Can't Trust Anyone

"E-Emily!" Red stammered. He thought back to yesterday hearing her sadden tone inform him that she was kicked out of the bracket.

But Baton Pass is illegal, it dawned on Red from the booklet.

"Baton Pass is illegal," Emily read the boy's mind with smug smile. "I thought you would have caught the contradiction and I would have come clean that I didn't lose and play it off as a joke. But you believed it so I decided to keep on going with the ploy."

"How could you?" Red asked.

"I need every advantage I can get," she stuck her tongue out.

Red held his head, feeling a headache come up. He felt as if he was in a bad dream.

"Are you ready, trainer Red?" repeated the ref.

Red snapped out of his daze. This is what she wanted. I'm too shock to even think of my next move. I can't let this be my downfall!

"I'm ready!" Red replied with a surge of self-confidence.

"I'm not going easy on you at all," she had to say first. "I might be your toughest opponent you'll ever face since I know your weaknesses.

The trainer profile of Red's alongside Emily's flashed on the screens respective to the side the trainer stood at. It was the first match of the day as it displayed on the television screens. The amount of Pokemon each trainer held was displayed on the screen but none of the Pokemon were revealed to give each other the advantage.

"I have my secret weapon right here," Emily exclaimed, presenting Red a precious ruby-colored Pokeball. "Straight from my hometown!"

"I'll throw everything I got at you. No holding back!" Red retorted.

"Release you Pokemon!"

Red chucked his Pokeball, releasing his Charizard. It was the Pokemon he had the most faith in to deal with whatever Emily had planned. Charizard's experience will help him ease his mind to offset the uneasiness in him. He chose Charizard for the confidence boost that he bolstered now after their battle with Kuraisora.

-She's the one we're fighting next,- Charizard thought astounded.

"Let's show him our true strength, Shogo!" Emily shouted, throwing her cherish ball into the fray.

The polished red Pokeball snapped open unleashing a fury of bright colorful lights. From the rainbow appeared a green insectoid, bipedal dragon drifting down on two rhombus –shaped wings. It softly landed on its toeless hind legs, kicking up a small sandstorm under its slender body that quickly dissipated. Translucent red covers shielded the Pokemon's eyes from the sand particles it kicked up.

"What kind of Pokemon is that?" Red asked out loud to no one in particular.

"This is my Flygon," Emily heard Red's question. "He was my starter Pokemon which I raised up to this point from a cute, little Trapinch."

"The battle between Red Ketchum and Emily Silph will begin-NOW!"

"Flygons are the spirits of the desert. Let's show them, Shogo, why! Brew up a Sandstorm!" Emily ordered first.

-"We're jumping straight into that strategy? I don't want an easy win so soon,"- Shogo groaned but still followed his order.

-"I'm not like anybody you faced. You may belong to Emily but that is no excuse for us to go easy on you,"- Charizard snarled.

Flygon stir up a sandstorm by flapping its wings rapidly. The sandstorm took up the entire battlefield, feeling both trainers' ears with the howl of wind. A spellbound melody could be heard from within the sandstorm.

-All of these weather changes that I've seen Pokemon do now seem like poor imitations of the attack after witnessing the weather control that Lugia possessed,- Charizard thought, feeling the weather wasn't as detrimental as Emily thought it was especially since he wasn't entirely defenseless.

Red kept silent during the sandstorm, slightly put off by Emily's sudden betrayal of his trust and with a new Pokemon he never heard off.

"Dragon Claw him while you're out of sight!" Emily ordered, raising her arm to keep out the stray sand from entering her eyes. "And don't try to toy with him since this Sandstorm looks it won't last long."

The singing in the storm grew louder but it didn't betray its musician. The noise came from all around as if an orchestra played the soothing melody. Charizard sharpened his hearing but not to listen to soothing beats.

"Metal Claw to your right flank!"

Charizard swung to his right with his left claw. He struck the incoming Flygon with his Metal Claw. His precise swipe clawed Shogo's face at an angle from above, hurling him into the ground. Charizard was close enough to make out where Flygon landed and breathed out his Dragon Rage.

The sandstorm died down, revealing a triumphant Charizard pinning down Emily's Flygon with his blue flames.

"Impossible! How did you find him in this storm?" Emily shouted incredulously. She couldn't wait for an explanation from the aura guardian and continued. "Shogo, dig underground!"

Flygon dug straight down, escaping the Dragon Rage. Charizard took to the skies to thwart any surprise attack Flygon could do.

"Bring him out. Use Earthquake!" Red commanded, keeping tabs on Flygon's location underground.

"Get out of there, Shogo!" Emily frantically demanded.

Charizard pulled in his wings to dive down. He landed on the battlefield with tremendous force. The ground shook with tremendous force, increasing the damage done to the Flygon underground. Once the Earthquake passed, Shogo clambered out of the ground looking quite beat.

"No rest for our enemy. Dragon Pulse!" Red pursued the Flygon.

Charizard dropped down to better aim his Dragon Pulse. Shogo invigorated, left his hole for the wide skies to dodge the Dragon Pulse.

"Don't just runaway. Fight back with Dragon breath," Emily cheekily said.

"Spit Fire!"

Charizard fired the explosion of blue flames. The dragonic flames struck a glancing blow but it was enough to throw Flygon's aim off. The purple fire ball from Shogo's mouth drifted to right of Charizard missing completely.

Emily clenched her fists. I have yet to land a hit on Red's Charizard! I can't have him mock me with my treasured Shogo! I will have to show him our devotion with this next move, Emily thought agitated, frowning at Red's smirk.

"Boomburst then prepare!" Emily bellowed her next order, making direct eye contact with her Pokemon.

-"I understand. I apologize for being such a failure but this stops now!"- Flygon roared. He unhinged his small jaws, inside a growing light blue glow, and fired blast of terrible, powerful sound waves.

-"What's this?"- Charizard clenched his ears, agonized by the explosive sounds.

"Draco Meteor and Dragon Rush combo!" Emily shouted next.

No decent name for the combo? Red trivially thought.

"Charizard, can you hear me?" Red had to ask but no answer from the cringing fire-type.

Flygon launched a blinding sphere of light straight up. The Draco meteor exploded into various spheres of energies and rained down on Charizard like a hailstorm. Flygon took a steep dive straight for Charizard, twirling in his Dragon rush aura, absorbing the Draco Meteor pieces into his own body. He collided into Charizard's chest, creating a blast reach the ends of the marked battlefield.

The dust settled a few dramatic seconds which ended with Emily groaning and Red cheering. Charizard lay on the ground with his hand tightly gripped around Flygon's stiff tail. Flygon lay motionless on the ground in the crater of his own shape. Charizard lazily got up, reveling in the roar of cheers from the crowd.

"Flygon is no longer able to battle! Charizard takes this round!" The referee confirmed the defeat with his flag raised to Red's side.

"But how did you defeat my Flygon?" Emily asked, genuinely confused.

"He took the attack but grabbed a hold of Shogo's tail before he could fly away and slammed him into the ground. My Charizard is far from being unscathed," Red pointed out the fatigue that Charizard displayed after the adrenaline lowered in his body. "He acted on his own instincts to make use of your Flygon's offensive approach."

Emily could only sigh at the outcome. She returned her prize Pokemon, but she didn't feel pity for her Pokemon. He did what I could ever hope for. Your work won't got to waste, Emily swayed herself to be more confident.

"Trainers, you are allowed to use one Pokemon switch during the match," the nameless referee stated.

Red pondered on the fact. I'll give Charizard the time to recuperate so I can use him again, Red thought carefully of his switch. He suffered some damage in the end and looked a bit disoriented from the Boomburst.

"Charizard, take a rest for now!" Red drew back his Pokemon back into his Pokeball.

The ref acknowledged the switch. "Send out you respective Pokemon, trainers!"

"Stand by for battle, Gabite!"

"You can do this, Layla!"

Gabite took the field and was astonished by the amount of onlookers that showed up today. He looked past the shy Lapras who appeared before him.

Red registered the huge disadvantage he got himself in. This is bad! How could I forget that she had a Lapras on her team? It's been so long that I've seen her but I should have at least kept it in the back of my mind, Red berated himself. His attention switched over to the nickname.

"Since when did you give your Lapras a nickname?" Red asked in the midst of battle.

Emily deviously smiled. "Since I learned I could legally change their name. I could never give them nicknames back home. My father forbade it but he's not here to tell what to do now is he?" she mocked her father. "All of these members of my team have proven to be important in my life so it was time I gave them names to prove my affection the."

"So she renamed all of her Pokemon," Red muttered to himself.

-"There is a lot more people here today then there was yesterday,"- Layla gawked at the size of the crowd. –"And how many more are watching at home?"-

-"Everyone is here to witness my power,"- Gabite remarked excited by the full stadium.

-He can handle the cameras better than I could,- Layla thought to herself, focusing on the battle at hand.

"Gabite, get in close with a Flamethrower!"

"Ice Shard quick, Layla!"

Gabite immediately released his fire attack. The flames were used in a defensive manner this time as it melted the barrage of sharp ice into small wisps of vapor. Gabite charged straight at the immobile Lapras after destroying all the Ice Shards.

"Let's keep him in one place for once. Whirlpool!" Emily shouted.

Red countered with a reckless order. "Break straight through the Whirlpool with Dragon Rush, Gabite!"

-"My power will tear down everything in my path!"- Gabite roared, feeling his blood boil as he took on the dragonic- aura. He didn't slow down as Lapras launched her Whirlpool large enough to lift up a car and jumped straight through it. He sliced right through the low damage technique and tackled Lapras full force. Lapras recoiled with the collision, sliding back a few feet.

"Let's trap them instead. Sand Tomb now!" Red raised his fist triumphantly.

Gabite roughly landed in front of Lapras but his reaction was as swift as ever. He lunged forward, spitting out a stream of coarse sand. The dirt swirled around Lapras, picking up speed to create the swirling vortex. Abrasive sand chipped at her body, slowly wearing her down.

"That is just small inconvenience to my Lapras," Emily asserted forcefully. "Frost Breath!"

"Get out of there, Gabite!" Red bellowed urgently wanting to avoid any ice attacks.

Layla exhaled a short breath. That single breath carried sprinkles of snow and temperatures low enough to freeze water. Its swiftness caught Gabite falling back. Frost formed on his body, slowing him down.

"Now nail him with an Ice Beam," Emily eagerly ordered.

"Dig, Gabite!" Red yelled.

Lapras charged up her beam and fired it from her horn. Blue lightning lashed out at Gabite but he hastened his movements to dig underground, evading the Ice Beam.

"Copying my techniques, Red. Have no shame in stealing my ideas," Emily scorned with smile.

"I've been using that escape technique since I got my Gible," Red adamantly defended. "It's not that complicated to think off."

"Don't take it to heart," Emily pouted. "I can learn too. Watch! Layla, bring out that digging Gabite with Bulldoze."

Larpas slapped the ground with her two front flippers, sending weak shockwaves through the ground. The ground burst with an anxious Gabite shouting that the world has begun to collapse.

-"It wasn't much, dear,"- Layla tried to calm the apprehensive Gabite. –"Just don't go under when I'm here."-

Red couldn't help but feel like he was played despite Emily not gaining much from her ploy.

"Pull yourself together, Gabite. I'm here to fight with you. Show them your power with Dragon Pulse!"

"Ice Beam the dragon for massive damage," Emily counted on Gabite being too flustered to act.

Gabite's wild pupils return to their normal determined form. He accepted the cheers of the crowd as his strength and fortitude for his following action. He did swift spin to his, effectively dodging the Ice Beam, and attacked with his Dragon Pulse. The energy ball struck Layla's temple, dazing her for a brief moment.

"Go in for a Burning Claw!" Red pressed forward.

"Layla, snap out of it!"

-"Your ice cream won't stop me! The fire within me will melt all in its way. Burning Claw!"- Gabite burned Lapras with his Flamethrower ahead of time for his Dragon Claw to slash.

"If you can hear me, then just follow my advice," Emily returned with a more calm demeanor. "Flush out Gabite with Brine. Just aim in front of you!"

Layla winced from the flames feeling slightly woozy. She followed through and opened her mouth to fire a stream of water at the area in front of her. The salty water flooded her part of the field, putting out Gabite's Flamethrower in a flash. Gabite was overwhelmed by the currents, pulled back to his side of field. The Sand Tomb settles, relieving Layla of the passive damage.

Gabite fired his Dragon Rage to do some damage but Layla retaliate with her Ice Beam, finally striking him down. The ice formed around Gabite, freezing him a solid chunk of ice.

"Break him out with Signal Beam," Emily artfully said.

Layla pierced the ice formation with a multicolor beam, shattering it to pieces. Gabite flopped onto the ground shivering to his last second of consciousness. Gabite's defeat was announced, filling the stadium with cheers that Red instinctively blocked out.

"Pikachu, let's pick up the knockout!" Red yelled sending out his furry companion.

-"Well, well, if it isn't Emily,"- Pikachu complacently said. –"I've been hoping to meet you in battle. Makes this a memorable one."-

"Start out with fully charged Thunder Bolt."

"Don't go charging in and believing that Layla will be easy pickings without disastrous consequences. Layla, take the hit and Perish Song!" Emily

It can't be. That's the annoying move that makes it opponent faint in the next few turns! The only way to break it is through manually switching my Pokemon out but I already used up my switch! Red was really regretting switching since it cost him his Gabite an unfavorable matchup and now his Pikachu.

Pikachu rushed at the Lapras, oblivious to the imminent danger and fired his Thunder bolt. It shocked Layla to her core but she maintained her focus. Layla cried out in a shrill, haunting tone, sending shivers down both Pikachu's and Red's spine. Even after Layla finished, though, the chanting continued, emitting from both Lapras and Pikachu.

It did very well sound like a song of doom, Red unwittingly remarked. If Pikachu is doomed to perish then I need to make the most of the time.

"Pikachu, Shock Wave quick! We don't have much time!" Red shouted with urgency.

-"That cry is faint but it's growing louder in my head,"- Pikachu grimaced at the eerie feeling of despair. His fur rustled before sending his Shock Wave in all directions. Not much of his energy was wasted for the attack and it was just enough to end Layla's hopes of continuing.

"You did great, Layla! Come back," Emily gratefully said, returning her fainted Lapras.

"We need to waste some time, Elsa!" Emily released her next Pokemon.

The white, rodent-like Pokemon that specialize in electric types like his own rodent appeared on its fairly small feet. She jumped into the air gliding with the help of her yellow wing-like flaps connected to her three-fingered arms.

This wasn't Red's first time seeing the Unova exclusive Pokemon, Emolga. Emily has used her in the past in her gym battles but her full move set hasn't been revealed as only three moves were used by her that being following: Electric ball, Light Screen and Volt Switch. He also knew that she was a flying-electric type thanks to his Pokedex.

"Thunder Bolt her, Pikachu. You don't have much time before you faint from Perish Song."

Pikachu rushed in close to shock Elsa with his Thunderbolt. He used all his strength to make this attack count. His mentality to try even harder made his shock all the more devastating.

-"My attacks! They do nothing!"- Pikachu wailed seeing Emolga fly around him with no hint of damage.

It's seems like she absorbed the Electric attacks and used it to increase in speed, Red noted the slight change in Emolga.

"Match her new speed, Pikachu. Agility!" Red decreed.

"Elsa, stop them with Encore," Emily countered.

-"That was an excellent Thunder Bolt you just pulled off! Please show me it again!"- Elsa gleefully praised. She repeatedly clapped her hands together as if she was genuinely congratulating Pikachu on his performance. Pikachu felt a sudden feeling of bashfulness as an applause erupted from the stadium but the clapping didn't come from the watching crowd.

Pikachu was encouraged to continue his Thunder Bolt technique, engrossed in pleasing the imaginary crowd applauding him. Elsa gratefully accepted the electric attack to boost her speed.

"Pikachu snap out of it!" Red pleaded him to stop.

"Set up the Light Screen while you're at it!" Emily casually said as it Elsa was going to pick some items from the local market.

Red helplessly watched as Emolga erected a clear yellow barrier around herself to half all special attacks. She took the last Thunder Bolt with a bright smile. Pikachu felt himself growing steadily weaker. His body fell to the ground, unconscious. He took the pending doom chant with him to end the malicious curse.

"That wasn't the way you wanted to go but you took one Pokemon in the end leaving us with a tie," Red remarked. He erased all ill thoughts to stay on course.

Well, I have my own Pokemon to absorb your electric attacks, Red thought, clutching his Pokeball.

"Nidoking, we need to turn this around!"

Red's brawny ground-type slammed his heavy foot into the ground, announcing his presence with a roar. Psyching himself up, Nidoking in the process also hyped up the crowd as they cheered for his volatile introduction. Nidoking brought his claws together, intimidating the small rodent.

-"I had a feeling we would be facing off against Emily soon,"- Nidoking remarked, looking past Emolga. –"She's no slouch to battling so I'll have to give it my all and more."- He lowered his head, ready to charge.

With him on the field, you can't even use Volt Switch to escape this situation, Emily, Red added.

"That's enough! Come back, Elsa!" Emily raised her hand and retrieved Elsa. She decided to use this round to initiate her switch seeing it was an unfavorable match-up that she didn't feel confident in winning. Plus, she needed to save her for the future.

I should have waited for her to send out her next Pokemon when I decided to make my switch, Red reprimanded himself for his rash decision in the beginning.

"You can take him, Naomi!" Emily gracefully lobbed her next Pokeball.

From the light materialized a fox-like Pokemon. Emily's Ninetails lifted her lush tails in an intimating manner. She growled in tiny voice but did so menacingly.

"Since when did you evolve your Vulpix?' Red asked

"I always had a Fire Stone with me but I was waiting for to learn a certain move before we decided it was time for her to evolve," Emily stated her motive.

"You have the advantage still, Nidoking," Red exhilarated. "Focus Energy now!"

"Stop him, Naomi! Extrasensory and get in close with after your Agility," Emily comprehended the danger Red's Nidoking posed with such a buff.

Naomi's eyes flashed pink before she began to relax her muscles. Nidoking lost his focus from the sudden psychic assault. He faltered, his mind becoming muddled and dazed.

"She will become too fast for you to catch. Catch her with your Earthquake!"

He didn't put much thought into his Earthquake that was weaker due to his confusion. The area rocked back and forth, forcing Naomi to lose her footing. She not only lost her balance but also her illusion. The Earthquake stopped and a battered Zorua got back up onto his fours paws.

"It was Zorua this whole time!" Red exclaimed.

-"What did this runt just pulled off?"- Nidoking gasped, becoming even more confused.

Emily used the shock to her advantage. "Zexal, Nasty Plot!"

Zexal remembered his training to block out the crowd. They were all infatuated with his illusion ability, eager to see it in action again, but he pushed them out of his mind to make room for the devious thoughts he conjured up, drastically increasing his special attack.

Red reeled back from the shock. "Rock Slide, Nidoking. Then even the odds with Amnesia!"

Nidoking's foggy conscience cleared. He shoved his burly hand into the ground, sending boulders tumbling at the young Zorua. Occupying his foe with a barge of boulders, Nidoking set on his task to temporally erase memories.

"Dark Pulse the rocks!" Emily called out. "Dodge the ones you couldn't break."

Zexal evaded the first boulder. He struck the next few with his Dark Pulse beam, piercing them. The boulders that were struck exploded into small rubble, littering the battlefield with pebbles. Zexal rolled to his left to avoid the final boulder.

Even after losing a hefty chunk of its health to that Earthquake, Zexal is able to keep up its reflexes in top condition, Red felt impressed.

"Ice Beam him, Nidoking!" Red ordered his next move.

"Dodge it with, Detect!" Emily felt more confident in having Zexal predict the move than use his own reflexes to dodge. He's been keeping up so far but his body won't sustain much strain so I have to guaranteed his dodge for my next course of action, Emily reasoned her decision.

Zexal's eyes glow light blue and bends low to jump out of the way of the Ice Beam.

"Send him tumbling down with Grass Knot!" Emily initiated her assault.

Zexal's eyes turned light green for the occasion. Multiple blades grass erupted from the ground beneath Nidoking, wrapping themselves around his bulky ankles. The grass pulled him back, causing him to trip over. With his hefty weight, the floor cruelly shook with the fall.

"Now close in and hit him with a Night Daze," Emily continued, growing excited.

The agile Zorua bolted towards the center of the field. A harsh crimson aura surrounded Zexal as he began the move. He raised his two front paws into the air for a moment before violently bringing them down onto the ground. His crimson aura took on a pink tint and was expelled outwards in all directions. The force field engulfed the battle field, catching the fallen Nidoking in its path.

Nidoking grunted as he was shook by the shockwave. His defense boost helped him sponge the attack but the dark energy seemed to suck the power within him. He gasped for air once the energy blast left the arena. He lifted his arm only to bring it back down and pound the compact dirt. Another set of Rock Slide were hurled at Zexal.

"Zexal, Detect!" Emily didn't waste a second to act.

Zexal used his special ability to avoid the first two. On the third, his Detect move failed to predict as it tends to happen after using it in quick succession. He yelped as the third knocked him back. He collapse in front of Emily but he got back up before the referee could come over and make his judgment. His fur was matted and dirty, but he stood with dignity. The Light Screen appeared around Zexal only to shattered as it's time ran out.

-"Trying to act tough. I haven't heard a peek out of you for the entire match,"- Nidoking said, pulling himself back up. He sighed seeing Zexal wasn't going to respond.

"Zexal, that was great so let's put an end to this," Emily proclaimed. "Strike with Extrasensory and if that doesn't take him out, follow up with a Dark Pulse!"

"Earthquake," Red bluntly ordered.

Nidoking launched his Earthquake first but still got caught in the psychic attack. His earthquake sent Zexal on another bumpy ride, jolting him to and fro on the ground. The Earthquake ended with Zexal knocked out on the ground and an annoyed Nidoking flinching in pain but still standing.

Thank you Zexal, Emily gratefully thanked him for his service, retrieving his body. You faced your fears of being in the presence of a large crowd just to fight for me in this battle. I promise to you that I'm not going to give up just yet!

"Jake, take the field!" Emily threw her Pokeball.

Emily's grumpy Granbull appeared with an intimidating look, throwing Nidoking off his guard.

"Granbull? Why bring him when he's weak to poi…" Red trailed off realizing that the rest of Emily's Pokemon had weakness to his Nidoking. Ninetails is easily hurt by Earthquake and Emolga can touch him with her electric attacks.

"A type disadvantage is not going to slow us down. Jake use Howl," Emily refuted.

-"I will not let this boy ruin our chances of winning,"- Jake jabbered. Swinging his head back, he let out a ferocious howl to the crowd.

"This isn't good," Red noted the increased strength in Granbull. "Poison Sting before he becomes troublesome!"

-"Now that's a move I haven't heard in a long time- long time,"- Nidoking wistfully said. He shot multiple purple needles from his mouth at his target.

Jake howled louder as the Poison Sting stung his body. He faltered and barked in pain as the poison entered his bloodstream. He felt the poison work and slowly drain his strength.

"He's poisoned," Emily remarked on the side. "You're going to have to get in closer to use your Bulldoze technique."

-"Leave it to me! I'm coming at you bucket of lard!"- Jake growled.

-"Why you?"- Nidoking snarled.

"Ice beam!"

Nidoking attacked with all his spite. His Ice Beam struck Jake's right flank, freezing part of it. The Granbull pushed on until he was few meters away to punish his attacker. He pounced at the space in front of him to send a weak shockwave that resembled a small Earthquake. Nidoking collapsed from losing his balance. The shaking lasted less than an average Earthquake but it still left Nidoking on the ground with a vacant look.

"Nidoking, is unable to continue! Return you Pokemon trainer Red!" the judge called out.

Red praised his own Pokemon for its hard work. "Vaporeon, prepare to battle!"

-"Emily!" Vaporeon exclaimed mixed with feelings of happiness and guilt.

Emily smiled back at Vaporeon's delightful response of seeing her. "Give it your all, Vaporeon. Don't hold back on me or you'll regret it later," she encouraged from across the field.

-"Grr…hurry up,"- Jake grunted painfully.

"Oh sorry about that, Jake! Use Heal Bell to rid that pesky poison," Emily answered her Pokemon's grunts.

"Get ready Vaporeon," Red got Vaporeon's attention. "Raise your defense with Acid Armor."

-It's Emily, so I have to give it my all! For Red! I can't let my emotions get in the way,- Vaporeon drilled it into her head. She liquefy that outside of her body to create a corrosive acid capable of hurting anything that tried to attack her physically thus increasing her defense.

"That just makes our Howl boost meaningless," Emily said slightly annoyed. "Go for a super-effective attack. Thunder Fang."

"Try and catch him with a Water Pulse ."

Granbull's impressive jaws crackled with Electricity. The electric charge dissipated once he was in range for an unavoidable Water Pulse. The rings of water splashed in his face, bumping him onto his flat end. An Ice Beam struck the same side as the last one, successfully freezing him to the ground.

"Break out of the ice with Fire Punch!" Emily told him his best option.

"Shadow Ball while he's trapped."

Vaporeon formed the Shadow Ball as Jake melted the frost with a flaming fist. Jake rolled out of the way of the Shadow Ball at the last moment.

Emily nearly jumped from enthusiasm. She cooled down before saying, "We need some heavy damage done. Don't soften the blow for anything. Wild Charge!"

"Escape with Quick Attack!" Red retaliated.

"Switch over to Dazzling Gleam then Wild Charge," Emily reformed her order.

Jake blinded Vaporeon with a powerful bright flash he emitted, dealing decent damage since he didn't train in his special attack. It did what Emily intended which was to temporarily blind Vaporeon. He full body tackled her into the dirt with his Wild Charge. The explosive collision sent Granbull sliding backwards enduring the considerable recoil damage.

"Wish back your health!" Red thought it was best to keep her healthy.

"Taunt! Don't give them a chance to heal!" the red head heatedly shouted.

Jake retorted with rude gestures to catch Vaporeon's attention. –"Do you really not care for Emily's feelings? You're thinking she isn't worth your trivial time which is why you're not trying your hardest to fight!"- Jake played on Vaporeon's relation with Emily that he noted at the beginning. A bleeding heart he determined, his eyes glowing a malicious red. –"If you wish for the red head broad to just fall over and die, then just come here tell her to do so to please your pretentious, asinine ass!"-

-"I want WHAT!"- Vaporeon responded with untold fury. The magic Jake pulled off got to her nerves. It infuriated her to hear such claims with vulgar language.

"Oh boy," Red yearned for her to calm down. Very few times has she lost her cool, Red mentioned to himself. She is going to be difficult to manage now.

"Get her with a Focus Punch," Emily wanted to finish this.

"Vaporeon, just try to disrupt his concentration with Shadow Ball," Red slowly yet forcefully said.

-"He's getting a Shadow Ball in his ugly mug for days!"- Vaporeon angrily complied.

She created a barrage of Shadow Balls in a quick sequence. The volley of Shadow Balls pelted Jake with non-stopping power. The white glowing fist instantly vanished followed with multiple snorts and grumbles of pain from Jake. A Quick Attack straight into Jake's core hurled him into the ground.

"Granbull is unable to battle!" was the final verdict from the battle referee.

Just what on Earth did you say to her? Emily wondered, fearing her plan backfired. She promptly sent her Pokemon believing she would be the next target of her rage.

"Uhh- great job, Vaporeon," Red disconcertingly acclaimed. Your vehemence never seizes to amaze me.

"Light Screen!"

"Ice Beam!"

Elsa jumped into the sky to set up her Light Screen again. The screen was created in time to weaken the Ice Beam, striking Elsa on her left wing. She readily broke the ice forming on her wing with sparks of electricity.

"Charge and get ready to fire your next attack," Emily acted accordingly to the cool demeanor she tried to put up.

"Don't let up with the Ice Beam," Red needlessly added since Vaporeon continued to fire, missing a few shots.

Vaporeon caught a nauseating headache. She teetered on flimsy legs muttering, -"What happened?"- She repeated after her Taunt finally wore off.

"Vaporeon, listen to me and use Wish," Red said, trying to sound coherent.

"It's far too late. Elsa, Electro Ball!" Emily said, relieved of Vaporeon's anger fever finally died down.

Elsa's Electro Ball seems like overkill now that Vaporeon wobbled on a thread of life. It didn't completely shock her before she was knocked out. Red accepted the loss and recovered Vaporeon.

Red made a quick switch into his Pidgeot. "Catch Elsa off guard with Dart Pierce!"

"Countered it with Discharge!"

-"Can't anybody wait for to make my elaborate entrance,"- Pidgeot squawked, thrown into the heat of the battle.

Pidgeot disappeared to only reappeared behind the clueless Emolga. He flew in to tackle the small rodent only to get shocked to the core. The discharge lightened his attack but he still tackled Elsa into the ground.

"Elsa! Charge Beam!" Emily ordered once her Emolga pulled back to her side.

Red had to get his Pidgeot escape but the shock from Discharge kept him rooted his spot. He was shocked again. This time he didn't feel pain. His Steel Wing was thrust into the ground, make shifting a cruse lightning rod to ground the electricity.

Emily couldn't help but smile. "I remember when your Pidgeot came to that idea by accident. I should be a fool to forget about such a tactic utilized by you."

Red wiped the sweat off his forehead grinning back. "It's useful only in certain situations," he commented.

"I know," she curtly responded. "Like when he's in the sky. Go up, Elsa!"

"Fly higher and Double Team!"

Dislodging his Steel Wing, Pidgeot easily overtook Emolga and climbed higher. Creating multiple copies, Pidgeot gathered above Elsa to create his fake flock of birds.

"It's no use. Shock Wave will clear the way."

-"This bird is sure giving us the run for our acorns!"- Elsa chirped, charging her cute yellow cheeks.

"Funny thing is that I heard that air is descent insulator to electricity," Red pronounced. "Use Gust to blow away the electricity."

All the clones of Pidgeot's flapped their wings to create a powerful gust of wind. The Shock Wave was relatively weak, making it much easier to push the electric energy into the ground. The clones mirrored the original's Brave Bird aura cloak. They all dive down to deal the powerful blow.

"Discharge!"

Emolga flew right into the fray to unleash her technique. The fakes disappeared until one last Pidgeot withstood the attack. He tackled Elsa with all his strength, sending them once again back to the floor. Pidgeot flopped to his side, reeling from the recoil and crash. He wanted to fly up after the blow but the Discharge locked his joint. He was paralyzed.

Emily was quick to pick up on the status affliction. "Electro Ball, Elsa. He's slower than you!"

"Roost for health," Red ordered.

Elsa glided above Pidgeot, considerably injured. Sparks emitted by her body condensed above her head to form a single sphere. She flipped over midair and tossed the Electric Ball down with her tail. Pidgeot couldn't help but feel pitiful in his state in front of such a large audience. His humiliation ended with the Electric Ball's hit. He went out with a bang.

"Pidgeot is unable to battle!"

The roars from the stadium fell on deaf ears. Red returned his Pidgeot, hoping to give him a better match in the future. He sent out his last Pokemon that he saved in the beginning for a foolish mistake.

"You are not my foolish mistake!" Red shouted, sending out Charizard.

This is great. Elsa, your work it almost finished, Emily thought to herself.

"Nuzzle him!" she yelled failing to sound intimating with such a cute move. "Do whatever it takes!"

"Your my last one, Charizard," Red encouraged his Pokemon. "We have been through tougher situations so let's not make this our last. Flamethrower!"

-"I can't give up so easily,"- Charizard said, watching the flying squirrel glide towards him. He released the flames he kept inside for his return.

-"My Light Screen is going to break soon,"- Emolga pushed through the flames thanks to it being halved. Her barrier passed its time and shattered into pieces. She endured remaining flames to get close to touch Charizard. She meticulously rubbed her cheeks with her hand before lightly touching Charizard's attacking claw. She was swatted away onto the ground to lose conscious.

Charizard reeled back in shock. His entire locked into place, paralyzed from the head down. He was a conscience prisoner of his own body that he couldn't control.

"Let's finish this, Naomi!"

The real Naomi stood up on all four legs, sashaying towards Charizard. She gave a mischievous wink at Charizard before attacking a Psychic attack. More efficient in her psychic abilities, Naomi lifted Charizard's weight above her own. She dropped him back down, not able to maintain the Psychic much longer.

"Emily! Emily! Emily!" the people chanted their favorite to take the battle.

Emily had to take a glance at Red to read his face but it was uncomfortable stoic. It didn't deter her from acting upon her ideas. She couldn't hold back, not even for him. She had a point to prove that wasn't him.

"Earthquake," Red gently ordered.

Charizard was on his feet, fighting the paralysis. –"Now that's a move I don't require much to movement to do,"- he tried to smirk. He lifted a single foot to do the Earthquake. The shockwave wasn't as powerful as Nidoking's but then again he wasn't strip of his normal body movement at the time.

Naomi struggled to keep her footing, losing it after a failed attempt to steady herself. She flailed on the ground like a rag doll. She rolled back up to her feet.

He hasn't entirely given up, Emily's spirit rev up.

"Dragon Pulse, and when you get the chance to free yourself, give her a taste of your Mega Punch ," Red added.

-"My pleasure,"- Charizard spat out a Dragon Pulse, nearly hitting her with the first one.

"Let's see how effective this attack is on those who resist it," Emily asserted, "Inferno!"

Naomi was sent sprawling across the ground with a direct Dragon Pulse hit. –"I will like to see for myself,"- she admitted, getting back up. From her jaws escaped blue flames that were hotter than any Flamethrower she fired. She spewed the flames across the floor, controlling it with her will.

-"Seems familiar,"- Charizard commented before becoming engulfed in the Inferno. The fire danced around him, choking him, constricting him of his life. The flames being hot was determined to be true by Charizard.

-"These-are-hot."-

Charizard unfurled his wings, overcoming the paralysis for a brief moment, sending the flames flying everywhere. Bits of the inferno clung to him but he didn't mind as they added to his disturbing figure.

"Zen Headbutt!" Emily ordered.

Naomi bared her teeth, charging straight into Charizard's gut. She met him with her head and she met Charizard's glowing fist. She was uppercutted into the air.

"Let's see if these flames bypass Flash Fire. Blast Burn!"

Charizard didn't think twice to act. His Blast Burn nearly exploded from his body, reaching the airborne Ninetails moments before she hit the ground. The Blast Burn swallowed her body and spitting her right back out. The aura flames dissipated to reveal a Ninetails marked with a shocked face.

The referee hesitated to even call the defeat before he entered the field to physically check up on Ninetails. Beyond all odds, the ref determined Naomi has fainted.

"Ninetails is unable to battle. Emily is out of Pokemon thus Red from Pallet town is the decisive winner!"

The crowd erupted with cheers after a moment of tense silence. The roller coaster of emotions drove the people to cheer harder than ever. Emily as soon as she recovered her Ninetails, left the vicinity leaving Red to celebrate with the viewers. Red left as soon as he noticed Emily's absence.

He ran through the hallway to catch up with Emily collecting her bag from the lounge. They bumped in the hallway before Emily could leave.

"That was such an excellent match," Red exhaled, gasping for air.

Emily leaned against concrete wall responding with, "It was a well fought battle, Red. I did kind of drop the ball at the last round but mostly pulled through with that unwavering will of yours."

"You couldn't have possible known my Charizard was going to break out of the paralysis that soon," Red added, holding up his hand. "I don't really believe in anything as dumb as simple luck, but I feel this charm helped."

"Luck wasn't the only thing you had. You were just more talented than me as a trainer," Emily surprisingly admitted.

"I guess…I mean luck is sort of like destiny," Red thoughtfully said, twisting his bracelet. "Both I stopped believing in after what Brom told me. It's just me and my pokemon."

"You and your Charizard make an unbreakable pair," she complimented, getting up from the wall. "I'm done praising and Blue's match it about to start soon so I need to head to the stadium."

"Wait," Red stopped here from leaving.

He spoke before she could retaliate. "After this whole tournament is over," Red began, Emily perked up her head in anticipation. "I just want to ask…if you would be interested in going out…for dinner with me?"

The semblance of confusion spread across Emily's face. "Haven't we already eaten dinner together? That time at Cinnabar was the fanciest but the times at the Pokemon Center were fine and that time with your mother's-"

"A date." Red added the fine detail, holding his breath. "I'm asking you for a date."

She paused to think with an enigmatic smile. "I'll definitely take you up on that offer," she finally said.

Red let out the breath he tried so hard to keep in.

"On the account that you defeat, Blue into pulp," Emily added.

"Wait what?" Red uttered.

"Unconditionally win against Blue. As in no close encounters like we just had. If you meet that one objective I will go on an official date with you," she faintly smiled.

"But what does that have to do with our date?" Red had to ask.

Emily's side ponytail bobbed as she turned around. "I'm slightly a sadist since you should if we start dating," she said slowly walking away. "Blame my father."

"You really aren't serious?" Red had to ask before she turned the corner.

"I'm just kidding with you. After this tournament whether you win or lose!"" she smirked, taking her leave.

The trainer sighed. "She did revealed she has a variety of smiles that keeps you guessing what's she's thinking," Red remarked slightly.