Jaws runs out to the arena as Darius throws his Pokéball. Piplup pops out and hops excitedly. Jaws grins happily at Piplup and strikes a defensive stance. Both the opposing Jynx and Mr. Mime prepare for battle.
“Do you really think you can beat us?” the two trainers say. “You shall never face Sabrina.”
“Are you ready, Crono?” Darius asks.
I nod and clench my fist. “Yes, I am.”
“Reflect!” Jynx’s trainer calls out.
“Light Screen!” Mr. Mime’s trainer calls out at the same time.
Jynx and Mr. Mime both put their hands up. Barely visible walls appear at their fingertips, placing barriers between us and them. Jaws tosses a handful of fries into his gaping jaw, while Piplup prepares for an attack.
“Bubble Beam!” Darius shouts.
Piplup rears his head back, then opens his beak and fires a stream of bubbles at Mr. Mime. The bubbles bounce off the invisible walls, leaving Mr. Mime unscathed. Darius frowns. “All right, try a Drill Peck!” Piplup charges in and creates a small whirlwind around his beak. He pecks at Mr. Mime, but the attack meets the invisible wall and stops just inches from Mr. Mime’s face. Mr. Mime grins at Piplup, taunting him. Piplup leaps back to Darius and takes a defensive stance, clearly as frustrated at Darius.
“Those walls are blocking our attacks,” Darius complains. “We have to get through them if we’re to get to their Pokémon. Also, what the heck is Jaws doing?!” He glares at Jaws as he chugs a Slurpee.
“He’s preparing for battle,” I explain. “Trust me, bud. He knows what he’s doing.”
“Shouldn’t you know too?” Darius asks. “Come on, we need to think of a strategy!”
The two trainers both point their fingers at us. “Your time has come,” they say in unison. “Jynx! Mr. Mime! Use Round!”
Jynx opens her mouth and lets loose a beautiful melody that creates visible sound waves. Mr. Mime follows suit, and the two voices sync harmoniously to create a lovely, but deadly crescendo that heads straight for Piplup.
“They’re targeting you, Piplup!” Darius shouts. “Look out!”
Piplup prepares to protect himself, but then Jaws jumps in front of him, throwing up his massive jaw like a shield, and absorbs the attack. Jaws flinches from the pain, but stands his ground. Piplup looks at Jaws admiringly and squeaks, as if to thank him. When the attack ends, Jaws spins around and eats a banana. He glows brightly and takes a defensive stance.
“Oh, I get it now,” Darius says. “He’s using Stockpile! He’s increasing his defenses to help protect Piplup!”
“Yep,” I say. “Now he can unleash his strongest… and grossest… attack.”
“Aw, dude,” Darius says. He clearly knows which attack I am referring to. “But wait, we have to get through those walls first, or it won’t work.”
I frown. He is right. If we cannot get through those walls, our attacks will do nothing. As I think of a strategy, the two trainers begin to prepare another attack.
YOU ARE READING
Beyond the Adventure - A Pokémon Story
FanficCrono is a 17-year-old boy living in Goldenrod City who longs to escape the noise of the big city and see the world. One day, a strange Pokémon falls into his lap, sparking the adventure of a lifetime.
