//------------------------------//
// 40. Getting Ready 
// Story: Diamond's Pokémon Adventure 
// by Brian Sheil 
//------------------------------//

Dressed in her black T shirt and bib overalls, Diamond Tiara and her friends, Silver Spoon and Babs Seed head for this small village Professor Oak told her about. Eevee walks by her side.
"I'm very surprised that Zephyr Breeze defeated the Elite Four before I came along." Diamond said.
"Does that mean he's a champion now?" Babs asked.
"It could be possible. This will be a great challenge indeed."
Silver then remembered something. "I hear that this will be a full six on six battle."
Diamond soon realized that Silver is right. She then started to think out strategy.
"We know Zephyr will have Pidgeot, Vileplume, Marowak, and Raichu," Diamond figured. "He probably has other Pokémon he's been training secretly."
After thirty minutes, the girls arrived at their destination. It was like a quiet neighborhood. It has houses for the trainers to stay in, stores to do some shopping, and they see a giant arena on the outskirts.
"That must be where me and Zephyr will face each other." Diamond said.
"Got that right." Said a mail voice.
That voice belonged to Zephyr Breeze. He was sipping a cup of tea when the girls arrived.
"Welcome to the village, ladies." Zephyr greeted.
"Nice to see you, Kanto Champion." Diamond replied.
"I'm not a champion yet. In order to be a true champion, the two trainers who defeated the Elite Four must meet each other in a full six on six battle."
"Was it easy to beat those four trainers?" Silver asked.
"Not really. Lorelei, Bruno, Agatha, and especially Lance were difficult. But, I kept a cool head and beat them all."
The girls had nothing but admiration for Zephyr for making it this far. Who'd thought that somebody like Zephyr, who many say is a slacker, can do well as a Pokémon trainer?
"Let's make it a great battle." Diamond said extending her hand.
"You said it, Diamond." Zephyr replied. "See ya on the battle field."
The two combatants shook hands in friendship, wishing each other good luck. Watching from a distance, the arrogant Prince Blueblood makes his own plans.
"Think you'll be battling in this grand event, miss Tiara ?" Blueblood said to himself . "Think again!"
Inside of the houses they're staying at, Diamond and company relaxed, thinking about everything they went through.
"I never thought I would be a Pokémon trainer when I first got here." Diamond said. "And, I never thought you would accompany me, Babs."
"That's for sure." Babs agreed. "I never thought I would be with you guys. Considering your reputations."
"Good point. Me and Silver would always look down at lower class folks. Especially, your cousin."
"Oh yeah. Apple Bloom and company sure know how to work their friendship magic."
Silver agreed. "They probably learned that from their sisters."
The girls soon hear someone knock at the door. When Diamond answered the door, it was her mother, Spoiled Rich.
"Mother?" Diamond gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"I figured you and your friends would like to join me and your father for lunch." Spoiled suggested. "We have so much to catch up on."
Meanwhile, at the stadium, the trio of Jessie, James, and Meowth work in the concession stands. They were getting the grills and other equipment ready for the big event.
"Pretty good idea to get jobs here, Jessie." James said. "This battle between Diamond Tiara and Zephyr Breeze will draw out a big crowd."
"You're right about that." Jessie replied. "Plenty of people will probably bring their Pokémon with them."
"And, when we serve food to the people to the stands," Meowth figured, "we'll look for opportunities to snatch their Poké Balls!"
"Correct, Meowth. This will teach Dr. Namba not to discredit us,"
Soon, the equipment is ready, and the crafty trio dressed up in their uniforms. Just then, a burly man barged in and got angry at them. "I'll be watching you slackers. Be very busy serving the customers. And also," The man soon got red with anger and is radiating heat from his head, "BE SCARED TO DEATH OF ME WHEN I GET VERY ANGRY!!!!"
The man slammed the door hard, leaving the Team Rocket trio shaking.
"So much for pilfering Pokémon." James said, feeling defeat.
Jessie had a nervous look on her face. "I guess you're right."
Later, Diamond and her friends left a restaurant very happy.
"That was nice of your parents to treat us to lunch." Babs said. "Even Eevee was happy."
"Well, mom and dad did bring some Pokémon food for my little friend." Eevee praised.
"So, what's in that bag you're carrying?" Silver asked.
"A special outfit for my battle with Zephyr."
At that moment, Prince Blueblood shows up, and looks very angry.
"There you are, Diamond Tiara!" Blueblood said angrily. "Your little trip ends NOW!"
"Prince Blueblood?" Diamond asked. "What are you doing here?"
"To have you disciplined harshly. You have some nerve disobeying your mother's way! You are a snobbish young lady who is supposed to only care about herself and not associate with garbage."
Suddenly, Blueblood grabbed Babs Seed and exploded. "You and your cousins are the worst garbage ever!"
The royal bully slapped Babs in the face hard and threw her to the ground. This shocked Diamond and Silver.
"Are you okay, Babs?" Silver asked.
Blueblood soon pushed Silver away from Babs. "You're as snobbish as miss Tiara and should not care about lower class people!"
Diamond can't believe that Blueblood is going on a rampage. She held on to Eevee so no harm comes to him. Then, Blueblood looked at Diamond and Eevee with angry eyes.
"I'll take that Eevee away from you, TRAITOR!" Blueblood demanded. "Then, I'll take away ALL of your Pokémon. You shall never associate with these creatures again!"
"STOP RIGHT THERE!" Said the voice of a young girl.
Everybody looked and saw Holly Prema arriving. She has on a red long sleeve shirt, blue jeans with holes in the knees and cuffs rolled up, and her hair down.
"Holly!" Diamond gasped.
"Don't worry, Diamond." Holly said proudly. "I'll handle this bully."
As Silver and Babs recovered, Holly walks up to her former leader.
"You dare to display a barefoot tomboy look again?" Blueblood said angrily. "Your parents will be very upset with you."
"My parents approve of my choice of outfits." Holly said as she pulls out a Poké Ball out. "You pushed around your last victim. Come out, Electrode. And use Explosion!"
Out popped an Electrode, Voltorb's evolved form. Blueblood started to get nervous as Electrode started to glow. Suddey, the Ball Pokémon exploded. This caused Blueblood to be blown far away. "This is Team Rocket's comeuppance! NOT MINE!!!"
Diamond and her friends were grateful for Holly coming to help.
"Thanks for getting rid of that royal pain." Diamond said gratefully.
"You're welcome." Holly replied as she and Diamond shook hands in friendship. "I'll be with Silver and Babs cheering you on in your battle against Zephyr."
Holly Prema made a good point. Diamond will need all the support she can get as her big battle awaits.


End of Chapter 40