Hello again! I apologise for the delay. I've been through so many ideas for the next chapter it was killing me. So I've decided to focus on the Battle Factory instead of Laura's contest and guest appearances from May and Brendan (this will happen later on).
Chapter 4: Vs. Noland
Jack had done some touring around the Frontier on his bike, looking for some new Pokémon for the Factory. So far he had turned out empty. He had heard there had been sightings of Kingdra, but he hadn't seen a single one, he even had Pikachu on his shoulder to help.
"Looks like we're out of luck, aren't we Pikachu?" Jack said to the electric mouse.
"Pika," Pikachu nodded.
"Oh well, while we're here, how about we practice your Volt Tackle?" Pikachu nodded happily. Jack took out a foldable target out of his bag and placed it on a tree, just low enough for Pikachu to strike.
"Alright, Pikachu, Volt Tackle!" Pikachu ran at the target, sparks flying from it's cheeks. It's body then became covered in voltage. Unfortunately, it missed the target entirely and crashed into a tree. Jack ran over to the electric mouse.
"Are you okay pal?" Jack asked. Pikachu nodded. Then…
"Pika!" Pikachu called, pointing to the sky. Jack looked up. A large bird had towered over the sky , with a long glittering tail trailing behind it. Jack had seen it the other day. It was Articuno. And it was headed towards the Battle Factory.
Articuno had lowered itself to a training yard just by the Factory. This was where all the Pokémon trained and had their meals. The ice phoenix landed to a fountain decorated with the legendary birds on the top, each launching their attacks, or in this case, ice cold water. Noland demounted it and it dipped it's beak into the water.
"Nice workout today, don't you think?" He asked his friend.
"Art!" The bird cried softly. At that moment, Jack ran to the yard with Pikachu.
"I saw it fly to the Factory so I followed it here." He explained. Noland gave Jack a hard look, but it softened.
"S'okay, this isn't just for me. This field's for everyone. Well, you know me." Noland said. Jack was puzzled for a moment.
"Well, my name's Jack, if that's what you mean."
"Of course it is!" Noland was more cheerful now and Jack found him easy to get along with. "I know what you're thinking, and no. Articuno is still wild. I healed it once and it's been an avid visitor ever since." He checked a silver watch. "My Pokémon are eating in ten minutes. Care to join?"
"Just one moment." He pulled out a Pokégear (his PokéNav was at his home) and called Laura.
"Wait." Noland said. "ThatPass you have, it's just a stand-in for the real thing." He pulled out an electronic device that Jack took from his hand.
"You don't have a co-ordinator pass do you?"
"Right here."
"Jigglypuff, Tri Attack!" Laura called. She was facing a wild Ledian and wanted it as part of her team; she had sent Nidoqueen back to Oak's to make room. Jigglypuff had caught the Pokérus from Charizard when it was a Charmander and that was how it learned a seemingly unknowable attack. Jigglypuff created three orbs of fire ice and electricity and launched them in a triangle formation. It hit the Ledian hard, giving it paralysis.
"Pokéball, go!" Laura launched a Pokéball at the ladybird and it was encased in a white flash. It tried to escape but it was sealed tight. The Pokéball flew back to Laura's hand.
"Yes! I caught a Ledian! Thanks Jigglypuff!" Laura hugged the pink balloon.
"Jiggly!" It cried happily. Laura's Pokégear vibrated in her bag, signifying a call. She took it out and pressed the "answer" button.
"Hello?"
"Laura, it's me, Jack. Got the real Frontier Passes here. I'm in a training yard with Noland, the Battle Factory Head. His Pokémon are having a meal and I'm joining in. Like to join? Bye!" He hung up. Laura's mind was already made up, and the answer was as you'd expect.
"Come on Jigglypuff. You deserve a meal and so does Ledian." Laura looked at the map on the Pokégear. It showed the Frontier and she eventually found the Factory and the ground. Setting a path, she and Jigglypuff head off to the yard.
In a few minutes, Laura arrived. Most of the journey she had hovered on Jigglypuff, who could act like a hot air balloon and she had arrived dead centre in the yard.
"Ah," Noland said, "You must be Jack's sister, and that must be your Jigglypuff."
"Hole in one." Laura replied. "I heard something about a meal."
"Hole in one for you." Noland grinned. He took out a whistle and blew it. A cloud of dust gathered and Jack, Pikachu, Laura and Jigglypuff saw a group of tough-looking Pokémon charge towards the bowls of Pokéblocks. They were a Venusaur, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Pinsir, Breloom, Machamp, Sandslash, Lairon, Flygon, Manectric, Camerupt and Golduck. Jack and Laura stared in astonishment.
"Are these Pokémon all yours?" Laura said softly. Noland nodded.
"It helps to have more Pokémon; that way there's more possibilities in battle. Well, let out your Pokémon to join in." Jack and Laura released their Pokémon from their Pokéballs. Jack took out Charizard, Eevee, Poliwrath, Pidgeot and his Gyarados. Laura called out Venusaur, Butterfree, Starmie, Ninetales and her new Ledian.
"When did you get Gyarados?" Laura asked.
"Sent Dragonair to Oak's, got Gyarados back. Where'd the Ledian come from?"
"I caught it with Jigglypuff if you must know."
"Well if the old couple has done arguing, it's time to eat." Noland called loudly getting their attention. Noland and a man aged around twenty in a red-and-brown uniform came with pizza, fruit, fries, sandwiches and drinks. "This is Alex, my apprentice, by the way." Alex bowed politely. While the Pokémon feasted on Pokéblocks, Jack, Laura, Alex and Noland had their own lunch.
"I'm guessing you want a battle, don't you Jack?" Noland asked. Jack nodded. "Well, let me give you the rules; trainers who battle choose what Pokémon they battle with and who they battle. In other words, you choose how many of my Pokémon you want to battle with any of yours. You can switch your Pokémon out any time, but I can't. Win, and you'll get the Knowledge Symbol." He took out what looked like a gold coin with three black diamond designs on it; one on top of two. Jack had to think. What Pokémon did he wish to face? He technically had all advantages against Noland but these were well-trained Pokémon and would be tough to beat. Who could he battle; Rhyhorn or Rhydon as a test of strength? No, he had faced Dan's. Venusaur? No, Laura had one, it would be too easy. Machamp? He had faced Bruno and would know what was coming. His best bet would be the Hoenn Pokémon. Breloom could be taken down by Charizard so that was out of the running. Flygon would be too quick; he had heard what they could do. Camerupt knew Fissure and Eruption and things could get bad. Then there was Lairon. Poliwrath could take it down because it knew Fighting-type moves but it was likely Noland would have it put up a tough fight. Yeah, Lairon would do fine. Manectric was next. Pikachu could handle it, it would be a challenge. As for a third, he wanted Charizard to fight and tried to think of one who could….And then the answer blocked the sun above him only briefly.
"I'd like to battle Lairon, Manectric and Articuno." Jack said in a confident voice. Laura was surprised. Jack would face a legendary Pokémon; even with his strongest he would have trouble. But Jack must have known what he was doing, he wasn't THAT senseless.
"Ok. Articuno, you don't mind do you?" Noland asked the bird. Articuno shook it's head, meaning, "Yes, I'd like to battle." "Well, that was easy. And what Pokémon will you be using."
"I'll use Poliwrath, Pikachu and Charizard. And I know that may seem obvious but…" A faint explosion filled the air. "What was that? It can't be an Explosion or Selfdestruct attack…Poliwrath's Damp prevents that."
"It was further away, Damp couldn't stretch that… Oh, no." Noland stared at something in disbelief.
"What is it?" Laura asked. Noland only pointed. It was Camerupt. A red pressure mark had appeared on it's head and it was charging towards them. Jack took out his Pokédex.
"Camerupt are usually docile creatures but if they are hit in the face, they will go berserk. They tend to use their ultimate attack, Eruption, in this state." Oh, great, Jack thought. But when he looked at Laura, she had the "Don't mess with me unless you want to go with a broken neck" look.
"Leave it to me." She said simply. "Ledian, Psybeam!" A beam of rainbow-coloured light shot out from the dot on Ledian's head. It had worked. Camerupt had noticed Ledian and now came charging at it.
"Ledian, Light Screen!" Ledian shot out a large clear wall which Camerupt had bashed into. It was dazed.
"Keep it up Ledian!" Jack looked at Pikachu.
"You use your Light Screen as well, Pikachu." Pikachu helped Ledian, setting up Light Screens around so Camerupt was trapped in a sort of pen.
"It's your time to shine, Venusaur." Laura said to her starter. Venusaur charged forward, and jumped over the pen by lifting itself up with it's vines.
"Venusaur, Earthquake!" Venusaur landed in the pen with a rattling Earthquake, shaking up Camerupt!
"Now use Frenzy Plant!" Venusaur glowed a light green aura and brown thorny vines shot out from the plant on it's back. They slammed hard into Camerupt who fainted instantly. The Light Screens disappeared and Noland returned Camerupt into it's Pokéball.
"And you're sure you don't want to battle?" Noland asked. He was in disbelief; he thought of Laura as like the other co-ordinators, self-centred and prissy. But she had differed from them entirely, bar one May Yuri.
"No, contests are good. Um, what about Jack's battle?"
"Oh, yeah! Come this way."
Jack followed Noland and Alex into the largest arena he had ever seen. And it was in the heart of the Factory.
"Ready, Jack?" Noland called to the other end. Jack gave the thumbs-up, if Noland could see it. He must've, because he had pulled out his first Pokéball.
"Lairon, go!" The ball opened and Lairon, a Steel/Rock type with a horned armoured hide with holes covering its back, black legs, grey claws and blue eyes, appeared.
"Lair-on!" It called in a faintly deep voice.
"Poliwrath, I choose you!" The Pokéball opened and the Water/Fighting type appeared.
"Poli-wrath!" It called in it's deep voice.
"Lairon, Shock Wave!" Blue bolts of lightning shot out from Lairon. It hit Poliwrath but didn't do that much damage.
"Poliwrath, Mind Reader!" Poliwrath's eyes glowed white as it scanned it's opponent.
"Lairon use Double-Edge!" Lairon glowed a faint yellow and charged at Poliwrath. The fighter, however, dodged and Lairon skidded to a halt.
"Poliwrath, use Water Pulse!" Poliwrath charged up a blue orb crackling with electricity and launched it at Lairon. It hit harder than the Shock Wave.
"No, Lairon! Use Iron Tail!"
"Poliwrath, Focus Punch!" Lairon came at Poliwrath, it's tail gleaming in a silver lustre but Poliwrath was faster, it's fist glowing white. It slammed it into Lairon, knocking it out.
"Lairon is unable to battle. Poliwrath wins Round 1." Alex announced. Jack and Poliwrath gave each other a high five. Noland recalled Lairon and pulled out another Pokéball.
"Manectric, let's rock 'n roll!" Manectric, a blue hound-like Electric type with yellow fur appeared.
"Mane-ctric!" It called softly.
"Poliwrath, return!" Jack called. "Go Pikachu!" Pikachu appeared on the field, ready to fight.
"Pika!" It called. Both Electric types glared at each other.
"Manectric, Swift!" Manectric shot out stars from it's mane.
"Pikachu, Light Screen!" Pikachu created a clear wall and the stars bounced off. "Now use Surf!" A red surfboard appeared underneath Pikachu's feet just as a giant wave appeared. It crashed into the Discharge Pokémon.
"Try a Volt Tackle, Pikachu!" Pikachu had an uneasy look on it's face but it charged forward in a blaze of electricity, hitting Manectric! Pikachu had pulled off Volt Tackle!
"Manectric, Hyper Beam!" A beam of golden energy shot out form Manectric's mouth.
"Dodge and use Iron Tail!" Pikachu jumped over the beam and flipped forward, it's tail hardened. It kept flipping until it hit Manectric hard. It collapsed under the pressure.
"Manectric is unable to battle. Pikachu wins Round 2!" Alex called. This was too easy.
"Return, Manectric." Noland said. He then flashed a grin. "I'm not out of tricks yet! Articuno, come on in!" The roof opened and the icy phoenix swooped in. "It's not too late to back out, Y'know. Do you really want to face the wrath of a legendary Pokémon?"
"I've been waiting for this and I'm not gonna back down. Pikachu, Thunder!" Pikachu shot out a fierce bolt of lightning at Articuno… who swerved seamlessly out of the way!
"Articuno, Ice Beam!" Articuno's beak charged with a light blue orb and it fired several strands of icy lightning at Pikachu! It connected, weakening the electric mouse! "Now use Wing Attack!" Articuno swooped down, it's wings glowing. Pikachu was swept back, out cold.
"No! Pikachu, return!" Jack recalled Pikachu. I may have the disadvantage with this one, he thought, but I'll give it a shot. "Go, Poliwrath!" Poliwrath re-appeared. "Use Water Pulse!" Poliwrath launched the orb at Articuno.
"Use Mind Reader!" Articuno's eyes glowed white and it swerved out of the way just in time. "Now, Sheer Cold!" Articuno fired an immense orb of ice at Poliwrath. Sheer Cold could only work 3 times out of 10 but with Mind Reader it's accuracy was perfect. Poliwrath was trapped in ice instantly. Jack recalled Poliwrath and pulled out the big guns.
"Charizard, I choose you!" When the ball opened, the fire dragon flew out of the Pokéball to meet the legend of ice.
"Char!" It roared loudly. The final round began.
"Articuno, Sheer Cold!" Jack guessed that Articuno still had perfect accuracy as the ball came close.
"Charizard, Dragonbreath!" Charizard's attack skills had improved so instead of a flame, it launched a golden beam of light crackling with red electricity, tearing a hole right through the deadly attack, hitting Articuno hard.
"Articuno, Ice Beam!" Articuno launched a light-blue beam of ice at Charizard.
"Dodge it Charizard!" Charizard swooped away but the beam hadn't been a waste; it had clipped Charizard's wings! Charizard couldn't move at a quicker pace!
"Water Pulse!" Articuno launched the blue orb, hitting Charizard. It was lucky it hadn't hit the tail. This was why Noland's other Pokémon hadn't been as strong as expected; he was pulling out the big guns as well. Come on, Jack thought, you can get out of this. I need to thaw Charizard's wings somehow… Wait, it could be risky but I've got no choice. "Charizard, use Overheat!" Charizard glowed a dark-red aura and the ice on it's wings melted. It launched a glowing flame at Articuno, hitting it hard!
"Heh, you pretty much cut the battle short. Your Charizard's attack is too low to fight." Noland called.
"Oh I'm prepared. Charizard, Dragon Dance!" Charizard glowed in a pale aura as it swerved around the field. Charizard was back on track. "That's the stuff Charizard! Now use Flamethrower!" Charizard shot a jet of flame at Articuno.
"Articuno, Ice Beam!" Articuno launched the light-blue beam but it had thawed the moment it touched the jet. It smashed into Articuno!
"Now Charizard, Dragonbreath!" Charizard shot the dragon beam again and this took Articuno down!
"Articuno is unable to battle. Charizard has won the match!" Charizard flew around the field, launching a Dragonbreath into the clouds. Jack leapt into the air, fist clenched. He had done it. He had beaten the first area.
"Well Jack, you and Charizard certainly put up one hell of a battle." Noland complimented. Articuno, now fully healed, nodded, a friendly look passing it's eyes. "As proof of your achievement, the Knowledge Symbol is yours." He gave the badge to Jack who put it in a red cushioned section of the Pass. One down, six to go. Anyway, he had just beaten a legendary Pokémon. Things couldn't be that harder.
"Oh, and Laura, the way you stopped Camerupt going berserk with your Venusaur and Ledian was great. Try using them in your Contest." Laura smiled.
"When is the first Contest?" She asked.
"It's on the West Point of the Frontier. Good luck." Jack and Laura then walked out of the factory, waving to the Factory Head as they left.
(Author plays the "Alleluia" song for a few seconds) YES! I've finally done it! I've completed this battling writers' block. I had this in the early stages of the chapter. Now to answer reviews:
SSJ4 Aragorn: If you think Eevee's tough now, just wait! I thought of using an Eevee like Red's in the manga but I would have triggered a lawsuit and anyway, I doubt you can use items in the Pokémon world.
Katie Legends: Thank you so much for reviewing. Is it OK if I use Beka in my story?
Next chapter REALLY involves May and Brendan; Laura's preparing for her Contest and she meets a new face….Harley.