Chapter 4: Icy Determination
“Snom, use powder snow!” yelled Marie. Snom reeled back and blasted a powdery vortex towards Spheal.
“Use defense curl.” calmly said June. Spheal rolled up into a ball and took the attack head on. The crowd goes wild at the initiation of the match. White smoke covered the battle field when the attack hit.
“That doesn’t make sense,” Ceailean thought to himself, “Defense curl is only effective against physical moves. What’s your plan, June?”
Spheal emerged from the smoke and shook off the attack. “You ready to move on?” asked June. Spheal nodded and became determined. “Now then, use water gun!” said June. Spheal shot out a jet of water towards Snom.
“Dodge it Snom!” pleaded Marie. Snom tried to move, but it was too slow and took the attack with white smoke enveloping the battle field once more.
“It’s no use,” taunted June through the smoke, “Snom has been proven to be the slowest ice type pokemon in existence, there’s no way you can ever dodge Spheal's attacks.”
Marie is gritting her teeth. “Snom, please be okay.” she thought to herself. Suddenly, as the smoke became clearer, a white glow began to emulate the plumes around it. “Snom?” she asked curiously. The smoke blew away, and Snom was revealed to have a scaly barrier surrounding its body.
June's smile became a look of curiosity. “What is that?”, he asked in awe. The crowd was also murmured at the spectacle.
“That would happen to be Snom’s unique ability.” said a booming voice from behind the crowd. Everyone looked to see who it was. It was the city's gym leader, Wulfric, accompanied by the school principal. Half the crowd ran over to him as they were surprised that he was there. Devin, having noticed higher ups had showed up, stowed away
“Wulfric!” said June excitedly, “Hey, I’m a great fan of yours.”
“I’m sure you are my boy.” shouted Wulfric over the crowd.
Marie was also surprised at his presence, just not as much. She regained her focus and asked, “So what’s happening to Snom, Wulfric?”
“I am wondering the same as well.” stated June.
“It’s a peculiar little ability that only their species is able to acquire.” explained Wulfric, walking closer to the battle field, “It’s called ice scales, and it effectively halves the power of all ranged attacks!”
Both June and Marie are shocked at this revelation. The crowd grows loud with amazement. Snom then shook off the attack like it was nothing and the ice scales broke like glass. Marie gained more confidence and smiled. “Are you ready!” she asked.
Snom looked aggressively at Spheal and said, “Snom!” Determined to give his all.
“Cool, use struggle bug!” shouted Marie. Snom then glowed with green energy and it exploded into a pulse.
June, quick to react, said, “Quick, jump!” Spheal jumped into the air on his command.
“Now Snom, use powder snow!” shouted Marie. Snom shot a powdery vortex into the air, hitting Spheal and knocking it off balance. “Now Snom, cover yourself in the snow!” Snom then quickly buried itself into the snow just as Spheal face planted into the ground.
“You mind if I watch a minute?” asked Wulfric.
“Not at all, go right ahead. Just be sure to meet back up with me before the school days end.” said the principal as he walked back towards the school.
“Will do.” said back Wulfric. He walked over to Devin, who was still facing the battle. Wulfric placed his hand firmly upon Devin's shoulder and asked, “Young man, what was that which you are hiding?”
Devin was worried. “Nothing of the sort, what’s it to you?” asked back Devin.
“Because, I believe I have something that will interest you.” hinted Wulfric. As he said this, Devin looked over and saw a large stack of cash being held in front of his face. The crowd being so focused on the battle that hardly anyone noticed.
Devin is confused at the fact that the gym leader would participate in his little escapade. Nevertheless, he asked, “On who?”
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“The girl there.” answered Wulfric, “She has a most interesting pokemon, I’ll put my faith on her.” Devin hesitantly takes the cash and puts it in Marie's pot.
“So you decided to hide instead of run.” said June. Ceailean looked at him, he noticed the smile was different. It almost seemed he was actually enjoying the battle. “Spheal, jump up and water gun the battlefield until you find him.” Spheal jumped and peppered the ground with watery jets. On one of the hits, a faint white glow appeared in the snow.
“Snom, use powder snow!” shouted Marie. Another powdery vortex blasts from the white glow.
“Spheal, cancel it out with a water gun!” shouted June. His actions became dramatically expressive, as if he was using the attack with his hands. Spheal used water gun and it collided with powder snow, swirling in circles until they exploded into white smoke. “Now Spheal, use ice ball!” Spheal dropped from the smoke, glowing in a light blue energy. It hit the ground spinning and rushed towards Snom.
“Snom use struggle bug!” shouted Marie. Another green pulse flashed from Snom.
“Prove your strength! Go straight through!” shouted June. Marie was shocked by this move. Spheal hit the pulse straight on, clashing with it until it broke through. The unprepared Snom took the attack hard and was sent back a few feet.
“Snom! Are you okay!” asked Marie concerned. Snom struggled to lay upright and was panting. Spheal fell in front of it and it was clear that it did not come out unscathed. Spheal was covered in scratch marks and it seemed as though its stamina was draining.
June did something unexpected. He covered his face with his right hand and supported his arm with his left hand. “I won.” he said looking through his fingers.
“Huh?” questioned Marie bewildered, “The match still isn’t-” Spheal suddenly glowed brighter and began to spin again. Marie fumbled her words, but managed to say, “Use powder snow.” Another powdery vortex shot towards Spheal, but it rolled off to the side and dodged it completely. It hit Snom on the side, leaving a large trench behind in the snow.
“No! Snom!” shouted Marie. Snom is flung farther than last time and hits the fence.
“That’s enough.” said June out of the blue, “You can’t fight anymore, give it up.”
Marie was devastated, she opened her mouth to call the match but heard something that stopped her. “Snom Snom!” cried Snom, looking to Marie with determined eyes.
Marie looked upon the battered Snom. She clearly understood that it still wanted to give its all. She nearly teared up at this revelation. All she could do is smile and face June with unwavering commitment.
“No way!” she shouted, “Me and Snom are willing to give it our all, I believe in him. I will not lose!”
June lost his smile. He closed his eyes in thought, then quickly regained a different smile, full of excitement. “That’s the spirit.” he mumbled to himself. “Spheal! Let’s go!” June raised his fist and flexed his arm. As he did this, Spheal glowed his greatest shade of light blue. The entire crowd had to raise a hand over their eyes to see the battle through the radiant light. Wulfric looked towards the battle with utter enjoyment. The Spheal zoomed across the ground, kicking up snow into the spectators.
“Snom! Use powder snow to propel yourself upwards!” Shouted Marie. Snom shoots the ground with a powdery vortex and is launched high above the fence.
“Don’t let the aerial advantage stop you! Use the fence!” quickly commanded June. Spheal zipped straight to the fence and rolled along its surface up towards Snom.
“Go! Bring it!” instinctively said Ceailean. He had gotten caught up in the excitement of the battle. He didn’t care what anyone else was thinking, all he wanted was to see Marie win.
“Use struggle bug!” shouted Marie as she faced the ground with her eyes closed, clenching her fists into her chest. Snom surrounded itself in green energy once more right as Spheal was about to hit it. The green pulse barely radiated farther than Snom's own body.
June swung his fist back, “Come on Spheal! Let’s show them all what we’re made of!” shouted June. He then threw his fist forward and hit the air just as Spheal hit his attack. Spheal hit the attack hard, causing a white flash to emanate from the impact. The crowd was in awe as they watched Spheal grind against Snom's struggle bug. White sparks were flying everywhere as they clashed mid-air. Marie looked with both her hands gripped hard on each other. Devin observed with a serious expression. Mallen looked with his mouth agape. And Ceailean stared intensely with his hands gripping the fence so hard that he thought he would break it.
As the struggle happened, June was straining his arm as if he were also struggling with Spheal. “HaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAA-” yelled June at the top of his lungs. “-HIYAAA!” He fully extended his arm out right as the air exploded with white smoke. The crowd took a collective gasp when it happened. Snom and Spheal fell out of the smoke and hit the ground at the same time. Marie looked with hopefulness that Snom would arise. June had loosened his posture as he observed Spheal's body closely.
After what felt like an eternity, Spheal began to stir. Spheal picked itself up from the snow, panting and beaten, but resolute. The crowd goes wild, excited and cheery at the most epic battle they have ever seen. They were unaware, however, at the stakes that the battle held. Marie allied to Snom and ran over to it. She picked it up from the snow and observed its limp body. Snom's eyes were swirled, the tell-tale sign of a fainted pokemon. Marie fell to her knees, trying her best to not weep in front of the whole school.
Ceailean ran into the battlefield to try and comfort Marie. When he ran up to her, he had no words, but expressions conveyed enough meaning to see what was going through Marie's head. Her lips quivered as she looked upon Snom, her eyes showed that all her hope had been shattered. She looked towards Ceailean, who was unable to procure a response when his mouth opened. She then looked toward June with hatred bubbling in her eyes. All June did was close his eyes with a smirk, and raised his fist in triumph, which garnered a second wave of cheers from the crowd.
Marie then quickly got up and ran out of the battlefield with Ceailean pursuing close behind. She shoved herself through the cheering crowd and before Ceailean could catch up, Wulfric said to him, “A loss always hurts on the inside. But you know what you get in exchange?” Ceailean stopped to look at him, waiting for the answer. “Experience and knowledge. Both are invaluable in the world of battling and give us the fact that after every battle, we always emerge stronger than before. No matter the stakes, or lack thereof.” Wulfric then faced Ceailean and gave him an approving nod. Ceailean hastily nods back and quickly resumes chasing Marie.