Pokemon: Hazel's Path (fanfiction)

Chapter 3: Lorelei's Mega Bond

Norby stared in awe at the Charizardite Y he had just been given. It shimmered with a sandy glow, and it's power would spring to life if held by a Charizard and activated by a Key Stone, such as the one imbedded in Norby's Mega Bracelet.

"Aaron!" Norby called to his Charizard. "I've got something for you to hold onto!"

Aaron turned his head and grunted a little, interested. "What did you get for me, Norby?"

Norby held up the Charizardite Y to show to him. "Do you know what this is?"

"Is that the Mega Stone we've been searching for all these months?" Aaron exclaimed, excited.

"Yup! Charizardite Y!" Norby jumped to his feet and jogged over to Aaron, handing the glittering Mega Stone to the mighty Charizard, who happily took it and held it close.

"Now all you need is some sort of accessory to hold it on with!" Lorelei stated with a faint smile. She began rummaging through her bag again, and this time, pulled out what looked like a fancy piece of chest armor for a large biped Pokémon like Charizard.

"What's that?" Brooke asked, confused.

"This is a Mega Plate," Lorelei explained. "Professor Sycamore gave me an extra one in case I found a Mega Stone compatible with of my Pokémon. He gave me a Mega Plate for a quadruped Pokémon as well, since I have a Houndoom on my team."

"That is such a cool looking holder!" Hazel admired.

"Sycamore uses one of these for his Garchomp. She only ever takes it off when she's about to go to sleep, and even then, only when it's late at night!" Lorelei giggled. "He made it to fit her perfectly, though, so there's obviously a strong bond there, even without hearing how the two of them met!"

"He has a Garchomp, too?!" Hazel fangirled. Garchomp was one of her favorite Pokémon, and her Garchomp, Draco, was in a PC box at the moment, but he was one of her most powerful Pokémon. It had taken a while to find a piece of Garchompite for him, but it was worth the wait. Even though Mega Garchomp had a much slower base Speed than regular Garchomp, that lack of Speed is made up for in Attack, raising it from a base 120 to a base 170 upon Mega Evolution, making it a Pokémon that was very difficult to defeat. The fact that Professor Sycamore had a Garchomp and the corresponding Mega Stone, and a Key Stone of his own had to be more than just a coincidence!

"You know what, Lorelei," Hazel said. "I challenge you to a battle between two Mega Evolved Pokémon. I want to see what your Mega Gallade is made of!"

Everyone stepped outside, and climbed to the top of Jagged Pass, to the peak of the tallest mountain in Hoenn, Mt. Chimney, an active volcano that made a great battleground for Mega Battles.

"All right, Gale Knight! It's time for battle!" Lorelei sent out her Gallade, a strong Psychic-Fighting type Pokémon. He was wearing a plate just like the one Lorelei had given Norby for Aaron, only this one was fitted with a white, green, and orange Mega Stone, Galladite.

"Let's go, Flame!" Hazel cast out her Blaziken, who was holding a Mega Stone of his own, Blazikenite.

Once both Pokémon were sent out, both Trainers held out their left arms, and set two fingers upon their Key Stones.

"Gale Knight!"

"Alright, Flame!"

"Mega Evolve!!!"

Gale Knight and Flame became engulfed in a blinding light, emanating from the Key Stones and Mega Stones. Once the light dispersed, there the two Pokémon stood, Mega Evolved and ready for battle.

Gale Knight had become a more valiant-looking fighter. He had gained a cape, and the blades on his arms were now white and red. Flame's head feathers were now pointing upward, and the flames from his wrists were now smoking in ribbons.

The battle was about to begin.

"Flame, use Power-Up Punch!" Hazel called, and Flame ran at Gale Knight, who blocked most of the attack with his arm blades. Flame's Attack stat rose by a stage, and he stepped back, ready for Gale Knight's counterattack.

"Gale Knight! Use Psycho Cut! Go!" Lorelei commanded, as Gale Knight's arm blades began to glow with a purple light, and the Mega Gallade dashed forward to deliver the super-effective blow. Flame instinctively dodged as each swing was made, lightning fast, until Gale Knight's attack dissipated. The turn had ended, and Flame's Speed stat rose by one stage.

"Wait, why is Flame's Speed stat rising?" Lorelei asked in alarm.

"Mega Blaziken has the Ability Speed Boost, which raises it's speed by one stage after each turn." Hazel replied confidently. "Let's see if you can keep up! Blaze Kick!"

Flame ran to build up speed, and jumped, lashing out with his flame-coated leg, striking Gale Knight before he could even react.

"Gale Knight! Psycho Cut!" Lorelei shouted, growing concerned at her sudden disadvantage.

Gale Knight immediately slashed at Flame with psychic power before he could keep his distance. Critical hit.

Flame was now badly damaged from the super-effective crit, and was now fighting to keep up his strength. He wasn't letting Gale Knight win so easily.

The turn ended, and Speed Boost activated again, raising Flame's Speed stat by a second stage. Feeling confident, Hazel decided to set up.

"Swords Dance!"

The frenetic spirit-lifting dance allowed Flame's Attack stat to raise by two more stages. Three stages of Attack, plus two Speed stages. All that needed to happen now was for Flame to survive one more attack.

"Drain Punch!"

Gale Knight jabbed at Flame, but Flame had become so fast, it was impossible to even land a hit. Lorelei's plan to recover some last minute HP had failed.

Once again, Flame's Speed rose, reaching stage three.

"Finish it with Flare Blitz!" Hazel shouted, determined to finish this battle. Flame engulfed himself in  a blaze, and rushed at Gale Knight at full speed, and full power. Contact.

Once the flames cleared, Gale Knight was on the ground, knocked out. Both Megas returned to normal, signaling that the battle was over.

"Gale Knight..." Lorelei breathed in disbelief. "How did you win while you were at a type disadvantage?"

"If you play your cards right, and watch your opponent's moves carefully, any Pokémon can pull it off, no matter the disadvantage," Hazel explained. "It wasn't too long until Gale Knight was the one at a disadvantage, but it wasn't a type disadvantage, it was a stat disadvantage. If Gale Knight'd been able to land that Drain Punch, he may have been able to survive the hit, if he was lucky, but Flame being at his third Attack stat buff stage, you were probably done for, anyway."

"I guess you're right," Lorelei agreed, sighing. She was obviously disappointed that she couldn't win.

"Everyone loses battles every once in a while," Hazel comforted her. "I don't know of a single Trainer that has never been defeated. And if there is a Trainer like that, they probably have only battled Trainers of a lesser skill level, which means they haven't actually gotten much experience. Losing is an important lesson for every Trainer, no matter how experienced."

"I agree," Lorelei smiled. "Gale Knight, you did your best." And at that, Gale Knight returned to his Poke Ball.

Once everyone was back at Norby's base, Lorelei contacted Professor Sycamore to tell him what she had discovered. Hazel wanted to say hi, but at the same time, she didn't want to be rude and interrupt the conversation. Luckily, Lorelei let everyone introduce themselves, and the professor was open to answer any questions they may have had. Hazel was surprised at how cheerful and friendly he was. She'd always heard that he was one of the most extroverted, if not the most extroverted, of the regional Pokémon Professors, but she never expected him to be an absolute delight to talk to.

Today has certainly been an eventful day, Hazel thought to herself. Things are certainly going to be more exciting around here, that's for sure.