Disclaimer: Pokemon and co. doesn't belong to me . . . . blah blah blah . .
.


Authors Notes: Here I am again and all ready for season 2 of this fic for
the few of you that'll probably come banging on my door to demand I
finish this already.
As usual, Feedback would be greatly appreciated!  And so would
suggestions for the final chapter of my fic Forever.  I kinda got writers
block on that one.



Ketchum: The Journey Continues
Season 2

First Battles
Chapter 10


~~~~~~Musashi's POV~~~~~~

Satoshi and I hugged each other for good luck before we walked to our
assigned fields.  I was really nervous, if I lost even one battle I'd have to
wait until next year to try again.  But I was glad that Satoshi and I had
stayed in Pallet for a year to keep training our pokemon, we were in the
big league now, no mistakes were allowed.
I was up against someone name Dazzle, I'd heard rumours that she was
pretty show-offy in battles.  Hopefully I could use that against her
somehow.
I deflated when I saw her, then again, maybe not.
My team was Lupis, Arbok, and Golbat.  They could take care of almost
any opponent.
"On the Green side is Musashi!  And on the Red is Dazzle!"  The
announcer said as I climbed the ladder to the platform.  I was tempted to
glare at the guy, I'd never really liked announcers.
"I hope you're prepared to lose!  For no one has ever won against my
illustrious self!"
Probably because they couldn't stand her presence, I was barely holding
out as it was.  
I smirked, time to deflate this girl's ego.
"The coin is in the air!  And it's red side up!  Musashi must send out her
first pokemon!"
"What a great way to start a battle . . ."  I muttered.  "Go Golbat!"
(Ready to fight!)
"Musashi sends out a Golbat!  How will Dazzle respond?"
Dazzle kissed the pokeball and sent it out with an elaborate twirl.  I rolled
my eyes.
"Dazzle has chosen Charmeleon against Musashi's Golbat!  This promises
to be an interesting fight!"
"Screech!"
"Flamethrower love!"  She sang out, I nearly gagged.

She told me, I grinned.  This was a dirty tactic but there was nothing
illegal about it.
Golbat neatly avoided the Flamethrower, he's had lots of practice with
Inferno.  Then he let loose with Screech.
"Charmel meleon!"  I shouted, the reaction was instant.  He abruptly
stopped and stiffened, looking for the one who dared call him that.
"Wing Attack!"
"Look out Charmeleon!"  He didn't listen.
"Charmeleon love!  Fire Blast!"  Still no response, he was still looking for
the one who called him that.
Satoshi and I had trained our pokemon to ignore all insults and words
they might hear from the stands.
"Finish it Golbat!  Leech Life!"
"Charmeleon is unable to battle!  Point to Musashi!"
I grinned, Golbat won and hadn't taken any damage.
"No!  Charmeleon love!"  She glared at me.  "You distracted him witch!"
"If he'd been trained better he wouldn't have been distracted!  Send out
your next pokemon already!"  I yelled back.
"Go Jolteon love!  Thunder!"
I winced, Golbat would be feeling that for awhile.
"Golbat is unable to battle, point to Dazzle!"
"Go Lupis!"
"Amazing!  Musashi has sent out a Lupis!  They're found only in China!"
"Don't remind me."  I muttered.  "Lupis Fire Spin!"
"Pin Missile love!"  She sang, I nearly gagged.
The missiles were incinerated before they even had the chance to get
within 10 feet of Lupis.
"Phew, things are really heating up with Lupis's Fire Spin attack now
folks!  Will Jolteon escape the fiery cylinder?"
Fire Spin died down, Jolteon was wobbling but still standing.
Pity.
"Lupis, finish it with Take Down!"
"Lup!"  She acknowledged as she charged toward the unsteady Jolteon.
"Jolteon is unable to fight, Lupis is the winner!"
"They're preparing to send out their final pokemon . . .  Musashi calls out
an Arbok!  Dazzle calls out a Hypno!  Oh what a mis-match!  The
Psychic Hypno has total type advantage over the Poisonous Arbok!"
I winced, this wasn't good.  But Arbok could handle up to three Psychic
attacks thanks to conditioning from Raptor.
I'd have to thank him when the match was over.
"OhohohohohoHO!  How amusing!  Time to dazzle the crowd Hypno!
Psychic!"
"Arbok Dig!"

Psychic missed, but not by much.
Hypno and Dazzle watched the ground warily, not that sure where Arbok
would pop up.
"CHARRRRBOK!"
Dazzle paled slightly as Arbok slammed into Hypno and sent it to it's
knees.
"Confusion!"
It seems that Dazzle has lost her razzle.
"Bite!"
"HYYPNOOO!"
(NO!)  Arbok yelled as Hypno finally got her in its mind grasp.
I winced, this wasn't looking good.  Poor Arbok.
"Fight it Arbok!"
Arbok began thrashing her body, trying to make it difficult for Hypno to
hold her.
Eventually it worked, but Arbok was quite weak now.  It wouldn't take
much to knock her out.
"Glare!"
"Psychic!"
Hypno was paralysed, so I took full advantage of it.
"Arbok, Wrap!"
She coiled around Hypno and began squeezing.  Dazzle's Full heal
couldn't reach it so it stayed motionless in Arbok's coils.



~~~~~~Satoshi's POV~~~~~~

I glared at my opponent across the field, no way I'd let her win.
Problem was she'd already taken out Paradox and Zeus with that
Venusaur of hers.
My last pokemon was Shelldon.
At the start of the battle she'd sent out a Gyarados, Paradox had taken
him out with Air Rage.  But then the Venusaur had taken out Paradox
and Zeus.  Venusaur could still battle, if I got lucky Shelldon's Freezer
Burn could take it out.
I only hoped her last pokemon wasn't Electric.
"I choose you, Shelldon!"
She laughed when he came out.  She thought he'd be easy did she?  Ha!
"Vine Whip!"
"Freezer Burn!"
His shell clamped shut, something akin to Liquid Nitrogen erupted from
his cannons and froze the whips off Venusaur, the crowd gasped at it
continued toward Venusaur and literally iced it.
"Venusaur is unable to battle, Cloyster is the winner!"
She was down to her last pokemon.  I watched anxiously as she released
it from the pokeball.
Suddenly my head began to pound more fiercely than it ever had before, I
gripped the railing.

<"I can't!  There are two Psychics in here!">
Damn . . .
Her last pokemon was a Gengar, lovely.
"Shelldon . . . Freezer Burn . . ."  I managed to grit out.
Gengar became a poke-cicle.
(Satoshi?)  I vaguely heard Shelldon ask worriedly.
"I'm fine . . . Return."  I recalled him.  My headache was worse now and
I leaned against the rail.

<"I'm not sure . . . but I think Raptor's trying to drive away an
intruder.">

I thought back to yesterday when Inferno told me about Raptor's little
show in the bookstore.  Was he more powerful than I originally thought?
<"A Psychic was trying to probe your thoughts.  I think that's what has
been causing your headaches.">
Slowly I climbed from the platform and made my way to the house. 
Musashi met me as soon as I was out of the stadium and helped me.
"Satoshi you should go to a doctor!"  
"No . . . Charmeleon knows why I have headaches . . ."  
I stumbled into the house, and instantly fell asleep.  I could learn more
from my dreams.

(Satoshi!) 
I blinked and looked around, it was dark.  But I could barely see Raptor
fighting an invisible opponent.
He suddenly stopped and gave a shriek of outrage.  A far cry from his
usual chirping sounds.


~~~~~~Inferno's POV~~~~~~

I didn't know what to do.
Raptor had suddenly stopped playing with his ball and began to glow with
a Psychic aura the same colour as his eyes.
When Satoshi stumbled in with Musashi helping him I ran to him.  He fell
asleep on the couch and Raptor's glow increased.
By the Fire God I've never seen an aura that big!
"Inferno . . .?"
*I don't know what's happening Musashi, I don't know what to do . . .*
I mumbled.
Maybe that book was right about what it said that Raptors could do at
maturity.  Perhaps I'd jumped to conclusions.
The glow stopped, Raptor looked at Satoshi.
<*It's gone.  Father will sleep all night.*>

Things were pretty quiet after that.  Raptor had fainted after his message,
little guy was exhausted.
I couldn't sleep though, I was worried about Satoshi.  I detected some
faint worry from the Angels, it seemed they didn't know what to do
either.
So I sat by the fire and got comfortable.  As I watched the flames dance I
was almost drawn into a trance, flames had always been able to
mesmerise me.
Maybe it was because I was a Fire type, or it's just because of the way
they dance as they consume the wood.
There was a tale I'd heard from my mother, it was a bedtime story really
but it made one think about things.
Such as human ingenuity.
The tale said that somewhere was a super pokemon, the brother of Mew,
created by humans.  I always shuddered at that part, the thought of
humans playing the part of the Gods like that . . .
It'll give any pokemon nightmares, especially when said humans are Team
Rocket.
Thankfully that was a story and nothing more.
But didn't someone once say that stories and legends have some
semblance of truth in them?
Oh Fire God I hope not.
<*It's true . . .*> I stared wide eyed at him, surely he wasn't suggesting .
. .
<*He invades father's mind.  I tried to drive him out.  But he's strong.*>
*Why would he invade Satoshi's mind in the first place if he's as strong
as the story says?*
He looked downcast and shook his head, he didn't know.
*It's alright.* I assure him. *Why don't we get some sleep?  We're
battling tomorrow on the Rock field.*
<*Am I going to fight too?*> He asked eagerly.
*I think so.* I chuckled as I curled up by the couch. *Goodnight little
one.*
<*I'm bigger than you!*> He replied as he curled up as well.  
I couldn't help but chuckle as I closed my eyes, it was true he was bigger
than me but it was sort of a private joke.

    Source: geocities.com/televisioncity/taping/2426