Draco adjusted his black leather gloves (made from the hide of a rare breed of Tauros found only in the deserts of Unova) carefully, tugging at them to make sure they were perfectly on and wouldn't bother him in the slightest. He wanted to make the perfect impression when he utterly destroyed Potter and proved to the entire school who the best Pokémon Trainer was at Hogwarts. As such he had selected the best of his dueling outfits (he was a Malfoy, after all, and unlike the gutter trash that surrounded him in Hogwarts he didn't go with only a single outfit when it came to official Pokémon battles), one that let all see just how regal and stately he was… not like the riffraff he was forced to attend class with. Perfectly shined shoes that had been tailored made for him and him alone. Black trousers and a black jacket, both spun from dyed Mareep wool, over a dark gray dress shirt and royal purple vest (both made from Ariados silk). His gloves of course as well as a matching purple Pokeball case, and finally a small high tech optical dex that wrapped around his head with a view screen built into the lenses. The last piece would feed him information about any Pokémon he scanned and provide him with the information he needed in order to win any matchup before Potter had a chance to call out an attack. Nothing else was needed… too many people went for the outrageous or the fanciful when it came to what they wore for battles, desperate to cover up their failures with gaudy clothing. Or, at least, that's what his father was fond of saying. Draco remembering some of the things he'd seen the Elite 4 in other regions wear, including a suit of full plate armor in Kalos. Draco didn't need such things… he had his talent, the same talent every Malfoy possessed.
'Malfoys don't need extra pieces to get by,' he thought as he adjusted the optical scanner and made sure he could easily see all the information it would provide him so he could select the best course of action for his battle. 'Just our natural talent.'
He had been waiting for this moment ever since Potter had showed him up their first day back at Hogwarts. The little fool (despite the summer having seen Potter go through a growth spurt that had him half a head taller than Draco and far more muscular and fit) had breezed in and stolen the spotlight, claiming everyone's attention for his own and Draco was sick of it. Potter had always been a glory hound, seeking attention that had never truly belonged to him (tricking his way onto the Gauntlet team, forcing his way into the Tournament, stealing the Beast of Slytherin from his father) but this year had only seen his greed for acknowledgement get worse. He raised his hand more often in class to get attention, was more active in the Great Hall with the other sniveling Gryffindors, making connections with Claws and Puffs and even a few Slytherins like that traitor Greengrass… it was disgusting.
Well, no more. Draco would be putting Potter in his place.
After Potter had foolishly accepted his challenge (and even made the mistake of getting Prof. Slate involved so that this would be an official battle!) Draco had quickly hurried about to ensure the rest of the school knew all about it. Luckily most had been in the Great Hall when Draco had forced Potter to meekly accept his challenge and those that didn't were excited to hear the news. He'd heard a few Puffs whisper about how they couldn't wait to see 'that stuck up bastard finally get the beatdown he deserves' and was quite thrilled that his gladhanding and connection building had been working.
'Not quite sure what that foolish brat Patil meant when she said "I can't wait to see that blonde shit get the smile wiped off is face". How could she be in Ravenclaw and think Potter had blond hair? Idiotic child but what do you expect… her family isn't even from Avalon!'
Prof. Slate had arranged for them to use the battle classroom and had been forced to activate the rarely used second story viewing area so that much of the Hogwarts student body could observe the battle. They were milling about, those that had come early grabbing seats while the late comers were jockeying for position on the second floor, shifting and stomping about to find the best place to stand.
Almost the entire staff had also arrived to watch the battle, which pleased Draco greatly. Prof. Slate had arranged to make this an official competition so that no one would get into trouble and as such all the professors were there to see how their hard work and training had molded Draco into the trainer he was today. Many of them wore looked of disappointment and disagreement and Draco understood why, of course. For the latter it was that they didn't want to see Harry Potter, the Golden Boy of Gryffindor, brought down to his knees and crushed so easily. For the former it was the knowledge of what was going to happen and how poorly Potter was about to do, proving that he didn't belong at Hogwarts at all.
Draco, for his part, had arrived early so that he could be positioned and waiting for Potter to arrive. He stood as his father did when Draco had seen him take on a Gym Challenger, with straight back and head held high, nose in the air and shoulders square. 'Make him come to you. Show him that he has to crawl to you like the mutt he is. That you are the master.' Crabbe and Goyle and Pansy had offered to stand with him but he had told them to sit down; he didn't need support. He would stand alone to show that he, and only he, was needed to take down his foe.
The Prince of Slytherin smirked as Potter finally entered.
~MC~MC~MC~MC~
Harry rolled his wrist, knowing he was only imagining the sounds of the servos in his artificial hand as he wiggled his fingers. The doctors in Johto had spared no expense when it came to his prosthetic, motivated by the fact that the Father of Johto had commissioned the artificial hand. They'd designed it with silent mechanics and Dark Iron infused with size-altering circuitry so that it would grow as he did and he'd never need a replacement. Harry quietly reached down and ensured that his dex was locked into its holder on his hip, knowing that the connection Jack had pushed to include in his prosthetic was active. Harry only carried empty Pokeballs now, using the dex to quickly call forth the full ones from the PC storage and place them within the receptacle in his palm. It was the same thing Jack did with his escrima sticks, letting people think they help all his Pokeballs when in reality they were kept locked away until called for. It was a safety feature, to ensure that if someone did manage to break through the powerful encryptions in his Pokeballs (which had only been enhanced further thanks to Ginny adding her own protections into all of their friends Pokeballs) they would only get one Pokémon.
He tugged on the glove he wore on his left hand before rolling his shoulders. His outfit was a mix of all the men in his life that had trained and influenced him. The black jeans were a favorite style of Remus while the boots were all Jack, heavy duty with a small environmental control that allowed him to adjust their coolness or heat depending on the weather. His new red jacket was cut like Jonas' and the shirt he wore underneath was similar to Lance's preferred wear under his own battle outfits. The black hood he had pulled up was Sons design, made of a fiber that appeared solid on the outside but as clear as glass to the one looking through it; it always amused Jack that people thought he'd wear a standard hood that would obscure his vision. Finally there was the half skull mask he'd first gotten from Sirius the year prior, the lenses in the eyes also linked to his dex and feeding him information about his surroundings.
Harry glanced to his right and left as he walked into the modified arena. He was flanked by his friends, with Ron directly behind him, Luna and Hermione to his sides, and Ginny and Neville behind them. Leafeon prowled beside him while Hedwig flew above their heads. People had been whispering more and more that they were The Pride and Harry had finally decided to adopt the name in full. Jack and Lance had their Pack and he would have his Pride. There was never any question that he would enter with them, for just like the Pack their greatest strength was their unity.
Harry locked eyes with Draco. He had purposely waited until the very last moment to enter, remembering Remus' lessons well.
"Whenever someone comes to challenge a member of the Elite 4 they enter their chamber and then wait. Sometimes for a moment, sometimes for an hour… it all depends on the Elite 4 member. The challenger must watch the theatrics, the slow walk, listen to their speech. Always make your foe wait for you… make it so they understand that you are the master and the battle only begins when you say it can. No sooner, no later."
Even without the need to scan Draco's mind this battle served Harry's cause quite well. He needed to continue to cultivate the appearance of him being headstrong and cocky, of seeking attention and wanting attention. Because he did want it… just not in the way people thought. He wanted every eye on him so that his allies (and, if he were to be fully honest, the people that were quickly becoming part of his extended family) could operate in the shadows. To hunt and kill those that would one day stand with Voldemort and against him. This was just another way to distract. Draco was sure to send emails about this to his parents and Harry wagered many that of those watching would do the same. It would get into the papers, first thanks to Luna and her father and then the likes of The Galahad. Rita Skeeter in particular had been taking a ton of joy in reporting his actions, telling her readers about all the wild and mad things Harry was doing. Nearly a third of them were true; Harry still wasn't sure where she'd gotten the idea that he was creating a harem and planned to take one daughter from each Gym Leader family but he'd laughed himself silly over that before telling a glowering Ginny (who was, according to the mudslinger, his first prize) that Jasmine had made it clear that she didn't share. A battle against Lucius Malfoy's son? That would get tongues waging for sure.
They had practiced the night before their entire entrance and while in any other situation his friends would have laughed and mocked him for gesturing for them to go sit without saying a word, claiming he was doing a wonderful impression of a moronic git, they knew that he needed to be seen as the King of the Pride at this moment and thus took their seats without even a twitch of their lips.
Prof. Slate stepped forward and greeted them both before holding a mic up. "This will be a six vs. six battle. Trainers may only swap out Pokemon after one has fainted, their own or their opponent's. If a trainer feels that the match is lost before their Pokémon faints they may declare so and that Pokémon will be treated as fainted."
"Select your Pokémon then, Potter," Draco sneered.
Harry merely smirked. "As you are the challenger you have first action, Malfoy."
Draco sputtered a bit. "I said-"
"You said that you challenged me to a battle in the Great Hall. That makes you the challenger." Harry smirked and held out his arms. "So you get first pick."
The blond prick glowered before selecting a Pokeball. "Boldore!"
Harry felt the skin on his palm shift as the metal that made up his false hand opened and as the Pokeball he'd selected dropped into his awaiting fingers. "Orion, I choose you!"
~MC~MC~MC~
Draco glowered at the sight of the Black Family Pokémon standing there beside the traitor who wallowed in the filth with the dregs of their society. "You have no right to use him!" Draco declared. "If anyone should hold such an honorable Pokémon it is me! My mother was a Black! Their blood is mine!"
Without even blinking an eye Potter answered, "And my grandmother was a Black as well, big deal. Dig far enough into the Black Family tree and almost every family is related to them. Besides, you are just a child of the house… I am Sirius' heir. I will be Lord Black one day… not you."
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Draco muttered darkly, his father's schemes to have Sirius and Potter both removed so that Draco might claim the Black fortune dancing in his head. Louder, Draco declared, "When I-"
"Can we fight now?" Harry asked, every word dripping with his annoyance.
Draco sneered. "If you want to fall so quickly so be it! Boldore, Rock Slide!"
"Orion, dodge and go into a Rain Dance!"
The Empoleon did just that, just managing to avoid Boldore's attack before he began to move quickly, feet tapping on the floor and wings waving about. Storm clouds gathered overhead and Draco glowered all the more at Potter as rain began to pelt him, soaking into his clothing as the rain came down with growing intensity. Nothing that would hurt himself or Boldore but enough to utterly annoy the Slytherin. He reached up and wiped his eyes clear of the water while Potter continued to stand there, his clothing apparently treated for such weather and thus allowing the droplets to fall to the ground without leaving him soaked.
'He just wants to make me look like a fool!' Draco mentally snarled before a smirk formed on his lips. He reached up and selected Boldore's attack information, pulling up a strategy one of his tutors had come up with last summer that would work perfect for this situation. 'Everyone oohed and aaahed when he defeated Prof. Slate despite having the type disadvantage…what will they say when I do the same!' Mentally cackling over seeing Potter's soul shatter when Draco made him look like the dupe he truly was, Draco held out his hand and called out. "He wants to dance? So be it. Iron Defense as he shuffles about!"
The Boldore's rocky body flashed as it began to convert soft stone into a much denser material. The water continued to come down, the storm getting all the worse the harder Orion waved his wings and shifted his legs. Draco, willing to let Potter make the floor as wet as he wanted, called out for his Boldore to continue using Iron Defense. Potter clearly planned to use the water to his advantage, to power up his attacks, but Draco had something in mind that would render that liquid utterly useless.
"As we actually going to battle?" Draco asked, his tone mocking not only Harry's strategy but also how he'd talked to him only moments ago. Harry merely shrugged at the Empoleon continued to dance, shifting and flinging his wings about. "I'm not going to make the first move, Potter, if that is what you expect! I'm happy to have Boldore strengthen his defenses until your strikes bounce off him like water drops on a mountain! So you might as well-"
It was only then that Draco realized that Orion had used his dance to get in close to his Pokémon… and that halfway through he'd stopped dancing all together and merely hardened his wings. With a sudden shifting of his weight Orion launched himself forward, delivering a series of Metal Claws. If it hadn't been for the Iron Defenses Boldore had thrown up his monster would have surely been knocked out after the 5th blow. As it was the attacks were doing mild damage, knocking off bits and pieces of Draco's Pokémon along with its health.
Draco smirked. All according to plan.
"NOW!" he called out and when Orion went for another swing he stumbled and nearly fell when he found that Boldore was no longer there. Looking about the Empoleon turned just in time to get a stony leg right to the face. "Stomping Tantrum!" Draco declared and his Pokémon rushed over, far faster than he should have been able to arrive, and began to kick and strike Orion, forcing him to kneel down and try and protect his head. Finally there was a pause and Potter's Pokémon attempted to make a counter attack but Boldore was already out of the way, setting up a Rock Slide Draco called out for him to perform before he easily rushed through the water. "Stomping Tantrum again!" Draco smirked as he watched his Pokémon once more slam his rocky legs into Potter's sham of a Pokemon. Clearly he didn't deserve a Black Family Empoleon if he couldn't train it properly and soon the school would see that. "I suppose you are wondering how I am able to do this?"
Potter didn't say a word, instead watching as his Empoleon used Aqua Jet to speed away from Boldore.
Draco, annoyed that he was being ignored, called out to all that were watching, "My Boldore has the ability Weak Armor. When you attacked him you damaged his body, reducing his defense… but that weight that was removed-"
"We know!" someone called out. "We learn that in second year!"
"-it increases his speed. Normally that would make him a glass cannon but thanks to all the Iron Defenses I used he only dropped back to his already considerable originally defensive strength. And with how much faster he is now I can command him to boost his defense right back up before you can land a blow! You are finished, Potter! If you surrender now I'll let you leave here with a bit of dignity!"
"Orion, into the air and Blizzard!"
Draco raised an eyebrow as Orion leapt into the air, thrusting out his wings and summoning for a blast of cold that managed to keep him aloft. Boldore also looked up, staring as the fat raindrops that had been pounding down on them turned into large snowflakes and freezing drizzle that pounded on the ground. Draco's confusion gave way to rage as he felt his soaked clothing begin to freeze, his body shivering as the cold seeped through his outfit and into his skin. It hurt his eyes and made his cheeks burn but the worst of it was how he knew it was making him look like a joke. Once more Potter couldn't just lose with dignity… he had to try and drive him down, to ruin him and make him look like a wreck just so he felt a bit better about his miserable showing.
'I won't let him get away with this. If he thought I'd show him mercy then he is wrong!' Thrusting out his hand, ignoring how much his fingers ached from the chill, he called out, "Boldore, bring him down! Rock Slide and then Stomping Tantrum!" The rocky Pokémon nodded, summoning forth several small to medium-sized boulders and throwing them at Orion, connecting with the third one. Since the Empoleon had barely been managing to hover thanks to the icy gusts he easily slammed down to the arena floor and Draco smirked as his Boldore rushed forward…
…and continued past Orion and slammed into the wall.
"What are you doing? Get him!" Boldore though stumbled and shifted only to rush in the opposite direction, nearly striking Potter before hitting the wall again. "Boldore! I command-" Draco took a step forward only to slip himself, falling down right upon his rear. While it hurt a bit what was more painful was the laughter that wafted down from the audience, circling him like a foul fog. Draco pressed his hand down, cheeks burning now with embarrassment, only to pause when, rather than find his gloved hands submerged in water, he realized he was touching a sheet of ice.
The Rain Dance followed by the Blizzard…
The pieces locked into place.
"That's the thing about suddenly gaining a speed boost… not being used to it to begin with. Like going from 0 to 60 in a car and then being asked to make some tight turns. Hard to do. But add in a skating rink?" Boldore's legs skittered rapidly before it fell down, sliding and smashing into yet another wall. "Oh, and Draco? Iron Defense only covers physical defense, not special… Orion, Ice Bream!" The Empoleon nodded and fly a blast of icy blue energy that struck Boldore, coating his entire form. He was freed rather quickly… when the force of the blast caused him to rocket towards Draco, forcing his trainer to leap away, landing on his stomach while Boldore struck the wall, the ice shattering to revealing the rocky Pokémon was knocked out.
"Boldore is unable to battle!" Prof. Slate declared.
"No, he can-" Draco tried to argue only for the Battle Instructor to cut him off.
"I know Rock types, Mr. Malfoy. Your Boldore is knocked out." He turned to Harry, ignoring Draco's glower at how he'd been dismissed. "Mr. Potter, would you like to keep your Empoleon out?"
Harry shook his head. "I'll switch out." He held up Orion's H-Marked pokeball and recalled him.
"Then, per the rules, you will send out first and Mr. Malfoy will go second. Each of you have 60 seconds to select your Pokémon."
Draco watched as Potter retracted his Pokeball back into his disgusting false hand before he looked down at his Leafeon and said a few words to him. 'Pathetic,' Draco thought, watching as Potter and his starter had a brief conversation. Draco didn't know how Potter had taught his Pokémon to speak, figuring it was some filthy Johtoian trick that murderer Kenway had taught him, but it honestly didn't matter to him, as it only proved how pathetic Potter was. 'He is the trainer, the master… and a true master didn't ask those that serve them what they should do.' Potter finally nodded and his Leafeon marched forward. 'Well… time for me to show him how a true master acts.' With that Draco selected the perfect Pokeball. "Arbok!"
~MC~MC~MC~
Harry and Leafeon shared a look before he quickly plunged themselves and Hedwig into the Speaker's Realm. It wasn't of course really needed for Leafeon, as he was Harry's Speaking Partner, nor Hedwig, who had gained the ability to talk only a month ago after Harry and her had separated from a merge and she'd been startled to find she could curse him out in English. No, it was someone else that Harry wanted to talk to.
Arbok.
"You aren't thinking of trying to convince me to turn on my master, are you?" Arbok hissed. "I've heard of your power."
"No, I'm not," Harry said with a smile. "You were very polite and respectful when we last talked and I wanted to do this properly: despite how I feel about Draco I will treat this battle with respect and fairness. I won't use Speaking to give me an advantage. May the best Pokémon win."
"…it is the greatest of pities, Mr. Potter, that we will never be on the same side."
With that Harry released the Speaker's Realm, no one the wiser as he called out, "Leafeon, get rid of that ice now! Sunny Day, full intensity!"
"Arbok, lock those fangs into the green wimp!" Draco commanded as Leafeon fired off a ball of solar energy into the sky. Instantly there was an intense heat that filled the arena as the artificial sun shone down upon them. As a result a great cloud of fog rolled in as the ice turned to water vapor, allowing Leafeon to quickly dodge before Arbok could latch on, slinking into the darkness as he fired off a Seed Bomb attack.
"This isn't going to easy," Hedwig said, flying down to perch on Harry's shoulder. "Does Leafeon know anything that can hurt Arbok?"
"Hurt, yes," Harry said as Leafeon quickly dodged another attempt at a Poison Fang, managing a Leaf Blade before moving back into the fog. "But highly effective? Nothing. Too small for ground attacks like Earthquake and the only Psychic moves he could have learned would only have come from a…" he frowned as a screen popped up on his mask's dex screen. "…a Munna? Or Exploud? How would that even-?"
"Shouldn't we focus on the fight, considering that Arboks can learn the Elemental Fangs and Leafeon is weak to 2/3rds of them?"
"I am, actually," Harry muttered. "Leafeon can keep this up for a while, thanks to the fog and the boost he's getting from his Chlorophyll ability, but eventually Arbok will latch on and we need a plan."
"Would be nice if he had Leaf Guard."
"That doesn't stop Fire Fang," Harry pointed-
Leafeon cried out as Arbok finally latched on, body twitching as around the area where Arbok was clamped down purple veins of venom appeared under Leafon's skin.
"Leafeon, Aerial Ace to shake him off!"
"Not so fast, Potter!" Draco declared. "Arbok, Wrap!" The serpent coiled itself around Leafeon's body, squeezing tight and making it near impossible for the Eeveelution to move, let alone escape. "I think all you can do is stand there and watch as Arbok poisons your Starter until he collapses and falls!"
"Permission to peck the blond prick's eyes out?" Hedwig snapped.
"Denied." Harry grit his teeth, considering all his options. 'All of his grass type attacks won't work and even if they did he can't do many of them wrapped up like that. Need to fire something from his mouth… Shadow Ball? But that won't do much and if Arbok gets a hold of him again…' Harry glanced up at the false sun Leafeon had created, squinting. 'There has to be something we can… wait…'
"Any… any time now," Leafeon gasped in pain.
"Alright, charge up another Sunny Day but hold it!" Harry called out.
"Seriously?" Leafeon said, turning to stare at his trainer.
"Seriously?" Hedwig echoed.
"Trust me!" Harry called out, reaching up and rubbing his eyes.
Leafeon blinked… before nodding and charging up the attack.
Draco laughed. "What this, Potter? Thinking you can create more fog so to hide in? It won't work… the field is dry as a bone and the moment that sun goes up it will power up Arbok's Fire Fang! Or do you just want more light for everyone to see what a failure you are?"
"Something like that," Harry said with a smirk. "Hold… hold… NOW!"
Leafeon twisted and rather than fire the ball of false solar energy into the sky he sent it first to his left…
…right into Arbok's eyes.
The snake Pokemon let out a cry of pain, mouth opening and body loosening its coiled hold on Leafeon. The grass type rolled away rather ungracefully, panting even as Arbok thrashed about in agony. The ball of light finally rose into the sky and filled the area with intense sunlight once more and Harry held out his hand.
"SYNTHESIS!"
Leafeon locked his legs and extended his leaves, feeling the warmth of the sun fuel him and restore much of his lost health. It wasn't all good news though as his side still ached from where Arbok had bit him and he could still feel the venom chipping away at his health. He was also pretty sure he had a cracked rib or two. Nothing Poppy couldn't figure but it made battling very painful.
"Fire Fang now!" Draco called out only for Arbok to thrash and cry out. "Fire Fang! Do it now!"
"He can't," Harry told him. "Think Draco… didn't your mother ever tell you not to stare at the sun? Arbok just got a direct hit of it… he's blind." The Slytherin student stepped back at that. "He'll be fine after the match, any Nurse Joy could heal him right up, but for now your Pokémon can't see a thing. Maybe with time he'd adjust… but for this battle? You're done."
Prof. Slate stepped forward. "Mr. Malfoy, do you submit?"
"Never!" Draco roared. "Arbok, you will find him or else!" His Arbok blinked, eyes glassy and white, and he stuck his tongue out trying to taste the air and find where Leafeon had gone.
"Synthesis again and then Sword Dance!"
"Ow ow ow!" Leafeon growled as he did the paw movements to increase his attack. "This isn't easy with cracked ribs, Harry!"
"Just keep it up! And try and be quiet so Arbok-" Leafeon barely managed to avoid one of Arbok's attacks. "-can't find you!"
Leafeon merely nodded and clenched his jaw shut as he did another Synthesis and Sword Dance combo. It left him at full health but the poison was getting worse and he knew that soon even doing both wouldn't matter. Soon he had boosted his attack to the max and was just healing himself but it was a losing battle. The poison had traveled further and made everything burn. He had to get in an attack.
He just hoped he'd strengthen himself up enough.
Harry glanced at the sky, knowing he had to time this just right. "Okay… IRON TAIL!"
Leafeon rushed forward, drawing on the false sun's rays to speed up his movements and make his attack all the quicker and to build up his momentum, his leafy tail going ramrod straight and hardening like a mighty oak. As he swung the false sun finally faded away.
"Fire Fa- no! Poison Tail Arbok!" Draco commanded.
The two attacks collided violently.
Leafeon and Arbok locked their tails against each other.
Draco and Harry held their breath.
Leafeon… fell to one knee.
Arbok dropped to the ground out cold.
"Arbok is unable to battle!" Prof. Slate declared.
"Serves… serves you… aw crap," Leafeon muttered before he faceplanted.
"Leafeon is unable to battle!" Slate called out. "Since Arbok fainted first Mr. Malfoy must send out his Pokemon before Mr. Potter."
"Good job Leafeon," Harry whispered, going over and gathering his starter up. "May I have a moment to give Leafeon to Poppy? I can't recall him anymore."
Prof. Slate nodded. "I will allow it but he can't be used again in this battle. Mr. Malfoy?"
Draco sneered and tossed Arbok's and Boldore's balls in Poppy's general direction, the Hogwart's nurse having come down to get Leafeon. She nearly bobbled Arbok's ball before catching it. "Take those pathetic failures and get them out of my sight."
Harry glowered at that as he handed Leafeon to Poppy. "He said he had a cracked rib…"
"I'll get him fixed up, Mr. Potter. And get Arbok's vision back to 20/20." Harry nodded and returned to his side of the field. He motioned for Draco to send out his next Pokémon and after a moment the blond sneered and tossed out his Serperior. Harry, in response, rolled his wrist and ejected an Ultra Ball and opened to reveal his Kommo-O.
~MC~MC~MC~
"Malfoy wasn't expecting that!" Ron cheered as Harry's dragon sneered at the grass serpent. For his part the Serperior didn't seem all that concerned, merely eying up the fighting dragon with a look of aloof boredom.
"He certainly wasn't," Neville commented as the two rushed at each other, Serpiror going for an Aerial Ace attack while Vegeta charged up an Ice Punch. He turned to Hermione. "Getting anything?"
Hermione was staring out at the battlefield but her eyes had a glazed look, unfocused and unseeing. At least not seeing what everyone else did… she was staring at other things. Listening too. "Other than Draco's stray thoughts are all about how awesome he is? No. But Harry said he'd wait till about half way through this fight before he began to egg him on about the Order. So he should begin dropping hints soon." The two Pokémon engaged in a flurry of hits and strikes, Serperior using his greater speed to dodge while Vegeta batted away the attacks with one arm while threatening severe damage with the other. After several moments the two broke apart.
"Not good, Draco," Harry called out. "Not exactly living up to the family name, are we?"
Draco growled. "Watch your tongue, Potter! Serperior, Leaf Storm!"
/Doubt. Fear. Must do this. Defeat him. Prove self. Proof to father. Worthy./
Hermione made a face. Draco's thoughts were like guzzling cooking fat.
"Why is he doing that?" Ron asked. "Kommo-O resists grass type attacks."
The dragon in question clearly was annoyed by the attack, shielding himself and growling in Harry's direction. He clearly wanted to make a move towards Serperior but the Leaf Storm was making it hard, as it obscured the field and if Vegeta did get close Serperior would dart away, seemingly quicker each time. The dragon growled and fired off a flamethrower but the grass snake simply evaded and lashed with another Leaf Storm, peppering him with more razor sharp leaves.
/Pride. According to plan. Won't see this coming. Contrary./
There was a flash of light to their left and Hermione turned to find Luna smiling and now sitting in the lap of a large gooey pale dragon that wore a friendly grin on his face. The Goodra had been Luna's newest catch, caught during her training in Kalos, as the Kalosian Malfoys had felt that her having only one dragon type wasn't proper for someone who was supposed to be the heiress to Avalon's Dragon Gym. The dragon, Kakarot as Luna had named him, cried out something and Hermione, curious, released her Gardevoir and linked minds with her, using her to translate what the Goodra was saying.
"You need me to come down there and help you, best buddy?" Luna's Goodra declared.
"Eat a dick, Kakarot!" Vegeta snarled as he tried to move closer to Serperior only to be driven back. "You think I need a low class wretch such as yourself to defeat this pathetic belly crawler? I. Am. Vegeta! Prince of All Dragons and I will-"
The Serperior lashed out, zipping through the leaf storm and hitting the Kommo-O with a Dragon Tail that sent him smashing into the arena wall.
"Oh ho ho… I was hoping you'd offer me a fight but this is just sad, prince," Serperior taunted.
"You okay?" Kakarot asked, concerned.
"Just fan-friggin-tastic. Nothing but gumdrops and ice cream down here."
"Ooo, can I come down there?"
"…I'm surrounded by idiots."
"I thought you were surrounded by gumdrops and ice cream!"
The Kommo-O roared and activated Outrage without Harry's command, bursting forward and lashing at Draco's Pokémon.
Hermione yanked herself back to reality, eyes wide.
Luna smirked, patting Kakarot on the cheek. "Now she understands why I'm crazy."
Down on the battlefield Kommo-O bellowed and switched from physical attacks to special moves, throwing out a barrage of Draco Meteors, forcing Draco to call out positioning so that his Serperior could survive the rage-filled assault. Using his quick speed the Serperior slithered across the battle field and wrapped around Vegeta, tail jabbing into his leg as he activated Giga Drain and began to suck the dragon dry.
"Vegeta, use Automize!" Harry called out. When his Pokémon just stared at him Harry rolled his eyes. "Trust me!" Snorting the dragon did as commanded, shaking and removing several of his heavier scales. "Now… rapid fire Fire and Ice Punches, switch between!" Vegeta, seeing what Harry was getting at, began to pummel Serperior's body, one fist glowing orange the other blue as he landed blow after blow, the movements so quick that they became a blur. This had the added benefit of making it hard for the serpent to hold on and soon he was knocked away, falling to the area floor and shaking his head. Vegeta was free but the Giga Drain had taken a lot out of him and left him depleted. "If you hope to get into Voldemort's good graces by battling like this be prepared to be disappointed!" Harry taunted.
"Shut your mouth!"
/Rage. Anger. Annoying bastard. No idea what he was talking about./
"I know your daddy kisses Voldemort's feet and it's been your dream to do so too, Draco, but I think even that pussy Voldemort wants someone who can battle their way out of a paper bag!"
/Shut up! Hate you! Potters almost served!/
Hermione blinked. "Wait… what did-"
"Serperior, finish that dragon off now! Hyper Beam!"
"Vegeta, into the air and use Dragon Pulse!"
Draco's Starter charged a ball of reddish-white energy in his mouth, the energy crackling and making bits of the broken floor rise in the air. Meanwhile Kommo-O has thrust his hands behind him, creating a purplish-pink ball of dragon energy in his palms. The energy soon became too much for either of them to contain in just the balls and it flared around them, forming fiery auras that crackled and burned around the two.
And then, as if signaled by some invisible chime, the two unleashed their attacks at the same time, the two beams collided in mid air, blinding all as the two fought for dominance.
~MC~MC~MC~
Author's Notes: (in narrator voice) The battle between Harry and Draco has heated up, with both throwing their best strategies and tactics at their opponent in this battle for dominance. But what did those strange thoughts Hermione heard actually mean, and what dark secret will she discover when she plunges into Draco's mind? Find out next time on Harry Potter and the Order of Moltres!
(normal voice) Okay, now onto… hey! Luna?! How are you here… you aren't eve real! Let go of my keyboard! Stop it! HEY!
Hey, it's me Luna! Man, the battle between Draco and Harry sure is intense… but after Vegeta there are a lot less Dragon Ball Abridged references. That makes me sad. Still, looks like we are headed for an amazing finale and for once Mr. Chaos actually got this chapter out on time! Neat, huh?
I have a life outside of this story and you are a FICTIONAL CHARACTER!
More people know of me than they do you… that means I'm more real than you are! And by 'life outside of this story' do you mean buying Yugioh cards and watching the Cinema Snob?
How is this even happening?
Next time on Harry Potter and the Order of Moltres: Harry vs. Draco Part 2- An Epic Clash and an Epic Ending! Make sure not to miss it. Now I'm hungry… I'm going to order a pizza.
LET GO OF MY CREDIT CARD! LUUUUUUUUUNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!