Chapter 76: Finals (2)
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Indigo Plateau, Stadium]
The roar of the crowd was deafening. Azure Sky stood on one side of the battlefield in Indigo Plateau Stadium, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs.
The stadium lights blazed, illuminating every speck of dust that danced in the air. Across from him stood Red, a figure of quiet intensity. His cap was pulled low, obscuring his eyes, but Azure could feel the palpable aura of confidence radiating from him.
This was it. The culmination of months of relentless training, countless battles, and unwavering dreams. The Finals of the Pokémon League.
Azure glanced at his team, lined up beside him within their Poke Balls. Pikachu, his loyal partner, stood proudly, sparks crackling from his cheeks. And his team within their Poke Balls – Eevee, Scizor, Gengar, Arcanine, and Dragonite – each of them waiting for their chance.
This was his team, his strength. Red's team was equally formidable.
The referee raised his hand as he said, "Trainers, are you ready?"
Azure and Red shouted in unison, "Ready!"
Nodding, raising both flags down, the referee announced, "Then let the final battle between Fire Red Vs Azure Sky… BEGIN!"
Azure took a deep breath and met Red's gaze. Azure said, his voice ringing with determination, "Let's make this a battle for the ages, Red."
Red simply nodded, his eyes narrowing as he replied with an excited grin, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Azure called out, sending his partner onto the field, "Alright, Pikachu, I choose you!"
Red countered with his own Pikachu as he ordered, "Let's go, Pika!"
The two electric mice faced each other, crackling with energy. The crowd roared its approval as Azure struck first, "Pikachu, use Zippy Zap!"
*Zooom*
His Pikachu surged forward, a yellow blur of speed. Red's Pikachu mirrored the move as he countered, "Pika! Quick Attack!"
Pikachu turned into blurs of electricity as they raced around the battlefield. With each clash resulting in a small shockwave as Red frowned as he thought, 'Pika's taking heavy damage. Thanks to Azure's Pikachu, Lightning Rod Electric Moves won't work, but nothing says other moves would.'
*BOOOM*
The two Pikachus collided in a burst of sparks, both staggering back slightly. Red yelled, "Now, use Swift!"
Red's Pikachu's tail glowed as it twirled, and it swung stars at Azure's Pikachu with tremendous force. Azure knew he had to react quickly as he countered, "Pikachu, use Discharge!"
*Zzzz*
His Pikachu began charging electricity and unleashed a powerful bolt of lightning all around the area, attracting the swift stars. He destroyed them, creating small explosions that created a dust cloud.
However, Red smirked as he happily eyed the situation, 'Perfect! Now's our chance, Pika!'
Red issued his order as his Pika zoomed near with Agility, "Use Agility to get close and use Mega Punch!"
*SMASH*
Azure's eyes widened, seeing Red's Pika raise its paws, forming a fist, slamming against his Partner Pikachu's face. However, Azure saw his Pikachu recover as he countered, "Use Magnet Rise!"
*Zzzz*
A golden hue surrounded Pikachu as it managed to get itself under control, levitating using the magnetic forces as it glared down at Red's Pika, "Pika! Pikachu! (Oh, it's so on now, small fry!)"
Red's Pika, being the sassy Pokémon it was taunted Azure's Pikachu smugly, "Pi? Pikachu! Cha! (Bring it! I'll just slug your ugly mug again!)"
The battle between Pikachu continued to intensify. Blurs of yellow clashing against each other could be seen as they collided, releasing small shockwaves with each confrontation to the other.
/////
[Kanto Region, Indigo Plateau, Stadium – Audience Stand]
Meanwhile, in the audience stood Green, Blue, Bill, and Prof. Oak as they witnessed the battle between Red and Azure. They remained silent as they saw the confrontation between the two Mouse Pokémon clash.
Remaining calm, Green asked curiously between the two to her group the victor, "So between the two of them, who'll win? Any thoughts on the matter?"
Hearing her words, Blue crossed his arms as he analyzed the battle between the two, commenting calmly, "Not sure. It's only the beginning of the match, and I can tell Red's Pika doesn't stand a chance without its Electric-type moves. Azure's Pikachu has the Lightning Rod ability, limiting Red's Pika of its greatest source of power."
Bill looked a bit surprised as he added in an uncertain tone about Red's odds, "So ya mean Red doesn't have a chance to win against Azure's Pikachu?"
Blue simply nodded, not providing an answer, as Green added, observing the battle, "I can see your point. Not only that, thanks to his new move Magnet Rise, it eliminated Pikachu's weakness to Ground-type moves."
They all nodded, seeing how Red's Pika isn't doing so well with Azure's Pikachu in the air thanks to its Magnet Rise. Prof. Oak chimes in, rubbing his chin as he ponders out loud, "I still must wonder how Azure managed to teach his Pokémon so many new moves. Judging by how much time each of his moves could change the meta of Pokémon Battles as we know it. And I have a gut feeling we're only seeing the tip of the iceberg."
The group listened as they slowly nodded their heads. They've never seen Azure battle, so to them, it's a mystery as they see the battle reach its peak between the Pikachu's as Azure yelled, "Now! Volt Tackle!"
*BOOOOM*
Their eyes widened as Azure's Pikachu ran at Red's Pikachu. Then, its body becomes surrounded by golden electricity, and it tackles the opponent. While covered in electricity, Pikachu's body looks black and white. When hit by recoil damage, its body becomes surrounded by yellow sparks of electricity.
They're eyes widened as Prof. Oak grinned, seeing an unknown powerful move, "See… we've only seen the tip of the iceberg of his abilities. This might be Red's toughest battle yet…"
/////
[Kanto Region, Indigo Plateau, Stadium]
*Thud*
Red's Pikachu was struck by Volt Tackle, collapsing to the ground, fainted. The referee declared, "Pikachu is unable to battle! Azure's Pikachu wins!"
Red returned his Pikachu to its Poké Ball. He said, his voice barely audible above the cheers, "You're strong, Azure. But this battle has only just begun, and I'm not losing. I choose you, Snorlax!"
*Pop*
The massive Pokémon lumbered onto the field, its presence immediately dominating the arena. Azure knew this would be a tough matchup for Pikachu, seeing it panting from the earlier confrontation against Red's Pika, cautiously thought, 'Not good. Sending in a tank like Snorlax is a good play in that case…'
He recalled his Pikachu and turned to Eevee's Poke Ball. It nodded its head with a determined expression as Azure grinned as he hurled his next Pokémon, "Alright, Pikachu, you did great. Return! Eevee, I need your help!"
*Pop*
Eevee bounded onto the field, its fluffy tail wagging excitedly. Many people in the crowd muttered, seeing Azure's choice as they commented.
"Eevee? In this match?"
"Wouldn't his Gengar make more sense?"
"Why would he send such a cute Pokémon damn it!"
"Bringing out an Eevee in a match like this?"
Red, however, eyes narrowed, remaining cautious, knowing what Eevee was as he thought carefully, 'So that's the Eevee from the Eevee Reconstruction Project… I doubt Azure would use her main abilities… but if not, then Eevee perhaps has moves only it's capable of.'
Guessing what Eevee was capable of, Azure commanded, "Sizzly Slide!"
*Ssss*
Eevee's body began to coat itself in fire and charged straight towards Snorlax. Red eyes narrowed as he countered, "Snorlax! Counter!"
Azure's eyes widened in alarm as he thought, 'What! Snorlax has Counter!!'
This startled Azure as Eevee rushed over to Snorlax, landing its attack... only to harmlessly be bounced back by its large belly. Snorlax's body shone through the aura of Counter, entering its Counter status.
Thanks to its Counter Status, Snorlax evaded Slizzard's Slide, but the aura changed into a multicolored aura and punched Eevee like a speeding train. However, both Azure and Eevee's eyes met and nodded as he yelled, "Now! Go beyond Eevee!!"
*Shiiii*
Red's eyes widened in surprise, as did Snorlax, halting its attack entirely as Eevee evolved in front of the crowd. Red muttered silently as Eevee evolved into Espeon, "Tch. Now that's playing dirty… evolving mid-attack just to avoid an attack."
Landing down gracefully was Espeon as she cutely cried out, "Espe! Espeon!"
Managing to avoid the Counter Azure sighed a breath of relief with Eevee evolving into Espeon as he thought cautiously, 'Whew… that was way too close for comfort. If that Counter landed, it would've been bad. Fortunately, as Espeon, she'll be able to predict Snorlax or Red's next move.'
Managing to avoid fatal damages, Azure commanded, "Baddy Bad!"
*Zzzz*
Espeon acts and attacks Snorlax while setting up Reflect. Red countered swiftly, "Belly Drum!"
*Bdmp*
*Bdmp*
Snorlax repeatedly hits its stomach with its hands, creating vibrations with each hit and maximizing its attack power in exchange for half of its stamina. Doing so, it allowed Espeon to hit it in the process, recoiling from the pain.
Red quickly analyzes the situation as he orders, "Earthquake!"
*RMBL*
Stomping its foot on the ground, sending Ground-type energy through the ground, formed cracks leading to Espeon. Azure countered, "Protect!"
*CLANG*
At the nick of time, Azure protected Espeon by calling out Protect as the transparent barrier blocked the Earthquake on time. Using Confusion, Espeon lifted itself in the air to avoid another attack.
But what Red said next startled them, "Now! Rest!"
*Thud*
Slumping down, resting the wounds and health, it instantly recovered. Alarmed by this strategy, "Sappy Seed!"
*Pew*
Shooting a seed beneath Snorlax, it began to grow as a gigantic stack that scatters seeds, attacking Snorlax as it harmlessly slept. But then recoiled slightly as a faint red aura erupted from the seeds, chipping away at its health.
Red frowned as he countered, "Snore!"
Snorlax snores loudly while sleeping, causing Espeon to hold its ears in pain. Due to being a physical attack at Max Power Espeon rolled around in pain from the Snore. Azure bit his lips as he thought, 'Damn it! So that's his plan: using Belly Drum, then Rest to Snore. If it weren't for the Reflect from Baddy Bad, then Espeon may have fainted as her physical traits, being her HP, Attack, and Defense, are low. I've got to turn this around.'
Azure frowned as he commanded, "Bouncy Bubble!"
*Splash*
Espeon attacks by shooting water bubbles at Snorlax. But it startled Red, seeing that the bubbles that attacked were transferred back to Espeon easily restoring its health, as he thought, concerned, 'What! A move that allows you to heal like Absorb? Not only that… but it's even more powerful than Giga Drain!'
Snorlax flinched seemingly in pain as Espeon regained her health faster thanks to its now high Sp. Attack stats. But Red remained calm as he checked the field, 'No wait… while it returned Espeon's Health, it can't last forever.'
Remaining calm, Red and Azure made their next calls, "Sparkly Swirl!/Snore!"
*Swooosh*
Espeon attacks the Snorlax by wrapping it with a whirlwind of overpowering scent, releasing Fairy-type energy. Fortunately for Azure, Espeon had a higher Speed Stat than Snorlax, allowing it to go first.
Red eyes widened seeing Snorlax wake up standing up in pain, looking confused, "Snor…? Snorlax?"
Rubbing its head confused, Azure grinned as he thought that seeing Snorlax's Sleep Status effect was cured happily, 'Perfect. Sparkly Swirl has the benefit that heals all status conditions of the user's party of all non-volatile status conditions, including sleep. But what if we used that to help the opponent instead, right, Espeon?'
Espeon, as if reading Azure's thoughts, slyly grinned as the Snorlax took recoil damage from the seeds. But Red commanded, "If you play randomly, then so will we! Snorlax! Use Metronome!"
Everyone's eyes widened seeing Snorlax raise its hands and wave its fingertips back and forth until they started to glow white. Everyone gulped as they all thought, 'What's it gonna be!!!'
*Shiii*
Everyone's expression paled as Snorlax's body began to glow light blue and exploded upon impact with Espeon. Snorlax used Explosion.
*KABOOOOM*
From the explosion, the battlefield was leveled, and from the smoke emerged a fainted Espeon and Snorlax. The referee announced, "Both Espeon and Snorlax are unable to battle! Double knockout!"
Both were shocked by the results as they each recalled their Pokémon. But their determined expression showed the battle was far from over as they reached for their next Poké Balls…