Chapter 77: Finals (3)
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Indigo Plateau, Stadium]
Both reached for their Poke Balls as they released their next Pokémon. Azure yelled, "I trust you to carry on the battle! Go! Arcanine!"
*Pop*
Arcanine appeared for battle, waiting patiently at the ready. Arcanine met his gaze, its eyes blazing with unwavering loyalty and a fierce desire to win. Azure and Arcanine had been through everything together, a bond forged in countless victories and hard-won lessons as they stood prepared.
Red's voice cut through the roar, hurling his next Pokémon in a determined tone, "Alright, Poliwrath, let's go!"
*Pop*
The crowd erupted as Red's Poliwrath materialized from its Poké Ball, landing with a solid thud. The Tadpole Pokémon stood its ground, its muscular physique and intense blue eyes radiating confidence.
Poliwrath and Red were a formidable team, and their synchronization was legendary throughout the tournament. Since a Poliwag and a starter Pokémon, they already had a strong bond with each other, equally determined to win.
Azure took a deep breath, the scent of ozone and anticipation filling his senses. Adjusting his cap, hiding his eyes, he ordered, "Arcanine, let's show them what we're made of! Use Extreme Speed!"
*Zoooom*
Arcanine responded instantly, its body becoming a blur of orange and white as it shot across the field. The sheer speed was breathtaking, leaving afterimages in its wake.
Red, however, was unfazed. Trusting his instincts, he countered, "Poliwrath, counter with Mega Punch!"
Poliwrath braced itself, its fist glowing with a powerful energy. It met Arcanine head-on, the resulting impact sending a shockwave that rippled through the stadium. Arcanine was knocked back, skidding across the battlefield, while Poliwrath stood firm, its powerful legs planted firmly in the ground.
*BOOOM*
Azure gritted his teeth, feeling the shockwave brush his face. He knew this wouldn't be easy. Red was a master strategist, and Poliwrath was a powerhouse as he thought cautiously, 'Extreme Speed is a powerful attack, but its effectiveness relies on catching the opponent off guard. I need to change tactics as Red's Poli managed to react to my Arcanine's speed through instincts.'
Azure called out, his voice ringing with authority as he ordered, "Arcanine, use Strong Style Flamethrower!"
*Sssss*
Arcanine roared, unleashing a torrent of blazing blue fire from its mouth. The Flamethrower engulfed Poliwrath, forcing Red's partner to take a defensive stance.
The heat was intense, scorching the air and creating a visible haze above the battlefield. Red countered, "Poliwrath, use Protect!"
*CLANG*
A shimmering green barrier appeared around Poliwrath, shielding it from the brunt of the Flamethrower. The fire washed harmlessly against the Protect, creating a spectacular display of clashing elements.
Azure watched intently, analyzing the situation. He knew Protect wouldn't last forever.
He needed to find a way to break through it. He added fiercely, "Arcanine, keep the pressure on! Flamethrower again!"
*Sssss*
Arcanine continued its barrage of fire, relentlessly pounding the Protect with waves of scorching heat. The stadium lights reflected in the flames, painting the arena in hues of orange and red.
The tension was palpable, and the crowd was on the edge of their seats. Red remained calm, his eyes narrowed in concentration. He muttered seriously, "Poliwrath, wait for the right time for an opening!"
*CRACK*
Finally, the Protect flickered and shattered under the relentless assault. Before Poliwrath could react, Azure seized the opportunity, "Arcanine, now! Use Wild Charge!"
*Zzzzz*
Fueled by the electrical energy coursing through its body, Arcanine lunged forward. Thunder crackled around its body as it slammed down on Poliwrath, delivering a devastating electric shock.
*SMASH*
Poliwrath cried out in pain, its body convulsing from the sudden surge of electricity. Red clenched his fists as he yelled, "Poliwrath, hold on! Use Hydro Pump!"
Despite the pain, Poliwrath managed to gather its strength and unleashed a powerful jet of water from its mouth. The Hydro Pump slammed into Arcanine, sending it hurtling backwards.
*SPLASH*
*BAM*
The water doused the flames, momentarily extinguishing the fiery aura that surrounded Arcanine. Both Pokémon stood panting, their bodies bruised and battered. The battle had taken its toll.
Azure glanced at Arcanine, checking for injuries. His partner was winded, but his eyes still burned with determination as he asked, concerned, "Arcanine, you okay?"
Arcanine let out a low growl, a sign of acknowledgement, "Arf!"
It was ready to continue fighting. Azure smirked as he commanded, "Alright, partner! Let's do this! Morning Sun!"
*Shiii*
Arcanine's whole body glows white, spreading yellow light around itself, restoring its lost health. Red looked at this as he ordered, "Poliwrath! Bulk Up!"
Poliwrath flexes its arms and its body becomes surrounded in a crimson aura, boosting both its attack power and its defenses. Azure frowned, muttering to himself in an annoyed tone, "Bulk Up. While my Pokémon recovers, Red increases his Pokémon's Attack and Defense. This isn't looking good…"
Red looked at Poliwrath, its usually vibrant blue skin now dulled with exhaustion. He grinned as he spoke, "You're doing great, Poliwrath. Just a little further."
The air crackled with anticipation as the two glared at each other. The next move could decide the entire match.
Azure knew he had to take a risk. He had to push Arcanine to its limits.
Azure shouted, his voice echoing through the stadium, "Arcanine, use Strong Style Flare Blitz! We're going all in!"
*BRRRRR*
Arcanine roared, summoning every ounce of its remaining energy. Blue flames erupted around its body, engulfing it in a blazing inferno.
Thanks to this, Arcanine also activated its Flash Fire and, equipped with its Charcoal boosting Fire-type moves, it went all in following Azure's command. Arcanine charged towards Poliwrath, a fiery comet hurtling through the air with a mighty roar, "Arf!! Raoooooowr!!!"
Red's eyes widened. Flare Blitz was a powerful but dangerous move, inflicting recoil damage on the user as he thought seriously, 'But Azure is willing to risk everything on this strike. With its Flash Fire and Charcoal boosting Fire-type moves by 20%, this attack might end my Poliwrath. If that's the case, we'll go with our strongest move!'
Red commanded, his voice filled with urgency as he said in a determined tone, "Poliwrath, counter with Dynamic Punch!"
*Swoosh*
Poliwrath channeled its energy into its fist, focusing all its power into a single, devastating blow as it cried out, "Poli! Wrath! (If it means total victory for Red!! Then I'll give my all to defeat you!!!)"
It charged forward, meeting Arcanine head-on. Arcanine felt excited as it roared, accepting Poli's determined cry, grinning happily, "Raooooowr!!! (Very well… I'll give you my all!! For only one shall stand and one shall fall!! AND I WON'T BE THE ONE FALLING!!!)'
*BOOOOOM*
The impact was earth-shattering. A blinding flash of light filled the stadium, followed by a deafening explosion. The ground trembled beneath their feet.
The crowd gasped, unable to see through the smoke and dust that billowed outwards. When the dust finally settled, two figures lay motionless on the battlefield.
Red and Azure's eyes widened seeing the results. Arcanine and Poliwrath were both unconscious, their bodies severely battered and bruised.
The stadium fell silent. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the judge to announce the outcome.
After what felt like an eternity, the judge raised his hand and announced, "Arcanine and Poliwrath are both unable to battle! It's a tie!"
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Their tones laced with disbelief.
"A tie?"
"After such an intense battle?"
Azure and Red exchanged glances. They both recalled their strongest partners as the pressure was immense.
Azure recalled Arcanine, as he softly grinned in a thankful tone, "You've done good, boy. You were strong."
Red recalled Poliwrath, as he grinned in a thankful tone for its assistance, "Thanks, Poli, for fighting through to the very end."
Despite listening to their Trainers' words being faint, both shook happily at their words. Both Pokémon thought as they drifted to unconsciousness, 'Next time… I won't be the falling one…'
/////
[Kanto Region, Indigo Plateau, Stadium – Audience Stand]
Meanwhile, in the audience stood Green, Blue, Bill, and Prof. Oak as they witnessed the dramatic battle between Arcanine and Poliwrath. They remained silent as they saw the confrontation between the two end in mutual destruction.
Bill mutters in a surprised tone, gazing between the two trainers, stunned, "He managed to knock out Red's Poliwrath. Isn't that his strongest Pokémon?"
The group nodded as Prof. Oak chimed in, seeing the battle between Red and Azure intensifying in a calm tone, "From what I recall, Red had that Poliwhirl at the beginning of his journey. You could say it was his longest partner before he captured other Pokémon, but to be able to obtain a mutual knockout… I have to say that Arcanine is certainly strong. I would dare say it's probably his strongest."
Coming from behind the group, Misty came in as she added, getting the group's attention with her words, "Sorry to intrude, but I'm afraid you'd be wrong. His Arcanine is merely his second or third strongest in his team."
Their eyes widened to see Misty appear along with Brock and Erika as Blue said in a calm tone, "Oh? Didn't expect to see you, Good Gym Leaders, to witness the Pokémon League Tournament. I suppose you're here to support Red or Azure?"
Brock nodded his head, agreeing with Blue's words as he smiled fondly, explaining, "Of course. We wanted to see whether the Badge we gave to the trainers was worthy of earning them to compete in the finals. From the looks of things, Red only has 3 Pokémon left while Azure has 4."
Returning to the topic of Azure's strongest, Green asked curiously at the Good Gym leaders, piquing her interest, "If that Arcanine isn't his strongest, then would it be his Dragonite? Dragon-type Pokémon are powerful after all."
Before they could continue discussing, Bill spoke up, pointing at their next choice, "Guys! Look, they're about to continue!"
/////
[Kanto Region, Indigo Plateau, Stadium]
Returning to the battlefield, their next Pokémon would prove to be the crucial moment for them, determining victory or defeat. Azure tightened his grip on the Poké Ball in his hand, the smooth plastic a reassuring presence.
He'd never battled Red before, but knew the terrifying power he commanded, the intuitive bond he shared with his Pokémon. This wasn't just a battle; it was a clash of titans, a showdown that would etch their names into Pokémon League history.
Without hesitation, Red tossed his Poké Ball, the familiar red and white sphere arcing through the air before bursting open, releasing a torrent of green energy as he yelled, "Venusaur, I choose you!"
*Pop*
The Seed Pokémon materialized on the field, its enormous size dwarfing the patch of grass beneath its bulbous back. Its thick vines quivered, and its leathery skin shone under the stadium lights. Venusaur. Red's signature Pokémon, a force of nature molded into a loyal partner.
Azure took a deep breath, silencing the roar of the crowd, focusing only on the task ahead. He knew he had to make the right choice.
This battle wouldn't be won on brute strength alone; it required strategy, foresight, and a deep understanding of his own Pokémon's abilities. Azure shouted, flinging his Poké Ball forward, "Scizor, let's go!"
*Pop*
With a burst of metallic shimmer, Scizor appeared. Its crimson exoskeleton gleamed menacingly, its scissor-like claws snapping open and closed with a sharp, metallic click. Scizor is the culmination of countless hours of training and a bond forged in the heat of battle.
The crowd erupted, a wave of cheers and gasps washing over the stadium. The contrast between the bulky, floral Venusaur and the sleek, metallic Scizor was striking, a visual representation of the opposing strategies about to unfold.
Red commanded, his voice calm and steady, "Venusaur, Razor Leaf!"
*Swf*
Venusaur swung its thick vines, unleashing a whirlwind of razor-sharp leaves that hurtled towards Scizor with incredible speed. The air crackled with energy as the Razor Leaf attack tore through the space between them.
Azure reacted instantly as he countered, giving his command, "Scizor, Double Team! Then, use Bullet Punch!"
*Swooosh*
Scizor moved with blinding speed, creating multiple afterimages that danced around the battlefield, obscuring its actual location. The Razor Leaf attack shredded through the illusions, but the real Scizor emerged from the chaos, its metallic claws glowing with steel energy. It launched itself forward, a crimson blur against the green backdrop, and slammed into Venusaur with a devastating Bullet Punch.
*SMASH*
The Bullet Punch hit rocked Venusaur, staggering the Seed Pokémon back a few steps. But Venusaur was resilient, a testament to Red's rigorous training. It shook its head, its flower swaying slightly, and regained its footing.
Red commanded, his eyes narrowing, "Venusaur, Petal Dance!"
*Swooosh*
Venusaur unleashed a mesmerizing dance of petals, each one glowing with vibrant colors. The swirling petals formed a beautiful, yet deadly, vortex that enveloped the battlefield, alerting Azure.
Azure yelled, his voice strained, issuing his command, "Scizor, Swords Dance! Blow those petals away!"
He knew the Petal Dance was a powerful move, and with Venusaur knowing powder moves, he didn't want to take the chance. Scizor nodded as it began to spin around, as the petals began to harmlessly bounce off its body, performing Swords Dance.
*Clang*
*Clang*
However, the petals were endless, a constant barrage that chipped away at Scizor's defenses. The confusion started to set in, blurring Venasuar's vision and making its movements erratic.
Seeing his chance as Petal Dance ended, Azure commanded his voice ringing with urgency as the Venusaur tumbled from the aftermath of Petal Dance, "Now! Scizor, use X-Scissor with Venusaur confused!!"
*Gulp*
Unaware to Azure Venusaur ate its held item, Persim Berry, after it issued its command as Scizor lunged forward. Scizor responded to Azure's command. Its claws glowed with an intense crimson energy, forming the shape of a cross.
It lunged forward, attempting to slash at Venusaur with the X-Scissor attack. Red smirked as he countered, "Now, Saur! Sleep Powder!"
*Poof*
Azure's face recoiled in shock as Venusaur smirked, shooting Sleeping Powder at Scizor. It moved away on time as Scizor slumped down, having been caught asleep, as Red managed to pull a fast one over Azure as he thought, 'Phew… too close for comfort. There was no way I was gonna get through Scizor's iron exoskeleton the easy way. But nothing said I could recover my Pokémon status conditions via Held Items, or in this case, a Persim Berry I had Saur hold for this scenario.'
Azure frowned, having been outplayed like this, as he thought in a concerned tone, 'I didn't expect that… a false sense of security, then using a berry to recover from its Confusion Status condition. I fell for it like a sucker…'
Azure yelled, trying to get Scizor to wake up, but unfortunately, fell asleep still. With this, Red began to set up in a serious tone, "Saur! Sunny Day! Leech Seed! Growth!"
*Shiii*
The sun suddenly intensified as Venusaur began its setups. This greatly concerned Azure as he thought nervously, 'Shit! Sunny Day and Growth! While normally, Growth increases a Pokémon's Attack and Sp. Attack stage by one… but if hit with harsh sunlight from Sunny Day, it instead increases by 2!! Not only that, but Leech Seed…'
Azure bitterly bit his thumb as his Scizor's HP is slowly being drained. When given the chance, Red commanded, "Now! Earthquake!"
*RMBL*
Venusaur slammed its foot down as the cracks of the earth showed, traveling down to Scizor. While being left asleep, Scizor was hit by the attack, jolting its eyes up, "Sci!! Scizor!!!!"
*Thud*
Crashing on the ground hard, Scizor woke up standing wobbly. The battlefield was cleared, revealing the damage inflicted on Scizor while Red's Venusaur remained at its top condition, eyeing Scizor seriously.
Scizor was panting, its metallic body scratched and dented, the effects of the Petal Dance and Earthquake. Venusaur was relatively calm during battle, but its eyes still burned with determination.
Red commanded, seizing the opportunity, "Venusaur, Sleep Powder!"
*Poof*
Venusaur unleashed a cloud of fine, shimmering powder that drifted towards Scizor. Azure knew the danger of Sleep Powder; if it hit, Scizor would be rendered helpless again as he shouted, his heart pounding in his chest, "Scizor, Agility! Dodge it!"
*Swooosh*
Scizor, despite its weakened state, mustered the energy to unleash its Agility. It darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the cloud of Sleep Powder.
The crowd gasped, appreciating the agility and quick thinking of both trainers. Azure yelled, knowing this was his chance to turn the tide, "Now, Scizor, use Swords Dance!"
Scizor focused its energy, its body glowing with a fierce intensity. It performed a graceful, yet powerful, dance, sharpening its claws and bolstering its attack power.
The stadium held its breath, sensing the shift in momentum. Red commanded, his voice urgent for the first time in the battle, "Venusaur, Solar Beam!"
*PEW*
Venusaur began to absorb the sunlight, a golden aura enveloping its flower. Azure knew the Solar Beam was a devastating attack, capable of ending the battle in a single shot, and with Sunny Day active, it fired a laser from its tree aimed at Scizor.
Azure screamed, his voice raw with emotion and desperation in his tone, "Scizor, Strong Style Slash! Unleash everything you've got!"
*THUD*
*SHINNG*
Scizor unleashed a high-pitched, ear-splitting screech that vibrated through the arena. It dug down to the ground and unleashed its most powerful Slash attack it could muster with its Sword Dance stacked.
Then Scizor lunged forward as its pincers glowed white as it dived straight through the Solar Beam. Thoughts of its encounter with Azure and his Pokémon filled Scizor's thoughts, 'I won't… let Sir Sky… down!!!'
*Tmp*
Taking each step closer as it pierces through the Solar Beam, Red's eyes widened, seeing how serious Scizor was slashing its way through. He grinned seeing Scizor resolve as he thought seriously, 'Man, that's one tough Pokémon just to push its way through, but… sometimes the desire to win isn't enough.'
*BOOOM*
Scizor was pushed back as it took the full force of Solar Beam. Red eyes, the Scizor standing in place as it fell, as Azure's eyes widened with disbelief.
The referee announced, his voice echoing through the stadium, "Scizor is unable to battle! Venusaur wins!"
The crowd erupted, a deafening roar of cheers and applause. Red pumped his fist in the air, a wave of relief and exhilaration washing over him as he congratulated Venusaur, "Good job, Saur!"
Azure, on the other hand, recalled Scizor as he thanked his Pincer Pokémon, "Thanks, Scizor, for going all out… but now… the match is even."
Azure frowned as the match took an unexpected turn. Now the match from 6v6 turned to 3v3 with each having 3 Pokémon left…