Disclaimer: Pokemon is by Satoshi Tajiri
Pokemon BW: Yin-Yang Quest
Mia and Taylor had finally arrived in Current Town and were taking a moment to look around before heading down the rest of Route 2. One of their stops happened to be the Battle Club and Mia was browsing the computers for an opponent to train with.
"Cheren!" Mia exclaimed with happiness.
"Che-what?" Taylor asked in confusion.
"Cheren, my rival!" she explained as she showed him the results screen. "Ever since we had our first battle in school, he and I have been at it in terms of who's the better strategist. We're also quite good intellectually; we're both at the top of our classes."
"Another bookworm," Taylor muttered in annoyance. "So why are you traveling with me instead of him? You two would be a good match."
"Beg your pardon?" she asked, offended. "Cheren and Bianca started their journeys a few days before me! Plus, you asked if you could come with me!"
"Okay, okay!" Taylor said, annoyed as Don George approached them. This Don had a blue belt and collar on his uniform.
"Leave anything battle related to me," the Don greeted. "Welcome to the Pokemon Battle Club! I'm the battle manager, Don George."
"Don George!" Taylor said. "Remember us?"
"No, I don't believe we've met," Don George answered.
"In Accumula Town's Battle Club, remember?" he asked.
"Ah, you must be talking about my brother," the man replied. He showed them a picture of many Don Georges, all of them identical. Mia soon made out the Accumula Town's Don George.
"I-identical septuplets?" Mia guessed in surprise.
"There are a few who are cousins," the Don replied.
"Anyway, was Cheren here?" she asked.
"Yes, he was. Why do you ask?"
"Can you call him? I would like to request a battle."
Don George complied and activated the Xtransciever built into the computer.
In a shop, a young man with blue eyes underneath glasses and short black hair with a lock sticking up was looking through some physics books. He wore a white shirt with a red Y-shaped design on the front over a blue coat, black pants, and blue shoes to go with his school uniform-esque motif. Upon closing the book, his Xtransciever rang, getting the attention of some customers.
"Apologies," he said simply before leaving the store. He looked at his Xtransciever. "The Battle Club?" he asked in surprise. He answered it. "Hello? Cheren speaking."
"Hello, Cheren. I was wondering if you can stop by the Battle Club again," Don George asked.
"It's been a while, Cheren!" Mia greeted as she came into the screen. "How've you been?"
"Mia," he replied with a smile. "I've be well. I see you're already on your journey judging by the Emolga on your shoulder."
"Yeah!" she replied. "Come on back over! We've – (Taylor, Momo, out of the way!) got a lot to catch up on!"
"E-mon!" Emolga said in agreement.
As soon as Cheren came into the main hall, he smiled upon seeing Mia wave to him. He walked to the duo. "So, how's your journey going?" Mia asked.
"If you must know, I've already done a fair amount," Cheren said. "I've already gotten two badges and six Pokemon."
"Definitely like you to get past the basics!" she commented. "I only have one badge and this guy coming along with me."
"Snubbed upon introduction," Taylor said calmly. "Anyway, you're Cheren, right? Name's Taylor. On my shoulder is Momo."
"Mo mo!" Momo greeted.
"Nice to meet you," Cheren greeted as he shook his hand. "Anyway, Mia, you called me because you wanted a battle, right?"
"That's right! I only have five Pokemon at the moment," Mia answered. Cheren shook his head, as if expecting better from her. "But…"
He looked up.
"I called you over to challenge you to a real game of strategy: a Triple battle!"
"Triple battle?" Taylor asked in confusion.
At the arena, Don George explained to Taylor what a Triple Battle is. Trainers send out three Pokemon at a time for them to battle each other. Placement of the Pokemon and moves used are important in a Triple battle, because where the Pokemon is placed determines where it will give and receive attacks.
"This will be a Triple battle. Only three Pokemon may be used and the winner will be determined when all three of a Trainer's Pokemon are unable to battle," Don George declared as the scoreboard changed to set the standings of the Triple battle. "In addition, Pokemon in position on the trainer's side can move to another side on the trainer's field."
"I advise you, Cheren, I'm a lot tougher than you think," Mia said. 'True, I tend to think outside the box, but he's got game as well,' she noted. 'Better be careful.'
"We'll see how the match goes," Cheren replied. 'I'm more pragmatic than her, but she attacks in ways normal trainers would find unexpected,' he judged. 'I need to be prepared.'
"Begin the match!" Don George declared.
"Servine, Liepard, Panpour!" Cheren called as he threw the Poke Balls. "Stand by for battle!"
When the Pokemon came out, Taylor looked up Liepard on his Pokedex. Servine has taken to the center, Liepard on left, and Panpour on the right.
"Liepard, the Cruel Pokemon, and the evolved form of Purrloin," the Dex explained. "These Pokémon vanish and appear unexpectedly. Many Trainers are drawn to their beautiful form and fur."
"He's already got a fully evolved Pokemon on his team," Mia said. She turned to Emolga. "Emolga, center position!"
Emolga ran onto the playing field. Mia took out two other Poke Balls.
"Pidove, take the right! Oshawott, flank left!" she commanded. Oshawott and Pidove took position as they came out. "Emolga, send an Electro Ball to Panpour!"
Body glowing with yellow sparks, Emolga charged up the ball above its tail. Curling into a ball, he spun and sent the ball to Panpour at a fast speed.
"Servine, Panpour, exchange!" Cheren commanded. The two Pokemon swapped sides, Servine taking the hit, but appearing as if it were unaffected. "Liepard, Torment Emolga!"
Liepard hissed at Emolga, sending a chill up his spine. 'Can't use Electro Ball again!' Mia thought.
"Panpour, Water Gun Oshawott! Servine, use Slam on it as well!" Cheren commanded.
Both Pokemon rushed for Pidove, Panpour squirting it down with Water Gun, and then Servine following it up with a strong smack of its tail. Pidove hung in there despite the hard hits she took.
"You ok, Pidove?" Mia asked.
"Pi, pi, pi, pi, pi!" Pidove affirmed as she shook off the hits.
'He probably thinks Pidove has Super Luck,' she guessed. 'Since it doubles the chance of critical hits, he's likely got every right to target her. This could mean bad luck for her.'
Mia soon realized that this could give her an edge. 'Or maybe it'll mean good luck for me! Yeah, force Servine and Panpour to switch!' she plotted. "Pidove, use Air Cutter!"
Crossing her wings, Pidove released the Air Cutter to Servine.
"Panpour, Servine, exchange!" Cheren commanded, realizing his query was right.
The two Pokemon swapped places, Panpour taking the hit.
"Exactly as planned!" Mia declared. "Emolga, use Aerial Ace on Servine!"
Emolga made a running jump into the air and glided for Servine. "Servine, use Cut! Take Emolga head on!" the other said.
Both of Servine's arms glowing light blue, it rushed in for Emolga. Emolga missed the first hit, but circled around Servine, who was ready to slice it.
"Ser-VINE!"
"E-GA!"
The resulting collision knocked them both out.
"Both Servine and Emolga are unable to battle," the Don judged.
"You fought well, Servine," Cheren congratulated. "Return."
"Excellent job, Emolga," Mia congratulated as she picked him up. "Take a rest."
"You took me by surprise and fooled me into thinking your Pidove had Super Luck and a move that can land a critical hit," Cheren complimented. "This is what makes me compete with you."
"You kept me on my toes as well," Mia replied. "With you, I can't hold back!"
She walked back. Panpour took Servine's place, while Oshawott took Emolga place. "But now the battle truly begins!" Mia said. "Oshawott, use Razor Shell on Liepard!"
"Slash back with Fury Swipes!" Cheren commanded.
"Nya-re!" Liepard yelled as it leapt to Oshawott, claws shining as Oshawott charged her shell. It and Oshawott began to slash away at each other furiously.
"Pidove, Quick Attack on Panpour!" Mia commanded.
Pidove soared back into the air and dove down, a silver trail behind it. She hit Panpour twice this time, knocking it out.
"It did have Super Luck!" Cheren realized.
"Panpour is unable to battle!" Don George declared.
After a major slashing match, Oshawott was able to break Liepard's Fury Swipes and knock it out with a sideswipe in back of it.
"Liepard is unable to battle!" Don George judged. "Oshawott and Pidove win. Therefore the match goes to Mia."
"Yes!" Mia cheered. Pidove perched on her arm while Oshawott went to her smiling. "Thanks, you two, you hung in there!"
"Return," Cheren said as he recalled the two Pokemon. Taylor smiled at them. "We just had a few setbacks today. Next time will be different."