Pokémon Platinum (Currently being rewritten as Pokémon: Platinum Chapter)

Chapter 51: Vs. Volkner

I step into the gym. It's pitch black except for the glow of a single pipe that surrounds the arena. The pipe has electricity flowing through it, making it glow yellow. I see a silhouette across the arena. The lights immediately flip on, causing me to shield my eyes. As the brightness starts dimming, I see Volkner facing the bleachers. HIs right side is facing me. He turns his head to look at me and holds out a pokéball. "I hope you're ready for this, Chris."

I glance over at the bleachers. Flint, Mom, Empoleon, and Dawn are sitting in the bleachers. Dawn has let all of her pokémon out to watch the fight. I look down at Eve. She looks up and nods, smirking. I take a deep breath and grab a pokéball from my waist. I throw. Darkrai appears in front of me. Volkner smiles. "Hardly a challenge, Chris."

He tosses his pokéball into the air. A Raichu appears in front of him. The referee stands up. "The gym battle between Volkner, the Gym Leader, and Chris starts now!"

Volkner starts off. "Focus Blast!"

"Double Team."

Darkrai creates clones of himself that start moving in random directions. Raichu charges the blast, but keeps looking around for the real Darkrai. The clones disappear and a figure rises out of Raichu's shadow. "Dark Void!"

Darkrai holds his arms out, creating a giant orb above him. "Dodge it!" Volkner shouts.

Darkrai drops the black orb onto Raichu, sending him into a nightmare. Raichu drops to the ground, asleep. Darkrai sinks into the ground, disappearing. Raichu suddenly starts convulsing. I grin. Darkrai's entered his nightmare. Volkner grits his teeth as Darkrai appears again. Raichu opens his eyes and jumps up, staring at Darkrai in fear. "You okay, Raichu?"

Raichu nods. "Rai."

"Great. Charge Beam!"

"Dark Pulse!"

Darkrai launches pitch black chains from his body and guides them towards Raichu. Raichu blasts a bolt of electricity at Darkrai. Both attacks hit at the same time. Raichu and Darkrai both fly backwards. Darkrai lands in front of me, growing his legs to stop himself. Raichu hits the wall behind Volkner and falls to the ground, knocked out. Volkner gasps and looks back at me. He grins. I almost see excitement behind his expression. He returns Raichu and throws another pokéball. A Jolteon appears in front of him. "Darkrai, come back."

He nods and floats next to me. I throw a pokéball, sending out Lucario. He appears in front of me and looks back at me, grinning. "Thunder Wave!"

"Use Bone Rush to block it."

Lucario claps his hands together and creates a glowing bone. He spins it around him, rendering the Thunder Wave useless. "Now attack!"

"Iron Tail!" Volkner commands.

Lucario's Bone Rush and Jolteon's Iron Tail hit each other. They continue in a flurry of blows, continuing to block one another. I look down at Eve. She's clenching her teeth. Her eyes look wet. I kneel down. "Are you okay?"

Eve presses herself against me and wraps her feelers around me. "That Jolteon... looks just like my dad... but it can't be!"

I gasp and pet her. "I'm sorry. Just... turn around."

She shakes her head. "Ignoring it won't help. I've just gotta be brave."

I frown. "Sometimes the bravest thing to do is look away."

Eve looks up at me. Tears are in her eyes. She smiles. "Okay."

She turns away from the battle and lies down. I look back at the battle. Lucario is using Power-Up Punch to try and hit Jolteon, but he's too fast. "Charge Beam!" Volkner shouts, throwing his fist into the air.