Chapter 15: Battle Lance (3)

Chapter 15: Battle Lance (3)

Go Shin! I hurled my pokeball with accuracy born from long hours of experience. It didnt seem like a large aspect of a pokemon match but you could set quite a lot up depending on where on your side of the field you deployed your pokemon. There was also the bounce-back feature that you needed to work in. It was actually possible to throw your pokeball and have it shoot back to a position nowhere near you. My Kabutops took to the field with a quick one two-step before flourishing his scythes.

The commentators instantly jumped on my choice. OH! A POKEMON FROM ANCIENT TIMES! A KABUTOPS! THIS IS CERTAINLY A RARE SHOWING FROM THE PEWTER CITY GYM LEADER!

Shin was raring to go. Across the field, Charizard grunted and blew out a flame before flapping its wings. The referee checked with us both before raising his flags and dropping them.

Rock polish! Ascend! Lance and I ordered over the top of each other. Lance clicked his tongue at the missed opportunity.

Fire blast! he tried to change things up.

Hydropump! I said to Shin. The two attacks impact and instantly I can see a potential trap with how the mist blocks sight of his Charizard. Lance doesnt react but I still decide to call out my next order Dodge!

This time Lance smirked, informing me Id made a mistake with that call. Fire spin! is his answer.

Rock polish again! I call out even as a ring of fire drops from within the mist, grimacing as I do. Shin dodged the flame well but it only took a small tongue of fire to touch and for the burn to impact Shin.

I hadnt been able to find an accurate list of potential moves available to Lances Charizard. Im sure someone in the future would like to know about it having Fire spin. For now, it was going to bite me. Shin! Zig-zag firing patterns!

With the mist starting to dissipate, Id have more of a chance. I didnt have many good options with Lance knowing hed be able to counter with fireblast for a while. That was a crutch though. It was only for a while. Also, the mist would weaken his Charizard gradually the longer he remained within it. I felt myself relax as my mind began to unravel the potential paths forward available to me.

Shin began to streak across the field, pause, fire off a hydro pump before changing locations. This forced Charizard to begin weaving in and out. Lance tried to have him shoot off some Fire Blast back but this made the air more sodden with water. It began to make both my pokemon and the Charizard difficult to target.

Switch targets! Get the last of the floating rocks Charizard! This order caused his pokemon to pause and I almost felt myself become psychic as I knew what would happen next. Shin stopped on a dime and from his mouth a dense ball of water built before launching out at highly pressurised speed.

Charizard tucked on a wing and dove low making the attack whiff. I inhaled and felt everything come together as it finally came within range. Aqua jet!

Lances hand began to raise as water built around my pokemon. No! Charizard gain alt Shin didnt blur so much as glitch across the space to slam straight into Charizards side to launch it into the side of the arena.

It had taken a three-stage Stealth Rock, an Explosion, Mist weakening, and finally a two-stage empowered Kabutops hitting it like a truck with Aqua Chhhaaaaar!!!! roared the pokemon as it staggered back to its feet . The flame on its tail pulsed from extreme to pitifully weak almost like a heartbeat. The Dragon in all but typing had its eyes narrowed as it stared straight at Shin. It raised trembling hands towards my pokemon. It was obvious it couldnt fight to anyone watching.

That didnt mean it was going to just stop fighting though.

I blinked in surprise before nodding in respect. This was obviously a Charizard that truly served as an exemplar for its species.

The crowd roared and urged it on. I turned to look straight at Lance only to find him looking straight back at me. Shin, Hydro pump. Shin stiffened,

Kabutops? he said, obviously concerned.

We cant dismiss this dragon. A few people booed me but others heard my words. They held their tongues as Charizard took slow, lumbering steps forward like he was going to build up momentum for a charging tackle. Each step merely looked painfully slow after the earlier aerial acrobatics.

Shin bobbed his head once before lining up another shot. The Charizard saw the shot and staggered forward with a raised claw, delirious, but unwilling to back down. I felt something roil in my stomach but I knew I couldnt deny or demand Lance withdraw his pokemon. Some pokemon werent like that. They abhorred being withdrawn from battle. Some pokemon didnt seem to have fight and flight. They only had Fight responses. To be a good trainer you had to identify them and develop methods for curtailing them.

You also had to have a good deal of faith that an opponent would recognise the fact that they wouldnt go down and act for the best. Lance himself was watching on stoically but I thought I had seen him nod in acceptance when I gave the order. For a moment, Id even thought Id seen a smile. It really was too much of a beast to ignore. It seemed to be the type that had to be put down rather than it ever ceding a loss willingly.

When the dragon dropped to the ground, the stadium went silent. As one, we held our breaths. We watched the downed dragon, shared in hopes of this not being a tragedy.

The rise of the pokemons ribs caused everyone to exhale causing the stadiums dust to stir as a small breeze swept through it at the synchronised action. I gripped the podium and shuddered.

Kabu-tops? said my pokemon. I waved off the concern.

Sorry for that Kabutops, that Charizard wasnt simply going to accept going down. One of the issues of using Dragon pokemon. Theyre prideful beings. Like Don. That got an understanding nod from Shin, well aware of how Don could be. Youve probably got a rival in that Charizard now. If you ever fight it again its going to try twice as hard to knock you out.

Kabutops! Shin brandished his scythes. I grinned before looking up at Lance as he stared at the pokeball in his hand.

That happen a lot? I called.

Lance nodded, Yes. Charizard is very much a Dragon in temperament. He inclined his head. "Most people dont like to recognise that in him. His expression turned amused. And yes your Shin has certainly earnt himself a rival on this day. He pushed the pokeball back onto his belt before sweeping his hand out, causing his cape to flourish. But dont think I have forgotten my reason for being here Brock! He tossed another pokeball forward.Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.

Go Dragonite!

I held in my groan. Another Dragonite and still not his main? Dragonites were huge commitments to train and Lance had three at a level he felt was appropriate for his best team? Insane. He was truly insane.

OH! IS THIS IT!? I shook my head but realised that the announcer shouldnt be that embarrassed that theyd mistaken this Dragonite for Lances brute. I could see the sheen of polished scales and rippling muscle as the dragon idly flexed.

Once more the rocks rose up. The ref rose and dropped his flag once more. The stealth rocks swept inwards but before the rocks could hit fully the Dragonites wings blurred and it shot upwards.

This resulted in lightning blowing the earth apart but leaving Don free. I watched the Dragonite continue to blast away before suddenly stuttering out. In the game, this would have been seen as running out of moves. In this world, Lance had pushed his Dragonites reservoir of Electric energy too far and it now needed time to recharge.

Dragon dance again Don! I again capitalised on the momentary weakness. More purple energy built up within Don and when he moved now, each flap of his wing caused a harsh wind to blow about the arena. His eyes gleamed as he locked onto the Dragonite and his instinct demanded he attack now.

Ice fang! I ordered, making Lance hiss.

Dodge it Dragonite! This time it was the Dragonite that lost altitude to dive and dip around the landscape of carved rocks that had been leftover from its fight with Shin and now Don. I watched, tense, as Dragonite swept left and right through the field.

Only for Don to keep closing on him. I watched, surprised as Don began to gain more and more ground. The rate that he was reeling in the more deftly maneuvering Dragonite surprised me. Perhaps I hadnt needed to use the second Dragon Dance. Were Aerodactyls better fliers than Dragonites? There wasnt a lot of information on that but it appeared that with Don powered up twice he was easily beginning to catch up to the Dragonite. Something that everyone seemed to notice as more and more people became vocal.

Don and the Dragonite only had eyes for each other though as they tore around the arena, pulling hairpin turns that had them spiral upwards before dropping like rocks to then loop-de-loop back around.

Dragonite tried to obfuscate the way it was flying by blowing huge dust storms in its wake only for Don to ignore the dust and charge after. It was probably something to do with being a rock type. Professor Oak or another of the researchers around the world would have a more in-depth understanding of the how, but it wasnt an issue for Don to see through the dust.

Lance clicked his tongue. Dragonite! Turn and brawl! Use Iron Tail!

Dragonite spun around, its tail glowing as it spun only for Don to barrel right into the attack with an open maw that had ice built up around it. Both hits connected but I could tell that Don had come off stronger from the attack.

Dragon claw! shouted Lance.

Again! Ice Fang! I was more than happy to meet Dragonite blow for blow here. I had empowered Don and already whittled away at the Dragonite with Shin. Now it became a slugfest with the two pokemon clawing and biting at each other. Dons wings even came into play, slapping his foe about the face to disrupt Dragonite as Don bit forward.

A particularly good bite saw Don clamping down. Don held on as Dragonite tried to beat its arms and head down on the attack. I leaned forward much like Don, smelling the metaphorical blood in the water. Lance likewise knew what would happen if this continued. Dragonite crash land now!

Before Don could unlatch Dragonite plummeted towards the earth, crashing them both into the ground. Stone Edge! I commanded, not really able to see what was going on but adamant that Don wasnt out of the fight.

Dragonite screeched as it was launched back to tumble before taking a kneeling stance. The dragon heaved in air while glaring at Don as my pokemon righted itself and flapped just above the ground. It seemed both were on their last legs. Lance swept his eyes from me to my pokemon before nodding.

Hyper Beam!

I had half a heartbeat to come to terms with the order and plan my next move. I knew a lot was riding on this call. Don wouldnt be able to do much against the next pokemon that was coming out. Heck if this Dragonite was an indicator I truly might have to play for my ace in the hole.

I could drag this out by possibly dodging but I didnt want to make things seem hedged. The ten million was a lot but, more importantly, I wanted people to respect me and my team. Here and now I had to earn that by showing that I could match Lance.

Match it Don! I said. Instantly energy built up in Dons maw as he locked onto his target. I tensed and braced myself, knowing exactly what was about to happen. Around the stadium, the damage absorbers flared up in readiness.

Dragonite fired off his Hyper Beam and half a heartbeat later Don matched it. Both beams of energy were on target. They slammed into each other and the earth bucked as the two attacks tore into each other.

The clash of energy didnt make any noise except the howl of the wind pushing away from the impact site. I watched as slowly but surely the beam of one of the pokemon pushed forward. I grimaced as I realised that it wasnt Dons beam.

Don seemed to sense this pressure. Like an inverted tug of war, or more accurately two sumo wrestlers throwing themselves against each other, the attacks impacted against each other. Don dug deep and the shifting balance slowed before stopping.

DRAGONITE! PUSH ON! roared Lance as he noticed how Don was fighting off the attack.

DON! I called out. TAKE OUT THAT TWO-BIT DESCENDANT! It wasnt how Id normally refer to anothers pokemon but Don was a crude pokemon that liked smack talk.

The beams from both pokemon intensified as more and more energy was poured forth. I looked to the Dragonite. Surely, surely they had to be running out of reserves. And sure enough, one of the pokemon inevitably ran out of energy. I grimaced as Don took the hyper beam and slammed harshly into the wall of the arena.

Dragonite stood on the other side shuddering and shaking but still standing. Don stayed down, his chest rising and falling, allowing the grip that had clenched my heart to relax.

Aerodactyl is unable to battle, the A deep weary groan escaped the suddenly tottering Dragonite. Everyone watched in only for it to catch itself and flare its wings. It landed and more dust rose as everyone watched on. The referee coughed before lowering the flag in my direction. Aerodactyl is unable to battle! We will now hold an intermission as three pokemon have been defeated!

I withdrew Don and smiled at the pokeball as I idly walked back to the bunker, happy with his performance but dreading how Lance had now brought it to a three vs three match up. I had done well but I could feel Lances team starting to inexorably pry my grip off control of the match.

The last few pokemon had all been able to endure despite having type advantages on them. Theyd taken blows that had dropped some of Surge and Sabrinas pokemon. The hype surrounding these pokemon certainly wasnt just hot air. It seemed almost inevitable for Lance to simply outlast me with how things were going.

I continued to walk back and forth, not even paying attention to June and Celia. I could recognise that I was in a funk from the way things had slipped but I had to be realistic. Had I been expecting for this to be as easy as the games where you could line up perfect matchups and have stronger pokemon than Lance easily with hours of play? No, and that was a trap I had tried to avoid as I grew up after having my first losses handed to me. Something you could avoid entirely in the game with careful forethought. Still, the trap was there and I occasionally, like now found myself tripping over the difference between expectations versus reality. It was seeping back in and messing up my mental state.

I faced away from the girls and clapped my hands together, going through an old anxiety-release method from my past life.

When the match was called to resume, Lance looked much more in control of himself. I smiled at the presumed challenge. Id gone through the stages of thinking I had needed. If this had continued without the break I would have probably had to use my minute delay before releasing pokemon but I was confident now. I could do this. I wasnt out of my depth.

If he wanted to bring the big guns, I could do that as well. Hed already brought out his fourth pokemon.

Time for me to answer and tear this match back into my grasp.