Flames of Fighting Spirit | Pokémon

CHAPTER THE THIRD

Akira and Infernape punched the air in sync, before stretching their feet back and sweeping with their feet at the same time. The duo barraged in air with punches in unison, before grabbing their katanas and slashing in an X-shape.

'Good job, Infernape.' Akira said, wiping beads of sweat from his hair.

'Infernape.' Infernape said, looking at Akira's Japanese-style monkey-like mask obscuring his face from view.

'We're nearly there, let's go up to the deck and see if we can relax for a while.' Akira told his partner.

'Ape Infernape.' Infernape agreed.

'Alright, let's go. Infernape, return.' Akira said, his partner entering his Pokéball.

Akira walked up the stairs connecting the first floor to the deck, humming a light melody. Stepping on the wooden floorboards on the deck, Akira walked to the metal railing of the boat. The wind blew Akira's hair backwards, the teen glancing at the sea around the boat.

'Where can I relax for a while...' Akira thought, before his eyes turned to the upper deck.

The Pokémon trainer climbed another flight of stairs to the highest level of the boat. Tilting his head to look upwards, Akira blinked at the bright, burning sun.

'It's really hot, perfect for Infernape.' Akira said to himself, before sending out Infernape again. 'Infernape, I found a nice spot.'

'Infernape.' Infernape said, before sitting down on one of the benches with Akira.

'Well, now we have time to relax and think about what happened last night.' Akira told his Starter.

Sighing, Akira stretched. He had a lot on his mind, and now was the time to think about that.

===

Akira glanced at his watch. 11:59. One minute until 12:00, when lunch would start. Akira looked down at the deck, his stomach growling. Together with Infernape, Akira stepped down the stairs leading to the main deck.

'Ah, I'm hungry, let's go eat something.' Akira said to Infernape.

'Infernape.' Infernape agreed.

A man walked past Akira, but Akira's sharp senses could pick up something wrong. Akira turned his eyes to the suspicious man. There was one of the fire masks in the man's duffel bag!

'Infernape, let's follow him.' Akira whispered under his breath.

'Nape.' Infernape said, as the two stepped into the shadows.

Akira and his partner slowly followed the mysterious man to a private room next to the lounge.

'Well well, Flicker. Someone followed you here.' The voice from last night's attack told the person Akira was following.

'It's you again.' Akira said, stepping out of the shadows. 'Infernape, Flame Charge.'

Plasma tossed out a Pokéball, and his Machamp emerged, using creating a shield.

'Now, Close Combat.' Akira told Infernape, before hurling out five more Pokéballs. 'Rillaboom, Zarude, Sandslash, Hanzo, Luca, prepare for battle.'

Infernape swiftly punched down the barrier before delivering blows to Machamp's big body, but Flicker threw three Pokéballs.

'Fearow, Pluck on Rillaboom. Emboar, Hammer Arm on Zarude. Turtonator, Shell Trap on all of the enemies.' Flicker commanded.

'Pinsir, crush him! Mega Evolve! Machamp, Fire Punch on Sandslash! Camerupt, Mega Evolve! Eruption on the Lucario.' Plasma commanded, as he took a position next to Flicker.