"Stay calm, in and out, in and out".
I sit on the bench rocking back and forward slightly. I had always been slightly nervous maybe even scared that I would get drawn against Alvin in this tournament. It was like I had two different sides of me battling against each other when it came to him. One part of me was desperate to show him up and beat him, however there was another part that was scared stiff of him, worried that he would trounce me and insult me
"Hello there anyone home?" comes a knock at the door.
I turn to see Ryan accompanied by Louise and Daisy, the two girls smile brightly at me while Ryan stand behind beaming like usual
"Oh hey, what are you guys doing here?" I say perking myself up out of my rocking
"We've come to give you support!" Louise says holding up a sign that has been handwritten saying Go Dustin
"You okay there?" Daisy questions walking up and taking a seat next to me
"Yeah, a little nervous but that's natural" I respond
She smiles softly and puts her hand on my thigh
"Your Grandma asked us to tell you they will be watching on from the hospital. Mom fine and she asked you not to worry"
I stir
"Uh thank you"
"Right Louise, lets me and you head upstairs, leave the mentor to give some wise words of encouragement"
"Sure, good luck Dustin" Louise affirms giving me a thumbs up
Ryan give her a wink as they exit the dressing room, she smiles even more widely at me now we are alone. He strolls up and take a seat next to me on the bench.
"These dressing rooms felt way bigger when I was a kid" He says looking around
"I used to think you would be able to fit a whole Mamoswine in here, but the older I get the smaller they feel"
He turns to me and look down happily
"Same can be said for nerves too"
I screw my face up confused
"What do you mean?"
"Well when I was in my first tournaments I used to retch with nerves, you know like when you have a sore throat or cold and you wake up with you mouth all dry?"
I laugh
"Really?"
"For sure, in fact" He says bringing up his phone before scrolling through
"There we are!"
He shows me his phone and it is a picture of him lent over a sink while his Mom takes a picture
"This was before my hall of fame battle with Lance, I was riddled with nerves, possibly the worst I ever had"
"How did you deal with it?"
"Well a great man once told me to breath them away"
"Breathe them away?"
"Yeah follow me" He says as he big to fill his chest up big with air
He then exhales loudly almost like a shout
"Try it"
I put my hands on me thighs and breath in as deep and sharp as I can before exhaling violently to the point my voice cracks.
"Better?" He questions
"Yeah actually, thanks. Was that your Grandads technique?"
"It was, you know I used to think to myself there's no way Grandad would get nervous going into a battle, he was always so cool and calculated, it felt like he had the whole battle planned out before it had even started" He says reminiscing
"I would have liked to meet him".
He turns to me and smiles
"Oh he would have loved you, a good hard working kid, he would have been pleased that Bulbasaur went to you"
"What do you mean?"
"I told you Venusaur was special didn't i?"
"Yeah but I just though you said that to all the kids" I say with a laugh
He nods
"Fair enough because I do, but with her I was being genuine. She is one of the last Bulbasaur's bred from my Grandads Venusaur before he was retired"
"Seriously?" I question standing up in shock
"Yeah, he would have been ecstatic to find out she went to good kid like you"
"Is that why she is so strong?" I question
He shakes his head
"No that's all your doing buddy, give yourself a little credit. No Pokemon is born to be the greatest battler, like no trainer is born to be the best either. Its only when you find the right combination that can both grow in tandem"
I look down at my belt with the four balls of my chosen Pokemon
"You know, I had always felt like we were a team but I never thought about the idea that we are all striving for the same goal" I say
"What do you mean?"
"Like I understand Pokemon fight to get stronger in the wild because it means that they're less likely to be hurt by predators or lose out on food but as a kid, I never really understood battling. Like why would a Pokemon leave the wild just to get stronger? But after my journey I get it now, we're all on the same team striving towards a goal, whether that like us battling or Louise in contests or Daisy in her conservation. Our Pokemon want to achieve that goal just as much as we do"
He smiles at me before standing up and pulling me into a hug
"That might be the best explanation of why you should train Pokemon"
"Thanks" I say with a laugh as he squeezes me
"And I am totally going to steal it and use as me own" He says with his trademark booming laugh
"I want royalties" I chuckle back
He releases me and ruffles my hair
"Good luck kiddo, don't let Alvin get under your skin no matter what, he going to try and trash talk you but just focus on you and your Pokemon and they will see you through okay?"
"You bet!"
"Good lad! I will see you after"
"Thank you for everything Ryan"
"The pleasure is all mine Dustin"
I sit in the dressing room for about another 5 minutes rather than nervously rocking, I stand up and bounce from foot to foot relishing the opportunity now rather than dreading it. The steward opens the door and I feel the air rush in from the tunnel. I walk up the tunnel more confident than how I had entered the dressing room, I smile thinking of Mom and Grandma watching in the hospital, thinking of how Grandma is going to be disrupting the other patients
PLEASE WELCOME OUR LAST TWO QUARTER FINALISTS; ALVIN AND DUSTIN
I walk out into the stadium, the crowd has gradually gotten fuller and fuller as the tournament has gone on, from looking around I would say there are a few hundred people in the crowd now, I look up and spot Ryan, Daisy and Louise. Louise waves her sign around shouting loudly, Daisy claps smiling while Ryan shouts something that I can hear but I give them a thumb up. I finally look across the field and spot Alvin, he stand with his arms crossed with a smug look on his face.
"Who knew a weakling like you would get this far" He shouts sarcastically
I roll my eyes and turn to the referee who is a familiar face; its Paul
"I will be the referee of today's match between the two of you; it will be a four on four match with substitutions allowed, if both trainer are prepared it will be decided who moves first"
"Lets get this over with" Alvin yawns
"I'm ready" I say sternly
The screen in the stadium displays a wheel of red and green; I'm green while Alvin is red, it ticks around before landing on green
"Dustin you will choose first, please send out your first Pokemon
"Venusaur I choose you!"
I throw out my ball and Venusaur emerges slamming down on the field roaring.
"Slowbro!"
Alvin throw up his ball and it pops, Slowbro emerges looking around the stadium smiling vacantly
"Okay let the match begin!"
"Venusaur, Sludge Bomb!"
Venusaur rears and fires from it flower a barrage of toxic blobs
"Protect"
Slowbro summons a perfect green dome which absorbs the hit, it tilts it head in amusement at avoiding damaged
I grit my teeth
"Okay, Energy Ball Venasaur!"
Venusaur summons a huge ball of green energy at its mouth, it crackles and whirls with power before it releases it
"Blow it away, Psychic!"
Slowbro eyes glow blue as it fires a huge beam of red energy from it forehead directly towards Venusaur, her attack collides and stops still for a moment before being evaporator, the red beam charges forward and slams in Venusaurs head who stumbles back
"Fire Blast!"
Slowbro coughs before a huge star of fire is summoned, he slaps it down and it begins to speed toward Venusaur
"Block it with your vines!"
Venusaur throws its vines up in an attempt to block but they singe and she recoils in pain as she becomes enveloped in the flames
"Block that, with a grass type are you stupid!" Alvin shouts
"Venusaur, Frenzy Plant!"
Venusaur stamps her feet displacing the flames, before summoning a torrent of vines which burst from the ground
"Protect!"
Slowbro summons a dome of protection again the vines all surround it slamming away but the dome holds firm, the vine recede as the dome drops
"Sitting target now, Psychic"
Slowbro fires off another huge beam which slams Venusaur pushing it onto her back, she lies motionless unable to go on.
"Venusaur!" I shout running out to her
She groans in pain as the referee announces the victor is Slowbro
"Its okay you did your best" I say returning her
"You did your best" Alvin says in a mocking tone
I shoot him a glare as I send out my next Pokemon
"Ninetales!"
Ninetales touches down calling out as she does
"Alvin is such a prick!" Louise says under her breath
"Language, your mother said you had a sailor vocabulary" Daisy says with raised eyebrows
"But he is, look at him!"
"Lets focus on Dustin" Ryan says trying to calm her down
"Evolved your Vulpix huh? Probably still weak, return Slowbro"
"Gengar come out!"
His ghost type emerges, darting around the field popping out in an attempt to intimidate Ninetales
"Ninetales, Dark Pulse!"
"Dodge"
Ninetales sends waves of dark energy sprawling over the field but Gengar dutifully dodges and skips around it
"Curse Gengar!"
Gengar summons a huge field of dark energy in the form of a nail slamming itself with it, it winces in pain before a huge dark shadow envelopes the field converging on Ninetales who is struck by it, she calls out and cries in pain
"No!"
"Shadow Ball!"
Gengar summons a huge ball of rolling black energy which it fires at Ninetales
"Flamethrower"
It breath out a stream of red hot flames which collides and holds the ball in place however Curse takes its effect causing huge damage to Ninetales who flames relents meaning the ball of energy hits it head on sending it flying backwards, it hits the ground unable to go on
I run out and prop her up
"You're okay, take a good rest" I say returning her
"You really are pathetic!" Alvin laughs as Gengar darts around the field
"Yellow Card! Unsportsmanlike conduct" comes a shout
We both look to the referee Paul who hold a yellow card and it displays Alvin face on the screen
"What!" He shouts
"One more word of talk to your opponent and I will find the match in favour of Dustin, do I make myself clear"
"Whatever!" He spits
"He used to say so much worse to his opponents" Ryan says with a laugh
"This is no time for jokes, what's Dustin going to do to win!" Louise spits at him
I walk back to my box and take a breath, I look to the clock and there 20 seconds to go
"Starmie is the best choice has an advantage and Poliwrath cannot use it fighting moves"
"Starmie come on out!"
Starmie touches down sparkling with its shine
"Gengar stay out!"
Gengar calls out continue to zip around
"Thunderbolt Gengar"
Gengar lights up firing off the bolt of electricity
"Go left dodge!"
Starmie zips to the left dodging the attack causing the bolt to tear the ground up
"Curse Gengar"
Gengar summons the nail again before falling to the ground in pain as it takes damage once again as the shadow chases toward Starmie
"Starmie use Flash Cannon push yourself up!"
Starmie blast down on the ground tearing it up and pushing itself away from the ghost type attack, the attack is then blasted with the pure light causing it to fade away, Gengar zip away and dodges the attack as Starmie lands back down on the ground
"Psychic!"
Starmie sends off a psychic beam but Gengar dutifully dodges but is panting as he's tired
"Just give up you not going to hit it" Alvin shouts
"Starmie! Spin and use Flash Cannon!"
Starmie begins to spin in a circle clockwise before beginning to fire it Flash Cannon, the light whips around causing streams of light to fly around the field, Gengar attempts to zip around and dodge but is hit multiple time
"Now Psychic!"
Starmie stops dead and fires of it psychic beam hitting Gengar square sending it flying backwards to the floor unable to go on
"Yes Starmie! Great work!"
"Whatever lucky break, Slowbro win this" Alvin shout sending Slowbro back out
"Bro" Slowbro calls out as it lands
"Starmie Dazzling Gleam!"
Starmie summons a shower of pink shards before sending it off
"Protect"
Slowbro summons a protective wall which the gleam slams into blocking it
"Thunder Wave!"
Slowbro send off a impulse of electricity
"Up with Flash Cannon!"
Starmie ascends again dodging the attack
"Fire Blast!"
Slowbro sends off another star of Fire which connects with Starmie sending it down to the ground on its back
"Thunder Wave!"
"Spin on your back and use Hydro Pump!"
Starmie stays on its back spinning send a vortex of water outwards, it clashes with the electrical attack not allowing it further, eventually the electricity begins to mix with the water attack, the stream of water eventually begins to splash against Slowbro who stay motionless
"A water attack isn't going to do anything you know" Alvin barks
"Its not the water I want to hit!" I shout back
As I do the electrical charge water slams into Slowbro frying it and leaving it paralysed
"What!" Alvin shouts in confusion
"Now Flash Cannon!"
Starmie bounces up and sends off a huge beam of light, it hit Slowbro square sending it hurtling backwards, it lies out motionless on its front unable to continue.
"Great work Starmie!"
"Hes back level!" Louise calls out jumping up happily
"Hes doing well" Daisy adds
"Long way to go yet" Ryan mumbles
"Starmie can you carry on?" I shout out as Starmie slight bends over
Alvins timer ticks down as he rolls his two other Pokeballs around in his hand before settling on one
"Vaporeon out now!"
Vaporeon drops down and flutter is mane
"Shadow Ball"
Vaporeon fire off the ball of crackling energy, which skims Starmie who deftly dodges.
"Hya!" Starmie calls back more fired up for the fight now
"Okay, Dazzling Gleam!"
She jumps in the air and fires off a shower of pink shards again
Vaporeon jumps to side but the shard dart off at the last second and cut away at her
"What are you doing?!" Alvin shouts
"Starmie, Psychic!"
Starmie spins in the air firing off a vortex of psychic energy
"Dodge it now!"
Vaporeon tries to move but the vortex is so wide it can jump out of the way before being struck
"I told you to dodge it!" He continues to remonstrate
"Great work Starmie!" I shout out as it drops down to the ground
"Hya!" It shouts out jumping up and down
"Shadow Ball!"
Vaporeon fires off another ball of energy which hits Starmie directly in the gem who is flung backwards, it skid acrss the floor before managing to regain composure, the gem now flashing red on and on
Starmie getting really tired, we need to try and take Vaporeon out now
"Starmie everything you've got left, Psychic!"
Starmie pulls itself up tall summoning the last bits of energy it has to its gem before firing off a huge beam
"Hyper Voice!"
Vaporeon breathes in deep and screeches loud which tears up the ground slamming Starmie, the beam hits Vaporeon square sending it flying back, the power of attacks cause huge dust cloud to kick up masking the field, I throw my hands up to cover my face. It settles and shows Vaporeon on the floor curled up unable to go on, Starmie stands staring across at our opponent
"Yes Starmie! You did it!" I say just as it calls out
"Hy" it croaks before falling to its back also unable to go on
I chase out and pull it up
"You were amazing Star, leave it to me and Poli we will get it done" I say to her with a wide smile
"Hy" She breathes before I return her
"Go Starmie you were incredible!" Louise shouts jumping up and down
"Oh my phone, uh okay, I'll need to take this" Daisy says showing her phone to Ryan
He nods and she usher her way out of the stadium as Alvin calls his last Pokemon
"Dragonite out now!"
The hulking dragon slams down on the field and roars in an attempt at intimidation, the sheer power of the roar kicks up some dirt
"Its all on you buddy, I trust you!" I shout throwing out my last ball
Poliwrath slams down, he roars back at Dragonite throwing some shadow punches while bouncing between its feet
"Dragonite, Wing Attack!"
"Ice Punch"
Dragonite flies in wings glowing white while Poliwrath wait for the last minute with a fist glowing blue
"Duck under it and hit it in the stomach!" I shout
He ducks at the last minute and slams its fist into the underside of Dragonite, its wings are encased in ice causing it to fall to its stomach
"Great work, now Waterfall!"
He engulfs himself in water andburst towards Dragonite
"Thunderbolt!"
Dragonite head prongs lights up and it crackles before firing of bolts of electricity which tears the ice away and hits Poliwrath square who is sent flying backwards, its skins before dropping to one knee
"Dragon Rage!"
Dragonite summons a ball of blue and green energy firing it off at Poliwrath
"Send it back with Drain Punch!"
Poliwrath still on one knee slaps the ball of energy with an open hand stopping it in place
"Wing Attack!"
Dragonite flies in wings glowing
"Use the Dragon Rage, punch with it!"
Poliwrath slams both the orb of dragon energy and Drain Punch into Dragonites face who is sent backwards landing just in front of Poliwrath stumbling backwards
"Ice Punch!"
In the same motion, Poliwrath uppercuts Dragonite fully sending it backwards once more
"Thunderbolt"
Dragonite grabs Poliwrath and shocks it full power from point blank range, it release as Poliwrath fall to its two knees singe slightly by the electrical attack
"Thats it then!" Alvin shout with a laugh
"POLI!"
Poliwrath with a glowing fist of ice slams another uppercut into Dragonite faces totally encasing it in ice
"Not yet but it might be now! Poliwrath with everything you got, Close Combat!"
Poliwrath glows a dark orange before slamming it fist multiple times into the ice, first breaking it around Dragonite before pummelling it in the stomach
"One more Ice Punch!"
It draws back whirling it arm around with its whole arm glowing blue and slams it full force into the stomach of Dragonite, it flies back past Alvin into the wall, it slams cracking the wall before Dragonite falls to the floor face first unable to go on. Poliwrath pants heavily before holding its fist in the air in victory
"Dragonite cannot continue, Poliwrath is the victor, the match goes to Dustin!"
The crowd claps as my face is shown up on the big screen, I freeze in emotion unable to contemplate what has happened, I snap back in as I see Poliwrath turn to me, I sprint up to him and jump on him
"YOU DID IT! YOU WERE AMAZING!" I screech as I hug him tightly
"Poli Poli!" he calls back happily
He hugs me back hard before falling to a knee again
"Hey bud you take a good rest okay?" I say holding up his ball with a nod
It nods as I return it, the absence of Poliwrath show Alvin who is remonstrating with Paul who ignores him
"That Poliwrath was on two knees, there no way that wasn't a knock out!" He shouts as his Dragonite still lies motionless on the ground
"Attend to your defeated Pokemon" Paul spits at him before walking up to me holding out a hand
"Congratulations, you've improved since our gym battle" He says with a nod
I take it and nod back, he exits the ground leaving me and Alvin on the field
He stares at me with a death stare so evil
"Uh that was a go" I begin before he interrupts me
"Don't even talk to me, you're pathetic!" He says before returning his Dragonite and exiting the field
I sigh deeply almost in relief of beating him, I look to where Ryan, Daisy and Louise were but they have vacated
"Thats weird" I say to myself before jogging down the tunnel
As I get to the dressing room, I spot Ryan and Daisy. Daisy is in deep conversation on the phone, she looks very solemn while Ryan looks to me with a smile
"Well congratulations, you made a great fight young man!" He says putting his hand on my shoulder
"Okay, well take you're time, we sort things here" Daisy says finishing her conversation
"Is everything okay?" I question looking to Ryan
"Come on lets take a walk buddy" He says with a smile hooking his arm around over my shoulder walking me out the dressing room
We walk for about 10 minutes, Ryan talks solidly about my performance, about how his Grandmother had noted on how well Venusaur had started to use Frenzy Plant, how I did well not to panic by going two Pokemon down and the tactics of having Starmie use spinning attacks, I don't say much other than thanks in this time, very confused by the situation. We finally get to the lake, the sun is just starting to set as it drop over the horizon it shines bright orange onto the water which ripples slowly. There a small wooden bench which he motions for us to take a seat at
"Do you know what the hardest thing I've ever had to do is?" He questions rubbing his two hands together
"Uh well, I suppose you world finals matches?" I reply still confused
"No, there were easy compared to this" He say with a breathy laugh
"Then what?"
"A few years back my Grandmother died, my niece was only 5. She used to love going there, she lived near Postwick in Galar, she had really bad dementia towards the end but anytime my niece was there, pop she would be back. It was amazing, all of her memory and her personality would come flooding back. My niece loved her too as she would doubt on her, toys, sweets clothes you name it she got it. When she died my sister didn't really now how to tell her so I said I would do it, it was really tough. She cried and cried for hours on end and you know what?"
I look to him with trepidation
"What?"
"It okay to cry when something sad happens, for days, weeks, months even years. Anytime it comes back up and you feel sad cry, that's what I told her when it happened"
"Why are you telling me this?"
He takes a deep breath and puts his hand on my shoulder, I feel my whole body go cold completely
"Its your Mom Dustin, I'm sorry" he says eyes full
I don't hear the rest of what he says, I feel my eyes and chest fill with emotion. I let out a squeak, not a scream a small squeak as my tears begin to flow and I push myself into Ryans chest as he wraps his arms around me.