Episode 21: Different as Ice and Fire.
He remembered those days, so long ago under the dessert sun.
Even before he had an official machine, the boy knew how to steal Pokémon.
It was so easy despite there being an unwritten but essential rule in that one had to be a trainer to survive in Orre. Pokémon kept you safe, kept you alive there from the bandits, the endless dessert, and rarely the insanity of isolation from the 'emptiest desserts' in the world.
He remembered trudging through those hot singeing ground on his dried and cracking feet. His mouth was aching for water, and he didn't even know if he would live to see that blasted sun set.
All he could behold with his young eyes, was a great and vast emptiness.
And he was probably going to die here, all alone, unwanted, uncared for, and miserable.
…
"HAHAHA!"
Thinking back, he laughed. If he were to go directly back into that time he would probably smile, not grin, not smirk, not twitch his lips, but he would truly smile with a glint of great pride.
Despite all those things against him, his weakening body, the harsh dessert lands, the great empty fields, he held on.
Because two weak and tired creatures were still in his arms.
The two Evees were weak, but did their best to cuddle under the boy's chest, trying to find some protection from the scorching sun.
The boy kept walking, moving past the pain.
He wasn't alone.
He had to move on for them, for himself. He needed to survive.
He promised 'him' that he would.
When he saw that town on top of the hill, he smiled. He laughed. It was as if he was saying…
That the best you got at trying to kill me?
Meanwhile, in a spot where the differences were as clear as night and day...
It was a winter over there. The snow gently fell outside the grand and expensive window.
She touched the cold glass and saw her breath fog up the glass on her side.
She sat in boredom, looking out to the clouds with just a book about theology on her lap.
There was nothing to do in this grand house of nothingness. That could stretch miles and miles of the finest grass and lighting yet still feel so empty.
Despite all the servants at her beck and call, she felt so alone.
Her father and mother were busy, and her favorite servant had other duties to attend to. It would be a few more years before this loneliness would fade.
However, if she were to come back at this time, she would tell her younger self it would get better. She promised.
This was the moment she realized how alone she could be, and how much she detested it.
[Present Time]
"Double battles?"
Wes smiled. "Looks like the next set of matches has double battles. This time, we're allowed four Pokémon, but two of them have to get knocked out." The thief from Orre looked forward to today's battle. He had a lot of experience in double battles.
Both He and Anto were currently going over a news board that had some new updates in the schedules for The Music Festival.
"Oh right. Now that I think about it, didn't you say Orre has nothing but Double battles for some reason? Why is it like that?"
"I never really noticed that, but yeah. Orre region is pretty much all double battles. I think some guy in our past thought two Pokémon would be better than one, and other people like the idea so much, they started doing it too."
"Huh, rudimentary. But this also means you've kind of have an advantage for having way more experience in double battles right? I've never had an official double battle, other than training with you Ohko and Takezo the week before Lenora."
"Then here are two tips. One, don't have your Pokémon split up and have separate one on one fights. If there's something you don't do in Orre, it's think that Doubles are just two single matches happening in the same time. Your Pokémon work together and cover the other's weakness."
Wes raised a second finger. "Two, and this one is the most important one, pay attention to both of your Pokémon. I cannot stress that one enough. Double battles are more hectic and chaotic, if you lose track of one of your Pokémon for an instant it's game over."
Anto nodded at that. "Oh thanks."
"There they are!"
The two looked over to see Emerald, Sapphire, Jamie, Sebastian, and Arran walked up to them.
These groups of people got together after Anto and Emerald's battle.
[Previously…]
"Dang, you're good, but I have to say, I know other trainers who are better than you." Emerald explained to the taller but younger mute beside him.
Anto nodded silently.
"Yo! You two!" Sapphire called out before smiling at Emerald. "Didn't expect you to lose so early, squirt."
"Oh hardy ha ha. Weren't you kicked out first round in another certain knockout tournament?" Emerald smiled at Sapphire's dropped mood.
"Hey Anto. Nice job pulling off a win." Wes came in afterward.
Anto looked over the Snagger and saw a surprisingly large amount of people behind him.
"So your name is Anto huh?" one of the taller people of the group with chestnut brown hair waved to him. "Name's Sebastian Wong, and this guy next to me is your biggest fan, Jamie Stanton."
The young boy around Anto's age with green eyes blushed and yelled back at him. "I am not his fan!" he shrieked oddly.
Sebastian casually dismissed that nad pointed over to the guy behind him. "The purple haired brooder over there is Arran Valliquete."
Anto waved politely at the guy who just continued to vacantly stare at him.
"Sorry, he's like that… to everyone apparently." He clapped his hands. "Anywho, great match you, both of you put on. I've never seen that move before from the Sceptile." He started a conversation.
Everyone afterward decided to hang out and talked a bit more about each other.
And that was how they all met.
[Present time.]
"So today's battles are double battles?" Jamie asked as he looked at the announcement board. "Interesting how they keep changing the battle rules."
"Think this means that the winners will do triple battles?" Sapphire asked. "I've heard of those battles, but I also heard they're more complicated than it sounds."
"Who knows, but I wonder which poor sap will face against me next." Sebastian claimed while spinning a Poké Ball on the top of his finger.
Wes smiled before looking ahead and frowning. "I'm gonna go get some lunch Anto, be back soon." He said quickly before leaving. Anto wondered why Wes said that before he heard another voice calling out to him. He turned back to see Tracey, Aster, and Summer on their way here.
It was then something clicked in Anto's head: was Wes and Summer still having problems? Alright, he was going to have a word about this later.
Platinum Berlitz walked down the streets listening to her MP4 player. She was rather enjoying her time in Unova, and was now listening to some very catchy tunes she recently received, specifically a personally signed disk from both the Go Rock Quad's new Square Album, and much to her embarrassment, Jail House Blues Jazz Soul. There was simply something so soothing to listen to hearing bulky, rough looking men playing some of the most relaxing tunes she has ever heard of.
She was actually unsure of how her two best friends, Pearl and Diamond would react if they saw her doing this, since she had to save face after all. Which was why she was by herself as of this moment.
As the next song played, she closed her eyes…
But then she was distracted as she saw a young boy and his Patrat get pushed around.
A rather tall red haired ace trainer and several others laughed at the downed trainer and his injured Pokémon.
"I can't believe you won the first round. I bet either you were lucky or your opponent forfeited." He said rather cockily as he spun a Luxury Ball in his hand.
"No I didn't! I won fair and square! It's not my fault your idiot friend got cocky!"
"What was that you punk?!" An ace trainer beside the red head cried angrily and shook his fist.
Platinum stepped in. "I believe that is enough."
Some of the guys whistled, and made the heiress' skin crawl.
"Oh hey… what's your name babe?" The person said with a rather cocky flair.
Platinum scowled at the comment. "My name is not Babe! Nor do I feel revealing my name to strangers."
Then she turned to the downed boy. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, but my buddy…"
"I'll help you to the center."
She was about to leave with the injured boy when some of the boy's friends stopped her.
"Aww come on. I was only teasing, can't you take a joke?"
"I can take jokes. For one, I find all your faces hilarious." Platinum deadpanned and glared at the leader.
"What was that!?" The leader and his crew grunted and growled.
Platinum folded her arms. "Did it fly over your head?"
All of them reached for the Pokémon, as did Platinum.
"Listen here, you b—" He didn't get to finish that.
Suddenly, something rather amazing happened: all of the groups belts were ripped from their pants and all flew into one direction. Because of this, their pants fell down revealing their drawers.
"What the!?" The leader screamed and his crew panicked.
Platinum and the boy looked to see where the belts went and saw an Espeon levitating several or more belts around it.
"Excuse me, I think you dropped something." The trainer of the Espeon smirked as he walked towards them.
Platinum recognized the trainer in blue. "Wes?"
"What the heck!?" The jerks exclaimed.
"You might wanna put on your pants before the police come and arrest you for public display of your tidy-whites." Wes motioned as Espeon launched the belts into the port.
"Y-you'll regret that punk!" The trainers claimed as they picked up their pants and all ran after their belts since some had their Pokémon in them.
"I had it under control." Platinum said as Wes walked up to her.
"Sure you did. I just made it a little easier that's all. It's fun having a psychic type," Wes expressed before looking to the kid. "Come on kiddo, I think the Center is nearby."
[Later]
Platinum and Wes both left the boy after he had said his thanks.
"I did not know you were entering the tournament." Platinum added as she spotted the custom XTransciever on him.
"Hey, I'm a trainer too White Scarf."
The child prodigy looked in shock at the survivor. "Excuse me? What did you call me?"
"White Scarf. I had this funny nickname for you and Diamond and Pearl, since all three of you wear scarves. I called you guys the Scarf Trio since you're also from Sinnoh and alliteration is fun."
Platinum huffed. "My name is Platinum Berlitz, heir of a noble family. I do not want to be called after a simple garment I wear around my neck!"
"I see," Wes nodded and seemed to ponder what she said. "Nah, I'm still calling you White Scarf." He decided.
"Why you! Aha! What if I remove my scarf, then what!?" She said as she removed her scarf with a huff of self victory.
She wasn't expecting Wes to laugh at her.
"Oh Arceus, you're a bigger dork than Nerd." He laughed before walking ahead of her.
Platinum fumed. How dare he treat her like some child! She was not a nerd, nor a dork! "You take that back!"
"Why?" Wes asked her back honestly.
"Because… because I am not a dork! I've studied over seven hundred speech patterns and charted over three hundred geological temperatures and climate for Pokémon all over! I am a certified scientist and have received awards you could not even pronounce, you plebian!"
She huffed, lost her cool, and pouted.
"Ouch. I'm hurt," He faked being hurt before smiling another cocky smile that just seemed to drive her crazy. "Now come on. This plebian wants something to eat. I'm starving."
"Come back here and apologize!" Platinum started, grabbing his hand adamantly before hearing his stomach growl like an angry beast.
She blushed as she heard his stomach. "I-I Mean. Y-You can eat first." She admitted sheepishly. She remembered her adventures with Diamond and Pearl with Diamond's stomach almost always being empty after long travels. Dia wouldn't be able to concentrate well if he wasn't exactly full.
"Aww thanks."
Wes chuckled.
"Just for that, how bout I treat you to something. But let me guess, you eat and drink only the finest of meals huh White Scarf?"
She huffed again. "Do not mock me! I am not some spoiled princess! In fact, I'll let you choose my meal."
Those were words that she would later regret.
Wes turned back to the Heiress with a devilish smile.
"Oh?~"
Platinum flinched slightly, only now realizing the weight of her words.
"You're letting me choose?"
"A-As long as you don't drug me. But I will not take back my word." Her family was very important to her and she would not back down.
The smile on Wes's face; however, still made her falter.
[Later…]
Wes couldn't stop smiling as the orders came in front of the two near their booth.
"T-Th…" Platinum struggled with her words.
There were two plates that each held a large burrito that seemingly was leaking red-orange-ish sauce.
Wes smiled as he took his burrito. "Ahh, the El Carolina Reaper, one of the most flavorful foods in the entire world!" He exclaimed excitedly before taking a bite. "Those flavors really pack a punch."
He looked at Platinum. "Is something wrong?"
"N-No!" She cried as she grabbed the finger food rather awkwardly. "I do not know why you would think such a thing would derail me from making you call my true name."
Wes smiled at her with faked innocence. The Carolina Reaper was one of the spiciest and hottest peppers in the world, and it just so happened that this was ordered at Taco Gong for only the bravest of souls.
So when Platinum bit the burrito—
"YAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
[Sorta later.]
"Wes, as funny as that was, don't you think you kind of went overboard?" Espeon inquired.
"We once walked over a bed!" One of the Zwelious heads claimed. "Boards are very flat and taste bland." The other finished.
After finally calming down his laughter, Wes sat beside Platinum who was covering her face with a recently wet towel.
What had transpired after the Heiress ate the burrito seemed like straight out a comedy strip, as she felt her entire mouth and throat overload with flavor. Maybe it was from the fact she had a more sensitive tongue having to dine from great tasting dishes and such, but regardless she felt the burden of such a spicy meal. It was hilarious to see her panicking around before she threw out her Froslass and Empoleon and begged them among her shouts to make it stop.
However, her ghost/ice type panicked and was scared at the sight, and quickly froze her head before Platinum could explain properly.
Wes rolled into the floor laughing as hard as he ever could.
After thawing Platinum's face, the girl sat on a bench and hid her face in a towel, but even then Wes could see how red her ears were.
Wes sighed as he looked at the girl. "Whoo! Sorry, didn't expect all of that to happen. Want some water?" He asked as he got a slightly room temperature bottle of water.
Platinum looked up, tears in her eyes, flush in her face, and trying to glare at the boy from Orre. "I cannot believe you would do that! No wonder Summer wished to trade with me."
"OK, I admit, I'm a bit of a jerk—fine, a huge jerk. But I try not to be." He corrected as soon as he saw her narrow her eyes.
Umbreon came up behind Zwelious and Espeon. "Hey guys, you'll never guess what I did!"
Wes shrugged his shoulders. "I mean, my Pokémon aren't bad guys."
Espeon paled. "Oh no."
Suddenly, a jet stream of boiling water was shot out, forcing everyone to duck.
They all looked over and saw an Empoleon in pain as she ran around bursting steaming water with tears running down her eyes.
"What did you do!?" Espeon asked horrified.
"Oh I tricked Empoleon into finishing the burrito her mistress didn't finish," Umbreon explained as Wes Pokémon, Platinum's Froslass, and their trainers watched the flailing water and steel type launch streams of boiling water around him. "… On the bright side, she now knows Scald."
"Do you barbarians, have any class?" The ice ghost narrowed her eyes.
"Ooo! What's class?"
"Is it edible? And if it is not, can we still eat it anyway?"
The two heads of Zwelious asked.
"Oh Arceus." Froslass exclaimed.
Platinum acted quickly and recalled her Pokémon from his rampage. She couldn't help but notice Wes' laughing dark types and his chuckling Espeon.
"Uhh… congratulations, your Empoleon learned Scald?" Wes offered weakly.
That's it! She wouldn't take it anymore! It's true Wes did help her, but her entire time with Wes has been nothing but trouble and insult to injury! She would not take this! She was a proud Pokédex wielder and has helped saved the world even, why was she allowing herself to be made a fool out of this… jerk!
"Ugh!" Platinum exclaimed with rising anger. "You have the worst manners I have ever met! I am honestly surprised a jerk like you has friends! No wonder Summer hates you!" She yelled as she stood up and stormed off.
Wes remained silent as he let those words sink.
His Pokémon all watched the girl and her Froslass storm away.
"Oh err, sorry Wes." Umbreon apologized in an abash manner.
"It's fine." Wes said without passion.
He sighed.
Summer sighed.
"Look, Anto. I can't tell you."
"Alright. I won't force you to tell me, but I should mention that it makes me feel sad to see you and Wes like this. Just… please make up soon."
The ranger reflected on the words he just said.
"… I'll think about it."
The younger boy looked at her hopefully.
"Thank you."
Summer dejectedly walked down the streets with Flow in her arms as she remembered her conversation with Anto.
"Are you alright Summer?"
"Not exactly. It's just something I messed up when Wes and I fell into those Ruins. … We haven't exactly patched things up yet."
"What did you two talk about?"
The Ranger's muscles tensed slightly, and the fairy psychic felt it in the arms carrying her.
"I'm sorry. If you don't want to talk about it, I'll wait for you to tell me."
Summer chuckled weakly at that.
"How is it that I've got so many patient friends?"
Then she noticed flow glancing over to a particular stomping and fuming girl.
"Summer, isn't that girl over there…?"
"Platinum?"
Summer wondered why the usually graceful and princess like Platinum Berlitz looks so disheveled and annoyed, very different from the usual air she first saw her as. It was odd to see her so grumpy and even looking vulnerable when she last recalled seeing the wise and knowledgeable girl with an air of poise and grace.
Summer placed flow down and the two walked over to the disturbed girl.
"Miss Platinum?" Flow telekinetically called out to the Heiress.
The blue haired princess froze and glanced around her after seemingly hearing a familiar voice within her head. It was then she spotted both Summer and Flow walking towards her.
"Ah, Summer," She managed a smile to the sweet Delta Pokémon. "Flow, a pleasure to meet you both again."
After Anto's artful win over Burgh, Flow accidentally exposed her ability to translate her language to others around her since Espeon did not tech her how to isolate the links between specific people yet. As such, when she cheered for Anto's victory with the 'Scarf Trio' nearby, they all heard Flow's voice in their minds.
Summer and Tracey had quite the time trying to explain how Flow could do that.
Regardless, as of now Summer focused on the task at hand. "Are you alright? What happened to you?"
She scoffed. "Hmpf! Do you have any idea who caused this?!"
The way she was directing that question to her… "It's Wes, isn't it?"
"Ugh, I can't believe him!"
"Uhm, what exactly did he do?" Summer became especially curious with Platinum's rage suddenly subsided and a blush appeared across her face.
"I… I don't want to talk about it. However, how exactly do you deal with him!?"
Summer smiled nervously. "I-I admit that he isn't the best of people, but that doesn't mean he's a bad guy. Sure, he's a egotistical jerk who thinks he's better than everyone who I would like to do nothing more than shove one of his sweaty socks down his throat, stuff him in a chest and kick it off a cliff—what was I talking about?" Summer stopped herself before she continued her train of revenge.
"Ugh that ruffian! Didn't his parents teach him any manners?" Platinum whined. "I would like a good word with them if I ever met them."
Summer's mood dropped as she remembered. "Wes… doesn't have any parents."
Platinum's eyes widened, her rage vanished as soon as she heard those words. "I-I did not know that."
"Yeah, well I didn't either. Then I found out he lived a much, much harder life than you or I. What's worse is that I may have insulted him for that," Summer dourly said. "So he may act like a jerk, but that's because he has no idea how to make friends and is horrible at interacting with people. If anything, Anto vouches for him and they both get along quite well."
Platinum stayed quiet until her XTransciver started beeping, signaling her match coming up soon.
"Oh, it appears my next battle is coming up." She said.
The ranger perked up at this and picked up Flow again in her arms.
"Can I come along then? Where is it?"
The mature girl checked the watch. "Thankfully it's in the Small Court. So it should be easy to watch from."
The two girls were later joined by Diamond and Pearl on their way towards the arena.
The three of the group sat down in some nearby bleachers as they waited for Platinum's opponent to come by.
When he did, all of them had their eyes widened.
"Contestant #4, Wes Versus Contestant #2 Platinum Berlitz, begin!"
The two contests stared silently at each other before the two of them drew their chosen Pokémon and let them loose on the field.
"… Well this is awkward." Espeon noted as a familiar Empoleon and Lopunny was now in front of them.
The Empoleon smiled wickedly before gathering energy and blasting a burst of boiling water towards Umbreon.
Umbreon side stepped away from the attack and noticed the steam coming from the left over puddles of water.
"So does this mean you're still angry for that whole, tricking you into eating that burrito thing?" Umbreon asked uselessly.
He got his answer as Empoleon attempted to blast him with another Scald, the attack she had unwilling learned earlier that day because of the dark type and was now using it to hurt him as painfully as possible. Doesn't the universe work in mysterious ways?
"Lopunny, Dizzy Punch on the Espeon!" Platinum cried out as she pointed to the lavender Pokémon.
"Psychic, push her back!"
"Dodge!"
The normal type charged forward, only to jump back with nimble grace as she avoided the blast of telekinetic energy smashed the ground she was just a few seconds ago.
The Lopunny jumped high, raising her leg and launching a high jump kick towards Umbreon.
Espeon and Wes acted quickly. A Reflect appeared but instead of blocking the attack, Espeon placed the energy wall above the stretched put leg of the Lopunny. Because of that, the leg kept flying past the barrier, but the rest of Lopunny's body smashed into the wall with the speed of the attack, activating the crash damage and allowing enough time for Umbreon to get out of the way.
Platinum tensed at the creative use of the move. Quickly she sent Empoleon to launch Ice Beams to attack the two eveelutions and cover the fallen ally. She didn't expect that Wes was obviously more coordinated in double battles. Thinking back, she did recall hearing from Summer that Wes was familiar at double battles.
Platinum returned Lopunny as Empoleon continued firing ice beams, and leaving trials of ice around the area. She then threw out Froslass into the fight.
"Froslass, Hail!" The calculating girl exclaimed and an ice storm hailed down on their battlefield. Wes cursed under his breath as he put on his visors in order to concentrate better on the fight. Weather controlled battles were always tricky to deal with.
"Umbreon, Protect on both of you!" Wes cried as the dark type jumped in front of his younger brother and formed a powerful forcefield that still held against a powered up Powder Snow and Ice Beam.
Wes looked ahead, Empoleon stood tall, unaffected by the weather since her species lived in cold weathers despite not being a true ice type. Also he could barely see Froslass under this weather which only meant that this particular Froslass had the Snow Cloak ability, great. As long as that Froslass was there, the Hail would continue to whittle down his Pokémon and get bombarded with heavy powered ice attacks.
However, that was far easier said than done. Snow Cloak was making a ghost Pokémon even more untouchable, and with Empoleon as her body guard, there was no easy or conventional way to get through this defense unless another weather team was present.
Still, Wes calmed himself down. "Espeon, back!"
He recalled his psychic type and sent out Delta Wartortle as he entered the icy field.
"Hmm. Nice weather we are having, aren't we?" the dark and fighting type asked.
"I'm almost tempted to get hit by that Empoleon's Scald attack if it wasn't for the irony of it all."
The Delta Pokémon turned to the other dark type. "Is that how irony is used?"
"Wait, what do you—incoming!" Umbreon readied another Protect move, another green dome of energy appeared and prevented another blast of two powered up ice attacks.
Wartortle saw his opponents. Bitterly, he remembered as similar simulation he was forced into when he was back in the lab. Similar weather controlled Pokémon had an advantage over him and his teammate in the long run. However, Wartortle immediate noted how Empoleon was standing in front of the ghost and ice type, as if protecting the one giving them an advantage.
"I'm hoping you can get past them right?"
Wartortle smirked towards the natural dark type. "Do you really think those blasted labcoats made me look like this for show?"
"Umbreon, Secret Power!" Wes cried, making the Pokémon try to go on the offensive as it blasted chunks of ice towards the two Pokémon. Empoleon stood tall and smashed through the ice shards before firing another ice beam. Umbreon protected again, but this time, Powder Snow came right after the forcefield fell. Umbreon feeling the pain from the very increased ice attack. However, Empoleon acted quickly, aiming another Ice beam after the Powder Snow attack hit the dark type.
As Platinum pressed her assault, she wondered where that odd looking Wartortle went. She got her answer when Empoleon's shadow suddenly stood up from the ground and Wartortle came bursting out in his spinning shell and unleashing a wide Dark Pulse between Empoleon and Froslass.
Attack hit both Pokémon and separated them, Wartortle stopped spinning quickly, and went after the Froslass with another Dark Pulse forming in his hands. Amazingly, Wartortle gathered the pulsating rings of the attack and made them all circle in such a way that they looked like a large shuriken. With that, The Delta Pokémon launched the attack again Froslass, throwing more of these Dark Shurikens one after another. They didn't look as powerful as a regular Dark Pulse, but it was obviously faster to re use and kept interrupting Froslass' concentration.
The hail was starting to die down.
Platinum wondered what Pokémon that was that could do that, but she would look at her Pokedex after she stopped the assault.
At her Lady's command, Empoleon fired another Ice Beam at the Wartortle, or at least tried to. Umbreon was able to come back and Crunch on the dual type with his back turned.
"Miff mff!? (Miss me!?)" Umbreon cried as he held on tightly as Empoleon thrashed around, trying to get the Pokémon off his shoulder.
Froslass, too that moment to launch a Shadow Ball at Wartortle, but he side stepped the attack. Froslass smiled and the attack kept flying and hit Umbreon off Empoleon's shoulder.
Wartortle was surprised, but then realized Froslass, and now Empoleon were focusing on him and he quickly faded away into a Shadow Sneak attack.
"Froslass, re cast Hail quickly! Empoleon keep dishing out attacks on that other Pokémon!"
Delta Wartortle saw Empoleon stand between him and Froslass. The hail was just about to stop, but the ninja turtle screamed towards something else.
"You've got a clear shot, Umbreon!" Wartortle cried.
Empoleon remembered she blasted the dark type in the opposite direction. She quickly turned back to see all runes of the Umbreon flickering brightly.
"Shadow Unknown!"
The ice around them turned dark within a certain radius the very edge of the dark radius just reached right under Froslass. A blast of dark coated ice spiked upward and stabbed the ghost ice type with dark energy. (Thankfully the attack just phased through and the energy through her body knocked her out unconscious.)
With that, the ghost type fell and Umbreon stopped the attack. However, the moment the attack stopped, Umbreon was blindsided with a Hydro pump and slammed into a nearby wall.
Both of them were down one Pokémon now the first trainer to knock out the other wins.
Wes recalled Umbreon and called out Zwelious, the two headed dragon looking particularly peppy today.
"Hello me!"
"Hi you!"
Platinum thought for a moment before throwing out Rapidash as her Pokémon. However, she then recalled Empoleon and sent out Cherrim as well.
Wes narrowed his eyes at the grass type and fire type. He had a feeling he knew what was coming. "Oh not this again…"
"Cherrim! Sunny Day!"
Wes inwardly cursed as somehow, under a roof, the Sun shined brighter. Cherrim reverted to her Sunshine form and started to glow. The aura of the Pokémon went over to Rapidash as well and the ice around them started to melt.
Wes was not only facing another weather team again, he remembered that Cherrim had an ability called Flower Gift which allows Cherrim and her allies a boost in special defense and Attack while under the sun.
'That. Bites.' Wes grunted.
"Rapidash, Flame Wheel! Cherrim, Solarbeam on the Wartortle!"
With increased speed, Platinum's Pokémon pressed a powerful assault on Wes Pokémon. For Wartortle, his mobility with Shadow Sneak allowed him to avoid the Fast beam of power coming his way. However, Zwelious wasn't as nimble and was pretty much body checked by a very boosted Rapidash, if it wasn't for Zwelious being a dragon type, the attack would have hurt so much more.
It was then Wes briefly noticed something touching his feet.
Puddles of water were starting rise up and flood the area. From the extensive amount of ice attacks and snow attacks from the hail and the two ice users previously, it was all starting to melt very quickly under this heat.
Wes saw his reflection on a puddle, before one of his brows curled up in curiosity.
"Zwelious, return!" Wes called, out. Unfortunately, while Zwelious did have a resistance to both of the Pokémon's stabs, he was going to need his psychic type for this.
Espeon came out and found himself a little surprised at the wet puddles beneath him.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What happened to all of the snow?! And why is there so much sunlight without sun!?"
Wartortle jumped out of the shadows, and landed right beside Espeon in a battle stance. "Our opponents appear to be weather users. I would like to make a joke about the weather, but it appears I'm too dry for it."
"Why would you care about jokes at a time lik—wait a sec…" Espeon stopped mid sentence as he replayed that sentence back in his head.
Unfortunately for the lavender Pokémon, his thoughts were interrupted as he had to dodge a fast Solarbeam and saw Rapidash burning the puddles of water where he threaded and trying very hard to chase Wartortle.
"Espeon! Use Psychic!" Wes cried.
The psychic's type eyes widened briefly before he focused back into the fight. He blasted Cherrim with a Psychic attack and hammering the smaller grass type down into the ground, forming a mini crater beneath him.
However, Cherrim got back up, looking more angry than hurt. Wes new that attack wouldn't do much with Cherrim's boost in Special Defense.
"Cherrim, Solarbeam! Rapidash, chase after your opponent with Flame Wheel!"
Platinum calmed herself down a bit, Wes somehow found a way past her Hail duo, but it looked like he was struggling against her Sunny Day duo. This time Cherrim was boosted from the weather conditions along with Rapidash, while she did have the clear advantage, she didn't want to let her guard down.
"Espeon, Reflect!" Wes suddenly yelled, Pointing his hand towards Wartortle and Rapidash where the former was about to use Stomp on the turtle. The psychic wall appeared, but quickly cracked and shattered from the boosted Rapidash's attack. Yet Wartortle was competent enough to fade back into the shadows to avoid being stomped on and he quickly moved himself to the walls where somehow he was clinging on to it without opposable fingers and claws.
"How is he doing that?" Platinum asked.
"I… don't know." Wes stated before looking around him. "Hey, can we get back to the match now?"
Platinum looked back. "Cherrim, Solarbeam! Rapidash, Fire Blast!"
Espeon jumped out of the beam's radius while Wartortle leaped from the wall and towards one of the large and last standing ice pillars left over from the ice duo.
Rapidash fired another Fire Blast, the resulting huge, flame exploding even as Wartortle tried to descend downward.
The fiery explosion sent Wartortle landing badly and bouncing on the ground and already three inches of water on the floor.
Platinum knew this was her opportunity, she needed to just knock out one more Pokémon and both of her Pokémon were powered enough to overpower and shrug off Wes'.
"Rapidash, Flare Blitz!"
The water around them started to boiled and steam started coming around Rapidash as he charged with boosted speed towards the down Wartortle.
However, Espeon jumped between his ally and the charging fire type.
Platinum wondered what that would accomplish.
It was she saw a smirk curl up Wes' face.
"Now, Espeon! Throw all of it!"
Platinum wondered what he meant by that, until she noticed all the water around her from all the melted snow and ice gravitating towards Espeon.
'A pseudo Surf!?' Platinum cried as all the water gathered fast around the psychic type and showily launched a tidal wave towards the fast charging Pokémon in a slightly extravagant manner.
Rapidash just flared his body and ran even faster towards the water. With a burst of amazing speed as the water crashed on him, he busted through the wave with a large steam cloud and crashed into both Wartortle and Espeon with a weakened Flare Bltiz. While the attack was weakened by the water slightly, it still didn't stop the other boosts he built up during the Sunny Day and others.
As both Pokémon fell down, Platinum sighed in relief.
"The Winner! Contestant # 4, Wes!"
Platinum and everyone else was shocked to hear both Transciever's call Wes the winner when both Wartortle and Espeon were knocked out.
"Hey! Platinum won, stupid machines! I'll sue somebody!" Pearl cried out before he looked passionately at his two friends beside him. He saw the shocked look on Dia's face, but when he looked to Summer, she was looking at something else.
Wes had this nonchalant look on his face as he sighed and explained, "You know, I told Anto to 'pay attention to both of your Pokémon'. If you don't, well…"
As the steam died down from where Rapidash busted through the water, everyone saw Cherrim's unconscious form twitching on the ground with a burnt and ashy Rapidash foot print on her face.
"W-When!?" Platinum cried out. But then her mind raced. It was during Espeon's gathering of all the water! He must have swept up Cherrim during the gathering of water and sent him face first against Rapidash in the water! She didn't notice her grass type since she was too small and was distracted by how flashy Espeon made his attack.
The reason why Wes was declared the winner was because Platinum lost two Pokémon before Wes did. Cherrim was knocked out before Espeon and Wartortle were!
"You tricked me! Again!" Platinum accused.
Surprisingly, Wes actually looked a bit abashed as he walked up to her, recalling his two downed Pokémon. "Err, yeah. Sorry. If it makes you feel better, I couldn't have won without tricks. You're Pokémon are pretty strong."
"I… I see…" She said, a little unsure of what exactly to say.
"Look," Wes gazed at her solemnly to which Platinum looked at those intense orange and amber eyes. "I'm sorry for earlier today too. I'm kind of…"
"Ill mannered? Impolite? Uncivilized? Sadistic? Tactless? Disrespectful?" Platinum deadpanned as she listed those words easily.
"Trying to make a point here."
Platinum folded her arms.
Wes rolled his eyes as he saw Summer, Diamond, and a slightly angry Pearl coming his way.
"I may be… all of those… so sorry. I guess. I'm not that good with people…" He said her name.
Platinum lessened her arms but didn't remove them. "… I suppose I can forgive you," Wes had to hold the urge to roll his eyes. "But I too have to apologize for snapping at you. It was unladylike."
"It's fine White Scarf," Platinum glared at the boy. "Fine! Platinum."
"That's Lady Berlitz for you! My friends are allowed to call me that name," She couldn't help but smile that time. "But in time, I'll allow you to call me that again."
Wes looked over to Summer, making the ranger flinch slightly. "I also owe you an apology, Nerd… Summer."
"Yeah well... at least you're trying, so I'm sorry too." She said.
Dia and Pearl didn't exactly know what was going on, but they seemed to respect that there were some personal issues being resolved. Besides Platinum could tell them all later.
Wes smirked. "Well at least you're not asking me to call you something stupid."
Platinum huffed. "I might re consider if next time, you don't trick me into eating something that… horrible!" She shuddered as she recalled the burrito.
"It's a date." Wes said before he walked out quickly with his back facing all four of them.
After Wes being ten away steps, what the Snagger said finally clicked on the four of them.
"D-D-D-D-" Platinum stammered with a flushed and red face. She looked down and put her hands on her face trying to wrap her head around a concept she's never really understood before.
"Did he just ask you out on a date!?" Summer cried out, looking flustered in surprise.
"What!? No!" Pearl denied vehemently before running after Wes. "Hey, you come back here!"
Meanwhile, Dia just stared. It was like his mind couldn't even function as the two girls around him just blushed with red at the sudden and abrupt mention of a date.
{Author Notes}
Oh Wes, your character is so fun to write.
I really, really enjoyed writing the fight between Wes and Platinum. When I first read through Platinum's story on both the Diamond/Pearl Story Arc and the Platinum Arc, I saw how much of a prodigy she was, being an expert in battling and understanding Pokémon and making epic strategies.
So when I pitted her against Wes, I wondered what kind of edge would Wes use against Pokémon that are clearly stronger than his and a trainer who is over all smarter at strategies than him.
Then it hit me!
Wes is a survivor and a thief. And if Aladin has taught me anything, Street rats are unusually clever. Wes here knew he didn't stand much of chance in direct fights, which is why he relied on deception and tricky to win. I made him have Empoleon focus on Wartortle so Umbreon would have a clear shot with a wide Aoe attack on Froslass, and his answer to two stronger powered up Pokémon? Have them beat each other.
I really enjoy writing battles! If you guys look over all of them there's always some unique gimmick to them, and they're soooo much fun to come up with! I do have this fear that at the rate I'm going, I'm going to waste all of them before the end of the story… uhhhhhh… but it's too fun not to think of that!
Also, I apologize briefly for the lack of OCs using characters, but I assure you all that you'll all have more prominent story arcs in the up and coming chapters!
Even Also-er! I may have done some… shipping… more obscure relationships! I imagine Wes and Platinum being slight parallels of Aladin and Jasmine, only more sarcastic and aloof.
Why ship tease them? Because I can, beaver dam it! And I think it would be fun!
For those actually curious, there was a reason why Summer and Wes had an earlier argument, but deciding on a bit, revealing it here was kind of odd, so I have to find a better timing for it elsewhere.
As I said the romance in this story is kind of… little, I might focus a bit more on something like that later on, but I'm not good at writing at romance. I've been reading some to try and get some ideas, but I want to ease in when I can. That absolute one thing I loathe to do is force things awkwardly.
As such that's it for these long author notes.
Edit: Thanks to What Lies Beyond for telling me about Empoleon being a girl.
I do hope you all enjoy the chapter and thanks for reading!
[?]
Over there, faraway in an impossible place and impossible time…
There was a girl, a princess even. Hair deep blue and eyes cold as ice, she hated the desert sun despite being under a grand house to suit her needs.
To her surprise, a boy had broken in, he looked dirty, rough, jagged, but he seemed tired and injured. Below him were two small Evees, looking dirty as if they had trekked through the desert.
"Hey, girly, I'm hungry. Where's your food?" He cried out with annoyed bluntness.
"Do you have any manners?" The rich princess asked the street rat.
"Screw it, I'll go look for food myself." The ruffian said as he and his Evees made their way.
"Hey! Don't ignore me!" The adults never ignored her, why was this ruffian doing that? She grabbed his arm and then she heard a loud grumbling sound.
"Eek!' She yelped. "W-What was that?"
"I'm hungry, duh! My stomach's growling. Hasn't shut up since." Then a brow raised and the boy gave a curious look to the girl. "Wait, you don't know what a stomach growling sounds like? Are you stupid girly?"
"Stupid!?" The girl cried in anger, she was a genius! Her parents were proud of her accomplishments and her teachers also praised her. How dare this ruffian accuse her of such lies! "Take that back!"
"Why?"
The prim princess pouted. "I'll show you! I am not stupid! The kitchen is in the other direction, you ruffian, follow me!"
"Jeez, you shout so much…" The boy said as he wiped his ears nonchalantly with his fingers and followed the girl. The two Evees smiled, wagged their fluffy and dirty tails excitedly before following the boy and the girl.