Alright, here's another chapter, guys! Don't forget to review!
DaniTrainer: I'm not yet taking new submissions, sorry. Also if you want to be in the battle course you need more than just the one pokemon; a minimum of three.
Darkhammer: Interesting. I think I can work with that.
Superblal: Since you posted so many in succession, I'll address them one at a time.
Sango's relationship with battling will be approached throughout her arc. Since her closest friends are pokemon battlers, it sets them in a different world than her. She'll explore this as time goes on. I don't think she'll battle much at all, but it will be a part of her character to confront her ideas about it. And we've already seen she can be good if she actually does it.
I wouldn't say Reiner is the antagonist, per se, though it might seem that way then. He's certainly acting kind of jerkish but I think the antagonist may be someone else ;)
Yeah, since Blake's the main character I've been kind of slow-rolling his development (all of the characters' developments, really) but starting with this arc we'll get to see more of it through his relationship with his brother. Trust me, there are some juicy things to come that will make sense in hindsight.
That comparison seems a common consensus.
To be fair, Alcea was a bit of a prodigy. (Or was she? 14 is kind of old to be a trainer in the anime…) She's also one of the few students at the school to have already traveled on the pro circuit, so it makes sense she's a minor celebrity on campus. Also, I changed the way the Eight Leaders work (just re-edited the chapter) so it's not junior-exclusive. There are a couple of seniors in their numbers, but most of them are otherwise occupied. We'll be seeing that play a role in future arcs.
Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings
Chapter 42
"Phoenix!" Kanone shouted, holding out his pokeball. "Rise and burn brighter, to the summit of the strongest!"
Kanone threw the pokeball into the air, his Blaziken emerging in a burst of fire.
"Hollander, use whirlpool!" Alcea ordered. Hollander spun their anchor around in the air, creating a large torrent of water swirling in a tornado. With a fling of the anchor the water spout surged toward Phoenix.
"No need to worry, right, Phoenix?" Kanone asked, smiling. Phoenix looked back to him and nodded.
He's not dodging? Alcea wondered, surprised. The water struck Phoenix head on, wrapping him in a massive whirlpool. The minute Phoenix's body was surrounded, it began steaming. In a few moments, the water released a violent hiss and evaporated away, leaving Phoenix standing there, holding his hands before his chest.
"A simple heat wave attack is enough to dispel a water move of that caliber," Kanone explained. "Now, let's go, Phoenix!"
"Blaze!" Phoenix growled, lowering his head and moving his hands back, charging toward Hollander. Phoenix stomped on the ground and flames curled up around his legs. He kicked off the grass and leapt into the air, maximizing speed and lunging at Hollander. Phoenix raised his leg and slammed it into Hollander's main body, knocking them backwards.
"With flame charge's speed boost, now you won't be able to catch up with us," Kanone warned.
Phoenix coated himself with flames again and ran towards Hollander again, but Alcea was ready this time. "Phantom force!" She ordered, throwing her hand out, Hollander fading away. Phoenix did not let up, however, increasing speed and charging straight at Alcea. Alcea widened her eyes, holding up her arms defensively, but Phoenix skidded around her, increasing in speed and fading into a fiery blur. As he ran lines across the field, Alcea's eyes scanned after him, trying to figure out when Hollander should reappear.
"Now!" Alcea ordered. Hollander emerged in front of Phoenix just as her was turning, launching their anchor right at his feet. The large metal anchor struck Phoenix's leg, the Blaziken roaring in pain, pulling the anchor free from his leg. Hollander moved back and began retracting the anchor, but Phoenix grabbed the chain with blazing hands, clenching it tightly, pulling it back towards him. The chain reached the end as Phoenix continued pulling hand over hand, the grass pokemon was slowly yanked back toward him. With a single powerful tug, Phoenix pulled Hollander within range with one hand, hitting the grass type with a burning fire punch with the other, sending them flying backwards. The Dhelmise skidded across the field as the seaweed that made them up flew in all directions, the debris landing in a heap at Alcea's feet.
"Return," Alcea said quietly, returning the seaweed pokemon, debris and all, back to their pokeball. "Kanone, that Blaziken of yours is as powerful of a pokemon as I remember. Between that and your Samurott…"
"Oh, don't worry, I won't be using Sammy," Kanone reassured her, shaking his head. "She needs time to rest in preparation for a certain event. No need to be wary of her."
"I see," Alcea said, relaxing visibly to Blake and Kate's watchful eyes, reaching for a pokeball on her belt. "In that case-"
"In that case," Kanone interrupted, his expression turning serious as his eyes narrowed, "you can win? How about that. Sounds quite arrogant of you, my dear lady. First, let's see you put up a fight against my Phoenix, yes?"
"If you think that your type advantage will be enough for you to overcome me, then you'll find yourself woefully mistaken," Alcea declared. "Rayne, take down this fire pokemon!"
She tossed out a pokeball, and in a swirl of sparkling bubbles a Ludicolo appeared.
"How interesting," Kanone said, his eyes widening. "Phoenix, think it'll be a problem?"
"Blaze," Phoenix said, shaking his head.
"Me neither. It seems strange though, I would think that a grass type user would be focused more around sunny day, wouldn't you?" Kanone asked.
"Flowers do not grow with sunlight alone," Alcea corrected. "Proper nourishment of rain and sunlight is essential for their health. Like so!" On command, her Ludicolo began dancing, bouncing on each foot and holding out his large green hands, spinning in a circle, clouds gathering overhead as the sky darkened. Rain began to fall over the battlefield, extinguishing the small fires that Phoenix had kicked up. Kate and Blake retreated back under the cover of the gazebo, the rain spreading out over the garden.
"Your fire will have little effect in this weather," Alcea said confidently. "Now! Rayne, flood this battlefield with surf!"
Rayne held his hands out to the sides, the water from the rain intensifying and swirling around behind him, forming a tidal wave of incredible power. Rayne leapt onto the wave as it crashed down at Phoenix, knocking both him and Kanone back.
"Seems a little strong for your 'proper nourishment' don't you think?" Kanone asked, dumping water out of his shoes before standing up. "Phoenix, how was that?"
Phoenix's only answer was a growl, flames bursting from his wrists as he rose to his feet, glaring at the Ludicolo. Even as the rain dimmed his flames, they continued to burn intensely.
"It seems more will be needed to deal with you, then!" Alcea said. "Rayne, use hydro pump!"
Rayne opened his bill wide and a large blast of water shot out, increasing in size as it struck the rain.
"Phoenix!" Kanone called, clenching his hand into a fist as his Blaziken did the same. Fire danced around Phoenix's hand, and he punched the hydro pump attack, a blast of steam erupting around him. The fire punch pushed forward as it formed a pillar of flames, burning through the hydro pump to Alcea's absolute shock, overwhelming the water attack and hitting Rayne, knocking him backwards. The blast of heat was so intense that Alcea felt it lick her face, singing her dry of the rain. She raised her arms as she was pushed back, narrowing her eyes. Such incredible strength… my most powerful water attack extinguished by a simple fire punch!
"Rayne!" Alcea shouted. The Ludicolo sprung to his feet, water dancing around him, and he summoned a powerful tidal wave a second time, sending it after the Blaziken, followed by two more tidal waves in short succession.
"So you couldn't overcome be with quality so you went with quantity?" Kanone asked. "Good move! But it won't be enough! Phoenix!"
Phoenix wreathed himself in flames and leapt into the air, clearing the first tidal wave and raising his hand, releasing a blast of flames from his hands, pushing through the second wave, evaporating the water on contact and hitting Rayne directly, pushing him backwards. Phoenix landed on the ground and shot forward, pulling back his fist, striking Rayne in the stomach, launching him into the air.
"Rayne!" Alcea cried out. Phoenix jumped up and over Rayne, spinning around him and driving his foot into Rayne's back, sending him crashing into the ground.
"Return," Alcea said, returning Rayne to his pokeball. "I knew this would be difficult. But now… Kanna, take to the sky!"
Alcea tossed out a pokeball, a large, leafy dinosaur emerging in a whirlwind of leaves from the ball capsule. The Tropius landed on the ground and flapped her leafy wings, blowing a gust of wind at Phoenix and pushing him away. She lifted herself off of the ground and flew into the air, soaring above Phoenix.
"Sunny day," Alcea ordered. Kanna began glowing and released a bright light up into the air, the clouds clearing away as the sunlight intensified once again. Kanna soared even higher, dancing through the sky, gathering wind around her leafy wings.
"Thanks for the boost," Kanone said, smiling. "Phoenix!" Kanone clenched his hand into a fist and Phoenix gathered flames around his arm, punching the air. A blast of fire erupted from his hand and shot toward Kanna in a blazing fist.
"You can launch fire punches at long range?" Alcea asked, surprised as Kanna swiftly dodged to the side. "But no matter. Kanna has the advantage with her lovely wings! Kanna, use air slash!"
"Tropius!" Kanna roared, spreading out her wings, spinning toward the ground, firing four slashes of air at Phoenix.
"Well now," Kanone closed his eyes, Phoenix swiftly dodging each of the blasts of wind with his agility.
"You're fast, Alcea, but we're faster," Kanone said, his eyes snapping open, raising his hand.
"Think so?" Alcea asked, her lips curving into a smile. Suddenly, Kanna disappeared.
"Oh?" Kanone asked, intrigued.
"In this blazing sunlight my speed is far beyond yours," Alcea said. "Once more, Kanna. Air slash!"
Kanna appeared in front of Phoenix in a blur, flapping her wings, cutting a long slash through the air. Kanone shot his arms in front of his chest in protection as Phoenix did the same, a powerful cut striking him head on.
"Blaze!" Phoenix exclaimed, falling to one knee, Kanone coughing out in pain and clutching his chest, his eyes flashing.
"It hurts, doesn't it?" Kanone asked. "But we aren't done yet!"
Phoenix rose up and kicked the air, sending another blast of flames to drive Kanna back. Kanna flew away to keep a safe distance from the fire type, increasing her speed until she became a blur once again.
"Kanna!" Alcea called out. "Use caution. As long as you stay in the air you're out of his reach, so keep watching until you can hit with another air slash."
"Well if you won't come to us…" Kanone said, nodding to Phoenix. Phoenix held up his hands, flames bursting from his wrists and wrapping around his clawed hands. The flames danced around him as he kicked off the ground, propelling himself into the air with a blast of fire.
"What?!" Alcea asked, shocked.
"Oh, come on now, this can't have been the first time you've seen this," Kanone said, smiling. "I've done this a few times before, you know. Phoenix!"
Phoenix increased the power of the flames and shot toward Kanna.
"Kanna! Get out of the way! Fast!" Alcea cried. Kanna gave her wings a powerful flap and pushed away from the Blaziken at high speed, to the point where Blake and Kate couldn't even see the flying pokemon.
"I won't let you get away," Kanone chuckled. "Let me show you real speed."
Flames coated Phoenix's body and he increased speed, until all that could be seen of him were trails of orange light. The light shot across the sky and suddenly both pokemon reappeared as Phoenix brought his fist up into Kanna's jaw, the tropic pokemon crying out in pain. She fell backwards before spreading her wings out to stabilize herself, swinging her long neck at Phoenix. But Phoenix was far too quick for her, dodging to the side and maneuvering above Kanna, curling into a ball and spinning down toward Kanna, sticking his leg out and bringing it straight down into Kanna's back, sending her plummeting toward the ground.
"Kanna!" Alcea cried out.
"Finish her off with burning wing," Kanone ordered. Phoenix pulled back and the flames around his arms turned bright blue. He held his hands up in front of his chest, aimed straight at Kanna, releasing a blast of blue flames in the shape of a burning blue bird. The bird spread its wings and shot toward Kanna, enveloping her in a bright blue inferno.
Alcea called back her Tropius, the flames dying down. Phoenix's flames returned to their orange color and he landed on the ground, panting.
"Milady…" Kate gasped.
"I'm down to my last two pokemon," Alcea said, staring at the pokeball in her hand. She raised her head and met Kanone's eyes with an earnest stare of defiance. "But that doesn't mean I'm defeated yet. Laissez-nous danser… Venus!"
Alcea sent out her Venusaur, who appeared in a flutter of flower petals, letting out a roar.
"Venus, use razor leaf!" Alcea ordered. A barrage of sharp leaves shot out from the flower on her back, flying in a flurry at Phoenix. Phoenix let out a roar and flames erupted from his wrists, the temperature spiking around him, causing the leaves to burn to ashes before making contact. The leaves destroyed, Phoenix held his hands up and shot a flamethrower attack from his palms, the flames shooting towards Venus.
"Solarbeam!" Alcea shouted. Sunlight gathered in her flower and Venus fired it in a beam of energy, smashing through the flames and hitting Phoenix, knocking him back. Phoenix wasn't down for long, however, leaping to his feet and charging at Venus, coating his body in a flame charge.
"A head-on charge, is it?" Alcea asked. "Again, Venus!" Venus fired another solarbeam attack, Phoenix dodging to the side and continuing his attack, appearing in front of Venus, striking her in the forehead with a powerful fire punch. Venus slid backwards but as she did, a vine shot out from her flower and wrapped around Phoenix's leg, pulling him off-balance. Venus planted her legs and turned the skid into a turn, flinging Phoenix through the air at a large tree.
"Blaze!" Phoenix shouted, holding his hands back, generating a blast of flame to brake, pushing off a cushion of air and shooting straight at Venus again.
"The same patterns of attack," Alcea said, her eyes jumping to Blake momentarily. A barrier of protective energy appeared in front of Venus just as Phoenix let out another punch, the fire pokemon wincing in pain and jumping back.
"He's tiring," Blake said, glancing at Kanone, who was looking as winded as his Blaziken. "They both are."
Just a little more… Alcea thought, silently agreeing with Blake.
"Why is Kanone just attacking head-on?" Kate asked, confused. "Why isn't he moving like he was against her highness's Tropius?"
"Because he can't," Alcea answered confidently, not taking her eyes off of Kanone. "That move he used… was a double-edged sword."
"She's right," Blake said, nodding. "Phoenix is one of Kanone's strongest pokemon, but he's fought through three pokemon by now, and the recoil from burning wing combined with all the compounding damage has taken its toll. Right now Phoenix is a mass of pain and hurting. There's no way he can keep up with Alcea's movements."
Blake turned to look at his brother. And that means he…
"Another fire punch," Kanone said, his eyes flashing. "And this time… take as much of my energy as you need and grow stronger, Phoenix."
"Blaziken!" Phoenix roared, his flames burning brightly again. He lunged at Venus, coating his entire arm in a powerful fire punch.
"Venus!" Alcea shouted. With speed that belied her size, Venus shot forward, headbutting Phoenix in the chest and knocking him backwards, Phoenix crashing against the ground and skidding back.
"Now, for the coup de grace!" Alcea shouted. "Frenzy plant!" Venus's body began glowing with green energy. She stomped the ground and released the energy into a surge that coursed through the plantlife underneath, the ground erupting with thorny roots that struck Phoenix and wrapped around his body, tightly squeezing. Phoenix cried out in pain, losing consciousness, and Kanone fell to one knee, panting.
"Kanone?" Alcea asked, her eyes widening. The vines around Phoenix loosened and the fire type pokemon fell to the ground.
"I'm fine…" Kanone said, coughing, rising to his feet and returning Phoenix to his pokeball. "You've grown quite powerful, Alcea," he said, a smile returning to his face.
"No, not only that, you're far stronger than you were," Kanone said.
"Oh… th-thank you," Alcea said, blushing from the compliment. "But this fight isn't over yet! Don't think you've won just because I'm down to my last two pokemon!"
"I'm not," Kanone said, shaking his head. "But this will be over soon. I don't have the energy in me to turn this into a prolonged battle. Are you ready?"
"Absolument."
"Good," Kanone said, nodding, holding up a bright white pokeball with red lining. He turned it over in his hand, a distant expression on his face.
"During my travels… I came across a certain valley. It was deemed too dangerous to enter by the locals. No one, not trainers, not trial captains, no one at all would even set foot in it. It was there that I found a challenge like none before… an opponent that I could truly test myself against."
Kanone raised his eyes to stare at Alcea, and suddenly the air around them changed. Alcea gulped, feeling a blast of pressure push against her, forcing her to step back in reflex. Kanone tossed out the pokeball, the pokemon emerging from it in a blast of light.
The large pokemon was covered in shiny gray scales that clattered as it moved its arms up, stretching. Its shiny gold and red crest gleamed brightly in the sun, and the large gray tail swung from side to side, the protruding scales rattled against each other. The dragon pokemon opened its large beak and let out a roar, the scales trailing down its back shaking and amplifying the sound in a deafening howl that drowned out all the other sounds, the trees and bushes of the garden shaking from the shockwave. Alcea shivered and nearly lost her balance, while Blake and Kate fell backwards and landed on their butts.
"I'll warn you, Alcea," Kanone said, the sounds from his Kommo-o dying down as the pokemon gave Alcea a fierce glare. "I can't fully control his power just yet."
Wow, that's quite a powerful pokemon Kanone had in reserve. Needless to say, the fight will probably be ending next chapter!