Hard Enough

The next day saw me once more behind the judge’s desk with Joy and Monique.

Joy and I were wearing the same attire as yesterday but Monique had gone for an entirely different ensemble.

This time she was wearing something that had chains and buckles all over it. If she’d had a sword at her hip I’d have been tempted to call her the raid boss instead of the judge.

She seemed happy with the looks she was getting so at the very least she was making a statement.

Rachel, Archibald and Gardevoir once again were hyping the crowd and welcoming them to the second day of competition. I noted that Rachel, Archibald and Gardevoir all were wearing new outfits.

Rachel had gotten a hold of a jacket with the sleeves torn off and a collar around her neck that made her ‘tough-cute’ more than tough but it seemed to work.

Archibald had lost his tie and jacket while rolling up his sleeves to display tattoos that would have fitted right in with a yakuza mob boss. More than a few people were giving him a lot more respect.

Somehow Gardevoir was still wearing the most out there outfit with a jacket where the lapels were huge spikey things that made her look thuggish. She’d also had her hair styled into a greaser look and alternated between scowling and giggling, so she seemed to be enjoying herself.

This led to Archibald… a possible gang leader in his youth, to also be happy.

Rachel keyed up her microphone as she skipped out to the front with Archibald and Gardevoir to the side. “Welcome back everyone” she crowed with obvious delight. “Today is the second round with our sixteen participants for the Battle Stage where coordinators will go head to head in a battle that needs to show style and finesse!”

Archibald nodded seriously. “Showing results, taking damage and not being artistic can see man and pokemon expunged from the competition! It becomes a balancing act if you will!”

Gardevoir made a show of juggling and launching small juggling balls at Racehl who nimbly dodged them much to the crowd’s approval. One ball snuck through and tagged Rachel but she worked with the nudge and flipped over onto her feet to land a backflip earning herself some more applause.

I smiled and glanced over the crowd noting that today Sabrina, Erika and the Cerulean sisters were in attendance. The patch of bright colours rather drew the eye with Erika and friends sitting in a field of flowers as some might say with how many girls had grouped up.

I nodded towards Sabrina before checking with Monique. "We're still on for the final event of the day?" I asked.

She nodded and winked before turning her head to the announcers.

Archibald nodded seriously. “For those of you following at home or looking for the more technical details. Each battle lasts at maximum five minutes and the object of the battle is to decrease the opponent's points more than knock out your foe!”

He indicated the screen above where two fake accounts and pokemon were shown trading blows and points began to drop. “Coordinators lose points when their Pokémon are hit by an attack, when their Pokémon's attack fails, when the opponent's Pokémon performs a particularly appealing move, or when the opponent's Pokémon uses their Pokémon's attack to its own advantage.” The screen showed a variety of such events playing out earning some thoughtful looks from the crowd. Most of these had been taken from Hoenn contests.

Rachel stepped back in. “A battle can also end when one of the Pokémon is unable to battle, called Battle Off by the judges. In this case, the Coordinator with the remaining Pokémon is declared the winner!”

Archibald nodded and gestured to the screens. “And now, we shall randomly allocate the match ups!” he said.

On the screen, sixteen faces appeared. The most notable being Walter, Jessie, Yolanda, Greta, Crystal, Solidad, Bosco, and Zek.

Yolanda, Greta and Crystal were all standing together with their fingers crossed. Walter was standing with his arms crossed and his face set in a scowl. Jessie was hopping from foot to foot with a pensive expression.

“And the first match!” announced Rachel, as faces began to cascade around like pinwheels.

Yolanda’s face slotted into the first bracket causing a stir from the people that knew she was my sister. “Yolanda from Pewter city!” screamed Rachel, as the crowd roared their approval. I raised an eyebrow. That was rather interesting to have her coming out first like that.

The next face was the man who’d come in ranked eighth overall with his Pidgeotto.

“Vinny from Fortree City!” announced Rachel.

I shot both trainers a smile and a nod as they stepped up onto the stage.

Vinny bowed to us in time with Yolanda, first to each other and then to us. Then they drew out their pokeballs as a timer counted down above them. When it hit zero a chime sounded out and they both released their pokemon.

“Let’s go Swellow!” shouted Vinny.

Vinny sent out a Swellow which had me sitting up, it had an extremely vibrant plumage and had small golden bands around its feet that seemed to be the nod to the Tough Theme.

Yolanda bounced on the spot as she sent out Spot the Growlithe. “Let’s go Growlithe!”

The small Growlithe appeared and growled fiercely. I exhaled in relief, glad that she hadn’t sent out Terra. On paper it might have been a better match but I could tell that Vinny and his Swellow were serious contenders and powerful in their own right, from a quick look at Swellow’s plumage.

From Yolanda’s grimace she was well aware of her back being up against a wall.

“Begin!” called Rachel, as both of their points were put on display.

“Twister into a Sky Strike like we practised!” ordered Vinny.

“Spot! Use Agility and kick up some dust!” Yolanda said, playing a hit-and-run game by camouflaging where her pokemon was, as the dust cloud caused them to become shadows with Spot further playing into it by barking. The sound of his barks echoing as dust rose up obscuring him.

I watched for a long moment before sighing, it had been a good attempt on Yolanda’s part.

Vinny didn’t even have to give his pokemon an order, it was well trained enough to gain height and then sweep its wings forward, once, twice, thrice and then the field was clear again.

This revealed a rather startled Spot who was doing his best to run against the Hurricane force winds but coming up short. Vinny then raised and dropped his hand and Swellow stopped beating its wings to tuck and dive.

Spot launched forward as the wind that had been pushing it back vanished only to run face first into a powerful Sky Strike that had been well executed. They’d even thought to target ahead of where Spot had been.

Spot tumbled end over end and for a moment I thought he would be thrown off the side of the stage only to dig his claws in and struggle to stand. “Lithe!” growled Spot, as he locked eyes with Swellow.

On the screen above, his points plummeted while Vinny and Swellow stayed the same.

Yolanda gritted her teeth. “Go again!” she shouted, and Spot loyally threw himself into the same move, once more accelerating and kicking up dust. Yolanda kept her eyes locked on Swellow while Vinny just shook his head.

“Let’s finish this,” he said. He gestured and Swellow shot in to blow away the dust.

“Now!” called Yolanda and right as the dust was blown away, Spot vanished.

“Eh?” shouted Vinny as his Swellow baulked at the vanishing act.

I chuckled. “She wouldn’t get away with this anywhere else,” I said, as Spot popped out of the stage behind Swellow with what had to be a dig.

Spot didn’t need the order as he leaped straight at Swellow, an orb of flame taking over his form as she slammed into Swellow and caused a blinding flash.

I chuckled as Swellow was revealed, still flying with its feet raised and locked in a grip with Spot as flames lashed the flying type. Swellow cried out in pain but before Spot could make it to the ground Swellow swooped down and snatched him out of the air.

Spot twisted in Swellow’s grip, trying and failing to land another blast of fire on his foe. Swellow merely continued to hold Spot by the neck, a glint appearing in its eye as it surveyed the ground.

It stopped beating its wings and instantly both pokemon plummeted, just before they hit however. Swellow kicked off, which left Spot smashing into the ground harshly and escaping danger itself. Swellow finished off, by beating its wings once again and caused the shockwave of dust to sweep away, letting everyone clearly see its power.

It looked rather impressive even if I didn’t want to acknowledge it due to how it was beating up my sister’s pokemon.

“Oh! A Reversal plays out with Yolanda’s tactics backfiring!” exclaimed Rachel. “Tough show!”

A small dip showed that Vinny and Swellow had taken a small hit of their points initially, only to have their fortunes reversed by their smart tactics.

I sighed having seen enough to know that Yolanda and Spot had been up against very long odds of winning. I tapped a button and a chime rang out showing that Yolanda only had a few points left with those last two exchanges not working out for them.

Spot stood, barely there with how he was quivering and shaking, but still pushing himself. I had to give it to him, he was a loyal pokemon and wasn’t going down without giving it his all.

Yolanda’s eyes darted about looking for something she could use only for Vinny to not hesitate to send Swellow in once again.

“Aerial Ace to finish with style!” he called.

I grimaced, knowing that it was overkill.

I stood, unclipped a pokeball and threw it in one clean practised action. “Shin! Block!” I called, and Shin exploded into action getting next to Spot in a heartbeat

Swellow lunged talons raised to rake Spot only for Shin to appear between them with his scythe to block the attack only for Swellow to vanish..

For a second I felt my heart lurch that Swellow had still been able to get off the Aerial Ace that late, only for shin to twist and raise his other Scythe This time instead of a physical block however, wall of water shot up as Shin performed a small Surf, snatching Spot up and away from danger.

Swellow swept through the point Spot had been only for nothing to hit.

I exhaled in relief as Swellow arced around unhurt.

I signalled to Vinny and keyed my microphone. “I rule Battle Out on grounds of potential injury or worse had Spot continued,” I said.

“I second this motion,” said Nurse Joy. I glanced at her and noticed for the first time she too was standing with a pokeball in hand. Had she been about to send out someone to protect Spot if I’d been too slow?

The only pokemon that had the speed would have been… Latias, and damn that would have created some issues for her if people knew she had a Latias.

I nodded in thanks as Yolanda slumped, dejectedly.

I strode over to her and clapped her on the shoulder. “Sorry it didn’t turn out the way you wanted. It was a bad match-up for you cause you’re not even out there Journeying, but I don’t want you to feel too bad. “I waved a hand towards Vinny. “That guy is a pushing Ace trainer, at least I should assume so, His Pidgeotto is good for a circuit pokemon but his Swellow is really good,” I said.

He was at least fourth tier as a trainer, not yet an Ace trainer, but he’d be a strong battler at the end of year circuit.

Vinny approached Yolanda and I . “I should have gone for a lighter exchange at the end there, I must apologise,” Vinny bowed politely and I nodded.

“Y-yeah I just thought I could find a way to win,” Yoland said with a sigh. “I got Spot to learn your Dip dig trick last night and I thought I could use that.”

“You did? That’s impressive,” I said, giving Yolanda a small squeeze. That wasn’t an easy trick to learn. “Sadly he had an answer for it, you did well today. You’ve shown that you’re growing. Terra and Spot are going to be terrors when you set off,” I said, giving her another squeeze.

Vinny approached. “Sorry again! I’m so used to battling instead of contest-style fights!” he said apologetically.

I sighed and nodded. He was entirely correct of course. “Just be more careful in future,” I said, letting the two coordinators depart to the crowd’s applause.

“I should have deducted more points for the lack of style,” I said as I sat down.

Nurse Joy rubbed the back of her head having not done so. Monique smirked and preened. It was then that I noticed that Vinny hadn’t gotten away with a perfect score.

“Huh, nice work,” I said before nodding at my other judge. “Thanks for having my back,” I said.

“No problem, happy to help,” she said easily. She then turned her gaze upwards as the next match was announced.

Two very familiar faces appeared.

Greta versus Crystal.

Both girls stiffened only for Crystal to gain a cocky smile. Greta swallowed and nodded to her friend before marching stiffly to the stage.

Crystal palmed her second pokeball and I had to admit to being a bit curious about what she had.

“Let’s go Flamer!” she shouted, as she revealed a Cyndaquil. I whistled, damn, Georgina hadn’t been kidding that she was going to be setting Crystal up for her journey, with an Eevee and a Cyndaquil she had a lot of potential firepower.

Greta swallowed and most tellingly didn’t react with surprise.

So, she’d known about this before today had she? I shot Yolanda a look and she too wasn’t surprised.

Greta’s pokemon turned out to be a Beedrill of all things.

“Huh, she’s that confident in her Beedrill,” I said. Nurse Joy shot me a look and I waved a hand. “She told me she only caught it recently, she must have been making use of Bug Type pokemon’s fast growth rates,” I said.

Crystal twitched in surprise. “Bwuh? When did you catch that pokemon?”

“Not that long ago,” smirked Greta. “I caught Weedle after talking with the Bug catchers. I saw some potential so I went for it.” Greta stood tall. “I’m sorry I had to face you, but Crystal? You’re going down!” she said.

Crystal gaped at this seeming one-eighty from her friend only for Rachel to call the start.

Greta slashed her hand forward. “Encirclement method with Poison Sting!” she called, causing Beedril to blur and leave after images that raised their stingers and began to fire from all angles.

Flamer, Crystal’s Cyndaquil wailed in pain causing Crystal to drop her shock and get her head in the match. “Blow your top, sweep the field with Ember! Limit their options!” she called. Her pokemon inhaled before exhaling and causing its back to explode with fine motes of flame shooting up into the air while its mouth exhaled more embers down low.

The embers trailed through the air and stung Beedril who twitched and the after images faded to reveal the actual pokemon.

“Ha! Got you now! Ember again but do a barrel roll at the same time!” called Crystal.

Flamer blinked in surprise but did as asked, inhaling and then exhaling Ember once again, dutifully barrel rolling to the side and causing a sort of twister like wave of flame that had me nodding along. It wasn’t too shabby for style.

“Drop and Brick Break!” called Greta, making her pokemon plummet from the sky and slam a stinger into the ground where it raised part of the earth to shield itself. The Embers washed against the raised shield ineffectively and Beedril remained kneeling looking like a knight with a shield raised.

“Build up your power!” Greta called and Beedril’s wings began to vibrate faster and faster a droning pitch was quickly achieved.

“Smokescreen and then light up the air with Ember once more!” Crystal called, making her pokemon exhale smoke around itself before sending out small pulsing Embers that made the Smoke look like a night sky.

The crowd ‘oohed’ with wonder. I hummed and had to give Crystal some credit she was coming up with some nice-looking combinations.

Greta however wasn’t just twiddling her thumbs as she pointed to the sky. “Launch Poison Sting up into the air!”

Beedrill did just this only for Greta to snap her hand to the side. “Agility to the side then shoot the falling Posion Sting!” she called. Beedril blurred to the side and raised his stingers once more and fired, resulting in a cascade of spinning twirling purple stingers.

It looked like the sky had been flipped with glow sticks and added an air of unpredictability as the tumbling stingers fell to the ground in a chaotic pattern that covered where Flamer was hiding.

“Defog to clear the field of Ember but don’t just twirl! Remember! Pirouette to keep any blow back away!” she called.

Beedrill buzzed angrily only to surprise me as it raised its stingers and spun like a ballerina, its wings fluttering gracefully. Instead of a harsh wind blowing away the smoke, the smoke cleared in an almost calm manner. This revealed a punctured Flamer who was wailing in pain.

Greta opened her mouth only to pause and glance in our direction. Nurse Joy and I shared a look and a nod.

“We’re ruling another Battle Out, Flamer can not continue to fight!” Nurse Joy said this time.

I stood and signalled for some applause for both Coordinators with Rachel leading the charge happily.

Archibald took over the commentary this time with a pleased rub of his moustache. “I rather like being surprised with how young trainers can perform. They used style, grace and skill all at once. They created a wonderful display while fighting it out I have to say. That Beedrill was also a startling find with its control of the winds. I dare say a flying type would be envious,” he said.

“Voir!” Agreed Gardevoir.

Crystal and Greta marched over and shook hands. “Can’t believe you hid that you had a Beedril from me!” said Crystal.

“Sorry, most people find it weird?” said Greta.

“Feh! They’re feckless idiots!” said Crystal. “Urgh! I thought you were going to be shaky but you were all cool and collected!” Crystal sighed. “Guess being part of the Gym means you get used to fighting?”

Greta smirked. “More than you realise,” she said.

Crystal sighed and rolled her eyes and hugged her friend. Something was said that was muffled by the hug but it seemed to be positive. The crowd ate it up awwing at the show of friendship.

Greta just giggled. “Better you lose to me than some idiot you can’t stand!” she said with a giggle.

Both girls strode off the stage with their heads high and I chuckled as they received a round of applause with each of them bowing together.

Beedrill had surprised me, she’d certainly done well with a pokemon that she’d only caught recently. But then again she’d also sought out the local experts on said pokemon, so perhaps it was warranted. I peered into the crowd and spotted a number of the local chapter house proudly cheering for Greta with banners for Beedrill raised high.

Once more I turned to the overhead display only to find it was yet another pair I’d marked as ‘to watch’. Walter appeared first and then Jessie appeared.

Huh, that promised to be good.

Jessie marched out with James and Meowth cheering for her as loudly as they could while Walter strode forth with a measured gait. “Fair maiden! I must apologise for the defeat I am about to hand you!” barked Walter.

Jessie narrowed her eyes, any hint of worry fleeing as she locked eyes with the martial artist trying to be gentlemanly. “I’m no maiden!” Jessie hissed as she enlarged a pokeball.

I heard a number of women hoot and cheer for Jessie at this statement and Rachel was quick to call the match to a start. Jessie sent forth her Arbok while Walter sent out a Primeape.

“Arbok set the stage with Acid Spray around Primeape!” Jessie called. Her pokemon unleashed a barrage of poison in a single long burst like a hose unleashed a deluge of water. The poison splashed around in front of Primeape seemingly doing nothing for the moment.

Primeape marched up to the edge of the poison and snorted contemptuously swaggering back and forth. Arbok snarled angrily and I could see a glow overtake it as Walter smirked.

I lowered both of their points for the initial poor showing causing both Walter and Jessie to twitch as they recalled that this was a contest and not a battle. Jessie grimaced, but was the first to look serious while Walter considered his options.

“Advance Arbok!” Jessie called, making her pokemon slither forward, an annoyed tick still showing that it was under the effects of Swagger.

“Primeape! Use Brick Break and send some rocks that Arboks way with a strong right!”

Primeape stomped its feet and caused a pair of rocks to be fired off one after the other at Arbok.

Jessie blanched. “Brace and use Stockpile!” she called.

Arbok did just that, standing tall. Then it opened its mouth and swallowed both rocks straight down its gullet. It rocked back from the momentum of the strikes but then came back and made an exaggerated swallowing action.

The crowd went silent.

“Well, that was certainly a unique method of stopping damage,” said Monique.

I raised a finger. “I can’t tell if that was Arbok being confused or planned,” I said.

“I think it didn’t mean to Swallow!” said Nurse Joy with a gleam in her eyes.

I glanced at her but her mask hid her mouth. She had to be smirking though. No way she’d delivered that line with a straight face. I wanted to remind her that there were children listening but that had most likely passed over their heads.

“It’s worth points!” chimed Nurse Joy as she awarded Jessie and penalised Walter.

Jessie twitched at this sudden turn of events. “Spit up!” she called, and Arbok fired back a pair of rocks that were now covered in poison straight into the gobsmacked Primeape.

“Dodge with Swagger again!” roared Walter. Primeape stumped to the left and right only for flecks of poison to touch it as the first rock sailed past. The second rock slammed home though and Primeape glowered at Arbok.

“APE!” it roared.

Jessie stiffened. “Dive into the poison and use Mud shot!” she called. Arbok did just that, lashing its tail and sent forth a wave of mud that was encrusted with the earlier Acid Spray to splash into Primeape’s eyes.

Primeape howled with rage and began thrashing about in earnest. When it got close to Arbok, Jessie had her pokemon coil around it and bring it down into the poisoned mudpit.

Walter sighed and bowed. “I withdraw my pokemon, Jessie has countered me well this day!” he said stoically.

Jessie beamed as Primeape was withdrawn from Arbok’s clutches.

On the display Jessie’s face grew large with the words ‘winner’ displayed. She grinned hugely and once more James and Meowth were the first to start cheering for her.

From there Bosco, and Zek both advanced with the Weezing and Muk causing Rachel to perk up. “It’s a poison sweep by the looks of things! We’ve had Beedrill, Arbok, Weezing and Muk all taking over! I hope the poison enthusiasts out there are enjoying the show cause their pokemon are representing today!”

I glanced up to find an extremely pleased looking Janine buzzing with energy among the ladies of Celadon.

“And now to close out the round of sixteen! We have Solidad of Pewter versus Argo of Fuchsia!”

Argo emerged with a confident grin .”Seems like the odds favour me today eh?” he said with a smirk.

Solidad merely smiled and when they were asked to send out their pokemon it was clear why.

While Argo sent out a Venomoth, Solidad sent out a Slowbro.

“Let the last match! Begin!” called Rachel.

Slowbro yawned hugely and I felt a wave of something wash over me causing me to frown. That had been oddly fast for a move from a pokemon notorious for being slow.

“Let’s go with poison powder!” called Argo, and his pokemon began beating its wings and sending out clouds of purple glittering powder, but oddly it didn’t go forwards to cover the entire field instead it hovered.

“Water Gun sequence!” replied Solidad, and her pokemon responded slowly, arcing a trio of watery bullets up into the air that didn’t seem to even be getting close to Venomoth’s form, where it was sweeping its wings and causing poison to drift forward.

Monique leaned forward with a predatory gleam in her eyes which was matched by her daughter, alerting me that something was about to happen.

“Venomoth use Confusion to sweep all the poison upon Slowbro!” called Argo, and the drifting clouds formed ribbons that began to flow towards Slowbro.

Slowbro yawned and the world seemed to slow down as things just got a lot more— a pulse of energy appeared in its mouth and then with only the barest warning, Slowbro unleashed a Hyper Beam that shot clear through the trio of water Guns that had not been aimed at Venomoth, but rather as preliminary target for her pokemon to hit.

All three orbs of water burst and caused water to rain out in a shimmering display that dispersed the Poisonpowder as the Hyper Beam punched into the startled Venomoth blowing it away and ending the match with a third Battle Out.

Argo stared at his downed pokemon and then back over to Solidad who now had a rainbow forming on her side of the field.

I whistled and dropped his points while awarding Solidad for that perfect three move set. “The early Yawn move is a surprise, that’s to lower speed and reactions isn’t it?” I asked Monique

Monique nodded. “It also causes a lull that turns into a sudden surprise, making it twice as effective as you almost grow bored with slowbro on the field, only to then have it startle you with wow.”

I nodded. “It is certainly that,” I said.

Solidad waved and I glanced at the other competitors. With that match, Solidad had just emerged as the coordinator to beat.

Rachel led a round of applause before directing people’s attention to the overhead display. “And now! To give people a taste of what’s to come! We are going to give out the next four matches at once!”

I shot Monique a raised eyebrow and she coughed. “We wanted the surprise for the first match but now we want people to know what is to come. We all have our favourites, so now the crowd can see and cheer more,” she said.

I hummed and let the matter drop. It wasn’t a big issue, but next time I think I’d just announce the entire bracket format ahead of time. I whistled when I saw that Bosco and Vinny each had ‘easier’ matches. Most of my attention though was turned to the other two matches.

Solidad versus Zek.

And Greta versus Jessadia.