POKÉMON: INFINITE LEGACIES
THE CIPRYS REGION
CHAPTER 3
FIRE OR WATER? A RIVAL BATTLE!

"Can I have, hmm . . . ten potions and five full heals please?"

"Certainly," the cashier nodded before placing the items requested into a disposable bag.

Flame stood in one of Festivalight City's many Pokémon Centres. He had just asked Nurse Joy to give his two Pokémon a quick check-up: one to be on the safe side, and two there had been a queue for the Poké Mart anyway.

Flame thanked the cashier as the bag was handed to him, paid, and placed the bag inside his backpack. He was about to sit down and wait for Nurse Joy to finish healing his Pokémon when the automatic doors swished open and revealed a familiar face.

Flame's messy dark hair was only just about kept in place by an official Ciprys Pokémon League headband. This; a black t-shirt, red along the shoulder line; and black capri shorts were in sharp contrast to this boy's dashing platinum-white hair, blue jacket, and black skinny jeans. There was a quietness behind the newcomer's icy-blue eyes whereas energy pulsed and receded and pulsed and receded in the blaze-orange eyes of Flame.

Flame waited for the boy to get closer before saying, "So, Frost, who did you choose?"

Frost could recall some of the other kids having a very similar conversation on the matter of who would be their starter Pokémon whilst waiting for their graduation ceremony to begin. Everyone had been discussing who they preferred and who they weren't too bothered about, but he hadn't cared as long as there were more than just Fire-types left to choose from.

Frost sighed. "Mudkip," he answered simply. "Although I don't see how it concerns you."

Excitement raced through Flame's body. "How about a battle?" he said, his words coming fast as he made the challenge for the first time.

Frost sighed, looking like he couldn't care any less if he tried. "No offence, Flame, but you've got to remember I was top of the class and you were one of the ones at the bottom. Unless you decided upon a Grass-type Pokémon—although somehow I doubt that—you'd hardly last longer than a few turns against me."

Indignation gripped Flame. His hands clenched into fists as Frost went on. "You think you're such a bigshot, huh?" he snapped. "How about you stop bragging and prove it!"

The heads of those gathered within the Pokémon Centre, both Pokémon and human, turned their way. The noise annoyed some while others marvelled at the unfolding challenge, the prospect of a heated battle.

Frost sighed–

Again! Flame blazed.

–and then shrugged. "I came here to get some supplies," he responded casually. "Not to battle trainers who aren't worth my time."

"I'm surprised," Flame admitted boldly. "I never thought the Champion's son was this much of a coward."

This captured Frost's attention. He snapped toward Flame—insignificant in his eyes—and although anger threatened to rip free, he remained composed. Unlike he would, Frost thought. "You'll regret comparing me to that old fool," Frost muttered coldly. Let's see if you're worth my time or not. "Which Pokémon did you choose?"

"A Fire-type. Litten."

Frost's gaze hardened. "Litten won't stand a chance against Mudkip."

"Type advantage isn't everything," Flame answered back, remembering a conversation he'd once had with Professor Aconite.

"Just this once," Frost said. "I'll battle you."

To the rear of the Central Festivalight Pokémon Centre lay a sand-covered battlefield. It was mostly used for training exercises and as an outside space for Pokémon who were recuperating from bad injures to recover their strength—but every so often, eyes would meet and challenges would be issued between trainers. As was the case today. To minimise damage to public property, the councils who had long governed Festivalight City had decided to build as many dedicated spaces as possible for Pokémon trainers to do battle. And so, the cycle continued with Flame's challenge of Frost.

Flame took Litten's Poké Ball and grasped it tight. Despite his earlier show of fierce bravado, Flame couldn't help but feel nervy at the dawn of his first-ever Pokémon battle as a trainer. His stomach churned, he felt like he needed to pee, and little beads of sweat ran down his arms. Worse still, a crowd had gathered around the battlefield. Those who'd witnessed their confrontation had grown intrigued by the exchange (even more so, ironically, after his declaration that Frost was the Champion's son) and now watched with deeper interest.

Flame thought back to his time at the Academy. Their teachers had prepared them for this with lots of simulated battles and real-life exercises—he remembered Professor Aconite's teaching in particular—but to be at this point in his life now, truly on his own, experiencing his first battle, offered an unparalleled set of emotions. A terrible mix of excitement and apprehension whirled up and down and across his body, peaking and then falling at the moment he hurled Litten's Poké Ball into the air and watched as Litten—the Litten whose training and health he along was responsible for!—appeared on the battlefield.

Flame breathed in, then out. No going back now, I guess. Time to do this. Now . . . what moves do you know?

Litten's tail swished sideways. Surprised at the number of humans that surrounded the battlefield, Litten turned to his trainer for reassurance, but as soon as Flame offered some motivating words, Litten was ready to go. He glared toward their opponent, awaiting the appearance of Frost's Pokémon.

Frost, meanwhile, didn't seem to be suffering from the same sort of—or even any—nerves. As cold as his name suggested, Frost watched Flame and Litten with the usual plain expression that forever haunted his face. In one swift movement, he unclipped Mudkip's Poké Ball from his belt and extended his left arm forward, releasing a flash of bright energy.

"Mudkip," Mudkip said, appearing from the bright energy.

"Mrrow," Litten meowed back confidently.

Contempt dominated Frost's voice: "Since you have no chance of beating me, I'll let you have the first–"

"Litten!" Flame called, impatient. "Ember! Let's go!"

Litten mrrowed in agreement. His forehead glowed until the same colour, the same intense heat of a flame was achieved. And then, the fire cat Pokemon stretched back, opened his mouth wide, and breathed out a small but red-hot fireball. A trail of flame sped after, chasing the fireball as it shot toward the other side of the field.

"Counter with Water Gun, Mudkip," was Frost's response.

Without hesitation, with absolute trust in his trainer, Mudkip aimed and spat out a surge of water. Mudkip's Water Gun burst forward and overpowered Litten's Ember with ease, the fireball vanishing into nothingness upon contact with the light blue vortex. Water Gun was now powering toward Litten, and Flame had to think quickly—or face the consequences.

Litten blinked, surprised. Panic started to dawn in his eyes. Perhaps starter Pokemon weren't immediately aware of how different types matched up? Eh, we can work on that later, Flame thought.

As Mudkip's Water Gun spiralled closer and closer, Flame was untroubled; he had expected Frost's counter-attack. "Litten!" he shouted. "Dodge sideways and get close to Mudkip—then use Scratch!"

Litten reacted shortly after. Water Gun just missed the tip of his tail, brushing past, as he jumped out of the way and began to stride toward Mudkip. Muscles rippled up and down, up and down underneath Litten's glossy black fur and the ground blurred beneath his paws. Once within striking range of Mudkip, long streaks extended from between Litten's paws, glowing white like starlight. Litten hissed and leapt forward–

Bold but foolishly, was Frost's assessment. Very foolishly. He had observed Flame's instruction and Litten's movement calmly, waiting until the last moment to tell Mudkip to . . .

"Turn and hit Litten with your Water Gun attack."

Mudkip turned on command, nimble, and fired. Water Gun hit Litten at point-blank range, flush in the face and blowing Litten back.

One of the spectators was watching the ongoing bout with a keener eye than most. "Hmm, a fine display. Another moment and that kid's Litten would have struck his Mudkip up close with Scratch, but Frost timed his counter-manoeuvre to perfection. You can tell he's the Champion's son," he noted at a murmur to no one in particular. "I'm gonna have to keep my eye on this one," he added ominously.

Litten landed with a small thud on the dampened sand, and after a few tense seconds, struggled back to his paws, to the alarm of Flame.

"How predictable," Frost called from across the battlefield. "I can read you like a book."

Flame stiffened with anger. "I'm not beaten yet!" he snarled back.

"You lost the moment you challenged me. You scrapped through every examination, every test, every quiz, and you expect to beat me? With a Fire-type Pokémon? I can't believe you. For just a second, why don't you think it through? Just look at your Pokémon. Flame. You. Have. No. Chance. How many more times do I have to tell you?" Frost paused for a moment before adding, "I'll give you one last chance to walk away."

Those gathered watched on quietly, perhaps agreeing with the inevitability of Flame's position, but also willing the battle to continue. Water bests Fire—surely the world of Pokémon wasn't that simple?

The stranger watched on, attentive as ever. "You're right," he murmured (to himself, is what a casual observer would add). "Frost's hatred of Fire-type Pokémon has clouded his judgement. He dismisses Flame because of Litten, because of his father, because of his arrogance. He may have the advantage through type, but the one thing that he will need to learn is the art of the battle is never that simple."

Flame stared at Litten and felt the weight of responsibility bearing down on him. I'm no coward, he thought. But what about how Litten feels . . . ? His shoulders felt heavy—but Litten, perhaps sensing his inner turmoil, looked back and mrrowed, as courageous as a Charizard. Determination in his eyes and all across his face.

Flame nodded. Litten doesn't back down either! This battle ain't over yet!

Flame looked at Frost. "I don't care about the past," he called back, his voice firm, "and you may think you've got this in the bag, but I'm gonna prove you wrong. Sure. Yeah, I admit it. You've got the advantage. Of course, you do. It helps—but there's a lot more to Pokémon than just what type they are. If what you say is true, battles wouldn't be as much fun as they are; they'd be nothing more than an equation you learn in a boring classroom on a Friday afternoon in summer when you'd much rather be outside."

As Flame's words echoed out, towards him and the other spectators, the stranger couldn't stop a grin from forming on his face. "Hmm, maybe that's not quite how I'd put it, but this Flame kid speaks from the heart. More than can be said for Frost. Maybe I'll have to keep my eye on him too . . ."

The stranger noted that Frost's face had turned expressionless again—unaffected by Flame's words, though that wasn't a great surprise to him. If anything, the Champion's son only seemed mildly annoyed by any cheers and yowls of support that had arose from his opponent's words. Whatever they thought of him, everyone knew who the Champion was, even if they didn't know his son—but now, after his passionate speech, those watching favoured Flame; he had spoken from the heart and, in turn, had captivated theirs. And now, they anticipated his actions rather than those of the Champion's son.

"Litten!" Flame instructed. "Use Growl!"

Litten hissed and the fur along his back spiked up so that he looked almost twice his size.

"Mudkip," murmured Mudkip, sounding unsure, his attack power lowered.

"Water Gun," Frost commanded.

Mudkip's Water Gun rushed toward Litten, quicker than before.

"Dodge!" Flame called.

Litten tried to dive out of the way—but too late! Water Gun connected with Litten's hind legs and sent the fiery Pokémon back down to the ground, to the groans of the crowd.

"Told you," Frost said, matter-of-fact. "Again, Mudkip: Water Gun attack."

With Litten down for a second time, indecision flashed across Flame's face. He racked his brain for answers, but could find none. Time seemed to slow; Water Gun stormed toward Litten, shaking the air. Maybe Frost was right, Flame thought. Litten . . .

No—he remembered how Litten had looked back at him. He remembered the courage, the determination he had seen in Litten's eyes. Yes, this may have been their first Pokémon battle together, but that didn't feel like an obstacle. They felt close already. As if they'd known each other for much longer than they had, as if linked by an eternal bond that this battle had reawakened. Even if Flame stood unsure, even if Litten lay dazed on the ground, attempting to summon back enough strength to return to his paws, Litten and Flame shared each other's determination. Determination not to lose. Determination not to let their partner down.

Mudkip's Water Gun hurtled closer, swishing through the air.

Litten staggered back up to his paws.

"Litten!" Flame shouted. "Watch out!"

Frost said nothing. The battle was about to be over.

The audience held their breaths in near-silence.

Water Gun–

At that moment, an intense light, red and fiery, burst forth and encompassed the weakened Pokémon. Heat reverberated from Litten's fur, and Flame realised what was happening just as Water Gun stayed true and throttled into Litten: It was Blaze.

According to the New Trainer's Guidebook: Latest Edition, which was 'the essential companion for whatever journey you undertake' (or so, the author of the book, Professor Aconite, told her students): Blaze—a powerful ability exclusive to Fire-type Pokémon—is capable of turning the tide of a battle in your favour. But remember, Trainer: To rely upon it, however, is a risky strategy as Blaze only activates when your Pokémon is severely weakened and, thus, should be interpreted as being your last throw of the dice in battle.

Some of the water seemed to evaporate as Water Gun struck. Litten was lost beneath steam that oozed from all around and left a light cloud in its wake—more importantly, blocking Litten from Flame's and Frost's view. Had the damage still been too much? Was the battle over? Each trainer watched with narrowed eyes. As did the crowd.

Frost's mouth moved as if he was about to say something. A command to Mudkip perhaps? But too late! A fireball ripped free of the cloud. Its target? You guessed it: Mudkip! Under the cover of the steam, Litten had withstood the attack and, all powered up, launched a last-ditch counter-attack. The fireball was bigger this time and travelled faster across the battlefield.

Frost said, "Dodge—quick!" recognising the ferocity of Litten's Ember, but he might as well not have said anything at all. Mudkip felt the force of Litten's attack head-on; the impact blew the little blue Pokémon back a few paces.

Frost stared at Litten and then at Flame. For a moment, for the briefest second, he looked like a Bunnelby caught in the headlights—but Frost was not accustomed to such emotions and his composure returned to him, his state of mind hardened throughout his life. He quickly devised a new plan. "Mudkip," he called, calm, in control once again. "Hold you ground: Water Gun attack and don't stop."

Mudkip's small amphibious body was now, like Litten's, covered in spots of sand and dirt as the Water-type regained his footing and nodded in understanding.

"Litten use Ember!" Flame countered. "Continuous burst!"

Mudkip launched Water Gun at Litten, neck craned forward and every muscle strained.

And Litten launched Ember at Mudkip, neck craned forward and every muscle strained.

Their attacks of Water and Fire met in the middle. There was a small bang, a mini explosion, and a fireball exited, screeching through water.

Flame encouraged Litten to fire again, and another fireball came surging forward into Water Gun's stream. But Frost stayed still. Unconcerned. Yes, first contact had favoured Litten's more heavily concentrated Ember attack, but after initially knocking Water Gun back, and then back again, the more effective of the attacks had gained ground. Quickly too. Momentum dashed up fate's severe steps, and before Flame could save the battle (not that he would have been able to), it was over. Water Gun ran rampant, bursting free of Ember, and Litten was left sprawled on the ground, out of the battle for good.

Flame's first thought was one of anger. Frost, who had so disrespected and berated them every chance he got, beat them! But then he thought of Litten. He dashed to Litten's side and fell to his knees. "You did brilliantly, Litten. For sure, we'll get 'em next time," he promised. "But, for now, you deserve a long rest."

Litten mrrowed back weakly.

Flame clicked Litten's Poké Ball. As the Fire-type disappeared back inside, Flame noticed the determination etched across Litten's face. Despite losing, Litten's attitude had not changed. One loss wouldn't change that; Litten wouldn't give up that easily. Flame smiled for a moment, looking at the Poké Ball that lay in his right hand. Thanks, Litten.

Frost returned Mudkip to his Poké Ball without a word and approached. "Told you," he said again, closer now. "You were merely a stepping stone. Nothing more. Who I want to beat is far greater than . . ." he broke off and stared at the crowd.

Flame gritted his teeth; anger threatened to storm out again—until applause greeted his ears. Like Frost, his thoughts ceased and he stared out at the crowd in surprise. In the heat of battle, he'd almost forgotten there'd been people watching, but now they shouted encouragement and clapped. Not just to the victor, but to both combatants, Frost and Flame.

"What a great battle!" someone exclaimed.

"Woah!" another said. "So that's what they learn at the Academy!"

"For their first battles, that was really something special!"

The stranger, hidden amongst the crowd, noted their responses and decided he felt the same. "They should both be very proud of that display," he murmured, applauding their efforts with a soft clap.

Frost didn't say a thing. The only indication he recognised their appreciation was a slight not, while Flame, lost a little in the moment, gave a smile and a single, "Thank you." I may have lost the battle, he thought, staring after Frost, after his rival, as he walked away, back toward the Pokémon Centre, but I don't feel like a loser. I know this is the first step, and we've got a long way to go—you and I both, Litten—but I can't wait for our next battle together.

Author's Notes:
Flame's first battle! (And Frost's). Hope you enjoyed it. It was a bit stop and start (in terms of the process), but overall, I enjoyed writing it.

Who is the mysterious stranger watching them? Is he friend or foe? Hmm . . . Curious? Well, you've got to follow to find out in future chapters!

The next chapter (The Shadow of Festivalight, Part I!) should hopefully be out later this month!