(Author's Note:)
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Real quick, this is a fight of the highest possible stakes, Cobalt quite literally could die in this part of the story. So expect a couple evolutions, but a lot of twists and turns, as well as the occasional one shot, but the critical point is that Cobalt will have to go the distance in this battle. He's got no outside support, nobody is coming to save him. So enjoy!
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(Abandoned Power Plant, Route 9-10, Kanto Region, Pokemon World)
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(Cobalt Black POV)
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Cobalt looked at his phone.
He was trending, and the video he put out, promising a clash of wills, was already circulating. But no one was expecting what was coming. He'd come alone, and President Goodshow had been kind enough to temporarily loosen up his carry limit restrictions. He'd brought everything this time.
From A-Z, Cobalt was as ready as he could be. Acerola was nowhere to be found, but that was by design. Turning to the drone following him, Cobalt, with the tap of a button on his phone, begins streaming.
''You all know me from my battle with the Sensational sisters, well, here comes my first clash against a titan of this part of the world. I don't know for sure if this drone will survive the experience, but I am fitted with body cams, so even if the drone does go down, it will only be a momentary lapse in the stream before the connection switches to my body cam. Lieutenant Surge, I hope you're watching. I'm coming for you next. After all, we're here for Pokémon that would give you a serious run for your money.'' Cobalt said into the camera before entering the facility.
''Zapdos! I challenge you to a battle! Unless, of course, you're too cowardly? Maybe I should go find Moltres and Articuno? Maybe they're less afraid!'' Cobalt calls out, the glasses Cobalt was fitted with let him know his view count just spiked considerably.
At first, nothing happens, but then, the entire place lights up with thunder and lightning as the Legendary Thunderbird appears before him.
''Zap!'' It was a little ticked off, that much was clear.
''Hehe, here we go, Let's Kick it into overdrive, Roots!'' Cobalt shouts, bringing his first partner out. He's admittedly at a slight disadvantage here because the dual-typing of Zapdos doesn't help him much, though his one saving grace with his choice is that Roots, as an Ivysaur, takes only half the hit from an Electric-Type, but concurrently, as an Electric/Flying Type, any Flying-Type moves are super-effective. That's the only thing he's really got going for him, because Ivysaur doesn't know Rock-Type or Ice-Type moves.
Not that Roots could, but that's not why he put Roots in first. Roots - indeed, all of his mons - needed experience against insurmountable odds.
Zapdos says nothing, but that changes quickly as its wings glow and become ephemeral white, and it charges Roots, who instinctively dodges, missing the Aerial Ace by maybe inches.
''Razor Leaf!'' Cobalt orders, and Roots quickly did just that. Zapdos, however, is no ordinary opponent and simply swats the Razor Leaf down repeatedly. The Drone circles around to catch his face, he glances at it briefly.
''Use Vine Whip!'' Cobalt shouted. Roots quickly launched a double Vine Whip, which Zapdos avoided using Quick Attack to give itself a momentary extra burst of speed to zip past the attack like an Ace Pilot.
Zapdos pivoted immediately and launched a Thunderbolt against Roots, who couldn't dodge it in time, but to Roots credit, she tanked it quite well. Electric-Type moves were only ½ effective against the Grass-Types.
Nevertheless, Zapdos was still a Legendary Pokémon, and thus the Thunderbolt had dealt a greater degree of damage than your average Thunderbolt from your average Electric-Type. Even so, however, this Battle was only just getting started.
''Roots, use-'' Whatever he was about to command was cut off by Roots sending the attack of Poison Mist at Zapdos. Or rather, Roots sent the attack in one big blanket bombing, so to speak. With the massive Poison Mist lingering throughout the entire area, Zapdos quickly began violently flapping its wings, which were vibrating with electrical currents.
Clearly, Zapdos was just getting started, but that wasn't the only thing that was clear. The way Zapdos moved, this one was very clearly an experienced fighter, which made his odds of winning all the more slim. Experience trumped luck nine times out of ten.
Which was half of his equation for victory.
But the additional pressure of the fact that this was being livestreamed meant he couldn't react to this so early. He could only remain calm as fuck, and twice as stoic.
Cobalt swallowed down his nervousness, and stood a little bit straighter. Roots was his opening mon, and however long or short the opening battle was going to be, Cobalt trusted the little one to do her bit.
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(POV Shift: Lance)
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Of all the absolute most foolhardy things he would expect of even the most fearless of children, challenging Zapdos and live-streaming the encounter was not at the top of what he thought to expect.
But someone was doing just that, and it was for that reason that Lance had taken Dragonite for a flight as fast as the Dragon could take him to the abandoned Kanto Power Plant. He needed to stop this madness. He glanced at the feed playing in his glasses. The boys Ivysaur had just gone down, but strangely Zapdos didn't seem to attack the trainer directly, the Legendary Thunderbird just floated there waiting for the next mon.
Hopefully the kid wouldn't run out of Pokémon before he arrived. The boy was hopelessly outmatched.
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(POV Shift: Cobalt Black)
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Cobalt recalled Roots with a Sigh, his first Partner couldn't even land a hit on Zapdos. This was shaping up to be a difficult battle.
Which made his next mon all the more important.
Charmander was his next mon, so Cobalt didn't hesitate.
''Charmander, Let's kick it into Overdrive.'' As Charmander appeared, his mon swallowed thickly at the sight of Zapdos, but to the little lizard's credit, he stood strong in the face of the Legendary mon. Cobalt gave Charmander a quick command. ''Charmander, Work Up, then Defense Curl!'' Zapdos doesn't react, merely watches as Charmander uses Work Up several times, and follows with Defense Curl as many times. Boosting his attack and defense start as high as his small body could take.
Zapdos doesn't immediately react, instead the small charmander, and Cobalt recognizes the way Zapdos's eyes start to glow.
''Laser focus huh? Come on then Birdbrain, give us your best hit.'' Cobalt taunts with a plan as electricity crackles around Zapdos.
''Za!'' A powerful Thunderbolt is launched and in the few seconds before it hits, Cobalt smirks.
''Ground it with Iron Tail!'' He orders, Charmander doesn't hesitant, spinning quickly and catching it with Iron Tail, before slamming it into the ground and dispersing the Thunderbolt underground. When Roots went down, the metal floor had been destroyed, allowing Cobalt to utilize the plan of grounding Zapdos's electricity.
Zapdos recovered from the momentary shock and charged Charmander with a Drill Peck Attack. When Zapdos arrives at a range of which it'd be impossible to charge direction in time, Cobalt reacts.
''Ancient Power quickly!'' The Ground rumbles as the steel floor is ripped open and rocks and boulders appear before being launched at Zapdos, scoring a direct hit against Zapdos and slamming Zapdos to the Ground. Cobalt quickly doubles down on the opportunity. ''Charmander jump high and bathe him in Fire Spin!'' Charmander follows through and Zapdos takes the hit. Zapdos isn't finished off, but the Legendary Pokémon is hurt. As the Legendary Thunderbird rises, Cobalt smirks slightly, watching as Zapdos is struck by a burn effect. Any time a Pokémon is hit by a super-effective move its vulnerability to status conditions such as poisoning, burning, freezing, and the like goes way up. When Charmander used Iron Tail in the last few moments before the Thunderbolt struck him, the Steel-Type move attracted the Thunderbolt.
When Charmander planted it into the ground that was exposed from when Roots went down, the Electricity was dealt with harmlessly, but it also weakened the metal floor in front by attacking the underside of the floor, making the use of Ancient Power in the exact same spot easier because aside from weakening the metal floor it also ripped and shredded the earth below.
When used by a mon like Charmander that allowed it to launch larger pieces and more pieces of earth at an opponent. When he inevitably evolved into Charmeleon, that wouldn't be so effective though.
Zapdos glowered at him and Charmander. Despite it's burning it engulfed itself in a fiery aura. That meant it was coming towards him with Brave Bird. A risky move considering the fact it had been hit with a super effective move and was suffering from burning. Every move it used, particularly self-damaging ones like Brave Bird, was going to make that burn worse.
Which begged the question…. Why was Zapdos not using a Healing move? Specifically Roost.
Unless…
Zapdos didn't know Roost.
Cobalt smiled at that. He had just been granted a lifeline.
The sound of an explosion caught both him and Zapdos by surprise as Zapdos broke off from its attack to observe the interruption.
Cobalt's chat went crazy when the dusk cleared, and Cobalt himself went rigid.
''I'll handle things from here!'' Lance interrupted.
Cobalt felt his face contort with rage.
''The Battle ain't over till it's over! Back off, or get caught in the Crossfire!'' Cobalt snarled. To his surprise, Zapdos trilled angrily at Lance, and sent a Thunderbolt to strike at the ground in front of Lance and his Dragonite.
''This isn't safe.'' Lance tried to argue.
''You can scream at me later. I started this fight, and I'll be damned if I don't finish it. Stay on the sidelines, because if you get in the way there's gonna be more than one blast of Thunder coming your way.'' Cobalt warned, Zapdos trilled and nodded its head vigorously as if to agree.
''I'll intervene if you're attacked directly.'' Lance says and Zapdos squawks in indignation at the insinuation.
''Whatever, you do you. I have a battle to fight.'' Cobalt replies, turning to focus on Zapdos.
If there is one thing he can do if he needs to, it's hyper-focus. Normally that's a bad thing, but in this case it helps keep his mind of Lance.
However…
''Charmander, listen carefully, that guy is Lance. He's one of the strongest trainers around so now we have to doubly make sure we give a good account of ourselves.'' Cobalt explained.
Charmander flashed him the equivalent of a thumbs up, and grinned, as it turned to face Zapdos.
That's when something incredible happened.
Charmander was engulfed in a fantastic brilliant glowing light. His height was raised, his shape changed, and when the light faded, Charmander was gone.
In its place was Charmeleon.
Cobalt felt his smile return.
''I think you know what time it is, Charmeleon. Let's kick it into Overdrive!'' Charmeleon opened his mouth and launched a bright yellow and green blast of energy at Zapdos.
''Dragon Breath.'' Cobalt felt his smile grow a little bit, but he quickly refocused in the fight in front of him.
The Battle wasn't over yet. And when it was, he'd capture Zapdos. Cobalt had a plan. Zapdos was just the first Legend he'd be dancing with. He had five more to go, and he already had Tapu Bulu on his side. But like Snorlax, Cobalt was saving them for later, to let his other mons get a chance to shine.
Now that Charmeleon was ready for battle, his odds were just a little bit better. Which made his odds of earning a higher payout increased exponentially.
Acerola and Greedy Rapooh had taken all his money and had set up a betting pool under a different account in his chat, about whether or not he'd win.
The odds were heavily against him, and Greedy Rapooh was doing his level best to drum up interest in the beating. So he wouldn't make a ton of money, but it would make him richer.
If he planned to continue this dance with other legends, he'd need the funds.
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(Author's Note:)
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Glad to gave gotten this done after months of inactivity on the fic. Glad to have finally introduced Lance and also see Charmander evolve. Maybe he's earned a name, maybe not. We'll find out at the end of this first Dance Arc. Charmander was just one Pokémon who'll evolve, there won't be a lot of that in this arc, maybe three at most, but my plan is two. Anyways, next chapter we'll see more of the Battle as well as what the reactions around the world are. Till then, hope you enjoyed it.
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Thanks to Mitchell Howard, David Martinez, ROGUE505 Saver, Mathew T Linderman, Luck George, Kyle Diano, Julien, Morgan Sinn, Tom A, Nathaniel Lessord, Birhaledin, Nicholas Berenguer, Arimar26, GGbeejee, Craig Butler, Robin Kristiansen, Robert Hernandez, Dragon emperor87, Vlone_Icy, Daniel Setchell, James Fleming, and Benoit Valtin for their support on P-atreon.
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