Chapter 76 – Queen for a Day
Once May and I returned to the mainland, we resumed our journey to Viridian City. It would require some backtracking, but we could cut across Kanto and get there faster. I rode on Tauros with Flamefox, May rode on Fierymane with Amber, and Firestorm, Inferno, and the fire dogs ran with us. When we reached a nearby city, there were all kinds of festivities going on. I asked, "Is there some kind of holiday?" May replied, "It's the Princess Festival, silly! I almost forgot about it. I wanted to attend last year's, but didn't get a chance to because I was spending most of my time between Professor Oak's and my Pokemon journey. I'd really like to participate this year!" I said, "Okay! Let's go." May said, "I don't know if you'll like it. It's a holiday celebrating girls and women, and the guys have to do pretty much whatever the girls tell them." I jokingly replied, "Sounds like marriage." May shot me an angry glance, and I said, "I was just kidding" as a sweatdrop formed on the side of my head. She continued, "Anyway, the stores and shops have all kinds of special bargains, and so do the restaurants. I'd really like to check out some of the shops first." Then she said, very matter-of-factly, "You'll have to carry all of my packages." I replied, "Oh, okay" and half smiled. She said, "There's also a tournament for Queen of the Princess Festival. It involves Pokemon battling. I'm really looking forward to that!" I said, "Sounds exciting! I'll be rooting for you." She said, "I know you will" and kissed my cheek. I said, "I… I… need to make a phone call" and headed for a nearby Pokemon Center. I knew my face must have turned bright red, so I really just used that as an excuse so she wouldn't see, but I did also need to call Professor Oak.
I dialed Professor Oak's number and told him we were at the Princess Festival. "I have 7 badges now, and we're heading for Viridian City so I can get my 8th, but May wants to attend the festival" I told him. He said, "That's good to hear, Joe! You're doing well. And your Safari Zone Pokemon are doing really good, too. Your's and May's Tauros herd all get along just fine. So, how is Arcanine doing?" I replied, "Excellent! He won the last 2 gym battles! And in the last gym battle, at Blaine's gym, he fell into the lava with Magmar, but still beat it!" Professor Oak said, "That's very impressive! You've been doing a great job training him. However, now that he's had so much more experience, I'd like to have him back to study him some more." I said, "Oh." I was a little surprised. He asked, "Is that all right?" I answered, "Yeah. I'm sorry. It's just that, well, I knew you wanted him back after he got some more experience, but I just didn't think it would be so soon." He replied, "It will only be for a few weeks. He's still yours to keep. I promise you'll have him back in time for the League Finals." I said, "Okay, thanks Professor." He then asked, "Which Pokemon would you like back in exchange for him?" I answered, "My Scyther, if that's okay." He said, "Very well" and put Scyther's pokeball on the transport pad. I took out Arcanine's pokeball and said, "Well, thanks, Arcanine! You've been a great help and a great friend. I'll miss you, but we'll be back together soon enough" and I put his pokeball on the transport pad. The pad activated, and I soon had Scyther's pokeball. "Received on this end" Professor Oak said. I replied, "Same here." Professor Oak released Arcanine, and Arcanine proceeded to pin Professor Oak to the floor, licking his face. "Good to see you again, too, Arcanine" Professor Oak said, as he laughed. I said, "See you soon, Arcanine." Arcanine looked at me in the screen and let out a happy bark, before the screen turned off. I opened Scyther's pokeball, and he stood before me, his scythes crossed. I said, "Hey, Scyther! Welcome back to the team!" and we high fived. May entered the Center, with Redfur, Fiona, Inferno, and Amber and asked, "How come you switched back for Scyther?" I answered, "Professor Oak needs Arcanine back for a while." She said, "Oh. Gee, I'm gonna miss him walking with us, but it's good to have you back again, Scyther!" He replied, "Scyther!" May then asked me, "Well, are you ready?" I recalled Scyther and said, "Yeah. Let's go." Both of us and all of our Pokemon left the Center, and followed May through the city streets. May also released Clefairy, who walked alongside Amber, Redfur, and Fiona. Flamefox, Firestorm, and Inferno all walked with me. The Pokemon all stayed close. At a few shops, girls were fighting over various articles of clothing. May just shook her head. "I can't believe how some clothes can turn some girls into complete wackos" she said. I was so glad May wasn't like those other girls – she always had her head on her shoulders. May did buy a few things, like clothing and jewelry, but only a few bags, so carrying them was no big deal. She bought some Vulpix earings to match the pendant I got her for her birthday 2 years ago. As we walked, we found a place to eat. May got to eat for free, but I had to pay. There was an announcement about the Princess Festival tournament, and May said, "I'm really excited about this battle! I really want those Pokemon princess dolls!" I said, "I'm sure you'll win! You're already a League champion!" She said, "Yeah, but even if I don't win, at least my Pokemon will have some experience." I asked, "So, who will be your team?" She answered, "I can only use 4 Pokemon. I was planning to use Amber, Raichu, Clefairy, and Blastoise!" I said, "Sounds like a good team!" Just then, a female Pokemon trainer walked by who looked very familiar. I said, "May, look!" She turned and said, "Oh, great! I remember her. That's Diane. You battled her in your second Johto League final battle. She had her own cheering section. I was so glad when you beat her." I said, "I think she's entering the tournament!" May said, "Oh, good! I hope I get to battle her! That would make this even more enjoyable!" May's eyes caught Diane's eyes, and Diane just closed her eyes and stuck her nose up as she walked past. I said, "I want to see you beat her, May!"
People poured into the stadium where the battle would be taking place, as the announcer said, "This year's Queen of the Princess Festival battle will soon be under way! Female trainers from all over will be battling for this one of a kind set of Pokemon Princess dolls!" Among the dolls were Bulbasaur, Charmander, Clefairy, Pikachu, and a couple others, but no Vulpix or Ninetales! The stadium was packed! My Pokemon and I sat in the bleachers near the battle field, since no men were allowed inside. Soon, the announcer said, "Here are this year's challengers!" The girls all came out from a pair of doors that led inside the stadium, and they were all dressed in kimonos. May looked beautiful. Diane looked pretty, too, but her cheering section was annoying as last time! "Diane, Diane, she's our wo-man!" they chanted. I said the Flamefox and Firestorm, "After this, could you guys like fire spin them or something?" They laughed, "Vul" and "Nine!" The announcer said, "The girls have been split into 2 divisions! The 2 winners from each division will then battle for the prized dolls!" The scoreboard had a bunch of boxes on it. The bottom row showed pictures of all the girls and who was battling who. The next row would show the winners from each of those battles, and which of them would go onto the next round, and so on, until the top row, which was just 2 boxes – the eastern division champ and the western division champ. "Let's get this year's battles under way!" the announcer exclaimed. The girls entered the battlefield, now in their regular clothes again, and each battled when it was their turn. Flamefox, Firestorm, and I all cheered May on as she breezed her way through the eastern division – Raichu took out a Squirtle, Amber took out an Ivysaur, Blastoise made short work of an Onix, and Clefairy took down a Cubone! May and her team were winning one battle after another. "May Redfield of Violet City, last year's Johto League champion, is staying on top of her competition with her killer team in the eastern division! Meanwhile, Diane Saitama from Goldenrod City is blowing away her competition in the western division!" Then I heard Diane's cheering section at it again, and was ready to pull my hair out! I shouted, "Keep it up, May! You're doing awesome!" Flamefox shouted, "Vulpix!" and Firestorm shouted, "Ninetales!" Diane still had her Golbat and Starmie, but was using a Nidoqueen and a Raticate she didn't use when she battled me. Both May and Diane continued to win battle after battle, but finally, only the two top boxes had pictures! "The eastern division champion is May Redfield, and the western division champion is Diane Saitama! Now it's down to the final round, and these two will compete for the dolls!" the announcer exclaimed as the audience cheered. My fire foxes and I joined May and her Pokemon on the battlefield below, while Diane's cheering section moved down to join her to cheer her on in her final battle, throwing confetti at her and treating her like she'd already won! "I am so sick of her pretentiousness!" May exclaimed. I replied, "That's why you've got to beat her!" May said, "I know, and I'm looking forward to it. But my Pokemon are pretty tired out. I just hope they can hold out for the entire last battle." I said, "Don't forget, Diane's Pokemon must be pretty tired out by now, too!" May nodded and said, "We'll win this! Let's do it!" The announcer said, "The final battle is under way!" Diane released her Golbat, and May responded, "Go, Amber!" Diane ordered, "Golbat, use supersonic!" It emitted a high frequency sound, and Amber became confused! "Amber, use flamethrower!" May commanded. Amber tried to focus, but the Golbat fluttered around, evading the fiery attacks! Then Diane ordered, "Golbat, use wing attack! It flapped it's wings, sending some powerful g-forces at Amber, which hit her and she fell backwards. Amber got back up, but was still confused, so May took her out of the battle and sent in Raichu! "Golbat, use supersonic again!" Diane ordered, and it once again emitted the high frequency sound. Raichu became confused, too! "Raichu, use thundershock!" May shouted. He shot electric attacks at the Golbat, which fluttered in and out, avoiding them. Then Diane ordered, "Golbat, use mega drain!" Golbat began to suck HP from Raichu, and May said, "Hang in there, Raichu! Try to focus!" He continued to launch thundershocks, and since Golbat was distracted using mega drain, it was hit directly! It fell to the ground, defeated, and Diane recalled it! "May won the first round, but one of her Pokemon has been weakened!" the announcer said. May said, "Raichu, return!" and recalled him. Diane tossed out her next pokeball, shouting, "Go, Raticate!" The big, rat-like Pokemon materialized. May said, "Your turn, Clefairy!" Clefairy entered the battle. "Raticate, use tackle!" Diane ordered. Raticate thrust itself at Clefairy, knocking her down. May in turn ordered, "Clefairy, use double slap!" Clefairy ran up to Raticate, and kept slapping it with her hands, not giving it a chance to fight back! "That's it, Clefairy! Keep it up!" May exclaimed. Diane's cheering section continued to cheer Diane on. "Oh I wish they'd shut up!" May muttered. I said, "Don't worry, May. It makes the taste of victory for beating her even sweeter!" She laughed at that. "Thanks, Joe" she said. I nodded. Clefairy had Raticate down to the ground, and May said, "Now use body slam!" Clefairy leapt, belly down, on top of Raticate, and pinned it to the ground. Raticate had enough, and Diane recalled it! "Good work, Clefairy!" May exclaimed, hugging her Clefairy. Diane's cheering section continued, despite the announcer saying, "May still has 4 usable Pokemon, but Diane is down to 2! This is an intense battle!" The rest of the crowd cheered loudly. Diane said, "Go, Starmie!" and released the purple, starfish-like Pokemon. May said, "I want to use Raichu, but he's a little weak right now. So, I choose Blastoise!" and she released him. I said, "May, be careful! Diane's Starmie knows thunderbolt!" She said, "Ack! I almost forgot! Blastoise, be careful! Use bubble beam!" The big turtle shot bubbles from the water cannons on his back, directed at the jewel in Starmie's center. They each exploded on impact, but Diane ordered, "Starmie, use rapid spin!" It started to spin, quickly, deflecting the bubbles. They she said, "Use tackle!" and Starmie spun like a spinning star, in Blastoise's direction. "Blastoise, use submission!" May shouted. Blastoise stopped the Starmie and held it down. Diane shouted, "Now, Starmie, use thundershock!" May tried to shout, "Use withdraw!" but they were so close together that Blastoise took a direct hit before May could finish giving the command. He was instantly knocked out. May recalled Blastoise and the announcer exclaimed, "Well, in an amazing turn of events, Diane has defeated one of May's Pokemon!" The audience continued to cheer, but Diane's private cheering section chanted "Diane's making a come back, she's picking up the slack!" We both groaned. I said, "I know he's weakened, but Raichu is your best shot!" She said, "I agree!" and released him from his pokeball. "She's using Raichu, who was weakened in the battle earlier! Can he hold out long enough?" the announcer asked. "Raichu, use thunderbolt!" May shouted! He launched the attack, but Diane shouted, "Rapid spin!" Starmie began spinning quickly, deflecting the electric attack. Then Diane ordered, "Tackle!" Starmie span at Raichu through the air, like a throwing star, and May said, "Use your agility, Raichu!" Raichu moved fast, evading the spinning Starmie, but Diane ordered, "Use bubblebeam!" Starmie launched bubbles, and because it was spinning so fast, they flew all over. Some impacted Raichu, sending him falling to the ground on his belly! "Now finish it with take down!" Dane ordered. As it flew at the already tired, downed Raichu, May ordered, "Use thunder, Raichu!" He still lay on his belly, but took in lightning from the clouds above, and directed it at Starmie! Starmie stopped, just inches away from Raichu, and fell to the ground, defeated! Diane recalled Starmie, and May picked up Raichu. "Good work, Raichu!" she exclaimed, hugging him. The crowd cheered, and the announcer said, "Diane is down to one Pokemon, and May still has two. This could be close!" Diane's cheering section continued, and she said, "It's not over yet, kid. Go, Nidoqueen!" and she released the large, blue, final form of the female Nidoran. May said, "Go, Clefairy!" Clefairy was half the size of Nidoqueen, but May was confident! "Clefairy, use mega kick!" she ordered. Clefairy leapt at Nidoqueen, and kicked at her, but Nidoqueen just stood there, seemingly unaffected. Then Diane ordered, "Nidoqueen, use tail whip." Nidoqueen spun around and hit Clefairy with her tail, knocking her away from her. Then Diane ordered, "Use earthquake!" Nidoqueen stomped her foot on the ground, and opened the ground beneath Clefairy, which she fell into. Clefairy got back out, and May ordered, "Try metronome, Clefairy!" Clefairy began moving her index fingers back and forth. A surf attack came of it. Nidoqueen took a hard water hit, but was still undaunted. Diane ordered, "Nidoqueen, hyper beam!" She released a powerful beam of energy, which hit Clefairy and knocked her out! "Clefairy, return!" May said, recalling her. "Each challenger is down to one Pokemon each!" the announcer exclaimed. Diane's cheering section got more obnoxious than ever, and the crowd cheered. May said, "It's up to you, Amber! I know you can do it!" "Vulpix!" Amber replied. Amber's confusion had long since worn off, and she still had most of her HP. "And May has reentered her Vulpix! Can this little fire fox take down a Nidoqueen twice it's size?" the announcer asked. "Nidoqueen, use hyper beam again!" Diane ordered. May replied, "Amber, use dig!" Amber quickly burrowed underground, evading the attack. She shot up from the ground directly underneath Nidoqueen in a fury of dirt, slamming into her and sending her crashing to her back! Amber landed on all fours! Nidoqueen stood back up and Diane ordered, "Use body slam!" May commanded, "Amber, use agility!" Amber evaded the attacking Nidoqueen, moving out of the way in a blur! Diane ordered, "Nidoqueen, use earthquake!" She stomped on the ground, creating another fissure, which Amber fell into! But Amber leapt out, and May ordered, "Amber, use confuse ray!" Amber's eyes grew black as she sent the attack at Nidoqueen. Nidoqueen was now confused, and May ordered, "Amber, use fire spin!" Her little light tan body glowed bright white, and her eyes grew an even brighter white as she released the tornado of flames, which wrapped around Nidoqueen! When they dispersed, Nidoqueen was standing, but unbalanced, burned, and confused. May shouted, "Finish her with body slam!" Amber ran at Nidoqueen very quickly and thrust her body into Nidoqueen's belly! Nidoqueen tumbled back and forth a few times, then fell over! The crowd cheered loudly as Diane's picture disappeared from the screen and the announcer shouted, "May Redfield is the winner!" May hugged Amber and said, "You rock, Amber! Thanks!" Amber licked her face. I ran over to congratulate May, and Diane walked over, as well. "You did good, kid. Congratulations" she said, and shook her hand. May replied, "Thanks, so did you." May was presented the crown and dolls, and I gave her a bouquet of roses, and she said, "Thanks for being my cheering section" and hugged me. Flamefox gave Amber a rose, which he stuck in the curls of hair on her head, right near her pink bow. All of May's Pokemon were treated, and stood with her for the picture.
That evening, she had her dolls and the other stuff she bought sent back to her house in Violet City via express delivery. She said, "Thanks again, Joe. That meant a lot to me." I said, "You're welcome. Anything for a friend. You did really good out there!" She smiled, and we headed for the Pokemon Center, along with our Pokemon, to get some sleep. Tomorrow, we'd continue our journey back to Viridian City.