Sorry for the huge delay. I'm in a Creative Writing class now, so I think my writing technique has improved, hopefully it will show in this chapter. I've also learned how to write poems, although I guess those don't really have a place in this story. Que lastima.
Also, I visited and committed to my college and I'm really excited!
Gracie: Your comment about Gold and Nova being your BROTP made me unexplainably happy, thank you so much!
Dragonrider001: I'm so happy you read this a while ago and came back!
daniel: Lol a religious Haunter, that could be interesting...hm... It's a little late now but juxtaposition is 'two things placed near each other to create contrast'
"Sorry, this is as far as you'll go," Nova told him, grinning at the nearly unscathed Seel.
"Nova! I'll let you take point on this one! I'll take over if you need me to!" Sam shouted from the sidelines. Nova nodded, she'd improvise on this one then. Cool.
Seel was circling the cracked round surface predatorily. She kept her eyes fixed intently on his horn, the only part of him above the water.
Trying a physical attacks is suicide. Gold didn't stand a chance, Nova realized grimly, I might have to wait until the redhead makes a move.
"Dive down," Misty ordered. The chubby white seal Pokémon promptly dove far down in the pool. Nova's forehead furrowed in thought and she waited tensely for the Seel to resurface. She'd have to get creative to defeat her foe.
Nova dipped her tail into the water and wagged it. She didn't have to look over at her companions to know they were all shocked.
"What the heck, Rusty?" Gold called, a little peeved Nova wasn't taking the battle seriously.
It only took a few seconds after Nova laid her bait for Seel. The prospect of an easy win was too great for Seel to contain himself. Nova's heart beat in her throat as she watched, nearly paralyzed, a white blur rapidly approaching the surface.
"Seel, not yet!" Misty cried out, sensing something was off.
Almost, Nova's eyes slanted to focus on Seel more closely. Now. With any luck, the Tail Whip Nova performed underwater lowered Seel's defenses.
Now all she had to do is something to keep him on the water's surface. And avoid the horn. That seemed important too.
Nova yanked her sodden tail out of the water as fast as she could. She wheeled around, nailing the nearly defenseless Seel in the ribs with a Tackle as he jumped out of the water.
"See…" Seel groaned as he crashed back into the water. Nova wanted to stop him from recovering but she couldn't dive into the water after him so she had nothing left to do but wait for him to re-emerge. Which wouldn't take long if she had succeeded in getting him angry or at least interesting him in the battle. If he was very well-trained, however, her plan went to the Murkrow.
It only took a few moments until something happened. The platform under her paws shuddered. Seel was ramming the platform again.
"That's good, Seel, keep going!"
Seel surfaced across the platform from Nova, powerfully Head-butting it, causing another tremor in addition to the agitated waves splashing against the abused surface. Nova tried to run over to him but he retreated underwater again before she reached him.
He appeared again of the other side, pushing it hard enough to make Nova fall over onto her side.
"Rusty, come on! He's just reusing his old plan!"
Nova gritted her teeth.
I've got one defense plan for that, but it might be risky. No choice now.
Nova waited, focusing the surface below her paws. Seel might be a water Pokémon but, unlike a Dewgong, he wasn't graceful. His thick body bumped against the platform almost every time he crossed under it. Feeling where the surface shifted or raised slightly should give her just enough time to react. Provided he didn't catch on to her.
Moments before Seel resurfaced, Nova tensed her hind legs and lowered her body. It was as if everything else moved in slow motion when she used her Quick Attack.
The two bodies collided, one fell back into the water. The other allowed the force of the collision to shove her lighter weight back the way she had run, letting her fall safely back onto the solid surface.
Seel shook off the hit and dove again and Nova re-focused, nailing the Pokémon the next time he came back up. Seel, increasingly frustrated dove faster and hit her platform harder. Nova responded by attacking faster and acclimating to sensing exactly where Seel would rise.
"She's figured out how to defeat him," Poison said incredulously.
"This should get wrapped up pretty quick now," Gold agreed.
"Great job, Nova!" Sam called, Azurill and the other P3's dancing at his feet.
Nova smiled, ready to finish the battle up.
"Now, Seel!" Misty called.
'Seeeel!' Seel exploded out of the water causing heavy water spray obscuring Nova's vision momentarily. Then he crashed down headfirst into the fractured surface, which gave him little resistance. Seel dove through it sending ruined chunks of stone flying in all directions. The small piece Nova was stranded on tilted, flipping over and sending her under the choppy waves.
"Nova!"
She had the sense to hold her breath when she entered the water. It had been cooled earlier but now it was positively chilly. Nova looked around her as she lazily sunk a few inches.
Being immersed in water. What a strange sensation…I feel tingly…
Nova snapped out of her reverie when her ears picked up a steady, low noise. She was able to pinpoint it quicker than she expected. Seel was approaching. At that moment, Nova realized she wanted to breathe. Really wanted to breathe. Her paws started working instinctively. Luckily, Seel wasn't in a hurry. After separately reminding each of her limbs to kick or pump, everything started coming together and her head broke the surface.
"Nova!" She wasn't sure who had called her but she didn't have time to think about it. She slowly made her way to the middle platform now that her original platform had been decimated. After a few strokes, Nova started feeling the lag of her furry mane and bushy tail and her head dipped back under. It took her a few seconds and a mouthful of water to breech the surface again.
"Now Seel," Misty ordered. Nova guessed she had trained her Seel to only attack land Pokémon after she knew they wouldn't drown in the water. A kind thought but not one that would make a difference if Nova couldn't reach the middle platform in time. Knowing Seel was rapidly closing the distance between them, she doubled her dog-paddle speed.
"Don't give up! You're doing great!"
"Keep going! You can win!"
"You got this, Rusty!"
"Almost there!"
"Go Nova!"
"Hurry!"
"Yes!"
Nova's extended paws touched the side of the platform and she lunged up onto it, crawling far enough on it so she wasn't in danger of being dragged back in. Nova coughed up a mouthful of water and shook her fur out before trying to steady her heavy breaths.
She had made it to the middle platform, weighing the chances just a little in her favor; the platform she was standing on now was considerably larger than the one that had just broken.
"Let's finish this!" Misty cheered. Seel obliged and rose to the surface.
"This is it!" Nova yelled, using Quick Attack to charge at the offending Pokemon. The crown of her skull connected with the white seal's sternum but Nova wasn't finished yet. She lashed out a paw, pinning a flipper on the concrete. She pulled out that familiar dusky power and charged her Shadow Ball.
"Rusty, better know what you're doing," Gold sighed.
I know what I'm doing, this time, it'll work.
Nova released the dark charge, nailing Seel at point-blank. The charged blast caused him to fly backwards, flipper slipping from underneath Nova's paw, causing her to nearly fall back in the pool.
It only took a moment for Seel to resurface, unconscious.
"Yes!"
"We did it!"
"Great work!"
Nova breathed deeply, letting herself focus on the energy of the room rather than the spoken words. It was much more powerful. Before she reopened her eyes, she felt the tugging sensation of being pulled back into her Pokéball.
Then she was back among her friends. Gold held out a paw and she lifted a foreleg to meet his. Sam spun her around and pulled out a potion which took the sting off of the bruises she had collected during the match. It even seemed diminish the sensation of her watery lungs.
Misty smiled, now on Sam's side of the field. "Congratulations, your Pokémon are very resilient. Here, little cutie," Misty cooed, holding out a small treat out for Nova who was lying in Sam's arms, trying to recover. She stiffened instantly, and watched Misty coldly.
"Sorry, Nova's not good with people yet. I'm sure she likes you though, it's been a while since she's had the opportunity to battle like that." Sam told her, shifting Nova in order to shake hands with Misty.
Misty replaced the treat in her pocket and smiled again. "It's alright, I understand. Great battle, Sam." She shook his proffered hand but turned his hand around after and placed a water droplet badge into his hand with the other. "This is the Cascade Badge. Congratulations again. Please stay for the Water Show tonight!"
Nova sat in Sam's lap in order to see the large water tank better. Not like she wanted to see too much water though. She had only recently spit up the last gulp of water. She didn't like water. You couldn't run in it, breathe in it or lie in it. And it was impossible to defend yourself in it. But she did have to admit it sure did make for a good show. The idea of Pokémon performing was completely foreign to her but as she watched, she realized most movements could be used as attacks. For these Pokémon, swimming looked so natural. They used their tails and fins to propel themselves and they all seemed to have shiny skin similar to Seel. No fur to weigh them down…
"Rusty, check it out," Gold, who was sitting between Kurt and Sam, nudged Nova's leg, "they're actually doing it." Gold was right, along one of Misty's sisters and a small troop of Marill were Rae and Azurill, bobbing up and down with the rest of them.
How adorable. I'm feeling…pride. It's almost been a month since I left the Lab but I've made such strong friendships. Even if Professor Oak… I know I'd never submit to that life again. I've come too far to ever go back. Not willingly…not for anyone.
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