Chapter 6

The clock in the tower had literally just chimed three, when I entered the Veranda. My heart plummeted into my stomach. Surrounding the circular, paved area were three medium sized grandstands, packed to the rafters with students from the school.

Ash was stood in his trainer box, looking intently at me. On his trainer's bench, Gaia was sat huddled up; alone.

"I thought I'd spice up the proceedings a bit." He laughed. The crowd roared all around me, the frenzy beginning to build up. "Do you recognise this, Davis?"

He raised a slender arm. Something was clutched inside his hand. It looked very similar to an old games console I used to have, with a flip-up lid, an analog stick on the left side of a medium sized screen, and four directional keys on the other.

"It's a Pokedex…" I breathed, raising my voice to be heard above the ear-shattering noise.

The crowd had obviously taken notice of what Ash was holding, and started up a chant. It appeared some were rooting for me, the underdog, was the majority were supporting Ash; the future Pokemon champion.

"Correct. Whoever wins this fight, will get to keep the Pokedex."

He walked sideways, to allow a man to enter his trainer box. The man was dressed in a black and white striped shirt, and casual black trousers. I immediately recognised him as an official Pokemon League referee.

"Gentlemen, the rules are simple!" the ref announced. "You will each use only two Pokemon, switches can be made at any time, and the person who has the most remaining Pokemon at the end will be crowned winner. Are you ready to battle?"

Ash just sneered at me coldly. I nodded my head. The sun was beating down upon the battlefield.

"Okay then. May the best competitor win. Battle!"

Ash was the first to make a move. He threw down his first Poke ball into the arena.

"Let's go Fletchling!"

The fire/flying type Pokemon landed on the ground, staring straight ahead. The crowd waited with bated breath, as I made my first choice.

"Let's go Drillbur!"

My most recent catch entered the arena, and the crowd roared, unsure of who would have the advantage.

Let's make sure it's me…

"Okay, let's finish this now! Use Double Team!" Ash shouted.

"No, Drillbur! Hit it first, use Scratch; then look away!"

My pokemon drove forward, just as the Fletchling started to move sideways, and drove its shining claws across the body of the bird. Ash's pokemon was thrown backwards, but managed to right itself and continue the Double Team.

However, Drillbur was ready, and spun around to face me. Once the Double Team was over, Ash wasn't smiling. He knew that my pokemon hadn't been slightly confused, so the evasiveness gained could count for nothing if I used the right attack.

I had to take my chance. So I took a deep breath, and shouted.

"Drillbur, use Fury Swipes!"

My pokemon made a noise of recognition, pivoted forward of its stubby legs, and slashed the Fletching once, twice…five times! The bird pokemon spun round to face my rival, fell to its small boned knees and keeled over. The referee flew out of Ash's trainer box, knelt down by the pokemon and declared a win for me.

"Fletchling is unable to battle! Drillbur is the winner!"

I smiled, but didn't take too much notice. I knew I was 1-0 up, but it would count for nothing. I knew what the next Pokemon Ash would use was…

"That doesn't matter! Pikachu, end this for us!"

Ash threw the Poke ball forward, and the electric mouse pokemon flew out, a smile on its face. The sun shone brightly on its red-spotted cheeks. I had to plan my next move carefully.

Drillbur had comprehensively won the first round, but was panting, and looked very tired. I had no choice.

"Gengar, let's go!"

Time to test my new Pokemon…it had evolved sometime between when I had got it from the professor, and now. Somehow, I wasn't surprised – but I reminded myself to ask the professor about what had actually happened. I didn't want to reveal my faint shock to my opponent.

Just as I was about to give Gengar the first instruction, I heard a shout from behind me. I spun round, and saw Max clambering into my trainer box, before sitting down on my trainer bench.

"Sorry!" he exclaimed, looking suspicious.

I laughed, and turned back to the battle. Ash glared at me, before sending out his Pikachu.

"Pika!" it shouted, as it was released onto the ground.

My Gengar turned to face me, looking slightly surprised. I tried to will it on.

"You can do it!" I told it, giving it a wry smile.

It turned back around, waiting. I couldn't help but frown. The Pikachu has no particular effectiveness over it, so why was my Gengar worried?

"Let's kick this off!" Ash exclaimed. "Use Thunderbolt!"

"Shit!" I couldn't help but shout out. "Get out the way!"

"PIKAAAA!" The electric mouse fired a huge bolt of lightning out of its jagged tail, which then slammed into the ground. Luckily, my Gengar had managed to move out the way slightly, but it had still been caught by the current, and looked tired already.

Ash laughed, looking at me across the battleground.

"Giving up yet, Davis? You've got no chance of taking down my Pikachu!"

The taunt had no effect on me. I suddenly remembered something.

"Do you remember what happened on my first day?" I asked back. The crowd had turned deathly silent, watching on intently.

"What are you talking about?" Ash fired back, anger very obviously building up inside him.

Our pokemon watched on, waiting for their owners to make another move.

"The first day, I beat that Pikachu with a Pidgey…and it was easy!"

Ash seemed lost for words, and bowed his head. Just when I thought I had the upper hand, he slowly raised up to look at me. The sun cast a black shadow across his face, but I could still make out his narrowed eyes.

"Well…you surely didn't think I'd come to this fight without training him up a bit?"

I thought to myself. He had used the move Thunderbolt, which can only be used if the pokemon is level 29 or above.

Shit…my Gengar's nowhere near that high!

"So you see…" Ash drawled, throwing and catching another Poke ball in his right hand. "I think I have the advantage." He turned to grin at Gaia, but she was hunched over, looking at the ground.

"Let's do this!" I shouted. The crowd began to get louder and louder once again, beginning a frenzy of excitement. "Gengar, use Confuse Ray!"

My Gengar made its way forward, and fired off a beam that hit the Pikachu directly between the eyes. The yellow pokemon started to totter backwards, its small beady eyes looking very cross-eyed.

I allowed myself a wry smile. I had another trick up my sleeve.

"Quick, use curse!"

The Pikachu let out a small whimper, as it continued to move backwards. Ash looked on, letting no emotion cross his darkened face. My Gengar chased it down, and hit it hard on the side of its head. A small bolt appeared to pass through one side, and then out the other, before disappearing.

Ash snarled at me across the ground. The crowd had started to chant; realising the battle was just about to end. I was actually about to win…

"PIKACHU, USE THUNDERBOLT, GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE!" he screamed, with heaven-splitting violence.

The mouse pokemon looked up, and appeared to have been shaken from its daze. My jaw dropped. It was smiling.

"PIKA…CHUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

The largest lightning bolt I had ever seen came cascading down through the clouds and hammered into the ground with a deafening crack. It smashed into my Gengar, and with a humungous bang, it was thrown backwards, all the way into my trainer's box.

I didn't have to look down. I knew the battle was lost. All I had left was my tired Drillbur. It wouldn't stand a chance against an experienced Pikachu. My heart sank.

Ash sensed I knew defeat was coming.

"Time for me to win…"

"No, it's not!" someone shouted from behind me.

Max entered the trainer's box, two Poke balls clutched in each of his hands.

The fight had just got interesting…