Chapter 4 - Kaarina's Starter Pokémon
Cyan worryingly looked at Gyarados. Defeating Salazzle had given it a boost in energy, but the poison was still doing some work. Cyan knew that he could win the battle against Gyarados, but if his next Pokémon took too many hits, then whatever else Kaarina had in store for him wouldn't be easy.
He gripped his next Poké Ball tightly, wound up, and then threw it to the middle of the field. Primarina emerged and flung water into the air. The water rained back down on him, making it look like he was surrounded by little stars.
"A battle against two very different Water-types! Let's see how they match up against one another! Will it be the elegant Primarina or the violent Gyarados?" the referee exclaimed, pulling the crowd's attention to the battle.
"Primarina, use Energy Battle!"
"Pri!" the Pokémon cried out as he raised his arms into the air. A ball of green energy formed in the middle of his paws before he spun around and slammed it with his tail. The ball was batted down the field, hitting Gyarados directly. However, the angry Pokémon barely reacted.
"Avalanche!" Kaarina commanded.
Ice began to form around Gyarados as she moved forward. Snow appeared from under her and carried her into the air. She let out one roar and then dove toward the ground. All of the snow and ice that she had collected crashed down onto Primarina. She then quickly recoiled and looked at the pile that she left behind.
Kaarina held out her arm. "Earthquake!"
"Get out of there!" Cyan yelled.
Gyarados slammed his tail into the ground once again, and the field began to violently shake. However, Primarina exploded from the top of his snowy prison, dazzling the crowd with his swift acrobatics.
"Moon Blast!" Cyan ordered.
Primarina put his hands together once again and let out a soft hum. An orb of pink energy appeared above his body before he launched it at the ground. Gyarados was engulfed in the pink energy, which then exploded. The Water-type let out a terrible screech before her body slowly slumped to the ground. Her skull hit the field, and the crowd went quiet.
"Gyarados is unable to battle! Primarina is the winner!" the referee announced.
Golem and his gang started to cheer, shaking the stadium. Meanwhile, Kaarina silently withdrew Gyarados and then considered her next option. She smiled while she drew a Poké Ball from her belt.
"Not all of my Pokémon are bulky powerhouses, Cyan. Sometimes I like to dabble in elegance. However, much like your Primarina, my next Pokémon is not only for show. Looks are deceiving," Kaarina said.
Cyan grinned. "This'll be interesting."
"Go, Ninetales!"
Kaarina's Poké Ball exploded open, and her next Pokémon emerged. It was a Pokémon that Cyan was vaguely familiar with, as he recognized the beautiful white coat of fur. The Pokémon had nine long tails that flowed from her backside, raising into the air. She looked a lot larger than she actually was. With her presence, snow began to fall onto the field.
"Snow?" Cyan wondered. "If this is your doing, you're going to regret it! Primarina, use Blizzard!"
"We'll respond with Ice Beam!"
Primarina sat up on his tail and howled. Freezing cold wind whipped up around his body, concentrated at his mouth, and he blasted it down the field. However, Ninetales responded by shooting a light blue beam that created ice from her mouth. The attacks collided, and both Pokémon held out for a few seconds before the attacks canceled one another out. The Pokémon looked at each other, acknowledging each other's power.
"We have to take a different approach," Kaarina said. "Psyshock! Show them the benefits of snow!"
Ninetales moved down the field as though she were skating. Her eyes started to glow pink, and when she was close enough, she unleashed electricity from her body. The electricity came down onto Primarina, forcing the Water-type backward.
"Primarina, use Sparkling Aria!"
Primarina sat up straight and closed his eyes. He began to chant, and an orb of water materialized above him. As he chanted, the orb grew in size. However, the heavy snow that fell from the sky made Primarina's voice shake, making the attack slow.
"Ice Beam the water!" Kaarina commanded.
Ninetales targeted the orb above Primarina and then launched the jagged beam of ice. The beam struck the giant orb only, freezing it instantly. However, that didn't stop it from exploding. Ice and water rained down onto the field, hitting both Pokémon.
"Don't let this distract you! Use Moon Blast!" Cyan ordered.
Primarina shifted backward to get out of the way of the falling shards of ice. She lifted her arms, formed a ball of pink energy, and then tossed it forward. It flew down the field quickly and connected with Ninetales. Upon impact, it exploded, but once the smoke faded away, Ninetales shook off the damage and then grinned.
"Ah, nuts," Cyan muttered.
"Ninetales, Dark Pulse!"
"Primarina, fight back with Energy Ball!" Cyan ordered, making Kaarina raise her eyebrows.
Ninetales unleashed a ball of black energy against the ground. Upon impact, it created a black wave that pulsated across the field. Meanwhile, Primarina formed a ball of natural energy in his mouth and launched it forward. The ball connected with the wave and split it down the middle. But before it could make contact with Ninetales, all of its energy had been used up. Both attacks had been essentially used up.
Kaarina grinned. "I can sense that you're desperate. You can see that we have an effective counter-attack for your Sparkling Aria. You're now making foolish decisions."
Cyan shrugged. "I'm throwing things at the wall to see what works. It's not like you have me cornered. You yourself just used a relatively weak Dark Pulse? What gives?"
"Well, then. I guess we have to go back to what works, huh? Psyshock!"
Ninetales slithered down the field, and her eyes started to glow purple. Her tails suddenly extended outward, and she unleashed the kinetic shocks from her body.
"Primarina, now! Blizzard!" Cyan quickly yelled.
Primarina howled and blasted a freezing cold wind from his mouth while Ninetales was still releasing her own attack. It didn't do much to the Ice-type, but it did take her by surprise, and her Psyshock missed.
Then, the snow in the air became thin until it slowly faded away completely.
"Now there's nothing that can stop us! Serenade them with Sparkling Aria!"
"Nothing that can stop you? Ninetales, Dazzling Gleam!" Kaarina commanded.
Primarina was filled with energy while he started to sing. He formed a ball of water over his head. When his voice hit its highest pitch, the ball of water exploded.
However, Ninetales unleashed a wicked pink light from her body. The water rained down on her, but it was greatly weakened by the Fairy-type blast.
"And follow up with Ice Beam!"
Ninetales snapped her head forward and snarled. The straight beam of frozen energy blasted from her mouth and rocketed down the field. Primarina held up his arms and took the entirety of the attack. He remained in place and tried to push back, and he managed to withstand the icy onslaught. However, when the attack finished, Primarina's arms fell at his sides, frozen over completely.
"It looks like the tides have turned rough once again for Cyan! With Primarina's arms frozen, this is going to be one tough battle!" the announcer said, a little bit of dread in his usually excited voice.
"We'll finish this with Dazzling Gleam!" Kaarina ordered.
"We don't need our arms to attack! Primarina, give it all you got and use Sparkling Aria! Give the crowd a performance they'll never forget!" Cyan instructed with a confident smile on his face.
Ninetales roared while Primarina started his beautiful chant once again. Ninetales' attack battered Primarina, but he didn't let it phase him. He had a show to put on. He let out one last high note, fueling the massive orb of water above him. It then exploded and started to rain down on the field. Ninetales was hit repeatedly with the violent rain, and she had no choice but to succumb to the attack.
"Ninetales is unable to continue! Primarina is the winner!" the referee declared.
"I can't believe it! Primarina makes an amazing comeback! However, he's now vulnerable to anything that Kaarina may want to do! What Pokémon will she choose next?" the announcer question.
Aoi crossed her arms and then sat back. "I'm in disbelief."
"Why?" her mother asked.
"In all of my sparring sessions with Kaarina, I've never made it this far. Cyan has officially surpassed me. I can't believe it," Aoi exclaimed.
Kaarina withdrew Ninetales and then smiled. "Cyan, you're strong. However, we're in the latter half of this battle now, and we're not going to make it easy on you. My next Pokémon is the one that I started my journey with. He's the most experienced on my team. Your chances of getting any further into this battle are slim to none."
Cyan sighed. "I don't like those chances. But! I've fought back through worse!"
"Positivity will only take you so far. Incineroar, let's go!"
Kaarina's next Pokémon emerged, and flames erupted around him. He struck a pose and eyed the crowd, waiting for a reaction. His fur was red with small patches of gray strewn about, and his eyes looked tired.
"Incineroar, use Darkest Lariat!" Kaarina commanded.
"Try Moon Blast!"
Incineroar flexed his biceps, and his arms were surrounded by dark energy. He then leaped forward, creating a crater from where he took off. Primarina, who could not lift his arms, howled and then released out a small pink orb from his mouth. The orb connected with the oncoming Incineroar, but it only managed to slow him down slightly. Within seconds, he was in front of Primarina, and he swung his right arm, clotheslining Primarina into the ground.
"Primarina!" Cyan shouted.
Incineroar growled and looked down at Primarina. The Water-type gasped as he tried to get back up.
Kaarina shrugged. "You tried, and you put up a great fight, but this is over. Incineroar, use Heat Crash!"
Flames exploded from Incineroar's body as he leaped into the air. He turned his body and then came back down to the field, causing an explosion of fire and smoke. When the smoke cleared, Incineroar slowly walked away, not bothering to look at his downed foe.
"Primarina is unable to continue! Incineroar is the winner!" the referee shouted while waving his flags around.
"And this battle is now even! With only three Pokémon each, the drama is sure to become more intense!" the announcer yelled.
Cyan withdrew Primarina and quickly tucked her Poké Ball away. His three remaining Pokémon were some of his strongest. He just decided to decide the order that he'd choose them.
"It's time for a Pokémon that I'm sure the people of Alola are aware of! Lycanroc, let's go!" Cyan called while throwing his Poké Ball with a curve.
His orange-furred Lycanroc appeared and then howled.
"It's the Guardian Lycanroc of Poni Island!" the announcer yelled, confirming it, for some in the crowd that were unsure.
The crowd oohed and awed.
Cyan grinned. "Let's show them how you got that name! Stone Edge!"
Lycanroc dug her paws into the ground and then howled. Fives stone pillars ripped up from the field and then flew toward Incineroar. They were much faster than the ones that Hariyama had controlled. However, they were a little bit smaller.
"Dodge!"
Incineroar ran forward and jumped directly for one of the pillars. He stepped on it, redirecting it into the ground before he took it into the air. Two more of the pillars turned and crashed into one another. In the air, Incineroar appeared vulnerable, but he quickly reached out, grabbed one of the oncoming pillars, and threw it into the last one. He landed on the ground and roared, sending out flames from his waist. The crowd cheered, only fueling his ego.
"And use your Darkest Lariat!"
Once again, the dark energy formed around Incineroar's arms. He dashed forward and held out his right arm, ready to drive his bicep into Lycanroc's throat. He was much faster than his old age would have indicated. And before Cyan could make a command, he connected with his attack, throwing Lycanroc backward.
Kaarina put her hands on her hips. "You're making this too easy for us. Show some hustle, Cyan! Incineroar, use Outrage!"
Incineroar's flames changed from yellow to blue. The arcane energy fueled him as he became angry, and in a blind rage, he began to kick and scratch at Lycanroc, managing to get in a few small jabs.
"Fight back with Iron Head!" Cyan ordered.
Lycanroc lowered her head and then jolted forward. She ran directly into Incineroar's midsection, but her eyes widened as she realized that the attack had not moved the beefy Fire-type. Incineroar looked down at Lycanroc before doing one uppercut to send her reeling.
Incineroar suddenly stopped, and the arcane flames died down. He started to rock back and forth, struggling to find his footing.
"This is our chance! Don't let him get away!" Cyan exclaimed. "Use Stone Edge!"
Lycanroc rammed his front paws into the battlefield once again, launching a few of the pillars into the air yet again. This time, Incineroar was too close to dodge, and his boggled mind wouldn't let him move. He was battered by the five pillars, each of them knocking him further down the field until he lay under a pile of rocks.
Cyan pumped his fist into the air. "That's how you do it! Don't let up! Use Crush Claw!"
Lycanroc jumped into the air, and her right paw became absorbed with white energy. It extended as she prepared to come back to the ground and crush Incineroar.
"Close Combat," Kaarina ordered calmly.
Incineroar shook his head and then closed one eye. He looked up and did his best to focus. He let adrenaline carry him as he leaped into the air to meet with Lycanroc. He swung his big claws and small legs wildly, beating the defenseless Rock-type senseless.
"It looks like confusion didn't last long. In that case, Malicious Moonsault!" Kaarina commanded.
Incineroar was not as fast as before, but he still managed to move down the field at a rate that Cyan found difficult to respond offensively to.
"Defend with Stone Edge!" Cyan ordered desperately.
Lycanroc roared, and the five pillars emerged from the ground around her, forming a barrier. Incineroar hit the barrier as hard as he could, but they were too strong for him to break through.
"Lycanroc, now's the time!" Cyan yelled while he held his wrist in the air. The jagged Z-Crystal on his band started to glow. "Let's hit them with everything we can!"
Cyan struck his first pose with his hands out, and energy whipped up around his body. With his second pose, the energy quickly blew toward Lycanroc's stone barrier.
"Use Splintered Stormshards!" Cyan shouted at the top of his lungs.
Everyone waited with bated breath and the crowd gasped as the barrier began to raise into the air. It spun, and Lycanroc let out a howl that could be heard across all of Alola. The stones exploded off of her body and then rained down onto the field, pelting Incineroar without any remorse. The Fire-type let out a pained cry, but his protests were soon muffled under the rocks.
Everything went quiet as everyone looked at the pile of rocks on Kaarina's side of the field.
Then, the top of the pile started to move, and Incineroar's arm came through. He pulled himself out of the pile and roared before he limped forward. His fur was dirty and his right eye was forced closed, but he still had a determined look on his face.
Kaarina cocked her head and then grinned. "It looks like our fighting spirit is just a bit stronger than yours. Close Combat!"
Before Incineroar could do his attack, he let out a roar. And then, he collapsed. And for the first time in the battle, Kaarina appeared taken aback.
"Incineroar is unable to continue! Lycanroc is the winner!" the referee shouted while waving around their flags.
"I can't believe what I'm seeing! Lycanroc has pulled through for Cyan, and he's officially ahead of Kaarina! Can he actually pull off this victory?" the announcer wondered.
Cyan's shoulders slumped. "Thanks for the support, I guess."
Kaarina looked at Cyan while she held her next Poké Ball out. "This has been fun, but I think it's time we put this battle to bed. My next Pokémon is my strongest. He'll be the last Pokémon I need for this battle. You won't win. Go, Kommo-o!"
Kaarina's signature Pokémon emerged on the field and roared. His large scales rattled against one another, managing to drown out the noise of the crowd momentarily.
Cyan scratched the back of his head and sighed. "Last Pokémon she'll need? Strongest Pokémon? What kind of game is she playing?"
"Kommo-o, use Clangorous Soul!" Kaarina commanded.
Cyan's eyes narrowed, and he grinned. "Before things get too noisy, let's strike! Use Stone Edge!"
Kommo-o roared and his large scales shuttered, creating a loud clanging sound. Arcane flames surrounded his body as he continued his small dance, gaining power.
Lycanroc shoved her front paws into the ground one last time, unleashing the five stone pillars into the air. One by one they crashed into Kommo-o, exploding on contact. However, Kommo-o barely reacted, grinning with every weak blow.
"That won't be enough. I'm the queen of dragons in Alola. I've mastered their fighting spirit. You can't win, Cyan!" Kaarina declared, her yellow skirt flowing in the wind.
"We'll find a way! Lycanroc, use Iron Head!" Cyan ordered.
"Focus Blast!" Kaarina suddenly commanded.
Lycanroc lowered her head and then ran down the field. A streak of silver energy followed her while she charged her next strike. Kommo-o waited and put his arms at his side. A ball of chi formed within his giant palms. And when Lycanroc leaped into the air, Kommo-o unleashed his attack. The ball of chi blasted directly into Lycanroc's mid-section, sending her even further into the air. She eventually came back to the ground with a sickening thud; she made no effort to get back up.
"Lycanroc is unable to continue!" the referee exclaimed while holding up his flag. "Kommo-o is the winner!"
"And now Kaarina is showing off the strength of her signature Pokémon! This may be the biggest hurdle that any trainer in Alola will ever have to face! Can Cyan Kokura do it?!"
Author's Notes: Kommo-o looks like it's going to make a big comeback for Kaarina's team. Cyan has two remaining Pokémon (probably easy to guess who they are) while Kaarina will be left with one if Kommo-o faints. Any early predictions for what it could be?
I edited this while sick, so there is a chance that there are plenty of errors. I'll come back through sometime soon and triple-check.