“Another clash of the powerful is on our hands!” The announcer boomed, “We are only one round away from our final eight, and everything is on the line!”

The crowd roared at the announcer’s proclamation, but to Cashe it was kind of meaningless. Everything was on the line for every battle for the trainers. The tournament was single elimination. They didn’t get second chances.

“Two powerhouses of the tournament are facing off,” the announcer continued. Tinted lights flared around the stadium and focused on Lisa, bathing her in a wash of red, “In the red light, we have a challenger from Johto. Her earnest efforts and steadfast presence have catapulted her above the competition, her fierce Eevee and noble Cyndaquil fight valiantly for their trainer and their glory. I give you, Lisa SUMMERS!”

The crowd shouted as one, chanting her name in unison, increasing in frequency until any semblance of diction was lost to the drone of noise.

“But she does not stand on the field of battle alone,” the announcer’s voice became low and ominous, foretelling something dark on the horizon. Lights flared again, this time colored deep purple. They spun around the arena, cascading in a downward spiral and centering on Cashe, “Every yin must have its yang, every light, its shadow. Hailing from the Kanto region, we have a sinister poison master. Not content with simply defeating his opponents, he utterly destroys all who stand in his path, ladies and gentlemen, BLOODMONEY!”

Cashe scowled, despite that likely being exactly what the cameras were hoping to see. His online presence was now apparently too much for the tournament organizers to ignore. Or more likely they wanted to play into the villain aspect to make certain people look good, simply by battling against him.

The crowd booed and hissed, puppets following their master’s strings. Before it got too bad, Kadabra stepped up to the sides of the battlefield and brought the protective barriers into existence, cutting off the sound from outside the stage.

Official Borek was officiating the match, as he did with every main stage fight. The bald man had already made his way over to Lisa, going through the spiel of the rules. Lisa nodded and picked a ball from the belt around her hips as soon as he finished talking.

Cashe was already well aware what pokemon she would use first. There was only a single option for her, both he and Emilia agreed. She would lead with Cyndaquil. Leading with Eevee risked too much. If Cashe led with Bulbasaur the match might go well, but if he led with Mankey, it would be a two on one with little effort on Cashe’s part. Eevee was strong and fast, but they both knew Mankey was stronger and faster. With the type advantage, Eevee would be hard pressed to get a proper attack in, let alone win the battle.

Even if she believed Eevee could take on Bulbasaur, and Cashe was foolish enough to send Bulbasaur out first, there was no such thing as an easy win against a defensive poison type. Cashe had already told her he would be giving the battle his all, and that meant wearing his opponents down. That would leave Mankey with an easy job, giving her no tactical advantage. And that was only if Cashe both led with Bulbasaur and managed to lose the matchup.

No, Lisa would lead Cyndaquil knowing Cashe would lead Mankey. Her goal would be to try and take out Mankey as quickly as possible so as to have Cyndaquil as healthy as possible when Bulbasaur entered the battle. She would use her type advantage to then do as much damage as she could before falling to Bulbasaur. Perhaps she wouldn’t even fall to Bulbasaur. In an endurance match a type disadvantage was even more impactful than usual.

As Cashe was mulling over his strategies, Official Borek crossed the battlefield and approached him, glancing at the shouting crowd surrounding them.

“Don’t know how you guys do it,” Borek said as he neared.

“Trainers?” Cashe said.

“Heels,” Borek shook his head, “I get my share of harassment as an official, and that’s bad enough. But when you lean into the dark stuff,” Borek stroked his mustache, “People get really passionate about their hate. They think that because you take on a certain role, it’s okay for them to treat you as if you are some sort of vile criminal.”

“Ah,” Cashe nodded, “I guess I kind of slipped into the role, too. Wasn’t aware whoever wrote the introductions was going through what they are saying about me online, though. That nickname is a little over the top.”

“People love it,” Borek said with a shrug, “It won’t go away now.” He clapped his hands together, "Okay, you know the rules. Single battle, two pokemon. Substitution counts as a faint. You listen to me under all circumstances. Understand?”

Cashe nodded. The rules were the same every time. Borek’s instructions were almost word for word what they had been last time as well.

“Questions?”

“Nope.”

“Good. Choose your pokemon now. Wait for my signal to bring it out.”

Borek marched back to the center of the stage, giving Cashe and Lisa a nod so that they could summon their pokemon from their balls. Unsurprisingly, Lisa revealed Cyndaquil. Cashe’s own ball brought out Mankey.

Mankey screeched at Cyndaquil. It was a small pokemon, looking more like a mole than anything else. Cashe might have dismissed it as a regular animal completely if not for the gouts of flame that occasionally arced away from its back.

The last time he was on the main stage, the barriers were not yet up at this point. Cashe didn’t get a chance to wonder why the change, as a half full fountain drink slammed into the barrier, scattering against it and tumbling to the ground. Ah. he was a villain now. People would treat him like one. At least the organizers recognized the problem.

“Trainers, prepare for battle,” Official Borek shouted, taking Cashe’s attention away from the jeering fans. He raised his hand in the air. Mankey hopped forward to the edge of the starting area. Cyndaquil’s back flared. Borek swung his hand down, “Fight!”

“Rock Tomb!” Cashe shouted.

“Smokescreen!” Lisa said at the same time.

In the air above Cyndaquil, a stone appeared, growing at a rapid rate as Mankey channeled power into the attack. It disappeared from view before Mankey had a chance to attack, however, getting lost as Cyndaquil coughed inky-black smoke all over its side of the field. A great crash echoed through the battlefield as Mankey’s Rock Tomb landed on the ground, but Cashe had no way of knowing if the attack hit or not.

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“Step back from the smoke, Mankey. If you enter it, it will stick to you. You won't be able to hit anything” Cashe said. Thanks to Mankey’s Defiant ability, it would also mean a sharp spike in her attack power, but it wasn’t worth it. “Keep an eye out for a sneak attack.”

Mankey nodded, taking a few cautious steps back from the billowing smoke.

“Cyndaquil, Fire Spin!”

“Shit. Mankey, into the smoke, now!” Cashe swore as a ring of fire rose up around Mankey, engulfing her side of the battlefield. Heat bloomed from the attack, filling the stage with an uncomfortable pressure. The heat reflected off the protective barrier, baking Cashe under the heat, his skin beginning to sweat as though he were laying under the hot sun.

Mankey shot forward, attempting to jump over the rising wall of fire. Cashe’s instructions were a moment too late and Mankey was a step too slow. The flames caught her at the apex of her jump, scoring her stomach and sending her to the ground in a painful roll.

She landed in the smoke created by Cyndaquil’s Smokescreen. It clung to her fur as she rolled to her feet. And soon Cashe lost sight of her in the billowing smoke.

“Ember, Cyndaquil!” Lisa shouted.

“Attack through it,” Cashe yelled as a bright red flame glowed from the bowels of the billowing smoke, “Use Lash Out!”

Lisa’s eyes went wide after hearing the move's name. Lash Out was a move that increased in power after taking a status effect. Cashe grinned at once again taking his opponent off guard with Mankey’s deep movepool.

Mankey thrashed at the oncoming ball of flame, crashing right through it with her wild attack. Cashe caught a glimpse of the fire curling around her body before the hot air swept the smoke up, breaking his line of sight.

Despite the smoke, however, Mankey’s aim was true, or true enough. Cashe heard a cry erupt from the smoke and Cyndaquil stumbled out, favoring its right leg.

“Follow up with Cross Chop, Mankey, you only grazed it! Follow my voice.” The boosted attack paired with Mankey’s increased power from Defiant might have taken Cyndaquil out in one shot if the attack landed properly, but Cashe wasn’t that lucky.

Mankey burst out of the smoke a few feet away from Cyndaquil, but she needed a second to orient herself due to the thick ash sticking to her eyes.

“Cyndaquil, Quick Attack.”

Cyndaquil covered itself in a white, glowing energy, flying at Mankey as she turned to face her opponent. She lashed out with a vicious chop as Cyndaquil approached, but it was too fast, crashing into her body before the attack could land.

Mankey fell to the ground, rolling back towards the smoke. The cloud of ash was thinning, however, rising into the air as the fire from Fire Spin continued to swirl in a small pillar.

“Quick Attack!”

“Fury Swipes, Mankey!” The attack was not a good one, but Cashe wasn’t looking for a huge hit. Cyndaquil shot forward again, glowing with energy as it rushed Mankey. This time, however, Mankey was slashing through the air wildly, catching Cyndaquil as it closed the distance. She only landed another glancing blow, and Cyndaquil’s own attack still did some damage, but as Cyndaquil bounced off Mankey, Mankey continued the attack.

She leapt forward, crashing to the ground beside Cyndaquil, her clawed hand gouging out a chunk of the stadium as her attack missed. Cyndaquil rolled away, but was caught against its own Fire Spin, cornered between Mankey, the wall of fire, and the barriers to the arena.

“Cyndaquil, Flame Wheel!”

Mankey continued her frenzied attack, finally opening up a wound across Cyndaquil’s chest. Cyndaquil however, was not idle. A ring of flame rose around it just as Mankey landed her attack. The fire slammed into Mankey in a continuous attack, buffeting her and tossing her away.

Mankey paid the price for getting her attack to land. The fur on the front of her chest was blackened and burnt, showing seared flesh underneath. Her face was covered in ash and her eyes were red, not from the angry glow of a Mankey in rage, but from the swelling and irritation caused by the smoke. She staggered on her feet.

Luckily, Cyndaquil also paid a price. Fury Swipes may not be a strong attack, but with Mankey’s Defiant boost, it was strong enough. Blood oozed from Cyndaquil’s chest, and it was not moving well, not just favoring a leg, but now moving with a debilitating stiffness.

Cashe bit his lip. Mankey was on her last legs. One more hit would take her out of the fight completely. Cashe could see Lisa watching her own pokemon closely, as well as Borek with his hand ready to shoot in the air. He knew what he had to do.

“Mankey, Seismic Toss. Go all out!” Cashe screamed, wincing even as he gave the order.

Mankey dashed forwards, screeching in pained fury, primal anger covering her features.

“Evade with Quick Attack!” Lisa shouted.

Cundaquil tried to move, but its injuries made it too difficult. Mankey slammed into Cyndaquil, lifting it above her head. Cyndaquil, flared the flame on its back in response, even as Mankey slammed it towards the ground. Cyndaquil’s reflexive attack cost Mankey much of her power, but she was still able to finish the attack before she collapsed to the ground. Cyndaquil bounced and rolled from the attack, staggering to unsteady feet. Mankey lay still.

“Mankey is unable to battle! Cyndaquil is the winner!” Borek shouted. He did not enter the battlefield as he had when Cashe had fought previously, “Trainer Apollo, return your pokemon to its ball!”

Cashe was already on it, taking the ball from his waist and cracking it open, returning his beaten and battered pokemon to her ball so she could rest. He took a deep breath and centered himself, closing his eyes to avoid the sight of the jeering crowd around him. It was the first time his pokemon had lost in a matchup.

He opened his eyes. The pillar of fire caused by Cyndaquil’s Fire Spin had died down and the smoke on the battlefield was dissipating. Cashe took Bulbasaur’s pokeball off his belt and let him out. He appeared on the battlefield, wrinkling his face in discomfort at the heat radiating off of the burnt ground and the acrid smell from the smoke.

“Okay, buddy,” Cashe said, pointing to Cyndaquil, who was staggering back towards Lisa, “That’s your opponent. All you have to do is get in a single hit and-”

Cashe cut himself off as Cyndaquil collapsed in the middle of the arena. Official Borek was already on it, raising his other hand into the air, “Cyndaquil is no longer able to battle. Trainer Lisa, return Cyndaquil to its pokeball.”

A wave of shock and despair spread visibly through the stands, but Cashe let out a deep breath of relief.

“Okay, we got lucky there,” Cashe said to Bulbasaur. The little, green pokemon made a small noise of protest. Cashe nodded, “No, you’re right. Mankey did more than I thought. It’s good for us. Extremely good for us. You’re up against Eevee now.”

As Cashe spoke Lisa brought out her Eevee. A fox mixed with a cat mixed with a rabbit? Whatever it was, it was fluffy. Lisa’s Eevee had a luxurious coat of fur that flowed gracefully around her as she moved.

“She’s going to be faster than you, nothing we can do about that,” Cashe continued. Bulbasaur nodded, turning his serious gaze to the pokemon, “You’re going to have to take a lot of hits, but I know you can do it. Hang in there, and we’ll get through this together.”

“Bulbasaur.” Bulbasaur waddled out onto the stage, ready for the fight. Eevee wasn’t far behind him, standing proud on her feet in the middle of the arena.

“Are you really going to do this?” Lisa looked across the battlefield at Cashe. Her words were blunt and final, the sounds of a woman about to engage in something deeply unpleasant that she would rather avoid. Her face showed the grim determination of a person who knew what was to come and wanted no part of it, but would struggle through regardless.

Cashe didn’t respond. They both knew the answer to her question. He narrowed his eyes and pointed across the battlefield at Eevee. “Everything you’ve got Bulbasaur. Hold nothing back.”

“Trainers ready?” Borek said, “Fight!”