Chapter 5: The Tamer of Dragons
"Alright Umbreon, attack with Faint Attack!"
"Dragonite, use Dragon Rush!"
Lyss and I got out of the elevator on the roof of the castle. As we stepped out, we saw a breathtaking view. There were large Royal Palm trees around a rocky terrain. In the middle of the terrain there was a beautiful crystal blue pond that took up the majority of the center. The rocky terrain actually was, in fact, a battlefield. There were white chalk lines around the perimeter, although the standard poké ball logo wasn't there due to the large pond. Above, there was an amazing view of the orange sky of the evening. This was a battlefield designed for multiple types of Pokémon to battle on. I guess this made perfect sense, considering the Area Leader was a Dragon-type user, and most Dragon Pokémon live on a variety of terrains.
On the battlefield, there were two Pokémon battling. One was a large orange dragon with a striated cream colored underbelly, a rounded snout, two long orange antenna, a pair of stubby arms and legs with three claws on each, a small orange horn in the middle of its head, a long tail, and wings that were orange on the outside and green on the inside. On the other side was a small, sleek, black creature with a long, bushy black tail, four paws, and a pair of long, pointed black ears. As the sun set, faint yellow rings began to glow around its ears and tails and on its forelegs and forehead. The two were in fierce combat at this time. The orange dragon swooped out of the air at blinding speed. The little black creature skillfully dodged the attack by creating a distraction with the gravely terrain, and then attacking the dragon while it was distracted.
"All right then, Dragonite, use Hyper Beam, go!" commanded a tall figure from the sidelines of the battlefield. He was fairly tall and had short blonde hair that was cut very neatly. He wore a purple vest with nothing else underneath, showing how toned his arms were. He had on a pair of blue jeans that were a lot nicer than the normal jeans and purple sneakers that also looked fairly expensive. He had piercing red eyes, but they seemed to have a very kind and caring feel to them. This man must be the Area Leader, Draco, the Tamer of Dragons.
Draco's Dragonite began to charge an immense amount of energy in front of its mouth, forming a ball of concentrated energy. The ball then fired in the form of a powerful beam attack that hit Marcus's Umbreon straight on, engulfing it in the powerful blast. When the attack finally ended, Umbreon appeared again, not much of scratch on him. The attack didn't faze him in the slightest.
"Good job Umbreon!" Marcus couldn't help but be overjoyed after his Pokémon survived such a powerful attack so well. I guess what they say is true, Umbreons do have one of the most powerful Special Defenses of any Pokémon.
"Now, Umbreon, that last attack left him weak and vulnerable. Attack with Payback!"
Umbreon began to glow with a purple aura as it rushed at the vulnerable Dragonite. He hit the large Dragon head on, dealing massive damage. Dragonite fainted.
"Return Dragonite, you fought valiantly" said Draco. "Now, Marcus, get ready for my final Pokémon. Go Kingdra!"
A red beam shot out and enveloped Dragonite as another red beam was sent straight into the pond in the center. Nothing emerged. The amount of suspense concerning what was to come was immense.
"All right then, return Umbreon. Meganium, come on out!"
A red beam engulfed umbreon as fourth took form into a large, green, four-legged dinosaur creature. It had a long neck with pink flower around its neck that had a yellow center pattern and white border, calm yellow eyes, a stubby green tail, and two yellow antennae that looked like the stamen of a flower.
"Use Hydro Pump Kingdra!" Draco commanded
The enemy then jumped out of the water, allowing us a good view of it. It was a large, blue seahorse with a yellow-orange set of pronounced scales on its belly, a large white fin on its back with a blue border, a large snout on its face that seemed to act like a canon, and two long, angular antennas. It fired a powerful jet of water from its snout that hit Meganium with full force. After attacking, it went straight back into the water. A clever tactic.
"Meganium, use Magical Leaf! See if you can hit him even though he's in the water!"
Meganium soon had leaves hovering around him that were cloaked in a strange aura. The leaves were then fired into the water quickly, one after another. We did not know what the barrage of leaves was doing, we could only hope that they were hitting. The Kingdra resurfaced, it seemed to have been damaged by the attack, but not by much.
"Kingdra, use Dragon Pulse!"
Kingdra's snout began to gather energy as he leaped in the air again. He fired a powerful purple beam from his snout that hit Meganium. Meganium struggled to get up, having been severely injured by the attack.
"Okay, that's it, let's end this now. Meganium, unleash your ultimate attack, FRENZY VINE!"
Meganium became cloaked in a green light as it slammed its front two legs down. Just then, large, spiked roots shot out of the pond, completely getting rid of the water and forcing Kingdra out. Kingdra was entangled in the vines, knocked out from the attack.
"Return Kingdra" Draco said as the usual red beam took in Kingdra and brought him back to Draco. "I believe congratulations are in order now, you won this fair and square Marcus. Take it."
Draco tossed something shiny across the battlefield and Marcus caught it. Marcus then took out his badge case and put it in. He recalled his Meganium as Lyss and I walked over to congratulate him for his victory.
"Good job Marcus!" I said.
"Yeah, you were an amazing in that battle!" Lyss said excitedly.
"Aw, well thanks guys, it was nothin' big really, just, my first badge for this tournament is all." Marcus said, blushing from the praise we were giving him.
"I agree fully, Marcus, you battled stupendously" said Draco. "You deserve this badge."
"Thanks Draco. To be honest, you were so difficult. I had didn't think I had a chance, but I see now that I pulled through!"
"Yes, you did. Is this your friend who was with you the night Team Cataclysm struck you down?"
"Yeah, this is Andrew, he's here to challenge you, too!"
"I see, a pleasure to meet you" Draco said as he came over and shook my hand. I couldn't tell from afar, but now that I was closer to him, I noticed that he was pretty young, only about 25 years old. He must have been a prodigy to make it this far and become an Area Leader for this crazy tournament.
"Good to meet you, too." I said. "But I'm not here to challenge you today. I have an appointment for tomorrow evening to battle you. I just woke up today, so I'm still trying to recover from that brutal attack."
"Ah, yes, I do remember. I need to heal my team anyways. Enjoy yourselves to the Castle's luxuries while you can, no other place in the Nova Region is like this place. I will see you for your challenge, Andrew, and I hope you are a worthy opponent."
With that, Draco walked to the elevator, pressed the button, and got in. We left right after him. I went back to the courtyard to train before dinner.
The Next Evening
I walked out of the elevator, Lyss and Marcus right behind me. They both gave me an encouraging nod as they went to the sidelines to watch the battle. My team was fully healed and we had been training since we left Marcus's challenge. I was ready. Ready as I'll ever be for the Tamer of Dragons. I approached my side of the field slowly, trying to keep my cool.
"Glad you made it, Andrew" Draco said with a big smile. "Now, here are the rules of our battle. It will be a four vs. four fight, no time limit, and you can use the terrain to your advantage. If you win, you will get the Fang Badge, if you lose, you get disqualified from the Nova League. When a Pokémon is sent back to the poké ball, it is considered fainted and cannot fight for the rest of the battle. Now, let us begin: Go Hydreigon."
On Draco's side of the field, there appeared a large black dragon with six black wings, three blue heads, a blue underbelly, a long tail that was half black and half blue, and what appeared to be purple tire tread marks on its stomach and tail. Around its center head was a purple collar that looked like a flower. Only its center head had teeth and red eyes, the other two heads were toothless and only had black spots where its eyes should be. It gave me a very intimidating glare, ready for battle.
"Alright, come on out Blaziken!"
My familiar chicken Pokémon came into appearance. The darkness dragon and my flaming chicken stared each other down. The tension on the battlefield was incredibly high.
"Hydreigon, use Dragon Pulse"
"Blaziken, Sky Uppercut!"
Hydreigon released a blast of blue energy right at Blaziken. Blaziken ripped through the energy pulse with his attack, and then landed a blow square on Hydreigon. Blaziken emerged from the battle unscathed, Hydreigon was severly damaged.
"Blaziken, finish this off with one more Sky Uppercut!"
"Hydreigon, attack it with Dark Pulse!"
Hydreigon released a blast similar to the last one, only this one was blackish-purple. Blaziken broke through this one with the same ease it did the last one, landing a very powerful attack once again. The once menacing dragon Pokémon was now beaten. Blaziken was victorious this round.
"Good job Hydreigon, return. You don't mess around do you, Andrew? I guess I need to be more forceful. Go, Haxorus!"
A tall Dragon Pokémon with dark yellow-green scales that looked like armor covering its back and most of its front. It had black skin on its torso, tail tip, and thighs and had red talons and claws. There were two black and red sharp protrusions from either side of its jaw that looked like axe heads. It whipped its tail and let out a roar as it prepared for battle.
"Blaziken, attack with Flare Blitz!"
"Haxorus, use Dragon Tail!"
Blaziken cloaked itself in flames as it rammed the opponent, causing it serious damage. However, Haxorus quickly retaliated by swinging its mighty tail at Blaziken, hitting him dead on. Blaziken went down, when suddenly, Blaziken's poké ball began acting up. The ball summoned the red beam and pulled Blaziken back into his poké ball, rendering him useless for the rest of the battle. Crap.
"Okay, what the crap just happened?" I asked
"Simple, the move Dragon Tail forces the opponent to change Pokemon every time it hits. So, now you must send out another pokemon. Choose wisely." Draco explained. I can see why he had that switching rule now, it was really clever. As if his team wasn't already difficult enough to handle… Oh well, I needed to send in another Pokemon, so I reached for my belt, and grabbed an Ultra Ball.
"Let's do this Bisharp!"
"Bish!"
My black and red humanoid chess piece Pokémon prepared for battle. The Haxorus was waiting for its master's orders.
"Haxorus, use Dragon Tail once again!"
"Bisharp use Iron Head!"
Haxorus swung its powerful tail once again. Bisharp wasn't about to be out of this battle just yet, though. He avoided the swinging tail as the blade on his head became the color of iron. Bisharp then charged into a powerful head-butt. Haxorus became severely damaged.
"Haxorus, come. I'll heal you."
Haxorus walked back to Draco. When it got there, Draco sprayed a Hyper Potion on its wounds, successfully healing it. Haxorus roared as it was ready to continue batteling once more.
"Now, Haxorus, use Outrage!"
Haxorus suddenly became insanely furious as its eyes glowed red and its body became cloaked in a red aura as it charged Bisharp. Bisharp was hit head on. Bisharp was heavily damaged, and the onslaught continued. The Haxorus repeatedly attacked Bisharp with its anger induced attack, further damaging Bisharp. It eventually became confused as a side-effect of the attack, but the damage was done. Bisharp was incredibly hurt. We need a solution.
"Bisharp, use Guillotine!"
Desperate times call for desperate measures. I rarely would ask Bisharp to do such a desperate attack, but he was badly hurt, Draco still had two other Pokemon, and I needed to win this battle, so I took the chance. Bisharp's blades began to glow a light blue color as he charged the disoriented axe-jawed dragon. Surprisingly, Bisharp's attack landed. Due to the power of the attack, the fully healed Haxorus was instantly struck down. Draco recalled his Pokémon.
"Well, that was very intense indeed. Now, go Salamance!"
A large, blue four-legged dragon took form. It had large, red wings, a white lower jaw and underbelly, accentuations of red on its face and long tail, and three spikey extensions on either side of its face. It flapped its large wings to gain air and flew proudly.
"Salamance, use Flamethrower!"
A large jet of flames came spewing out of Salamance's mouth. Bisharp was soon engulfed by them. Since he was already weak, Bisharp stood no chance against the flames that it was naturally weak to in the first place. Bisharp went down in the flurry of flames. I got out his Ultra Ball and recalled him before he could be damaged beyond fainting.
"Alright, come on out Ampharos!"
"Salamance use Dragon Claw!"
"Ampharos, Charge Beam!"
Salamance's claws began to glow a pale green color. It flew towards Ampharos, claws at the ready. Ampharos let loose a powerful beam of electricity from its glowing jewel on its forehead. The beam hit Salamance, really hurting it, but it charged on through, swiping Ampharos. Both pokemon were on equal terms. Both appeared to have suffered from the blows they dealt on each other.
"Ampharos, use Power Gem!"
"Salamance, attack with Fly!"
Salamance flew up incredibly high. It then dive-bombed directly towards Ampharos. Ampharos's jewel glowed orange as it unleashed a powerful orange beam that sparkled as if it were a large, beautiful gemstone. Salamance and the beam connected, causing Salamance to faint. However, Salamance fell out of the air and landed on top of Ampharos, causing both Pokémon to be knocked out. Both of us recalled our respective Pokémon. Now, the two of us were down to our last Pokémon for the battle.
"Go Garchomp!" we both said simultaneously.
On both sides of the field, there appeared a large, dark blue dragon-shark hybrid that had a red underbelly that stretched to their lower jaws and yellow underneath the red. They both had fins on both of their arms, a dorsal fin with a little cut in them, and a fin at the end of their long, fish-like tails. Both had a yellow cross shape on their snouts.
"Well," began Draco "I see that you, too, were able to train such an amazingly powerful Pokémon like Garchomp. We are on equal terms now. This fight will not end easily. Are you ready, Andrew?"
"Hell yeah I'm ready! Garchomp, use Dragon Rush!"
"Garchomp, attack with Dragon Rush as well!"
Both Garchomps extended their arms, fins at the ready, became cloaked in a light blue aura, and then rushed at each other. The two attacked each other head on in a powerful collision. They continued their assault on each other, never giving up until the other was down.
Suddenly, after the two Garchomps collided in the middle of their attack, the entire building began to shake. The Garchomps stopped, as if sensing the danger of what was to come. As if he also sensed what was to happen, I saw Marcus run towards the elevator and get in. What was he up to? As he got in, the building shook again and Marcus pressed the button to go down. When he was in and completely gone from view, the building shook a third time. This time, the ground began to sink underneath our feet. The building was collapsing.
I sent out Staraptor as I recalled Garchomp. Draco recalled his Garchomp and sent out his Dragonite. I saw Lyss send out a large, white, egg-shaped Pokémon with triangular wings and a random assortment of blue and red triangles on its underbelly, a Togekiss. All three of us jumped onto our flying Pokemon and had them ascend to avoid the falling castle below us. I saw people breaking out of the numerous windows, all on flying Pokémon. I looked and looked for Marcus and his Noctowl, but I didn't see them. Right as the building fully collapsed, I saw a Noctowl break through a window, but Marcus wasn't on it. Instead, there were two young children on the Noctowl. No Marcus. The building had then completely collapsed.
We all landed our flying Pokémon. I got off of Staraptor and recalled him as I slowly walked toward the rubble.
"I know this is a terrible time…" Draco said "but, here is your badge, you earned it. Now, let us search for anything in this mess."
Draco handed me the badge, not even making eye contact. I pocketed the shiny symbol that looked like the fang of a dragon and represented my struggle in the battle against Draco. I saw the Noctowl that was carrying the two kids suddenly circling around a certain spot in the rubble. I ran over that way as Noctowl landed on the spot and began to peck it. I started to clear away the rubble in that spot. I worked and worked at clearing it away until, there he was. His clothes were completely tattered, he was covered in bruises, and he had blood trickling from the side of his mouth.
"H-hey Andrew…" Marcus said weakly
"Marcus you idiot, what were you thinking!? If you knew the building was going to collapse, why did you go back in!?" I said, my voice becoming hoarse.
"Well, you know… Those kids, I couldn't just leave them in there without a Pokémon to escape on. I figured everyone inside was too scared to help them, and I was right, so I got them on my Noctowl and out of the castle."
"Oh Marcus…"
"Yeah, at least they made it out safe and sound…" Marcus said, his voice growing weaker
"Come on Marcus, stay with me, will get you all healed up"
"Nah… I think this is it for me, man… I want you to do me a huge favor…"
"Marcus, I'll get you to safety and get you healed up." I said, crying now.
"No, just listen to me… My brother, the one I told you about who became a gym leader… I kinda understated that a bit, he's actually the Bug type Area Leader in this competition… I want you take my Scizor to him… I know he'll treat him right…"
"Marcus, you're going to be fine! Stop this crazy talk!" I exclaimed, my voice hoarse and cracking, my tears streaming down my face, blurring my vision.
"Hehe, you know Andrew, you're an awesome guy, a great trainer. You beat me, the Johto League Champion. I want you to take my other five Pokémon. Meganium, my starter. Noctowl, my first catch. Slowking, who helped me save Slowpoke Well. Umbreon, a gift from my parents I raised with care at night. And Ambipom, my little Champion who won the Johto League tournament. You told me about your ranch in Hoenn… I think they'd like it there… Here…"
Marcus's hand trembled as he handed me his belt with his poké balls on it. He smiled weakly and closed his eyes. Marcus then grew limp as I held him up, trying to stop him from leaving. His Noctowl came to his side and cooed as he tried to wake his fallen master. When he eventually realized that Marcus was gone, Noctowl let out a mournful cry. The Johto champion had died in the arms of his new friends, valiantly and respectiably, after saving the lives of two children.
I let out his other five Pokémon and let them say their goodbyes to him. When they were done, I returned them all. Lyss came up to me and embraced me as I cried some more. She did her best to try and comfort me. Draco then came, bearing a solemn look.
"I found what caused this to happen to the castle" he said. "It was a bomb, most likely the same one that you and Marcus caught Team Cataclysm members setting up that one night earlier this week."
"So that's what it was…" Lyss said, still embracing me. "What their purpose in doing this is beyond me. They are now a huge threat, someone needs to get on their trail."
"They're going to pay…" I said, still sobbing. "They killed him, and they WILL pay!"
My voice grew louder despite my tears and hoarse voice. Lyss and Draco had a shocked look on their faces. I had scared them with my rage, but I was completely serious. I wanted to get back at Team Cataclysm for taking the life of my friend. I know I had just met him a week ago, but he was the first friend I had made in the Nova League, and he stuck by me when we were attacked and during my first Area Leader challenge. This week with him was going to be unforgettable, I refuse to forget him and how good a friend he was and how brave he was. Team Cataclysm needed to pay.
"Andrew…" Lyss said, beginning to worry about me. "You need to calm down a little. Come on, we need to head back to the arena and tell the authorities what happened. We should also find the Bug type master and send Marcus's Pokémon to your ranch. We need to honor his request."
"The young lady is quite right" said Draco. "You two should take the path to the south of here. It'll lead you straight to the League Headquarters. When you get there, I want you two to specifically say that you must go to the Forest Area and challenge Luzige. He is the Bug type Area Leader that you need. I will call them myself and tell them that you two will be needing to go to that area. When you get there, you need to tell Luzige exactly what happened and then give him his brother's Scizor. He will be able to contact their family."
"I-I see" I said, clearing tears from my eyes. "We will."
"Yes" said Lyss "We will get Luzige to understand and help get in touch with his and Marcus's family."
"Good" Draco said. "I will phone in at the League Headquarters once you two are gone. Lyss, Andrew, be on your way, and hurry. Don't stop for anything until you get there. Luckily the Headquarters is only an hour trip from here on foot, if you recall. Be very careful, and good luck to you both."
"Thank you" Lyss said. "And good luck on fixing this mess."
"Yes, thank you." I said. "You are a noble and intelligent leader."
"Thank you for your encouraging words. I don't think the castle will be up again for a while. I might just have to work with another Area Leader, perhaps the Volcano Leader. Or, maybe I will just battle from the Headquarters Arena. Now, both of you, be off, and hurry!"
Lyss and I walked on the south road and headed back towards the Nova League Headquarters. This day was a very dark day. As we walked off, the traumatic events of the day weighed heavily on our minds. As we walked, we kept the memory of Marcus, the reigning Johto League Champion, a good friend, and a brave young man, fresh in our minds.
A/N: Wow, that chapter was hard to write. I hope you guys are still enjoying the story, and I hope you will like this chapter, my longest and most emotional so far. I would like to thank Vexenna for submitting an awesome OC that will be introduced next chapter! Please keep sending me your OCS! I hope you like this chapter and will keep reading my story! :)