Chapter 48 – The Elite Four Battles Part 2
My Pokemon and I had a thoroughly enjoyable day off before our final 2 Elite Four battles. We spent a lot of time enjoying the local countryside, with May and her Pokemon. We even had a little picnic in a clearing. Tauros and Fierymane grazed in the grass nearby. My big, tough, 3 tailed buffalo showed no signs of wear and tear from his battle the day before. Nor did Firestorm, Jolteon, or Vaporeon – all were enjoying themselves, playing with our other Pokemon, fully restored from their battles the day before. Later in the day, we met up with May's and my parents and took part in some activities in the Pokemon Village. Our Pokemon all had a lot of fun, too. I felt they were as rested and ready as they were going to be for our next 2 battles. Agatha didn't really scare me, but Lance did! I wasn't at all sure how I was ever going to beat him. That was the only thing that really worried me.
The next day, after breakfast, May and I sat in the park with our Pokemon. Flamefox, Firestorm, Amber, Redfur, and Inferno all played in the grass. Martin also joined us. May said to me, "Just think, these are your last 2 battles! If you win, you'll be this year's big champion." I said, "Yeah, if I can beat Lance! That won't be easy!" Martin said, "Just stick with your strongest ice type and you'll do fine!" I said, "My only ice types are Lapras and Vaporeon, and ice is only their secondary type! I don't know… I just don't think either of them has a real chance against Lance!" Suddenly, an older female voice said, "Maybe I can help." We all looked to see Clair! I think we were all equally stunned. She looked at Martin with a bit of contempt and said, "Hello, Martin." With equal contempt, he looked at her said, "Hello, Clair." I asked, "Am I missing something here?" She looked at Martin and said, "This isn't the time or place for old grudges." Then she turned to May and I and said, "I knew that one of you would make it this far, and would be battling my brother. Both of you did quite well against me. But my brother has always had the reputation of being the strongest dragon type trainer. I'm tired of living in his shadow, and I would love to see him humbled by a junior trainer such as you, Joe. I think you are my first real chance of seeing him defeated in a long time. I brought you a gift that should help." With that, she handed me a vial. Martin grabbed it from my hand and said, "Let me see that." Upon observing it, he said, "This is Nevermeltice! A few drops of this will seriously boost a Pokemon's ice type attacks!" Clair said, "That's right! Just give a few drops to your ice type Pokemon before you battle my brother's Dragonite, and you'll have a more than fair chance of beating him!" I said, "Wow, thank you!" She said, "Don't thank me until after you've beaten him! Even with this item to help you, my brother is a strong and fierce trainer! But I truly believe you can beat him! Just do your best and good luck! I'll be watching." I replied, "I'll do the best that I can." She nodded and then walked away. Martin said, "That was really weird! She must really want her brother to lose!" and he handed the vial back to me. I held it in my hand and said, "Maybe I will beat Lance, after all!" May said, "You can do it, Joe! I know you can!" I turned to Martin and asked, "What is it with you and Clair? She didn't seem very happy to see you, and you didn't seem much happier to see her." He answered, "It's a long story. I'll tell you some other time."
Soon, it was time for my last 2 battles. May and Martin walked me to the dome shaped building which contained the last 2 chambers. I was relatively certain I had the right Pokemon in my party to win! May said, "Good luck" and hugged me, while Amber and Flamefox nuzzled, as did Inferno and Firestorm. Martin said, "You'll do fine, Joe! Don't worry about it." With that, the metal door slid open, upwards, and I entered, accompanied by Flamefox and Firestorm. The door slid closed behind us and we walked down another corridor that was lit up only by torches on the wall. "They seriously need a new interior decorator here" I observed to my fire foxes. Anyway, we reached the metal door at the end of the hallway that slid open once we reached it, and we entered the third chamber. It was a quite ordinary battle field, with a level dirt floor. Again, the walls were all mirrored. A much older, short lady with white hair said, "Welcome to the third chamber. I am Agatha of the Elite Four. We will battle 3 on 3." I replied, "Sounds good to me. Let's do it!" She said, "Very well! For my first Pokemon, I choose Golbat!" and she released the evolved Zubat from it's pokeball. I responded, "You're up, Firestorm" She commanded, "Golbat, use supersonic!" It let out a high pitched sound, and Firestorm became confused! I shouted, "Try to shake it off, Firestorm! Use a flamethrower attack!" He launched the attack, but completely missed Golbat, who easily dodged the attack, taking advantage of Firestorm's confused state. "Good, Golbat! Now use mega drain!" Agatha commanded. The attack hit, draining Firestorm of a good deal of HP. He was still confused, but I ordered him, "Use confuse ray!" His eyes became pitch black as he glared at Golbat, sending the attack his way! Now both Golbat and Firestorm were confused, but at least it leveled out the playing field! "Golbat, use wing attack!" Agatha commanded. Golbat did so, but it's aim was completely off, and missed Firestorm. On the other hand, I ordered Firestorm to try another flamethrower, and he missed, as well. Agatha ordered, "Golbat, use rest!" Golbat fell asleep. I thought, "Why would she do that? Now Golbat is vulnerable!" With Golbat hanging from the ceiling, he was a sitting duck, so I ordered "Firestorm, use body slam!" He ran and leapt up at the sleeping Golbat, slamming it with his body and knocking it to the floor! Agatha said, "Sleep talk". I asked, "Sleep talk?" Then I said, "Whatever! Firestorm, finish it off with a fire blast!" His body began to glow and he was about to launch the attack, when an even brighter light emanated from Golbat and Firestorm was struck down by a blast of bright energy! "That was a hyper beam! But how…" I began to ask, and Agatha said, "Sleep talk let's a sleeping Pokemon use one of their attacks in their sleep. It's completely random, but if your Pokemon knows all good attacks, it can come in very handy!" Flamefox and I ran over to Firestorm, who lay on the floor on his side. He was knocked out! I carried him off to the side and said, "It's up to you, Flamefox!" He nodded, "Vulpix!" and entered the battlefield. We had an advantage – Golbat was asleep, and had just used hyper beam, which meant he couldn't attack again for a turn, which ruled out another sleep talk attack for at least one turn. I ordered, "Flamefox, use fire spin!" His body glowed and his eyes grew bright white as he released the tornado of flames from his mouth. The flames wrapped around Golbat and once they dispersed, it still stood on the floor, asleep, but charred. Agatha again ordered, "Sleep talk". I responded, "Use dig, quickly, Flamefox!" My little fire fox quickly burrowed underground while Golbat launched a giga drain attack, which missed. Still on the floor and vulnerable, Golbat remained asleep and I shouted, "Now, Flamefox!" He shot out from the ground underneath Golbat, which sent it hurtling across the arena and crashing to the floor. It finally woke up and began to flutter about. Agatha ordered, "Golbat, use wing attack!" It flapped it's wings, creating a powerful g-force which pinned Flamefox to the wall! I shouted, "Flamefox, use confuse ray!" He did so, directly hitting Golbat, and then I ordered, "Finish it with flamethrower!" His eyes glowed as he launched the powerful stream of flames from his mouth at the confused Golbat. Golbat took the hit point blank, and was finally knocked out! Agatha recalled Golbat and I ran out to hug Flamefox. Then Agatha said, "I choose Arbok!" and released the large, cobra-like Pokemon. I ordered, "Flamefox, use confuse ray!" Agatha replied, "Arbok, use dig!" Arbok burrowed underground before Flamefox's attack reached it. I said, "Be careful, Flamefox! Watch out!" Soon, Arbok burst out from under the ground, but Flamefox anticipated the attack and leapt out of the way just in time! Then I said, "Flamefox, use flamethrower!" He shot a stream of flames at Arbok, and Agatha commanded, "Use wrap, Arbok!" Arbok shot out at Flamefox from the flames, taking him completely by surprise, and it wrapped it's long body around Flamefox, beginning to crush him. "Flamefox!" I shouted. I didn't know what to do! Flamefox couldn't attack while he was wrapped up! I did the only thing I could think of. "Flamefox, return" I said, as I recalled him to his designated pokeball. Once he was safe from Arbok's grip, I re-released him next to his sleeping brother. I took out my next pokeball, realizing this was the last Pokemon I'd be allowed to use, and said, "Go, Fearow!" My long beaked, brown bird materialized in flight, and I ordered him, "Use drill peck!" He flew down at Arbok and hit him with a series of pecks from his long, sharp beak. Arbok went crashing down onto it's back. Agatha shouted, "Arbok, use poison sting!" I shouted, "Dodge it with your agility, Fearow! Then use fury attack!" Fearow dodged the poison sting, and flew down at Arbok, hitting him hard, several times, with his fury attack. Arbok could barely stand when Agatha shouted, "Use slam!" Arbok leapt up at Fearow and slammed him with his tail, sending Fearow crashing against the wall! Fearow took to flight again, and I shouted, "Use mirror move!" Fearow flew down at Arbok and slammed it against the wall! Arbok fell over, finally defeated! "Good job, Fearow!" I shouted. I petted Flamefox while Agatha recalled Arbok, and then she said, "For my final Pokemon, I choose Gengar!" and released the large ghost-type Pokemon. I knew that Fearow's drill peck and Flamefox's dig attack would be strong against Gengar, but I also knew that it had some pretty impressive attacks, itself! I shouted, "Fearow, use drill peck!" Fearow flew down and hit Gengar with a volley of pecks, actually causing it to fall over backwards! Agatha ordered, "Gengar, use lick!" I shouted, "Watch out for that tongue, Fearow!" He flew around, attampting to dodge it, but Gengar slapped Fearow with it's unexpectedly long tongue, and Fearow fell to the floor, paralyzed! "Now finish it with shadow ball!" Agatha shouted. Gengar launched a ball of dark energy at Fearow, who lay helpless on the floor, and it was a direct hit! Fearow was out! I recalled him to his pokeball and said, "Flamefox, you are my last hope! Do your best!" He nodded, and re-entered the battlefield. I ordered, "Flamefox, use dig!" Agatha ordered, "Use shadow ball!" My little orangish-brown fox burrowed underground quickly with his little brown paws and the shadow ball missed him! Then he shot up from the ground underneath Gengar, sending it airborne and then crashing to the ground. Flamefox landed on the ground on all fours, and Gengar stood back up! "Gengar, use lick!" Agatha ordered. I shouted, "Dodge that tongue with your agility, Flamefox!" Gengar shot his tongue out at Flamefox like a frog, but Flamefox leapt out of the way, avoiding the attacks. "Gengar, forget the lick! Try shadow ball!" Agatha shouted. It began launching balls of dark energy at Flamefox, which he kept evading and they just kept hitting the walls! Flamefox was doing good, but he had to be getting tired. I commanded, "Flamefox, use flamethrower!" He launched the powerful stream of flames at Gengar, knocking it down. It stood back up. "Gengar, use lick!" she ordered. Flamefox attempted to dodge the tongue, but was so worn out, he got hit! He fell over on his side, paralyzed. "Flamefox, no!" I shouted. Agatha said, "Let's finish this off quickly. Use shadow ball!" As Gengar began to create the ball of dark energy, I shouted, "Flamefox, I know you can do this! One fire spin! Do it for me!" He grunted as he pushed himself to do the attack. His little body began to glow as he grunted and groaned, not being able to move easily, and he forced himself onto his belly. His eyes glowed bright white as he launched the tornado of flames from his mouth as he lay on the floor on his belly. The flames wrapped around Gengar before it could launch the shadow ball! Once the flames dispersed, Gengar collapsed, finally knocked out! Flamefox, content with his attack, also collapsed back down. I ran over to him and picked him up, saying, "Excellent job, Flamefox!" He replied, "Vulll" very weakly. Agatha recalled Gengar and said, "I didn't think you would win. Your Pokemon have a lot of perseverance! You trained them well!" I replied, "Thank you." I reached into my backpack and took out a vial of paralyze heal for Flamefox. Shortly after he drank it, he was on his feet again, walking around. I also took out some max revive for Firestorm, and got him back on his feet again. Agatha said, "You may move on to the final chamber now. Good luck!" I nodded, and as soon as they were up to it, Flamefox and Firestorm followed me through the doorway, which closed behind us. While in the hallway, I decided to give Flamefox some max potion, as well, and I also let Fearow out to give him some max revive. I also released Vaporeon and Lapras momentarily and gave each of them a few drops of Nevermeltice. After that, I returned Fearow, Vaporeon, and Lapras to their pokeballs, and we proceeded through the final doorway at the end of the hall. On the other side, Lance awaited us! His chamber had a pretty level dirt floor, as well, but with a pool in the center. He said, "It is good to see you again. How is May?" I replied, "She's fine." He said, "It must have been hard to beat a friend in battle." I said, "It was." Then he said, "Well, I had a feeling I would be facing one of you this year. Are you ready for your final battle?" I answered, "Yes, I think so." He said, "It will be a 2 on 2 battle. For my first Pokemon, I choose Gyarados!" and he released the large, menacing water snake into the pool. I said, "Then I choose Lapras!" and released her from her pokeball. "Gyarados, use dragon rage!" Lance ordered. Gyardos hit Lapras with a powerful beam of energy, sending her crashing against the side of the pool. I responded, "Lapras, use body slam!" She swam quickly at Gyarados, slamming her body into his and pinning him to the side of the pool. Then he ordered, "Gyarados, use ice beam!" He did so, and froze Lapras into place in the pool! "Lapras!" I shouted. She couldn't move her fins! "Gyarados, finish it with take down!" Lance ordered. Gyarados leapt up from the water and came down at Lapras! I shouted, "Lapras, use thunderbolt!" Although she couldn't move her body, she was able to launch the powerful electric attack from the horn on her head, and Gyarados was zapped! He fell onto the floor outside of the pool, defeated! Lance, surprised, shouted, "Not bad, kid." I said to Lapras, "Good work!" and recalled her to her pokeball. Then he said, "For my last Pokemon, I choose Dragonite!" and released the large, orange flying dragon-type Pokemon. I replied, "Than I choose Vaporeon!" and released her from her pokeball. Lance shouted, "Dragonite, use thunder wave!" He did so, and the attack paralyzed Vaporeon on the spot! I shouted, "Vaporeon, use ice beam!" She shot the attack from her mouth, but Dragonite easily evaded it, since she couldn't move. "Dragonite, use slam!" Lance ordered. He flew down and slammed his large body against Vaporeon, sending her careening to the wall, which she slammed against and fell over! "Vaporeon!" I shouted. It was no good – she was knocked out. I recalled her to her pokeball and re-released Lapras. He again ordered, "Dragonite, use thunderwave!" Lapras was a sitting duck in the water, and took the hit! Dragonite flew down at her and Lance shouted, "Use body slam!" Dragonite thrust his large body against her's and crushed her against the side of the pool. This looked really bad! "Now use dragon rage on her!" Lance shouted. Dragonite launched the powerful beam of energy at her, again crashing her to the side of the pool. I didn't know how much more she could take. Then, it hit me! As Dragonite flew at her once more, I shouted, "Lapras, use attract!" She gazed into the oncoming Dragonite's eyes, and he stopped. He just stood in front of her, in love! I shouted, "Now, use ice beam, Lapras!" She shot the ice beam point blank at Dragonite, and he took a direct hit! He fell over, and was knocked out! Lance was stunned! "I… I don't believe it!" he said, as he recalled Dragonite. I ran over to Lapras and said, "Good job, girl!" and petted her on the side. She couldn't lower her neck for me to give her some paralyze heal, so I had Flamefox run up the back of her neck and he gave her some. In no time, she was swimming around the pool, with Flamefox on her head. Lance walked up to me and said, "Congratulations! You are this year's champion! You're one of the most powerful trainers I've ever met!" I said, "Thank you" as we shook hands. I recalled Lapras, and Lance led me, Flamefox, and Firestorm outside to a cheering crowd that included May, Martin, Trevor, my parents, May's parents, Professor Oak, Professor Elm, and lots of other people and reporters. May hugged me saying, "I knew you could do it!" After treating my Pokemon at the Center, we were taken to the Pokemon League Hall of Fame, where I was presented with my trophy and had my picture taken with all of my Pokemon that battled. I was both thrilled that I had won, and relieved that it was over! Clair walked over to me afterwards and said, "I couldn't have asked for better. You did great!" I replied, "Thanks." She actually smiled, then walked away.
The next day, they held the closing ceremonies for the Johto League. President Goodshow gave a speech, congratulating everyone, and May and I received special honors, since I was this year's champion, and May had come in second. I was glad that May also won a trophy – she deserved it after battling so well. That evening, we had a big banquet with our parents, Martin, Trevor, and Professors Oak and Elm. Martin and Trevor would both be leaving in the morning, Martin returning to the Ice Cave and Trevor returning to the racing circuit. We didn't know when we'd see them again. Later in the evening, May and I sat in the park together. She said, "I'll be going home with my parents tomorrow." I said, "I'll be heading home, too, but I decided I want to ride Tauros home. I'm going to ride through all the towns and routes we took to get here, and ultimately, come riding into Crimson Town on his back!" She said, "That sounds like a great idea! It'll keep Tauros in top shape, too." Then I said, "I'm going to miss you, May. I hope we'll meet up in Kanto." She said, "I'll miss you, too, but we won't be apart long. I'm sure we'll meet up again in Kanto. When are you starting your Pokemon journey there?" I answered, "In a few weeks. After all this battling, I look forward to spending some time at home, with my Pokemon." She said, "Me, too. I just hope Amber will be okay. I think she's really going to miss Flamefox." I said, "I know Flamefox will miss her. But he'll see her when you come to my party." She replied, "Oh, I'm having a party, too! I hope you'll come!" I answered, "I wouldn't miss it!" Then I said to her, "It's been great journeying with you, May! I look forward to doing it again!" She replied, "Me, too!"
Soon, we headed back to the hotel. It would be our last night as roommates. I was going to miss May, Martin, and Trevor, but it would also be good to be home again for a while. And something told me we hadn't seen the last of Trevor or Martin, and our paths would cross again. It had been a fun journey through Johto, that was for sure!