Finally, we're getting to the tournament proper. This went on a lot longer than I had anticipated due to all the side arcs, but we're finally getting to the good stuff! In fact, it's even longer than my last tournament arc, pretty sure! That being said, things will hopefully be wrapping up soon! In the meantime, this chapter is a little short, but the battle is beginning!
Thunder Fire: She's been through a lot, she deserves a little kindness in her life.
JoshGamerV: Yes it did.
KedharS: Yup, and exciting, too!
Rosealine gold: Well it should be interesting at least.
Just a Bad Writer for Fun: Nikita's egg is going to take a little longer to hatch, actually.
Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings
Chapter 384
"Kitty, are you ready for the match today?" Julia asked. Kitty might not have been going first, but she was going to be up for a tough fight. Even knowing that, though, the girl wore a confident smile on her face, and nodded her head. Julia couldn't see it, because Kitty was facing the window, but she could feel the confidence rolling off the shorter girl.
"I'm going to do my best," Kitty said. "Oh! And thank you for taking care of Pearl for me."
While the others had taken a long time coming up with nicknames for their new baby pokemon (and Blake still hadn't decided) Kitty had decided on hers in a heartbeat. She had always been good at naming pokemon, figuring out exactly what names would suit them. Looking back, she was just now realizing it was because her harmonia had been helping her hear the voices of her pokemon. Pearl was currently in the girl's arms, Kitty squeezing her tightly and looking out the window of her room at the snow-covered field down below. She let out a sigh.
Kitty turned back to Julia, and handed the Clamperl over to her friend.
"Don't worry about it, I'll take good care of her," Julia assured her. Kitty was going to be fighting, and while she was, Julia was going to take care of her Clamperl. "In the meantime, about all this stuff… are you sure you're going to be able to take all this back home with you?"
Kitty had spent a lot of time packing for her trip home tomorrow, and Marion had completely blown all of it away. Yes, Kitty HAD to buy a tank for her Clamperl to rest in, and she HAD to get premium quality food, and she HAD to get a water filter, and she HAD to get little fake rocks for the tank, and she HAD to get a Dive Ball for when the little thing grew up. The one thing that Kitty did think made sense was the traveling container. It was a large ball, about the size of a beach ball, and unscrewed in the center. When you filled it to the top with water, it sealed up airtight, perfect for trainers to carry water pokemon around when they weren't in pokeballs.
"I don't know how I'm going to get all this stuff onto the plane," Kitty moaned. "But it's not like I can just put her in a pokeball, she needs to be outside to have room to grow."
"At least you can put her in the portable tank? Then you can carry her as, like, a carry-on?" Julia offered, though it was a small comfort. Kitty scowled.
"What do you think about… the other thing?" Julia asked.
Kitty sighed, digging into her pocket, and pulled out two small objects. She walked over to her night stand and set them down, looking over them. One of the objects was a thin, smooth, rounded scale the color of coral. The other was a sharp, jagged tooth with bone on the end, a dull grey-white. Kitty glanced between the two and sighed, remembering what Marion had told her earlier.
"Wow, Kitty!" Marion gushed, taking the Clamperl from Kitty's hands and spinning it around. "A Clamperl! A Clamperl! And look at the luster on that pearl, I can't believe she's a newborn! She must have received a lot of care from you!"
"Er… thanks," Kitty said.
"Now then, what's next?"
"Huh? Next?" Kitty didn't understand.
"Well, there's a whole bunch of stuff you're gonna need to take care of a newborn fishy friend!" Marion explained. "But don't worry! I'll handle all that! But there's something more important! Come on, Kitty, I need to show you something!"
Marion balanced the Clamperl in one hand and grabbed Kitty by the wrist with the other, pulling her towards the aquarium. Kitty looked desperately back at Julia.
"Sorry Kitty, I think this is one of those times when I should step back instead of always protecting you," Julia called after her, the lightness in her tone reassuring Kitty that she was just joking. She walked through the snow after the two girls, laughing.
"Come on, Julia!" Kitty wailed, Marion dragging her inside.
"I'm surprised you still have all your pokemon here," Julia said, glancing at the large fish tanks lining the walls, forming a small maze within the aquarium. "Don't you, like, need to transport them or something?"
"Nah, nah," Marion laughed. "I'm one of the only students to have permission to remain on campus over breaks! Me, and a few students from the Caretaking Course."
"So you stay here to look after the pokemon?" Kitty asked. Marion dropped her wrist and held her finger to her nose, grinning. She spun on her heel and presented the Clamperl back to her trainer.
"Yup! But first! Have you thought of a name for this little cutie?" Marion asked, pulling the tiny Clamperl back before Kitty could grab it.
Kitty blinked, staring at the tiny, soft-looking pink pokemon.
"…Pearl," Kitty decided.
"Awesome! That's a really cool name! I'dda never thought of that one," Marion chortled, handing the Clamperl back to Kitty. Kitty couldn't even tell if she was being sarcastic or not. Marion turned around and stepped forward, standing in front of two wide fish tanks, gesturing Kitty over.
"Take a look, Kitty!" Marion said, clapping Kitty on the shoulders and pushing her forward. Kitty stared up at the tanks, which where glowing with an iridescent light. Two pokemon were swimming around in them.
The pokemon on the left had a slender body that was bright blue, shimmying through the water. Orange-colored fins stuck out of its body, and the most distinguishing figure about it was the large mouth filled with sharp teeth at one end.
The pokemon on the right had a thicker body, more streamlined and elegant. Its body was a bright coral pink and two purple seashells were on its underside, almost like a small bra. A thin pink proboscis stuck out of its face, its purple tail fin twitching.
"The one on the left is a Huntail," Marion explained. "And the one on the right is a Gorebyss."
"They look really… wow," Kitty said, looking between them. Huntail was every bit as intimidating as Gorebyss was pretty. "Why are you showing them to me?"
"They're the evolutions of Clamperl," Marion explained. "Your Clamperl will evolve into one of those!"
"R-really?" Kitty gasped.
"Branching evolutions?" Julia asked, surprised. "I knew Eevee branched off in evolutions, but I didn't know other pokemon did."
"Yeah, they're really unique, they live in different parts of the ocean," Marion explained. "Clamperl evolve when they're traded with one of two items, a deepseatooth from a Huntai or a deepseascale from a Gorebyss! And wouldn't you know it? I happen to have both, so you can evolve her into whichever one you want!"
"Uh…" Kitty glanced at the two tanks. She had absolutely no idea which pokemon she wanted her new Clamperl to evolve into, she'd only had the poor thing for a few days!
"I-I don't know yet," Kitty admitted.
"Well, it is a very difficult choice," Marion agreed, nodding thoughtfully as she stroked her chin. "Huntail are better on the attacking side of things, and Gorebyss are better on the defense. Depending on how you want your team to be organized, it really is something to think about… Oh! I know! I've got the perfect idea!"
"Uh…" Kitty didn't know if she wanted another person to be telling her what to evolve her pokemon into, even if it was Marion.
Julia rolled her eyes, certain that this idea was going to be ridiculous.
"So, I've got a bunch of other Clamperl here!" Marion gushed, her eyes shining eagerly. "I'll give you one! Then, you can involve your Clamperl into one of them, and the other Clamperl into the other! That way you'll have all sorts of fishy friends, isn't that great?!"
Kitty and Julia glanced at each other, sharing a look that said "yeah, of course".
"…I'm fine," Kitty said, shaking her head. "I think I'm gonna raise this little cutie up a little, and then we'll decide what she wants to evolve into for herself."
"Right-o!" Marion agreed, giving Kitty a thumbs up. "Then let's go!"
"Go?" Kitty asked.
"I've got deepseascales and deepseatooths aplenty!" Marion explained, walking past Julia and heading towards the front desk. "Come on, let's get one of each! That way, when you make your decision, you'll be ready! And then we'll get you the rest of the stuff you'll need to take care of a baby fishy, there's a lot to do!"
Kitty and Julia followed her to the front desk, Marion skirting around to the cash register.
"Where are they?" Kitty asked, looking around.
"Right there, silly," Marion said, pointing down at the counter. Kitty and Julia glanced at rows of keychains hung up in the front. One of the rows were a series of teeth arranged in order, and the row beside it contained multiple pink scales.
"…Souvenir tchotchkes?" Julia dryly asked. "Are these things for real?"
"Trust me, they're totally legit!" Marion grinned. "Just selling 'em as souvenirs! But you can take 'em for free! I've got a bunch of other stuff, too!"
Kitty took two of the keychains, looking at them. She glanced at Pearl.
Well… what's left, then? Kitty asked herself, gulping. Hopefully, the rest of the tournament today would be smooth sailing, unlike yesterday. She just had to trust in herself and her pokemon this time, as well as her partner, Nikita.
That afternoon, at 12 o'clock on the dot, the tournament semi-finals were scheduled to begin. Outside the Meloetta Ballroom was a large arena designed for two-on-two battles. Outdoor bleachers were set up for the students to watch, nearly all of campus gathered to watch the final battles before the end-of-the-year party. Some of them were already dressed in fancy clothes, and some were still in their casual-wear, and they would get changed later.
To Julia's fortune, Ayame had invited her to sit in the private areas with Olivia and her crowd. They had their own special seating area. Not only was Julia invited, but Nick and Reiner as well. Even Callie got an invitation, even though she was one of the Eight Leaders. Olivia didn't mind.
"It's the end of the year!" She laughed. "No need for grudges or professional rivalries! Everybody's welcome. …But not Alcea."
Callie rolled her eyes as she sat down next to Nick and Julia.
"You're looking after Blake's Skorupi?" Julia noted, glancing at the Skorupi in Ayame's hands.
"Yup," Ayame said. "And that Clamperl…"
"It's Kitty's," Julia explained, holding up the ball of water with the small pokemon in it. "Her egg hatched earlier today."
"Meanwhile, Reiner…" Nick glanced at Reiner, who had received the dubious honor of looking after Cynthia's Vulpix. The small pokemon shivered, shying away from his touch. She clearly didn't like him very much.
"Oh, let me take her," Callie said, reaching over and lifting Aud out of Reiner's hands, the small white pokemon responding to her much more positively, licking her fingers. Callie giggled, and Reiner rolled his eyes.
"It's starting!" Nick said, elbowing Callie in the side.
Darla and Lila strolled out onto the battlefield, holding up their microphones. They reached the center, turned, and headed towards opposite sides.
"Greetings, everyone!" Darla announced. "We've got a very special event for today!"
"Oh, really?" Lila asked. "What event is that, Darla?"
"Why, the Winter Party Tag Team Tournament Semi-Finals and Finals, of course!" Darla replied.
"Semi-Finals AND Finals?" Lila gasped. "Wow, that sounds like a lot of battles!"
"Well, it's our last event of the year, so it's definitely a big one!" Darla said. "And once this tournament ends, we'll be announcing the top team of the year! Who's it going to be, among our four freshman teams?"
"I don't know, Darla! But I'm certainly excited!" Lila cheered. "And there's also a great party after the event!"
"I can't wait for the party, Lila, you're absolutely right!" Darla cheered. "But before we get to that, it's important that we finish the battles first!"
"I agree, Darla!" Lila nodded. "So, who are our first competitors?"
"Presenting!" Darla turned and held her hand up. "Our first team, of Cynthia Fafnir and Caelia Auburne!"
Cynthia and Caelia stepped out from the path, walking onto the battlefield. The two girls couldn't be more different. While Cynthia was twirling and waving and blowing kisses to the audience, prancing like a big ball of energy, Caelia was walking slowly and evenly, her face devoid of emotion and completely ignoring everyone out in the bleachers.
"Now, our other team for the semi-finals!" Lila cheered, whirling around and holding her hand up as well. "Sango Akana and Madison Whitmore!"
Sango and Maddi walked out onto the battlefield. Similarly to Cynthia and Caelia, one of them was energetic and the other was reserved, with Sango waving and Maddi walking without looking up, her eyes forward. Floating behind the two girls were their pokemon, Silver for Sango and of course, Grim for Maddi.
Darla and Lila reunited at the center of the stadium, giving each other a high five. They turned back to face in opposite directions.
"Let's go! Let the match begin!" The two idols declared. They stepped away towards the announcer's box and let the four girls begin the battle.
"Rose, go!" Cynthia said, sending out her Kirlia. Maddi glanced at Sango, who nodded. It was exactly as they'd anticipated. Now, as for Caelia…
"Sally," Caelia said. She threw her pokeball into the air, her Salazzle emerging. The sleek salamander pokemon stretched out her body and hissed, flames licking out of her mouth.
Maddi smiled, things were going perfectly.
"Go, Vee," Maddi said, sending out her Eevee, the small pokemon running forward immediately with his quick attack before Sango could even get the chance to send out a pokemon of her own.
"Whiskers!" Sango sent out her Whiscash. The big fish pokemon landed on the battlefield, but with no water he ended up just kind of flopping around pointlessly.
"So the match has started! There are a lot of interesting choices already, don't you think, Darla?" Lila asked.
"That's right, Lila!" Darla agreed. "I found it fascinating that Sango would choose to send out a Whiscash onto dry land, even with the type advantage!"
"Oh, yeah, I wonder why she would do something like that?" Lila asked, confused.
"Well from what I heard this tournament has been the first time she's actually battled," Darla explained.
"Wow, really Darla?" Lila gasped. "Then that means she's just an amateur! How did she get this far, I wonder?"
"Well, Madison Whitmore is an associate of the Commander," Darla reminded her. "So she must have carried Sango all the way to the semi-finals."
"Oh! Yeah, that makes total sense!" Lila said, nodding eagerly.
"Now, the question is whether or not she'll be able to prove that she really does belong here," Darla mused. "It's gonna be tricky, but-"
"How about you stop insulting me?" Sango snapped, glaring angrily at the girls.
"…Geez, it's just some color commentary," Darla said, rolling her eyes.
"Lila didn't mean anything bad by it! She's just doing her best as always! Sorriez if she hurt your feelings!" Lila laughed like a ditz, rapping her hand on the side of her head.
Sango wanted to strangle someone.
"Sango has water pokemon?" Cynthia gasped. "I thought she was using ice types! Still, this is the perfect chance for us! Rose, use your magical leaf!"
"Kirlia!" Rose said, holding her arms up. Rainbow-colored leaves appeared in the air around her, and she flung them at the immobilized Whiscash.
"Sally," Caelia murmured. "Use your sludge bomb."
"Sal!" Sally opened her mouth, an orb of toxic sludge shooting out at the Whiscash as well.
"Well, as expected, they're both aiming at the one who can't move," Darla sighed.
"That sucks," Lila agreed. "Still, makes sense."
"Don't worry, we expected that!" Sango grinned. "Whiskers, use muddy water!"
"Whiscash!" The large blue pokemon began flapping his fins helplessly, water spurting out into the air. Mixing with the dirt of the battlefield, a massive tidal wave of mud and water soon swirled up around him, and soon began crashing towards the two pokemon on the other side of the field. Whiskers rode the tidal wave, soaring over the leaves and the sludge bomb.
"Salazzle!" The waves crashed into Sally and submerged her in the water, but Cynthia and Rose were a little more crafty.
"Rose, teleport!" Cynthia ordered, Rose disappearing in a flash of light before the water had a chance to strike her. She reappeared in the air above where Whiskers was swimming through the muddy water, and she waved her hands.
Even though they had been submerged in water, the cutting power of Rose's magical leaves had not dulled in the slightest. They tore out of the muck and flew straight at Whiskers, hitting the water/ground pokemon from all sides for massive damage. The waves settled down and the field quickly drained, the fighters' shoes not even getting that muddy.
"Salazzle!" Sally picked herself up out of the mud and glared at Whiskers, opening her mouth to fire another sludge bomb as Rose landed on the ground. But the moment Rose touched the dirt, however, she was hit in the side by a powerful tackle and knocked off of her feet.
"Maddi!" Cynthia gasped, Rose twirling around to see her attacker.
"Forget about me?" Maddi asked.
"Not at all!" Cynthia grinned. "In fact, I've been looking forward to this match! I'm going to take down both you and Sango, and then Caelia and I are going to the next round, together!"
Caelia said nothing, nodding her head silently as Sally fired another sludge bomb at the bulky water pokemon, the ground in front of him unfortunately rising up to block it.
"This looks like it's going to be a fierce battle, Darla!" Lila gasped.
"That's right, Lila, it's definitely anyone's game this early!" Darla agreed.
The semi-finals of the tournament have begun! Cynthia and Caelia vs. Sango and Maddi! Which side will win?