Chapter 8

The camp was near to the end. Slightly more than a week remained for all the students, and most of them passed the first two tasks. Some of those days, Professor Oak announced that despite some students did not receive any points for the tasks that they failed at, they still had a chance to be qualified for the Pokémon Trainer Lisence. Professor Oak was going to hold a small tournament for his students. The sixteen participants were going to be taken to a place called “Battle Platform” near his laboratory. Years ago, Professor Oak built that platform to hold tournaments or make Pokémon Battles. In this particular event, there were four stages; elimination rounds, quarter finals, semi finals and final. Half of the Pokémon Trainer candidates would be eliminated and the winner would be determined in the final. The tournament was determined to take five days.

Professor Oak, Fennel and Clefable took all the students to the Battle Platform. Eight tents for the students were built before. Each one would be taken by two students. Redwald and Greta took one together. Blake shared his tent with a blond guy who would be silent most of the time. The first day Greta came to the laboratory, she asked him if Professor Oak made any speech until then. The boy angularly told her to leave him alone. Madison shared her tent with a girl who cried a lot the early days. But somehow, she got used to be far away from her parents and stopped crying.

Professor Oak asked his students to use one Pokémon only in the elimination round. Greta chose Nidoran since she was with her more. Since her opponent used a Spearow, a Normal and Flying type, Nidoran’s Fighting type attack Double Kick dealt with him very easily. Redwald felt that Eevee was tired out after all the running and mess. So, he decided to use Pidgey in that round instead. His rival used a Growlithe. But Pidgey successfully managed to deal with him. Blake used his Cubone in the same round and qualified to the quarter finals. Madison’s battle ended in a draw. Professor Oak did not expect to have a draw but both Pokémon tired out at the same time and they both fainted. Therefore, he had to let the two Trainer candidates use their second spot. Then Madison took the trophy to qualify to the quarter finals.

Quarter finals took place in the second day. They contained eight students and the other eight returned to the laboratory to attend the subjects. Apparently, Professor Oak thought that they still had things to learn. Most of the students who were eliminated before the quarter finals were the ones who failed to find the object or catch a second Pokémon, or at both of them.

In the quarter finals, Redwald’s opponent was a student and his Electabuzz. Redwald’s Eevee was too small compared to this Pokémon. Electabuzz damaged Eevee quite strongly in the beginning. Eevee was about to almost fail. But then, Redwald told Eevee to use Sand Attack. Then Eevee used Tackle and Bite one after another. Eventually, Electabuzz fainted and Redwald made it to the semi finals.

Greta used her Caterpie instead. Caterpie slowed down the foe’s Staryu and used Tackle over and over again. Although Staryu was good at using Water Gun attack, Caterpie managed to defeat the foe. That was the first remarkable victory of Greta and Caterpie.

Blake’s opponent used a Venonat against Blake’s Cubone. As Redwald watched the battle carefully, he realised that Blake trained his Cubone with care to make him use his bone in the battle effectively. Cubone had a domination on his bone and he hit the target with Bone Club almost always critically. Eventually, Venonat had no chance before Cubone and fainted. Therefore, Blake qualified to the semi finals too.

Redwald and Greta missed Madison’s battle as they were busy with Clefable after she needed errands to be done and she requested them from Redwald and Greta, but they heard afterwards that Madison made it to the semi finals as well. Therefore, the four students in the semi finals were Redwald, Greta, Blake and Madison.

It was the early hours of the morning. Greta woke up and left the tent to feel the nature. When she had troubles at home or with the Pokémon in their Day Care service, she would leave the home and find herself in the jungle, relaxing and seizing the moment. This was not one of these peaceful moments for her, however. She had been in lost thoughts about her future, she had doubts about her next step every time she tried to make a decision. But this time, she was afraid that maybe she had a clue about her decision on the future and she would feel too bad if she wasted that chance.

“You will do your best.” She thought aloud. “You have been doing great since you joined the summer camp, girl. Nidoran loves you. Caterpie loves you, too. They both did their best in the elimination round and the quarter final. All will be just fine.”

The cold breeze in the jungle made Greta feel chilly. She returned to the tent silently and covered her body with the blanket. The warm felt so good that she sinked into sleep in minutes, while thinking about her Pokémon.

The time was around 10 a.m. Professor Oak, Fennel and Clefable were standing next to the Battle Platform. Redwald, Greta, Blake and Madison were sitting on the grasses, waiting for Professor Oak to cast lots.

Clefable handed four papers over Professor Oak. Professor Oak showed the papers to the students. “Your names are in them.” He said. Then he asked Fennel to choose randomly two of them. Fennel closed her eyes and picked two of the papers. Then they opened up the papers. Fennel could not help it but put a smile on her face.

“Greta and Madison.” She said. “You two are going to have the semi final battle.”

“The other two is obvious, then.” Professor Oak responded. He still opened the papers and showed Redwald and Blake’s names on them. “You two will have the semi final battle.” He said. That was the battle of rivals.

“The Pokémon Battle between Greta Parker and Madison Dickens will now begin.” Fennel said. “Each may use two Pokémon. Substitute is allowed. Once the two Pokémon of each side is unable to battle, the battle is over.”

“You told me you wanted to gain respect rather than proving me you are a worthy trainer, remember?” Madison said. “Well, good for you. There is a chance for you to do both, or fail at both.”

“Bring it on, Madison.” Greta said. “I will not give up very easily.”

“But eventually, you will.” Madison responded mischievously. Then she reached out to her PokéBall and threw it to the battlefield. “Clefairy, go!”

A pink, round Pokémon appeared on the battlefield. Greta was familiar with the species, but she never got into too much details. She reached to her Pokédex and scanned her.

“That’s the Pokémon Professor Oak awarded me with.” Madison said. “Could she be any worse than Nidoran, you think?”

Greta knew that all Madison did was to unnerve her. Instead of letting her irritate herself, she only minded her own business as she reached out to her PokéBall and threw it to the battlefield. “Come out now, Nidoran!” She said. Nidoran appeared before Clefairy.

Fennel raised her hand and let the battle begin, as she said “Begin now!”.

“Nidoran, don’t let her take you! Use Scratch!” Greta ordered. As Nidoran ran to Clefairy, her claws glowed and she used Scratch on her. Clefairy was effected as she felt the pain on her face. The claws caused a scar on her forehead.

“Clefairy, that’s all right!” Madison responded. “Use Pound now!”

As Clefairy ran to Nidoran, her right punch glowed like Nidoran’s claws did and she used Pound on Nidoran’s face. Nidoran, in the meantime, closed her eyes and endured the move. She was effected, but she did not let it affect her much.

“I guess that’s the time.” Greta said. “Use Growl now!”

Nidoran opened her mouth and growled as the sound waves affected Clefairy. She tried to cover her giant, brown and pink ears with her hands but not only she could move so hard, but also her short arms did not let her do that fastly.

“Now, go with Double Kick!” Greta ordered. Nidoran ran to the foe and used Double Kick on her stomach. First, she used her both legs and Clefable was super effected. As she hit the tree, Nidoran chased her right behind and used another Double Kick one after another.

“Clefairy, respond with Double Slap!” Madison interfered as she figured out that it was the only way. Clefairy pulled herself together in seconds and began to slap Nidoran. After three or four slaps, Nidoran’s cheeks turned purple.

“Another Double Kick, Nidoran!” Greta said. Nidoran quickly turned her back and kicked Clefairy with her hindlegs. After receiving a couple of more kicks, Clefairy could not take it anymore and fainted on the platform.

“Clefairy is unable to battle.” Fennel said. Unlike her previous attitude, Madison did not say anything annoying. Instead, she silently called Clefairy back in her PokéBall and reached out to her second PokéBall.

“You have done a great job, Nidoran.” Greta said. “But you should have some rest, too.” Then, Greta called Nidoran back in her PokéBall as well.

“This one is a good match.” Madison said. She threw the PokéBall, then. “Weedle, it is your turn!” She said. Weedle came out of the PokéBall. The small, yellow bug Pokémon appeared on the platform. Greta turned on her Pokédex to scan him.

“Caterpie, I choose you!” Greta threw her PokéBall as a response. Caterpie appeared before the yellow bug. Both were ready to battle as it seemed.

“Weedle, String Shot!” Madison ordered. As Weedle used his String Shot on the grasses, Caterpie’s feet were sticked to them that made it harder for her to move.

“Caterpie, you too!” Greta responded. Caterpie used String Shot on Weedle’s feet in the same way. Weedle’s moves were slowed down as well.

“That leads nowhere!” Madison responded. “Weedle, please use Poison Sting!”

Greta knew that this was the poisonous stringer that the Pokédex warned her about. Also, Caterpie was weak to the Poison Type moves. She had no choice but to prevent that move.

“Caterpie, dodge it!” Greta responded. As Weedle came closer to Caterpie with the stringer on his head glowing bright, Caterpie waited for the right moment and jumped in the air to dodge the move. It was handled successfully and Weedle hit the railing on the platform. His stinger stucked to the wood and Weedle could not pull it off.

Greta knew that she had to take advantage of this situation. She quickly ordered Caterpie to use Tackle. As she ran to Weedle, she used Tackle on his body. Weedle hit the woods once more and his body was crushed between the wood and Caterpie’s body. That was a critical hit.

“Another Tackle, Caterpie!” Greta ordered again. Caterpie stepped back and ran to Weedle again to use Tackle. Eventually, Weedle was super effected but he set himself free, too.

She took off his head from the wood and turned to Caterpie angrily. Both Pokémon had an eye contact in seconds. While Greta knew and worried that Weedle was going to take his revenge in the worst possible way, Madison felt the proud and victory in her veins. Now Weedle was free and he could deal with Caterpie in seconds.

Madison was just about to order Poison Sting as she opened her mouth, Weedle stumbled on the platform and fell on the ground. He ran out of energy and he could not keep it anymore.

“Weedle is unable to battle.” Madison said. “Therefore, the winner is Greta Parker and her team.”

That was some shocking ten last seconds for both Greta and Madison. Madison could not even realise what just happened and how her Pokémon fainted out of nowhere. But Greta knew that now it was her time to speak.

“I think I just did.” She said while calling Caterpie back in her PokéBall. But Madison did not understand anything. “You did what?” She asked.

“Proved both.” Greta said with an evil smile on her face.

After the battle, Greta took a moment to celebrate her moment of victory with her team. She was proud of both Nidoran and Caterpie. Both Pokémon came along well with her. They both loved and respected their Trainer. Greta could not aim anything better than that for the summer camp.

Nearly half an hour later, Redwald and Blake’s battle took place on the platform. Fennel was there again. Professor Oak and Clefable were watching the battle carefully. Professor Oak was particularly interested in this battle since his grandson and a Trainer he thought he could see a potential were against each other. It was even more exciting for him, considering they had been rivals for years and will still be when they set off to compete in the Kanto League.

Fennel repeated the same rules and let the battle begin. Unlike Madison, Blake was more of a silent person. He reached out to his PokéBall and threw it. “Come out, Cubone!” He said. Cubone appeared on the platform. That one Redwald was familiar with. He took Eevee’s PokéBall too, and threw it to the platform. Eevee appeared before Cubone.

“Cubone, use Bone Club!” Blake ordered. Cubone ran to Eevee as his bone in his hand glowed. Then he hit Eevee’s head with it. Eevee was super effected. In a pain, Eevee jumped back and covered his head with his paws.

“Eevee, hold on!” Redwald responded. “Use Bite now!” He said. Eevee’s teeth glowed bright as he ran to Cubone. Then he jumped on Cubone’s body and used Bite on his stomach. In a pain, Cubone cried out and got Eevee off on top of him. Eevee landed on four as Cubone stood up and showed his bone as if to declare a war.

Blake had no intention to give up on championship. “Headbutt now, Cubone!” He said. Cubone ran to Eevee and used Headbutt on him. Eevee was crushed down, took the damage and tried to stand up. Eventually, he did. But he was damaged seriously.

“Eevee, can you go on?” Redwald asked. Eevee, with one closed eye, nodded his head. He could still go on. “Use Tackle, then.” Redwald ordered. As Eevee ran to Cubone, Blake told his Pokémon to dodge the move. As Eevee attempted to use Tackle, Cubone moved over and Eevee missed the move.

“Cubone, use Dig!” Blake said. Cubone dug a hole on the platform and disappeared. Redwald knew that move. Eevee could not use any move until Cubone comes out, and then, Cubone would cause a serious damage.

“Be careful, Eevee!” Redwald said. “Listen to the underground. Feel the moves of Cubone. Once he comes out, be there to counter.”

Eevee approached the ground to hear underground better. But there were so many underground at the same time such as Diglett that it would be impossible to recognize Cubone individually. After some while, Cubone came out of the underground and attacked Eevee as tough as he could. Eevee took so serious damage that he felt dizzy and could not stand still. Redwald knew that it was too much for his Pokémon. He took Eevee’s PokéBall and called him back. “Have some rest, Eevee. You will come out again.” He said.

Redwald took the other PokéBall which contained Pidgey in it. He threw it through the platform. Pidgey appeared in the air and he drew circles as he came out.

“Pidgey, use Tackle!” Redwald ordered. Pidgey flew closer to the platform through Cubone. Then he used Tackle on him. Cubone stumbled but he stood still.

“Headbutt, Cubone!” Blake ordered. Cubone ran to Pidgey who was flying close to the ground and used Headbutt on him. Pidgey lost his balance in the air and fell on the platform. Blake knew that he had to take advantage of this as Pidgey could not dodge the moves as free as whem he was in the air.

“Headbutt once more, Cubone!” Blake said. Cubone stood back and ran to Pidgey’s small, confused and tired body on the platform. As he jumped on him, Pidgey was crushed on the ground and he could not respond in any way.

Redwald could not substitute once more as he did not have any other Pokémon. “Hold on, Pidgey! Stand up and fly and we will make it!” He said.

“Headbutt once more, Cubone!” Blake responded. Professor Oak felt proud that Blake knew that Ground Type moves like Bone Club or Dig could not affect Flying Type Pokémon such as Pidgey. As Cubone came closer to Pidgey once again, Pidgey pulled himself together, stood up in seconds and forced his wings to pull himself up in the air. He could not provide the balance at first, but he managed to find himself in the air once more.

“Pidgey, use Sand Attack!” Redwald ordered. Pidgey floated once more and came closer to the surface to use the move. As he flew to Cubone, Cubone prepared himself to respond. Blake told him to use Headbutt once Pidgey came close enough. Pidgey quickly submerged his feet to the sand and used Sand Attack on Cubone. Cubone could not get his chance to use Headbutt. Pidgey returned to the sky.

“Let’s finish this already!” Redwald responded. “Use Gust, Pidgey!” He said. Although it was obvious that Pidgey still had issues providing the damage as he was damaged seriously and still had injuries.

“Cubone, use Headbutt!” Blake responded. As Pidgey flapped his wings to create a gust, Cubone ran and jumped high to use Headbutt on Pidgey. While flapping his wings so hard, Pidgey stumbled in the air and pulled himself down a little. It was enough for Cubone to reach Pidgey, however. At the moment Pidgey created a small gust, Cubone made his contact to Pidgey and used Headbutt. While Pidgey lost his balance for good due to damage and fell on the ground, Cubone found himself in the middle of the gust. In seconds, both Pokémon fell on the platform as gust’s effect had passed and Pidgey reached to the ground.

As a result, both Pokémon fainted.

“The first round is a draw.” Fennel said. Redwald and Blake called their Pokémon back in the PokéBalls. But Blake was still in a better position because Eevee was too tired. Despite of that, he called the Pokémon out of his PokéBall. As Eevee appeared on the platform, he looked tired and weak. His furs would often look lively and bright, but this time, they were worn and subfusc.

Blake took a PokéBall out of his pocket and threw it to the battlefield. “Spearow, I choose you!” He said. Spearow appeared in the air, drew a circle just like Pidgey did.

“So, he caught a Spearow, after all.” Redwald thought. Redwald wanted to order a move but Eevee looked like he pushed too hard already. Instead, Redwald decided to go easy for the moment.

“Eevee, use Tackle!” Redwald said. Eevee ran to Spearow who was pecking his own fur to clean up. Eevee was rather in decent speed to reach to the Pokémon. When he came close enough, Blake raised his hand and asked Spearow to fly high. Spearow quickly stopped pecking himself and flapped his wings to get higher. Eevee could not attack.

“Use Peck, Spearow!” Blake ordered. Spearow’s beak glowed bright as he flew through Eevee. Eevee wanted to dodge the move but he was too tired to make anything fast. Before he got his chance to jump, Spearow reached him and used Peck on him. Eevee stepped back but he kept forcing himself to stand up. Redwald was feeling too bad about his Pokémon and how hard he was trying to make it.

“I withdraw!” Redwald said eventually. Blake did not expect that, but he was not surprised either. Redwald walked to his Pokémon and hugged him. Eevee was so tired that he could barely open his eyes.

Fennel, with a smile on her face, stated that the winner of the battle was Blake.

“A true Trainer would try to bring out the best of it, Redwald.” Blake said carelessly while he called Spearow back in his PokéBall. “But instead, you just gave up while nothing is obvious.”

“No, Blake.” Redwald said. “A true Trainer doesn’t care winning as a top priority. This is more about your Pokémon than yourself. I can’t let Eevee be harmed like that. I care about him more than I care about winning a battle against you.”

Blake did not care about what Redwald tried to explain, or at least he looked like he did not. Instead, he turned his back to see Professor Oak and nodded him. That was the sign to tell him he wants to be announced as the qualifier of this round. Professor Oak, with no expression on his face, stood up from the chair and walked to the platform. Greta, Madison and Clefable were watching them.

“Tomorrow, we will be hosting a final.” Professor Oak said. “The battle will be Greta Parker against Blake Oak. Meet me here at 10 a.m. again. The semi finalists can stay tonight and watch the battle tomorrow if they would like to.”

Then he walked down the platform and left Blake Oak there.

Humans

 * Redwald Walker
 * Greta Parker
 * Professor Oak
 * Fennel Walker
 * Blake Oak
 * Madison Dickens
 * Other Students

Pokémon

 * Student's Spearow
 * Student's Growlithe
 * Student's Electabuzz
 * Student's Staryu
 * Student's Venonat
 * Student's Spearow
 * Student's Growlithe
 * Student's Electabuzz
 * Student's Staryu
 * Student's Venonat
 * Student's Electabuzz
 * Student's Staryu
 * Student's Venonat