Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 153: HaruSakiMura Part 3
A pillar of light appeared in the sky, shining through the layers of dark clouds previously brought in by Meteor Beam. Particles of light traveled from the sky and through this pillar. These particles collectively gathered to where Chikorita was concentrating her energy. Solarbeam normally would've been ready in short order, but the dark clouds prolonged the process.
"Chi..."
In addition to this, Chikorita was gathering enough energy to finish Onix right there. The energy being concentrated by Chikorita began to grow in size. Neither she nor anybody else could afford dragging out this fight long enough for Onix to launch another Meteor Beam.
"This might be the largest Solarbeam I've seen Chikorita use..." Chapel was in awe. "This is it. Once Onix is defeated, we'll look for Rose."
"Chi!" And so, Chikorita was ready to launch Solarbeam. She prepared to point her leaf forward to launch her attack at point blank range.
...
...
...
But just as Chikorita was about to launch the finishing blow...
"Stop." A silver haired boy suddenly stepped in between Chikorita and Onix. "This Onix belongs to me." His name was Saki, and he wasn't friendly, "Congratulations, you've passed the first test." Saki had gray hair going down to his neck. He wore a beige vest over a black long sleeve shirt, and black pants with black boots. He stood in front of Haru and Mura.
Haru was a hyperactive young man with a habit of getting ahead of himself. He had dark brown spiky hair and wore teal goggles on his forehead. He wore a red jacket, blue pants, and black boots.
Mura was a beautiful green haired girl who admittedly had a bad habit of nagging. Haru has a crush on Mura which goes unreciprocated as Mura tries to keep the boys in line.
These three made up Commander 06's star group known as HaruSakiMura, and despite their vivid characters and over-the-top shenanigans, they showed great promise.
"You did well to defeat Onix," Saki crosses his arms, "However, that was merely the opening act."
"Yo!" Haru enthusiastically dropped rap bars to add to Saki's remarks. 'Y'all can't touch us! Your power is sus!'
This had Chapel raising an eyebrow.
Haru's poor rapping annoyed Saki to no end, but was worse when he did it during a mission. Saki tried to play it cool as he told Chapel and Yumi, "Don't worry this idiot."
Haru didn't seem to get the hint, as he continued rapping. This time, he freestyled about Chapel and Yumi. 'Yo yo yo! You girls are like red and blue, cuz the world ends with you! They call me singular I wanna be plural, just call it me and you! Two pretty girls, déjà vu! The stares you get, you have no clue! Your gorgeous faces I would rather have than an ocean view!' Saki was about to use the 'ocean view' line to set up a hook referencing Olivine City, but was comedically bumped on the head by Mura.
"Shut up, will you?!" Mura was a patient girl, but she had her limits.
…Wait…Haru's rap was dedicated to calling Chapel and Yumi pretty. Even though Haru was the enemy, his compliments had Chapel and Yumi smiling.
"You're so sweet." Yumi didn't mind telling Haru that he was a thoughtful guy.
"You'd make a great boyfriend. Let us know who the lucky girl is!" Chapel chirped.
Though he'd just been bumped on the noggin, Haru gave Yumi and Chapel another smile. This time, he was blushing.
"Back to the subject at hand." Saki wanted to keep Haru from going on too far a tangent. "We have been sent by Commander 06, aka Lady Beatrice."
'Lady Beatrice…' Haru just wouldn't stop, as he comedically whispered Lady Beatrice's name to create an echo effect.
Despite this group working for Neo Snagem, Yumi and Chapel were still smiling.
Yumi, as lively as ever, decided to join in on Haru's fun, "Lady Beatrice? Rose thinks very highly of her. Rose even calls 06 her Godmother!"
"I'm going to be honest," Chapel giggled, "You guys are more charming than threatening. It makes you seem human."
"Yeah!" Yumi agreed, "You three look around the same age as us too."
"What are your names?" Chapel asked.
"I'm Haru!" Haru had a great big smile on his face.
"I'm Mura." Mura, while not as enthused as Haru, thought it was common courtesy to introduce herself.
"…" Saki wasn't as kind.
Haru held two fingers behind Saki's head in a joking matter, "Mr. Edgy over here goes by the name Saki!"
Saki groaned in frustration. He wants nothing more than to skip these friendly formalities and focus on the mission. He gets into a battle stance.
"Hmph!" This is followed by Mura getting into her battle stance as well.
Saki and Mura both take out Pokeballs. Haru, on the other hand…
"Wait! WAIT! Hold it!" Haru yelled.
"What is it NOW?!" Saki asked.
"I don't have my Pokeballs!" Haru's Pokeball belt was empty. They weren't in his pockets either.
"Don't tell me you left your Pokemon at the base." Mura facepalmed herself.
Haru was searching his backpack, "Well excuse me! I'm not the first person to forget something, you know." He went through each and every pocket, "Geez, you don't need to talk to me like you're my Mom."
"Yeah, but you have no problem sleeping with the lights on every night, you scared little boy." Mura had no problem embarrassing Haru whenever he acted like a complete moron. "And would it kill you to chew with your mouth closed?"
"Hah!" As it turns out, Haru didn't leave his Pokemon at the base. He found his Pokeballs…in the hood of the red jacket he wore. He then holds his Pokemon out to Yumi and Chapel, "I can't wait to impress you cute girls!"
"You three obviously aren't terrible people." Chapel steps up, "I recommend a fair Pokemon battle." She too takes out a Pokeball,.
"I accept! I ACCEPT!" Haru was eager to make Chapel and Yumi fall in love with him. "I choose you-"
Haru was about to send out his Pokemon before being interrupted by Mura, "Wait just a minute! You can't just go straight into battle like that-"
Mura was promptly interrupted by Saki, "We accept."
Haru and Mura were confused. Saki has always vehemently disagreed with anything Haru did. Having him accept a battle on Haru's behalf was uncharacteristic. 'Little does anyone know; I've set up a trump card to guarantee our victory…' Saki thought to himself.
…..
In the far distance, from where Haru, Saki, and Mura watched the girls fight Onix, there stood a long Pokemon.
"De…" Decidueye was the name of the Pokemon, and he was dispatched by his Trainer Saki to act as a sniper against the girls they were going to fight. "De…" Decidueye already had his arrow ready, ready to defeat each member of the Pokemon Ranger's group with a single shot.
….
"I choose you!" Haru threw his Pokeball into the air.
"Man…Darman!" Appearing before Chapel and Yumi was a Darmanitan…and he was wearing sunglasses.
Haru promptly tinkers with his PokeGear, switching it to Radio Mode. "Can't do battle without laying a beat down." He began nodding to the Hip-Hop beat.
Meanwhile, Darmanitan started dancing. He was beating his fists to his body like a Belly Drum.
A comedic sweat appeared on Chapel's face, "I've never seen a Pokemon Trainer do this before. What are they doing?" Chapel had never fought and opponent with such flair. She didn't realize it, but she was nodding to the beat of the music.
"You seem to like the music, Chapel." Yumi's remark made Chapel self-aware, and she promptly stopped nodding.
The girls shared a giggle. Darmanitan and Haru were harmonizing with the beat of the song to time their movements."
"Ursaring!" Chapel called for the Pokemon standing next to her. "Use Slash!"
"Urr!" Ursaring lunges at Darmanitan with much ferocity.
"Just go with the flow, Kong Meister." Haru was totally nonchalant in allowing Darmanitan to freestyle.
"Dar…Dar…Dar dar dar!" Darmanitan flowed with the 4/4 time signature, sidestepping to avoid Ursaring's attack.
"Darmanitan is swift." Yumi remarked.
A 4/4 time signature was present in nearly every beat ever created, as it was a musical standard. Once Chapel and Yumi realized this, they would be able to keep up with Darmanitan's movements.
Haru dons a pair of high-quality earphones as he tells Darmanitan, "Let's start this joint with a bang! Use Fire Punch!"
"Dar…Dar…DAR DAR DAR!" As Darmanitan started fist pumping, his fists became surrounded by fire. He continued his fist pumps as he started dancing in Ursaring's direction.
"Ursaring, dodge it!" Chapel called.
Ursaring quickly leapt back, putting enough distance between him and Darmanitan to render Fire Punch useless.
It appeared Ursaring was safe…but then the beat hit a rift without drums.
"…" To this, Darmanitan paused.
…
…
…
The beat came back with a bang, and at a faster pace! "DAR!" To this, Darmanitan leapt at Ursaring and gave him a Fire Punch square in the face.
"Urrr! UUUURRRRGH!" Ursaring clutches his face in pain as he recoils backward.
"But how?!" Chapel was beginning to show her temper, "That's no fair! We dodged the attack!"
"Yo yo yo! You're just no match for the beat, pretty girl-" Haru was beginning to go into a battle rap tangent. Before he could diss Chapel, he was interrupted by Saki.
"Haru!" Saki called, "Don't get overconfident."
"Yeah!" Mura chimed in, "I'm sick of your overconfidence being the reason we fail missions!"
"Oh hush. You're not my Mom." Haru waves them off, "My skill will make this mission an overwhelming success!"
Haru and Mura sigh.
"Darmanitan, use Fire Punch one more time!" Haru refocused on the beat being played. "This is an encore! A repeat performance of the previous act!"
"Dar dar dar!" The beat doesn't pause this time, leaving Darmanitan to charge at Ursaring instantly.
As Darmanitan closed in, Ursaring sidestepped before striking with a Slash attack. Darmanitan was sent flying.
"Dar." While in the air, Darmanitan's eyes glinted.
"Hehe." As did Haru's eyes.
"Dar!" Always true to the beat, Darmanitan landed on his hands.
Chapel started smiling as she began tapping her foot, "I think I'm starting to get used to this beat. All I've got to do is time Ursaring's attacks accordingly." Now was the perfect opportunity, "Ursaring, go use Slash! Go an make the impact last!" Well would you look at Chapel trying a little freestyle of her own!
Ursaring readied his claws as his running pace was completely in sync with the beat.
Before Ursaring could land Slash, the beat began to break down.
"The beat is going to come back faster, Darmanitan! Are you ready?" Haru then extended a thumbs up to the Fire Type, "Let's try and keep up with Flame Charge!"
"Dar!" Darmanitan cloaked himself in flames before lunging himself forward.
With the beat having changed, Chapel and Ursaring completely lost their rhythm. "Crap! We need to find a new rhythm!"
"Rgh!" Ursaring was knocked back as Flame Charge made contact.
Darmanitan didn't stop there. He continued to make small strikes on Ursaring while cloaked in Flame Charge, quickly working his way up to the increased flow of the music.
"Ur…Agh!" Ursaring had commendable endurance, but he couldn't take Darmanitan's small hits forever.
"Darmanitan, lets combine Flame Charge and Fire Punch!" Haru called.
Still cloaked in Flame Charge, Darmanitan surrounds his right fist with an even stronger flame and promptly starts rushing around Ursaring.
"Darmanitan is so fast, I can't keep track of him." Chapel was hoping Ursaring would be able to see Darmanitan's movements.
"Rrr…" But Ursaring was just as confused as Chapel. He gritted his teeth.
Darmanitan finally rushed in and used Fire Punch to strike Ursaring in an unexpected location: The back of his head.
"Aarrr-agh!" This had Ursaring clutching his head as he fell to one knee."
"Critical hit! Critical hit! The big bear's health's now Minimal bit!"
In addition to Haru's rap about the critical hit being correct, Ursaring was set ablaze.
"Arrr!" Ursaring was completely suffering right now.
"Could it be?" Yumi asked.
"It is." Saki answered. "Ursaring has been inflicted with Burn."
Watching Ursaring suffer, Darmanitan and Haru noticed that the beat was fading, indicating the end of the song.
"That was my favorite song…" Haru noted before calling Darmanitan. "Darmanitan! The floor is yours now. I'm handing the reigns over to you to lay down a beat we can all enjoy. Use Belly Drum!"
Darmanitan started beating his chest.
"Urr…" Ursaring was still recoiling from the assault of flames.
"Dar! Dar! Dar! Dar!" Darmanitan utilized a 4/4 time signature just like the previous beat. The beat vibrations of Belly Drum grew tenfold, indicating his great power boost.
"Urr…URRRGH!" Darmanitan wasn't the only one to receive a power boost. Ursaring gave off a menacing growl as his eyes started glowing red.
Chapel smiled. "Guts."
Guts was activated, giving Ursaring the perfect response to Darmanitan's Belly Drum. With Ursaring inflicted with Burn, and Darmanitan cutting his health to achieve greater power, it appeared that his battle headed toward one final clash.
"Ursaring, use Hammer Arm!" Chapel called.
"Darmanitan, Fire Punch!"
Ursaring looked ready to clothesline his opponent to Hell, while the flames of Fire Punch grew fiercer than ever.
Ursaring versus Darmanitan. When their final moves clashed, a cloud of smoke was created. On one side, Chapel, Yumi, and Chikorita shielded their eyes. One the other side, Saki, Mura, and Haru shielded theirs.
"…"
"…"
When the smoke clears, Ursaring was standing tall.
"Urr…"
"Haha!" Yumi is cheerful.
"Ursaring, you did it!"
"…" Darmanitan seemed to be down.
Haru drooped at his downed Pokemon. Meanwhile, the girls were so excited for Ursaring's victory…that they didn't the glint in Saki's eyes in the background.
"Ack?!"
It was all smiles until Ursaring was suddenly struck by what appeared to be a green arrow.
Chapel and Yumi paused. Time seemed to have halted, or at least gone in slow motion.
"…" The time it took for Ursaring to fall to the ground felt like an eternity, but when he finally did hit the dirt, the impact echoed.
"Drr…" Meanwhile, Darmanitan had risen in triumph.
Chapel stood agape.
"What happened?" Yumi asked.
Saki, who had been spectate up until this point, stepped in front of Darmanitan and confronted the girls. "This battle isn't as straightforward as it seems."
The lightheartedness brought about by Haru's antics quickly faded as Saki reminded everyone that he, Haru, and Mura were on a mission. "From the Onix attack to Rose being dragged underwater, to what finally hit Ursaring just now…"
Chapel gave a worried look to Ursaring before glaring at Saki, "What did you do to Ursaring?"
"I merely struck Ursaring with an arrow, courtesy of a sniper which I have posted in the distance…watching your every move and waiting for a chance to take you down." Saki showed no remorse.
"Where is the sniper?" Yumi asked.
"I have no reason to answer that question." Saki replied.
"That makes this an unfair fight! You guys agreed to a fair Pokemon battle!" Chapel yelled.
Saki narrowed his eyes, "It's about time we put away the music beats and slow down this confrontation of ours. Decidueye has been stationed at his post this entire time, waiting to strike. He will strike at any moment, whether that be the Pokemon Ranger, the blue-eyed girl, or the Chikorita who dared to finish off Onix."
Saki's words had Chapel, Yumi, and Chikorita all in a panic.
"Everything until now has been a gauge of your abilities, and now that I have an accurate assessment, it's time to forego the fair rules of battle and unleash the true power of HaruSakiMura."
Saki, Haru, and Mura all had a Pokeball in their hand, and promptly released their Pokemon.
"Ssss…" Haru released Sandaconda.
"Swaa!" Saki released Swampert.
"Goss…" Mura released Eldegoss.
Yumi, Chapel, and Chikorita all took a cautionary step back as the enemy Pokemon stepped closer. Chapel gritted her teeth. This was just like the fight with Commander 15; What started out as a normal Pokemon battle quickly divulged into a fight with higher stakes.
Saki was a formidable foe. He'd led Yumi and Chapel through this entire ambush like dogs on a leash. The girls didn't think Saki and his group were bad people…nonetheless, they posed a great threat.
Running away was not an option, as Rose was somewhere under the surface of the water.
Surrounded by Sandaconda, Swampert, and Eldegoss, Chapel closed her eyes. "Looks like a have no choice…" She began glowing the light of Missingno.
Saki's eyes narrowed, "So this was the Pokemon Ranger's virus power that Lady Beatrice was talking about…Hmph."
Chapel's virus power would've ultimately spelled the end of Haru, Saki, Mura, and their Pokemon. But before the Power of Light could fully overtake Chapel, "Ngh…" She was abruptly shot square in the forehead.
Yumi and Chikorita gasped.
Chapel's eyes became blank as she fell to the ground, just like Ursaring before her. The green arrow which struck her immediately dissipated.
"No…no!"
Yumi and Chikorita were trembling in fear. Was Chapel really gone?
"Don't go crying on us," Saki said, "I assure you that the Pokemon Ranger is alive. Her virus power would've defeated any opponent, so we needed to defeat her now."
Yumi runs to Chapel. She drops to her knees and picks up the Pokemon Ranger, holding Chapel in her arms.
Saki then addresses Yumi, "You and Chikorita are the only ones left."
Yumi appeared too alarmed to give Saki and response.
"It's time to finish this." Saki put his arm forward, "Swampert, use Muddy Water!"
Swampert readies a wave over muddy water to sweep Yumi and Chikorita into defeat.
"Sandaconda, use Scorching Sands." Haru called for Sandaconda to aid Swampert.
Muddy Water and Scorching Sand…As the two attacks met on route to their opponent, Muddy Water worked to harden Scorching Sands, creating a Sand Tsunami.
The look on Yumi's face spelled terror as she eyed the Sand Tsunami coming straight for her. 'I've got to do something. ANYTHING!' But what could she do? Yumi thought that she at least needed to try something. She took out a Pokeball and prepared to send in her next Pokemon to defend her.
Chikorita braced for the incoming attack.
Yumi and Chikorita put on a front that they weren't going down without a fight but sweat ran down their faces as the Sand Tsunami got closer. It grew bigger and bigger, until Yumi and Chikorita's stances waver. Yumi screamed as the Sand Tsunami overwhelmed her.
"…"
"…"
"…"
The combination of attacks sent gusts brushing against the hair of Haru, Saki, and Mura as they watched what appeared to be the last of Yumi.
…
…
…
But when the Sand Tsunami dissipated, once person stood in between Saki and Yumi.
It was Rose.
To Be Continued…