Battle Time

“Wartortle, water pulse!” you command. You obviously didn’t want to lose no matter who you were against, but you would sooner die than lose to Liam. The blasts of water batter the opposing pokemon. Raticate scurries around the battlefield, moving in close for a counterattack. “Aqua tail.” Wartortle swings about hitting the lunging rat.

“Raticate use hyper fang,” he shouts. His pokemon letting Wartortle’s blow glance off as it skitters into biting range. Wartortle tries to dodge, but the rat’s too fast. His teeth sinking into Wartortle’s arm.

He squeals from the bite, but you settle him with a command for another pulse. The close quarters blast knocks the Raticate away. The dazed rat jumps at Wartortle, his jaw primed for another bite. Wartortle jumps back, but Raticate’s fangs still land. Fortunately, the teeth sink into Raticate’s own tail. The damage done in a spurt of confusion is enough to finish the battle.

“Raticate is unable to battle. Amber of Pallet Town is the victor. Liam of Viridian City is eliminated.”

You run over to Wartortle giving him a big hug, “We did it buddy.” Liam looks pissed, but this time there are witnesses to verify your victory. So that asshole can go screw himself. He storms off, stomping his way down the stairs off the battle spot.

You clear out of the battle spot, the next set of trainers arriving for the next battle. You walk around managing to catch some of your friends battling. “Jack of Fuchsia City is the victor.” “Roger of Violet City is the victor.” “John of Viridian City is the victor.” “Humphrey Daniels of Goldenrod City is the victor.”

“Any signs?” Daisy’s text pops up in the group chat. This must be hard on her, being so close and not even being able to get in the door.

“Nothing, but I’m keeping my eyes open,” you respond.

“Blue Oak of Pallet Town versus Jorge of Cerulean City,” you stop to see Blue standing up on battle spot 23. His Ivysaur makes quick work of Jorge’s Marill. “Blue Oak of Pallet Town is the victor.” You quickly move along, not really wanting to run into Blue right now.

Your phone buzzes. “Amber of Pallet Town versus Fenton of Olivine City.” You smile when the pokemon are released, and Tingle is matched up against a Wingull. It was barely even a battle as Tingle landed a thunderbolt, finishing the exchange in a single blow. “Amber of Pallet Town is the victor.”

“I had a close match earlier, I thought I was going to be eliminated for sure,” John confides as the two of you eat your lunch between matches.

“Hey but you won that’s all that matters. I feel bad for Daisy, she’s been texting all day just hoping for any news.”

“I didn’t expect it to be this crazy. If one of us isn’t matched against him, I don’t think we’ll find him,” John shrugs.

“Yea, our best chance might be if he just qualifies,” you say before your phone buzzes. You give John a quick kiss before dashing off to your next battle.

Runt runs circles around the enemy Grimer. She jumps over clouds of poison gas. She bites and scratches at the pile of sludge. “Amber of Pallet Town is the victor.” You’ve knocked out another trainer from the tournament.

You walk around some more, keeping your ears open for the word Ketchum. Your phone buzzes. You look down expecting your next battle but instead it says you’re done for the day. That battles will resume in the morning. The group chat fills in with the others saying they got similar texts. Until Jack says she is heading for a final match of the day.

The group meets up to cheer Jack on. You reach her battle spot just in time to wish her good luck. She makes her way on stage. You watch as her challenger appears across the battlefield. Your heart sinks when you see him, “Jack of Fuchsia City versus Blue Oak of Pallet Town.”