Chapter 14- Meet John! Lord of the Fighting Waters!
A week went by and Diane decided to stop by the game shop.
When she finally got there and the door opened with a faint chiming sound, she discovered a tournament in session. In the back a boy with black hair and a home-made version of the series 1 Ash Ketchum costume who looked to be about five years old was battling a markedly-older man with brown, tightly-curled hair wearing a blue-plaid shirt and somewhat-worn blue jeans. The boy, surprisingly, was winning, his Swampert doing terrible to his opponent's Pokemon.
But what was his opponent?
The older man's partner was a large, pink, hippopotamus-like beast standing on it's hind legs. Its forelimbs ended in boxing gloves, which it was using to defend itself. The beast had half-circle eyes and huge, comical teeth. Unlike its living inspiration, the Pokemon's tail was long, ending in a mallet.
Its trainer narrowed his eyes.
"NOW! KIKAPOTIMUS! USE CROSS CHOP! SPECIAL ABILITY! RUBBERY GIRTH!"
The Kikapotimus glowed oddly and, raising its gloves, slammed them into ether side of the Swampert's neck. The salamander Pokemon collapsed, fainted. The store clerk raised an arm.
"And the winner is John! Congratulations!"
"No fair!"
The little kid's eyes filled with tears as he knelt by his fallen Pokemon. John knelt down, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"You did good! I think if you keep up your training, you'll beat me next time we meet!"
The kid sniffed. "You really think so?"
"Yeah!"
The kid smiled, recalling his Swampert. John laughed warmly. Diane grinned and ran over.
"Johnny! I didn't know you played Beginnings!"
The man stood up, still smiling.
"I didn't know you played ether! What starter did you choose?"
Diane grabbed a Pokeball from her pocket and released Ryu. John blinked, amazed.
"You won a mini-Legendary! That's great!"
Diane laughed. "What did you choose?"
John whistled and the Kikapotimus' ears twitched, turning its huge head to look at its trainer.
"I started with Hippunch and, with a little work, I evolved him!"
Ryu chirped, twirling around the hippo-Pokemon's stumpy legs. The brute snorted happily.
"Kikopo! Kik!"
"Ra!"
The store clerk walked over.
"Diane, I didn't know you knew John!"
Diane laughed. "He's my neibor! I grew up living next to him!"
The clerk blinked. "Well, John is our current store champion! He won the Tuesday tournament, as well as today's. Heck, he's only used one Pokemon and one attack!"
John nodded. "Cross chop, combined with Kikapotimus' special Rubbery Girth. One hit kill." He looked thoughtful for a minute. "What's Raikaza's special ability?"
Diane blushed. "I don't know yet."
John grinned. "I know the best way to find out! Let's battle!"