The lights of the stadium were far too bright, and the chanting of the crowd made his stomach churn. Goh was not a battle-oriented trainer. He could see the fun of it, but it wasn't his passion. Catching and raising was more fulfilling to him.
Hence the reason as to why he was so uncomfortable in his current situation.
"Please welcome to the Arena competitors, Goh of Vermillion City, and Hemlock of Petalburg!"
Goh swallowed and walked to his place on the battlefield. Hesitantly, he looked up at his opponent expecting to see a hard-core professional battler. Only to see a very laid back man in a tourist shirt and very large straw hat. Well, okay. Hemlock wasn't comforting, but for some reason Goh stomach stopped churning at the sight of him. The blue-eyed trainer knew he was going to lose but he wasn't sure if losing to Hemlock was going to be less or more embarrassing.
"This is an official Pokémon league battle. The terms are three Pokémon per trainer. Substitutions are allowed. A Pokémon will be deemed unfit to battle on account of fainting. No lethal measures are allowed. Trainers select your first Pokémon."
The rotom-drone called out.
"Alright! Cacturne you're up!" Hemlock called out in a voice that was far more commanding than his appearance should allow.
Goh swallowed, and looked down at Raboot, "You want to go first?"
She nodded.
Goh furrowed his brows in determination, "Right let's do this."
Raboot ran onto the Battlefield and the crowd roared with excitement.
"Sandstorm!" Hemlock ordered with a strictness that once more Goh wasn't expecting.
The arena was suddenly flooded with sand. The wind whipped and whirled wildly. Goh flinched at the bite of bitter grains hitting his face. He shielded himself with his arms, but still the visibility of the battlefield had been lowered greatly. Goh could barely tell where Raboot was. That Cacturne must have the ability of sand veil. This storm was stronger than normal sandstorm attacks.
Goh opened his mouth…only get sand in it.
"Spikes!" Hemlock called out before Goh had the chance to counter.
Thankfully Raboot didn't need to be told to dodge the one coming flying at her head. Unfortunately, with how thick the storm was, it had been near impossible to see where the spikes actually landed. Clever, Goh thought. Like this it was practically rigging a trap right underneath even one of Raboot's steps since there was no way to see the spikes until it was too late.
What would Ash do?
"Boot?"
Goh met Raboot's eyes on the battlefield. He needed to say something! Anything! Currently they were a boat on a raging sea with no captain taking charge. With little to no ideas in his brain, and a near limp with nerves tongue…
Goh said, "Use ember?"
Taking her trainer's word-even if it was unsure-Raboot complied. The fire from the attack was shot blindly into the storm. The Cacturne only dodged the shots that got to close. Goh was grasping for straws as to what to do next, when something caught his eye. Little glints in the rush of the storm. The light of the fire caught on the spikes. He could see them.
Oh, all that time spent listening to Ash ramble about battles actually paid off.
Goh worked quickly after that. Something clicked inside of his head. Each step forward in this battle suddenly cleared. And before he knew it…
"Cacturne is unable to battle Raboot Wins!"
The announcer calls out over the screaming stadium. Raboot was panting heavily, but when she turned to look at Goh, he knew she was smiling.
He did it. Goh actually did it. He'd never actually taken out an opponent like that! It was fulfilling.
"AGH!" Hemlock cried, "YOU DID WELL SOLDIER! REST NOW!" he recalled the Cacturne, and then threw out his second Pokémon, "Rain dance!"
A wild Lombre leaped onto the battlefield. A rainstorm came crashing down. Once more Goh couldn't see a thing and now, he was soaking wet. Wonderful.
James was pulled underneath the counter of the food stand, with a near violent tug. His face was pulled close to Jessie's nose. The distance would probably be uncomfortable to anyone else, but years of friendship has made James used to his partners more enthusiastic tendencies.
"It looks to me that the twerps have some new members, don't you?" Jessie said.
"Seems like they's gotten taller too," Meowth said, popping up from out of nowhere. A brown curly wig on the cat Pokémon's head.
"They do look familiar it's true," James said.
"Think they's here on official business?" Meowth said.
"It's possible. But what could a small town competition, have to do with Pokémon research?" James asked.
"Maybe it's a way to make Pokémon more powerful in battles?" Meowth said.
"If so, such valuable information would certainly make the boss happy," Jessie said.
"Such information the twerps would be happy to hand over," James said.
"So we're in agreement? Crash the competition, and pluck the Pokémon along with the research?" Jessie said.
They all nodded.
"Wobbuffet!"
"Goh! You did great!" Ash said running up to his friend.
"Don't touch me I'm soaking wet!" Goh said.
Ash backed off with his hands raised in surrender. The dark haired trainer bit his lip in an attempt at not laughing. True to his friend's words, Goh was utterly soaked. His brow hair hung limply in lumpy shiny clumps. His jacket and pants were darkened with damp and sticking to his frame oddly. And finally his shoes, they squished and squealed with every step. Raboot didn't look that much better. The fire-type was awake, now clinging to her trainer's back, but still incredibly wet from the hydro pump attack.
"Alright, alright, still you did good," Ash said.
"I lost," Goh said.
"But you took out two of your opponent's Pokémon that's a huge improvement form your last tournament," Ash said.
"Pika Pika!" The yellow mouse squealed from his place on Ash's shoulder.
"Ri!"
Goh ran a hand through is wet hair, "I guess you're right."
Both boys walked back into the bleachers and sat down. Ash ignoring the odd stares that the other audience members were giving them and making sure Goh didn't see them.
"You did well, Goh," Sir Aaron said.
"Could've been worse," Goh said, "At least I wasn't one-shotted like last time."
"Even a small step is still moving forward," Sir Aaron said.
"That's deep," Ash said, "Where'd you hear that?"
"I-I am not certain. Must have been something my tutors said a long time ago," Sir Aaron said.
Goh suddenly perked up from where he had slumped in his seat, "Hey Lucario isn't back yet?"
Sir Aaron shook his head, "No. He's still with Amanda," There was a subtle glow in his icy eyes, "Both of them are safe as far as I can tell."
"Isn't she up next after this match? They need to get back," Goh said.
Ash felt a small lump of dread knot in his stomach. Something was going to go wrong, wasn't it?
Lucario glanced over to the magic box in the corner of the room, from his post at the entry door. Goh's battle ended, sadly in defeat. His ear flicked, as he looked towards the young mistress. The jackal like Pokémon has no clue how or what Amanda was doing, but she needed to do it will more haste.
How much longer do you need?
"Just a few more minutes, the firewalls here were harder to get passed then the other Rocket facility," Amanda said.
Firewalls?
"Pi! Pich! Chu! (they protect the files from Hackers that are trying to steal them)," The tiny pale-yellow mouse called out from his trainer's shoulder.
"Lu Car Rio Lu (Protect them? If Amanda broke passed them they weren't doing their duty well)."
"Pich Chu PI! (Actually they were pretty decent)."
"Car Rio Lu (How are you certain)?"
"Pichu Pi (When your human is really into this kind of thing you pick up a few things, at least enough to read basic coding script)."
"Rio (Really?)"
Pichu nodded, "Pi Pi Chu (Didn't you learn anything from Sir Aaron)?"
"Lu Cari Car (in a way, not quite the skills you speak of, but similar)."
"Chu (like what)?"
"Cari Rio Lu Lu (Combat tactics mostly, along with my Guardian training)."
"Pi Pi pi Chu Chupi! (Cool! Mandy has taught me fighting things too, but she doesn't like battles that much. She says it was just in case. I'm excited to battle today. We haven't done anything like it since-"
Umbreon was suddenly on her paws, and Pichu stopped talking. Red and brown eyes shared a tense glance, understanding passing between them. Lucario took note of the interaction. Seems as if Pichu was about to let a rather sensitive secret slip. What form of event in Amanda's past would cause not only her to never speak of it, but for her Pokémon to follow in her footsteps. Hum…
"Cari Lu (as 'awesome' that combat is, I also find it fascinating that you can read human computer script. I find their paper script impossible to comprehend)."
Pichu tilted his tiny head suddenly puzzled, "Pi chu Chu Pi (you can't read)?"
"Bree umbre Eon (Not all Pokémon have the chance to learn)." The black Pokémon chimed in.
Umbreon was an interesting character, in Lucario's opinion. She followed her trainer like a shadow, ever silent, ever loyal. Lucario never thought to engage in much conversation with her. However, he might have too now. Especially, since it appears that Umbreon held the key what would begin to unlock the puzzle that was Amanda.
Lucario was about to continue the conversation, hoping for another slip of knowledge, only for something to make his senses buzz with alarm. The soft padding of ghost footsteps echoed in his mind. Not close enough yet to actually hear, but they were coming nearer.
"What's wrong?" Amanda said, picking up on the tenser atmosphere.
Someone is coming. How much longer?
"Download is currently at 78%, I need two more minutes."
The footsteps became audible, and suddenly the knob on the door began to jiggle.
We don't have that time.
A/N:
I am so sorry about the week and one day lateness of this chapter. I do have a reason. My school messed up and I ended up transferred into the wrong major two semesters before I'm supposed to get my Associates Degree. So, I've been dealing with that on top of classes, and registration for summer and fall. We are getting in contact with the school hoping to fix it before it's too late. So Last week I was drained, and then I realized Holy Week, Happy Easter, was about to begin and being apart of the choir at my church it means a lot of practice sessions. SO, I'm just sorry.
Also, please give around of applauses to Reddit user r/Hemlock_Prince for allow me to use their OC. I hope they enjoyed my portray of the character and don't feel to dis-respected by it. I emant no Ill-Will!