The unbeaten Trainer Luther challenges you!
Have a chance to face the glorious Luther in battle!
78 wins in a row and counting!
"Who does this guy think he is," asked Zoe, gazing up at the newly painted sign.
"Whoever he is, I'm ready to end his winning streak!" Grinned Nate.
"Mac? You going to take him on?" Asked Zoe, flicking her hair out of her eyes.
"Not today, I need to catch another pokemon for the Celadon contest, remember?" replied Mac, beginning to walk away from the other two trainers.
"No!" Shrieked Zoe, dragging Mac back by the arm. "You've been looking for pokemon for days and days, take a break!" Zoe insisted.
"But…" Began Mac.
"Come on Mac! Lets end his streak three times over!"
Unable to pull himself out of Zoe's vice like grip, Mac found himself being dragged into the tall, white building.
Inside was unnaturally cool and pitch black.
"Luther?" Nate called out, uncertainly.
"Is anyone here?" Yelled Zoe.
Their voices echoed around the room, chasing one another across the corners.
Suddenly strip lights burst into action, blinding the three trainers. As their eyes accustomed to the light, they found themselves on an enormous battlefield, littered with enormous boulders and seats around the edge for watching. A counter displaying: 78 wins in a row, hung high on the eastern wall.
"Presenting the brilliant, unbeaten trainer, LUTHER!" Screamed an announcement over the intercom. The double doors at the end of the field burst open to reveal…
A short, fat man, with long lank hair. He was wearing a leather jacket and a tight T-shirt, which was unable to cover his paunch. He grinned, flashing a number of gold teeth, then scratched his behind as he marched over to the bemused trainers.
"Alright, so who wants to fight the incredible LUTHER!" Roared Luther, so loudly that even Zoe had to cover her ears.
"Um, us three want to fight you," explained Nate.
"VERY WELL!" He shouted once more, causing Mac to grimace.
"Who's first?"
"I'll take you on first!" Announced Nate, walking across to the challenger's box. Meanwhile Zoe and Mac took their seats on the bench.
"It will be a one on one battle, choose your pokemon!" Shouted Luther, throwing out a poke ball.
"I choose Hariyama!" A large beige human-shaped pokemon appeared with huge hands. It slashed through the air with its hands angrily.
"Ok, Buizel, lets do this!" Buizel appeared, standing on its nose, its legs flailing in the air.
"Buizel, take this seriously!" Groaned Nate. Buizel giggled before flipping back onto its feet and preparing for battle.
"Hariyama, use arm thrust!" Hariyama charged at Buizel, pumping its hands back and forth.
"Buizel, swift!" Buizel jumped into the air and sent a line of stars spiralling into Hariyama.
However Hariyama did not stop. It continued on, slamming into Buizel and throwing it across the field.
"Come on Nate you can do it!" Yelled Zoe.
"Come on Buizel!" Chanted Mac.
"Buizel, use razor wind!" Buizel let out line after line of shimmering energy straight towards Hariyama. But Luther did not attempt to dodge or counter.
"Take the hit Hariyama." Hariyama stood resolutely as the razor wind thundered into it. "Now, seismic toss!"
Hariyama wrapped its arms around Buizel and launched them both into the air.
"Buizel, try and escape! Uh… Water Gun!" Buizel opened its mouth and let out a burst of water, straight into Hariyama's chest. However Hariyama continued to cling on tight to Buizel, turning vertically in mid air.
"Buizel, no!" Hariyama slammed Buizel into the ground, leaving it looking battered and broken.
"Buizel, can you get up?" Asked a worried Nate. Buizel struggled back onto its feet, its joking attitude now completely gone.
"Hariyama, Belly Drum!" Hariyama crashed its enormous hands into its stomach emitting a booming sound, which echoed around the high-ceilinged wall.
"Nate, look out! Hariyama's attack will be at maximum strength now!" Yelled Mac, from the bench.
"Yes, but that Belly drum will have lowered Hariyama's health," muttered Nate. "Buizel, Aqua Jet, now!" Buizel immersed itself in water and shot forwards towards Hariyama.
"Hariyama, finish this with focus punch!" Demanded Luther. Hariyama drew its hand back and it began to glow.
"Buizel, NO!" Wailed Nate.
Hariyama slammed its fist into Buizel, throwing it backwards across the ground. It landed with a soft thud, just in front of Nate.
"CONGRATULATIONS LUTHER!" Screamed the intercom. "79 wins in a row!"
"Buizel, return!" Nate said reluctantly, "Thanks a lot, you did great."
"Hariyama return," said Luther, "That took you a long time," he sneered at the poke ball.
"Alright which one of you losers is next?" Giggled Luther, his fat belly wobbling.
"I'll give it a shot," said Mac slowly, he had heard what Luther said to his Hariyama and was sure that he did not like this opponent.
"Ivysaur, lets go!" Mac cried, unleashing his new evolved starter.
"hmmm, Cranidos, come on out!" Luther unleashed a small bipedal rock pokemon with a blue skull plate.
"Ok Cranidos, lets make it to 80 wins!"
"You can do it Mac," yelled Nate, glaring angrily at Luther.
"Ok, start things off with razor leaf!"
"Cranidos, take the hit!"
Zoe gasped as Cranidos remained where it was and took the flurry of leaves. "But grass is super effective against rock types," She muttered. "That guy sure has an interesting strategy."
"Now, Cranidos take down!" Ordered Luther, his beady eyes stuck on Ivysaur.
Cranidos pounded across the field towards Ivysaur, head lowered like a battering ram.
"Ivysaur, dodge it!" Ivysaur darted out of the way at the last moment, leaving Cranidos to skid to a halt.
"WHAT! Cranidos you idiot! Use take down again!" Demanded Luther.
"Ivysaur, keep dodging!" Cried Mac. The seed pokemon hopped once more out of the way, much faster than the lumbering Cranidos.
"Ivysaur, vine whip!" Ivysaur unfurled its long green vines and slapped them at Cranidos, throwing it backwards onto the floor.
"I think I understand…" said Zoe quietly, "Luther's pokemon have high defence so he lets them take all the hits, because he knows they can survive it. Then he relies on strong offence to defeat his tired opponents. The only thing he doesn't have is speed."
"Cranidos, get back up!" Barked Luther. "Now, rock tomb!" Mac gasped as rocks shot from the floor. Ivysaur became trapped between two and unable to move.
"Ivysaur, you have to break free!" Yelled Mac.
"Cranidos, go for another take down!"
Cranidos slammed into Ivysaur, smashing through the rocks and throwing it across the ground.
"Now, finish it with Zen head butt!"
Cranidos's skull plate began to glow with a strange pulsing light. It slammed its skull into Ivysaur, sending it skidding across the floor and slamming it into a wall.
"CONGRATULATIONS LUTHER!" Screamed the recorded message. "80 wins in a row!"
"Nice try loser!" Jeered Luther, returning his Cranidos. "Now, little lady, time for you to lose as well!"
"No way, I got you pegged!" She giggled, "Poochyena, come give me a hand!"
Zoe unleashed the little black dog pokemon, it remained silent, blinking slowly.
"Poochyena hasn't fought in a proper battle before," murmured Nate.
"Yeh, but Zoe seems pretty confident," replied Mac.
"Alright meet my new warrior Sandslash!" Yelled Luther, throwing out a third poke ball. A small yellow mouse-like pokemon appeared. It had dark brown scales on its back and long claws.
"Wow, I wonder if Zoe can win it?" Whispered Nate.
There was silence as Zoe and Luther eyed one another.
"Ok Poochyena, sand attack lets go!" Poochyena dug its heels into the ground sending up a wave of sand into Sandslash.
"You see Luther, I know you can take on any frontal assault easily. But I have a feeling that defensive attacks may provide you with a bit more of a problem," Grinned Zoe.
"Sandslash, use focus punch!" Sandslash swung its fist at Poochyena, but connected with thin air, it's aiming off due to sand in its eyes.
"Poochyena, while he's stumbling, take down!"
Poochyena slammed into Sandslash, sending it rolling back across the ground.
"Nice one Zoe!" Yelled Nate.
"Don't celebrate yet! Sandslash turn that fall into a rapid spin!" Commanded Luther.
Sandslash continued to roll backwards, faster and faster. Suddenly it twisted low to the ground and returned back towards Poochyena.
"I know that Sandslash is going to be a hard-hitter. So I guess I'll get out of the way. Poochyena, dig!" Cried Zoe.
"That's a good strategy," conceded Luther, "but not good enough. Sandslash, dig!"
Zoe gasped as Sandslash, still spinning, burrowed underground.
"Poochyena, be careful!" She warned.
Suddenly a squeal erupted from under the ground and a small black dog came flying out onto the battlefield.
"Poochyena!" Zoe squealed.
"Ha, I told you I'm unbeatable!" Laughed Luther.
"I can beat you!" Stated Zoe. "Poochyena get back up!"
Poochyena struggled to its feet, its whole body shaking.
"I'm not done yet!" Giggled Luther.
Unexpectedly Sandslash burst out of the hole just in front of Poochyena slamming its claws into its stomach.
"Why don't you just give up!" Guffawed Luther.
"Never!" Yelled Zoe, "come on Poochyena, I believe in you!"
Poochyena began to glow steadily. All four trainers gasped as Poochyena's body began to shimmer.
"It's… evolving…" whispered Luther.
The white figure grew larger, its tail grew longer.
Suddenly the light faded leaving a ferocious looking wolf with blood red eyes and vicious sharp fangs.
"Awesome, a Mightyena!" Squealed Zoe. "Now Mightyena go for a take down!"
The enormous wolf bounded across the field towards Sandslash, taking huge leaping strides.
"Sandslash, defence curl!" Zoe was surprised as Sandslash curled into a tight ball, showing only its scales.
"You see Zoe, my pokemon do know defensive moves, just in case." He smirked.
Mightyena skidded to a halt as though confused about what to do. Then it leaned back on its haunches and charged up a swirling purple ball of energy.
"Mightyena, you learnt shadow ball? That's great! Mightyena use Shadow ball!" Mightyena unleashed the sphere straight at Sandslash. It hit so hard that it threw Sandslash from its protective stance.
"Sandslash, what are you doing?" Shrieked Luther. "When I tell you to use defence curl, you do it!" He roared, "Now go use fury swipes!"
Sandslash darted at Mightyena, hacking and slashing furiously.
"Mightyena, jump over him!"
Mightyena used its new, much longer, legs to leap over Sandslash, placing it in prime position for a counter.
"Now, take down!"
"SANDSLASH TURN AROUND YOU IDIOT!" Screamed Luther.
Mightyena charged into Sandslash's back, throwing it to the floor.
"ERROR: RESET!" Announced the intercom, "0 wins in a row!"
"Nice one Mightyena, you were awesome!" She screeched, hugging Mightyena tight while it licked her face.
"Sandslash you failed me!" roared Luther, looking down on Sandslash with pure hatred.
"NO!" Cried Mac, jumping to his feet. "Sandslash tried his best, you can't blame him!"
"His best wasn't good enough," sneered Luther. "I should never have caught you," he remarked.
"You're just bitter because you lost!" Yelled Nate.
"You can say whatever you want," Luther growled, "but I am done with this Sandslash."
Luther grabbed Sandslash's poke ball and hurled it out of the building.
"Why did you do that?" Asked Zoe, but Luther was ignoring them.
"When I get back, you'd better be gone," he snarled at Sandslash, before marching off through the double doors.
Zoe, Nate and Mac were silent as they watched him slam the doors behind himself.
"What a sore loser," said Zoe, returning her Mightyena to its poke ball.
Sandslash sat despondently on the battlefield, not looking at anyone.
"Hey Sandslash," said Mac, pitying the poor abandoned pokemon. "Would you like to come along with me?"
Sandslash looked up questioningly as though it didn't believe Mac.
"Don't listen to Luther. Listen to me. You fought really well and I'd love to have you on my team." Grinned Mac.
Slowly, Sandslash rose to its feet and nodded. Before yelling its name happily.
"See Mac, I told you taking a break would be a good idea!" Giggled Zoe.
Mac grinned back at her, with a new pokemon on his team he was ready for Celadon and ready to win his second ribbon.