Everything but the Hail
"Is everything ready?" Lorelei briskly asked, fixing her glasses. She stood in the hallway leading up to the battlefield with another Elite Four member by her side.
Lance met Lorelei's indifferent expression with a solemn look. He uncrossed his arms and sadly sighed. "Are you sure about this, Lorelei? It only took a week for you to make the decision," he said disapprovingly, "don't you think it would be better if you actually took the time to think this through? Huge decisions like these aren't made overnight," Lance tried to combat Lorelei's choice.
Lorelei stared back with cautious eyes. "There can't be any more wasted time," she sternly said, fiddling with the edge of her collar on her black shirt. "Now, tell me if it's done or not so I can get out there?"
Lance briefly closed his eyes and opened them with renewed coolness. "Everything is in order. Show Red a battle he won't ever forget," he calmly replied. He walked past her, wishing her the best of luck.
Lorelei stiffened her shoulders once she felt she was ready. She tugged at the gold bands around her wrists. These bands remind me of my duty. What I must do is not just for me but for Kanto, she rationalized with herself, pushing strands of red hair out of her eyes. She put on her smile right before she entered the arena. She saw Red was already there but she knew that the boy barely arrived. His tardiness did made her wondered what the boy had in plan this time around.
Lorelei pinched her collar. "I like to welcome every one of you who decided to attend this stellar Elite Four challenge," she proudly said, her warm voice booming through the stadium with the help of the speakers. She lifted her finger off her collar to reveal a small microphone that she used to project her voice. "Allow me to be the first to congratulate Red for arriving this far. Give a round of applauds for the challenger from Pallet Town!" She gestured to Red with on hand and the people applauded and cheered at her behest.
Red stood still, unsure as to what to say back. Bruno and Agatha just pulled out a Pokeball with short speeches that didn't require him to say much. "Th-thanks, I li-"
"For this evening, I will like to reveal to everyone about my sudden plans," Lorelei didn't hear Red and continued to speak. "For this match will be my last battle as an Elite Four member. I will officially retire as a member after today," she proudly announced. She turned towards Red and spoke directly to him. "You have fought hard and you managed to show great skill as a trainer. If you aren't able to become champion then there will be my position that you can fill."
Red couldn't follow with what was happening. "What do you mean retire? What's the meaning of this and why now?" Red asked.
Lorelei took her spot in the box, flicking her hair back. "Personal reasons if you don't mind me disclosing them at the current moment," she slyly said with a small smirk. "I will be trying my hardest today. I'll be performing at my best for this final bout. Prepare yourself!"
Red fiddled for his pokeball as Lorelei readied hers.
"Let the match begin!" shouted the man from his position as battle judge.
"Vaporeon, prepare for battle!"
"Stomp out the competition, Mamoswine!"
Mamoswine shook the earth from his entry. It bared resemblance to a woolly mammoth since it sported two ivory tusks and a thick layer of brown fur. The arctic Pokemon towered over Vaporeon giving the Mamoswine a sense of confidence.
This one looks like it packs a powerful punch, Red analyzed the Pokemon. "Acid Armor now!"
Lorelei turned off her microphone before giving her orders. "Rock Slide! Get her before she can act."
Mamoswine raised his front legs high and brought them down with tremendous force. He created the Rock Slide that pummeled Vaporeon. The water-type tank shrugged off the attack as her body glimmered with her increased defenses.
"Go for Ancient Power this time!" Lorelei called out.
"Vaporeon, use Dig!"
Mamoswine loudly shrieked and stomped the ground with his front right leg. More rocks were dislodged from the ground but where suspended in the air by a mysterious, psychic power. Mamoswine hopped forward, launching the Ancient Power with his movement. Vaporeon simply avoided the Ancient Power by burying underground
"This is perfect. Bring her out with Earthquake," Lorelei called out with a smirk.
"Get out of there!' Red shouted alarmed.
Mamoswine created a massive shock wave by stomping the ground again. Seismic activity shook the battlefield, dealing more damage than a normal Earthquake would have. The shaking slowly halted and Vaporeon popped out of the ground with a dazed look.
"She's out! Now, hit her for massive damage with Freeze Dry!" The bracelets around Lorelei's wrists clanked as she pointed at the conscious Vaporeon.
"Water Pulse! Clear your head, Vaporeon," Red shouted.
Vaporeon shook her head and fired a set of rings of water. Mamoswine lowered his massive body and molded a white sphere between his two tusks. He jolted forward, firing the Freeze Dry. The bitter sphere collided with the Water Pulse and effortlessly barreled through it. The Water Pulse froze into three rings of ice and shattered.
Vaporeon detected the danger the Freeze Dry posed and jumped out of the way. The Freeze Dry struck on the ground and exploded with its energy. Vaporeon was caught in the blast and sent her flying. She regained her bearings and landed on her feet. She gasped as she felt her body grow colder by the minute. She was a water type, yet the ice blast left wincing in pain.
"What's wrong?" Red asked concerned about Vaporeon sudden change. She lost a considerable chunk of health.
-"It-it feels like my body was about to fr-freeeze into solid ice,"- Vaporeon shuddered, feeling slightly lightheaded.
"Water Pokemon are no counter to my ice-types," Lorelei said. "Freeze Dry is quite detrimental to water-types. It dehydrates water-types at an abnormally rapid rate, making them more prone to freezing. You should have sensed the danger it posed to your Vaporeon."
"Vaporeon is not someone who could be so easily taken down," Red said back. "Hydro Pump! Now!"
Lorelei couldn't help but admire Red's tenacity. He was the one who faced against both Ember and Leer at Navel Rock, she noted. I should have figured his victories over them would have an effect on his ego. I guess I should be the one who cools him down.
"Stop them with Mud Bomb!"
The frills on Vaporeon's head extended to their full length as she used Hydro Pump. She doused that massive Pokemon just in time to interrupt the Mud Bomb that he tried to form. Mamoswine madly roared, nearly toppling over from the Hydro Pump. He struggled to stay up after the devastating blow.
So, water is its weakness, Red confirmed ground as being part of Mamoswine's typing. "Let's use Wish then resume the assault with another Hydro Pump!"
"Not on my watch," Lorelei declared. "Mamoswine, land this Mud Bomb!"
Vaporeon closed her eyes, focusing her thoughts on making a wish. Her body sparkled as her request was granted a second later. She opened up her eyes to see a glob of wet dirt flying straight after. She entered her Quick Attack stance to escape but the Mud Bomb struck her before she could get away. She was drenched in filthy mud that coated every inch of her body. Vaporeon flopped on the ground, splattering mud everywhere.
"The first round goes to Lorelei!" declared the battle judge seeing that Vaporeon made no attempts to get back up.
"You put up a good fight," Red complimented Vaporeon. Red switched the Pokeball with his right hand in one swift motion and grabbed another Pokeball of his belt. He tossed the Pokeball straight up, releasing his second Pokemon. "Let's see you deal with this unforeseen circumstance. Flareon, I'm counting on you."
Flareon whipped the small tuft of hair on her head back as she studied her opponent. –"This won't take long. He doesn't have much energy to continue,"- she clinically said.
A Flareon… Lorelei thought amused. She hid her smirk as she remembered to her early years as an Elite Four Member. If I recall correctly…Red is the brother of that trainer, Ember. He never got the chance to challenge me but when I saw what he could do with fire Pokemon in the Indigo league…I actually felt anxious of facing him, Lorelei said herself, feeling slightly ashamed. His Flareon being here at my career's end just seems funny to me since I hoped to never fight him during my career.
Lorelei snapped her fingers and she pointed directly at Flareon. "Mamoswine, slow her down with Rock Tomb," she ordered. The shine in her glasses hid her excited eyes as she prepared to take on her fated foe.
"Flamethrower!" shouted Red.
Mamoswine fired his boulders just before Flareon could release her fire. The rocks where close to her size and were difficult to evade. She was struck by one and the rest overwhelmed her. She tautly walked out of the pile of rocks, feeling her muscles too hurt to try anything drastic like run. She didn't need muscles to complete her Flamethrower. The flames toppled the massive beast onto his side.
Lorelei praised her Mamoswine as he was declared knocked out. She switched him out for her Dewgong. "I don't fear Fire-types," she proclaimed. "Dewgong set the arena to your advantage. Summon a hailstorm!"
"Flareon, gain some speed back. Flame Charge!" Red commanded.
-"Oh?"- Flareon uttered in confusion. Her body shimmered with white light and she was healed back to full health. –"So, this is what it feels like to be healed with a Wish,"- she said in awe. She swore that she could feel the tender heart of the Pokemon who cast the technique, making her feel warm inside. Revving up her flames, Flareon pledged to not let the Wish go to waste.
Dewgong introduced a hailstorm into the stadium. Hail the size of golf balls pelted the battlefield yet they didn't hinder Flareon. She tackled Dewgong with her Flame Charge, gaining a speed boost in the process. She used her increased speed to evade the impulsive Water Gun.
-"You're going to have to try a little harder than that,"- Flareon rejoiced.
"Lava Plume!" Red ordered.
Flareon drew in close and fired her Lava Plume at close range. She pulled back as she got doused by a Water Pulse. She smiled to see the multiple burn marks tainting Dewgong's white fur, negating the healing Dewgong received from the hail.
-"You're Ice Body isn't going to help you in this fight,"- she ridiculed.
-"As long as the hail hurts you, I couldn't care about this burns,"- Dewgong retorted.
"Hit them hard with Waterfall, Dewgong."
"Catch Dewgong in your Smog!"
"Halt!" Lorelei nearly lost her glasses as she stridently yelled for Dewgong to stop. "We can't afford to get any more status ailments," she said, propping her glasses back onto her nose. "Attack from a distance. Bubble Beam!"
"Use Dig, Flareon."
Flareon filled the middle of the arena with purple fog that hung close to the ground. She delved underground, leaving Dewgong foamed at his mouth as if he just swallowed a bar of soap. He wiped off the bubbles and placed his focus on the ground. He stretched out his body, taking in as much information he can garner from his senses. The ground near Dewgong's tail bulged and he bounced forward. He spun around on his glossy belly, inflating his cheeks. He blew a stream of bubbles at the Flareon emerging from the ground. Flareon met him with his own Fire Blast, bursting all of the bubbles and pushing Dewgong into the thick, purple mist.
"Get out of there! Aqua Jet!" Lorelei shouted distressed.
"Capture them with Fire Spin!"
Dewgong hacked and coughed after taking a single breathe of the poisonous smog. A thin stream of fire snaked around him to cage him in a swirling tornado. He shot out of the smog with Aqua Jet, fighting against the Fire Spin. He emerged on the other side with the Fire Spin still around him. He turned back to see the smog dissipated.
"She's coming for you,"Lorelei warned. "Waterfall!"
Flareon chased after him and leap through the fiery inferno. She absorbed the Fire Spin, garnering her new power. Dewgong surrounded himself in more water and challenged Flareon's powered-up Fire Blast. The Waterfall managed to make it through the Fire Blast so he could effectively tackle Flareon into the ground.
Flareon and Dewgong flopped onto the ground. After what seemed like hours, Flareon stood up. She was declared victorious over Dewgong, earning a tumultuous cheer from the crowd.
-"I'll be lying if I didn't say I missed this,"- she smiled, looking up to the stadium seats. She cutely yelped in response to the cheers.
"I can't give up yet. Lapras, turn this battle around!"
Lorelei's star Pokemon made her entrance onto the field. She was slightly larger than Emily's own Lapras and had more rigid shell. Red dreaded to take sea ride on Lorelei's Lapras judging by the jagged spikes jutting out her back.
"Drench that Flareon with Brine!"
"Lava Plume!"
Red figured that Flareon wasn't going to survive long enough to deal major damage. He had to get the most out of this move. He nearly jumped with joy when he saw Flareon attack first and managed to get the nasty burn. He knew Lava Plume had a higher chance of burning than most fire techniques but it was still a dice roll.
-"This is it,"- Flareon said before she was hit by a large blast of sea water. The salt burned like hot coals when they touched her wounds. She flopped onto the ground without another peep.
"That's a nasty burn," Lorelei remarked. "Let's get rid of it. Use Rain Dance!"
And there goes Flareon's hard work, Red grimaced but figured the best way to take advantage of the unexpected circumstance. "Pikachu, the storm is here!"
Pikachu was perplexed to find it raining inside the stadium. He looked up to find out that the light drizzle was coming from a pair of dark clouds close to the ceiling. He then remembered that Rain Dance existed and washed off his confusion to study his opponent.
"Pikachu won't last long enough to deal the finishing blow," Lorelei proclaimed. "Dragon Dance my darling!"
"This is perfect weather for my Pikachu. Give Lapras a massive shock. You can't miss with Thunder," Red called out.
-"You didn't even have to say. I'm already doing it,"- Pikachu muttered as he charged up while Lapras increased her physical strength and abysmal speed.
-"Here it goes!"- Pikachu bellowed, releasing his strength. He brought down a huge lightning bolt from the raining clouds with a deafening crackle. Lapras lit up like a firework, illuminating the stadium for a split second.
"Keep it up. Pikachu! Thunder once more!" Red encouraged.
Lorelei crossed her arms. "Let's not let them get too excited over a little rain. Lapras, stop them with Bulldoze," she calmly ordered.
Lapras slapped the ground with her front flippers, creating powerful shock waves. The ground under Pikachu violently shook, forcing him into ground and halting his Thunder. The Bulldoze ended quicker than an Earthquake but it still left Pikachu quite battered.
-"Damn. Are we sure that it wasn't an Earthquake?'- Pikachu sputtered, struggling to get back onto his feet.
"Prepare yourself, Pikachu. Thunder Bolt!" Red ordered.
Lorelei felt the rain pounding the battlefield was getting lighter and realized she needed to act quick. "Get in close. Aqua Tail!"
Lapras lunged at Pikachu but landed meters before the battered rodent. The field trembled and nearly knocked Pikachu off his balance again. Lapras demonstrated impressive flexibility and speed as she spun around faster than Pikachu could react. She brought down her bulky Aqua Tail and squashed him under it.
"No…Pikachu!" Red cried.
The rain slowed down to a light shower before completely vanishing. The water around Lapras's tail dispersed but she still kept her tail on Pikachu. She didn't make any motion to indicate that she was going to move her tail.
"Hey, Lapras! Can you please move?" Lorelei said in a concerned tone. "We got see if that Pikachu is knocked out…Lapras?"
Lapras clenched her eyes in pain, enduring pain that passed throughout her body. Her body locked up, unable to move. The area beneath Lapras's tail lit up before she was shocked. She wailed and pulled away from the spot.
Pikachu emerged from his crater, seeming more irritable than injured.
-"That was the worst time to get someone paralyzed,"- Pikachu groused. He shook out the water out of his drenched fur with minimal success. –"This better not slow me down."- Pikachu felt like the water added a few pounds to his weight.
"Don't worry about your movement," Red picked up on Pikachu's distress. "That Lapras is paralyzed. How 'bout we finish this already?"
"Trying to act as if he isn't badly hurt," Lorelei remarked impressed. "Let's see how long your Pikachu can hold onto his tough guy act. Lapras, Brine!"
"Volt Tackle then Thunder Bolt. Avoid the water at all costs!"
Getting onto all fours, Pikachu dashed forward. Cloaking himself in electricity, Pikachu pounced at the paralyzed Lapras and slam his entire body into her blubbery neck. Pikachu flew back from the collision and failed to stick to his landing. The recoil left him unable to move swiftly.
"Get him now!" Lorelei practically yelled.
Lapras swung her massive head forward. Salt water gushed from her mouth, washing Pikachu away from her. The Brine swept Pikachu all the way to Red's side of the field where he washed up unconscious.
"Pikachu is in no condition to continue. Lapras wins!"
I guess it was pretty naïve of me to believe he can move after a Volt Tackle in his condition, Red thought ashamed. "Charizard, let's bring this back. We won't accept defeat yet!"
Charizard laid his eyes on Lapras first before looking up to the scoreboard displayed on screen. –"So we are behind,"- Charizard accepted. –"Guess it is time for me to even to score."-
"Lapras, Perish Song!" Lorelei ordered.
"Don't let her! Spit Fire combo into Flamethrower!"
-"Like hell I'm going to end my run in a few turns,"- Charizard roared.
Lapras's voice took on a haunting melody as she attempted to curse Charizard and herself. She was silence by a Spit Fire aimed for her head. The fire shower blinded her unable to see the Flamethrower she could have extinguished with her water. Her wails were haunting yet beautiful. After her final yowl, she collapsed on the ground.
"Lapras is unable to fight. Charizard takes the round!" the referee shouted.
Lorelei smiled, returning her Pokemon. "You fought well, my dear," she delicately spoke to the Pokeball. She quickly changed tones as she released her next Pokemon in line. "Weavile, tear up the opposition!"
Lorelei's weasel-like Pokemon pranced on her two feet, feeling energetic. The red fathers on her head that formed her crown swayed back and forth as she swiped the air with her clenched claws. She struck a pose with a smug grin and the gold dot on her forehead glinted.
"A lively one," Red remarked. "Let's give her a real reason to dart around like a maniac. Flamethrower!"
Lorelei snapped her fingers, garnering her Weavile's attention. "Fake Out!"
-"He won't see this coming from mile away."- Weavile licked her right claw before attacking. She moved at a speed nearly impossible for the naked eye to follow and appeared before Charizard. She brought her claws together, firing off a sharp wave directly into her opponent's face.
Charizard howled in pain, reeling back from his attack. He received another sharp blow to his chest in the form of Ice Shard. He took a few steps back, trying to cope with the sudden flurry of attacks.
"Slow him down with Icy Wind," Lorelei acted on the need to stack the odds against Red.
"Get out of there! Fly up and then you can safely Flamethrower!" Red shouted. Slow him down? With that kind of speed, Weavile won't give my Charizard the chance to attack, Red figured.
Weavile blasted the arena with her icy breath, leaving behind a light layer of frost on the rocky terrain. She acted too slow, to Red's surprise, and released her attack right after Charizard took off. Her sluggishness was punished by a strong Flamethrower that threw her back.
She's actually slower than Charizard without her priority attacks? Red thought confused.
"Bring that Charizard back on the ground! Throw it now! Fling!" Lorelei pointed towards the sky.
Red stopped to take a look at Weavile's claw. She was carrying a solid sphere of grey metal. The way she handled the iron orb made it seem dense and heavy. A sinister flash from Weavile's hand left the iron ball pitch black and she threw it as easily as a baseball pitcher throws a ball. The iron ball left a short trail of black smoke as it sailed through the sky, knocking Charizard out of the air.
Charizard crashed into the ground. "What is it with you Elite Four and throwing things at me in the sky?!" Charizard roared enraged. He stood back onto his shaky feet, trying to act like the blow did minimal damage. His jaws unhinged to let a Flamethrower pass through.
-"Gah! I can't take this heat!"- Weavile wailed, wavering from the direct hit. She collapsed onto her knees in agony. She held on by pure will.
"Such weak defenses," Red figured, seeing this as Lorelei's glass cannon. "We need to go for it. Who knows what else they have prepared. Burn Weavile to smithereens. Blast Burn!"
"We can't allow them to do so," Lorelei spoke to her Pokemon. "Stop them with Throat Chop!"
No longer burdened by the iron ball, Weavile darted towards her foe in a matter of milliseconds. A single hop and she was at Charizard's eye level. She attacked Charizard's long neck with her right arm as if she was wrestler aiming to throw their opponent onto the ring floor.
Charizard yelped with single solitary tear in his eye. His throat constricted, unable to withstand the pain. Weavile used this opportunity to prepare a more devastating attack. Charizard wasn't going to let her go that easy. He unfurled his two wings and brought forward in the blink of an eye. Weavile was pancaked in between the leathery wings.
-"Glrgle!"- Charizard choked teary-eyed. His body exploded with fire, consuming them both.
Weavile's body flopped onto the ground with a dazed look.
-"That really hurt!"- Charizard hacked, rubbing his delicate throat. –"Such a cheap place to land a hit."- He began to uncontrollably cough after his short tirade.
Lorelei produced another Pokeball and chucked it. "Jynx, set up the screens before that Charizard can recuperate! Reflect first!"
The humanoid Pokemon waved her purple hands in front of her. Her long blonde hair swayed with her body as she puckered her puffy pink lips as she formed a barrier around her.
"Control yourself, Charizard. Fire Blast!"
Charizard wiped away his tears and flew towards Jynx to deliver the Fire Blast up close. He didn't stop there as he clawed Jynx with multiple swipes from Metal Claw. Each blow triggered the Reflect screen, reducing the damage dealt. The Light Screen was finally set up and just in time to weaken the raging Flamethrower.
"Put him to sleep. Lovely Kiss!" Lorelei swiftly ordered.
"Pull back! Fire Blast to keep her at bay!" Red shouted alarmed.
Jinx extended her arms in an attempt to hug the fiery beast and deliver a swift smooch. Charizard denied her the kiss with his point blank Fire Blast, throwing her backwards.
"Icy Wind."
"Blast Burn!"
Charizard huffed and gathered his strength. His body temperature increased until it became unbearable to handle and let out all of his strength at once. The Icy Wind did little to slow him down and swept Jinx in a blast of heat. Not even the Light Screen could save her from her early demise.
"Jinx is unable to continue. Charizard is declared the victor of this round!"
"It's getting close," Lorelei said smiling. "Cloyster, help me clean up."
Lorelei's own Cloyster appeared with his shell shut tight. It was prepared for this crucial moment and protected itself in its thick armor. It didn't dare to reveal itself, yet.
"The stage is set," Lorelei proclaimed to her new Pokemon. "Break out of your shell my beloved. Increase your attack with Shell Smash!"
"Flamethrower him now!" Red yelled once he saw movement from Cloyster.
Cloyster's shell opened up to finally reveal the dark pearl. Cloyster grinned as the Flamethrower barely made it pass the Light Screen. He squirted a power jet of water to finish the rest of the fire. His shell took on a cruel red color, growing harsher as cracks formed in his shell.
Is he really planning on shattering his entire outer shell? Red thought, shocked by the idea of destroying your sturdy defenses. Cloyster was rapidly gaining strength but Red still thought it wasn't worth the risk.
Cloyster practically exploded once he was close to reaching his limit. His gray casing flung in all directions, nicking Charizard in his shoulder. What was left of Cloyster was his little head neatly tucked into a smaller shell that closely resembled his larger one. The new shell wasn't gray but a dull blue color and its spikes were blunt at the edges. It didn't have that sturdy, rugged look but a smoother, softer feel. Anyone would have thought that this new Cloyster posed no threat but Red realized that wasn't the case at all. Cloyster gained a huge boost in that instant in terms of power that Red could sense straight away.
"Fire Blast! His defenses have been severely weakened," Red urgently ordered.
Lorelei crossed her arms, getting ready for the final moment. "Stop that Charizard with Rock Blast!"
Debris from the tattered ground circled around Cloyster to form five silver rings. Cloyster closed his shell tight but snapped back open in the blink of an eye. All five rings shattered and converged into five baseball-sized lumps. All five rocks shot across the battlefield and clobbered the stunned Charizard. The first two that connected were enough to knock Charizard out and the next three blasted him out of the arena.
"Damn, that was quick," Red cursed under his breath. Cloyster was supposed to be a sluggish Pokemon but he moved faster than any of his Pokemon could without a boost. "Well, I pray that you're not slower than this brute." Red released his Pidgeot onto the field.
"Out of all of your Pokemon that resist my ice types," Lorelei mocked.
"Type advantage isn't everything that is needed to win," Red remarked. "You have proven that to be right so far."
"True," she said contented. "But don't outright rule it out. Cloyster, Icicle Spear Pidgeot and don't you dare miss a shot!"
"He's a fast one, Pidgeot. Move as quickly as you possible can and cut him up with Air Slash!" Red notified.
-"Faster than me, huh?"- Pidgeot doubted the bulky shellfish could move an inch without help. The Cloyster didn't move an inch but he still launched a volley of ice spears. All the spears shattered at impact, throwing Pidgeot backwards.
-"That was certainly-quick,"- Pidgeot huffed, surprised to still have his wits. With that combo, Pidgeot felt like he was going to faint if a single rain drop fell on him. He flew straight for Cloyster and Air Slash.
"Go all out. Dart Pierce then Heat Wave!"
Cloyster winced from deep cut, leaving him unable to Icicle Spear again. He suffered an unavoidable blow, launching him onto to his side. The Dart Pierce left him disoriented but he fired jet of water to bring him back upside. He emitted more water as jets to spin around and face the Pidgeot in the sky.
"Rock Blast! That should end this!" Lorelei cuttingly said.
Cloyster endured the Heat Wave that Pidgeot conjured up. In an instant he formed his Rock Blast and fired each rock with incredible strength. Pidgeot avoided the first two shots by darting right and changing course again. The third flew close to her head but the next one struck her right wing. The final Rock Blast was a direct hit. It was the only one needed to end Pidgeot's flight.
"This is the end for you, Red," Lorelei said once Red returned his fallen Pidgeot. "I doubt you have a faster Pokemon than my Cloyster."
"We'll see about that," Red responded, holding out his Pokeball. "I'm not going down that easy. I still have one more trick. Houndoom, prepare for battle!"
Another fire-type, Lorelei thought amused. He really thought that filling his team with fire would make me fall so easily.
"You're my last Pokemon so I'm placing all my trust in you, Houndoom," Red disclosed. "Don't think of going easy on your attack."
-"I wouldn't even think about such a thing,"- Houndoom scoffed, entering his battle stance.
"Blow them away with Rock Blast."
"Sucker Punch!"
Houndoom was faster than the enhanced Cloyster and dealt the first blow. He sucker punched Cloyster from the side, sending the clam-like Pokemon flying across. As Cloyster landed, the Reflect shattered into a million pieces with the Light Screen following in suit.
"Don't stop now. Inferno!" Red shouted.
"Razor Shell!" Lorelei shouted distressed. The screens didn't last as long as I thought they would, she thought dismayed. Just need one attack to connect before he can safely Rock Blast.
Houndoom leap forward, letting lose a sea of flames. The Inferno razed down most of the battlefield and blasted Cloyster with ferocious flames. Cloyster was thrown onto his side but it tried to recover by squirting water under itself to flip over. The water jet was too weak and Cloyster was too battered up to do anything else but wait for the burns to put him out of his misery.
Houndoom was about to move in for the final blow when Lorelei returned Cloyster back into her Pokeball.
"I forfeit this match," Lorelei declared. "Cloyster was in no condition to continue. I didn't want him to get hurt than he needed to."
-"Fine by me. There is no fun in battling an opponent that can't put up a fight,"- Houndoom said in his raspy voice.
"There is no one I rather lose than to you," Lorelei said, turning back her microphone. "You were remarkable and made this match a memorable one. I wish you the best of luck for your match with Lance."
"Thank you, Lorelei!" Red grinned.
"If things don't end favorably with Lance then you can still take my position as an Elite Four member," she complacently added before leaving the arena. She held a satisfied grin as she walked through the exit.
A/N: Yeah, it's been a really long time since I last updated this. My longest hiatus for this story. I still don't plan to leave this unfinished especially when I'm so close to ending this. I probably only have new readers getting this far in the story since many people have probably moved on from reading my fanfiction or fanfiction in general. The communities I actively participated in are no longer active. My online friends are also no longer regular users. It's only the new generation of writers on this site to keep it going strong.
I went back to read my story and I see the many errors I've made along the way with such poor planning of character arcs and plot twists. It's strange to continue this and try to clean it up in a neatly fashion that can not only please my readers but also myself. It's a mess of shonen tropes with story lines ripped out of public media. My writing hasn't really improved since I've stopped writing creatively. I won't make major changes to the final script I had planned for this story but it's written in a way to setup for the next story fanfiction in the Pokemon Champion Series. I probably won't go through with the sequel but it will still be a nice send off to this story. Hoenn Region was next (which was going to take place at the same time as the Kanto story) and then follow up with Sinnoh (the real sequel to tie both Hoenn and Kanto together) and finally end it with Johto for the big finale. It was ambitious and doable if I actually kept a consistent schedule. The least I can do finish what I started. Thanks for keeping up with me!
