Chapter 47 – The Elite Four Battles Part One
"So, are you ready for your big face off against the Elite Four?" Martin asked me at breakfast. I was panicked and answered, "No! I never even thought I'd ever make it this far! I think they're gonna annihalate me!" He laughed and said, "Calm down! You'll do fine! It's just a matter of choosing the right Pokemon! Let me give you the low down – Lorelei likes water types, some with ice or psychic as a secondary type. Bruno likes mostly fighting types, but is also very fond of his Onix. Agatha likes ghost or poison types and Lance, of course, likes dragon types." I asked him, "How many Pokemon am I allowed to bring with me?" He replied, "You can only bring a maximum of six. However many you will actually use to battle will depend on the elite you are battling, but generally, they go with 3 on 3 battles. You will battle in closed session. No one will witness the battles except you, the Elite Four, and a few League officials. The first 2 chambers will be today – first Lorelei, then Bruno. You get a day off to rest and heal up your Pokemon or switch some out, and then you go on to the last 2 chambers. Oh, and I will be watching you battle, too." I asked, "Why you?" He answered, "One of the perks of being a gym leader's son." I asked, "Why can't May watch?" He said, "I'm sorry, but only League officials and gym leaders, or their relatives, can watch the battles." Then, overwhelmed, I looked at Flamefox and Firestorm and said, "Wow, this is big!" Martin said, "It doesn't get any bigger than this for a Pokemon trainer! Only the best get to challenge the Elite Four." He added, "By the way, you only get one shot at this! As soon as you lose to one Elite, you're out! No rematches!" I replied, "I understand." He said, "Don't sweat it! You're more ready than you think!" May returned to our table with her food, accompanied by Amber, Redfur, and Inferno. I asked May to look after Inferno for me while I battled the Elite Four. She smiled at me and asked, "Feeling confident?" I replied, "More so than I was, thanks to Martin." She said, "Don't worry! You're gonna do great! Know why? Because you're battling for both of us!" I said, "Yeah. I'll win this for both of us!" Trevor soon arrived from his morning ride on Rapidash and joined us. We had a good time, and it was a welcome temporary distraction from the pressure of the big battle I was about to experience.
The time soon came. I had chosen my six Pokemon. Martin walked me into a dome-shaped building and led me inside. Flamefox and Firestorm stood to either side of me. He then said, "This is it. The Elite Four chambers. Good luck, Joe." I told him, "Thank you, Martin." The metal door opened automatically, sliding upwards. Flamefox, Firestorm, and I walked through and it quickly closed behind us! Ahead was a dark corridor, lit only by torches on the wall. We walked down the corridor and reached another metal door at the other end, which also slid upwards, open, as soon as we reached it. I looked at each of my fire foxes before we walked through, and as soon as we were inside, the door closed behind us. The walls in this room were mirrored – what I didn't know was that they were only mirrored from my side. On the other side, several League officials, the other 3 Elite Four, and Martin were all watching. This room was icy, with a pool of water in the center. It almost reminded me of Pryce's gym in Mahogany Town! "Welcome to the first chamber. I am Lorelei, of the Elite Four" I heard a woman's voice say. I looked to see a beautiful woman, with glasses and long hair. I said, "Thank you. I'm Joe, from Crimson Town. It's an honor to be here." She smiled and said, "Only the best get this far. You have an outstanding battle record. And you have quite a way with Pokemon. Now your skills will be put to the ultimate test. Are you ready to battle?" I answered, "I'm as ready as I'm going to be!" She said, "I choose Lapras!" and released her beautiful blue and white water dinosaur into the pool. I responded, "I choose Jolteon!" and released my electric dog. She said, "Lapras! Use ice beam!" I responded, "Jolteon, use agility!" Jolteon moved out of the way in a blur, and Lapras' attack missed! "Good work, Jolteon! Now use thunder!" I shouted. "Jolt jolt!" he exclaimed, as he launched the powerful attack on Lapras! The pool of water only helped generate the electricity through Lapras' body, and she was knocked out in one turn! Stunned, I exclaimed, "Excellent work, Jolteon!" Lorelei recalled Lapras and said, "Not bad. But you'll have to do better with this one! Go, Slowbro!" and she released the evolved Slowpoke with the Shellder on it's tail. I said, "This is too easy! Jolteon, use you thunder again!" Lorelei commanded, "Slowbro, use confusion!" Before he could attack, Jolteon found himself levitating into the air! Then he crashed down to the ground, and was now confused! "Now Slowbro, use mega punch!" Lorelei shouted. Slowbro punched at Jolteon, causing him to crash against the mirrored wall, and he was knocked out! "Jolteon, return!" I shouted. Then I took out my next pokeball and shouted, "Go, Lapras!" My blue and white water dino materialized in the pool, to the astonishment of Lorelei. "Ah, you, too, have a Lapras! They have a wonderful temperament, don't they?" she exclaimed. I asked, "Are we gonna talk, or are we gonna battle?" She said, "Right! Slowbro, use psychic!" I responded, "Lapras, use endure!" Slowbro launched the attack, but Lapras held out. Then I shouted, "Quick, Lapras, use thunderbolt!" She launched the powerful electric attack from the horn on her head, which directly struck the unsuspecting Slowbro! He took the hit point blank, and was knocked out! Lorelei recalled Slowbro and said, "I must admit, I'm most impressed with your Lapras! You've trained her well!" I said, "Thank you!" Then she said, "For my final Pokemon, I choose Jynx!" and released the female human-form Pokemon. She ordered, "Jynx, use ice beam!" Jynx shot out the attack, and Lapras was frozen in a block of ice! "Lapras!" I shouted. It was no good – she could not attack. "Over as quickly as it began" Lorelei remarked. I replied, "It's not over yet!" Then I looked at Firestorm and said, "I'm counting on you, boy! Do it for me!" He replied, "Niiine!" and entered the arena. Lorelei ordered, "Jynx, use psychic!" I responded, "Firestorm, use dig!" He quickly burrowed under the ice and the psychic attack missed him! He shot up from the ice, sending Jynx hurtling through the air, and she landed on her back. When she stood back up, Lorelei commanded, "Jynx, use ice punch!" I ordered, "Firestorm, use your agility and dodge them!" Jynx punched at Firestorm, but he moved back and forth in a blur, avoiding the punches! Then I shouted, "Use fire blast!" Firestorm launched the large, "t"-shape of flames from his mouth, which hit Jynx, knocking her onto her back again, all charred. She was severely low on HP, but Lorelei shouted, "Jynx, use shadow ball!" She launched a ball of dark energy at Firestorm, which pinned him to the wall, where he fell down! He stood back up, and I shouted, "Use hyper beam!" He launched the powerful attack at Jynx, and it was a direct hit! This time, she was knocked out! "Great job, Firestorm!" I shouted, and ran over to give him a hug! Lorelei recalled Jynx and said, "You are a most impressive trainer, Joe from Crimson Town! I underestimated you. It won't happen again. You may now move ahead to the second chamber." With that, a metal door on the other side of the room slid upwards, open. Flamefox, Firestorm, and I walked through it, and it closed behind us again. There was another hallway, lit only by torches on the wall, and another metal door at the end of the hallway, which slid open upwards when we reached it, and closed behind us once we were through. Inside, there were mirrored walls once again, but the battle field was dirt and rock. On the other side stood a big, muscular man, with spiky hair, and he only wore pants, no shirt. He had metal bracelets on both wrists. He said, "I am Bruno of the Elite Four. Welcome." I replied, "Thank you." He said, "You've come far, my young friend. I wish you luck as you continue." Then he took out his first pokeball and said, "I choose Hitmonchan!" I replied, "I choose you, Tauros!" and tossed out his pokeball. I knew Tauros was my best bet – he was tough, and could stand a long battle with a fighting type. Sometimes I felt sorry for the big guy, because he was such a beast of burden, but he loved to battle and show off his toughness! "Hitmonchan, use comet punch!" Bruno ordered. Hitmonchan ran at Tauros and punched him several times – Tauros acted like it was nothing! Then I commanded, "Tauros, use horn attack!" He charged at Hitmonchan and hit him with his large, sharp horns, sending Hitmonchan hurtling through the air. He crashed to the ground, but stood back up. "Hitmonchan, use rock smash!" Bruno ordered. Hitmonchan smashed some rocks at Tauros, but he shook it off and I shouted, "Tauros, use body slam!" Tauros charged at Hitmonchan, then leapt into the air and came belly down onto Hitmonchan, pinning him to the floor! Unable to withstand Tauros' heavy weight, Hitmonchan blacked out! Bruno recalled Hitmonchan and said, "That's one tough Tauros you have there! But let's see if he can handle this!" and Bruno released his second Pokemon, Hitmonlee. "Hitmonlee, use mega kick!" Bruno shouted. Hitmonlee came at Tauros and kicked him hard, knocking him over, but he stood right back up, more raging mad than ever. "That's it, Tauros! Excellent! Now get him with stomp!" Tauros charged at Hitmonlee and reared up, stomping him down with his front hooves and pinning him to the ground! "Hitmonlee, use jump kick!" Bruno ordered. Hitmonlee kicked Tauros in the belly, sending him hurtling backwards, and releasing Tauros' grip on him. Tauros stood on his feet and I shouted, "Use horn attack!" Tauros charged at Hitmonlee and hit him with his horns, senting him hurtling across the arena, but he landed perfectly on his feet! "Hitmonlee, use mega kick again!" Bruno ordered. Hitmonlee did so, and the force sent Tauros crashing against the wall! (After the battle, Martin, who was standing on the opposite side, admitted to ducking!) He was angrier than ever, and I commanded, "Tauros, use take down!" He charged at Hitmonlee, but Hitmonlee jumped out of the way! Tauros turned and tried again, but once again, he leapt out of the way! Finally, I ordered, "Tauros, use earthquake!" He stomped his front hooves onto the ground and caused a fissure to open underneath Hitmonlee, which he fell into! He weakly climbed back out and I shouted, "Now, Tauros, use body slam!" Tauros charged at the severley weakened Hitmonlee and pinned him against the wall with his body! He fell down as Tauros stood over, glaring at him. Hitmonlee was defeated! "I don't believe it! That is one tough, stubborn Pokemon!" Bruno exclaimed. I scratched Tauros under the horns and said, "Sounds about right!" He "mooed" contently. I hugged his brown, furry mane and said, "Excellent work, buddy!" Bruno recalled Hitmonlee and said, "He's tough. But is he tough enough for this?" and he released Onix! I looked at Tauros and said, "I think you've had enough for today." Then I took out another pokeball and said, "But you haven't even started, have you Vaporeon?" and I released her into the battle field. "Vaporeon!" she replied. Bruno ordered, "Onix, use tackle!" He thrust his large, rock-snake body at Vaporeon and although he missed, she fell from the vibration. I shouted, "Vaporeon, use water gun!" She shot water at Onix from her mouth, but I barely fazed him! "Onix, use slam!" Bruno ordered. Onix swung his large tail and hit Vaporeon, sending her flying across the room and pasted to the wall! "Vaporeon!" I shouted. She fell to the ground, but weakly stood back up. "She might be a water type, but she's no match for a rock Pokemon that big!" Bruno said. I had to think quick! "Vaporeon, use haze!" I ordered. Vaporeon began creating a bank of fog around herself. Bruno shouted, "Onix, use rock throw!" Onix hurled some rocks at the fog bank – nothing! Then he ordered, "Onix, use dig!" Onix burrowed under the ground. I stood petting Tauros and said, "Get ready, Vaporeon!" Soon, the room began to shake and Onix shot out from the fog bank – and Vaporeon stood on his head! "Now, Vaporeon, whirlpool!" I shouted. She shot out a tornado of water which wrapped around Onix! He fell to the ground with a crash, defeated! Bruno looked stunned! He recalled Onix as I shouted, "Great job, Vaporeon!" She ran over to me and jumped up into my arms, knocking me to the floor, and she licked my face! Bruno said, "You have done remarkably well! Congratulations!" I replied, "Thank you!" He said, "You may leave now. You get one day to rest, and then you will enter the final 2 chambers." I nodded, and the door on the other side of the room opened. I walked out with Flamefox, Firestorm, Vaporeon, and Tauros. Despite all his intense battling, Tauros looked no worse for wear.
Once outside, Martin congratulated me, as did May, Trevor, Professor Oak, Professor Elm, my parents, May's parents, and some Pokemon League officials. I took my Pokemon to the center to be treated. Nurse Joy said that they should all be fine after a day's rest. She also said my Tauros was one of the toughest and most well-raised she'd ever seen. Anyway, I headed for the park afterwards, where I saw May sitting on a park bench with Amber, Redfur, Inferno, and Fierymane stood by them. I asked, "Is Inferno being good for you?" She replied, "She's doing fine." Then she said, "You did great! Martin told me everything. I think you can definitely win this!" I said, "Thanks, May!" She said, "You're welcome! Now come on! You get a day of before your final Elite Four battles! Let's have some fun!" I agreed, and we headed off, with our Pokemon. I mounted on Tauros and she mounted on Fierymane and we rode to the nearby countryside for a little relaxation time.