Episode #90: Enter the Victory Tournament!

Rain was excited to make it to the top sixteen, but Marley was still saddened by her early loss against both Rain and Dawson. Despite Rain’s victory, and his promise to find information on Shaymin, Marley still wasn’t convinced that Rain would keep his promise. He could only hope that he would progress through and attain victory no matter what the cost.

The tournament bracket had already been set up on the big screen in the main lobby. Rain was paired with a woman named Emera, who appeared to be wearing red and blue lion tamer clothing. He wondered how strong she would be, but he wondered if there were any special rules in the battling this time around.

“Anything about the battle rounds?” Rain asked.

Manny checked the rule book about the Victory Tournament and saw a section on the Pokémon used for battling.

“Only the top sixteen are three on three battles,” Manny said. “Everything else is full six on six.”

“So I have to use all six of my Pokémon?” Rain asked. “Glad I caught six.”

“Well, that’s not until you reach the top eight.”

Manny put his book away until someone called out to them.

“If, he reaches the top eight,” someone said.

They turned to see Emera, the lion tamer herself, heading towards Rain and the others. He was a little nervous to meet his opponent, but he knew he had to at least know his competition.

"I hear that you're my opponent?" she said. "I'm Emera."

"I'm Rain," he replied. "Rain Eidoh."

"Well, I hope the best from you. I best be off and train my Pokémon, so good bye."

She headed off while Rain headed off to do some training himself. Manny looked around, only to find out that he was the only one around right now, and wondered where everyone else went off to. He went outside to look for his friends and once he did, he saw Jessica training with Riolu and Finneon.

"Hey, Jessica," Manny said.

Jessica jerked her head back nervously, but she realized that it was just Manny.

"Oh...hi," she said. "I'm just...training with my Pokémon."

"Don't you want to watch Rain?" Manny asked.

She gulped nervously. She never got much of a chance to train her Pokémon at all, but she thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do such a thing.

"I'll...I'll root for him...I just hope he understands what I need to train for."

"Prepping for next year's batch of contests?"

She shook her head.

"For the Resort Area. You know, the Ribbon Syndicate."

Manny immediately knew what she was talking about. She had won the right to participate in the Ribbon Syndicate’s special contest, reserved for those who are the best of the best.

"I see...well, just know that Rain is waiting for you."

He headed off while Jessica went back to watching Riolu play with Finneon. She wondered if it was really wise to train while Rain was battling. She suddenly heard a car door open nearby as three men come out. Two of them looked like they were agents, or perhaps Ketsui’s cronies, and the other was an overweight man with a bald head and a small mustache wearing a blue, tropical shirt with flowers of various colors, presumably to hide his identity. The two headed off in Jessica’s direction, but the fat man caught her eyes as he went over to her.

“Excuse me,” he said. “Would you happen to have seen a young boy by the name of Rain Eidoh?”

“Umm…he’s battling right now,” she said. “He’s in the stadium.”

“Well…have you seen a young boy by the name of Ketsui Arano at least?”

“Not recently, no.”

The man let out an angry sigh. “Well, thanks anyway.”

The three men headed off while Jessica let out a sigh of relief. For some reason, she felt like she knew him from somewhere. She wondered why he would want Rain and Ket for. She shrugged it off and went back to her training

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The battle between Rain and Emera was about to begin. The two battlers made their way to the center stage for the first round of the Victory Tournament. Rain was excited that he made it to the top sixteen, but he hoped that he went further.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer said, “It’s time for the first round of our top sixteen! Our first battle will be between Rain from Twinleaf Town and Emera from Hearthome City! The winner will move on to the top eight, so let’s get this battle underway!”

The roulette spun around to see who would send their Pokemon out first, and it eventually landed on Emera’s portrait.

“I go first, huh?” Emera asked. “Very well. Go, Staravia!”

Emera sent out her first Pokémon; a large, black, gray and white bird with a somewhat fixed look of intimidation (sort of) and a bit of hair that came from the back and curls around. Rain opened his Pokédex to check it out.

“STARAVIA: THE STARLING POKÉMON; THE EVOLVED FORM OF STARLY. IT STAYS WITHIN A HUGE FLOCK, HUNTING FOR BUG POKÉMON FOR FOOD. SOMETIMES, SQUABBLES OVER TERRITORY OCCURS WHEN FLOCKS COLLIDE.”

Rain closed his Pokédex and took out his newly evolved Pokémon to battle the flying type, Staravia.

“Go, Luxray!” Rain said.

Luxray came out and let out a mighty roar.

“So it’s Luxray vs. Staravia!” the announcer said. “Let’s see who gets the victory here!”

“Begin!” The official said.

“Staravia, use Wing Attack!” Emera ordered.

Staravia’s wings began to glow as it flew over to Luxray, who simply smiled.

“Discharge!” Rain ordered.

“Agility!” Emera ordered.

Luxray shot a Discharge attack, but Staravia managed to beat it as it avoided the attack, striking in on another angle. The attack knocked Luxray over, but it managed to get up and fight again.

“Thunder Fang!” Rain ordered.

Luxray charged forward with his mouth bursting with electricity, while Staravia just flew around in front of it.

“Use Aerial Ace!” Emera ordered.

Staravia began to charge towards Luxray, but as its opponent attempts to bite it, it dodged and struck Luxray, knocking him down again.

“That Staravia is tough,” Rain thought. “I have to beat it somehow!”

“Use Take Down!” Emera ordered.

“Dodge and use Iron Tail!”

Staravia charged towards Luxray, but as it struck him, Luxray managed to dodge and slam against it with an Iron Tail attack. The attack sent it flying away, but it recovered easily, fluttering in place as it tried to maintain its balance.

“Try to dodge this attack, Rain,” Emera taunted. “Brave Bird!”

“What’s Brave Bird?!” Rain thought.

Staravia shot forward as it set itself on fire, but once it was nearing Luxray, it soon dissipated the fire and showered a blue aura, covering it so much that it made a black outline of its body to show where it was.

“Dodge it!” Rain ordered.

It was too late. The attack struck and sends Luxray into a wall. It slowly tries to stand up, but it’s a little wobbly at this point. Rain doesn’t know if it can hold on any longer.

“Aerial Ace!” Emera ordered.

“This attack again?!” Rain thought. “I have to try something, but what? None of our electric attacks can hit it!...Wait…What if we…I got it!”

Staravia prepared to attack, heading straight for Luxray. It vanished as it went elsewhere.

“Luxray, Discharge on yourself!”

“Wait, what is he doing?!” Emera asked herself.

Staravia hit Luxray, but it used Discharge on itself to shock not only him, but Staravia as well. The attack eventually ceased, but Staravia fell to the ground, and so did Luxray. Both Pokémon attempted to get up, but they both fell, unable to battle.

“Staravia and Luxray are unable to battle!” the official said.

Rain was a little disappointed that Luxray didn't knock Staravia out as easily as he thought he would. He recalled his Luxray, while Emera recalled her fallen Staravia, leaving both of them to congratulate them both on a job well done. Emera was still the first to send out a Pokémon, so she makede her move.

"Go, Togekiss!" she said.

She sent out an airplane-shaped Pokémon with wings and a three pointed white crest on her head, the right side red and the left side blue. She also had red and blue triangle pattern on her underside. She just floated in the air while Rain took his Pokédex to scan her.

"TOGEKISS: THE JUBILEE POKÉMON; THE EVOLVED FORM OF TOGETIC. IT WILL ONLY APPEAR IN HAPPY PLACES AND NEVER IN A PLACE WHERE FIGHTS ARE COMMON. RECENTLY, THOUGH, SIGHTINGS OF THESE HAVE BECOME RARE."

Rain put his Pokédex away and sent out his next Pokémon.

"Go, Weavile!" Rain said.

Rain sent his Weavile out to deal with the Normal/Flying type Pokémon. Emera felt confident that she would beat him, despite going up against a type strong against Togetic, like before.

“Begin!”

“Togekiss, use Air Slash!” Emera ordered.

Togekiss flapped her wings around and fired curved lavender projectiles that strike Weavile, hurting him slightly.

“Weavile, use Ice Shard!” Rain ordered.

Weavile shot out shards of ice from his mouth as it struck Togekiss hard, freezing his wings slightly. Emera was in a position where it was hard for her to do anything to help her Pokémon.

“Now, use Slash!” Rain ordered.

Weavile charged forward and prepared to strike Togekiss, but Emera smiled, knowing that she had a plan up her sleeve.

“Aura Sphere!” she said.

Togekiss formed a light blue ball with a bit of white in the middle and fired it at Weavile, hitting it for massive damage and sending it back a lot. Rain was surprised that Togekiss could use Aura Sphere, a move originally thought to be part of Lucario’s move set.

“I’m confused,” Manny said. “Don’t Lucario know that attack?”

“It seems that Togekiss are able to learn it as well. And since Aura Sphere is a fighting type move, it’s really effective against a Dark and Ice Type like Weavile.”

Rain feared that she would have something like this up her sleeve, but he didn’t know about Aura Sphere. He had to be careful at this point, since Weavile was already weakened by that attack.

“Aura Sphere, once more!” Emera said.

“Fight back with Dark Pulse!” Rain ordered.

Weavile prepared a Dark Pulse attack while Togekiss charged up with another Aura Sphere, the attacks collided and exploded, knocking both of them back, but managing to break Togekiss free from her frozen wings.

“Oh man,” Rain said.

“Sky Attack!” Emera ordered.

Togekiss shot for Weavile and began to glow brightly, releasing glitter as it headed for the weakened Weavile. Rain had to do something before it was too late.

"Use Beat Up!" Rain ordered.

Weavile charged up his Beat Up attack, but since Luxray was previously knocked out, he wasn't there to combine his strength for Weaviles attacks, since it used the combined force of other Pokémon. The two attacks collided as it sent each other back. Both of them attempted to get up, but only Togekiss was knocked out, while Weavile stood up safe and sound.

"Togekiss is unable to battle!" the official said, raising his green flag to Rain. "Weavile is the winner!"

"Good work, Weavile!"

Weavile smiled, but it knew it was ready to go down any second. Emera recalled her fallen Togekiss and congratulated it on a job well done.

"Well, you proved to be better than I thought!" she said. "However this is where it all ends!"

She took out a Poké Ball and kissed it with luck.

"Go, Leafeon!" she said.

She sent out a Leafeon, who seemed as determined as ever to do what he had to to make his human happy.

"Riifi!" he said.

Rain wondered if Weavile's Ice attacks would be enough to deal with Leafeon while weakening enough for his next Pokémon to deal with.

"Weavile, I need you to at least deal some damage on it!" Rain said. "I trust in you and I know you can do it!"

"Weavile," he said.

Emera knew this was going to be easy and she was ready to show Rain that having strong Pokémon against her wasn't going to get him anywhere.

"Begin!" the official said.

"Weavile, use Ice Beam!" Rain ordered.

Weavile put the last bit of strength into a mighty Ice Beam attack as it headed towards Leafeon. Rain prayed that it hit him, but Emera simply smiled; Rain knew Weavile was done for now.

"Energy Ball!" Emera ordered.

Leafeon prepared a rotating green ball in his mouth and fired it at the Ice Beam. Instead of attacking Leafeon, the beam hit the ball, freezing it instead. Weavile, using all of its energy, fell to the ground, unable to battle.

"Weavile is unable to battle!" the official said, raising his red flag to Emera. "Leafeon is the winner!"

Rain was disappointed that Weavile wasn't able to get a hit on Leafeon, but he recalled him back and congratulated him on a job well done.

"If I try another advantage typed Pokémon...I might end up losing like before...Leafeon must have hundreds of surprises up his sleeve. I have to at least try something..."

Rain inhaled slowly and exhaled slowly, thinking about what he would do next. He took out another Poké Ball and hoped for the best.

"I have to trust in my Pokémon," he said softly. He gulped nervously and threw his Poké Ball out to the field ."Go, Drapion!"

Rain sent out a Drapion, who roared ferociously, ready to battle.

"I hope Rain's aware that this isn't going to work on Leafeon!" Manny said.

"I just hope these surprise attacks end," Donovan said.

They both heard a nervous cough as they turned to see Jessica, back from her training at last.

"Where have you been?" Donovan asked.

"I was...I was training," she said nervously, "I wanted to see Rain win...how's he doing?"

"So far, they're even with one Pokémon remaining," Manny said. "Rain has Drapion out while Emera has a Leafeon. So far, things aren't looking so good for Rain."

Jessica was worried about Rain losing, but she had faith in him. They all did. Rain gulped nervously as he waited for the official to start the battle.

"Begin!" the official said.

"Drapion, use Poison Sting!" Rain ordered.

Drapion fired numerous poison needles at Leafeon, who was struck by the attack and was trying desperately to fend it off.

"Leafeon, use Magical Leaf!" Emera said.

Leafeon shook the attack off and shot numerous rainbow-glowing leaves at Drapion, who seemed to be blocking them without much of an effort.

"How's that for strength?!" Rain asked.

"Grasswhistle!" Emera ordered.

"Quick Drapion, cover your ears!"

Leafeon whistled a sweet melody, but Drapion was too late to react in time. He listened to his opponent's soothing melody and slowly fell asleep.

"Now I think we should end this." Emera said, smiling, "Giga Drain! Don't stop until he's down for the count!"

Leafeon slowly drained the energy away from Drapion, who wasn't even budging from the energy removal.

"Drapion, please wake up!" Rain said. "Emera's really strong! Every time I try something, it always ends up in failure! I promised Marley that I would get information on Shaymin...No, I can't give up...there has to be a way to defeat Emera and her Leafeon!"

Emera laughed as she enjoyed her victory at long last. Drapion was slowly wearing out by the second, but it wasn't until he finally woke up that it spooked Emera a little bit. Drapion shook the attack off easily, but he was very weak. Rain had no clue what to do.

"You might as well give up right here!" Emera said. “Drapion won’t last a second now. Anything to say before I knock out your Drapion?”

Rain wondered if this would be smart to do, since it would be near impossible to defeat Leafeon at this point.

"I....I say..." Rain said.

Emera smiled, knowing that he was ready to give in.

"I say....DRAPION, USE PIN MISSILE!!!!"

Drapion fired numerous glowing needles from its mouth as it struck Leafeon hard. Since Pin Missile was a Bug Type attack, it did more than it should have to deal with Leafeon.

"Leafeon, Magical Leaf!" Emera ordered.

Leafeon fired numerous rainbow-glowing leaves that were once again, blocked by Drapion.

"Drapion, use Cross Poison!" Rain ordered.

Drapion moved in and dealt with Leafeon with his glowing hands, striking it with Cross Poison. Leafeon was shot back, and it was wearing out fast, but not as much as Drapion, who was ready to fall over any second now.

"Drapion, hang on just a little longer!" Rain said. "We need this victory! Please, just hold on!"

"I hope you're ready to knock that Drapion out, Leafeon," Emera said. "Because it's time for your strongest attack!"

Rain was nervous about this powerful attack, but they needed to fight with a powerful attack of their own.

"Last Resort!" Emera ordered.

Rain opened his Pokédex to check out what Last Resort was. It was an attack that required the usage of at least three other attacks. Once that was done, the user released a powerful physical force that dealt a huge amount of damage to the opponent. Leafeon began to charge up all of its energy as it glowed brightly.

"We'll show Leafeon who's boss around here!" Rain said, putting his Pokédex away. "Use Cross Poison!"

Drapion charged forward with a Cross Poison attack, while Leafeon used his Last Resort attack to counter. The two collided as they tried to prevent the other from getting a hit. Despite Drapion being weaker than Leafeon, energy-wise, Drapion still struck it and sent it against the wall. However the Last Resort attack knocked it away as well. Drapion was on the ground, and it didn’t seem like it was moving, however Leafeon was on the ground as well, and it seemed like it was unable to battle. The official, however, waited for Drapion to make a move before he made his call.

“I have a bad feeling that Rain and Emera tied,” Manny said.

The three of them, especially Rain, were shocked to see Drapion moving. Even though he was ready to fall at any second, he got up enough to prove that he still had some fight left in him.

“Leafeon is unable to battle!” the official said, raising his green flag to Rain. “Drapion is the winner! the victory goes to Rain of Twinleaf Town!”

Rain sighed in relief, but he felt that he could have been far stronger than that. He went over to Emera and shook her hand, leaving her to smile at the exciting battle, despite her elimination from the tournament. Manny sighed in relief as well, knowing how suspenseful it must have been on Rain’s end.

“Man, I didn’t think he would ever get out of that,” Manny said.

“Well, we have to make sure we train him hard then,” Donovan replied.

Jessica smiled, knowing that he would go far with his victories in the Sinnoh League. The rest of the top sixteen battled it out, and soon the top eight came as quick as the battle with Rain and Emera. Now, since Rain, Tsurugi, Kodou, and Ket were all in the top eight, they had to prepare for whatever would come next. Once Rain found out that he was battling Tsurugi, he felt somewhat nervous. Rain decided to take a break before his next battle, but he wondered how he would do against Tsurugi. He only fought him once in Oreburgh City, but how would he do with a team of six, especially if he had that giant Luxray on his team. Rain could only hope that it would go well.


To Be Continued!