I must say, out of everyone on our team, Hoopa is the one I'm…least eager to battle with, to put it lightly. I know they're not a bad pokemon per se, but they have put us through a lot. Plus, I've only really seen them battle our single mission together—other than that, I have no idea what their battling style is like. What if we're not compatible as a team? Although, at this point I guess we have no choice.
As the crowds dissipate, chattering excitedly, we find Delcatty. "Well, what do you think? Everyone good with their teams?" Noivern starts, "well, to tell you the truth—" "Delcatty, what gives? You paired me with Gwen? I may as well be battling by myself!" Hoopa complains indignantly. "Hey…" I say, halfheartedly, even though I agree. Somewhat. But they didn't have to put it so bluntly. "Don't get so cocky now, remember, I saw your battling skills. You've grown sloppy through the years," she replies, raising her eyebrows. "Anyway, it's all random, I'm afraid," she continues, turning back to the group, "it's important for those joining the expedition to not only be strong, but also be able to work effectively as part of a team."
"So…do you feel inclined to tell us where we're fighting so hard to go yet?" Serperior asks, tilting his head. She thinks for a moment, looking off into space, before replying, "no, not really. Sorry guys, but if word got out…it could compromise the whole mission. Even the winners will be sworn to secrecy." I figured as much. "Well, hopefully Rotom doesn't win, she couldn't keep a secret to save her life," Stephanie laughs. "Hey! Ooh, if we go 1-on-1, there's no holding back now!" She grins, zapping her lightly.
"Well, it's all kicking off next week! You guys will be able to be back for then, right?" "I…think so…" I start. "You kidding? We wouldn't miss it!" Stephanie grins. "As for now…we ought to get home, my parents should be bringing Elliot over soon," I say, trying to remember what time it must be there. Time seems…roughly equivalent in both places, but it's hard to pinpoint it exactly. I should run an experiment one of these days…although it's not like I could get it published. Would be more for my own reference more than anything. "Of course," Delcatty says, bowing her head.
"Alright, everyone ready to board the Hoopa Express? Next stop, the boring human world!" Hoopa grins, brandishing a portal. We exchange our goodbyes, then set off.
Next thing I know, I'm lying facedown in the middle of our living room. I hear Hoopa giggling, then see them wave and disappear through a hoop.
The next week passes in a blur. Between catching up with work, playing with Elliot, and moderating some matches between my teammates, it feels like I've blinked and Hoopa reappears in our home.
"Yay! Hoopy!" Elliot cheers upon seeing him. This week he'll be coming with us, but I'm sure he'll have fun in their daycare with the other kids.
When we arrive in the Explorer's Lounge, I'm amazed at how festive everything is looking—the pokemon here certainly know how to hype things up. Different stations have been set up with team names and flags. "Yep, designed that one myself!" Hoopa beams, pointing at ours; it features a golden hoop filled with a flurry of colors, and in the center is a bright white star. Various pokemon are gathered about, psyching themselves up, laughing, playing rough, and generally having a good time. Food and water has been laid out on a table for everyone to partake in as they wish. Another table has been set up with a wide variety of healing supplies. Even the flowers blooming on the hedges seem to be a little bigger and a little brighter than usual.
"Ah, there you all are! And welcome back Elliot, you here to support everyone?" Delcatty smiles. "He actually doesn't know about it, can we bring him to the daycare?" I ask. "You could, but the daycare already came down to watch!" She replies, "something of a learning experience for the kiddies, you know?" She winks, then has Ampharos take him to find Blissey and the others.
"Hey Gwen, you ready to knock everyone into next week?!" Hoopa says, flying into my face. "Ahaha…yeah…" "Good! Because I wanna win this thing! And you better not hold me back!" They squint at me, at odds with their huge grin—I'm not quite sure whether they're trying to encourage or threaten me.
"So, how's this all going to work?" Seviper asks, tilting her head. "Glad you asked!" Delcatty beams. "About 50 teams registered to participate, which brought our grand total to over 550 pairs of two." "Wow, that many? How many days is it going to take for everyone to battle?" Noivern asks. "Just two," she smiles sweetly. "Two? How?" Rotom interjects. "It's quite simple, really. The first round will be a three way battle—that means three teams of two will be battling each other, while the winning pair will advance to the next round. Then we will continue, team against team. Teams will go through three matches today, five tomorrow."
I'm stunned. This sounds less like a tournament, and more like she's workshopping some kind of torture project. Six pokemon from three teams on the field in the first round? And so many matches in the same day? I feel just the tiniest bit lightheaded.
"Delcatty, with all due respect, isn't that a little…much?" Serperior says, voicing what I'm sure we're all wondering. "Thank you for your respect—I'm due all of it," she grins. "But seriously, it is a lot, and that's part of the challenge! We're looking not only for the best battlers, but also those with the most endurance! Who can go, fight after fight, without giving up! Who can draw the most strength from their teammates!" "Ok, ok, we get it! You're looking for the best of the best. Fortunately, I'm already here," Hoopa says, spreading their arms wide, "I'll fight my way to the top, then I'll have the pleasure of defeating you!" They say, turning to me. "Pfft, unless your arrogance gets you knocked out first!" Rotom grins.
Delcatty wishes us luck, then takes her leave as we amble around the rapidly filling Explorer's Lounge, waiting for her to call everyone out for her opening statements. "I never even realized there were so many teams here…I feel like I've never seen half of these guys!" Stephanie says, incredulous. "Didn't you know? There are many teams across the continent affiliated with the Center, they don't all live here," Hoopa informs us. "We even sent out announcements to the other continents, thanks to yours truly," they gloat. "Oh…I guess that makes sense…" It's amazing when I think about it—a whole world, out there beyond the Center's trees…so much of it that I haven't even begun to see.
Cradily rushes in to the Lounge, out of breath, "alright everyone, please find your partner and come out! Master Delcatty's starting her speech!"
We pair off as Cradily leads everyone out into the ground floor of the Center.
The setup they have is simply remarkable. The whole ground floor has been turned into a massive arena. Pokemon are gathered all around the periphery behind rope barriers while others watch from the branches and buildings overhead. We've been led out, around the other side of the rope. The 'arena' consists of the rest of the ground floor having been divided into ten sections, the divisions emanating from a small stage that's been set up in the center. Delcatty stands on it and starts calling out to the Center through a megaphone.
"Welcome everyone! I'm so happy you could all be here today to watch the Exploration Center's first ever pokemon tournament! This is truly a historic day for us!" Applause and cheers come from every angle as we take it all in. Delcatty eventually waves one of her paws, silence quickly following. "Settle down now. I'm glad you're all so excited! For the next two days, we will watch the Center's very own teams compete with and against each other, each vying for a place on my own team, which will be traveling on a highly exclusive expedition!" More cheers and applause—it's clear everyone is feeling the hype. "Without further ado, I'd like to announce our first few matches—these are unique in that three pairs will be battling each other at once! If your names are not called, please step behind the rope until it is your team's turn!"
I listen out as the first 60 names are called. I note Stephanie and Rotom are among them, as are Noivern and Seviper. "Good luck guys! I know you can do it!" I call while stepping behind the rope.
They're directed to different sections of the field. I see Stephanie and Rotom going up against two water types, a croconaw and a buizel, and two bug types, a womadam and a swadloon. From my current vantage point, I can't quite see where Seviper and Noivern ended up, but I hope they're not feeling outmatched.
"Alright, everyone in position?" Delcatty calls from the stage. "Good. Now then, one last thing. Don't forget, if either member of your party faints, you're both out, so look out for each other, stay strong, and be victorious!" "What was that? If you faint I'm out too?!" Hoopa says, demanding my attention. "Guess we're really gonna have to work together," I shrug. "Maybe I can send you to another dimension while I win…" they say, looking into the distance, then glancing back at me with a glint in their eye. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather faint, fair and square," "pfft, spoilsport," they reply, as we return our attention to the battles.
Stephanie and Rotom seem to be off to a strong start. Rotom's Discharge got the pair of water types—they were both hit, and Buizel isn't getting up. Croconaw surrenders on his partner's account and carries him off the field, back to the Explorer's Lounge.
The battle continues—Stephanie gets hit by String Shot, and is struggling to move. But it doesn't stop her for long; she uses some fire to break through the bonds, then gets Swadloon with a Flame Charge. He sways in place for a moment, then collapses while Wormadam shrieks. The match is over—Rotom and Stephanie won. "Woo! Way to go Steph! Yeah!" I cry out, feeling giddy. I know it's just the first round, but…they actually won! It's incredible…I'm so proud!
They're escorted off the field by a moderator, and appear beside us a moment later. "Gwen! Did you see us! Wow! What a thrill!" Stephanie says, fired up. I plant a kiss on her cheek, "I did! You guys were amazing!" "It was thanks to me, really," Rotom gloats, "without me, those water types would've got you for sure!" "Haha, sure. Whatever," Stephanie laughs, rolling her eyes.
I look out and see Noivern suddenly soar above the field. He dodges an errant move—possibly Shadow Ball?—then dives back into the fray. A moment later he's back in the air, shakily ascending while clutching a protesting Seviper.
"What are they doing?" Stephanie asks, furrowing her brows. Seeing all the beam-style attacks being launched in the air after them, I get the feeling they're just buying time. Noivern and I used a strategy like that before—if we could get our opponent to use up their best move, often we found they had little else to fall back on. So if they can make their opponents run out of long-range moves…
Well, it's a good idea until I see them get hit squarely by an Electro Ball. They both cry out as they start to plummet. I don't see them hit the ground, but based on the resounding "Ooooh," coming from the other side, I don't think it can be good. "What's happening? Are they ok?" I say, struggling to see. "Oh! Hang on a sec!" Serperior says as he holds Stephanie and I in his vines and lifts us over the crowds. Rotom flies up next to us. "Can you see them? What happened?" He calls from below. I'm straining my eyes, but then I see them—both appear to be unconscious and are being removed from the arena. "It looks like they lost. Badly," Rotom calls down as Serperior lowers us back to the ground. "Dang, Seviper was really looking forward to this…" Stephanie says sadly. "Well, we'll try and make it up to them later, I'm sure we can cheer them up," I offer. "Yeah, if they ever make it out of the hospital!" Hoopa giggles, earning them a few nasty looks.
The matches continue on, Delcatty calling out more names as sections of the arena open up. Eventually, I hear Hoopa and I being called.
"Well baby, it's our time to shine! Let's go!" They grin as we're led to the field. I take one last look at my team, and follow them into the first battle.
