Aaand we're back!
EDIT (11-13-16): Edited for word choice, format, grammar
Previously...
Our heroes left the Suoh Second Residence to journey through the infamous, chilling Ouran Divide! For the whole of the trip, Haruhi found their guide to be a bit suspicious, but later her concerns were properly dealt with as their guide turned out to be Benio of Team Zuka in disguise!
Tamaki defeated Team Zuka and saved the girls only to wind up paralyzed for at least an hour in the chasm with many others! Finally, they reached the outside and are on their way towards Orange City!
Will Tamaki and Haruhi finally find out what's so strange about this healthy, vivacious-seeming town?
Go for it, Tamaki! Badge number two!
Route G: The Orange City Grovyles
"Senpai, wake up. You awake?"
Haruhi sat on the damp grass outside of her travelling companion's tent. She was ready to set off for the long-anticipated Orange City, where Tamaki would find his next gym battle. After escaping the crazy, far too stressful chasm, the tuckered-out duo walked what they deemed halfway to Orange City and then collapsed on a hilltop, pitching camp for the night.
"I'm ready, Haruhi. Just a second," Came Tamaki's reply from within the tent.
Haruhi glanced off into the distance, trying to locate Orange City.
That morning, after packing up her tent, she had pulled out the PokeNav the Hitachiin twins had given her back at the abandoned castle. According to its information, Orange City was a fairly large town, bustling with energetic people and Pokémon. The town was said to be surrounded by orange tree groves as well as a few other agricultural miracles.
Unsurprisingly, Haruhi discovered that the gym was based on grass types.
'Senpai's Antoinette should be fine against those Pokémon, especially since we're always running into Team Zuka, who use them as well…' Haruhi figured.
"Alright, Haruhi, I'm ready."
Tamaki emerged from his tent looking refreshed and ready for the day- the true Orange City spirit for sure. He donned dark gray jeans, a white T-shirt with an inky design on its front, and a simple pinstriped white and blue shirt kept unbuttoned.
As the two packed Tamaki's tent away, they discussed their actions in Orange City.
"The gym is a grass-type one, Senpai."
Tamaki nodded as they stuffed his tent into a bag.
"Antoinette then. Should we go to the gym after we head to the Pokémon Center?"
"First we should find the Pokémon Center, Senpai."
"Right. But, after I mean. Commoners, so caught up on the details…" The teen amusedly added to himself, irking Haruhi.
"Maybe. That might be for the best. Remember how everyone we've encountered has somehow known something weird about Orange City? Those twins said, 'Oh yeah, it's that time of year.' What could that mean? We'd better hurry out of this place before we get caught up in trouble." Haruhi sagely advised.
'And with our track record, we'll be right in the midst of it…' She grumbled in her thoughts.
Tamaki's head snapped up as they closed his bag, a look of remembrance worn across his features.
"That's right! Everyone has been pretty caught up about this place! That settles it, before we head to the gym, we'd better figure out what's going on! I'm dying to find out, aren't you, Haruhi?" The blond enthusiastically bantered, causing the smaller trainer to want to smack him upside the head with the now-packed tent.
'Does he skim over everything I say?' She angrily thought.
"Ready, Haruhi? Let's go then!"
Without further ado, Haruhi was once again dragged along on a wild adventure that involved way too much drama for her tastes.
The two walked on for a good fifteen minutes before they began hearing a buzzing, increasingly loud murmur.
"What's going on, I wonder…" Tamaki remarked, trying to look ahead and around the hills the road curved along.
"We're getting closer to the city- perhaps it's just the everyday noise," Suggested Haruhi.
"No, this is different from everyday noise. It's a party of some sort, I'm sure…" The blond continued, quickening his pace.
"Wait, Senpai, do you hear that?" Haruhi asked, quickening her pace as well. "It sounds like…chanting?" She asked, perplexed at her find.
Tamaki remained thoughtful and focused on getting toward the city.
"You're right... Listen, as we get closer we can hear what they're saying…"
Haruhi did as Tamaki suggested and soon enough, the once muffled words were revealed.
"GRO-VY-LES!"
"CHARI-ZARDS!"
"GRO-VY-LES!"
"CHARI-ZARDS!"
"Are they…screaming Pokémon names?" Haruhi asked, confused at the obvious yet mysterious phrases.
"Yes…" Tamaki replied, sounding just as befuddled. "Perhaps they're having a trading war of some sorts?" He questioned, earning a deadpanned face from Haruhi, who wondered what the heck he was talking about.
"Maybe they're divided fans." She suggested as the two reached such a close proximity to the city that the ruckus sounded as if right in their ears. "It could be that they think one of those is the best Pokémon."
Even if Tamaki could have heard her, he wouldn't have responded. Turning the final corner, the duo ran into a long line of energetic, possibly angry people who were filing into Orange City, the latter sitting about a quarter of a mile down the path straight ahead.
"Where did all these people come from?" Tamaki demanded, extremely surprised to have run into such a mob in seemingly the middle of nowhere.
Haruhi was equally startled.
She looked around, only seeing the crazed people and hearing their yells. After a while, she deduced something and nudged Tamaki hard in the ribs, not that he would have known it was her with all the jostling going on around them.
"Senpai!" She managed to yell after miraculously earning her companion's attention. "I think these people are sports fans!"
"Sports fans? Why?" The teen yelled back though they were only apart in height at the moment due to the encompassing crowd.
"Their shirts! They're either green or orange! I think that the Grovyles and Charizards are team names!"
Thus continued the duo's conversation until they reached the city entrance.
"Welcome to Orange City! May I see your ticket, please?" The man at the front yelled.
"Ticket, what ticket?" Tamaki asked, able to tone his voice down as the crowd before them was mostly flooded into the city by now.
"We're not here for a game, we came here to challenge the Orange City Gym!" Haruhi clarified.
The man, apparently perplexed at such a thing happening, stared at the two momentarily. Finally, he nodded.
"I see, sorry about that. Wear these please, anyway."
He handed the two orange, plastic wristbands, which they clipped on their wrists respectively.
"With these, you'll still be able to get into the gym and to roam about the town. Everyone excluding a few is wearing wristbands in town, they can't get in the game without one. If a Ranger or Club Member notices anyone without a wristband, they automatically assume they've illegally snuck into the city and are up to something bad. These are free, since you're not seeing the game, so don't worry. People who come for the game are required to carry a pass and their wristband at all times, so you should be able to avoid trouble with just these."
Tamaki and Haruhi nodded to the man's words.
"Excuse me, but what game is going on here? One between the Charizards and the Grovyles?" Haruhi asked, still a bit confused. Again, the man seemed startled and Haruhi felt like throwing a pokeball at his head.
"Today is the football game between the Orange City Grovyles and the Magma Heights Charizards!"
Tamaki gasped while that explanation did truly nothing for Haruhi.
"The Magma Heights Charizards?" Tamaki exclaimed, unable to believe what he heard.
He turned to Haruhi for some much needed exposition.
"The Magma Heights Charizards are one of the strongest football teams in all of Ouran! The only reason they took second last year was because their coach was busted for illegal gambling!"
'And he knows all this how?' Haruhi thought.
"So the people here are all worked up just because of some stupid game?"
Both Tamaki and the man looked astounded.
"This game is outrageously important!" The man emphasized. "Orange City defeating the exclusive, elite Magma Heights? Unheard of!"
"Oh, I see. So this Magma Heights place is some sort of hoity-toity rich community. If Orange City won it would be like a victory for the common people…" Haruhi mused.
"So you can say 'common people' but I can't?" Tamaki sniffed.
Haruhi sighed.
"Tamaki-senpai, the difference is that when I use it, I'm talking about people as a whole, the majority. When you use it, you mean the lower class people."
"Let's just head to the Pokémon Center, okay?" Tamaki asked as he bid the man farewell and walked onward.
Haruhi sighed.
Was this how day after day would be with Tamaki?
The two cautiously made their way to the Pokémon Center.
Crazed fans were getting into fights all around and the police force was so outnumbered that it wasn't uncommon to see Pokémon Rangers and everyday trainers getting involved in the brawls.
A bit shell-shocked, Haruhi and Tamaki numbly stepped inside of the Orange City Pokémon Center, which was insanely quiet compared to the outside mayhem.
Haruhi stowed her PokeNav away once more as Tamaki headed to the front counter and rang a bell for the nurse.
"It's too quiet in here…" Haruhi said, glancing about the simple Pokémon Center.
A few pennants proclaiming "Orange City Grovyles" hung on the walls, but other than that, a team picture, and an award or two, the Center was as normal as could be.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I know it's quite a shock coming into this compared to outside."
"Wah!"
Tamaki jumped as a new voice began speaking. He turned towards the counter again to see a brunette with braids standing before him.
"Can I help you?" She asked. "Sorry, I'm Kanan Mitsuyama, the nurse of Orange City's Pokémon Center."
Tamaki smiled, recovered from his start.
"Oh, thank you." He said, handing over his pokeballs. "I'm Tamaki Suoh. Are football days always like this?" He asked.
Mitsuyama smiled as she collected Tamaki's Pokémon.
"Sort of. They've always been crazy, but this time, since we're playing the Charizards, our fans are hyped up on adrenaline."
She laughed a bit.
"This will take a while. Have you seen Celebi Stadium yet? It'll be quite packed today, but it's a wonder itself."
"Celebi Stadium?" Haruhi asked, looking to Tamaki for guidance.
"It's the stadium of Orange City, sponsored by the Ranger Union, I think, right?" He asked Mitsuyama.
"That's right..!" She called from another room.
"From what I've heard, it's rumored that the Rangers themselves built it together with Pokémon!"
Haruhi inwardly marveled at that as well as thinking:
'That seems like an irresponsible, abusive use of power…'
"Oh, but we can't go there anyways. We don't have passes." Tamaki noted.
"Really?"Mitsuyama asked. "What are you here for then if not for the game?"
Tamaki smiled confidently.
"I'm here to get my second gym badge of course, dear kitten!" He said, magically pulling a flower from nowhere and handing it to the nurse.
"Oh, I see! That's wonderful- a gym challenger! Wait one second…"
Mitsuyama retreated into the back room once more and a few moments later came back holding two orange passes.
"Take these." She said, handing the travelers the passes.
Tamaki inspected his pass.
"Wait a minute- These are game passes! We can't take these!" Tamaki objected.
"These must be incredibly expensive." Haruhi added, looking over her pass as well.
"It's not a problem; I get these for free. I can't always use my passes though, since I'm the nurse and everything. You two should take them, especially because you're trainers! Anyway," She added with a small, coy smile, "you won't be able to challenge the gym right now."
"Why not?" Tamaki asked.
"Let me guess, the gym leader's at the game."
Mitsuyama nodded to Haruhi's venture.
The duo looked at each other.
"Well, I suppose we have nothing better to do…" Tamaki began.
"Of course not, Senpai." Haruhi begrudgingly agreed, only thinking about how they were going to have to brave that madness again.
Where was the blinding snowstorm when she needed it?
Getting to Celebi Stadium was a challenge of itself, as the surrounding madness was a fearsome force to brave while it only worsened the closer one got to the stadium.
To be a bit less comforted, Tamaki had left all of his Pokémon at the Center, leaving the duo's only Pokémon defense as Haruhi's weak little Zigzagoon.
So the two treaded carefully, often stopping on the sidewalk or ducking into a building (something shop owners were all too familiar with) to wait for the melee nearby to pass.
Finally, after a decent half-hour, the pair had reached Celebi Stadilum, where it resided a whole seven or eight blocks away from where the Orange City Pokémon Center sat.
As the trainers struggled through the crowd outside the ticket box (apparently people were largely continuing in even though the game was more than halfway over), Tamaki noted his favorite parts of their journey there.
"The coffee in the first place we hid in was delicious! What was that, Haruhi? I've never had it before and, to be honest, it was a bit weak or lacking but the aftertaste was amazing!"
As per usual, Fujioka resisted smacking or abandoning the teen.
"That was instant coffee, Tamaki-senpai. It had whipped cream and creamer in it."
Tamaki continued to beam as their passes were approved and they searched for their seats.
"Really, commoners must think of everything! Oh, and remember when that Ranger took down those bikers? A kick to the chest- Who knew that the Ranger Union approved of such methods?"
"That was a martial artist, Senpai. The ranger took out the other two bikers with her Plusle's spark attack."
"Wasn't it a Mareep?"
"That was at the intersection."
Tamaki continued to mull over their experience as Haruhi at last located their seats. She looked at them and then back at her pass.
"Hm, Senapi, these are box-seats, I think…"
The blond looked as well.
"Hm, so they are… I wonder how Nurse Mitsuyama got such good tickets? Orange City must really show its appreciation for Pokémon!"
While that was Tamaki's conclusion, Haruhi pondered the strange transaction as they climbed a flight of stairs to enter the box.
There were only a few people present, all rich and important-looking- certainly the crowd Tamaki was used to, and they were merrily chatting at the front of the box, not noticing the duo's entry nor their quiet seating on a couch over at the far right of the room near the snack bar.
"And quarterback Mustang from Magma Heights has taken the lead again! He's off…He's going…He's…He's…He- TOUCHDOWN!"
A whistle blew and an uproar of noise instantly flared in the crowd.
"GROVYLES: Twenty-four, MAGMA HEIGHTS: Thirty-two." The announcer said as a player in a red jersey successfully made a kick. "And folks, that was amazingly the SECOND touchdown Mustang has scored this game! As you all know, it is extremely rare for a quarterback to make multiple touchdowns."
"Oh, the players know, Lee. Trust me, this game is about to get pretty intense!"
And so it was.
While the game was going on, Haruhi was of course preoccupied with something else.
Down on the field, a bit distanced from where the benched players were sitting and the coaches yelling, a green Pokémon she figured to be a Grovyle stood nonchalantly.
'I wonder how it's so used to all of this…' She thought, only to be immensely started, jumping, as Tamaki and the others in the box jumped up and began loudly cheering.
"What's going on?" Haruhi asked as she readjusted herself on the couch and gazed out at the field below.
"We've scored, Haruhi!" Tamaki jubilantly exclaimed.
Though she wanted to ask which they were (as they were from neither city), she figured she shouldn't waste her breath and just assumed that she was rooting for Orange City. Across the field, Haruhi saw, to her dismay, a large Charizard presumably angrily breathing fire into the air and roaring. Sure enough, they had scored.
"The score is now a tie! Charizards and Grovyles each have thirty-two points! Oooo, this is so dramatic I can feel the youthful vibes sent out by all the fans to the players!"
"EXTREME! Totally! LET'S GO!"
As the two announcers continued screaming into their mikes for all to hear, Haruhi was seriously wondering if everyone in Ouran had some sort of mental defect.
"Alright, Haruhi, the game's almost over. If we score next we win!"
Haruhi looked at the scoreboard and tried to make sense of it. However, she quickly gave up upon seeing the time left and decided to just watch it out.
Down below, near the Grovyle, cheerleaders were jumping about and a worn-out looking player, Number Three more specifically, was making his way back out onto the field.
"And Grovyles' quarterback and captain Takeshi Kuze makes his way back onto the field! What a guy! His youthful triumphs only inspire me and dozens others!"
The minutes and seconds ticked away after Kuze entered the field. Finally, in the last minute, the Grovyles were in a safety and the Charizards' kicker was ready. The stadium was silent in tension.
"It looks like the Charizards pulled an Ace out of their sleeve!" The announcer chuckled. "Get it? Anyways, let's see if he can pull this off!"
The man's kick was powerful, that was for sure, but on target…
"DANG IT, ACE! I KNEW IT! I COMPLETELY KNEW IT! WHY ON EARTH DID YOU LET A ROOKIE TAKE THE KICK?" Mustang screamed as Ace's kick veered off immediately and shot out of sight.
"Alright, Grovyles, try your best!" The other announcer encouraged as the crowd of Grovyle fans screamed their happiness.
Again, the clock was ticking away and somehow the Grovyles ended up in the end zone during the last seconds.
"C'mon, Kuze!"
"Help him out, Tarumi!"
"Use Tohgouin!"
As the crowd screamed, the Grovyles took off in their play when suddenly...
"Huh? Why did Kuze stop?" Haruhi asked as she saw the quarterback with the ball.
"Why hello, dear maidens!"
Haruhi and Tamaki groaned.
"Never fear, we're here to save you and get rid of this demonic, archaic sport!"
"What? Why?" Tamaki asked as he and Haruhi ran down the steps, deserting the box for a confrontation with their strange enemies.
Benio, who apparently could see and hear Tamaki through all the noise in the angry stadium, gasped.
"YOU!"
Tamaki's expression grew determined as he donned his "serious cool guy" façade.
Never fear ladies, Tamaki Suoh is here to save the day.
At least, that was what he normally thought…
His eyes widened in realization as he felt about for a pokeball he remembered was not there but eight blocks away.
Haruhi sighed at his stupidity and was about to call out her Zigzagoon when something no one expected happened.
"Charizard, use flamethrower!"
"Grovyle, leaf blade!"
The trio of girls in the end zone looked around, curious and stunned as they were suddenly burned to a crisp and then leaf-bladed into the sky.
"Looks like Team Zuka's flying off again!" They cried, as well as "Ah! My hair!"
Everyone looked expectantly around for the source of the attacks and for the game to restart. It seemed that the coaches had angrily booted Team Zuka away, but the clock was at zero...
The referees and coaches conferred and it was settled that the time would be reset to fifteen seconds where it had been.
Again, the Grovyles got in position. This time however, all of their defenses were broke and the only free person was Kuze.
"Catch it, Senpai!" Tarumi yelled before being tackled by a grinning (somehow seen through his helmet and faceguard) and out of place Ace.
Kuze caught it and maneuvered expertly through the obstacles before him. In the last second…
"TOUCHDOWN!" The announcers yelled, jumping up from their seats like the rest of the stadium's inhabitants.
Before they could stay and celebrate longer, Haruhi tugged Tamaki by his sleeve and whispered in his ear. He nodded and the two made their quick escape out of the arena and into the fleetingly empty streets.
The two were practically running to the Pokémon Center.
"The leader should be back by the time the game's ended, right? Since it's his job?" Tamaki panted as they entered the Center.
Mitsuyama looked surprised to see them back so soon.
"Back so soon?" She asked as she collected Tamaki's pokeballs and returned them to him. "I hope you had a good time at least. I'm so happy that we won!"
"Yes, but we're eager to have that gym battle, so…"
"Are you sure you don't want to wait?" Mitsuyama worriedly asked.
Haruhi reassured her that they were in a bit of a hurry.
"Streets still clear?" She asked as they peeked out of the doors.
Tamaki nodded and they continued briskly on the way to the Pokémon Gym. As the two approached it, they noticed how plain it was compared to the Haninozuka Gym. However, it's not like it was normal in any way…
Haruhi swore it was a miniature domed football stadium, so was its appearance. It was bigger than a standard League gym, but it wasn't like a mansion. Despite its sports appeal, there were orange trees encompassing the entire property like a small forest. The fragrance was wonderful.
The two made their way to the door and knocked respectfully, unlike at the Haninozuka's.
"Yes?" A tired, familiar face asked.
Tamaki and Haruhi stared.
"You're... You're... You're... You're Hayato Tarumi!" Tamaki exclaimed, his face alight with surprise.
The running-back nodded.
"Yeah. And you are? Sorry, but we're pretty worn out today, so no autographs, sorry."
Haruhi stared at the man.
WHAT?
He couldn't be...
THEY couldn't be...
The Orange City Gym was run by its football team?
"I'm Tamaki Suoh! I'm here to challenge the gym leader! ...And to congratulate you on that great game! Sports are so wonderful! Nothing is better than friendships forged through sweat and tears!"
Tarumi and Haruhi stared curiously at Tamaki as he went into one of his romantic drama modes.
At last, Tarumi nodded.
"Alright, if that's why you're here, I'll see you inside. Come with me please."
The duo followed Tarumi inside through an elaborate placement of hallways. Finally, they reached a door that apparently led to the gym's backyard.
The three were immediately engulfed by the sweet orange fragrance.
There, lying under a tree with the Orange City football team's mascot was the Grovyles' quarterback and captain, Takeshi Kuze, Orange City Gym Leader.
Kuze looked up.
"Hm? Who are these people, Tarumi? Reporters?"
"No, Senpai. These are gym challengers! Ah, only the one is though." Tarumi bashfully added as the trio approached the weary, career-conscious quarterback.
Kuze's weary eyes lit up and he slyly smiled.
"Oh? A challenger? I have enough energy left for that!"
Immediately he got up, energized.
At this point, Haruhi began to wonder if Tamaki could defeat such an energized man.
He was a quarterback no less, seasoned in strategy and training. Surely he had some sort of stoic, impressive ploy under his sleeve to-
"AGH! What the heck? Why are my hands sticky again? Seriously!"
Kuze flailed about, shaking his hands and arms as if the stickiness would go away that easily.
"Ah! Senpai, wait! Here, have an orange! They're relaxing!"
Tarumi came running up to the man with an armful of oranges.
"No wait! That's the reason Captain's hands get so sticky! I'll get a wet towel!" A man Haruhi recognized as a linebacker, one Makoto Tohgouin, yelled before dashing off into the gym.
The travelers stood where they were at, taking in the scene before them.
Haruhi seemed to be verifying her earlier theory that everyone in Ouran excluding her was mentally unstable.
Finally, after Tohgouin came back with a towel and Kuze angrily chomped away on an orange (rind and all), his confident smirk reappeared and he carried on to Tamaki as if nothing had happened.
"Alright! Are you ready to start?"
'Don't be asking us that when you yourself haven't been ready from the start!' Haruhi angrily yelled mentally, glaring at the man.
Tamaki nodded at Kuze and they arranged themselves outside, which appeared to be the field. Tarumi was the referee.
"Okay, this is a standard League battle for a gym badge between challenger Tamaki and Gym Leader Kuze! Each player is allowed three Pokémon- this is a three-round battle. The challenger may switch out numerous Pokémon, but the leader is not allowed to. Everyone ready?"
The opponents nodded.
"Begin!"
"Go, Tropius!"
"Go, Antoinette!"
No sooner than the Pokémon appeared on the field, Kuze ordered his first attack.
"Tropius, use razor leaf!"
"Antoinette, fire spin!"
The attacks collided and Antoinette burned away the leaves.
"Shoot. Backup plan, Tropius! Stomp that mutt!"
Tropius' large form galloped after Anoinette.
"Dodge, Antoinette!"
Tamaki yelled right as Antoinette was hit.
"You can do it! You're okay!"
"Good job, Tropius. Now use stomp again! Before it can recover!"
Tropius moved in for another attack but Antoinette dodged.
"Use ember!"
Before Tropius could move, Antoinette's ember reached it and caused some severe damage.
"Tropius!" Kuze yelled as his Pokémon fell to the ground.
"Quick, Antoinette! Fire spin!"
Before Tropius could move entirely out of the way, it was treated to a fire spin and knocked out cold.
"Tropius is unable to battle! Winner of Round One is Challenger Tamaki!"
Tamaki cheered as Kuze called back Tropius.
"Antoinette, can you still battle?"
The tired little Growlithe barked sharply.
"I'm guessing that's a yes, senpai." Haruhi said as well as focusing on the fact that she'd like to catch a Tropius.
It was very sweet smelling and had fruit. The only problem was how that would ever fit in her apartment…
"Alright, rookie, prepare for this! You're in, Sunflora!" Kuze yelled as a Sunflora appeared.
"Antoinette, you ready?"
The Growlithe strongly barked again.
"Alright, let's go- use tackle!"
"Sunflora- pound!"
As Antoinette charged at the flower Pokémon, it was immediately flung back by Sunflora's pound, its momentum building against it.
"Antoinette!" Tamaki cried.
"Antoinette is unable to battle! Winner of Round Two is Gym Leader Kuze-san!" Tarumi announced.
With Kuze winning that round, it was a tie.
Both trainers looked apprehensive and determined.
Tamaki bit his lip as he thought and Kuze focused on the field, his eyes occasionally darting here or there, sporadically following only the plays in his mind.
"Everyone ready?"
The two opposing trainers jolted back to the battle.
"Round three- begin!"
"Go, Politoed!"
On the sideline, Haruhi's eyes widened at Tamaki's choice.
She had been concerned ever since Antoinette had lost. All of Tamaki's remaining Pokémon were water-type or partial water-types, a type especially weak to grass-type Pokémon moves. However, she had figured on Tamaki now going for Psyduck, a partial water-type. Against a grass-type, it would stand more of a chance than a water-type Pokémon.
'Politoed? Why Politoed…?' Haruhi casually pondered as the two battling trainers began to issue attacks.
"Water gun, Politoed!"
"Pound, Sunflora!"
'Unless…'
A small light flicked on in Haruhi's mind. Her thought was only a theory, but it made sense.
"Politoed, quick, use water pulse!"
As Politoed did just that, Kuze took action.
"Sunflora, dodge and use razor leaf!"
"Water pulse again, Politoed!" Tamaki yelled, completely in the battle.
That part of him, the completely immersed, concentrated part, was what impressed Haruhi the most.
Tamaki came off as a rich, annoying dreamer but was actually quite smart. Haruhi didn't feel bad over misjudging him at first, as a dumb teen, that is, because she was certain that there were people before her and would be after who pegged Tamaki for that as well.
Politoed's attack hit Sunflora with such a force that it drove back the flying leaves and launched the Pokémon across the field, landing at the feet of Tarumi, barely in the field zone.
"Sunflora, end this quick- use razor leaf again!" Kuze ordered.
"Quick, Politoed, use swift!"
Sunflora tiredly got up and launched its attack determinedly. Likewise did Politoed. The attacks bypassed each other and hit their intended targets. At impact, both Pokémon fell to the ground, remaining there. All bystanders stared at them stupidly. Tarumi's eyes were wide with confusion. Both Pokémon were knocked out.
"Uh…um, well…Both Politoed and Sunflora are unable to battle! The third round will be redone! Winner of the next round wins the battle!" Tarumi announced a bit awkwardly.
Never before had a draw occurred in such a manner at the Orange City Gym. Both trainers called their Pokémon back.
'Now what Pokémon will Senpai use? Psyduck?' Haruhi wondered. 'I'm sure he used Politoed last round because, if I'm connecting the dots correctly, he's had that Pokémon longer than Psyduck or Totodile. He got Politoed from a PC box, so he must have trained it in his days in that other region. Politoed is probably one of his strongest Pokémon…' Thought Haruhi.
In a sudden burst of encouragement, Haruhi yelled,
"You can do it, Tamaki-senpai!"
Tamaki looked to his right and saw Haruhi's determined face. He smiled and nodded.
"Of course I can! These good looks aren't for nothing!"
Haruhi immediately deadpanned.
What did his looks have to do with anything?
"Everyone ready? Alright, begin!"
"It's all up to you, Psyduck!"
"Let's go, Grovyle!"
Kuze snapped his fingers and movement was seen from beneath the tree he had been originally sitting under when Tamaki and Haruhi came. The Grovyle instantly appeared on the field, a twig in its mouth like a toothpick.
"Psyduck, confuse ray!"
"Grovyle, agility!"
Within a blink, Grovyle disappeared from Psyduck's sight as it prepared for an attack.
"Psy…duck?" It asked, tilting its head in confusion.
"Psyduck, look out!" Tamaki yelled.
"Grovyle, use leaf blade!"
"PSY!" Psyduck cried out as he was not only slashed in the back but also flung across the field in the corner before Haruhi.
"C'mon, Psyduck!" She urged.
"Grovyle, bullet seed!"
"Quick, Psyduck! Use water gun!"
The two attacks cancelled each other out.
"Grovyle, use pound now!"
Haruhi looked over at Gym Leader Kuze and noticed that he grew more frustrated with each passing turn and missed or negated attack.
Tohgouin was hurriedly heading his way with an immense armful of oranges.
Meanwhile, back on the field, Psyduck jumped out of the way of Grovyle just in time.
"Good! Psyduck, use tackle now!"
The yellow Pokémon charged successfully into the green mascot.
"Now confusion!"
Grovyle was slammed to the ground.
"No, no, no! Grovyle- bullet seed!" Kuze quickly hissed before distressingly chomping into an orange.
Tamaki smiled brightly.
"Confusion, Psyduck!"
Haruhi had foreseen this once Kuze chose to launch a preferably long-ranged attack (very or more powerful at short-range as well) at the relatively close target. Grovyle could have approached Psyduck within three strides, excluding its immense speed. Now, Grovyle's bullet seed floated motionlessly in the air.
Kuze seemed to have realized his mistake from the frozen, mid-chew look he had on his face.
"Send it back at him!" Tamaki ordered once more.
Psyduck drew the seeds far back into the sky and then gained momentum, chucking them like mini-comets at the startled, weary Pokémon.
Grovyle went down, sliding in the grass on his back.
There was silence.
"Grovyle is unable to battle! The winner is Challenger Tamaki!" Tarumi announced at last.
Tamaki grinned and ran to Psyduck.
"Great job! I can always count on you, friend. Now rest- you deserve it."
As Tamaki returned Psyduck, Kuze remained frozen in place, his teammates gathering around him.
"Senpai, are you alright?" Tarumi worriedly asked.
"Look, let's go find a Ludicolo, alright, Captain?" Tohgouin urgently suggested.
"Takeshi, are you really that sore over losing a battle even to a worthy opponent?"
The five outside turned to face the gym upon hearing the new, familiar voice.
"Kanan…!"
Finally, Kuze broke out of his frozen state yet seemed equally as startled as before.
The Pokémon Center nurse walked past Haruhi and Tamaki to Kuze.
"Really, you should be more becoming." She sighed. "As a gym leader you're to challenge the trainers, not completely beat them every time."
"Yeah, but…"
"I mean, this isn't football. Ah, you're such an idiot…" She trailed off, murmuring to herself almost.
Kuze looked shocked and offended.
"Wha- hey!"
Kanan smiled and turned to him.
"But you're my idiot."
She then hugged the gym leader, let go, and turned to face the drained faces of Tamaki and Haruhi, who had no idea what was going on.
"Oh, Takeshi-kun and I are dating. We're getting engaged when the time is right." Mitsuyama explained.
"So, in the Pokémon Center when you asked us if we were certain we wanted to leave for a battle…" Haruhi began, weakly smiling, her expression drained.
"Yep! I was just a bit worried about this idiot here. He had just defeated one of the strongest football teams after all. I knew he'd be tired. Also, he can be a bit of an impulsive hot-head, so finally I couldn't stand not knowing what was going on so I came here! Congratulations on your win, Tamaki-san."
"Thank you!" The teen gushed, apparently already at terms with the random relationship of the nurse and gym leader.
"Kuze, don't you have something to give him?"
A look of realization dawned on the quarterback's face.
"Ah, yes. Tohgouin."
The linebacker walked up to him, having retreated into the gym after Kanan arrived. He held a small blue metal box in his hands and upon reaching Kuze, opened it up. Kuze plucked something from within and the box was closed.
He then headed across the field to Tamaki.
He cleared his throat.
"Tamaki Suoh, in recognition of your victory here at the Orange City Gym in the defeat of myself, Orange City Gym Leader Takeshi Kuze, I award you with this League badge, the Attar Badge."
Kuze placed a small, orange pin-like badge shaped in the likeness of a Grovyle's head's side profile.
Tamaki looked at it and then faced Kuze once more, smiling.
"Thank you!"
Kuze nodded and began to walk back towards the gym.
"Shall we take your Pokémon to the Center to get fixed up?" Mitsuyama suggested.
Tamaki nodded.
"Sounds good."
"It's getting too late to travel anywhere, so how about you two stay the night in the Center's lodgings?"
"That'd be nice, thank you." Haruhi consented, beginning to walk towards the gym with Mitsuyama and Tamaki.
"Oh, hey, word of advice."
The trio looked up and saw Kuze, not moving and facing the door.
"There are a lot of tough trainers out there- I'd be careful if I were you. Also, if you continue down this path of obtaining all eight League badges, then you need to be aware of the evil that awaits you."
"Evil?" Haruhi asked.
"There's one gym leader amongst us who is more despicable, cruel, underhanded, and diabolical than anyone you've ever met!" Kuze ended up proclaiming in a loud voice. "He's demonic! Aaahh…I still shiver when I think of him…!"
The color in Tamaki's face began to vanish.
"Okay, I can't tell you too much, but you need to be careful. You won't encounter him for a while yet, no, he's far too strong for you as you are now. But be warned! Facing him is like challenging the devil himself!"
With those words of caution, Kuze stomped into the gym.
The trio outside looked at each other with curiosity and interest.
Tamaki was pale and gave Haruhi a look of apprehension.
The girl looked back at the gym.
What was Kuze trying to say?
Next time: Our heroes leave Orange City with one more badge under Tamaki's belt and a new warning stuck in Haruhi's head! What gym shall they head to next? And are they getting into more trouble AGAIN? Why most certainly! See you next time!
By the way, I really enjoyed writing this chapter!
The drama of this chapter is just something I can see the actual Host Club getting involved in.
Also, as I was typing this I realized a few chapters ago (Haninozuka Dilemma and Brawl), I kept misspelling "Politoed." Maybe that doesn't bother you, but it does me! I'll try to fix that. Also, I'm trying to keep track of what moves each Pokémon has but I might mess it up, so please bear with me on that.
::Pokedex Entries::
-Charizard: Charizard flies around the sky in search of powerful opponents. It breathes fire of such great heat that it melts anything. However, it never turns its fiery breath on any opponent weaker than itself (Ruby/ Sapphire).
-Grovyle: This Pokémon adeptly flies from branch to branch in trees. In a forest, no Pokémon can ever hope to catch a fleeing Grovyle however fast they may be (Sapphire).
-Tropius: The bunches of fruit around Tropius's neck are very popular with children. This Pokémon loves fruit, and eats it continuously. Apparently, its love for fruit resulted in its own outgrowth of fruit. (Ruby)
-Sunflora: Sunflora convert solar energy into nutrition. They are highly active in the warm daytime but suddenly stop moving as soon as the sun sets. (Emerald)
Thanks for reading! You're awesome!
Got any comments or advice (flames fit in the latter- constructive criticism is more appreciated, though)? I'm all ears! See you later!
Last Note: Hm, funny, I've been seeing A LOT of hits for this! Sooo...as stated above, even if you hate this, I'd kind of like to know why! So regardless of what exactly you have to say, I'd love your feedback! OK, that was my last quip. Farewell for real this time!