Chapter Twenty Seven: Can You Take the Heat?
Five minutes to midday found Sapph Manson sat in the locker room which adjoined the large gym building alone. Sapph, who'd dispensed with his vibrant red hoodie for now, leaving on his white round neck T-shirt which bore a large pokéball stencil in the middle wasn't nervous... on the contrary, he was lost in thought as to the announcements he'd heard from his friends Haley, Sky and Slate earlier that morning.
Firstly, Sky had announced at breakfast around two hours ago that she had convinced Fuego, the Gym Leader who Sapph would be facing mere minutes from now on the hot, sandy field which he saw on the small television that was fitted in the corner of the changing room, to allow her to stay in Appleburn for a while to offer Drago some intense training. The girl's feelings towards the arrogant leader may have been less that friendly, but she had to do what was best for her Pokémon, and being willing to hang around Fuego was something Sapph felt deep respect for her for.
Slate had then commented that it didn't matter where she trained, she would never beat him and his ancient Rock Pokémon team. The two had then gotten into a fierce yet not unexpected argument about who would beat whom at the Trigello Island Tournament in about a month from then (This statement rather piqued Sapph's curiosity but decided that his breakfast warranted a higher state of attention). He also informed the group that he'd be heading into the mountains alone after Sapph's match ended to continue his training. Just as he rose to leave for the gym, he dropped another glowing yellow rock on the table in front of Sky and told her to take it, as it would be the only Pokémon he would take seriously in battle should they meet in the tournament.
Haley then showed up as Slate left with Sky yelling at his back that he'd regret his actions when they battled later. Telling the Chinooka City local to shut up, she sat down opposite Sapph and informed him that his match with Fuego had been rescheduled for two hours later. Sapph's windpipe stopped working at this statement, nearly choking the boy trainer. The emergency warranted Sky slapping Sapph hard on the back, kick-starting his windpipe back into action and after getting his food down the right tube, demanded to know why Fuego had changed the time for their match. Haley shrugged, saying that some trainer had challenged him the previous night and clobbered two of his Pokémon soundly. Sapph had a funny suspicion just then that Haley knew more than she was letting on about the trainer, for when he had asked her about the trainer, she unconvincingly said through a mouthful of chicken tortilla that she hadn't a clue.
Sapph mulled over the information as he watched the screen zoom in on the Gym Leader of Appleburn City, Fuego deMorro, who wore a deep blue vest which showed off his lean, muscular upper body frame that many a local girl drooled over. His waist was adorned with a long, white scarf that ran around the top of his silver and sky blue sweat pants. A pair of small, bottle green sunglasses with round lenses sat on his nose, giving him a calm look, which didn't fool Sapph for a second.
An announcement blared over the intercom, calling Sapph to the stage. Sapph rose to his feet and with a determined look on his face walked through the underground tunnel which led to the arena. This was a battle he was determined to win. Not because the Gym Leader had managed to swipe a potential powerhouse from right under his nose, but to show the city what an arrogant loser he was. Sapph hated only a few people, but all those people had one thing in common...
...arrogance.
And arrogance was something Sapph detested above all else.
***
"An official gym match between Sapph Manson and the Appleburn City Gym Leader Fuego will now begin. If Sapph wins, he will earn an Inferno Badge. Each trainer may use four Pokémon each, with neither side allowed substitution. Are both trainers ready?"
Both Sapph and Fuego nodded wordlessly; Fuego readjusting the green designer shades he wore on his nose as Sapph lowered his goggles to shield his eyes from the oppressive heat the sandy floor of the gym was emitting.
"Go, Ninetails!" Fuego exclaimed, pulling a pokéball from the top of his silver and sky-blue pinstriped sweat pants and hurling it forwards.
"Let's do this, Lavender!"Sapph called out in a pumped voice, sending the Eevee into her first gym battle so fast, the red and white halves of her pokéball blurring together just before it split open in tandem with Fuego's pokéball.
"So it's Ninetails versus Eevee," Haley commented, powering on her new camcorder with special research features which she received from her mother the day before and pointing it at the middle of the sandy field where the pokéballs split open, releasing their contents onto the ground.
"He didn't have that Pokémon when he battled Clyff and I," Slate remarked, eyeing the Evolution Pokémon as she took form on the field in front of Sapph, ruffling her large cream coloured ruff and crouching low as Sapph muttered some low advice to her.
"NInetails does seem to have the advantage," Sky added, focusing her eyes on the beautiful golden white fox as its long nine tails rippled as though in a gentle breeze, despite the stifling heat of the gym.
"Now's not the time to speculate," Haley muttered softly as the referee raised both flags in the air to signal the beginning of the battle. "Let's just see how this plays out."
"Quick Attack!" Both trainers yelled in unison. Both foxlike creatures sprang forwards flickering out of sight as they collided in the centre ring, Lavender throwing her entire bulk into the Ninetails's side with little effect due to the significant difference in mass.
"Again!" Fuego ordered swiftly as the two Pokémon leapt apart. The Fire type was half a heartbeat faster this time and nailed the Normal type clean in the head with a second Quick Attack, which knocked Lavender for a loop… and a slight concussion.
"Lavender! Are you OK?"Sapph cried out worriedly as Lavender broke free of her barrel roll and spat out a mouthful of hot sand, shaking her head from side to side to clear the dulling pain.
"Shall we say then that your goose is cooked, Sapph? Ninetails, Flamethrower!" Fuego cried, prompting Ninetails to start flaming at the mouth, releasing a large spout of fire that had a bright yellow centre with red flames corkscrewing around it as it shot towards the Eevee.
"Look out!" Sapph yelled, pointing at the spiraling beam of fire that was closing in fast.
'Look out'? Sure, rub it in, why don't you, Lavender said, sounding only a little cranky as her paintbrush tail swished from side to side playfully.
"Sore-ree! Geez, I meant that metaphorical- incoming!"Sapph yelled as Lavender rolled to the right to avoid the first Flamethrower and flipped back to the left to avoid a second Fire attack which scorched the ground where she stood moments before.
"Time to go on the offensive! Quick Attack!" Sapph declared, pointing at the Ninetails for emphasis.
"Ninetails, you use Quick Attack too!" Fuego countered.
"Psyche! Lavender, duck and use Bite!" Sapph yelled as Ninetails attempted to tackle Lavender high as the smaller Pokémon bent low and leapt for the Ninetails's rear right leg, closing her jaws painfully around the Fox Pokémon's inverted knee joint.
Aargh! Ninetails gasped in pain as the small Normal type latched on tight, her teeth sinking deeper into the firebrand's fleshy knee. Why, you little… she gasped, flames forming in her mouth and releasing a third Flamethrower at point-blank range without an order, bathing Lavender in hot flames.
"Lavender! You OK?"Sapph yelled, watching his toasting Pokémon in horror.
"Game set and match, hombi- what the?"Fuego gasped, performing a double take at the Pokémon that was keeping a tight hold on Ninetails's leg. A messy, cream coloured tail whipped across his view as Lavender's now-purplish fangs closed tighter, her blue eyes staring vindictively up at the Ninetails who yowled loudly and struggled for release as poison seemed to seep from her fangs into the Ninetails's system.
Lavender the Flareon in all her orange and creamy yellow glory was administering a Toxic attack to the Ninetails's fresh wound.
"Wasn't Sapph using an Eevee?" Slate asked in shock.
"Where did the Flareon come from then?" Sky gasped as similar questions filled the audience around them.
"Don't ask me," Haley gasped. "It's the first time I'm seeing this too!"
"Alright, Lavender! Way to stick it to them!" Sapph cheered. Turning serious, he ordered, "Use Smog attack and jump!"
Purple fumes seemed to explode from the centre of the ring obscuring the two Pokémon from view. A large white quadruped leapt from the cloud a few seconds later, hacking and wheezing as a delicate shade of purple tinged her fur.
"Damn it, poisoned," Fuego snarled, observing the Fox Pokémon's limbs tremble as its breathing became increasingly labored.
"That's not all you're getting! Lavender, use Flamethrower straight down!" Sapph proclaimed with much gusto.
"Straight…down? Oh… NO!"Fuego began slowly, looking up and gasping as the small orange Pokémon seemed to soar above the cloud, a large ball of fire swelling in her mouth. Pointing her head down, the Eeveelution released a stream of searing hot flames… straight at the poison cloud. As it connected, an almighty BANG erupted from centre field as Ninetails went soaring, scorch marks littering its creamy white fur.
Lavender landed heavily on all fours and winced from the shock. Glowing orange once more, Lavender reverted back to her regular form, panting heavily, yet looking triumphantly at the true Fire type as she shuddered from the pain of the poison creeping through her circulation and the multiple second degree burns dotting her body.
"Enough games! Ninetails, Will-O-Wisp!"
"Will-O-Wisp? What's that?"Sapph wondered, his ignorance of Hoenn Pokémon attacks causing him to stall in ordering a counter.
"Sapph, get Lavender out of there!" Haley screamed from the audience as wispy purplish flames erupted from the Fox Pokémon's mouth and attacked the Eevee, though seemingly not with a very effective result.
"Hah! What was that all about?" Sapph crowed, confident that the attack hadn't enough power to hurt his Evolution Pokémon.
"Wait for it…" Fuego taunted back patiently, his eyes on the Eevee.
Sapph scoffed and said, "OK, Lavender. Let's end this with… LAVENDER!" Sapph screamed as small flames erupted spontaneously all over Lavender's small body, roasting parts of her fur all over until bare patches of skin were visible.
"What's happening?" Sky gasped, also stunned at the turn of events.
"Will-O-Wisp is a fire attack that automatically leaves a burn which steadily cuts the target's health," Haley replied. "Sort of like the Fire type equivalent for Thunder Wave."
"Thank you, Ai-neh," Sky said with a pointed laugh.
"Let's go, Ninetails! Show 'em your Bite attack!" Fuego cried, taking advantage of Sapph's distraction.
Just as suddenly as the fires had popped up, they fizzled out, leaving Lavender in racking pain all over as suddenly the Ninetails clamped her sharp-toothed jaws around Lavender's middle, causing the smaller Pokémon to scream with pain and begin to glow again.
"You never learn, do you? Lavender, escape with Faint Attack!" Sapph smirked as a black light erupted from Lavender's battered body as a sense of vicious vengeance crossed her mind.
"That'd be my line, hombire!" Fuego called back spitefully. "Ninetails, toss that little pest!"
Ninetails lowered her head, preparing to fling the Eevee aside when suddenly her maw was clamped on nothing but air as Eevee vanished from sight.
What the… Ninetails thought in shock before an invisible form smacked her from the right side of her head. Before she could wrap her mind around how it had happened, a second blow struck her left temple, staggering her.
"Ninetails, what's wrong?" Fuego called out worriedly as a third blow connected with the bottom side of Ninetails's lower jaw, sending the lithe Fire type flying, a trail of mouth blood following.
As Ninetails crumpled into a convulsing heap, Lavender appeared, fading back into sight with her red eyes locked on the fallen Ninetails.
"Again? What is this madness?" Fuego gasped, taking in Lavender's glowing golden rings that stood out clearly on her sable, three foot form. Her tail had retained its paintbrush shape but was now black from root to tip, save for a yellow ring of fur that divided it horizontally in two.
Lavender was now an Umbreon. A very aggressive, pissed off Umbreon…
"OK! Lavender, let's end this! Night Slash attack!"
The small flames erupted over her body once more charring her body even more. Gritting her teeth to avoid losing focus, Lavender rushed the shaky Ninetails and scythed her opponent's left feet from under her with a swift, clinically precise swipe of her paw. Skidding around, she raced back towards Sapph, landing a second slash on the Fox Pokémon's right paws, causing the larger Pokémon to crumple once more in a dead faint.
After an unnecessary five-count, the referee raised her red flag towards Sapph and the near-exhausted Eevee and announced, "Ninetails is unable to battle! Erm…" she faltered, as the Moonlight Pokémon glowed black once more and reverted to Lavender's much friendlier persona. "Eevee is the winner!"
"Looks like you have quite the team there, hombire," Fuego exclaimed in a shocked voice. Pulling a second pokéball off his belt, he added, "However, my adoring fans cannot be disappointed now, can they? Go, Oxyon!"
Oxyon? Sapph thought as the sphere split open and the light within began to take form. What's an Oxyon?
"Looks like Fuego's not going easy on 'im anymore, don' it?" Sky remarked as Haley simply looked on through the camera's viewfinder blankly.
Sapph's first impression, when the light dimmed down was where the heck the Gym Leader had acquired such a beauty. It was small, hardly a foot taller than Lavender, with vermillion fur and a long, tapering tail ending in a reddish white flame. Its stout, two digit toes each ended in a short stubby claw that gleamed a white colour identical to its underbelly and small, fluffy wings. What wowed Sapph the most was the fact that where the lion's mane should have been, a ring of shifting, ceaseless flames danced about instead, giving the Oxyon a look that transcended cute, yet did not spell out pushover, either.
Oxyon, the Pyrotechnical Pokémon, Sapph's Pokédex beeped loudly. Oxyon are capable of fairly decent flight with the wings on its back. It occasionally looses flames from under its paws to get a speed boost for flight.
"Be ready for anything, Lavender," Sapph whispered to his Eevee, who nodded mutely in response.
"Oxyon! Aerial Ace!" Fuego exclaimed the instant the flags went up for the trainers to resume battling.
"Aerial what?"
Oxyon took a running start towards Lavender, who was smoking from the after effect of another Will-O-Wisp, and sprang into the air when he was a good twelve feet away. Sapph and Lavender watched with gaping mouths as the Pyrotechnical Pokémon flapped its short wings once and shot into the air, releasing a cloud of white feathers which obscured Lavender's sight momentarily.
Remembering the Feather Storm attack he'd battled in Chinooka City, Sapph bellowed, "Get back here, Lavender! Now!"
Lavender complied by leaping backwards as the feathers noiselessly drifted to the earth around her, her ears strained for signs of the attacking Fire type, when suddenly, two flaming paws smacked Lavender clean in the chest and sent her cart wheeling into the ground at Sapph's feet.
"Whaaa…" Sapph gasped in shock as the Oxyon flapped its wings stongly and floated away towards her trainer's side of the battle.
"Apparently you don't know of Aerial Ace's characteristics, hombire," Fuego tutted him arrogantly. "It is as a Swift attack…nothing can evade its speed and power!"
"Damnit!" Sapph swore as he watched Lavender's body burst into combustion for the fourth time in the match. Pulling out her pokéball, Sapph made to return her, when her voice cried out, Not yet!
"Lavender?" Sapph asked his Pokémon uncertainly as she began to wobble back to her feet. "Can you stand?"
Sure I can, Lavender replied, her slight brown frame burnt all over from the consecutive Will-O-Wisp attacks. I can't let the other's down, after all. It's my first battle and I intend to do my best!
Lavender… Sapph thought, stunned at how far his youngest Pokémon was willing to go. Raising his voice, he called out to his Evolution Pokémon, "Lavender, that's enough! You've done enough. Take a rest…"
No way, Lavender growled, her eyes locked threateningly on the Oxyon, whose feet had touched the ground and awaited a command from her trainer. Looking back at her trainer, she smiled a smile reminiscent of Anuvi and declared, C'mon, Sapph… let's beat this guy…into…the…grooouunnnnd…
Without a change in expression, she hit the ground with a thud, completely spent.
"I believe that this match is over, shoreh," Fuego remarked, using the term for 'little boy' in Dunedé in addressing Sapph.
"Eevee is unable to battle!" The referee exclaimed, raising her green flag towards the Oxyon and her trainer. "Oxyon is the winner!"
The announcement brought wild cheers from the spectators, many of them ladies.
"I still can't get over the fact that Fuego has an Oxyon," Haley muttered to Sky and Slate as they watched Sapph return Lavender silently.
"I can't get over the fact that Sapph lost that one without landing a single attack," Slate replied. His eyes narrowed as they stared through the thick steam towards Fuego, who congratulated his battler proudly.
Sapph's blue eyes studied the Fire/Flying type as he returned Lavender to his belt, thinking hard.
Oxyon's too fast to nail with a strong attack, he thought as his hand drifted aimlessly towards a white pokéball situated on his belt. That fact rules out Ace from this match. Crimson has too many weaknesses against a Fire and Flying combination… and Zen is banned from this match… well, he may be equally weak against fire and that Aerial Ace attack, but he's definitely got the speed to dodge the latter…
"Are you ready yet, shoreh?" Fuego called out impatiently, startling Sapph out of his train of thought and knocking off a red and white pokéball to the floor which bounced in between his legs and into the field where it burst open, a flash of white light spilling onto the field and forming a hexapedal creature with a smaller body than head and (as the light dimmed) two black antenna and a red back splashed with Five black spots arranged in a X.
The audience fell silent at this stunning turn of events as Crimson stretched himself out and crouched into his familiar Vale Tudo stance, calling out to Sapph, Hey, kind of a hot one today, wouldn't you say?
Oh, damn… Haley thought, almost dropping her camcorder. Looks like Sapph's luck is back…
What were you thinking, Sapph mate? Sky thought helplessly as the crowd around them began to hoot with laughter.
Slate, however, remembering how much trouble Sapph could pose to an opponent who believes he has the advantage, simply smirked at Fuego, who looked dumbfounded at Sapph's choice.
"Oh, crap! Crimson, you gotta get outta here!" Sapph yelled in a panicky voice.
"Will the challenger return his Pokémon?" the referee asked, more or less shocked at Sapph's apparently poor judgment of the situation. "Knowing full well that retuning his Pokémon qualifies as forfeit as per the rules of this match?"
"Come now, Amy," Fuego smirked, getting his laughter under control. "Humour his choice as a mistake and let's carry on, shall we?"Waving a hand at Sapph disdainfully, he said," Return your insect, shoreh… give my fire types a real challenge."
Fuego's words hit all the wrong nerves… all at once.
That's it! I'm taking this upstart down, Sapph! Crimson declared furiously, firing up his wings and lifting off about a foot off the heated ground.
"Let's do it, Crimson!" Sapph agreed, his eyes focused once more on the battle at hand.
Fuego chuckled some more as he muttered, "Your funeral. Oxyon, let us end this one quickly. Aerial Ace!"
Aerial Ace can't be evaded, Sapph thought, watching Oxyon take a running start towards Crimson and take off. And the feathers it scatters act as a diversion so that Oxyon can get in a clean hit. In that case…
"Crimson, ignore the feathers and use Protect now!" Sapph commanded swiftly.
Right! Crimson called back, conjuring a shimmering, blue green wall all around him in the nick of time as Oxyon soared in and smashed into the barrier, which nullified her attack completely and threw the Fire type off balance.
"What the… it knows Protect?!" Fuego gasped as the crowd suddenly stopped laughing.
Smirking broadly, Sapph replied, "And that's not all… Crimson! Mach Punch attack!"
Crimson nodded and dropped the barrier as he reared back his upper right fist and let loose a punch that was faster than sound itself right into the side of the fiery lion's face, sending it skidding backwards, four long smoking tracks trailing it in the loosely packed sand.
Rrrrrr… the Oxyon growled, a large red bruise visible on the left side of her face. Hit a lady, will you?
"Enough!" Fuego shouted magisterially. "Oxyon, use Overheat!"
"Another Hoenn technique?!" Sapph swore under his breath. "I don't need to see it to guess it's a Fire type attack…"
"Not just any fire attack, shoreh," Fuego declared proudly as Oxyon's mane began to flare up to insane proportions. "It is the perfect Fire attack! There's no escape, and no defense for you, seeing as using Protect twice in a row is incredibly taxing, not to mention near impossible! Show them, Oxyon!"
Oxyon complied by firing an almighty beam of heat energy straight for Crimson, whose trainer gritted his teeth as Fuego's words rang true in his mind, the beam racing in at a suddenly slow pace in his mind's eye… when suddenly a memory of a similar scenario flashed through his mind… of a time before Crimson learned Protect and still managed to guard himself against an attack that was sure to beat him…
"Aha! I know that look!" Slate exclaimed happily in the stands.
"Why are you so happy?"Sky yelled, nearly choking the fourteen year old Rock trainer in her panic.
"I've battled Sapph before, so I'd know," Slate said calmly, throwing Sky a scathing look. "That's Sapph's 'I've-got-a-crazy-idea' look…"
"The problem is…" Haley muttered, her professionalism exceeding her empathy as she kept her eye glued to her camera.
The problem is, Sapph thought furiously, battling the voice inside him telling him it was his only chance. Will the same thing work twice?
Sapph! Crimson bellowed. If you have a plan, let's hear it… NOW!
Crimson's voice seemed to snap back to normal time and the imminent danger his Pokémon was in. "OK! Crimson, use Comet Punch!" Sapph commanded desperately.
Crimson nearly face faulted internally at the command, but dutifully prepared the cosmic energy that surrounded his fists as the fiery attack geared up, closing the gap between them rapidly. All right… but at what?
"At the Overheat! Hurry!" Sapph ordered urgently, pointing forward.
Crimson didn't ask questions, although the plan seemed vaguely familiar. Putting his full trust in the plan, Crimson flew full force into the Overheat attack, his glittering fist connecting with the blast head on.
"Hah! Do you really think an offensive attack like Comet Punch can beat an Overheat?" Fuego mocked, watching the attacks collide. "You have no chance of survival, shoreh… none at a- what the hell?!"He screamed as the crowd gasped and the male population of the audience let out a cheer: just as it had at the Nightspark Gym with Ballomb's Thunderbolt, Crimson's Comet Punch began to absorb the immense fire attack's energy into the fist, the tiny stars that trailed it glowing orange red as they turned into fiery sparks.
Haley dropped the camera as her lower jaw in one motion.
Slate gaped. Admittedly, he had confidence in whatever plan the Johton trainer was cooking up, but this exceeded any and all expectations the boy had.
Sky shrieked in amazement as the Overheat attack was instantly sucked into the Comet Punch, leaving the Ledian unharmed and the Oxyon completely lost for words.
"Thanks for the heat, Fuego," Sapph grinned. "Let me return the favour. Crimson! Comet Punch… Fire Style!"
Crimson nodded and punched his four fists together, creating four more miniature comets on his little white palms. As Crimson pulled his fists apart, the silvery white sparks crackled and began to glow incandescent red, as thought the comets had turned into miniature suns. Letting out a voluminous yell, Crimson flung his fists forwards, reciprocating the Overheat attack's effect four times over, each flaming comet speeding towards the hapless Oxyon who stood transfixed in horror as its own attack came back to bite her in the ass.
The crowd was stunned at the sheer power of the Five Star Pokémon's attack, turning a close range attack like Comet Punch into a long ranged multiple beam assault.
"OXYON! USE HEAT HAZE, NOW!" Fuego screamed at the top of his lungs, jolting the firebrand's mind back to action and its body into motion. With a loud roar, the fire lion emitted a wave of heat so strong it formed a shimmering barrier that upon contact with the flaming projectiles, created a mini explosion that threw up a cloud of smoke and sand, blocking off the Pryotechnical Pokémon from view.
"Wow…" Sapph gasped as Crimson floated back a bit to give himself room to defend against a counter. "What an attack! How you holding up, Crimson?"
Depends, Crimson grunted, clutching his hands in agony. Sapph, taking a closer look, gasped in shock as his Pokémon's hands were now laced in burns. It's an amazing attack, that's true… but I'll either have to tone it down or use it sparingly.
"True, but let's worry about that later," Sapph replied, pointing back at Oxyon, who looked utterly woebegone but was still standing, ready to make the 'Crimson Wonder' pay for such an uppity counter attack.
Fuego wasn't pleased to see his attack returned like that, and he was going to let Sapph know it. "You piece of garbage," he snarled. "I'm through playing nice with you!"
"You were playing?" Sapph replied, cocking an eyebrow in some surprise. "That's a shame. We personally take battling very seriously… right, Crimson?"
To quote Anuvi… 'You said it!' Crimson replied.
"Enough!" Fuego screamed in fury. Pointing at Crimson vehemently, he commanded, "Oxyon, make him pay! Aerial Ace!"
Oxyon let out another powerful roar and despite its numerous injuries, leapt into the air, fire trailing from her paws as she began a great loop-de-loop, gaining speed on the downwards dive.
"Think you can pull off another Comet Punch?" Sapph muttered as he watched the opposing Pokémon loop through the air.
As long as it's not another Fire Style, Crimson replied, watching the fire type build up speed for the dive.
"Then wait for him to get near," Sapph calmly commanded as the Oxyon began its speedy descent, searing hot paws first. "And use Comet Punch…"
"Again?!" Fuego gasped, his eyes bugging out of his head.
"…THUNDER STYLE!" Sapph bellowed as the fire type sped in, moving too fast to change directions.
Don't you know better than to charge head in on an opponent you know next to nothing about? Crimson scolded the incoming Oxyon playfully as his fists crackled with golden electric energy, which he unloaded straight into the lion's paws, causing it to convulse painfully and fly backwards into the sand, where it sparked and twitched, yet clearly unable to battle any further.
After what seemed like a long five count, the female referee raised her red flag again and announced, "Oxyon is unable to battle! Ledian is the winner!"
The female portion of the crowd began muttering amongst themselves darkly as Fuego returned his Oxyon, looking downcast whilst Sky regarded the human and Bug type combination fearfully as the young male congratulated his Pokémon on a battle well fought.
Fuego wordlessly took out a third Pokémon and with out any audible preamble cast down the third choice for the match, which burst open, the light within forming a strange sight, a strange sight that stood nine inches taller that Crimson and possessed a pinkish upper body which ended in a zigzag patterned design separating it from the lower half of its body and tail, which were red. White claw digits stood out on its four limbs and from the way it held itself, it was hard for Sapph to make out whether it was bidedal or quadrupedal.
Xeritherm, the Scorch Pokémon. Using their extendable tongue in conjunction with its flammable saliva, it can create a flaming whip which can take out foes from as great a distance as a record forty feet, the Pokédex lectured in its dull, lifeless voice.
"Xeritherm," Fuego said quietly, locking his eyes on the defiant Ledian. "Use Lick!"
Ewww… gross! Ledian screeched in disgust as Xeritherm's long, slobbery tongue painted him with drool from head to toe.
"Now, that was plain old nasty," Sky commented flippantly.
"Xeritherm, use Bind!"
"Now what's he up to?!"Sapph thought aloud. "Crimson, dodge that tongue!"
Crimson tried to, but his limbs stiffened involuntarily, freezing him in place.
Sapph! I-I can't move! Crimson yelled as the repulsive organ wrapped itself around Crimson's body and neck, holding him fast. Only by keeping one arm by his neck was Crimson able to avoid being throttled by the Xeritherm's whiplike tongue as the organ began to constrict.
"Now, use Flamethrower!"Fuego said vindictively.
Xeritherm let out a strangled croaking noise as a spurt of fire raced along the length of its tongue, engulfing Crimson in violently fierce flames.
"CRIMSON!" Sapph yelled, watching in horror as his Bug type Pokémon became awash in flame.
Fuego finally smirked and ordered Xeritherm to release its prey, which it did, leaving Crimson to hit the sand on his knees, smoking at the joints of his exoskeleton.
"Crimson! Are you OK?" Sapph screamed again. To his immense relief, and Fuego utter shock, Crimson pushed himself to his feet once more and raised a thumbs-up.
Somewhat, Crimson said matter-of-factly. I was able to get a weak Protect shield up, just before the Flamethrower hit. It cut down some of the damage, but it still hurt like crazy.
"That's a relief," Sapph said with a smile, behind which he began to think fast. OK, so let's see, Sapph thought silently. First he used Lick… presumably to paralyze Crimson. In case that failed, he used Bind to hold him down… but the Lick attack worked, so there would be no need to Bind Crimson… unless…
"OK, Crimson," Sapph ordered. "Here's the plan…"
"As if I'd let you, hombire!"Fuego yelled. "Xeritherm, Bind again!"
"Take the hit!" Sapph countered, hoping this plan would work, a view Crimson openly voiced as the Xeritherm's tongue grasped Crimson tightly again.
"Next up…" Fuego began loudly, but Sapph intercepted his command by yelling," Crimson! Use your strongest Supersonic on his tongue!"
Crimson nodded once with difficulty and aimed a piercing shriek at the detestable organ, which reverberated all along its length into Xeritherm's mouth. Xeritherm let out another muffled scream as his tongue loosened its hold on Crimson, whose feeling was starting to return to his limbs.
"Now get him!" Sapph said swiftly. "Comet Punch, Thunder Style!"
Got it! Crimson yelled, as his wings fired up again and he streaked across the hot sands, his fists crackling lightning once more.
"Wow, what a comeback!" Sky yelled excitedly, getting into the match.
"Why isn't Fuego ordering a counterattack though?" Slate wondered.
"It must be because…" Haley began.
… Xeritherm can't aim without Binding his target with his tongue, Grandpa said knowledgeably, suddenly appearing beside Slate form within his pokéball.
"'Can't aim'?" Slate and Sky repeated in unison as Haley nodded, watching Crimson unleash four lightning fast punches into the stunned Scorch Pokémon's body.
Sapph must have figured it out when he attacked the first time, Grandpa explained. Why would you need to bind an immobilized target?
"You only did that 'cause you couldn't hit Crimson at that distance," Sapph explained triumphantly. "The Bind attack isn't to bind… it's to mark your target!"
Fuego only growled as the ref raised her red flag once more and announced, "Xeritherm is unable to battle. Ledian… wait a minute!"She declared as Crimson, the toll of two battles taking its effect on his body heavily, causing him to pass out on the sands, all the fight gone from him. "Ledian is also unable to battle," she amended, raising her green flag to join the red one in the air. "This round is a tie!"
"Wow… well ain't that a kick to the head," Sky said in a stunned voice, as the female populace in the stadium screamed their approval.
Slate and Haley nodded in unison as the latter replied, "True, but Sapph has the upper hand."
"Of course!" Slate said excitedly. "Sapph may have lost two Pokémon, but Fuego's lost three!"
"Meaning…" Sky said slowly.
If Sapph can beat down his next Pokémon, Grandpa recounted.
"He's won!" Haley finished cheerfully.
"If that's the case," Slate said uncertainly. "Why doesn't Sapph looked more excited?"
"Hunh? Hey, you're right!" Sky cried out, staring at Sapph who'd returned Crimson with a quiet word of thanks and looked up at Fuego who'd done the same and now held out his fourth and final Pokémon (which was presently housed in a pokéball with a black and yellow striped upper half) with a smirk on his face.
Damn it, Sapph said in his head. He's gonna use that Pokémon…it was strong enough to give Zen a run for his money, and no Pokémon's done that since Crimson! And it'll be too presumptuous to think that it still doesn't know fire attacks… Oh, well, in that case…, he thought to himself, pulling out a third pokéball from the top of his jeans, better beat this Fire with Flyer…
"Let's do this, Ace!" Sapph exclaimed releasing his faithful, military regimented Swoop Pokémon into the mix.
"Interesting…" Fuego smirked to himself. "Well, let's see if this flying ace of yours is up to the challenge, shoreh. Come forth," he called, throwing his newest trump card forwards. "Conburn!"
In a blast of yellow light, the Fire Conch Pokémon erupted into the fray, letting loose an earth-shattering roar, that the fans seemed eager to top with their cheers.
"What the… wasn't it a Conburn that nearly turned Mt. Appleburn into an active volcano again?" Slate yelled in shock.
"Please don't tell me…" Haley gaped as Sapph gritted his teeth tightly.
"… it's the same one?!" Sky finished loudly.
Your orders, sir? Ace said crisply, not taking her goggled eyes from the Conburn's fierce ones.
"We hit fast… and hit hard! Ace, give it all you got! Quick Attack now!" Sapph bellowed, pointing at the hard-shelled Fire type for emphasis.
Roger! Ace cawed, blazing in and striking it solidly in the chest region with considerable force, pushing it back a few feet.
"Yes!" Sky cheered, pumping a fist in the air.
"Is that it? How disappointing, shoreh," Fuego tutted waspishly. Sapph and Ace's eyes widened as the Conburn raised its powerfully armored arms and seized the Flying type by the wings, and flung Ace skywards after slamming her into the ground. Hard.
"No!" Slate cried.
"Ace, can you carry on?" Sapph called to his winged Pokémon as she righted herself in midair.
No problem, General! Ace called back. Awaiting orders!
"Give it up, shoreh," Fuego scoffed. "Conburn, use your Stone Edge attack!"
"OK, next order… back flip and into a quick dive! Ready your Cyclone!" Sapph ordered swiftly as the Conburn slammed the ground viciously, causing a cluster of boulders to race straight up from under Ace. Ace, following orders, pulled off a graceful back flip out of harm's way and shot towards the ground, her eyes closed as she timed her rotation for the right moment.
"NOW!" Sapph yelled as Ace pulled out of the dive about four feet above the ground. Spinning rapidly, she whipped up the hot sands around the high speed twister as she shot towards the Conburn like a cruise missile on speed steroids. The twister had soon amassed enough sand to become a Sand Cyclone.
"Let's see you use fire now, Fuego!" Sapph crowed, as Ace came closer and closer, zigzagging to avoid a possible retaliatory Stone Edge.
Tutting Sapph once more, Fuego smiled, "A fire type trainer does not only specialize in fire attacks. Conburn! Use Solarbeam!"
"Nuts!" Sapph yelled, as Ace raced closer to a rapidly swelling beam of light energy.
"Did he say… 'Solarbeam'?!" Sky freaked.
"And with all the sunlight pouring in today… that won't take long to charge at all!" Haley gasped as Conburn unleashed a violent white flash of sunlight upon the sandy snakelike attack busting it apart viciously.
Squawking in pain, Ace soared into the wall behind Sapph and splatting in a comical fashion. Even before she hit the floor, Sapph could see that she'd had enough.
After a long five count, the referee raised the green flag above her head towards Fuego and Conburn and announced, "Mawhoot is unable to battle, Conburn wins!"
"And just like that, it's tied again," Slate said quietly.
"What I don't get," Haley said with a faint crease on her brow, "was how Fuego used a Grass attack to KO a Flying type in one shot?"
"Power speaks louder than types, I guess," Sky answered in a distant, stunned voice.
I disagree, Grandpa piped up. The three youths looked at the Rock Man Pokémon in surprise as he explained. Ace's Cyclone seems to take on the attribute of the element that surrounds it. If she used a Water Cyclone on a Fire type, it would be lights out for said Fire type. But against a Grass attack like Solarbeam, a Ground type Cyclone doesn't stand a chance."
"Whoa," Sky whistled as Sapph returned his third Pokémon with words of encouragement. Looking back at Fuego determinedly, he pledged himself once again that he was leaving this gym victoriously. "So what's he gonna go now? Choose Zen?"
"If he could, don't you think would have already?" Slate replied scathingly. Before Sky had a chance to reply scathingly, he went on, "This match is the second of a two-gym match ban for Zen."
Haley nodded and continued, "All he's got left now are Anuvi… or Arcana."
Arcana? Grandpa queried.
"Sapph's new Growlithe," Haley informed him. "Anuvi's got more experience in gym battles… but Arcana's got a better chance against whichever Fire attack Fuego's taught that behemoth."
"Well, it's all down to this battle," Sky said in an uncharacteristically cool voice as the others nodded. "Who's it gonna be, Sapph?"
Sapph closed his eyes for a moment and looking up at the bright sky that filtered through the transparent ceiling, he made his choice.
Rearing back his fist which held his last stand, Sapph threw his pokéball forward and exclaimed, "Go… ARCANA!"
The striped puppy Pokémon burst free of her pokéball and began to prance on the spot, singing as her head rocked from side to side almost as though the small puppy was wearing headphones:
Ah… like… good… battles an' ah cannot lie!
All my opponents're gonna fry!
With-a one an' a two,
Time to bar-be-cue,
With ma fire power that's so fly!
Fuego sweat dropped as he face faulted hard on the sands. Standing up sharply, he stared at his opponent and his Pokémon as she continued to prance about.
Smiling slightly, Sapph looked at Fuego's stunned look and called out, "You ready to rock, Arcana?"
Bring it, Turtle King! Arcana crowed, her cream coloured tail wagging as though in a high wind.
"Arcana?! I thought he'd choose Anuvi for sure!" Sky bawled.
"Just shut up and watch, will you?"Slate told her sharply, earning a sharp retort from the girl, which he ignored. "Sapph's gotta have a plan, or he wouldn't choose her."
"I've heard from Ricon-hame that you possess an otherworldly Squirrage," Fuego muttered in a low voice. "And for you to degrade me with a greenhorn battler… YOU INSULT ME, HOMBIRE! Conburn, use Solarbeam!"
"Again?" Sapph scoffed, mimicking Fuego's voice. "You need to get a plan. Arcana, let's go!"
Boogie time! Arcana whooped as she sprinted off to the right avoiding a blast of condensed sunlight which kicked up a storm of sand. As the cloud cleared, a small dune of red hot sand stood there for a moment before it cooled down and broke apart.
"Wait a minute," Sapph thought aloud. "Was that…"
"Solarbeam again!" Fuego screeched, losing his cool at how easily the Growlithe was avoiding damage.
The larger fire Pokémon let loose another bestial roar and fired another shot of Solarbeam at the nimble Puppy Pokémon, who avoided it by rolling forward. Another mound of heated sand rose and glowed red momentarily before breaking apart.
"I've got an idea," Sapph said slowly.
Ah like the sound o' that! Arcana barked happily. So what's first?
"Piss 'im off," Sapph replied with a grin. "Arcana, let's go! Ember attack!"
Rock it! Arcana exclaimed, flames leaping around inside her closed mouth. Opening it sharply, Arcana fired around of red hot embers at the Conburn, who raised an arm in defense and snarling as the attack continued to aggravate it.
The Conburn lumbered towards the Growlithe and pulling back a fist slammed the ground forcefully with the aim of burying Arcana in the hot sands alive.
Arcana, however, was having none of that and with a command from Sapph, sped off in a wide arc around Fuego's enraged Pokémon with an excellent Quick Attack. Once behind the slower firebrand, the Puppy Pokémon unleashed a second barrage on miniature fire type projectiles which struck the back of her opponent's head, pissing off the Fire Conch Pokémon even further.
And so the whimsical bullfight began: Arcana unloading a sporadic salvo of Embers all over Conburn's sensitive, unguarded parts and ducking away tauntingly with Quick Attack as Conburn lumbered over with earth-shaking stomps. In next to no time, Conburn began to feel fatigued, not due to the hot embers that it was getting hit with over and over again, but with the effort of racing after the littler Fire type, who pranced on the spot after each successful taunt.
He's wearing down, Sapph thought excitedly. This is it!
Aloud, the younger trainer cried out, "Arcana! Use Take Down!"
Barking in assent, the female Growlithe took off running, trailing golden streaks behind her as the Conburn turned to face her charge head on, yet too fatigued to do more than raise a heavily clawed arm in defense. With strength belittled by her size and weight, the Growlithe bounded up to the giant's arm, seized it firmly with her claws and teeth and with the force of her charge sent the monstrous Pokémon bowling over into the sand.
The reckless charge however, resulted in Arcana overextending herself and landing on her cream-topped head before rolling off her target.
Both Pokémon rolled to their feet and glared at each other, baring their teeth at each other.
"Grrr… Conburn! Use Heat Wave!" Fuego roared enraged at the cheap shots Sapph was taking at him.
Conburn snarled in acknowledgement and cocked back a giant fist, which burst into flames. Thrusting forward with his fist aflame, Conburn slammed the ground at his feet, creating a fast moving wave of flame to erupt from the sand away from Conburn and advance on the small canine Pokémon.
"About time!" Sapph cried out happily. "Arcana! Use Ember as quickly as you can at the mound of sand five feet in front of you right now!"
Arcana nodded and fired off a repeated stream of fire that blew up the sand quickly as it collided with the Conburn's attack, causing a huge cloud of dust to blow up all over the stage, obscuring the field from all the humans' (trainers included) view. This was, however, tied in perfectly with Sapph's plans who yelled, "Quick Attack!"
"Damn, I can't see!" Fuego growled, peering into the mini sandstorm. "Conburn, go defensive!"
Inside the maelstrom of dirt, however, Conburn only felt like crushing the miniscule dog which had irked it for far too long. Swinging his large fists around, he glanced dead ahead and saw the puppy standing before him, a taunting glare visible in her violet eyes. Well, the Conburn thought arrogantly, readying a Solarbeam, he'd show her a thing or two.
The laser beam of sunlight burst forth with a vengeance straight for the smirking Growlithe, who didn't even attempt to move, but stood her ground, looking as though she though the Fire Conch Pokémon was merely wasting her time. It hit its mark dead on…
…and bounced back.
Conburn's eyes widened in winded shock as its own Solarbeam flashed back at him, slamming him in the gut and blasting him off his feet. Flying back ten feet and landing on his back in a winded fashion, Conburn hacked up a clot of dark red blood and lay still, its body wracked in pain from receiving its own Solarbeam at twice the power.
The cloud cleared then revealing the Growlithe standing on Fuego's side of the battle field, breathing in a raspy, heavy fashion from the effort of firing off so many Ember attacks so quickly. On Sapph's side, directly opposite the Growlithe was a shiny mound of hardened sand. Slate and Haley stared in wonder as they recognized what it was.
"Glass," Haley said in wonder. "It's glass…"
"Not just glass, Haley," Slate said in a distant voice, also stunned at how far ahead Sapph had thought out his plan. "It's a mirror."
"A mirror?!" Sky exclaimed, looking from one to the other, warranting an explanation. "How'd a mirror get there?"
Well, Sky, Grandpa replied proudly. Glass is made from heating sand with intense heat and a mirror is made by coating one side with a dark material of sorts.
"So where'd they get that 'dark substance' you're talking about from?" Sky questioned.
Looking down at Conburn, Haley answered, "Arcana's Ember… look, Sky… the areas on the Conburn's neck and arms are charred black. I'll bet when Sapph ordered Arcana to fire Ember at an accelerated rate, the glass formed on her side of the collision was charred by the smoky burns of the Ember."
"Amazing," Slate said, highly impressed with the thought Sapph had placed on the battle. "And since Conburn is half Rock type, when the Solarbeam hit, it did more than enough damage to cinch the victory."
The ref looked towards the Conburn and began the five-count:
"ONE!"
"Get up, Conburn! Get up now!" Fuego screamed indignantly.
"TWO!"
"Forget it, Fuego!" Sapph called across the field as Growlithe put a moderate distance between herself and the Conburn. "It's too badly beaten up!"
"THREE!"
"Forget you, shoreh!" Fuego yelled furiously. "Stand up, Conburn!"
"FOUR!"
Somehow, the Conburn rose shakily to his feet and roared, its shell cracked severely as it rose to its feet and began to charge the Growlithe desperately, rearing back one fist in a final attempt at a Mega Punch.
"No way! He got up?" Sky gasped as Fuego's cheering section burst into cheers.
Man, he is one annoying Pokémon! Arcana growled raspily, tensing herself for a counter attack order.
"You said it, Arcana," Sapph scowled. "Keep him away with Ember!"
Arcana inhaled, her mouth filling with red fire once more. However, when she opened her mouth this time a steady stream of ivory and cerulean flames issued forth scorching the Conburn's cracked shell further and blowing the Conburn back onto his back forcefully, the wind knocked clean out of its sails.
Silence reigned in the arena. Sapph's Pokédex broke the silence by announcing unnecessarily: Congratulations. Your Growlithe has learned Flamethrower.
Arcana panted for several long seconds as the referee began another five count and Fuego stared blankly. None of his Pokémon had so much as procured a wisp of blue heat flame, yet this amateur's Fire Pokémon had done so on the fist shot.
"No," he whispered, unwilling to believe he had lost not only the match, but his face in the eyes of his fans.
FIVE! Arcana announced cockily along with the referee. Ding, ding, ding! The awesome Arcana wins! Ha hah! How's zat for shell shock?
***
Two days after their battle for the Inferno Badge, during which Ace, Lavender, Crimson and Arcana had been put on bed rest, Sapph and Haley left the Pokémon Center to continue their journey due north, Sapph with a shiny new Inferno badge to join the other three he'd already earned in his badge case. They had avoided a farewell with Sky on Sapph's bequest; the girls would most likely use the last minutes together fighting and Sapph had had enough of that during the five days they had been together. Haley, to Sapph's surprise, had agreed without a fight.
"Besides, today's too good a day to waste it fighting a misguided girl like Sky," Haley had said nonchalantly.
Sapph laughed and said, "All I'm glad for is that Sky didn't hear you."
"And on a more important topic," Haley remarked as they trudged along yet another wooded area road which wound gently up a mountain, "We get to spend the rest of our time together without any third parties," Haley went on happily.
"What the heck do you mean by that?" Sapph asked the girl in a suspicious voice, turning to stare at Haley.
Haley, noticing the slip in thought, hastened to rectify it, blushing furiously. "Oh, you know, without Sky around, I can focus on my research work and you can focus on your training. We hardly got any done during the trip through the desert…"
"Uhhh… hunh…" Sapph said skeptically.
Haley, blushing harder, went on the offensive defensive. "And just what did you think I meant by what I said, Sapph Manson?" She demanded in a dangerously huffy tone.
It was now the turn of the boy trainer to blush violently as he replied in a mumble, "Well…. Uhm… you know, it's that… well… what you said… anyway," Sapph said quickly, keen to change the subject, "when do we reach the next town?"
Haley smirked, her goose grey eyes flashing triumphantly as she answered, "Olde Teake Town. Another hot spring town. No gym to speak of there, but their history as one of the first cities to exist on the Coriean continent leaves it as a national monument on its own."
"OK, so where's the next gym, then?" Sapph asked, worried about how much slack he'd build up before he made it.
Haley was on the point of answering when a tinkling noise and a shout that sounded vaguely familiar coming up from behind them, interrupted her.
"SAPPH! HALEY! WAIT UP!"
The duo turned around and saw a smallish figure on a black BMX bike pedaling up the hill towards them. The rider seemed petite, though it was hard to tell from that distance.
"Damn it!" Haley cussed. "Can we get a normal journey without all these interruptions?"
"Par for the course, I guess," Sapph replied, squinting down the mountain trail towards the figure who was closing the gap between them quickly now that they had stopped. "I wonder how whoever it is knows us…"
Within a few minutes, the cyclist had caught up and was leaning over the handlebars, struggling to catch her breath. The cyclist had shoulder-length hair of an unusual tone: dark blue (She began to look more and more familiar to Sapph now). Her Oriental style shirt (which was a pretty white with gold trim) seemed to hug her slender yet curvy frame rather moderately. Dark green Capri shorts and green and white soled trainers completed her evergreen appearance.
"Who are you, and why the hell have you been following us?" Haley demanded rudely.
"Haley…" Sapph began slowly as the girl continued to wheeze and gasp. "Let her get some air…"
"No way," Haley said stubbornly. "She could be with Team Shadow for all we know… who are you, and how did you know who we are?"
"Sapph's anorak," the girl muttered, pointing at the bright red cagoule which Sapph now wore with the sleeves rolled up," and you're hat. They're pretty much your trademarks, Haley."
"You didn't answer the first question," Haley said dismissively. "Who. Are. YOU?"
"I think I know, Haley," Sapph said slowly, hardly daring to believe it yet pleasantly thrilled to meet her again. Turning to the girl, who looked like she'd just caught her breath, Sapph smiled and said, "You've changed a lot, Nora."
"No waaay!" Nora moaned, looking up, her blue green eyes sparkling with something other than the fear which was all you could see in them when they had met a few weeks ago. "I hope… it-it's... in a good way?" She stammered, blushing furiously.
Sapph laughed as Haley blanched and said, "It's fine! I meant that in a good way, Nora! You look great! How've you and the Gatonda been doing? And Rose–obaana?" Sapph asked, using the Dunedé honorific term for old ladies.
(For those who may have forgotten, Sapph had competed in the Gatonda Tournament close to five weeks back to win the main prize, a Gatonda, for a young, needy girl… a girl who wanted the life of a trainer and had no one in her family's full support except for her grandmother, Rose Saunders.)
"They're great! Well, I was… umm, hoping to meet you on my journey. I dunno, if … perhaps you'd like…I guess you wouldn't, but… if you, you know, wanted another person in your group…"
Sapph and Haley stared, the latter with an expression close to furious. After all the trouble they'd gone through to get rid of Sky, they had to contend with another tag-along girl?
"Well, I guess it's better than hanging around alone," Sapph said cheerfully. "What say you, Haley?"
"No. There is no way in hell that we are travelling around with a clingy, fragile, helpless fan girl like Nora!"
"I-I can look after myself, you know!" Nora stammered indignantly. "I-I just thought it'd be… you know… fun to hang out together…"
"Besides, Haley… you said it yourself," Sapph said reasonably. "If Team Shadow attacked, three trainers are harder to beat than two."
"I still say no," Haley replied stubbornly.
"Look, please," Nora pleaded the researcher. "I won't be in the way! I can cook for my own Pokémon and I… and I'm a lot better at battling now. I've won three out of five badges, too…"
Sapph was about to compliment her on her achievement when Haley scoffed. "Oh, really? And I suppose you think you can take Sapph on, is that right?"
"No!" Nora ejaculated forcefully. "It's just that when I battled Arlene and Ricon, they kept reminiscing about their battles with you. And I thought… I thought… that I could learn a thing or two from him. They said I had much to learn."
"Forget it," Haley scoffed. "The only thing you can learn from Sapph is how scary Murphy's Law is. Heck, you couldn't beat me!"
"Oh, really?" Sapph decided to step in and try to keep this fight from going nuclear. "And how many badges have you won, Haley? None out of none? Let's at least give Nora a…"
"Actually, Sapph," Haley retorted bitingly. "I've won two badges out of two, which statistically speaking is a better track record than your four out of five!"
"Two badges?!" Sapph exclaimed, as stunned as Nora was impressed. "Which two?"
"The Web and Inferno badges," Haley said smugly. "I doubt Little Miss Airy-Fairy could even beat me."
"D-d-do you want to t-try me?"Nora stammered, gulping slightly yet looking determined at the same time as she raised a pokéball in challenge.
"Now, that," Haley declared proudly, walking into a clearing in the woods and proceeding to unbuckle a pokéball of the belt circling her waist, "is a challenge I'll be willing to take you up on."
Aw, man, Sapph groaned mentally, slumping on a log besides Nora's bicycle and preparing to officiate the match before it got ugly. Not again…
***
CHARACTER PERSONALITY FOR THE WEEK
Name: Haley Kent
Age: 11
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: December 11th, PA 2004
Eye Colour: Grey
Hair Colour: Reddish blonde
Theme: Follow Me by Kay Hanley
Current Teammates: Bubbles (Aquala), Ento (Subbug), Blitzkrieg (Voltog), Mace (Urchane), Pixy (Vulpix), Vapor (Eevee)
Pokémon at the Yew Observatory: None
Background: The daughter of Melissa Ava and Roger Damian Kent, Haley Mizura Kent is also the younger sister of Kamren Maximilian Kent, and the youngest member of one of the richest families in Nightspark City and the richest in Olville Town.
Haley has had a fairly easy lifestyle throughout her growing years, with only one great big wrinkle, Carla Witkins. From the affection of the charming lab assistant Kyle to daily squabbles at the Olville Pokémon Academy, Haley would never admit it to her rival's face (who incidentally befriended her older brother for some time soon after their arrival in Olville fie years prior to the start of the story) but the wrinkle in her life's fabric helped keep her life lively.
After her father's abrupt disappearance, she decided to affiliate herself with the researcher circles of Corei during her journey to pick up the trail of her missing father. That coupled with her love for and skill at raising Water Pokémon makes her a unique individual in her own right, and a firce to reckon with on the battle field.
Now for the Corei-Dex… only one entry this week (I'm sure you understand), so let's get it on!
195 Oxyon
Type: Fire/Flying
Species: Pyrotechnical
Pronunciation: ox-eye-on
Height: 2'10"
Weight: 40lbs
Habitat: Mountain
Evolution Line: PURLYTE -(Heat Rock + Trade)- OXYON
Name Derivation: OXYgen (what all things need to burn) + liON
Notes: OXYON raise the heat of their surroundings to suffocating degrees. The strain of keeping up this feat renders it nearly vulnerable to any attack that can make it through its Heat Haze.