Chapter 91:

Eyes on the Price

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Midna was out of the battle, that much was clear.

I bit my tongue, quite annoyed by this sudden shift in tactic I had to make. I didn't expect Zorua to completely sweep Lisa's team but I expected her to outlast her first opponent.

Technically, she probably would have won the first battle if Lisa didn't switch out Scizor and brought in Jolteon.

I was down one Pokémon while Lisa had all three, though one of them was severely damaged. It was a bit unusual for me to fight like this. Most of the time it was just beating the other Pokémon until it was out, rinse and repeat. Simple.

However, it seems Lisa didn't want to play it that way which was… actually really surprising.

Is this how other people feel when I start using unusual tactics?

Whatever, I couldn't let Lisa beat me. Not now, I had to reclaim my honor!

"Go Mom!" Mark yelled from the sideline, pumping up his little fist in the air. Guess he switched sides after Midna was knocked out.

"Fay, take the lead!" I shouted after recalling Midna back to her Pokéball.

Before Fay even stepped foot on the field, I called out my order. "Vacuum Wave!"

A blue orb sped towards Jolteon, stirring up dust as it traveled.

Jolteon hopped to the side, avoiding the initial blow. Of course, Fay was already on the move and had crossed the distance between the two quite fast.

A shining claw lashed down upon Jolteon, again the yellow Pokémon dodged it, barely in time.

Fay's second hit however did connect.

"Thunder Shock!" Lisa countered, capitalizing on Fay’s proximity to Jolteon.

"Get out!"

With a grimace, Fay pulled out.

Jolteon's body began to light up, like a tree on Christmas, except instead of small lights dangerous electric currents were enveloping its body, basically acting as a shield and spikes at the same time.

"Blaster move!" I said, trying to figure out what Lisa would do next.

A sphere began to appear between Fay's hands. I saw Lisa already opening her mouth to counter it.

"Disappear!" I cried out at the same time as Lisa shouted "Thunder!"

Fay's eyes widened. Instead of launching the orb, she threw it down to the ground where it exploded, generating a shockwave of blue smoke and sand.

A beam of pure lightning tore through the smoke like it was butter. Lightning curved in an impossible direction, a shock probably strong enough to knock out Fay in one hit. It certainly looked like that.

However, when the lightning faded, Fay was nowhere to be seen. She had luckily vanished just in time.

Jolteon warily began to look around but the smoke generated by Fay's Vacuum wave had spread out over the field, being propelled even further by Jolteon's previous attack.

I actually had no idea where Fay was. Though, knowing her she was behind the enemy.

God, I felt proud of my little assassin.

"Okay, finish it using Meteor claw!"

Lisa scowled. "Zap the ground around you."

That should’ve been impossible but of course, the laws of physics mean nothing in this world.

Yellow lightning started to move from Jolteon's body and was traveling over the ground like it was made of metal. The ground lit up and the air started to smell of ozone. Jolteon was basically a generator at this point and the heat also worked as a good counter against the concealing smoke.

Sadly, it didn't work.

Fay appeared high above in the air from behind Jolteon's back. Too high up to be affected by the electric field covering the ground. Fay twisted her body and then descended downwards.

"Behind you!" Mark, unnecessarily shouted.

Lisa cried out her own counter. However, her expression told me she knew Jolteon was too slow.

Fay streaked past Jolteon, moving so fast her claws left silver streaks in the air.

Jolteon was knocked away and the electric field immediately disappeared. Before Jolteon could recover from the shock, Fay chased after Jolteon, slamming into it and knocking it even further away.

I grinned. Lisa didn't. However, her eyes did have that sparkle, the same as when sh-.

"Come back Jolteon!" Lisa shouted, pointing a Pokéball at the field.

Fay groaned in frustration as her opponent disappeared.

"Amazing Dusk," Lisa smiled. "You fight unlike anyone I've seen before."

"Thanks, can say the same thing about you." I replied, giving her a cheeky smile. "Though, that switching is annoying as hell." I may have sounded a bit more annoyed than I tried to show because Lisa's smile widened.

"Well, that's the point.” Lisa tapped her finger lightly against the Pokéball she was holding. “I don't understand why you don't do that more?"

"Because it's annoying to keep track of."

"It's a valid strategy." Lisa shrugged as she threw up a Pokéball.

A familiar red Pokémon appeared. "Roxy! Use Hyper Beam." Lisa's grin wasn't very promising.

"Move!" I waved at Fay.

I wondered how a Scizor was going to use a Hyper Beam. Most Pokémon I had seen execute the move shot a plasma beam from their mouth but two Pokémon could execute the same move in a different way, thus resulting in different usages.

Scizor steadied herself and raised her two claws and moved them in front of her body like she was going to protect herself.

They began to glow and then I finally understood what was going to happen.

"Smoke Bomb!"

Fay launched a Vacuum Wave into the ground and a wave of concealing blue mist stirred up. Scizor sprung into action and moved both her claws and aimed them at Fay like they were cannon blasters.

Two beams of energy shot out of her hands like thick lasers. Cutting through the smoke, dissipating it rather quickly.

Realising Fay couldn't hide much longer, I decided to do what Lisa told me.

"Fay come back!" I returned her using her own Pokémon, something I didn't do often and the act felt very disorienting to me. My muscle memory failed me here.

The beam that came out of the Pokéball didn’t struggle nearly as much and sucked her in.

I expected Lisa to switch as well but to my surprise, she stayed with Scizor. Well, that would make things easier.

"Luna, it's your turn," I said, maintaining eye contact with Lisa. She still hadn't switched.

Luna stepped onto the battlefield with surprising grace, like a ballerina she stood there.

"Hyper Beam!"

"Heaven's Gate!" I countered.

A glowing intricate symbol blazed underneath Scizor, making the bug Pokémon stumble in surprise. Luna's eye flared with psychic energy. Lisa opened her mouth but before she could do anything Scizor disappeared from her spot.

With a bright flash, she reappeared, high up in the sky, a flabbergasted expression present on the bug’s face.

Lisa was quick to recover. "Hyper Beam, aim it down!"

Two laser-like beams tore into the concrete, raining down like a blessing from the Death Star,

."Shield yourself!" I yelled as Scizor's beam drew dangerously close to Luna.

The psychic nodded and waved her hands. Part of the pavement that had previously been shattered drew towards Luna who kept it over her head like it was a shield.

It wasn't necessary though, both beams didn't touch her as Roxy was having trouble aiming while also being dropped from the sky.

I thought that was about it when I noticed that those laser beams also slowed down her fall, a secondary objective apparently.

Of course, Luna didn't wait for Scizor to safely land. After Scizor stopped firing the two Hyperbeams Luna countered with a beam of her own.

A beam of concentrated physic energy sniped Scizor just as she was about to land. It hit her right in the chest cavity.

The humanoid insect stumbled for a second. Losing balance while Luna was glaring at her which, from our opponent's expression, must have been scary as hell.

Scizor fell to the floor, eyes closed. She didn't get up.

"Nice," I whispered. Luna grinned savagely back at me before fixing her eyes on Lisa again.

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"Alright Dust, that's one down." Lisa said, "two more to go, right?"

"No, Jolteon was already damaged before you switched her out." I cut her off.

Lisa nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed, he is. That's important to remember Dusk, a Pokémon that isn't knocked out still matters in a battle. Even the ones that haven't shown up yet."

It sounded pretty deep, however she completely ruined the moment by looking away directly after that and turning to her own child and shouting, "Heard that Mark? Remember to make notes!"

I personally didn't think Mark was really paying attention to the deep details, he and his little beetroot with legs were more amazed by the wild explosions and the spectacle our battle created. In fact, our fight had drawn more eyes while we were watching eachother.

Other trainers were also watching, taking notes and cheering me or Lisa on.

Lisa realized the same thing. She shrugged and turned to face me. “Let’s keep the show rolling. Sparky, come out!"

"Jolteon!" The Eevee-lution cried out, looking in a better state than I had hoped he would've been

"Luna, think you can still fight?"

We shared a smile.

"Sparky, watch out for glowing emblems on the floor, she can teleport you with those." Lisa accusingly pointed her finger at Kirlia who in turn was now doing her best to look innocent.

Lisa was wrong of course, the emblem did not teleport. However Sparky was now wary of any potential teleports which made it much harder for Luna to teleport Jolteon, if not straight-up impossible. Weird shit.

Guess the same trick won't work twice. Luckily, I'm pretty sure I figured out Jolteon's Archetype. Just as I thought the moment Sparky came out of his Pokéball he began generating power, even without his trainer's command. Must have been practiced that way.

Before Jolteon could unleash a thunder I yelled.

"Psybeam!"

Jolteon tried to jump hop to the right but Luna caught him. The lightning faded away, though it didn't look like Sparky was out of the fight just yet.

He growled, clearly frustrated by Luna's attack. Luna answered it with a smile, noticing that Jolteon had no desire to get closer.

Like I had thought. Lisa's Jolteon was a long-range fighter. Or at least he was trained that way.

I expected Lisa to switch out Jolteon for her final Pokémon but she didn't.

"Jolteon, go all out!"

Jolteon went berserk, there was no other way to describe it.

Lisa smiled evilly. “A final plan for when we’re low. An all out attack!”

Electricity sparked around Jolteon’s body in huge yellow waves that were being ejected towards Luna.

Unlike before where Jolteon strategically kept his distance he now decided to suddenly draw closer and charge at her. It was an attack very similar to Volt Tackle.

She jumped out of the way just in time but Jolteon didn't stop the charge.

"Luna Disarming Voice!"

Jolteon didn't hit Luna with his stampede but the electric energy that surrounded it still lashed out at her. Luna ignored the pain and opened her mouth wide.

A funnel of sound crashed into Jolteon's side. A shockwave was generated as lightning and sound clashed. Luna won the interaction and Jolteon was blown away and crashed into the ground.

"Bite!" Lisa countered when wide purple rays traveled towards Jolteon.

I had no idea what she was thinking. A bite wouldn't do anything right?

To prove my point the Confusion hit Jolteon, making it stumble. A dazed look was on his face and he was frantically gazing around like he was on a bad trip.

Luna didn't waste her chance and kept firing Psybeams and Confusions towards Jolteon. It was clear that the Jolteon was at a severe disadvantage. It managed to hit Luna once with a lucky shot of straying thunder but besides that Jolteon was as good as dead.

After all, firing those Thunders must have taken a lot out of it.

Or so I thought.

Just when it looked like Jolteon wouldn't stay conscious any longer Lisa shouted: "Last Resort!"

Last Resort? I thought the other attack had been the last resort! How much fucking health does this rodent have?

Jolteon's body became surrounded by a gold-colored aura, yellow orbs were drawn from apparently nowhere and sucked into the aura that had suddenly generated. It wasn't like lightning but just pure golden light.

"Shield up!" I cried out.

Luna created a small barricade, using her telekinetic powers to move the rubble into something akin to a small wall, though calling it a wall was an exaggeration.

With a loud cry from Jolteon, the aura began to reshape itself into something that looked like a star.

Luna watched with wide eyes as this massive projectile sped her way.

I hoped the barricade would hold but to my surprise, it phased straight through it like it wasn't even there. Luna's eyes widened and she dove to the side.

The star-like projectile homed in on her like it was a tactical missile and just like a tactical missile it hit her and proceeded to explode into tiny little stars that shot outwards like a nail-bomb.

Luna released a cry as she was tossed up high in the sky.

"Again!" Lisa cried out. Another one? That’s not a true last resort!

"Hit him!" I cried out. "Quick!"

Luna twisted her body and shot a huge Confusion towards her. The purple circles descended down upon the Jolteon that had, once again, summoned that weird aura.

It should have taken out the Jolteon. He was already low on power and on health but for some reason, he didn't even falter. He was physically harmed but still stood his ground.

Like before, the energy surrounding Jolteon's body collapsed in on itself and it formed a giant star.

Luna managed to land on her feet and send a funnel of sound towards Jolteon in an attempt to block the strange star.

Like it didn't even exist, the star phased through it and hit Luna.

She didn't get up this time.

Jolteon stared vicariously at Luna's unmoving body before he himself also began to stumble. Finally, he dropped to the ground, leaving two unconscious Pokéḿon on the field.

"They both are out!" Mark said, astonished.

"Your final Pokémon," Lisa politely requested.

How long had Jolteon been standing on his final legs? Unless of course Lisa lied about Jolteon being low and returned him only to set me up. And then she did it again by gloating about her “last resort”, which wasn’t a last resort at all.

"How many badges do you have?" I bitterly asked, not at all happy I got baited into fighting a trainer this powerful.

Lisa shrugged with feigned innocence, "Around 5 or 7. I was quite good at getting on my opponent's nerves."

No shit, why didn't she bother to tell me that beforehand. I would have adjusted my strategies. Ugh, it is annoying when other people use my strategies.

Deciding I couldn't let Lisa win this after she made this personal, I grabbed Fay's Pokéball and aimed it at the field.

"That will make it even better when I win," I said, taunting her with an uncaring smile.

"See, you are learning." She threw up her Pokéball. The beam summoned mid-air into something resembling a turkey.

It was relatively small which would normally be good news. Bigger opponents tend to have more health. Bad news, it had wings. Even worse news: Skarmory were considered competitive Pokémon and a wall that would basically wear its opponents down.

Fay was a ground fighter.

Seeing Lisa's smirk I was pretty sure she knew it as well.

So that was her trump card? Trying to take Luna out of the fight so Skarmory could outrange my close combat fighter.

I resisted the urge to smile, instead of keeping a fake serious expression as I began formulating a plan to bring it down, with luck I would be able to even out the playing field.

Tsk, it was a nice try of hers. Of course, I had a trump card of my own.

The Riolu appeared on the field, looking slightly worn down but overall her condition appeared to be good enough to go another round.

I said without raising my voice, "Fay, final the battle. If you’re out, we lose."

Fay narrowed her eyes, immediately noticing Skarmory's wings. Her eyes narrowed. "Curses!"

Skarmory started glowing with the ominous purple glow that you could see during twilight. It seemed to expand in girth and size. However it was abruptly cut off as Fay send her Vacuum Wave across the field. Skarmory jumped out of the way and it brushed past the bird.

"Let's try that again." I suggested.

As long as Skarmory wouldn't fly up it was basically a sitting duck.

"Becky, fly up!" Lisa pointed high up at the sky. I briefly questioned who Becky was, before I found my brains again and realized it was the name of the stupid bird…the bird that was about to fly. Logic dictates that Skarmory shouldn't be able to fly.

Skarmory doesn’t care about logic and began to flap its wings and managed to fly higher, not at all bothered by having metal wings.

The metal chicken rose high above Fay and cast an ominous shadow on the ground.

"Fay Vacuum Wave," I commanded, "let's see how it reacts to that."

Fay launched the orb from her palms but Skarmory dodged it without too much trouble, gliding through the air with surprising ease and agility.

"Sand Attack!" Lisa said.

I tried to hide my smirk. Becky began to stir up a small storm underneath itself, its relatively small wings managed to stir up a small cloud of sand which proceeded to drown out the battlefield.

"Stranger protocol," I countered.

"Brave Bird!" Lisa shouted.

As I thought, all her Pokémon share the same pattern. Catch my Pokémon in an AOE or force them into a position and then they launch a devastating attack which normally would be way too risky.

Skarmory flew up even higher up to the sky, its wings began to gleam with power. Midway through it suddenly began to descend, freefalling almost. Fire appeared around its body like a meteor.

Then it disappeared into the haze of the sand storm.

A loud screech was heard and a bright flash shone through the misty yellow clouds. Two seconds later, the Skarmory flew up again, this time not looking as good as before. Its wings were frantically spasming.

The dust evaporated and revealed Fay was still standing, her eyes surrounded by the blue Aura flames.

"Chase it!" I cried out. Fay nodded and disappeared in a blur.

She reappeared higher up in the sky, not far above the ground but still close enough to hit the still climbing Skarmory with her claws.

Skarmory maneuvered itself a little higher, just out of Fay's reach. A smile spread out on Fay's face. A blinding light began to gather between Fay's palms. Within seconds the blue light reconstructed itself, growing longer and shaping itself into something closely resembling a spear or lance. Using the precious extra meter it granted her, she stabbed skyward with her new weapon and managed to hit Skarmory right in the belly.

Both Pokémon began to drop from the sky. Skarmory frantically tried to start flying again but Fay was already upon it when the metal bird dropped down on the battlefield.

The weapon she had just wielded disappeared into tiny blue shards. Her feet were buried into Becky's beak as she descended. It generated a small explosion.

Fay managed to land a safe distance away from Skarmory and came to a stop.

"Skarmory, Iron Defence!" Lisa cried out.

I anxiously waited for Skarmory to get up, would it be that easy? I had thought multiple times Scizor and Jolteon were out, only for them to have more tricks up their sleeve.

I counted the seconds in my head. And finally when it didn't get up again I released a sigh of relief.

So it truly had been a Glass Canon bet on Lisa’s side.

"Slash?" Lisa suggested, hopefully begging Skarmory to get up.

"Wait for it," I ordered Fay, who I saw preparing a second strike. Harming an unconscious Pokémon might do permanent damage.

Skarmory weakly stirred however, after trying and failing to move its wings the bird finally closed its eyes and its posture relaxed.

A red beam sucked in Becky and I felt a weight moving from my shoulders.

"Guess you win," Lisa muttered with mock anger.

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"Here are your Pokémon. All healed up." The boy behind the counter gave me a look that made me feel bad for asking for his help.

Still, he worked at a Pokémon Center, not my fault.

I took the three Pokéballs and miniaturized them before putting them away.

Next to me, Lisa took her own three Pokéballs from the counter.

She gave them a vague smile before putting them away as well. We left the counter and returned to the main lobby where I found Mark and that Steenee of his were impatiently trying to molest the vending machine.

"Mom!" Mark pointed at the vending machine. "Can I please get the Mystery chocolate egg?"

"You just had an ice cream." Lisa protested.

"Steenee?" The little beetroot chimed in, putting up an adorable face. Could it even digest chocolate without dying like a dog?

"Fine." Lisa groaned as she retrieved some cash from her pockets. "You want something as well, Dust? It's on me."

The scene was strangely endearing. It made me miss my own childhood and parents. With a knot in my stomach, I shook my head. "Nah, thanks."

Lisa shrugged and inserted a few coins into the machine. "Well, you put up a good fight, kid."

"You too," I said awkwardly, "You have an unusual battle style."

"Can say the same about you, what the heck was that with that teleport emblem? That body slam from the Zorua? The spear?"

"Trade secret," I coughed uncomfortably.

Lisa handed Mark a chocolate egg.

"Well, I wish you luck with your journey," she smiled at me. "But don't forget to take a small break every now and then."

Without looking at me she tossed me a chocolate egg, a second one she retrieved from the vending machine.

"Your reward for winning."