Pasio University: Sophomore and Junior Years

Chapter 81- The Next Step

Calem POV

Game Day

Unova League Playoffs Semifinal

#2 Virbank Evergreens
Vs.
#3 Mistralton Aviators

I woke up in the morning and checked my phone. So yesterday wasn't a dream... We won a playoff game! In front of a home crowd too. But today is when the big moves have to be made. We want a spot in that Unova League Championship game? We're gonna have to earn it with a win against the Evergreens in Virbank. It's definitely going to be a packed house there. The crowd we're up against is going to be loud all day, and we'll have to be coordinated and focused in spite of it. Last time we played them we got a little lucky despite what the scoreboard said, we ended up having to bail on our entire strategy we had last time. But we recorded to our traps and pulled it off. So my question now is, should we try something else, or should we stick with the traps and see if they can stop them?

I stumbled forward out of the bedroom and walked downstairs where Serena was preparing some breakfast. "Morning Cal! Big day ahead huh?" I nodded, "Yep. We gotta beat Virbank again. Tough task." Serena smiled, "I'm sure you're up to it." I nodded, "Yeah I am. Hopefully the whole team is ready to go." Serena smiled and handed me a plate with some toast on it, "We'll eat up. They're gonna need your best."

I got to the plane and Skyla was there as usual, fixing up the plane. She turned to me, "Oh there you are! Rumor has it you and the wife are adding one to the household?" I nodded, "Yeah. It's so crazy, I don't think either of us were really ready for it yet, but we're gonna do our best." Skyla grinned, "Heh. Good thing you got your big contract this year. Most people straight out of college would struggle financially with a kid to take care of." I nodded, "I know. A lot of this stuff is overwhelming, but in a good way. Things worked out perfectly for us to be able to give this baby a good childhood." Skyla stood up from her work and stood with her hands on her hips. "Good. Also hey, something I need to talk to you about." I looked at her, "Huh?" She motioned, "Well, as you know, the Aviators haven't been in the playoffs in... A long time, let's just say that. And uh, the Bolts are favored to be in the championship game." I nodded, "Uhuh." She continued, "Well Elesa has agreed to make our bet reset if we play in the championship game. So, if you win today, you have the chance to save me a lot of pride.... And money." I chuckled, "Understood. We'll give it our best."

We arrived in the away locker room and I looked around as the many fans gathered in to see the Semifinals match today. I heard the crowd go ballistic as the Evergreens entered through their tunnel, the gym leader and owner of the team, Roxie, played one of her songs for them as they ran out of the tunnel, and the crowd was fired up to say the least. Roxie was encouraging the crowd to keep it loud. I stood up, "Alright. You guys hear them out there. Tune out the noise and do what we know. The gameplan today is simple. Trap them until they stop us. It they stop us it's up to you guys to recognize why and adjust accordingly. Or take our time out and ask me. Everyone good with that?" Austin stood up and extended his hand out to me, "Whatever happens out there, it's been a heck of a ride kid." I shook his hand, "That it has. Now, as usual, let's show them what's up." We all exited the tunnel, and the opposing crowd didn't boo us, they were just being as loud as possible to try to throw us off or shake us. I hope it's not affecting our guys. I know Ricard is good because he played at Hammerlocke, but a lot of the others come from smaller D1 or D2 battling teams. So hopefully they'll rise up to the noise.

I pointed to Austin, "You know the drill, start us off strong." He nodded, "Let's go." He then got his two and took the field against Virbank. Austin's Heatmor looked very determined to put on a good showing today, and I think they can. I watched with bated breath as the Battle began. If they start off by trying to break our traps, we're gonna be in some trouble. I watched as they did exactly what I feared. They were playing patient and waiting to expose us. I covered my mouth and began to mull over some options. What are they doing...? I saw Austin yelling out some commands to the other two who couldn't hear him. I grimaced and shook my head, this is a nightmare. I watched as the first one fell. 0-1. The crowd somehow got louder and Roxie began to play a rally song during the substitution phase. I looked at Dusty, "Dusty! You think you can handle it out there? Huddle up and hear what Austin's got to say." He looked at me, "You don't have anything to say?" I shook my head, "I do. But something tells me Austin has a plan by how panicked he looked a second ago. Go see what he's up to and help him out." Dusty jogged out and huddled up with them. I watched Austin start explaining the game plan to him and he seemed skeptical of it. Guess we'll have to see what they've come up with. I took off my hat and ruffled my hair in frustration. Just as soon as things start going right.

I looked up and saw that we were moving forward and stalking targets rather than sitting back. He's got some kind of plan. I think that plan might be to try to overpower them, which I hope it isn't because we aren't very good at that. So far so good, we're landing a couple chip shots and aren't taking much back. Thats a pretty decent strategy, just trying to feel them out! Oh! Dusty caught one! 1-1! I pumped my fist, Austin has some kind of plan. I squatted down and watched as the Battle continued to unfold. We started trading left and right, and eventually it got to 3-3. Neither team taking an advantage.

I took a deep breath and jogged to the center of the field and looked to Ricard and Dusty, "What are we seeing out there?" Ricard shrugged, "They're just putting themselves in positions to trade us or overpower us. They won't let us trap them because they're not pushing forward." I closed my eyes in thought, "Ah..." Referee signaled that the Battle would start in 10 seconds, I yelled out, "Ok! They want us to take the fight to them let's do it! Let's stick together, draw their fire, and if you're not being targeted I want you all to yell out a target as loud as you can over this crowd so we can burst them down." They both nodded and we got to our positions as the Battle restarted. Immediately I had Meowstic go with Spiritomb and Flygon to control the center of the battlefield. We used the control to lock them in a corner and rain down fire, Meowstic jumped up and connected a Zen headbutt to put us up 4-3. I shook my hands, "Ok. No pause. Let's put them away." I mumbled to myself. As I said it, their captain took down Dusty's already tired Spiritomb. I groaned and counterattacked to try to trade it out, but it didn't do enough. Ricard's Flygon took a 1v1 with Virbank's Stantler and came out on top! Ricard you madman! I looked over to him and yelled "Nice!" He didn't hear me. The crowd was cheering as loud as it could for their captain. I engaged him quick. If he's gonna beat us, he's gonna have to beat Meowstic. I'm not letting him dance around us. Meowstic squared up and sent out a lightning fast Psychic that ended the match. 6-4! We're going to the championship game! I yelled in happiness and hugged Ricard as we celebrated in the now silent stadium. The whole team huddled in the center and jumped up and down in excitement. I ran to Meowstic and picked him up, "You wonderful kitty!" He mewed happily as I held him up in the air.

The Unova League Championship
Bracket

Round 1

#5 Aspertia Breeze 6-4 #8 Nacrene Marl.
#6 Accumula Titans 5-6 #7 Driftveil Out.

Round 2 matches

#3 Mistralton Aviators 6-3 #7 Driftveil O.
#4 Castellia Skyscrapers 5-6 #5 Aspertia

Round 3 Matches

#1 Nimbasa Bolts 6-4 #5 Aspertia Breeze
#2 Virbank Evergreens 4-6 #3 Aviators

Championship Match

#1 Nimbasa Bolts 0
Vs.
#3 Mistralton Aviators 0

I walked in to the showers at the locker room and immediately began to shower. I was really nervous and got pretty sweaty. The hot water relaxed me and helped me to calm down after such an intense match. Tomorrow's gonna be even worse. Against the Bolts in Nimbasa for the Championship. Can't think of any higher stakes than that.

I got out of the shower and decided to check my phone. There were 2 messages I was missing. One from my wife reading, "I'm craving a cherry pie, but like a really flaky and warm one. Any idea if you could get me one of those? Thanks!" I smirked as I read it. She's always funny, even if this isn't a joke. The second was a text from Elio, which just read, "Told you so." I raised an eyebrow, what does he mean? I checked the Championship game score from yesterday and sure enough Pasio won. My eyes widened when I watched the highlights. He's back. Nah. He's not back, this is something different. I think I created a monster. A good one though.

I boarded the plane on the way back and Skyla happily shrieked, "I knew you guys could do it! I'm so proud!" I smiled, "Thank you! Say... You don't happen to know where you can get a fresh cherry pie at this hour do you...?"