PWT Arc: I AM the Storm
"Okay, Zoroark... Shadow Ball!" When the Powder Snow subsided, Zoroark came out of the ground again and blasted Froslass with a dark ball. However, it again silently dodged and came at Zoroark. "The ice is the source of its power!" Soleil lapsed back into her lilting way of speaking. "His heart- ice-cold, fearless, rigid... and yet, it throbs in pulsating beat, becoming one with the storm that was once its home." This was really starting to get on Mari's nerves, and that was saying something, because her Xtranceiver's alarm tone was, as already noted, extremely annoying. "Zoroark! Night Daze!" It growled, surprising Froslass with another attack that caused its Double Team illusions to fizzle. "A last gasp from the long fallen." Soleil sighed theatrically, then chuckled. "Very well, the ice will be its undoing!" Froslass clenched its power and sent a heavy blast of Powder Snow toward the approaching wave of shadows. The shadows drifted apart and the storm hit Zoroark, who backed away and growled sourly. "What do you mean by 'the long fallen'?" Mari asked, moodily folding her arms in front of her chest.
"Look at it!" Soleil pointed at Zoroark, who was losing more and more strength from the hail. "Tch. Nothing has been decided yet! Zoroark, attack!" Zoroark growled, then leapt forward. Its Shadow Claw hit Froslass, who was forced to back away. It hissed and disappeared into the storm. "How dare you?" Soleil hissed. "My Pokémon will make you pay for it, and now!" Behind Zoroark, it suddenly reappeared. "Ice Shard!" The shards of ice drilled into the illusion fox's back and it fell forward. There, it remained. "Thank you, Zoroark. You did your best." Mari withdrew it.
"You cannot brave the icy storm that surrounds us like a cold veil!" Soleil exclaimed. Mari looked up at Jacky, who was leaning forward a bit on the grandstand and pointing at the storm, looking a bit pensive as Froslass wove through the hail. Mari didn't understand what she was trying to tell her at first, but then she realized. She turned back to Soleil. "...I AM the storm." she replied firmly. "Skarmory, we will end this now!" Screeching, Skarmory appeared in front of her on the field.
"You are worthy of my Froslass, Mari, of that, I have no doubt. But your hopes will perish in the snow. This tragedy..."
Mari noticed that the hailstorm was already weakening- that's what Jacky had been trying to tell her. "You'll be surprised!" she replied. "Skarmory, Agility! We'll do it our way!" Skarmory's body lit up. "Let's buy time." It nodded and rose higher into the air.
"Double Team!" New illusions appeared around Skarmory.
"Don't let it get to you, Skarmory! Keep going!" Skarmory nodded and accelerated even harder before shooting vertically into the air to escape the illusions until it hovered just below the ceiling of the indoor stadium.
It was stalling for time and the hailstorm was weakening. "The weather really doesn't suit your name, Soleil", Mari commented, and she and her Froslass didn't notice that they were running out of time. "Opposites have always been my love," Soleil countered. "Go after it, Froslass! Powder Snow!" Froslass let loose another thick blizzard and took aim at Skarmory, who folded its wings and dodged the attack. "Agility!" It accelerated one more time. The hailstorm ebbed even further and Froslass lost speed. "Now, we strike back, Skarmory! Steel Wing!" With a loud screech and the new speed, Skarmory raced down and hit Froslass critically. It was hurled back mercilessly. The storm ceased. "Let's put an end to this! Aerial Ace!" Skarmory's claws shone brightly. Superior in speed now, it continued.
"This battle may be lost, but the light of victory will wash over us in the end, leaving you in the cold shadow of failure! Froslass, Ice Shard!" Pointed ice shards formed around Froslass and it attacked, but Skarmory dodged the pointed ice shards and wrenched its claws over its opponent, who landed on the ground knocked out. Skarmory returned to Mari and screeched in warning. "Way to go, Skarmory!" Mari winked up at Jacky, who gave her a raised thumb. "Now, Soleil... Summon your second Pokémon.",
"Your fighting spirit has not perished yet?" she asked, puzzled.
"No. It's just been rekindled.",
"That rekindles my will to defeat you as well." Soleil bowed. "This fight will stay with me for a long time like the warm summer wind! Now then. Floette, your time has come!" A petite Pokémon appeared in front of the blonde-haired girl. "The curtain is about to rise on a new battle spectacle! You and I will be the center of attention, bathing in the thunderous applause of the crowd.",
"Don't act up..." Mari sighed. "I'm not even close to being done with you. I have to fight Chris for Jacky. And you're not stopping me.",
"Oh, I'll spare you that suffering." Soleil pulled a pitying face. "Truly, Chris is a wall, forged of the hardest rock. You will shatter against him, and with you, all hopes of triumph." Then, she stretched out her arm. "This will never happen, for we will win!"
Chris had reclined on the grandstand and was calmly watching the fight. At Soleil's words, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, amused rather than exhilarated by the praise.
"Oh, save it!" Mari replied. "You're the one in a disadvantage here! Skarmory! Swift!" Skarmory flapped its wings, sending stars hailing down on Floette. "Fairy Wind!" A breeze came up and blew the stars back at the steel bird. "Agility and Steel Wing!" Mari shouted. Skarmory accelerated to the fourth stage and then shot forward. It destroyed his own stars with its wings and attacked. "Return!" Soleil commanded and Floette came towards Skarmory and the attacks clashed, but Floette was much weaker than Skarmory and thrown back. "Vine Whip! Grab its wings!" Soleil commanded. Strong vines wrapped around Skarmory's wings and yanked it to the ground. It shrieked in surprise. "Now Fairy Wind, again!" The winds rolled over Skarmory, but had little effect on it. "There's no shame in giving up," Soleil said compassionately.
"We're not giving up," Mari said firmly. "We're miles away from that. Skarmory, free yourself!" Skarmory stood back up and tore through the vines with Steel Wing like cutting them with sharp swords. It rose back into the air. "Now Steel Wing again!" It attacked.
"Time for our most powerful attack! Moon Blast!" Soleil shouted at Floette, who clenched light in front of it and hurled it at the flying-type Pokémon. Skarmory burst through the ball of light- but not without taking minor damage- and thundered its wing against Floette with full force. "What?!" Soleil screamed as Floette flew through the arena violently and crashed into the wall, unable to fight. "Oh no, Floette!"
Skarmory landed on the ground and croaked. "Way to go, Skarmory!" Mari ran to her Pokémon and patted it. "You did really great!" It closed its eyes in satisfaction. The audience went wild with excitement and Mari's name was shouted loudly over and over again. Nothing could hold Jacky on the stands anymore. She sprinted downstairs and fell around Mari's neck. "You did it! You really did it!" Mari laughed and returned the hug. "Surprise. I guess that means I'm in the finals!" She withdrew Skarmory. Soleil left the arena smiling and waved at Mari one more time before disappearing. When Jacky let go of her, the black-haired girl waved up to the audience. Then, she turned to her friend. "Come on, let's go back upstairs. Laslow is fighting Chris now." Jacky nodded and they went back upstairs, parting at the top. The tournament had reached its climax.
Laslow and Chris met on the battle field; two luminaries among the newcomers, yet only one of them would make it to the finals. Chris' gaze was filled with iron determination, while Laslow's face conveyed the coldness of a warrior ready to raise his sword against his foe. "I'm really curious to see how strong you really are. Don't you dare hold back... I would never forgive you for that," Chris admonished him. Laslow returned his gaze steadfastly. "I won't disappoint you... I'm ready to stand up to you."
Simultaneously, they summoned their Pokémon to the battlefield. While Chris led with his Inteleon, Laslow began the battle with his Grovyle.
Chris started the same way he did in the fight against Jacky- with Rain Dance. Inteleon then aimed a Snipe Shot at Grovyle, but Grovyle quickened its speed with Agility and dodged each of its shots. "Leaf Blade!" Laslow commanded, whereupon his partner charged at his opponent with blades shining brightly and landed the first, clean hit. Intelleon hissed. "Liquidation!" Chris retorted, after which his partner lashed out.
"Deflect it with X-Scissor!" Grovyle crossed its arms and repelled Inteleon's attack, but was thrown back by the force. It landed on its feet and returned to a fighting stance. "Go for the raid! Infuse your attacks with Toxic!",
"Sucker Punch!"
Before Grovyle could go for an attack, Inteleon gave it a punch in the pit of the stomach. Grovyle staggered and immediately struck back, but Inteleon dodged. Now, Laslow began to lay low, waiting for an opening while Chris kept chasing his foe over the battle field. Grovyle dodged Snipe Shots left, right and center until Chris precisely timed his next move. "Liquidation!" he shouted as Grovyle dodged another shot. Inteleon rushed forward and hit its opponent in the shoulder. Grovyle groaned as it backed away and its defenses were pierced. "Its defense stat has dropped..." Laslow folded his arms. "We can't risk anything anymore, the next hit could have nasty consequences. Chris' Inteleon relies on accuracy and penetration, but the rain is what gives it power. At some point, he will have to renew it... maybe, this is the opportunity we need... We just have to bide our time.",
"Drive it into a corner, Inteleon! Liquidation!" Inteleon attacked. "Agility, Grovyle! Focus on fending it off!"
Grovyle's blades lengthened and the opponents exchanged blows. Each blow from Inteleon was blocked by a Leaf Blade from Grovyle-until the rain subsided. "Rain Dance again, Inteleon! We must not forfeit anything!",
"Now, Grovyle! Toxic Leaf Blade!" While Inteleon tried to keep the rain going, Grovyle shot forward and its poisoned blades struck Inteleon. It backed away and held its side. The poison was already showing its first effects, draining his strength. "Hm... Heavy hit. You got us good, buddy," Chris admitted. "But we're not going to give up. Come on, Inteleon! Sucker Punch!"
The next blow almost brought Grovyle to its knees. Laslow gritted his teeth. "Stand firm!"
Grovyle's eyes glowed as a greenish aura surrounded it. Overgrow, Grovyle's ability, had activated, fueling the last remaining bits of its strength. "Now, we have to be swift! Leaf Blade!" Grovyle shot forward and struck down Inteleon. Chris smiled. "It always fascinates me how much power Pokémon can still get out of themselves in their last stand!" He withdrew Inteleon. "Tyranitar, let's get on with it!"
Laslow braced himself for this second phase of the fight while the vicious sandstorm brewed up, knowing full-well no mistakes were allowed to be made here. Grovyle was seconds from collapse, but he knew he had to make a good move to bring this titan down.
"Use Ice Punch, Tyranitar!" Chris commanded. His Pokémon struck at Grovyle, who dodged. "Infuse your attacks with poison once more, Grovyle! Let's bring it down slowly!"
Grovyle used its speed advantage to strike at Tyranitar, its Leaf Blade bringing forth the desired effect. Tyranitar growled and its next attack, Dark Pulse, hit the weakening grass-type Pokémon. Grovyle was knocked out.
"It's only a matter of time now when Tyranitar will fall in battle..." Laslow said. "If we can stall out until that point, we've won. Let's continue what we've started, Mismagius!" His ghost-type Pokémon appeared on the field. "Using Perish Song won't help me here, for I am not allowed to use any more Pokémon... however, if I can keep my distance, it should be enough... Okay, Mismagius! Magical Leaf!",
"Block it off with Stone Edge!" Chris shouted. A wall of sharp rocks formed in front of it on the ground and the leaves ricochet on it. "Use Dark Pulse next!" A strong blow of dark energy surged through the arena. "Use Protect!" Mismagius blocked off the attack and levitated back. "Again!" Chris shouted.
"Hold against it with Ominous Wind!"
Two attacks hit each other on the battlefield, but the incredible power Tyranitar held made itself known as its dark pulse resisted the sinister breezes and hit Mismagius full-on. The ghost was smashed into the ground. "Damn it... this is bad..." Laslow clenched one hand to a fist. "I can't repel every single one of his attacks... He knows dark type attacks will hit Mismagius, even if it uses its ability to disappear... I would need to gamble for Protect to take affect twice in a row to be able to buy enough time for the poison to finish it off... But I hate gambling. It's too unreliable. And I cannot risk anything in this battle... But it's not like I have a lot of options... I have to take chances here. The sandstorm also damages Mismagius, so we keep running out of time..." He stretched out his arm. "Mismagius, use Magical Leaf!",
"Block them with Stone Edge!" Again, his attack was blocked and he was couterattacked by Dark Pulse.
"Use Protect!" Laslow shouted and Mismagius guarded itself. Tyranitar seemed to be heavily affected by the poison. It was clearly visible to everyone watching- Laslow didn't focus on trying to deal damage to it, but instead, waited for the poison to do the job. Something no one had ever considered trying. To stall out and defeat the opponent passively... would this work out? "Use Dark Pulse again!",
"Keep protecting yourself!" Laslow shouted. The shield who had withstood the first dark pulse had broken, now, Mismagius struggled to rebuild it- but it eventually managed to do so.
"It actually worked out... that means we have to hold on just a little longer... Mismagius, counter-strike with Ominous Wind!" Laslow shouted. Mismagius tried a redeeming strike, but it didn't do a lot of damage to Tyranitar. Chris knew time was a scarce resource in this battle. Both of them were under heavy temporal pressure. While he had to defeat Laslow before the poison would take his partner down, he also knew Laslow had to stand his ground before the sandstorm would eat away at Mismagius' strength too much. He had to force Laslow to make an offense move instead of staying in the defensive position to stall out the whole battle. "Okay, Tyranitar! Use Ice Punch!" His partner roared and attacked fiercely, aiming at Mismagius. The Pokémon disappeared and re-appeared somewhere else. "Magical Leaf!" Laslow shouted. Mismagius attacked again. "Damaging it every once in a while will support the poison..." Laslow mumbled to himself. "It will slowly succumb to weakness. I have to keep this up just a little longer...",
"Use Dark Pulse to defend yourself!" Chris shouted and Tyranitar's shadows engulfed the leaves, making them turn to dust. "Now Stone Edge!",
"He knows what I'm trying to do, he forces me to fight back instead of trying to defend myself...", Laslow narrowed his eyes. "He is bombarding me with one attack after the other, trying to get me to let my guard down..."
Mismagius dodged the attack narrowly.
"He wants to put more pressure on me." He stretched out his arm. "Magical Leaf! Try to force it back!",
"Don't let it deter you, Tyranitar! Keep the pressure up!" Chris commanded. Jacky saw that Laslow got increasingly backed into a corner, yet, he bravely stood his ground trying to make use of every second this battle had to offer to exploit Tyranitar's increasing weakness and surviving the sandstorm. Mismagius disappeared again to escape an incoming Ice Punch. "Now! Dark Pulse!" Chris shouted. The attack hit Mismagius full-on as it wasn't fast enough to shield itself and it was defeated. Laslow sighed. "Well... I've done all I could. Yet, you still overpowered me.",
"You've put me into a tight spot here." Chris admitted as he withdrew his Pokémon. "I knew what you were counting on, yet I almost couldn't do anything against it. You played dirty on me there. I respect you fully, friend.",
"Thanks..." They shook hands. Mari was amazed by how different Laslow's style in this battle had been. Before, he was set on attacking and taking the opponent down swiftly, even one-shotting them on occasion... but she didn't know he could also fight more defensively. He was versatile. And that made it hard to classify him.