Chapter Nine: Shocking Developments! Vs. Arlene!
Ten a.m. the next morning finds our hero now stands outside the gym doors, taking a few deep breaths to steady himself for the impending gym battle. Sapph had little undertanding to his sense of increased panic. One may say he felt he was rushing the pace of his training and gym-challenging. One who knew Sapph may say the first guy was nuts. He'd say Sapph is never nervous and that the author was recovering from something nasty, like mental fatigue, malaria, or sheer lunacy. I'd bet my money on the first guy...
We've been training since dawn, Sapph reminded himself for what could have been the hundred and fiftieth time that morning. We're in top form! Plus with Ledyba's new technique, we can't possibly lose!
Pumped, Sapph made for the gym reception area to register an official challenge...
...and promptly turned around, looking green and clutching his stomach.
Whoa, Sapph Manson! He thought worriedly. Easy...easy...
And without another word, Sapph threw up all over his front.
Sapph looked down at his shirt and with a sarcastic eye roll, thought, You go, buddy...
"You may go in now." The reception lady told Sapph after an extremely tense fifteen minute wait. Sapph had changed his shirt and wiped his sweaty brow dry.
"Thank you," Sapph said, heading for the leader's battle room, knowing better not to ask for tips.
"Like a tip?" the receptionist said nicely.
Sapph's head spun around to face her and asked excitedly "You-you're joking, right? You'll really give me a tip?"
The receptionist laughed and said, "Of course not, silly!"
Sapph fell over animé-style. Picking himself up off the floor, he slouched over to the doors which led to the arena proper, grousing along the way.
"Memo to me...puke on the next gym receptionist when nervous," Sapph growled to himself as he stepped on the mat. The doors slid open automatically like those at the Pokémon Centre and the PokéMarts.
Immediately after passing through the electric glass sliding door, it slid shut behind him with a loud snap. Sapph almost had a heart attack!
What is with these gym leaders and their freaking creepy gym doors? Sapph asked furiously, looking around for the gym leader.
At least this gym is cleaner that Cassandra's, Sapph thought as he looked around at the cables that ran along all the walls and the ceiling, presumably to provide power for the treadmills or conveyor belts (Sapph couldn't decide which they were) which lay on both sides of the gym floor. Several panels, half of them red, the other half blue also lay dotted around the floor at random places.
Wow!, Sapph thought, his eyes glued to the treadmills on the floor. The gym leader here, whoever he is, must be seriously into working out! Those panels must be there for a reason, probably to…
"Oh! Hello, Sapph!" called a cheerfully familiar voice. Sapph tore his eyes away from the intricate floor design to look at the gym leader's half and saw… the chief engineer from yesterday!
"YOU'RE THE LEADER HERE?!" Sapph yelled, half-surprised, half-awed.
"Oh, yes! I'm Arlene. Thank you for all your help the other time. I'd like to say though that the friendly formalities are over. Let's see if you can back up your claim and win my Volt Badge!"
"You got it!" Sapph grinned, pulling out a pokéball and enlarging it.
"There's that spark I love again!" Arlene cried, readying her first Pokémon, and throwing Sapph slightly off track with a bright smile.
A male referee stepped up to the sidelines to explain the rules.
"An official gym match between Sapphire Manson…"
A large nerve drummed its way to the surface of Sapph's head.
Say what?! It ain't Sapphire, you moron! It's Sapph!, Sapph thought furiously, turning the ball over in his hand as Arlene enlarged hers.
"… and the Nightspark City Gym Leader Arlene will now begin. If Sapphire wins…"
Sapph was seriously close to losing it now. Furious veins started popping out along his temple and the fist he longed to drive into the ref's face.
My name is Sapph, damn it! Sapph, Sapph, SAPPH! Sapph reiterated, screaming in his head now.
"…he will earn a Volt Badge. Each trainer may use two Pokémon each. A Pokémon is out of contest if one of them faints or if the Gym Leader recalls it in the case of hers. Let the match begin!" He called, raising both flags above his head.
"Let's go, Ledyba!" Sapph called, releasing his Five Star Pokémon on the field a little more aggressively than he usually would have.
What's he thinking? Even part-Flying types like Ledyba are at a disadvantage here… Arlene thought to herself.
Aloud, she said "Come out, Ballomb!"
The light that spilled from her ball formed itself into a short, black, round figure with a friendly smile. It had two stumpy yellow arms and feet and stood about a foot and a half tall. It had a short fuse dangling out of the top of its head. What seemed to be an electric surge seemed to ripple through its body as it took a battle pose.
Before Sapph could wonder what Arlene had sent out, his Pokédex answered:
Ballomb, the Blast Pokémon. Ballomb have very kind natures and only explode when threatened. Ballomb is a Dark/Electric combination type Pokémon.
Sapph and Ledyba couldn't see the bright side to any of the info the Pokédex had said.
"Did that thing just say explode?!" Sapph asked faintly.
Okaaay… we're in deep trouble, Sapph! If Ballomb's an Electric type, we're in so deep trouble! Ledyba lamented frantically.
Sapph assured his shy companion calmly, "Relax, Ledyba. I know… we just gotta stick to the training, Ledyba! We can do this!"
"Guess again, Sapph! Ballomb, Zap Cannon!" Arlene said in an annoyingly cool, unconcerned voice.
Electricity began to circulate all throughout Ballomb's body. When it reached a crescendo, Ballomb released a black ball of electric charge straight at Ledyba.
Sapph ordered, "Evade it by diving, Ledyba!"
The Zap Cannon attack seemed to be powerful, but in comparison to Ledyba, it was slow. Ledyba cleared it easily.
Good job, Ledyba! Sapph cheered inwardly. Outwardly, though all Sapph said was, "Now, Ledyba! Use Comet Punch!"
All four of Ledyba's fists glowed silver with cosmic energy as he raced in and unleashed a lightning quick volley of four jabs and a rising hook to send Ballomb skidding back with a shrill grunting noise. Without an order, Ballomb unleashed a jolt of electricity that barely missed the agile insect. The blast of lightning hit one of the blue floor panels instead, starting one of the treadmills.
"Hey, what gives? The treadmills started up!" Sapph cried out.
Ballomb's heavier than he looks, too, Ledyba thought. That Comet Punch should have sent him flying back five feet at least!
"Well, Sapph… that's the secret of the Nightspark City Gym. Any form of energy that hits the blue panels is converted to electricity which runs the treadmills. The more energy that's accumulated, the faster they run!" Arlene explained. Her eyes became slightly colder as she then said, "Ballomb, Thunder Shock attack!"
Sapph, temporarily disarmed by this information, yelled too late "Ledyba, look out!"
The Blast Pokémon squarely hit Ledyba on his underbelly with a second jolt of electric energy, sending the Bug/Flying Pokémon crashing onto the treadmill, crackling with loose sparks of electricity.
"Ledyba, you can do it! I know you can! Get up!" Sapph coaxed his friend.
Slowly, Ledyba fluttered into the air, shaking off the Thunder Shock attack as though it were nothing, though Sapph could tell that his friend was getting worn out by the extremely effective attack.
Thank you, Ledyba. I knew you'd pull through for me, Sapph thought inwardly with a warm smile at his friend.
Wow, that thing sure has spunk! Arlene thought. But this next attack will end it…
Arlene then commanded, "Ballomb, use continual Thunder Shock!"
Sapph tutted her and with a wagging of his finger said calmly, "Do you really think we'll stick around for that to hit us again?"
Ballomb let fly a volley of lightning bolts at the Bug Pokémon who zigged and zagged in between them, eager to avoid taking on any more damage.
Ledyba, deciding to take a crack at witticism, crowed out What does a Ballomb call a Dodrio's egg? Mommy!
Arlene told her Pokémon swiftly: "Cool down Ballomb! Wait for your chance and use your Ultimate Thundershock attack!"
Ultimate Thundershock? Sapph queried mentally. Aloud, he commanded: "Ledyba, Comet Punch! One more time!"
Ledyba, although with similar worries in mind, acknowledged the order and slowed down slightly as he angled straight towards Ballomb, his little fists glowing with white cosmic energy.
Ballomb was getting rather tired of not being able to hit the speeding Ledyba now and at Arlene's order began to charge up a large amount of static energy in the air above him for a Thunderbolt-like attack. Crossing its short arms when the static had hit a crescendo level, Ballomb flinched slightly as the electricity hit him and ran all over his body. Crying out with a loud Taaaake…This! Ballomb uncrossed its arms and sent a ten thousand volt blast of electric power speeding for Ledyba in a zigzag pattern.
Sapph's counter was swift and precise. "Ledyba, counter with Comet Punch!"
The tough Bug/Flying Pokémon cocked its fist back and let it meet the Thundershock attack dead on. The mini-comet did something very strange at this junction; the Thundershock attack was drawn into the comet and the silver trail of comet dust crackled with golden electricity momentarily, drawing a gasp from Sapph.
Whoa! What happened? Sapph pondered in wonderment.
All Arlene and Ballomb could do was dropping their jaws in shock and looking rather silly.
"Great stuff, buddy! Keep going!" Sapph cheered.
"Curl up in defence, Ballomb!" Arlene screamed, fast over the shock of seeing a Flying Pokémon repel her Ultimate Thundershock attack like that.
Ballomb hitched his jaw off the ground and tried a feeble attempt at a Defense Curl technique. Though inexpert, the manoeuvre had the added effect of doubling his weight. When Ledyba slammed a second strike into where his opponent's navel would have been had it been humanoid. End result: A red insect hovering around the arena shrieking what Sapph had a shrewd suspicion were swear words in an ultrasonic voice, waving its hand around like crazy.
"Tut, tut, Ledyba," Sapph said half-whimsically, half-chastising. "Such language…"
Ledyba stopped hovering on the spot and screamed Who's swearing? I'm just yelling in pain!
Short on patience and angry at how long beating Sapph and Ledyba was taking, Arlene shouted furiously, "Ballomb, finish it with another Zap Cannon!"
"Reflect it with Supersonic, Ledyba!" Sapph called out, remembering its effect in his last gym match and praying it would work here.
Ledyba turned his head towards Ballomb and released his powerful sound attack just as Ballomb released a second black sphere brimming with electricity. The two attacks met in mid air, and fought there for control. After three seconds of tension and furious pushing, the Zap Cannon attack was miraculously sent back to a stunned Ballomb, causing a small amount of damage and severe paralysis in the Blast Pokémon.
"YES! Now, Ledyba, us your Tackle attack to wrap this up!" Sapph cheered.
"Self Destruct!" Arlene called frantically.
OH, … Sapph began to cuss mentally as he watched Ledyba fly straight for a reddening Ballomb, who blew up on a blue panel when the Five Star Pokémon was barely inches away.
When the explosion passed away, both Pokémon had fainted. Sapph dimly registered that the force of the explosion had caused all the conveyor belts on the field to run at a fast rate. With an incredulous expression on his face, he turned from the sight of his fainted Pokémon to bawl out Arlene.
"WHAT WAS ALL THAT FOR?!" Sapph yelled at Arlene, pointing a furious finger at his opponent.
"What?" Arlene queried in a nonchalant tone, although Sapph and the referee could see she was shaken by her choice of technique. "What do you think I am? I wasn't about to give you the upper hand."
"But- But, to let your Ballomb to blow itself up to do it…" Sapph spluttered incensed.
"I know it was painful," Arlene said, her voice and hands shaking now. "But a trainer that has one more than the opponent allowed to and ready to fight has the edge of testing the opponent's second Pokémon before sending out his or her own. I-I'm just not good enough at fighting under those circumstances…"
She must mean business for her to have sacrificed one of her Pokémon to keep me from getting 'one over' on her Sapph thought ruefully, still shaken by Arlene's tactic and her shaky reply.
"Both Pokémon are unable to battle… this round is a tie" The ref said, raising both flags above his head.
"Are you OK?" the referee asked the leader, who looked severely shaken at her decision to sacrifice Ballomb to keep Sapph from gaining an advantage.
Arlene looked close to tears as she silently returned her first Pokémon to its pokéball with a whispered apology. She nodded mutely. Sapph was in a state of semi-shock as he called Ledyba back for some rest. Praising him for a job well done and swearing not to be so reckless in this battle again, he pulled out his second pokéball and enlarged it, just as Arlene was doing the same.
"Go for it, Mongle!" Sapph yelled, hurling his pokéball onto the field.
"Get 'em, Pichu!" Arlene called out, tossing hers towards the field with a bit of a twirl.
Pichu, the Lightning Mouse Pokémon. Although Pichu can readily store and release electricity consistently, they have a limit as to how much electricity they can safely store in their bodies without suffering any damage to themselves, Sapph's Pokédex recited.
Mongle and a small, yellow mouse with a short black, lightning shaped tail, short, diamond-shaped, black-tipped ears and large red circles on its cheeks both took shape on conveyor belts at the same time. Both realised they had to start running at the same time and commenced to do so at top speed to keep up with the pace of the treadmills. Pichu, being the smaller of the two seemed to be experiencing some trouble adjusting to the speed of the treadmill.
"Looks like your Pichu is out of shape" Sapph jibed Arlene with a smirk. Mongle's got the advantage now, all we need is an opening… he thought to himself.
Arlene just smiled softly. I'll show him not to mock a master of Electric Pokémon, she thought determinedly.
"Mongle, -"Sapph began.
"Pichu, -"Arlene called.
"- Quick Attack now!" the trainers yelled in unison.
Both rodents leapt off their treadmills and tore towards each other at breakneck speed, colliding with each other at the middle line of the pitch. Upon impact; both Pokémon flew back in a shower of sparks onto a red panel on their respective sides.
"What happened?" Sapph asked Arlene in alarm.
"Pichu has the Static ability, which enables it to paralyze its foes on contact," Arlene answered confidently. "All the running on the treadmill only increased the potency of that ability."
If Sapph thought the worst was over, he was wrong. Upon hitting the panels, both Mongle and Pichu were thrown high into the air in a second explosion of charge. Twisting and screeching in pain, Mongle clearly receiving what looked like the bulk of the damage while Pichu seemed to absorb it, making it stronger.
Pichu seemed to choose that moment to glow with a bright white light, taking both Sapph and its trainer by surprise. As they watched, Pichu's ears and tail seemed to lengthen as its body grew longer. Distinct digits appeared on its hands and feet and as the light fizzled out brown stripes were observed to have grown across its back and along the base of its now yellow lightning bolt tail.
"Pichu's evolved…" the referee said in wonder.
What the…aww man, talk about rotten timing, Sapph thought.
"Oh, and another thing…" Arlene added matter-of-factly as both Pokémon fell back to earth, Pikachu landing on it's feet whilst Mongle fell heavily on its face, twitching with spasms of paralysis. "Step on a red panel, and twenty-five percent of the energy running the treadmill is converted to electricity and used on the culprit. For an Electric type like mine, that's good news. However, even for a Grass type," she gestured towards Mongle's jerking and twitching form on the field and let the sentence hang as though it were obvious, even for Sapph.
Sapph grit his teeth.
"Pikachu, use the surplus energy and Thundershock Mongle!" Arlene said, hitching back her poker face.
"MONGLE!" Sapph yelled as his Pokémon rose from the arena floor painfully only to get blasted back into the air by Pikachu's electrical surge.
What can I do? Sapph thought furiously, watching Mongle rise into the air once more. Even with a defensive advantage, Mongle seems to be no match for Pichu...no, Pikachu now…
"Ready to quit, Sapph?" Arlene taunted.
"No way!" Sapph roared.
He turned to desperately look at Pikachu as it jogged on the treadmill with apparent ease. It's almost seems as if Pikachu's attack power is limitless now that it's evolved… Wait a second, Sapph said to himself as he saw something odd about his opponent's Pokémon. Limits… that's it!
Mongle, try to use your Razor Leaf to sever the cable above, NOW!" Sapph rallied.
Just as it looked like Mongle couldn't respond, the Leaf Squirrel Pokémon twitched its tail at the roof, releasing a salvo of razor-sharp leaves, which cut into one of the power cables as the Leaf Squirrel Pokémon began to fall.
"Pikachu, jump up and use Slam!" Arlene commanded, clearly on the warpath.
Pikachu leapt up and with a swift midair pirouette, smacked Mongle heavily in the side of the head, sending him spinning into what looked like a crash landing on the field.
I'm not gonna lose to a loser like you! Mongle thought through gritted teeth as he flew through the air, twisting with his characteristic cat-like agility and skidding to a halt on the field, stumbling a bit and rolling over back onto his feet, one of his front paws clutching his aching ribs as he watched Pikachu.
Pikachu, following suit, also landed on all fours on the pitch, though he was more graceful about it than Mongle, landing after a series of high speed back-flips. The air was fully charged with tension as they struggled to catch their breath, glaring at each other all the while.
You…just don't…know when t-to…quit, hunh? Pikachu said, panting hard and crackling with angry electricity.
Looks like you don't either, Mongle countered, before he went down on one knee, sparks running across his body, his green fur beginning to suffuse an otherworldly green light. Arlene and Pikachu's eyes widened as the light seemed to cause the static electricity to stop dancing across his body, curing his paralysis. Mongle rose up a little higher, the green light dying down. Mnogle winced and dropped to one knee again.
"Mongle…" Sapph said in wonder, his face alight with the green hue that diffused from his Pokémon. "What in the world…?"
Sapph…d'you really…think …we got time… for dumb questions…like that…now?! Mongle gasped, throwing a sceptical, one-eyed look at his trainer as he said so.
Sapph effected a sigh of relief as he saw Mongle hadn't lost any of his witty sarcasm. A sure sign that he was going to be okay. "Yeah, you're right." He smiled.
Whatever that green light was, it was able to cure Mongle's paralysis like it was nothing Arlene thought, frowning. But seeing as it's too tired to fight off another attack, it's time to call this battle over.
"You sure it's okay to be so relaxed, Sapph?" Arlene said coolly, Pikachu's eyes looked wickedly at Mongle as an acrid smell reached Sapph's nose.
He looked up…and looked back at Mongle, who nodded, reaching for a couple of leaves that had materialized as he twitched his leaf as he stared across the field at Pikachu.
Sapph turned back to look at her, his eyes narrowed in a way they had never been before. The look made him look older and more mature than he'd ever been and would ever be throughout his life on this journey.
"You're finished. Pikachu, use Quick Attack to end this!" she ordered.
Pikachu raced at Mongle, building speed. Mongle flung the first leaf at Pikachu, who jumped to his left not slowing down. A split second later, Mongle seemingly faltered as he launched the second leaf upwards. Mongle, who seemed incapable of moving due to the dizzying pain at his midsection at that point, seemed to crumple up with pain. Pikachu, oblivious to what was happening above kept on his charge.
What's with your aim, greenhorn? Arlene's Pikachu crowed in presumed triumph as the distance between itself and its target rapidly diminished.
Just before Pikachu made contact, the corners of Sapph and Mongle's mouths ached upwards into identical smiles and Sapph murmured, "Got you."
"What d'you – "Arlene asked. Then her eyes widened in horror.
Oh, damn! You little bas-
Spare feet to impact, the severed cable hit it, causing it to go rigid, squealing in pain. It was Arlene's turn to be shocked.
"What the- ? What's happening? What did you do?! "She began, staring flabbergasted at Sapph, who'd regained some of his cool now that his plan had worked.
Sapph, imitating her nonchalant tone replied "Nothing fancy… Pichu may have just evolved, but that doesn't mean it's gotten used to storing more electrical power yet. I just had Pikachu receive more electricity than it can handle."
"But…but, when? How?" Arlene spluttered in unflattering disbelief.
"When I saw Pikachu running on the treadmill," Sapph answered as his Pokémon rose up again on all fours. "As it accumulated Static, Pikachu began to run out of stamina fast as it required more energy to counteract the muscle cramp the electricity was putting it through. Mongle, finish it with Razor Leaf!"
Mongle rose to his feet, and revealed a third leaf which took on a green glow similar to Mongle's a minute ago and hardened as he clenched it. With all he had, Mongle swung its leaf at Pikachu's chest region at full force, releasing a powerful, concentrated explosion of sharp leaves on contact with the fast-building electric force around it. The smaller leaves hung in mid air, spinning around Pikachu as he was blasted backwards from the electric cable. Mongle's eyes narrowed, and the leaves froze in midair, straightened out and flew at the Lightning Mouse Pokémon like arrows, who flew back away from the cable and hit the floor. Sapph and Mongle held their breath as Pikachu staggered upright. Unable to do the same, Mongle stumbled onto his back, breathing hard. Lifting himself onto one elbow, Mongle stared at Pikachu as it built up energy for another attack.
When was this match gonna be over?, Sapph thought, shocked at how powerful evolving had made Pikachu.
Pikachu struggled to stay on its feet for what seemed an age, flinched and hit the gym floor again in a dead faint.
After a brief, yet unnecessary check on Pikachu, the ref raised his red flag and announced: "Pikachu is unable to battle. This round and the match go to Mongle and Sapphire Manson from Cherrygrove Town!"
YES! Mongle wearily cheered inwardly as Sapph rushed onto the pitch and picked up his faithful starter. The boy trainer sprayed Mongle with the Paralyze Heal he'd bought in Olville Town and watched Arlene returned Pikachu to it's pokéball with words of praise and comfort.
"Oh, Sapph! You were able to back up your claim after all! That's wonderful!" Arlene said with a smile on his face walking towards Sapph, applauding her opponent as she went.
"Told you," Sapph grinned wearily.
"In accordance to the Corei League rules and regulations, winners at this gym must bear the Volt Badge as a sign of victory. Take this one as your own." She beamed, handing Sapph a badge that resembled a thin, golden lightning bolt dividing a dark blue circle in two onto which it was embossed.
"Thanks a million!" Sapph said joyfully, examining his new badge in the light.
Arlene turned her open palm into a proffered handshake as she continued, "Your strategy is a unique and truly wonderful thing. Just like the trainer. You've taught me that I've still got a lot to learn. I'll spend more time in the gym now. Oh, maybe one day we'll have a rematch, OK?"
"Definitely!" Sapph agreed cheerfully, taking her hand in a handshake and grasping it firmly, Mongle bundled in the crook of his other arm and his confident grin back in place.
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CHANSEEEEEEEEEEE!
"Thanks, Nurse Chansey." Sapph said, gratefully accepting Mongle and Ledyba's pokéballs back and leaning back in the chair, ready to resume his reflections on his second gym badge victory when something else cut in on his patting himself on the back and seeing how Rickie would take him taking the lead in their unspoken contest: Mongle glowing green with an unusual power that made him feel a chill. Hunching over on the couch, he picked off Mongle's pokéball off his belt and fiddled with it. He began debating with himself whether to let Mongle out to ask him what it was and whether the new form of Razor Leaf was a new attack until a loud cry rent the balmy evening air.
"Hey, cut it out! You're hurting him!"
Sapph sat bolt upright as a snide, horribly-familiar voice replied, "What's with you, shrimp? What kind of sissy trainer are ya?"
Sapph was up and running in the direction of the voice, which had come from the training field behind the Pokémon Centre, where Kamren, Carla, Chaz and Dex were bullying a young boy who was possibly a year or two younger than Dex. Haley was there too, trying to stop her older brother and her gang, but not being able to do much without her Pokémon, which Sapph suddenly noticed were not with her.
I guess her Pokémon are inside, Sapph thought exasperatedly. Geez, does the girl even think like a trainer?
"Anyways, just fork over all your money, sissy! You lost after all… it's only fair…" Kamren continued, holding his palm out at the boy.
Sapph couldn't believe this. "Fair, my butt, Kamren Kent! Quit picking on kids!"
"If it ain't Sappy Sapphire!" Kamren crowed, looking around to see who'd spoken. The kids on either side of him backed away as though he had the plague.
"Sapph!" Haley cried out, running towards the dark-haired boy. "Boy, am I ever glad to see you!"
"Oh… hey, Haley," Sapph said, turning to smile at a speeding fist which looked for and found Sapph's nose. The resulting dull thumping sound that followed caused the bullies to wince in empathy, though not much. Haley rubbed her knuckles, which had left a red fist mark right in the middle of Sapph's face.
"OW! Not again, Haley! What was THAT one for?"
"Letting me lose Bubbles in that terrible forest," Haley said calmly, now blowing air onto her knuckles, not looking perturbed by the fact that she may have just shattered Sapph's nose.
"I'm frankly surprised you made it this far with a Mongle, Sappy," Kamren taunted.
"Yeah?" Sapph snarled, flaring up. "Well, let's see how cool you are after me and Mongle whup your guys stupid in a two on two, right here, right now."
"Pfft…as if. Anywho, let's get it on. I was getting bored with the local zeroes… not that you'll do any better." Kamren snorted.
"We'll see who's a loser after I whip your butt raw," Sapph retorted, readying a pokéball for battle.
"Pfft," Kamren snorted again, readying his own.
"This will be a two a piece battle with no time limit", Carla said, stepping up to assume the role of referee. "Pokémon can only be recalled if they faint. Let the battle begin!"
"WHAT!" Haley and Sapph yelled in protest swivelling around to stare at Carla.
"Don't like it, tell it to the judge… no wait, that's ME!" Carla laughed.
"Why, you arrogant, ugly, little…" Haley yelled.
Sapph stared. He hadn't really seen Haley get this heated up by trash talk before.
No, wait…yes I have, Sapph thought dryly.
"Scared, Sappy?" Kamren taunted, lightly tossing his first pokéball up and down in his palm, his other hand in his pocket.
"Who, me? Not on ya life!!" Sapph yelled, his blue eyes narrowing as they focussed on the trainer whom he had disliked from day one.
Both trainers' eyes locked. This battle was a long time in coming, Sapph thought but I don't mind. He was finally going to get Kamren for his over bloated ego and vicious bullying and he couldn't be happier for the opportunity.
"I've been waiting a long time for this", Sapph snarled, a furious expression on his face.
"Really?" Kamren yawned, a lax expression on his face. "For what? A chance to get your *** kicked?" he asked, now twirling his pokéball on his finger.
"KAMREN! Did you just say the 'A-word'?!" Haley yelled incredulously, a wicked smile on her face, "You are SOOO …"
"Shut Up!" Kamren roared, an almost murderous expression on his face. Haley went into a cold sweat.
"…busted." Haley finished in a feeble undertone.
Everything was still in the evening air. Only the wind blew gently as both trainers cocked back their fists, ready to begin.
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Yes, a rivalry clash, finally! Humph, I guess your right in saying it took a while. -_- Relax; I'll make the wait (if you were waiting) as well worth it as I can. The TM from Chapter Seven will be a mystery 'til I say so! ; P Don't forget to let me know your views, opinions and criticisms, Okay? But be fair! Ideas are also welcome!