Hard Enough

Chapter 133: Brock v Will (2)

While the plan was working for Gawain and myself, I knew I had to be on the lookout for Will pulling off his own plan. If I could work it out, I could disrupt it.

So far, I was suspicious of how Gawain had been overextending himself to hack and slash his axes at Medicham, only for nothing to hit.

That shouldnt be too surprising, but my instincts were warning me about it.

Gawain was strong; he wasnt as fast as Shin, but he had weight in his blows. Every hit sent shards of rock slicing through the air as shrapnel.

On the next impact, I watched as Medicham not only weaved away from the threat of Gawains axe but also through the shrapnel.

So far, Will had yet to give a verbal command. Hed obviously linked himself with his pokemon and Id be making good use of that if he didnt know when to drop the link. Until then, I needed to keep my eyes glued for what he was obviously building towards. If anything the lack of solid hits his pokemon had landed was making me more suspicious. He had to be luring me in.

I suspected he might have his pokemon using Future Sight, and the slight glow in Medichams eyes let me know something was happening.

Break off and go fast! I ordered Gawain. He feinted forward and then juked to the left, allowing him to gain room to move.

When Medicham didnt preempt him, I knew Will was doing something other than Mind Reader, Future Sight, or, as Medicham has historically been noted to achieve, Aura reading.

Gawain blurred into motion, his speed increasing as Agility took hold. Like Scyther, he left images in his wake, but only a few instead of the ten or even twenty that a Scyther was capable of.

Will twitched his head left and right. Force Palm afternoon! he said, forced to speak for the first time since the match had begun. I narrowed my eyes. Why had he needed to speak now, but not earlier?

Instantly, both of Medichams hands snapped outward, and the air boomed outward as Force Palm detonated outwards from Medichams two hands.

Thankfully, Gawain was already behind Medicham, axes raised. X-Scissor! I barked as Gawains axes descended, taking on bug energy as they slashed.

Medicham dropped low and kicked to launch itself parallel to the ground.

I whistled, impressed despite myself. That had been a clean dodge. This Medicham was limber and very strong. The ground had gained a divot where Medicham had kicked off.

I eyed the slightly bulbous legs that looked like harem pants; there must be some serious muscle hidden there but it was deliberately hard to judge.

Or was it a sign that hed been boosting his strength while Gawain had been slyly setting up the Stealth Rocks around the field?

Medicham rose and swivelled around on Gawain.

Move! I barked at Gawain, causing him to blur into movement. Reposition! I said telling him to once more make a dash and attack from another angle.

Force Palm! Evening! Will barked.

His pokemons arms snapped behind it and fired off the Force Palm once more. This time it caught Gawain, and he flipped backwards. He landed on his feet and dug his axes in to halt his momentum.

Then he stood and brandished his axes like he was ready to keep fighting. I considered him. Hed taken a hit just now, the first solid connection Will had been able to land all match, but he wasnt by any means down.

It helped that Force Palm was only normally effective against him. I held in a chuckle when I noticed that the gouges hed dug up with his axes to stop himself now had shards of rock pointing upwards.

Heh, he really had taken his orders to heart and was setting the field up nicely.

There were numerous points that would work as traps that I could have Gawain lead Medicham into, but I didnt need to match technique to technique. I suspected that as a technical fighter, Gawain would be lacking. So instead, I decided to switch it up.

Gawain! Return! I said, raising his pokeball and toggling the return feature. Gawain had fought well; hed done exactly what I wanted him to do by setting up the battlefield for me. Hed pressured Wills Medicham who I could see was a serious threat.

I made a mental note that Gawain and Sanchezs set-up tactics would work wonderfully once I had Clefairy properly trained up.

Medicham, Future Sight! ordered Will instantly as my pokemon vanished. I once again noted hed been forced to speak instead of projecting his commands. Was Will just not as good at telepathy as Sabrina? It made sense to me.

Will started to smile before schooling his features. Ah, he wanted to set himself up, did he? I channelled a bit of dark energy around myself to help obscure any information he might get from me.

Still, with a new pokemon coming out, I felt it was time to change the script properly. Go Knight! I said, hurling out my Aggron.

Knight landed and growled fiercely at Medicham.

DP straight off! I growled. Knight clenched his fists, and dark energy exploded off his form, radiating the area around him.

Medicham ran backwards on light feet. Quake, I said, causing Knight to lift his foot and slam it into the ground.

The battlefield rocked, and Medicham was caught off guard, tripping over itself before flipping and springing back onto its feet with swaying steps.

Quake again! I said, eyeing the distance Medicham had put between itself and Knight with that little sprint.

Telekinesis! shouted Will causing his pokemon to raise its arms and hover up over the shaking earth. I narrowed my eyes as Will sighed in relief. Rest up there for the moment Medicham, he said casually.

If I didnt have as good eyesight as I do, I might not have noticed the tiny beady eyes of Medicham glow.

Stone Edge, I said straight away, more than happy to take advantage of the potential lapse.

Boulders shot forward with extreme prejudice, and Medicham wafted from side to side, evading the blows.

I narrowed my eyes at the display. It was becoming far too often that people were able to evade while using moves like Rest.

Had Will taken Lances trick as inspiration? It must have been an order to use something like Rest or Recover it seemed.

Automize, I said instead of forcing the issue. A sheen and clacking went through Knights body and he shook his head slightly as he gleamed in the light.

Take Down, I said, more than happy to send Knight forward at a sprint. I watched for it and wasn't surprised to see Medicham dodge the attack despite the speed of the oncoming attack.

This saw Knight slamming head first into the ground and seemingly taking damage. Thankfully, with his Hard Head ability, he wasnt actually in danger with that move.

It had also placed us right next to Medicham as its eyes fluttered open.

Iron Tail, I said, causing my now much faster pokemon to whip around from his position and slap his tail into the still-rousing Medicham. It landed lightly, but when it tested the weight on its legs, I could see it wince in pain. Good, it had felt that blow.

Will clicked his tongue and raised a pokeball. Return, he said.

Automize, I said as Dennis raised flags and called that both of us had now returned one pokemon with all our pokemon available. On the big screen, the image showing Medicham dimmed.

Go Starmie! shouted Will, tossing out his next pokemon. It landed and swept its limbs out with a gleaming jewel in the middle.

Will opened his mouth to give the first order, only to have rocks all over the battlefield that had been lying in wait rise up and slam into Starmie.

Eh! What trickery is this? Did you lace the field beforehand? I expected better from you than cheating! Will said, rearing back as though struck.

I glared at him. I did no such thing. I had my pokemon lay those Stealth Rocks during our match; in fact, Im sure a sharp-eyed trainer would have noticed them. For everyone else there will be replays.

Wills jaw worked side to side for a moment before clicking his tongue. He knew he had the right to the replay but doing so was only to be used if you were certain the other person had cheated. This was not like the circuit where people challenged for Gym battles or an Exhibition match where replays could be used without consequences.

With my words and conviction, he suddenly didnt look so sure of himself. It wasnt going to be a move mechanic known to anyone but to people that had witnessed me sparring with Sabrina closely. Something that was too small a group for Gawains special Stoneaxe trick to have been spread around. In future, it would be something people knew to look for, but today it was an unknown.

I raised a hand deciding to get the full benefit. Seeing as the accusation has been levelled. Lets run the replay so you can see when the Stealth Rocks came into effect.

That!... Will clicked his tongue again; by even hinting at cheating occurring, hed delayed and allowed his pokemon to recover and given himself time. I may as well allow the replay and get the extra pokemon move.

I gestured to the side and folded my arms over my chest. On the screen, Gawain and Medicham were shown in close combat, but thanks to the slow motion, it was clearly highlighted that when Gawains axe hit the ground the strike had caused rocks to become spiked up with Stealth Rock, albeit much smaller than usual.

The crowd oohed in surprise.

I nodded at Dennis, and he lowered a flag in my direction. As an allegation was made that resulted in a beneficial delay for the challenger, Brock is allowed a one move start.

He then raised and began to lower his five fingers. On the big screen, a similar countdown began.

Automize, I said quickly to Knight, causing him to go through his process of both increasing his speed and lowering his weight once more.

If Id attacked Wills pokemon, he would have been able to dodge, but by instead buffing my Aggron Id netted another significant boost. Id never had Knight this fast except in training.

It was a hell of an edge to find myself the beneficiary of.

Surf! Will called as soon as Dennis count had finished. Knight was still just finalizing his Automize as the wave surged upwards. I wasnt worried though.

I had a tried and true method of dealing with this. Dig, I said casually, waiting for his response. He had to know I could evade this.

The wave surged forward, and Starmie rose to the top of the wave.

When it swept over the hole Knight had left and left a space on the other side of the field, Knight popped out and rolled to the side before the water could surge out of the tunnel after him.

Rain Dance, said Will as his pokemon landed on the other side of the field, causing more water to fall from a quickly formed number of clouds.

I ignored the water splashing down on me and leaned forward, considering my options quickly.

Stone Edge, I said causing Knight to stomp his foot and fire off a large rock.

Hydro Pump, Will countered, resulting in both attacks slamming into each other, with the Hydro Pump just winning out but not having the power to reach Knight as it splashed down ineffectively.

I cocked my head slightly. That should have overpowered the rock-type move unless Knight was so much stronger than Starmie that it ended up being balanced out.

Surf again! Clear the field! said Will with a dramatic flourish of his hand.

Dig again, I said, causing Knight to vanish once more.

Instantly, I noticed a difference in this wave with it being wider and thicker. It didnt stop Knight from successfully escaping the move though.

Starmie, however, was not riding the top of the wave. Instead, it popped out the back already facing towards Knight.

Disable! said Will, causing a pink beam to fire off and hit Knight. He shuddered, and I clicked my tongue. So he wanted to use that for Knight, did he? I considered the muddy field.

I no longer had any Stealth Rocks that I could see, but that didnt mean I didnt have options. I could use a muddy field just as well, if not better, than Will. If Bertha was fit and able, shed have thrived in a mud brawl.

Return Knight, I said neutrally before instantly whipping out another pokemon.

Reflect, said Will as he quickly got in a move of his own while my pokeball disgorged my next pokemon. The red light formed a large body, that then bulged and grew even bigger, revealing Tide, my Lapras, in all his glory.

He shifted his head and crooned happily at the water falling down upon him.

Will smirked. Thun

I punched my hand forward and the air cracked at the speed and power of a rock-enhanced punch. Hyperbeam, I said, cutting over what Will was saying.

His Starmie blazed with electricity a moment later, revealing hed ordered Thunder.

In another setting, that might have been a good move against one of my pokemon, but with him committed to a powerful move he couldnt dodge.

Tide built up the energy beam and unleashed it just as the Thunder came down on him slamming into him. He sparked and twitched in pain at the super-effective move.

It didnt effect the Hyper Beam that tore through the Reflect and swept aside the Starmie like the fist of an angry god against a defiant mortal.

Stamrie was slammed into the back wall, where it twitched before sliding down and slumping in place.

Dennis observed the Starmie for a moment before raising his flags. Starmie is unable to battle! You must recall it, Challenger, and send out your next pokemon within a minute!

I grinned happily while Tide shook his head and snorted in contempt.

Will blinked in surprise. He must have been expecting his move to do a lot more damage. But Tide was a pokemon that epitomized vitality. He didnt have Sturdy as his abilityas far as I could tell, he had Hydrationbut he was a beast of a Lapras. His size did more than just make him a large target. He could hit hard and keep going.

I locked eyes with Will and smiled. One nil, to me.

Will returned his pokemon just as the rain from the earlier Rain Dance stopped. He drew out another pokemon and levitated it up before flicking his fingers forward making the pokeball zip forward to disgorge his pokemon. Go Jynx! he said quickly, intent on not giving Tide any more time to recover.

Part of my mind zeroed in on the Jynx. A Psychic-ice type would be something that I could punish hard.

Attract! he said, causing me to click my tongue.

Tide was perhaps the worst of my team to have that occur, having been a stud for a solid stint of time. He gained hearts in his eyes and clapped his flippers like a giant simp. I glowered at Will and raised my pokeball to return Tide. Will must have been expecting it as his grin turned into an outright leer.

Mean Look! he said even as my pokeballs red beam of energy was streaking towards Tide. The beam was swept aside by the Mean Look causing my pokeball to blart a warning.

Shit! I swore, knowing this had to be a preplanned sequence of moves for Will. Jynx was a direct counter for Tide. I hissed as Tides prior showings flashed through my mind. It would seem that not all of the scouting was done within my Gym. I could just see him looking through my pokemon with any contacts he had at the League, learning my pokemons histories, and highlighting this weakness.

With most of the other pokemon I would have brought from my Elites, Jynx would be a terrible matchup with its Ice typing.

Against Tide? It was an insidious masterstroke.

TIDE! SNAP OUT OF IT BUDDY! I shouted, causing him to twitch, only to coo and clap his flippers again.

Urgh, he had it bad. I shot a look up at the rain clouds that had been dropping rain. If hed been attracted while it was raining would his Hydration ability have solved his attraction? I seemed to recall Attract working through methods of pheromones. Would the rain have stopped it, or was I misremembering how that dynamic would have played out?

It didnt matter. Jynx sauntered up to Tide all smiles.

Tide use Hydro Pump! Shes not interested in mating with you! I urged, only for him to lower his head and make a barking noise that I knew was a mating call.

Jynx reached him with a vapid smile on her face, raising a hand to his cheek. Right as she touched him, I saw awareness return to his eyes just in time for her to sneer and lash out.

Focus Blast! Will ordered, causing the super effective move to slam right into Tides head and send his head bouncing into the dirt, where he wailed in surprise only to slump back. His head wobbled back and forth and I didnt like what I was seeing.

I withdraw him! I shouted not willing to keep him out there, dazed from the hit to the head. That had to have been a critical hit and if I gave Will the chance, I knew he was going to punish Tide.

Will lowered his hand. Jynx, return to our side, and perform Calm Mind! He really was going to take any advantage he could get. I huffed in annoyance as I tried to recall my pokemon only for it to not work. I clicked the pokeball again only to growl as the pokeball gave another warning blart. It was damaged?

Will smiled at me. Looks like the feedback from my Mean Look caused your pokeball to be damaged He tilted his head coyly. So sorry about that!~ he turned his head to the side. Oh just to remind you, you only have a minute to replace your pokemon! he said.

Dennis coughed. Challenger Will, please leave that to me. I will have begun the count down! he said sternly before shooting me an apologetic look. I merely snorted, having already toggled a button on the podium.

Medical attention to the battlefield, medical attention to the battlefield, I said, causing the doors that opened to the medical bay to slam open and for Chansey to sprint out looking deadly serious.

She eyed Jynx and sniffed pointedly. Jynx reeled as though slapped. Chansey then swept onto the battlefield and dragged Tides head down to her height, where she could quickly look him over.

Chansey! she said, slapping him with healing energy. While he shook his head, she darted around the side and gave him a hard shove. He cried out in surprise as he skidded off the battlefield, causing me to chuckle. Strength was the perfect move for Chansey to learn.

Dont let it get to you buddy, I said gesturing for him to follow Chansey to the medical bay. He did so limply, obviously ashamed at his showing. He narrowed his eyes as he passed Jynx, who blew him a cheeky kiss. Tide didn't rise to the bait and cause any more trouble, despite the provocation, instead leaving with his head down.

I watched him go with a sour taste in my mouth and a pain in my chest.

Nothing about the last minute and a half was what I would expect from a battle between two trainers of skill.

Instead, it stunk of low, toxic cunning.

With Tide out of sight, I flicked my eyes up and noted I had ten seconds left. That had been closer than Id like still, it was an eternity in a fight.

I considered my next option.

Will had struck back rather effectively just now, and hed shown this tactic in the past. I thought I would have scared him off with Don being such a savage.

I considered the pokemon I had on my roster. They all potentially had that weakness to this Jynx with all of them being male. If Id chosen Selene, I would have a strong counter. But shed been tired and I wasnt confident she could bring her best.

Right about now I was regretting that decision.

Hindsight truly was twenty-twenty.

If Bertha was healthy, shed have filled the gap and been an instant response. I hummed before grasping a pokeball.

Go Knight! I said, sending back out my Aggron. He appeared and shook his head causing a clacking of metal plates to rattle out.

Attract! Will said causing his Jynx to once again blow a kiss at my pokemon.

Skip to the side and Stone Edge! I countered quickly, causing Jynx to break off the smooch as Knight hopped to the side evading the kiss and unleashing a powerful Stone Edge at his foe.

Focus Blast! Will called making his pokemon punch forward and destroy the rock.

Again, I said more than happy to throw rocks at this problem.

Psychic! Toss it back! Will ordered with a chop of his hand.

Jynx raised a hand and put the other to her head as pink energy built up around her, only to latch around the boulder hurtling towards her.

The boulder slowed and then blew straight backward towards Knight.

Leap to the side and sprint in close, I ordered. Once again the attack from Jynx whiffed and I felt a spark of anticipation rising at how well Knight was doing.

Mean Look, keep it on the field! snapped Will as my pokemon began sprinting towards Jynx.

Jynx shot a fierce look straight at Knight, but he merely growled and came on faster. With Jynx staring my pokemon down, I punched forward.

DP while were in close! Knight once more exploded with dark energy that quickly expanded.

Just as it was about to impact Jynx, Will shouted Icey retreat!

His Jynx then did an odd hop back, with an Ice Beam launching out of her hands and sending her sliding back over the muddy field. The Ice Beam didnt hit Knight, but rather allowed Jynx to toss herself out of the danger zone of Knights Dark Pulse. It still clipped her and caused her to stumble when she landed.

I frowned. Had he used a combo move there with Ice Beam and Telekinesis? I hadnt thought Jynx could learn that move.

I shrugged the oddity off as just that, and reassessed the space between Knight and Jynx.

Jynx! Sing for us! Will said with a dramatic flourish.

Metal Sound! Cancel it out! I shouted at Knight.

Knight opened his mouth in time with Jynx putting a hand on her breast. Jynx raised both hands like she was about to sing to the crowd, only to grin evilly and clap her hands together.

Around Knight, a wave of mud shot from both sides and slammed into his face causing his eyes to be blinded and force him to spit out a wad of mud. I clicked my teeth in annoyance.

Knight gagged slightly and then shook himself to get rid of as much mud as he could.

Now give us a proper rendition of your song Jynx! Will said delightedly.

Stone Edge Two Oclock! I said, prompting Knight where to fire his move. He stopped trying to get the mud out of his eyes and fired off another powerful attack only for it to be slightly off-centre.

Jynx swayed out of the way, her grin growing at the dodge even as she continued to sing.

At first, I was afraid Knight was going to curl up and fall asleep after he got his eyes clear of the mud. It was only when the small hairs on my arms and the back of my neck stood up that I realised just how dangerous this trap was.

This wasnt a simple Sing, but rather a Perish Song.

Knight! Cut her off fast! Metal Sound again! I said, cursing myself out for falling into Wills trap. Hed set up another sequence of moves with that Mean Look of his. Only this time hed gone for something much more morbid and final.

Knight screeched out his rage, but I suspected it would be too late. Will had suckered me into this, and I could only grimace. I hadnt been prepared for this sequence of events. Id gotten used to fighting Sabrina, and she didnt use these tricks like this.

Will raised his pokeball grinning. Return Jynx, he then hefted his pokeball for a moment. I scowled, really? He was going to weaken Knight through using the full minute he had?

A number of people in the crowd worked out what he was doing and booed. I could only shoot Knight worried looks.

Automize again, Knight, I said, deciding to commit to speed. Will chuckled and shook his head like he knew something I didnt.

I narrowed my eyes, assessing Knight as he shifted, waiting for the next pokemon to come out. I toyed with the return feature on the pokeball only for it to not

He swayed a little at first, but when the minute came close to running out, he was swaying like a drunkard. I wanted to recall him then and there, but I wanted to give him one last shot to do some damage to Will. I needed to eke out everything I could from Knight. I could tell Knight felt the same way as there was a primal frustration in his glare while he watched the pokeball rise and fall as Will toyed with it.

By this stage, most of the crowd were shouting at Will for his cheap tactics. I couldnt help but agree with them. Id underestimated Wills willingness to find a new level of low tactics.

Five! Dennis announced, giving Will a warning, raising a hand with fingers spread wide. He counted down, but when he reached two, Will tossed out his next pokemon.

Go Slowking! I blinked in surprise. Slowking? Will owned a Slowking? That was a truly rare pokemon!

Sabrina and I had gotten her one thanks to my knowing to seek out the Kings Rock and then escort her Slowpoke across the waters like the anime had done. Thanks to my familys knowledge and my investigations of Mt Silver Id been able to remember the lake that featured both the Kings Rock and the shellder needed to evolve Slowpoke.

I hadnt expected to see this from Will. None of Wills profiled matches registered him as owning this pokemon. I wanted to glare in Mayor Jonathans direction. Perhaps some strings had been pulled for him to get this pokemon?

I shook it off, if anything, this worked in my favour. Slowking was strong but notoriously slow to react.

Knight! GO! I shouted unleashing him upon the unwary Slowking.

The crowd, knowing this call, roared their approval as Knight lurched forward a single step. Then he took another, almost an instant later. Then he was sprinting and in almost the blink of an eye, he was lunging head first at Slowking who blinked slowly.

Rest, then Sleep Talk, Will shouted just as his pokemon was launched across the field. Slowking slammed into the barrier behind Will, only to slide to the ground. Knight buckled to one knee and heaved in huge lungfuls of air as the Perish Song took its toll on him.

Slowking idly trotted from where itd been knocked. It reached the battlefield and stepped over the line before its eyes glowed and it floated up into a restful slumber. The sleeping pokemon then convulsed as though it was only just registering the impact from Knights Giga Impact.

I could only stare. That had to be a highly specialised move set up and trained into Slowking. It used Slowkings natural slow reactions and flipped them into an advantage.It was brilliant but I could only wonder at how many times it would have needed to be knocked out to learn it. It was similar to the sort of training I was having Clefairy endure to learn Healing Wish without fainting.

Only Slowking would have to be subjected to outside damage.

Knight slid further into the ground, staring in disbelief at his foe. DP now! I shouted at Knight.

I could see Knight was trying; a flicker of dark energy built up but having just used Giga Impact, he was too exhausted to act quickly.

Instead, he slumped onto the ground, his energy spent from the Perish song as Slowking yawned and a blue cube of psychic energy built up in its hands. A moment later, the cube expanded to encapsulate all of the battlefield.

I could only shake my head. Will had just weaponised Slowkings notoriously slow responses to being hit and registering pain to preload Rest into a Sleep Talk, into a Trick Room. Id have applauded him if he wasnt a scum sucker.

I raised my pokeball to return him but the Mean Look was still stopping the pokeball from allowing it to occur.

I stared dumbly, pressing the button to recall Knight. It didnt even blart a warning instead the button limply triggered without responding.

That shouldnt have been the case? I hadnt had Knights recall disrupted as I had with Tide. It shouldnt be broken at all. Pokeballs were incredibly sturdy things.

Id never considered how dangerous a move like Mean Look really could be until now.

I hit the button to call out Chansey again only to look up. Will watched me, and despite the mask, I couldnt help but think he was watching me hungrily.

I felt my mind speed up as the implications suddenly piled up. Hed planned for this too. He knew I would try to eke out everything I could after Tides poor showing. Hed sent out Slowking with my pokemon having to commit an all-or-nothing gambit with how Knight was on his last legs due to Perish Song.

It hadnt just been my pokemon he was scoping out, but also me. Knowing how I might react to certain situations. I felt unclean knowing a person like Will had pored over everything he could find about me.

I didnt need Future Sight to know that he expected me to be penalised for not sending out my next pokemon within a minute.

A minute should have been an eternity in a pokemon match.

I dont think the League had ever considered that a specialised Mean Look and Trick Room would impact the minute restriction when theyd written the rule.

Every thirty seconds after the initial sixty caused increased penalties to the offending trainer.

I found a new depth of hate for Will at that moment.

I knew what Will was expecting to happen, his eyes turning to Chansey, a pokemon that would be impacted by the Trick Room, making it slower than Slowking. I wasnt going to let it play out that way however.

Chansey! Stop! I said. She skidded to a halt on the side of the battlefield and glanced at the Trick Room. A murmur of confusion went through the crowd at my actions. Theyd seen what was going on and knew I had to get Knight off the field.

Instead of relying on Chansey though, I leapt onto the battlefield.

I felt the Trick Room settle about me, and I made sure to move slowly but inexorably forward.

I was not a pokemon, and while I had aura, it was nothing compared to a pokemon. The Trick room just couldnt settle on me to make me slower. That didnt mean I could rush, much to my annoyance.

It was all too easy to call up my dark energy. All I had to do was think about all the cheap, outright dirty methods that Will had used. This was merely the latest indignity hed laid at my feet. My darkness rose higher as I remembered his appearance at the police station.

I moved quickly through the Trick Room with my dark energies cutting through it.

Will said something mockingly to me, but I didnt register it. I focused on getting Knight to help.

I stepped up to Knight, making doubly sure to be careful as I put my arms underneath his frame. I knelt and drew on my Rock energy, then, in one mighty heave, I lifted.

The crowd gasped in shock as Knight was cradled in my arms like a giant sleeping babe. He was probably lighter than normal thanks to Automize, but that wouldnt have mattered. I wasnt going to leave him out here.

I felt his horn dig into my shoulder as he settled, but I ignored it beyond noting that his head was somewhat supported.

I carried him off the field and deposited him on a trolley that Chansey had brought out. She shot me a nod with a lookover. Then she turned and wheeled Knight away.

The crowd rose and clapped, cheering how Id carried my pokemon off the battlefield. I turned my head and glared at Will.

He swallowed, stepping back slightly only to shake his head and glance at the clock which was now red and counting upwards. He turned his gaze to Dennis. I note that it is now over s-sixty seconds?

The crowd that had been applauding me stopped in shock.

You cheating fuck! someone screamed, I suspected Flannery but her voice was lost in the sudden tidal wave of shouts and screams that rose from the crowd. A cacophony of disbelief joined in. Disbelief quickly turned into hate.

Part of me delighted in how Mayor Jonathan sank into his seat.

Hed burnt bridges with how hed acted before but now Will was making sure the roads and towns that the bridges had used were being vandalised, salted and signed in his name. The public were being roused into action by how this match was playing out, and I could see Jonathans goodwill evaporate before my eyes. Hed never be able to recover from this.

Dennis shifted and his eye twitched before he croaked out his response. The rules are clear despite this being a highly unprecedented situation. Gym Leader Brock is to allow Will to perform a single move uncontested.

I nodded to him. I knew it killed him, but he was making the correct call. This was a match being televised, and that meant that while Wills antics were being broadcast, so too was our following of the rules.

I nodded to Dennis, respecting that he was being forced to make an insanely tough call. I knew I could trust Dennis to be fair. The world would know it now.

Fairness sadly meant that sometimes he couldnt side with me despite the morality of the situation. I ran my hands over my pokebelt and checked the countdown. I was now fifteen seconds over my limit due to picking up Knight myself and handing him to Chansey.

If it had reached a minute and a half, I would have had to forfeit an entire pokemon. I grunted and marched towards my podium, on the way I tossed Shrek into the middle of the field.

With this being a muddy field, hed be in his element.

Will drummed his fingers on his chin in faux thought as I jumped atop my podium to glower at him. Psychic field, Will ordered to his now awake Slowking.

It quickly set about covering the entire field in psychic energy. Shrek shifted back and forth. The move itself was extremely slow in establishing itself, and I had to scoff.

There was no way hed have been able to use this normally.

If Will hadnt been able to set up that sequence of moves, allowing him to make the free move without reprisal, Id have punished him heavily. I flicked my eyes over his Slowking. Unless hed been planning to sacrifice Slowking from the start? What had been his plan, the sequence of moves or the sacrifice play?

I rolled my shoulders and cracked my neck as Dennis raised flags in readiness to restart the match.

Tide and Knight were now down, mostly thanks to a Jynx that Will could still bring out as he desired. That was a looming threat, and I didnt doubt he had more.

On my side of the equation, Id only taken out his Starmie.

He knew about Gawain now, which left Titan, Jormungandr, and Shrek to carry the day. The match was very much not going to plan, but that wasnt unusual.

You couldnt be a pokemon trainer and not get tripped up occasionally.

I cracked my neck from side to side.

If Will wanted a match, Id damn well give him one.

Dennis dropped the flags, and the match was back on, my dark energy rising without a thought.

Time to make Will bleed.

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