//------------------------------// // Chapter 24- Lesson and Battle Royale // Story: Pokémon Ultra Luna. // by Lieral //------------------------------// "So can we get started?" I crossed my arms with an expression of determination, and Midnight barked with a flaming look. "Good," I nodded approvingly. "Kukui said it is natural that Rockruff will escape at night to get stronger, and this is a characteristic trait of those next to evolve, but that does not mean I can not help the process, does it?" I turned to look at Moon who was majestically beside me. It is a little weird to see her so taller than me to be honest, and ever since she evolved she gained the Fairy type, and Arsene is trying to be a little away from her, almost as if a little uneasy. We are near a tall grassy area near a city with a large dome where the so-called 'Battle Royal' will be held later. The wind is very nice and cold, which is a stark contrast to the furious sun above us. "I really prefer the night. But we have something more important now. Let's do this: Alola's pokemons are known to be more inclined to call for help, and are we going to take advantage of that?" My three pokemons stared at me a little doubtfully. "Let's find a pokemon, fight him until he calls for help, and we'll defeat the pokemon that comes up, and we will repeat the process. Clear?" Midnight nodded approvingly and I smiled. "Excellent. Moon, Arsene, stay here. If I need help I will whistle as agreed," They also agreed and Midnight and I headed toward the tall grass. I thought it best to leave both of them behind instead of bringing them so Midnight has a little more privacy, after all, I think I know why he's so desperate to evolve. I captured Arsene already fully evolved, and Moon reached his peak yesterday, in the end he is the only one feeling inferior. And of course, the rivalry with Arsene is not helping. A sound. It did not took long and I already spotted our first victim. A little chubby pokemon was under a tree eating some really juicy looking berries, I think the name is Munchlax. I approached and he soon assumed a combat stance. "I like you," I smiled. "Midnight, remember the plan. Rock Throw," The many stones around his neck gleamed and he created a few dozen sharp rocks around himself and threw them with a command. Munchlax saw them approaching and jumped out of range. "Crunch," He ran and hit the pokemon as he fled. He screamed in pain but countered with a powerful punch that I soon identified as a counter. Midnight took the blow and stepped back slightly, raising a small cloud of dust. "He is good," I admitted. Munchlax decided to come on the attack with his fist literally on fire. Midnight stood still and received the attack but without even moving. "Rock Throw again," He attacked a second time and this time Munchlax was sent away. "Crunch," he attacked and Munchlax could not dodge. He pulled away tired and sweating and then shouted for help. "That is perfect," I smiled. It seems that my plan will be very effective, now we just have to wait. We stared at him with a rigid posture, ready to strike. And we wait for a few seconds. And a few more seconds. 30 seconds will be lucky. After a minute I was scratching the back of my neck. "Weird situation," I glanced at Midnight who seemed to agree. "Let's use Rock Throw, but do not hit him," He did as ordered and missed on purpose, but clearly startled the Munchlax who again screamed for help. And we wait for a few seconds. And a few more seconds. After another minute the silence was really awkward and Munchlax seemed to want to cry. That sad little face is so hard to look at, I am so sorry for him. "Destroy the rock beside him," Midnight ran toward the terrified pokemon and destroyed the rock with a Crunch and stared at him fiercely. The Munchlax stared at him shivering for a few seconds, sat on the floor, and began to cry. "Huh?" I got no reaction. Midnight looked at me confused, but I was not much better. I glanced sideways and no pokemon made a point of moving to help him. Again I scratched the back of my neck. This is not right. I approached him and he cried even louder but no one came. "Hey buddy, are you alright?" I knelt beside him and Midnight sat on the other side. He looked at me tearfully and looked around where there was nothing but grass, which is strange since it is a place famous for the large amount of Pokemon living here, and started to cry again. "Oi, Oi, calm down there," I tried to calm him down with no idea what to do. This is too new for me. "What happened? Don't you have friends to help you?" As soon as I asked that he stopped shouting and kept his mouth open for about ten seconds. "I... Jackpot... Right?" Now he began to cry even more. "Easy, easy, we are not going to attack you anymore," I looked around and put a hand on his shoulder and even Midnight approached him and tried to cheer him up too. "What now? Why is this kind of thing so hard? How about this, I can be your friend," I said on the spur of the moment. He stopped shouting and looked at me with eyes still full of water. "Munch?" "Y-Yeah, we are going to be your friends, are we not, Midnight?" I looked at Rockruff desperately but he did not look much better and just agreed with me by putting a paw on his other shoulder. He looked at both of us and started crying again, but this time he gave Midnight a real bear hug and then jumped on me to hug me too. I held him for a few more seconds until he stopped crying. "Better now?" He nodded and I sighed in relief. "Celestia makes this kind of situation look so easy ... Maybe it is practice, I always make her deal with this kind of thing," I took a pokeball that Kukui had given me, I think it is called Friend Ball and I offered it to him. "How about you come with me ... Not that I know exactly where I'm going, but we can screw ourselves together like good friends. Is that okay?" He nodded and entered the pokeball without further crying. Midnight and I look at the pokeball until it stops blinking, and only after that we breathe a sigh of relief. "This was not what I expected," Midnight nodded. "But I think I should say Welcome, um, Faust," I was pacing in front of the big Dome. Luna is not the late type. Nebby was looking forward to seeing the Battle Royal, and frankly Midnight too, but she said it would help train him, so it's just me and Nebby. I have no idea where Kukui is. A little huddle of people was happening near the city entrance, I think it's Team Skull again, but I think I better not get involved, I wouldn't be much help. "Pew?" "I think she should be coming soon," I soothed Nebby. Many people were entering, after all, today is one of the battles of the famous Masked Royal, so it is expected. "We won't have to wait long," "Wait for who?" Of course she would hear me. I turned with a nervous giggle. "L-Luna, I'm glad you arrived, I think we should get in soon and," I finally looked at her and I admit the image was rather comical. She was holding Midnight in her arms and on top of her head was a small Munchlax eating a toasted berry with a black and white bandana on its head."And should I ask or will you explain?" "Team Skull was in the doorway causing problems, so I found a small woman named Hapu with a well-respected sized horse pokemon who asked me to finish them, so Midnight and Faust finished them. And Faust got a little souvenir from one of them," “Okay,” I shook my head sighing. I don't think it's worth forcing anything. "Are we going in? We'll be out of place if we take too long," "After you," Luna and I walked to the entrance, but she decided to stop and buy us a snack. "I didn't eat breakfast," she said and gave some food to both her pokemons, me and Nebby as well. We finally entered the dark Dome and searched for places, but unfortunately only the back seats were available. We sat down and I let Nebby out of the bag. "Be very quiet," I ordered. "Ladies and gentlemen," a male voice from the microphone boomed, and looking at the jury table I saw a man with short purple hair narrating, beside him was a woman with long red hair who seemed to defy the law of gravity and. Is that a Meowth in a suit? "We're here today with a long-awaited battle, today three lucky challengers will challenge the all mighty Masked Royal, " Luna watched everything with interest. From three of the four extremes of the ring Trainers with a challenging expression entered, well, two. One of them seemed already defeated. "And on this side we have our own ... MASKED ROYAL!" The lights focused on the remaining corner and from there a man approached calmly with a large Incinerator just behind. For some reason I can't take my eyes off him. Although he's shirtless and masked, I think he's very familiar to me, but I don't know if that is what is bothering me. "That's what high quality muscles are," Luna smiled beside me with a strange expression. She looked at the three challengers and then at the Masked Royal. A drop of sweat trickled down her forehead and both Midnight and Faust also stared at him. "What happened?" I had to ask. "Not sure," Luna said without taking her eyes off him. "I'm not an experienced trainer, but ..." "But?" "But something tells me this is going to be a very short battle," "You think?" Even Nebby turned to face her. "Masked Royal is very good, it is true, but these three are sure to come together to try to defeat him, and now everyone knows which one of his pokemons will be battling. I think the challengers have a chance to overcome him like that," She turned to look at me. "You're right," She squeezed her left arm. "It was just a silly impression," she said as if trying to calm herself down, but I can see she's not feeling well. "YO! Hello everyone," Masked Royal spoke into the microphone and the whole place went silent. His voice is deep but familiar, it's almost as if he is forcing his voice to be different. "Welcome to this exhibition match. Undoubtedly many of you have been waiting for this day to come, and perhaps this is the first time for some here, Oh yeah!” He seemed to focus his gaze on Luna for a second and she shivered, is she cold? "And to all of you I say my sincerest: ENJOY!" The Dome exploded with roars and shouts of encouragement, and the challengers waited to see who Masked Royal would send, and as expected, was Incineroar. The first challenger is a brown-haired boy with a truly arrogant look. He is wearing a brown jacket and a cloth covering the lower part of his face. He took a pokeball and sent a... Lycanroc into battle? This is different from the ones I've seen, it's not the midday form, let alone midnight. It is almost a mixture of the two. "So, big Masked Royal, what do you think about starting with switching your pokemon? Or you don’t care about it getting hurt?" For some reason Midnight's ear twitched at his voice. "I think that's a good idea," The only defiant girl was wearing a blue dress and sent an Alola Marowak. "Being the first to send the pokemon always puts you at a disadvantage, you should know that," Masked Royal smiled. "I wouldn't send another one even after seeing yours," The two Trainers were surprised and the third one shivered. He's a boy the same age as the other two, maybe a little older than Luna, but unlike them, he seemed to be shy and had no idea what he was doing there. "You were the winner of that market draw, weren't you?" The boy nodded nervously. He's kind of cute. "I won by accident, shouldn't be here," "Calm down," Masked Royal smiled, completely ignoring the other two Trainers. "Let's go slow, defeat is not a shame, giving up without trying is. Send your pokemon and we'll try together, okay?" "Are you ignoring me?" The arrogant Trainer was annoyed and turned to the shy boy. "You there will help us, won't you? We're here to defeat him, if you help us I'll take it easy with you later," The boy appeared to think about it and launched a turtonator. He was sweating and clearly in doubt, but the Masked Royal decided to intervene. "I don't care if they come together to defeat me, it shows strategy and a cool head, which is admirable for a trainer," Despite the kind words, his face was serious, almost furious. "But fighting without using your full potential against an opponent who is giving his all to overcome an insurmountable enemy, that's shameful," He turned to look at the shy boy. "For now just watch boy, and then decide what to do, but remember, Enjoy the match," "Okay then," The boy seemed to get increasingly angry. He should have a soothing tea. "If you want to start like this, Lycanroc use Stone Edge," "Bonemerang," "Two strong and super effective attacks right from the start," I covered my mouth with my hands. "They have no mercy?" "They should not have," I looked at Luna and she swallowed hard. Large stone spikes rose from the ground toward the fire-type pokemon, and the Marowak threw the bone hard and violently. “So, this is like a bunny hunt,” The masked royal smiled. "But I wonder which side is the bunny? Darkest Lariat!" The Masked Royal ordered and the Incineroar began to spin fast with its claws gleaming with dark black flames. But no matter, a Stone Edge is an extremely powerful attack, and Bonemerang will still help. When the ridge of rock came up at the Incineroar feet I thought this would be the end, but instead of dodging, running, or trying to hide, he took all the accumulated energy from the spins and made a single attack with his arm. Stone Edge has been annihilated. I stared in shock at the massive and fearful stones being shattered to rubble with a single strike and the Marowak Bone hurled back so hard it overtook the ring limits and smashed the ground. The Dome fell silent. This makes no sense no matter how you look. The entire audience watched in admiration, but the other contestants were beginning to sketch out fear and confusion. "Cross Chop at Lycanroc," The incinerator crossed his arms in 'X' and advanced toward the first opponent. "Rock Slide," Lycanroc summoned a large amount of huge rocks to attack the Incineroar, but he didn't even hesitate, instead he received all the attacks and advanced. Lycanroc gaze was replaced by fear for no more than a second, because the next second the Incineroar hit the attack. There is no way to measure the difference in strength. The attacking wind disrupted the ropes of the ring and advanced until it drilled holes in the viewers' wall, and poor Lycanroc received the full force of the blow, but instead of just breaking the wall, he continued to advance until the entire Dome trembled and through the hole began to enter something unexpected. The sunlight. I was wrong. Very wrong. The challengers aren't the hunters cornering a rabbit. They are the rabbits. "The Incineroar attack was so absurd that it destroyed all the way from here to the outside?" I had to ask Luna, but she, Midnight, and Faust watched the battle in shock. Luna smiled nervously with sweat dripping from her forehead, she was holding her arm so tightly that her knuckles were turning white and I think if she goes on like this she will end up tearing her own arm. “Throat Chop!” The incineroar turned to the ghost type pokemon and hardened his right claw like the tip of an arrow, and soon after a dark energy enveloped the whole claw. The marowak stepped back in fright, but the great tiger stepped toward him and with a single attack on the throat he was thrown away and also destroyed part of the wall. More silence. The two Trainers returned the pokemon to the pokeballs and drew others. The next pokemon was the girl's Machamp and the boy sent an Electivire. "Focus Punch," the girl ordered and Machamp stiffened all the muscles in his four arms. "Thunder Punch," Electivire attacked the Incineroar with a fist covered with electricity. "Bulk Up, and hold the Electivire," Incineroar gave a loud roar and all of his muscle nearly doubled in size and steam began to come out of his skin, but instead of trying to stop Machamp's attack that is the most dangerous he stood still and let Electivire attack. He gripped the huge pokemon's fist with visible ease, but the machamp's strike was ready and he attacked with a single, violent and focused punch. Everyone in the audience held their breath, time seemed to slow down, but the Incineroar seemed to be smiling, and instead of running or trying to defend, he took a single step back. The attack went right past him and hit Electivire sending him away. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU IDIOT?" “Impossible, my Machamp have No Guard! He always hit. You’re cheating,” The girl accused him. "It's true that Machamp always hits a target," Masked Royal continued to smile. "And he hit a target. We're in a Battle Royal, we're all rivals here, yeah," "Electrocute him," the boy shouted and Electivire used both tails to attack the incineroar who again stepped aside, but the girl realized what his plan was and ordered the pokemon to flee, but the tails literally chased him and Machamp was electrocuted in place. "But..." "Lesson two about No Guard. All attacks hit the pokemon who has this ability. I don't think you have had this guy in a long time, you just captured him to battle me," Maske Royal shrugged. "Throw Machamp on Electivire," All Trainers were surprised when Incineroar took the fighting pokemon and threw it at the other weakened pokemon. They tried to get up but a final order was given. "Incineroar, Blast Burn," Incineroar's belt of flame burned like never before, and soon his whole body was covered by a large sphere of flame, it was as if a small sun were forming and he attacked the two fallen pokemos with all the force of one. The ensuing explosion left no doubt as to the result when the flames finally vanished. Incineroar stood like a monster while the other two fallen no longer moved. Both Trainers returned the pokemons, but instead of sending the last one they simply turned and left without looking back. The last Trainer who watched everything to the end sweated almost as much as Turtonator himself, but the pokemon seemed strangely determinated, as if he still wants to battle. He took his own pokeball and lifted it trembling. "Will you run away too?" Masked royal asked. "What good is fighting you?" The boy replied. "I have no chance of beating you, you're much older, and your pokemon is too strong," "True," To everyone's surprise Masked Royal agreed. "You can't defeat us. But not because I'm older, not because you're weak. Being defeated by a formidable opponent is not a shame. But running away from an opponent who gave his all, and faced you with his head held high until The end is. Experience does not come from age, it comes from fighting and learning, losing and rising. Thus you will evolve yourself. Learn from your Pokémon, don't make them war machines, make them your friends. Fight beside them,” The boy's expression gradually changed he clenched his fists and with his head held high he asked. "Teach me how to get stronger, please?” "I can't teach you how to get stronger, this you will learn on your own, but I can give you advice that I have been following for a long time. When fighting an enemy with an abyssal difference in strength, fight with the mind, trust your pokemon, choose in the heat of battle the moves your heart and your pokemon think is the right thing to do. Raise your head, breathe like one, think like one, and then attack with heart and soul together with your pokemon, and in the end…” “DRACO METEOR!” The boy yelled, his voice failed but his pokemon was so confident as he could be. From above many artificial purple meteors appeared from apparently nowhere and fell from above toward its enemy. Without even being commanded, the Incineroar used the Darkest Lariat again and smashed the falling meteors to pieces as if they were nothing, and then it advanced rapidly and with a single throat attack, the Turtonator has fallen. "And then, lose together," The masked Royal said proudly. "Lose, be defeated, shed tears and grow. Don't think what you could have done differently to defeat me, think of how to get up and beat me another day. That's what I would do in your place," The boy returned his pokemon, but instead of running away, he took another one with shaking hands and yelled challenging.