Chapter 2:
Questions of Sport
With my new friend Lyra in tow, I told Lyra what the plan was today in Goldenrod City.
"So today I'm taking place in the Pokéathlon" I said.
"I know" Lyra said. "You told me yesterday Elvis, I remembered."
"I also told you that my name is Ethan yesterday, but you didn't remember that." Shrugging it off, I told her where it was. "It's outside the National Park, where the Bug Catching Contest takes place."
"Who are you entering?"
"Typhlosion, Venomoth and Suicune. I've already put Ampharos in the Pokéwalker."
"Oh yeah, how's that going for you?"
"Venomoth found a TinyMushroom and a Pecha Berry. Not bad I have to say. Okay, to the Stadium!"
As we walked, I saw a news report from the Goldenrod bulletin. "This is JBC News with the Sport update. Today, the up and coming Pokéathlon athlete Marjorie will be participating today, the same event that the Indigo Champion Ethan Schneider will be taking part in today."
"Emmet" Lyra told me. "Marjorie is the number one athlete right now. You really shouldn't mess around with her."
"It's my first time Lyra" I told her. "If I don't win, I won't be too surprised. This is just a bit of fun."
We reached the outside of the Pokéathlon Dome. The Dome is big and blue with three gold beams sticking out of it. It's like something from the future.
"This is where we sign up" I said. "Do you want to participate?"
"Nah" Lyra replied. "I'll be rooting for ya though with Kris, wherever she is."
"Sorry I'm late" Kris said, running for us. "We had some Pokémon that were dropped off, I needed to sort it out."
"Understandable" I said. "You might want to find a seat. You two might get some VIPs/"
Lyra though was distracted. "That's her" she said. "Marjorie." We saw the woman in athletic gear signing autographs. "I'd love to get one."
"I'm the one you're rooting for" I reminded her. "So, what Pokémon does she use anyway?"
It was then that Marjorie sent out her Pokémon. They were, Sunkern?
Sunkern
012
Grass Type
Seed Pokémon
Region of origin: Johto
1'00" (0.3 m)
4 lbs (1.8 kg)
It lives by drinking only dewdrops from under the leaves of plants. It is said that it eats nothing else.
"SUNKERN?!" I shouted, confused. "They have the lowest base stat total recorded; how does she think she is going to win with them? You might as well enter with a rock and you'd have a better chance of coming first."
"Now now" Kris said. "Remember, these are not battles of strength, they are battles of skill, stamina and more. Don't judge a Sunkern by, well, the fact that it's a Sunkern."
"Well, I think Emile should go and register" Lyra said.
I think I will sign up with my actual name though.
Inside the Pokéathlon Dome was very black and blue, not to mention high tech. On the screens it had pictures of some of the best athletes in history.
"Amazing!" Lyra shouted. "This would be a sportsman's dream!"
"Remember, you are not battling" Kris told me.
"I know" I said. "I will be running, jumping… what else am I doing?" I should probably make it clear that I was never really into sports. I was kicked out the basketball team for kicking the ball, that's how bad I am.
I went up to the desk and entered my name along with the Pokémon I would be entering. "Good luck!" Kris said.
I was given an athletic uniform that was blue and before I knew it, I was standing with my Pokémon in the field waiting for the Opening Ceremony to start. "I am so nervous" I told my team. "But if we don't win, never mind!"
"Welcome!" announced the host, Jacques. "Another Pokéathlon session is officially underway and I can tell you, you're in for a treat today! Let's introduce the Contestants! First, he's got the power! It's Keanu and his team of Machamp, Kabutops and Heracross!" I saw a muscly looking man with his three Pokémon.
Machamp
144
Fighting Type
Superpower Pokémon
Region of origin: Kanto
5'03" (1.6 m)
286.6 lbs (130 kg)
It quickly swings its four arms to rock its opponents with ceaseless punches and chops from all angles.
Machop -Lv 28 Machoke -Trade Machamp
Kabutops
228
Rock/Water Type
Shellfish Pokémon
Region of origin: Kanto
4'03" (1.3 m)
89.3 lbs (40.5 kg)
With sharp claws, this ferocious, ancient Pokémon rips apart prey and sucks their body fluids.
Kabuto -Lv 40 Kabutops
Heracross
114
Bug/Fighting Type
Single Horn Pokémon
Region of origin: Johto
4'11" (1.5 m)
119 lbs (54 kg)
This powerful Pokémon thrusts its prized horn under its enemies' bellies, then lifts and throws them.
"Next, you know him as our very own Champion, it's Ethan Schneider with Typhlosion, Venomoth and Suicune!" Everyone cheered for me, Lyra and Kris clearly shouting the loudest among the roaring crowd.
"Next, this is a busy Mum who has taken some time off to take part in the Pokéathlon, it's Margeret alongside Mr. Mime, Skiploom and Meowth!" Margeret gave a nervous wave with her Pokémon.
Mr. Mime
158
Psychic Type
Barrier Pokémon
Region of origin: Kanto
4'03" (1.3 m)
120.2 lbs (54.5 kg)
A skilled mime from birth*, it gains the ability to create invisible objects as it matures.
Mime Jr. -Happiness Mr. Mime
*By birth, it's talking about as either a Mime Jr. that has been bred by an incense holding or a Mr. Mime that hatched from an Egg.
Skiploom
068
Grass/Flying Type
Cottonweed Pokémon
Region of origin: Johto
2'00" (0.6 m)
2.2 lbs (1 kg)
The bloom on top of its head opens and closes as the temperature fluctuates up and down.
Hoppip -Lv 18 Skiploom
Meowth
138
Normal Type
Scratch Cat Pokémon
Region of origin: Kanto
1'04" (0.4 m)
9.3 lbs (0.4 m)
It loves anything that shines. It especially adores coins that it picks up and secretly hoards.
"Finally, our up and coming pro, it's Marjorie and her team of Sunkern!" Everyone really cheered for her. I just rolled my eyes. "Okay, it's time for the events. There are three events in all. Do your best!"
The first event was Block Smash. The Pokémon must hit many concrete blocks until they break. High Power and Stamina is what would be needed here. Typhlosion had both of these, but Venomoth didn't. The order would go Typhlosion, Venomoth and Suicune.
The competition started. "Come on Typhlosion!" I shouted as it continued to hit multiple blocks. After destroying at least 20, it started feeling tired. "Okay, Venomoth!" As Typhlosion got out of the ring, Venomoth flew on and started doing a not so impressive display. "This isn't working, take over Suicune!" Suicune came on and started doing a better job. However, it also got tired soon after. "Back in Typhlosion!" Typhlosion continued to break blocks until it got tired. Venomoth skipped this time and Suicune took over all the way until the time ran out.
I sat in the changing room after that and let everyone catch their breath. "Brilliant guys, we broke 76. We're in second place behind…" I looked at the screen, leading to a jaw drop. "Marjorie? How did those stupid bulbs break that many?" Venomoth was upset by its performance. "Venomoth, it's okay. Maybe you will be useful next game."
I was correct. The next game was Lamp Jump. The point of the game is to jump up onto multiple lights on a ceiling to turn them on. A trampoline was provided and would be great for Skill and Jump, which Venomoth excelled at, along with Suicune. Typhlosion though, not so much.
The event started and Venomoth jumped really high to turn on multiple lights. "Nice one!" I shouted as Venomoth continued to do its thing. However, the Sunkern were jumping really high and fast, doing Venomoth's job quicker, though Venomoth had the advantage of doing multiple at once.
"I must say" Marjorie told me. "We are equally matched. Impressive."
"Check out Suicune then" I told her. "Come back Venomoth!" The tired Venomoth got off the trampoline and Suicune jumped on, turning on multiple lamps in the process. "Nice one Suicune! They don't call you Legendary for nothing!" After Suicune got tired, Typhlosion came on, who did the worst of the lot. We kept switching until time ran out. All the Sunkern were jumping about which proved something to me; these Grass Types don't mess around.
We all sat in the changing room again. "We're neck and neck with Marjorie, almost" I said. "Looks like the final event has no time limit; it's called the Hurdle Dash."
The Hurdle Dash is relay race where the three of the Pokémon have to tag each other and race whilst jumping over hurdles. Speed and Jumping reign supreme here, so I would be starting with Suicune then go into Typhlosion and finally Venomoth.
"Let's do this!" First it was Mr. Mime vs Sunkern vs Suicune vs Kabutops. Suicune charged ahead in front, leaping over all the hurdles. All of us were following on an electronic platform that kept in time with the Pokémon so they could hear our commands. Suicune ran to Typhlosion who was next to jump. However, it wasn't very good and a lot of other Pokémon were catching up with it, especially Sunkern. Typhlosion was getting very stressed by its performance as the others caught up with it. "Almost there Typhlosion!" After a not so good run, it was Venomoth's time to jump. It jumped over all the hurdles, helped by its wings. The finish line was in sight. "Come on Venomoth! A bit more!" As Venomoth reached the glowing finish...
…Sunkern barely beat Venomoth.
The results were in, I almost beat Marjorie. "Great job guys" I said as she received a medal. "We had a lot of fun. Let's do this again sometime!" However, all my Pokémon collapsed onto the floor. "Okay. Maybe not for a while."
Later that day, I sat with Kris and Lyra in the National Park. I watched Pichu play in the flowers. Kris and Lyra were more tired from cheering than I was from actually participating. "That was tiring" I said.
"But you still did well!" Lyra said. "Three cheers for Elton!"
"I'd rather you cheer with my actual name" I said, clearly giving up with my incorrect name choices. "But thanks. Anyway, tomorrow I need to go to the new Safari Zone. I haven't been there before, so I need to walk there from Cianwood. It will be a long way across Route 47. Wanna come Lyra?"
"Do I?!" she asked. "I'd love to see more Pokémon there!"
"Then it's settled" I said. "Onward to the Safari Zone!"