Chapter 180: Sound off! One, two!

Chapter 180: Sound off! One, two!

Trainers! Are you ready? shouted the referee.

Across from me, Carlos clenched his hand hard around his pokeball. A look of solid determination met my gaze and I felt my respect for him increase with how he didnt falter.

I held a pokeball in my hand, ready to throw. The referee dropped the flags. I missed both the command to release and begin, to the cheering of the crowd.

It didnt matter, I knew to react and not wait to hear the actual command by now.

My pokeball whipped forward, right up to the very front of my side of the field, and the light exploded around a huge form.

Bertha blinked in surprise and shot me a confused look only to brighten considerably.

It had been a long time since Id ever sent her out first. She was better as a clutch fighter, or as someone that could turn the tide.

She shifted her attention to her foe who turned out to be a Poliwhirl.

The smaller pokemon raised its fists and I had to give my team props. Theyd predicted this pokemon as Carlos first pokemon against me.

With this being a do-or-die fight for us both he had to send out his best options here and now. He didnt have the luxury otherwise.

Earthquake, I said.

I reached out for the bond that I had with Bertha and felt it pulse a little as I tapped into it. I hadnt done this in a while, but these fast matches would be the perfect training grounds for me to build up my aura reserves and to work on enhancing my bond.

It would also make my pokemon hit, and take hits, just that bit better.

Leap up and use Bubblebeam! Carlos shouted, making his pokemon soar over most of the Earthquake before unleashing a barrage of bubbles at Bertha.

Charge in, I said to Bertha in response, making her duck under the barrage of bubbles.

Poliwhirl landed and for a moment both pokemon were facing away from each other.

Use your tail and skip back! I ordered before Poliwhirl could react.

Poliwhirl spun about and looked ready to unleash another Bubblebeam, only for Bertha to jump straight back, her tail raised threateningly.

When she landed, she landed just shy of crushing the Poliwhirl, only for her tail to follow and crash down atop Poliwhirl.

Poliwhirl buckled and then slammed into the ground face-first.

The attack might not be super effective, but that didnt mean it wasnt powerful. Id seen Bertha destroy boulders from idly swinging her tail about, with actual momentum behind it, Bertha had practically one hit K.Od the Poliwhirl.

Sadly this was proven to be a lie with Carlos swiping his hand to the side. Bubblebeam to get out of there! he called, and despite her tail still pushing him down, Poliwhirl was able to rocket out of close range using Bubblebeam to blast away.

I nodded. I had to give it to him, that was a good variation of the move, it might not work for a Poliwrath, but by then youd expect that pokemon to have Hydro Pump instead.

Before Poliwhirl could land I gestured. Earthquake again, I said calmly. Bertha didnt even turn around. She merely raised her tail and her foot and slammed them into the ground, causing the field to quake and several spectators to fall over themselves as barriers set up where we fought could not absorb everything.

I softened my knees and absorbed most of the shaking but Poliwhirl stumbled as it landed, resulting in the pokemon falling down once more. This time it didnt get up and Carlos had to raise his pokeball to withdraw his Poliwhirl.

Bertha! I barked, making her turn to me.

I raised my hand, palm out to indicate that I didnt want her to move and she nodded before turning back to face the front.

With her well and truly still on Carlos side of the field, he faced a choice. Did he try, and give his pokemon as much room as possible for a long-range specialist, or did he try and close with another fighting type?

By staying in close I was making the choice tougher for him. Bertha had already demolished his Poliwhirl, a pokemon that if both were equal in strength, should have favoured Poliwhirl.

But that was the point, his Poliwhirl wasnt on the same level as Bertha.

Bertha, by my estimate, was easily at an Elite Four, if not Champion tier strength these days.

In game terms, I liked to think that meant high fifties, if not level sixty. For all that she liked to goof around and play, she was a dedicated pokemon when it was time to put her giant nose to the grindstone.

Go Breloom! shouted Carlos sending in his best hope in close.

Earthquake! I said straight away. I didnt want that pokemon to get too comfortable.

Breloom shuddered as Bertha unleashed her third Earthquake and once more people shuddered and shook. An idle inspection showed that more of them were able to stay on their feet this time around having been expecting it.

Breloom twitched for a moment only to hop up onto its tail to ignore most of the damage.

Bre! Loom! shouted the fighting-grass-type pokemon as it glared at Bertha.

Mach Punch! barked Carlos and his pokemon rocked back further on its tail only to spring forward at a startling speed.

Stone Edge! I responded, having Bertha blast a giant boulder right into the oncoming Breloom. It smashed its way through the boulder and then slammed into Berthas flank making her groan in pain.

Breloom landed and shot Bertha a smirk as Carlos punched the sky.

Sweep low! I ordered, not willing to slow down.

Bertha swung herself in a tight arc, whipping the tail around.

Leap! replied Carlos haughtily. He seemed to think he was being clever here by avoiding the tail this time.

Before his pokemon could land, I stabbed my hand forward once more. Ice Beam! I said.

Bertha's grin stretched her face as she inhaled and then exhaled a beam of blue energy that slammed straight into the surprised Breloom.

I hummed and shot Carlos a surprised look. I had been expecting a Protect from him but instead, hed just had his Breloom taken out of the fight with a one-two combination he should have been expecting.

Bertha rubbed her side and twitched as Breloom was recalled. How are you feeling girl?

Bertha straightened up and fired her massive fists into a furious one-two combination as she ducked her head and snorted. I shook my head. There are going to be plenty of fights girl. No need to try and do it all yourself. Im going to be using you again soon, dont worry, I said.

And with that said, I decided to withdraw her. She had enough time to lace her hands above her head and theatrically twirl as she was recalled, resulting in her looking like a boulder pretending to be a magical girl with her exit.

I heard the crowd that were watching our match laugh at the display and I shook my head.

Cindy must have watched some Magical Girl cartoons with her when Bertha slept inside. I hadnt noticed as usually if Bertha was released inside, shed make a lot more noise. Also if she got excited by a TV show she usually caused more destruction and left a lot more dirt inside.

I resolved to get Nanny Grav another magazine if shed handled it. That or Id have to get Flint something nice.

Carlos sighed, and sent out his last hope. Go Vileplume! he said with gritted teeth.

Go Gawain, I said, countering him and feeling particularly pleased with how our pre-match assessment had gone.

Carlos groaned. You seriously chose those two as two of your three pokemon for this match? he said with a shake of his head. Who was your third? Your Tyranitar?

I was about to shake my head and deny him, only to pause.

He was fishing, and there were enough people around that even if it didnt matter for him, it would matter for my next opponent.

I frowned at Carlos. He hadnt lost the spark in his eye that told me hed given up. He was trying to judge how to play this match in case the next match was favourable to him.

As for other trainers? Theyd get to look at my roster and cross three pokemon off that were guaranteed to not be possible for their match-up. By only using two and not giving the third away I didnt show my entire hand.

I decided to just shrug. Sorry, thems the break sometimes, I said. I then pointed straight ahead.

X-scissor, I said. Gawain sprinted straight at the Vileplume, axes raised in a cross position, preparing for the strike.

Toxic! said Carlos.

Gawain closed, and just as he was slashing out, Vileplume squirted a burst of purple gunk right into Gawains eyes making him cry out as he shut his eyes and dropped his head.

His training showed through however as before he staggered, he carried through with the strike and sent Vileplume soaring.

Sadly Vilplume got back up with a grint and a shake of its giant fronds. Thats it Vileplume! Stay in the fight! Use Mega Drain!

Rock Slide at your eleven oclock! I shouted and despite being blinded and shivering from the effects of the poison, Gawain carried through with the move, launching a wave of rocks into Vileplume causing it to wail in pain once more.

Despite the Rock Slide getting in first, Vileplume still didnt go down. Kleavor twitched as the Mega Drain pulled from him and the poison sapped him but I knew he could handle it. Neither move would be enough to see him drop.

This match, unlike Berthas match, was much closer in level with Gawain being only one of the newest additions. Id have to rate him at a solid forty-five. Again! Aim a touch higher for distance! I shouted.

Gawain once more swept his axes forward and sent another wave of rocks soaring into Vileplume. This time it was enough to clip and knock Vileplume out of the fight, much to my relief.

Carlos sighed. Urgh! A Bug pokemon against my grass type. Damn it! You read me like a book.

I nodded. We did that, but I coughed sheepishly. You do realise that Vileplume isnt weak to bug type pokemon, right?

Carlos blinked at me a moment before his eyes widened. He facepalmed a moment later before perking up. So that means my Toxic was the right call? Ha! My instincts are better than I thought, now I just need to train up my pokemon and well go the distance.

I grimaced. He obviously hadnt accounted for Rock being resistant to poison typing.

Vileplume versus a Kleavor was a rather neutral affair in truth. Toxic wasnt bad, but that was more because hed gotten it into Gawains eyes. I decided to just shake Carlos hand and take Gawain to the healing area where a trio of Nurse Joys were handling the influx of injured pokemon for the tournament.

I got the impression they were happy that in the early stages, they only had to deal with three pokemon from each trainer rather than full rosters.

I handed over Berthas pokeball and Gawains pokeball before sitting back and waiting.

Missy, Greta and A.J. joined me and when my pokemon were returned to me I led them back to the tent. So? I prompted.

Missy made a complex expression. He was better than I thought he might be?

He was a scrub, said A.J. We predicted which pokemon he was going to use and he got lucky with his Toxic actually doing something worth a damn by blinding Gawain. You could have kept Bertha out for that match I think.

I shrugged. Well, I decided to switch it up. There's no need to risk her in the first match. She did well though, I said.

I held in a sigh. Someone really needed to teach these kids that there were better-draining grass-type moves, such as Giga Drain to use.

Green energy shot into Sanchez and then back to Ludicolo as I shot my hand forward. Thunder! I said.

Sanchez rocked up onto his knees and let loose a powerful blast that shot up and then down into Ludicolo causing it to buckle under the power of the attack. When the lightning vanished Ludicolo tottered back and forth before falling to the side, having fallen unconscious.

Once more the Referee shot their flag up towards me and I had to frown. Hazel was making a lot of mistakes, it seemed to me. I felt the Gym Leader within me wanting to sit her down after the match for a review, much as I had for Carlos. Some of these mistakes seemed simple to me.

I wasnt sure what she was thinking, using the Linoone choice. On a whim, I glanced away from the field and instead looked around for anyone in her section of the stands only to find them empty.

Hmmm, she didnt have a support team or anyone to workshop ideas with.

Not surprising considering she was only in her first year as an Ace trainer, but it might start costing her more going forward.

Go! Roselia! Hazel shouted sending out her final pokemon, and the pokemon that I had been expecting first from her. The only reason I could think she had held back on it, was that this Roselia, was her starter pokemon.

Earthquake! I said as the Stealth Rocks shot towards Roselia.

Petal Dance! screamed Hazel. Dance through the attacks and stay light! she screamed.

I, and all the spectators watched as she unleashed a powerful wave of petals while stepping lightly around the Stealth Rocks that should have been guaranteed to hit.

The only hit Roselia took ended up being when it buckled with Sanchez getting off his Earthquake and forcing Roselia to take a shot to the arm with the final Stealth Rock.

Then the petals that had been swirling around Roselia swept forward and slammed into Sanchez, dropping him with the powerful storm of pink.

Return Sanchez, I said surprised that Hazel had some power in her pocket with her Roselia. I hadnt been expecting it to be so strong that it could weave its way through Stealth Rocks while under pressure like that.

I ignored the referee announcing the score as I selected my second pokeball. Go Zephyr! I said, revealing my answer to the Grass-poison type pokemon.

Hazel grimaced and shot me a look. You were expecting him? she asked.

I nodded. I was expecting him earlier honestly, I thought I was going to get off a single Stealth Rock. I shrugged. You didnt play that game though, I said before waving towards Zephyr. Air Slash.

Zephyr swept his wing and unleashed a cutting wind.

Bend under it! said Hazel, surprising me once again as her pokemon.

Instead of taking the hit, blocking it, or leaping away, Roselia leaned all the way back, like a willow tree in the face of a raging storm to avoid the Air Slash.

As It bent back up Hazel punched forward. Leech Seed! she commended, resulting in seeds shooting up into the air towards Zephyr.

Dive into a Hurricane! I commanded, feeling a small spark. This was more like it, I thought to myself as I felt my focus intensify and the link I had with Zephyr being tested. Hazel was pushing back despite the type advantage being in my favour and making me fight her properly.

Zephyr dropped, spinning as he did so, causing a Hurricane to form and throw off any seeds that had been threatening him. Then, with his defense sorted, he swept the Hurricane forward straight at Roselia, turning back on the offensive.

Roselia! Dig your heels in and Endure! called Hazel.

Roselia did just that, curling in on itself as the Hurricane swept over him, battering and tearing at his huddled form.

When the Hurricane was spent, Zephyr turned to assess his foe. Around where Roselia had been a wave of detritus had built up with the pokemon twitching and shivering in the middle, mostly hidden from view.

Another person, one not good friends with Erika, might have hesitated and waited a moment. I merely chopped my hand down again. Aerial Ace! I barked.

Roselia, hearing the order twitched, throwing off the loose leaf litter that had covered it as it turned to face Zephyr. It had to bend its body as its feet, or roots rather, remained Ingrained.

Endure, with an Ingrain, resulting in Roselia not truly reaching the dredges of energy it otherwise might have.

Toxic! shouted Hazel as her pokemon lined up its two roses that acted as arms to fire a noxious substance at Zephyr, or rather, where hed been.

Just before the Toxic was about to impact, Aerial Ace activated, and Zephyr blurred in a sudden acceleration to the side where he swept in and finished off the exceptionally strong Roselia.

Roselia was hurled and rolled back only to lay flat after a soft cry and a rose being extended towards Hazel. Hazel returned him with a forlorn sigh. You did great buddy.

Roselia is unable to battle! The match goes to Brock! The referee shot her flags up as she pronounced me the winner.

I approached Hazel and shook her hand. Good match, That last pokemon is seriously strong. Its impressive that your Linoone knows the moves that it does as well.

Ah, yeah he wasnt my first pick but a number of my other pokemon are fatigued cause we had a hard match on sunday that Im sort of regretting, but at the same time not, Hazel said with a sigh.

Hoh? I asked.

Hazel rubbed the back of her head. Even with those pokemon I dont think I would have won todays match.

I waved a hand. Never discount yourself. You and your team could be firing on all cylinders or I could be feeling flat you know?

Hmmmm, I had a friend challenge you do you want to talk about the match? she asked.

I grinned. I would be happy to! Holy heck but I wanted to correct some misconceptions this girl had!

I happily led her back to the Pewter tent with my entourage. Yolanda was highly amused at how I was discussing the match and giving Hazel insights into things she could do better. With the knowledge that Hazel had come into this match with limited options, her Linoone first choice made a bit of sense, but it was honestly a bit ambitious.

She must have been expecting her Roselia to carry her through the first day to give her other pokemon time to rest. Sadly, she got caught out.

When I was done I sent Hazel off to enjoy herself before spending an hour going over the match, and my own next match up against Han from Ecruteak City. Apparently, Han had spent some time training with the Gym there so I already knew to expect some Ghost pokemon and it showed with his pokemon roster being mostly dominated by them.

Sadly he seemed to have a penchant for using very annoying tactics such as switch-outs to gain himself favourable matches up as much as he could.

Should be an easy win for you, said A.J.

I nodded. Yeah, I have to wonder though, this has kind of caught me in a whiplash situation with last weeks matches being something I had to really struggle and be on point with todays matches they kind of I trailed off and searched for the right word.

Suck? said A.J. bluntly.

Arent up to your standard? said Greta cautiously.

I pointed at her. Yeah, its kind of odd. If you arent careful you could get caught off guard I think because for some of these matches Im really just overpowering my opponents pokemon. Carlos was a good example, but there are some outliers. If Hazel had more pokemon like that Roselia shed be in the top twenty easily I think.

That made A.J. lift up Hazels information with a bit more interest. Her Roselia was that strong? he asked.

I nodded. Yeah, but the point Im trying to make is theres a skill to staying sharp and watching for strong contenders in matches like these, cause you can sort of get lulled into dropping your standards.

The others nodded at this and Missy even went as far as to write it down in a journal that looked like it was overflowing with notes. Been a good day for you? I asked.

She bobbed her head up and down quickly. Yeah! Fantastic! My head is just swimming with everything I just I dont know if I can take any more in though, she said, looking up and revealing she had a slightly dizzy look.

Ah, time to go outside and just blow off some steam, yeah? You have your keycard for the hotel room, right? When she nodded I directed her out the tent flap. Well clean up here. Go relax, do some shopping, whatever you need to do, alright? Yolanda, Rachel, how about you girls go with her? I prompted.

With that seen too A.J. and I packed up the tent and then moved on to the hotel we were staying at. When I opened the door, I was greeted by Yolanda in a pink fluffy robe with a towel around her head. Terra was next to her with a towel around her horn.

Can I order room service? Yolanda asked. I chuckled and waved my acceptance while asking for a burger. With her checked in, I moved down to a specialised area where I laid out my pokemons food on plates. My team appeared in a flash of light and I sat down to talk with them about the day for an hour or so.

Sanchez was full of praise for Roselia and Zephyr got a round of cheers for beating the strong pokemon. Tide looked a bit sad that he didnt get to fight but I was quick to assure him that Id appreciated having him in my pocket as a pinch-hitter.

Alright, anyone want to watch some movies with Yolanda and I? We got the penthouse so you can watch with us? I asked. That got them to all chirp up and when I returned and released them Yolanda laughed and settled in for a few movies with me.

I made sure not to spare a thought for my next match. I already had done what I needed, so I didnt spare it any more thought.

When I awoke I went through a quick breakfast to get to the grounds early. Yolanda jogged out with me and we set up the tent before sending off a message to the others to join us when they were free. I then led Yolanda around the grounds, buying some goods that were being sold by stalls about the tournament grounds.

Well have to make a concerted effort to go to the department store tomorrow depending on what time my next match is, I said to Yolanda.

I returned to the tent to find an amused Rachel staring at Missy as a much larger crowd of reporters clamoured for her attention.

So are you going to be the new heir now that Forrest has been pushed aside?! called one reporter.

I blinked at that and stepped up. Whats going on here? I asked.

Missy curled in on herself. I was still feeling a bit out of it so I decided to have a match and I used Rhyperior and people think that means Im the heir now? she said, shooting me a plaintive look.

I hummed. Hmmm That doesnt actually, I considered it from an outsiders perspective. It would have been a huge concession for me to hand over how to evolve Rhydon. It could be construed that way.

I coughed into a fist. Right, to clarify, Missy, as skilled a trainer as she is, is not the Pewter Gyms heir. At this stage, it is still being held by my family. We will decide among ourselves who is the best suited. Forrest, may or may not want to, just as Yolanda here may, or may not want to, I asked.

As though sensing maximum drama potential, the bag that Yolanda had been carrying over her shoulder opened and Terra poked her head out. Lar? Vitar? she said innocently.

The reporters went into a frenzy.

Is Yolanda the next heir? shouted one.

The next Brock! Shes following in his footsteps! cried another.

I raised a finger and then lowered it. I shot her a look, Well, she sort of is, but I think shell do herself very proud, shes got a lot of potential and I am going to be very interested in it when she goes on her Journey.

The reporters paused at this and then turned back to their cameramen. You heard it here first folks! Brock has an heir in Yolanda! An inheritor of will that will one day rock the League with her arrival! Her Journey will be one we eagerly await! cried one reporter.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. I didnt say that but.. Sure, whatever makes you happy.

At my side, Yolanda stared, with open eyes. Are they always like this?

I sighed. I think they were just extra excited with Missys reveal, and then things sort of spiralled from there, I said.

I waved my hand towards the tent. Lets just ignore them, we have better things to do, I said.

Such as running through final preparations to face a ghost specialist.

I doubted Han would hold up against Agatha, whom Id sparred with quite a few times now, but it wouldnt pay to get sloppy.

I swallowed down my hesitation and got ready to fight.