Chapter 18: Battle with Lance - Finale

Chapter 18: Battle with Lance - Finale

I spun the greatball in my grasp. It was a nervous tick. I knew it, and so did anyone who spent enough time with me. That didnt stop me from doing it. It was a soothing rhythm. A motion that allowed me to centre myself with the memetic action that was practically muscle memory at this point.

Obviously, it didnt transfer to the pokemon within. Otherwise, during my first circuit people would have thought my pokemon were drunk with how disoriented theyd have been upon emergence.

The inner workings of the pokeball were vaguely understood. The broad strokes of how they worked were taught to the masses, but the small details were far too technical to understand without at least two degrees. It sort of reminded me of how people on Earth understood that phones sent signals, but had no idea how to make them. It was a poor metaphor considering that pokeballs had ancient equivalents with apricorns. Johto liked to claim that they were the traditional home of pokeballs but too many other places also knew of the methods for me to believe that.

The history of the apricorn was actually fascinating to learn about. The ability to catch pokemon with apricorn balls had caused a huge cultural shift along with raising the carvers guilds high with prestige and money. Then being able to grant something to help you hold your pokemon close at hand, while lessening the strain of feeding your pokemon to a tenth of what you previously had thanks to the stasis effect? Game-changing.

While technology did play a huge role in those early models, most of their capabilities were powered by aura in the end. Old techniques handed down from masters to apprentices.

I spun the greatball in my hand and felt the aura that connected me to the ball. Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.

Most wouldnt understand that all methods of capture used by trainers allowed for a bond to form using your aura. The only pokeballs I had heard of that didnt have this feature were the illegal balls used by criminal organisations. It tended to make the pokemon wilder. This helped criminal organisations control their minions. You couldnt simply steal the pokeballs as it would instantly flag you as a criminal to any authorities, thus forcing people to double-down, so to speak, with their organisation. The pokemon didn't have loyalty to their trainers and typically were more useful to simply point towards a target and release.

It also made it so that they didnt register on the pokemon leagues network.

A network that automatically registered and recorded which pokemon you owned in real time. This had been a new development as of last year.

Lance would have to know who my starter was. As the Champion he would have access to my listings that even ordinary trainers, Police, and even Rangers were restricted from seeing. You didnt just give out top tier trainers' best pokemon to the wider public. As a Gym Trainer, mine was more well known but that was something of my own choice. I had created a system that challenged trainers for an appropriate level, but also helped keep me and my pokemon strong.

I stopped spinning the Great Ball and enlarged it with a press of a button. I refocused with a quick breath, in and out.

The momentum Id had prior to this match was gone. Double knockouts late into the match did that. It was not ideal. I would have liked to have had the Stealth rock remain in play the entire match, but this was the situation now. I had to deal with that and adjust.

Regardless, I still had Lance in a tight spot. That was a big plus. Things had mostly worked out how I wanted them to. Ideally, Charizard would have been taken out with Explosion, but maybe that was asking too much. Shin and Don had done great. Sanchez had performed up to my hopes for him. Bertha had done exceptionally well in her first match against the Dragonite. Then shed backed up her performance against a huge type and speed disadvantage that should have seen her fall without the counterpunch.

Now it all came down to this. I had two pokemon left to face Lances most elite Dragonite.

I tightened my grip on the Great Ball and imagined how this was going to play out. I knew I had another option. I had trained to give myself more options in fact. I didnt ever want to allow myself only one course of action in a battle. Battles were often won or lost by giving yourself as many options while denying your opponent.

I thought of it as Game theory. A term I had encountered in my previous life with various games or high-end analysis. It wasnt something yet discussed openly and I was the only person so far to talk about it. Until proven otherwise, I considered it something discussed behind closed doors between Gym Leaders and their trainers. You needed to know what choices had been displayed, play odds, and lean into information. In truth, Game theory was simply a dramatic way of referring to targeted strategy.

I was allowing myself to be distracted. I needed to centre myself. At this level of competition, mental acuity was just as important as the pokemon battling.

I ran through the reasons I had to push for this. The reasons I had to win.

I had ponied up a lot of money for this. Ten million wasnt something to scoff at, I had worked hard for that with my questing for pokemon along with investing in and challenging notable pokemon trainers when I could in the early days.

That was a good enough reason, certainly, but not enough to have me grinding my teeth and keeping me up at night. It wasnt the reason I had trained with my pokemon an extra hour at least each day on top of my usual training.

Lance had cast doubt on my capabilities and competency. A dangerous thing to do at the Gym Leader level. Citizens looked to their gym leaders as icons and leaders of their respective towns. We were multifaceted; part political figures, part criminal deterrent, part superstars. Having the certifiable biggest and baddest man in Indigo, the king of the hill, say what he did? That was going to cause me issues and I had to react in some way. People in this world were culturally set to rise to challenges; they got glints in their eyes and set their feet more often than not. With my previous lifes experience, I was very different from the norm.

I always liked to live and let live. Id been annoyed by Lances claims but I could work through it. My pride wasnt worth this trouble.

But Lance had made my family sad. Hed taken away their smiles and their confidence.

I had climbed mountains to allow them that.

I cooked, cleaned, and cared for them. I was a shoulder to cry on when that ache of abandonment reared its ugly head, the guide to look to when they felt lost. I tried to give them enough love to heal over any scabs from our parents ditching us. All in the hopes that they could smile, joyfully and without reserve.

I knew I couldnt always make things happy. A teacher I once had mentioned it being important that he didnt want his son to always be happy. One emotion was not a harmonious mental state and simply chasing happiness would have meant them missing out on so many other feelings. But still It had been gut-wrenching seeing them act so subdued. In truth it was like spending hours making a nice sandcastle and showing it to your siblings only to have the big beach bully come and kick it over.

But that was all metaphorically. My castle hadn't been damaged, and really it was laughable.

It still pissed me off. I couldnt let them just take this on the cheek and turn the other way. I couldnt let my siblings think that it was alright to simply take that behaviour. Pride to most was a dirty word, but sometimes pride is what got you up in the morning. What made you look after yourself, made you demand more from yourself. Made you put in effort even if no one was watching. There was no one who was going to hand out a medal at the end of all of this and tell me Id done something right or wrong or grade my work.

I wanted a lot of things. I wanted to be a good brother. I wanted them to be proud of me. I wanted to make things right and make the world bright and wonderful for them.

I wanted to win.

I opened my eyes and the world seemed to grow hyper-detailed to me. The crowd shifted forward once more as the Machokes finished laying out the last adjustment to the wrecked arena floor.

I stood, sensing that the time was now. I knew now was the moment, so I stood.

I was right when a moment later, the announcers called out. LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, THE STAGE IS SET, GET READY CAUSE THERES GOING TO BE NO MORE BREAKS! NO MORE DELAYS! THE FINAL MOMENT OF THIS EPIC SHOWDOWN IS NOW! I started to move towards the exit.

You got this! shouted Celia as she watched me walk out of the bunker. I shot her a look. I knew Celia and June had been kind of freaked out at how quiet Id been for the last few minutes.

Thanks, I gave a nod. It was a small gesture but it made them grin. Id thank them later for letting me work through my thoughts more earnestly, but I knew that they understood what Id needed at the time was for calm and quiet.

I marched forward feeling each moment stretch out me as the crowd began to chant Lance and my names. I met his gaze and smirked.

Lances aura washed over me and I strode on. The flood of howling, snarling energy parting to my steadfast mountain.

I was only ten metres out of the bunker, but the crowd was already the loudest it had been all night. Cameras were flashing out across the stadium, but they went ignored.

Across from me, Lance held my eyes as we each approached our podiums before being lifted up. The crowd began to chant the name Dragonite like that of a heavyweight world champion.

Theyd wanted me to do well, but now they wanted to see the devastation. They wanted to see a beast unleashed and power incarnate. Lances previous pokemon were strong. Lances previous pokemon had more endurance than most, if not all, of their species.

Not one of them held a candle to the creature Lance was about to unleash.

Drag-o-nite! Drag-o-nite! DRAG-O-NITE!

Someone started to stomp their feet and clap creating a stomp-stomp-clap that I recognised as the easiest action to get a crowd behind. I reached toward the podium and tapped my fingers to the rhythm, ignoring how they chanted for another pokemon as I played out the we will rock you opening beat in my head.

Part of me found it deeply amusing that they called for the Dragon while channelling a Rock song.

Lance drew back his arm. For a second I considered simply letting him take the field first but the demand to match him surged within and I matched him. I drew back my own arm into the classical pitcher position.

Both of our arms whipped forward, our voices roaring out our choice over a suddenly quiet arena as both Great Balls rocketed forwards.

DRAGONITE COME FORTH!! TITAN! GO!!

Twin forms emerged from radiant light. People rose from their seats in excitement as they coalesced into the towering forms of two pokemon.

Then they were knocked back into their seats as both Dragonite and Titan took to the field. It would be tough for someone whos never experienced it before, having a powerful pokemon in front of you ready and willing to do battle. Intimidate was a trait pokemon could have as a singular ability in the games but here, in reality, most powerful pokemon simply exude that as naturally as breathing.

If youve ever stared into the eyes of an apex predator not confined by a cage and known they were coming for you, youd have perhaps a hundredth of an understanding of the chills that went down the crowds spines. That was what having a pseudo-legendary stare you down was like.

Having two lock eyes? The crowd had not slunk back voluntarily; theyd done it in shock. They hadnt been expecting me to field a Tyranitar.

Titan raised a claw and his feet slid slightly apart as wed practised. Within him, his energy roared to get out. The trick wasnt to let it out straight away but to focus it to a point. His claw swung down.

Then, the instant before impact, he spiked his energy into the very tip of the claw that was going to make impact. Titan hit the ground and the earth split like the ocean in the bible for Moses. Everyone became aware of the metal that held the actual training field as it became visible. It groaned hideously but only buckled slightly as the earth around it folded.

The earth on either side lifted upwards like two slices of bread between the hands of an invisible being. They rose slightly and then clapped together over the head of Titan with Dragonite right in the middle. The sound was more like a deafening bang than a clap and I had to shake my head afterwards as the two slices of earth crumbled before falling back to the ground in pieces.

I looked up and felt a grin slowly building on my face. Was that The resulting dust made it difficult to see, but the arena once more proved it had accounted for this as small fans rose and gently began to shift the air to let the crowd see.

First, they saw Titan holding his stance but looking up with narrowed eyes.

The crowd held their tongues as more and more dust shifted. Eyes searched the debris field for where the Dragonite was only to find nothing. Worried murmuring filled the crowd but I spoke over them.

Titan! Get ready to keep fighting!

That made people redouble their efforts and a few seconds later it was revealed to them what I had seen and Titan had no doubt sensed.

A sphere of perfectly round hexagons surrounding a tucked-up Dragonite right in the middle of where the two slices of earth would have met with the most force. I clicked my tongue but nodded. I had hoped he hadnt had that move and the earlier bait and switch had me thinking he didnt. I hummed thoughtfully. Hed tried to bait me with that play by making it seem he didnt. Maybe then Id commit with an all-or-nothing play and miss.

Instead, I had thrown down something that had forced him to reveal his hand.

Ooooh? OH! OH MY SWEET PIKACHU! THE CHAMPION EMERGES UNSCATHED FROM WHAT HAS TO HAVE BEEN A DIRECT HIT FROM AN OUT AND OUT ONE HIT K.O! BROCK ROLLED THE DICE HARD AND CAME UP ALL SEVENS! ONLY FOR THE CHAMPION TO HAVE AN ACE UP HIS SLEEVE! OH! WHAT A MATCH-UP!

The crowd found new life and began to chant names. BROCK! and TITAN! being called out just as much as LANCE! and DRAG-O-NITE! People called out cheers and jeers that mixed into a roar that was equal to the earlier showing by our two pokemon.

Titan and Dragonite eyed each other off before nodding their heads in respect. This only stirred the crowd up more when Lance and I smirked at each other. In some small way, we understood each other more from what was occurring before us. Both pokemon highlighted the dedication and style ingrained within their very being. It was strange to find that we weren't all that different.

I dont think you can do that move again! Lance shouted to me. Press the advantage Dragonite, Hurricane!

I was tempted to call out that he underestimated Titan and I, but I knew his pokemon had the high ground and that was just begging for Murphy to step in. Instead, I merely gestured a hand. Stone Edge, but dont hold back!

Titan leered up at the hurricane that howled before him. Every bit a pokemon staring down something that seemed like a natural disaster. A rock formed up from in front of him, but then more joined it as more energy was pushed into the attack.

The crowd gasped as a difference was immediately noticed. Where before Titan was throwing maybe three menhir-sized rocks up at Dragonite, now he launched up to ten at a time. Titan became his own missile launcher.

OH! IT SEEMS THE TYRANITAR WAS SANDBAGGING?! I grinned at the altogether incorrect assessment.

Lance frowned, his eyes darting around the rocky field before biting back a curse when he saw my pleased expression. It might have stopped me from using another Fissure, but by breaking the field up I had made it easier for Titan to hurl sections of the ground straight into the hurricane at speed. Now Lances defence became a target.

Instead of ordering his pokemon futilely, Lance plugged his thumb and forefinger into his mouth and whistled sharply. Dragonite instantly stopped the Hurricane. With a wave of Lances hand it began to weave around the onrushing rocks deftly, speeding up as much as it could.

Fill the sky! Force. It. Down! I commanded. Titan followed through with rocks hurtling into the air, only leaving the area low to the ground safe for Dragonite to hover.

I watched the pokemon as it searched the sky for space to escape into should Titan turn his focus on not denying movement. On both pokemon, marks of damage had built up from the attacks theyd used, but I could tell Dragonite had taken a heavier toll. I needed to keep pushing though. I could feel the victory just within reach. I could win this. I could drag it out with Titan using Stone Edge after Stone Edge. Failing that I had another pokemon that was ready to float out and slay a Dragon if I needed her to. Both of these methods would work but it would take a long time and perhaps be rife with potential errors on both of Lance and Is parts.

Regardless, this was the most logical and surefire approach. But a part of me, the me that had been raised within the Pokemon world, disliked ending this battle that way. This was supposed to be a moment to prove myself without question.

I clicked my tongue as I decided to throw down once more. I wanted there to be no doubt in peoples minds. I slashed my hand. Instantly Titan stopped his Stone edge. I waited until the final rock had fallen with a heavy crash. Lance eyed me as I put my arms across my body into my pose. Part of me noted that I had a number of tears across my very new sweater but couldnt for the life of me remember being hit by anything. Id been too focussed on the fight for mere rocks to bother me.

I think I know you well enough now to know youll never surrender, yeah? I called out with a grin.

Of course! snorted Lance.

I looked around at the crowd. Want to do this the old samurai way? One strike that we each wont block. Think you can handle it?

Lance looked over my pokemon before looking over the arena which didnt need to be any more in my favour. Even if he knocked out Titan, the field wouldnt reset. He was fighting uphill with the field easier for Rock-type moves. I had the high ground and had no trouble throwing boulders down at him if he decided to go that route.

He knew I could take him out by whittling him if I wanted and indeed I had just the pokemon for that in Selene.

Instead, I was offering a salve to his pride. Something that would potentially let him turn the tide perhaps. He huffed, Lets see your best shot then Brock. He swept his hand out and his cape went wide as he called out his best shot. Hyper beam!

I grinned. My mind screamed that I should just protect and blast him with Stone Edge to finish it. It was a valid move and perfectly suitable to win the match. But that was what villains do, and I didnt want to be a villain. I wanted people to remember this fight for all the right reasons.

Titan! Go! I cast my own hand forth, a grin stretching my face as I shouted.

In the face of Dragonites hyper beam, Titan strode forward. Like a mountain beginning to move it started slow. First a step, like a pebble preceding the boulders. Then, with the boulders came the soil before eventually, the entire cliff face gave out as an avalanche began in force.

Titan continued to pick up momentum, and each step caused the arena to quake as he sped up. A quarter of the way across the field Lances Dragonite unleashed his hyper beam and Titan lowered his head to take the hit square on. He took two more steps as he did so and a corona of energy built up around his body.

The Hyper beam punched squarely into Titan and he was briefly stopped in his tracks.

The crowd was off their feet having felt the blow such was its power.

Despite that, it didnt stop Titan from advancing.

Slowly, millimetre by millimetre, he began to lean forward. Around him the corona of energy flickered before solidifying. He leaned further forward millimetres turning into inches as he refused to break here and now.

A roar of frustration escaped him as he struggled to put another foot forward.

But he did.

Then another.

And another.

And before people could rise from being knocked back into their seats Titan began to charge through the beam. He took each step, slowly building back up as the hyper beam tried to hold him off. From within Titan a glowing orange energy built like an inferno that grew stronger under the pressure. The steps became easier and soon Titan was outright sprinting straight into the beam of energy towards his foe, a roar escaping his jaws as he closed on his target.

The beam gave out just as Titan reached Dragonite and with a sudden boom Titan unleashed the Giga impact he had been building straight into Dragonite.

Dragonite rocketed back from the hit straight into the arena wall. Around it the damage absorbers flickered a bright red as their maximum threshold was reached.

Dragonite lay in the crater, its chest working like great bellows. It stood with a piteous cry of pain, staggering forward to get back onto the arena. With the flickering absorbers, I didnt dare order another attack.Titan raised an arm to me, instructing me instead to hold back. I trusted in him, knowing that he had seen something or understood something that I had missed.

The other Pseudo legendary staggered back onto the field and shuddered before locking eyes with Titan. Then it looked to Lance as its wings flapped weakly. Its body shook with tremors and its lungs heaved in breath after breath.

The act was done weakly, but I couldnt help but be touched. Despite being so worn down it still held on and looked to its trainer. This was a pokemon that if his trainer asked he would continue to fight.

Even if it killed him.

Lance smiled and shook his head. You've done enough today old friend. Well be ready next time. He raised his Great Ball and called back his pokemon.

The arena held its breath, not daring to believe.

Titan nodded as his foe vanished into red light. When it was gone he threw back his head and roared his triumph. And like that the referee raised his flags up before dropping Lances down while raising mine higher.

The champions pokemon is unable to battle! Brock is the winner!!