Turn 2

The King of Thunder! A No-Rules Battle

"Congratulations on passing your entrance exams, and welcome to Battle Academy! Here, we pride ourselves on the finest facilities and faculty, and our alumni have gone on to be world famous fighters..."

Syrus watched the video link of the Slowking Chancellor give an orientation, complete with video clips of the various parts of the campus. It highlighted the school's state of the art PokéCenter, interactive arenas with traps and holograms, and the campus's wide variety of natural terrain that made students of any type feel at home.

"Living here is going to be like being on vacation year round," Syrus grinned, tail wagging unconsciously. "I wonder what part of the island the dorms are on. I hope it's someplace nice -- hey, Jaden?"

The Eevee looked over at his companion. His ears drooped when he saw the Venonat hunched over, snoring into his arms and chewing on his own coat sleeve in his sleep.

"Jaden, wake up, you'll get in trouble!" Syrus shook the taller morph's shoulder, and Jaden lifted his head, antennae bobbing sleepily in front of his eyes.

"Naaa... I swear, Mom, I didn't eat your socks... huh?"

Syrus raised an eyebrow at Jaden and motioned to the video display. "You're missing orientation."

"Oh. Veh, wake me up when it's time for lunch," Jaden mumbled and let his head fall back down.

Syrus frowned. "They're going to be handing out PokéNavs, the instructor will see you sleeping!"

"Snuwah? PokéNavs?" Jaden blinked, looking at Syrus from over his arms.

"They made one for all the new students. They're like little personal hand-held computers that have all our information on them, and maps of the island and class schedules and stuff. I think you can send messages with them, too."

Jaden's antennae perked. "Awesome! Can you play games on them?"

"I don't -- wait, here they come," Syrus quickly straightened up in his seat and folded his hands.

"Syrus Truesdale?" the Tentacruel instructor wondered as he walked past Syrus's seat. The Eevee nodded, and the instructor rummaged around a box with a few of his tentacles. He produced a particular device, and set it on Syrus's desk.

"Jaden Yuki?"

He had fallen back asleep. Syrus nudged him with his elbow.

"Na! Disable!" Jaden snapped awake, fuzz puffing up like a frightened Meowth's tail.

Syrus opened his mouth, but suddenly found himself unable to talk.

"Whoops, I mean... here," Jaden grinned and sank down in his seat self-consciously.

The Tentacruel glowered at them from beneath his hood and rolled his eyes. He found another device, set it on Jaden's desk, and moved on.

"Sorry, bud, that, uh... that should wear off in a few minutes." Jaden scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Syrus just shook his head.

"Hey, looks like everyone's leaving. Let's see what these things can do!" Jaden stood and headed for the door, and Syrus scrambled after him mutely.

---

Outside, Jaden leaned against an elegant sculpture of Articuno in flight, and flipped through the features of his PokéNav. He found his personal profile and read it over.

"Hey, Sy," he called to the Eevee standing on the other side of the sculpture, "I got into the Moltres Red dorm! How bout you?"

"Same," Syrus looked around the feet of the statue to Jaden, smiling faintly. "I guess that explains our coats..."

"This is great!" Jaden hopped over to Syrus's side of the statue and peered over his shoulder, then looked at his own PokéNav for verification. "We even have the same room! Sweet, now I can have a friend for a roomie instead of some random weirdo."

Syrus blinked up at the Venonat and lifted his ears hopefully. "Friend...?"

But Jaden was already distracted. Bastion walked by, sporting a new yellow uniform.

"Hey, you were the guy who kicked ass in that exam, aren't you?" Jaden greeted the Porygon and got a chuckle from him.

"I could say the same of you, though I might chose less vulgar language," Bastion mused, "I'm Bastion."

"Haha, sorry, naa... I'm Jaden!" Jaden lifted the lapel of his new coat proudly, "Me and Sy got into Moltres Red! How 'bout you?"

"Moltres? That hardly seems fair considering your performance in your fight," Bastion frowned in puzzlement, but nodded to the collar of his new uniform. "I was accepted into Zapdos Yellow."

"Wha? Fair? Red is awesome, Moltres has to be like the best dorm!" Jaden struck a pose to show off his new school color proudly, "Goes with my eyes, huh?"

"The hues are indeed congruent, but... Well, I suppose you'll see. I wish you well." Bastion started to turn away.

"I'll be seeing you around the dorms!" Jaden hollered at Bastion's back, but the Porygon shook his head.

"Perhaps, but it's unlikely," the Porygon paused and pointed to the sea, "seeing as your dorm is located on a cliff 2.51 kilometers south from this location."

"Oh. Thanks, man!" Jaden waved to Bastion as he walked on, then turned to Syrus. "Let's go check out our new digs!"

---

"Eeee..." Syrus grimaced and hesitated before stepping into their room. There were not only stains on the ceiling, but cracks running through them, and the cobwebs in the corners had dust on them. The windows were caked with dirt and grime, and a loud, wheezing fan sputtered on and off in one corner.

"I guess this place isn't so great after all," Syrus murmured and entered cautiously, watching his feet.

"It just needs a little TLC, that's all," Jaden walked in brazenly and threw himself into a chair that creaked in protest. "I like it, it's homey!"

"It's kinda dark," Syrus shied away from the corners and stayed near the brightest window, and Jaden jumped out of the chair, knocking it over. He righted it as an afterthought, and peered out the window with Syrus.

"Woah, this is the best dorm!"

Syrus stared up at the Venonat as though he had suddenly evolved. "Huh?"

"Look! Outside!" Jaden grabbed Syrus's shoulders and pointed him so he looked out the window. Jaden yanked aside a ratty curtain and sunlight poured into the cramped room.

"I just see the ocean..."

"Exactly! I bet we have the best view on the island," Jaden grinned, "It'll be so neat to be here at night. Nothin' but the stars and the sea, for miles and miles..."

"Nrrr, close that thing," a grumpy voice caused both of them to jump, and Jaden dropped the curtain.

"Someone else in here?" Jaden wondered. He and Syrus yelped and clung to each other when a huge, ominous form shifted in the top bunk of the bed.

"What, never seen a Snorlax before?" their roommate snorted, sitting up in bed. The posts of the bunk bed groaned.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't know we had another roommate," Jaden laughed and loosened his grip on Syrus, patting the Eevee's back as if that's what he had intended to do all along. "I'm Jaden."

"I'm Syrus," Syrus echoed, scrunching up beneath Jaden's pats.

"Yeah, well, I'm Chumley, and trust me, there's nothin' to get excited about if you're stuck in this dorm," the Snorlax muttered, pulling the blanket back up.

"Why not? Sure, our room needs to be cleaned and fixed up, but it's nothing a little elbow grease won't help," Jaden glanced around the room, "I bet we could make this place totally rad!"

"Living in the dorm is only half of it," Chumley shook his head, somehow glaring at the wall despite his closed eyes, "If you're in Moltres, you might as well be a drop-out."

"Vee... I knew it," Syrus sighed to himself, and Chumley continued.

"The three dorms are divided by rank. Articuno Blue is for older kids that are like, fighting experts, and have already evolved into their final form. Zapdos Yellow is for new students who show they have talent and potential."

He turned his cynical glare down to them. "And Moltres Red is for -- well, let's just say it'd make more sense if it was Magikarp Red! It's for all the low-level, un-evolved students who can't fight their way out of a paper bag. They just keep us around so the other dorms have something for target practice!"

"Really?" Jaden frowned briefly, then squinted up at Chumley. "What're you doin' here then? I thought Snorlax were pretty darn powerful."

Chumley scowled and grumbled under his breath. "Yeah, yeah, well... Rest is a good move and all, but not if you keep accidentally using it in middle of class."

"Haha, I hear ya, I don't even know that one and I sleep through lectures!" Jaden grinned, then looked back down at Syrus, who didn't look nearly as amused. "Wanna go see what else is around here, Sy?"

Syrus nodded absently, and trailed behind Jaden as he trotted back outside.

---

Jaden held his arms out for balance as he walked precariously close to the cliff. The ocean crashed at the rocks below, and Syrus walked beside him, eyes on the ground. He looked up only when the Venonat nearly fell and waved his arms and antennae wildly for balance. Syrus froze, horrified, but Jaden managed to escape the pull of gravity and stumbled away from the edge.

"Sheesh, I can't wait till I have wings," Jaden scowled down at the abyss, looking mildly shaken. It was quickly forgotten and he continued on, even moving back towards the edge.

"Wings?" Syrus caught up with him.

"Yeah, someday I'm gonna be a Venomoth! Then I'll really kick butt! I'll be like, bam, Poison Powder, fssh! Psychic! Psshow!" Jaden stuck his tongue out and made laser noises. "Plus I could fly! But I got a long way to go before that happens."

"Heh, yeah, me too," Syrus frowned, "But I don't think I'll ever be strong enough..."

"Don't think like that! We'll be the very best, like... no one ever was! That's my quest," Jaden held up a fist, letting the wind run through his coat and antennae with dramatic flare, "And I'll face every challenge along the way! With courage and stuff!"

Syrus's eyebrows quirked at his friend, but otherwise the Venonat's words had no impact. "But Chumley said..."

"Hey, you never mind that," Jaden waved his hand dismissively, "No one's gonna use me for target practice, and I'm not gonna let them beat on you, either."

Syrus blinked up at him, and his ears perked fractionally. "Really...?"

"You bet! We're buds, right?" Jaden grinned down at him, "You got all kinds of things to look forward to -- I mean, I'm gonna become a Venomoth and that's that, but you, you have choices! How 'bout a Jolteon?"

"Eee, I dunno," Syrus smiled and looked at his feet, shrugging. "I never really thought about it."

"I know, a Flareon! You could be all fwoosh, crackle! like I was at the test!" Jaden spread his hands and wiggled his fingers, mimicking fire. "Moltres was a fire-type, after all!"

"You're right, just because we're in Moltres doesn't mean we -- Hey... how did you do that, anyway, Jaden?" Syrus lifted his head, but Jaden had already started running towards a building in the distance. "Jaden! Wait up!"

---

"Woah..." Jaden stepped into the arena and looked around the stadium in awe.

The sides and floor of the arena were coated in a smooth, tough material that could resist all the claws, teeth, and elemental forces the students could throw at it. It was marked with dividing lines down the center, and stadium seats surrounded it.

"Aah... Can you smell it, Sy?" Jaden grinned, leaning his head back. His antennae swayed in the still air.

"Smell what?" Syrus blinked, small but sensitive nose twitching. "This place smells like... eigh... burnt plastic, grass, sea water and I don't know what else --"

"Exactly! Hey, nice nose, bud." Jaden looked down at him, nodding to the arena, "That's the smell of battle! This has gotta be a student arena..."

Jaden noticed a control panel to one side and wandered over to it.

"I don't think we're supposed to be here," Syrus mumbled worriedly, ears pinned back with alert anxiety.

"Hey, we're students here, right? We'll probably end up using this place too," Jaden dismissed his concern and pressed a few buttons on the control panel. The floor of the arena shifted under Syrus's feet, and he yelped.

The smooth material of the arena suddenly lurched up into a strange collection of geometric shapes. An incredibly realistic hologram of a jungle flicked into existence, masking blobs and cones as fronds and vine-strewn trees. A soundtrack of tropical buzzes and birdcalls played in the background, and vents spewed out hot, humid air.

"Awesome!" Jaden gaped at the display, then attacked the control panel with enthusiasm, hitting another array of buttons. The humid air became stark and dry, and the jungle faded into a rocky desert. Another button released a small deluge of very real water, and it swirled over the arena floor with a roar.

"Jaden, you shouldn't mess with that!" Syrus grimaced, looking at the doors and watching for witnesses.

"This is like the greatest thing ever!" Jaden nearly giggled with giddiness, and the water drained out of the arena. Trap doors opened in the corners of the arena floor, and tall, thin Tesla coils rose out of the ground. Electricity arced between them, criss-crossing the air. Another switched killed the electricity, and a billowing wall of fire engulfed the edges of the floor instead.

Jaden laughed with all the glee of a kid in a candy store. He had soon hit so many switches and buttons that the arena's holograms and traps started to jumble, until they became an active volcanic landscape coated with snow. Cheerful, misplaced birdsong chirped in the background.

He was only stopped when an angry, steel-clawed hand came down on the panel and hit an overriding off-switch. The holograms disappeared, the soundtrack went silent, and arena flattened back into its former featureless state.

"Aww..." Jaden frowned, then looked up at the large Skarmory behind him without a hint of intimidation. "Hey, who're you?"

"I should be asking you that, Moltres reject," the steel bird glared at him hatefully, and Syrus clung to the back of Jaden's coat. Jaden blinked and looked the Skarmory over.

"Blue coat -- guess that means you're in, uh, what was it? Aerodactyl? Alakazam?" Jaden scratched his head, trying to recall Chumley's words.

"Articuno!" an irate Seviper piped up in behind the Skarmory, slithering over to loom over Jaden and Syrus as well. The Eevee tried to disappear behind Jaden, tucking his tail between his legs.

"You know, the dorm whose private arena you happen to be trespassing in," the Skarmory growled.

The Venonat wasn't impressed. "Hey, I don't see your name --"

The Seviper pointed behind him to a large emblem of Articuno gracing the entrance to the arena.

"...oh. Haha, sorry, didn't see that," Jaden grinned a fanged, sheepish smile, antennae drooping. But he recovered quickly, and they perked back up. "Hey, as long as we're all here, anyone wanna quick throw down on this spiffy high tech arena?"

The Seviper and Skarmory looked at each other incredulously. "Didn't you hear us? We're in Articuno," the Skarmory raised his beak disdainfully. "You're not even worthy of being a smear on our arena floor, but if you're in the mood for some pain --"

There was suddenly a slight, static buzz in the air. Light, barely audible steps came down the metallic stairs leading down to the control panel. The Skarmory and the Seviper suddenly flinched as if caught, and quickly stepped aside. They stood at attention.

"Well, what did you two find?" a low, sneering voice laced with cockiness addressed the poison and steel types.

"This Moltres loser was intruding on our dorm... We figured we'd show him his place, but if you'd rather do it instead," the Skarmory offered quickly.

Jaden blinked. The two large, imposing 'morphs had stepped aside for...

A thin Raichu no taller than he was.

He couldn't help it. Much to the disbelief and horror of everyone else in the room, he started laughing.

The Raichu's fur bristled in indignation. Electricity crackled at his cheeks, and the Skarmory and Seviper stepped back. "Something funny, insect?"

"Oh man, I'm sorry, it's just," Jaden waved his hand and shook his head, regaining his breath and fighting off the last of his laughter. "Nothin', nothin'!"

"Wait a minute, I know who you are," the electric-type narrowed his eyes in recognition, "You're that kid that beat Crowler, aren't you?"

"That's me!" Jaden posed, heedless of the Eevee cowering behind him, "And you are?"

"You don't know!" the Seviper sounded shocked, "That's --"

"Thunder," the Raichu lifted his hand and cut off his companion. "Though a Moltres moron has no place sullying my name by speaking it."

"Oh yeah? Something tells me that's not your real name," Jaden grinned, quirking an eyebrow.

"Ch, that's none of your business," the thunder-mouse scowled dangerously, tail lashing underneath his coat. But then he was struck with an idea, and his features relaxed into a more wicked expression.

"I gotta wonder how a reject like you beat Crowler. Maybe you had some outside assistance...? Venonats can't learn moves like that naturally, after all."

"Hey, you saying I cheated?" Jaden suddenly lost his oblivious cheerfulness, red eyes narrowing slightly.

"You explain how you pulled that Fire Blast off, then," the Raichu's smirk widened, and Jaden balled his claws into fists.

"I -- well, okay, so I'm not exactly sure how I did it, but no one calls Jaden Yuki a cheater!" Jaden held up his fist.

"Oh, did I upset the purple freak? Why don't you prove you're not a cheat, then? Right here, right now," the electric-type stepped back, spreading his arms in invitation. "Go ahead, fry me."

Syrus and the Articuno students exchanged uncertain looks, and gave the two a wide berth. Jaden scowled. "You asked for it, bud!"

The Venonat held his hands out in front of him, lunging forward in an attack pose. "Fire Blast!"

Nothing happened.

Jaden's antennae twitched, and his expression lost some of its ferocity. "C'mon! Fire Blast!"

But Jaden's hands refused to comply. He frowned and wiggled his fingers. "Please? Fire Blast?"

Jaden's would-be victim sneered and folded his arms. "I didn't think so."

"Veeeh..." Jaden looked at his hands in confusion, "I don't know what's going on..."

"Maybe we should see what you can do in a fight with your real moves," the thunder-mouse suggested, a crooked grin going from one golden cheek spot to the other. Behind him, his tail rose like an Arbok threatening to strike.

"Hey, if I can manage to get Crowler, I can get you too!" Jaden insisted, and hefted himself over the rail surrounding the arena. "If you want a battle, you've got one!"

His opponent hopped the rail with considerably more grace than the Venonat and landed silently. "Trust me, a teacher is one thing, but the King of Thunder is something entirely --"

"What's going on here?" A feminine voice interrupted the Raichu and he froze, robbed of his bravado.

Syrus looked up from where he had hid from the older students and blinked. A Gardevoir with long, light green hair and the blue blazer of the Articuno dorm hovered at the entrance. She didn't look pleased.

"Alexis..." the Raichu's ears fell, but he shook his head and mustered a smug expression. "Are you going to warn me about holding unofficial fights again?"

Alexis folded her arms. "I was going to come get you because the welcome party at the Articuno dorm started, but hey, if you've got better things to do. I'm sure Crowler will understand... Chazz."

He stiffened as if struck. His two friends grimaced.

"Ch... fine," Chazz muttered under his breath and exited the arena. His lackeys trailed after him. He paused at the doorway and looked back over his shoulder. "This isn't over, insect!"

When they were gone, Jaden glanced over at the Gardevoir and tried to suppress a grin. "You're kidding me. Chazz?"

Alexis allowed herself a small chuckle and nodded. "There's a reason he goes around calling himself Thunder."

"Oh man," Jaden laughed to himself, "I feel kinda sorry for him now."

"You're Jaden, aren't you?" Alexis wondered, and the Venonat nodded eagerly.

"Jaden Yuki, next king of the fight! The battle master! Ruler of the ring!" he twirled through a series of dramatic stances, then glanced over at a section of seats. "Hey, I think you can come out of hiding now, Sy."

A pair of long brown ears emerged from behind a chair, and Syrus waved shyly. He stumbled to his feet and walked to Jaden's side.

"I'm Alexis Rhodes. Don't worry, not all Articunos are like those jerks," she nodded toward the retreating forms of Chazz and his friends. "But speaking of parties, I bet the Moltres welcome dinner is starting too. You guys should get going before anyone notices you missing."

"I'm missing dinner!" Jaden suddenly looked horrified, and sped towards the exit. As an after thought, he turned around, running in place. "See you later, Alexis! Thanks!"

The Gardevoir waved back with one of her ribbon-like arms, and Syrus scrambled after him.

---

While the other dorms dined on buttered lobster and sparkling cider, the students at Moltres Red faced fish rolls and strangely colored soups of dubious edibility.

Syrus pushed what he could only hope was a dumpling around with his spoon, mulling over the day's events. The fact he could not only clearly smell the acrid ingredients in his meal, but in everyone's meals did nothing to whet his appetite.

"You're lucky you don't have a nose, Jaden," he sighed, but his only response was a cacophony of over-enthusiastic chomps and gulps. The Eevee lifted his head, and made a face when he saw Jaden eagerly alternating between downing his soup and munching on unidentifiable appetizers.

"How can you eat this stuff?" Syrus wondered, forced to look away.

Jaden blinked and paused in his voracious eating. "What are you talking about? This is the best thing I've had in a long time!"

"First time I've seen that reaction to Moltres food," Chumley muttered from his side of the table, pushing his plate away.

"Well, if you guys aren't gonna eat, mind if I help myself?" Jaden flashed them a charming, if not vampire-esque grin and inched toward their plates.

Syrus just shook his head and nudged his dinner toward the Bug-type. "Help yourself."

"You guys are the greatest!" Jaden gushed briefly, before he dove into Syrus's meal.

A Pokémon sitting on a desk at the forefront of the dining-dash-lecture hall stretched and uncurled itself. The chubby Meowth yawned at the students.

"Not even our headmaster bothered to show up at the welcome party," Syrus frowned, leaning his elbows on the table. "I can't really blame him..."

But a tall Persian-morph chose that moment to step into the room, smiling at the students and nodding his head in greeting.

"Welcome to Moltres Red. I am your headmaster, Dr. Banner, nya," Banner spoke with a faint, friendly accent. He set his hand on the Meowth, scratching it behind its ear. "And as long as we're having introductions, this is Pharaoh. He is my assistant, who helps me keep things in line around here. When I am not around, he is in charge! You should listen to him, he has quite a Fury Swipe attack."

That got a quiet chuckle out of the room, and Banner's whiskered smile widened. "I would like to get to know each and every one of you. Don't listen much to what the other dorms say of Moltres, nyaa. Where you are right now does not matter, because I will do what I can to help all of you get to the top."

Syrus smiled. He already liked the headmaster. He glanced over at Jaden, and was shocked to see the Venonat still eating greedily and not listening to their teacher. He nudged Jaden under the table with his foot.

"Hmm?" Jaden set his bowl down and looked around innocently. Syrus jerked his head in Dr. Banner's direction.

"Do any of you have any questions?" Banner folded his hands and leaned against his desk casually.

"I do!" Jaden's hand shot up, and he waved to draw attention to himself, "When do we get seconds?"

Syrus couldn't believe his ears. "Jaden!"

But Banner just laughed softly, "Nyaaa, at least some of you have an appetite. It is okay, eat up. This is a party, after all!"

---

"Naaa... I shouldn't need to eat for a week," Jaden murmured and leaned against the wall of their dorm room, humming contentedly.

"You did eat enough for at least six people," Syrus agreed, and poured some green tea into mugs. "You guys want tea?"

"Ooh, I do!" Jaden started to sit up quickly, but grimaced and decided to stay put so he didn't agitate his overstuffed stomach.

Syrus sat on the floor beside him and handed him a mug, then looked up at the top bunk of the bed. "What about you, Chumley?"

But all he heard was a soft snore. Syrus shrugged and sipped his tea.

"I hope the rest of our teachers are as nice as Dr. Banner," the Eevee spoke quietly and stared at the door to their room. "I wonder what classes we have, anyway..."

"I bet our PokéNavs know," Jaden rummaged around in his coat pockets and produced his, hitting the buttons with his thumb until he found a list. "Type Dynamics 101, Fighting and Phys Ed, Stat-Boosters and Nutrition, aw man, we still have to take Math..."

"Well, it'd be silly to go to school and skip all of that," Syrus smiled slightly and looked at his own schedule. "I've got Reading and Literature after lunch, with... Dr. Crowler," his ears drooped in dread.

"Hey, at least we can suffer through it together," Jaden grinned and pointed to that class on his own schedule, then blinked when his PokéNav started ringing. "Huh?"

"I think you have a message," Syrus pressed a button on Jaden's Nav and the familiar face of a certain Raichu popped onto the screen.

"Don't think you're off the hook, insect," Chazz's recorded message leered at them, "You, me, midnight at the Articuno Blue arena. Come and cheat all you want -- rules won't apply in this fight. Unless, of course, you're too scared to face the King of Thunder!"

The message faded, and Jaden laughed, shaking his head. "Can you believe this guy, Sy? Who the heck calls themselves somethin' like that? Oh, well, I bet it'll be fun!"

"Don't tell me you're actually considering fighting him," Syrus looked up at him, unbelieving, "I'm pretty certain that's against the rules..."

"There's only one rule that really matters, bud. When someone challenges you, you gotta take them on! That's all there is to it," Jaden closed his PokéNav and put it back in his pocket, then checked the clock.

The Venonat stood, his full stomach forgotten. "Midnight's not too long from now, and that arena is across the island. We better get going. Wouldn't wanna keep ol' Sparky waiting, huh?"

"This isn't a good idea," Syrus whimpered, but followed Jaden out the door. "He's a grade ahead of us and in the top dorm! He seems pretty confident --"

"Positive thinking, Sy," Jaden stepped out into the night air, eyeing the rest of the island, "You know what they say -- the bigger their egos, the more it hurts them when you kick their butt!"

"I don't think that's how it goes..." But Syrus's words went unheeded, and he resigned himself to following Jaden into the night.

---

"Well, looks like the bug decided to show up," Chazz stood in the arena, arms folded, and his dark grey eyes followed Jaden and Syrus as they entered the building. "Shame I forgot my fly-swatter back at my dorm room."

"Just as well, 'cause it'll take a lot more than a fly-swatter to defeat me!" Jaden grinned and jumped in front of his opponent, far too excited to let the Raichu's insults get to him. Syrus was once again stuck in the stands with Chazz's two large friends, and he shied away from their disdainful glares.

"I hope not. It'd be a waste of my time to come out here and defeat you in one turn," Chazz held out his hand, "So let's both agree to fight our best, eh?"

Jaden nodded eagerly and reached out, shaking Chazz's hand. "You got it --"

Chazz's smirk became a victorious sneer. "Thundershock!"

A choked sound of surprise came from Jaden as the sudden jolt of electricity raced up his arm. He tried to pull away, but the painful shock had seized his muscles and made his arm numb and useless. "H-hey!"

"I told you this would be a no-rules fight!" Chazz laughed acidly and wrenched his hand out of Jaden's paralyzed grasp, leaping out of range before the Venonat could counter attack.

Jaden glowered at the Electric-type and held his arm, leaning forward and charging Chazz, ready to use the same Tackle attack that had knocked Crowler to the floor. But the tips of the Raichu feet only touched the ground briefly before the launched him back into the air.

Jaden skidded to a stop and looked around for his vanished target. "Where'd he go?"

"Don't suppose you could expect a Moltres slacker--" Chazz's voice suddenly hissed at his back, but when Jaden spun around, he saw only a streak of blue and yellow.

"--to recognize Agility," Chazz finished, and Jaden managed to whirl around quickly enough to spot the Raichu hunched like a gargoyle on one of the Tesla coils Jaden's tampering had brought onto the arena earlier.

"Hey, now, did you want to fight or play tag?" Jaden laughed and brought his hand up, challenging Chazz with a come-hither motion.

"I'm just getting warmed up," Chazz stood, long brown feet balancing on the coil skillfully. He held one arm forward, and a huge, blinding arc of electricity suddenly dispersed into the air over the arena.

"Nice aim, that didn't even hit -- ow," Jaden tried to blink the burning imprint of the arc out of his eyes.

"You don't even know Flash when you see it," Chazz laughed, his voice suddenly much closer, "Or don't see it, I should say."

Jaden stumbled, trying to pinpoint the direction of the Raichu's snickering, when he felt a long, thin tail suddenly loop around his ankles. A strong jerk yanked Jaden off his feet and sent him tumbling.

"Now I know that one wasn't a real move!" Jaden huffed, breath knocked out of him. He squinted, still trying to regain his vision.

"No rules means no rules, loser," Jaden was just able to make out a blurry blue-coated form looming over him.

"Hey, that's not fair!" Syrus's voice cried from the stands.

"Want to make this two against one, Eevee? That fair enough for you?" Chazz offered, then turned back to Jaden. "Cha, I haven't even really attacked you and you're already on the floor. Know your place now, insect?"

"That was low even for you, Chazz," a familiar female voice came from the stairs, and Jaden lifted his head. Alexis stood with her arms folded disapprovingly. "If you're so great, you should be able to win with legitimate moves."

"Ch, I could beat him with any one of my attacks! I'm just toying with him..." Chazz muttered under his breath, but then lifted his head proudly, "And I'm honored you've come to watch me mop the floor with this gnat."

"I came because I had a feeling you two were getting into trouble," the Psychic type rose an eyebrow, "Or did Chazz not tell you that unmonitored fights are grounds for expulsion, Jaden?"

"He knew what he was agreeing to," Chazz snorted, turning to face Alexis. "Don't tell me you're going to snitch --"

"Hiiiiiyah!" Jaden used the chance to launch himself at Chazz's prone back, easily shoving the lightweight Raichu down and pinning him to the ground. "You're not the only one who can fight dirty!"

"Ra!" Chazz snarled, glaring hatefully at the Venonat over his shoulder, "You're going to regret that..."

The Raichu's Static ability kicked in, and Jaden let out an unmanly yipe, falling away from his electrified opponent. An electric charge puffed out Jaden's fuzz and danced between his antennae like a Jacob's ladder. It paralyzed him completely, rendering him immobile except for a few helpless twitches.

"No more playing around," Chazz got back to his feet and straightened out his coat. His eyes narrowed into a dangerous glare, and there was a soft chink as the lighting-bolt tip of his whip-like tail dug itself into the floor of the arena.

"Ooh, that Moltres moron is gonna get it now," the Skarmory snickered in his seat, and the Seviper joined him with a hissing, giddy chuckle.

Alexis's face fell, and she floated further down the stairs. "Chazz, don't, he's just --"

"No one gets away with that," the Raichu hissed, and he leaned back on his tail. His feet started to leave the ground. "Especially not an insect!"

Outside, distant thunder rumbled.

Syrus's ears fell, and he cowered as far down in his seat as he could while still watching the arena.

"What... what the heck kinda pose is that?" Jaden grimaced and managed to open one eye, suffering through the paralyzing aftershocks with as much dignity as possible. The hovering Raichu ground his teeth, clenching his fists. Sparks crackled by the spots on either side of his snarl.

"THUND--"

But he never got to finish his Thunder attack. Jaden snapped out of the paralysis at the last moment and lunged forward, pushing Chazz's tail out from under him. The Raichu swayed wildly and fell. His tail was pried out of the ground, and long fangs dug themselves into the bolt-shaped tip.

"Raiiii!" It was Chazz's turn to let out a yelp which brought his masculinity into question. He hit the floor and tried to scramble away, but Jaden had bit down hard and squared his shoulders.

"Jaden! That's not..." Alexis furrowed her brow, "Never mind, you two deserve each other."

Even Syrus let out a disappointed sigh.

"Ey, 'ee 'tarted it!" Jaden defended himself muffedly around a mouthful of Raichu tail, whose owner was still trying to tug it free. The Venonat grinned at the corners of his mouth and started to scoot backwards, dragging Chazz with him.

"That's it!" Chazz hissed and rolled onto his back, facing Jaden and holding up both fists. Angry flares of electricity crackled around them. "Shock--"

In the instant before Chazz's attack was launched, Jaden hit the edge of the arena, scanned the wall behind him, and managed to locate an electric socket. He spat out the Raichu's tail and shoved the tip of it into the open socket.

"--wave!" Chazz's eyes widened, but he had no time to react. The current from the socket lit up his form, his own inherent current combining with Battle Academy's power system and creating a feedback loop. "Chaaaa!"

The explosion of amperage didn't hurt him, but it the overload of electricity temporarily stupefied him. It also made for one heck of a light show, sparks and bolts flying from both the Raichu and the socket. The overhead lights flickered and dimmed before blacking out completely.

"Uh oh," Chazz's companions looked around, "We're gonna get busted!"

They ran off, leaving their so-called friend to thrash and throw flickering yellow lights over the darkened room. Alexis grimaced and floated over the arena. "We'd better get out of here, too. Someone had to have noticed that, Jaden."

"Hahah, whoops," Jaden scrunched up meekly, but got to his feet. He looked down at the spazzing electric-type and frowned guiltily, trying to figure out how to get him free. "Uh, sorry, I didn't think it was going to do that --"

Alexis sighed and held out the end of her arm. It uncurled and pointed at the socket, and she flicked it to one side with a brief waving motion. Chazz's tail was pulled free by unseen forces, and the high voltage flow was finally interrupted. The Raichu fell to the floor limply and stared up at the ceiling with a strange wide-eyed expression, little arcs of electricity still traveling over his tail and the tips of his drooped ears. Chazz wheezed and tried to catch his breath.

Jaden stood and reached down to help his opponent to his feet, but Alexis drifted to his side and motioned for him to stop. "Don't touch him, he's going to be a walking livewire for the next few hours or so."

Syrus lifted his large ears at a sound, then whimpered. "Guys, someone's coming --"

"We can't just leave him here," Jaden scratched the back of his head, and Alexis sighed. She made another motion, and Chazz was hefted to his feet by something other than his own power. Her telekinetic powers righted him, and he slumped when he stood, tail dragging on the ground behind him.

"I'll take him back to our dorm. You guys should make yourself scarce," Alexis started toward the exit.

"Chaa... fight... fight's not over," Chazz mumbled, lifting his head, "I can still --"

Alexis passed the end of her arm over his eyes and he suddenly slumped further over, snoring quietly. She dragged the sleeping Raichu in telekinetic tow behind her.

Jaden drummed the tips of his claws together and frowned. Alexis paused and glanced back at him, shaking her head. "Don't look so guilty. Trust me, he's done this to himself before. He'll be fine."

"Well, okay," Jaden started toward another exit, "Thanks, Alexis, you're a life saver!"

The Gardevoir just shook her head and waved, and left with her unconscious companion hovering behind her.

"We better get out of here too, Sy," Jaden glanced around the dark room, and finally found the Eevee waving his hands in front of him and walking towards a wall. "Sy?"

"Jaden, are you over there?" The Eevee turned to his direction, but was squinting in the dark.

"Come on, buddy," the Venonat walked to his side, "Can't see in the dark?"

"No," Syrus frowned, "I can barely see in the daytime, much less at night."

An irritated voice sounded at the entrance. "Somebody in here?"

Jaden stiffened and leaned down with his back to Syrus, whispering, "Here, grab on."

Syrus looked at Jaden's dark outline in the dark, confused, until the Venonat helped the Eevee onto his back. He then headed out the exit as quickly and quietly as possible.

The patrolling guard scratched his head, and for a moment thought he saw a shadow with both antennae and a long fluffy tail, but he dismissed it.