| William Rendfeld 2005-10-18, 7:32 pm |
| Vexing Hex: Round Six
The crowds roared. The wind swirled. The sun shone brightly
overhead. Perfect conditions for a battle.
Especially in a tournament.
"Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to the Fortree Doubles
Tournament!" the loud voice of the TV announcer bellowed out. "This
is Jack Fadden, coming to you live from the Fortree City Gym for the
start of the sixth round. With me in the booth is the lovely Gym Leader
of Fortree City, Winona. Any thoughts on the battles so far?"
"We've already seen some exceptional battling," Winona noted.
"And while some battles have been less than spectacular, this next
one promises to be exceptional, as both combatants plan on using this
arena to its fullest."
"And speaking of the combatants, the Red Trainers are about to
enter the field," Jack broadcasted as a tall woman in casual wear and
a slightly older man with a blonde mullet entered the field and took
their positions. "The Red Trainers are a duo from Kanto, Bon and
Clyde. Little is known about them, but that only adds to the
challenge."
Down on the stadium floor, Clyde noted, "Now dis is more like it!
Roarin' crowds, a promis'd spectacle all 'round! Only thing
missin' is the judge."
"Patience," Bon chided her partner.
As a fanfare started up from the loudspeakers, Jack proclaimed,
"And the Green Trainer is stepping onto the field now. Ladies and
gentlemen, please give a big round of applause for Alexandria
Masters!"
Alex dramatically walked onto the field, the light and wind catching
her just right. She confidently walked towards the Green Tower as the
announcer continued, "Alexandria is a Pok=E9mon Trainer from Lilycove
City, and recently took part in the Silver Conference. Despite a
first-round loss to Ben Algam, Alex plans on achieving victory here at
the Fortree Tournament. I won't expect her to be a pushover, folks;
powerful things come in small packages!"
"Both teams will be using Flying-type Pok=E9mon," Winona went on
to explain as the trainers got into position. "As a result, the
Flight Towers will be in use, allowing trainers a superior view of the
battlefield and a chance to stand as high as their own Fliers. However,
the higher up they go, the more intense the winds they will experience.
As a result, all three trainers will have their skills tested to the
limit."
"The trainers are in position on the field, and their platforms
are being raised to mid-position," Jack explained as Bon, Clyde and
Alex rose to about the middle of the two towers' height. "And the
judge is stepping out onto the field now."
Alex turned to face the judge, as did her opponents. With a
conspiratorial glance, Ian declared from below with the judge's flags
in his hands, "This will be a two-on-two Pok=E9mon Battle. Each
contestant will battle with two Pok=E9mon each. No substitutions will be
allowed. The first contestant to have their Pok=E9mon defeated loses,
and the winner goes on to the next round. Trainers ready!"
Alex pulled two Pok=E9 Balls from her belt and thought to herself,
_This is it._
"Trainers, go!" Ian cried, raising both flags high.
"Fearow!" Bon declared, tossing a Pok=E9 Ball into the field.
"Tentacruel!" Clyde called, doing likewise.
"Surtur, ShadowWarrior, time to rock and roll!" Alex cried out,
tossing out a Pok=E9 Ball in each hand.
From Bon's two Pok=E9 Balls emerged, predictably, a Tentacruel and
a Fearow. As the large multipod flexed its two leading tentacles and
the Fearow soared skywards, Surtur and ShadowWarrior emerged from their
own Pok=E9 Balls and readied themselves for battle, the Blaziken giving
a showy display of flame and the Murkrow taking wing.
"ShadowWarrior, concentrate on the Tentacruel," Alex quickly
ordered. "Surtur, diversionary tactics. Go!"
"Fearow, Aerial Ace!" Bon ordered.
"Tentacruel, Ice Beam!" Clyde declared.
To say that Alex wasn't expecting these attacks was a lie. She was
more than ready for them, and so were her two Pok=E9mon. As Fearow
swooped down and flew low to the ground to attack its target, Surtur
stood perfectly still, his feet apart and his hands at the ready.
Meanwhile, Tentacruel charged up its Ice Beam and took aim with its
poisonous appendage, bearing down on ShadowWarrior.
After a few short seconds, Alex bellowed, "Now!"
Tentacruel's Ice Beam fired off.
ShadowWarrior dodged.
Surtur grabbed Fearow by the beak, stopping the massive bird in its
tracks and taking everyone by surprise.
"Incredible!" Jack declared. "Alex has actually managed to
create a counter to Aerial Ace, a move that always hits its mark!"
"She used the fact that Aerial Ace has one-hundred percent
accuracy to her advantage, stopping the attack in its tracks and
diffusing its power," Winona noted. "Not only that, but her Murkrow
effortlessly dodged that Ice Beam attack, showing excellent timing and
incredible skill in the air. Most impressive."
Noticing the roar of the crowd, Alex took a deep breath and said,
"Boys, let's go on the offensive. Surtur! Fire Punch!
ShadowWarrior, dodge any further attacks and send a few Night Shades
their way!"
Surtur let go of Fearow's beak for a few short seconds, more than
long enough for flame to envelop his hands and for him to land a
vicious uppercut to the large bird's head, sending it on an unwanted
flight.
ShadowWarrior, meanwhile, gained a purplish glow to his eyes, and
lanced off a Night Shade to the Tentacruel, irritating the massive
multipod.
"Time to switch tactics," Bon noted. "Fearow, Drill Peck! Take
down that Blaziken!"
"Tentacruel, Toxic!" Clyde ordered. "Same target!"
"Surtur, watch your back!" Alex called. "ShadowWarrior, let
fly!"
As ShadowWarrior climbed into the air, Fearow dived yet again, gusts
of wind swirling around like a drill around its beak. Surtur dodged the
attack, only to be hit in the back by a burst of Toxic goop.
Surtur growled, already feeling the poison's effects. He got to
his feet, tensed, then fell again.
"No," Alex said under her breath; between the poison and the
wrap attack, Surtur may well not last.
"Tentacruel, Wrap!" Clyde called.
"Fearow, keep that bird occupied," Bon ordered.
"ShadowWarrior, watch your six!" Alex cried. "Surtur, hang in
there!"
Surtur struggled with his bonds while Fearow took wing, keeping
ShadowWarrior occupied. The much smaller bird lanced off Night Shade
attacks, all the while avoiding Drill Peck attacks.
"C'mon...c'mon..." Alex pleaded.
"It looks like Blaziken is down for the count, while Murkrow
appears to have its hands full with Fearow," Jack Fadden declared.
"I wouldn't quite count them out yet," Winona noted with
confidence.
After what seemed an eternity, Tentacruel released Surtur from its
grip, and allowed the fire-breathing chicken to collapse to the ground.
"Best throw in the towel, love," Clyde called. "No way you can
pull dis one outta da hole!"
Alex turned to face her opponent and, with a hardened stare and
confident smile, she said, "Sorry. Not my style."
A deep red glow radiated around Surtur's body as he opened his
eyes and got to his feet, as if his flames intensified with the pain.
"Tenta?" Tentacruel asked in surprise.
"What in the name of...?" Bon asked.
"It's called Blaze," Alex explained. "When a Blaziken
reaches a third of its health, its Fire-type attack power is increased.
And unluckily for the two of you, we've got something special
planned. You ready, Surtur?"
"<Let us begin,>" Surtur declared.
"All right!" Alex cried as Surtur's arms became wreathed in
flame.
"What da-?!" Clyde asked.
"These hands of his are burning red!" Alex declared.
"<Their loud roar tells me to grasp victory!>" Surtur continued,
clenching his hands and further feeding the fire.
"Bakunetsu!" Alex called.
"<FIRE PUNCH!>" Surtur finished, unleashing his attack.
"Tentacool, Surf!" Bon quickly ordered.
The order came a few seconds too late. Surtur reared back with one
hand, and lanced off a massive fiery beam from his right hand, sending
it clear into the Tentacool and scoring a direct hit. The blow hit so
violently that Tentacool was knocked back several inches before it
subsided. It collapsed to the ground in a heap, unconscious.
"ShadowWarrior!" Alex called out. "Now!"
The small Murkrow suddenly turned around in the air, and swiftly
slammed into his larger opponent with a Fly attack. The stunned Fearow,
already weakened by earlier blows from the battle, collapsed to the
ground unconscious.
"And what a spectacular upset!" Jack cried out as the fans
cheered. "Alex's Blaziken and Murkrow have both delivered
devastating blows against their opponents, knocking both
unconscious!"
"Alex is disqualified!" Ian called out, just now breaking out of
his stupor after seeing the Bakunetsu Fire Punch. As Alex looked at him
in shock and a collective gasp went up in the crowd, he continued,
"An illegal move was used in battle! This match is hereby awarded
to...!"
"HOOOLD IT!"
All remained silent as a familiar figure walked out onto the arena
floor. Alex recognized him from the Silver Conference. Apparently, he
wasn't union.
"Evidence has been seen that this man forged his place as a judge
into the system illegally!" the familiar announcer/referee declared.
"Furthermore, evidence has been found linking him to combatants Bon
and Clyde! In accordance with League rules, Bon and Clyde are
disqualified, and this judge is thrown out! The match, by default and
by natural victory, goes to Alex Masters!"
"But that wasn't a legal move!" Bon declared.
"It was clearly a modified Fire Punch," the legitimate ref
declared. "Modified versions of approved attacks are still approved
attacks. The outcome stays, and you three are to leave!"
"Fine then," Ian declared, producing a small remote from his
pocket. "But we'll see ourselves out! Come forth, Super-Secret
Submarine Machine!" He pressed a small button, and everyone went
silent.
Suddenly, from a ways out in the distance, a large form resembling a
massive Lotad moved through the air, its lily pad-like top forming four
sections of chopper blades with a secondary one emerging from its
'tail'. Rope ladders descended from the odd-looking contraption,
and the three quickly made their getaway.
"See, I said this was a good idea!" Ian called as he climbed in.
"Ta-ta, love!" Clyde cried before he followed Bon into the
Super-Secret Submarine Machine. "Be seeing you!"
The odd, and somewhat stupid looking device flew away into the
distance, leaving a stunned crowd in its wake.
"So, do we still win?" ShadowWarrior asked rhetorically.
"Of course!" the ref announced. "Alex Masters wins Round Six
of the Fortree Doubles Tournament!"
The crowd, now snapping out of the insanity-created reverie, let out
massive applause as Alex leapt from her platform and landed softly,
carefully helping Surtur to his feet.
"<Looks like we won this time,>" Surtur noted.
"Yeah," Alex said proudly as she handed Surtur a Lum Berry.
"That we did."
The trainer and her Pok=E9mon proudly limped out of the stadium, the
deafening roar of the crowd in their respective ears.
TBC?
[NS: My part's done for the first round. I realize I've stretched
things a bit here and there, but it made for a fun story, no?
Also, this'll probably be the last we see of the Bakunetsu Fire Punch.
Not that it's overstayed its welcome, but I figure it's time to move on
and bring in something new.]
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