Love in the Time of Teamwork

Chapter 12: A Combination

A lot of you expressed some very violent thoughts last chapter! I was surprised...well, hopefully this will kind of sate those violent thoughts. It's time for Chapter 12!

Chapter 12

A Combination

"Let's start our second battle of the day, Team Research against Team Trainer: brains against brawn as it were," Harry said, letting off a little laugh at the sight of the trainers approaching the battlefield. Like the previous battle, Serena was focusing her sight on the screen rather than the trainers themselves, watching as they shook hands just like the previous combatants. Kalas started re-explaining the rules while the cameras did a pan of each of the trainers' faces. Next to her, Gary sat down and crossed his legs, like he wasn't as interested in this fight either, but still wanted to watch.

The bell rang loudly and all four trainers were off. To no one's surprise (or so Serena figured) Jael and Kael called out two fighting types: the Breloom that Jael had used on the second day, and a Throh. It was, likewise, not a surprise when Kenneth called out a Magnezone and Edwin sent out his Sigilyph. It really was a match of brains against brawn, only Serena really couldn't tell who the clear winner was going to be.

"Sigilyph, let's put our type advantage to work. Air Cutter," Edwin announced, tapping the bridge of his glasses. Sigilyph soared upwards, its wings glowing white. Then it blasted its wings downward like it was expelling a powerful gust. From those white wings soared arcs of air, almost blue in color and crescent shaped, aiming straight for both of the opposing Pokémon.

"Throh, take the hit," Kael commanded. Throh seemed slower than the other Pokémon on the field, but it was so big that the Judo Pokémon was able to cover both itself and Breloom as the attack bombarded its front. "Now, Payback!"

Throh's body glowed purple and energy began to swirl around it, coalescing into a beam that fired off towards Sigilyph. Height made no difference, as Sigilyph tried to ascend, but was struck by the Dark type attack anyway. Then Throh was also struck by Magnezone. Serena blinked at the powerfully spinning Gyro Ball attack, as no command appeared to have been given. She scooted forward on her seat to see just how Kenneth had done so when Breloom dashed over Throh's head to land a Mach Punch at rapid speed on Magnezone. Serena finally noticed that Kenneth appeared to be holding a small device in his hand.

"He's sending electromagnetic signals to Magnezone in order to command his attacks," Clemont explained to the group at large, being the only one versed enough in that world to do so. "It makes him unpredictable."

"Quick, Sigilyph, and use Steel Wing!" Sigilyph descended once again, its wings now glowing a steel-like color as it aimed for Throh once more.

"Intercept it with Superpower, Throh! Hurry!" Kael commanded. Throh suddenly bulked up, its muscles bulging through its clothing as a pale blue glow surrounded its figure. Sigilyph apparently didn't need its trainer's orders to know what to do, it veered off course just slightly right before impacting with Throh. The Judo Pokémon lunged forward but missed due to the change in direction and was knocked to the side by the Steel Wing.

"Now, Psybeam!" Sigilyph made a sharp, quick turn to ascend once again and faced its opponent. From the eye on top of its head, Sigilyph fired a multi-colored Psybeam, so similar to the one that Serena had seen James launch from Inkay all the time. As Throh was still in the middle of its missed attack, Psybeam hit its backside and it tumbled face-first into the dirt. The referee didn't call it, meaning that Throh was still in the battle.

"Bro, get your Throh up. Breloom, use lots of Mach Punches on that Sigilyph so it doesn't hurt Throh anymore."

"Loom Breloom!" the Mushroom Pokémon responded. Leaving behind Magnezone, Breloom leapt upwards, the speed of its Mach Punch carrying it to Sigilyph where it hammered the Avianoid Pokémon with impunity, causing it to descend a little. As it did so, Throh was back on its knees and pulling itself to its feet. Magnezone was making another move.