Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 62: Foul Play
Location: Neo Snagem's Dominion of Shadows Base- Royal Banquet Hall
Seth's POV
The 'forced' gym battle between Morty and I was just about to begin with Klefki and Chikorita lined up across from each other. There wasn't going to be much mobility for Chikorita and I to work with, given the fact that tables and chairs heavily decorated the banquet hall.
It was a two on two battle. Commander 10 was the referee, and the Kimono Girls were mere spectators as they remained in their seats.
"I give you, the collector of the keys to countless lost souls, Klefki!" 10 announced ,"Brother of Zero, it seems you'll be Klefki's next victim."
We'll see about that ,"Let's start with Tackle," I said to Chikorita.
"Chico!" Chikorita nodded just before charging toward Klefki.
"Morty, surely you remember Klefki's attacks, right?" 10 asked.
Morty nodded, "Klefki, set up with Spikes!"
Chikorita jumped on one of the banquet hall's tables, and was just about to perform a diving Tackle on the key collector, but...
"Ki!" Somehow, Klefki moved out of the way, causing Chikorita's diving Tackle to miss. Chikorita landed not so comfortably on the floor, while Klefki swiftly used it's Spikes, spreading entry hazards throughout the room.
"Now, use Spikes again!" And with Morty's command, Klefki provided even more entry hazards. I was confused by Klefki's speed, as it had already launched two Spikes attacks.
"Quite confusing," Kimono girl Zuki said.
"How can that thing be that fast?" I asked.
"Now there, it's got nothing to do with stats," 10 started to answer, "This Klefki of mine just so happens to have an ability called Pranskter, which will allow for Morty here to set up for a strategy before you've the chance to attack."
"Er..."
"What now, Brother of Zero?" 10 asked.
This guy...he may not know it, but he just destroyed my strategy. In the past, I've always relied on substitutions to get me through battles. If I were to attempt any substitutions now, my strategy would only lead to my downfall.
"You seem to be doing a lot of thinking," 10 said amused, "Morty, continue please."
"Chikorita, Tackle once more!" I had no choice but to stick with my first pokemon as I called another move.
"Hmph!" Morty's eyes narrowed as he and Klefki just stood there, waiting for Chikorita. And as Chikorita closed in- "-Klefki, counterattack! Use Foul Play, now!"
"Ki!"
"Chico?!"
"Foul Play?" Chikorita had closed in on a floating Klefki, but somehow, Klefki was able to maneuver around Chikorita and send her into one of the refreshment covered tables.
"Chi...cooo!" Parts of Chikorita was covered in what looked to be red wine, and she was visibly disgusted when she took a look at herself.
"What just happened?" I asked.
"Why, Klefki happened." Morty answered.
"Chikorita's own attack power was used against it, and that just so happens to be the effect of Foul Play." 10 finished.
Then I guess I'll have to fight from a distance using Special Attacks.
I looked at Chikorita, who shook herself dry and clean before glaring at 10, Morty, AND Klefki.
"Chico! Chico chi!" She was visibly angered, and proceeded to grab a glass of some more red win, and throw it at Klefki using her vine.
"Kiii! Kiii!" As the wine hit, the key collector was drenched, and was now drenching a stained red color.
"What the?" Morty said confused.
"Klefki!" Klefki was flying aimlessly, and was panicking as it appeared to be blinded.
"What? You can't do that?! It's against the rules!" 10 yelled in annoyance.
"Really? Because I seem to remember you giving this battle just one stipulation, 10," I started ,"You said that Morty was to use the two pokemon you picked for him. Not once did you mention anything that prohibits the use of red wine. And besides, wasn't it YOU'RE idea to have this forced gym battle in a banquet hall?"
"No comment..." 10 said.
"Now, Chikorita, Energy Ball."
"Chico!"
An angry Chikorita did not hesitate to send an extra power Energy Ball at the red stained Klefki.
"Klefki, dodge!" Morty yelled.
But it was no use. Klefki was blind, and was panicking too much for it to even hear Morty. Klefki was blindsided by an Energy Ball that seemed to hit a weak spot. It fell to the ground, and was downed by Chikorita in just one hit.
"Hm..." This was just the second time Chikorita was angered like that (Chapter 6).
"...Chico...Chico..." She was still trying to clean herself as she walked over to me. Chikorita was one of the very few who's feeling I could understand. I felt that she didn't approve of getting any more dirty.
"I'll clean you up later-"
"Chi! Chico!" Chikorita interrupted by yelling and shaking her head. She clearly wanted to be cleaned NOW.
I sighed in annoyance. "Fine..." I got from my bag, a grey cloth and a bottle of water. After I dampened the cloth with the water, I picked up Chikorita and started to wipe her down.
"Chi.." She seemed to really enjoy the cleansing as she hugged me the whole time. And with Chikroita's cleansing and affection, I kept a close eye on Commander 10 and Morty...
"What a loophole..." Morty said to himself as he recalled 10's fainted Klefki. He then faced me, "Seth, you're just one win away from earning the Fog Badge. I wish that this battle could've been under different circumstances." Facing 10 again, Morty was ready to receive the next pokemon he'd be using, but 10 would object to it, for the moment...
"No no," 10 said ,"I'd like for you to let it all out, Morty. All of a sudden, you finally act as if you're a human being and NOT a 'tool' currently in use. So go on."
Morty said nothing more...
"Fine then..." 10 said as he controlled the second Pokemball with the dark aura, sending it to Morty.
"You know, for a tool, you serve much use to us, Morty. Who knows? Maybe one day, you too will act as a Neo Snagem Commander." 10 added.
"Be quiet and I'll send out my next Pokemon," Morty said as he snatched the floating Pokeball ,"Go, Pokeball!"
When the Pokemon was opened, out came...a floating chandelier?
My eyes narrowed.
"Behold, the keeper of lost souls, Chandelure. Whatever Klefki starts, Chandelure finishes!" 10 announced ,"You see, while Klefki is the soul collector, Chandelure is the soul keeper."
Chandelure...
I took out my navy blue pokedex one more time to scan the unfamiliar pokemon.
Chandelure, The Luring Pokemon; The spirits buried up in Chandelure's ominous flame lose their way and wander this world forever...
A Chikorita in my arms was quivering after hearing that pokedex entry.
"I warn you, Chandelure is a much higher level than Klefki, and this soul keeper is one of the most destructive weapons in my arsenal!" 10 exclaimed.
Chandelure DID have the looks of a high level pokemon, and Chikorita seems to have called herself back, remaining in my arms.
"Make your move!" Morty called.
"Not a problem!" I said as I got out a pokeball. "The pokemon in this pokeball will require me to call on some assistance..." I said as I closed my eyes.
'Fear, it's time for us to become one again', I thought to myself.
Hmph. Through your eyes, I see the man who gave you my dark power. I'll comply with you Seth, but only because I feel a 'reunion' is in order for Shadow and I," Fear said to me through my mind.
Shadow...Is that 10's real name?
"Now, shall we?"
That was the cue for Fear and I to become one...to become Seifer.
Seifer's POV
I could feel the dark aura coming from my body, and my right eyes was now a dark purple color.
I looked down to see the Pokeball I was holding now glowing the same purple aura as me. I also saw that I was holding...that Chikorita?
"Hmph, you again..." I said to the Leaf Pokemon as I put her down.
"Chi?"
I then took a look around the room, seeing the Kimono Girls, my opponents Morty and Chandelure, and the source of my dark power-
"-My old master..." I said as I addressed Commander 10, "Good to see you again. Just so you know, after I'm finished with Morty, I'm coming after you."
"Now that I'd like to see," 10 shot back. "Hmhm."
"Hmph. Seviper, battle stance!" I called as I threw my dark aura surrounded Pokeball, releasing the blodd thirsty snake for yet another battle ,"This pokemon isn't like my others. Seviper won't hesitate to kill off any of her opponents." Yes, Seviper is a female.
The black snake licked her lips and smirked in a psychotic fashion as she stared down her opponent in Chandelure with her blood red eyes.
"Now Seviper, go!" I called for Seviper to charge, thus beginning the second and last battle between Morty and I.
"Chandelure, catch it with Will-O-Wisp!" Morty called.
"Sss!"
"Uuuuurrrrrrr..." Chandelure's cry was long and had an echo to it as it launched a ball of blue flame at Seviper.
"Sss!" Seviper smirked and her eyes widened as she swiftly moved her body, avoiding Will-O-Wisp with relative ease. "Ssaa!"
"Poison Tail!"
"Uuuuurrrrrrr..." Once again, there was that long, echoing cry of Chandelure's as it took the hit not so well, crashing right on the top of a table.
"That's it!" I said ,"For a gym battle, this wasn't too difficult overall. Now give me my badge and let me proceed to Zero!" My dark aura intensified.
"A bit arrogant, are we?" 10 said, "For a person with no emotions, you celebrate too soon. Hnhnhnhn. Ahahahaha. HAHAHA!" What was he laughing about?
"Take a look at Chandelure..." With low volume too his voice, Morty directed the attention of Seviper and myself to the white clothed table that had just been broken.
"What?" The table was glowing an orange color, but then my eyes widened...
"Uuuurrrrrrr...Uuuurrrrrr!" The table was on fire, and slowly rising was a Chandelure who's flames intensified.
"Evil ghost, counterattack!" Morty yelled.
"Uurrr..." The soul keeper then started to create a ball of shadows, and launched it at Seviper. "Urrrr!"
"Sss!"
"Quick, block with Poison Tail!" I called out to the black snake.
"Sss..." The evil snake once again cloaked her tail in a purple color. Making contact with the incoming Shadow Ball attack, Poison Tail was able to create a cloud of smoke. But even so, the intense flames coming from Chandelure and the burning table were visible through the smoke.
And as soon at the smoke cleared-
"Sss! Sssss!" I saw that Seviper had a burn on her body, and she was down on one of the banquet hall tables as Chandelure looked down to her from up above.
"Luuurrrre..."
"Using the smoke a flaming table as a way to camouflage Chandelure, giving it the perfect opportunity to burn the snake with Will-O-Wisp...Well done, Morty. Although I'll guess that you're used to being complimented as a battler, given the fact that you're a Gym Leader," 10 said to my opponent.
"Hmph." Morty replied.
"Ssaa! Sss!" Seviper was on fire, and tried to roll the flames off. Well, she tried, but given the fact that she was on a table, she accidentally rolled off, landing on the hard ground before she stopped moving.
"It's over, Seth," Morty said as his eyes narrowed, "Sorry..."
"Chico..." Chikorita looked at the downed snake with a saddened expression.
"Is is over?" I asked the referee.
"I don't know. You're the one asking me," 10 replied, "Is it over?" 10 shot back.
"We'll just have to wait and see." Although the Seth in me never smiles, the Fear in me couldn't help but be amused by 10's reply. I still didn't smile, but I knew that in a few moments, seeing the shocked looks of the faces of 10 and Morty would be very satisfying.
"Huh?" 10, Chandelure, and Morty looked the downed Seviper, who's body was still burning...Seviper's mouth then opened wide, and another blood eyed, blood thirsty snake started to slither out.
"Sss!" The snake smirked fiendishly as she faced Chandelure. She slowly slithered closer, leaving behind the empty shell that was burned.
"What the?!" Morty's eyes shot wide open, and I could tell that he was stricken with fear as he looked into the eyes of the blood thirsty snake who's dark aura just intensified. "What...What was THAT?!" Morty was clearly caught off guard seeing Seviper perform her Shed Skin ability.
"Oh this?" I began," This is the end for you. Seviper, finish them!"
Eyes narrowing, and fangs now starting to show, Seviper went in closes on Chandelure. Morty seemed too startled to give any commands, leaving Chandelure with only it's instincts. However-
"Ssaaaa!" Seviper's eyes widened and started to glow as she stared into the eyes of Chandelure. Chandelure couldn't move...It looked to be paralyzed in fear.
"What?!" 10 yelled. His allies in Morty and Chandelure were falling apart right before his eyes. "What's happening?"
"Chico..."
I think that was amove Seviper used. It was a moved I've seen before as a Pokemon Trainer. "Glare..." I didn't remeber Seviper having that move, so I guessed she just learned it, even though Seviper has used her eyes to intimidate people before. "So Seviper just learned a new move." My eyes narrowed, now wanting for Seviper to deal the finishing blow.
"Sssaaa!" Seviper wasted no time striking Chandelure with a critical hit Poison Tail. The soul keeper fell to the ground, and it's intensified flames had dimmed down. The soul keeper's internal fire went quiet, and the soul keeper itself was not moving. Seconds later, it was recalled into it's dark aura surrounded Pokeball. I had just won this two on two battle, decisively.
"Now, lead me to Zero."
"Chico!"
Morty immediately started to walk up to me, preparing the gym badge to be given to me. Save for the sounds of flames coming from the table, all that could be heard were the footsteps of Morty, who was right past Seviper and Chikorita as 10 and the Kimono Girls watched on.
"What I have in my hand is a badge that will stand as proof of you winning here in the city that used to be Ecruteak. Seth, as I give you this badge, the Fog Badge, I wish you the best in your future endeavors." And it was then, when Morty stopped right in front of me, when he held out a badge that resembled a ghost. The badge was ready for me to take.
"Yes," I said as I took the badge, "I thank you, Morty."
"Chico!" Chikorita smiled. I guess she was happy about obtaining our third Johto gym badge.
"And now that that's over with-" One of the Kimono Girls, Kimono Girl Kuni, stood up from her chair and grabbed a pokeball. "Vaporeon, let's go!"
"Vaii! Vai!" Vaporeon stood on some of the tables that weren't involved in this battle.
"Now then..." Kuni calmly sat back in her seat, "Vaporeon, please do us all a favor and get rid of that troublesome flame. Use Rain Dance!"
"Vai vai!" By Kuni's command, Vaporeon created a blue orb that swiftly floated to the top of the banquet hall. And even without clouds, rain started to fall on everyone and everything, including the burning, broken table with it's fire now extinguished.
"Morty, you are dismissed..." 10 said, "You've played you part perfectly."
"Hmm..." Morty had to swallow his pride, bowing to the commander before leaving on the floor, the dark aura surrounded Pokeballs that contained Klefki and Chandelure respectively. Morty then proceeded away and out of the drizzling banquet hall, not turning back to face us again.
"Now..." I said as I turned to 10 with narrowed eyes, "Take me to Zero."
"...And if I don't" 10 asked.
"Well, if you don't..." I certainly didn't expect for 10 to refuse to cooperate.
"Chico?"
"Sss..."
So, the Fear in me decided to try and 'deal' with 10. I didn't know where Zero was, but 10 likely did, so antagonizing him was something I'd best no try. Instead, I looked at the two dark aura surrounded Pokeballs. Morty had left them right next to me before making his exit.
"Klefki and Chandelure..." I said as I picked up the two Pokeballs.
"Chico?" Chikorita looked at me with a very confused expression, not sure of what exactly I was going to do.
"If you wish to see these two again, you'll do as I say..." I threatened.
"Chandelure and Klefki..." 10 said to himself, "By all means, you can keep them. Your threats don't move me in the slightest. After all, who needs those two when I've got this..." The Commander pulled out a single Pokeball using his dark aura. "By threatening me in any way, I assume that you intend to fight." 10 stared at the Pokeball intently, "...My last Pokemon...My last hope...My secret weapon...Come on out and get rid of them!"
The dark aura surrounded Pokeball was opened, releasing-
"Gar! Gengar!" It was a Gengar...But this Gengar was different from the ones I've seen before. THIS Gengar has a mysterious stone on it's forehead.
"Hmph. Your last Pokemon?" I was well aware of the potential of ANY Gengar. But still, all of my pokemon were ready for battle, save for Mawile, who was STILL away with Chapel. The Chandelure and Klefki that 10 just 'gave' me were down for the count, so they weren't ready either. Seviper and Chikorita were ready to battle once more. And so were Murkrow, Elekid, and Gabite, who still have yet to be called upon. It was a five on one battle, the clear advantage obviously going to me..."...Yes, your last pokemon against all five of mine. How do you expect to win?"
"Easy; by defeating each and every one of your pokemon one by one. And THAT task will be simplified once I do THIS-" Coming from 10's cloak was 10's hand. He was wearing a glove with some logo I was unfamiliar with, and a stone that looked a lot like the one on Gengar's forehead.
"What is that?" I asked.
"Hnhnhm..." 10 chuckled, "It was a little something I've specifically for when your Seviper was on the field."
"Chico?"
"With Seviper on the field, and you finally using the dark power I gave you, yes...everything has gone just as planned. Brother of Zero, have you finally any clue that I've manipulated every move you've made so far? The whole point of the gym battle was to get you to showcase Seviper AND your dark power. And from what I've seen, I'll guess that Sevviper is your highest level Pokemon. Once Seviper is eliminated, taking out your other pokemon will be a simple task. And after you're defeated, I'll crush your mind to end you once and for all. Now prepare to die, Brother of Zero, at the hands of this!"
"Geeennn!"
"Wa?" The stones on 10's glove and Gengar's forehead both started glowing a light colored aura. And Gengar...it started to change shape. And when it stopped glowing, it looked like a completely different pokemon.. And the field...the entire banquet hall was being clouded in a dark mist coming from 10. "What's happening?"
"You have no idea..." 10 answered as if he was almost whipsering, "Brother of Zero, here is a dark power like you've never seen before. Enter: Mega Evolution!"
To Be Continued...
Okay, so obviously, I like Klefki and Chandelure too much for me to just make them 'one off' characters.
Plot wise, next chapter IS the story's halfway point. Chapter wise...with all the plots and developement I have, the second half of Virus Version is very likely to be even longer than 63 chapters. And shipping chapters...Ah...shipping chapters, I know are loonnng overdue, but in this fic, the shipping chapters will be spread out. I've seen many adventure fics(NOT Romance fics) make the mistake of making a ship a reality just halfway through the story, and as a result, I've gotten bored with the second half of those fics because there is not really much subplot.
So, the second half of Virus Version will see the return of old characters that originally were supposed to be just minor characters. And there will also be chapters that don't really have a main character because all the characters will have some sort of major role and development.
Two more things left: Alright, so for the first time in a LONG time, typing is very much at my own convience, so posting will be more consistent than it has been this year.
Lastly-
Seth's Pokemon
In Party:
Chikorita, Female- Overgrow
Murkrow, Male- Super Luck
Elekid, Male- Static
Gabite, Male- Rough Skin
Seviper, Female- Shed Skin
In Party (On hold):
Klefki, Female- Pranster
Chandelure, Male- Flame Body
Outside Party:
Mawile, Female- Intimidate
Until Seth reaches a Pokemon Center, he won't be able to use Klefki OR Chandelure because he has more than six Pokemon on his team...
After a long Author's Note, I hope you enjoyed, and I also hope you enjoy next chapter.