Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Sinnoh no Isekai
Chapter forty-three: Lily of the Valley Conference, round five
The air of excitement on Lily of the Valley Island was so thick that one could cut it with Kenny's oversized pocket knife. After all, the Lily of the Valley Conference has reached the final four, and that meant that things were going to be getting excited. The battles that were set to happen were going to be amazing, no doubt about that, and bets were even being made on how the battles in the top four were going to go.
...Well, people were at least betting on how the battle between Ash and Kenny was going to go. That was because the other battle, which would see Dawn face off against Tobias, was considered by and large to see a victory for Tobias as a foregone conclusion. The only bets being made when it came to the battle between Dawn and Tobias was whether or not Dawn was actually going to be able to land any hits on Tobias's Darkrai.
No one believed that Dawn could actually take Darkrai out.
...
"You're going to be battling against the Darkrai user tomorrow, Dawn?!" Maylene exclaimed out of sheer surprise when Dawn and the boys called her the evening after round four had concluded.
Dawn gave a single nod in the affirmative. "I will, yes."
Ash, folding his arms over his chest, gave a mildly annoyed scowl. "...I was actually hoping to face off against Tobias. He's bound to be a blast to battle against." Quickly turning to look at Kenny, Ash quickly said, "Oh, umm, no offense, Kenny."
"What am I?" Kenny replied, a tiny bit bemused, "Chopped liver?"
Maylene gave a resigned sigh. "...This is nothing against you, Dawn. You're indeed a very skilled and powerful trainer." Gently shaking her head gently, Maylene went on, "...But Tobias is something else entirely altogether. I doubt that even Cynthia could get around him perfectly unscathed."
"...It's not like I'm just going to lay there and take it," Dawn said, "If Tobias does want to win against me, then he better work for it."
Smiling gently, Maylene replied, "Well, at least you aren't going to give up. I know that I would have if it were me." Maylene then ended the call and hung up, prompting Dawn to hang up as well and get up from where she sat in front of the video phone.
As Dawn stretched a bit, Brock said in a serious tone, "Dawn." The reborn trainer turned to look at Brock who continued, "You're going to be facing your toughest battle yet tomorrow. Are you sure that you're ready for it?"
"As I'll ever be," Dawn replied evenly, "I even have my team ready."
"Who are you going to bring with you against Tobias?" Kenny asked.
"Chi-Chi, Cyrus, Akiza, Germany, Leni, and Tsukune," Dawn said, "I even have all of them holding their respective held items that I have in mind for them for the battle against Tobias tomorrow."
Kenny nodded in approval to Dawn's planned lineup. "Yes, that's as solid of a lineup as any. And it's a good thing you're planning to answer Tobias's legendary Pokémon with your own."
Ash nodded in agreement with Kenny. "Yeah, I bet Tobias will be in for a right nasty surprise when you send Palkia out against him."
"Oh, that reminds me," Brock said. Turning to look at Kenny, Brock asked, "Kenny, are you planning to use Giratina in the battle against Ash tomorrow?"
To the surprise of Ash and Brock, Kenny gently shook his head in the negative. "Actually, no. Sorry, but I feel there's only two people in the whole of the Conference who have Pokémon that would warrant me using Black. And those two people are going to be battling each other tomorrow while I face off against Ash."
Ash, smiling in knowing amusement, gave off a hum of a chuckle. "What am I, chopped liver?"
"Now you know how I feel," Kenny replied evenly, prompting everyone, even himself, to laugh out loud. Despite what was waiting for Dawn tomorrow, the heroes couldn't help but feel like they were in lightened moods. Kenny was good at lightening the mood, and Dawn was glad that he had also isekai'd into this world with her.
...That also reminded Dawn of something she had been wanting to ask for quite some time, ever since she had discovered that Kenny had isekai'd into this world as well. How did Kenny die back in their previous world? She'd have to try to remember asking him about that at some point, hoping it wouldn't be too touchy of a subject for him.
The following day was the day of destiny, the day where Dawn was facing off against Tobias in round five of the Lily of the Valley Conference. Dawn could see that Tobias was giving off a cool and confident air, but said air carried a hint of smug superiority. Given that Tobias was packing multiple legendaries, Dawn wasn't surprised in the least; she'd seen it all the time in her previous life, back when she still had a penis and played in the video game.
She'd shut down one of her friends who used an all legend team against her, and also the various little siblings and cousins of friends and family who, being young kids, thought that having an all legend team made them invincible. She had taught them better, but that was all back in her previous life, back when it was all video games and anime. Now, now it was all real life for her, so she had no idea how well things will go for her here.
...Still didn't mean she'd give up without a fight.
"This battle will be between the semifinalists Tobias and Dawn!" the referee announced, "Each trainer may use their respective entire parties for this battle, and the battle is over when all of one trainer's Pokémon are unable to battle! Also, both trainers may substitute Pokémon out at any time! Let this battle..." Throwing a hand up, the referee yelled, "...BEGIN!"
Smiling confidently, Tobias tossed up a pokéball as he said, "Darkrai, I choose you!" Coming out into battle was Tobias's Darkrai, his first Pokémon for the battle which many who were watching were also strongly suspecting to be the only Pokémon that he'll be using.
Dawn had figured that Tobias's Darkrai would be his first Pokémon. As such, she tossed up a pokéball as she called out, "Alright, Chi-Chi! Let's get going!" Dawn's named Infernape, which is her first Pokémon she ever had, came out into battle.
Seeing Dawn's choice of Infernape, Tobias arched a wry eyebrow. "...So you're using a fighting type Pokémon against my Darkrai. At least you know how type matchups work. But even all of that knowhow will only do you so much good when in the face of the awesome Pokémon that I have at my disposal!" Pointing forward, Tobias said, "Darkrai, use Dark Void!"
"Chi-Chi, rush in and hit Darkrai with Brick Break!" Dawn called out.
Chi-Chi immediately ran in, ready to attack, before and while Darkrai was conjuring its Dark Void attack. By the time that Darkrai had gotten ready to fire, it shot off many dark energy spheres, but they all ended up missing Chi-Chi due to how she had closed the gap before Darkrai could fire, putting her under the arcs that the dark energy spheres flew in. Getting right up into Darkrai's face, Chi-Chi chopped at it with her right hand, landing a solid blow that, although super effective, wasn't enough to take Darkrai out.
Dawn saw this and understood full well. "This is real life where it tends to take cues mostly from the anime. There's no way any Pokémon can do significant damage to a legendary or mythical Pokémon even with a super effective attack, outside of other legendaries and mythicals." Seeing that Darkrai was reeling back a bit, Dawn perked up. "...But Chi-Chi clearly has done some degree of damage. I'd better not let up." Gesturing forward, Dawn called out, "Chi-Chi, use Brick Break again!"
"Darkrai, use Dark Void!" Tobias commanded. As Chi-Chi quickly swung her hand at Darkrai again, the powerful dark Pokémon quickly conjured and cast a dark energy sphere at Chi-Chi, engulfing her and making her fall asleep. Seeing that he had successfully put his opponent's Pokémon to sleep, Tobias gave an assured, mildly smug attitude. "I have to admit, you got me by surprise there. But as I now have your Infernape asleep, I can begin to-"
"INFERNAPE!" Chi-Chi yelled, having shot right back awake, right before chopping at Darkrai again using Brick Break, dealing another solid, super effective hit that actually pushed Darkrai back with a cry that was equal parts greatly pained and greatly surprised.
Pointing forward, Dawn yelled, "Chi-Chi, hit it with a third Brick Break!" The named Infernape rushed in and, in another chopping motion, struck Darkrai on the left shoulder, sending it reeling back until it hit the ground. To the surprise of everyone watching, Darkrai had actually been defeated.
Holding up a hand, the referee announced, "Darkrai is unable to battle! The winner is Infernape!"
Dawn breathed a sigh of relief, glad that her hopes of at least making Tobias work to win was working so far. "In the anime in me and Kenny's previous life," Dawn thought, "Tobias's Darkrai went down in a few solid hits, even though it was able to heal with Dream Eater. That being said, landing all super effective attacks and trying not to let Darkrai heal ought to of done the job just as well." Seeing her opponent, wearing a distinct look of shock on his face, recall his defeated Darkrai, Dawn went on to think, "Which it did."
"How was your Infernape able to break out of sleep so quickly and easily?" Tobias asked, sounding genuinely surprised.
"Chi-Chi was holding a Lum Berry, which was consumed to wake her right back up," Dawn explained, "There's nothing in the rules for the Lily of the Valley Conference that bars Pokémon from having and making use of held items."
Nodding in confirmation, the referee said, "She's right, it's perfectly legal."
Smiling in an amused manner that carried just a slight hint of being annoyed, Tobias said, "Well now, let's see what else you got in your bag of tricks!" Tossing up another pokéball, Tobias said, "Latios, I choose you!" As Dawn had expected, Tobias's second Pokémon was his Latios.
"Chi-Chi that's enough, fall back!" Dawn said as she swapped her Pokémon out, "Alright, Germany! Let's get goin'!" Coming out as Dawn's second Pokémon for the battle was her named Garchomp, Germany, who was wearing an Assault Vest held item. Gesturing forward, Dawn said, "Germany, use Rock Tomb!"
"Latios, use Luster Purge!" Tobias ordered. Latios tried swerving around the falling boulders that were summoned by Germany's Rock Tomb attack, but he got hit by a few. However, he was able to fire off Luster Purge, hitting Germany in the gut, although it mostly was covered by the Assault Vest that the named Garchomp wore. Seeing that special attacks weren't going to do much, Tobias had decided to go for a physical attack. "Latios, use Giga Impact!"
"Germany, counter with Iron Head!" Dawn called out.
The two dragons rushed one another, Latios surrounded in a shroud of swirling energy and Germany with his head shining like polished metal. However, Germany was the faster of the two dragons, and he slammed his attack right into Latios's face, landing a second solid hit and even making Latios flinch. Seeing the legendary dragon Pokémon was flinching, Dawn seized the chance to try landing a third solid blow.
Pointing forward, Dawn yelled, "Germany, use Dragon Claw!" Germany, with his claws glowing fiercely with draconic power, slashed both of them at Latios, making him cry out in great pain as he took a super effective hit that to Dawn looked like it had also scored a critical hit. Latios was thrown back by the force of getting hit by Germany's Dragon Claw, and eventually slammed down into the ground where, to everyone's increasingly growing shock, he laid defeated.
Holding up a hand again, the referee announced, "Latios is unable to battle! The winner is Garchomp!"
"Th-This is incredible, folks!" the commentator exclaimed, "Dawn has not only taken out Tobias's Darkrai which until today has gone on uncontested, but she also just took out his Latios which until now no one's ever seen him use! How else will this battle surprise all of us?!"
Up in the audience where they were watching the battle unfold, the boys looked surprised that Dawn was so far winning against Tobias. "She's... she's actually doing it," Brock said, utterly unable to even believe what he was seeing, "She's standing up to Tobias...!"
Ash, smiling, remarked, "If she keeps this up, then I'll be seeing her in the final round! And oh man, what a battle that will be!"
"Well this is my main man Dawn we're talking about here," Kenny said, "It figures she'd make a fool out of a noob who heavily relies on legendary Pokémon." Turning to look at Ash, Kenny added, "And don't go thinking you winning and going to the finals is a given! I'll show you what's what!"
Down on the battlefield, Tobias actually looked a bit nervous. "I-Impressive," Tobias said, "That you have shown me that I need to double down on training. Thank you for opening my eyes." Holding up the pokéball that contained his third Pokémon, Tobias went on, "Allow me to thank you by ending this battle quickly and securing my place in the finals!" Tossing the pokéball up, Tobias called out, "Articuno, I choose you!"
Seeing Tobias's third Pokémon, his Articuno which was a shiny no less, come out into battle, Dawn immediately moved to switch her Pokémon out because, Assault Vest or no, Germany won't be able to take an ice attack very well. "Germany that's enough, fall back!" Dawn said as she recalled her named Garchomp. Considering her options, Dawn figured that her best bet was to show Tobias what her answer to his team of (at least) three Pokémon from lore was.
Dawn took out the Master Ball that held one of her on-hand Pokémon and tossed it up as she called out, "Alright, Tsukune! Let's get goin'!" To the utter shock and surprise of Tobias, Dawn had sent out, of all things, the legendary Pokémon Palkia, who cried out challengingly upon entering battle.
"W-What is this?!" Tobias exclaimed, sputtering a bit.
"This is Tsukune, my Palkia," Dawn said, "You didn't think you were the only trainer entering the Lily of the Valley Conference with a legendary Pokémon, did you?"
Tobias, despite his surprise and how he was a little nervous, offered an amused smile. "Well it figures that someone would have to answer to my legendary Pokémon with at least one of their own if they have it. It's only natural." Gesturing forward, Tobias went on, "That ought to make this battle all the more interesting! Articuno, use Ice Beam!"
"Tsukune, counter with Flamethrower!" Dawn called out.
Articuno fired an icy cold beam of energy from its open beak, sending it flying right at Palkia before it. But the legendary dragon spewed a blasting stream of fire in return; the two attacks hit one another, colliding for a second or two before Flamethrower won out easily and going on to swamp Articuno in a sea of flames, making it cry out in great pain. When the attack stopped and the flames died down, everyone saw that Articuno was still active, but on the brink of going down and it also had a good burn.
Not wanting to take any chances, Tobias said as he swapped his Pokémon out, "Articuno, return! Cresselia, I choose you!"
"His fourth Pokémon is a Cresselia?" Dawn thought in mild surprise as she moved to swap Tsukune out as well. "Tsukune that's enough, fall back! Alright, Cyrus! Let's get goin'!" Dawn swapped her Palkia out to send her Staraptor in, wanting to save her only legendary Pokémon for dealing with Pokémon that aren't as defensive as Cresselia. Additionally, Cyrus could land a solid blow by using U-Turn, which would let him attack and immediately retreat.
After Cyrus came out into battle, flying in place with a Muscle Band securely tied around his right leg, Tobias's Cresselia came out. What really got Dawn's attention about the fact that Tobias has been shown to own at least four legendary slash mythical Pokémon is the fact that Tobias's Cresselia, like Articuno before it, is also a shiny. "...Part of me wants to say that this is a rather surprising turn out," Dawn thought dryly, "But at the exact same time, another equal part of me isn't surprised by Tobias having multiple shiny legendary Pokémon at all." Pointing forward towards Cresselia, Dawn called out, "Cyrus, use U-Turn!"
Gesturing forward, Tobias yelled, "Cresselia, use Lunar Dance!" Hearing Tobias yell that surprised Dawn, as she knew full well what Lunar Dance did.
Cyrus flew right towards Cresselia while glowing with a murky greenish energy, right as Cresselia was surrounded by a violently swirling stream of glowing power. Cyrus slammed right into his opponent and, although he didn't knock her out or interrupt her Lunar Dance, Cyrus still did a good bit of damage before he recalled himself back to his pokéball, due to the effect of U-Turn. Dawn allowed Cyrus back and, anticipating what Tobias was going to do, sent Tsukune back out.
After Dawn got her named Palkia back out, Cresselia finished using Lunar Dance, a shocked and totally exhausted look on her face as she collapsed onto the battlefield, having knocked herself out to use Lunar Dance. Holding up a hand, the referee announced, "Cresselia is unable to battle! The winner is Palkia!"
As the audience cheered excitedly over how the battle was going, given that Tobias was technically down to half of his party left, the user of legend sent his burned and exhausted shiny Articuno back out, only for it to be surrounded by a soothing glowing energy that healed its burn and fully restored all of its health. "Impressive that you got me down so far," Tobias remarked, "But with my Articuno now fully restored, I can finally turn the tables on you! Articuno, use Blizzard!"
Gesturing forward, Dawn called out, "Tsukune, dodge and use Power Gem!"
Articuno opened its beak wide and spewed a flurry of wind and snow at Palkia, who merely jumped to its side to avoid the attack as the pearl in its right shoilder pad glowed as Palkia's right hand glowed. Many shots of glowing light flew from Palkia's glowing hand and went on to pelt Articuno without mercy, making it cry out in great pain and, although not defeated, pushed right back to being on the brink of going down again.
"Tsukune, use Power Gem again!" Dawn called out.
"Articuno, return!" Tobias said as he quickly recalled his legendary bird, "Raikou, I choose you!" After the swap, Dawn saw that Tobias's fifth Pokémon was Raikou, which is another legendary. And as it just so happened, Tobias's Raikou is also shiny. Dawn was being reminded more and more of certain kinds of persons she knew back in her previous life as the battle against Tobias raged on, with his shiny Raikou taking Tsukune's Power Gem head on, getting hurt but still staying in the swing of things.
Pointing forward dramatically, Tobias yelled, "Raikou, use Thunder!"
"Tsukune that's enough, fall back!" Dawn said as she recalled her Palkia, "Alright, Germany! Let's get goin'!" After the swap, Dawn's named Garchomp had come back out and was struck by the Thunder, but it did absolutely nothing. It doesn't matter how strong an electric attack is, or how powerful of a Pokémon it comes from; it'll still do jack squat if it hits a ground type Pokémon.
Seeing the Garchomp his opponent had sent out, Tobias went wide-eyed with worried surprise, acting too quick to see the look on Dawn's face. "Raikou, return!" Tobias said as he swapped his Pokémon out again, "Articuno, I choose you!"
After the swap, Tobias had called his shiny Articuno back out. Despite how it was winded and on the verge of going down, Tobias was confident with Articuno out against Garchomp; he had no doubt that Dawn would call for Garchomp to use a ground move since he had Raikou out, but with Articuno being swapped in, the ground attack will be foiled by Articuno's flying typing, then Articuno would be free to retaliate with an ice attack and take Garchomp out easy.
So it was to Tobias's shock when Dawn called out, "Germany, use Rock Tomb!" The named Garchomp summoned boulders to fall down around and on Articuno, slamming the shiny legendary bird hard and making it cry out in great pain as it was slammed back down onto the battlefield, where it laid clearly defeated.
Holding up a hand, the referee announced, "Articuno is unable to battle! The winner is Garchomp!"
"You... anticipated my anticipation, I see," Tobias said to Dawn as he recalled his fainted Articuno, "You really have proven to be a skilled opponent. But skill will only get you so far as I have more than enough power to triumph here!" Tossing up a pokéball, Tobias said, "Entei, I choose you!" It turned out that Tobias's sixth and final Pokémon was an Entei. A shiny Entei, no less.
As she for some odd reason that escaped her expected Entei to carry an attack that it by no means should be carrying, Dawn said as she swapped her Pokémon out again, "Germany that's enough, fall back! Alright, Tsukune! Let's get goin'!" Coming back out into battle again was Dawn's named Palkia. Pointing forward, Dawn called out, "Tsukune, use Surf!"
"Entei, use Lava Plume!" Tobias called out. The two legendary Pokémon conjured their attacks and cast them at each other, but it was clear that Palkia had the advantage against Entei. Surf, which was super effective, and it got STAB since Palkia was using it, AND it was boosted by the Lustrous Orb, slammed right into Entei hard, washing it away as its Lava Plume attack was barely able to get through and slightly slap against Tsukune's left shin.
To Entei's credit, Lava Plume was able to inflict a burn on Tsukune. Sadly, however, that's all that Entei was able to accomplish because, to the shocked surprise of the audience, Entei had just been defeated. From what Dawn figured as she saw Tobias's shiny Entei get hit by Tsukune's Surf, it had scored a critical hit. Sure enough, the referee raised a hand as he announced, "Entei is unable to battle! The winner is Palkia!"
Looking over to Tobias, Dawn saw that he was actually starting to lose his cool, although he was giving a fair effort to mask it. Knowing that he had no other choice, Tobias tossed up a pokéball as he said, "Raikou, I choose you!"
Knowing that the shiny Raikou was Tobias's last Pokémon, Dawn said as she swapped her Pokémon in and out again, "Tsukune that's enough, fall back! Alright, Germany! Let's get goin'!" After calling her named Garchomp back out, Dawn ordered, "Germany, use Earthquake!"
"Raikou, use Protect!" Tobias quickly called out. Raikou called up a protective dome of energy that covered it, blocking the seismic waves of Germany's Earthquake. Dawn scowled, wondering if Tobias was trying to make Dawn burn through all of Germany's Power Points for Earthquake since Raikou most likely has the Pressure ability. Dawn's best bet was to still push through.
"Germany, use Earthquake!" Dawn called out.
"Raikou, use Protect!" Tobias quickly called again, sounding a little panicked. Raikou tried to call up the protective dome of energy again, but it faltered to Raikou's shocked expression. As such, it ended up getting slammed by the seismic waves of Germany's Earthquake, slamming it hard but not quite yet taking it out, as Raikou was barely hanging on by the skin of its teeth as it was shakily stood on its feet.
Seeing the legendary Pokémon before her actually struggle against a non-legendary opponent, Dawn thought with a look of mild surprise on her face, "Did Tobias not have his Raikou learn anything that would work on a ground Pokémon?" Gesturing forward as she intended to test her suspicions, Dawn called out, "Germany, use Dragon Claw!"
"Raikou, use Protect!" Tobias called out. This time, Raikou was able to conjure the protective dome of energy, which Germany clawed at with claws glowing fiercely with draconic power, doing nothing at all to the legendary beast before him.
After Germany's failed attempt to claw at Raikou, Dawn commanded, "Germany, use Earthquake!"
"Raikou, use Protect!" Tobias called out, sounding slightly more panicked. Raikou tried to use Protect again but it failed, and as such it ended up getting hit by the slamming seismic waves of Germany's Earthquake. After getting hit by the final slam, Raikou was thrown back, skidding on the ground of the battlefield until it came to a stop. When the dust settled, everyone saw that Raikou had been defeated.
Holding up a hand, the referee announced, "Raikou is unable to battle! The winner is Garchomp!" Gesturing to Dawn, the referee declared, "Dawn will move on to the final round!" The cheers and cries of excitement from the audience were deafening after Dawn had been declared the winner of that battle. Tobias, with an indescribable look on his face, recalled his defeated shiny Raikou.
As for Dawn, she just stood there, a look of shocked surprise on her face. She had been so caught up in trying to make Tobias work for it if he wanted to beat her, that she actually hadn't been keeping track of how many of Tobias's Pokémon she had been taking out. As such, when the referee made his announcement, Dawn had only one thought go through her head.
"...Wait a minute, I won?!"
END, CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Author's notes;
This chapter sees Dawn have her battle against Tobias. Dawn actually went into the battle fully expecting to lose due to how Tobias, in the anime in Dawn's previous life, was presented as a totally invincible trainer for his use of multiple legendary Pokémon. Even so, she had planned to make him work for it if he wanted to win, so she brought everything she knew to the table in order to make Tobias sweat as much as possible before she went down.
...But she didn't. Dawn actually won against Tobias, and as such will move on to the final round. Tobias is basically a 'take that' to people who go around trouncing others by using entire teams of legendary Pokémon, but I took it a step further by not only adding four more legends to his team, but also making all four of those legends shiny, another jab which pokes fun at how some have so many shiny legendaries that some others think it's sus.
A third and lesser jab is how some guys rely primarily on legendary Pokémon because of their raw power and not actually bothering to learn and practice actually strategy; skill and knowledge are just as important as power when it comes to Pokémon. But that's not here nor there. Anyway, the next chapter will see some fallout from Dawn defeating Tobias, as well as parts of the battle where Ash faces off against Kenny. It's going to be a blast, so don't turn that dial.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Cyrus (male Staraptor), Akiza (female Roserade), Leni (female Lucario), Germany (male Garchomp), Tsukune (Palkia)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Roshi (male Torterra), Goofy (male Houndoom), Cell (male Scizor; shiny), Shallot (male Glaceon), Juan (male Pikachu; Libre), Black (Giratina)
Ash's Pokémon: Pikachu (male), Swampert (female), Infernape (male), Noctowl (male; shiny), Donphan (male), Dusknoir (male; shiny)