Bab 85: Chapter 85: The Ballroom Showdown
The ballroom of the S.T. Anne buzzed with anticipation, the low hum of conversations merging with the soft chime of crystal chandeliers swinging above. The polished wooden floor gleamed under the light, but it was the makeshift battlefield at the center that held everyone's focus. My focus.
Misty stood across from me, her confident grin aimed at me as she casually tossed a Pokéball between her hands. Ash, Brock, and a crowd of onlookers circled the area, waiting for the battle to begin. I was calm, even as I felt the electric tension in the air. I adjusted the strap of my black sling bag, making sure everything was secure. The room might have been elegant, but the battle? It was anything but refined.
"Are you ready, Punit?" Misty asked, her tone playful but with an edge.
I was about to answer when the doors of the ballroom burst open. Alisha came storming in, her black hair a mess of motion as her eyes locked on me with a look that could melt steel. Behind her, Erin and Lucy trailed, with Erin quickly making her way toward me.
Before I could react, Erin latched onto my arm like it was the only thing grounding her to the room. "I'm scared," she whispered, glancing nervously at the gathered crowd.
Alisha, however, wasn't having it. "Let's have a battle, Punit! I need to vent my anger on you!" she shouted, her voice echoing off the walls. She stood opposite me, her eyes narrowed and full of fire. Misty, Brock, and Ash all turned to look at her, just as dumbfounded as I was.
Erin, still holding my arm, looked to Misty. "Come with me," she said in her calm, blunt way, pulling her to the sidelines. Misty, bewildered, let herself be led away.
I sighed, giving a slow, relaxed nod. "Fine, Alisha. Just don't cry after losing like last time." The memory of her sulking after our last match still fresh in my mind.
She smirked, her tone playful and full of mischief. "I've improved, Punit. You'll see."
I shook my head but couldn't hide the grin tugging at the corner of my mouth. As Lucy quietly moved to stand next to Erin, Ash suddenly shouted, "What about my battle with you?"
Before I could respond, Brock clamped his hand over Ash's mouth, dragging him to the side with an apologetic glance. The room shifted as the crowd pressed closer, eager to see what was about to unfold. I motioned to Raichu, who happily trotted over to Erin. She picked him up, holding him like a mother carrying a child. Alisha glared, jealousy clear in her eyes. She always had a thing for my Raichu. I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath.
"Alright, let's do this," I muttered as I reached for a Pokéball from my belt. The polished sphere felt cool in my palm as I tossed it into the air. The room collectively gasped as my Shiny Dratini emerged, its vibrant green scales shimmering under the ballroom's lights. The crowd whispered, awe clear in their voices. It wasn't every day they saw a rare, shiny Pokémon.
From across the room, Alisha hurled her own Pokéball, and Splash, her trusty Squirtle, appeared. He flexed his small arms, narrowing his eyes at Dratini, who slithered gracefully to my side.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" boomed the referee, stepping into the center. His voice cut through the buzz of the crowd. "We have an unsanctioned but highly anticipated battle tonight! On one side, we have Punit, representing with a rare and stunning Pokémon—a shiny Dratini!"
Dratini's green, serpentine figure glittered under the chandelier light, and I felt a surge of pride. He was a beauty, no denying that.
"And on the other side, Alisha, with her loyal and playful Squirtle, nicknamed Splash!"
Alisha's Squirtle, small but fierce, squared up against Dratini. Alisha grinned, that dangerous glint in her eye. "If I win, you have to marry me," she shouted.
I slapped my forehead in disbelief. Not this again.
"It doesn't matter," I replied, my voice cool, unbothered. "You're not going to win."
The referee raised his arm. "Battle, begin!"
"𝘚𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩, 𝘔𝘦𝘨𝘢 𝘒𝘪𝘤𝘬!"Her voice rings out, sharp and fast.
Squirtle moves with surprising speed, launching itself into the air, its leg glowing with power. It twists mid-flight, aiming that kick right at Dratini's side.
"𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘪, 𝘌𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘥!"I bark, my tone ice cold.
In an instant, Dratini blurs, vanishing from sight. Squirtle's Mega Kick slams into empty air, the force of its own attack carrying it forward. The crowd gasps as Dratini reappears behind Squirtle, its sleek body crashing into the shell with a flick of its tail. The impact sends Squirtle skidding across the ballroom floor, but it quickly recovers, flipping back onto its feet.
Alisha's expression tightens, but she doesn't miss a beat. "𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸!"
Squirtle tucks into its shell just as Dratini's tail comes crashing down again. The sound echoes across the ballroom like a hammer striking metal. Squirtle holds firm, its defense solid.
Alisha smirks. "Now, 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘎𝘶𝘯!"
Squirtle's head pops out of its shell, and a torrent of water shoots toward Dratini. There's no time to dodge. The blast hits Dratini head-on, drenching it, making it stagger. But I don't let it faze me.
"𝘈𝘲𝘶𝘢 𝘑𝘦𝘵!"
Dratini's body ripples, water swirling around it as it launches forward, crashing through Squirtle's Water Gun like a torpedo. The force of the impact sends Squirtle rolling across the floor again, but this time, Alisha looks less certain.
The crowd's roaring now, their excitement thick in the air. I can see it in their eyes. They want more, they want spectacle.
"𝘉𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘭𝘦!" Alisha commands, her voice tense.
Squirtle releases a flurry of shimmering bubbles.
"𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘵!" I shout.
The battlefield is instantly shrouded in a thick, swirling mist, Dratini's natural element. The bubbles pop harmlessly, dissolving into the fog. Alisha squints, her eyes darting, trying to find Dratini's shape.
"Keep your distance, 𝘔𝘦𝘨𝘢 𝘗𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩!" Her voice cuts through the haze, and I hear Squirtle's small feet scuffing the floor as it charges forward. It swings blindly into the mist, its glowing fist carving through the air.
But it's futile.
"𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤, 𝘯𝘰𝘸!" I snap.
The high-pitched screech that follows is almost unbearable. The crowd winces, covering their ears. Squirtle staggers, shaking its head violently, the sound waves disorienting it. It swings wildly, punches hitting nothing but air.
I see my opening.
"𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩!"
Dratini bursts out of the mist, its mouth glowing with green energy. The Dragon Breath slams into Squirtle, the searing wave knocking it off its feet. Squirtle hits the floor hard, smoke curling from its shell.
Alisha's eyes flash with desperation. "𝘉𝘪𝘵𝘦!" she yells.
Squirtle struggles to its feet, determination etched in every line of its body. It charges forward, jaws snapping down on Dratini's tail with a vicious grip. Dratini hisses in pain.
"𝘞𝘳𝘢𝘱!"
Dratini coils around Squirtle, its long body squeezing tighter, constricting its movements. Squirtle's grip on Dratini's tail weakens as it gasps for air, its limbs pinned by the sheer force of Dratini's hold.
Alisha's voice wavers, just a bit. "Come on, Squirtle…"
But it's over. I can see it in her eyes.
"𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘦!"
Dratini releases Squirtle just enough to form the swirling orb of water between its jaws. The pulse shoots forward, crashing into Squirtle's chest. The impact sends Squirtle flying across the battlefield, its body slamming into the floor with a sickening thud.
This time, it doesn't get back up.
The referee steps in, checking Squirtle's condition. "Squirtle is unable to battle! 𝘗𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴!"
The crowd explodes, their cheers filling the ballroom, but I barely hear it. My focus is on Alisha as she recalls her fallen Squirtle, her face set in a determined frown.
"You did good, Splash," she whispered as she recalled him. The battle was over, but Alisha had fire in her eyes. She wasn't done yet.
But my attention shifted. Misty stepped into the battle circle, her face set with determination. "Now it's our turn."
I sighed. Another one? Alisha had disappeared somewhere, and Lucy had followed suit. The crowd was still buzzing from the last match, but now, they were hungry for more.
I turned to Erin, who still held Raichu, his tiny arms wrapped around her neck. She glanced up at me, her hazel eyes wide with uncertainty. I gave her a reassuring smile before turning back to Misty.
"Fine, but let's make this quick," I muttered.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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