Ch. 12
No Holds Barred
Pokemon is the property of its respective owners
Meanwhile in a field of grass….
"Stephanie leaf blade!" Karen shouted as the haughty snake of the grass neared its opponent and gave him an arrogant smirk as her tail shined bright green. A loud and intimidating shing could be heard as Stephanie's tail sharpened as her face turned into a serious posture as she brought her tail crashing down on her foe. Her opponent cackled wickedly as he caught her tail between his hands while staring at the Regal Pokemon. Instead of looking concerned, Karen's face remained cool and composed as she nodded at Stephanie.
Her opponent's eyes widened in shock for a brief second before he waved his hand at his pokemon, hoping it would find the necessary speed to dodge, but his efforts were in vain as the laughing pokemon was struck point-blank with a solar powered laser from his foe. He was completely enveloped in the blast all the while snickering madly while the two trainers looked on apathetically.
When the attack was finally over, Stephanie's opponent was nowhere to be seen, but the sound of tired laughter caused Stephanie towards the sky. Gengar, while still covered with cuts and bruises, still managed short snickers here and there as it slowly levitated towards the ground while nursing its battered left arm. While Gengar still managed to stop Stephanie's attack, the force put behind still rattled his arm until he could no longer feel it.
"Alright Karen, you win, for now," Hope said eerily as the former Unovan champion started applying some homemade medicine causing Gengar to growl in pain.
"(Baby,)" Stephanie muttered under her breathe until she gave a surprised yelp of pain when Karen started applying the medicine on her.
"So I've been meaning to ask, what exactly is in this medicine that you give our partners after each sparring session? Some sort of concoction of berries and various other herbs you find in your nature walk or is it combination of the various chemicals in the potions that the pokemarts sell?" Hope asked thoughtfully while Karen gave him a teasing look that told him "That's for me to know and you to find out later."
Hope chuckled lowly and said "fair enough" as Gengar materialized into his shadow once again, chortling energetically.
"So out of three matches we fought I won all of them, but man, you sure are tough opponent! You're one of the few trainers who I actually had to give it my all against!" Karen praised Hope as who just smiled in response.
"So who were the others?" Hope asked.
"Well I won't tell you all of them, but I will give you a hint for one of them. She is the champion of the region that Dmitri, Maris, and Stephanie are traveling in," Karen stated as Hope's eyes rose before it clicked for him.
"Oh, her," Hope said; confirming his assumption of who she as talking about.
"Yeah, she's an old friend of mine from waaay back when we were just teenagers in our pokemon journeys and I requested a little favor from her," Karen told Hope who, while looking neutral, was curious of what sort of favor she asked.
"Since you're dying inside from the urge of wanting to know I told her to battle my son as a way of testing Dmitri if she ever runs into him," Karen said while shrugging her shoulders.
"Why? We've already tested him and-, oh I see what you're trying to do. You want to see how strong he's gotten so that way you can adjust your training accordingly," Hope replied while giving Karen an accusing look.
"You certainly aren't making it easy for him, but this is a smart choice. If he turns out better than expected, then you'll have to intensify your training to make sure Dmitri and Maris don't even come close to closing the gap in power," Hope stated while glaring at Karen.
"Oh don't give me that look!" Karen shouted indignantly while Stephanie snorted and rested her head on the ground.
Meanwhile…
"Here you are young man. You're Shinx's health has been fully restored!" Nurse Joy exclaimed cheerfully while handing Shinx over to Dmitri.
"Thank you Nurse Joy," Dmitri told her gratefully while she bowed respectfully.
"We hope to see you again!" Nurse Joy said happily which caused Maris, who had been silent the entire time, to stare at the esteemed nurse with a mix of disgust and shock.
"(We hope to see you again?! The hell is that supposed to mean you sadistic creep?!)" Maris snarled furiously at Nurse Joy while the terrified nurse jumped back in fright.
Dmitri patted Maris on the back to ease her rage while Shinx, who was now walking on the floor, looked up at Maris in confusion.
"Maris, please be nice, she just means that in the kindest way possible," Dmitri assured Maris who stared at him incredulously.
"(How can you possibly believe what she just said is nice, you know what? Forget it! Let's just go!)" Maris growled in frustration as she stomped towards the door while bystanding trainers gave the trio odd looks.
Exiting the Pokemon Center and heading towards the edge of town where the tall grass was, Dmitri knelt down and patted it on the head.
"Well Shinx, I guess this is goodbye now since your family probably is worried sick about you," Dmitri told Shinx with a smile on his face while Shinx just shook its head and jumped into his arms; knocking him onto his butt.
"(NO! Let me come with you, please! My family left me to die in the wild and you're one of the few beings to ever show me such kindness!") Shinx cried out as it buried its face in his chest.
"Wait…you're family just…left you?" Dmitri asked horrified while Maris's body tensed and clenched her fists.
"(I think I remember Catherine telling Luka about pokemon in the Sinnoh Region and I just caught little tid bits of it. I thinks she said something about how Shinx and their evolutionary line live like the Spartans and just like the Spartans, the newly born babies are inspected and any signs of weakness or deficiency they're left to die,)" Maris told Dmitri glumly.
"Is this true Shinx?" Dmitri asked hopefully that it wasn't the case.
"(Yes it is! My family just turned their backs on me and even attacked me when I tried to go with them. That's how I ended up with that evil human girl and she further reminded me of my weakness every time I lost, like today,)" Shinx responded while Dmitri picked up Shinx and stood up.
"We would be glad to have you as part of our team," Dmitri said while Maris just gave Shinx a thumbs-up.
"First though we need to get poke-"
"I finally caught up to you, you little turd!" an enraged voice screeched from behind the trio as they turned their heads to see who it was.
Meanwhile…
"Are we there yet Delia?" Catherine asked Delia tiredly as she was getting exhausted from having to carry Dmitri's folded up tent and sleeping bag.
"No, and if you ask me that one more time I won't talk to you for the rest of the time until we reach Jubilife City," Delia stated apathetically while never even looking at Catherine.
Suddenly, the bushes near Delia started to rustle and two exhausted figures jumped out of the bush, one of them who Delia, Catherine, and Luka recognized.
"Oh hey, you're that little kid who cried after Maris beat your Rattata without even touching it and you brought a friend," Catherine said enthusiastically.
"Yeah I did, and now my big brother is going to beat you bullies up!" the little boy cried out.
"Listen kid, you instigated a pokemon battle knowing full well that either side's pokemon could have gotten hurt and when my friend won you say we've bullied you?" Delia stated incredulously while the assumed big brother stepped forward.
"I've heard enough from the likes of you! Go Poliwrath!" the big brother of the little boy yelled as he threw a pokeball a few feet where Delia was standing, causing her to jump back.
"Why should either of us battle you?" Delia asked stoically while the older boy sneered.
"If you don't battle me, I'll tell everyone I know about the cowardly trainers who need to pick on beginning trainers to get a fair fight," the big brother haughtily told Delia while she just rolled her eyes.
"Fine, tell people whatever you want," Delia told him nonchalantly as she walked past the dumbfounded trio.
"Wha-What?! If you walk away, you know what I'm going to do!" the older boy yelled at Delia who continued to walk past them with Catherine and Luka following suit with astonished faces.
Delia stopped walking and turned her head towards the boy; glowering at him ferociously.
"I DON'T CARE what you tell other people! I know who I am and I can tell you for certain that I'm no coward, or a bully, or a trainer who needs to pick on weaker trainers to get a fair fight! I'm Delia Shiina, no more, no less!" Delia shouted proudly as she resumed walking towards Jubilife City with her traveling companions while the older boy shouted a multitude of curses and slander at her.
Meanwhile…
Dmitri's face took on a shocked expression when he saw who it was while Shinx tried to bury itself deeper in Dmitri's arm. Maris, however, gritted her teeth and clenched her fists when she saw who it was.
"You're that girl who was abusing Shinx," Dmitri said as he covered Shinx with his other arm.
"The names Alice and don't you forget it you little sh**! After your douchebag of a pokemon ambushed me and left me lying on the ground on disgrace I knew I had to find the guy who did this to regain my pride!" Alice seethed angrily as she got right in Dmitri's face, hoping that he would back down, but he didn't.
"You can't lose what you never had Alice," Dmitri retorted as Alice's eyebrows rose in shock for a brief second before she brought her hand back and punched him in the face.
At least she attempted to as Dmitri ducked under the blow and backpedaled away from the enraged trainer who he could now fully analyze. She had chocolate brown hair, like Catherine, and her eyes were blue like Catherine's, but unlike the seemingly calm ocean that Catherine's eyes symbolized, Alice's eyes seemed like a unstoppable tidal wave, ready to cripple and drown all those who stood in her way.
"It can't be; there's no way someone like Catherine is related to someone like her!" Dmitri thought unbelievingly, hoping it wasn't true.
"Tell me! Are you in any way related to Catherine Wayne?" Dmitri asked Alice who burst into a fit of laughter while crossing her arms.
"Unfortunately, I am. Ugh, it's such an embarrassment to be related to that sentimental fool who "wants to make sure our family's fortune is in safe hands," Alice said, mocking her little sister while Dmitri just glared at her.
"Don't insult my friends Alice. I'm glad she's a "sentimental fool" as you like to call her because at least she actually cares for her family and their financial future!" Dmitri shouted at the heiress which caused her to just snicker dangerously as her hand went to a pokeball on her belt.
"Whenever I hear brave hearts give one of their sentimental speeches I just can't help but want to beat them and their pokemon to an unrecognizable bloody pulp. Well, today's no different, Infernape go!" Alice cried out while wearing an evil smirk on her face.
As the white light materialized, Dmitri saw a strange pokemon with crown of fire on its head while it had golden plates on its kneecaps, shoulders, and wrists. Its feet and chest were colored a ghostly white and when the Flame Pokemon saw Maris its crown fire burned more intensely causing Dmitri and Maris to feel the temperature skyrocket.
"Maris, we've never gone up against an opponent who…wanted our blood spilt, so I want you to be extra careful okay?" Dmitri told his trusted friend worriedly as he didn't want her to get seriously injured, or worse.
Maris just nodded and dropped into a fighting stance while Alice seemed rather amused at this.
"Heh heh…HA HA HA! You think martial arts will save you? Skill and finesse are only minor necessities to have in a fighter; brute strength and speed are all that matter in a pokemon battle!" Alice yelled arrogantly while Dmitri narrowed his eyes at her.
"You're wrong! Skill, finesse, strength, and speed are all equally important!" Dmitri yelled angrily while Alice once again chuckled evilly.
"Well go on then, make this inheritor of the entire Wayne family fortune a believer then!" Alice goaded Dmitri while Maris's brow twitched in frustration and rage.
"Maris force palm!" Dmitri shouted.
"(With pleasure!)" Maris said, all too eager to put Alice in her place.
Maris started to growl lowly as a red aura surrounded her body as the ground started to shake slightly from her powering up. Maris gave an evil glare at Infernape before she thrust both of her hands forward with a powerful chi blast coming out of her palms. Infernape pounded his chest like a gorilla before began spinning like a wheel with scorching flames covering him.
Giving out a war cry, it charged at Maris's attack head on and plowed right through it; terrifying Dmitri and Maris to the core. Infernape's path of destruction didn't stop there though as the fire wheel of death collided directly in Maris's chest causing her to howl in agony as the burning flames torched her skin and sent her flying through the air.
"Infernape, fire blast!" Alice said to her pokemon excitedly at the prospect of a cooked foe.
"Maris defend!" Dmitri cried out.
Maris regained her senses after temporarily blacking out and just barely, managed to hear what Dmitri commanded. Crossing her arms like an x over her chest, she braced herself for the attack. The blast of fire collided with Maris as she growled in pain and strained to keep it from making contact with her body. With a herculean effort, she kept the blast of hot flames away from her with one hand while she drew back her other hand. Giving out a war cry, she punched the blast of fire; sending it sailing through the sky causing it to collide with the tress in the forest.
Maris landed on the ground harshly as she pulled herself onto one knee until a sharp, powerful kick collided with her chin causing her head to snap back and another crushing blow made contact right in her gut causing her to spit out a glob of blood and the wind to get knocked out of her. Maris fell limp in her opponent's arms while Infernape smiled and grabbed the back of her head roughly which caused Maris to scream in pain.
"No stop! I forfeit!" Dmitri cried out desperately hoping his opponent would see reason.
"Hah, no way boy. You took my pride and now I'm going to do the same thing to you!" Alice said apathetically as she watched her pokemon brutally punch Maris with a flame engulfed fist again and again in the face repeatedly.
Dmitri felt the tears coming to his eyes as he saw a black eye forming on her face and saw blood running down her mouth and nose. The injuries didn't stop there as the started to gain a burn mark on her face and her other eye started to swell up a bit. Just as Infernape was about to land another punch, Maris caught his fist in her palm and glared at him. Infernape eyes widened in shock before her recovered and threw another punch at Maris, but it too was caught in the palm of her paw.
Maris spat out some blood that was forming in her mouth and squeezed hard on Infernape's paws causing him to growl in pain and throw his head back.
"(My turn,)" Maris whispered in a low, playful voice as she brought her knee up into Infernape's gut causing him to nearly double over in pain, but he remained standing due to Maris's grip on his hands.
This time it was Alice who was watching the battle with a shocked expression as Maris brought her knee up into Infernape's solar plexus again and again causing the flame pokemon to gasp in pain. Every time Infernape would attempt to stand up Maris would headbutt him causing him to throw his head back which in turn would lead to Maris kneeing him in the gut forcefully.
Finally, Infernape was brought to his knees which Maris took advantage of and struck her knee into Infernape's chin with a sickening crack causing Dmitri and Shinx to cringe. Maris finally let go of Infernape as it cried in pain at its broken jaw until Maris raised one of her legs and kicked him right in the face causing him to go flying back to his trainer's feet.
"You'd better get up now if you know what's good for ya! We're not losing to this piece of sh** not now, not ever!" Alice roared ferociously as Infernape struggled to his feet, all the while cradling his chin.
"Alice, it's over. Take Infernape to the Pokemon Center and get him healed. He's in no condition to fight," Dmitri said calmly to Alice who laughed rudely at what he said.
"Scared? I thought so! You can't compare to me and my power as a pokemon trainer! I'm Alice Wayne! I'm invincible!" Alice arrogantly shouted to the sky while Maris and Dmitri looked on with a serious expression.
"Infernape, finish these bugs off with blast burn! I don't want to see single ash of them left after they're burned to cinders!" Alice commanded as her pokemon grinned and started charging up fire for its ultimate attack.
"WHAT?!" Dmitri, Maris, and Shinx shouted simultaneously.
"FIRE!" Alice yelled as Maris narrowed her eyes at Alice as Infernape formed a giant ball of fire in its mouth and fired it at the hapless trio.
The cannon like fire of Infernape's attack grew to the size of a meteor with a massive tail of flames behind it; causing Dmitri's and Shinx's eyes to widen in terror while Maris looked on with a determined expression.
"Damn it all! I haven't completely mastered this technique, but we'll all be dead if I don't use it!" Maris pondered as she grabbed Dmitri and jumped up high in the air towards the sadistic Infernape.
Maris leaped over the meteor like attack and extended her foot just like she would with a Jump Kick. Infernape thought the blast consumed his foes and let down his guard pounding his chest in victory. That is until Maris's foot made contact with his skull with so much force that he was flung into the many trees that surrounded the battlefield causing Alice's face to contort into rage.
"Woah, Maris you learned High Jump Kick," Dmitri said speechless.
Maris grumbled and set down Dmitri and collapsed onto her stomach just as her opponent shrieked in anger and jumped back onto the battle; narrowing its eyes at Maris.
"You will not take my pride again! Infernape finish that sea otter off!" Alice demanded as Infernape limped over to Maris with a flame covered fist, but this one seemed to burn more intensely and ferociously.
Dmitri set down Shinx and stepped in front of Infernape with his arms outstretched; glaring defiantly at Infernape.
"Please Infernape; you don't need to do this. Go back to your trainer and walk away from this fight," Dmitri pleaded with the Flame Pokemon who sneered at Dmitri's offer.
"(Begging for your life will get you nowhere,)" Infernape growled as the Flame Pokemon roundhouse kicked Dmitri in the ribs with an audible crack sending him tumbling to the ground while clutching his sides in agony. Dmitri spat up blood as Infernape kicked him out of the way and lay motionless on the floor.
Seeing Infernape limping over to Maris through his blurry vision, Dmitri pulled himself to his feet and weakly pushed Infernape, hoping to get him away from his best friend. Infernape merely rolled his eyes and chopped Dmitri in the back of the neck, causing him to black out and collapse in front of Maris. Maris's eyes widened in shock before she stared up at Infernape and gritted her teeth in frustration and let a single tear drop down her face. She then gripped some dirt in her paws and banged her head down on the ground in frustration.
"You can hurt me, insult me, beat me to near death, but the moment you touch one of my friend's you've taken it too far! I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO STAAAAND! Maris roared with renewed vigor as she sprung up onto her feet and head butted Infernape in the chin causing him to howl in pain and backpedal away from Maris.
With a cry of anger, she rushed Infernape and threw out a flurry of kicks, punches, knees, and elbow strikes against her disoriented foe. She ended her brutal combo with an uppercut that struck so hard it caused Infernape to jump up in the air slightly before Maris yanked his tail brutally and slammed his face onto the unforgiving ground. Maris then grabbed the back of his head and yanked it so that they were staring at each other.
They only stared at each other for a brief second before Maris put her palm mere inches away from Infernape's face as she charged her chi into her palm. Realizing what she was doing, the fire monkey squirmed and clawed at Maris hoping to escape, but to no avail. Maris shouted as the chi blast collided with Infernape's face causing him to give out a shriek of pain as the Maris's attack shook the entire area causing Alice to stumble and fall on her knees.
The resulting explosion made dust and debris fly everywhere causing Alice and Shinx to shield their eyes. When the dust cloud cleared, Alice saw Maris lying motionless on the ground with only the rising and falling of her chest indicating that she was still alive while Infernape was lying on his back, covering his face with his hands in absolute agony as his legs flailed wildly.
"Infernape, get over yourself! Get up and finish off little miss kitty cat right now!" Alice yelled angrily at her pokemon who slowly got back up on its feet and made its way over to Shinx.
Shinx's whole body seemed to weigh a ton as she couldn't find the strength to move as the paralyzed with fear as Infernape grinned sadistically despite his injuries fired a stream of flames from his mouth. Shinx closed her eyes, accepting her fate, until a loud voice caused her to open her eyes.
"Luka aura sphere!"
Just as the stream of fire was about to make contact, the orb of essence collided with it causing it to fly off to the side and up into the sky until it was nothing but a tiny crimson and navy blue dot in the sky.
Alice angrily turned towards whoever launched the attack and was downright shocked to see who it was.
"Well well, look who finally decided to show their disgusting, worthless face."
Catherine, unfazed by her rude comment, brushed back some of her hair and glared at the monster who hurt her friends.
"Hi there…dear sister."