When Ryan stepped up to the counter, his heart started to beat faster. "Identification, please," the blue-haired female worker in a pretty sky-and-cloud dress said robotically. The boy handed her his Poké Dex. "Ryan… Morgan?" the woman asked, her voice rising.
"That's me."
"Okay, you're all set to go. Here," she said warmly, handing him back ol' Dexy. "Now it's time for you to choose your first stage to battle on!" The woman pointed to what looked like a little bell on the edge of the counter. Above it, on a video screen, the four preliminary tourney stages were arranged on a square with a blinking white light moving slowly around them. "Hit that button to see which stage you get randomly assigned, Ryan!"
Water, grass, rock, and ice, the boy mused, looking up at the screen. I'm probably weakest on a water stage. He pressed the button, sending the blinking white light racing around the four stage icons. Finally, it slowed, settling right on the Water Stage. I knew it. The boy's heart began to beat faster, even though he didn't want it to.
"You have the second match on the Water Stage, Ryan Morgan," the woman informed him. "Be ready to battle in thirty minutes. Remember, these preliminary rounds are all three-on-three matches. Choose your Pokémon carefully, Ryan, and don't forget to take each stage's element into account!"
He nodded sheepishly and walked out of the check-in station, leaving the of people in lines behind him. Thirty minutes. He gulped, trying to calm himself, but it was no good. I'm at the tournament. I'm finally here. This is really happening. The more he tried to convince himself that he was finally here, finally at the place his father had once been, the more lightheaded he got. My father's greatest achievement was winning an Indigo League match. What if I can't even win one?
He paced around outside the Water Stadium, crowds of spectators and other trainers moving around him like water down a glass window. Abra was asleep in his backpack, and Ryan was holding Aegon's ball. Who am I supposed to use on a water stage? Aegon will be no good if my opponent chooses a water Pokémon… and NaVorro and Myrrah can't navigate the stage. That left him with Abra, Spectre, and Thurnax. Will they be enough?
On a nearby television screen on a hanging wall, Ryan noticed Kelly was fighting on the rock stage. Her Arcanine was at her side, tall and magnificent, his fur shining with fire. He watched her send her 'mon against a Victreebel and smoke it like it was a Sunday barbeque. Soon after, she felled a Pidgeotto with her Nidoqueen, and shocked her opponent's Parasect with her shiny Raichu. The crowd went nuts. Kelly was beaming on the screen, waving at the crowd, her pink hair fluttering in the wind. Ryan's throat swelled with emotion. She's gonna do really good.
He was smiling uncontrollably, for the first time in a long time. And then, the loudspeakers crackled: "Ryan Morgan, please report to the Water Stage."
Oh crap. It's time. His heart was beating so fast now he felt short of breath. Ryan entered the stage, showed the guards his ID card, and was ushered into the green side under the stadium, the entrance to the outer stage at the far wall. He could hear the crowd cheering, could feel the rumbling of their euphoria shake the ground. Ryan's hands were shaking. He tried to stop them, but he couldn't. What if I'm not ready? What if I'm no good?
They called for him, the referee shouting his name with such vibrancy that Ryan shuddered. He sucked in his breath sharply, stepped forward down the concrete path to the bright door, and came out into the stadium.
It was a feeling of numbness, almost, that washed over him. There were hundreds of them, perhaps thousands. People came from all over Kanto to watch these battles. They wanna see a show… well, I'll give them one, he thought with sudden wildness. The stage was a gigantic pool in the middle of the Water Stadium, with a few white platforms floating in it. Exhaling, the boy peered at his opponent, who stood cloaked in the brightness of day for a few moments until the teal-haired trainer's eyes adjusted to the light.
She was a young girl, perhaps of bug-catcher repute, though she wore a dress of peach-and-emerald, and she wore a yellow flower in her hair. Is she even ten? A Poké Ball was in her hand.
The two stared at one another. The referee blew his whistle and raised both the red and green flags. On a huge screen at the far end of the stage, Ryan's and the girl's faces were shown next to each other, with three lights beneath them (Ryan's were green, the girl's were red), signifying how many Pokémon they had left. Let's see how good she is.
"Go, Abra!" Ryan shouted, pointing ahead to the stage.
"Go, Nidorina!" shouted the girl.
Her Nidorina came flying out to land on one of the white floating platforms. Abra remained in Ryan's backpack, snoring softly. "Hey, Abra! Wake up! I need you!"
"R-rah?!" the Psi Pokémon yawned, annoyance in his tired voice.
"It's your battle, buddy, go get 'em!"
"Abra ra…" Abra sighed before jumping out of Ryan's bag and waddling forward. He landed on a floating platform across from the Nidorina. Stretching out, the lanky lil' Poké yawned again and looked back to Ryan for guidance.
"An Abra, really?" the girl squeaked from across the stage. "Abra doesn't know any attacks!"
Mine does. A smile almost crept onto the boy's face. "Psychic, Abra!"
"Nidorina, use Double Kick!" the girl yelled across the water.
"Rah!" Abra jumped into the air, charging a purple beam between his claws. Front flipping forward onto a closer platform to his prey, he unleashed the beam of psychic energy. Nidorina was flying in the air herself, trying to pound Abra with a savage Double Kick, but when the Psychic hit her directly in the face, the Nidorina whimpered and fell like an iron anchor into the water.
"Nidorina, return!"
Ryan punched the sky. For an instant, his fear was gone, and he felt like his old self again, battling with his favorite Pokébuddy. "Great work, Abra. Keep it up!"
"Rah."
"Weedle, it's your turn." The girl threw her second ball, and out from it came the aforementioned Weedle. A Weedle… really?! That's her Pokémon of choice in the biggest battle of her life? How did she manage to get all eight badges if all she has is a Nidorina and a Weedle anyways?
Perplexed at his opponent's lack of quality Pokémon, Ryan told his Abra, "Hit 'em with another Psychic."
"Rah!"
The second battle went much as the first had. Unsurprisingly, the Weedle was a low level Pokémon, and it was defeated after absorbing a single attack. Abra landed one platform closer, completely undamaged. The little girl threw her last Poké Ball, and across from Abra appeared a Bellsprout. This is crazy. Her Pokémon are so weak… how did she even get into the Indigo League?!
One more Psychic finished Ryan's opponent off. All three red lights had faded from the scoreboard overhead, and the referee shouted, "And that's the match! Missy has no more Pokémon able to battle! Ryan wins!"
The crowds roared. Ryan's face was numb; his hands were shaking at his side. Abra was running back across the floating platforms to his master. I wonder if mom and dad are up there. Did they watch the battle? Did dad see Abra? He shuddered, thinking what his father would say about that.
The feeling of being the object of their adoration was strange. On the one hand, it made Ryan's chest feel light and made his anxiety fade; on the other, he still knew this was only one match. It could've been luck I faced such a weak trainer. And they'll only get harder the farther I get in the tournament.
Abra jumped into his arms; Ryan scratched the little guy behind the ears. "Great work, Abra. We did it! We won a match!"
"Abra."
"We're gonna win this thing, Abra. I know we are."
"Ra."
He looked at all the people cheering his name, and a chill fell down his spine. I want it, he knew. I want to win the whole dang thing. Abra's been in five tournaments before this one, and he only won one match. All of my Pokémon deserve better. I'll try my best for them… and for mom and dad and all my friends. I'll show them all that I'm a real Pokémon master!
They all passed the first round, even Rahul. That night, they went out into the village to feast and celebrate. Alex played Fire Emblem while Rahul boasted recklessly about the skill he had shown in his own battle, while Kelly, ever cool and collected, sipped orange juice and teased Ryan for beating a Nidorina, a Bellsprout, and a Weedle. Alex told Ryan that he had seen Rahul's battle from the visitor's box, which was a group of seats right behind the each competitor, reserved for their friends and family. No one had watched Ryan win his first match from that box, but he invited them all to his remaining battles, and everyone - even Kelly - said they would come.
In the morning, after getting assigned to his second match (which would take place on the Rock Stage), Ryan phoned his mother again and told her his schedule and that she should come to his visitor's box for the upcoming battle. I hope they're there, he thought, even though he knew he would have to face his father's fury. Please let them show up.
At 1 pm, Ryan was called to face his second foe on the Rock Stage. When he came into huge stadium and passed underneath the rows of stands overhead, up to the door that would lead out onto the stage, he found a group of people waiting for him. My friends. My supporters.
The two other Pokémon trainers were the first he beheld in that low-lit room: Kelly had already won her second match that day, while Rahul had yet to fight his. She's doing awesome. I hope she gets at least to the semi-finals. And Rahul too. It'd be so awesome if all three of us could take the top three spots.
Beyond them were Alex and Logan, who were arguing about something, and an older woman who had her back to him. When the others noticed Ryan approaching, she turned, her long brown hair swaying, rays of light from the far entrance gleaming off her shoulders. Mom.
He ran up to her and hugged her tightly. "I heard you won your first match, Ryan!" she said, slightly muffled as he hugged her tight. "I'm so proud of you!"
"Did dad get to see it too?"
"Your father knows you won your first match, but he didn't watch it on tv with me. He's busy with work, you know. He said he would come to watch you if you made it to the finals, though." The top 16, Ryan thought. I'd have to win three more matches for that to happen. He thought he could do it, but winning four matches was far beyond the boy's realistic hope, even though he wanted to win it all.
"Well, I hope I can win this match," Ryan said to them, laughing nervously and scratching the back of his head. "I don't want to disappoint you guys!"
His mother went to speak when the referee boomed from the loudspeakers: "Competitors Ryan and Anthony please step forward! The match will commence at once!"
He wasn't shaking so much this time, as he stepped through the veil of light out onto the stage. Around him, boulders and spires of rocks dotted the stage, which was set on a floor of cracked dirt and dried mud. Across from him, an older boy with a black mohawk and a leather jacket stood, his arms crossed.
"Retuning for this battle is Anthony, a semi-finalist from last year, and a favorite to take home the trophy this year!" The referee's last word was instantly drowned out by a roar from the crowd. Ryan thought most of the shouts were coming from the female spectators.
"And here to face him in this second-round match is Ryan, a trainer from Acapulco. This is his first year competing in the Indigo League, but he already has one victory, and he's looking to add another!" They cheered for him too, just not as enthusiastically. Ryan stared around at them meekly, wondering what so many of them had against him. Why do they like this Anthony guy anyways?
"Very well, trainers, take your mark!" the referee said, and the two boys stepped up onto their trainer platforms. Behind Ryan, his friends and mom took their seats, eager to watch the battle unfold.
"Come on Ryan, do it for Carrot Top!" Logan screamed.
"I believe in your Ryan!" came his mother's voice.
"Remember the type advantages and disadvantages," Alex called out helpfully.
"Woo… you better not screw this up, Ryan!" Rahul said carelessly.
I'll try, he thought. He wanted to feel a little confident, but his last victory meant nothing to him now. Here he was, against a much older (and surely), much more experienced trainer. This is my first real test, he knew. Come on, I can't let everyone down!
The referee waved his red and green flags, and the fight commenced. The noise of the crowd was deafening. Ryan could hardly think. He threw his Poké Ball, and out came NaVorro. His opponent unleashed a Hitmonchan to face his Tauros. Lucky break. Ryan knew fighting type Pokémon were super effective against normal type Pokémon like NaVorro.
"Blizzard, NaVorro!"
"Use Submission, Channy," Anthony said calmly.
NaVorro was indeed faster. He stampeded over to the Hitmonchan, running around it in a circle, causing a flurry of snow and ice to rise in the air, entrapping the Hitmonchan. When NaVorro stepped back, out of the thick circular path he had created in the snow around the Hitmonchan, everyone gasped. He's encased in ice. Gotcha! Ryan smiled proudly.
"Okay, NaVorro, this time use Body Slam!"
"Shhhhhrraaah!" the Bull Pokémon snorted loyally, charging ahead to ram into his opponent.
Just before NaVorro reached the Hitmonchan, the Punching Pokémon broke out of its hiemal prison, shattering the ice. Before NaVorro could reach him, the Hitmonchan sprinted forward, jumped into the air, and slammed down on the Tauros' head with its Submission attack. NaVorro groaned loudly, stepped uncertainly to the side, and then collapsed.
Above, the first green light went out under Ryan's name. Though he was breathing hard, Ryan said nothing. He returned NaVorro in silence and prepared his next Poké Ball: Aegon. The Charizard spit fire into the air as he soared into the Rock Stage, landing triumphantly across from the Hitmonchan. Aegon beat his chest and screamed, tendrils of flames licking at the sky. I like his enthusiasm. I could use a little of that myself. Indeed, Ryan felt nothing except for some low-burning anxiety in his stomach. A drop of sweat rolled down the boy's forehead, falling to the ground at his feet.
"Swords Dance, Aegon!" Ryan shouted. If I can get him set up… maybe he'll have a chance to sweep Anthony's whole team. It was a bit of a gamble, especially considering Ryan had only one more Pokémon in reserve. But he knew it was his best shot.
"Body Slam it, Channy!" Anthony yelled, and his Pokémon thrust itself forward as Aegon was twirling around, raising his attack or something.
The Charizard skidded back across the dirt, howling in pain, but he didn't seem to be too damaged. He's faster, too. "Now, use Hyper Beam!"
"Submission!"
Aegon soared into the air, creating a white energy beam around his mouth. As he bore down towards the Hitmonchan, Anthony's Pokémon rushed up to meet him, preparing another of his NaVorro-destroying Submissions. Charizard was faster, though. Everyone already knew that. His white energy released and covered the Hitmonchan like a blanket, and the Punching Pokémon fell over, fainted. Above, on the big screen, a red dot faded from under Anthony's portrait, and it was 2v2 again.
"Not bad, kid! But your luck's run out!" Anthony grinned, throwing his second ball. "I've got that Charizard covered!"
"Oh, no!" Ryan whispered in dismay upon seeing the Blastoise materialize across the stage. He glanced back at the group behind him, searching for any hints they could give him, but no one said anything. He met eyes with Kelly for but a moment and thought, she wouldn't give up. She'd always have a plan to win.
Ryan knew that Anthony's Pokémon were either the same level as his, or slightly stronger. That meant he couldn't defeat this Blastoise with one attack. But two… maybe that would be possible. So long as Aegon could withstand one inevitable water attack, there was a chance. Aegon's already done a Swords Dance. His attacks will be stronger than usual.
"Earthquake, Aegon!"
"Aararrraaaahhh!" the wannabe dragon screeched, stomping on the ground, shaking it violently.
The Blastoise stumbled and fell over, crying out in pain. It retreated into its turtle shell and shook around like a broken maraca. When the Earthquake subsided, it got to its feet and surfed a wave of water over to Ryan's Charizard, slamming into the fire Pokémon with a huge crash of foaming water. Ryan winced. Please don't be knocked out. Aegon, I'm counting on you.
When the water washed away, Blastoise could be seen standing over the crumpled figure of Aegon. The crowd was going wild. Ryan didn't hear them; he could only see their pandemonium, their hunger, their certainty that Anthony, the most beloved trainer in the tournament apparently, would move on to round 3. Ryan shook his head and thought that they were right.
And then Aegon stood up. He was battered and bruised, and the flame on his tail had dimmed, but he wasn't done yet. That's it, boy. Come on, come on, come on! Ryan felt a pounding in his chest, felt short of breath. "Hyper Beam it, Aegon!" He thought of that day on Cinnabar Island when he had caught Aegon under the volcano. He thought of all the training he had put that Charmeleon through, the moment he had evolved into a Charizard during the gym battle against Sabrina. We've been through so much together. You can do it, Aegon!
"I think that Charizard needs to get another Surf, don't you Blastoise?!" Anthony sneered.
"Stoise!" the giant turtle Pokémon grumbled. But if there's one thing we've learned this episode, it's that speed is a major factor in who wins a battle. After all, you can't get hurt if you knock out your opponent before they can attack.
That was Ryan's exact plan. He was betting everything on this Hyper Beam causing the Blastoise to faint. White energy was blooming in Aegon's mouth again, even as the Blastoise was conjuring up another wave of water. The boy's fingernails dug into his palms, and his veins were running hot with anxiety. Aegon turned his head and shot his energy at the Blastoise.
Blastoise is a slow Pokémon, a veritable turtle in the mud. So it should come as no surprise when it failed to dodge the attack. The Hyper Beam struck the Blastoise in the underbelly of its shell, causing it to fly off its wave and crash against a spire of rocks, which cracked and fell all over the Blastoise.
"Blastoise is unable to continue battling!" the referee declared a moment later, after stepping forward to get a better look at Anthony's Pokémon.
Ryan swallowed. He heard no noise, no cheering, no jeering… nothing Anthony was speaking. And indeed, the other boy was saying something rather incendiary to Ryan, for he was pointing and shouting. It's okay. He's just scared. It was like Ryan was in a dream; he was drifting through this battle in a daze, in some respects completely oblivious to what was going on, and in others, hyper-focused on what needed to be done.
Anthony's last Pokémon was a Victreebel. "Fire Blast!" Ryan urged Aegon, who was standing there panting, his head bowed. He looked really tired. Just a little more, Aegon. You can do it. I know you can!
"Wrap it up, Vic!" Anthony's voice came high and thin, wavering across the stage. Ryan could detect the uncertainty in it. He doesn't think he can win any more.
Aegon was already in the air, shooting up towards the sun. In his mouth, orange-and-yellow flames were bursting from between his teeth. For a moment, the fire Pokémon was lost in the brightness of the sun, and then with a whoosh of air, he returned to Earth, flying like a wind demon towards his quarry. The Victreebel stood still, its gaping mouth vibrating with anticipation of wrapping up the Charizard.
Aegon spit dragonflame across the barren stage. Victreebel went up in flames, crying and smoking. A moment later, when the fires subsided, the plant Pokémon fell over, swirly eyes on its wide face. Its body was charred black, and smoke continued to rise from it.
The referee was saying something; a happy look was on his face as he stole glances at Ryan. The people in the stands were cheering for him - some of them were, anyways. Some of them looked rather sad that Anthony had lost. He was lost in their warmth. Two, he thought. Maybe I can do this. Anthony was really good. He got into the semis last year… he's definitely one of the most skilled trainers I've ever faced. And yet Ryan had beat him, losing only one Pokémon in the process. He had beat a Blastoise with a Charizard. He'd done something right, he knew, but he didn't feel happy. He felt a little numb, and a little shocked, and rather lightheaded.
When he jumped down from the trainer platform, the others swarmed around him, heaping praise and congratulations upon Ryan's shoulders. His mother told him how proud she was of him, kissing him on the forehead and shaking him like a voodoo doll. For a moment, amidst the chaos, Ryan's eyes met Kelly's again.
"Nice match, kid," he heard her say. Her lips curled into a tiny smile that lasted for less than a heartbeat. Then, she looked away, embarrassed.
Ryan felt a tingly feeling in his stomach and grinned triumphantly. Maybe I do know what I'm doing. Maybe I am one of the best trainers in Kanto. But when he caught sight of his mom again, he was reminded of his dad, and he wondered what his father would think now that Ryan had won more Indigo League matches than him.
"I haven't been able to find it anywhere," Ryan muttered to Alex, showing him the old napkin with all the moves for his Pokémon. Alex had written that for Ryan way back in Cerulean City, weeks ago. And ever since then, Ryan had been gathering TMs and leveling up his Pokémon in hopes of completing that list. He'd gotten everything on the list aside from Explosion. The problem was that both Myrrah and Spectre were meant to have that move. Ryan just hadn't been able to find it anywhere.
"That's fine," Alex replied, slurping up his noodles noisily.
Just like last night, they were out partying in one of the restaurants. Dozens of other trainers were packed in the other tables around the restaurant, celebrating too. Rahul had smashed his opponent in round two, sweeping their Starmie, Growlithe, and Venomoth with his Magneton, and he was proclaiming boldly that Magneton was a far better 'mon than Tauros. Kelly had also won her battle decisively, though Ryan thought that today, he had faced the hardest opponent out of the three of them. That's okay. I faced the easiest opponent yesterday.
Logan had Ryan sign an autograph for him, obnoxiously declaring, "This'll be worth big Poké Dollars someday! Ryan's gonna be the champion!"
"No way, I'm going to win," Rahul complained like the petulant child he was. "Ryan's always got his head in the clouds. I'm the doctor. This is my year. When you stand alone at the edge of destiny and look into the great abyss beyond…" Rahul leaned back in his chair and nearly fell over. Stroking his goatee fiercely, he bellowed, "Basically… run. Nobody will stand in my way. I'm the black sheep in this group."
"Well, either way, I think we should raise a toast to our three wonderful trainers who have made it into the top 64 of the Indigo League!" Ryan's mom said, raising her glass. Everyone else raised theirs and (in the case of the ever-obnoxious Logan) banged the table or murmured 'here here'. They all have orange juice, except for Alex, he thought, eyeing Kelly in particular, watching her gulp down her entire glass in mere seconds. I wonder if she's gonna say something again. Ryan only had a cup of water. He didn't like orange juice much. He wondered how everyone else could stand it.
When the dinner was over, and as everyone was getting up, preparing to return to their hotel rooms, Ryan felt someone bump into him. Spinning around, the teal-haired boy noticed a red-haired boy standing a few feet away from him, a nasty scowl on his face. He wore a bright red-white-black-and-grey jacket, and he wore eyeliner which was more than a little weird in Ryan's opinion. Behind him were about six or seven of his friends, all of whom were dressed extravagantly in bright, fashionable colors.
"What's the deal, bro?!" the red-haired boy asked sharply. "Why'd you run into me?"
"You ran into me. I was just getting up from my chair," Ryan explained.
"No, no, no way, bro. You ran into me." The dark-skinned boy slammed a finger into his own chest angrily. "I seen it myself."
"Oh yeah?!" Ryan replied, anger rising in his voice.
"Ryan!" his mother called. "Stop it!"
"Come on Carlton, let's go," said one of the red-haired boy's friends. "It ain't worth it."
"Nah, it is. This creep thinks he can walk into me and start crap."
Ryan sighed. "Look dude, I'm not-"
"Dude? Dude?!" Carlton's eyes got bright and bloodshot. "I'm not your friend, bro. Don't call me that."
But you can call me whatever you want, right? Exchanging a look with his mom, Ryan said to the other boy, "I don't have time to deal with your nonsense, so I'm leaving."
"Alright, coward."
You idiot. I'll make you pay for that. Ryan's cheeks flushed with a heated rage. He couldn't do anything here, not with his mom watching. And he was really tired anyways. Ryan yawned as he followed the others out of the restaurant into the cold night air. You haven't seen the last of me, Carlton Fancypants-McGee, the boy thought with ire.
Outside, the others began a lively conversation, and Ryan tapped his mother on the shoulder, pulling her away from the group.
"What is it Ryan?"
The boy felt his ears going red. Come on, I shouldn't be ashamed of this. "I… well, I don't know if you watched my first battle, but I have Abra again."
"Oh." His mother's face became emotionless, like polished stone. "I guess I should have expected that. He ran away about a week ago."
"He chose me to be his master," Ryan said earnestly. "Please mom, you have to tell dad… I didn't steal him…"
"I think he already knows, or suspects what has happened," she sighed. "I don't think he'll take it well."
"I'm sorry." Ryan bowed his head. "But I can't give up Abra again."
"That's between you and your father."
"I guess…" Ryan yawned.
His mother shook her head in mock disgust. "Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. It's well past your bedtime. You need to get your sleep. You need to be on top of your game in the tournament. You have another match tomorrow."
"I know," the boy said.
She gave him another hug and then bade the others goodbye. The kids soon walked off towards the hotel, while Ryan's mom went back to the village, where her own room was.
"What's that song that goes na na na na na na, na na na, na na na…?" Logan sang, skipping along around the others as they walked down the bright-lit sidewalk towards the hotel.
"Darude, Sandstorm," Alex replied instantly, causing Logan to moan in awe for some reason.
Rahul began to ramble on about how great and noble of a man he was, all the pain he had suffered (and still was suffering), and all the sacrifices he had made for humankind. Ryan found Rahul's ramblings of late to be a little more than tedious, so he hadn't listened to much that boy had said in weeks. It was great.
Coming up to Kelly, who was walking on the left side of the group, Ryan said, "Thanks."
"For what?" She didn't look at him.
"For what you said earlier." They came to the hotel, and Ryan opened the door for Kelly and the others.
Inside they went, stepping into the elevator almost at once. The room smelled of lavender and fresh mango, and there was no one else around - not even a receptionist.
"What did I say?"
"After the match…" Ryan replied, trying to direct her memory.
"Oh. That?" She laughed incredulously. When Ryan didn't say anything, she continued, "Well, I guess you're welcome, Ryan. You know what I always say, though. It's only luck."
"Yep. I could say the same about you."
The elevator sounded a ding when they reached the group's floor, and everyone shuffled out. The smell of fresh carpet greeted them in the abandoned hallway, with dozens of doors lined on either side. Again, no one else (outside of their group) was around; the hallway was eerily quiet.
"Pshh… not a chance. You and I aren't even in the same class, no offense." Of course, none was taken. "You have surprised me though. I didn't expect you to win more than you lost this year."
"Thanks."
They had come to her door. Kelly stopped, turned to face Ryan, and ruffled his hair. The boy's heart beat furiously, and he nearly gasped. That was… unexpected. Standing under the light to the left of her door, Kelly looked pale and sweaty, and Ryan thought she was more than a little inebriated.
He nearly leaned in to kiss her goodnight, but the others were around. He couldn't risk such a move in their presence. So there they left Kelly, the four boys, marching off to their rooms like a gaggle of Slowpoke. What do I have to do? What do I have to do to impress her?
It wasn't long before they reached Ryan's room, and Logan opened it with Ryan's ID card (which he'd apparently swiped from the teal-haired boy's neck at some point). Ryan stumbled into the room, not bothering to take off his clothes or turn on the lights. Right up to the bed - his rightful bed (he'd since demoted Logan to the cot on the left side of the bed) - he walked, and when he reached it, the boy collapsed in exhaustion, pulled off his backpack, which held the warm, snoring Abra, and closed his eyes. Two more, he thought, and I'll have to face dad.
Luckily, Ryan didn't have to think that distressing thought for long, for a few moments later, he was out cold, snoring twice as loud as Abra.
Standing in line to get his random draw for the third preliminary round, Ryan swung his backpack off his shoulders to get a better look at Abra. Around him, the lines of people had grown short, and the whole check-in station was a good deal less busy than it had been two days ago. I guess that's not surprising. 75% of the competitors are already out of the tourney. It made him feel good to have outlasted so many quality trainers.
"Hey Abra, I need you to do something for me."
"Ra? Ra ra abra bra abra abra bra rah."
"When it's my turn to get an opponent, I want you to use your psychic powers to make sure I'm matched against the guy named Carlton."
"Rah?"
"That's right. Abra ra abra abra, or whatever," Ryan said, swinging his arms around like a madman.
"Rahhh… abra." Abra's voice was deep and emotional like a Meowth prowling in the night.
After a few more boring moments that we are going to skip past, Ryan stepped up to the counter and pressed the button to find out that his next match would be on the Ice Stage. Abra's body buzzed in his backpack. I can feel it. He's matching me against Carlton. The screen flashed with the cheeky smug grin of the red-haired boy, who stood as pompous as a baby bonsai tree.
"Alright, yeah baby!" Ryan shouted with glee before running outta there like a gravy robber. Carlton, you're mine. He left the check-in lady back there, bewildered as a wild bee. This was the first match Ryan was looking forward to.
He didn't even know if he could beat that jerk. But nobody named Carlton insults me, Ryan decided. And if this is my last match, so be it. I'll wipe that stupid smirk off his face one way or another.
The expansive area between the four stadiums was riddled with vendors, like burrowing Weedles, all trying to sell overpriced food or cheap Indigo League merchandise to grade-a suckers. Ryan avoided them like the plague, though he knew Rahul would be swimming in all this crap back in his hotel room. There were people walking the streets, but not so many trainers as before. And tonight, the number'll be cut in half again.
He watched that girl named Julia (who had helped him against that mean Fearow) defeat another trainer on the Water Stage. Her Ninetails took out all three of her opponent's Pokémon without breaking a sweat. Dang girl. You're really good too. He wondered if Julia had what it took to get to the finals, but judging by how easily she had won her second battle, she had to be a sure bet.
He watched several more battles as he waited for the Ice Stage to be prepped for his bout with Carlton. There were so many good trainers - there were more lopsided victories than close ones. Usually, one trainer was far better than the other. Ryan had been far better than Missy, but he wasn't sure if he had outsmarted Anthony, or if he had just been lucky. Kelly and Rahul never struggled in a match as much as I did against Anthony, he thought.
Watching a teenage boy named Danny fight a young girl named Lobelia, Ryan was impressed to see the girl sweep the boy's team with nothing but a Tauros. That gave Ryan an idea. It'll humiliate Carlton to get swept too. Unshouldering his pack and taking out his Poké Balls, Ryan wondered who amongst his fine warriors would be best suited for humiliating the red-haired boy.
It was not much longer until his name was called, and Ryan entered the Ice Gym. Waiting for him were his friends and mom, and they all patted him on the back and wished him good fortune in the wars to come (except for Rahul, who wished that Ryan would watch some My Little Ponyta with him, but that was neither here nor there). He stepped onto the trainer platform, which then raised itself up from the ground about twelve feet over the Ice Stage.
This time he was red; Carlton was green. How ironic. Around them, the stage was crafted from ice, with frozen pillars dotting the landscape. The referee was rambling passionately about how new Ryan was, and how fancy Carlton was. The man took a drink from a flask Ryan had a sneaking suspicion smelled of citrus.
Carlton was more shocked than Ryan. He couldn't believe that he had been matched against the kid he'd made an enemy of last night. "What luck, right?" Ryan muttered to himself. He almost laughed.
The red-haired boy was clothed in a fancy white suit with a black bowtie and black-and-gold buttons and cuffs. He wore a sharp pair of sunglasses and white, dainty gloves. His dark hair was pulled back. In his left hand, there was a Poké Ball. He was poised like a prince, arrogant and aloof and full of contempt.
"Trainers, prepare your Pokémon!" the referee yelled. "On my mark!"
Ryan took the Poké Ball out of his pocket and held it up, out from his chest. I have to be calm. I have to be smart, he told himself. I can win. The referee blew the whistle. For a moment, the spectators held their breath as the two boys stood still as stone. Then, their Poké Balls were in the air… and out from one popped a Primeape; out from the other soared a Dragonite.
Derceyes raised you, but I've trained you for a long time. I know you're my most powerful Pokémon, girl. You can beat this jackalope. "Agility!" he urged her. Ryan knew he'd need to get his Pokémon's speed up if he wanted to beat all three of Carlton's with just his Dragonite. Dragonite is a slow Pokémon by nature, but with a couple of Agilities… well, even Ryan knew what that meant.
"Perform a Focus Energy upon that plebeian, Maximillian!" Carlton's voice shook with impatience.
The two Pokémon did exactly what they were told to do. Thurnax flew around until she had built up her speed. And the Primeape, which Ryan noticed wore gel in its hair and a fancy white-and-pink bowtie across its eyebrows, performed the Focus Energy attack to perfection (now, no one should know what that means since this move is glitched in the games). Thurnax was already faster, even before the Agility, Ryan observed. I expected him to use an attack. But since he didn't…
"Another Agility, girl!"
Carlton's voice echoed, "I want you to Body Slam that beast, Primeape!"
Thurnax built up her speed again before being knocked back by the Primeape's vicious slam attack. Still, she didn't seem to be hurt that much, so Ryan ordered her to fire a Hyper Beam at the Primeape.
Thurnax was a determined, professional Pokémon. She never let her anger get the best of her. Even though she had just been hit by the Primeape, she didn't break her cool. Listening to Ryan, the Dragonite took to the sky and charged up a white energy beam in her mouth, much as Aegon had done the day before.
As Carlton was screaming for his Primeape to do something, Thurnax flew dispassionately over the crowds, causing them to 'ooh' and 'ahh' for a while before she came back down upon the stage and suddenly unleashed her energy attack upon the poor witless Primeape. The Pig Monkey Pokémon was blown back, flying into the base of Carlton's trainer platform, and slumped over, knocked out.
"Primeape is unable to continue battling!" the referee declared.
"Yo, bro, that's not cool!" Carlton cried.
Ryan shrugged and focused on his opponent's next Pokémon. I ain't got time to listen to that jive turnkey. When the Snorlax appeared on the other end of the ice, skidding forward slightly as it struggled to stand, Ryan shouted, "Wrap that bad boy up!"
"Hyper Beam that monstrous fool!" Carlton declared elegantly.
Before the Snorlax could do what it was meant to do, Thurnax landed in front of it, knocked it to the ice, wrapped her tail around it, and began to squeeze. Snorlax groaned and grunted with all three squeezes before stumbling away from Ryan's Pokémon. As it struggled to escape, Dragonite slammed her feet down on the Snorlax's fat stomach again and wrapped him up real good.
"That's it, now use Surf!" Ryan ordered Thurnax after she threw the Snorlax away again.
The Snorlax struggled to stand. The ice was so slippery, after all. Down the stage came Thurnax, riding on a wave she had made herself (she was a fine and proper young lady). When the burst of water hit the Snorlax, the Sleeping Pokémon tumbled back and glided across the icy floor, dazed and huffing out in pain. When Snorlax finally came to a slippery stop at the base of one of the ice spires, it did not get up.
The referee raised his flag and blew his whistle. Overhead, on the super-large scoreboard, Carlton's second green dot vanished. How you like me now?!
"Finish him, Venusaur," Carlton spoke softly, throwing his last Poké Ball with childlike strength. "Sleep Powder!"
"Quick, Hyper Beam!" Ryan screamed. Lame fool. He's going for the sleep attack! Ryan knew what that meant. If the Sleep Powder hit Thurnax, she'd be out. It was in the rules of the tournament. You could only put one Pokémon to sleep all game long, but once that one Pokémon was asleep, they were considered knocked out. Thus, Ryan had no choice but to use his Dragonite's strongest attack to preserve his sweep.
Thurnax soared through the air again, building up her momentum and power, as the Venusaur took center stage and thrust its back flower up at the clouds, preparing the Sleep Powder. Aw, it's presenting. As Thurnax came screaming downwards, she spit out her attack, hitting the beast in the face. Venusaur started crying recklessly. A puff of purple-yellow powder spurted into the air, and Thurnax was moving too swiftly to avoid it. Smacking into the ground, the Dragon Pokémon hit one of the ice spires, and it collapsed around her.
Carlton was whooping, calling Ryan a bro, and making obscene gestures with his fingers. Ryan's ears were burning. Venusaur grunted, looking around in a daze, and stepped forward. Its paw slipped on the ice; the Seed Pokémon crashed onto its stomach. Mumbling, "Venu… saur…", the animal's head drooped down, and it began to snore.
The referee was on the stage, flying about on a pair of ice skates. It was wild. The guy jumped in the air and did a twirl, prompting an ancient Russian woman from the front row to struggle to her feet and raise a sign that said '6.14' before collapsing again into obscurity. "Venusaur is unable to battle…!" the man bellowed, causing the crowd to burst with energy in response. "Dragonite's probably unable to battle too," he noted, "but that doesn't matter, eh?"
Up above, the third and final red dot signifying the last Pokémon of Carlton Fancypants-McGee, Esquire, vanished forever more. Ryan's three dots remained shining; he knew the Indigo League staff were being rather generous.
Ol' Fancypants-McGee fell to his knees, ripping at his hair, crying that Ryan had cheated, and cursing the sun and moon and stars. Ryan felt like laughing, but didn't. Gotta be restrained and dignified, blah blah blah. That's what the Indigo League competitor handbook had said, anyways.
They were chanting his name when he descended back to see the others. His face felt numb; his hands were throbbing. Everyone was beaming, heaping praise upon him. It's not luck, Ryan thought, as Kelly patted him on the shoulder and showed just a hint of appreciation with that look in her eyes. I didn't get this far because of luck.
Their warmth embraced Ryan. He had won his third match. He was in the top 32. Soon, Kelly, Rahul, and 29 others would join him. So many people have been eliminated. I just have to beat five more of 'em. Somehow, that didn't seem so hard anymore. Ryan's anxiety was gone. He had eclipsed his own expectations already. Now he could go for his dream… to win the whole thing. And with his six Pokémon, with their strength and endurance and heart, he knew he had a shot.
Ryan wondered what his dad would say if he won the Indigo League. He wondered, would that be enough for him? He didn't know. I'll try anyways, he told himself. For Abra's sake at least.