(Well, I'm back, and I've proven that a computer is no match for a human brain. WELL, THAT AND A HAMMER (smashes Dex-ter). Anyway, this chapter will be a little different. THERE WILL BE NO NARRATOR. Enjoy!)
Love and Pokeballs
Chapter Eighteen: A New Beginning
Michael and Claire gasped.
"Both Pokemon are unable to battle!" the judge declared, both of the Pokemons' pictures on the scoreboard going dark. "This battle is a draw!"
"I must say this is a first, folks!" the announcer said to the stunned crowd. "Never in Pokemon League history has there been a tie in the final round!
"Unfortunately, there can be only one Champion, so we'll have to consult the rules to find out what to do next."
At once, Mr. Goodsho leapt out of the stands with surprising agility for someone his age and announced, "Actually, according to the rules, in the event of a tie in the final round, both trainers will have a rematch on a normal battlefield, using only a single Pokemon each. However, they may not use a Pokemon they used in their last battle."
"Well, there you have it, folks!" the announcer said. "We'll have a short intermission to allow both trainers to rearrange their teams, then go on to our final match! Don't go anywhere, folks!"
Michael and Claire smiled at each other confidently before turning to leave the arena. Before Claire could leave, though, Jose ran up and stopped her.
"Claire, I need to talk to you." He said.
"Make it quick." She replied. She was still a little mad at him for leaving her for a new student so suddenly.
"I think Michael may have thrown the match." He told her.
"What!?" she exclaimed. "How do you know?"
"I don't," he replied. "But I do know that his Vespiquen knows Destiny Bond, and if he had switched out Raichu and used that to defeat Lucario, he would've won by default."
"Well, why didn't he?" she demanded.
"Who knows?" Jose said with a shrug. "Could be he didn't think of it, of maybe he thought it was a cheap way to win. He might've been having fun and didn't want it to end, or perhaps he just wanted to give the crowd a good show. It may be that he was worried about Raichu being poisoned and wanted to cure it, or perhaps he felt like taking a chance. It could also be that he wanted to push you to your limits, or do the same to himself. It's even possible that, deep down, he wanted you to win. It could be any one of these reasons, or even all of them. Even Michael may not be sure, though."
Claire didn't respond. She just shook her head, not believing it was possible as she exited the arena.
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All the time when Claire rearranged her team, she couldn't stop thinking about what Jose had said. It was just too strange. Why would Michael, the boy she had soundly humiliated and mocked, give up a sure chance of embarrassing her and winning the Silver Conference? It made no sense!
"He must not've thought of it." She told herself as she headed back to the arena. "That's all."
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"Welcome back!" the announcer said as Michael and Claire entered the arena once more, the scoreboard now displaying pictures of them with a single black box underneath. "It's time for the tiebreaker battle! Both trainers will use a single Pokemon not used in their last battle, and the last one standing becomes the Champion!
"We will now select who will choose first."
Right away, one of the pictures on the scoreboard lit up.
It was Michael's.
"No big deal." He said, him and Raichu smiling as he pulled out a Pokeball. "I'll still win this."
Michael tossed the Pokeball into the arena and a Pokemon appeared. His Croconaw had evolved. It was now much taller and burlier, with a much scarier look on its face.
"Feraligatr!" it roared, showing off its teeth.
"Michael's going with Feraligatr!" the announcer said as Feraligatr's picture appeared under Michael's. "Can Claire defeat this super-strong Water-type?"
"No problem." Claire thought. She had three Pokemon on her team that did great against Water-types. Thinking hard, Claire made a decision.
"I forfeit!" she announced, causing everyone to do an anime fall.
"Well, this is a shock!" the announcer explained. "Before even choosing a Pokemon, Claire has given up! I guess this means that victory goes to—."
"I forfeit, too!" Michael announced. "I'm willing to call it a draw!"
"Even more shocking, Michael has foregone this victory to classify it as a draw!" the announcer said. "What will become of this?"
"Well," said Mr. Goodsho, who was standing next to the judge. "If they're really willing to share their status, I say let them. After all, this competition is all about strengthening the bonds between people and Pokemon, and what could be more noble than foregoing full Champion status to share it?"
"Very well." The judge declared as the scoreboard declared the battle a tie. "This battle is a draw! You may now recall your Pokemon."
"Hold on." Michael said. "We can still give the people a good show, right, Claire?"
"I guess." She replied.
"Great," Michael said. "But remember, no matter what, the end result is—."
"A draw." She said. "I know."
"Very well." The judge said. "Select your Pokemon."
"You got it." Claire said, pulling out a Pokeball. "Let's go, Leafeon!"
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Michael and Claire met at the Pokemon Center that afternoon, still not sure what to say to each other. Their surprising actions at the match would've caused a riot, had Michael not suggested they continue the match.
"Nice match." Michael said, offering a handshake, which Claire accepted.
"Thanks." She replied.
"That's a great Lucario you have." Michael said. "Wish I had one. I'm a little too clumsy to go chasing one around the mountains, though."
"Tell me about it." Claire sighed. "I'm jealous of your Vespiquen. I've always wanted one, but Combee hives are caked with pollen! With my allergies, I can't make it twenty feet in, even with noseplugs!"
There was a long silence.
"Wanna trade?" Michael asked.
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That night, the two found themselves at a crystal-clear lake on the other side of the mountain. It was a beautiful sight.
Suddenly, a Pokemon jumped out of the water. It was small and pink, and shaped like a heart. It was only out of the water for a second, but there was no doubt about what it was.
"You know," Claire said. "They say that couples who see a Luvdisc on a first date are destined to be together." Then she blushed and added, "Of course, it's just a silly superstition."
"Yeah," Michael agreed, blushing as well. "And this isn't a date, anyway."
Regardless of what they said, it was obvious how the two of them felt. They embraced each other, leaned their faces close together, and—.
"Michael! Claire!" a voice called, ruining the moment.
It was Jose, running over and looking out of breath, with Togekiss flying by his side.
"There you two are." He said. "We have to get going. The award ceremony is about to start!"
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"Now, to present the award, allow me to present…Mr. Goodsho!"
The crowd applauded as Mr. Goodsho ascended the platform to Michael and Claire, who were standing in front of the torch.
"Thank you, thank you." He said to the crowd before turning to Michael and Claire. "I'd like to congratulate the two of you," he said. "Not just on your victories, but on the commendable acts you two did for each other. It was a wonderful thing to do, and you truly deserve this award. Unfortunately…" he said, pulling out the winner's cup. "We only have one trophy."
"No problem." Michael said, taking the trophy and turning to Claire. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Yeah." Claire said.
Michael smiled and tossed the trophy into the air. At the same time, Claire threw a Pokeball and said, "Vespiquen, use Attack Order!"
Vespiquen emerged from the Pokeball and the drones instantly came out and formed a sword over its arm. With one slice, Vespiquen divided the trophy in half.
"Catch 'em, Lucario!" Michael said, tossing a Pokeball of his own.
Lucario appeared and leapt into the air and grabbed the two pieces of the cup, then landed expertly and handed them to the two trainers.
"A great performance all the way to the end!" the announcer commented. "Let's give it up for these two!"
"So," Michael said under the crowd's applause. "Where are you going next?"
"Well," Claire replied. "I was thinking 'Hoenn', but Jose's going to the Orange Islands without me, so I'm out one traveling companion."
"Are you asking to come with me?" Michael smirked.
"Actually," Claire said. "I'm wondering if you want to come with me."
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Late that night, after everyone was asleep, a figure approached the lake at the mountain's base. Holding up a Pokeball, it recalled a Pokemon that had been left in the lake earlier.
"That son of mine." Juan chuckled. "Always planning ahead."
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(Well, that's the end. Unfortunately, Dex-ter is gone, and Dextette was terrible at answering questions. FORTUNATELY, I'VE FOUND A GREAT SUBSTITUTE FOR THE POKEMON IN-DEPTH. PLEASE WELCOME, THE "Human In-Depth"! Our first focus is on the ever-present Nurse Joy, so I've brought Claire and Alex over to provide further information on it.)
(Alex and Claire: Hello.)
(All right, girls, what's the deal? WHY DO ALL JOYS LOOK ALIKE?)
(Claire: (points to herself) Uh, we don't.)
(Alex: Well, aside from Claire, we do all look pretty similar. Freaks and weirdoes have their own theories, from timetravel to cloning. The real reason is simple: Highly dominant genes.)
(That's all?)
(Alex: Yep, but they only show in female Joys.)
(There are males?!)
(Claire: They usually take their dad's surname. No idea why.)
(Alex: Don't think that all Joys are nurses, though. We have lives.)
(Claire: Yeah, we're all sorts of things: Trainers, Pokemon League inspectors, teachers, published authors…)
(Well, that's very interesting. JUST ONE MORE QUESTION: WHY IS CLAIRE SO DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS?)
(Claire and Alex: No idea.)
(Claire: I'm the first female Joy not to look just like the others.)
(Alex: Her birth actually warranted a family reunion.)
(Claire: None of them knew why I took after Dad.)
(WELL, NOW I KNOW.
WELL, READERS, hope you enjoyed this bit, and the story in general. My next plan? I'm thinking a spinoff, with Jose and Tank in the Orange Islands. Could take me a while, though. 'Til then!)