CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHT
Amy was nervous as she walked through the double doors and entered the battlefield, spread out so that there was ample room for Trainer and Pokemon. The seats set into the borders were retracted and the ceiling shutter was closed so that the examination remained private and free from distractions. Heart thudding, Amy checked that all three Pokeballs were still on her belt, worried she had forgotten something. High in the corners of the battlefield, speakers were mounted.
"Please take your position on the battlefield. Your opponent will arrive shortly."
Compulsively, Amy re-tied her ponytail, freed her bra straps from where they dug into her shoulder and tried not to bite her fingernails in anticipation. This was her moment. If she lost, she would be disqualified from the tournament and have to travel around Kanto once more to regain her Badges again. She glanced up and saw the double doors opposite the battlefield slide open. From within, a slender woman emerged with her auburn hair in a high ponytail, wearing a skirt suit and fashionable heels.
"Welcome to the Indigo League. I am Lorelei."
"Thank you. My name is Amy. Nice to meet you."
Both women glanced up to the speakers, which emitted an unfortunate loud blast of static.
"Challenger, you will face Lorelei, who uses Water and Ice Pokemon. Each Trainer is limited to three Pokemon each; the first to eliminate the other's Pokemon wins the match. There is no time limit and no breaks in between. If you win, you will be granted a place in the upcoming tournament. If you lose, you may not re-enter again. For the purposes of this entrance examination, no prize money may be exchanged in any case."
Lorelei smiled as she turned to Amy. "Did you catch all that? I'm afraid my voice has gone hoarse from battling."
Nodding, Amy replied, "My friend Natalie told me you rescued her from the Seafoam Islands."
"That's correct. Many Travellers have gotten lost in those caves. It was lucky I was training there at the time."
"She told me she saw an Articuno," Amy said, and Lorelei nodded. "And you believed her?"
Faintly, Lorelei nodded. "It is rare to see an Articuno, but not unheard of that they assist trapped Trainers. Natalie has a kind complex, and given that she was defending it from an aggressive Trainer, I believe the Articuno may have perceived Natalie as harmless."
Amy could not help herself. "When I was atop Victory Road, my Growlithe found a Fire Stone in a burned-out nest of ashes and evolved into Arcanine. We discovered shortly after it was the roost of Moltres."
"You saw it?" asked Lorelei, expression unchanging. "The bird of fire?"
Nodding, Amy explained in as best detail as she could. "It had a golden body, flames atop its head and wings, sharp beak and strong talons. It threatened us at first, but when incoming Trainers added their voices to the din, I urged it to fly away. I didn't want it to get captured, too."
"Then you're very lucky," said Lorelei wisely. "Not just to see a Moltres but to escape unscathed. Plenty of Trainers travel Victory Road in the hopes to capture Moltres."
Aware she was holding up the other Trainers who jostled for their entrance examinations, Amy felt it was unfair to spend further time talking. Taking her position opposite Lorelei on the battle, she said,
"I'm ready when you are, Lorelei."
Nodding, Lorelei remained still as Amy gasped and stepped back, for the battlefield began retracting as another took its place, a deep cavity of water the size on an Olympic pool, with floating slabs of ice, some bigger than others. It was similar to the Cerulean Gym's Leader's battlefield, except larger and with glacial, slippery podiums that shifted with the current. It was a battlefield to accommodate the Water and Ice Pokemon Lorelei would surely use, with the icy podiums for Pokemon who could not battle on water alone.
"Good luck, Amy," Lorelai said, fetching a Pokeball from her belt. "Your entrance examination begins now."
Taking hold of her first Pokeball, Amy's heart thudded as she aimed her first Pokeball for one of the larger ice podiums bobbing on the water's surface.
"Go, Nidorina!"
Landing upon the icy podium, Nidorina almost slipped off as she dug her feet in to maintain balance. Glancing around at the expanse of water, Nidorina paled and turned to Amy.
"You'll be OK, Nidorina!" cried Amy. "Leap from platform to platform!"
Nodding, Nidorina turned back to Lorelei, who threw her chosen Pokeball atop a floating platform.
"Go, Slowbro!"
Slowbro was the evolved form of Slowpoke, with a Shellder clamped onto its tail. It stood stronger than Slowpoke and watched Nidorina happily, taking no notice of Nidorina's fierce determination.
"Let's go, Nidorina! Toxic!" Amy cried.
"Slowbro, dive underwater!" Lorelei commanded.
Nidorina spat a mass of dark liquid towards Slowbro, splattering the icy platform instead as Slowbro dived into the water, ripples on the water's surface. Nidorina glanced wildly about for where her opponent would reappear next.
"Nidorina, leap to the next podium!" Amy shouted, in fear.
Taking a step back, Nidorina wobbled and leapt for another podium, almost slipping as Slowbro emerged from the water, to land upon the platform recently vacated by Nidorina. Gaining grip, Nidorina scrabbled onto the icy ridge and stared down Slowbro.
"Slowbro! Psychic!" Lorelei demanded.
"Nidorina, watch out!" Amy cried.
Nidorina leapt onto a third platform to avoid the psychic blast which obliterated its prior platform, taking another leap to crash into Slowbro atop his podium. Biting hard, Slowbro wailed and whacked Nidorina with his tail, breaking apart as their shared platform began to bob uncertainly, sinking into the water from their combined weight.
"Dive, Slowbro!" Lorelei commanded.
"Nidorina," Amy began. "Jump!"
But Nidorina spat another Toxic at Slowbro just as he submerged into the water, thick black liquid splattering upon his pink body. Stumbling about, Nidorina barely made it to a spare icy platform in time, panting heavily at the exertions that tired it as much as being harmed would.
Slowbro broke the water's surface and landed upon the largest ice podium yet, coughing and spluttering as the Toxic took effect, badly poisoning the Water/Psychic Pokemon. Nidorina leapt to another small podium and again onto the large, shared icy platform, staring down Slowbro.
"Nidorina, Horn Drill!" Amy cried.
"Slowbro, Water Gun!" Lorelei shouted.
Holding in its breath, Slowbro leapt to avoid Nidorina's charge, pummelling Nidorina from behind with a strong jet of water. Stumbling and slipping, Nidorina veered for the water's edge -
"Return!" Amy ordered, holding out her Pokeball. The red light shot out and safely encased Nidorina before she slipped into the drink. "Nice going, Nidorina!"
Atop the icy platform, Lorelei frowned as her Slowbro began to take increasing damage from poison. Amy selected her next Pokeball, not wasting a second as Lorelei reached for a Full Restore.
"We're not done yet!" Amy shouted. "Marowak, come out!"
Springing onto the same large platform as Slowbro, Marowak faced Slowbro with vengeance and tossed his bone club in a spinning Bonemerang attack. As Slowbro moved closer to receive the Full Restore, Marowak's thrown bone club whacked him across the face and Lorelei withdrew her hand just in time as the bone club arced back and knocked Slowbro for a second time. Marowak leapt to catch his bone club as it returned, slipping and falling face flat on the ice glacier.
Greatly injured, Slowbro shook with anger and released a Psychic blast which consumed the ice as Marowak barely jumped out of the way in time, skidding on the ice as he made an about-turn and raced towards Slowbro, bone club raised.
"Slowbro!" Lorelei commanded. "Water Gun!"
"Marowak, use Double Team!" Amy cried, worried for her Ground-type Pokemon.
Splitting into three copies, Marowak continued to sprint for Slowbro as Slowbro released a strong jet of water towards the first copy, arcing so that it swept across the second and the third, leaping high in the air as the other two copies dissipated into thin air.
"Bone Club!" Amy yelled, biting down on her knuckles to restrain her terror.
Bringing down his bone club with savage force upon Slowbro, Marowak landed cleanly upon the ground and bent his head, delivering a Skull Bash that knocked the startled Slowbro into the water with a loud splash. Visibly irritated, Lorelei held out her Pokeball.
"Slowbro, return!"
Marowak turned and danced in victory, while Amy lost all composure and clapped madly. Marowak had performed excellent under pressure. Lorelei threw her second Pokeball atop the large ice.
"Go, Jynx!"
Sashaying forth, Jynx had long blonde hair and wore a red dress, with similar humanoid features except that its face was purple. Amy thought Jynx looked like an opera singer, especially with the musical sounds it taunted Marowak with. Marowak clutched his bone club, ready. Was this Pokemon a Water-type?
"Marowak, Bonemerang!" Amy cried.
"Jynx, Lovely Kiss!" Lorelai ordered.
Gliding across the ice like a skater, Jynx avoided Marowak's thrown bone club and raced up to him, planting a kiss on his cheek that made him drowsy. Jynx spun with verve out of range for the Bonemerang as it arced back for a second hit, thudding uselessly beside Marowak's sleeping form.
"Jynx is a charmer," Lorelei smiled, as Amy reached for a Full Heal. "But she's got a heart of ice! Jynx, Ice Punch!"
Amy applied the Full Heal as Jynx skated forth on unseen feet beneath her red dress, arching back her fist which glowed frozen and punched the rousing Marowak across the face, sending him skidding across the platform and into the water below with a great splash.
Screaming in fright, Amy held out her Pokeball so that red light flashed into the blue to rescue her overboard Pokemon. "Marowak, return!"
Breathing wildly, Amy had underestimated Jynx, who was definitely Ice-type. But was it a dual-type? With Marowak down, Amy had to be sure. She threw her chosen Pokeball onto the large glacier, spilling red light to form the majestic bulk of Arcanine.
"You can do it, Arcanine! I trust you!" Amy yelled, clouded with worry.
Jynx visibly blanched, narrowing her eyes at Arcanine, whose hackles were raised to intimidate. Composed and immaculate in her pencil skirt, Lorelei called,
"Jynx, Body Slam!"
Fearful, Amy retorted, "Arcanine, Flamethrower!"
Arcanine released a burst of fire towards Jynx who skated forth. Jynx ducked to avoid the heat, hair singed and leapt onto Arcanine, bulk crashing down upon him to render the Fire-type paralysed. Reaching for her Full Heal, Amy grew hot from the adrenaline.
"Jynx!" Lorelei called. "Thrash!"
Wildly flailing for Arcanine, Jynx delivered several harmful hits to Arcanine. Amy's Full Heal took effect, as Arcanine leapt up with a growl, colliding with Jynx.
"Be careful!" Amy cried, as Lorelei watched on without concern.
Jynx continued to thrash about wildly, her lunges savage and without restraint. Arcanine yelped in pain, skidding about on the ice platform as he tried to evade while Jynx skated closer without fail.
"Leap to another platform!" Amy cried.
Arcanine landed on a smaller icy platform, but Jynx leapt with all the majesty of a weightless apparition, gown rippling. She lunged for him again as the icy platform began to sink.
"Watch out!" Amy and Lorelei shouted in unison.
Arcanine and Jynx leapt to opposing glaciers facing one another, barely big enough to stand on as their former platform sunk. Jynx suddenly became confused from all the thrashing, slapping herself around the face either in confusion or to snap herself out of it.
Thinking fast, Amy yelled, "Arcanine, Fire Blast!"
Arcanine released an enormous blast of flame, melting nearby ice and consuming Jynx whole. Burned badly, Jynx toppled underneath the ice platform which melted, slipping into the water below.
"Jynx, return!" Lorelei cried, holding out her Pokeball. Saved from a watery grave, Jynx returned in a flash of red light.
Arcanine steadied his stance, leaping across in a blur towards the largest ice platform yet. Amy cheered for her Fire-type, while Lorelei selected her third and final Pokeball.
"Not many Trainers get this far," Lorelei smiled, tossing her Pokeball into the water, erupting with a bright light within. "Let's see how you fare against my Lapras!"
Breaking the surface, Lapras was a large, blue Pokemon with a long neck, hard shell and fins paddling beneath. It swam with speed and grace, calling out to Arcanine with its musical voice, who growled in apprehension.
Doubtfully, Amy eyed the Lapras with caution. Undoubtedly it was a Water-type Pokemon, but if it was a dual Water/Ice-type, Arcanine's flames would barely cause harm. Having burned quite a few ice platforms with his Fire Blast, Arcanine had fewer options on where to leap.
"Arcanine, return!" Amy cried, holding out her Pokeball.
But Arcanine avoided the jet of red light, shaking his head. Opposite, Lapras swam serenely in the water.
"OK, then," Amy frowned, worried but proud of her Arcanine's commitment. Let's go!"
"Lapras, Confuse Ray!"
"Arcanine, Bite!"
Lapras shuddered and released an eerie wave at Arcanine, while Arcanine leapt from the large ice platform onto a smaller one, then pouncing again atop Lapras' back, biting her neck hard. Squealing, Lapras dived under the water as Arcanine leapt across platforms to return to the large centre.
Submerged underwater, Lapras caused endless ripples as she gained speed, her presence obvious as she circled the large platform and began to create a whirlpool where Arcanine's ice platform was in the centre of. Unsteady, Arcanine slipped as the platform began to bank and slide.
"Lapras, Hydro Pump!" Lorelei shouted.
Leaping out of the whirlpool she had created, Lapras landed upon the ice platform with such force that Arcanine was thrown into her midst; promptly blasting him whole with the powerful surge of water she blasted from her mouth. Arcanine was drenched head to toe, knocked back and landed in the water with a loud splash.
"Arcanine!" Amy squealed, holding out her Pokeball. "Return!"
Sweat covering her brow, Amy tried to hide her sinking hopes as she selected her third and final Pokeball. Meanwhile, Lapras bounded off the platform into the water once more, splattering Lorelei's pencil skirt and heels with droplets.
"Go, Nidorina!" Amy threw her Pokeball onto the largest icy platform, still bobbing uncertainly from the weight of Lapras' body slam. Red light spilled out and materialised the sharp horns and tough hide of Amy's Poison-type Pokemon.
"Nidorina, Toxic!"
"Lapras, Blizzard!"
Nidorina shot a dark liquid from its mouth at Lapras, splattering her cream neck while Lapras tensed in the water, releasing a powerful burst of sharp icicles from her mouth. Lapras became poisoned and cried out in pain, while Nidorina skidded to retain balance atop the platform, injured as the icicles cut into her hide.
"Nidorina!" Amy called, as Lorelei fetched a Full Restore and Lapras swam over to receive it. "Horn Drill!"
"Lapras, Hydro Pump!" Lorelai ordered.
Nidorina leapt from platform to platform, narrowly evading the powerful surge of water Lapras directed and landing atop its shell, horn spinning like a drill as Nidorina charged Lapras in the neck. Squealing in pain, Lapras sunk into the water as Nidorina barely made it atop a floating ice podium, unable to reach any more with the shifting waves.
Lorelai stepped forward. "Lapras, return!"
Amy felt the hairs on her neck rise in anticipation as Lorelei returned Lapras to its Pokeball in a flash of red light. Disbelievingly, she watched as the water began to drain in the battlefield. She had done it.
"Congratulations," Lorelei said tersely, then breaking into a smile. "You have passed the entrance examination."
Beaming wide, Amy rushed around the battlefield's edge to where Nidorina was scrabbling up out of the sinking pool and onto the flat ground. Amy could not scoop Nidorina in her arms but bent to hug her, as Nidorina growled in a friendly way, spikes poking into Amy.
"Ow," Amy rubbed her shoulder, face-to-face with Nidorina. "We did great, Nidorina! We won!"
Barking happily, Nidorina turned as Lorelei approached, smoothing her pencil skirt. Amy rose and saw that Lorelei was smiling.
"Present your Trainer Card to the attendant outside this battlefield and he will validate it as a swipe card. Along with securing your place in the upcoming tournament, you will be appointed a basic suite of rooms within the stadium complex for the duration of your stay, free of charge."
"Really?" Amy smiled. "Thank you, Lorelei."
"You have talent, Amy. You're just what this tournament needs," Lorelei offered her hand and Amy shook it. "Good luck!"