Episode 282: Sora vs Morrison
Before we begin this one, I would like to state that I have planned to do chapters of Sora and Kairi on a trip to the Galar region for a vacation, and also a surprise visit to Alola with some more new Pokémon from the Galar and Alola regions. I still plan to do the battle with Team Rocket, their multiverse adventures and then the Sinnoh region. Just let me know what you think in the reviews afterwards. So, enjoy the chapter!
The day after the battle with Katie, Sora exchanged Sceptile, Salamence, Flygon, Aggron and Sableye for Crawdaunt, Gliscor, Sudowoodo, Banette, and Rhydon. Sora had to be ready for anything he and his Pokémon were going to throw at him.
Just when the battle was about to begin, everyone all gathered to watch the battle bewteen Sora and Morrison to begin. Just as they have, they noticed that something was off with Morrison.
"Any idea what's eating Morrison? He seems rather distractedby something," Charmy pointed. Everyone looked at the disguised bee.
"Why bring that up, Charmy?" Riku asked.
"I mean, didn't any of you notice how he down he looked? He doesn't seem to be his usual self," Charmy said.
"Now that you mentioned it, Morrison was off when I saw him last night," Espio said. "He was doing some training. He ordered his Metang to use Take Down against a tree, but he hesitated in the middle of the attack and told it to stop. And I found that very odd."
"He has been like that ever since we saw he was going up against Sora after the battle with Katie," Terra said.
"You don't think, maybe, that might have something to do with it?" Ventus asked.
"I might have two ideas on what's going on. It might be either he's worried about going up against a friend, or he's worried that he doesn't stand a chance against Sora," Wally theorized.
"Those theroies makes loads of sense since Sora's reputation as a Pokémon League Champion is known," Aqua said.
"Let's just hope it won't effect his performance out there. Sora will expecting his best from him," Riku said. He turned to Kairi. He saw Kairi was in her own trail of thought. "What do you think, Kairi?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry, I was just doing some thinking," Kairi admitted.
"Huh? What's that about?" Meowth asked.
"The thing is, Sora and I noticed just the same as the rest of you. When I went to talk with him, he just looked at me with a look of sadness and said that he was sorry. He just took off just before I could ask what he was sorry about," Kairi explained.
"That doesn't sound like him. I thought for sure he was going to get all confident and say that he's going to win it," Brendan said.
"I hope he's okay," May said.
"The only way we're going to find out is to see how it goes. Morrison might feel better if we root for him while we're rooting for Sora," Vector said.
"Vector's right. We should be there for the both of them. And no matter who wins, they'll know we have their backs, just like we have theirs," Charmy said.
"I like the sound of that," Ventus said.
"The more the merrier, I guess," Meowth said.
"Right," Naminé said.
"Azurill!" Azurill chirped.
"Pichu!" The Shiny Pichu chirped.
"Pichu, Pi!" The spiky-eared Pichu chirped.
Everyone entered the stadium to watch the battle begin. Fireworks were going off as Sora and Morrison were entering the battlefield at the same time. The battlefield will be taking place of an ice battlefield.
"Ladies and gentlemen! The second round of the Hoenn Pokémon League finals is about to begin! The first half of the second round will take place on an ice battlefield! Whoever emerges victorious moves on to the final eight! Will the winning trainer be Sora from Pallet Town or Morrison from Verdanturf Town? Like before, this will be a six-on-six Pokémon battle with no time limit and substitutions are permitted for both trainers anytime!" The announcer announcer. Sora took out his first Pokéball.
"You're going in first, Crawdaunt!" Sora called out as he threw his Pokéball and his Crawdaunt enters the battle. Morrison quickly took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Girafarig!" Morrison called out as his Girfarig enters the battlefield.
"Sora is beginning this match with his Crawdaunt and Morrison with Girafarig! Morrison has made a devastating choice since Crawdaunt is a Dark Type Pokémon and Girafarig is a Psychic Type!" The announcer announced.
"Let the battle begin!" The referee announced.
"Crawdaunt! Go! Razor Shell!" Sora ordered. Crawdaunt comes at the giraffe Pokémon with Razor Shell ready. Morrison was hesitant, but he had to move now.
"G-Girafarig! Light Screen!" Morrison called out. Girafarig uses Light Screen to block Crawdaunt, but the crustacean Pokémon shatters Light Screen like a window and lands a Razor Shell on Girafarig.
"Girafarig's Light Screen is powerless against that Razor Shell!" The announcer announced. Sora loooked at Morrison and saw how distracted he looked.
"Okay, Girafarig! Use Double Hit!" Morrison ordered. Girafarig comes at Crawdaunt to land two hits.
"Slide on the ice to dodge!" Sora called out. Crawdaunt slides onto the ice to avoid Girafarig's attack. Girafarig hits an ice pillars instead.
"Sora is making excellent use of this battlefield!" The announcer announced.
"Razor Shell again!" Sora ordered. Crawdaunt comes at Girafarig with Razor Shell.
"Jump and dodge it!" Morrison called out. Girafarig jumps and avoids Razor Shell, but slips on the ice.
"Make a turn and use Crabhammer!" Sora ordered. Crawdaunt turns on the battlefield and lands a Crabhammer on Girafarig, earning another smack.
"Once again, Sora makes the most of that icy battlefield and does it in a most imaginative way!" The announcer announced.
"Go, Girafarig! Use Iron Tail!" Morrison ordered. Girafarig uses its tail to smack Crawdaunt with it.
"Block with Crabhammer!" Sora ordered. Crawdaunt blocks Iron Tail, using his pincer, much to Morrison's dismay. "Crabhammer again!" Crawdaunt lands the finishing blow onto Girafarig.
"And Crawdaunt lands a hit with a brutal Crabhammer!" The announcer announced. Girafarig fell to the ground beaten. The referee raises the green flag.
"Girafarig is unable to battle! Crawdaunt wins!" The referee announced.
"So, Morrison losses his very first Pokémon without landing even one attack!" The announcer announced. Morrison calls back his fallen Girafarig. Sora looked at Morrison.
"Morrison, what are you doing? This isn't like you," Sora said. Morrison just stood there frozen as everyone waits for him to bring out his next Pokémon.
"Now, we wait for Morrison's choice for his second Pokémon!" The announcer announced. Morrison just stood there.
"Snap out of it, man. Come on," Sora said. The referee looked at him.
"You must choose your Pokémon immediately," the referee told him.
"Morrison isn't moving an inch! If he doesn't choose another Pokémon and soon, the referee will be forced to consider a forfeit and lose the match!" The announcer announced. Sora didn't want to win the battle that way, and he knew Morrison didn't want to win it like that either. Morrison stood there with his feet rooted on the ground.
"Morrison! What are you doing out there? Come on! Give me everything you got!" Sora called out to his opponent.
"Yeah, but..." Morrison paused he he randonly took out his next Pokéball and threw it. His second Pokémon is his Growlithe.
"In the nick of time, Morrison brings out Growlithe!" The announcer announced.
"Bubble Beam!" Sora ordered. Crawdaunt fires Bubble Beam.
"Dodge it with Agility!" Morrison ordered. Growlithe avoids Bubble Beam using its speed attack.
"Keep firing that Bubble Beam, Crawdaunt!" Sora ordred. Crawdaunt fires Bubble Beam again.
"Keep dodging with Agility!" Morrison ordered. Sora knew it wasn't like Morrison, one bit since he knew Morrison would just come at him attacking, not caring if Growlithe was at a disadvantage or not.
"I don't know how much longer Morrison will keep it up, but I don't think Growlithe is going to dodge forever," Riku said.
"Eevee," Eevee said.
"Why won't he attack?" May asked. Crawdaunt lands a Bubble Beam behind Growlithe. Growlithe hits an ice pillar.
"Crabhammer!" Sora ordered. Crawdaunt lands a Crabhammer on the puppy Pokémon. Sora saw it way too easy even for him.
"That's a critical hit with Crabhammer!" The announcer announed. Growlithe had been knocked out. The referee raises the green flag.
"Growlithe is unable to battle! Crawdaunt wins!" The referee announced.
"And Morrison loses his second Pokémon!" The announcer announced. Morrison walked over to his fallen Growlithe.
"Growlithe, I'm sorry for letting you down," Morrison apologized.
"Morrison!" Sora called out to him, getting his attention. "What's the matter with you? We both know you can battle than this! Are you just giving up or what?" Sora asked.
"Yeah? Who asked you?" Morrison asked, turning away.
"You are not a quitter, Morrison! I know you're not! You are way better than this! I mean, come one! You climbed your way to get here and here we are! We made a promise to give it everything we got to get here, so are you breaking that promise to me now?!" Sora asked.
"No way!" Morrison shot back.
"Then, prove it to me, right here and now! Show me first hand on how your hard work and sacrifice to make it all the way here is going to pay off! Stop feeling sorry for yourself and give me everything you've got!" Sora told his opponent. Morrison felt Sora's words get through to him. Morrison was worried about going up against him because he became such a good friend to him, Kairi too. Morrison looked at his Growlithe and saw how forgiving the puppy Pokémon is.
"Thank you for understanding, pal," Morrison said, taking out its Pokéball and called Growlithe back. "Get a good long rest." He took in a big breath and shouted to the world, "LOOK OUT, 'CAUSE I'M BACK!" Morrison regained his courage. "Yes! You want my best? Then I'm going to give it to you! No matter the opponent, no matter the odds, no matter the outcome, I'm going to come out on top!"
"And there's that fire! Keep it burning!" Sora called out. Kairi smiled when Morrison got his fighting will and spirit back.
"Sora," Kairi said. She beamed. "Good job in snapping him out of it."
"Sora snapped him out of it," Terra said.
"Time to rock and roll! Swampert! Come on out!" Morrison shouted as he threw his next Pokéball and sends out his Swampert.
"Morrison makes Swampert his third Pokémon!" The announcer announced.
"Go for it, Crawdaunt! Crabhammer!" Sora ordered. Crawdaunt comes at the mud fish Pokémon, ready to strike.
"Counter it, Swampert, and use Power-Up Punch!" Morrison ordered. Swampert comes at Crawdaunt to land a punch. Both Water Type Pokémon lands their attacks to one another. An explosion occurs between them.
"Crabhammer and Power-Up Punch collide with explosive resullts!" The announcer announced.
"That's the way, Morrison! Keep it up!" Sora said.
"Thanks for waking me up, Sora, but I think you're gonna be sorry you did!" Morrison said.
"Wouldn't have it any other way! Crawdaunt! Bubble Beam!" Sora ordered. Crawdaunt fires Bubble Beam right at Swampert.
"Swampert! Fire your Hydro Pump!" Morrison ordered. Swampert fires Hydro Pump and it collides with Bubble Beam.
"Once again, their attacks are perfecly matched!" The announcer announced.
"Give 'em a Power-Up Punch that really rocks!" Morrison ordered.
"Crabhammer on the rocks!" Sora ordered. Crawdaunt and Swampert both landed a direct hit onto one another.
"Both attacks are direct hits!" The announcer announced. Both Swampert and Crawdaunt fell to the ground, beaten. The referee rasies both flags.
"Crawdunt and Swampert are both unable to battle! This round is a draw!" The referee announced.
"This has turned into a real knock-down, drag-out battle! Now, since Morrison has lost three of his Pokémon, we'll take a fifteen minute break to change the battlefield and give the trainers a chance to freshen up!" The announcer announed.
In the locker room, Sora downs some water to cool himself off. Morrison walked up to Sora.
"Hey, Sora. Got a second?" Morrison asked.
"Sure thing, Morrison. What's up?" Sora asked. Morrison scratched the back of his head.
"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about how I acted before," Morrison said.
"It's okay, Morrison. Come to think of it, I was considereing giving up once," Sora admitted. This surprised Morrison.
"You? Give up?" Morrison asked.
"Yeah. It was after I witnessed a battle in the Indigo Plateau between two trainers I know. One is named Gary, who I knew since I was a little kid, and there's another trainer named Edgar who came down from Lumiose City in the Kalos region. I thought I was way in over my head and Riku talked me into keep going," Sora explained.
"You mean, Riku did the same thing to you?" Morrison asked.
"He did. I guess, Riku just wants me to get even stronger, just like he's getting stronger. When I battled Riku and lost to him in the first battle I have ever had with him, I didn't stand a chance against him back then. I beat him in the P-1 Grand Prix, he just told me that I owed him a battle. I guess you can say that we owe each battles more times than we can count," Sora said.
"Man, Riku has to be good," Morrison said.
"He is. Brendan, Wally, May, and two Coordinators named Drew and Harley even battled him before and they lost to him. He expects the best out of us. And I know he expects the same out of you, Brendan, and Wally," Sora said.
"Sounds like you look up to him a lot," Morrison said.
"If you had him as a rival for as long as I have, then you would, too," Sora said. "So, what do you say that we get back out there and give everyone a damn good show?"
"You know it, Sora! And after it's over, I'm going to be telling my grandkids about this day when I get really old!" Morrison said, making Sora laugh. "I'm gonna beat you!"
"You're welcome to try!" Sora said, as he and Morrison did a fist bump.
Sora and Morrison rentered the battled and it was a grass battlefield. Sora still had Pikachu, Sudowoodo, Gliscor, Rhydon, and Banette left to use as Morrison still had Steelix, Gligar, and Metang at his diposal. Sora decided to save Pikachu for Metang since he knew Gligar and Steelix will resist his electricity.
"The second half of this battle will be fought on a grass battlefield!" The announcer announced. Sora turned to his partner.
"I'll be saving you for Metang, but I still have the other four for back up," Sora said.
"Pika," Pikachu agreed. Sora took out his Pokéball and threw it.
"Go right in! Sudowoodo!" Sora called out as Sudowoodo makes his entry in battle. Morrison took out his next Pokéball and threw it.
"Come on, Steelix! Help me out!" Morrison shouted as his Steelix made its entrance. Sudowoodo was afraid of Steelix becuase of its large size.
"Steelix! Let's start with Dragon Breath!" Morrison ordered. Steelix fires Dragon Breath right at the imitation Pokémon.
"Dodge and use Mimic!" Sora ordered. Sudowoodo avoids Steelix's Dragon Breath and learned how to use Dragon Breath. "Now let out Dragon Breath!" Sudowoodo fires Dragon Breath right at the iron snake Pokémon.
"Dodge it, Steelix!" Morrison called as Steelix manages to avoid Dragon Breath. "Use Iron Tail!" Steelix lands a heavy blow onto Sudowoodo. "Now, follow up with Dig!" Steelix burrows underground.
"That Steelix will come out from anywhere," Sora said. Steelix comes out from under Sudowoodo and pops out of the ground like a monster mole. "Don't seat it! Low Sweep!" Sudowoodo sticks his leg out to land a kick onto the iron snake Pokémon for a super effective hit.
"Let's go with another Dig!" Morrison called out. Steelix digs underground to avoid Sudowoodo's attack. Steelix comes out from under the imitation Pokémon and he ran as Steelix was coming out from left to right.
"Low Sweep! Now!" Sora ordered. Sudowoodo comes at Steelix and a hit onto Steelix.
"Another Iron Tail, Steelix and make it a big one!" Morrison ordered.
"Wood Hammer and make it hard!" Sora ordered. Sudowoodo somes at Steelix with his hand glowing light green. Sudowoodo jumps to land the hit and collides with Steelix's Iron Tail.
"It's Iron Tail against Wood Hammer! What a collison!" The announcer announced. Sudowoodo was overpowered by Steelix's Iron Tail and brought down. The referee raises the red flag.
"Sudowoodo is unable to battle! Steelix wins!" The referee announced.
"Sudowoodo was taken down even with attacks like Low Sweep," Wally said.
"Steelix did have the upperhand against from the start, especially with Dig and Iron Tail," Max said.
"Morrison is starting to make his comeback. Let's see how it goes from there," Riku said. Sora takes out his next Pokéball and threw it.
"Your turn now, Banette!" Sora shouted as his Banette made his appearence.
"Now, Sora's third Pokémon is his Banette! What does Sora have planned for this ghostly Pokémon?" The announcer asked.
"Steelix! use Dragon Breath!" Morrison ordered. Steelix fires Dragon Breath right at Banette.
"Dodge and use Hex!" Sora ordered. Banette easily dodges Dragon Breath and forms Hex with his hands. He hurls it right at Steelix.
"Use another Dragon Breath!" Morrison ordered. Steelix fires Dragon Breath again.
"Block with Psychic!" Sora ordered. Banette blocks the attack with Psychic and send it back to Steelix. Steelix got hit with its own attack.
"Banette sends Steelix's own Dragon Breath right back at it!" The announcer announced.
"Dig, Steelix!" Morrison ordered. Steelix dug underground again.
"Banette! Use Night Shade down that hole!" Sora ordered. Banette fires Night Shade down the hole and struck Steelix, forcing it back up. Morrison was shocked to see that used on him. "Now! use Psychic!" Banette uses Psychic to lift up Steelex and sends it back down. Steelix had been brought down. The referee raises the green flag.
"Steelix is unable to battle! Banette wins!" The referee announced.
"Now, Morrison has two more Pokémon left as Sora remains in the lead with four! What could Morrison have in store for Banette?" The announcer asked. Morrison calls back his Steelix and takes out his next Pokéball.
"I think I have just the one to use! Gligar! Go!" Morrison called out. His Gligar comes on out to battle.
"Now, Morrison has sent out his Gligar!" The announcer announced.
"Banette! Use Hex!" Sora ordered. Banette forms Hex and sends it right at the fly scorpion Pokémon.
"Dodge it!" Morrison ordered. Gligar avoids Banette's attack. "Now, give Banette a beating with your Steel Wing!" Gligar comes at Banette and smackes him with Steel Wing. Gligar does so again and again.
"Use Psychic to stop it, Banette!" Sora called out. Banette was trying to use Psychic, but Gligar was coming too fast for Banette to focus on his opponent.
"Gligar bombards Banette with Steel Wing again and again!" The announcer announced.
"Iron Tail!" Morrison ordered. Gligar lands an Iron Tail onto Banette and it sends the marionette Pokémon down to the ground. The referee raises the red flag.
"Banette is unable to battle! Gligar wins!" The referee announced.
"And Banette is down for the count! Sora is now down to three Pokémon remaining!" The announcer announced. Sora takes out his next Pokéball and threw it.
"Your turn now, Gliscor!" Sora called out as Gliscor made his entry. Morrison was awestruck to seeing Sora's Pokémon.
"Whoa! So awesome! You got a Gliscor, huh? My Gligar is going to mop the floor with it!" Morrison said. Gligar glared at its evolved form, determined to win.
"Sora has sent out his Gliscor into this battle! We're about to witness a battle of evolution superiority!" The announcer announced.
"Gliscor! Go! Use Night Slash!" Sora ordered. Gliscor came at Gligar with his pincer emitting a dark aura.
"Use Guillotine, Gligar!" Morrison ordered. Gligar comes at Gliscor, ready to strike at the fang scorpion Pokémon. Both attacks collide and they bounce off.
"Isn't Gligar at a disadvantage going up against its evolved form?" May asked.
"Yes and no. Pokémon can take on their evolved forms at times, overwhelming their evolved forms. I think that Gligar wants to take on Sora's Gliscor as it is. I woould thiink the same thing if it was my Gliscor out there," Riku said.
"Gligar! X-Scissor!" Morrison ordered.
"You use X-Scissor too!" Sora ordered.
Both Gligar and Gliscor collided with X-Scissor and they were sent aback.
"Use Steel Wing!" Morrison ordered.
"Use Wing Attack!" Sora ordered.
Both Gligar and Gliscor lands their attacks at one another, both having themselves a standoff.
"Gligar and Gliscor are on even levels and they're not backing down, one little bit!" The announcer announced.
"Gligar! Use Guillotine!" Morrison ordered.
"Gliscor! Use Night Slash!" Sora ordered. Gligar and Gliscor heads for one another to land a finishing blow. Both Gligar and Gliscor lock their attacks and looked into each other's eyes. Gliscor looked at Gligar and remembered his life before being Sora's Pokémon, always taking on anything that crosses into their territory and then he met Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and the rest. Gliscor beamed at the memories and they both fell to the ground at the same time. The referee raises both flags.
"Gligar and Gliscor are both unable to battle!" The referee announced.
"Gligar and Gliscor are both down for the count! Morrison is down to one and Sora has two left to use!" The announcer announced. Morrison calls Gligar back as Sora calls back Gliscor.
"You were awesome, Gligar," Morrison said.
"You did a good job, Gliscor," Sora said. Morrison took out his sixth Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Metang! Bring it on home!" Morrison called out as Metang comes out to battle.
"Morrison's final Pokémon is Metang! Now, we wait for Sora's next choice!" The announcer announced. Sora turned to his partner.
"You're up, buddy. Just like I promised," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said, entering the battlefield.
"Sora's fifth Pokémon is Pikachu!" The announcer announcer announced.
"Pikachu! Start up with Quick Attack!" Sora called out as Pikachu ran across the battlefield.
"Metang! Take Down, now!" Morrison ordered. Metang comes at Pikachu with a full force of its body.
"They're charging right into each other!" The announcer announced. Metang lands a hit onto Pikachu. Metang's Take Down was so much more stronger than it was as a Beldum as Pikachu had found out.
"Now use Meteor Mash!" Morrison ordered as Metang comes at the mouse Pokémon to land a hit.
"Dodge and use Iron Tail!" Sora ordered. Pikachu jumps and comes swinging down with Iron Tail. When Pikachu made the hit, Metang loses balance, but just for a little while. Metang regains its balance and comes back fighting.
"Pikachu lands a fast Iron Tail, but Metang comes right back with a vengeance!" The announcer announed.
"Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!" Sora ordered. Pikachu fires Thunderbolt right at the iron claw Pokémon. Morrison wasn't going to have that.
"Metang! Block with your Confusion!" Morrison ordered. Metang blocks Thunderbolt much to Sora's dismay and sends it back to Pikachu.
"Pikachu!" Sora gasped.
"Eevee!" Angel gasped, covering her eyes, not wanting to see Pikachu get hurt.
"Now use Take Down!" Morrison ordered. Metang lands another Take Down on the mouse Pokémon. "Now, finish it with Meteor Mash!" Metang swings its claw at Pikachu, landing the finishing blow onto Pikachu. Sora saw his partner go rolling and stopped rolling as he lays on his back. The referee raises the red flag.
"Pikachu is unable to battle! Metang wins!" The referee announced.
"Now, Sora is down to one Pokémon left to use! And judging how this is going, despite a shaky start, this match could go either way for anyone of them!" The announcer announced. Sora picks up Pikachu and sets him down next to him.
"You gave it your best shot, Pikachu. You always do," Sora said.
"Pika," Pikachu said. Sora takes out his Safari Ball and threw it.
"Your turn now, Rhydon!" Sora called out. His Rhydon makes his entrance, stomping on the ground.
"Sora's final Pokémon is Rhydon!" The announcer announced.
"Rhydon! Megahorn!" Sora ordered. Rhydon comes at Metang with his drill-like horn, glowing light green and growing in size. Rhydon charges towards Metang.
"Metang! Take Down!" Morrison ordered. Both Rhydon and Metang charge at each other and they lock on.
"Metang and Rhydon are holding on and they look like they won't back away!" The announcer announced. Rhydon and Metang both took a hit.
"Rhydon! Earth Power!" Sora ordered. Rhydon's body glows orange and slams his fist onto the ground as the battlefield cracks from where Rhydon punched the ground.
"Metang! Dodge it!" Morrison ordered. Metang avoids the attack. "Now use Take Down!" Metang cahrges towards Rhydon.
"Use Drill Run!" Sora ordered. Rhydon starts running poiting his horn out in front as a drill-like aura appears and starts spinning around.
"Rhydon comes at Metang with Drill Run as Metang comes in with Take Down!" The announcer announced. They collided and they were both easily matched in strength.
"Gotta wrap this up! Rhydon! Drill Run again!" Sora ordered. Rhydon starts to run to his opponent again as Drill Run takes effect.
"I'm the one who's gonna wrap it up! Metang! Your best Meteor Mash!" Morrison called out. Metang comes at Rhydon to land a hit.
"Rhydon and Metang are going at each other with such powerful attacks! It could be anyone's guess on whose victory it's going to be!" The announcer announced.
Rhydon and Metang each landed a blow. They both stood there for a moment. Rhydon fell to his knee. Morrison hoped it was his win. Kairi and Ventus were worried as the rest were anxious. Metang floated up for a moment, hoping that its Meteor Mash did the trick. Metang then, felt its injuries kick in and fell to the ground, beaten. The referee raised the green flag.
"Metang is unable to battle! Rhydon wins! The winner is Sora!" The referee announced.
"There you have it! In an epic battle, Sora has defeated Morrison and will move on as one of the eight quarter-final contestants!" The announcer announced.
NIght came as he stares at the flame burning and he lets out a loud scream.
"I can't believe I lost!" Morrison yelled. He took a deep breath and he smiled. "That felt good. Nothing like a good loud scream to let out some steam."
"Hey, Morrison," Sora said from behind. He turned to see Sora with two bars of sea salt ice cream. "That was a good battle, Morrison. You gave it your all."
"It was pretty good, wasn't it?" Morrison asked.
"I think you earned this," Sora said, handing one to Morrison. He was confused by Sora's offer.
"Is this ice cream?" Morrison asked.
"Try it. It's good," Sora said. Morrison took a bite and he beamed at the taste.
"So sweet and salty. Now, that's ice cream," Morrison said.
"My first thought when I had my first taste of this," Sora said, taking a bite of his own.
"So, Sora, on your way to the quarter-finals?" Morrison asked.
"Yeah. Before I find out who I'm up against first, I just want to say thanks for that battle today," Sora said. This confuses Morrison.
"What do you mean? I didn't win," Morrison pointed out.
"It doesn't matter, because we had a blast. You almost had me during the final round," Sora said, taking another bite.
"Yeah. You might not believe this, but I wasn't as competitive as I am now," Morrison said, taking another bite of his ice cream.
"Now, I find that hard to believe," Sora said. Morrison laughs.
"When I first got started, I just liked being in Pokémon battles, just for fun. I didn't really care if I won or lost; just that I had a good time," Morrison said, taking another bite.
"That I can believe," Sora said.
"And when I started to earn my Gym Badges, I started to get pretty competitive and stuff. And when you snapped me out of it during the first half of the match, I regained my fire. I just never expected to go up against a friend as good as you," Morrison said.
"That explains it. What matters is that you gave it your all, and had fun," Sora said, taking a last bite.
"Yeah, that was loads of fun. And the next time we battle, I'm going to win!" Morrison said, taking his last bite of his ice cream.
"I'm going to hold you to that, Morrison," Sora said, shaking hands with him. With that done, Sora returned to the Pokémon Center to pick up Pikachu and the others. Angel nuzzled Pikachu affectionatley as Pikachu just took it.
"How did the talk with Morrison go? Was he upset?" Kairi asked.
"No, just the opposite. He just had fun," Sora said. "Morrison wasn't too bothered by it at first, but we manged to talk it over with some ice cream." Kairi giggled.
"I'm sure he liked that," Kairi said. "And I can bet he would say that he bets he likes sea salt ice cream more than you do." Sora and Kairi both shared a laugh. "Any idea who you're going to be up against next?"
"Not yet. Just gotta wait and see first," Sora said.
The pairings had been made for the quarter-finals. Brendan is up against a girl with long blonde hair as Sora is paired off against Wally. Wally couldn't believe that he was battling Sora and after battling Morrison, he was starting to get nervous. Wally had to remember that Sora is expecting a good battle from him, so he had to give it everything he's got.
"I know I can do this," Wally said.
Sora, Brendan, and Wally were among the final eight trainers going off in the quarter-finals, and Sora finds that he's up against Wally whom he and Kairi met in Petalburg City after arrving from the Kanto region. Who will this battle go? Will Sora win in his voctory or will he be dropped? The battle between Sora and Wally will provide the answer to that in the next chapter.