a baton in a
race.
"Charmeleon?" it grumbled, admiring its shiny new claws and its now rippling muscles.
"What just happened?" asked Winona.
"If what has just happened is what I think just happened, then I think we need some
backup," Lucia replied, releasing Plusle, Minun and Espeon from their respective pods.
"So what is it that you think that happens which makes you think that we need some
backup?" Winona interrogated.
"Baton Pass," Lucia responded.
"I see."
"Setijin, release the rest of your pokémon!" Lucia called, Setijin standing frozen once
more.
"I'm sorry," he sighed, the teams squaring up to each other: Charmeleon versus Graveler,
Ninjask, Medicham, Espeon, Plusle and Minun. Round two was about to begin.