A Love -Hate Relationship
17
The Final Test
A/N: This Fan Fiction is based on the Galar region and games (Sword/Shield) featuring CanonXOC
After the meal Hop and Anani waited in the common room, playing with Zorua. Master Mustard had called for them to meet him in there. But it seems they weren't the only ones called.
"What's this?" Avery blinked, "Master Mustard called for you two as well?"
"Yeah." Hop shrugged, "We've no idea what it's about."
"I think it has to do with passing the second trial." said Klara.
"Right you are~" said Master Mustard, as he made his way into the common room, "That's exactly why I have gathered you four here." he said as he took to the front of the room and commanded attention. "Of all the student pairs that have taken part in the trials I set for you...you four were the only two pairs that managed to make it through trial two." he stated, "Therefore as such that deeps you each worthy of the third and final trial."
"The third and final trial!?" Avery and Klara gasped together.
"Sounds wicked!" said Hop, "What does it consist of?"
"Well..." Mustard blinked, "The third trial is meant to test the worthiness of ones heart." he explained,"To determine if it and they are worthy of wielding the secret Armor of this place."
"The secret Armor of the Dojo~" Avery hummed, "Of course we are worthy." he stated, "We can obtain that, and then become the Gym leaders we know we can be!"
"You can say that, Avery..."Mustard chuckled, "But it's not quite as easy as all that. He smiled and rested his gaze on a distracted Anani, who seemed to have quickly bonded well with her newly caught Zorua.
"Take Anani, for example." he stated.
"Huh?" She blinked up in response, "She has successfully shown a strong will, good judgement and humility." he nodded,"And she's done so at such a level that this young Zorua, a Poke'mon that is normally timid of people and often hides in disguises, chose her." he said, "And her good friend as well as close rival Hop here has shown both a strong and good heart." he explained,"They compliment eachother as both friends, and rivals, like Yin and Yang."
"But Master-"
"I'm not finished yet, Klara." he continued, "Both you and Avery have shown remarkable potential." he stated, "As well as remarkable growth." he nodded, "The way I see it, both set of you lot could each be worthy of the Armor."
"This Armor you're talking about sounds like the tops!" Hop beamed, "But can't armor only be worn by one person?" he asked.
"Indeed." Mustard nodded, "You're absolutely right, Hop." he said, "While it's true that each and everyone of you could easily be deemed worthy of this armor..."he blinked," I'm afraid only one of you may take it."
Avery and Klara gasped as they exchanged glances with each other.
"But...how can we determine which one of us will get to take it, Master?" Klara asked.
"We will start with a double battle first." said Mustard, "The winning team will then earn the right to face each other for the right to claim the armor as their own." he stood and straightedned out his varsity jacket, "I shall be waiting on you at the Battle field in back." said Mustard, "Come when you are ready."
A hush fell among the group. Each one exchanged glances with each other.
"Well then!" Avery huffed, "You won't be seeing me sitting around here!" he said as he stood and mae way to the field.
"Me either." said Klara, "I am fully prepared to crush you!"
"We'll be waiting for whenever you two laze-a-bouts are ready to face us!" the blonde male gave a smirk as he shifted his glasses and he and Klara quickly made haste to the battle field.
"I'm ready too!" said Hop, "What about you, Anani?"
The girl softly flipped her Red Wine colored hair and her Hot magenta eyes flashed with a spark of excitement as she nodded.
"Now that I know Zorua is all better, I feel ready for anything." she grinned, "Come along now, Shifty!" She smiled as she tossed the ball up in the air. The small fox yipped in excitement as he leapt from her chest and flippe into his own Poke'ball that she caught firmly in the palm of her hand, "Let's do this!" she grinned.
XXXXX
As he stated, Master Mustard waited in the center of the battle field. Avery and Klara stationed themselves on one side, whispering between each other as Hop and Anani took to the other side.
"Glad to see you twohave made it." the master chuckled. Soon after, both sides of the field began to fill with the fellow Dojo resients, each one excited to see what kind of battle would take place between the two pairs.
"Good luck! All of you!" they cheered in excitement as Hop and Anani waved their thanks and Klara and Avery nodded in satisfaction.
"Now then..." said Master Mustard, "I expect a good clean fight..." he grinned,"BEGIN!"
"I'll start things off if you don't mind~" said Klara, "Let's go~ Skorupi!'
"skurriiiiiiiiii!"
As the battle began a pirple Scorpion then took the field.
"Fine by me!" said Avery, "I'll send out the ever so elegant Ponyta~!"
Elegant was an understatement. As per the Ponyta of Galar, it looks straight out of a fairy tale, in color and elegance.
"All right Shifty!" Anani grinned, "Do your best!"
Normally Zorua disguise themselves at the start of a battle, but it seemed Anani's new Zorua was just as excited to fight as he was to play.
"Then I'll go on with Wooloo!" said Hop.
The four Poke'mon stood ready and waiting.
"Since Skorupi is also a bug, I think rolling out with Roll out ought to be a good start to this battle!" Hop grinned as the everly poofed out sheep rolled its way toward its target.
"Klara!" Avery called out.
"I've got you, Avery!" Anani stated, "Psychic types are weak against Dark types, so let's use Payback!" she declared. Both attacks landed well and did decent damage, but if the battle started out too easy you could hardly call it a fun match.
"How dare you!" Avery growled, "Move in with Psywave!"
"Shifty, act fast!" Anani called out and in that instant the fox Poke'mon swiftly bounced off of Wooloo, the momentem causing it to move out of the Psywave's direct hit on it so that it instead went toward Zorua. Though little luck, Psychic type attacks remain ineffective against the Dark type Poke'mon.
"Thanks for the help!" Hop grinned.
"Not so fast!" said Klara, "Skorupi use Posion Tail!" a whimpering cry echoed out of Zorua as it took the direct hit.
"Oh no!" Anani cried,"We just got over his poisoning!" to their poor luck, the effect of the attack poisoned poor Zorua yet again. But he still edged to fight.
"Hang on mate!" said Hop, "Roll Out's attack doubles each time it lands!" he said,"And thanks to that move Skorupi is in Wooloo's target zone!"
"Oh no!" Klara cried, "Skorupi! Get out of the way!"
But it was too late. Another direct hit landed on the the scorpion, knocking it out cold!
"No, oh no!" Klara cried, "Skorupi, return!" she called out.
"That round goes to Wooloo and Hop!" stated the master.
"Roll Out isn't the only attack that gets doubled after a hit!" said Anani, "Go for Pay Back, one more time!" she said, "After all there's a reason why it's called so!"
However since Skorupi was no longer on the field, that made the target of this attack automatically land on Ponyta. And with the bonus help of the type advantage, victory was on her side.
"Ponyta, return!" said Avery.
"Well done, Shifty!" said Anani,"Fall back now, you need no further part in this fight."
With a weakened nod the poisoned fox smirked in victory and fell weakly as the return beam brought it back into safety.
"Don't you worry." she said to the Zorua's Poke'ball, "As soon as this is over We'll fix you right up, rest now."
"And that's match." said Mustard, "Round one goes to Team Anani and Hop!"
"All right!" said Hop, pumping his fist up victoriously as he called back his Wooloo.
"This isn't over yet!" said Avery, "Next I choose, Swoobat!"
"Swooooo~"
The happy bat took position on the field eager to begin while Klara called out her next Poke'mon as well.
"Wheezing! Go!" She beamed.
"These look like tough foes..." Hop gulped nervously,"But I believe we can win...Let's go, Scorbunny!"
"For my next Poke'mon..." Anani pondered for a moment, "I'll go with Swiper!" She grinned.
And the new team, Scorbunny and Nikit were ready.
"Quickly now!" said Anani,"Use Snarl!"
Nikit let out a fierce growl as it charged in affecting both enemy Poke'mon differently. Swoobat, naturally took big damage thanks to the type advantage bonus, but its wings still beat strong while Wheezing took on a smack with Nikit's charge, it was more intimidated by the threatening apprach.
"Use Clear smog!" said Klara.
A white smoke covered the field causing Nikit and Scorbunny to go into a cough attack, and not only them, but their trainers too.
"Quick, Scorbunny!" Hop hacked,"Clear this screen up with Ember!"
With a firm nod the energetic rabbit took to the air and sent rapid balls of fire out into the field which instantly cleared away the fog, but taking to the air was not the wisest choice, as once the smoke cleared, he was met with a right smack of Swoobat's wing attack.
"Scorbunny!" Hop cried out, "Hop it off, partner!" he said.
"Swiper!" Anani called, "Strike back with Assurance!" as Scorbunny fell, Nikit leapt to the air, landing a right smack against the Swoobat, bringing it down to the Fire stepping Rabbit's level.
"Now's your chance, mate!" said Hop, "Use Ember while he's down!"
The flickering balls of fire landed a direct hit on the already badly damaged Swoobat, which was enough to exhaust it into defeat.
"That round goes to Hop and Scorbunny!" Mustard called out.
"That was a team effort mate!" Hop grinned, "Now prepare yourself, Klara, necause we're coming for you next.
"Oh no!" She cried, "Use Clear Smog!" But it did little good. While the white smoke covered the field again and created another hack attack, the two Partner Poke'mon were already too close to the target.
"Strike back with Assurance!" said Anani.
"Scorbunny, help them out with Double Kick!"
With both full contact attacks, the force alone was enough to send Wheezing flying off the field to the back cliff, knocing it out cold.
"Oh Foo!" klara called,"Wheezing, Return!"
"Round two!" said Mustard,"Hop and Anani!" the two friends grinned as they clapped a full force high five in victory.
"Well done mate!" Hop said to Scorbunny, "Rest up, I'll call you again if you're needed!"
"Great job, Swiper!"
Nikit cried out in glee as it leapt happily into Anani's arms to which she gave a warm hug too before calling it back to rest.
"Round Three." said Master Mustard, "Start!"
"Go! Kadabra!" said Avery.
"And I'll choose Whirlipede!" said Klara.
"If that's the case, I'm going with Rookidee!" said Hop.
"And I'll choose-Sobble!" said Anani,"Let's go, Bloo!" she stated.
This was a difficult type match up. No matter how you looked at it, it was gonna be a tough fight.
"Bloo!" said Anani, Use Water Pulse!" in an instant a bullet of pulsating water was shot out directly at Avery's Kadabra. And while it wasn't weak or strong against it, it hit with a good amount of force enough to knock it back.
"Whirlipede use Venoshock!" said Klara. Quickly Sobble and Rookidee hopped out of range.
"Don't think you're gonna get away with that, mate!" said Hop, "Use Peck, Go!" Rookidee flew in swiftly rapidly pecking at the Bug Poke'mon that couldn't do too much moving, having to take the full brunt of an attack that was strong to the type advantage. It was rather quickly.
"Rats!" Klara cried out at she called back her Whirlipede.
"That match goes to Hop and Rookidee!" said Mustard.
"Nicely done!" said Hop as he called back his Poke'mon, "All right Scorbunny, I hope you got a decent rest because Sobble needs you now!" he said, throwing out his fire partner once again. One of which Sobble seemed happy to see.
"Let's take on that Kadabra!" he stated, "Together now!"
"Roger!" Anani nodded,"Use Water Pulse!"
"And you, hit him with Ember!" said Hop.
"No! Use Psywave! Quickly now!" but the two partner poke'mon moved too fast for the beam, and managed to dodge it during their double charged attack. With both hits landing square on, the damage was massive, and with thanks to an added bonus of Water Pulse, Kadabra's own confusion was its undoing.
"Round Three, Hop and Anani!" Mustard beamed.
"No!" said Avery, "We can't lose here!" he declared, "I still have one Poke'mon left!"
"And so do I!" said Klara. The two looked to eachother with fierce determination and nodded, calling upon their last Poke'mon together:
"GO! SLOWBRO!" they cried, and two Slowbros stood massively over the tiny starters.
"There's a deadly duo..." Hop gulped, "Each of those Slowbros are both a Psychic and a Poison type..."
"We can't give up here!" said Anani.
"Of course not!" Hop beamed, "I'm way too excited to quit!" he said, "So let's win it!" he shot a a fist forward,"Double Kick!" he demanded.
"You give it your all, too, Bloo!" Anani cried, "Water Pulse!"
Both hits landed, albeit neither was too tough against such an opponent, but that doesn't mean damage wasn't done. The Confusion effect of Water Pulse that Anani was hoping for, occured with Succession.
"Oh no, they're both confused!" Klara huffed.
"That doesn't mean they can't fight through it!" said Avery, "Use Water Pulse!" Moving dizzily, he still managed to hit with Succession.
"Scorbunny!" Hop cried. That was a super effective landing.
"Scorbunny is unable to battle further!" said Mustard, "That round goes to Avery and Slowbro!"
"Yes! Victory is in our grasp!" said Avery with a grin.
"You fought well, partner." Hop saighed as he called back the now resting fire rabbit.
"Sobble! Return!" Anani called out,"Well done, Bloo, you've done what you needed to. You've earned yourself a rest." she said.
"Withdrawing Sobble?" Hop blinked, "Anani? What are you up to.
"Nothing." she said, "I just have a restless partner here who's itching for revenge for his friend~" she grinned, "Go, Punkoon!"
"Oi! I remember you! You little punk!" Hop laughed, "In that case...perhaps I should bring about your old friend too~!" he grinned, "Go Wooloo!"
"It doesn't matter how many Poke'mon you throw at us!" said Avery.
"That's right!" said Klara,"Because no matter what, you're going down!" she declared,"use Acid!"
"Quickly try to avoid the ground as much as you can!" said Anani.
Zigzagoon didn't have too hard a time avoiding attacks. With the Zig Zag pattern he moved in dodging was something of second nature. However Wooloo's roundness didn't make it easy what with its stubby legs.
"Punkoon! use Snarl!" said Anani. And he released a fierce growl, a strong effecting attack on either target.
"Quickly, Wooloo!" called Hop, "Use Roll Out!"
While the attack alone wasn't partcularly strong against their opponent, its doubling damage each round made things very helpful.
Pretty soon every party was beginning to show its exhaustion.
"This is it!" said Anani, "Now or never!"
"Roger!"
Punkoon the Zigzagoon dug down deep putting everything he had in his Snarl attack, and with the finishing blow of Wooloo's Roll Out, they finally went down like a couple of bowling pins. Victory was in their hands.
"And that's the conclusion!" said Mustard, "Both teams fought their hardest, but in the end, the winner was...Team Hop and Anani!"
"WICKED!" Hop beamed and threw his arms around Anani who, shocked by the action blushed wildly as he shook her in their victory. Soon realizing what he had done, his cheeks went a flush and he quickly pulled back looking off awkwardly while Anani couldn't help but giggle.
"Oi, Anani!" Hop called out, trying to change her attention onto something else, "Lookit! It's Punkoon!" he stated.
"Say what?" she blinked and quickly turned to find her Zigzagoon a-glow. "I don't believe it..." she gasped before breaking into a smile of glee, "Punkoon...you're evolving!"
As the light dimmed out, Punkoon let out a mighty howl, what was once a Zigzagoon, was now a Linoonm who lapped his tounge happily before all but tackling his trainer in an effectionate take down.
"Check it!" Hop grinned, "He's a Linoone!"
"Well isn't that a surprise in of itself." Master Mustard chuckled.
"I can't believe we lost..." Klara sighed.
"...I can." said Avery, "They worked well together and supported each other...where as you and I were kind of all over the place with out own selfish goals in mind." he sighed,"It only goes to show that we have a long way to go...not only as future Gym Leaders..." he blinked, "But as trainers as well." he smiled and approached the two who celebrated the new found power of their freshly evolved friend.
"Congratulations you two." said Avery.
"Yeah..." said Klara, "We totally lost." she sighed," I guess that means you two will now get to battle it out for the armor now..."
"Pass." said Hop.
"What!?" Avery and Klara were both stunned.
"Don't get me wrong." said Hop, "I'm always down for a good Poke'mon battle." he stated, "Especially with my rival." he grinned as he nudged a teary eyed Anani, who was over joyed at Punkoon's growth.
"But I don't need to battle her now to know that she's more than worthy of the Armor." said Hop.
"I see..." Mustard blinked, "So you are passing it up to Anani, are you?"
"I am." Hop nodded, "I don't need armor to be strong...besides...if anything~ Anani will need it for when I beat her!" he winked.
"Is that so?" Mustard chuckled, "Then congratulations, Anani." he said, "The Armor is yours. It will take some time to prepare so, in the mean time, enjoy your feat with your new Linoone." he grinned as he made his way off the field.
"Anani..." Klara said softly, catching the girl's attention, "Listen...I'm...sorry about how I treated you."
Avery nodded.
"Yes, As am I." he stated," So I-" he coughed, "I will acknowledge your strength...this time." he huffed and took off in a run back toward the Dojo, leaving Klara behind. She shook her head and shifted timidly in her butterfly pumps.
"I...I hope..." she said softly, "I hope I'll be as strong as you are someday." she said, and followed suit.
To be Continued