Chapter 8:
"Begin!" the referee declares. We each grab a Poké Ball and launch it forward.
"Go, Magcargo," I call.
"Go, Ress," Rhianne says and an Electivire emerges from its ball.
Electivire doesn't seem like the sort of Pokémon that will be avoiding everything thrown at it. I hadn't seen it in Rhianne's first round battle. Perhaps I misjudged her team's strategy. Either way, I can work with the current match up. Rhianne doesn't look too concerned by it either, so this is how it will be.
"Magcargo, Will-o-Wisp," I order immediately.
Magcargo opens its mouth wide and purple flames stream out. As might have been expected, portions of the crowd begin to boo.
"Jump and use Thunder," Rhianne calls.
Electivire bends its knees and then launches itself into the air. The purple flames converge where Electivire had previously been. Electivire cries out and fires a large blast of electricity towards Magcargo. It strikes to the ground next to my Pokémon. A couple of sparks fly off to the sides and bounce off Magcargo's shell.
"Will-o-Wisp again," I order quickly.
Electivire has less chance to avoid as it lands and the flames scorch its body. The crowd doesn't like it, but I don't care. With Electivire afflicted by one of my status moves, I switch my attention to attacking and forcing it to move which should in turn make its accuracy worse.
"Earth Power!" I call to Magcargo.
Magcargo concentrates its strength into the ground and the battlefield begins to shake. Cracks start appearing and dust and rocks fly up at Electivire.
"Light Screen," Rhianne says sounding suddenly desperate.
Electivire raises its arms and mimes a wall. There is a flash of light in front of it as rocks pound against the invisible wall. The dust whipped up is diverted around Electivire and Rhianne quickly covers her mouth with an arm while rummaging in her satchel with her other hand. As the dust settles, she pulls out an inhaler and has to use it. I am suddenly thrown the question of what to do if Rhianne needs an inhaler. I know that plenty of my moves through the course of the battle could whip up dust. Using them could come across as trying to trigger whatever her exact condition is. I also have the issue of attacking while she uses the inhaler. She can't respond to counter. Would that be seen as unfair?
"Magcargo, Ancient Power," I say, having reached the conclusion that the crowd already hates me.
Magcargo's eyes glow and large rocks are ripped from the ground. They rise up and float in the air. Electivire panics and looks to its trainer as the rocks rain down on it. The Light Screen does little to protect it from a bombardment from all directions. Electivire screeches as the rocks pound its burns.
I look to my Battle Gear. Electivire is still far from finished. Rhianne is finished with her inhaler and now looks at me with a mix of anger and disgust. The rage quickly fades to despair, but she still doesn't act.
"Let's be merciful," I say, "Yawn."
Magcargo's mouth stretches wide open as it lets out a long and loud yawn. The yawn is contagious and Electivire finds itself yawning and becoming drowsy. I too find myself yawning and have to slap myself across the face to stay focused.
"How is this merciful?" Rhianne asks as her Pokémon falls to the floor to take a nap.
"It won't be awake to suffer the end," I say, "Earth Power."
Once again, the battlefield rumbles and cracks. Debris shoots up and rains down on the sleeping Electivire. The attack continues and I watch the bar on my Battle Gear drain. Electivire is declared defeated and Rhianne returns it. Reluctantly, she reaches for a second Poké Ball.
"Go, Lion," she says. I am thrown off by the nickname. A Drapion appears and begins to scuttle around the ravaged battlefield.
"Will-o-Wisp," I say.
Magcargo unleashes its purple flames again. Drapion is constantly moving and easily dodges. It keeps moving, waiting for an attack order that never comes. Rhianne doesn't move. She just continues to watch in despair. I order a repeat attack until it hits. On the third attempt, Drapion's arm swings through the flames and emerges a searing red.
Hitting Drapion's arm is one of the best things that could have happened. Now if Rhianne does decide to attack then Drapion will struggle with one of its arms. However, Rhianne says nothing. She looks down and clenches her fists.
"Earth Power," I order.
It is easier for Magcargo to hit with this attack. Predicting where Drapion will move, the ground beneath it erupts and throws it into the air. It crashes back down in a heap and looks back to its trainer for inspiration.
"Flamethrower," I call, hoping to follow up quickly.
Magcargo edges closer and fire pours from its mouth. The fire just about reaches across the battlefield to Drapion. Drapion's burnt arm takes the brunt of the attack and an ear-splitting cry fills the stadium. This earns me a lot more booing from the stands. Rhianne still isn't responding.
"Why aren't you attacking?" I shout at her.
"What's the point?" she asks.
"You're just going to give up?" I spit, "I thought you wanted to win this whole thing."
"I wanted to…" she says.
"If you're going to give up then just surrender," I shout, "Don't put your Pokémon through this."
"Maybe you're right," she says and raises a hand to her Battle Gear. He hand hovers over it but she doesn't do anything.
"Fight back, you coward!" I shout as Magcargo attacks with Flamethrower again.
"Why?" Rhianne asks as her Pokémon falls to the floor again, clearly taking a beating, "I thought you wanted me to surrender."
"That whole thing with Flourette," I say, "I thought you wanted me to be a challenge for you."
"I did…" she says weakly.
"Well here I am challenging you," I shout, "The least you could do is be a challenge in return."
Meanwhile, Drapion is struggling. It can't take any more attacks. Magcargo has noticed this and the fact neither trainer is concentrating on what is happening. It stands and watches as Drapion finally gives in and collapses. The referee declares Drapion defeated.
"What was the point in that?" I ask angrily, "Why did you let your Pokémon go through that? I'm supposed to be the monster here!"
"Lion… I'm sorry," Rhianne says as she returns her defeated Pokémon.
There is a pause. Rhianne is hesitant to send out her final Pokémon. She holds the Poké Ball in her hand and stares at it. The referee has to threaten her with disqualification if she doesn't send it out soon.
"You're right Holly, you are the monster and I've got to stop you," Rhianne says. That isn't quite the response I was hoping for, but at least it sounds like she's going to battle again. "Go, Minx."
Rhianne's final Pokémon is a Jynx. Even though she has a renewed battling spirit, I am feeling confident.
"Minx, use Attract," Rhianne says.
Jynx glides across the battlefield towards Magcargo and appears to be flirting. Magcargo leans forward with its mouth hanging open. Drops of lava fall from Magcargo's mouth like drool as it watches Jynx move.
"Oh come on Magcargo, you can do better than her," I say, "She's not even your type. Use Flamethrower."
Magcargo shakes its head, outright refusing to obey, and makes its way over to Jynx. Jynx welcomes Magcargo with open arms. Jynx places its hands on Magcargo's cheeks and moves in for a kiss. However, it stops and quickly pulls itself away. Jynx's hands are burning. I can't help but laugh as Jynx cries out in pain and waves its hands about while Magcargo has its eyes closed and is smooching thin air still expecting Jynx's love.
"Minx, use Ice Beam on your burns," Rhianne says.
Jynx holds out its hands and a crackling blue orb appears between them. Light blue sparks jump to both hands, encasing them in ice. Jynx sighs in relief as the pain is relieved. Meanwhile, I choose to switch Pokémon. Magcargo is hopelessly in love so retreating him would be the best option. The whole incident has got some laughs from the crowd which make a nice change from the constant booing.
"Go, Milotic," I say and send out my next Pokémon.
My confidence is restored after that brief scare. Milotic has a slight advantage over Jynx. What I'm more concerned about though is Attract. Milotic shouldn't be too affected by it as I am convinced it is already in love with itself.
"Scald its hands," I say.
Milotic rears its head back and then launches its attack. Boiling water sprays over Jynx's frozen hands and the ice begins to melt.
"Psybeam," Rhianne orders.
"Protect," I counter.
Milotic raises its tail like a shield. Jynx holds out its hands again as the ice drips away and the air between the two Pokémon ripples with colour. The ripples collide with a barrier just above Milotic's tail and dissipate.
"Scald," I say and Milotic switches to the offensive.
The second attack finishes what the first started. The ice coating Jynx's hands melts, exposing the burns to boiling hot water. Jynx channels its attacks through its hands, so targeting them makes it difficult for it to attack.
"You wanted to use Ice Beam to cool down?" I ask jokingly, "Milotic, let's help."
The momentum is with Milotic. A thin blast of blue light shoots across the battlefield and hits Jynx in the chest. Jynx topples over backwards and falls to the floor. Milotic is ready to follow up with another attack. We are getting closer.
"Scald!" I shout. I want Milotic to make sure this is the finishing move.
Jynx's eyes widen as a wave of scalding water sweeps over it. The bar on my Battle Gear empties. It is over. It suddenly dawns on me what I have achieved. I am in the top four.
"The winner, and first semi-finalist, is Holly Wexler!" the announcer declares.
There is a round of applause and a mix of cheers and boos. I continue to divide the crowd, but the audible cheers make me believe that I have swayed some opinions. Rhianne and I return our Pokémon and meet in the middle for the customary handshake.
"It's a shame you couldn't give me such a good battle with your Drapion," I say to her.
"Yeah, well, maybe we can some other time. You know, when the tournament's over," she says.
"I'd like that, no pressure," I say.
"Now go out there and win so I can at least say I lost to the champion," she says.
Together, we walk back to the tunnel. I am tired now after that battle. It had been hard work to overcome Rhianne even if the final result didn't suggest that. I am looking forward to relaxing and watching the next quarter final match.
We return to the trainers' room and I instantly fling myself onto a seat to relax. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. When I open my eyes again, I take a look around the room. Daedalus is stood against the wall watching the television coverage of the tournament. I don't think he has moved since I left. Thomas, meanwhile, is lying on a sofa with his eyes closed and mumbling gibberish.
I sigh and look over to the TV. There is a panel of famous Pokémon trainers discussing my battle in depth. I don't really care what they are saying. All I wanted to know was that there is still time until Thomas and Daedalus battle. I then remember the battlefield. Magcargo tore it up quite a bit. It will need maintenance before the next battle can happen. There is still time.
I get up and find the bottle I had confiscated from Thomas earlier. It is now empty and lying on the floor. I take it to the bathroom and fill it with water from the sink. I then return to where Thomas is semi-conscious. Rhianne and Daedalus both look towards me with a keen interest in what is about to happen.
I pluck the lopsided glasses from Thomas' face so they don't get in the way. Then, I take a deep breath and tip the cold water over Thomas.