Hey guys, it's me again. I just realized that my other chapters have not been posting for Champions of Capella because I am a total dingus and didn't move the chapters over from my Doc Manager to the story itself. AAAAH! But I figured it out, as you can tell by reading this chapter and now we are ready for Chapter 5! Here the battling will begin, testing every trainer who made the cut and their ability to control a situation using just one Pokémon. Who will crack under the stress? What strategies will we see unfold? And who will trump whom as the second round trials begin?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.
Morning certainly did come early for the 120 trainers that made the cut. Check-in at the Coliseum was scheduled for 8 a.m., much earlier than a lot of these trainers were accustomed to being awake. Ethan was dragging his feet behind Alain, who was only just a little more alert than he was. Zinnia and Brendan were practically asleep standing in line, leaning against each other, and Dawn and Misty were on edge without their morning coffee. Though there were a handful of trainers, like Zero and Hilda that were feeling spry and ready to fight, ready to prove their strength and skill in battle.
"Alright! It's finally time! I am so pumped!" Hilda shouted, firing punches into the air from her seat in the Coliseum.
"That's great, Hilda," Bianca said in the middle of a big yawn. She stretched her arms outward and upward, attempting to loosen her stiff muscles.
"I mean, how can you not be?! I don't think I slept a wink last night. I am so ready for this!"
"Maybe you should cool that fire down, and save it for when your match actually comes up," Bianca said again, finally stopping her yawn.
"I don't know, Bianca, I like seeing Hilda fired up like this. It's really inspiring!" Serena chimed in.
"That's the spirit, Serena! No need to hold back anything anymore. Now it's time to unleash everything you've got and show the world what you're made of!" She held her fist outward, pointed towards the horizon. In her mind's eye, she was standing atop a great mountain, with a massive wave crashing against it. The cascading water cast a rainbow over her face as her heart triumphantly raced in her chest.
"Are you finished making a spectacle of yourself?" The three women turned to see Zero standing near them, hands in his pockets. "I hear there are some people who don't appreciate that. Namely one guy with purple hair."
"It's you! You're the guy that saved Serena!" Bianca exclaimed.
Serena shyly blushed and turned away, only a little. Just enough so she wasn't looking right at him.
"We've been meaning to find you to say thanks, again for saving her. If you hadn't shown up when you did, who knows what that creep would've done to her," Hilda said, hugging an arm around Serena.
"Eh, don't look too much into it. It was a lucky break," he said, plopping down in a chair two seats over from them.
"Lucky break!? You've got to be kidding me! That was amazing. A daring prince rescuing a damsel in distress. So romantic!" Bianca moved past Serena and Hilda to sit beside Zero. "And to take down a brute of that size without him leaving so much as a scratch on you, you must be very strong." She traced her fingers over his bicep and shoulder, which were heavily cushioned by his coat. She stared up into his face, longingly. Now that she had the time to get a better look at him, he was very handsome.
"Please don't touch me," he said calmly.
Bianca jerked away from him. Those words he said, did he really just say that. All of her past experiences dictated that men loved to have their arms caressed by a beautiful blonde woman with curvaceous features. But he was so cold, so indifferent. It was both confusing, and exciting at the same time. Bianca did as he asked and sat in the seat next to Serena. She seemed upset about something. She was sitting in her seat, feet up on the chair and chin rested on her knees.
"What's the matter, Serena?"
Serena's eyes went wide. Her legs shot off the chair and her voice's volume went much higher than they had ever heard her speak. "What?! Nothing! I'm totally fine!"
Zero chuckled. "Obviously."
"Hey, Zero!"
Zero turned his head to the left to see Alain and gang calling out to him. He chuckled some more when he saw most of them were still half asleep. He beckoned them over with one of his hands. Alain led the groggy gang over to the seats around and beside Zero. The way he saw it, Zero was the first to finish the exam, and the one who seemed to have the best idea as to what was going on with this tournament, so having him around would only help make him more competitive. Or at the very least not be as lost as everyone else around him.
"Hey, looks like you guys made the cut," Zero said. His voice was so cool, so collected.
"Yeah, we sure did. I'm glad to see you made it too." He looked over Zero and noticed Hilda, Bianca and Serena. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't recognize your friends here. I'm Alain," he said, smiling.
"I'm Serena, it's nice to meet you," Serena said in her usual bubbly voice, returning him a smile.
"I'm Bianca, pleasure to meet you." She outstretched her hand, palm down, hoping he would take it in his and kiss the top of her hand. But before she got that far, Hilda's burning aura frightened her from behind. She retracted her arm and sat down nervously.
"And I'm…." Hilda paused when she looked up at Alain. He was something else in her eyes. Dark, raven hair, shimmering crystal blue eyes, a dashing smile, and a calm voice that soothed the storm raging inside her. She felt a strange sensation rise up in her chest. It was warm and light. She knew she was staring into his eyes, but she couldn't stop herself. There was something about him, like gravity, that was pulling her towards him. She knew she had to get to know this man. She knew in the depths of her soul.
"Are you going to tell him your name?" Zero asked.
"Huh? What?" Hilda shook her head, breaking out of the trance she was just under. "Hilda!" she yelled, making herself blush. "My name is Hilda."
"Well it's very nice to meet you Hilda."
"By the way, Alain, these aren't friends of mine, really. I just met them yesterday."
"Battlers Paul Stone and Zero, please report to the Stadium, you will be battle number one for the day!" a voice said over the intercom.
"Well that's my cue," Zero said, standing up. "If you would all be so kind as to save your applause for the end of the battle."
Zero walked off. Misty and Dawn were annoyed by his overconfidence. He seemed like such a jerk. Hilda and Alain were curious. He must be really skilled. Serena and Bianca watched him walk off, mesmerized by his mysterious nature. His cold indifference made Bianca want him even more. Like Hilda, Serena felt a force pulling her towards him, like gravity. She knew she wanted to be closer to him.
"Nothing against your new friend, Alain," Misty began, "but I'm rooting for Paul. That guy seems like a jerk."
"You said it, Misty. I don't care how skilled you think you are. Nobody should walk around like they're better than everyone else."
"Now hang on girls, I think there's more to him than meets the eye. I think that bravado comes from somewhere. I mean, maybe where he's from, people are just like that. Ethan, what do you think?"
"Nah, man, he's probably just an asshole."
"Well thanks for the vote of confidence," Alain said, crossing his arms in his seat.
"I think you might have a point, Alain." Hilda said. "I thought I heard someone say he was from Orre. From the way they talked, that's a rough place to come from."
"Yeah, then I guess that does make sense. Where are you from, Hilda?"
"I'm from Unova. I live in a town called Accumula. Have you ever heard of it?"
"Can't say that I have. I passed through Unova, but I wasn't there very long."
"I'm not surprised. It's a pretty small town in the Southeast. Cozy and quiet."
"Is that why you left?"
"Yeah! I mean, the world is just so big and full of adventure. I had to get out and see it for myself! I left home when I turned 18 and haven't regretted it," Hilda said, reminiscing over good memories.
"I can say the same," Alain replied, smiling as he looked at her.
"So where did you…"
"The match is starting!" Brendan yelled, leaning over everyone finally awake.
Paul and Zero walked into the ring, Zero from the Southern gate, Paul from the Northern gate. Paul strode in like a soldier, fists clenched, shoulders back, and head high. His face pressed with a steely resolve, brow firm, eyes set not on Zero, but on his goal to stand at the top. Zero walked casually, hands in his pockets, shoulders laid back, even leaning a little, with the same confident, cocky smile that infuriated Paul so much. They met in the center of the ring, where Alder was waiting to conduct the match.
"Have each of you selected your Pokémon for this iteration?" he asked.
"Yes," Paul answered lowly.
"Naturally," Zero replied, keeping his gaze fixed on Paul.
"Very good, now each of you head to your side of the stadium. I will give you the signal to begin."
"Good luck, Paul," Zero said, still grinning.
"Let's see if that showboating of yours helps you here!"
They took up their positions and waved to Alder, signaling they were ready to begin. Alder took a look at both battlers before announcing the fight. When he saw that they were both ready, he said into the microphone he had with a loud, booming voice:
"The first match of the Single Pokémon Exhibition is ready to get underway. Our top test scorers will kick it off: Paul from Veilstone City of Sinnoh in the North corner!" Paul got a decent amount of applause, especially from Dawn and her group. "And in the South corner: Zero from Pyrite Town of Orre!" Zero received little attention or applause. Serena and Bianca, however, hooted and hollered for him as loud as they could: "Let's go Zero!"
"Both combatants are ready: BEGIN!"
"Electivire, stand by for battle!" Paul hurled his pokeball towards the center of the stadium. There was a burst of light, and out of the ball came the hulking yellow Pokémon Electivire. It shouted a fierce battle call and slammed its fists together, releasing an impressive amount of electric power. The audience cheered for it.
"Bisharp, on station!" Zero's pokeball flew forward, and out of the burst of light came the sword-blade Pokémon Bisharp. Unlike Electivire, Bisharp did nothing to excite the audience, or even make itself seem more intimidating. It simply stood idle, awaiting the command of its trainer.
Paul grinned. He knew his Electivire was much faster than Bisharp, and possessed the move Brick Break. Bisharp would have no chance of beating Electivire. Paul raised his hand and chose his command: "Electivire, use Brick Break! Let's go!"
"Well, that didn't last long," Ethan said, jabbing Brendan's side. "Brick Break will knock out Bisharp cold in one shot, and there's no way that Bisharp is going to outspeed Electivire."
"Then why is Zero so calm?" Alain threw in.
The yellow Pokémon moved much faster than its size would suggest, charging across the battlefield, fist raised overhead. Just as quickly as Paul called his command, Zero sneered. "Bisharp, use rock polish!" Bisharp began to strike its hands over its body, making itself shine. In a moment, Bisharp had completed its maneuver. Electivire was almost upon it. Zero sneered again. "Now go!"
Electivire's mighty fist came crashing down on Bisharp, shattering the very ground beneath it. The entire arena shook from the impact. A massive cloud of dust was thrown up into the air. Electivire rose up, feeling victorious, at least, for a moment. As the dust began to clear, it noticed that Bisharp was not beneath it, defeated. It began to look to its left, and then to its right. But still nothing.
"Electivire! It's behind you!" Paul yelled out.
Electivire turned its head only in enough time to hear Zero's next command: "Night Slash!"
Bisharp certainly was behind Electivire. It had moved out of the way and circled back behind the yellow Pokémon, waiting for its trainer to give it the command to attack. At Zero's command, it raised up its right arm. Dark circles, like ripples, swirled around its body. And before Electivire could react, Bisharp swung its bladed arm infused with dark energy, making direct contact and throwing Electivire toward one of the side walls.
Electivire slid across the ground on its back, heavily damaged, but able to recover from the attack. It flipped up, landed on its feet, and came to a stop several feet from the wall. Paul was enraged. He had just lost the speed advantage, and he knew now, especially with Bisharp gaining the first big hit that his back was against the wall. But he didn't lose his nerve. He still had a range advantage, and he intended to make full use of it.
"Electivire, use Thunder!"
Electivire's body charged a massive amount of electrical energy. It pointed the black coils on its back and pointed them skyward. The electricity was released into the air, striking the arena in various places. Paul was regaining some confidence. He could come back. He could win.
"Bisharp!"
Bisharp was undaunted by Electivire's display of power. It charged ahead at full speed, which was so fast, no one could really keep track of its movement. It was able to evade every single one of the Thunder strikes that rained down sporadically from the sky and get in close to Electivire. When Paul saw it close that gap without taking damage, he yelled out another command. "Use Brick Break! Now!"
Electivire raised up its mighty fist and swung again. This time, instead of circling all the way around it, Bisharp only stepped to the side, knowing its trainer's next command was imminent, and would end the battle. As the ground beneath it gave way under the force of Brick Break, Bisharp charged in, drawing back its bladed arm, hearing the next command: "Night Slash!" and struck Electivire with the full speed of its momentum.
The attack crashed into Electivire with extreme force, enough to launch it into the wall. However, Bisharp redirected the plane of motion for the attack and flung Electivire across the arena. It rolled several times, but did not recover. Electivire had been defeated in just two hits. The audience was in shock. Paul was in shock. The Champions themselves were in shock.
"Bisharp, return!" Zero called back his Bisharp and exited the stadium.
"I see, so that's why he used Rock Polish," Palmer said to the other Champions.
"To increase Bisharp's speed and make it more maneuverable than Pokemon that can naturally outspeed it. Brilliant, but risky," Cynthia replied.
"The way he executed that, though," Iris began, "it was flawless. Like he had practiced it a hundred times."
"Personally, I just love to watch a steel-type win," Steven interjected.
"If you all are quite finished, there are more matches we need to get through today," Lance said, ending the discussion. While he would never admit it to the others, he was very impressed at how expertly that battle was fought, like a true Champion. It raised the question in his mind, just who was this kid?
"You know, even though he lost, that Paul had a really solid strategy for dealing with Bisharp's speed increase," Diantha added. "I suspect those two will want to battle again. What do you think?"
"Certainly! Only next time should be more of a show," Wallace said.
"I agree. These highly skilled trainers locked in battle would certainly be worth waiting for. I propose we set it so that they don't battle again until the end," Palmer suggested.
"I agree!"
"I!"
"I!"
"Then it's decided. We will keep the two of them from battling until the tournament in the culminating event," Lance said, in his usual authoritative voice. "Granted the two of them make it," he said, casting a scowl towards Zero, who had just crossed under the South gate.
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There you have it, chapter 5 is finished. For those of you wondering, yes, Bisharp would definitely be able to outspeed Electivire after one use of Rock Polish. And yes, I'm definitely playing a lot of how the anime works battle scenarios (hence Bisharp moving like a super saiyan) while still taking into account type disadvantages and things like that. Needless to say, from here on out, you will all be seeing more action, romance, and character development! Anyway, thanks for reading. Leave comments if you like, it would be much appreciated and I'll see you all in chapter 6!