Et Tu, Unova? Chapter Twelve, a pokémon fanfic

Chapter 12

The Nimbasa City Battle Tournament is off! The sixteen competitors are divided into four brackets before being assigned opponents. Ash and Jessilina look at the board to find their battles and notice other interesting matchups. Trip will be forced to back up his comment about Pokémon Contests as he will face Ursula. Bianca's friend Cheren has a difficult challenge ahead facing budding Dragon Master Iris. In Bracket D, first Jessilina will have to go against Georgia and then Ash himself will face the man he accidentally bumped into earlier. Ash doesn't recognize the opponents of any of the other people he knows.

Bracket A starts off the competition. Bianca's Minccino easily immobilizes the opposing Watchog with sound and knocks it out using its fluffy tail. Burgundy seems to make a critical mistake in having her Stoutland use Thunder Fang on her foe's Palpitoad, but the attack is a ruse and Stoutland switches to Ice Fang when Palpitoad doesn't bother dodging. Palpitoad's trainer can't recover quickly enough and watches as Stoutland defeats his helpless and frozen Pokémon.

In Bracket B, Brianna's Swanna serenely avoids all of the attacks Maractus sends her way and strikes back with elegant Flying-type attacks from a distance to end the battle between coordinators quickly. Iris and Cheren prove to be a more even match. Cheren uses his Gigalith, which adeptly defends against attacks from Iris's Druddigon. The catch proves to be that Cheren received Gigalith in a trade - it won't obey him when it comes to attacks, making all of Cheren's strategies for naught as his Pokémon uses different moves than ordered, which are more easily countered. Druddigon manages to power through and wear its foe down to win the battle for its trainer.

The first battle of Bracket C is a ferociously fast power match between Stephan's newly-evolved Zebstrika and his opponent's Simisage. In the end, Zebstrika's knowledge of Flame Charge keeps it faster than Simisage and knocks it out with super effective damage.

As Trip prepares to face Ursula, Ash decides to have his newly captured Krokorok observe since it will be battling in Ash's first match. His opponent comes up to Ash shortly after Krokorok emerges from its Poké Ball. The man introduces himself as N and asks Ash about his Pokémon. N seems upset when he finds out that Ash just caught Krokorok and will be having its first battle in this tournament. He argues that Ash isn't taking the match seriously and is doing a disservice to his Pokémon, that if Pokémon battles are necessary they should be prepared for carefully, that using a new Pokémon in a tournament doesn't give a trainer time to learn if that's really what's best for it. Ash tries to argue, but N promises to soundly defeat him to show that he is correct and won't hear any arguments of just words. As he walks away the next contestants take to the field.

Trip sends out his Timburr, who is met with Ursula's Vaporeon. Timburr bursts into action with a Mach Punch, but Vaporeon is unfazed by the attack and simply bounds backwards to get out of range of further attacks. Timburr Leers to try and let its attacks do more damage and attacks once more with Mach Punch. Vaporeon can't shrug this one off quite so easily and starts to Wish to recover. In the meantime, it fills the field with Haze. The commentator notes that while the Haze can be used to hide while Wish takes effect, it will also undo any gains Timburr made with Leer. As Trip frustratedly orders his Pokémon to start breaking up the Haze with Rock Throw, Ursula comments that she's just getting started and has Vaporeon use Acid Armor to dissolve into the water vapor. Mistlike illusions of Vaporeon start popping up randomly amidst the gaseous cloud, setting Timburr on edge and giving no indication of where it should strike.

In order to maximize the potential for damage, Trip has Timburr use Focus Energy. As it focuses, Vaporeon pops out of the haze and scores a hit with Scald, then uses Acid Armor to get back in the cloud while it has yet to dissipate. Timburr cringes after taking the attack and Trip decides to change his strategy. When Vaporeon next pops out and attacks, Timburr uses its block of wood to intercept the attack and charge forwards, hitting Vaporeon with a Dynamicpunch that knocks it clear across the field, scattering the remnants of Haze in the process. The burn from Scald has activated Timburr's Guts ability and boosted rather than lowered its attack power. As Vaporeon shakily stands up, battling the confusion induced by Dynamicpunch, Timburr charges forward with another one. A second critical hit is enough to take Vaporeon out of the battle. Trip smirks and comments that he knew he'd win against a coordinator.

"Hmph," Ursula scoffs, "You just got lucky. If Guts hadn't been activated you would have had no idea how to handle my stylish attacks."

The field clears for the first battle of Bracket D and the audience laughs when Jessalina's response to Georgia's Beartic is to send out her Joltik. Georgia has Beartic attack with Icicle Crash, but Joltik's small body ably evades the falling ice and Joltik strikes back with Discharge. Beartic is able to take the hit, but Joltik continues to evade any attacks sent its way, be they projectiles like Icicle Crash or jets like Brine. Georgia decides to switch it up and has Beartic try a Shadow Claw. Joltik again dodges and this time, clambers into Beartic's fur. The ensuing close range Discharge is far more effective than the first. Beartic searches its body for the bug, but can't find it before another Discharge brings it to its knees. It slumps backwards, but at Georgia's urging is able to stand back up. When it does, an unconscious Joltik slips out of the fur on Beartic's back, having been unable to handle the weight of the makeshift Body Slam. Georgia is declared the winner as Jessilina pouts before running to take care of her "little cutiepie".

It is finally time for Ash's battle and he proudly sends out Krokorok. N tells him that a new Pokémon can't defeat one that's stood the test of time and reveals his own Tirtouga. Ash starts off with a Stone Edge, but Tirtouga evades it with Aqua Jet and goes on to attack Krokorok who just manages to Dig before being struck. As Krokorok moves underground, Tirtouga begins its next move. Krokorok emerges and strikes its foe with a super effective attack, but Tirtouga's bulky shell allows it to endure and clouds gather in the sky as it finishes its Rain Dance. Tirtouga tries another Aqua Jet, but as Krokorok tries to evade underground again, it finds that the rain has turned the field to mud, making it impossible to create a tunnel without it collapsing. Aqua Jet strikes and Krokorok is sent flying backwards, its sunglasses flung off its face. As Krokorok scrambles to retrieve them, Tirtouga blasts it with Water Gun, which at least pushes it in range of its precious property.

Both Krokorok and Ash are furious and decide to unleash a Stone Edge to further batter Tirtouga. It takes the hit and shoots forward with another Aqua Jet, only to be shocked when it is trapped in Krokorok's jaw with Crunch. Krokorok flings the Pokémon away and it lands on its back, struggling to get back up. Ash seems to wrestle with a decision for quite a while.

"You said that just because Krokorok is a new friend of mine, I can't know what's best for it and therefore end up being cruel to my Pokémon," Ash accuses as he makes up his mind, "but even though the friendship is new, it's still there and I know enough to know that Krokorok loves its sunglasses. I would never attack a Pokémon getting back something it loves, so if you want to talk to me about kindness, try this on for size: Krokorok, flip Tirtouga back over!"

Krokorok complies before moving back away from the newly upright Pokémon. N seems stunned, and puts off processing the events by focusing on the battle. He knows that Krokorok can catch any Aqua Jets and avoid any Water Guns (as long as it still has its sunglasses), so he orders a Shell Smash from Tirtouga. Krokorok responds with Stone Edge, but Tirtouga blasts through the rocks and strikes Krokorok in a spray of Aqua Jet using its increased speed and offensive power. The rocks seem to have blunted some of the damage from Aqua Jet, but at the same time the water around Tirtouga protected it from damage in the collision. N smirks at having cornered Ash and orders another Aqua Jet. Ash's eyes dart around, taking in the scene, and he tells Krokorok to block with Stone Edge again then move after the hit. When N tries a powered up Water Gun next, Krokorok once again puts Stone Edge in its path, moving to the side after taking the weakened hit. Aqua Jet? Stone Edge. Water Gun? Another Stone Edge. And around the battlefield they go.

"Ash, you must see that this is futile. Tirtouga is taking no damage and while Stone Edge reduces what Krokorok takes, you must see how low its stamina is now. Must we keep dancing around the battlefield?"

"Y'know what? I think we actually have gone all the way around the battlefield already. You think so too, right Krokorok? Okay then, use Dig!"

Krokorok dives under the ground, using the shattered pieces of stone littered across the field to stabilize its work in the face of the wet dirt. When it strikes at the weakened defenses of Tirtouga, the match is decided. Ash may never have battled with Krokorok before this, but it didn't stop him from achieving victory. The two share a grin and bounce up and down in elation.

After the first round, the battles pause for the night. Ash looks for N to talk about their argument, but it seems the man departed immediately after his loss. Jessilina and Ursula, in rare form, sit together and commiserate about losing their battles despite their superior strategy. Shauntal takes some time to interrogate Ash about his battle and about the words exchanged with N.

"I think the most pertinent question is the motivation behind your chivalrous actions," Shauntal probes, "when your opponent clearly did not show the same consideration. Can you explain the narrative that went through your mind?"

"Yeah, I was angry that N attacked Krokorok when there was clearly something wrong, but I was just gonna win the battle to get back at him. When Tirtouga landed on its back, I knew right away it wouldn't be right to attack. It's one thing to press your advantage when you back an opponent into a corner, but it's different when it ends up helpless completely by accident. I wasn't hesitating because I thought about attacking. See, back in Johto, the same thing happened to me, but I managed to get out of it, so I just wanted to see if N could too and as soon as I was sure he couldn't, I just had to help out. If I'm gonna win a battle I'm going to do it because my Pokémon do a better job than my opponents', not because their Pokémon have a different shape."

Meanwhile, in a dark corner of the city, N leans against the wall of a building as he continues to ponder Ash's words and actions. Around him, his employees search through dusty old crates in the warehouse they've occupied.

"My King," Ryoku says, "I don't mean to interrupt your musings, but it is imperative that we find what we seek."

"Agreed," Giallo chimes in, "Gorm, Bronius, and even Ryoku here have all failed in their missions and I refuse to do the same. I will not have Rood's success on his minor mission in Opelucid City be our Team's only victory! The Elite Four has apparently decided to intrude in our work and Shauntal is in town for the tournament, so we must finish quickly."

N realizes he did see Shauntal in the audience and remembers that she arrived at the same time as Ash. He asks whether she had anyone with her at the Dreamyard or in Castelia City.

"She did," Ryoku answers, "a rude redheaded lady and a boy with a Pikachu."

The next day dawns and brings with it the bracket finals. Each trainer must use a different Pokémon than they did the day before. In the early morning, Burgundy's Sawsbuck simply cannot overcome the dual type-advantage of Bianca's Pignite. As the day gets going, despite the grace and power of Brianna's Flygon, Iris uses her superior knowledge of Dragon-types to lead her Zweilous to victory. As the sun shines high in the sky, Trip and Stephan face off in a rematch, but the result is the same as Sawk's raw strength is not enough to overcome Servine's combination of speed and power. As lunch approaches, Ash enters the arena to face Georgia. For this fight he chooses Snivy. The Pokémon Georgia sends out is familiar - Ash saw her teaching it Thunder Wave back in Nacrene City. Dexter tells him that it's called Pawniard and based on types alone, defeating it will be no easy feat.

Pawniard starts off the battle with a Metal Claw that Snivy halts by catching it with Vine Whip. A quick Cut ends Snivy's advantage and Georgia asks her Pokémon to use Torment next. As Pawniard charges in for another Metal Claw, Snivy's Vine Whip fails to stop it and Georgia taunts Ash by explaining that the effects of Torment won't allow Snivy to use the same move twice in a row. Pawniard has no such restrictions and attacks with Metal Claw once more, but Snivy is far too quick for it and dodges out of the way before retaliating with an Aqua Tail. Georgia knows that the many resistances of the Steel-type won't be enough given Snivy's speed and makes a new plan.

"It's been a while since you've seen Pawniard, Ash," she says, "In the meantime we've mastered our new move. Thunder Wave, now!"

"We've got some new moves too, y'know! Snivy dodge with Double Team!"

Thunder Wave fails to hit Snivy, who is able to send Pawniard flying with a Twister. Georgia grits her teeth but revises her strategy. Pawniard charges up a Metal Claw, but instead of going in for the attack, spins in a circle, blade sweeping across the ground, thereby using the conductivity of the metal to amplify Thunder Wave in all directions, striking Snivy even through another Double Team. With Snivy paralyzed, Ash decides to keep Pawniard from attacking too and orders an Attract, but despite hitting Pawniard, the attack has no effect: both Pokémon on the field are female. Pawniard unleashes a flurry of Metal Claws, most of which hit the slowed down Snivy, though she does manage to strike back with a Vine Whip and an Aqua Tail in the process.

Both Pokémon are at low health - a single strong blow could decide the match either way. Snivy's most effective attack only works at close range, which is where Pawniard excels, so Ash needs a way to prevent Pawniard from being effective even right next to Snivy. As he thinks, he has Snivy catch Pawniard's next attack with Vine Whip and toss the opposing Pokémon far away. As he watches Pawniard fall, Ash finds his strategy.

Pawniard manages to avoid landing with its claws stuck in the ground, but is surprised when Snivy hits it with another useless Attract. Pawniard runs up for another Metal Claw, only to have her claw wrapped up by Vine Whip. She uses her other claw to Cut the vine, but misses the trap Snivy set and is bound by the second vine and tossed high in the air. A Twister spins Pawniard around and around and another Vine Whip is pushed into the cyclone the spin Pawniard even faster. When the dizzy Pokémon lands, a powerful Aqua Tail greets her and then bids her farewell as she faints. Ash has won the battle, but as he goes to congratulate Snivy, the Pokémon takes on a distinct blue glow and changes shape. In the end, Ash thanks Servine for her hard work.

During lunch, Jessie dresses in costume and goes to register for the upcoming Pokémon Contest, which will be held in the Pokémon Musical Hall. She decides to catch a show, but is interrupted by the arrival of Shauntal who tells her that she has a phone call at the Pokémon Center. As they walk back, Shauntal asks Jessie for her opinion of Ash's match. Jessie is annoyed that the person who beat her didn't win but also wonders why Snivy evolved now after it had clearly been ready since defeating Trip's Servine. Shauntal had been pondering the same question and realized that in both battles after which she saw Snivy glow, Snivy had immobilized her opponent with Attract before winning. Shauntal posits that Snivy wanted to prove that she could win a battle against a fully capable Pokémon before evolving.

When Shauntal mentions her theory to Ash as Jessie takes her phone call, Ash worries that he shouldn't ask Servine to use Attract anymore. When he asks Servine about it, she responds by using Attract on Pikachu.

"I wouldn't worry too much, Ash," Shauntal says, "I don't believe Servine has any issues using Attract as a strategy, I believe she just wanted to show that she was capable of even more. I know you told me that she likely had a trainer before you and I believe her evolving now was her way of letting you know that she likes your battle strategy. It's quite the gripping character development if I do say so myself." Servine grunts and nods in agreement.

The afternoon brings the semifinals of the tournament. Bianca does her erstwhile bodyguard and mentor proud with her Munna's performance, but Iris's Fraxure is the stronger Pokémon and wins in a close match. Trip's Lampent is less of an even match for Ash's Pikachu and loses quickly, especially after not expecting Pikachu's recently learned Dig.

As the day draws to a close, Ash and Iris take their places for the final battle of the tournament. Having used all three of their registered Pokémon in the prior rounds, the trainers are free to reuse any one of them in this battle. They both reach the same decision and go with their newest Pokémon. Krokorok and Fraxure stand at opposite sides of the field and the match begins.

The fighting is fierce from the get-go. Krokorok sends a Stone Edge Fraxure's way, but the Dragon-type uses its incredible brawn and a Rock Smash to go through the attack as if it weren't there. Krokorok retreats underground before it can be hit by the super effective move, but Fraxure aims a Dragon Rage straight down.

The battlefield has played host to fourteen other battles in the last two days. An explosion of sound echoed through the dirt grains in the first battles of Bracket A. The ground was hit by attacks of air and stone in Bracket B. Bracket C saw hooves trampling at high velocities. In Bracket D, ice and water pummeled the field before a second battle inundated it with tunnels and rain. This morning exposed it to intense heat, fierce sandstorms, powerful punches missing their marks, and gouges ripped by metal blades. Psychic manipulation and further tunnels roiled the ground just hours ago. The direct assault by both battling Pokémon is too much. The structural integrity is gone and the dirt collapses like a sinkhole in a desert.

As the dust clears, even without their trainers' intervention, Fraxure and Krokorok stand at the bottom of the pit in close range combat. Rock Smashes are blocked by point blank Stone Edge. Crunch can't be completed when a Dragon Claw blocks jaws from shutting. Fraxure tries for an up close Dragon Rage, but Krokorok manages to navigate the loose sand on the sides of the pit to avoid the attack and swims through to strike from behind with Dig. Fraxure strikes back with Rock Smash and then Dragon Claw, but Krokorok Crunches the claw in its jaw and sends Fraxure flying. It lands on the sides and skids down the sinkhole before Iris demands another Dragon Claw. Krokorok catches it with Crunch once more, but the attack is a diversion and the second strike of Dual Chop hits through. As Fraxure tries to Rock Smash its way to victory, Krokorok catches the punch in a Thrash, bashing Fraxure into the ground in a repeated frenzy. Fraxure uses the ensuing confusion to break free with Dragon Claw and gain some distance. The next moves are called simultaneously as Stone Edge bursts from the ground under Fraxure and Dragon Rage blasts into Krokorok. Both Pokémon stand back up, but are shaky on their feet. Fraxure wobbles. Krokorok staggers. Fraxure pants. Krokorok teeters. Fraxure falls. Seconds pass, and the match is called while Krokorok succumbs as well. But Fraxure fell first and Ash has conquered the competition.

Both trainers recall their Pokémon and thank them for their hard work. The two energetic youths skid down the sand to meet in the middle themselves and shake hands, glad for the good fight. The closing ceremony takes place after Don George soothes the furious athletes and promises that the Battle Club will repair the field. The Big Stadium erupts in a roar as Ash hoists the box of seven feathers over his head, Servine and Krokorok to either side and Pikachu proudly standing on his shoulder. His companions cheer him on, one grudgingly and one with notepad in hand, just waiting for her moment for an interview.

But these trainers' time in Nimbasa is just beginning. Before they leave they will face at the very least a contest and a gym battle, to say nothing of the other attractions the city has to offer. And watching silently from the stands, N knows that their presence will cause his beloved Team Plasma trouble, and that cannot be allowed to pass.

Author's Note: Okay, I know I promised not to post any more chapters until I was done through 25 and I'm not quite there yet (four chapters to go), but in honor of the next batch of episodes being released in the US today, I decided that I wanted to continue with my attempts to fix some elements of the anime and post this chapter. If some of these battles seem familiar, that's good. I wanted to show what might happen if it wasn't Ash's Palpitoad (which he doesn't even have yet here) that Burgundy faced. And if Jessie had a Joltik that could make Georgia's battle work, well, that was just happy coincidence. I do try to minimize the number of Ash's wins caused by sheer, dumb luck, so neither Tirtouga or Pawniard are going to lose because of their body shape in this chapter. Also, I don't undo all of Ash's hard work by pitting his Pikachu against an Excadrill in the final round. I considered having him lose anyway, but I like it better this way.