CHAPTER SEVENTY FOUR
Beth had followed the tournament from day one, not particularly interested in Pokemon battling but wanting to see how far her brother Daniel would climb to the top. Additionally, keeping an eye on Natalie and Amy made it rewarding, too. She and Vulpix had sat curled up on the rug in front of the TV, watching as the three reached the top thirty two, then the top sixteen, then narrowly scoring victories to become among the top eight.
"Welcome to the Indigo League quarterfinals!" cried the announcer on screen, as a deafening crescendo of cheers -
"Turn that volume down!" Mary scolded, presenting a plate of scones on the coffee table which Beth immediately snatched up. Mary reached over and adjusted the dial for the TV. "We don't want the neighbours to go deaf."
"Mum, everyone's watching the tournament," Beth rolled her eyes. "Like there's anything better going on in Kanto. Now shush."
Frowning, Mary took a seat on the sofa while Beth splayed out on the carpet, feeding crumbs to Vulpix. They watched the television screen where the cameras panned to the top eight, standing atop a podium in the stadium as crowds roared from all ends. Now that the preliminaries were over, all subsequent matches would not be taking place in the examination battlefield, but inside the larger-than-life stadium in which Gary Oak had challenged Lance during the last tournament.
"There's Daniel!" Beth spluttered, crumbs flying from her mouth without notice. "And Amy and Natalie!"
Upon the podium where once there stood sixty four Trainers, the tournament battles had whittled it down to eight. The crowds had their favourites, for one reason or another but mostly, their fire and spirit kept the entertainment alive.
"I wish we could've been there in person," Beth lamented.
"We don't have the money to travel, Beth," Mary was quick to say. "Besides, Daniel tells me that all the inns are booked out. Even if we did have the money, the accommodation would be too high priced for us to consider."
"But look at him!" Beth almost poked Vulpix in the eye with her pointing finger to the screen. "Daniel has a real chance of winning!"
Not wanting to sound defeatist, Mary replied, "So do the others. No matter what happens, we will still accept Daniel's wins or losses."
"Or the prize money," Beth rolled her eyes. "I hope he shares some with us."
Mary chuckled. "You're his cheerleader, are you sweetheart?"
"For that much prize money I would be!" Beth retorted, certain. "I would buy lots of clothes and Vulpix lots of treats, and we could go on trips every day."
"Well, why don't you enter next time?" Mary asked, to which Beth considered it for a moment until Mary laughed. "I don't want you leaving the nest, Beth. Besides, you're too young."
"I'm twelve!" Beth whined.
Meanwhile, upon the podium in the stadium, Daniel looked bleakly out at the watching millions, glad to have made it this far. His victory against Alexa and two subsequent others had led him to this point, where if he lost now, the whole of Kanto would know him by name. He shivered in the cold.
"Our eight Trainers have fought long and hard to reach this point," the announcer took his mic and walked up to them. "Who do we have here? Would you like to say your name and town of origin for the crowd, please?"
Amy stiffened as the mic was presented before her. "I'm Amy K. of Celadon City."
Natalie beamed, though inside she was exhausted. "Natalie C. of Viridian City."
Daniel almost fainted in his social anxiety. "Daniel S. of Pallet Town."
Liam did not bat an eyelid, smirking for the few admirers who swooned at his laid back confidence. "Liam K. of Celadon City -"
"Ah!" interrupted the announcer, holding the mic so close it almost went up Liam's nose. "You and Amy are siblings, correct?"
Liam smirked, glancing to Amy who remained stone-faced on the podium. "In a manner of speaking. We don't see eye to eye."
It took all of Amy's self-control not to say something stupid on live camera, but she resumed her gaze elsewhere.
"Well! This is a surprise," the announcer looked between Liam and Amy. "Good luck to both of you! Who do we have next?"
Alesha stepped forward, receiving catcalls and whistles from the crowd. By now, it was well known that Alesha and Natalie were sisters, with the same red hair and freckles, but completely different personalities. Guys preferred Alesha's brazen, sultry confidence which represented experience, where Natalie's kind nature was akin to their little sisters or nieces. Natalie did not mind this; she had never been swept up in the need to have a boyfriend and preferred to keep the company of her Pokemon.
"Alesha C. of Viridian City," she flashed a sneer for her cameras, unable to pull off a genuine smile. "And I'll win this tournament!"
More cheers came from the crowd at this unexpected declaration. Amy and Daniel rolled their eyes, while Natalie squirmed and stayed mute.
"And next, we have?" asked the announcer, moving onto the next person.
"Hunter B. of Saffron City," smirked a reasonably handsome guy, who fared better in popularity than pale-faced Liam or Daniel did.
"Melanie F. of Lavender Town," smiled a girl with dark hair in a clip, glasses and undeniably a bookworm presence.
"Joshua A. of Pallet Town," Joshua glanced at the crowd, who had so far enjoyed watching him battle.
"And those are our eight Trainers for the quarter finals, folks!" the announcer boomed. "Daniel, Amy, Natalie, Liam, Alesha, Hunter, Melanie and Joshua!"
More deafening applause. Amy glanced down to Joshua. She had made eye contact once or twice in between preliminary rounds, but the crowds around them had made it hard to make a proper introduction. Besides, Amy got cold feet at the last second to confront him, while Joshua made himself scarce once she lost sight of him.
The announcer began, "In the quarter finals, eight Trainers battle one another in four battles. Let us reveal the tournament bracket for all our televised viewers who are joining us..."
In the stadium, a large screen revealed the sixty four Trainers, of which only eight remained. Now the screen contracted to reveal which among the remaining eight would battle each other.
"And what a result!" the announcer boomed. "Our first of four battles in the quarter finals is Trainer Amy vs. Trainer Liam!"
Amy gasped. Liam smirked, arms folded and ready to battle right then and there.
"A battle between siblings! Tune in live for tomorrow afternoon's battle between Trainers Amy and Liam!"
Alongside Daniel and Natalie, Amy took the shared elevator up to one of the highest floors in the stadium. Now that they were out of the preliminaries, all eight entrants had received their own self-contained apartments, with studio bedroom, en suite bathroom and kitchenette. The furnishings were modern but basic.
The elevator doors slid open and together, the three walked down the winding, corridor that ran the length of the circular stadium, floor-to-ceiling window panes through which sunlight warmed them and they could look out onto the forest, coast and vista beyond Indigo Plateau.
"Whose room shall we check out first?" Daniel asked, trying to break the silence. Amy had been quiet, but then so had Natalie. Tomorrow's match had consumed their minds.
"They're all the same," Amy added dryly, but unlocked hers. "Come on in."
With bright flashes of red light, Amy released her Pokemon from their Pokeballs. Arcanine curled up on the rug, Nidorina raced to sniff everything suspiciously and Marowak headed to the kitchenette, to wait faithfully until Amy decided to feed him.
Daniel and Natalie took seats on the couch, awkward as they watched Amy. She was silent as she fed her Pokemon, filling a glass with water and drinking it quite thirstily and with little regard for the drops which landed on her top. Finally, she sat on a standalone chair facing her friends. She had lines under her eyes and looked sick.
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Natalie implored. "We can discuss strategy -"
"I don't need strategy," Amy ran her hand through her brown hair, listlessly glancing at the carpet. She looked quite comatose. "I need a miracle."
The three of them had watched Liam's battles in between their own to secure their places up the preliminary ranks. He only ever used three Pokemon, but though he lost his cool and shouted, making furious threats against the other Trainer, that only seemed to spur them on and make them stronger. Liam didn't know tactics, but his Pokemon were incredibly loyal and willing to fight to the death, much longer than the average.
"He's not unbeatable," Daniel offered. "You've got great Pokemon, Amy. I'm sure you'll do fine."
"I have my parents, old friends from Celadon, everyone watching tomorrow," Amy collapsed, her head in her hands. "I can't do it. It's not that he's strong, it's that I'm scared I'll lose my cool on live TV."
"Well, everyone gets a little angry -"
"I can't let him get to me," Amy rubbed her eyes, getting to her feet. "I need a good night's sleep if I'm going to be in a good mood tomorrow."
Though Daniel wanted to stay and help, Natalie put her hand on his shoulder to silence him. "That's a good idea. We'll head off, too."
Natalie hugged Amy, who replied with no energy. Sensing her listlessness, Daniel attempted the same, but Amy was already off to bed.
Amy felt bad for ignoring her friends, but she hadn't counted on facing Liam beyond the preliminaries. If she was honest, she had hoped that he would've been beaten by now, or disqualified by not following the rules. But Liam's objective was to humiliate her, a sweeter victory than what the prize money or fame might grant him. He had always felt overshadowed not by merit, but simply because he was younger, and Liam never let his pride suffer if he could help it.
She slept fitfully through the night, waking several times in panic. By the time the alarm clock blared its shrill noise, Amy's face was dry with tears and her hair stuck out at odd angles. She showered and dried quickly; putting on an outfit she had laid out during one of her midnight wake ups. She wanted to look her best when taking on her brother.
Tying her flowing brown hair into a chignon, Amy wore a short-sleeved white t-shirt which displayed her slender arms, with tight jeans which accented her trim figure. Her outfit looked casual and carefree, but her grim expression spoke volumes and the bags under her eyes which her concealer barely hid. Hopefully the cameras wouldn't zoom in too close.
She emerged into the living room, ruffling her Arcanine's fur and gentling him awake.
"Let's go, guys," Amy held out their Pokeballs, red light flashing. "Let's do our best today."
"Welcome to the Indigo League quarter finals!" boomed the announcer, while cameras zoomed in the roaring crowd and that of the two Trainers, figures in the distance atop their podiums on either side of the massive stadium.
"On the left, we have Trainer Amy!"
Cameras homed in on Amy, who was pale but remained stoic, giving an imperious nod to the camera. Loud cheers from the crowd and a few wolf-whistles. With her dull brown hair and casual clothes, she looked commonplace but untouchable.
"And on the right, we have Trainer Liam!"
Cheers and yells from the crowd, where Liam had collected a male fan base who admired his strong Pokemon, and girls who liked a bad boy, especially one who appeared to have money.
"Each Trainer will use three Pokemon! The first Trainer to defeat the other Trainer's Pokemon will advance to the semi finals! Are you ready?"
Cameras swerved around the crowd, as people jostled to appear on live TV, screaming for their favourites.
Upon her podium, Amy took a deep breath and placed her three Pokeballs in the holder, aware that there was always at least one camera televising her movements to Kanto. She may have had to dress down and become more compassionate during her travels, but she had not forgotten how to hold herself like a lady, restrain impulses and appear dignified. Right now, it was her only coping mechanism as she glanced across the stadium to where Liam stood in his podium, wearing his uniform of dark hoodie and jeans.
The battlefield was freshly mowed, with white stripes identifying podium positions. There was no adverse terrain, just a wide stretch of green.
"I'll defeat you, Amy!"
Liam's voice magnified tenfold so that all could hear him. Startled, Amy glanced down to where her podium had a microphone installed. Issuing orders by shouting wouldn't cut it in a stadium packed with loud, cheering crowds. By depressing the buzzer, her words would be amplified for her Pokemon and the live audience.
"Good luck," she added dryly, wishing him great hurt.
Liam threw his first Pokeball onto the field, bursting with bright red light. "Machoke! Let's go!"
The crowd roared in anticipation at the hulking, muscled Fighting-type who stared up at Amy's podium. Amy selected her first Pokeball of three, tossing it down into the battlefield.
"Nidorina!" Amy's voice came up loud on the audio. "I choose you!"
With gasps and cries from fans of the female Nidoran evolutionary line, Nidorina took position opposite Machoke, tense on her haunches.
"Machoke, Focus Energy!" Liam yelled.
"Nidorina, Toxic!" Amy shouted.
Machoke stood firm, concentrating on inner energies as Nidorina spat a wad of poisonous liquid at Machoke. Badly poisoned, Machoke began to suffer but its Focus Energy heightened its strength.
"Poison won't take me down!" Liam shouted. "Machoke, Submission!"
Tense, Amy cried, "Nidorina, Horn Drill!"
Machoke sprinted towards Nidorina, whose horn spun like a drill as she raced forth.
"This is daring, folks!" cried the announcer.
Nidorina leapt for Machoke, but Machoke grabbed Nidorina's underbelly, spinning horn away from him as he tackled Nidorina into the ground, taking her with him. Quite damaged, Nidorina spun dizzy as Machoke stood up, taking sharp recoil. He was injured, but didn't show it.
"That's right!" Liam shouted. "Your pitiful Nidorina should've evolved! Machoke, Mega Punch!"
"Nidorina, Bite!" Amy cried.
Nidorina got to her feet, pouncing upon Machoke and biting deep, but Machoke's fist sent her flying across the field. Cheers and boos from opposing viewpoints within the crowd, as Nidorina struggled to stand.
"That Machoke sure packs a punch!" cried the announcer. "Liam's trained his Machoke well!"
"You're damn right," Liam muttered darkly, but it was picked up by the audio. "You're going down, Amy!"
Though Machoke was holding up well, the poison was beginning to take its effect. However, Machoke persisted in not letting Nidorina get up.
"Nidorina, Body Slam!"
"Machoke, Mega Punch!"
Nidorina pounced upon Machoke again, but Machoke leapt forward and both Pokemon missed. Meanwhile, Machoke continued to suffer.
"Heal your Machoke!" Amy's voice came clearly. "It's poisoned!"
"I'm not letting Nidorina out of my sight!" Liam grinned. "Machoke can take it! If you heal your Pokemon all the time, they'll never learn to handle pain!"
Hands gripping the podium tight, Amy cried, "Nidorina, tire out that Machoke! Run in circles!"
Pale, Liam shouted, "Machoke, grab that Nidorina!"
Machoke was fast, but tired from its exertions as Nidorina leapt out of his grasp time and again. The crowd booed at Liam, who was clearly subjecting his Pokemon to torment, unsuccessful in its mad grabs for Nidorina.
"Machoke, get here now!" Liam retrieved a Full Heal from his seemingly inexhaustible supply, as Machoke put on a burst of speed towards his Trainer's podium.
"Nidorina, Horn Drill!" Amy shouted.
Nidorina turned and sped for Machoke, horn spinning like a drill as the Fighting-type's back was turned - but this was a ruse, as Machoke anticipated being followed, ducked to avoid Nidorina's lunge and grabbed her by the hindquarters, tossing her onto the ground. Surprised and winded, Nidorina lay panting.
"Yeah!" Liam cheered, receiving cheers in reply. "You can get your Full Heal when you finish her off, Machoke!"
Nidorina tried to get to her feet, but a Mega Punch from Machoke made her see stars. Realising how close her Pokemon was to unconsciousness, Amy held out her Pokeball to shocked gasps from the crowd.
"Nidorina, return!"
Red light flashed out from Amy's podium as the crowd began to cheer for Liam.
"Trainer Amy's first Pokemon is down!" cried the announcer. "Who will she choose next?"
Sternly, Amy selected her next Pokeball and tossed it into the battlefield. Meanwhile, Liam sprayed a Full Heal upon Machoke, who was sweating profusely.
"Go, Marowak!" Amy shouted.
Marowak burst forth in red light, to cheers from the crowd as he raised his bone club high in the air.
"And Trainer Amy has chosen Marowak for her second Pokemon! Will this Ground-type prove his worth?"
Irritated by the announcer's constant commentary, Amy shouted, "Marowak, Fissure!"
"Machoke, Submission!" Liam shouted.
Sprinting off at a fast pace, Machoke headed for Marowak, who raised its bone club into the air and struck the ground with great force. A peal of energy gathered at the point as a fissure snaked into the ground, crevice running deep and headed straight for Machoke.
"Dodge it!" Liam commanded.
Machoke leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the fissure which would've buried him underneath and landed cleanly, rushing towards Marowak, who stood poised.
"That Machoke sure is tough!" cried the announcer.
Amy tensed, watching Machoke barrel forth. "Marowak, Bonemerang!"
"Continue on course, Machoke!" Liam yelled. "Submission!"
Arching his arm back, Marowak threw his bone club at Machoke, who continued to sweat though showed no signs of injury. The poison was taking its toll but Liam's Fighting-type Pokemon was giving it his all.
Marowak's thrown bone club bashed Machoke in the face, a red weal livid upon his cheek which served only as a moment's impediment, as Machoke leapt upon Marowak. Tussling viciously, Machoke threw Marowak to the ground, dealing damage to Amy's Ground-type while Machoke took sharp recoil, hit in the back of the head by the bone club which had returned for its second strike, clattering near Marowak's wincing frame.
"That Machoke can sure take a beating!" cried the announcer.
"Marowak!" Amy cried. "Machoke's badly hurt even if he doesn't show it! Bone Club!"
"You wish, Amy!" Liam shouted. "Machoke, make that Marowak see stars with a Mega Punch!"
Hulking, Machoke turned and raised his arm to Marowak, who evaded the savage punch, leaping into the air with his bone club raised and with the crowd gasping in shock; Marowak brought his bone club crashing down upon Machoke's head.
"That's a heavy fighter!" observed the announcer, as Machoke swayed on his feet.
Uncertain, Marowak backed off a little to watch as Machoke eyed Marowak through blearily eyes, utterly exhausted though his training didn't permit to show it.
"What are you waiting for?" Liam exploded, urging his Pokemon on. "Attack that Marowak! We've been through this, Machoke - win at all costs!"
The crowd didn't know who to cheer for, but yelled indiscriminately all the same. Amy crossed her fingers tight, wiping her brow delicately and feeling the sweat bunch up under her arms. She shouldn't have worn white.
Slowly, Machoke fell with a thud, collapsing onto the dirt with a groan. For good measure, Marowak cautiously stepped around Machoke's limp figure, raising his bone club -
"Return!" Liam's voice rang out across the stadium. Cheers for Amy broke out as red light from Liam's Pokeball shot out and returned Machoke inside.
"Amy's Marowak has taken down Liam's first Pokemon, Machoke!" cried the announcer. "Liam is not playing around, folks!"
Darkly, Liam glanced over to Amy, who remained resolute in the face of her brother's negative thoughts. She was lucky to take out Machoke, but Nidorina had been taken out in the process.
"You did a great job, Marowak!" Amy called down to her Ground-type. She glanced up to Liam. "Do you recognise my Pokemon, Liam?"
"Yeah," Liam spat. "He's next to go down on my list."
"He's the Cubone you gave me," Amy taunted. "Right after we met one another in Pewter City. Do you remember?"
"This sounds like a lovely story," interrupted the announcer. "But perhaps we should continue the b -"
Ignoring the announcer, Liam glanced down at Marowak. He remembered giving Amy the Cubone, but didn't trifle himself with what Pokemon Amy might use. As far as he was concerned, Amy could use a Magikarp or a Gyarados and he'd still defeat her.
"I should've given you a stronger Pokemon!" he catcalled, to some boos from the crowd. "That way this match would've proven a bit more challenging!"
Roars and cheers for those who supported Liam rang out, while some few voices lamely chanted Amy's name. The crowd was divided. Many who would be in the stadium's stands supporting Liam would be nearly every one of his friends, family and peers from Celadon, who certainly hadn't come to cheer on Amy.
"Choose your next Pokemon!" Amy called.
Surly, Liam selected his second of three Pokeballs and tossed it into the battlefield. Amy and Marowak watched from their different positions, tense.
"Go, Sandslash!"
The crowd oohed and aahed at Liam's second Pokemon. Sandslash was the evolved form of Sandshrew, with spikes on its back and sharper claws in its paws. Sandslash darted from side to side on the battlefield, watching Marowak who readied his bone club.
"Marowak, Bonemerang!" Amy shouted.
"Sandslash, Dig!" Liam yelled, triumphant.
Sandslash burrowed under the ground in a snap as Marowak threw his bone club, whizzing through the air endlessly. The crowd waited with bated breath, as Marowak glanced around, tense.
"Marowak, Double Team!" Amy shouted, as Marowak caught his bone club.
Marowak split into three identical copies, just as Sandslash burst from the ground to tackle the Marowak copy in the middle. Still mid-air, Sandslash was flanked by two Marowak copies that turned, bone clubs raised.
"Bone Club, Marowak!" Amy cried, not sure which one of hers was real.
"Poison Sting!" Liam shouted.
Mid-air and attacked on both sides by identical Marowak copies; Sandslash was quick enough to release a volley of poison barbs which shot out at the copy on the left. Sandslash had hit the correct Marowak, knocking it back as the copy on the right dissipated. Sandslash landed on the ground, unharmed.
"That's one fast Sandslash, folks!" cried the announcer.
Though barely harmed, Marowak winced at the poison barbs stuck in his body and faced Sandslash, who was covered in mud and looked like a dangerous, bipedal hedgehog.
"Skull Bash, Marowak!"
"Sandslash, Swift!"
Head lowered, Marowak charged for Sandslash, who was too quick and evaded the blow, turning to throw shining stars at Amy's Ground-type. Hit from behind, Marowak fell upon the ground as Sandslash raised its claws into the air in accordance with the crowd's cheers and roars for Liam's Pokemon.
"Liam's Machoke was brunt force," spoke the announcer. "But his Sandslash is all about speed! What will Trainer Amy do now?"
Amy gripped the podium, calling out, "Marowak, Double Team!"
"Sandslash, Slash!" Liam shouted.
As Marowak split into three copies, Sandslash pounced on the one in the middle with its sharp claws, but it was a fake which dissipated and now Sandslash was flanked on either side by a Marowak copy like before. Stabbing for the copy on the right this time, Sandslash dissipated another copy, leaving the one on the left as the real Marowak.
"Bone Club!" Amy shrieked in haste, though Marowak had already raised its bone club.
Striking with all his force, Marowak was pent up with rage as his bone club whacked Sandslash across the field, rolling over several times as the crowd gasped, for Liam's Ground-type had finally been hit. The crowd cheered for Marowak, though Sandslash was soon on its feet, glaring at Marowak.
"Dig, Sandslash!" Liam ordered. Sandslash burrowed underneath the ground.
"Not again!" Amy cried out in frustration. "Marow -"
But Marowak had leapt into the air, bone club raised as though he was about to perform Fissure, to her mind.
"What is Marowak doing, folks?" the announcer cried.
"It's too soon to evade, Marowak!" Amy cried, as Marowak crashed upon the ground.
An awful silence resonated throughout the stadium. The crowd tittered, shocked as the stadium began to rumble, the ground underneath Marowak's feet began to shift and shake. Marowak hadn't been performing Fissure. He had crashed upon the ground for an Earthquake.
"Sandslash!" Liam called out, a trace of anxiety in his voice. "Where the hell are you?"
Amidst the rumbling and shaking, there was no visible sign of Marowak's Earthquake upon the stadium, but for the few mounds of earth where Sandslash had used Dig. In stark realisation, Liam realised his Sandslash was trapped underneath from the earthquake, deep below.
The crowd gasped in horror as Sandslash burst from the ground, covered in dirt and visibly injured. Somehow escaping the labyrinth of shifting earth that must've struck him on all sides from below, Sandslash panted heavily as Marowak ran forth.
"Sandslash is back, folks!" the announcer boomed, to resultant shouts and cries from the crowd. "What an escape from Marowak's surprise Earthquake!"
"Marowak, Bonemerang!" Amy shouted.
"Sandslash, Dig!" Liam yelled.
Roughly, Sandslash shook his head in defiance.
"That Sandslash is smart!" boomed the announcer. "It seems he understands the risk of another Earthquake trapping him underneath!"
"You're a Ground-type, Sandslash!" Liam spluttered, angry. "You can dig anywhere!"
Spinning through the air, Marowak's thrown bone club missed Sandslash who ducked to avoid it, but refused to follow Liam's command to Dig.
"Useless," Liam muttered. "Fine! Swift!"
"Marowak, Double Team!" Amy cried.
Sandslash tossed shining stars at Marowak, who split into three copies. The stars hit the copy on the left, which dissipated into thin air. Meanwhile, Marowak's thrown bone club headed back like a boomerang for the second hit towards Sandslash.
"Dodge it!" Liam shouted.
As Sandslash ducked to avoid the bone club for a second time, the two Marowak copies were already headed towards Sandslash's evading figure. Catching the bone club that arced back, now both copies were equipped and raised their bone clubs high to strike upon Sandslash who glanced up -
"Slash!" Liam yelled.
Sandslash leapt for one of the copies, dissipating it into thin air as the crowd gasped, holding its breath as the real Marowak brought down his bone club upon Sandslash, whacking it over the head where Liam's Ground-type fell, staggered.
"Skull Bash!" Amy's voice went high-pitched in terror. "Take Sandslash out!"
Landing upon the ground, Marowak turned to Sandslash's stirring figure, lowering his head and charging Sandslash in the stomach. Knocked back several paces, Sandslash groaned, greatly injured from the repeated bone clubs to the head and the Earthquake which had constricted him so.
"This could be it for Sandslash!" boomed the announcer.
Amy was surprised Liam's Sandslash was holding up so long. Sandslash was like a rogue, striking fast where it counted before the other Pokemon could react. Problem was, Sandslash's stamina was dropping fast and without his reflexes, Sandslash was a stationary target, albeit still dangerous with sharp claws.
"Bonemerang, Marowak!" Amy cried, to fresh cheers from the crowd who admired her resolve. "Finish that Sandslash once and for all!"
"Sandslash, you useless -" Liam erupted in fresh swear words that had to be censored on live TV.
Marowak threw his bone club through the air, whacking Sandslash around the head so that he spun on the spot, dizzy. The crowd watched and waited as Marowak tensed, watching the bone club soar back for a second hit which Sandslash just managed to evade, but still fell to the ground. Marowak caught its bone club and the stands erupted with applause.
"Well!" the announcer cried. "Will you look that that, folks! Marowak has defeated Sandslash!"
Amy's knuckles were sore from gripping the podium, her voice hoarse from shouting and restrained emotion she had tried to keep back. Her chignon was loose with strands blowing in the breeze, as Marowak turned to his Trainer and nodded.
Amy smiled back, nodding in return. She was vastly proud for her Ground-type Pokemon, as the crowds went into a frenzy. Liam held out his Pokeball, red light flashing as he returned unconscious Sandslash inside.
"Trainer Liam is down to his last Pokemon!" boomed the announcer. "Will this be it for the lad from Celadon?"
Muttering curses, Liam shouted, "We both know those were my weak Pokemon!"
"All Pokemon are weak in your eyes, Liam," Amy shot back. "To you, some are just less weak than others. Try some compassion at some stage; it might actually win you some battles."
The crowd whooped at this antagonism. Amy hadn't intended to be catty, not having the energy to engage in a verbal fistfight. Liam turned to the crowds.
"Who wants to see a truly powerful Pokemon?" he yelled.
Roaring, the crowds in their anticipation jostled with excitement. Amy forced herself to give the thumbs up to Marowak, despite the pit in her stomach.
"Amy, your winning streak is over!" Liam threw his third and final Pokeball into the battlefield. "Come forth, Charizard!"
Amy's eardrums nearly burst at the tumultuous roar that might've belonged to the crowd, but definitely to the Fire/Flying-type which soared atop the stadium. Winged and ferocious with crimson hide, Charizard was the evolved form of Charmeleon. It snorted flames from its nostrils, along with the tip of its tail and easily dwarfed Marowak, who took a step back in surprise.
"Charizard!" Liam's tone rang with victory. "Take out that Marowak! Seismic Toss!"
"Marowak, Double Team!" Amy screeched, worried. As a part Flying-type, Charizard was immune to Marowak's Ground-type moves.
Charizard roared and dived for Marowak, all fiery majesty. Marowak split into three copies, hesitating as Charizard flew close.
"Marowak, Skull Bash!" Amy cried.
All three copies lowered their heads as Charizard swooped upon a copy, grabbing the real Marowak in its arms as the two copies dissipated. The crowd went wild and cheered as Charizard held the wriggling Marowak within its embrace, soaring high and then plummeting straight for the ground.
"Marowak!" Amy cried, realising his bone club had fallen upon the ground in his sudden capture. "No!"
At the last second, Charizard tossed Marowak into the ground and flew off, roaring to frighten the crowds who backed off as it flew near. Meanwhile, Marowak lay sprawled amid a cloud of dust, quite unconscious.
"Marowak!" Amy shrieked, scrabbling for his Pokeball in the holder. "Return!"
Red light flashed out to return Marowak inside as Charizard flapped its enormous wings, while receiving cheers in reply from Trainers young and old, who were awed to see such magnificence.
"Trainer Liam's Charizard is hot to handle!" cried the announcer. "Who will Trainer Amy's final Pokemon be to take on this monstrosity?"
Amy took a deep breath, holding her remaining Pokeball in her hand. This was it. She was focusing all her hopes on her last Pokemon.
"Go, Arcanine!"
Arcanine burst forth amid fresh applause and cheers, glaring at Charizard who beat his powerful wings, unafraid.
"Charizard, Flamethrower!" Liam yelled.
"Arcanine, Flamethrower!" Amy shrieked.
Both Fire-types shot fire from their mouth at one another; both barely harmed but the resulting inferno wilting the grass and causing the crowd a lot of entertainment factor as they gasped in fright.
Arcanine could not reach Charizard who flew above, but Charizard could not plan any sort of surprise attack, visible in the air. Arcanine was fastest on the ground. Neither Pokemon was harming the other with their Fire-type attacks alone.
"Charizard, Slash!"
"Arcanine, Bite!"
Charizard dived for Arcanine, sharp claws at the ready as Arcanine pounced at the last second, biting hard into Charizard's shoulder as the two collided. Rolling around on the grass, Charizard slashed Arcanine across the face, taking advantage of the momentary pause and flying back into the air, wings spread wide.
Arcanine recovered, somewhat injured and glaring up at Charizard, who proved a compelling foe if the two were to battle using only their claws and teeth.
"Both Pokemon are Fire-types!" cried the announcer. "How hot will the action get?"
"Charizard!" Liam called to his Pokemon, supremely confident now that his favourite Pokemon was on the field. "Take Arcanine for a spin! Seismic Toss!"
Amy's eyes widened, gripping her podium as she called down to Arcanine. "Don't let Charizard get you! Use Take Down!"
Nodding, Arcanine sat back on his haunches and tensed, watching as Charizard become a blur, speeding for Arcanine who leapt at the last second -
The crowd oohed and aahed as Charizard evaded Arcanine's savage tackle, grabbing Amy's Fire-type from underneath and soaring into the sky.
"Arcanine!" Amy cried out in shock.
Arcanine wriggled to escape Charizard's grasp, but Charizard made a sudden swoop, plummeting for the ground below as the crowd watched and waited, holding their breath as the thud echoed resonated throughout the stadium. Charizard slammed Arcanine onto the battlefield, swooping at the last second to safety as Arcanine crumpled.
"No!" Amy shrieked, as Arcanine struggled to move. "Please be OK, Arcanine!"
Charizard faced the fallen figure of Arcanine, wings flapping powerfully. Fearlessly, Charizard roared in triumph.
"You think that's all we've got?" Liam yelled. "Charizard, obliterate Arcanine! Hyper Beam!"
"NO!" Amy cried in despair. "Arcanine, watch out - "
Charizard paused mid-air, opening its mouth wide as a large beam of light shone from within and shot out, a powerful surge of energy which headed straight for Arcanine and caused the crowd to shriek in fear as the battlefield briefly became consumed with light as the beam blasted Arcanine.
Wordless in her terror, Amy cringed against the bright light, lasting only a few seconds but her shock rendering her still.
"I don't believe it!" cried the announcer. "Arcanine's evaded Charizard's Hyper Beam attack!"
A large crater had formed in the ground where the Hyper Beam had annihilated the battlefield, but Arcanine stood several paces away, panting heavily but relatively unhurt but for the Slash across its face.
"Arcanine!" Amy breathed, glancing up to where Charizard was furious, palpitating as it recharged from the exertions of Hyper Beam. "Let's get him! Fire Bl - "
But Arcanine opened his mouth wide, light glowing from within as the crowd cheered, while Charizard remained unable to move.
"Folks!" shouted the announcer. "Arcanine is replying in kind with - "
"Go, Arcanine!" Amy cheered, all dignity forgotten as she jumped up and down. "Hyper Beam!"
"DODGE IT!" Liam roared.
Arcanine shot forth a powerful surge of energy which blasted Charizard mid-air, to the fullest impact as bright light blinded the cameras and the crowds went silent in awe. Charizard dropped from the sky, adding insult to injury as he crashed to the ground, winded and heaving, while Arcanine struggled with recharge recoil.
"Charizard, this is your moment! Take out Arcanine!" Liam bellowed.
Charizard winced in agony, while Arcanine fought to shake off the exertions Hyper Beam had taken on his system, both Pokemon glaring murderously at one another as they fought to overcome their self-imposed pain and trial.
Slowly, Charizard got to his feet as Arcanine barked, sprinting for Charizard.
"This is over, Liam!" Amy screamed. "Arcanine, Take Down!"
"You're over, Amy!" Liam yelled. "Charizard, Hyper Beam!"
Focusing all its energy, Charizard's heart beat madly as once again he shot a powerful surge of energy towards the incoming blur that was Arcanine. Arcanine's eyes widened as Charizard's sudden Hyper Beam annihilated grass in its trajectory, leaping out of the way and singeing fur from the close call, landing cleanly to tackle Charizard right in the stomach.
A shocked silence fell on the crowd, not only those in the stands but upon live TV. Amy's hands covered her mouth; Liam's face was frozen in horror. Arcanine landed roughly, suffering recoil the likes of which was nothing compared to Charizard, who lay severely injured upon the battlefield, unable to move due to the exertions of Hyper Beam than of its agony.
"Liam!" Amy's sharp tone made the crowds sit up and pay attention. "Your Charizard is beyond the limits of its strength! Be a good Trainer for once and call it back!"
Veins pulsing in his face, Liam punched the podium and made his mic crackle in a burst of static which caused the crowd to wince. Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Arcanine headed over to Charizard, glancing down on the fellow Fire-type, placing his paw on Charizard's chest in warning.
"My Arcanine will finish your Charizard off!" Amy shouted. "But it will be your responsibility! What will it be, Liam? Your Pokemon or your pride?"
Groaning, Charizard struggled to shake off recharge recoil as Arcanine roared, hackles raised and ready to pounce. Liam was pale, unwilling to concede but even he understanding the rigors that Hyper Beam took on a Pokemon. If he didn't back down now, his defeat would be all the more surer...
To Amy's surprise, Liam turned and walked off the podium, sullen in surrender. A small, lone figure upon the grassy, damaged battlefield, Liam headed not for the centre but to the exit, out of sight but for the few cameras that followed. The crowd began to boo Liam, who made no response as his Charizard reached feebly out to his Trainer, roaring in fury.
"Trainer Liam has forfeited by leaving the podium, folks!" shouted the announcer, to the stunned silence that followed. "Trainer Amy wins the match!"
Deafening roars and cheers met her ears, as Amy blinked back tears, unable to restrain her open sobs as she hid her face in her hands, shoulders heaving with emotion. The crowd went wild, chanting "AMY! AMY! AMY!" like she had never heard her name yelled before.
Glancing up, Amy's face was wet with tears as the cameras zoomed close on her podium. Unable to restrain herself, she stepped off her podium and rushed forward to Arcanine, willing herself not to trip but overcome by the sight of Arcanine, who switched his feral gaze upon Charizard to the happy puppy-dog face that she recognised from his time as a Growlithe.
Sprinting across the battlefield, Amy burrowed her face in Arcanine's fur and hugged him so tightly she might've hurt him, but Arcanine understood his Trainer's intent and bravely took the brunt of her hug. Shaking from the raw emotions coursing through her body, Amy approached the barely-conscious Charizard who lay prone.
Amy placed her hand upon Charizard's outstretched claw, unafraid. The cameras picked up on this tender moment.
"I will find Liam for you," Amy's rapture turned to fury that her brother would abandon his Charizard. "And I will make him pay for this."