I said I would be updating. This is me. Doing that thing. Gotta pick up the reviews, after all, and get back in the swing of things!
Jay Hayden: Really, Sango and Blake? Why do you ship them?
ZenoZen: It will at some point, don't worry.
Wildlian: Yup, I'm back.
Darkhammer: Don't worry, I hope to update as much as I can.
Phantom-Jester: More or less.
Daozang: Really? I'm glad I could be an inspiration!
Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings
Chapter 26
"Wow, you guys look more worn out than usual," Sango said, looking sympathetically at her friends. Cynthia, Julia, Blake, Nick, and Kitty were all in various levels of exhaustion, their dinners left relatively untouched. The sun had just begun to set on the veranda, but the pokemon trainers already felt like they wanted to sleep.
"Three consecutive battles isn't an easy thing…" Blake sighed. "I can't believe we have to do this tomorrow, too…"
"We can do it, guys!" Cynthia said, a look of excitement appearing on her tired face. "We all won are battles, right?"
"Yeah, but I don't know how much longer I can keep this going…" Kitty moaned. "I'm exhausted…"
She plopped her small face onto the table and sighed, Julia patting her on the back of the head.
"Cynthia's right," Blake said, nodding. "We've gotta try our hardest to win, we can't go getting tired on the first day."
The others nodded in agreement, and began eating.
"Where's Rener?" Sango asked suddenly. "I know he was participating, right? Is he not eating with us?"
"Maybe he lost, and he's too ashamed to face the rest of us winners," Cynthia snickered. "He's probably up in his room sulking."
"No, when we got back he wasn't there," Blake said, Nick nodding in agreement. "He might be training."
"This late, huh?" Julia said, frowning. She set down her fork and stood up, taking her plate. "Well, I'm not going to let him get ahead that easily."
"I'll come with," Kitty said, following after Julia to take her tray back into the dining hall.
"So, you guys want to head back to the dorm?" Cynthia asked, everyone pretty much finished with their food.
"Pass, I've got a seminar for Campus Security in a half hour," Sango said, shaking her head. "You wouldn't believe how much work we have keeping the festival on track… my day was probably harder than yours."
"I also have to do some training…" Nick said, looking down. "I can't fall behind tomorrow, after all…"
"Oooh? And would this training happen to be with a certain short little blonde?" Cynthia asked, narrowing her eyes, a wicked smile curling across her face. "I see, enjoy your 'training' then, virgin…"
"Wh-what? N-no, it's not like that!" Nick said, his face turning a bright red. "No, see, Callie just offered me, to, um, learn how to fight more effectively, that's all!"
"Yeah, and I'm sure it just had to be at night, with no one around," Cynthia said wistfully. "Just the two of you, alone, hearts pumping with energy, bodies sweaty from the constant battles… anything could happen!"
"I-I'm gonna go," Nick said, clumsily grabbing his tray and fleeing the patio as Cynthia broke out laughing.
"Don't torture him," Sango sighed, "geez."
"Whatever," Cynthia shrugged. "So Blake, what about you? You busy? Gonna train some more? Or maybe-"
"Blake needs to sleep," Sango said sharply, shooting him a glare. "And you probably should get some too."
"Well, going to bed was the general idea, but sleeping-"
"Cynthia!" Sango cried.
"Sango!" Cynthia cried.
"Is this the strategy? Exhaust Blake so you have one less rival to deal with, hm?" Sango asked.
Cynthia's eyes sparked with realization and she turned to Blake, smiling.
"Hey, Blake, wanna-"
"I'm on the side of sleep," Blake said, standing up.
Sango nodded as Cynthia sighed in disappointment.
"Y'all are so darn boring, but whatever. I guess saving some energy for tomorrow's good and all. See ya, Sango!"
Cynthia and Blake walked back into the dining hall and put their dishes away, heading back to their dorm. In what came as a surprise, Cynthia wasn't saying anything, staring at the river they were walking beside in relative silence. Just as Blake was beginning to appreciate the quiet, she turned to him and began talking.
"Hey, Blake."
"…Yeah?" Blake asked, a little intrigued by the serious look in her eyes.
"You're going to win tomorrow too, right?"
"Well, you know, I was actually planning to lose, but if you really want me to win I guess I could."
"Be serious," she chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. "Really. We're both going to try our hardest, okay?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Yup. Then we'll make it into the top 64! And then we might even fight each other in the finals!" Cynthia said, her voice increasing in excitement with every word.
"Wow, that excited for it, huh?" Blake asked.
"Yeah, well it's just…" her face darkened a little bit, before returning to seriousness. "I mean, we might not have to fight, right? A lot of the other students here are probably really strong, right?"
"Oh wow. Are you actually telling me that you're having doubts about your ability to win?" Blake asked, his eyes widening in shock. "Whoa. Just… whoa. I didn't think you even knew what it meant to worry?"
"Who's worried?" Cynthia asked, her smile returning. "I'm just… considering, that's all! I mean, wouldn't you be disappointed if we didn't get to face each other? So we've both got to try and not lose, got it?"
"…Sounds good," Blake said, nodding, Cynthia's face lighting up in excitement.
"Yeah, that's the spirit!" She cheered, bobbing her head. "Alright then! I'm fired up for real this time! See ya tomorrow, Blake!"
Without another word she turned and sprinted the rest of the distance to the dorm, leaving Blake on the riverbank alone. Suddenly, his pager began beeping. He pulled it out, his eyes widening.
NEXT OPPONENT:
REINER ZOLLERN
TIME: 9:30 AM
LOCATION: BULBASAUR HALL FIELD
Blake looked at his pager for a long second, frowning. So, his first opponent tomorrow would be Reiner… He hadn't had the chance to battle Reiner for real, yet, but he wasn't worried. He just wondered who he should use to fight against him with.
The next morning, Blake and Reiner met up on the grassy field outside of their dorm. Reiner had not returned to their room as far as Blake knew, but he seemed energized, not like someone who had spent the night training.
"Hey, Reiner. Looks like we're facing each other, huh? I guess that means we're both undefeated, huh?" Blake said, testing his roommate's mood to see if this would be a more casual battle. Reiner said nothing and simply nodded, his eyes narrowing.
"Okay, well, you probably didn't have that great a night, huh?" Blake said, frowning. Something was definitely off about Reiner.
"Don't think badly of me, Blake, but I'm going to defeat you," Reiner said, frowning. "If I'm going to be the strongest, it's what has to happen. Besides, you might be able to make it past the preliminaries even with a loss."
"…Well, glad to see you're confident!" Blake said, smiling uneasily, but his effort to lighten the mood failed. "Okay then."
"Weiss, go!" Blake tossed out a pokeball, his Scizor emerging with a flutter of wings.
"I thought so," Reiner said. "Invictus! Go."
Reiner's Metang was released, hovering over the field, staring at Weiss with the same intense look as its trainer.
"Weiss, bullet punch!" Blake ordered. Weiss nodded and took off into the air, shooting straight for the Metang. He raised his pincers and released a flurry of blows at the steel-type at a speed that couldn't be seen.
Invictus raised its claws and they disappeared in a flash, Weiss pulling to a stop. His pincers returned into view and he flew backwards.
"What's wrong?" Blake asked.
"Scizor," Weiss glowered at Invictus, raising his pincer into the air.
"You didn't think you were the only one who knew how to use that move, did you?" Reiner asked. "Invictus and I have been doing speed training to catch up to Weiss' speed, and now we can match you blow for blow."
Weiss clutched his waist and fell onto a knee in a wince.
"…Or you know, whatever." Reiner's stoic face shifted into a smirk. "Invictus! Psychic!"
Invictus raised its claws, releasing a blast of psychic energy at the bug pokemon. Before it struck Weiss, however, he disappeared. Weiss pulled into view underneath the Metang, his pincer shining with light. He struck the steel type from below and sent it flying upwards, breaking its concentration. Invictus spiraled through the air and landed on the grass, pulling up just in time.
"Weiss is faster than you might think," Blake said, smiling. "How's that?"
"Expected," Reiner said, nodding. "I thought you'd be using Weiss to start things off. Try to win as fast as possible by having him take out as many of your opponent's pokemon as he could. That's why I chose Invictus. They're strong enough to hold him off and tire him out."
Invictus floated up into the air and began glowing with energy, charging at Weiss. Weiss jumped to the side and began gliding through the air, turning back to Invictus. The Metan lowered a claw and thrust it into the ground, using its claw to turn and face Weiss again, slamming into his chest. Weiss flew back and landed on his feet, holding his claws up.
"Flash cannon!" Blake ordered. Weiss charged a sphere of light in between his pincers and fired it at Invictus.
"Double team!" Reiner shouted. Clones of Invictus appeared on either side of Invictus, the flash cannon passing harmlessly through one of the images. "Then, counter with bullet punch!"
The clones encircled Weiss and raised their claws, and suddenly Weiss was being struck at from all sides. He raised his arms to guard as best as he could, but the fast blows kept coming.
"Iron defense!" Weiss began shining with a silver light as his defenses rose, the force of the blows lessening. His eyes scanned across the Metangs, trying to find the right one.
Blake began to worry. Weiss was completely pinned down, and as strong as he might have been, he couldn't withstand the assault forever.
"Weiss, use-"
"Sci!" Blake's order froze in his mouth as he caught Weiss's eye. Blake nodded. Weiss wasn't pinned in, he was concentrating, focusing his energy.
"Okay, Invictus, finish it off with a psychic attack," Reiner ordered. Invictus' blows disappeared and they held their claws up, gathering blue energy into their bodies.
Suddenly, Weiss came alive. He leapt into the air and flew straight at one of the Metang, hitting it straight on with a metal claw. The Metang flew back as its clones disappeared, Weiss pulling to a stop and holding his pincers up. He fired a flash cannon that struck Invictus head on, helping the steel type on its way a little faster. Invictus crashed hard and tried to float back up, but Weiss was upon it immediately, hitting it with another metal claw at full force.
Invictus let out a cry and collapsed, unconscious. Weiss flew back to Blake's side, panting, clearly exhausted from the battle.
"Excellent work, Invictus," Reiner said, calling back the Metang. He turned to Blake. "I didn't expect to win, but I'm glad Invictus pushed Weiss as far as he did. Weaver, finish him off!"
Reiner's Zangoose emerged from his pokeball growling angrily, and charged at the steel pokemon.
"Weiss, bullet punch!" Weiss winced in pain and raised his pincers, firing a barrage at the mongoose.
"Weaver, dodge it with quick attack," Reiner ordered. Weaver dropped onto its front claws and disappeared, skillfully avoiding each of the strikes as it closed the distance between the two.
"Zangoose!" Weaver appeared in front of Weiss, claws raised, and slashed Weiss across the face. Weiss skidded across the grass and raised his pincers, charging at the normal type.
"Crush claw." Following his trainer's orders, Weaver raised up his claws, which were glowing with white energy. Weiss prepared a metal claw and struck Weaver in the chest, the Zangoose roaring in pain. Weaver brought his claws down onto Weiss and drove him into the ground, climbing over him. With the large pokemon on top of him, Weiss could not use much of his speed, leaving him victim to the repeated barrage of crush claws. He could only shield himself with his arms and use iron defense.
"Finish him off, now," Reiner ordered. Weaver rose up, raising his claws, Weiss opening his eyes. He shot out from underneath the Zangoose and used metal claw again, striking Weaver in the face.
"Revenge."
Weaver's claw began glowing with dark energy, and he counterpunched Weiss across the jaw, sprawling the red pokemon across the ground. The normal type loomed menacingly over Weiss, raising a shimmering claw, bringing it down into Weiss's stomach.
"Scizor!" Weiss gasped out in pain, coughing as he lost consciousness.
"So close," Reiner said, shaking his head. "I knew that your Scizor would take advantage of Weaver letting up, so I bated him perfectly. So tell me, Blake, who's next? My team and I have been preparing to fight against yours for a while now. I know what your pokemon are capable of."
"Is that so?" Blake asked. "Alright then, we'll see about that. Ruru, go!"
Blake tossed out a pokeball, his newly acquired pokemon emerging, landing in the grass.
"Huh?" Reiner gasped in confusion, looking at the empty field in front of him.
"My new partner," Blake said, smiling. "Watch out, she's a lot stronger than she might appear."
"Zangoose!" Weaver growled out in pain, electricity surging through his body.
"Weaver, what's going on?" Reiner asked as his Zangoose began clawing at his chest.
"Ruru, use thunder wave," Blake ordered. A field of electricity surged across Weaver as he fell to the ground, finally swatting the small Joltik off of his chest.
"That tiny thing is a pokemon?" Reiner asked, surprised.
"You bet," Blake said, nodding, a smile on his face. "Electroweb!"
Ruru raised her tiny pincers and shot out a string of electrified silk, pinning Weaver to the grass as it sent repeated shocks through his body.
"Break free, Weaver!" Reiner shouted. Weaver growled in pain as his claws shredded through the webbing, rising to his feet, twitching from the electrical current. "Crush that bug with a crush claw!"
Weaver raised his claws and tried to strike Ruru, but the small pokemon was far too quick, scuttling effortlessly out of the way of each attack.
"Electro ball," Blake ordered.
"Jolt!" Ruru chirped, pulling to a stop underneath Weaver, holding her small pincers up, creating a large, churning ball of electricity in front of her.
"Zaaaaaaaaan!" Weaver cried out in pain as the ball hit him in the stomach and sent a current of electricity surging through his body. The electricity died down, and the burned normal type let out a cough, falling to the ground.
"…Well, that little guy is quite a surprise," Reiner said, nodding, returning Weaver to his pokeball. "Looks like you've been moving ahead fine. But so have I. Scipio, you're my last hope. Let's win me another victory, got it?"
Reiner's Anorith appeared, eyeing the small electric pokemon.
"Ruru, string him up, just like the last one," Blake said.
"Jolt!" Ruru said, spitting another web of electricity at the Anorith.
"Scipio, cut right through it with slash," Reiner ordered. Scipio raised his claws, slicing the webbing into pieces before it had the chance to wrap him up.
Scipio scuttled forward, Reiner smirking.
"Did you think I'd let my pokemon get caught a second time?"
"Kind of, yeah?"
"Scipio, rock polish."
"An!" Scipio said, scraping his claws until his whole body was shining. He picked up speed, heading straight for the electric type.
Ruru skidded back, raising her pincers, creating another electro ball. She launched it at Scipio, who swiftly dodged to the side. Ruru fired several more electro balls at the fossil pokemon, all of which were skillfully avoided, Scipio looming over the small spider.
"Scipio, a little more! We're almost there!" Reiner cried. "Just one more battle!"
"Ruru!" Blake cried out. "Close range!"
Jolt!" Ruru nodded, creating a massive electro ball that she fired straight at the Anorith.
"Metal claw!" Scipio's claw began shining with energy and he struck the electro ball head on, sending blasts of electricity in every direction. Ruru flew through the air, catching onto the ground with her threads as Scipio took the blunt of the electricity.
"Now, smack her down!" Reiner ordered. Scipio dropped his claw into the ground and pulled up a wave of earth and rock, smashing it into Ruru at full force, burying her in the ground.
"Ruru!" Blake cried out.
"…Tik…" Ruru moaned, fainting, Blake returning her to her pokeball.
"Your little friend is fast, but it seems like she doesn't have much stamina," Reiner commented. "As for mine…"
Scipio began glowing with energy. Light swirled around him as he grew in size, letting out a roar. The light around him faded, revealing his new form.
"Armaldo!" Scipio growled, raising his claws. The small arthropod was now much larger and standing on two sturdy legs, its body a mass of grey, blue, and black.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Reiner said, smiling for the first time in the battle. "Just like Gerard said, I knew you were going to evolve soon! Now, there's no way we can lose, not with your power!"
"…A shrimp dinosaur?" Blake asked, surprised.
"No, it's not a-! …Never mind. Send out your last pokemon!" Reiner said.
"Okay then," Blake said, nodding. But he wasn't sure. Uni wouldn't stand a chance, and he wasn't sure if Rogen would be able to match its offensive power. That left Tara and Cory… He wasn't sure if either of them would have a chance, but if he had to choose…
"Cory, go!" Cory leapt out, claws snapping, leering at the Armaldo.
"As I thought," Reiner said, nodding. "Scipio, take him down with crush claw!"
"Ar!" Scipio nodded, charging at the Corphish.
"Aqua jet!" Blake ordered.
"Cor!" Cory said, nodding, water swirling around his body. He charged head on at Scipio, the two colliding at full force, flying back.
Cory winced in pain as Scipio growled. Cory held a pincer up and fired a flurry of bubbles at the rock type, the bubbles exploding in a barrage of shockwaves.
"Ar!" Scipio howled in pain, barreling through the exploding bubbles like they were drops of water striking a tank. He held a pincer up, energy swirling through it, aiming straight at Cory's face.
"Cory, counter with crabhammer!"
"Cor!" Cory nodded, water swirling around his claw, striking the crush claw attack at full force. The two attacks exploded, Scipio weathering the impact while Cory was knocked back.
"Seems your Corphish isn't strong enough to take Scipio on now that he's evolved," Reiner said. "Scipio, let's finish this fast with another crush claw!"
"Armaldo!" Scipio roared, lumbering towards the Corphish.
"Cory, we've got to outrun this guy," Blake said. "Try to get around him!"
"Corphish!" Cory said, getting onto his legs and scurrying as fast as he could away from Scipio.
"Scipio, don't let him get away!" Scipio nodded, preparing another crush claw, charging at the Corphish.
"Okay, Cory! Use aqua jet to increase your speed!" Blake said. Water swirled around Cory and he turned, moving around the Armaldo at high speed. Scipio moved past him and Cory turned, heading straight for his back.
"Scipio! Behind!" Reiner shouted. Scipio suddenly turned around, much to Cory's shock. The rock type pulled a claw back and struck Cory right in the face, using his built up speed to his advantage. Cory was slammed into the ground, gasping out in pain, his claws clicking together feebly.
"Unbelievable…" Blake said, surprised. "Scipio has already gotten used to his new body…"
"Cor…" Cory gasped, trying to rise, before collapsing, unconscious.
"That's that," Reiner said, returning Scipio to his pokeball. "Not a bad match, Blake, but it ended as I expected. Thanks."
"Uh-huh," Blake said, nodding, returning Cory to his pokeball. "Reiner… is everything okay?"
"I just won," Reiner said, smiling. "Of course everything's okay."
"Yeah," Blake said. He didn't believe a word. Reiner… was different. Somehow. He wasn't sure exactly what had been off about that battle, but he seemed just… more focused. More angry. Not like he didn't want to lose, but like he couldn't afford to lose. But that had been before. Having won, Reiner was now all smiles. He hadn't seen Reiner battle before, not really. Maybe this was just how he always was? He wasn't sure, but something just felt different.
"Going to get breakfast today?" Blake asked. "Wanna go eat?"
"Can't," Reiner said, shaking his head. "Gotta train."
Without another word, Reiner walked off towards the main halls, leaving Blake on the field by himself.
So… I wonder what's going on with Reiner? He's so different now… maybe?