Pokémon: A Tale Of Time (Volume One: Zephyr)

Chapter Three - Blood Is Thicker Than Battle

As Raido and Domuno locked gazes outside the cosy confines of their home, a palpable tension hung in the air. The lush grass rustled beneath their feet, and the gentle breeze carried the faint scent of wildflowers, but all Raido could do was focus on the intensity of the moment.

Facing each other across the clearing, Raido's heart pounded with nervous anticipation. His palms were slick with sweat, and his stomach churned with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. This was it - his first ever Pokemon battle, against none other than his older brother, Dom.

Domuno smirked confidently, his posture relaxed as he surveyed the scene before him. With his fiery Nidoran, Rhino, by his side, he excluded an air of unshakable confidence, the mark of a seasoned Trainer who had faced countless challenged and emerged victorious.

Beside Raido, his own Pokemon partner now stood tall and proud, her locked in a fierce stare-down with Rhino. Despite the nervous energy coursing through Raido's veins, he could see a spark of determination burning within her - a silent promise to stand by his side no matter what.

As Raido and his older brother locked eyes, a silent understanding passed between them. Despite the rivalry that simmered beneath the surface, there was a mutual respect that ran deep, born from years of shared dreams and aspirations.

With a deep breath, Raido steadied himself, his gaze unwavering as he prepared to face his brother in battle. He may have been nervous, he may have been anxious, but deep down, Raido knew that he had what it took to be a Pokemon Trainer.

And as the first rays of sunlight broke through the canopy above, casting a golden glow upon the clearing, Raido clenched his first and pointed forward. "Nidoran, let's do this, girl!" he yelled. With a determined expression, Nidoran stepped forward, her eyes filled with fiery resolve as she prepared to engage her opponent.

"Go, Nidoran! Let's hit them with Scratch!" Raido called out, his voice ringing out in determination.

With a fierce cry, Nidoran lept forward, her claws gleaming in the sunlight as she lunged directly towards Rhino, ready to deliver a powerful opening blow. But as she closed in on her target, Rhino remained calm and composed. With Domuno offering nothing but a smirk, his partner took action, his movements fluid and graceful as he effortlessly dodged out of harm's way.

Nidoran turned back in confusion, her ears twitching with frustration as she realised that she had missed her mark. Raido gritted his teeth, his frustration bubbling to the surface as he yelled, "Again!"

With renewed determination, Nidoran launched herself forward once more, her claws slashing through the warm air as she aimed for Rhino. But once again, Rhino proved too quick and agile, sidestepping her attack with ease.

With each missed strike, Raido's frustration grew, his jaw clenching tightly as he struggled to contain his mounting disappointment. And to make the matters worse, Domuno couldn't resist the urge to add insult to injury, aiming a few mocking jibes in Raido's direction.

"Looks like you've got a lot to learn, little bro," Dom taunted with a smirk, his voice dripping with amusement. "Maybe you should stick to watching battles instead..."

Despite the setback of the previous attacks, Raido and Nidoran refused to give up. With a glint in his eye, he called out to his partner once more, "Nidoran, Poison Sting! Let's Go!", he commanded, his voice ringing out with newfound determination.

With a frustrated growl, Nidoran charged forward, her horn glowing with venomous energy as she barreled towards Rhino. To Raido's surprise, Rhino didn't dodge in time, and Nidoran's horn landed a direct hit square in the head of the opponent.

For a brief moment, Raido's heart soared with happiness at the sight of his Nidoran's successful attack. But his joy was short-lived as Rhino's eyes suddenly opened, locking fiercely onto Nidoran's with an unyielding determination.

Domuno smirked and chuckled, his confidence unshaken by Nidoran's attack. "Thought you had me for a second, huh, bro?" he taunted, his voice filled with cocky amusement. "Rhino, show them a real Poison Sting."

Raido's heard sank as Rhino's body tensed up, preparing to unleash a powerful counterattack. Before Nidoran could react, Rhino lunged his head and horn forward with incredible speak, shrugging off the original attack of Nidoran, and breaking through her defenses to land a devastating critical hit.

Nidoran cried out in chock and pain and she was launched across the clearing, her body crashing to the ground in a heap near Raido, injured and dazed.

Raido's heart clenched with sorrow at the sight of his new partner's pain. He looked down at her bruised body, knowing she shouldn't continue the battle any longer, but her determination refused to waver. She looked up into the eyes of Raido, as the reminder of his disappointment in her arrival played harshly in her memories. The flashbacks of his resigned face replay across her large red eyes. With an adamant huff, she furrowed her brow, determined to prove Raido and Domuno wrong. Despite her weakened state, she tried to rise up to her feet, her legs trembling with exhaustion, as she focused every effort to keep standing and continue the fight.

As tears welled in Raido's eyes, Domino's voice cut through the silence, his tone surprisingly gentle. "First tough lesson of being a Trainer bro," he said solemnly. "Know when it's time to admit defeat."

Raido nodded, his gaze fixed upon the ground as he struggled to contain his emotions. A salty tear ran down his cheek, falling to the soil below. But to his surprise, when he looked up, he found his brother standing over him, hand outstretched with a warm smile.

Rhino stepped forward to approach the shaking Nidoran calmly, nudging her legs to help her regain stability and stand. Both Raido and Nidoran were visibly shocked, having expected a finishing blow, but in it's place, an unexpected display of kindness from both Domuno and his Pokemon.

"Come on bro," Domuno said, his voice filled with genuine affection. "That's enough for today, let's enjoy the rest of your birthday!"

With a grateful nod, Raido wiped away his tears and took his brother's hand, pulling himself to his feet.

"Your Nidoran's a real fighter," Domuno remarked, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "Maybe I need to watch my back after all."

Nidoran's eyes sparkled with acceptance, whilst Raido couldn't help but feel a sense of respect and camaraderie with his older brother and idol.

With a pat on the back from Domuno, and a grateful nod from Raido, the four of them continued their short journey back to the house, ready to celebrate the remainder of Raido's big day together.