Hello everyone, I hope you're ready for this chapter; something will happen that I think you'll like. I hope you enjoyed my take on the Pokémon contest; my strength usually lies in battles. But well, I had to give it a try.
Chapter 13: Thoughtless Actions
Chloe was in the semifinals of her first contest, and that was already something to be nervous about. Add to that the fact that her opponent was the most experienced coordinator in the area and her Pokémon had evolved. Normally, she would have already given up, but not that day. She had achieved things she wouldn't have in the past; she had to give it her all and show everyone what she was capable of.
"You're still in time to give up, girl, and spare your Pokémon—and yourself—the humiliation," Kelly sneered, her voice dripping with arrogance.
For a moment, doubt began to creep into Chloe's mind, threatening to erode the confidence she had painstakingly built up. She could feel the weight of Kelly's words pressing down on her, urging her to quit while she was ahead. But as she looked down at her Eevee, who gazed back at her with unwavering trust and determination, Chloe knew she couldn't back down.
"No," Chloe whispered to herself, her voice trembling slightly before she steeled her resolve. "I know I can do this. He trusts me, and I won't let him down." She repeated those words in her mind,
With a newfound determination, Chloe lifted her chin and looked Kelly straight in the eyes. "One thing's for sure—I'm not going to quit. I'm going to give it my all," she declared, her voice ringing out with defiance. She could see a flicker of surprise in Kelly's eyes, though it was quickly masked by her usual air of superiority.
Kelly chuckled softly, as if amused by Chloe's defiance. "You asked for it," she said with a shrug. "It's time to win, Liepard." With a sharp gesture, she commanded her Pokémon into the battle, her voice laced with authority.
Chloe took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew this wasn't going to be easy, but she couldn't afford to hesitate. She had come this far, and there was no turning back now. "Eevee, it's your time to shine," she called out, her voice filled with determination as she sent her loyal companion into the fray.
Eevee leaped forward, its small body brimming with energy and enthusiasm. Despite its size, it stood tall, ready to face the larger Pokemon.
"All right, ladies, let the contest battle begin!" Marian, the contest announcer, exclaimed with enthusiasm, her voice echoing through the hall. The crowd erupted into cheers.
Chloe's heart raced as the battle began in earnest, her mind focused on the task at hand. She knew that Kelly and Liepard would be relentless, but she had faith in Eevee and the bond they shared. This was their moment to prove themselves, and Chloe was determined to show everyone what they were capable of.
"All right, rookie, let's see what you're capable of. Liepard, use Agility around Eevee," Kelly commanded her Pokémon.
With a swift, graceful movement, Liepard sprang into action. The sleek cheetah-like Pokémon's speed increased dramatically as it began to circle around Eevee, moving so fast that it became a blur of motion. The audience watched in awe as Liepard's rapid pace created multiple afterimages. These shadowy duplicates surrounded Eevee, darting around it in a dizzying dance.
Eevee's large, expressive eyes widened in confusion as it tried to keep track of Liepard's movements. From her position on the stage, Chloe felt a surge of anxiety. She could see the confusion and uncertainty in Eevee's stance
Kelly smirked, clearly pleased with how the battle was unfolding. "What's the matter, little one? Can't keep up?" she taunted, her voice carrying across the arena.
Liepard's move caused Chloe to start losing points on her counter, giving Kelly the advantage. She knew she had to act quickly, but how could she attack Liepard if she wasn't sure which of the copies was the real one, and they were moving so fast around her?
Suddenly, like a flash of lightning, inspiration struck Chloe. She recalled a training session she'd had with Ash just a few days ago. Ash had been teaching her about creative battle strategies, showing her how to think outside the box when faced with seemingly impossible situations. He had introduced her to a particular move, one that could counter an opponent's speed and disorienting tactics. It was perfect for this moment.
"Eevee, stay calm—we know what to do," Chloe called out, her voice steadying as confidence began to replace her earlier anxiety. Eevee's ears perked up at her trainer's words, sensing the change in her demeanor. Chloe's confidence was infectious, and Eevee's determination flared anew.
Chloe took a deep breath, visualizing the move Ash had taught her. "Eevee, use your Swift Attack and start spinning fast!" she commanded,
Without a moment's hesitation, Eevee launched into action. It began to dart forward, then suddenly pivoted and started spinning rapidly in place. As it spun, a dazzling array of energy stars—Eevee's Swift attack—began to shoot out from its body,
The stars were bright and fast, streaking across the battlefield and slicing through the air with incredible precision.
The audience gasped in awe as the arena was filled with the twinkling lights of the Swift attack. The stars were relentless, homing in on every single afterimage that Liepard had created. One by one, the illusions flickered and vanished as the stars passed through them. Liepard, now deprived of its deceptive cover, was forced to dodge the onslaught of stars, but its speed wasn't enough to evade them all.
Chloe's points, which had been dwindling rapidly just moments before, now stabilized as Kelly's points began to drop for the first time. The momentum of the battle had shifted.
Kelly's confident smirk faded, replaced by a look of surprise and frustration. She hadn't expected Chloe to counter her strategy so effectively.
Meanwhile, in the stands, Chloe's two friends were watching the battle intently. "Hey, Ash, isn't that move yours?" Goh asked, recognizing the trick that Eevee had just performed.
"The Counter Shield is something I use in my battle strategy, but the move was originally created for a Pokémon contest," Ash explained, giving Goh a bit of background on the technique.
Goh nodded in understanding after Ash's explanation. He could see now how Chloe had adapted a move originally designed for contests into her own battle strategy. "It's amazing how versatile that move is," Goh remarked, his eyes fixed on the intense battle unfolding below.
Ash smiled proudly, watching as Chloe and Eevee executed the technique flawlessly. "Yeah, it's not just about power—it's about creativity and timing. Chloe's really learned how to think on her feet," Ash said, his voice filled with admiration for his friend's progress.
Back on the stage, the atmosphere was electric. The audience was on the edge of their seats as the battle between Chloe and Kelly continued to escalate. Both coordinators were pushing their Pokémon to the limit, determined to outmaneuver each other.
"Quick, Eevee, use Shadow Ball!" Chloe called out, her voice ringing with urgency. Eevee responded immediately, gathering dark, swirling energy between its small paws. With a powerful thrust, Eevee launched the Shadow Ball straight toward Liepard.
"Liepard, intercept it with Shadow Claw now!" she commanded, her tone sharp and decisive.
Liepard's eyes narrowed as it focused on the incoming attack. With a swift and fluid motion, its claws extended and began to glow with a dark, ghostly aura. The Pokémon leaped forward, slashing through the air with its Shadow Claw,
The two ghostly energies collided in midair with a burst of dark light, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. However, Liepard's Shadow Claw was stronger than Eevee's attack, slicing through the Shadow Ball and splitting it in two.
"All right, Liepard, use Dark Pulse!" Kelly continued her offensive. Liepard prepared its attack against Eevee, but Chloe seized this moment to counterattack.
"Eevee, quickly use Quick Attack beneath Liepard!" Chloe instructed rapidly.
Eevee, taking advantage of its small size, swiftly slipped underneath Liepard before it could fire its attack, positioning itself directly below it. Then, with a burst of speed, Eevee delivered a headbutt right under Liepard's chin. The impact caused Liepard to misfire its Dark Pulse, sending the attack into the ceiling instead.
Eevee's clever move disrupted Liepard's concentration and evened out the points on both coordinators' scoreboards. Despite being a novice, Eevee's cunning and its coordination with Chloe's direction put them on equal footing in this battle.
Kelly's frustration was evident, but she quickly masked it with a determined glare. "Liepard, get back in the game! Use your Iron Tail!" she ordered, hoping to turn the tide once more.
Liepard, its tail glowing with a metallic sheen, readied itself for another powerful attack. It swung its Iron Tail with impressive force, aiming to strike Eevee before it could react.
Chloe's eyes widened as she realized the danger. "Eevee, counter with Protect!" she commanded urgently.
Eevee, sensing the incoming threat, formed a shimmering barrier of energy around itself just in time. The Iron Tail struck the Protect shield with a resounding clang, but the barrier held firm, deflecting the powerful blow.
However, Chloe didn't anticipate that Liepard would use the attack as a distraction, as it was part of Kelly's plan for Eevee to use Protect. "Just what we wanted, use Feint!" Kelly commanded.
Chloe realized she had fallen into a trap, knowing that Feint is effective only against defensive moves, which made it much more powerful. Liepard quickly closed in on Eevee's energy shield and broke through it with its claw, causing devastating damage.
Eevee was severely hurt and collapsed on the ground. Chloe was stunned to see her partner injured, but if she stepped into the fight, they would be disqualified. "Eevee, come on, don't give up—I know you can do this!"
Despite the injuries, Eevee found the strength to rise, determined not to let its partner down with victory so close. However, Eevee was running low on energy and barely able to continue.
Chloe watched as Eevee struggled to stand and fight on. She wasn't going to give up, and she could see that the last attack had drained many of their points. Only a little over a minute remained on the clock.
"You've done well, rookie, but I'm afraid you won't be able to continue in this contest," Kelly declared, now very confident of her victory. Chloe knew Kelly was right; she didn't have many options left.
However, what Kelly didn't know was that Chloe had an ace up her sleeve, something she had developed with Eevee aft er training with Ash. It was something new that no one had seen before. Although they hadn't perfected it, Chloe knew it was their only chance to win and advance to the finals.
"All right, Eevee, I guess we should try that," Chloe said to her partner, who looked at her in disbelief. "I know we've only tried it once, but that power is something Kelly won't be able to counter. I know it might be too much, but I believe without a doubt that you can do it. You're the best, Eevee," Chloe assured her Pokémon. Eevee knew it could go wrong, but she had to try for her trainer and best friend. "
With great determination, both Chloe and Eevee prepared to execute their plan. No one knew what they had in store, but in the stands, Ash could sense that Chloe was planning something. He could see it in her eyes and that confident smile she wore.
"Don't tell me you're going through with this, girl. Don't you see you're out of time?" Kelly said, trying to shake Chloe's confidence once again, but this time it had no effect.
"Maybe I would have before, but not now. I promised a lot of people that I would win, and I'm not going to give up," Chloe declared with all her strength, echoing the daring attitude of her friend.
"All right, Eevee, are you ready?" Chloe asked, ready to begin. "Eeevee," her Pokémon confirmed. "Let the show begin," Chloe exclaimed as Eevee started.
Everyone was eagerly waiting to see what would happen, only watching as the small Pokémon began gathering its energy. "Is that all you're going to do? Just stand there doing nothing. What a rook—" Kelly mocked but stopped when she saw her opponent's Pokémon start to glow.
Eevee's body released sparks all around it, something no one in the room had ever seen before with that Pokémon. In the stands, Chloe's friends watched in amazement.
"Hey, did you teach her that?" Goh asked. "No. I've never seen anything like this," Ash replied, acknowledging that what was about to happen was entirely Chloe's creation.
"All right, Eevee, you're almost ready. Remember, together we can do anything," Chloe shouted with all her might to encourage her Pokémon, who was ready to unleash this special attack. From Eevee's body, six small energy spheres of different colors were released. They were red, blue, yellow, green, and white.
As the colorful spheres hovered around Eevee, the audience watched in awe, unsure of what was coming next. Chloe's confidence never wavered as she focused on her partner. The energy orbs were more than just beautiful lights; they represented the potential of Eevee's evolutionary forms.
"Eevee, now!" Chloe commanded; her voice filled with determination.
Each of the spheres began to pulse and glow more intensely, channeling the powers of Eevee's possible evolutions. The red orb unleashed a burst of flames, resembling the fiery power of Flareon. The blue sphere emitted a powerful jet of water, mimicking the aquatic strength of Vaporeon. The yellow orb crackled with electricity, echoing the lightning-fast strikes of Jolteon. The green orb released a burst of leaves and wind, representing the natural grace of Leafeon. The white sphere released the ice powers of Glaceon.
The six spheres circled Eevee, each one releasing its respective attack, creating a dazzling and powerful display. The combination of these elemental forces formed a unique and powerful move that no one had ever seen before.
Liepard, caught off guard by the sudden barrage of elemental attacks, struggled to defend against the onslaught. The powerful combination of fire, water, electricity, and the other elements overwhelmed Liepard, leaving it no room to counter.
"Wow, I can't believe Chloe took Eevee's power to the next level without evolving. It's amazing that she managed to do that," Goh exclaimed, impressed by the rapid growth of his friend. On the other hand, Ash remained silent.
He was genuinely amazed that Eevee had achieved something so powerful and unprecedented so quickly. However, he sensed that something was about to go wrong.
The crowd was stunned by the display, and even Kelly, who had been so confident moments before, was taken aback. "What is this...?" she muttered, unable to believe what she was witnessing.
"Eevee, give it everything you've got!" Chloe urged, pushing her Pokémon to unleash the full potential of the attack.
With a final burst of energy, the spheres collided in a brilliant explosion of color and power, all directed at Liepard. Everyone knew if the attack connected the match was over and Chloe would advance to the final round.
However, just as the applause began to fill the arena, Eevee suddenly wobbled on its feet. Chloe's eyes widened in concern as she saw her partner sway, then collapse to the ground from exhaustion. The immense energy required to unleash the powerful combination attack had drained Eevee completely.
"Eevee!" Chloe cried out, rushing to her partner's side.
The judges conferred quickly, and Marian's voice echoed through the arena, "Due to Eevee's inability to continue, Chloe has been disqualified. The victory goes to Kelly!"
Chloe cradled the fainted Eevee in her arms, her heart sinking as the realization hit. They had come so close, but in the end, the strain was too much for Eevee to bear.
Everyone was stunned by the outcome. Even Kelly knew that she didn't deserve the victory—the display of strength from that Eevee had surpassed her in every way, and now both Chloe and Eevee had earned her respect.
Chloe held her Eevee tightly, feeling the weight of guilt for possibly pushing her Pokémon to use a technique they hadn't had time to perfect. But soon, her partner stirred. "Eeveee," it cried out, still exhausted from pushing itself to the limit.
Chloe's eyes filled with tears as she realized her partner was okay, and that was all that mattered to her.
Chloe gently stroked Eevee's fur, her tears falling onto her partner's soft coat. "I'm so glad you're okay, Eevee," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. The crowd, initially silent in shock, began to murmur, and then a wave of applause erupted throughout the arena. They weren't just applauding Kelly's victory—they were also acknowledging the incredible bond between Chloe and Eevee, as well as the effort they had put into the battle.
Kelly approached Chloe, her usual confident demeanor softened. "You and Eevee were amazing out there. I may have won, but you two were the real stars of the show," she admitted, offering her hand.
Chloe looked up, surprised by Kelly's words. She managed a small smile and shook Kelly's hand. "Thank you. We did our best, and that's what matters."
Nurse Joy, who had been watching the whole scene unfold, walked over to Chloe and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "You and Eevee have something very special. Don't be discouraged by this loss—use it as motivation to keep growing stronger together."
Chloe nodded. "We will. This isn't the end for us."
The entire audience erupted into applause once again in honor of Chloe and Eevee's incredible performance. Chloe took a bow to the entire crowd before leaving the stage, making way for the next round to continue and for the winner of the contest to be decided.
And just like that, the contest had come to an end. As expected, Kelly won the final, but the final match hadn't been as exciting as her previous battle with Chloe. Without a doubt, it had been a contest to remember for Kelly, not just because of her victory, but also for the lesson in humility and the reminder to never underestimate her opponents.
Chloe, on the other hand, watched the final from the dressing room, not feeling up to joining the audience. Although she accepted her defeat with pride, she couldn't hold back the sadness of having come so close to victory without winning.
"Are contests really for me?" Chloe began to question whether she had what it took to be a successful coordinator. It was normal to have those thoughts after her first loss.
Eevee sensed her inner conflict and approached her trainer to offer support. "Eeveee," it said softly. Chloe appreciated the affection from her Pokémon and hugged her gently. "Oh, Eevee, thank you so much for everything you did. I'm so sorry we couldn't win."
Eevee nuzzled into Chloe's embrace, its warmth offering a quiet comfort. Chloe smiled softly through the sadness, feeling the bond between them stronger than ever. "But we gave it our all, didn't we?" she whispered, more to herself than to Eevee. "We fought so hard... I know we'll get there."
Eevee nuzzled into Chloe's embrace, its warmth offering a quiet comfort. Chloe smiled softly through the sadness, feeling the bond between them stronger than ever. "But we gave it our all, didn't we?" she whispered, more to herself than to Eevee. "We fought so hard... I know we'll get there."
As Chloe sat in the quiet of the dressing room, she reflected on the contest. Every moment of it, from the preparation to the battle itself, replayed in her mind. It hadn't been perfect, and the final attack had pushed Eevee beyond its limits, but they had shown something incredible. Even the judges had been astonished by what they were capable of.
Suddenly, the door creaked open. Chloe looked up to see Ash and Goh stepping inside, both wearing supportive smiles. "There you are," Ash said, walking over with Pikachu by his side. "We were looking for you."
Goh nodded. "We saw how hard you and Eevee fought out there. You two were amazing, Chloe."
Chloe gave a small, appreciative smile, though her heart still weighed heavy. "Thanks, guys. It just... didn't turn out the way I hoped."
Ash sat down beside her. "That's how it goes sometimes. But you've got something special with Eevee. You two did something no one's ever seen before. That's huge."
Goh added, "Exactly! I've never seen a performance like that from an Eevee. You've already got something unique—now you just need to keep pushing forward."
Chloe looked down at Eevee, who was now resting peacefully in her lap. "I guess you're right. We were close, but I just feel like... maybe I pushed Eevee too hard. Maybe we weren't ready."
Ash placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Chloe, you're always going to have doubts, especially after a tough loss. But that's part of learning and growing. You didn't push Eevee too hard—you believed in each other, and you went for it. That's what matters."
Chloe met Ash's gaze, feeling a flicker of hope reignite within her. "You really think so?"
"Of course," Ash replied confidently. "Every great trainer goes through tough losses. It's how you come back from them that counts. And I know you'll come back stronger."
Chloe glanced at Eevee again, gently stroking its fur. "We will," she said with determination, her sadness slowly giving way to resolve. "Next time, we'll be even better."
As they walked out of the contest hall, Chloe felt the cool breeze brush against her face. Eevee was still resting peacefully in her arms, recovering from the exhausting battle. Ash and Goh walked beside her, chatting between each other Chloe was quiet, her thoughts still lingering on everything that had happened.
Ash turned to Chloe, his expression more thoughtful than usual. "Hey, Chloe," he began, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, "I was thinking… you know, it's pretty late, and since Eevee's still tired, maybe I could walk you home? If you'd like, I mean."
Chloe blinked, taken aback by the offer. She could feel her cheeks heat up, her mind racing for a second before she nodded shyly. "Oh, um... sure, Ash. I'd like that."
A slight blush crept across her face as she glanced away, trying to keep her cool. Ash smiled, relieved, and Goh was oblivious at first, still standing there but then he noticed the slight shift in Chloe's demeanor and the way Ash had spoken. He paused, looking between the two of them, confused for a moment.
"What? Wait, are we all going together or…...-." Goh started, but then Ash gave him a pointed look. It wasn't harsh, but it was enough for Goh to understand. Ash's eyes, combined with a tiny tilt of his head, trying to explain him without words.
Goh's eyes widened slightly in realization. "Ohhh. Right. Got it," he said, chuckling awkwardly. "Well, I uh... I just remembered I've got something to take care of back at the lab. So... I'll catch you two later, okay?"
Chloe glanced at Goh, catching the subtle shift in his tone, and smiled. "Thanks, Goh. We'll see you later."
"Yeah, see you tomorrow, Goh!" Ash added with a wave.
With an exaggerated wave, Goh grinned and took off in the other direction, leaving Ash and Chloe standing alone. The quietness between them felt new, and Chloe felt her heart racing a bit, though she wasn't sure why. Ash was a good friend, after all, but there was something about him offering to walk her home that felt... different.
They began walking side by side, the night air cool and refreshing. After a few minutes of silence, Ash glanced at Chloe. "You really did great today, you know."
Chloe looked up at him, still feeling the warmth in her cheeks. "Thanks, Ash. It means a lot coming from you. I guess... we werent ready to try that special move"
"Don't say silly things, smarty. I've seen incredible things during my journey, but I've never seen that kind of power in an Eevee, and you two did it all on your own. You really left me speechless," Ash expressed, sharing the great pride he felt for his friend.
"Thanks, it was something we've been working on for the past couple of weeks. Though there's still a lot to perfect," Chloe said, feeling more encouraged.
"If it helps, you did way better than May and Dawn in their first contest," Ash said with a laugh.
"I don't believe it! They're two of the most talented coordinators right now," Chloe exclaimed in disbelief.
"We all start somewhere, smarty. There are plenty of stories about my friends, and well, none of us did that great at the beginning."
"Oh, including you, Mr. All-Powerful Champion of Alola?" Chloe replied sarcastically.
"Don't underestimate me, bookworm," Ash shot back, slipping back into their usual playful banter.
As they approached Chloe's house, the streetlights cast a warm glow on the quiet neighborhood. The walk felt like it had flown by, and Chloe found herself wishing it had lasted a bit longer.
"Well, here we are," Ash said, stopping at the gate. Chloe turned to face him, still holding Eevee gently in her arms.
"Thanks for walking me home, Ash. I really appreciate it," Chloe said, feeling her nervousness return now that they were about to say goodbye.
Remember, I'll always be here whenever you need a friend," Ash said with great sincerity, his smile wide.
"You know, I'm not the only one with a secret weapon," Chloe responded.
"What do you mean?" Ash asked, curious.
"You have a beautiful smile too," Chloe said softly, her voice sweet and her eyes glowing with a gentle light.
Both fell silent, but Chloe could feel her heart racing a mile a minute. She remembered what her mom had said the other day, how a first crush was magical and would make her feel inexplicable things—just like in this moment.
"Hey..." Ash started to say, still looking at her.
"Yes?" Chloe whispered, hoping he'd take the first step.
"I think your mom's watching us from the window," Ash whispered.
Chloe snapped out of her trance.
Chloe's face turned bright red, mortified as she glanced up at the window. Sure enough, there was her mom, hiding in the curtains.
"Oh no… this is so embarrassing," Chloe whispered, covering her face with her hands.
Ash chuckled and gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it. Moms are like that sometimes." He gave a casual shrug, as if it was no big deal.
They stood there awkwardly for a moment before Ash spoke again. "Well, I guess I should get going. Don't want to keep you too long."
"Yeah... thanks for walking me home," Chloe replied, still feeling her heart race, though now for a different reason.
Ash waved goodbye and started to turn away, but something inside Chloe stirred. The thought of letting him go without doing anything suddenly felt unbearable. Her heart pounded in her chest as she made a quick, impulsive decision.
"Wait, Ash!" she called out, her voice shaky but full of determination.
Ash turned back, surprised. "Yeah?"
Before she could second-guess herself, Chloe stepped forward and, in one swift motion, gave Ash a quick but sweet kiss on the cheek. Her face immediately flushed, and she backed away quickly, her heart racing even faster now.
"I… I just wanted to say thank you… for everything," Chloe stammered, her eyes unable to meet his.
Ash stood frozen for a moment, his face turning slightly pink, too. He blinked a few times, clearly caught off guard. "Uh, y-yeah, of course! Anytime, Chloe," he managed to say, a bit flustered but smiling.
Chloe gave him a small, shy smile before rushing toward her house, feeling like her heart might burst.
Ash waved once more, still smiling as he turned to leave. "See you tomorrow, Chloe!" he called, a little louder this time, and she could hear the warmth in his voice.
Chloe leaned against her door, trying to catch her breath, the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. She couldn't believe she had done that. But one thing was certain: she couldn't stop smiling.
Sorry for the long delay. I had a lot of work and trips the last month. However, the next chapters will be daring. I hope you like this one. See you soon.