CHAPTER THIRTY
T.K.O.
Wispy cirrus clouds swirled around an ancient Far-Eastern style city seated high atop a snowy mountain. Houses with scarlet pagoda-shaped roofs ringed the mountain top crested by an enormous temple, so similar to the numerous dwelling surrounding it on a much bigger scale. A one-is-to-hundred size scale.
Children ran up and down the windy cobbled streets that meandered between the numerous houses, all of which wore simplistic clothing that would befit the formerly nomadic lifestyle of the people. Women conversed as they went about their daily business, their hair arranged in a variety of simple styles that would heavily hint their dislike for the flashy hairstyles many women would like to go for.
The start of this chapter of the story, however, lies in the temple; home to the upper echelon monks of Dopeak City, which have included the gym leader and the town guard since the ancient town's conception so many years ago. Many monks with silk robes of red and gold went about fulfilling their duties, be them to themselves (in the form of rigorous training or meditation) or to the community (as in safeguarding the cultural heritage and peace of the city.) Innumerable training fields dotted the temple, making it chilly and bitter cold, but the people there were not there for comfort, for their way of life was to live with as little complications as possible. Despite being well care for in general, these parts of the temple still had grass poking out through the edges and cracks of the paving slabs.
In the middle of one field in particular facing the eastern sun was a boy monk scarcely older than nine, draped in a monk's outfit with several slight differences. His yellow undershirt only provided cover for the right side of his upper torso whilst the left side down to the chest was left exposed. A red robe slung over the same shoulder offered little extra protection from the bitter cold. The cloak stopped at his waist where a red and gold belt held up a pair of dark brown trousers which stopped a few inches shy of his bare feet. His legs crossed in an intricate fashion, the boy's eyes were closed as he sat in a meditative position.
An older sage walked out onto the field in a towering temper, his grizzled toothless mouth forming a severe line as he strode out towards the boy who gave no indication that he was aware of his company.
Bowing respectfully, the old, balding sage began, "Brother Lhi..."
"...Brother Chen is missing again, is he not, Master Hang?" the boy said softly, not opening his eyes as continued his meditation.
The sage bowed again and went on in an irritable tone, "the boy has no regard for tradition whatsoever. His constant roaming the city should bring his role as gym leader into serious..."
"We have been over this, Master Hang," Lhi said without a trace of irritation. "Brother Chen is part of a gym leader. I am another part. We complete each other and we work together. If one of us goes, the other goes with him."
"B-but his disregard for the rules!" The sage spluttered. "His utter disrespect for tradition...!"
"Are little more than a desire for freedom and fun," Lhi replied slowly, his deep, steady breathing remaining uninterrupted. "He is, as I am, only nine, and as a leader," he went on, overriding the older Hang's imminent interruption, "I deem it wise of him to want to be with the people we are charged to safeguard."
"But... but..." Elder Hang said in spluttering disbelief.
"I wish not to discuss this any further, Master Hang," Lhi said with a trace of finality in his calm, lilting voice. "As his best friend and spiritual brother, I have understood him perfectly and assure you there is no monk in this temple who is more suited to be a gym leader."
Lhi then rose to his feet and walked out of the clearing meditatively, leaving the seething sage in his wake. In an undertone, he added, "Not even myself."
The bustling market place was teeming with townsfolk attending to their stores, chores or simply meeting to discuss life. At a small earthenware shop, a young girl, with her shiny black hair in a long plait that reached the small of her back was showing a customer some of their merchandise.
"Ming! Come over here, please!" A loud voice called from the back of the store.
Bowing respectfully to the customer, she trotted through the back door towards a low couch where a man who was unmistakeably her father lay on his back, his leg which lay in a cast propped up on the arm rest.
"What is wrong, Father?" Ming asked, worry etched in her blue eyes as she crouched near where her father's head lay.
"Nothing severe, my dear," her father reassured her, propping himself up into a sitting position as he reached for his cane. "I just recalled that we needed to send the order of bone china bowls to the noodle shop on Light Street today and I was wondering if you could get them there. Of course, I'd have asked your brother, Weng, but he has not returned from the hills as of yet."
"But, of course, Father," Ming replied, rising to her red-and-gold slipper-clad feet. "Shall I close the shop?"
"No, no," the middle aged man replied softly, his long thin moustache waving as he used his walking cane to rise to his feet, favouring his good right foot. "I shall manage until you return."
Ming nodded dutifully and pulled off her white storekeeper's apron, hanging it on a nail above the doorway as she walked out and towards a wagon laden with ceramic merchandise. Ming exhaled a couple of times and for a girl so small and seemingly frail managed to pull the cart along.
Unfortunately, many of Dopeak's cobbled streets were sharp inclines up and down the mountainside and no matter how often it is done, many nine year old girls simply cannot pull a heavy cart uphill behind them for long. It was long, therefore, when Ming noticed that she had reached her limit and leaned against a lamppost whilst clutching the cart, gasping for breath.
"Tired already, Ming?" A spritely voice called from somewhere above her head, and with her long curtain of shiny black hair following her, she glanced up into the branches of a nearby tree and cracked a tired smile. Wheeling the barrow towards the tree, she simply said, "Hello there, Chen."
A boy of nine years dropped out of the tree, brushing leaves off his bright blue and gold tracksuit, which was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to features that set this boy apart from others in the city.
His hair which, he had let grow in what may have been considered sacrilegious rebellion, although short, was laid messily atop his round, cheery face. Walking towards Ming, his dark eyes spelled concern as he took hold of the bar where an animal would be yoked and said brightly, "Girls shouldn't carry heavy stuff around. They should leave it for the strong boys and men of the village."
Ming shook her head in mild exasperation, a humoured expression on her face as she relinquished possession of the cart. While many a person would take offense at the boy's cheerful wisecracks, she knew Chen didn't really mean to sound arrogant and was far too used to his smart-aleck to be bothered.
"You're a brat, you know that?" she said, pretending to be annoyed.
"I know you are, but what am I?" Chen quipped with a wink.
With a theatrical pout, Ming said, "You're going to get the monks angry at you if you keep skipping out of the temple, you know. Don't you care what'll happen when they find out?"
"Frankly, they already know," Chen said nonchalantly. "But the temple gets boring after a while. And you know me," he added with a smirk. "I'm allergic to stuffy old stiffs like Master Han and the rest of my Hate Club up there."
Ming giggled. Her friend was truly a master of keeping things light-hearted, no matter how tough things were or could be.
"So," Chen remarked, as they meandered their way in between shoppers on their way up the hill. "How is your father's foot?"
"Much better," Ming replied, keeping up with her friend as they took a detour down a side street to avoid the human congestion. "The herbs you got for him really helped."
"That's great," Chen said happily as the duo emerged into a less crowded street which led down past the town square, in which a crowd was seemingly gathering.
"I wonder what's going on over there," Ming said curiously.
"Let's go see," Chen said eagerly and using the bulky cart to their advantage, Ming and Chen were able to get close enough to see what the center of attraction was.
Three trainers faced each other in a free-for-all one a piece battle. The shortest of the trainers, a young boy with messy dark brown hair and donning a bright red and white hoodie stood behind a green Pokémon that was probably a Grass type. Chen faced this pair and so couldn't see the cape of leaves that grew behind the Pokémon's back. Its purple eyes darted from the two Pokémon it was to face.
On the Squirrage's left was a yellow and orange fowl, the upper half of its body sausage shaped while three feathers adorning the crown of its head. Its flat-looking hands ended in three sharp white claws that could do some serious damage. This Pokémon kept its orange eyes on the Pokémon on his and his trainer's (a tall gangly teen with dark skin and black bobbed hair) left and her trainer.
The third trainer, and the only girl, and her Pokémon stood ready on the Squirrage's right, the breeze ruffling the Water Hare's cerulean fur and the girl's long reddish-blonde hair which she wore in a single plait under her wide-brimmed cowboy hat. Her white shirt and denim, knee-length skirt danced a hampered dance in the wind as they waited for the signal to start, the trickling of the water fountain behind them tinkling merrily in the background amidst the crowd's eager mutters.
Chen watched the match expectantly. He couldn't place his finger on a reason, but he knew watching the match was important.
"After you, guys," the boy in red said genially, almost as though offering them the first slice of a tasty pie.
"Your funeral, Sapph," the Black boy shrugged before issuing his orders. "Phoenix, use Fire Punch on Anuvi."
Got it! The Combusken yelled as he ran towards the Warrior Pokémon, his fists and claws alight with flames.
"Let's go, Bubbles! Turn that squirrel into a snow cone with Blizzard!" The girl commanded her Water Pokémon.
"Et tu, Haley?" Sapph joked as he watched Bubbles inhale deeply. "Then fall T.J... you know what to do, Anuvi," he added to his entrant for this encounter.
Anuvi merely nodded and directed his attention to the Combusken who was almost on top of him, and tensed his leg muscles in preparation to act. Bubbles the Aquala unleashed a frozen wave of wind just as the Combusken moved into range, its flaming claws reared back ready to strike.
Chen blinked twice as what happened next seemed not only impossible... it had happened in the blink of an eye. The crowd gasped as the Squirrage suddenly appeared in front of the black haired boy and the Combusken was washed over by the Blizzard attack intended for the Grass type counterpart.
If one could slow down everything, they'd have seen Anuvi duck under Phoenix's fist, climb onto his assailant's shoulder and kick off him twenty feet straight up, where he sped through towards the ground at the bewildered T.J.'s feet.
"Ay, Haley!" T.J. said angrily, as Phoenix exhaled heavily; throwing up his Fire Punch into the Blizzard was the only thing that had kept him from becoming a flash-frozen TV dinner. "Watch it!"
"Why?" Haley exclaimed in affronted tones as Bubbles glared at Anuvi, who smiled back. "This is a free-for-all!"
Yaiba no Hayashi time, Sapph? Anuvi asked calmly as the two trainers bickered on.
"No," Sapph said quietly. "I don't want us to use it every single battle. Let's rely on speed to win this one!"
You're the boss, Anuvi shrugged before jumping for safety; while they were talking, Bubbles had lunged for Anuvi with streaks of golden light trailing behind her – trademark of her Take Down attack – and had rolled quite literally into the line of fire: Phoenix inhaled deeply, a ball of fire forming in his beak.
"Anuvi, Quick Attack!" Sapph called enthusiastically, and Anuvi vanished and reappeared in a heartbeat. Phoenix was sent flying into the fountain, gripping his gut in pain.
"Bubbles, use Blizzard again!" Haley ordered, hoping to catch Sapph's starter off guard. Bubbles sent another draught of arctic air at the woodland Pokémon, who leapt aside and ran around the ring of spectators so quickly he seemed to have teleported.
Bubbles sharp hearing picked up a whistling sound and looked around behind them as a small comet streaked towards them, his claws raised in preparation to slash right through the two of them.
Anuvi jumped away as on Haley's command, Bubbles' tail glowed silvery white as she swung it around at where Anuvi's head was. Anuvi flipped onto his feet about five feet out of range and watched the collision between Iron Tail and Slash: in which Bubbles' attack had slammed into the side of Phoenix's head whilst T.J.'s Combusken's claws raked the Water Hare's side savagely leaving a trio of angry red scratches.
Oh... de... arrr... Anuvi chuckled as he saw both opponents go sailing towards opposite ends of the field and crumple up, each looking the worse for wear. You know something, Sapph? If I didn't know better, I'd think they've been trying to hit me just now.
"Do you guys give up?" Sapph asked his friends brightly. "Or are we taking five?"
Both trainers scowled in unison and without a further word, returned their Pokémon to their pokéballs.
The crowd began to disperse, talking eagerly about the match they had just witnessed and the unbelievable speed and agility the Squirrage had displayed.
"Guess that's a wrap, Anuvi," Sapph said, sounding a little let-down at their eagerness to throw in the towel. Fishing out Anuvi's pokéball, he pointed it at his Pokémon and said, "Return."
As the Grass Pokémon returned in a blaze of green light, Sapph smiled and said to the others, "Looks like were ready for the prime time tomorrow, eh guys?"
"Tomorrow?" Haley queried in some surprise. "You're not going to the gym now?"
"Nah," Sapph said calmly. "The gym isn't going anywhere. And easy as it may have seemed (T.J. and Haley scowled again), I think it's best we get some rest and think up a strategy for tomorrow... this is the third strongest gym leader, after all..."
And with that, Sapph turned and strolled up the road to the Pokémon Center, past a gawking Haley and a distracted T.J., who seemed to be looking for someone or something in the crowd that wasn't there anymore.
"Sapph... thinking up strategies? The world's come to an end," Haley said in disbelief.
Further up the road, Chen had an excited, eager smile on his face as he pushed the cart up the road, Ming walking beside him in ponderous silence.
"So... what did you think?" Ming finally asked her friend as they reached the delivery address and as she knocked on the door.
"Well... T.J.'s not here to challenge us for a badge... and Haley's certainly not ready to do so," Chen said calmly. "That boy in the red jacket – 'Sapph', they called him – he seems to be the one to expect something from."
"And what do you expect?"
"Quite the match."
The full moon hung high in the sky that night as Chen executed some complex shadow boxing kata in the middle of one of the temple's airy training grounds. The night's cold wind was wintry and the fact that Chen wore nothing but a plain white vest over his torso made it look likely that the boy was sure to catch a cold.
"Your breathing's a little off, Brother Chen," a soft lilting voice announced, causing the young boy's head to bring his training session to an end as he said without turning around, "Evening, Brother Lhi."
The close-shaven boy walked into the clearing, still dressed in his monk's habit, a totally unfazed look upon his face as he approached his fellow monk-in-training.
"Master Han spoke to me again today," Lhi said in a calm voice as he sat down on the edge of the training ground under the glow of the moon and assumed a meditative stance. "Must you aggravate the higher elders every day?"
After drying himself off with a towel, Chen walked over to where Lhi sat and sat by his side, assuming an identical meditative stance. "Aw, c'mon Lhi," he said in a false, whiney voice. "Where would the fun be around here if I didn't keep everybody's blood pressure up?"
"You are as irresponsible as ever, Brother Chen," Lhi said with a bite of irritation in his voice. "I frankly wonder if the only reason they haven't replaced us yet is due to our insistence to fight as a tag team... or the results that we usually yield whenever we do so."
"You and Ming are so alike," Chen chuckled. "Are you sure you're cootie-free?"
"At least your girl friend has some sense of responsibility," Lhi said, in his patient voice. "Someone could use a lesson in keeping a level head..."
"Hmm," Chen said calmly, staring up at the moon.
"Something big must have happened today to make you get lost in thought," Lhi said calmly. Flashing a rare smirk, he said coyly, "Did Ming kiss you today?"
Chen shivered from head to foot and fell slowly onto his side with a comical clunk, and in a voice of dead calm that would scare the meanest Gengar, said in a menacing whisper, "Don't ever ask me that again, Lhi."
Laughing softly, Lhi said, "So that's a no. So what is on your mind?"
"Tomorrow's challenger, Sapph Manson," Chen said, sitting up properly and staring down at his trembling hands as he clasped them tighter in meditation. "He seems extraordinarily strong. I saw him take down two Pokémon at once."
"Ah," was all Lhi could say.
"And you know what was amazing? He didn't seem to be trying," Chen said, a slight quiver in his voice.
After a moment's reflection, Lhi said calmly, "I've heard of him. He's aroused mixed reactions amongst the gym leaders. Clyff and Fuego think he's an arrogant troublemaker, but no one would really take a narcissist like Fuego seriously. Arlene and Ricon were highly impressed with his prowess, particularly Arlene. I suppose winning the Gatonda Tournament must have added fuel to her admiration. Cassandra's somewhere in-between." Noticing Chen's trembling voice, he added, "Are you afraid of him, Brother Chen?"
"You've got to be kidding," Chen said. "I'm more shaken up than an overexcited Toxicroak after its anticipation kicks in!"
"That's good. Fear dulls the force a fighter and blocks a warrior's Qi," Lhi said exhaling calmly.
"Thanks for the sermon, Guru Peachy Preachy," Chen said with a rolling of the eyes and a smirk of his own.
"Phew! Would ya get a load of this place!" Sapph whistled in appreciation as he, Haley and T.J. had been ushered in by the monks who stood guard at the entrance. Sapph stared around at the statues that lined the stairways up the draughty temple which despite a crack here and there gave off the impression of being well-maintained.
"It certainly is a gym with a difference," Haley mused, taking in the architecture with interest. Shivering slightly, she added, "The locals certainly seem inappropriately dressed though, don't they?" eying a pair that sparred nearby, bare-chested and wearing only long pants of a light material.
"It's all in the name of training both body and spirit, Haley," T.J. said matter-of-factly. "I'm so excited to be here... I hope they accept me apprenticeship letter... I'm totally nervous!"
"Well, I don't see how they couldn't, so relax. Help me find the gym leaders..." Sapph said when a loud voice interrupted him.
"STATE YOUR PURPOSES!" A loud call resounded as twenty or so monks came from the top of the stairs ad formed three ranks, seemingly intent on preventing Sapph and company from climbing any higher.
"Oh, boy," Sapph said enthusiastically, pulling off a pokéball and enlarging it with a roll of his fingers. "A warm-up act."
"Stand down, brothers," a soft voice said authoritatively, and all the monks fell to the sides and bowed, creating a pathway through their formation.
A boy who looked younger than Sapph and dressed in identical fashion to the monks on either side of the stairs, walked down towards them slowly, another boy in a navy blue and white chengsam and long blue pants strolling along besides him. Stopping about four steps above Sapph, Haley and T.J., the boy in the habit said slowly and deliberately, "We have been expecting you, Sapphire Manson. And you, T.J. King. Welcome to the Dopeak City Gym. My name is Lhi..."
"... and I'm Chen! Here's to a Gym battle to remember, right?" Chen said happily, bursting with energy.
Bowing respectfully, T.J. said loudly, "Thank you for your recognition, Master Lhi... Master Chen!"
Haley was taken aback as she spluttered, "Say what? You're both Gym Leaders?!"
"Indeed," Lhi said calmly. "Is that a problem?"
"Not to me!" Sapph said confidently. "Hope you have my badge under that robe!"
Chen snorted. "Hmph, we're not exactly pushovers, Sapph! We can call you Sapph, right?" Turning to walk back up the stairs, he looked back at the trio and said, "Well, let's get moving, we haven't all day!"
As Sapph, Haley and T.J. looked at each other before following the boys into the temple, Chen turned to Lhi and muttered, "Watch out for his Squirrage... it's got a lot of power and speed..."
"Relax, Brother Chen," Lhi said confidently as they arrived at the expanse of space where Chen had been training the night before. "We are strong enough to beat anything that he may have up his sleeve..."
Sapph and the boys took their places on the field as Haley and T.J. hurried to get front row seats in the stands which many monks seemed to be occupying already. A bald monk whom they assumed to be the referee stepped up to the sidelines and raised his voice to explain the rules of the battle.
"The official battle between Sapphire Manson and the Dopeak City Gym Leaders Lhi and Chen will now begin. If Sapphire wins, he will earn a Power Badge. Each side may use four Pokémon apiece," the referee bagan.
"That's funny," Haley began in a wondering voice.
"What is?" T.J. asked turning in his seat to look at Haley.
"Usually, when people call Sapph by his full name, he gets a comical look on his face like he's trying to lay an egg," Haley said nonchalantly. "But today, Sapph seems... I dunno, focused."
"Is that right," T.J. said in surprise, turning back to glance at Sapph's face, which indeed held a determined gleam seemingly absent during their training match the day before.
"It's like the man wasn't taking yesterday's match seriously at all," T.J. said in surprise as the ref went on in a loud voice.
"The format for the battle will be a double set format battle. Pokémon may be returned only in pairs and when it is unable to battle. Are all battlers ready?"
All three boys nodded in unison, none sparing words on anything other than the battle ahead of them.
"Let's rumble!" Chen exclaimed, first off the mark. "Go, Champ!"
"Harleking, I require your aid!" Lhi called out, throwing down a red and white sphere of his own.
Sapph stared as his first opposition formed on the field from the familiar blasts of white light. One stood at over six feet tall, its four arms all muscle. This was putting it lightly; every single square inch of this Pokémon was muscle; from its paving slab-sized pecs and square inch abs. Its red eyes narrowed on the side of the arena where Sapph would release the Pokémon he would battle with.
Harleking, on the other hand, looked almost doll-like. Its balloon-shaped head was covered with what looked like a black yamakah and what looked like a white hakama was draped loosely over its sloping shoulders and slender arms which drooped to the floor. To Sapph, it looked like the Harleking's biggest problem was standing up straight as he watched it slouch and slope from side to side.
Harleking, the Harlequin Pokémon, Sapph's Pokédex chimed in. Harlekng's the most flexible Pokémon in existence with every joint in its body capable of full three-sixty degree rotations which it uses in spinning slaps and kicks.
Guess that's what you expect from a gym leader, Sapph thought with a slight smile.
"From your smile, I'd reckon you think you can take us!" Chen called out.
"Please do not disappoint us, Sapphire," Lhi added quietly.
"Oh, I plan to do anything but," Sapph said, still grinning. "Go, Zen... and... Ace, you too!"
With two more flashes of light, the Combatant and Swoop Pokémon took their places on (or in Ace's case) above the field and stared down their opposition before noticing that they weren't alone.
What's going on, kid? Zen said coldly, flexing his prosthetic arm. I can handle those lightweights solo... call Sergeant Bird Face back already!
While you're the last Pokémon I'd want to work with, Ace said in a clipped and affronted tone. General Sapph's orders are for us to team up. Also, I'd deem it unsightly for a comrade-at-arms to make light of any opposition, no matter how weak they may or may not be.
"Round one: Taebrawl and Mawhoot versus Machamp and Harleking. Begin!" The referee announced with his arms crossed and a deep note from a large drum sounded, beginning the battle for the Power Badge.
"Zen, Aura Sphere! Ace, use Cyclone, go!"
Don't tell me what to do, kid! Zen snapped as he charged up a sphere of spirit energy the size of a large orange as Ace reared back and lunged into the two Fighting types below her, spinning in her familiar spinning furrow of air.
"Champ, take the Aura Sphere head on and use Shadow Punch!" Chen commanded swiftly as Lhi's only words to his Pokémon were, "Dodge it."
Harleking swayed drunkenly in time with the spinning Mawhoot and avoided the spinning tornado nearly effortlessly. In the meanwhile, the Machamp took a few lumbering steps forward and with no external sign of pain took the powerful attack to the chest, but for all the world Zen might have well as shot it into the air; Champ the Machamp hardly fell out of step as he charged on, his eyes focused.
Sapph gasped as his mind which was focused on trying to accept the impossibility that a Pokémon had stood up to Aura Sphere and seemingly felt nothing finally registered the counterattack Chen had ordered.
Responding to Haley's yelled, "SAPPH," he called out, "Zen, try to use Confusion, quickly! Ace, double back and try an Aerial Ace!"
Ace promptly broke out of the spin and with an enormous loop-de-loop, sped towards the straightening Harleking, who looked at the descending Swoop Pokémon as his trainer called out the next command, "Detect." And Detect, the Harleking did, swaying once more like bamboo in the wind as the Mawhoot breezed past with no effect whatsoever.
Zen, it seemed had other plans... breaking into a quick sprint, he bounded off the stone floor and twisting in midair launched himself into a Rolling Kick, that the Machamp blocked and rebuffed with one of its four arms. In what seemed to be one effortless motion, the Machamp swung its two opposite fists, which glowed with ghostly purple energy, into the Combatant Pokémon's face and gut, sending Zen barrel-rolling back a few feet before he skidded to a halt, breathing hard as he used his metallic thumb to wipe a trickle of dark red blood from the corner of his mouth.
Fluttering down to flap beside Zen, Ace said indignantly, Would you stop your blatant insubordination and do as you're commanded?
By that kid? Guess again, Zen scoffed, readying another Aura Sphere at Harleking. Eat this! He cried, flinging forward the orange-sized ball of energy careening for the seemingly fragile Fighting type.
Chen saw this coming a mile off and said, "C'mon, Sapph... work with me here! Champ, you know what to do!"
"You too, Harleking," Lhi added to his Pokémon. "Be sure not to miss."
Yes, Master, the Harleking muttered as the Aura Sphere was seconds away from impact.
Aright! Let's wrassel! Champ bellowed, stepping in front of his partner and taking a second pulsing attack to the chest, shuddering slightly, but showing no other form of injury.
"He can't take two attacks at the same time," Sapph mused to himself. Aloud he ordered, "OK, we're focusing on the Machamp first! Ace, use Aerial Ace! Zen, As soon as she hits, use Confusion!"
Yes, sir! Ace said, swooping high into the sky and looping back into another speedy assault.
"Now it's time for us to attack," Lhi said calmly. "If you will, Brother Chen... Harleking..."
Nodding, Chen turned to Champ and said, "Alrighty, buddy! Time for the Tag-team Rush!"
"What's the Tag-team Rush?" Haley wondered aloud. T.J. shrugged, his green eyes on the four Pokémon as the next few seconds seemed to lengthen before his very eyes...
Ace was about five seconds away... Champ clasped his lower arms behind him in a leg-up fashion...
Four seconds... Harleking stepped onto the lift and sprang into the air. Ace, as her eyes were closed didn't see this happening...
Three seconds... Harleking planted his foot into the juggernaut's shoulder, and cocked back his left palm as Ace came closer...
Two seconds... Zen, in a fit of disobedience, turned to face his opposition sideways and with a stomp of his heel sent a row of boulders rising from the ground in a wave straight for the Machamp...
One second... Harleking brought down his palm onto Ace's head sharply, discharging a blast of fighting energy as he did so and numbing the poor bird's mind. In that instant time seemed to speed up for T.J. again as Machamp slammed two Dynamic Punches into the dizzy Flying type, sending her screeching backwards... right into the Ancientpower attack.
The onslaught of consecutive (and super effective) attacks would have been too much for any other Flying type to take. Due to the rigorous training she had undergone in her colony days, Ace somehow hung on, despite being severely wounded as the Harleking landed neatly on his toes, his blank, impassive face one of indifference.
"I think that's the Tag-team Rush, Haley," T.J. said in shock.
"No fooling," Haley murmured back. "How Ace keeps flying after all the stuff she's taken throughout this journey... I'm just glad she's on Sapph's side..."
"Zen, why'd you use Ancientpower?" Sapph demanded. "They're Fighting types; using Psychic type moves is our best shot of succeeding..."
Sorry, kid, Zen said with a tone that plainly said that he wasn't sorry in the slightest. But I'm fighting this fight my way.
"Would it kill you to try a little team work for once?" Sapph said indignantly.
Hmm, let's think, Zen said, pulling a look of serious thought. Yes, it will.
And without a backwards look, Zen ran straight for the fighting type Pokémon, his cybernetic left hand raised with the purpose of decking them.
"This has gone on long enough," Lhi said softly. "Brother Chen?"
"Well, all right," Chen agreed, nodding once to his Pokémon.
As Zen got close enough, he thrust his fist forward, looking like he'd finally score a clean hit on the Harlequin Pokémon... only for his arm to jam inches from Harleking's face.
Damned! Zen thought, too close and moving too fast to stop as Harleking's form seemed to ripple like water before his very eyes as Harleking leaned back and out of harm's path, leaving an expectant Machamp waiting... with no pleasurable agenda in mind.
Zen's world went from just plain bad to black as the Machamp seized him by the face with one dustbin cover-sized palm and lifting him bodily by the head, proceeded to smash Zen into the stone floor, back first. Zen's body erupted in pain all over as the force of Zen's collision with the earth sent him flying about three feet into the air and into a world of dizzying pain.
"Ace, you need to help him!" Sapph cried out. "Use Cyclone!"
Yes, Sir! Ace said through gritted beak, and rising into the air, spun herself into a tornado once more and shot towards the defenceless Superpower Pokémon.
"Oh, no you don't, Sapphire," Lhi said staunchly. "Harleking! Let's block that attack!"
Harleking nodded once to show his compliance, and using its high speed rotation, dug its palms under the freshly-unearthed rocks used by Zen's Ancientpower attack and sent them flying towards the tip of the spinning wind serpent that was Ace with a Russian Lariat motion.
Sapph winced as they made contact, forcing Ace out of the spin and looping back painfully, her strength fading fast. A loud sound coming from Zen and Machamp's general direction distracted him though, and as he watched, Zen was kicked in the small of his back like a soccer ball thirty feet into the air with a painful gargle.
Crouching low, Champ propelled himself into the air using his lower body strength until he came up level with Zen's limp body. Zen took the chance to lash back with an impromptu midair Rolling Kick, which Champ blocked by catching the kick in his bare hand. Snatching hold of Zen's metallic arm as gravity began to arrest their movement through the air, the Machamp spun once, twice and with an earth-shaking force, slammed Zen into the ground... chest first.
Many a monk winced and Haley clapped a hand to her mouth in horror as T.J. swore, "Damn... now that was a Seismic Toss..."
Zen's face was screwed up in pain he was refusing to show, by closing his eyes tightly. As he felt himself being lifted bodily from the Zen-shaped dent he'd left in the ground by his left arm, Zen felt little strength left in his body to fight against the pressure building up in his false appendage. He dimly registered Chen and Sapph's protests before with a splintering cacophony, he felt the limb that had given him the opportunity to carry on fighting for a year, his lifeline to being completely whole...
...shatter into a billion pieces of metallic shrapnel.
Bored, Champ tossed the Taebrawl to the floor where he landed on his already tender chest and skidded to an ungainly halt still on his belly about eight feet away. Jeers and disappointed sounds filled the air as spectators began to protest at the treatment Zen had received or at the Combatant Pokémon, telling him not to get up again and just lie there. Opening one saffron eye painfully as he raised his oddly-lopsided body up slightly, he stared up into the crowd... where one face made his world come crashing down around his ears, trebling the aches and pain his bruised body was feeling in comminute spasms.
For in the crowd, even amongst a sea of strangers' faces... his stood out sharply, vividly... transparently clear...
He hadn't changed at all since they had parted ways for what seemed like a lifetime ago to Zen... the same crew cut... the same moustache... the same face... only the eyes seemed different now: cold, appraising and... disappointed.
Zen began to tremble as he saw to the man's right, a small, grey muscly figure with a slight pot belly and the same red eyes and three cranial ridges as the Machamp seated quietly, watching his former confidante get the snot kicked out of him effortlessly. Zen could hardly believe they were here... could hardly believe the evidence his senses presented him with... that after a year of abandonment, of solitude... he'd look into the eyes of that man...
The man who'd laughed with him, supported him, kept him going when all seemed to stand against him up till a year ago, when the man, rather than face shameful exile, abandoned him, his most faithful friend...
Master?
Master... Zen said in shock, unsure whether to believe he was truly seeing his master seated there, staring at him in disdain, as though he thought he was weak, as though he, Zen had justified his exile, his abandonment; like he had deserved the hell he'd had to endure the past twelve months...
A fury such as never before began to rise within Zen like bile, a severe hatred for the man that had shattered his hopes, his dreams; thrown him away like a worthless pawn... he would show him, he thought as a forceful battle cry rumbled from deep within himself and ascended into a violent roar of rage as he threw the Machamp off him and rushed the Harleking, his fist clenched so tightly he was starting to bleed at the palm, the now useless prosthetic arm trailing sparks behind him as it screeched along the floor, the Machamp hot on his heels...
...he would show them all.
"Zen! What're you doing? Fall back!" Sapph yelled in horror as Zen charged into the Harleking, swinging his only working arm at the Harlequin Pokémon wildly, screaming random oaths at the Pokémon who he was trying to punch.
Harleking saw each attack coming a mile away however and using its incredible flexibility ducked, swayed and folded his body in time with Zen's furious attacks, making each one miss.
"Ace, keep the Machamp busy!" Sapph commanded his Flying type Pokémon, who nodded her helmet-clad head and swooped in, her expansive wings glowing white as she aimed for the lumbering Machamp's back.
"Attacking from behind?" Chen said with a tutting sound. "How rude of you, Sapph Manson. Champ, Use Dynamic Punch behind you...now!" He ordered, waiting until the time was perfect to execute his order.
Ace, still dizzy from the repeated Doubleslaps to her head barely had the time to register Chen's command in mid-dive, nor did she hear Sapph's warning until what seemed to be a boulder slammed into her beak so hard she thought she had felt it become fractured. Ace went spinning away and flopped to the floor, out cold.
"Champ..." Chen ordered, ready to assist Lhi's Pokémon when Lhi interrupted him, saying, "Leave this to Harleking, Brother Chen. You focus on catching your breath. Harleking," he added in a shout to his Pokémon. "It is time to end this battle."
Yes, Master Lhi, Harleking said calmly, not missing a beat in his evasive dance around the winded and furious Zen.
"Zen, try Aura Sphere! C'mon!" Sapph coaxed his Pokémon, noting that Zen would not follow an order to retreat and instead tried to order an attack.
However, for all the good it did, Sapph might have just as well yelled at the statues dotting the grounds. Zen, taking a great sweeping over-arm hook at the Harleking, found himself overextended, and right in the path of a right handed slap that resounded through the arena. Zen hardly had time to feel the stinging on his cheek before Harleking's next attack, a rising left knee to the gut, forced him upright again painfully.
Haley found it too hard to watch as she shut her eyes, the loud smacks resonating through the air and filling her mind with awful images as Zen audibly retched, throwing up a quantity of blood as Harleking landed a straight Force Palm thrust to his opponent's chest, sending the smaller Pokémon sailing back and crumpling in the middle of the arena, twitching and convulsing.
"Call 'im back, man," T.J. said pityingly. "He can't take much more, Sapph."
Sapph nodded silently. As much as he wanted to respect Zen's desire to fight, he knew as well as the Pacifidlog local that even Zen had reached his limit. Raising his pokéball and said, "Zen, re-"
NO, DAMNIT! Zen roared, coughing feebly as he impossibly pushed himself to his feet once more, bleeding profusely from the mouth, nose and hand. Don't you... dare, kid. I haven't lost... not... damned... yet... I... I, he muttered, staring up at the man who raised him formerly malevolently, he screamed for all the mountains to hear: I REFUSE TO LOSE!
"ZEN!" Sapph cried out in protest as the Taebrawl ran towards his opponent, screaming loudly. Harleking sighed and sliding low to the ground sent another Force Palm straight into Zen's mouth without any sign of holding back. Harleking then proceeded to pummel Zen all over with quick jabs and kicks, before a final Force Palm to the chest sent Zen rolling over the floor like a gollywog, coming to a limp stop beside Ace.
Sapph thought the shock at Lhi's brutality had robbed him of his voice; he was almost certain he'd never be able to speak again.
"Taebrawl and Mawhoot are both unable to battle! The first round goes to Masters Lhi and Chen!" the referee declared after a brief examination of Sapph's Pokémon.
Sapph grit his teeth as he returned his bruised and (in Zen's case) bloodied Pokémon. It looked like this battle was going to call for more than raw power, he thought as he lowered his Pokémon's retrieval orbs silently back to his belt.
"Quite the strategy," T.J. breathed, watching the gym leaders' Pokémon in awe.
Haley nodded as she added, "The Machamp attacks first and takes all heavy hits, its muscly armour blocking all attempts to faze it. And Harleking's remarkable flexibility acts as a defense to all attacks that get past the Machamp."
"Not only that," T.J. said as he watched Sapph pull off two new pokéballs from its belt, one of them pure white with a green line tracing its equator. "Harleking's quick multiple attacks hurt as much as Machamp's heavy hits. How will Sapph fight that?"
"OK, so now what's next, Sapph?" Chen said eagerly, getting into the swing of things as his Machamp stretched its four arms wide.
"By now, you should have noticed," Lhi said, opening his eyes now that the brutality exacted on Zen and Ace had passed. "That it'll take more than power to crush our combinations, Sapphire."
"I guess I have no choice, then," Sapph said confidently. "If it's a combination you want, that's what you'll get! Anuvi, Crimson, let's go!" he yelled the last four words authoritatively, throwing down his last two Pokémon.
A blast of white and green light streaked from the air onto the pitch, the latter in a spiral motion and within seconds Sapph's oldest Pokémon teammates hovered and stood before the Machamp and Harleking, dwarfed by the colossal Superpower Pokémon.
Anuvi whistled as he looked up into the Machamp's face and said, Yo, big guy. How's it hangin'?
Your team mates, the Taebrawl and Mawhoot, were no match for us, the Harlequin Pokémon said quietly. I do hope you can surpass them long enough to make the match interesting.
Bristling slightly at the news of Zen and Ace's defeat, Crimson raised his four fists and said calmly, Well, I guess we'll have to see, won't we?
"Round two: Squirrage and Ledian versus Machamp and Harleking," the referee said, raising both hands in the air. Crossing his fore arms, he added, "Begin!"
"We shall begin this time!" Lhi exclaimed. "Harleking, use Doubleslap on the Squirrage!"
"Champ, show that bug your Mega Punch!" Chen whooped.
"Crimson, Protect now! Anuvi, get moving!" Sapph commanded swiftly.
The hulking mass of bulging muscles ran in behind the smaller Harlequin Pokémon as it prepared to slap the Warrior Pokémon silly.
It matters not how fast Chen says that Squirrage is, Lhi thought determinedly. I am fully confident that Harleking will... what the?
Lhi's eyes widened as Anuvi suddenly stood right in front of him, leaving his partner alone and quite unguarded. Anuvi smirked at Crimson who smiled back and produced his familiar green sphere around him to shield himself not only from the Harleking's assault but to cause the Machamp (who was moving too fast to stop) to barrel into his own team mate's back fist first, slamming the slighter Pokémon back into the impenetrable shield.
"Moron," Chen yelled at his partner. "I told you to watch for his Squirrage, didn't I? Now look what you made Champ do!"
"It is not my fault that your Machamp lacks the self control that should enable it to not crush its own team mate!" Lhi said in a quiet yet clearly affronted voice as the hit proved too strong for the Harleking to take as it keeled over, clutching its gut in pain and glaring at the Machamp vehemently, who could only grin back apologetically.
"Oi, oi... are they serious?" Sapph and his Pokémon thought in incredulous unison.
"Well, time to show you a combination move of our own," Sapph said spritely. "Anuvi, Crimson! Get in position!"
Roger! Crimson yelled and Anuvi wordlessly nodded as they circled their prey, Anuvi moving slower that usual.
"Not if we hit you first, Sapphire!" Lhi exclaimed proudly. "Harleking, Doubleslap again!"
"Champ, Dynamic Punch!" Chen hollered, pumping his fist.
"Don't wait for them, guys!" Sapph said urgently. "Move to meet them!"
Anuvi and Crimson ran towards the Machamp and Harleking like a pair of hot rodders playing chicken on the interstate.
Barely seconds from impact, Sapph yelled, "Crimson, use Mach Punch and..."
On Sapph's command, Anuvi phased out of sight once more, avoiding the backhand slapping Pokémon, whose eyes widened as a small white fist came out of nowhere, connecting with his face dead centre and sending him flying.
"Now where's that Pokémon gone?" Chen said in frustration, getting his answer a split second later as Anuvi came sliding into Champ's ankles foot first and tripping the behemoth up... onto the advancing Ledian, whose crossed fists covered his mouth as the Machamp saw his chance to body slam the Five Star Pokémon to the antipodes.
Champ was suddenly distracted by a slight weight on his back as Anuvi flipped onto his broad back and clapped his paws over his ears, his body in a crouched position as Harleking flew directly overhead.
"... SUPERSONIC!" Sapph yelled, blocking his ears as well.
In the stands, Haley stuffed her fingers into her ears upon hearing Sapph's next command. Crimson uncrossed his arms and unleashed a powerful supersonic noise that resonated throughout the temple, causing a mass of painfull groans as all the monks struggled to shut out the painful sound. Champ who had received the attack at point-blank range, was shot into the air like a cork, his sense of balance and equilibrium shot to zero by the forceful auditory assault.
"Anuvi! Yaiba no Hayashi, let's go!" Sapph yelled. "Crimson, use Comet Punch Thunder Style to end it!"
Anuvi gripped the leaves on his back over his shoulder and sprung off the Machamp's back, propelling him back to the arena floor, where Crimson stood waiting, his four fists crackling with electricity. Bouncing off the ceiling of the large arena, Anuvi sped towards the defenceless Harleking, who had just begun to fall and with one flash of green light created the energy sword he had patented and slashed Harleking across the chest, sending him crashing into the ground like a rocket just as Crimson unleashed a flurry of electric punches to the Machamp's abdomen, unloading critically-damaging voltage into his hulking frame and sending him on a one-way trip into unconsciousness with a loud thud ten feet away.
Raising his right hand as Anuvi touched down lightly besides his insectoid partner who hovered a few inches off the ground, the referee declared Harleking and Machamp unable to continue fighting, a note of shock in his voice. A feeling shared, at least, by Chen, who cursed ruefully under his breath as he returned his Pokémon despondently.
Lhi, however didn't make a sound as he returned Harleking and drew out his second battler as Chen did the same.
Whoa, whoa! Are you kidding me? Anuvi gasped as he saw them draw out fresh Pokémon.
You mean to say, that between them, Zen and Ace couldn't knock out one Pokémon? Crimson said in disbelief.
"Chin up, guys," Sapph said confidently. "I have every confidence in you guys! We can take whatever they throw at us, no problem!"
"Well, we'll beg to differ, Sapphire," Lhi said calmly. "Hariyama, I require your aid!"
"Go Ku, let's rumble!" Chen said; his grin back in place as he threw down his last battler.
Beside the chubby mass of muscle that was Hariyama, a much smaller Pokémon appeared beside it, chattering loudly as it clapped its long, hairy arms. Its eyes under its thick blue monobrow sparkled with mischief and its long tail burned brightly at the tip as it swished from side to side. It flexed its tan coloured fingers expectantly as Hariyama cracked his abnormally-sized knuckles, each one larger than his Pecha berry shaped head, an identical monobrow overlying its beady black eyes.
On seeing the Monferno's flaming tail, Crimson's eyes faltered as he said in a tiny voice, Damn, another Fire type. Could this day suck any more?
C'mon, Bug Head, Anuvi said coyly. Don't tell me you're afraid...
Easy for you, Anuvi, Crimson snapped in a high pitched voice. You forgot what fear is when your mother dropped you on your nut-filled head!
Hey, you're getting better at dissing, Crimson! Good for you! Anuvi said proudly. Only next time, leave the 'yo mama' jokes for the opponents, OK?
"Well, he can't burn you if he can't hit you," Sapph reasoned with his neurotic Five Star Pokémon. "Anuvi, wanna switch with Crimson?"
Whaddya say, Crimson? Anuvi said cheerfully. Will it be the Simian Briquette or the Sumo Nutcracker?
Crimson took one look at the Hariyama, who cracked his little finger knuckle with the sound of a gunshot and said hurriedly, I'll have the briquette.
Fair enough, Anuvi said before facing the Hariyama, his right hand clenching tighter around the katana-shaped blade.
"Final round: Squirrage and Ledian versus Hariyama and Monferno. Ready... fight!" the referee announced with the final beat of the great drum.
"Here we go! Go Ku, attack the Squirrage with Poison Jab!" Chen commanded.
"Hariyama, use Fake Out on the Ledian, then Arm Thrust!" Lhi ordered.
"OK, Anuvi! Defend Crimson with Yaiba no Hayashi and employ evasive manoeuvres! Crimson, counter the Monferno with Comet Punch Thunder Style!" Sapph countered swiftly.
All four Pokémon leapt into action as one: the Squirrage named Anuvi swung his vegetation powered sword in a wide horizontal arc which stopped the hulking Arm Thrust Pokémon's first attack and then ducked and weaved in and out of the larger Pokémon's Sumo-like thrusts. Crimson's wings beat faster as the four fists of cosmic power crackled with electricity once more as he traded lightning fast blows with the Monferno, whose paws glowed a vivid, sickly purple.
"Good job, Crimson, keep it up!" Sapph cheered on his Pokémon. "Anuvi, fight back with Razor Leaf!"
OK, Anuvi said, waving his free arm in an arc into the Hariyama's belly and discharging a torrent of sharp-edged foliage towards him. Without missing a step, the Hariyama kept up its offense, shredding all leaves into compost. Anuvi gulped as he leapt back and resumed his dodging as the Arm Thrust Pokémon's attack increased in velocity... and power.
Halfway across the stage, Go Ku and Crimson continued to trade attacks, blocking each other's jabs with their own and not bothering to evade. The Playful Pokémon taunted Crimson, screeching, I am monkey, so are you!
Weirded out, Crimson merely replied by increasing the punches per minute he was doling out, surprised the Monferno, who had half as many hands was able to keep up with him for so long.
"Now, Anuvi! Leave Hariyama in the dust and help Crimson gain the upper hand!" Sapph commanded.
Easier said... than done, Anuvi panted, the strain of maintaining his speed movements beginning to show. Deciding to employ a wisecrack to throw Hariyama's concentration, Anuvi adopted an impressed voice and said, Hey, Tubby... work out much?
As Anuvi leapt back, increasing the distance between them by a few more feet, Hariyama grinned suddenly and thrust his palm forwards with deliberate and insane force. Anuvi's eyes widened as a blast of wind rushed towards him, sending him spiralling a few more feet back.
Anuvi! Crimson yelled, momentarily forgetting he had his hands full with the hyperactive simian Pokémon, who took the initiative to screech, Buboom for you! as Crimson took a shot of Poison Jab to his upper right shoulder.
Gah! Crimson gasped, flying backwards away from the prancing monkey towards Anuvi, who'd skidded to a halt, using the Yaiba no Hayashi to forcefully brake.
Crimosn, you OK? Anuvi asked a little winded as Hariyama seemed to let up a little, also panting hard.
Crimson gritted his teeth as the poison began to take effect, No... damned poison...
It seemed that last strike took about as much out of him as moving around at Squirrage speed took out of Anuvi, Sapph thought. Meaning now is the time to strike! But with Crimson poisoned, it's best he moves as little as possible. In that case...
"Anuvi, attack the Hariyama with Yaiba no Hayashi! Crimson, try nailing that nutty Monferno from a distance with Supersonic!"
Right! Both Pokémon hollered as they moved to follow orders. Anuvi's green nihoutou glowed again as he slashed through the air towards the Hariyama as the Five Star Pokémon unleashed an unearthly scream upon the Monferno.
"Ah, ah, aah... Go Ku, go evasive 'til you see your chance and let him have it!" Chen commanded.
"Hariyama, employ your Arm Thrust again and move in for close combat!" Lhi ordered calmly.
Hariyama stepped into the offensive so hard the flagstone beneath his feet crumbled as he stomped down, releasing a second blast of energy that collided with the rolling arc of green energy the Yaiba no Hayashi had unleashed causing both attacks to cancel out. Hariyama then advanced in the wake of his attack, resuming the game of cat-and-squirrel.
Crimson also seemed to face difficulty in pinpointing the monkey long enough to subject it to his painful, ear-shattering sound attacks. Go Ku leapt around the battle field with almost as much agility as Anuvi, inching closer as he danced around the tiring Bug type Pokémon. About six feet away, he let a theatrical, hoarse laugh and said, I curse you with my bad breath, before puffing out his chest and, quite literally, spewing out bad breath which had ignited into a powerful Flamethrower attack.
Reacting instinctively, Crimson threw up his protective green bubble Anuvi was back to back with him, shielding them both from their attackers and drawing Hariyama into the line of... well, fire.
As the flames died away, Crimson gasped as he released the Protect bubble and sank to his knees, Anuvi raising the Yaiba no Hayashi in a defensive position as the Hariyama struggled to overcome the pain his burns were putting him through and rushing forwards with a shouted command from his trainer, rapped his large knuckles sharply atop Anuvi's head, causing stars to pop and wink before the Warrior Pokémon's eyes as he dropped the Yaiba no Hayashi, causing it to fizzle away into nothing.
By no means done with his quarry, Hariyama proceeded to grab him by the ruff and slap him repeatedly across the face, doubling the amount of stars Anuvi saw, before letting him drop to his feet dizzily, swaying as drunkenly as the Harleking had before him.
"ANUVI!" Sapph and Crimson yelled in worry as Anuvi tottered around, his mind messed up by the combination Knock Off and Wake-Up Slap techniques administered to his head.
I'm OK, Anuvi said giddily, struggling to get his bearings as the Hariyama swam in and out of sight. Pulling off a second leaf from his short cape, he reanimated the energy sword faster than blinking and laid a close range Yaiba no Hayashi dealing critical damage as the Arm Thrust Pokémon went flying, shocking Lhi tremendously.
Giggling softly he turned to his partners, and grinning flashed them a thumbs up as he said, See? Now you two focus on giving Monkey Face a piece of your mind, Crimson...Sapph, he said, laughing as he watched the Hariyama struggle to his feet.
"OK... Crimson," Sapph said turning their attention to the only Pokémon yet to sustain any damage. "Get close with Mach Punch and follow up with regular Comet Punch. Think your body can handle it?"
Crimson struggled to his feet and said, Well, we won't know until we try, Sapph...
His blue visored eyes fixed on his target, Crimson flickered out of sight with Go Ku playing too much to notice despite Chen's outcry. A split second later, Go Ku noticed as a fist seemed to plow into him from out of nowhere. The rest of Crimson came soon afterwards, his other fists glowing with cosmic power as he laid into his opponent once... twice... thrice...
Well, to put it in a nutshell, it was only after fifteen seconds of furious pummelling that Crimson had had enough of smacking the silly monkey around and Go Ku crumpled in a heap that was breathing heavily for a few seconds before he rose to his feet, the black and blue bruising dotting his body swelling up as it winced repeatedly.
Anuvi and Hariyama leapt apart once more each possessing an assortment of fresh stinging injuries and breathing heavily.
Sapph and the young gym leaders looked on as all four Pokémon glared their opposition down, each looking close to the end of their tether, forming a rough spatial quadrilateral at the corners of which they stood.
Time to end this, they thought in unison and issued their final commands all at once:
"Hariyama... Long Range Arm Thrust!"
"Focus Blast, Go Ku!"
"Anuvi, Yaiba no Hayashi, one more time! Crimson, use Comet Punch Fire Style, now!"
Anuvi raised his energy sword above his head with both hands and gripped it tightly, sparks flying from the grounds around his feet as he stared at Go Ku, who had brought his hands to his side and created a golden ball of Qi with smaller, twinkling balls of light dancing within it, growling with a seriousity not yet displayed in the Fire type but showing intense focus.
Beside him, Hariyama raised one palm in front of him as he brought the other one to his chest, the energy growing to palpable quantities as he stared down the Ledian, whose four arms were blazing bright red, causing the crowd to murmur amongst themselves; it wasn't every day you saw a Bug Pokémon use a Fire type attack of any kind.
What happened next resulted in a colossal explosion. Crimson, Anuvi, Go Ku and Hariyama released all their attacks at the same instant; wind, grass, fire and Qi meeting midway and colliding with enormously devastating consequence. Sapph, Lhi and Chen threw their hands in front of their faces to shield their eyes from the brilliance of the power struggles as the explosion enveloped all four Pokémon who let out simultaneous yells of pain for the next seven seconds before the explosive flames died away, leaving four severely wounded Pokémon in the aftermath.
Soon the match became a painfully, mentally tortuous game of endurance as the foursome stared at each other, sheer will power keeping them on their feet until Crimson passed out as the poison sapped the last of his strength.
Go Ku followed a split second later, the smaller Pokémon not trained to take as much damage as it had crumpling into an unconscious heap with a soft whimper.
Anuvi and Hariyama glared at each other a moment longer, their legs wobbling and with smiles full of respect for each other's fighting spirit, passed out in unison.
"This wait is killing me!" Haley said in an anguished tone. "And I wasn't the one who was battling!"
After the battle, Haley, T.J. and their Pokémon were grouped in the reception area of the Pokémon Centre. All ten of their Pokémon had been let out and were halfway through their meal, Phoenix and Bubbles amongst them.
According to Clyff Endlethorn's new legislation, gym matches that ended in a simultaneous knockout had to be replayed for all the gym leaders to view and vote as to who won the match. Their judgement was to be based on careful analysis of the battle at various speeds of play: regular, slow and ultra slow motion.
T.J. glanced towards the swinging doors that lead to the Pokémon recovery wards and said calmly, "I hope Sapph's Pokémon are OK. Tha battle they fought was toe-tally right-yours!"
"I just hope The Gym Leaders' rule the match in Sapph's favour," Haley muttered, biting her thumbnail nervously. "Sapph really can't afford to lose another gym battle on technicality."
"Whatta you..." T.J. began in shock, before their attention was grasped by the double doors swinging open and Sapph walking through them, Lavender and Arcana at his heels, conspicuous only by the absence of his red anorak and lack of zeal.
"Hey, man," T.J. greeted nervously as he slumped into the booth seat next to Haley.
"You OK?" Haley said quietly. "How are you holding up?"
"Fine," Sapph said listlessly, his head bowed down as he petted Arcana and Lavender fondly before setting their meals before them.
Like, how're Anuvi and the others doing? Bubbles asked the Evolution and Puppy Pokémon as they began to tuck in.
They're OK, Lavender informed the others solemnly.
For the mo' part, Arcana said after swallowing loudly. Zen's arm's is totally busted. The nurse was talking about amputation.
Mace whistled as he chuckled faintly, Bet Zen loved that.
He went totally nuts, Arcana agreed, frowning at Mace's tone. He... well, he said a lot of stuff as we left after the nurse. Sapph asked if there were any way to contact the man who'd created Zen's arm in the first place.
She said it wasn't possible, Lavender said quietly, who was, although no fan of the rambunctious Taebrawl, feeling sorry for him nonetheless. Zen was really upset at the result of the battle... he mentioned something about his old master seeing him lose again...
What? All eleven Pokémon chorused in shock.
Yeah. Apparently, Zen's first trainer was a Black Belt trainer called Wei Hu from Pampa City, somewhere south of here... and he saw him in the stands during the match, Lavender said dejectedly.
So that's why he looked the worst for wear when we saw them, Arcana said thoughtfully. But you said sometime ago that the guy abandoned Zen. Why would a guy like Zen care what he thinks of him now?
I dunno, Lavender said sadly. I wish he could let go of the past... it's not healthy for anybody to do that to themselves.
Damn straight, girlfriend, Arcana muttered darkly.
Why so? I was the top of my class in the Nightspark Bay Buggle Academy, and the brightest of all my one hundred and forty nine siblings, Ento said proudly.
Ento, dude? Vapor said through gritted teeth. Shut up.
The main glass doors of the Pokémon Centre slid open with a serpentine hiss and Lhi and Chen walked in, looking exhausted.
Upon seeing them, Haley sprang to her feet and said hurriedly, "What did you decide? Did Sapph win?"
Sapph and T.J. remained seated, although the latter was looking up expectantly at the gym leaders.
"Well, as per the new legislation, it was put to the vote," Chen said wearily. "All nine gym leaders cast their vote – we cast separate votes - after watching the footage of the match."
Haley thought she'd die from the tension the boys were putting on them. "AND?!"
Lhi threw Haley a sharp look before answering, his eyes on Sapph, "Two voted to be undecided. Three, in favour; four against."
"Sorry, Sapph," Chen said apologetically. "If it were down to me, I'd have given you the badge for the hottest match we've fought all season. However," here, the boy threw a dirty half glance at Lhi, before exhaling heavily and said, "as per the new Corei League Legislation, page forty-two, section three, paragraph D..."
"...the challenger, Sapphire Manson, has been ruled to have lost the official gym battle due to a T.K.O.," Lhi finished heavily, his eyes regarding Sapph in a wary, almost fearful manner.
About ten seconds of ringing silence rang through the air before Haley's chest expanded in indignation, ready to let the Gym Leaders have a piece of her mind. T.J. could only gape in shock.
"It's OK. Haley? Drop it."
Sapph was much more deliberate in rising off the seat as he murmured softly, "I understand."
Haley watched him leave the congregation in shocked silence.
Wordlessly, Arcana looked at Lavender, who nodded and both began to walk after their trainer through the double doors that lead to the recovery wards as well as the sleeping quarters for trainers passing through.
"Well, I hope you're proud of yourselves!" Haley said indignantly, as though scolding them. "You lousy leaders and your stupid constitu-"
Haley stopped very abruptly and no one present needed to ask why: a voluminous explosion thundered through the doors and the doors nearly flew off their hinges as a great volume of dust and chippings swept into the reception area, making all four humans and ten Pokémon choke and gasp.
Letting out a violent expletive, Lhi, Chen Haley and T.J. raced towards the doors where with a bang they opened them into a scene of nauseating chaos.
Neon green light shone through a hole, spanning six feet in diameter, was carved in the right side of the corridor. The stone that previously filled the hole lay as rubble on the opposite wall, on top of which a small tan body was slumped, grasping his right shoulder just above the joint. Dark red blood flowed copiously from in between his fingers and a grisly trail of it traced his path through the wall.
As their eyes took in the ghastly sight, Sapph came running from the other end of the corridor, his face the epitome of shock and panic. Skidding to a halt beside Zen, who was rapidly losing consciousness, Sapph cradled the Combatant Pokémon in his arms and stared through the hole at an enraged Squirrage, who was giving off the light and staring down at Zen with demonic hatred in his eyes, which were blank and filled with the same eerie light as the fearful Yaiba no Hayashi, which glowed much brighter than usual in his left hand; Zen's already dysfunctional prosthetic hanging from his right.
Oh, crap, Anuvi's gone berserker! Sapph thought in panic. "Anuvi! Snap out of it!" he yelled to his Pokémon, as it tossed aside the damaged prosthetic which he had just decapitated from the Taebrawl and raised the energy sword slowly and silently.
Anuvi, cut it out! Crimson yelled, noticing Sapph get to his feet and raise his arms to block Zen from Anuvi's attack.
ANUVI! Arcana barked in horror, too stunned to fight back. She had always thought of Anuvi as a goof ball, and a generally good humoured Pokémon who could be relied on if any of his team mates were in trouble. Now all she saw was an enraged vessel of Eowmad, hell-bent on seeing Zen on his knees before he killed him...
Anuvi's second attack seemed to be viewed in muted slow motion by all witnesses: Anuvi seemed to see through Sapph as he swung the blade down, but instead of hitting Zen, who was its intended target, the shockwave from the Yaiba no Hayashi slashed Sapph across the chest, sending the boy sprawling soundlessly into the wall and slumping beside the Taebrawl, who's eyes had grown wide with surprise...
Crimson seemed to be screaming in shock and fury as a red aura enveloped him as well. Ace had passed out from being in the immediate vicinity of two immensely powerful essence pressures in full berserker mode and Haley, T.J. and the gym leaders rushed to Sapph's side as Lavender began to cry and Arcana felt the necessity to employ a few choice swear words herself as she watched Crimson throw himself on Anuvi, his fist resembling miniature suns.
The volume suddenly went back to full strength as Crimson released a flurry of fireballs that blew Anuvi back a few feet, but didn't manage to fell him. Anuvi fought back with a series of high speed sword slashes that plowed into the Ledian's Protect bubble. Realising his counterattack had failed, Anuvi released a feral snarl, that Crimson returned, the two of them totally out of control.
No... Arcana heard Lavender whimper feebly, her eyes brimming with tears. Please... Anii... stop...
Arcana's head snapped back to the action as Crimson phased out of sight and reappeared near Anuvi, fist-first. Anuvi however was ready this time and stopped him with his bare palm. A leafy explosion erupted from Anuvi's back and swept over Crimson, smothering him in a torrential flow of razor-sharp foliage. Crimson released a howl of wounded rage and the leaves burst into flames, which shot along the trail of leaves towards Anuvi, who had let go and sprang back a few feet to avoid further damage.
Somebody... please, stop them... Lavender wept silently, her voice wracked with sobs as the two continued to duel fiercely, flashes of red and green interchanging as the battle waged on.
The room was no longer able to contain the raw power of Eowmad and Sicten and they decided they needed more room to fight. A second explosion rocked the building and the wall that separated the inside and outside spaces was gone in a second, the rubble half burying the limp form of the Mawhoot and causing everyone to close their eyes in an attempt to keep the dust out.
NOO! MAKE IT STOOOOP! Lavender screamed on top of her voice unable to take the violence anymore.
"Gladly," a voice said triumphantly.
Anuvi seemed the shudder a bit before the green glow began to fade. Crimson, seeing this lapse in concentration as a chance to end his best friend's life fired up his wings and fists and charged in once more, his badly burned fists rearing back, when...
"That'll do," the voice crooned softly and a thick vine glowing with energy shot out from behind the Squirrage and whipped itself around Crimson's neck faster than blinking and without a second thought, began to throttle him as it propelled him back into the wall, which made contact with the back of Crimson's head, prompting the Bug type to pass out.
Hey, what's goin' down, yo? Arcana said in shock as Anuvi's eyelids began to droop as his body generally sagged like a plush doll. Arcana prowled to the side to get a better look and saw with a thrill of terror that what seemed to be woody root had pieced Anuvi in the back and the rhythmical glowing of the root left little to the Growlithe's imagination. Following the roots path she saw a bizarre figure standing in a hex-like circle, the root growing out of her navel as her wild green hair and scanty clothing rippled in the cool evening's air, without a breeze. Her left arm was raised and from the palm of her hand the root that was throttling Crimson extended like a grotesque, thorny limb.
Yo! Whatcha doin' to ma homies, ya crazy hoe? Arcana barked angrily as Bubbles and her teammates along with Lavender picked their way through the destruction to join her.
Like, no way! Bubbles yelled in shock as they stood transfixed in horror at the otherworldly sight before them, not knowing what to do. Not you again?
Who is dat jungle hoe, anyways? Arcana asked as Blitzkrieg his behind Mace and Vapor who stared transfixed in horroras the woman began to murmur to herself, "What... power! Eowmad's... power... becoming... mine..."
Zula, said a weak voice and Ento, Bubbles and Arcana spun around to stare at the Swoop Pokémon who was being held up by Phoenix the Combusken and Torrent the Poliwhirl. A Team Shadow captain...
But vot is he doing to the Squivage? Oza, a chubby Makuhita and Phoenix and Torrent's team mate, said worriedly. Vot is 'appening?
She's most likely draining the essence of Eowmad from him, Zen said blankly as he watched in wonder, struggling to his feet. But that should be impossible for a mere human...
Why? Torque, T.J.'s Hitmontop, who'd hung back to help T.J. revive Sapph with Pixy, said forcefully. What happens when she's done?
Sapph had hardly opened his eyes and become aware of the stabbing pain across his chest when he heard Zen answer Torque quietly, He'll die.
"Anuvi..." Sapph said weakly, raising a hand feebly to reach towards his first Pokémon, who was no longer glowing and seemed to be weakening before everybody's very eyes, but feeling no strength to get up and help him. Zen watched Sapph for a moment with a strange-to-read expression on his face, and began to think...
Anuvi very nearly killed the kid, just because he was trying to protect me. And now... after all that... he wants to save him? Looks like Crimson was right back then... Sapph does deserve respect... and if Anuvi's been holding back... letting my attitude slide... so does he... they all do... and what have I done? All this time... I'm... could I live... knowing that I repay them... the way...
Closing his eyes as he shakily rose to his feet, Zen told Torque and Pixy, I'm such a dickwad. Stay here and watch them... I'll deal with the pygmy witch.
In the meantime, all of Haley's Pokémon had stood up to Zula's new form... and now lay at her feet, slumped over helplessly and clutching injuries.
"Soon... power... Eowmad's power... mine... all mine," Zula rambled incoherently, a truly insane expression lighting up her face as her hair began to glow.
Guess again, you hag! Lavender screamed. Arcana, juice me up, quickly!
You got it, sistah! Arcana barked, a barrage of small embers spewing from her mouth onto Lavender who felt the changes within and without herself as she glowed a burning orange and appeared in the likeness of a Flareon.
Phoenix! I've got this! Torrent yelled, taking Ace's weight into his hands. Go help them!
Got it! the Young Fowl Pokémon agreed racing forward as his clawed feet began to spark and ignite.
NOW! They yelled in unison, brilliant flames licking at Lavender's body as she charged in, a ball of fire increasing in diameter within her maw as Arcana unleashed a white hot Flamethrower attack right at Anuvi and Crimson's assailant; Phoenix following through with a flying Double Kick, unleashing two meteors of fire upon Zula as a five pronged star of flame shot out of Lavender's mouth from above.
All three attacks collided, creating a mini-explosion that sent snow rushing down a nearby mountain.
Did we get her? Phoenix asked roughly as Lavender hit the ground on all fours, panting heavily as she demorphed back into her Eevee form.
Must have, Lavender panted, her coat sleek with perspiration.
Ain't no way she... NO WAY! Arcana screamed as the dust cleared and Zula stood calmly, her whole body glowed green and her injuries recently obtained from the firebrands' offense healed before their very unbelieving eyes.
Impossible... Lavender whispered in horror. We didn't even faze her!
Damn... regeneration, Pheonix spat in disgust.
No way... Arcana repeated. There is no... friggin'... WAY!
"Meddlesome insects," Zula growled, her voice becoming bestial as her nail began to elongate. "BEGONE!"
Slamming her palm into the ground, thorny vines sped along the ground erupting from under their feet, throwing all three of them into the air, Lavender glowing bright green as she morphed into Leafeon and slammed into the ground with a thud.
"Malignant leech!" Zula raged in the same bestial voice. "Drain my power, will you?"
Phoenix and Arcana shook their heads to rid themselves of the bright lights popping before their eyes which widened in horror as they saw the roots rip out of Anuvi's now lifeless form converge on the unconscious Leafeon, intent on draining every last drop of essence.
Lavender...NO! Arcana howled, struggling to her feet yet knowing she wouldn't make it in time as unnoticed by all a glowing white form leapt from the tree from behind Zula and say, Damn... didn't I tell you I wouldn't bail you out again, Lavender?
Suddenly, Zula froze, a blank look arresting her face as she fell forwards on her side, passed out and a new creature stepped out of the shadows and into the evening sun.
Phoenix and Arcana stared at the newcomer as the vines loosened their grip on Crimson's neck and he dropped on to his feet, and then promptly fell on all... er, sixes as he gasped for air.
The Pokémon stood at four feet tall and a tail reminiscent of Monferno's (but with no flame) swung in and out of view as he looked down at Zula and exhaled softly. Glancing at the Fire types bewildered looks he stepped forwards on club-like feet and said in a sarcastic tone, What up, Chicken Little? And Dog-breath, close ya trap before you hyperventilate.
Z-zen? Arcana gasped, looking into the Combatant Pokémon's yellow eyes which were half hidden behind a curtain of dark tan fur which covered every square inch of his body other that his white, rubbery fingers, feet, pointed ears and muscles. Is- is that you?
Yes, Dog-breath, it's me, alri- no...way, Zen gasped, looking down at himself and his hands.
Yep, you heard me... hands. Complete with arms, fingers and shoulder. Zen was whole.
Hu-how? Arcana gasped, staring at Zen, who began to walk towards Lavender, to Zula, who lay on her side, unconscious, and to the room where the piece of metal that was formerly Zen's arm, before snapping back to Zen, who had scooped Lavender into his arms and walked towards Anuvi.
In a minute, was all Zen said as the others started to come to and moved gingerly towards Zen and the two Grass types to watch what Zen was up to.
Zen placed a white palm on either Pokémon and took a deep breath through his dainty, catlike nose as he closed his eyes in concentration. Lavender began to glow green once more and reverted back to her Normal type form as his other hand which lay atop Anuvi's chest glowed in symmetrical hue. The light seemed to drain into Anuvi's chest and spread over Anuvi's body before he gasped, his violet eyes flying open.
"Hey, Leaf Monkey, Zen said, opening his yellow eyes and smirking slightly. How're you feeling?
Uhhh... Anii, Lavender mumbled as she opened her eyes and saw Anuvi sit up painfully with Crimson's help. ANII! She yelled with joy and leapt into him, nuzzling his chest madly.
Oww... geddoff me, Lav, Anuvi groaned, with a feeble laugh, as he patted the young Evolution Pokémon fondly.
Like, thank Arceus, Bubbles said, sniffling happily.
"Anuvi! You're OK!" Sapph's voice said weakly as he hobbled over with T.J., Haley, Lhi, Chen Torque and Pixy, supported between Haley and T.J. He looked awful, an angry red slash splashed across his bare chest, and his black T-shirt ripped in half down the front, but his smile was of utter joy as he grasped his Pokémon in a grateful, forgiving hug.
Zen took a step back to take in the affecting scene and turned around to look at Zula only to realise she had gone... with nearly all of Anuvi's powers.
Damn it... he thought bitterly.
"Zen..." a voice he had formerly detested as belonging to a weak little boy who held him back ever time said gently. Zen turned around, yet couldn't bring himself to look into Sapph's blue eyes. Looking at the ground at the boy's feet he saw a red and white sphere glint in the evening sun.
"Guess... you'll want to leave... hunh?" Sapph said quietly, his steady gaze fixed on the Jutunkick's shaking form. "I'm sorry I... didn't take you're feelings into consideration... all this time. I hope... you can... you know, forgive me?"
Thanks, Zen, Anuvi said fervently, looking at Zen's eyes widen at his gentle tone. Crimson told me what you did... for me... for all of us. Sorry about going berserk on ya... heh, heh... ouch, the chuckling Warrior Pokémon groaned, clutching his side in pain
You know... Crimson said calmly. We still have two chances to get into the league finals, and we can't afford another loss. I know you'll be instrumental in helping us win... if you stayed. But the choice, he said, glancing sadly at the pokéball as well now, is yours to make.
All eyes were watching the Combatant Pokémon sadly, expecting their comrade to leave them after he'd just saved all their hides.
The Fighting and Psychic type picked up the pokéball, tears leaking out of the corners of his eyes.
'Sorry'? 'Forgive me'? 'Thanks'? He thought as he walked towards Sapph and placed the pokéball in his palm as he broke down completely, Anuvi and Crimson clapping him on the back warmly. Those are my lines.