So, not as many reviews as the last time, but I'm still going strong!
SilverNyxa: Don't worry, I recognized you!
ZenoZen: Idk when I'll use more OCs.
BraviaryScout: Yup, most of the time I'm reported dead it's erroneous.
Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings
Chapter 27
"You lost, huh?" As Blake was heading to the Snorlax Commons, he turned to see Cynthia walk up to him, a teasing smile on her face. "I can tell by your frown."
"Yeah, only the first match," Blake said, nodding. "I won against my next opponent."
"So only one battle left, huh?" Cynthia asked, walking with him. "Same. Of course, I won all of my matches."
Suddenly, both of their pagers began beeping.
CYNTHIA FAFNIR
NEXT OPPONENT:
REINER ZOLLERN
TIME: 2:30 PM
LOCATION: TRAINING FIELD 3
"So Reiner is also undefeated, huh?" Cynthia said. "…What? What's with the face?"
"Nothing, it's nothing," Blake said, shaking his head. "Good luck."
"…He beat you, didn't he?"
Blake ignored Cynthia and looked at his own pager.
BLAKE HARKER
NEXT OPPONENT:
KATHERINE KUROSO
TIME: 2:30 PM
LOCATION: GARDEN FIELD
"Katherine?" Blake searched his memory for such a person, but didn't know who she was. "Do you know anyone named Katherine?"
Cynthia shook her head.
"So we both have matches in an hour…" Blake said, frowning. "Think we have enough time to get food?"
"This tournament is really not considerate of our schedules, is it?" Cynthia said, shaking her head.
"Good luck on your match, Cynthia," Blake said, waving to her.
"Same. And don't worry, one loss shouldn't be enough to keep you from making top 64! Just make sure you win this one, got it?"
Blake nodded, the two parting ways.
"Garden Field, huh?" Blake said, checking his pager again. "I guess that must be where I fought Alcea…"
Blake headed off towards the gardens as Cynthia walked back to the main section of campus.
As Blake entered the garden, arriving at the field where he'd fought Alcea's Venusaur, the first thing he noticed was that his match was going to have quite a few observers. The Gardening Club, in particular. Even their "queen" had shown up.
"What are you all doing here?" Blake asked, walking up to the parasol Alcea was seated underneath.
"Hold on there!" Kate exclaimed, stepping between the two of them. "A plebian man like you has no right to address our lady directly! Any questions you have for her go through me, understood?"
Blake glanced at Alcea with an exaggerated expression, sighing, and then taking a few steps back.
"So which one of you is my opponent?" Blake asked.
"Your opponent isn't a member of the Gardening Club." Blake turned to see Julia standing behind him. She nodded her head over her shoulder, at Kitty.
"Kitty?" Blake asked, surprised. "She's my opponent?"
"Didn't you check your pager?" Julia asked, incredulously.
"So you… forgot my name…" Kitty said, looking down, her eyes tearing up.
"W-well, I…"
"Never mind!" Julia snapped. "Kitty, it's fine. Just beat him, okay? You've already got one loss, you need to take him down! Now isn't the time to get sad, right?"
"Right!" Kitty said, nodding, the light returning to her eyes. "Okay, Blake! Let's do this!"
"Hold on a moment," a voice called, Kitty and Blake both looking to see another figure walk out into the clearing. His face was scarred and his eyes were covered by a pair of sunglasses. He was walking with a limp, holding a cane in his right hand. "So, Blake, Kitty, we meet again, I see."
"Who're you?" Blake asked.
"Oscar." Alcea noted, her eyes widening slightly. "And what are you doing here?"
"Not much, m'lady," the man said, walking towards her. "Just enjoying the fresh air, and interested in the upcoming battle, that's all."
"Hey, listen you-" Kate started in on the man, Oscar, but Alcea waved a hand to silence her. Oscar took a seat next to Alcea, setting his cane on the ground.
"And you are interested in this little match, is it?" Alcea asked.
"I would ask the same of you. I would think that a battle between freshmen was beneath the radar of the Queen of Roses."
"One of my new club members requested my presence, for moral support," Alcea said, nodding to Julia. "At first I refused, but when I heard who was fighting, I agreed. It's that trainer, is it?"
"Oh?" Oscar asked. "Then perhaps our interests are similar after all. Although I didn't expect you to be interested in such things."
"Your ideas matter little. What's important, a good battle is it?" Alcea said, turning away from him. "I have no interest in your little search."
"Okay then," Oscar said, nodding.
Blake and Kitty felt somewhat awkward. They couldn't quite hear the conversation, but they didn't know if they should be fighting or not. Blake looked at Kitty, nodding, Kitty nodding in return.
"O-okay, I'll start!" Kitty said. "Meomo, go!"
Kitty tossed out her pokeball, her Persian emerging with a hiss.
"Tara, go," Blake said, releasing Tara.
"Meomo, fake out," Kitty ordered. Her Persian ran forward and swiped his claws at Tara. Tara moved to dodge, but was caught in the face by the back of his paw and knocked onto the ground, flinching. Meomo leaned over her and began scratching at the grass type, Tara crying out in pain.
"Leaf tornado!" The grass began stirring with wind, Tara holding her hands up. A tornado of wind and leaves burst out from around her, sending Meomo flying up into the air. The cat landed on his feet and snarled, brushing the leaves off of his face. Tara picked herself up off the ground, panting.
"Okay, heal yourself with synthesis," Blake ordered. Sunlight began shining on Tara, and her wounds began healing, reinvigorating herself.
"Meomo! Use… um… aerial ace, that's it!" Kitty shouted. Meomo nodded, disappearing. Tara looked around desperately, Meomo appearing behind her, slicing her in the back with his claws. Tara cried out in pain and collapsed to the ground, whimpering.
"Tara!" Blake cried out as Meomo appeared, leering over the grass type with a snarl. He raised his claw, bringing it down at Tara's face.
"Sni!" Tara shouted, her tail glowing with white energy. She turned and swung it into Meomo's jaw, the cat crying out in pain as he was knocked off of her.
"Awesome!" Blake exclaimed. "That was iron tail! You finally used it successfully!"
"Sni!" Tara said, nodding, a smile on her face.
"Meomo, are you okay?" Kitty asked worriedly, Meomo rising to his feet and nodding. He turned to Tara and snarled, his own tail glowing.
"Iron tail vs. iron tail, is it?" Alcea asked.
"Come on Kitty, you can do it!" Julia shouted.
"Hey, what about me?" Blake asked.
"Go lose, stupid boy!" Kate shouted, to the agreement of her peers in the Gardening Club.
"…I guess this really is an away-game for me, huh?" Blake said, sighing.
"This is enough, is it?" Alcea said, frowning. "Girls, please refrain from such discourteous behavior in my presence. You do this garden a disservice with your words. Please conduct yourself in a manner appropriate of the Gardening Club."
She turned to the girls, her eyes cold.
"Unless… you wish to incur my wrath, is it?"
"N-no milady," Kate said, shaking her head.
"Superbe."
"D-don't worry, Blake, I'm rooting for you," Kitty said, smiling. "If only both of us could win, right?"
"Kya!" the Gardening Club squeed.
"She's so cute!"
"How wonderful, even to her opponents!"
"She's an angel! An adorable angel!"
Kitty curled up into a ball on the ground in embarrassment.
"Geez, cut it out, you're embarrassing her!" Julia said, frowning. "Don't pay attention to them, Kitty!"
"…S-so I'm not cute?" Kitty asked.
"N-no, that's not what I-"
"We're fighting over here!" Blake exclaimed, everyone going silent.
"Sorry," Julia called.
"Let's go, Meomo." Kitty said, rising to her feet. "Iron tail!"
Meomo's tail began glowing and he leapt at Tara, swinging full force. Tara jumped into the air and countered with an iron tail of her own, the two colliding with a powerful clang of metal on metal. The pokemon flew backwards and landed on the ground, Meomo immediately charging Tara.
"Tara, vine whip," Blake ordered. Tara placed her hands on the ground, vines shooting out and wrapping around Meomo's front legs. She carried the cat into the air, and flung her onto the ground. Meomo stood up, shaking, glaring in furry at Tara.
"Aerial ace," Kitty ordered. Meomo disappeared, reappearing behind Tara, striking her a second time with the powerful flying move. This time, however, Tara didn't flinch. She grit her teeth and wrapped her tail around Meomo's paw, holding tightly.
"Leaf tornado," Blake ordered. A tornado of leaves emerged from her body and struck Meomo right in the face, causing the cat to yelp out in pain. Tara released her wrap and jumped back, holding her hands up.
"Meomo, get her! Slash!" Kitty yelled. Meomo roared, raising his claw, lunging at Tara. Tara gulped, closing her eyes, the wind picking up around her. A tornado of wind and leaves swirled around her as she turned away, hitting Meomo in the side with the blast of wind. The Persian cried out in pain and was flung through the air. Tara pulled to a quick stop and held her hands up, releasing the tornado and striking Meomo head on. Alcea's eyes widened in surprise, and she rose from her seat.
"Snivy! C'etait excellent!" Alcea cheered excitedly, a bright smile on her face. Tara looked at her in a mixture of surprise and embarrassment, blushing.
"Meomo, return," Kitty said, returning Meomo to her pokeball. "Okay, then! Larosa, help me, please!"
Kitty sent out her Growlithe, Larosa growling angrily at Tara, who stepped back from the intimidating glare. She opened her mouth and fired flurry of embers at Tara.
Tara rolled out of the way and held her hands up, firing a leaf tornado at Larosa.
"Flame wheel," Kitty ordered. Larosa curled into a ball and coated herself in flames, charging at Tara. The leaves burned up on contact as the wind only served to fan the flames. Tara leapt out of the way repeatedly, doing her best to avoid the charging fire type.
"Tara, use vine whip to leap into the air," Blake ordered. Tara nodded, swinging a vine from her hand against the ground to propel her over the Growlithe. Her tail began glowing with light and she struck the fire pokemon with iron tail. Larosa winced at the attack but Tara cried out in agony, the flames badly burning her tail as they dissipated.
Tara fell to the ground, Larosa running over to her. She opened her mouth and bit down roughly on Tara's shoulder, curling into another flame wheel attack, burrowing the full force of the fire into Tara on the ground. When Larosa jumped off and the flames died down, Tara was lying unconscious in a small hole, burned and unconscious.
"Return," Blake said, returning Tara to her pokeball, a disappointed look crossing Alcea's face.
"Oh no, the garden…" Kitty moaned, looking at the burned up grass and torn up ground.
"Don't worry," Alcea consoled her. "We go to great lengths to preserve this place. We should not have a difficulty repairing the field. Just… leaving the long-range fire moves behind will be best, is it?"
"Okay, Rogen, let's go," Blake said, sending out his Boldore. "Rock slide!"
Rogen held his stone talons up, rocks ripping out from the ground beneath their feet and flying towards Larosa. The fire type ran between them, avoiding the boulders as they fell. She avoided them all and ran straight towards Rogen, coating herself in a veil of fire.
"Next, rock tomb!" Rogen held his talons up again, and the rocks began shaking once more. They rose up and flew towards Larosa, surrounding her and crashing down from all sides.
"Larosa!" Kitty cried out.
"Is that it?" Blake asked, Rogen staring at the pillar of rocks.
The ground beneath Rogen burst open and Larosa leapt out, knocking Rogen off his balance. As the rock pokemon tumbled over, Larosa pulled one of his paws back.
"Rock smash!" Kitty ordered, Larosa's paw glowing as it struck Rogen in the face with a shattering impact. Rogen skidded across the ground and pulled himself up, shaking.
"Magnitude!" Blake ordered. Rogen raised his talons and dug them into the ground, releasing a powerful tremor through the ground. The quaking was so powerful, the large rocks shattered into dust around them. Even Kitty and Blake were unbalanced.
"Looks like magnitude 10…" Oscar commented, smiling, the shockwave slamming into Larosa and knocking her off of her feet. Rogen charged at the disoriented pokemon, raising his talons.
"Rock slide!" More rocks emerged from the ground, and slammed into Larosa, the dog letting out a painful yelp as she took the full brunt of the attack, fainting.
"Return…" Kitty said, returning Larosa to her pokeball, shivering. She took a deep breath, shaking her head. "This isn't over yet! Please, Marisa, help me!"
With a flourish of light, Marisa emerged from her pokeball, smiling cheerfully.
"Kyaaa! It's so cute!" The Gardening Club girls cried, staring at the elegant and adorable pokemon, Marisa blushing in pride.
"Okay, Marisa…" Kitty panted. "Let's do this, yeah?"
"Sylveon!" Marisa said, nodding.
"Rock blast," Blake ordered. Rogen held his talons and formed a large rock between them, shooting it at Marisa.
"Marisa!" Kitty cried, her eyes shining. Marisa nodded and skillfully jumped to the side, dodging the stone as she increased her speed with quick attack.
"That's it," Kitty said, nodding. "You know what to do next."
Marisa leapt up and opened her mouth, a stream of stars firing at Rogen. Rogen raised his pincers to deflect them, Marisa landing on the ground in front of him. She pressed her muzzle against Rogen's side, draining energy from him with a kiss.
Rogen swatted her, but Marisa was already gone. She landed on the grass and her ribbons unfolded from around her body, forming several spheres of water in the air in front of her. She fired them at the rock type, the water exploding in a burst as it hit him.
"A water move?" Blake asked, shocked.
"Hidden power, is it?" Alcea said. "Not a bad strategy."
"Shake it off, Rogen, and use magnitude again!" Rogen nodded and released another tremor, knocking Marisa off of her feet.
"Marisa!" Kitty cried, shaking her head. "Go! Hidden power again!"
Marisa fired another hidden power at Rogen, the rock type crying out in pain. His body began taking serious damage from the continual hits. Rogen raised his talons and tossed boulders into the air at Marisa.
Kitty and Marisa closed their eyes, the fairy type daintily leaping among the rocks as they fell overhead. She emerged from the top and leapt upon Rogen, opening her mouth. A shockwave of sound struck Rogen at close range, the rock type crying out in pain.
Marisa touched down, bowing gracefully, and used another hidden power to finish off the job.
"That's the way," Kitty said, shaking. She held her head, steadying herself.
"Everything okay?" Blake asked.
"Just tired, is all," Kitty said, smiling. "Long day. Don't worry about me, though! We're doing fine, right Marisa?"
"It seems this match is picking up in speed," Oscar said, smiling. "I wonder what Blake will use next?"
"Alright, Weiss! Let's do it!" Blake said, sending out his Scizor.
"Weiss…" Kitty panted, shaking her head. "A steel type…"
She gulped, smiling.
"We can do it, Marisa! Let's go!"
Marisa purred in agreement and opened her mouth, firing a disarming voice at Weiss.
Weiss disappeared in a flash of red and fired a barrage of bullet punches at Marisa. The fairy type closed her eyes, and moved out of the way, dodging each strike expertly.
"No way…" Blake said, his mouth opening in shock.
Marisa's eyes snapped open and her ribbons unfurled, creating a sphere of swirling water. The attack struck Weiss head on, the Scizor crying out in pain as he was knocked back by the powerful wave. Weiss skidded to a stop and looked at Marisa in shock, as though he couldn't believe an attack that powerful could come from such a small figure.
"Don't… underestimate us," Kitty said, shaking her head. "We've been training… We won't give up here. Marisa, let's go!"
"Sylv!" Marisa purred, nodding, pulling to Kitty's side. She opened her mouth and spread her ribbons, creating a wave of pink wind. The fairy wind struck Weiss, but as a fairy move it didn't do much damage. Weiss's pincer began glowing as he prepared a metal claw, lunging at the Sylveon.
Marisa dodged the attack and kicked Weiss with her rear legs, knocking her back. She turned on her paws and jumped back, firing another hidden power at him. Weiss swiped it out of the way with his claws, his wings fluttering as he picked up into the air. He lunged at Marisa and his speed suddenly increased, hitting Marisa head on for the first time.
Marisa flew back and landed on the ground, crawling to her feet with a growl.
"Not enough!" Kitty said, shaking her head. Marisa winced in pain and opened her mouth, firing a shockwave of sound at Weiss. He dodged the repeated attacks of disarming voice as he looked for an opening, but Marisa refused to give him one.
"Weiss, if you keep dodging we won't be able to get through," Blake said. Weiss nodded in agreement, flying straight for Marisa. She opened her mouth and released another disarming voice, Weiss taking the attack head on. He hit Marisa with a barrage of bullet punches, knocking her back, holding his pincers up.
"Flash cannon," Blake ordered. A beam of light fired from between his pincers straight at the Sylveon, hitting Marisa with an explosion of light. She shook it off, however, and charged at Weiss, her ribbons unfurling and several spheres of water appearing around her. The multiple hidden power attacks flew at Weiss, who countered all of them with his bullet punches. While he was distracted with the bullet punches, however, Weiss was a second to slow to avoid the quick attack that knocked him off of his feet.
"…I'm surprised," Julia said.
"Oh?" Alcea asked, turning to her. "Your friend is doing admirably."
"Yeah… but Marisa has taken a lot of damage… and she's still fighting. She done a lot to hurt Weiss, too…" Julia said, shaking her head. "I had no idea that Kitty and her Sylveon were so tough. Come on, Kitty! You can do it!"
"Yeah…" Kitty said, nodding. "Just a little more, Marisa…"
"Weiss, are you okay? You've taken a few hits," Blake said worriedly. "And you haven't fully recovered from this morning, either…"
"Sci!" Weiss said, nodding, but his wince said otherwise.
"We've got to finish this off quick, then."
Marisa lowered her head and ran towards Weiss, preparing another barrage of hidden powers. Weiss fired another flash cannon at her. Marisa plowed through the flash cannon, crying out in pain, but she refused to fall over. She collided with Weiss, striking him with the hidden power attacks as she knocked him backwards.
Weiss fell to the ground, standing up, shaking.
"Sylveon!" Marisa growled, wincing, falling to her knees. She tried desperately to stand back up, but eventually gave in, losing consciousness.
"Yeah…" Blake said, smiling. "Way to go, Weiss!"
"Sci!" Weiss said, nodding.
"Kitty!" Julia cried out, Blake's attention shifting from his momentary victory. A flash of motion drew his eyes across the field to Julia running up to Kitty, who had collapsed on the ground.
Uh oh, it looks like Kitty isn't doing so good. This could be a problem.