CHAPTER EIGHTY
Amy's heart beat frantically as she remained hidden in the connecting passageway, cool and dark unlike the spectre of sunlight and noise echoing from the stadium's stands outside. She steadied herself against the wall, taking a deep breath and checking her belt which carried three Pokeballs.
Outside, she could hear the boom of the announcer's microphone,
"Welcome to the Indigo League, folks! For those of you just joining us, we are brought here today to culminate the weeks of preliminaries and finals into the championship battle which will decide who Kanto's next Champion will be!"
The stands cheered and Amy went pale, waiting for her cue to walk out. She was dizzy and saw bright lights popping in front of her eyes. Nervously, she composed herself and readied to walk out with all the grace she could muster.
"She's beaten Lorelei in her entrance examination, fought through the tournament bracket and defeated her brother on live TV to reach this moment! She's bold, she's fierce, she's Amy from Celadon City!"
Glancing up at the crowd, Amy walked out amid deafening cheers and applause as the hardcore fans chanted her name, waving flags with Arcanine, Nidorina or Marowak upon them. She acknowledged the crowd though she felt faint and ascended the podium, placing her three Pokeballs in the holder as she glanced to the empty podium opposite.
"He's risen to stardom as the only Trainer in Kanto to have captured and train the legendary Dragon-type Pokemon! With immense battle prowess, he fought to keep his title of Kanto's greatest during the last tournament! Give a big round of applause for your Champion, Lance!"
Amy winced as the fanfare swept to a deafening roar. Lance strode atop his podium opposite, spiky hair and cape blowing in the breeze. He was courteous to the crowd but turned to Amy and offered a nod, which she politely returned.
"Folks!" cried the announcer. "Trainer Amy vs. Champion Lance! The winner of this battle will take the title of Kanto's Champion here at Indigo Plateau!"
Amy took deep breaths as she rearranged the Pokeballs in her holder. Opposite, Lance was calm though not disinterested. His focus was such that he had become used to the crowds and did not get nervous. Amy wished she had the same self-control, but despite several Pokemon battles in the public eye she could not deny this was the ultimate, most important Pokemon battle she would ever face.
Lance, the Dragon-type Trainer. Amy had read up on him; what verifiable material existed to provide a basis upon which to battle his Pokemon. She bet Daniel knew more than she did, but she kept to her own methods of research now that she was on her own. She remembered the three Pokemon Lance had used during the last tournament.
Her biggest obstacle was that she had no clue what Dragon-types were weak to. There had been none glimpsed in the wild upon which Trainers had tried to experiment this theory, or none that had been heard of. Gyarados was Water/Flying, Aerodactyl was Rock/Flying, and Dragonite was Dragon/Flying. She had some hints there. Since Dragonite was a part Flying-type, she knew to some extent how to handle her strategy.
"Let's begin the match!" roared the announcer, eyes bulging with excitement for the name he was making for himself reporting live on this action.
Lance selected his first Pokeball of three, depressing the button on his microphone,
"Good luck, Amy. May the best Trainer win."
Amy was quick to reach out for her microphone,
"Thank you, Lance. Good luck to you, too."
Nodding, Lance threw his Pokeball into the field, where it erupted with a bright light.
"Go, Gyarados!"
Gyarados formed a serpentine bulk, with large teeth and a long tail which whacked the grass in irritation. Gyarados was monstrous, scaring the younger ones and causing almost deafening cheers from those fans who adored Lance. Amy wondered how Lance had managed to tame such an irascible Pokemon.
"Go!" Amy threw her first Pokeball of three onto the field. "Marowak!"
Marowak stepped onto the field, raising his bone club high. If he had expected applause, it was somewhat stilted; though plenty of people in the crowd preferred the underdog Amy to Lance's ruling might, they showed concern that Amy was using her Ground-type against Lance's Water/Flying-type Pokemon.
"Marowak, I believe in you!" Amy called. "Let's take out this Gyarados!"
Amy was no fool. She knew that her Marowak's Ground-type moves were ineffective against all three of Lance's part Flying-type Pokemon. One, she needed to use all her Pokemon in a final frontier upon the inestimable might of Lance, no matter how disadvantaged; two, her Marowak did not solely attack using Ground-type moves.
Lance looked calm, but focused. He kept his determined expression as he shouted,
"Gyarados, Hydro Pump!"
Marowak sprinted forth without a further word from Amy, bone club raised as a symbol.
"Marowak!" Amy called. "Double Team!"
Gyarados inhaled deeply and released a surge of powerful water towards Marowak, as Marowak split into three copies, all spreading wide amongst the battlefield as they sprinted towards Gyarados. Gyarados directed his Hydro Pump in a sweeping motion which dissipated the copy on the left and the one in the centre -
"Marowak!" Amy cheered along with the crowd, as the real Marowak remained, close enough to attack Gyarados. "Skull Bash!"
Marowak lowered his head and charged into Gyarados' underbelly, causing the serpentine Pokemon to wriggle in pain. Marowak landed cleanly on the grass, just as Gyarados's tail lashed out and knocked Marowak across the field, where he landed in the centre with some pain.
Gyarados shot Marowak a baleful look, rearing its fangs. Lance looked on, his expression unchanged.
"Gyarados, Dragon Rage!" Lance commanded.
"Marowak, Double Team!"
Gyarados released a glowing sphere of energy from its mouth just as Marowak split into three copies, spreading wide to avoid the hit. The glowing sphere of energy collided with the copy in the middle, which turned out to be the real Marowak who was blown backwards by the force, more stunned than harmed.
"Lance's Gyarados' is incredible, folks!" the announcer boomed, speaking for all of them what was foremost in their minds.
"Marowak, Dig!" Amy cried in haste.
"Gyarados, Hydro Pump!" Lance commanded.
Marowak scrambled to his feet as Gyarados took in a deep breath, releasing a powerful surge of water towards Marowak. Marowak burrowed underground just as the torrential jet blasted the stadium green, sinking into the earth but not with enough quantity for Marowak to be in danger of drowning underneath.
"Marowak, Double Team!" Amy cried, but her words went unanswered. Lance was unperturbed, cape waving in the breeze.
All of a sudden Marowak burst from the earth, flanked by two identical copies as they surrounded Gyarados on all sides, who was surprised to have company so close.
"Gyarados, Bite!"
Gyarados leapt for one copy with its fangs bared, dissipating it into thin air as Gyarados lashed out with its tail at another, eliminating it from existence. The real Marowak survived and ran up the length of Gyarados' serpentine bulk, head lowered -
"Skull Bash!" Amy shrieked.
Marowak dived for the back of Gyarados' head, but Gyarados moved at the last second and Marowak charged into the ground, falling flat in the dirt to jeers and laughs from the crowd. Irked, Gyarados slammed its tail down upon Marowak to drive the point home.
"Marowak, return!" Amy's face flamed, humiliated. Red light flashed out to return Marowak inside. "I'm proud of you!"
Though a few voices still chanted Amy's name, it was clear who the majority supported. Amy selected her second Pokeball, throwing it into the battlefield as Lance watched without judgement.
"Let's go, Arcanine!"
Those in the crowd who had questioned Amy's decision to use Marowak were now shaking their heads at Arcanine's appearance. Compared to Lance, they found it easier to shun Amy despite the prowess she had performed regardless of type advantages and disadvantages.
Screw them, Amy thought. I'm the one who's come this far.
"Gyarados! Hydro Pump!" Lance commanded.
"Arcanine, Agility!" Amy shouted.
Gyarados released another powerful surge of water from his mouth as Arcanine disappeared into thin air. Gyarados swept the surge of water so that it drenched more than half of the battlefield, but Arcanine was too fast and evaded the attack, sprinting for Gyarados' exposed underbelly -
"Arcanine, Take Down!"
Arcanine charged into Gyarados' stomach, who shrieked in pain as Arcanine landed on all fours, suffering recoil. Gyarados lashed out with its tail but Arcanine evaded the sweeping motion, climbed Gyarados and bit furiously into its neck.
"Nice job!" Amy cheered, as the crowd collectively gasped.
Gyarados thrashed in great pain as Arcanine landed onto the battlefield, breathing heavily. Lance held out his Pokeball, frowning.
"Gyarados, return!"
Red light flashed out as the crowd clapped appreciatively for Gyarados' effort, while others picked up the thread and began to chant Amy's name again. Now that Gyarados was down, Amy entered the next step of her strategy.
"Arcanine, you return, too!"
She held out her Pokeball, red light flashing to return Arcanine inside. Lance was unruffled as he selected his second Pokeball, remaining cool.
"Aerodactyl, go!"
Aerodactyl swooped into the air with a roaring caw, as the crowds went wild to see this prehistoric Pokemon take flight. Aerodactyl had sharp teeth and flew fast, with a strong hide. Amy selected her next Pokeball, tossing it into the battlefield.
"Go, Nidorina! I'm counting on you!"
Nidorina appeared in a flash of red light, glancing up at Aerodactyl who circled the stadium. Aerodactyl noticed Amy's newest Pokemon upon the battlefield, eyeing her like prey.
"Aerodactyl, Supersonic!" Lance shouted.
"Nidorina, Ice Beam!" Amy cried.
Aerodactyl released a supersonic wave directed at Nidorina, while Nidorina fired a frigid beam straight into Aerodactyl's path. Nidorina was blasted by the supersonic wave and suffered confusion, while Aerodactyl was knocked off course by the icy beam, taking great damage and shivering slightly.
"Nidorina!" Amy retrieved the Full Heal that stood ready on her podium.
But Nidorina was confused, not sure which way to turn. Meanwhile, Aerodactyl swooped low upon Nidorina.
"Aerodactyl, Take Down!" Lance ordered.
"Nidorina, Toxic!" Amy shouted.
Nidorina snapped out of confusion just in time, but her poisonous projectile missed as Aerodactyl charged into Nidorina, knocking her flat on her back and dealing hefty damage. Aerodactyl suffered minor recoil.
"Nidorina!" Amy shrieked.
Cackling eerily, Aerodactyl returned to the skies as Nidorina got to her feet, injured by the tackle. Aerodactyl flapped its wings and glared down at Nidorina.
"Nidorina!" Amy yelled. "Ice Beam!"
"Aerodactyl, Bite!" Lance commanded.
Aerodactyl swooped low, headed for Nidorina as Nidorina directed an icy blast towards Aerodactyl. Aerodactyl evaded the beam, but swooped too soon as Nidorina managed to score a follow up hit which caused Aerodactyl to caw in pain and crash to the ground, frozen solid.
"I don't believe it, folks!" cried the announcer, interrupting the stunned silence. "Trainer Amy's Nidorina has managed to take out Aerodactyl!"
Nidorina's mouth glowed with a blue light as she began to use Ice Beam to finish Aerodactyl off, but Lance held out his Pokeball and returned Aerodactyl safely inside with a flash of red light.
"T-this is something, folks!" the announcer boomed. "Lance is down to his last Pokemon! Who will he choose?"
It was almost ridiculous of the announcer to make mention of it. The stands went crazy, wild in their riot to see the remaining Pokemon Lance held dear. Amy watched as Lance picked up his third and final Pokeball, not at all looking impatient or angry. He was determined.
"I choose Dragonite!"
With a flash of red light to accompany the roaring of stands on all sides, Dragonite appeared on the battlefield. A large dragon Pokemon with wings upon its back and a tail, Dragonite spoke briefly in Pokemon language to Nidorina and steeled its fists.
Amy felt faint. Lance had never lost a battle with his Dragonite before. Lance looked completely in control as he surveyed Amy's Nidorina.
"Dragonite! Thunder!" Lance commanded.
Amy remembered that Dragonite was a part Flying-type and screamed,
"Nidorina, Ice Beam!"
Dragonite crackled with electricity and fired a powerful bolt of thunder towards Nidorina, as Nidorina directed her icy beam towards Dragonite. The crowd held their breath as Nidorina was blasted back from the bolt of thunder, suffering paralysis and falling unconscious; while Dragonite moaned in pain at the frigid blast, shivering and clutching its chest where it had been hurt. It had done more damage than Amy had expected.
"Nidorina, return!" Amy cried, holding out her Pokeball so that red light shot out and returned Nidorina safely inside. Wasting no time, she selected her remaining Pokeball and tossed it into the battlefield. "Arcanine, let's fight!"
Dragonite stared down at Arcanine angrily, pumped for battle. Lance was relieved to have removed Nidorina from the battlefield, but to the cameras he remained determined. Arcanine's only injury was that he had suffered recoil performing Take Down upon Gyarados, while Dragonite was injured from the Ice Beam attack.
The announcer wanted to add something climactic, but even he was too swept up in the anticipation to shake out of his reverie.
"Dragonite, Dragon Rage!" Lance commanded.
"Arcanine, Hyper Beam!" Amy screamed.
Dragonite released a glowing sphere of energy and blasted it towards Arcanine, while Arcanine's mouth shone with bright light and he directed the powerful surge of energy towards Dragonite.
The crowd went silent. All viewers watching TV at home were transfixed. The citizens of Kanto crossed their fingers and hoped for a victory.
As Dragonite's Dragon Rage collided with Arcanine's Hyper Beam, the stadium was lit up in a sudden white light which no vision could hope to permeate.
"Arcanine!" Amy cringed, shielding her face with her arm. Lance made no move nor comment.
The bright light dispersed. Everyone's retinas began to focus, except for the elderly in the stands who rather thought Pokemon battles were a danger to their fading eyesight. Amy blinked rapidly, noticing the lined crater that had formed in the centre of the stadium. Arcanine and Dragonite lay on either side, crumpled.
"I can't tell who, folks!" cried the announcer, pent-up in his frustration. "Are they still standing?"
Greater clarity came to everyone's vision as their senses adjusted to the usual level of illumination. Amy watched in horror and Lance frowned.
Slowly, one of them began to move. It was Arcanine, struggling to combat recharge recoil. Dragonite had fainted, subject to both Nidorina's Ice Beam and Arcanine's Hyper Beam which had taken their toll.
"T-this can't be!" cried the announcer, receiving a sharp invective over his earpiece rebuking him for displaying bias. "Um, ah - I mean, wow! This is completely unexpected, folks!"
The silence continued to permeate the stadium, not a word or a whisper besides the static of the microphone as the announcer held it limply at his side, uncomprehending. He wasn't prepared to fill in the blanks. He had nothing further to say.
Arcanine let out a howl, his insides struggling to accommodate the pain that Hyper Beam had done to his system. Still in shock, Amy rushed down from the podium, all eyes following her. The silence was so vast it was as if the stadium was empty, or filled with flesh statues.
"It's OK, Arcanine," Amy hurried over to him, gently patting his fur. She glanced over to Dragonite, unable to believe that the dragon Pokemon had fallen for real. "You're safe now. Nothing can harm you."
Sharp staccato static blared in the announcer's earpiece as he was reminded of the terms of his pay contract and role. Nodding in humiliation, the announcer turned to the silent crowd at large, pasted on a smile and revised the script that had been prepared with Lance in mind.
"We have a winner! Amy from Celadon City has defeated Champion Lance!"
Glancing up, Amy could barely believe the words as they were announced to the stands surrounding her and the people of Kanto in their homes. Incrementally, one clap became several and within a matter of seconds the stands had erupted with shouts of approval, chanting her name and cheering her on.
"AMY! AMY! AMY!"
Dizzy, Amy shielded her eyes against the sunlight as she glanced towards the crater in the centre of the stadium green that had been the conclusion of the match; to Dragonite who became red light and absorbed into the safety of Lance's Pokeball; to Lance, who towered over her atop his podium with the Pokeball containing his fainted Dragonite.
"I won," Amy muttered, still not shaking out of her reverie. Panic, sadness, joy and fear. She blinked in surprise when tears dripped down her cheeks and realised she was crying, so frozen in mid motion that she didn't know how to act or what to say. "Arcanine?"
Arcanine was in such pain he could barely move. Amy knelt on the grass in front of the watching millions, running her hand across his fur. He closed his eyes briefly, panting though he was warmed by her embrace.
"You were spectacular, Arcanine; out of this world."
As she returned Arcanine into his Pokeball, Amy heard footsteps approaching and prepared to fend off the announcer, stating her Pokemon's health was more important than interviews -
But Lance stood before her, taller and more handsome in person than on TV. He extended his hand and numbly, she shook it. His embrace was strong but his face was professional.
"You are an excellent Trainer to have defeated me in battle," Lance continued, nodding his approval as he sensed Amy's hesitation. "Your Arcanine is a fearsome match for my Dragonite. I hope we battle again another day."
"Another day?" Amy found the idea so ludicrous that such a renowned Pokemon Trainer would want to spar with her. "But you're the Champion!"
"Ah, but you're the Champion now, Amy," Lance smiled, radiating such confidence even Amy felt self-conscious. "Congratulations."
He strode past her, so unceasing in his determination. Amy was struck by a sudden longing, brought on more by curiosity than any physical attraction. She wondered how he managed to be so humble and unassuming in defeat. What would Lance do now?
Wait, Amy asked herself with sudden clarity. What should I do?