Chapter 14
Part 1: Red Hot Fire Battles!
As the trio heads toward route 32 a surprise battle stopped them in their tracks. A young boy from a nearby town wanted to challenge a fire trainer and before Ruby could say anything, Callista had accepted the challenge and she is now in the middle of a one on one battle to the finish.
"Go Growlithe use your tackle attack!"
"Flareon, use take down!"
The two pokemon hit each other with their attacks causing almost zero damage. Both pokemon jumped back and waited for their next orders.
"Flareon," a young boy called, " Use your quick attack."
Flareon bolted towards the Growlithe.
"Growlithe quick use fire spin!"
Growlithe used its flames to create a barrier between itself and the Flareon. Fearing it was going to get burned, Flareon stopped in its tracks.
Emily turned to Ruby, who were both on the sidelines watching, "Callista really figured out a smart way to repel quick attacks."
"She is getting good at it too," Ruby replied. "She has used this method several times and it has worked every time."
"Flareon use your sand attack and try to put out the flames," the boy called out.
Flareon turned its back on its opponent and, by using its hind legs, started kicking sand and dirt in the direction of the flames. As the dirt and sand began to pile up it slowly put out the flames of Growlithe's attack.
"Now use your flame thrower!"
Callista attacked right back, "Growlithe use your flame thrower."
Both pokemon shot out their attacks and as the flamethrowers struck each other the battle became a contest of firepower.
"Come on you can do it Flareon!" The boy called when he noticed Growlithe's flames started to push Flareon's flame back at it.
"Finish it Growlithe," Callista called, "Flame thrower at maximum power!"
Growlithe's eyes glowed red as its flamethrower almost doubled in power. The force of the power not only over powered Flareon's attack it also struck the Flareon with tremendous force. Flareon flew into the air and slammed back onto the ground and had immediately fainted.
"Flareon!" The boy called as he ran to his pokemon. After he made a quick check to see if his Flareon was all right he called his pokemon back. "Flareon return!" After he stepped up to Callista.
"Wow Callista your Growlithe is really strong," the boy held out his hand, "I'm George."
"Thank you George," Callista replied. "You and your Flareon are good too."
"No, I mean it!" George said. "You should really enter in the fire competition we are having in my town this afternoon."
"Town?" Callista asked. She didn't remember a town being on the map anywhere near here.
"Yeah, Amber Town. It's right off route 32 over in that direction." George pointed over to the west. "That's were I am headed now. I just wanted a warm up until its time to battle." George backed up a bit, "So I better get going so I can heal my Flareon before its time to battle. Maybe I'll see you guys there." George started jogging away towards the west. "See ya!"
"Bye!" Callista shouted back. Callista looked down at her Growlithe, who was now sitting right beside her, and patted it on the head. "Good job Growlithe."
Growlithe looked up with its loving eyes and replied, "Growl growl."
Emily grabbed her guide and flipped through the pages until she got to the part what talks about Amber Town. "Here we are," Emily began, " Amber Town is famous for their annual Fire Competition. Trainers from all over the Johto region come to compete at their outdoor stadium and put their fire skills to the test. Looks like we arrived right on time, the competition starts this afternoon." Emily looked at her watch. "It's ten right now so we have plenty of time to get there."
Ruby began to get really interested.
"It's a little out of our way," Emily finished as she looked at the map at the front of her guide. "But not too much."
"Well," Callista thought about his idea. "I only have one fire pokemon so..."
"I say we do it," Ruby interrupted. "I'm a fire trainer and I would love to try to compete and win. I know my fire pokemon can do it and I know Growlithe can too." She turned to Callista. "Come on Callista, its a perfect opportunity to raise the levels of our fire pokemon."
"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to spend sometime there." Callista replied. "Okay, yeah let's do it!"
Ruby was very happy that Callista agreed. Callista called her Growlithe back into its pokeball and the three of them headed to the west towards Amber town.
It took only ten minutes to get into town and five minutes to get to their first stop, the Pokemon Center.
"Hey there Nurse Joy," Callista waved when she saw the Nurse's face.
"Hello there what can I do for you?"
"We would like it very much if you would give our pokemon a check up," Callista said as she held out Growlithe's pokeball.
Ruby grabbed her whole belt and held it out to the Nurse. "Yeah, we have a fire battle to get too and we want to make sure they are one hundred percent."
"Sure," Nurse Joy replied, "Just have a seat. It'll only take a few minutes." Nurse Joy took the pokeballs into the back and began working on them.
Callista sighed as she waited with her friends for her pokemon. They decided to sit in the waiting room for them, which is right next to the cafeteria.
"So I'll bet you're excited about the competition huh?" Callista asked Ruby.
"You bet," Ruby could barely even sit still in the soft patted chair, "I haven't battled in a something like this in a long time. And now that I have a new pokemon it will be even better."
"But you haven't battled with Rapidash yet," Emily pointed out. "I don't think you should battle with a pokemon you haven't trained yet."
"Let me worry about it," Ruby replied, "Since I haven't battled with it yet I'm probably going to stick with my other pokemon. Quilava packs a lot of power in that cute little body." Ruby sat there and thought about her pokemon.
Emily leaned over and whispered in Callista's ear, "That girl definitely has fire pokemon on her mind."
Callista smiled at the remark as Nurse Joy stepped into the waiting room. "Okay, your pokemon are all ready."
Callista looked at her watch. "That was fast."
"Yeah, I've had a lot of fire pokemon come in here in the past few days so I'm getting quicker at checking and healing them all." Nurse Joy winked. "You're pokemon are at the front desk when you are ready to pick them up." Nurse Joy left the room as the girls began to get up and stretch.
Emily looked at her watch and saw it was only 11:30am. "Well, its too early for lunch." Emily sighed. "You guys want to head to the arena and get ready."
Callista replied, "Sure." She looked over at Ruby who was still daydreaming. "Just as soon as we pull her back to reality."
After Ruby and Callista picked up their pokemon from the front desk the trio headed to the outdoor arena where the fire challenge was being held and registered their pokemon and got their battle outline.
Ruby looked at the schedule. "Looks like this competition is a two day thing. There are more than one hundred trainers. It is based on elimination. When a trainer looses a battle they are out of the competition. Trainers have to work their way up to win the grand prize."
"And what is the grand prize," Callista asked as they headed up the arena stairs trying to find a good seat for Emily.
"A World Badge," Ruby replied.
"World Badge?"
"It is a special badge that allows trainer to automatically be entered in the Johto League Competition. This way trainers who win this badge do not have to travel from gym to gym to earn their eight badges."
"That really doesn't sound all that great." Callista thought about it for a second. "If you do get the badge then there will be no more traveling and seeing new places and new pokemon."
"She does have a point," Emily said as she sat down and put her bag, Callista's bag, and Ruby's bag in the two seats next to her to save them. "Well," Emily said. "You girls better get down there the arena is starting to fill up."
Ruby and Callista looked around and saw hundreds of spectators running around trying to find good seats.
"Good thing we got here early," Ruby said as she and Callista left to go get ready for battle.
As they waited for Ruby's first match to begin Ruby realized something. "Hey Callista this is going to be your first public competition huh?"
Callista sat, with her nervously shaking knees, and looked up at her. "Yup."
"Don't sweat it you'll do fine," Ruby coached. "Just watch me and you'll be fine."
Callista nodded.
A young man in a white security uniform appeared. "Ruby?"
Ruby turned. "That's me."
"You're up soon." The man said. "Follow me."
Callista sighed as she watched Ruby walk with the security guard towards the entrance of the battlefield.
Emily sat in the bleachers as she waited for everyone to get settled and for the competition to start, which to her surprise, started right away.
A musical trumpet song signaled all the spectators that the competition was going to start. A middle-aged man in a black and white striped shirt stepped on to the battlefield. It was a dirt battlefield with all the lines painted in white right onto the dirt. The man stopped in the middle of the arena and pulled out a microphone and placed it by his mouth. "Welcome Ladies and Gentleman to this years Red Hot Fire Challenge," he announced as the audience cheered and clapped. As the cheering died down the man continued, "I am today's referee for the battles and as I walked around before the competition started I glanced at some of the entrees and...wow... some of these pokemon are incredible. So fasten your seatbelts the first battle in the first division is about to begin."
Emily watched as a few battles took place until it was finally time for Ruby's first battle. Emily watched as Ruby appeared onto the battlefield. Her opponent appeared on the other side. The announcer then began the next match as Ruby stepped over to her place on the battlefield, "The next match in the first division is between James from Tonto City and Ruby from Cinnabar Island. Each trainer is allowed three pokemon and are able to change pokemon anytime during the battle."
The referee raised both green flags, "Let the match begin."
James made the first to move. "I choose you, Houndour!" James called out as a small black dog-like pokemon appeared.
Ruby knew exactly which pokemon she wanted to start with, "Vulpix, I choose you!"
Ruby's Vulpix appeared from its pokeball.
The announcer announced the battle, "Looks like James is starting out with his Houndour while Ruby chooses her Vulpix."
"Houndour use leer attack!" James started as Houndour glared at Vulpix with its blood red eyes.
"Vulpix use your agility," Ruby called.
Vulpix bolted back and forth around the battlefield. Houndour tried to lock on to Vulpix's eyes, but Vulpix was moving so fast Houndour saw too many Vulpixs on the battlefield and got confused.
"Quick attack!" Ruby ordered as Vulpix charged at the Houndour and struck the dog pokemon with a powerful quick attack.
Houndour got tossed off its feet, but quickly jumped back up.
"Houndour use your flame thrower!" James called.
"Use flame thrower right back!" Ruby called out.
Both Vulpix and Houndour released their flamethrower attack at each other. Vulpix's flamethrower was a tad bit stronger than Houndour's as the flames got pushed closer and closer to Houndour. Before the attack could hit the Houndour James called, "Stop flame thrower and get out of the way!"
Houndour stopped the attack and took a big leap to the left, barely dodging the flames as they got shot back towards where Houndour was standing.
"Houndour use your take down!"
Houndour charged at Vulpix.
"Vulpix use your agility once more!"
Vulpix bolted out of the way before Houndour could even come close enough to attack. With Vulpix zooming around the battlefield James and Houndour didn't know what to do.
"Vulpix quick attack!"
Vulpix, again, struck the Houndour with a powerful quick attack. Houndour got tossed aside again. Vulpix jumped back from its attack and watched as its opponent struggled to its feet.
"That is the weakest Houndour I have ever seen!" Ruby laughed.
James's teeth grind together. "We'll show you!"
"Vulpix finish it with a take down!" Ruby ordered as Vulpix charged at Houndour.
"Flame thrower!"
Houndour shot out its flamethrower as Vulpix dodged the flames and struck the Houndour with a powerful take down attack. Houndour was tossed off its feet and was unable to get back up.
"Houndour is unable to continue the match. This round goes to Vulpix!" The referee held up the flag on Ruby's side as he announced the winner.
James called his Houndour back. "Houndour return now!" Houndour returned to its pokeball. "This one won't be as easy as my Houndour," James shouted angrily as he grabbed his nest pokeball and tossed it into the air. "I choose you!"
"Taaaaa," A Ponyta appeared onto the battlefield.
Ruby looked at the Ponyta and then at her Vulpix. Vulpix seemed like all the speed attacks it used exhausted it, so Ruby decided to call her pokemon back and let it rest. "Vulpix return now!"
Vulpix returned to its pokeball. Ruby wanted to save her best for last so she decided to pick her next strongest. "I choose you, Charmander!"
Charmander appeared from its pokeball.
"Ponyta use your take down!" James ordered as Ponyta charged at the Charmander.
"Charmander," Ruby called. "Use your flame thrower!"
Charmander opened its mouth and released a powerful flamethrower attack. Surprised by the power of the flamethrower the Ponyta stopped its attack and leaped out of the way hoping not to get burned by the flames.
Emily was amazed at the power Ruby's little Charmander had as she watched and cheered for her friend.
"Ponyta don't be afraid," James coached, "Use your stomp attack!"
Ponyta galloped over to Charmander, raised its front hoofs and attempted to stomp on the little pokemon. Charmander ran around the horse pokemon trying to dodge each attack.
"Scratch attack!" Ruby called.
Charmander spread its claws and scratched the Ponyta on the nose. Ponyta flinched and attacked again with its stomp and again Charmander dodged by weaving back and forth.
Ruby tried a stronger attack. "Charmander use your flame thrower again!"
"Quick Ponyta dodge it!"
As Charmander opened its mouth and released its flamethrower, the Ponyta dashed off in the opposite direction attempting to escape the flames. Unfortunately for James, Ponyta just wasn't fast enough and was struck in the back by Charmander's attack. Charmander stopped its attack and stared at its opponent. The Ponyta was pushed off its feet and struggled to get back up. James noticed that his Ponyta kept flinching and so as he examined his pokemon he noticed there was a huge circular burn on Ponyta's back.
"Oh no!" James whispered to himself. "That will weaken my Ponyta. We better get this round over with and quick." James turned his attention back to the battle. "Ponyta," he called out. "Use your take down!"
Ponyta, using all of its strength, charged at the Charmander.
"Do it Charmander," Ruby shouted. "Flame thrower!"
Charmander released its flamethrower once again striking the Ponyta in the face and the front part of its body. After Charmander stopped its attack, Ponyta collapsed onto the ground and fainted.
"Ponyta is unable to battle," the referee announced. "Charmander is the winner!"
"Char char," Charmander was certainly happy about its victory.
"Great job Charmander," Ruby praised.
James was even angrier now as he called his Ponyta back. James grabbed his last and final pokeball. "Your winning streak ends here!" He tossed the pokeball and released his pokemon. "Come on out!"
Charmeleon appeared from its pokeball. "Meleon."
Ruby gasped quietly and then realized it wasn't a big deal. Even though Charmander wouldn't be able to battle against this pokemon Ruby still had Quilava and Vulpix. "Charmander you've had enough for now, return!" Ruby decided to bring out her star player, "Go Quilava!" Ruby released her pokemon.
"Lava lava!" Quilava appeared from its pokeball.
James tried to get the advantage and attacked first. "Charmeleon use your flame thrower!"
Chameleon opened its mouth and released a strong flame attack.
"Quilava dodge it!" Ruby shouted as Quilava dashed out of the way of the attack. "Now use your tackle!" Quilava changed its footing to turn itself and then charged at the Charmeleon.
"Charmeleon dodge it!" Charmeleon faded to the right to dodge Quilava's attack. With Quilava's back turned away, James tried to strike. "Turn and use flame thrower!"
Charmeleon turned its head and shot out a strong flamethrower attack.
"Quilava use agility!" Quilava bolted out of the way. Charmeleon continued to attack the Quilava with its rapid flamethrower as Quilava kept dodging the attacks with its agility. "Quick attack!" Quilava used its quick attack to strike the Charmeleon in the stomach.
Charmeleon got tossed to the side, but managed to stay on its feet.
"It's okay Charmeleon, we will get them!" James coached. "Use your slash attack!"
"Quick attack again!"
Charmeleon tried to hit Quilava with a slash attack, but Quilava was too fast and struck the Charmeleon again, but this time in the back. Charmeleon got thrown to the side again and landed on its hands and knees.
"Get up Charmeleon!" James shouted as Charmeleon struggled to its feet.
"Quick attack!" Ruby shouted, she decided to stay with speed attacks.
James waited on the attack until the very last second. As Quilava approached his Charmeleon, James announced his move, "Tail whip!"
Charmeleon swung its tail around and struck the Quilava in the face.
Ruby gasped. "Quilava!"
Quilava got pushed away, but it easily landed on its feet.
"This Charmeleon is fast," Ruby thought, "But my Quilava is faster and stronger!"
"Quilava use your quick attack again!" Ruby called as Quilava, once again, bolted towards Charmeleon.
"Do it again Charmeleon, tail whip," James called as Chameleon turned and begin to swing its tail around.
"Jump up now!" Ruby shouted. Just as Charmeleon swung its tail around towards Quilava, Quilava took a giant leap into the air completely missing the attack. "Turn your jump into a body slam!"
Quilava fell from its jump and, using all of its weight, slammed its body down onto the Charmeleon.
"Charmeleon!" James cried out.
Quilava rose and backed up to give Charmeleon some room. Charmeleon struggled to get back onto its feet.
"Come on Charmeleon you can do it!" James coached. Charmeleon struggled desperately to get back onto its feet and to Ruby's surprise the lizard pokemon made it and stood, wobbly, and waited for its next orders. "Great Charmeleon!"
"It's okay Quilava," Ruby called out. "Just keep battling."
"Lava!" Quilava replied.
Quilava had plenty of energy left as Charmeleon struggled to stay on its feet.
"Go Chameleon, use your flame thrower!"
"Quilava dodge it!"
Quilava leaped out of the way when Charmeleon tried to shoot it with its flamethrower.
"It's time to end this Quilava," Ruby cried out as Quilava nodded in response, "Finish it with a flame wheel attack!"
Quilava darted at the weak Charmeleon as it surrounded itself in a gulf of flames.
"Charmeleon try to stop it with your flame thrower!" James cried out, he was desperate to stop the charging pokemon.
Charmeleon release a flamethrower attack towards the Quilava with the last of its strength as Quilava continued to charge at the Charmeleon. Quilava slammed right into Charmeleon's flamethrower and using all of its power it pushed through the flame attack and struck the Charmeleon with a mighty blow. Charmeleon was thrown into the air.
"Charmeleon!" James cried out as he watched his pokemon fall and hit the ground with a big thud. "Charmeleon?"
Charmeleon attempted to get up, but it gave up quickly and collapsed back onto the ground.
The referee held up the flag, "Charmeleon is unable to battle. Quilava wins the round and Ruby from Cinnabar Island wins the battle from the first division!"
Ruby leaped up into the air along with Emily, who was sitting in the bleachers, and cheered.
"Great job Quilava," Ruby called out as she cheered. "You did great!"
"Lava lava," Quilava was really proud of itself.
James called his Charmeleon back and nodded. He knew Ruby deserved to win. He could tell she really knew how to battle and work with her pokemon. He left the arena with no argument and left Ruby cheering and celebrating.
After Ruby left the battlefield, Emily watched two other pokemon battles until it was finally time for Callista's battle.
Callista's opponent appeared first. Michael from Saffron City had already been introduced to the audience and waited for Callista to appear. As Callista walked in the referee announce Callista, "And from Olivine City we have Callista!"
Emily could tell that Callista was a little nervous considering she only had one fire pokemon.
The referee continued, "Each trainer is allowed three pokemon and are able to change pokemon anytime during the battle." He waited until Callista and Michael were in their positions. "Let the match begin!"
Michael called out his first pokemon right away, "Go!" He tossed his pokeball and out appeared a red slug-like pokemon.
"What is that?" Callista asked herself as she pulled out her pokedex and pointed it at the pokemon.
Pokedex: "Slugma the Lava pokemon. This pokemon is found in the depths of large volcanoes and can be very temperamental and is known for attacking at random.."
"Huh, that is a very interesting pokemon." Callista said to herself. "It's too bad I can't use Totodile." Callista shrugged and grabbed Growlithe's pokeball. "I choose you, Growlithe!" Callista called out her pokemon as her Growlithe appeared from its pokeball. "Are you ready for battle?"
Growlithe nodded, "Growl!"
"Go Slugma use your flame thrower!" Michael called out as Slugma released a powerful flamethrower attack.
"Attack right back with your flame thrower," Callista ordered as Growlithe obeyed and shot out its flamethrower attack.
The two attacks collided with each other. Growlithe's flamethrower seemed to have more power as it began to push Slugma's flame thrower right back.
Michael cried out, "Slugma stop and dodge!"
Slugma stopped its flamethrower and dodged the flames that were thrown back at it.
"Great," Michael shouted out. "Now use your body slam!"
Slugma jumped into the air and attempted to slam Growlithe.
"Growlithe aim your flame thrower up into the air at the Slugma," Callista shouted as Growlithe looked up and shot its flamethrower into the air.
Since Slugma was in the air there was no way it would have been able to dodge. Growlithe's flamethrower struck the Slugma in mid air causing it to be tossed back to the ground.
"Now finish it with a tackle attack!" Callista shouted as Growlithe charged at the fallen Slugma.
"Slugma!" Michael cried out as he watched his Slugma get hit with a powerful tackle attack.
Slugma was tossed to the side and was unable to get up.
The referee held up the flag on Callista's side, "Slugma is unable to battle. Growlithe wins!"
"Great Growlithe," Callista cheered. "Keep it up!"
Growlithe just nodded and wagged its tail.
"Slugma return," Michael called his pokemon back and grabbed another pokeball. "I choose you!"
Callista gasped when she saw the pokemon.
"It's...it's...another Slugma!" Emily whispered to herself.
Another Slugma had appeared onto the battlefield.
Callista grinned, "Come on Growlithe let's finish this one off just as quick as the last!"
Michael quickly responded, "Don't count on it. This Slugma is a lot faster and stronger than the last."
"We'll see," Callista called out. "Growlithe use your flame thrower!"
"Slugma use double team!" Michael ordered.
Slugma made several copies of it self and surrounded the Growlithe in a huge circle. Growlithe hesitated with its attack. It didn't know which Slugma to hit.
"Don't give in," Callista shouted, "Use rapid flame thrower attack!"
Growlithe shot out several flamethrower attacks at random Slugma, but each time it turned out to be just a copy. When it came down to just two copies Callista decided to try a straightforward attack.
"It's got to be one of them," Callista shouted, "Use your take down on the left one!"
Growlithe charged at one of the Slugma and just as it was about to strike the Slugma disappeared. Growlithe slid to a stop with its back turned away from the real Slugma.
"Ha!" Michael laughed. "That was a copy! Slugma quick, use body slam!"
Slugma jumped and landed hard on Growlithe's back.
Growlithe whimpered. "Growlllllllll."
"Growlithe!" Callista cried.
Slugma leaped off of Growlithe and jumped back to give Growlithe some room. Growlithe struggled back to its feet, but quickly recovered and was really to continue.
"Growlithe use your flame thrower!" Callista called out.
"Slugma use your double team again!"
Again Slugma made several copies of it self and surrounded the Growlithe in another huge circle. This time Callista decided not to attack at all.
"Growlithe sit and rest!" Callista shouted. "Wait for Slugma to make a move."
Growlithe sat down, shut its eyes, and stayed still as it waited for an order.
"What?" Michael exclaimed. "Why isn't Growlithe attacking?"
Emily and the rest of the audience watched as Growlithe sat in the middle of Slugma's double team attack. Michael didn't want to wait anymore and decide to make a move.
"Slugma use your flame thrower!"
Slugma stopped its attack while behind the Growlithe and used its flamethrower.
"Jump to the right!" Callista shouted.
Without taking time to look behind it, Growlithe trusted its trainer's orders and jumped to the right barely missing the attack.
"Great," Callista shouted, "Now finish it was a take down attack!"
Growlithe charged at the Slugma and struck it with a powerful take down. Slugma was tossed to the ground and was out.
"Slugma is unable to continue," the referee held up Callista's flag again. "Growlithe wins."
Callista relaxed a little, but she was still a little worried about Growlithe. With two tough battles in a row she didn't know if Growlithe would be able to handle another one.
"Return Slugma," Michael called his pokemon back and grabbed his final pokemon. "Your Growlithe won't be able to last long with my last pokemon." He tossed the pokeball into the air.
"Ma!" A large red snail-like pokemon appeared.
"That must be a Macargo!" Callista said as she looked over the pokemon. It looked a lot like Slugma, but it was bigger, a darker color, and had a big shell.
"Go Macargo use your flame thrower!"
Macargo released a very powerful flamethrower.
"Growlithe dodge it!"
Growlithe barely leaped out of the way and dodged the attack.
"Now use your take down attack!" Callista shouted as Growlithe charged towards the Macargo at full speed.
"Macargo use your flame thrower again!"
Macargo aimed and shot its flamethrower attack straight towards Growlithe striking the charging pokemon. The force of the flamethrower pushed Growlithe off its feet and straight onto the ground. Growlithe struggled to get back onto its feet. After a few attempts, Growlithe managed to get back up and was ready to continue. Growlithe panted hard due to exhaustion and its legs were wobbly.
"Growlithe can't keep this up," Callista said to herself. "Growlithe use your take down attack."
Growlithe charged once again with its take down.
"Macargo use your double team!"
Macargo made several copies of it self and surrounded the Growlithe in another huge circle. Growlithe kept going straight ahead and attempted to hit Macargo. Unfortunately when Growlithe's attack hit, the pokemon Growlithe thought was the real Macargo turned out to be one of the copies and Growlithe landed onto the ground extremely confused on why it missed.
"Quick," Michael shouted, "Use your fire blast!"
Macargo released a huge fire blast attack towards Growlithe. Growlithe was unable to get out of the way in time and was hit with the powerful fire blast. The force of the attack threw Growlithe high into the air and fall back down to crash onto the ground. Growlithe attempted to get back onto its feet.
"Come on Growlithe you can do it!" Callista cried out.
"You can do it Growlithe," Emily shouted from the bleachers. "Stand up!"
Growlithe continued to struggle, but its wobbly legs gave in as Growlithe collapsed onto the ground.
"Growlithe is unable to battle, Macargo wins!" The referee announced the winner.
With no other pokemon left to battle with Callista had no choice but to forfeit the match. She gave the signal and ended the match. The referee saw Callista's hand gesture and raised Michael's flag. "With no other pokemon left Callista has forfeited the match leaving Michael the winner!"
Michael was surprised. "She only had one pokemon?" Then he smiled, but not because he won. "She sure was awesome!"
Callista left the battlefield and headed towards the back as Michael celebrated his victory.
"Oh, well." Emily sighed. "She did her best. Now its up to Ruby."
"So Garret," A strong male voice said over the phone as Pat and Garret called their boss to give them an update. "Congratulations on finishing your training. Agent Pat told me all about it last night."
"Thank you sir," Garret replied, "I just hope I can be the very best and make you pleased with me sir."
"I'm sure you will and since you're teamed up with one of my best field agents you should be fine," their boss said. "Now listen to me very carefully."
Pat and Garret both listened out of the same phone.
"Agent Pat, you told me you were arriving in Amber Town is that correct?"
"Yes, sir!" Pat replied. "That is there we are calling from."
"Great," the boss said. "I heard over the radio that they are having a huge fire completion there. This will be Garret's first test. Garret, I want you to steal some of the top pokemon in that contest and bring them to me."
"Yes sir," Garret answered, "Consider it done."
"When you have completed your task contact your new supervisor team and they will report back to me."
"Yes sir." Garret answered as their boss whispered a number him.
"That is how you can reach them."
"Okay," Garret replied as he jotted the number on the palm of his hand. "I will report as soon as I have the pokemon."
"Excellent," the boss replied. "I will expect a full report by tomorrow morning. Understood?"
"Yes," Garret and Pat replied as the boss hung up on the other side of the line.
Pat hung up the phone and the two walked away from the phone.
"I am officially a member of Team Rocket!" Garret cheered.
"Shhh," Pat was getting a little angry at his enthusiasm. "Do you want the whole world to know who we are?"
Pat searched the area. "I wonder where the competition would be held."
Garret looked around and was the first to see the arena. "If I was the one who put it together I would hold it in that arena over there."
"Garret you're brilliant," Pat replied. "Now this is your test so you come up with the plans."
"Okay," Garret pondered on this as the evil duo ran to find a safe and quiet place to piece together a new plan to steal the pokemon.
After Callista lost her battle she joined Ruby in the back. Ruby had taken her pokemon into the back in order to give them to help them get ready for the next battle. As she and Callista prepared the fire pokemon a young woman with long green hair, a tight short skirt and a blue tang top appeared.
"Ruby Phire?" The woman asked.
"Yeah that's me," Ruby replied. Callista just turned and watched.
"Here this is the schedule for the second division and it says when you're going to battle next," the woman handed Ruby the paper and walked away to other trainers.
Ruby looked at the paper. Her name was third on the list and the battle wasn't going to take place for another hour.
"You'd better get up to Emily and keep her company while I finish looked after my pokemon," Ruby said to Callista. "I don't want to leave her up there alone wondering when I will battle again."
"Okay," Callista gave Ruby a big hug. "Good luck in your second match!"
"Thank you," Ruby replied.
Callista left Ruby to her pokemon and joined Emily.
Still sitting in the bleachers Emily smiled when she saw Callista walk up to her.
"I'm sorry Callista," Emily said when Callista sat down.
"It's okay," Callista replied. "Growlithe did its best."
The two friends talked and watched the other battles until it was time for Ruby to come out again.
"We welcome back Ruby from Cinnabar Island in her second battle in the second division of this fire competition," the referee announced.
Ruby appeared from the left hand side of the battlefield as everyone cheered.
"Wow," Callista said to Emily, "The crowd seems to really like Ruby."
"That's because, when it comes to fire pokemon, Ruby's great!"
Her opponent appeared on the other side, but she didn't get the same reaction from the audience that Ruby got.
"Her opponent," the referee continued, "Is Kirsten from Mahogany Town."
Ruby and Kirsten took their place on the battlefield.
The referee continued, "Each trainer is allowed three pokemon and are able to change pokemon anytime during the battle. Let the match begin!"
Callista looked over the girl and to her the girl looked like a weak trainer. "I'm surprised a girl like her is in second division."
"Why?"
"Look at her," Callista said as she saw the girl's braided pigtails, white shirt and dark jeans. "She doesn't look too strong."
"Well, the rule to battling is you can never tell a person's strength just by their looks."
"True," Callista replied as they continued to watch the match.
"Go Magby!" Kirsten called out her first pokemon.
A small red pokemon with a large forehead appeared onto the battlefield.
Ruby decided to start off with her Vulpix again. Ruby grabbed the pokeball and tossed it into the air. "Go Vulpix!"
Vulpix appeared from its pokeball. "Vul!"
"Go Magby use your leer attack!" Kirsten decided to strike first.
"Vulpix quick use your agility!" Ruby called.
Just as Magby began its leer attack, Ruby's Vulpix used its agility to avoid eye contact with Magby causing the leer to fail.
"Now use your quick attack!"
Vulpix bolted towards the Magby and slammed into it head on. Magby got tossed to the side but quickly got back up.
Ruby decided to keep up with the speed attacks. "Use quick attack again!"
As Vulpix bolted from side to side towards Magby, Kirsten tried a defense attack. "Magby use smoke screen."
Magby released a large cloud of thick black smoke keeping itself hidden from Vulpix. Vulpix stopped the attack. It did not want to enter the black cloud fearing Magby was in there somewhere.
"Vulpix, back off and rest!" Ruby called as she realized the safest thing to do was to get away from the cloud and force Magby to emerge by itself.
It took a few minutes until Kirsten decided this technique wasn't making any progress so she called out a brand new attack when the smoke began to clear, "Magby use your flame thrower!"
Magby shot out its flamethrower towards Vulpix.
"Vulpix use your flame thrower too!" Ruby called as Vulpix used its flames too.
The two attacks collided with each other. Both flamethrowers seemed to be the same strength as neither of the flames got closer or farther from either pokemon.
"Magby," Kirsten called. "Stop and dodge to the right!"
Magby stopped its flamethrower and then dodged the remainder of Vulpix's flames by leaping to the right. "Fire punch!" Kirsten called out as Magby pulled back its hand, and with a fist full of flames smacked Vulpix in the face with a powerful fire punch attack.
"Vulpix," Ruby cried as her Vulpix got thrown to the side. Vulpix couldn't get back up onto its feet, as it lay motionless on the ground.
"Vulpix is unable to battle. Magby wins the round," the referee announced.
Callista was surprised at the Magby's power, "That Magby sure has a powerful fire punch!"
"Yeah," Emily replied, "Ruby is going to have to try to match that power."
Emily and Callista continued to watch as Ruby called her pokemon back. "Vulpix return," Ruby said as Vulpix returned to its pokeball. Ruby grabbed another pokeball. "Your turn." Ruby tossed the pokeball into the air and out popped Charmander.
"Char char," Charmander was happy to be battling again.
Kirsten didn't let this get to her and she decided to charge in right away. "Magby use fire punch!"
Magby ran towards Charmander with its right arm behind its back.
"Charmander use flame thrower!"
Charmander released its flames just as Magby approached. The flamethrower attack struck the little Magby and tossed it to the side.
"Wha...?" Kirsten couldn't understand how Charmander could have knocked out her pokemon so quickly.
Callista knew why. "Charmander's flame thrower is a lot stronger than Vulpix's attack isn't it?"
"Yes it is," Emily responded. "Charmander is at a really high level."
Magby struggled to its feet, but before it could stand all the way Ruby ordered another attack.
"Charmander, finish it with a tackle attack!" Ruby shouted as Charmander charged at the Magby.
"Get out of the way!" Kirsten cried, but her Magby was too hurt from the flamethrower to move fast enough and was struck with Charmander's devastating tackle attack. "Magby no!"
Magby was tossed off its wobbly feet and landed head first onto the ground.
"Magby is unable to battle," the referee announced, "Charmander wins."
Kirsten called her pokemon back and grabbed another pokeball. "Go!"
A small orange dog pokemon appeared.
Callista recognized what it was right away. "Hey, its a Growlithe!" Callista took a better look at it. "This one looks kind of shrimpy."
"Yeah it looks a bit under weight," Emily commented.
Ruby noticed it too and figured this would be an easy match. "Go Charmander, flame thrower!"
Charmander released its flamethrower attack.
"Growlithe use your flame thrower right back!" Kirsten commanded as Growlithe also released its flamethrower.
Both of the flamethrowers hit each other with the same amount of force and were evenly matched. Ruby figured this wouldn't go anywhere so she tried a different approach.
"Stop flame thrower and move to the side to dodge," Ruby ordered. Charmander obeyed as it stopped using its flamethrower and faded to the right. "Use your tackle attack!"
Charmander charged at the Growlithe at full speed.
"Growlithe use your take down attack!" Kirsten shouted out as Growlithe also charged.
As the two pokemon approached each other Ruby changed her attack. "Turn it into a skull bash!"
Charmander sped up, lowered its head and struck the Growlithe in the chest with a strong skull bash attack. Growlithe was tossed to the side and fainted as soon as it hit the ground.
"Growlithe is unable to battle. Charmander wins the round," the referee announced.
"Yay," Ruby cheered. "Only one more pokemon and we win!"
Charmander looked adoringly up at its trainer with large happy eyes and nodded. "Char char!"
Kirsten called her Growlithe back and pulled out her final pokeball. "It's all up to you. Show them what you got!" Kirsten reached back and tossed the pokeball in the air and released her last pokemon.
Another orange dog-like pokemon appeared only this one was bigger and definitely not a Growlithe.
Emily and Callista watched from the bleachers.
"It's an Arcanine," Emily said to Callista as Callista pulled out her pokedex.
Pokedex: "Arcanine the Legendary pokemon. Evolve form of Growlithe. Standing at six feet and three inches tall this pokemon is known for its beauty and grace. It runs agilely as if on wings."
"Wow an Arcanine," Callista put her pokedex back into her pocket and then grabbed Growlithe's pokeball and released her pokemon next to her on the bleachers. Growlithe was still tired from its battle, but it was happy to be out with its trainer. "Look Growlithe," Callista pointed to the Arcanine as Growlithe looked. "That's what you can evolve into."
"Growl growl!" Growlithe wagged its tail and looked on.
Ruby looked long and hard at the Arcanine and then quickly decided to change pokemon. "Come back Charmander, return!" Charmander returned to its pokeball. Ruby grabbed another and tossed it in the air. "Go Quilava!"
Quilava appeared from its pokeball.
Kirsten wasn't surprised with her opponent's decision. "If you think that Quilava is going to save you from my Arcanine you are badly mistaken. Go Arcanine use your take down attack!"
Arcanine leaped into a quick sprint towards the Quilava.
Arcanine was big, but after looking at Kirsten's Growlithe she doubted the pokemon's strength. "Go Quilava show them you're the strongest with your flame wheel," Ruby called out as she decided to start off with a power attack.
Quilava sped off towards the charging Arcanine as it's surrounded its body in a large ball of flames. Using all of their power the two pokemon collided with each other, both of them refusing to let the other pokemon push them back. Heads bashed together the two pokemon continued to push trying to gain the advantage over the other.
"Bite attack!" Kirsten called out as Arcanine moved its head out of the way and opened its powerful jaws.
"Agility!" Ruby shouted out.
Quilava bolted out of the way just as Arcanine clamped its mouth shut just missing its opponent. Quilava appeared behind the Arcanine and waited for its next orders.
"Flame thrower!" Ruby shouted as Quilava released its attack striking the Arcanine in the back. Arcanine got thrown off its feet and to the side.
Arcanine jumped back onto its feet.
"So they want to play with fire huh?" Kirsten said. "We can play that game! Go Arcanine use your fire blast!"
Arcanine released a powerful fire blast attack towards the Quilava.
"Quilava use your agility."
Quilava, again, bolted out of the way and charged at the Arcanine. "Turn your agility into a flame wheel!"
Continuing its speed, Quilava built up its flame and struck the Arcanine in the face with a powerful flame wheel. Arcanine was shoved off its feet and crashed onto the ground once again. This time Arcanine had a little bit of trouble getting back onto its feet.
"Speed is the key," Ruby thought to herself as she continued with the speed attacks. "Quick attack!"
"Arcanine use your leer!"
Quilava dashed towards the Arcanine and bolted back and forth keeping its eyes away from its opponent. Quilava was moving so fast Arcanine's leer attack had no effect. Quilava's quick attack struck Arcanine's side and threw it off its feet.
"Arcanine use your fire blast again!"
Arcanine built up its flames and released a powerful fire blast attack.
"Dodge it!" Ruby called as Quilava leaped out of the way. "Now use your quick attack again!"
Quilava sped towards Arcanine and struck it with another quick attack. Arcanine was pushed off its feet and struggled to get back up.
"Now finish it with your flame wheel!"
Quilava built up its fireball around its body and charged towards the Arcanine. Arcanine couldn't get up in time at it was hit in the face once again with a powerful flame wheel attack by Quilava. The attack tossed the Arcanine right into the air and immediately the Arcanine crashed into the ground.
"Arcanine!" Kirsten cried as the referee checked on the Arcanine.
Arcanine was completely knocked out and was unable to battle so the referee announced the victory, "Arcanine is unable to continue the battle. The match and the battle goes to Ruby and Quilava!"
Ruby jumped up for joy. "All right! Great job Quilava!"
Quilava smiled and spun around in circles with excitement.
"Yay," Emily and Callista both cheered as Growlithe jumped up and down into the air.
There was a loud speaker that came on with an announcement, "And this is the end of the second division in this fire competition. We will take a brief moment before we begin the third division."
Callista and Emily both stood up and stretched. It was only took about five minutes for Ruby to catch up with them and let them know what was going on. Her next match was not going to start again for another two hours so the trio decided to grab some lunch at a nearby cafe. It was a small family owned Italian place right next to the arena, but it was a nice and quiet since all the other trainers ran off to get hamburgers and other fast foods. Callista and friends were able to sit, relax and discuss the day's events.
"You and your Quilava are doing great!" Callista commented. "You're Charmander even went up a few levels huh?"
"Yeah, Charmander is getting pretty strong," Ruby replied. "I should go down to the Pokemon Center after this and have them all checked out before my third match begins."
"That's not a bad idea," Emily said. "As the battles continue all the weak trainers are eliminated leaving only strong trainers left. So yeah, having your pokemon checked out will be a wonderful idea."
"We can do that after lunch," Ruby replied as the waiter brought three plates of pasta over to the table and the conversation ended.
Part 2: Turning up the Heat!
After a good relaxing meal the trio headed over to the pokemon center where there were many other fire trainers there waiting for their pokemon to be healed. Many were outside talking to each other about past and future matches. Ruby dropped off her pokemon to Nurse Joy and they were quickly healed in a matter of minutes.
"Here you go Ruby," Nurse Joy handed Ruby her pokeballs back on a silver tray. "Your pokemon are all fighting fit and are in excellent condition."
"Thank you Nurse Joy," Ruby took her pokeballs off the tray and put them away. "I'll probably be back after the competition one more time before we head off so I'll see you later."
"Okay, see you then." Nurse Joy replied. "And good luck."
"Thank you," Ruby waved and left with her friends back to the arena.
When they returned there was already a battle in progress. Ruby recognized the names on the scoreboard; "I think there is two more battles left until I battle again."
The announcer continued, "Looks like Jessica's Ninetails and Dana's Houndoom both appeared to be exhausted, but both are also refusing to back down."
Jessica called out, "Go Ninetails finish it with you Fire Blast attack!"
Ninetails released a powerful fire blast towards the Houndoom striking the dog pokemon head on. The Houndoom was tossed into the air and crash back on to the battlefield.
The referee raised his hand, "Houndoom is unable to battle, Jessica and her Ninetails...huh?"
Suddenly two large nets flew into onto the battlefield covering both Ninetails and the exhausted Houndoom.
"Hey that's going on," Jessica shouted as the two trainers and the audience all looked over to see two figures standing on the very top wall of the arena.
"Who are you?" Dana shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Prepare for trouble!" Pat said.
"And make it double." Garret replied.
"To conquer the world and its habitation."
"To restart our forces and its new generation."
"To announce the team to all the masters."
"To build our team and cause disasters."
"Pat."
"Garret."
"Team Rocket takes over with all of its might."
"Surrender your pokemon now or prepare to fight."
Jessica spoke up angrily. "What are you two doing here?"
"Silly little girl," Pat replied. "We are here for fire pokemon, duh."
Garret started to jump up and down clapping.
"What are you doing you're embarrassing me?" Pat whispered to Garret.
"This is my first motto as a real Team Rocket member," Garret shouted for joy.
"Oh brother," Pat sighed. "Back to business!" Pat said as she reached down and pulled out a large gun with a giant claw at the end. Garret saw what his partner was doing and also pulled out his gun. "Those pokemon are ours now!" Pat and Garret pulled the triggers shooting the claws towards the pokemon. The claws were attached to ropes that went straight back to the guns.
The audience, which was sitting in that area, all scattered because they were afraid of getting hurt.
"Ninetails!" "Houndoom!" The two trainers shouted as they watched their pokemon get snatched up by the mechanical claws. The pokemon were dragged up the bleachers towards the waiting Team Rocket as Callista and Emily quickly jumped out of their seats.
"We have to do something," Callista shouted to Emily as she began running between the people towards their enemies.
Emily followed behind.
Team Rocket was really proud of their capture as they grabbed two black pokeballs from their pockets. Both of the pokeballs were baring a large red "R" on the top. "These pokemon are now ours," Garret laughed.
Emily gasped and called to Callista, who was still running, "Those are master balls!"
Garret and Pat were just about to capture the pokemon when Callista and Emily appeared underneath them.
"Hold it right there!" Callista shouted.
Garret and Pat looked down.
"Oh no its those little brats!" Pat whined.
"You're too late," Garret shouted at them angrily. "These pokemon are members of Team Rocket now!" Garret tossed the pokeball towards Houndoom.
Callista grabbed a pokeball. "Pikachu stop the ball with your thunderbolt!"
"Pika pika," Pikachu leaped out of the pokeball with its electricity already charged and shot a thunderbolt at the master ball and knocked it aside just inches away from hitting the injured Houndoom.
"Hey," Garret shouted. "How dare you!"
"Hurry Pikachu use your thunderbolt again!" Callista shouted.
Pikachu jumped into the air, charged its electricity and released it into Team Rocket. Pat and Garret shouted in pain as the electricity raced through their bodies. After Pikachu stopped the attack, Team Rocket was so hurt they weren't able to keep their balance on the wall and fell to Callista and Emily's level on the bleachers. Garret and Pat struggled to get back onto their feet. "You will pay for this." Pat snarled as she wobbly got back to her feet.
"Maybe another time," Emily responded as she grabbed a pokeball. "Go Pidgeot!"
Pidgeot appeared from its pokeball.
"Use your whirlwind and blow them away!" Emily ordered as Pidgeot started to flap its wing furiously. The flapping built up a huge whirlwind attack lifting Team Rocket into the air.
"The pokemon!" Callista shouted when she noticed the captured Ninetails and Houndoom began to lift into the air. Callista grabbed another pokeball, "Chikorita use your vine whip!"
Chikorita appeared from its pokeball. "Chika!" Chikorita released two of its vine whips and grabbed the netting from the captured pokemon and kept them from entering the dangerous winds.
As the wind grew bigger it shot Team Rocket into the air and away from the arena.
"What are you grinning for?" Pat snapped as they soared into the air.
"This is my first loss as a real Team Rocket member!" Garret shouted happily. "Now were blasting off again!" Garret sang on his own as the two of them disappeared into the sky.
The whirlwind died down and Chikorita placed the two pokemon onto the bleachers.
"Great job Chikorita," Callista praised. "Now cut through the nets with your razor leaf attack."
Chikorita obeyed and within a matter of seconds the Ninetails and Houndoom were freed. The two pokemon immediately raced down the bleachers, leaped onto the battlefield and returned to their worried trainers. After hugging their pokemon, Dana and Jessica both looked up at the heroes and nodded in thanks. Callista and Emily did the same in response. They were just happy to be able to help. Once the audience calmed down and everyone got seated the competition continued.
The referee wasn't sure what to do until he remembered he never called the winner of the match. He raised Jessica's flag and announced her the winner. All of the audience cheered, not only for Jessica, but also for Callista and friends saving the pokemon.
As the sun was beginning to set into the horizon the sky turned a darkish orange. It was time for the last battle of Ruby fourth match and if she wins this battle Ruby would be able to competing the final division. Only two trainers will be left and Ruby was determined to be one of those trainers. Charmander was Ruby's first pokemon in this battle and it had already defeated two of Natalie's pokemon. The audience, along with Ruby, waited to see what pokemon Natalie was going to choose.
Natalie pulled out a pokeball and kissed it before she tossed it into the air. "I choose you!"
A Houndoom appeared on to the battlefield.
Ruby glanced down at her Charmander and noticed how tired it looked. "Charmander do you want to have a rest?"
Charmander shook its head no and was determined to continue the match.
"That's the spirit Charmander."
"You're Charmander is strong," Natalie said, "but it won't be able to stand up against my powerful Houndoom. Houndoom use your flamethrower!"
Houndoom opened its mouth and built up its flames.
"Charmander use your flame thrower too!" Ruby ordered as Charmander also built up its flames.
The two pokemon released their flamethrower attacks at the same time and as the two attacks struck each other a small explosion occurred where the two attacks met. As Charmander and Houndoom both continued their attacks, Ruby noticed Charmander's flame was weakening and Houndoom's was beginning to over power Charmander.
"Charmander quick stop flame thrower and dodge the rest of the attack!" Charmander stopped its attack and leaped out of the way of Houndoom's flamethrower. "Now use your tackle attack!"
Charmander charged at the Houndoom.
"Houndoom use your leer!" Natalie shouted.
Houndoom's eyes lit up as its leer attack made contact with Charmander's eyes. Charmander stopped in its tracks, with its legs shaking in fear it was completely frozen.
"Now use take down!" Natalie ordered as Houndoom charged at the Charmander and striking it with a powerful take down attack.
"Charmander!" Ruby cried as she watched her pokemon fly up into the air and then crash back onto the battlefield headfirst. Charmander lay motionless on the ground. "Charmander?"
The referee looked at Charmander and held up his hand, "Charmander is...what?"
The referee stopped his announcement when he saw Charmander begin to struggle to its feet.
"Charmander?" Ruby called out as she watched her pokemon continue to struggle.
Natalie laughed, "Are you really going to let your pokemon battle in this condition?"
"Of course not!" Ruby shouted back. "Charmander you need to rest now." But before Ruby could reach for her pokeball, Charmander shook its head no and continued to struggle.
"Char char char char MANDER!" Charmander, using all of its strength lifted itself up onto its feet. The ground underneath it glowed a light blue and as the light covered the small Charmander Ruby looked on wondering what her pokemon was doing.
"What's going on?" Ruby whispered to her self as she saw her Charmander's lit figure began to grow.
As the light faded away she realized what had just happened. "My Charmander just evolved into Charmeleon!"
Charmeleon stood on the battlefield ready to continue the battle. "Meleon!"
"Wow," Callista gasped.
"I was expecting that," Emily said. "Just not so soon."
Natalie was furious. She thought she had beaten the Charmander then all she would have was two more pokemon left to defeat. "Houndoom use your take down again!"
Houndoom charged at the newly evolved Charmeleon.
"Charmeleon use your tail whip!"
As Houndoom approached Charmeleon violently turned its body and swung its powerful tail striking the Houndoom in the jaw with a mighty tail whip attack. Houndoom was tossed off its feet.
"Now finish it with a tackle attack!" Ruby ordered as Charmeleon charged at the Houndoom and hit it was a tackle attack.
The Houndoom was thrown off its feet once again and the landed onto the battlefield. Houndoom lay onto the battlefield, unconscious.
"Houndoom is unable to battle," the referee raised his hand in Ruby's favor. "Ruby and Charmeleon are the winners!"
"YAY!" Ruby leaped up for joy as her new Charmeleon danced on the battlefield.
Callista and Emily both stood up, along with the crowd as they applauded for Ruby.
"I can't believe Ruby won this match using only one pokemon," Callista said.
"Me either, but she did it!" Emily smiled as they both continued to cheer. "That means she goes to the final battle!"
"And I just know she is going to win it too!" Callista continued to clap for her friend.
The sky was a lot darker as the third division came to a close. The referee announced that the fourth division was going to be postponed until the next morning. There were only two trainers left, Ruby and a young trainer from Mahogany Town. Because of their importance to the competition the arena officials set up free rooms at nearby motels for them to stay in. However, Ruby didn't feel comfortable in a strange place so the trio decided to stay at the pokemon center for the night. This way she could ask Nurse Joy to keep her pokemon for over night care so they would be fresh and ready for the last battle.
"Wow, I only have to make it through one more battle," Ruby said ask she sat in bed, too nervous to go to sleep.
Emily calculated it out. "Yup, just you and one more trainer remains."
"It's almost impossible to believe," Callista said, "All those trainers were competing and one by one they were all eliminated leaving you and the trainer from Mahogany Town."
"Yeah," Ruby replied as she became deep in thought. She was extremely nervous about her match.
It took another hour until Ruby finally managed to fall asleep.
As the girls were asleep in their beds, they were completely unaware they were being watched from the outside of their window. It was Pat and Garret seeking revenge.
"There they are," Pat said. "I knew they would be here."
"What do you mean you knew they would be here? Out of all the motels we looked in this was the last option." Garret complained. "I was the one that said we should try here first, but you didn't listen to me."
"Are we going to stand around here and argue all night or are we going to get in there and swipe their pokemon?" Pat argued. "Come on let's find a way in there."
Pat and Garret tiptoed around the Center until Garret spotted a half opened window in the kitchen.
"That is our ticket in," Garret said as he and Pat slipped inside.
It was a little dark so the team had to move slowly so they would not run into anything that would make noise.
"I think they are in here," Garret said as the team entered the trainer rooms.
Garret opened one of the doors and peeked inside. Callista, Emily and Ruby were all asleep in their own beds. Their backpacks leaded up against a wall on one side of the room and their pokeball belts wrapped around the posts of the beds.
"This will be easier than I thought it would be," Garret sneered as he whispered to Pat. "They left their pokemon right out in the open."
"Then get in there and get the pokemon!" Pat pushed Garret into the room almost knocking him over, but he managed to catch himself by holding on to the outside doorknob of the door. Garret froze when the door made a loud creaking noise as he leaned on it.
Ruby, still asleep, switched from lying on her back to lying on her side, but other than that the noise did not wake the girls up.
One by one Garret grabbed the belts from the posts and then quietly slipped out of the room.
Pat and Garret both snickered.
"I can't believe how easy this is," Pat whispered.
"Yeah, the boss is going to be so happy with us!" Garret whispered back. "We better get out of here."
Holding tightly onto the pokeballs Pat and Garret quickly and quietly slipped out of the Pokemon Center and began racing back into hiding.
"Wait!" Pat stopped in her tracks and looked back at the Pokemon Center.
Garret stopped too and looked at Pat. "What is it?"
"We can't let this opportunity pass?" Pat replied.
"What do you mean?"
"We just slipped into the Pokemon Center and made it out without waking up anybody."
"Okay, your point?"
"Why don't get go back inside and swipe the rest of the pokemon in the center. A center like this should have tons of rare and valuable pokemon. And when we return to the boss and give him these pokemon he will be so grateful he might even be given a raise for our great work."
"But why can't we just leave with what we have now?" Garret asked. "We may never get another chance to steal the brats' pokemon."
"Exactly," Pat sneered. "We will never get another chance."
Using her only free hand, Pat grabbed Garret by his arm and began to drag him back to the pokemon center. "You have a lot to learn about being a Team Rocket Agent."
"But Pat," Garret begin to whine.
"Oh, keep quiet!" Pat shouted as she yanked Garret's arm down dragging him to the ground. Garret struggled to regain his balance and at the same time also trying to hold on to all of the pokeballs he had in his arms. Garret sighed in relief when we finally got his balance back. "Clumsy!" Pat smacked Garret's forehead with her the back of her hand. Garret back away from her as one of the pokeballs unhooked from its belt and dropped to the ground. The pokeball opened up and with a flash of light a pokemon was released.
"Oh no!" Garret cried as he saw Pidgeot standing right in front of him.
Pidgeot glanced around, unsure of where it was. Once Pidgeot realized its trainer was nowhere to be seen it grew angry as it figured out what was going on. With a high-pitched squawk, Pidgeot opened its wings and bolted into the air.
"Look what you did Garret!" Pat screamed.
"What I did," Garret replied angrily. "You're the one who hit me!"
Pidgeot dove towards Team Rocket its wings stretched out.
"It's attacking!" Pat cried out.
Garret, still holding on to the other pokeballs, used his only free hand to grab his own pokeball.
"I choose you Croconaw!"
Croconaw appeared from its pokeball.
Pidgeot's wings begin to glow, as it got ready to use its wing attack.
"Water gun now!" Garret ordered as Croconaw released a powerful water gun attack.
Pidgeot dodged the water gun by pulling itself up out of the dive. Giving the attack another try the Pidgeot dove again from another angle.
"Water
gun again!"
This time Pidgeot was ready. Using its quick
attack, Pidgeot struck the Croconaw with a
powerful tackle attack. Croconaw was hurled to the side and tumbled onto the ground. Croconaw lay motionless as Garret cried out for his pokemon. "Croconaw no!"
Seeing Pidgeot about ready to attack again, Garret placed the pokeballs onto the ground and called his pokemon back.
Pidgeot hovered above them as its wings flapped silently up and down. It glared as the Team as Pat and Garret froze, not sure what they should do.
"Pat put the pokeballs onto the ground." Garret said.
"Why should I?
"Because if we don't Pidgeot will attack us," Garret replied. "This way we will have another chance next time."
"PIDGEOOOOO!" Pidgeot landed onto the ground and spread out its wings as far as they could go and screamed as loud as it could. "PIDGEOOOOO!"
Still inside the pokemon center, Emily snapped awake and darted out of bed. "What was that?"
All the commotion woke up the other girls.
"What is going on?" Callista asked as she rubbed her eyes.
Ruby sat up and looked around. "Hey where are my pokeballs?"
Callista suddenly woke up and looked for her pokeballs. "Mine are gone too."
"PIDGEOOOOO!"
"Hey that sounds like my Pidgeot!" Emily said.
Still in their pajamas the trio raced outside only to find Pidgeot still screaming and Team Rocket still cowering.
"It's Team Rocket!" Ruby shouted.
Callista noticed Pat still holding onto her pokeballs. "Hey, those are my pokemon!"
"PIDGEOOOOO!"
"Not anymore you little pests," Pat cried out. "They are ours now!"
"I don't think so," Emily shouted. "Pidgeot use your peck attack!"
Pidgeot lifted itself off the ground, charged toward Pat and struck its sharp beak repeatedly on Pat's head. Due to the surprise attack Pat dropped the pokeballs she was carrying. As the pokeballs landed onto the ground all the pokemon were released. Chikorita, Pikachu, Totodile and Growlithe all appeared and were ready for battle.
As she shooed Pidgeot away, Pat grabbed one of her pokeballs. "I'll get you for this!"
Before Pat could toss her pokeball, Callista reacted quickly with an attack. "Pikachu thunderbolt them!"
"Pika pika," Pikachu charged the attack and then released it on both Team Rocket members, "PIKACHU!"
As the electricity raced though their bodies, Team Rocket screamed.
"Okay, now let's get rid of them! Pidgeot whirlwind attack!"
Pidgeot flapped its wings to build up a huge gust of wind. Team Rocket tried to hang on, but they were quickly lifted into the sky along with the pokeball belts.
"Chikorita, grab those belts with your vine whip!" Callista ordered.
Chikorita obeyed and snagged all three belts with its vine whip and brought them back down to the girls.
As Pidgeot continued its attack, Team Rocket was lifted higher and higher.
Pat screamed and Garret grinned as they were both propelled into the sky.
"I get to blast off again as a real te….."
"Don't even think about saying it!" Pat interrupted.
"Team Rocket is blasting off again!" Pat and Garret both screamed as they disappeared into the night sky.
Pidgeot stopped the attack and returned to its trainer.
"Great job Pidgeot," Emily said as she hugged her pokemon.
After Callista thanked her pokemon she then called them back into their pokeballs. Now that the Team was gone the trio returned to their room to try to get back to sleep before the next day came.
The next morning, after the incident at the Pokemon Center, the trio and their pokemon were ready to head back to the arena. After Callista and Emily got seated once again Ruby headed to the back to get ready for her battle.
"Welcome back ladies, gentleman and all poke fans!" A deep voiced announcer said over the loud speaker. Since it was the last match of the competition, the officials decided to go all out and have someone doing commentary for what is happening in the final match. "The last match of our Fire Challenge will put two skilled fire trainers up against each other. Ruby from Cinnabar Island on the red side," Ruby appeared on the battlefield, "And Jessica from Olivine City on the Green."
Emily turned to Callista, "That trainer is from your home city."
"Yeah, but I don't recall hearing about her," Callista answered.
The announcer continued. "Both trainers are only allowed to use three pokemon."
Ruby and Jessica climbed up into their special trainer stands, which were supported by numerous iron beams.
The referee raised his flags. "Let the match begin."
Jessica already knew which pokemon she was going to use first. She raised her hand, carrying the pokeball, and tossed it into the air. An angry Houndour appeared onto the battlefield. Ruby thought about which of her pokemon she was going to use. This was not the time to use Vulpix. That Houndour looked too strong for her Vulpix to handle. Ruby decided she must start off in a strong way too so she made her decision and grabbed her first pokeball off of her belt.
"Go Charmeleon!" Ruby tossed the pokeball into the air. Charmeleon appeared from its pokeball. "Char char," it growled in a low voice. "Charmeleon are you ready to win?" Ruby called to her pokemon.
"Charmeleon." It answered back.
"Go Houndour use your flamethrower!" Jessica ordered as Houndour shot a powerful flamethrower attack at Charmeleon.
"Dodge it!" Ruby ordered as Charmeleon leaped out of the way. "Use your leer attack!"
Charmeleon's eyes glowed angrily at the Houndour. As Houndour's eyes connected with Charmeleon's Houndour stopped its attack and backed away a little bit.
"What's wrong with you Houndour?" Jessica called out.
"Go Charmeleon use your slash attack!" Ruby ordered.
With its claws ready, Charmeleon charged at the Houndour and struck the pokemon in the face with a mighty slash attack. Houndour was tossed off its feet.
"Houndour!"
"Now finish it with your flamethrower!" Ruby ordered as Charmeleon shot its flamethrower striking the injured Houndour and tossing it into the air.
Before Houndour could fall to the ground Jessica called her pokemon back. "Return Houndour."
The changed was announced to the whole audience. "Looks like Jessica has decided to call back her Houndour. What pokemon will she use next?"
Jessica put her pokeball away and stared at the Charmeleon. She misjudged Ruby so now with one of her pokemon out of the match she needed to attack fast and hard in order to catch up. She grabbed her second pokeball and tossed it into the air. "I choose you!"
The pokeball opened and released the pokemon. A Ponyta appeared on the battlefield. "Taaaaaa."
Ruby smiled. She had already beaten a Ponyta earlier and she will beat this one too. "Go Charmeleon use your slash attack!"
Charmeleon attacked.
"Ponyta use your stomp attack!"
Just as Charmeleon approached, Ponyta raised its front hoofs and brought them down as Charmeleon appeared underneath. Charmeleon was slammed onto the ground as Ponyta's hoofs did major damage to Charmeleon's back.
"Charmeleon!" Ruby cried out.
"Looks like Ponyta is now in control as it strikes first with a powerful stomp attack!" The announcer said.
"Hurry Ponyta, back up and used your flamethrower!"
Ponyta leaped back and released a powerful flamethrower attack striking the Charmeleon. Charmeleon was tossed in the air.
"Come one Charmeleon don't give up!" Ruby shouted as her Charmeleon regained its balance and managed to land on its feet. "Nice work Charmeleon!"
"Char!" Charmeleon replied as if it was telling Ruby it was ready to continue the battle.
"Ponyta use your take down attack!" Jessica ordered as Ponyta charged at the Charmeleon.
"Dodge on my command," Ruby said as Charmeleon nodded.
Ponyta was getting closer.
"Get ready."
Charmeleon prepared to move.
"Steady…"
Ponyta was almost upon it.
"NOW!"
Just as Ponyta was about to strike Charmeleon, Charmeleon took a huge leap into the sky. Ponyta halted to a stop and looked up toward Charmeleon. Charmeleon did a big underhand flip keeping its body in an upside down position so it could keep its eyes on Ponyta.
"Now use flamethrower!" Ruby shouted.
While Charmeleon was still falling upside down, the lizard released its flamethrower striking the Ponyta.
The announcer was shocked at the move. "Would you look at that? Even while it was upside down Charmeleon managed to hit the Ponyta dead on with perfect aim."
Charmeleon flipped again so it could land on its feet. Ponyta was hurt from the attack, but it managed to stay on its feet and was still able to continued the battle.
From the bleachers, Emily and Callista watched in amazement as Charmeleon showed off its moves.
"Wow, I didn't know Charmeleon could do that?" Callista said.
"I knew Charmeleon was good, but that was awesome!"
"Ponyta use your take down again!" Jessica ordered.
Ponyta stomped its hoofs on the ground a few times in preparation and then began to charge again and again Charmeleon dodged the on coming attack, but this time by moving to the side.
"Flamethrower!" Ruby called out as Charmeleon spun itself around and, without hesitation, released its flamethrower striking Ponyta in the back. Ponyta was pushed off its feet and collapsed onto the battlefield.
"You're doing good Charmeleon," Ruby cheered.
"Char," Charmeleon nodded. Due to all the attacks it released on its opponent, Charmeleon was starting to get really tired.
Jessica wasn't about to give up yet as she began to coach her pokemon back up. "Come on Ponyta get back up! You can do it!"
Ponyta managed to struggle to its feet.
Ruby smiled. She knew her pokemon was strong and she felt it was time to end this match. "Charmeleon finish it with a skull bash attack!"
Charmeleon charged at the weak Ponyta as it lowered its head getting ready to strike.
"Dodge it!" Jessica shouted as Ponyta, summoning up all of its strength, managed to leap out of the way before Charmeleon could get to it.
"What?" Ruby cried as she watched Charmeleon stop the attack.
"Now Ponyta, use your flamethrower!" Jessica ordered.
"Quick use your flamethrower right back!" Ruby called out.
Both pokemon charged up their flames and released two powerful flamethrower attacks. The two attacks crashed together and with all the power building up in the center the attacks a massive explosion was created. Both pokemon were hurled off their feet and crashed onto the battlefield. Smoke from the explosion filled the arena making it impossible for anyone to see what happened to Charmeleon or Ponyta. As the smoke began to clear the trainers and the audience saw both pokemon facing each other, both exhausted, and waiting for their next orders. Ponyta was having trouble staying on its feet, as Charmeleon looked like it was ready to collapse at any second.
Ruby knew Charmeleon would not last much longer so she decided to wait a few minutes so Charmeleon could get its stamina back up. Jessica, however, didn't want to wait and she took Ruby's hesitation as the perfect opportunity to attack.
"Go Ponyta use your flamethrower!" Jessica ordered.
"Charmeleon you have to dodge it!" Ruby shouted as Charmeleon prepared for the attack, unsure if it would be able to move in time.
Ponyta, panting for breath, began charging its flames and just as Ponyta was about to release its attack Ponyta's legs buckled underneath it and the pokemon collapsed onto the ground.
"What the?" Jessica didn't understand what had happened.
"It appears the force of that explosion did immense damage to Ponyta. Will Ponyta find the strength to get back up?" The announcer said as everyone watched Ponyta twitch a bit and then attempt to stand on its feet,
"Come on Ponyta you can do it!" Jessica cried out, but despite all of her cries Ponyta's body just couldn't take anymore and it collapsed once again onto the battlefield.
"Ponyta is unable to battle," the announcer called, "Charmeleon is the winner!"
Jessica called her pokemon back. "Ponyta return."
Callista was confused. "What happened to Ponyta? Charmeleon didn't launch an attack did it?"
"No," Emily replied. "But Ponyta was so exhausted from all the attacks it took from Charmeleon it did not have the energy to release its own." Emily turned to Callista. "Every trainer has too keep and eye on their pokemon's energy. Just like with you and your Growlithe. Remember how mad Nurse Joy was?"
How could Callista forget? Callista could still see the look of disappointment in the Nurse's eyes. "Oh, yeah." She remembered how hard she pushed her pokemon during that battle. That was exactly what had happened to Jessica and her Ponyta.
The announcer continued, "With only one pokemon left which one will she choose?"
Jessica grabbed her final pokeball and held it up to her mouth. "It's all up to you," she whispered as she then tossed the pokeball into the air. "I choose you!"
The pokeball opened and released the pokemon inside. A Ninetails appeared on the battlefield.
The pokemon was announced to the audience. "And Jessica has called in her Ninetails. Will Ninetails be enough to turn this match around?"
Ruby stared at the Ninetails as Ninetails sat down on the field and flicked its tails back and forth like a cat. Ruby knew her Charmeleon didn't have the strength to defeat Ninetails, but she thought maybe Charmeleon would have enough energy to weaken it just enough to make an easy win for Quilava. With that strategy in mind Ruby attacked, "Go Charmeleon use your flamethrower!"
Charmeleon released its flamethrower towards the Ninetails.
"Ninetails use agility to dodge!" Jessica called out as Ninetails stood up and then dashed out of the way of Charmeleon's flames. "Great job," Jessica cheered. "Keep it up."
Ninetails' agility was super fast and with it moving around the battlefield at that speed Charmeleon wouldn't be able to hit it with any kind of flame attack.
"Charmeleon use your leer!" Ruby called as Charmeleon tried its leer attack.
Once again, Ninetail's agility was too fast and Charmeleon was unable to lock onto Ninetails' eyes causing the leer to fail.
"Turn your agility into a quick attack!" Jessica ordered as Ninetails raced towards Charmeleon striking it with its quick attack.
Charmeleon was hurled off its feet.
"Now finish it with a tackle!" Jessica shouted and Ninetails charged towards the Charmeleon and crashed into it with its tackle.
Charmeleon was tossed to the ground and was unable to continued the battle as it fainted to the ground.
"Charmeleon is unable to battle!" The announcer said. "Ninetails is the winner."
Ruby grabbed Charmeleon's pokeball. "Return Charmeleon!" Charmeleon returned and Ruby put the pokeball away. "Charmeleon wasn't able to weaken that Ninetails at all," Ruby thought to herself, "Now what?" With all the noise coming from the cheering audience Ruby had a hard time coming up with a new strategy. Vulpix would never be able to stand up against Ninetails and with Charmeleon out of the match Ruby only had one choice left. She was sure her Quilava was ready for the challenge. Ruby pulled out Quilava's pokeball and whispered to her pokemon. "I know you can do this so give it your all!" Ruby reached back and threw the pokeball into the air releasing her Quilava.
"Lava!" Quilava appeared and was already ready for battle.
"Ruby's second choice is Quilava," the announcer spoke over the arena. "Will Quilava have the strength to overcome the power of Jessica's Ninetails?"
Callista and Emily were behind Ruby one hundred percent as they both cheered for their friend.
"You can do it!" Emily shouted.
"Show them what you've got!" Callista cried out.
Ruby looked up at her friends, smiled and nodded. She had always traveled alone with her pokemon so this was the first time Ruby had friends on her side, cheering for her, while she was competing. She refused to let them down.
Ruby turned to Quilava, "Are you ready for battle?"
"Lava," Quilava nodded.
Jessica could tell this Quilava was strong and she knew this was going to be a tough battle so she wanted to gain the advantage. "Go Ninetails use flamethrower!"
Ruby was ready. "Quilava use your flamethrower right back!"
With Ninetails turning up the heat on the battlefield, Ruby's final battle seems like it has only just begun. Will Quilava be able to rise up and defeat Jessica's Ninetails? Find out in part 3. Coming soon...