Love in the Time of Temerity

Chapter 11: A Clearing

Let's get straight to it and continue that Raihan battle, huh? Chapter 11, let's go!

Chapter 11

A Clearing

Rain stormed around the battlefield, dripping off Flapple and Toxtricity. The thunder faded away, and Flapple emerged, slightly smoking, but otherwise fine, her quadruple resistance serving her well. Gloria reached up, tucking her hair behind her ears and breathing. No sound but that of the pouring rain over the battlefield could be heard, all of the audience's cheers falling away until it was just her, Raihan, and their Pokémon.

She wasn't going to let him control the flow this time.

"Toxtricity, Overdrive! Make it wide!" Gloria shouted, spreading her arms out with the order. Toxtricity planted his foot, and with a broad stroke, strummed upon the protrusions of his chest. With a loud, screeching twang, the conical shaped wave of electricity blasted through the rain, electrifying it for a second, to collide with Raihan's pair. Seismitoad grinned, but Goodra flinched, feeling the full effect. Gloria was already moving on. "Grav Apple on Seismitoad!"

"Flap!" Flapple blitzed forward, flying through the air at high speed. She was just above the toad's head when her limbs slapped in and fell towards the hulking Pokémon.

Raihan, as should have been expected, was ready. "Drain Punch!"

"Toad!" Seismitoad looked up, taking a step back as its curled fist began to glow with a swirling green. It punched forward, catching Flapple mid-fall and heaving her through the air. It sent enough energy around that Gloria felt a wave of the rain wash over her. Toxtricity's Overdrive ended, only for the hurtling Flapple to strike against his chest.

"Muddy Water! Drown 'em under it!"

"Dra!" Goodra hunkered down on all fours, its tail striking the ground. An orb of brown liquid formed, and it sent the attack flying. The orb crashed against the ground, becoming a wave that moved with speed.

"Get out of the way!" Gloria called, but even she knew how useless it was. The wave was too tall, and too wide to be overcome, and it crashed upon the defenseless pair. They were swept backwards, slipping along the ground with heavy groans.

"Life Dew. Aqua Ring. Recover it."

Gloria's eyes widened, watching in horror as Seismitoad's arms snapped out, creating thin rings of water around its body. Goodra acted, too, sending up a spout of green water that rained on the pair, restoring whatever energy had been lost. Flapple and Toxtricity were back to fighting action. "Get in there with Poison Jab and Acrobatics!"

"Earth Power!" Raihan's swift call was met with yet swifter action. For all his girth, Seismitoad was fast, dashing across the field and punching down. The earth cracked and shattered, glowing a golden color that was starting overpower the sound of the rain.

"Fly up and keep at it! Toxtricity, hold tight!" Gloria knew the orders didn't sound the most confident, but with how fast the Earth Power was moving, there was little choice. Flapple flitted upwards, out of range before zipping down towards Seismitoad with a turquoise glow. Toxtricity was less lucky, the power of the ground erupting around him and consuming his body.

"Drain Punch!"

"Toad!" Seismitoad's attack finished, it aimed back for Flapple. The green swirls wrapped around its arm and it met Flapple's zipping Acrobatics head on. They collided, a wind buffeting the rain and clearing away the smoke to reveal Toxtricity's state. Goodra was on the move, too.

"Blast 'em with Thunder!"

"Counter with Overdrive!"

As the pair of lizard and dragon prepared their Electric attack, Flapple continued to strain against the Drain Punch. Soon, her wing snapped out, upending the fist and allowing her to break through the other side. She zipped, and with a blistering blow, nailed Seismitoad on the head, pushing him back. His body glowed green from the healing effects.