Chapter 20:
My eyes flutter open as the morning sunlight washes over my face. I lift my head to try and look around as I fight through the clouds in my mind. I don't remember going to bed, but I am lying on top of the covers fully dressed. I guess I was so tired after my battle that I did just go to sleep immediately. I remember Daedalus inviting me out on a date and then pointing out I was covered in slime. I came back to my room for a shower and, seemingly, instead went straight to sleep.
I look over to the clock on the bedside table. I am awake a lot earlier than I need to be. I won't be getting back to sleep now. I've slept so much. I am now refreshed and awake, ready for the day of the second semi-final. The day I find out who I will face. I let my head drop back to the bed and relax in the warmth of the sun pouring through the window. I lie there with a smile on my face as my mind wanders back to Daedalus. A date. That's a new one. I've never really considered love before. I have always been so busy with being a Pokémon Trainer or being borderline obsessed with Steven Stone.
Eventually, I drag myself up and make my way to the bathroom. A shower and a change of clothes combined with the good night's sleep leaves me feeling better than I have done the entire time I have been in Nimbasa City. I would have thought that being through to the final would have me as a nervous wreck for the next couple of days. Instead, I feel like a weight has been lifted from me. Perhaps I now realise I have got further in the competition than I would have expected. I don't deserve to have got this far and both Mark and Flourette look unstoppable, there is no expectation for me to win. I like not having this pressure. I still want to win though.
I head downstairs for breakfast. Breakfast hadn't been a regular thing lately, but I wanted to make up for a lack of food the previous night. I notice Thomas passed out on a stool leaning against the bar. It seems with his elimination from the tournament came the lifting of his drinking ban. As the only conscious person in the restaurant area, I have no shame in wolfing down my morning meal to satisfy my hunger.
I have to make my eating look a bit more dignified as Flourette and Rhianne enter the restaurant together. They immediately make their way over to join me. Flourette seems as cheerful as ever. Rhianne, on the other hand, looks a bit uncomfortable and maybe even sickly. My first instinct feels like offering her some of my food.
"Hey, Wexler, didn't see you around last night," Flourette says, "Good night's sleep? Or were you up to something else?"
"Something else?" I repeat. Her tone of voice as she spoke coupled with that ever present smile frightens me.
"Mark tells me he saw you near that miserable guy's room. What was his name? Daly… Damien?" she says.
"Daedalus," I say.
"Ha, so you know him," she says and her grin widens, "What were you doing with him then? Don't worry, you can tell us. We're all girls who think he's kind of fit here."
"I was thanking him for some help training," I say. It's not a lie, it just omits parts of the truth.
"Can't have been very good training or you'd have won on your own merit, not a technicality," Flourette says.
"You don't have to be like that," Rhianne says, finally speaking up, "I thought we settled our differences."
"I was just hoping for some juicy gossip is all," Flourette says a little dejected.
Flourette and Rhianne then order some breakfast while I finish mine. I am about to leave as the other girls start tucking into their food, but Flourette decides to spark the conversation back to life.
"Go on then, be honest, who do you want to win today?" she asks.
I stop and think. It isn't something I had actually considered. The fact I'm through to the final is still sinking in. I have a tough enough time trying to figure out which of the two could actually win, I haven't really thought about who I'd like to win. I don't think I have much of a preference, or even an idea of who would be an easier opponent.
"I'd say you," I say, "It seems we still have a little score to settle and I wouldn't mind a chance to go up against your Mega Evolution if you can pull it off again."
Flourette seems happy with the answer. I don't think I said what I did just because it's what she wanted to hear. The chance to battle a Mega Evolution is a once in a lifetime opportunity. If this could be my chance, then I want it to happen.
Soon enough, the time comes for us to go to the stadium. There are plenty of eliminated contestants turning up as spectators. Even a horrifically hung over Thomas joins us. The first semi-final provided a close finish. The second is the one everyone has been looking forward to, so they expect it to be an even more incredible match.
At the stadium, most of us wish Mark and Flourette luck before they split off to face the ordeal of a press conference. They are fortunate enough to have warning about it. I don't envy them either way after my experience though. The rest of us head up to the VIP area in the stands. Lancelot Elderidge joins us again, taking his seat on his throne.
During the extended wait for the start of the battle, Robin shares some popcorn that he has swiped from somewhere. Elin and Rhianne have no problems taking a couple of handfuls. The others decline for various reasons, most notably Shaw suggesting that Robin return it to whoever he stole it from.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the second semi-final is about to begin," the announcer finally declares, bringing a hush to the stands, "Holly Wexler, I hope you're watching as we're about to find out who you will face in the Elder World Championship Final! It's time for Flourette Lauxand against Mark Young!"
The two competitors emerge from the tunnel and appear to be a complete contrast to each other. Flourette walks out dressed in her usual colourful outfit with a huge smile across her face and she waves to the crowd. Mark, meanwhile, looks like he's on business in a long sleeved shirt and waistcoat. He doesn't pay the crowd any attention. His eyes are closed as he strolls calmly to his position.
"Trainers, activate your Battle Gears!" the referee orders as the two stand facing each other.
Mark and Flourette do as instructed. The selection of their first choices is almost instantaneous. They both have a game plan going into this battle and won't be swayed by what they see on the team preview.
"Begin!"
"Go, Charizard," Mark says coldly.
"Go, Ferrothorn!" Flourette responds.
"Charizard, Flamethrower!" Mark calls out instantly and raises an arm into the air for dramatic effect.
Flourette has no time to react. The matchup did not favour her and she had been trying to figure out a switch. Charizard raises its head to take in a big breath before launching itself forward. A pillar of flames pours from Charizard's mouth and consumes Ferrothorn.
After a brief period of sustained pressure Mark snaps his fingers and the flames die down. Ferrothorn lies limp and charred. The referee wastes no time in making the call. Flourette is already down one Pokémon in less than a minute.
Frozen in shock, Flourette stands with her mouth hanging open. I can see it in her face that she's still trying to decide what to switch Ferrothorn with. Eventually, she calls back her fallen Pokémon and grabs her next Poké Ball.
"Go, Electivire!"
"Isn't this the same switch she made against me?" Robin asks.
"It is," I nod, "and Mark has her figured out for it."
Mark flicks a Poké Ball into the air to call back his Charizard and holds another ready.
"Good work Charizard. Now, Rampardos, come forth!" he says.
Flourette clenches a fist at her side. She is visibly irritated by Mark's decision to switch. This time though, she doesn't look like she intends to switch. I wonder what she has in mind.
"Head Smash," Mark says.
Rampardos lowers its head and charges with incredible speed. Electivire appears to be standing its ground.
"Not this time," Flourette calls out, "Thunderbolt at its feet!"
"Block it with Power-Up Punch."
"Can he do that?" Elin asks.
"He can dodge with Earthquake, anything's possible," I say.
Rampardos continues charging at Electivire as it prepares its attack. As Electivire launches a Thunderbolt directly at the ground, a glowing fist strikes the battlefield. The ground beneath Rampardos erupts. The power of the hit forces some of the ground up to intercept Electivire's attack. Rampardos proceeds to smash through its own defensive wall as though it were nothing.
There is a yelp from Flourette as Rampardos smashes into her Pokémon. She has to dodge as it is thrown back to where she stood. The stadium falls silent in anticipation. Electivire doesn't move. A second knockout in quick succession. I thought I had been in a bad situation against Thomas. Flourette has lost two Pokémon to one hit each without landing one in return.
In the previous round, Mark had been ruthless and dominant. This was another level though. He is in total control and looks like he could win without breaking a sweat.
"Go, Swampert!" Flourette calls as she regains her composure.
As expected, Mark reacts immediately with a switch. He returns Rampardos and replaces it with Torterra. Flourette is not prepared to take this matchup. It seems she was ready for it, as though baiting Mark into it, and immediately retreats Swampert. Charizard takes its place facing Torterra. The crowd grows excited. Everyone wants to see Charizard Mega Evolve again.
"If that's how you want to play it, then so be it," Mark says, grabbing his Poké Balls to switch again. This time Torterra is replaced by Aggron.
Murmurs echo across the stadium. Even Flourette seems thrown off by this decision. Aggron doesn't seem like the best choice to fight Charizard with and not really any better than the Torterra that was already out. Mark, however, has proven himself before to make big calls like this and have them pay off.
"No more switches?" Mark asks confidently, "Then we'll begin. Aggron, Earthquake!"
"To the skies!" Flourette calls.
Charizard jumps into the air and takes flight as Aggron hammers on the ground and tears up the battlefield. Chunks of earth jut out, but Charizard is safely out of reach. Mark nods approvingly at the cracked battlefield. It seems to be a repeat of his battle with Shaw and the idea of controlling the field. The only problem is that he's against a Pokémon that doesn't need to be on the ground.
"What's he doing? I don't get it," Elin says. I don't respond. I know Mark has a plan but not even I can figure it out.
"The piece in front of you, Ice Punch!" Mark calls out. The command confuses a lot of people, but Aggron understands. This is something they have prepared.
Charizard looks on from above, casually beating its wings as it watches its opponent. Aggron bends down and scoops up a massive chunk of the loosened ground. With just a single hand, it holds up the piece of ground. The other hand glows an icy blue as it balls into a fist. Aggron punches the earth in its grip. It instantly freezes over and shatters. Shards of ice carry the momentum of the punch and fire into the air.
"Stop it with Flamethrower," Flourette says.
Mark doesn't care. It might even have been part of his plan. The ice shards are too close when Charizard melts them and water splashes the Fire Pokémon.
"That seemed overly complex for so little," Robin says thoughtfully.
"I don't know, Charizard won't like being wet. It almost seems like a warning. You know, see what we're capable of sort of thing," I say.
"Fire Blast!" Flourette calls out.
"Knock it out of the sky," Mark says confidently.
Aggron rips another chunk from the battlefield and raises it ready to throw. Charizard, meanwhile, prepares its own attack. However, Charizard stops as the heat it produces boils the water that had washed over it. Steam rises blocking Charizard's vision for a brief moment. Aggron takes its chance and launches the rubble into the sky.
The ground shakes as Charizard crashes to the floor. Silence reigns as we await the outcome. Ear-splitting cheers ring around the stadium as Charizard pushes the rock off its body and slowly climbs to its feet. Battered, bruised and exhausted after a single hit. Charizard is barely up but it is still in the fight.
"A brave effort," Mark says, "You are a fine trainer, perhaps my equal in skill, but there is one thing that shall separate us today. Our motivation."
"You're wrong," Flourette shouts back, "I have reason to fight and grow stronger, and all of my Pokémon share the same goal. Together we will fight!"
"How noble," Mark says mockingly and looks from Flourette to Charizard and back again. "A reason to fight will only get you so far. That is how you got here. However, to go further, you need something else. I have that something else and it will drive me on to victory! A reason to win!"
AN: I meant to post this on Saturday, sorry, but things got distracting, Oh so shiny distracting things...