Chapter 3: Induction

Phoebe raised an eyebrow. "Test me? So the letter by itself wasn't guaranteed acceptance?"

Drake folded his arms gruffly, running his fingers along his dusty sleeves. "You conquered the League three years ago. We have to be sure your skills haven't deteriorated in the time since then."

Sidney nodded to her. "They put me through this test too when I joined last year."

Phoebe smirked, then set her hands on her hips and looked at Drake. "Alright. So it's a battle?"

He nodded solemnly. "As I recall, your heart was very much in tune with that of your pokemon. Show us that YOU have not changed, either." He raised a hand and gestured for the others to leave the arena, then turned and walked to the trainer box at the far end.

Phoebe glanced up at her Dusclops as she turned to the other trainer box, walking with bare feet across the hard cement floor. She spied Sidney and Glacia now standing at the edge of the battle ring. Sidney's arms were folded across his black leather vest in a confident smile, while Glacia stood with her hands clasped together in front of her deep purple dress, shoulders held high in a dignified posture.

A smirk grew across Phoebe's face as she motioned for Dusclops to hold her bag, setting the thin pull string in its thick fingers. Reaching into the bag, she took out a pokeball and tossed it into the arena. "Go get 'em, Shupp!"

The ball landed and cracked open, shooting out a beam of light that materialized into the lavender sheet-like form of Shuppet. Shupp drifted a few feet above the ground and narrowed its eyes on Drake.

Drake tugged the rim of his cap, a faint smile showing behind his thick grey moustache. He reached a hand back into the coat pocket of his navy blue coat, then swung his arm forward, hurling a pokeball into the ring.

The ball hit the ground and opened, releasing a small dragon wrapped in spherical armor. Only the dragon's eyes showed within the armor plates, peering out at Shuppet. It kicked its stubby legs against the ground, creating a cloud of dust.

"Shelgon seems anxious to fight," Drake snorted.

Phoebe grinned and extended her hand, pointing a finger at the Shelgon. "Shupp, use Curse!"

Shuppet's eyes flashed and the lights in the room dimmed. A grin spread across Shuppet's face as Shelgon began to shudder.

Phoebe laughed and rested her hand on her hip. "Curses can't be cured with potion, you know."

Drake smirked, "True, but your pokemon gave half its health to cast that curse." He pointed a finger at his Shelgon. "Finish her quickly; use Crunch!"

Phoebe's eyes widened in surprise as the Shelgon charged forward, biting Shuppet with large, shadowy teeth. Shuppet quivered and fell to the ground, limp. Phoebe stared at it, dumbfounded. How could she leave herself open like that? Poor Shupp… she didn't have the experience for a fight like this. Phoebe had been so eager to evolve her that she sent her in unprepared.

With a sigh, Phoebe raised Shupp's pokeball and pulled her back, tossing out a Sableye in its place. "Okay, Sable! Watch out for this one's dark attacks!"

Drake smirked, withdrawing Shelgon into its pokeball. "Good match. Your curse would have defeated me if I hadn't exploited your weakness." He threw another ball into the ring, releasing a green dragon with red, goggled eyes. "Your turn, Flygon."

Phoebe bit her lip, looking at the new opponent. Would this one have dark attacks too? She thought back to her first fight with Drake, and recalled Flygon using that same Crunch attack. "Careful, Sable!" she called. "Use Confuse Ray!"

Sableye's diamond-like eyes glittered as it shot a yellow sphere of light from its hands. The ball spun around Flygon, making it dizzy.

"Flygon, Crunch!" Drake called out.

Flygon beat its wide, leathery wings against the air, then flopped forward and smacked its face against the floor.

Phoebe doubled over, laughing maniacally. "Great work, Sable! Best confusion I've seen in a long time!"

The purple humanoid pokemon hovered a few feet in the air, diamond eyes flickering to indicate a laugh. Flygon flopped helplessly on the ground, head swaying from side to side as it tried to fly again.

"Alright, let's not waste time." Phoebe straightened and stretched her shoulders, looking at Sableye. "Use Psychic to finish it!"

The Sableye bowed its head and lifted its hands, wrapping Flygon in a bubble of crushing psychic force. The Flygon twitched and trembled, then slumped to the ground.

"Good, good." Drake nodded, withdrawing Flygon and taking out another pokeball. "Let's see how you fare against something stronger." He tossed the ball; it opened to reveal a large, steely blue dragon with large red wings and a silver-plated underbelly. The dragon roared loudly, causing Sableye to tremble.

Phoebe bit her lip. Salamence… she recalled the first time she fought it. She'd definitely need some sort of trick; it carried far more raw power than her entire team combined. Glancing at Sableye, she smiled slyly. "Sable, Attract!"

Sableye's eyes flashed and it floated gracefully toward Salamence, a pleasant scent wafting from its body. It stroked a hand over the dragon's ear and the massive creature blushed, bending to Sableye's touch like a puppy. The dragon purred softly and Sableye tapped its head in a kissing motion, then drifted back to her trainer's side of the arena.

Drake rubbed his chin and grinned, aware of what Phoebe had planned. Fully expecting his attack to fail, he pointed at Salamence and commanded, "Crunch."

The dragon wavered, staring at Sableye with a giddy, lovestruck expression, then planted its feet firmly in the ground and shook its head.

Drake shrugged, giving Phoebe a smile as he returned Salamence to its ball. "Your tactics haven't changed."

Phoebe smirked and held up Sableye's pokeball, pulling it back in. "Good work, Sable."

Drake slid his hands into his coat pockets and turned his head toward Sidney and Glacia. "She has my approval."

Sidney shrugged, flashing Phoebe a smile. "That's good enough for me! Welcome to the Four!"