Here's the next round, Will vs. Lua! Will Will win? Or will the dark horse Lua come from behind and defeat him? This battle should be pretty interesting, let's find out!
Darkhammer: Who? Sonia? Or Elaina? Because yeah, Sonia is way, way overrated. Too much twitter following, and she definitely doesn't deserve it. She's bland as bland can be. But I guess the personality will speak for itself.
Duskzilla: I can definitely say that the internet lewded her. Not only did it happen yesterday, I think it happened within the hour. That's just how much hype she managed to accrue. For some reason.
Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings
Chapter 59
"Will is a freshman like us, right?" Sango asked, turning to Julia and Kitty.
"Yeah," Julia said, nodding. "He's in the same club as Reiner, the Gym Leader Training Club, but I haven't really gotten a good look at how he fights, though."
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" Sango looked over her shoulder and blanched, seeing Claire standing next to the seat Kanone had been sitting in. She smiled and waved at the girls.
"I… I guess not," Kitty said, shaking her head.
"Awesome," Claire said, flopping down into the seat and making herself comfortable.
"I'm calling campus security," Sango reached for her phone, glaring at Claire.
"Come on, don't be like that, blondie," Claire said, shrugging. "See, all that was just a big show. I was invited here!"
Sango glared suspiciously at her, Julia also looking rather incredulous at Claire's claim.
"Fine, if you don't believe me, then just call them after the tournament is over," Claire said, shrugging.
"…Fine," Sango said, frowning, putting her phone back into her bag.
Will and Lua faced each other down on the battlefield.
"Corsage, go!" Lua threw a love ball into the air, and from the pokeball emerged a Florges, identical to the one used by her boyfriend, but the collar of flowers around her neck was colored a bright red.
"A fairy type," Will said, frowning. "Agni, Rudra, go!" Will tossed his pokeball onto the ground, and from it, two swords flew into the air. From the hilts of the swords, long pink tassels flowed down, the two swords glaring at the Florges from the faces on their handles.
"So the first battle is between a Doublade and Florges!" Darla shouted.
"Oh no! Florges doesn't have many techniques to deal with steel type pokemon!" Lila cried out worriedly.
"Corsage, use petal blizzard," Lua said.
"She's not switching out?" Lila gasped. Corsage held her hands up, flower petals flying off of her body and multiplying in the air, swirling around the fairy pokemon in a tornado. The storm grew wider, beginning to engulf the battlefield, and Agni & Rudra along with it.
"Agni, Rudra, use autotomize," Will ordered. "Then, follow it with swords dance!" Agni & Rudra sharpened their blades and flew into the storm of petals, dancing through them at high speed as they sliced through the attacks, carving a path toward Corsage.
"Will is already making great use of his pokemon's moves, laying multiple status buffs to increase his Doublade's power!" Darla said.
"It seems that Lua's decision to use Florges isn't going to pay off," Lila said, frowning. "If Lua keeps her out, then things might get even worse."
"She makes a good point," Lua said, frowning. "Corsage, that's enough for now! Return!"
"Don't let her escape," Will said. "Pursuit." Agni & Rudra's blades turned toward Corsage and shot toward her, piercing the flower pokemon's body.
"Floor!" Corsage cried out, wincing as Lua returned her to her love ball.
"Sorry," Lua said, wiping her brow, "but after Roose was defeated… I can't let both of us fall here. I have to fight that woman… I have to avenge his loss!"
"Heartfire! Take down that Doublade!" Lua shouted, holding out an ultra ball. She threw the ball into the air, and from it emerged a large crimson pokemon whose body seemed to be composed of flames. The Magmortar roared, pointing one of its long, cylindrical yellow hands at the sword pokemon, flames emerging from the end.
"That's one way to take down a steel type," Darla said, nodding in approval.
"She must be trying to force out a switch, so Doublade loses all of its buffs!" Lila said.
"Agni, Rudra, separate and prepare evasive maneuvers," Will ordered. "Magmortar fire flames from their hands, so we need to draw his fire in different directions!"
Agni & Rudra split from each other and flew to opposite sections of the battlefield, preparing to dodge the Magmortar's attacks.
"Heartfire, launch flamethrower attacks at both of them," Lua said. Heartfire held his hands up, pointing one at Agni and one at Rudra, firing a stream of flames from each hand. The two swords shot forward, circling around the fire pokemon and preparing to strike. Heartfire saw this coming, however, and his hands drew further apart, spinning on his heel so the flames spun around his body as well.
"Doub…"
"…Blade!" The two pokemon cried out as the flames engulfed them, their tassels catching fire. The two swords flew higher into the air, out of the range of the flamethrowers, their bodies singed but still relatively capable of continuing the battle.
"Agni, Rudra, autotomize," Will said. To dodge Magmortar's fire moves, we need to be able to outspeed them. Increase your speed!"
Agni & Rudra circled each other in midair, increasing their speed and sharpness as they drew closer to Heartfire. Whenever they would get too close, though, all Heartfire would have to do would be to raise his hand and point it at the two pokemon, who would immediately disengage and retreat to relative safety.
He's keeping his pokemon back until they reach their maximum speed… Lua noted. In that case, I'll have to prepare for my counterattack. I'll only have one chance, so it will have to be powerful…
"Heartfire, use sunny day," Lua ordered. Her Magmortar raised a hand toward the sky, firing a blast of energy into the air, intensifying the sun's light. The hot sun beat down on the battlefield, raising the power of Heartfire's fire type moves, fiery sparks igniting around his fingers.
They've finally reached max speed, Will thought. But I have to be careful and keep an eye on that Magmortar's hands. It should be safe enough. With no guard, at this speed, their attacks are sure to hit. But we'll have to settle it fast. The more hits we score on his flame body, the more likely we are to get crippled by a burn.
"Agni, Rudra, use shadow claw!" Ghostly energy was infused in the pokemon's twin blades, and the two swords shot toward Heartfire, covered in violet flames.
"Heartfire, use lava plume!" Lua ordered.
"Pull back!" Will shouted. Lave plume might attack from all around his body, but it has a limited range. It can't hit us if we draw away.
"Magmortar!" Heartfire shouted, slamming both hands onto the ground, releasing a massive explosion of fiery energy out from his body, even as Agni & Rudra pulled away from him.
"Trying to run?" Lua said. "Sorry, but this attack covers the entire battlefield!"
The flames struck the petals littering the ground from Corsage's prior attack, and suddenly the battlefield became a sea of fire, Heartfire igniting a chain of explosions that engulfed the entire arena, Agni & Rudra caught up in the solar-powered blast.
"So that's why she didn't switch out her Florges!" Lila cheered. "She needed to set up the petal blizzard!"
"She knew about Magmortar's lack of mobility with his fire cannons, and used Florges to increase his area of attack," Darla said, impressed. "Not a bad move!"
The smoke from the attack cleared, revealing Agni & Rudra leaning against each other, unconscious.
"Lua has knocked out the first pokemon of the match," Lila said.
"True, but this one isn't over just yet," Darla reminded her.
"Return," Will returned the twin pokemon to their pokeball, hooking it onto his belt. "I must admit, that was a pretty good play. But it isn't a move you can use twice. Sol, go!"
Will threw out another pokeball, this one containing a Larvesta.
"So now it's fire type vs. fire type," Lila noted.
"An odd choice, though," Darla said, frowning. "Larvesta's bug typing will counter its resistance to fire moves, which puts Magmortar at a major advantage, especially since he resists both of Larvesta's STABs."
"Oh, you think he's got a plan?" Lila asked.
"For his sake, I sure hope so," Darla said, nodding.
I can't use my trump card while this Magmortar is rampaging, Will frowned. And I can't send out Ness with this sunlight. It may take several pokemon, but I'll have to take him down through attrition.
"Sol, use heat wave," Will ordered. The stems on Sol's collar began glowing with flames and the sky simmered with heat, Sol launching a gust of heated air at Heartfire. Heartfire shrugged it off, not even flinching.
"Magmortar live in volcanos," Lua said, smiling. "You think a little hot air is going to bother my Heartfire? Here's a taste of some real firepower! Heartfire, use flame burst!"
Heartfire raised his hand into the air, launching a mortar of flames into the sky, the fire raining down on Sol.
"Sol, flame charge," Will ordered.
"Lar!" Sol nodded, summoning flames of his own to wrap around his body and protect him from the aerial attack. He lowered his head and charged eagerly toward Heartfire.
"A straight charge?" Lua said, surprised. "Heartfire!"
"Mag!" Heartfire said, nodding, pointing his hand at the incoming Larvesta, firing a stream of flames at the charging pokemon. Sol leapt to the side, dodging the flames, Heartfire launching another stream from his other hand. Sol jumped over the blast of fire, landing on the ground, continuing his attack.
"What speed!" Lila gasped.
"Flame charge increases speed, but I didn't expect by this much!" Darla said, equally shocked.
"Well, we can handle close combat, too," Lua said, frowning. "Lava plume!" Heartfire pressed his hands against the ground and released a chain of explosions from around his body, a wall of fire and debris protecting him from Sol's attack.
"Sol, charge straight through!" Will ordered. Sol leapt into the explosions as the ground beneath his feet blew away, colliding head-on with Heartfire's chest, knocking him into the ring of explosions. The flames died down and Heartfire stumbled out, panting, relatively unaffected by the lava plume but having sustained massive damage from Sol's tackle, somehow.
"Whatever Will did, it looks like it worked," Darla said, surprised. "His Larvesta isn't looking too hot right now, but Lua's Magmortar seems to have taken some serious blows!"
"How did that happen?" Lila asked, confused. "That was just a flame charge, right?"
"Not just a normal flame charge, no," Will said, shaking his head. "That was a taste of Sol's double-edge."
"I see," Lua said, nodding. "So you must be scared of Heartfire to spend so much of your pokemon's own energy to take him down."
"He's definitely a threat," Will said, nodding. "When it comes to pokemon like that, I don't like to take any risks. I'll use multiple pokemon to take him down if I have to, that's how I battle."
"Clever boy," Lua said, nodding. "But I think it's time to take a breather. Heartfire, return!" Lua held up her ultra ball, returning Heartfire.
Lua reached into her purse, withdrawing a pokeball from it.
"And to take his place… Verdance!" Lua tossed out her pokeball, and from it came her next pokemon, a Leafeon.
"A grass type?!" Kitty gasped. "That's not good! Leafeon is weak to both fire types and bug types!"
"Indeed, it seems like an odd choice," Julia said, nodding.
"No, it might be a smart play," Kate noted.
"Huh?" Julia asked.
"Leafeon might be weak to fire, which will be especially bad in this intense sunlight, but like most grass types, Leafeon has an ability that will be a good boost in the sunlight."
"What ability?" Julia asked.
"Leaf guard," Kate said. "It protects her from status conditions as long as the sunlight is intense."
"And how does protecting itself from status help it beat a fire type?" Kitty asked.
"…That's why I said it 'might' be a smart play," Kate admitted. "I don't know what she's planning, after all…"
"I'm not sure what you're planning with that grass type, but Sol, use ember on it!" Will ordered.
"Verdance, dodge!" Lua ordered. Verdance jumped into the air, avoiding the flames, and as she landed on the ground she dashed toward Sol at high speed. "Next, use leaf blade!" As Verdance shot forward, blades emerged from the leaves on her fur, slicing into Sol, knocking him off of his feet. Sol tumbled through the air, and Verdance leapt up after him, kicking the bug pokemon down into the ground before landing daintily in front of Lua.
"Whoa…" Lila gasped.
"What was with that speed?!" Darla exclaimed.
"I don't know…" Lila said, frowning "Didn't Larvesta get a speed boost, too?"
"Yeah! This isn't making any sense!" Darla said, frowning.
"Sol, are you okay?" Will asked.
"Lar…" Sol said, rising to his feet, panting.
"We've only got a little bit more time before the sunlight dies down, Verdance," Lua cautioned. "Let's settle things with the next attack!"
"Leaf!" Verdance said, nodding.
"Kate, what's going on?" Julia asked. That Leafeon is moving at least twice as fast as the one used by that woman who beat Nick."
"…I recognize that speed," Kate said, frowning. "Could it be…"
"Chlorophyll."
All heads turned to Claire, who had been watching the battle in silence until this moment.
"Chlorophyll?" Kate gasped. "That would make sense, but Leafeon doesn't have that ability… so then it's a hidden ability? Like her highness's Venusaur!"
"Think so," Claire said, nodding. "I'm from the Sinnoh Region, where Leafeon were first discovered. A lot of trainers would come from other regions to evolve their Eevees around the mossy rocks of Eterna Forest, and something that they noticed is that a small of the Leafeon would grow to be faster than others in the sunlight."
"I had no idea Leafeon had that sort of hidden ability…" Kate said, frowning.
"…But anyways, I was right! She did have plans!" Kate crossed her hands over her chest and smiled proudly, Julia rolling her eyes.
"Sol, use flame charge to dodge that Leafeon's attacks," Will ordered.
"Verdance! Use return," Lua ordered. Verdance ran toward Sol in a blur, the bug pokemon jumping to the side to avoid Verdance's attack, firing a stream of flames at Verdance as she passed. Verdance skidded across the battlefield as she turned, dodging the embers, and launched herself forward, crossing the distance in a few short leaps.
Sol doesn't have the endurance to put up with this, and he currently doesn't have the speed to keep up, Will noted. I should return him… But if I keep that Leafeon from getting close enough to make contact… and drag this fight out long enough for the sunlight to die down.
"Sol, heat wave," Will ordered. The sunlight intensified and sweltering heat built up around Sol, swirling around his fur. The small pokemon released a gust of heated air, which crashed over the battlefield as Verdance charged forward.
"She's still charging?" Darla said, surprised.
"If that heat wave hits, even that fast Leafeon might faint!" Lila gasped.
"Verdance, dig!" Lua ordered. Verdance's leaves extended into blades, cutting into the battlefield as she dug a hole wide enough for her slender figure to slip through, tunneling under the attack.
"Sol, watch the ground," Will warned. "She could come out from anywhere!"
"Lar," Sol said, nodding.
"Verdance, go." Lua snapped her fingers, and leaf blades erupted from the ground, piercing up toward Sol. Sol leapt back as the leaves carved towards him, Verdance pursuing the bug pokemon from below the ground.
"How can that Leafeon follow after that Larvesta even from under the ground?" Kitty asked.
"Scent," Kate explained. "Leafeon have very sensitive noses, she can probably track Larvesta, even with the ground separating the two of them.
"Time's running out," Lua murmured. "Verdance! Come out! And use return!"
Verdance jumped out from underground, right in front of Sol, claws sharpened and her body glowing with power.
"Sol, dodge!" Will ordered. Sol turned to outrun the attack, but Verdance's speed was still far greater than he could deal with, Verdance tackling him from behind. The force of the blow sent the small bug pokemon flying across the battlefield, Sol crashing to the ground next to Will. Sol tried to stand, but collapsed at Will's feet, losing consciousness. Will returned Sol to his pokeball, staring at the ball in silence.
"Whoa…" Lila gasped.
"I thought Will was going to dominate this battle, being part of the Gym Leader Training Club, but so far he's two pokemon down, while Lua hasn't lost a single one!" Darla said, surprised. "This battle is really a surprise!"
"Something wrong, Gerard?" Alcea mused, glancing at Gerard. "You've been rather quiet since the battle began."
"Gloating already, Alcea? That's not like you," Gerard said, smiling. "I'm just watching that battle, that's all. This match is far from over. At least, if you've been watching the same battle that I have. Will might not be on the same level as Elaina, but he still has several moves up his sleeve that will more than turn the tables on a trainer like Lua."
Alcea didn't respond verbally, replying to Gerard with a glare instead.
"I have to admit, I didn't expect things to get this drastic this fast," Will said, frowning. "But you haven't beaten me yet. And you definitely aren't even close to the level of Elaina."
"What?" Lua asked, narrowing her eyes.
"I'm the one who's going to defeat her," Will continued. "Because I have the talent and the strategy. Do you honestly think you'll be able to take down someone with her level of power? Wishes and dreams won't be enough. The only thing that can win against her ruthless power is ruthless strategy and preparation. So just give up."
"You think you can beat her, huh?" Lua asked. "Well, we'll see about that! Why don't you save your speeches for after you beat me!" As she finished talking, the sunlight dimmed, the last traces of Heartfire's sunny day fading away.
"I'll show you I can," Will said, reaching onto his belt and removing a pokeball, throwing it into the air.
So, I wonder what Will has up his sleeve? Will it be enough to turn things around? Or will Lua maintain her strong lead? Will either of them prove to be strong enough to put a stop to the monstrously powerful Elaina Bishop? We'll have to wait and see!