Chapter 9

Barry felt as if the past two days were sped up dreams. He felt as if He and Joe had trained to their limits. He felt as if they hadn't done enough. Those Pokemon he trained…so far they hadn't stood a chance against Harry's team. Barry tried to shake the dread that was beginning to climb inside of him. Only two Pokemon left to deal with Harry's six. "How did this happen?" Barry began to ask himself.

Yesterday's scenes flashed in Barry's mind. Eating, sleeping, training. Right before registering for the tournament was a moment in which Joe had caught an Eevee. Barry began to smile, that is, until shock brought him back into a reality. A reality where he was losing 1-6. His Machamp had fainted.

Dread was quick this time and Barry wasn't ready for it. He failed to find his words and silently and awkwardly recalled Machamp. Looking down now at his final Pokeball, he breathed a sigh of despair. It was out of his hands now.

The crowd's atmosphere did a somersault when, a streak of blue, shot up into the air and took down Harry's Charizard. "Finally," Barry breathed in. Sonic had saved Barry from the humiliations of being swept by a single Pokemon.

Harry, nonplussed, sent out his next Pokemon, Gyarados. Sonic laughed, "Thought a Gyarados might intimidate me? Think again." Another blue streak, another fainted Pokemon. "Hywuh?" mouthed Barry. Sonic began to act casual, and smiled. The crowd began to act bananas and cheered. Could this really be a comeback?

One by one, each Pokemon met its fate. Sawsbuck, Pyroar, Vaporeon, and finally, Serperior. Sonic's streak had bested Charizard's. A roar lifted the stadium. Barry couldn't believe what just happened. He looked over to see Harry twice as dumbstruck as himself. Neither could believe it. Barry had won.

Smiling and waving, Barry had slowly made it back to the room he'd been allowed to use as a semi-finalist. He had barely made it in the door when Joe assaulted him with cheers. "Holy smokes and mackerels, Barry! You actually pulled it off!"

"Yes, yes I know," said Barry, trying unsuccessfully not to be hugged.

"It was the most amazing match I've ever seen, Barry!" Joe said, releasing Barry.

"Joe I…I don't know if I can do this."

"Wait…what do you mean by that?" Joe said with a voice suddenly drained of enthusiasm.

"I mean, I almost lost. Now look at what's going to happen." Barry pointed to a screen on the wall.

"You're up against Dr. Eggman," Joe said grimly.

"I thought there might be a chance I wouldn't have to face him. I…I mean…it should have been Harry who won!"

"Barry!"

"It's true, you know it's true!"

"Shut up, Barry! No, no, it's not true. You deserved to win. You won fair and square!"

"But I—"

"You have one hiccup and now you think it's to over. Is that it? You had full confidence this whole time and now is when you want to give it up?!"

"That's not—"

"Barry, if—" But Joe was cut off by the door. It was being knocked on.

"Come in," said Barry.

And so, the door revealed to them: Hagrid. "Still wan' to make a trade, Joe?" he said.

"Remember those chocolate frogs, Barry?" Joe said. "Turns out they have cards inside."

Barry didn't know what that had to do with anything. He watched as Joe handed what appeared to be a card for…wait…could it be?

"One weird machine for ye, and I get me card of Dumbledore."

The items switched hands and Joe turned to Barry as Hagrid parted.

"Like I was saying," Joe began saying. "Don't you ever doubt yourself or your team ever again."