บท 77: Chapter 77
The third round of the Showdown resumed after an hour-long lunch break. Misty had performed really well with her Wartortle, but she was one of the least favourites in the top sixteen. The major reason for that was the presence of two water Pokemon on her team, one of which was significantly weaker than the other. And it didn't help that she only used Wartortle in both her matches.
On the other hand, Leaf was among the hot favourites to win the Showdown. Her Floette and Pidgeotto had performed exceptionally well, and put up great fights to pave their way into the top 16.
The girl from Pallet Town was up against a girl from the Viridian City in the Round of 16. And the match happened to be a Showdown between two Pidgeotto.
Aizen and Anira could not suppress their smile because they knew that Leaf would easily progress into Quarter-Finals. Her pidgeotto had been training really hard under Aizen's Mega Pidgeot's care, and it showed in the battle. Whether it be speed or strength, her Pidgeotto outclassed its opponent, and the match ended within two minutes.
However, the biggest surprise of the third round was Misty's Wartortle. The indigo tortoise managed to pull off a win against a Magneton, making the people who had bet on Misty winning the Showdown, go wild in excitement.
Aizen was happy for her, but he could sense that Wartortle nearly evolved in the battle but forcefully suppressed its Evolution. It was not a good thing since it would not be able to give its best if it was focused on suppressing its evolution in the next round. And that proved to be the case in the Quarter-Finals.
Wartortle was hard-pressed against a Machoke, much to the shock of the audience who were not aware of the reason behind it.
"Blue, don't hold it back!" Misty made the decision and called out to her Wartortle. She knew what her Pokemon was going through, and that it was doing it for her, but she could no longer see it suffer at the hands of its opponent.
"Wartortle..." Blue wanted to tell her that she could still fight, but Misty shook her head.
"Go for it." She determinedly said.
Wartortle narrowed its eyes at the Machoke before it started glowing in bright light. The crowd stayed silent as the phenomenon happened, and only after the glow subsided and Blastoise emerged out of it, did they go wild with their cheers.
The opponent sighed as he knew the fate of his Machoke. And Blastoise ended the match with just one powerful Hydro Pump.
Misty was declared the winner of the Match, but she was now only left with her Krabby for the Semi-Finals. However, she was not in the least upset.
"You are the best!" She happily hugged her Blastoise. "Me and Krabby will try our best in the Semi-Finals, but know that your evolution is the biggest prize I could have won in this Tournament. I am really happy for you." She whispered to her. "And I am sure Aizen's Wartortle will be smitten by your new form."
"Blastoise..." The tortoise Pokemon confidently nodded to her Trainer's words. She was looking forward to meeting Wartortle now, and seeing how it would try to run away from her again.
"Congratulations!" Anira and Leaf greeted Misty as soon as she returned to the stands.
"Thank you!" There was a bright smile on her face as she hugged the girls.
Aizen gave her a pat on the head, which made her burn in blush, and all of them then turned their attention back to the Arena.
As the Quarter-Final Matches concluded, the draws of the Semi-Finals were set up, and both Misty and Leaf were surprised to see that they were up against each other.
"I am already sorry for what Fiona will do to Krabby," Leaf smirked at the orange-haired girl.
"I won't make it easy for you," Misty smirked back at her.
The two friends faced each other in the Arena, and their match, despite not impressing the audience, would remain fresh in their memories for a while.
Leaf knew that Krabby was no match for Floette, but she did not go for the kill from the start. Floette harassed the crab enough to force it to give its best, and it put up a decent fight. However, the result was as predicted. The Flower Fairy prevailed against the water Pokemon, and Leaf was in the Finals.
The girl from Pallet Town found herself up against a strong adversary. The boy with brown hair and spectacles had performed outstandingly well in the Showdown so far, and he was the favourite to win the Tournament.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are ready for the Final of the 54th St. Anne Pokemon Showdown. On the Western-Side of the Arena, we have our finalist Jadon from the Striaton City, Unova, who has paved his way into the Finals with the help of his trusty Krokorok and Flaaffy." The crowd loudly cheered to the boy, who expertly bowed to them, revelling in their support. "And his opponent, on the eastern side of the Arena, is Leaf Green from the Pallet Town, Kanto. She has shown that despite being young, she and her Floette and Pidgeotto are not to be taken lightly." The crowd cheered for the hazel-eyed girl, who was still nervous at being watched and cheered on by so many people for the first time in her life. "There can only be one winner of the Showdown, and we shall now find out who it will be. Let the final Showdown begin!"
Under the loud cheering of the crowd, the Referee stepped forward and raised his hand in both directions.
"Please, select your Pokemon."
The decision was very critical but easy for both Trainers. For Jadon, he had to avoid a match-up between his Krokorok and Floette, and for Leaf, she had to avoid a match-up between her Pidgeotto and Flaaffy. And they both decided to not risk it.
"Flaaffy vs Floette. Begin!" The Referee announced.
"Thunderbolt!" Jadon started without wasting any time.
"Petal Blizzard!" Leaf called out.
The Flower Fairy immediately summoned a storm of petals to surround her, and she had to work really hard to negate the powerful Thunderbolt that was sent her way.
"Iron Tail!"
The pink sheep's tail glowed in the Steel Energy before it approached the Fairy and whipped its tail at her.
However, to its surprise, the Fairy managed to finish her Lucky Chant just in time. Leaf did not even have to command her to do it.
"Dazzling Gleam!" Leaf smirked and called out the next move.
"Discharge!" Jadon immediately called out.
Flaaffy was in a vulnerable state and hastily flared the Electricity out of its body, however, Floette survived thanks to the Lucky Chant, and the pink Sheep suffered the brunt of the Fairy move.
"Magical Leaf!"
"Light Screen."
The Flower Fairy performed the move as hundreds of small energy Leaves appeared around the Flaaffy and rushed at it, clashing with the Light Screen.
"Keep at it." Leaf knew that Flaaffy was still rattled from performing Discharge and getting hit by Dazzling Gleam. It was a good opportunity for them.
Magical Leaf was not too powerful of a move, but it was very effective against the Light Screen, the innumerable leaves of energy harassed Flaafy even if the damage they caused was negligible after passing through the Light Screen. And by the time Floette stopped using it, Light Screen was gone.
"Petal Blizzard!"
A storm of petals rushed at the pink sheep who was heaving for breath, but its eyes were dangerously narrowed.
"Protect!" Jadon called out.
The pink sheep used the move and took the Petal Blizzard head-on.
"Thunder Shock!"
The move missed but Jadon kept calling out for it again and again, all the while keeping Flaaffy away from Floette.
Some people in the audience were surprised by Jadon calling for a low-powered move, but most knew the reason for it. He was conserving Flaaffy's Electric Reserves and waiting for the Lucky Chant to wear off.
Leaf wanted to end it fast, but Flaaffy proved to be a tough fellow and kept standing even after taking some considerable damage at the hands of Floette. And finally, after five Thunder Shocks, the sixth managed to hurt Floette.
"Thunder!" Jadon called out the most powerful move his Pokemon knew.
"Petal Blizzard!" Leaf called out the move in time, but it still failed to fully guard Floette against the wicked Thunderbolt that dropped on the Fairy from the sky.
"Iron Tail!" There was no way Jadon was going to miss the opportunity.
"Dodge!"
Leaf's heart thumped hard against her chest when Floette failed to dodge the move. The Iron Tail landed squarely, and Floette was slammed into the ground in a pitiful state. She was still conscious, and that relieved her Trainer.
"Wish." Leaf lightly smiled and commanded.
Jadon helplessly watched as the Flower Fairy performed the move and healed itself from the injuries, recovering some energy as well.
Flaaffy was in a pitiful state, tired and spent, and it could not continue any longer.
"Dazzling Gleam." And Leaf had every intention to end it right then and there. And end she did.
The pink sheep painfully groaned as the brilliant light of Fairy Energy hit it, and it dropped unconscious on the ground.
"Flaaffy is unable to continue. Floette Wins!" The Referee announced.
It was all over, and the loud cheers of the crowd for Leaf resounded far in the sea.
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