Chapter 30

Painful Stories

The second round went about the same as the first, with the exception of a field switch. At the beginning of the match the referee hit a button and changed the now muddy and nasty grass field to a rocky boulder field.

Lance won in the first fight, advancing on to the semi final around. Number seven won over number five in the second match, and Travis won against number ten. My fight was a little challenging, however. It would have been a lot more challenging if it hadn't been for Bill though. Before the match I saw that the trainer had switched out his pokemon for mostly rock types, which would have put me at a great disadvantage if I hadn't known. But, since I did know, I was able to switch out for my Gyarados and Kabutops, which wiped the floor with him.

Travis had been acting weird all day, but as our battle grew closer and closer, he started to act more strange. Bill and I were very uncomfortable with his choice of topics.

"Yeah, I love it when they're on top." He said, insinuating crude topics. "But the best I ever had was this littl' ol' girl in Sinnoh."

Sinnoh? I looked at him strangely.

"Yep. She was gooood. We dids' it right behind the pokemart, in the alley way."

"Gosh, you're disgusting." I sighed.

"Hey, but she wasn't half as pretty as that one girl I got my eye on." He then lifted up his finger and winked at me. "Blonde haired, blue eyed beauty!"

I felt my heart tug as he said this. I don't know why, but, it reminded me of Shonna. I know that there are thousands of girls out there with blonde hair and blue eyes, but still…

"Yep." Travis kicked back as Lance used his Dragonite to take down number seven's Rhydon. "That's the same girl that said she'd go with me if'in I win." He then smiled a sneaky smile as he looked over at me. "Go with me all the way, that is."

I didn't say anything, just shook my head.

"That's it!" The announcer called out. "The trainer number one, also known as Lance, has made it to the final match of the semifinal League Championship! Next up will be trainer number twelve, known as Travis, and trainer number sixteen, Kyle. Please, make your way to your stage at this time!"

I stood up, grabbing my bag as I began to walk. Pichu jumped on my shoulder.

"Hey!" Bill said, pulling on my jacket. "Good luck out there."

"Yeah, city boy!" Travis said wrapping his arm around me. "You're gonna need it."

"As if." I brushed him off as I walked down the row.

When we got to the end of the row he ran up to me, wrapping his arm around me again. "You know, I didn't get done telling you about my littl' lady."

I didn't respond. I was tired of hearing about it, and hoped he might drop it if ignored.

"Well, the best part of it is, she works at a daycare center."

I stopped walking as I felt my heart sink. I could feel my face turn white, almost like I had seen a ghost.

"Yep, over in Solaceon Town she worked in this daycare ran by these two old geezers. And one day, all the pokemon got sick."

"Why would I care?" I said, trying to hide how scared I was. Shonna? Is he talking about Shonna? My Shonna?

"Well, after they got sick we had to go on a trip, her riding her blue Rapidash, and me on my red one."

Blue… Rapidash? My eyes grew wide. There's no way… no way at all… no, its not possible.

"Yep, it was on that day that she confessed her undying love to me. We were trapped in this cave, a blizzard going on outside, the cave entrance was covered up in snow, and then it happened. She told me that if I win the pokemon league that she would go all the way with me." I felt my hand clinch in a fist as Travis took his arm off of my shoulders. He reached for his back pocket, pulling out a picture. "And right after that we got the medicine and came back to her place. This was a picture that the old man took of us." I hesitantly looked at the picture, and sure enough, there she was. Shonna, standing there, hugging Travis close and pushing her breast up on his chest. Travis's arm was wrapped around Shonna, draping down and brushing up on her the same way that he was doing to the girl that sat beside him in the stands.

My fist was clinched so tight that a vein was standing up. My teeth grinded together as Travis patted me on the back.

"Well, city boy, I'll see you on the field." He then took off, leaving me standing there.

"That little tramp… " I spoke to myself, grinding my teeth so hard that my entire face was shaking. I gave her everything she could ever ask for. I treated her like gold! I cried my eyes out for six months with out sleep over her! She left me, left me on the docks for over twenty-four hours. And now, now she falls for the first country bumpkin that waltzes in to her town? All that idiot wants to do with her is bang her and leave her. What the heck was she thinking? We were perfect together!

I punched my fist into a nearby door, causing the metal casing to dent around my fist. This made Pichu jump as he ran and hid in my book bag.

I grinded my teeth, huffing and puffing air through my nose. "RRAAAAA!" I screamed, pulling my fist back and punching the door again and again. "He's dead! I'll burn his freakin' face off!"

***_-Scene Change-_***

"There is only three minutes left before the match starts!" The announcer called out. "Please, contestant number 16, make your way to the stage before you are disqualified!"

"Hmm." Travis smiled as he lowered his hat. "Maybe I made him a little too mad. Still, I don't see what Shonna sees in a little city boy like him. Heck, he doesn't even look as good as I do." He then turned his head up to the audience, waving at some girls as they cheered.

"Two minutes!" The announcer called out.

"Come on!" Travis yelled. "Just give the battle to me, he's obviously not going to show!"

"Don't count on it!" I screamed, walking up the stairs to my side. I heard the crowd scream and cheer, but there was no sight of cheeriness on my face. I had my mind set on something, and I wasn't going to stop until it happened.

"In a show of truly being 'Fashionably Late' the Pokemon Master Kyle Gray has made it to his stage with only one minute and thirty seconds to spare." The announcer called out as he began to go over the rules. I wasn't paying attention to that though. My eyes were set on Travis. I watched him take out the picture and kiss it as he put it back in his pocket.

"Yeah, be happy while you can, Travis." I spoke under my breath. "Because they're going to have to make a new term for what I'm going to do to you. Something a lot worse than third degree burns."

"Trainer twelve, Travis, you have the first move!"

I saw him smile as he threw out his first pokeball. In a red light I saw a Fearow flutter and fly in the air.

"Oh! It's a Fearow!" The announcer said. "I wonder what pokemon the challenger will use now?"

I stared at him stone-faced as I narrowed my eye brows. This guy is going to pay. I thought, taking off the pokeball from my necklace. I'll make him pay for placing even one hand on Shonna. I threw out the pokeball, and there on the rocky field stood Arcanine. He stood strong, popping his neck and shoulders as he stretched.

"Amazing!" The announcer said. "This is Kyle's famous Arcanine! We have yet to see this pokemon in battle this year, Kyle must really be fired up for this fight!"

"Fearow!" Travis screamed. "Agility!" The bird took off and flew around in circles in the air. It was slow, very slow. I was able to see the bird with my eyesight, so I knew that Arcanine could as well.

"What's this? The challenger isn't making a move?" The announcer asked.

"Well if you won't, then I will!" Travis screamed. "Fearow! Drill Peck!"

I saw the Fearow take up high into the sky, then turn over and go into a nosedive right at Arcanine. It began to spin and turn, causing a miniature tornado to appear at its beak. I allowed it to get closer before I called out the command. "Bite!" I screamed. With that Arcanine side stepped the bird's attack and latched down on its spinning head. The Fearow began to flap violently, trying to get free but couldn't.

"Now!" I said. "Flamethrower!" I watched as Arcanine gave the bird a little bit of fire to the face, burning some of the feathers off until it stopped moving. I felt a vein raise up on my forehead as I clinched my fist together. "I said, FLAMETHROWER!"

"Ar!" Arcanine winced, then let out his biggest Flamethrower attack he had. The flames shot out of his mouth, completely covering the Fearow as it screamed out in pain. The flames then circled around the arena, causing some of the rocks to break under the heat. The flames flew so far that they hit the stage walls, causing some of the audience to move back a few rows away from the heat. When the attack was done Arcanine dropped the burnt bird to the ground. All of the feathers were gone, leaving only a brown layer of cooked skin.

I raised my head up, looking at Travis as he recalled his Fearow, shaking as he looked at my Arcanine.

"I… Um…" The announcer said. "Well, that certainly was… a hot battle!"

I saw Travis try to calm himself as he took off a pokeball from his belt. He threw it out, letting his Feraligator on the field.

"Oh my folks, it's a Feraligator! Will this pokemon stop Kyle's Arcanine in its tracks?"

"Hydro Pump!" Travis screamed.

"Flamethrower!"

The two attacks hit at the same time. Though the effects of water would win over fire in most situations, the low level of the Feraligator did little damage as opposed to Arcanine. When the flames and water met, they erupted into a mass of steam and fog, which engulfed the center of the field, and the two pokemon.

"Flamethrower!" I called out, watching as some of the fog lit up a bright red. In the light I saw a shadow, and then heard a cry. The Feraligator was hit by the attack, crying out in pain.

"Now!" I screamed. "Extreme Speed!" In a split second the Feraligator was thrown out of the fog by the force of the attack. It flew into the wall, cracking it on impact as it struggled to stand.

"Flamethrower again!" Flames shot out of the fog, but Feraligator dodged just in time.

"Hydro Pump where the flames came from!" Travis said.

I waited for the Feraligator to open its mouth, and then yelled an attack. "Extreme Speed!"

The water geyser shot out of Feraligator, shooting straight into the fog, but from the side Arcanine appeared, ramming into Feraligator again and slamming him into another wall. This wall cracked as well, and Feraligator was then knocked out.

"Unbelievable!" The announcer called out. "Arcanine, the fire type dog has taken down both a Flying type and a Water type without taking one hit! What a show! I wonder what the next pokemon choice will be?"

"Well how 'bout this!" Travis screamed to me as he threw out another pokeball. "Fightin' fire with fire!" The ball flew into the fog. The fog began to glow a bright red as it lifted, showing his Rapidash shaking its head as its fiery mane rose up from its back. "Now!" He called out. "Fire Spin!"

Rapidash began to blow flames as it ran around Arcanine, making a ring of fire around him decrease size and got closer to him by the second. "That idiot." I scolded. The flames did reach Arcanine eventually, but had no effect on him. He stood there, in the fire, not moving or wincing as the flames grew more and more.

"What?" Travis screamed. "Flamethrower!"

Rapidash let out a stream of fire that only added to the flames. Arcanine still stood there. His claws extended in the fire, muscles tensed up, and his upper lip curled as he began to snarl.

Travis looked at my Arcanine with shock. "How's this possible?"

"Flash Fire Ability!" I screamed back to him. "With every fire attack Arcanine's power doubles." I saw his face turn to fear as I issued an attack. "Extreme Speed!" Arcanine took off fast, fire still covering his body as he struck Rapidash hard, throwing it against the wall just like he did with Feraligator.

Rapidash whinnied, shaking its head as it stood. "Fine then! Use bounce!" Rapidash rose up on its hind legs, slamming its feet on the ground as it threw itself high up in the air.

"Heat Wave!" I screamed as Rapidash started to descend. Arcanine let out a roar as he began to began to radiate heat from his body, forming a protective dome of fire in a three foot radius around him. Rapidash fell down, slamming it's hooves into the dome, but not through it. Rapidash fell off the shield, losing its balance as it fell to the ground on its side. "Now!" I called out as Arcanine bit down hard on the horse's neck. It cried out in pain as Arcanine put one paw on its head, shoving it into the dirt as he bit down harder. "Flamethrower!" Just like Fearow, Rapidash was caught in a mass of flames. It cried out in pain, kicked and struggled to get free, but then fell limp as it was knocked out. Arcanine raised his head up, backing away from the horse as Travis recalled it.

"I don't believe it!" The announcer said. "Three pokemon with just his first choice! And that Arcanine doesn't look tired in the least bit! Is there anything that can take it down?"

It was true, Arcanine wasn't tired at all. In fact, I am sure that Arcanine could have took down every pokemon that was sent out today, but right now I can tell he's not enjoying it. He knows he is strong, but burning the pokemon within an inch of their life isn't what he wants. I gritted my teeth as I saw Travis throw out another pokemon. "But you know what? It's what I want. That guy is going to pay."

"Oh my folks!" The announcer bellowed. "It looks like Travis as chosen his Ampharos. This mighty electric type as pulled him out of some hairy situations over the past two days, I wonder if it will be enough to take down the mighty Arcanine?"

"Thunder!" Travis yelled. The sheep began to charge up as dark clouds rolled overhead. It pulled its little arms close to its body and then thrust them outward.

"Extreme Speed!" I saw a bolt of lighting shoot from the sky as Arcanine dodged in the last second. The ground sizzled as the bolt hit a rock, shattering it.

"Again!" Travis called out, and again Ampharos used Thunder, missing. "Fine! Forget this! Use Power Gem!"

Power Gem? Never heard of that one. The little sheep got down on all fours, shoving its front paws into the ground and making little chunks of rocks float up around it with its built up electricity. The rocks sparked and fizzled as they turned into sharp gems that glistened in the light and shone through the dark clouds.

"AMPH!" It screamed, releasing the rocks at Arcanine.

Crap, it's a rock type move! "Arcanine, Flamethower!"

Arcanine shot out a stream of fire, that melted most of the rocks, but a few were still able to get past it. The rocks hit Arcanine, causing him damage, but nothing like the damage he had dealt out to the other pokemon.

"Again!" Travis called.

Ampharos once again powered up and rocks began to float in the air. "Dig!" I screamed. As the sheep released the rocks Arcanine began to dig frantically, and in a split second, he disappeared under the rocky field.

"Astonishing!" The announcer spoke. "I have never seen a pokemon dig that fast, especially on a rock field!"

Ampharos looked around confused. The rocks had passed right over where Arcanine was, but now he was nowhere to be found. Travis and his pokemon scanned the area, but nothing was there. Not one stone moved, not one pebble fell. It was silent. After a few seconds, however, that silence was broke. Arcanine shoved his head out of the ground under Ampharos, grabbing it by the leg and dragging it down under the ground with him. The sheep called out in pain as flames shot out of both sides of the hole. When the flames died, Arcanine jumped out, holding the knocked out Ampharos in his mouth. He kneeled down, lowering the sheep to the ground as he dropped it. Ampharos was recalled shortly after.

"This has been a match for preliminary history!" The announcer called. "Very rarely do we see just one pokemon take down three, but this Arcanine has taken down four! There has only been one pokemon in the history of this region's preliminaries to take down five, I wonder if this fired up pooch can match it?"

I saw Travis reach for another pokeball and smile. I just looked at him, stone-faced, not moving from my gaze as he threw out a Sandslash. The mole creature looked around at the rocks, observing its arena as Travis made his move.

"Earthquake!"

"Jump!" I screamed.

Arcanine took off with Extreme Speed, running over to a rock as Sandslash lifted its foot and slammed it into the ground. The ground shook, and cracks started to form in all directions. Arcanine ran to the rock and jumped in the air, as the rock crumbled beneath him. Since Earthquake is a ground type move it won't affect pokemon that are off the ground.The attack was over almost as soon as it began. Arcanine landed beside the mole, huffing and blowing embers out of his nose.

"San!" The ground type jumped, surprised by the sudden appearance of Arcanine.

"Throw it in the air!" I screamed. Arcanined bit down on Sandslash's claw, picking it up by it.

"Slash!" Travis called out.

Right before Arcanine threw it, Sandslash raised up it's free hand, cutting Arcanine deep in the face and causing blood to drip on the field. Arcanine tossed his head, throwing the mole high into the sky.

"Flamethrower!" I ordered.

"Gyro Ball!" Travis commanded.

The two pokemon both released the attacks. Arcanine opened his mouth, letting out another massive Flamethrower, which shot out in great force. Sandslash pushed its claws together as it flew in the air. It concentrated, forming a ball of steel between its hands as it threw it at Arcanine. The ball twisted and turned, spinning right past the Flamethrower attack and smacking Arcanine in the side like a curve ball. The Flamethrower hit its target, knocking Sandslash out cold as it fell to the ground.

Arcanine winced from the pain of the steel ball that lodged itself in his side. He looked down, seeing blood seeping out on the rocky ground. I watched him shut his eyes, and let out a roar. Suddenly a heat wave attack came out from his body, pushing the steel ball out with it as it hit the ground. His injury healed, and he stood up strong, ready for more.

"Absolutely astonishing!" The announcer called out as Travis recalled his Sandslash. "Kyle's Arcanine has taken down five pokemon with only minimal damage! Will history be made today, having Arcanine been the first pokemon in this league to defeat all six pokemon in one go? The next pokemon choice will decide!"

"Go! Tauros!" Travis threw out his next pokeball, his last one left to fight.

"Taur!" The bull snorted, blowing air out of its nose as it scraped its hoove on the ground. Dust flew in the air behind it as it glared at Arcanine, who was huffing and taking deep breaths from his loss of energy.

"It looks like this battle will be kept on the ground!" The announcer said. "Will the mighty Arcanine be able to stand up to the rampaging power of this Tauros? Only time will tell!"

I looked down to Arcanine, huffing and puffing. He's in pain. I know he can win. He's strong, and still has enough energy to beat that bull. I looked up at Travis, who was gritting his teeth in anger.

"Arcanine." I said, looking down as he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, still keeping Tauros in his vision. "It's up to you, bud. What will it be?" I then spun a pokeball out of my hand and up on my finger. "Come back or stay in?"

"Arf…" He snorted, blowing embers on the ground.

"Hmm." I smiled. "That's my boy." I tossed the ball in the air, swinging my arm and catching it as it fell. "Now!" I screamed. "Extreme Speed!"

"Brace yourself!" Travis commanded.

Arcanine took off like a bullet, crashing into the bull as it pushed its hooves in the ground. The ground crumbled and cracked with the impact, pushing Tauros back. "Taurr!" It called out, thrusting its horns, trying to stab Arcanine, who jumped back to avoid the attack.

"Nice Horn Attack!" Travis said. "Now, give it a toss!"

"Tau!" Tauros scraped its hoove on the ground, taking off after Arcanine.

"Dodge!" I said, and with ease, Arcanine did. The bull ran around the stadium, trying its hardest to get Arcanine, but he was just too fast for it.

"Argg…" Travis snarled. "Keep after it! Seismic Toss!"

It wasn't long before this constant dodging got old for both me and Arcanine. He looked up to me, bored and ready to end this. "Fine." I waved my hand. "Arcanine, Flare Blitz."

Arcanine put his front paws down, sliding to a stop as he turned to look at the rampaging bull. "Arrrrrr!" He roared, covering his body in a mass of flames. He took off, using Extreme Speed to ram into the bull head-on. The flames on his body exploded into an inferno when the two collided. The flames rose into the air, as well as smoke. It was impossible to see what was going on in the middle of the fire, but what I did see surprised me. As the flames died down, a form flew into the air, covered in fire. The flames left its body, and I saw that it was Arcanine. He was thrown straight up, into the sky and above the stage by Tauros's Seismic Toss. When Arcanine's flames died out around him, the ones on the ground did as well, and I could see the bull, badly burnt, standing there ready to fall.

"Now!" I screamed with all my might. "Arcanine! Now!"

As Arcanine began to slow down, and then began to free fall is when his eyes opened. He opened his mouth as he began to fall. Flames covered his body once again as he began to build up a Fire Blast Attack. He fell fast, and as he approached the ground he took aim. Tauros was huffing, not moving, and already out of the game.

Like a glistening light, the fire attack shot out. The flames struck down, hitting the bull and knocking it out instantly. But then the attack was quickly relocated, as Arcanine shot it straight down under him. The powerful attack struck the ground and gave him enough recoil to slow down his trajectory, making him land almost like how a spaceship would.

When the smoke settled, the announcer called out the final words. "That's it! He did it! Kyle Gray has won and will be facing off with Lance in the finals!" He yelled as the crowed cheered. "And that Arcanine has made it into the history books of Johto as being the first pokemon to solo win a semi final match! What a day! What a battle! I have never seen such amazing moves! This is a day to remember folks! This is a great day in the world of pokemon leagues!"

The podiums lowered as we both recalled our pokemon. Even though I had already won, I smeared him into the ground, and burnt all of his pokemon, I don't know if I can control myself. That… that… pig! With my Shonna!

We began to walk closer to one another, closing the gap between us on the field. "Well," He laughed. "Looks like I won't be getting that sweet pussy after all."

I felt my eye twitch as I reacted. My fist clinched as I slugged him right in the face, slamming him to the ground. The crowd went quiet as the ref blew the whistle. He ran up to me, holding me back as Travis began to stand again.

"Travis." The ref said. "Rules state that harming an opponent will be an automatic disqualification. I will notify the announcer that you will be advancing on in place of Mr. Gray."

Travis looked at me as he stood up, wiping blood from his nose and mouth. "Nah. Don't worry about it."

"What?" The ref said.

"You heard me." Travis spat. "He won, and I deserved it."

I looked at him shocked as he kept talking.

"Where I come from people get what they deserved, and I deserved every bit of that." He then walked up to me, and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry." He then smiled as more blood poured down his face. "Shonna never wanted to have anything to do with me. I lied, I made it all up, only to get you mad. I thought if I got you mad enough it would throw your guard off, but the truth is you are just too good." He then backed away. "I don't know what Shonna sees in you, but I know that you would fight for her 'til the very end. Like I said, she never would have anything to do with me, and trust me, I tried all the time. She said she was waiting on this pokemon master, the one she left to come and get her."

My eyes grew wide as I listened to this, but then narrowed as I began to process it. "You're lying. I don't believe you."

"Believe what you want to." He waved his hand. "But, I want you to know there is this pretty little lady waiting on you in Sinnoh." He then turned and began to walk away. "I'll see you in the funny papers, city boy."

Once Travis was out of sight the ref let me go. I took off, running into the area that Travis went into. I ran into the hallway, looking down then left, then right, but, no one was there. I took in a deep breath as I slid my back down a wall, and sat on the floor. "Shonna's not waiting on me. Why would she be waiting on me? She is the one that left me, I didn't leave her. She is the one that broke my heart, I didn't break hers. So, why?" I then looked up to the florescent lighting over the hall. "The better question is, why do I still care?"