Pokémon: Adventures in Sinnoh Chapter 18: A Fish Out of Water, a pokémon fanfic

Apologies for the lack of updates as of late. Hope you're all enjoying Pokémon Black and White!

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

It was early in the evening when the two boys took their first steps between the thick, damp trees that served as gates into Pastoria City. Like the village they had came from, it was devoid of pavements, a network of boards serving as a walkway between the wooden buildings. The grass was overgrown, but not quite unkempt, with a stifling humidity causing moist beads to run down the blades.

'Ack…' spluttered Jay, pulling his collar away from his neck, 'What's with the heat here?'

'I guess that's why this place is so good for Pokémon,' replied Nick, rolling his sleeves up, 'Nature seems to rule the roost.'

A group of Budew stood by the side of the path, singing pleasantly, concealed in the grass, while a Quagsire lay on its back, sleeping in the sticky air.

'I guess you're right.' laughed Jay, admiring the Pokémon.

Nick looked at more information about each one as they walked, but his upcoming battle with the Pastoria Leader was at the front of his mind. Thoughts of water-types held his thought so much that he did not realise they had reached the Pokémon Centre after only a few minutes of walking.

'Hey, look at this…' muttered Jay, approaching a large board beside its doors.

Nick followed his rival and examined it. A map of the area was emblazoned on it, indicating that the gym was at the other side of town.

'If we follow this street – if that's what you want to call this thing –' said Jay, stamping his foot on the wooden planks and tracing his finger along the map, 'We can probably get there in half an hour.'

'Sounds good.' smiled Jay, looking around at the charming houses of Pastoria. They were dotted around in no definite pattern, trees and bushes growing freely in the gaps. It was as if the townsfolk had built with restraint, so as not to upset the elements.

'Shall we cool off inside first?'

Wiping his sweaty brow and nodding, Nick led them into the air-conditioned rest stop. They collapsed onto the couches in the corner of the room, sighing in relaxation.

'Why do us trainers need to travel on foot?' panted Jay, jokingly.

'It builds character I guess.' laughed Nick. 'Although, then there's Pearl…'

'What was that?' asked Jay.

'Nothing.'

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Nick flicked through a magazine filled with Pokémon pictures, while Jay looked at a travel brochure. A holiday advert captioned Discover the Sevii Islands! covered the back page. It was the latter who broke the quietness.

'So, fighting water-types. What are your thoughts?'

'Oh, err…' stuttered Nick, 'I'll use Elekid since it has a type advantage. I could use Shellder to fight fire with fire or, in this case, water with water, and…'

He trailed off in uncertainty. Jay adopted his signature annoying grin. He knew what Nick was thinking: Skorupi wouldn't listen to commands and Nosepass would be at a disadvantage.

'I'll figure it out.' he sniffed. 'What about you?'

'Well, Luxio obviously,' Jay began, 'Then I'm sure Arbok and Skarmory can wipe the floor with whatever the leader can throw at us.'

'Pardon me.' came a soft voice. They turned their heads to see the resident nurse approaching them, her hands clasped politely. She looked uncannily similar to the nurses they had seen in other Pokémon Centres. 'I couldn't help but overhear – are you planning to battle Crasher Wake?'

Nick looked to Jay in puzzlement, but he did not look back.

'If that's who the Pastoria Gym Leader is, then yeah.' replied his rival.

'He's very strong,' she continued, 'He trains his Pokémon in strong currents and crashing water… Really tests them. You had better be prepared if you're serious about taking him on.'

Jay finally looked at Nick, grinning, then back to the nurse.

'Tell him I said the same.'

The nurse raised her eyebrows and looked above his head for a moment, before walking back to the reception desk and busying herself at a computer. Their faces now cold from the fans' icy blow, they got to their feet, refreshed, and followed the wooden boards through the green streets.

The waiting room in the gym was decorated in so much blue that the room felt wet and cold. A line of aquarium tanks lined the walls, the fish inside nibbling aimlessly at the surface as the two trainers sat at the edge of their plush seats.

'This is it…'

'Yeah…'

Several tense minutes passed before the doors leading into the arena slid open and a massive figure emerged. The shirtless man's face was partly hidden by a pointed mask, gold cuffs lining his wrists and the belt of his tight leather trousers.

'The ring is my rolling sea!' he bellowed, almost in a tune. The boys jumped in fright. 'The towering waves shaped me! Crash, Crash…!'

Nick, getting to his feet, looked up at the frightening man.

'Crasher Wake?' he asked quietly.

'You got it!' chortled the man, placing his arms on his hips. 'So, which one of ya wants to challenge my marvellous water Pokémon?'

The two trainers looked at each other and back to Wake.

'Both of us.'

'Ah!' smiled the man, his mad eyes widening and surveying them excitedly, 'A double battle, perhaps?'

Nick was taken aback by this suggestion. He had expected Wake to choose an opponent, not to accept both of them as challengers at the same time.

'I'm game if you are!' grinned Jay, patting Nick on the back. After a few moments of hesitation, the latter nodded in agreement.

'We'll do it.'

'Excellent!' roared Wake, his voice louder than waves hitting the shore, 'Then come through in five minutes!'

Spinning round, his titanic muscles flexing, he stomped back through the doors from whence he had came. The boys looked at each other.

The arena was a huge swimming pool, worn, yellow platforms bobbing on the surface. There were only a few feet of tiled floor space for the challengers to stand on, and a platform towering from the water on which Wake stood, arms folded. A group of hungry-eyed spectators and a referee stood on a balcony above. The latter spoke through a microphone.

'The challengers – Nick of Twinleaf Town and Jay of Sandgem Town – will face the leader – Crasher Wake – in a double battle. They will use three Pokémon, one each at a time, against two of Wake's at a time. The battle will be over when one side's team is incapable of battling anymore.'

'Get ready for the storm!' bellowed Wake, dropping two Poké Balls into the water. There was a flash in the depths and, moments later, two small, blue fish appeared, leaping excitedly in and out of the pool.

'What are those?' wondered Nick, taking out his Pokédex and hoping that these creatures would not be too much of a threat.

'Finneon,' it began, 'The Wing Fish Pokémon. It propels itself through the water by flapping its wing-like tail fins and stores light in the stripes on its sides.'

'Ha!' jeered Jay as Nick put away the device, 'A couple of Finneon? That's the best a gym leader can do?'

'Brave words.' said the leader. 'Choose your Pokémon.'

'You know what to do, Nick! Go, Luxio!'

Jay threw the ball forward and Nick followed suit, releasing Elekid. They now had an advantage over the water-types. The two electric monsters growled determinedly.

'Let's get things on the road! Thundershock!' commanded Jay.

'Err, you too, Elekid!' added Nick.

The side of Wake's mouth lifted into a grin.

'Finneon and Finneon! Go!'

Just before the lightning bolts struck them, the two fish disappeared under the surface and came dashing towards their opponents, routinely leaping from the water, their scales glistening.

'Keep at it!' cried Jay, sounding less confident.

Thundershock after Thundershock fizzled into thin air as the Finneon sped evasively. Nick realised Jay's tactic was useless – it was obviously what Wake would expect from any trainer with an electric-type Pokémon. He decided to take the initiative.

'Elekid, get onto those floats and try land a Thunderpunch!'

Quickly obeying its trainer and leaping into the midst of battle, Elekid readied itself for when the Finneon next showed themselves.

'Keep watching…' nodded Nick. He could feel Jay's eyes on him, and tried to suppress a smile, knowing that his partner was unsettled at not thinking of another tactic first. Suddenly, the two Finneon leapt out of the air.

'Now!'

Elekid sprang forward at a speed equal to its lightning powers and delivered a sparking blow to one of the fish. It spiralled back with a high-pitched whine and crashed into the water.

'Yes!' cheered Wake, for some reason happy that his Pokémon had been damaged. Nick thought that perhaps he considered this a worthy battle. Meanwhile, the other Finneon was heading towards Luxio.

'Up we go!' ordered Wake.

The remaining water-type sprang out of the water, remarkably high into the air.

'Uhh… T-Thundershock!' stuttered Jay nervously.

'Bounce!'

Before Luxio could unleash a single spark from its body, the Finneon shot down like a meteorite and crushed it against the wet floor.

'Luxio!' cried the trainer.

'Now Water Gun!' laughed Wake, pounding his chest.

The Finneon bounced off of Luxio and, while in mid-air, spat a powerful jet of water at its already-dazed foe, throwing it backwards and into the wall. Jay ran to its side and stroked its crackling mane sadly.

'Thanks.' he said as it disappeared into its Poké Ball.

'Your battle plan needs improvement, or else you'll always be sucked into the whirlpool of defeat!' barked Wake, talking to Jay like a disappointed parent.

The leader aimed a Poké Ball at the water and the defeated Finneon was recalled. Jay snarled and fumbled in his pocket for another Poké Ball, which he subsequently found and threw forwards.

'Arbok, I choose you!'

The giant cobra appeared, hissing viciously at the Finneon that was bobbing at the surface near its trainer.

'Ah, so you understand that type advantages aren't everything!' grinned Wake. 'In that case… Finneon! Use Water Pulse!'

The little fish zoomed through the depths before leaping out of the water, a pulsating blue orb forming around it.

'Gah!' spluttered Jay, in a rage, 'Arbok! Glare!'

The snake's eyes began to glow a blue colour and it looked at Finneon murderously. The water-type's orb faded to nothing, and it dropped into the water, before emerging and staring quietly at Arbok.

'Now!' continued Jay, fists clenched, 'Bite, then Acid!'

The cobra sprung into the air before falling on top of the fish, catching it between its fangs and dragging it into the darkness of the pool. Moments later, Finneon came bursting out and flew into the air, while Arbok followed. Opening its mouth and hissing, it vomited a spray of purple sludge into the fish, hurling it into the air until it almost hit the roof. Wake recalled it as it began its descent into inevitable defeat.

'That's better!' he laughed. 'For a moment, I thought it wasn't worth battling you!'

Nick did not look at Jay; it would have been unbearably awkward, knowing that Wake had valued him as an opponent more than the boy who always claimed to know it all. Arbok landed beside Elekid, nodding at its ally.

'That was nothing but the kiddie pool!' sneered Wake, producing two more Poké Balls from his belt. 'Let's see how you do with these!'

Two bursts of light later, two much more formidable-looking Pokémon appeared. Nick consulted the Pokédex again.

'Huntail,' it said of the blue eel-like creature, 'It lives in the abyss of the sea, which gives it an extremely strong body structure. It uses its fish-shaped tail to attract prey.'

'A Huntail… I've never heard of it…' muttered Jay. Nick paid little attention to his partner, instead pointing the Pokédex at the tall, weasel-like creature that stood on two legs on one of the floats.

'Floatzel, the Sea Weasel Pokémon. It uses the flotation sac around its neck to rescue drowning people as well as carry off prey.'

'Two prey-hunting Pokémon we're facing then.' said Nick, his voice carrying more determination that he had expected it to.

'Floatzel should be easy enough, they're a common sight around coastal Sinnoh,' called Jay over the loud splashing sound that the two opponents were making, 'But I have no idea what Huntail is like. Let's be careful.'

'Enough talk!' shouted Wake, 'Floatzel, Aqua Jet on Elekid!'

The weasel harnessed water from the pool and surrounded itself in an aquatic shield. With a growl, it leaped into the air and shot towards Elekid like a blue-hued bullet.

'Elekid!' exclaimed Nick in fear, before regaining his battling stance. 'Give it a double Thunderpunch!'

The electric-type snarled and threw both its throbbing fists forwards, the electric power locking with the head of the speeding Floatzel. There was a crashing sound, and both Pokémon were soon pushing against each other, the lightning punch trying to spread its zap to the water while the marine move tried to drench its power. Out of challenger and leader, the latter was first to order the next move.

'Swift!'

Floatzel raised its arms within its water vortex and several star-shaped discs of energy appeared around it. Spinning around the Pokémon, they propelled it forwards, smashing into Elekid and knocking it towards its trainers feet while Floatzel dove into the water.

'Elekid! Are you alright?' cried Nick, leaning beside his Pokémon.

'El! Elekid!' it sighed, getting to its feet feebly. It seemed eager to continue.

'It's no use,' decided Nick, lifting the Poké Ball, 'You need to rest for now. Get inside.'

Elekid reluctantly disappeared into the ball in a red flash. Floatzel had reappeared on a platform in the middle of the room, looking proud of itself.

'We'll show you!' shouted Nick, in a storm of angry and competitive emotions. 'Let's see what you can do, Skorupi!'

'Nick, no!' groaned Jay.

Skorupi emerged from the ball and stood nonchalantly by the water's edge.

'Give it a Pin Missile!'

Skorupi did not respond.

'Okay, err… maybe not Pin Missile!' nodded Nick nervously, 'How about Poison Sting?'

Skorupi quickly turned to its trainer and shot an array of glowing nails towards its trainer. Nick ducked out of the way while they stuck into the wall behind him. The scorpion Pokémon giggled menacingly.

'Skorupi, that's not funny!' shouted Nick. 'Now listen to me and go use Poison Sting!'

The poison-type huffed and turned away, eyes closed in rebellion.

'It's not going to listen to you!' cried Jay.

'Won't you just use an attack for me, Skorupi?' pleaded Nick.

Suddenly, the referee's voice boomed throughout the room.

'Skorupi refuses to battle and is thus disqualified!'

Nick sighed, wondered if his unruly partner would ever listen to him, and withdrew it back into its ball in disappointment. He took out another, the one containing Shellder, and released his own water-type.

'I guess this is time to fight fire with fire…' he half-laughed.

'We'll take care of Huntail,' stated Jay, his eyes burning, 'Go and use Acid again!'

'Dive!' called Wake.

The cobra opened its frightful jaws again and spewed acid towards the water where the eel lurked, but the latter disappeared under before the gunk hit it.

'Ack! It's fast…' moaned Jay.

Wake closed his eyes smugly and folded his arms.

'Brine!'

Huntail leapt from the water, coiled its body and began spinning rapidly, dart-like drops of water shooting from it and slicing into Arbok's wide front.

'Counter it with Poison Sting!' shouted Jay, almost pleading.

Arbok, its eyes still closed in pain, opened its mouth and spat back an array of its own glowing, poisonous darts. They hit Huntail as it uncoiled and it dropped into the water again, now suffering from the ill effects of the poison-type attack.

'Spot on!' smiled Jay. His Pokémon hissed in reciprocation of the kind words.

'You think that will stop Huntail?' barked the leader, pointing at the snake. 'Use Whirlpool!'

The water-type's almost-indistinguishable form began to swim rapidly round the float on which Arbok stood until it began to lose its balance.

'Don't fall into the water, Arbok!' cried Jay. Nick could tell he knew that if Arbok did fall into Huntail's territory, there was almost no chance of securing victory.

'Ch-Ch-Chaaaa!' hissed the venomous creature, tossing and turning on the thrashing platform.

'This shouldn't take long.' chortled Wake, enjoying the spectacle.

Nick knew he had to help.

'Shellder, go distract Huntail! Knock it out of the water!'

'Shell!' piped the bivalve creature, bouncing from Nick's feet into the water and out of sight. Moments later, the whirlpool stopped.

'Thanks, Nick!' smiled the other boy. 'Get ready, Arbok!'

Shellder clamped Huntail's tail and, with an almighty spin, threw it up and out of the water. The eel regained its posture, as though enjoying its flight.

'Wrap!' shouted Jay as loudly as he could.

No sooner had he barked the command than Arbok had entangled itself with Huntail, both of them now soaring into the air. The spectators cowered back, fearing the two serpentine beasts would hit them if they raised any higher.

'Finish it with Ice Fang!' called Wake into the heavens.

Huntail's fangs glistened and it bit into Arbok's chest, frost and steam pouring from the wound.

'Chaaaaaaa!' it cried in agony.

'Arbok, no!' gasped Jay. He was silent for a moment as the two Pokémon reached their peak, before announcing his next move. 'Screech, and wriggle free!'

Once again, Arbok attacked despite its own pain. Its already-opened mouth began to emit the most horrific, piercing noise Nick had ever heard. The fans covered their ears, one of them fainting at the sound. Huntail had a similar reaction; it loosened its icy grip and fell away from its opponent.

'Nick, go for it!'

'Oh, err… Icicle Spear!'

Shellder popped onto the platform, which had just stopped shaking from the whirlpool, before firing a series of pointed icicles at the falling serpent. Every one of them hit and Huntail crashed onto the float, catapulting the smaller water-type through the air and back to its trainers feet, where it smiled at him. Huntail did not move.

'Huntail is unable to battle!' declared the referee. Wake did not seem phased.

'Impressive teamwork!' he roared gleefully. 'But let's see you take out… Floatzel!'

Upon hearing its name, Floatzel leapt from the depths with its Aqua Jet around it and slammed into Arbok. The cobra finally fell, its piercing eyes closing in defeat, while Floatzel loomed above it, victoriously.

'Caught me off guard…' gritted Jay. Arbok shot back into the Poké Ball.

'Don't worry, I'll finish it!' nodded Nick to his partner. 'Shellder, go clamp it!'

Shellder, who had been lurking underwater too, jumped out and bit Floatzel's tail.

'What!' bellowed Wake, almost laughing. 'Floatzel, Aqua Jet and get it off!'

Nick smiled. This is what he had been counting on. He watched the weasel burst into the air in a jet of water before spinning to shake Shellder off.

'Shellder, don't lose your grip and use Icicle Spear!'

Just as its shell slipped off of its foe, Shellder shot a freezing cold spear. The ice crept over the Aqua Jet and froze Floatzel's bottom half solid. It began to plummet.

'Now Tackle!'

The shell creature smashed into its enemy and sent it spiralling down. It impacted the bottom of the pool, creating a huge splash in its wake, before its unconscious body floated to the surface.

'Beautiful!' chuckled Wake, recalling his Pokémon.

Nick was becoming used to the humorous, inspiring way in which Wake treated a battle. He obviously enjoyed the experience, regardless of whether or not he won.

'You have calmed my storm!' laughed the leader, 'But now, I have just one more Pokémon! My oldest and most trusted partner.'

The challengers looked at each other.

'Get ready…' urged Jay.

'Let's secure victory!' announced the leader. The Poké Ball fell into the water. Moments later, a striped fish with enormous wing-like fins appeared.

'Ha!' laughed Jay suddenly.

'What?' asked Nick. He had never seen such a Pokémon before.

'It's a Lumineon!' replied his ally, still chucking. 'It's the evolved form of Finneon. It's hardly a threat.'

Nick felt a little calmer after Jay's statement, but he couldn't have helped but notice that Jay was often misguided.

'Try me.' said the leader, quieter than he had said anything else.

'You go first!' smiled Jay, nodding to Nick.

'Uh…' thought Nick. 'Shellder, try a Tackle!'

'Sheeeeell!' squeaked the bivalve. It leapt off the float it had landed on towards Lumineon.

'Gust!'

Suddenly, a huge tsunami rose from the pool, knocking Shellder away and slowly lifting Lumineon into the air.

'Ah, yes. I've heard about this.' mused Jay, folding his arms. 'Lumineon's fins are so much like the wings of those of bird Pokémon that it can use flying-type attacks.'

'You think?' smirked Wake.

Lumineon floated higher and higher until it was level with its trainer's face..

'Go.'

The fish began to fly in circles around the arena, spinning and rolling gracefully.

'What the…?' gasped Jay.

'How is it doing that?' asked Nick, in the hope that his unreliable partner might shed some light on the subject.

'It looks like… that Lumineon has been trained to use its flying-type attacks to allow it to actually… well, fly!'

'You got it!' roared Wake, a devilish smile on his round jaw. 'Let's see you handle a fish out of water!'

Lumineon flew overhead, strong, almost-visible gusts appearing around it to keep it airborne. A fiery glow started to burn around it as it looked down at Shellder and, without warning, it darted down and smashed into the shell Pokémon, tearing a hole in the float on which it sat and causing a splash that almost reached the referee's box. Shellder came flying from the cascade and landed beside Nick, a long crack running along the top of its shell. The flying fish vanished below.

'Shellder, return!' whimpered Nick. Shellder was vacuumed back inside the ball. Nick took out his Pokédex.

'Giga Impact,' it explained, 'It is among the most powerful attacks discovered so far. The user will often have to recuperate before making another move.'

'I've… never seen anything like it…' panted Jay.

'This is where the sea swallows you up!' roared Wake, his arms raised as high as they could go, 'Choose your last two Pokémon!'

The two trainers looked uncertainly at each other, before unveiling their two remaining allies: Elekid and Skarmory. The steel bird perched itself on the edge of the pool, apparently uncomfortable around water, while Elekid stood close to its trainer. It seemed to have made a small recovery from its earlier efforts.

'Elekid! Go look for Lumineon!' commanded Nick. He kept a close eye on the water as his Pokémon hopped onto the floating platforms, expecting Lumineon to appear suddenly.

'Skarmory, fly high for now!'

The steel-type emitted a piercing caw and took off. Several minutes passed with no sign of the water-type. Elekid fired Thundershocks into the water, but they did not hit any worthwhile targets.

'That should be enough time, I think…' smirked Wake, in quieter tones than he had ever spoken since they had met him, 'Whirlpool!'

The surface of the water grew choppier, the waves starting to creep onto the sides and soak the challengers' shoes. Moments later, a gigantic whirlpool opened up, touching every side of the pool, spinning at a breakneck pace. From the centre, a cyclone ascended, Lumineon spiralling back into the air. Nick took his attention away from it in time to see Elekid being dragged by the violent waters, choking and struggling.

'Elekid…' gasped Nick, at a loss for what to do. Jay, however, came to his rescue.

'Skarmory! Save Elekid!'

With an icy shriek, Skarmory descended faster than a bullet and managed to grab Elekid's arm in its metal jaws. With a flick of its neck, it threw the electric-type onto its back and soared into the air again. Lumineon was floating at the very top of the room, gazing at them with a malicious smile.

'Good teamwork,' smiled Wake, 'That's what I like to see. However! Lumineon, Water Gun!'

The jet of water fell from the heavens and crashed down onto the two Pokémon, knocking them to the flooded ground by their trainers. Without hesitation, however, they got back onto their feet, but breathing heavily.

'That thing is very powerful,' started Jay, folding his arms again, 'Even its basic attacks like Water Gun have done serious damage.

'Try again, guys!' pleaded Nick.

Skarmory looked to him and scowled.

'Do it, Skarmory.' confirmed Jay.

At these words, the steel-type let Elekid onto its back and took off again.

'Why didn't it…?' began Nick.

'Nick, we may be battling together,' intercepted Jay, a wry smile between his cheeks, 'But it's still my Pokemon and only listens to me.'

Nick gave a half-smile and looked back to the battle. Before the duo could get close to the water-type, however, it sent a storming Gust through the room, knocking Elekid from the bird's back and towards the whirlpool again. It managed to land on one of the spinning floats before quickly leaping back to the trainer's platform. Skarmory crash-landed beside Wake. He reached out a hand and stroked its stiff feathers as it lay wounded by his feet.

'Surviving?'

No sooner had he touched it than it snapped at his muscly hand, growled, and flew back to Jay.

'Are you okay?' asked the boy, patting Skarmory's head. The bird smiled and cawed again. Its steel was scratched, however; it was clear that it was getting very tired. Elekid was in a similar condition.

'We need to think about this.' started Nick, catching his partner's attention with a wave of his hand. 'We've got to get close to Lumineon without it using Gust.'

'Agility!' piped Jay suddenly.

'What?'

'Skarmory knows the move Agility!' he continued excitedly, 'It should be fast enough to get to Lumineon, then we'll bring it back to earth!'

Nick nodded and both trainers looked to their Pokémon. The creatures nodded, and began to fly again.

'Hold on tight, Elekid!' called Nick.

Without warning, Skarmory fired into the air, its incredibly speed imprinting images in the air behind it as it went. Elekid's arms were clasped around its neck, its eyes closed, its teeth clenched.

'Gust, again!' laughed the leader.

Lumineon lifted its fins to direct another wind attack at them. But it was not fast enough. Skarmory's frightful mouth opened and clamped its beak around Lumineon's tail.

'Wha-!' cried Wake. For the first time, he sounded genuinely worried, as though not enjoying the competition anymore and fearing defeat.

'Throw it down!' shouted Jay.

The metal bird had began to drop when Nick had an idea.

'Elekid! Jump off!'

He saw his partner's eyes open, looking down at him in confusion.

'Trust me, Elekid!' he continued, 'Jump off and use all your electric power on the whirlpool! I promise you, do it!'

The electric creature duly let go of Skarmory and dropped into the water.

'Come on…'

Suddenly, several lightning bolts shot out of Elekid's body, in every direction, hitting the walls and ceiling. The spectators once more crouched to the ground to avoid being hit. Elekid's entire body began to shine, a yellow aura surrounding it. It landed in the centre of the whirlpool, but it was not caught in the current. The water displaced itself and Elekid was able to stand on a small place on the floor, more and more lightning bolts firing from it.

'Wow!' gasped Jay, losing his cool, 'Your Elekid is incredible! It looks like it has learned Thunderbolt!'

'Go, Elekid!' cheered Nick, a wide smile on his face.

The Thunderbolt hit the walls of the whirlpool and began to circle with it. In mere moments, the water had been turned into pulsating electrical power, still spiralling rapidly, crackling and glowing.

'Have Skarmory use Air Cutter!' Nick yelled over the deafening sound of the electricity.

Jay complied and Skarmory threw Lumineon towards the ground before sending an array of twisting blades of air into the pool. Elekid raised its arms and growled, and the blades sliced the power into a thunderous cyclone, encapsulating the water-type in its centre. The ball of power started to expand and, moments later, a huge electrical explosion burst through the arena, a blinding white light filling every dark corner. Several minutes later, vision returned. Skarmory was hovering above Nick and Jay, a gasping but undefeated Elekid lying on its back. The pool was empty, save for Lumineon's unconscious body lying in the centre. It twitched and panted, smoke spewing from its burns.

'Lu…Lumineon…' stuttered Wake, his charisma gone, his huge body paling in comparison to his now-tiny confidence. He said nothing more, and neither did the trainers.

'Impressive indeed.' said Rowan, looking at the two Fen Badges that the boys were holding up to the screen of the videophone. 'Crasher Wake is an overwhelming character. Beating him is quite something.'

'Thanks!' beamed Nick.

'I trust Wake's Pokémon were of invaluable interest to the Pokédex?' asked the old man.

Nick wiped his face while nodding. The sweat from the battle was just beginning to cool in the pleasant air of the Pokémon Centre where a hearty meal and a bed now awaited them.

'He had actually trained his Lumineon to fly!'

'I had no idea such a thing were possible.' the Professor replied, trying not to sound unprofessionally surprised. 'You really are making excellent progress, but don't let it go to your head. I received some interesting news from Pearl too.'

'You did?' asked Nick, slightly crestfallen.

'She's came into possession of a Pokémon egg.'

Nick's eyes widened and he nodded politely at this announcement. He hadn't even known that Pokémon came from eggs. Deep down he hoped that whatever hatched from it would not win her the attention and praise of the professor.

'She's now on her way to Canalave City.' continued Rowan.

The boy had heard of this coastal city. It was not far from Twinleaf Town. He had never visited it, however. Since beginning his journey, he had realised just how much of Sinnoh he hadn't actually seen. The gift of Pokémon was allowing him to visit all the places he never had before.

'Is there a gym there?' he asked.

'Yes.' confirmed the old man, offering no further details. 'Pearl is travelling there and visiting the nearby islands before returning to Sandgem Town to show me the egg. I suggest you do the same, especially if you want to challenge another gym. Just be prepared to deal with steel-types.'

Nick's stomach churned as he thought about the defensive, impenetrable Pokémon that steel-types surely would be. Bidding the professor goodnight, he put down the receiver and collapsed onto the couch where Jay was also sitting.

'That was… an amazing battle.' said his friend in a monotonously serious tone.

Nick looked at him for a moment then smiled, even though he did not look back.

'It really was.'

'What Elekid did… it's unbelievably powerful for its level.'

'Thanks.' nodded Jay. 'Skarmory was awesome too.'

Jay finally turned to him, grinning.

'I guess you're catching up to me in terms of skill.'

Nick scrunched his face at him jokingly before lying back and closing his eyes in relaxtion. Elekid, the Pokémon of the hour, was already fast asleep.