Pokemon Virus Version Chatper 47: Ultimate Underdog
Flashback
6 years ago...
It was the beginning of the end for our family once Zero returned home from his second pokemon journey...Accompanied by Atticus, the father of Zero.
We were all in the beach side villa in Sunnyshore, and formalities were cut short when Atticus met me for the very first time.
"So this 'Seth' kid is your younger brother." Atticus looked at me with much disgust. "So that must mean..."
"Seth," My mother, Flora, was making her way into the living room, "Who are you talkin-" She froze as soon as she made direct eye contact with Atticus, as did a Lilligant who followed Flora into the room. "A-Atticus? B-but how? How long has it been? I thought you were..."
This was the first time I've seen my mother express much of any emotion at all.
"Flora...You married again?" Atticus asked concerned.
"You had been missing for ten years...Where have you been?" Flora asked.
"Ten years?" I questioned.
"My memories of the past ten years are very foggy. It's as if the last decade has covered up my mind in a shadowy mist. I can't remember anything..." Atticus then looked back at me, as I gave him my usual indiferent expression. "A new son, a new 'hot shot' husband, and a new mansion-like house...Flora, if you had the chance, would you throw away these things that are now in your house, and return to living yesterday with me?" Atticus held out his hand to Flora while fully aware that Rosen, Zero, and I were watching.
But without hesitation, Flora quickly replied. "No..." Her expression became just as indifferent as mine.
"Get out, now!" Rosen approached Atticus and asserted that he was not welcome here.
"But Rosen-" Zero was clearly upset at Rosen, but was surprised when Atticus decided to comply without argument.
Atticus was approaching the door, but before he'd make his assumed 'exit' from Flora's life, he had one last thing to say. "This family..." Atticus stared at the ground and smiled. "You all...You haven't heard the last of me."
End Flashback
Seth's POV
Slowly but surely, the memories within the heart that now belongs to Chapel are becoming more and more clear as time passes...
I was just outside of National Park's Pokemon Center, getting ready to depart. The sunset sky was a golden orange color. Chikorita was in my arms, Mawile was returned to her pokeball for the time being, and Rose was floating right next to me as I walked.
"What is on your mind, Brother?" Rose asked. "You seem like you are focusing on something."
"It's nothing." I replied flatly.
"Seth, Rose!"
"Huh?" Rose and I both turned around to see Chapel catching up to us.
When Chapel stopped in front of us, she was panting as her hands were on her knees,
"What is it, Chapel?" Rose asked.
"It's Yumi." Chapel replied. "She's on television."
"What of it?" I asked in an indifferent tone.
"Oh, come on!" Chapel grabbed my hand and started dragging me back to Nation Park's Pokemon Center
...
By the time we arrived, it was an early evening time. Rose dissolve back into my heart as she still continues to hide herself from society.
So Chapel, Chikorita, and I sat in the Pokemon Center's lounge, where few other trainers were passing by. We all turned our attention to the lounge's television that was showing a nationally televised Pokemon Contest being held in a city called Bonitaville.
Yumi had just finished her routine with...
"An Umbreon?" I asked calmly.
"No way, Eevee evolved?!" Chapel questioned.
"Chi?"
"Who would've though she'd get an Umbreon of all Pokemon?" Chapel started, "I mean, she sleeps from night until morning and then some."
"Yumi and Umbreon have executed a very solid performance to start tonight's contest. But will it be enough to move on to the main event? Stay tuned to find out!" Lillian Meridian announced .
...
Location: Bonitaville's Contest Hall
Yumi's POV
"Oooh Umbreon, you just make me want to hug you right now!" I couldn't help but express how proud I was of both Umbreon and myself as I tackled Umbreon into a hug as soon as we were offstage.
"Ooon!" Umbreon tried to escape my grasp to no avail.
"Okay," I said as I let go of Umbreon, "All I've got to do is keep the momentum on my side. I know we're the underdogs, but I think we actually stand a chance now."
I haven't had this amount of confidence since before Marion City. And it was up to me to carry that confidence eon to the battle round, because I think that I can really go all the way and win it all this time.
...
Enterring backstage once again, Umbreon and I continued to receive stare from our competition. But this time, nobody was mocking me, the just continued to stare at the 'opening act' in the two of us as subtle whispers could be heard.
"Not bad..." One brown haired girl whispered.
"It's still too early to predict how she'll do."
"Defeating her will be harder than I thought."
"I couldn't help but smile as I asked "What? No more laughs?"
"Oh Yumi!" I was greeted by Marina, Vincent, and Meganium. "That was Incredible!"
"I wouldn't be surprised if you went all the way to win the whole thing." Vincent added. "Of course, you'd have to beat my girlfriend first."
"Girlfriend?" Marina said confused. "Not even in your dreams, Vincent. We're just too good of friends for THAT to happen."
Vincent just sighed and gave Marina a 'fine, then I'll just try harder' look before everyone's attention returned to the television screen, where the commercial break was over and Lillian Meridian was ready to continue.
"Alright Pokemon Fans, I welcome you back to Bonitaville's Pokemon Contest, where moments ago we were treat to Yumi and Umbreon's Moonlight themed performance that served as our opening act, and where we will see defending Top Coordinator Marina in her first contest since winning last year's Grand Festival. But before Marina's season debut, tonight's other contenders will be fighting for at least one of only two spots in the battle round."
Everyone, including me, gasped at those last words.
"Only two spots?"
We all gave each other determined looks as the competition had just become stiff all of a sudden. But of course, I had already performed, so I didn't have the amount of pressure the others had.
"Yumi?" Marina called.
"Yes?" I replied.
Marina gave me a long, solidified stare before smiling at me once more. "The two of us will battle in the finals."
"Huh?" Vincent said confused. "Are you sure the both of you will even make it that far? I mean, we're talking about only two of sixteen trainers."
I wanted to believe Marina, but Vincent's words seemed more realistic. Well you never know, Vincent never actually disagreed with Marina, he just gave her a question mark that would be answered in the hours to come...
2 hours later...
Snivy was outside of his pokeball as I prepared him for what could be a battle round berth for me. And while rehearsing, we also kept our eyes glued to the television screen. Throughout the night, I could actually tell who were contenders and who were pretenders based on their performances. Some 'pretenders' were actual coordinators, but other I could guess were just casuals participating for fun. The locals had more specific introductions, and many cheers from the crowd as basically 'the home teams', but sadly most of the locals were casual. And even THEY didn't get as much applause as-
"Yes folks," Lillian started, "The moment you've all been waiting for, We dive you: Two time Grand Festival winner, Marina!"
"YEEEAAAHHH!"
"WE LOVE YOU, MARINA!"
Everyone, from the people inside Contest Hall, to the people watching from home, were probably on the edge of their seats, Even here, some of the other participating coordinators were cheering for her, and even hoping she's have a 'reserved seat' waiting for her in the battle round. She was the very definition of a 'Pokemon Idol'.
"Alright, Here it goes!" Marina grabbed her Ball Capsule covered Pokeball and tossed it as she said, "Little Miss, it's time to take stage!"
But rather than Little Miss appearing, a giant cloud of smoke appeared from the Ball Capsule, surrounding the entire stage, similar to what Pheobe and Missy did in Marion City.
"Show them what you're made of. Use Psychic!"
Before we could lay our eyes on Little Miss, the black smoke was surrounded by a blue aura and rushed to center stage, forming a floating, rotating sphere. But what was she doing exactly?
"Alright, let's try Mean Look!" Marina commanded.
Her next move...it was incredible.
"The way Little Miss is combining Psychic and Mean Look is scary..." Lillian, along with everybody in attendance, were frightened by the living monster-like head and ghastly expression created by Psychic and Mean Look. "Now, Perish Song!"
The smoke-made monster opened it's gaping mouth and let out a disturbing shriek, as well as musical notes each surrounded by a red aura.
"Now time for our finale!" Marina signaled.
The monster head flew to the top of the room while gaining control of the red musical notes with Osychic. Once high enough, Little Miss and the musical note all made their way to center stage for one final collision.
"Aww..." The musical notes rotated around the monster head so fast that the smoke actually disappeared, revealing a Misdreavus who's musical note exploded to make mini fireworks that probably served as the end of Marina's performance.
Just what we'd expect from the defending Top Coordinator." Lillian started. "Nothing short of a perfected masterpiece from our Pokemon Idol AND her Little Miss!"
"YEEAAHH!" The crowd was once again showing their love for a Marina who had just recalled Little Miss.
"And that's all the performances we have for you, folks!" Lillian announced. "Stay tuned, for after this commercial break, where we will announce the two coordinators who will proceed to the battle round!"
And with that, Lillian was off screen while she and the judges were given time to reach their final decision.
Well after THAT performance, many trainers, including myself, became visibly nervous.
"If Marina's sure to clinch one spot, then..."
"What are you talking about?" Vincent asked.
"Oh, nothing. I'm just talking out loud." I replied.
"Hey Yumi!" I was greeted by a Marina who returned backstage. "So what did you think?"
"It was amazing..." I said with a frown.
"Uh, why the long face?" Marina asked.
"She's nervous, that's why." Vincent answered.
Marina looked a Vincent, and then back at me. "Is that true?"
Inside, I knew Vincent was one hundred percent correct, but being nervous was just something I refused to accept. I clenched my fist and gave no reply as I stared into the eyes of Marina. Looking back at me, she probably knew that I would deny my nervousness out loud, and resulted in a moment of silence before Lillian was once again shown on the television screen.
"Alright, we welcome our viewing audience back to Bonitaville's Pokemon Contest. And in case you're just tuning in, all I can say is you missed quite a few highlights from earlier in the show. But what's happened aside, we can only show the shapes of things to come during our main event between...
We all saw two blank cards on screen as Lillian proceeded to announce the battle round's participants.
"First we have Pokemon Idol Marina, who has been the obvious favorite to win all night as she takes on..." Come on, let it be me... "-Yumi, from Olivine City! Tonight's opening act was just enough to get Yumi past our sudden death elimination. But will it be enough for the ultimate underdog to overcome this year's defending Champion, Marina? Find out when we return to Bonitaville!" Yet more commercials were shown on screen after Lillian's address.
"Are you serious?" Everyone was surprised that I made the battle round.
"That Yumi girl might as well give up right now."
"A two time Champion against a winless challenger...Yeeeaah, I'll go with the crowd on this one."
"I just know you'll win it all, Marina!" Vincent's reaction was the first who's voice I recognized. "I'll be cheering for you too, Yumi."
"Megane!" Meganium cried in agreement.
I sighed. My mixed emotions about making the battle round filled my thoughts. Good news is I've proved everybody wrong about me 'choking' right out of the gate, but the bad news is I believed my chances of winning actually went down...
"Hey Yumi, what I tell ya?" Marina smiled as she put her arm around my shoulder. "I told you we'd be facing each other."
"Hmm." If I was able to make it this far, I might as well at least TRY to pull off an 'upset special'.
"But don't expect me to go easy on you just because we're friends." Marina added.
"I expect nothing less than your best," I said as I started to the stage.
...
Here it goes...I will be spoiling a hero's welcome. I'm sure of it, even if...
"Ladies and gentlemen, we welcome you back to Bonitaville's Pokemon Contest, where our main event seems to be in a lopsided favor of Top Coordinator Marina, as she takes on the horrendously ill-fated 'sore loser' in Yumi. Will Yumi choke during this contest as well? Probably not! Because the prediction is that this battle has 'blowout' written all over it. Even the judges are confident in Marina, while I believe Marina's short work of Yumi will be sending everyone home early tonight.
To tell the truth, I knew nobody would give me a chance when Marin and I stood on opposite sides of the stage, staring at each other with as much seriousness as this competition could bring. But I wasn't going to make any excuses for why I would lose this time. It was now or never, my chance to prove everyone wrong. As of now, I no longer follow in my idols footsteps because...my name is Yumi.
"You ready?" Marina's serious face was there to stay, as was mine.
I held my pokeball close to me and stared at it for a moment before throwing it, as Snivy was on stage and ready for it's very first battle with me as his trainer.
"Sni!" With his arms crossed and chin up high, this Royal Pokemon waited for Marina to release HER pokemon.
"Aww, a grass type?" Marina groaned in disappointment as she put her pokeball away in favor of another pokeball. "I guess Wani Wani's a no-no. And if that's the case-" Marina threw the pokeball which would release...Pink the Jigglypuff?! I saw that Jgglypuff perform during last year's Grand Festival!
"Glipuff!" You see, what made Pink stand out from other Jigglypuff was that it had green eyes, rather than the generic teal color.
"And with both pokemon on stage, Bonitaaville's final round will begin...now!" Lillian announced as the clock, which was set at five minutes, started ticking.
"Snivy,: I called as Snivy turned toward me. "The time for us is now, or never!"
"Sni!" Snivy and I both nodded in agreement.
"Now, let's go!"
Like I said, my name is Yumi, and this will be the beginning of my own legacy.
To Be Continued...
Okay, this has probably been the most OBVIOUS chapter to date thus far. And I've spent the better part of this story trying to make it so that my readers can't predict the obvious coming from a mile away. And I purposely do that to keep people guessing as they read. So anyway, the beginning of this chapter is kind of what kept it from being what some would call a filler. I DON'T DO FILLERS! They are pointless, but I will make a couple of spin'offs featring some of my random OC's when I complete Virus Version. And I'm pretty sure all of you know Virus Version has a LONG way to go.
So you guys no the routine by now: Please stay tuned for next chapter.