"Hahah, that is so great!" He laughed at me. "Finally, you got here. I`m actually happy for you. My rival should be strong to keep me sharp." He added, squeezing his fist before him.
"How… How could you get here?" I snapped out of my paralysis and began to question Douchebag. Brutally. "You were on the Cinnabar Island even when I got to challenge Viridian Gym!"
I completely forgot about the League. I forgot about the challenge and thousands of people watching us right now. I just wanted to hear answers. I wanted to find out, how the heck he got ahead of me!
"Uh… You didn`t know anything, yeah?" He answered arrogantly. "Maybe you decided to have a rest at my gramps` lab, but I did not want to wait any more. I headed straight to Viridian City and challenged its weird gym the very same day!"
He battled Giovanni before me. He defeated Giovanni before me! But how did he pass Team Rocket grunts? How did Team Rocket let him? Maybe he just got lucky that there were no one in the gym that knew him, but still…
"Come on, you came here not to sleep, did you?!" Douchebag sharply woke me up. "You came here to battle. To challenge the strongest trainers!"
"Yes, I did. I am here to see how strong I have become!" I answered him with more determination. "But I still remember how strong… YOU are!"
"Heh… I remember that too. And I took your advices into considering." He swung his forefinger before him. "I changed the way I become stronger. I threw away all those drugs and began to work for REAL! While working on my PokeDex, I looked all over for pokemon. Not only that, I assembled teams that would beat any pokemon type. And now… I am the POKÉMON LEAGUE CHAMPION!" He shouted loudly and fiercely, stating his position. Vengeance! Do you know what that means?"
Douchebag moved forward and looked straight into my eyes across the whole battlefield and whispered by yelling:
"I'll tell you. I AM THE MOST POWERFUL TRAINER… IN THE WORLD!"
So much pathos… So many words. So little sense. He sure loves being a champion. Only that makes me want to defeat him. To defeat him SO badly, to drop him into the mud just because I! Want! It!
"But, I guess, I can thank you for this." With the drop of irony he added. "I was watching you. I was trying to make you a strong rival to keep me in good shape. This is why I helped you to get a stronger Gengar, a potential Magikarp…"
Damn this guy! Everything he does is for his own profit. Even thinking that he actually helps me, I was wrong. So wrong… I did not doubt his strength. He had really strong pokemon and he is strong himself. He is a moron, but he is not fool, and that is the most dangerous thing.
"I KNEW that someday we meet up here. And so I learned you. I learned all your tricks, your maneuvers, your secrets… I know them all! So…" With a cunning smile on his face, Douchebag grabbed the first pokeball from his belt. "…try to surprise me!"
With a throw of this pokeball the small creature appeared on the field before him – the yellow electric rodent Pikachu. Oh, crap, I SO don`t like them. Douchebag knows it and took this pokemon in his team for this special reason. If my opponent was anyone else – anyone I don`t know, this would be completely different case. But right now I don`t care if this is a huge challenge or a battle broadcasted across the Planet, or even more – I don`t give a shit.
This man right there – the Douchebag. And after everything we`ve been through, after everything he did to me I just can`t let him win. I can`t walk away, I can`t lose. I can only finally defeat him, fair and square, once and for all!
"Fine. We`ll fight this disease with acid! Go, Harry!" I answered this challenge with determination and rage. Harry entered the field, knowing that something really odd awaits for him. And this situation became really weird. He didn`t expect to see Douchebag too.
"Old faces, new places…" My opponent snorted disapprovingly. "The crowd wants meal`n`real! And we will give it to them!" He spread his hands wide, saying that. The position of champion made him a real poser.
The stadium was filled with ovations and cries. Everyone there is excited to see how the strongest trainers of League compete against each other.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, the final strike!" The commentator over us was yelling. "Our dear challenger appeared to be strong enough to defeat all of the Elite Four. Now only one man stands on his way to the top. The CHAMPION himself! Are you ready to see the conclusion?!"
All crazy people around us answered with a wicked chore. I can guess all people in front of their TVs did the same thing.
Douchebag is right about one thing. People want us to entertain them with violent battle against each other. With a battle that decides who is the very best, like no one ever was. I wish to decide it too. So I WILL give everything I`ve got!
"Today you will FALL!" I loudly shouted to Douchebag.
"Heh, I wish to see you try!" He just mockingly answered and clicked fingers, showing his readiness to the battle.
The atmosphere tensed around the stadium. Everyone is excited to see the beginning, and we are excited to begin. Begin the end.
"And so, we are starting the final battle in the Pokemon League!" The commentator marked the starting moment. "Begin!"
"Harry, use Blind Rage maneuver, phase one!" I didn`t lose any more time and made the first move.
"Really? Well… Flash, use Slam!" With a cunning smile Douchebag commanded.
And so the battle started. The final battle. The hardest and the most important of them all. The greatest challenge. Yet. Amazed crowd yelled in anticipation and excitement, awaiting for a real battle.
That`s how we began. Pikachu is a small and fast creature, so he pretty quickly reached my Victreebel and slammed him with his long tail. Recovering after that, Harry focused and then exploded in bright light, blinding our opponent. Flash snorted and blinked, trying to restore his vision.
"Ha! I knew that. But it doesn`t matter now." Douchebag mockingly said. "Flash, use Rain Dance!"
"Proceed to the Phase two, Harry!" I answered to that.
Foe`s pokemon began to summon energies inside of him just to release them high up and summon a large cloud that rained over our heads. As for us, we went into attack now and successfully managed to cut some cute Pikachu`s face with the stream of his sharp leaves
"He-he… And now… Use THUNDER!" After an evil laugh, Douchebag commanded to attack.
"Razor Leaf, Harry, now!" I hurried my partner, feeling that something bad is coming.
I was not wrong – despite Thunder being a very powerful but hard-executing move -Pikachu easily directed it into the rain cloud that helped to strike my Victreebel with immense power. Let is be not very effective, but very painful. Harry screamed after that and launched a set of sharp leaves, that gave Flash some good cuts, but they were not enough to finish the critter.
Damn it… He set up a condition for his Thunder to never miss… thus making my very first maneuver completely useless! He really does know how to counter even my newest tricks.
"M-m-m… I love the scent of burnt Victreebel in the morning…" Douchebag breathed heavily and smiled. "I told ya`ll smell ya! Flash, give them another Thunder!"
"Quickly, use Acid!"
Another lightning struck the clouds above us just to return back and hit Harry with extreme power. Only seconds after that Victreebel angered even more and launched clot of disgusting matter in the direction of the opponent and got a great shot! This even knocked Flash off his short legs onto the ground.
"Yeah, now finish him with Razor Leaf!" I shouted, feeling nice warmth of battle.
"Quick Attack, Flash!" Douchebag yelled, clenching his teeth.
Yet undefeated Pikachu rushed to my pokemon at high speed to deal the last strike he can before getting a whole stream of sharp-as-knife leaves and squeaking loudly in extreme pain that knock-outed him.
First one down.
"Pikachu is unable to battle, Victreebel opens a winning streak for challenger this time!" With a real excitement the host commented.
"All that was predicted…" Douchebag just shook his head with disappointment and returned his fallen pokemon back. "Go meet your old trainer, Caesar!"
Hearing a familiar name made me smile a bit. Appeared Gengar remembered me and growled scarily. Even now he still tried to scare me… I wonder how Douchebag tamed his naughty nature? And did he at all?
"Glad to see you too, little twerp." I greeted Caesar with a bit of irony. "Does he treat you well?"
Such question confused Gengar for some time, making him even throw a look at his trainer behind him.
"Don`t distract him!" Douchebag yelled at me. "Caesar, use Shadow Ball!"
"I caught you – so I will crush you!" I addressed my old pokemon. "Harry, use Flash!"
Gengar started with casting an enormous ball of dark energy to launch at my Victreebel, and successfully got his target, yet it hit not as bad as I thought. Harry just withstood that and blinded the opponent with a bright flash. Now Caesar is weakened, and we can try to predict his following moves.
I guess, he will try to attack now fast and strong to equal the score. Of course, he knows that Victreebel handles special attacks a bit better than physical ones, so… he will use the only physical attack his Gengar can know:
"Use Sucker Punch, Caesar!"
Exactly.
"Harry, let`s have a rest." I calmly said and returned my pokemon back. The sight on the face of Gengar that lost his focus due to absence of target was unforgettable. "Loser, this is YOUR fight!"
The appearance of another Gengar on the field heated the crowd. Ghost pokemon were really glad to see each other too and immediately rushed to hug in their own creepy manner.
"Hey, stop it! You`ve got to fight!" Douchebag scolded his pokemon, seeing the horrible disobedience.
"Come on, give them a moment." I calmed him down a bit. "Don`t be such a douchebag."
Caesar threw a quick look at his angered trainer and was forced to retreat back in a hurry, like the trainer threatened him. This doesn`t look like Douchebag, but these two definitely have something behind.
Loser didn`t want to release Caesar from his emotional grip, but the opposing Gengar sadly growled and took his position. In a second his face changed to really evil and menacing.
"Yes. Today you two are rivals." I explained it to a bit shocked Loser. "So you need to put everything aside. Can you do this for me?"
Loser thought for some seconds, but then nodded with determination and jumped on his side of battlefield, ready to fight.
"Let`s do this quick. Use Shadow Fury maneuver… but let`s try to change phases two and three!" I carefully instructed Loser.
"Ah-ha-ha! Use your stupid maneuvers as you want, I know them all! Use Shadow Ball, Caesar!" Douchebag gave the command.
My pokemon rushed through the shadows to the opponent and landed a hit with powerful punch, but then caught a strong ball of dark energy in the face. The hit was much stronger than ours, and I began to worry if my plan will work.
Douchebag does know what my maneuver consists of. I remember practicing this during our trip on Route 16 and then using this at Blaine's gym right in front of him… He must have been watching all my battles with the Elite Four too! And, maybe, even more… To win, he needs to trick a trickster. So I have to double-trick him!
"Now use Curse, Caesar!" Douchebag said with an evil smile. He thinks he knows what I`m going to do.
"Proceed to Phase 2!" I gave the command and clicked my fingers as loud as I can. Loser noticed that and nodded before preparing to launch a powerful ball of shadow that struck the opponent and threw him back right after he finished casting the curse and hurting himself in the process.
"What the…" Surprised Douchebag swore. He actually thought that we switched our phases and expected for me to use Curse now so he can buy some time. Ha, stupid Douchebag!
"Remember who invented a counter to a counter-counter!" I said him and smiled satisfied. I already like where this battle is going. "Loser, let`s skip that silly Phase 3 and proceed straight to Phase 4!"
"No! Caesar, use Sucker Punch too!" Starting to panic, Douchebag commanded.
Well, now he guessed right, but I don`t care. I see now as two pokemon fiercely chase each other, teleporting here and there with dark explosions and trying to hit each other with everything they can.
This lasted for a while, angering pokemon more and more. After one successful hit they did not stop and tried to hit more and more. Both of us lost control over the battle and just waited to see the winner of this messy brawl.
In the end, tired and barely moving Caesar got his final punch in the face from my Loser and was knocked down, falling on the glass floor and releasing a loud horrible scream.
My pokemon was watching at this sight, immediately snapping out of his berserk state and rushing to Caesar. Not very happy by his victory he just looked up and… got the hit from opponent`s curse that finished him off too.
"Oh… Looks like the opponents were SO matched that both of them were knocked-out! Both Gengars are out of the game!" The host commentated the result of this crazy round.
This… was expected. But somehow it was hurt for me to see Caesar and Loser battling. They didn`t want to. And, to be honest, I didn`t want them to fight much too. Maybe, sport fighting is not for everyone…
"Come back, Loser. You did great." I returned my pokemon and looked at Douchebag. For some reason he looked VERY disappointed. He was staring at the pokeball, like he is seeing it in the last time… I`ll definitely find out what is going on between those two. But now we have a battle to continue.
"Fine, time to take on the heavy artillery!" Douchebag loudly shouted with sudden inspiration. "Conductor, your entrance!"
After that he released his new pokemon to the field – Conductor the Rhydon. This creature reminded me of Giovanni… of Douchebag`s deeds with Team Rocket in the past. And that angered me!
"Get my best artillery too!" I replied to him and threw my greatball too. "Lei Sheng, CRUSH him!"
My dragon-like monster menacingly growled at Rhydon and took his position, preparing to attack now.
"Start and end it with Hydro Pump!" I commenced the assault.
"Don`t try to act smart, it doesn`t fit you." Douchebag said to me, twisting his mug in a disgusting manner. "Conductor, use Rock Tomb!"
So both sides started with ranged attacks. Ours reached the foe faster and hit him hard, with extreme effectives by the type. But the boulder Rhydon created and threw at us felt very painful too, almost knocking off my massive Gyarados.
"Come on, pull yourself together and do Hydro Pump once more!" I ordered to Lei Sheng.
"Push it back with Rock Tomb!" Douchebag determinatively yelled.
It is really bad that Harry is already beat after the first battle, he could be good here. Let Rhydons are vulnerable to special attacks, but Gyaradoses are not actually strong at performing them, so it doesn`t make much difference. Yet this may be our the only way…
"Repeat Hydro Pump, Lei Sheng!" I gave the command.
"Repeat Rock Tomb, Conductor!" Douchebag mimicked me.
Two pokemon once more exchanged attacks with each other, damaging almost equally. We can`t keep this up, we have to take the initiative in our hands!
"Lei Sheng, go into Matrix Mode!" I instructed my pokemon and pointed at the top of column. "Get over here and use Dragon Dance!"
"Oh-ho-ho! Decided to entertain me? Dancing Gyarados on a pole - what a perversion!" Douchebag mockingly commented our move. "I like it! But not on my field! Take it down, Conductor!"
Now we begin to diversify the battle by performing a very cool dragon ritual on the top of metal column! Too bad there are Rhydons that try to drop us down…
Conductor reached the pillar and jumped up to push Lei Sheng, the powerful impact knocked off both pokemon with extreme strength. Even a thick-skin Rhydon felt it, especially because of the recoil damage he suffered.
"He is done! Finish him with one last Rock Tomb!" Douchebag fiercely shouted, pointing at my pokemon on the top.
"And now… maneuver 'Return to sender'!"
Lei Sheng made a deep breath and exhaled a large stream of water right in the direction of Rhydon AND the boulder he created to stop the nasty missile in the air and even push it back. The stone was caught into the flow and returned back to Conductor, crushing into pieces and knocking down the drill pokemon. Together with extremely powerful water-type attack our opponent was on the very edge to fainting.
"Oh no, we`re not finished yet!" Douchebag shouted displeased and took out a Full Restore to throw at his pokemon. The small bottle broke on the contact with the wounded body and spread the cure all over Rhydon, almost immediately putting him back.
"Ugh, this again? Why do you, a champion, think this is fair?" I scolded Douchebag for that, causing his confused stare on me.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"I can understand that League tries to give challengers a real hell – no complaints here, but… don`t you think that using medicine in the battle looks a bit… cheating?"
Douchebag opened his mouth in a shocked manner, still looking at me confused and now a bit angered. But after some time he shouted a thing that actually paralyzed my mind:
"No one stops YOU from using medicine in the battle."
THAT was a shocker. I never actually thought about it… For some reason I thought that using medicine in the middle of battle is prohibited. Maybe, no one told me so… No one ever told me otherwise!
"Each side may use potions and revives, but only a limited amount just for a sake of battle length and their own pride…" Douchebag was explaining me without a second thought, but then suddenly his face once more changed to cunning and grinning. "…but didn`t you know that? You didn`t know that!"
I must look so stupid here, in the final battle of Pokemon League, learning that I CAN use medicine in the battle. I can heal someone, I can revive someone… Well, my opponent sure won`t stand there and do nothing, so it`s like skipping my turn…
But this could change so much earlier!
"I know that you`re damn good at bypassing the rules…" Douchebag kept on mocking me. "But to successfully bypass the rules, you at least need to KNOW them, dummy!"
Oh, he`s pressing on my nerves so much… He is trying to anger me, to make me mad, make me lose control…
I. Will not. Let him.
So I looked up at him once more and made even eviler grin that made even him worry.
"Let`s get this over with."
Douchebag just silently nodded and then pointed at my pokemon.
"Take Down, Conductor! Give it all you`ve got!"
"Leer, Lei Sheng!"
Opponent went into a full assault meanwhile we just broke his defense… psychologically. At least, now we can be sure that our strongest sides can be used.
"Use Bite, big guy!" I commanded to Lei Sheng.
I clearly saw that he is very tired and may black out any second now. He is injured by many Rock tombs and has lost all his advantage in speed… I clearly understood that I can actually heal him and proceed in the battle… but now a new feeling appeared in me.
Greed.
I also clearly knew that soon I will need my chance to use a medicine. Even stronger pokemon will follow Conductor, and I will need everything I have to resist them. Maybe… even a sacrifice of my biggest and baddest pokemon.
"Rock Tomb again!" Douchebag persistently attacked us once more.
This time we got a bit of luck successfully dodging the rock and biting the enemy on the close range, very painfully.
"Hydro Pump." Were my only two words to finish this.
"Come on, the last chance! Take Down!"
Lei Sheng used the close distance to shoot his strong stream of water at Rhydon, pushing the mighty pokemon back. But, despite the pain, our foe moved forward, against the stream. Conductor was slipping and limping, but, in the end, he made one final rush through the whole Hydro Pump and struck Gyarados with his sharp horn. The extreme power of impact threw my monstrous partner back on the ground, where he spit some more water into the air and fell down.
"How tense! Gyarados is unable to battle, Rhydon wins this round the favor of champion!" Yelling commentator uncovered my unpleasant hidden thoughts. "Or is he?"
The last few words made me notice that now Conductor slowly limps away from the place where he mercilessly took down my Lei Sheng. Rhydon was heavily breathing and looking around, until he suddenly closed his eyes and fell down.
"Looks like no, Rhydon falls down too. The battle for him is over!" Sounded from above and across the whole League.
I took a time to listen to my heart. It is beating so strong my body is literally shaking. I`m still trying to pull together all my thoughts, my emotions - I don`t even have time to realize that right now I`m fighting freaking Douchebag in the freaking Pokemon League on the place of a freaking CHAMPION! I do not believe this.
And I do not care. Whoever he is – I just want to beat him. I don`t care about consequences. All that matter is a battle.
The battle that has only just begun…