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

Round 2!
Chapter 11


I yawned as I waited for the computer to choose my next opponent,
Inferno sat beside me absently scratching behind a horn with his foot.
(Satoshiii . . .)  He yawned.  (I'm bored!)
"Take it easy pal, so am I."  I muttered as I watched the screen anxiously. 
The League computer finally stopped processing my data and showed my
next opponent.  I blinked and groaned.
Not him!
(Hmmm?)  His jaw dropped when he saw the picture.  (Oh ho! 
Revenge!)  He grinned maliciously.
It was Sean, the leader of the guys that pummelled me.  Finally a chance
to show him up in a proper and honourable battle!
I blinked.  Charmeleon and Inferno must be rubbing off on me.
But still, it was a nice thought.  We'd be duking it out on the Rock Field
today.
And I knew just who I'd use.
"Thank you."  I told the clerk as I walked away.  This was going to be
fun!
"What?!  I gotta fight the squirt?!"
Well, thinking of the devil himself . . .  Inferno growled under his breath. 
I put a hand on his wrist to stop him.
"You'll have ample opportunity to beat his pokemon later."  I assured
him as we kept walking, blending into the crowd.  A woman with
sunglasses watched us walk out of the main building.  She was probably
just security.
(Who's it going to be in this fight?)
"You, Raptor, and Ramona.  I've been itching to watch Sean's reaction
to Raptor and to Ramona's special attack."
Inferno smiled nastily.
(Under that nice exterior, you are nasty.)  Inferno joked.
"I think I got that from mom."  I laughed, Inferno hoisted me onto his
shoulders and started to run down the street.  I laughed as I hung onto his
horns.
Suddenly there was a rumble of thunder.
Oh great.
"Inferno return!"  I recalled him as I made a mad dash for the house,
stepping inside just as it began to pour.
"Nasty storm, think they'll cancel your match?"  Musashi asked.
"If only I could be that lucky."  I sighed as I stared at the pouring rain.
<"You are inside now, I think Brother would like to get out of his
pokeball."> I jumped and blushed a little.  I'd been so worried I'd have to
do the match in the rain I'd totally forgotten!
 I grinned embarrassingly as I released Inferno.
"Sorry about that, I kinda got lost in my thoughts."
(That's okay.  I've got a pretty good idea of just what you were thinking
about.)  He smiled as he put his hand on my shoulder.
"I just hope the rain'll let up before the match.  Either that or the match
get cancelled because of the weather."
(I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't.)
"With our luck, you're probably right."  I grinned.
I paused, I'd have to ask this question carefully.  I didn't want to hit a
nerve and I feared this question would hit a really big and sensitive one.
<"Satoshi . . . you shouldn't ask it.  You know you shouldn't.">

Taking a deep breath I braced myself.
"Meowth!  Hey kid!  Ya got dat battle in half an hour!"
I hissed a curse under my breath.  That cat's got the worst timing.


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

I looked at him quizzically, he only gets that look when he's about to ask
a big question.
He took a deep breath.  I sat down.
"Meowth!  Hey kid!  Ya got dat battle in half an hour!"
My ears reddened when I heard what he said under his breath.  So did
Meowth's, and he used to be a Rocket!
"The rain's let up.  Return Inferno, we've got a butt to kick."
I was drawn into my pokeball.


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

I managed to find a semi-dry seat in the stands so I sat down and waited
for Satoshi to come onto the field.
"On the red side we have Satoshi fielding Marowak, Charizard and . . .
does that pokemon actually exist?"  The announcer hissed to an assistant
before continuing.  "On the green side is Sean fielding, Gyarados,
Charizard and Venusaur!"  A slight pause and some whispering.  "On the
red side Satoshi is fielding Marowak, Charizard and the never before seen
pokemon making it's first appearance, Raptor!  I'm here to bring you all
attack by attack coverage of this battle!  The coin is in the air . . . Sean
must send out his pokemon first!"
"Ready to lose squirt?!"  Sean yelled.  I finally recognized him.  That was
the punk who always hurt Satoshi!
"Beat the snot out of him Satoshi!"  I yelled.  He grinned at me and gave
me a thumbs up, Meowth was waving a sign saying 'Go Satoshi!' on it.
Julie had a battle on the Ice field today, she promised me to tell me what
happened.
"Gyarados go!"  He said as he released the bad looking Gyarados.  I
wasn't worried and neither was Satoshi, Ramona could handle that easily.
"I choose you, Ramona!"
"Holy moly folks!  Satoshi has just sent out his Marowak against Sean's
Gyarados!  He must be pretty confident!"
I heard a couple of guys behind me making bets.
"I'll bet 1 000 dollars that Marowak wins."  I grinned as I waved my
money.  They shrugged and took it.  One of the other guys bet 3 000 that
Gyarados would win.
"Hey, it's your money."  I smiled as I turned back to the match.
"Gyarados starts out with Hydro Pump!  Marowak avoids it and retaliates
with Bonemerang!  That is a well trained pokemon folks!"
"Ramona!  Mothers Revenge!"  Satoshi yelled, I sat back and watched. 
This was going to be interesting.
Ramona held her bone above her head with both hands and it began to
vibrate.  Sean, Gyarados and pretty much everyone else stopped what
they were doing to watch.  I just leaned back into the chair to watch the
show.
"Unbelievable!  Marowak's using an attack that hasn't been seen in over
1500 years!"
"MAAARROOOOO . . . . WAK!"  She yelled as she plunged the bone
into the ground.  Suddenly dozens and dozens of Marowak skeletons
erupted from the dirt.  All at once they all attacked using Rage, Bone
Club and Bonemerang.
"This . . . This is absolutely amazing folks!  History is being made today! 
Gyarados is being pummeled by all of Marowak's attacks!  It's down!"
I grinned and collected my money from the guy I made the bet with.
"Great job!  Return Ramona!"
Sean scowled, making no change to his already ugly face as he recalled
Gyarados and sent out his next pokemon.
"Sean recalls Gyarados and sends out his Charizard!  Which pokemon
will Satoshi use against that brute?"
Brute indeed.  The Charizard was all muscle and very nasty looking.  I
knew that Satoshi was going to use Inferno for this one.  Inferno rather
enjoyed fighting Charizards and showing the world how strong he was.
"Satoshi has just sent out his Charizard to battle!  This will be a thrilling
fight seeing as how Charizards are the most competitive of pokemon!"


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

I emerged from my pokeball and saw the brute before me.
*Brother.* I nodded.
He responded with a threatening growl.
I blinked, how rude of him not to acknowledge me!
"Fire Blast!"
"Inferno Fly!"
I flew from the blast, he glared at me balefully before joining me in the
air.
Suddenly the fact we had trainers no longer mattered.
At least to him that is.  He wasn't even listening to Sean.  I however was
obeying Satoshi's orders.  I had that advantage.  Satoshi was reading his
attacks before he even used them and had a counter move for each of
them.  I wondered why he just didn't call for Fire Claw and get this over
with.
Then I realized he wanted me to enjoy a real battle, no one-hit K.O.s right
at the start.  I smiled.
He wanted me to show these spoiled yuppies a real battle, I could do that.
So my opponent and I continued our dangerous aerial dance.
"Finish it Inferno!  Fire Claw!"
Now that was more like it!
I launched Fire Claw, direct hit.
But he didn't faint, uh oh . . .
I waited for my next order as I avoided his attacks.
"Ultimate Fire Claw!"
I grimaced, that attack was still experimental.  
Focussing everything I had into my claws I let loose with the Ultimate
version of Fire Claw.  It hit and he fainted.  I roared triumphantly as I
went to Satoshi's side.
*I want to watch Raptor's battle, I promise I won't interfere.*
"Okay Inferno!"  He said as he withdrew Raptor's pokeball.
"You got lucky squirt!  Let's see how you handle a real pokemon! 
Venusaur go!"
"Will Satoshi's Charizard remain in the battle or will he send out the
mysterious Raptor for its debut battle?"
"You feel up to it?  Or do I let Raptor have some fun?"
*Give him a chance.*
"I choose you, Raptor!"
Camera's all over the stadium began flashing as the majority of people
took pictures.
<*Father?*>
"Don't worry Raptor, the world was bound to learn about you anyway."
"Sleep Powder!"
"Psy Shield!"
Raptor erected a shield to protect him from Sleep Powder.
Sean looked mad now.  He called for Solar Beam Satoshi retaliated with
Psychic.
"Raptor uses Psychic!  Venusaur is woozy but still collecting for the most
powerful of plant attacks!  Wait, what's this?!  Raptor is glowing, it
might have learned a new attack!  Venusaur fires the Solar Beam . . . .
Direct hit!  Raptor's still standing and using Psychic again! 
AAAMMAAAAZING!!  Raptor has actually jumped over Venusaur!"
"Slash!"
"Vine Whip!"
Raptor's Slash did some major damage, but the Vine Whips started
whipping him.  Raptor gave that bone chilling scream of his as he jumped
on Venusaur's back and clamped his jaws onto it's bulb.
"SAAUUUURRR!"
"Psychic!"
"Poison Powder!"
Raptor jumped off Venusaur and launched Psychic while avoiding the
Powder.  Compared to Venusaur he was weak but he was holding his
own admirably.  I admit the little guy had a lot of potential.
It was weak now, one more attack would take it out.  But right now the
same applied to Raptor.
I shouldn't have worried.
"Raptor uses Slash!  Venusaur is down!  Satoshi is the winner!"  The
announcer howled.  Raptor chirped happily while jumping onto the
platform. 
<*I won my first battle!  I won I won I WON!!*>
"Yes you did Raptor!  I'm proud of you!"  Satoshi managed to wheeze
out while Raptor squeezed him.
*Satoshi, we've got a problem.* I muttered as I turned his head to face
the onrush of reporters who wanted to be the first to learn about Raptor.
"Inferno?"  He squeaked.  I shook my head, Charizard had done a job on
my wing.  I couldn't fly him out of here.
"Try to keep them at bay until League security gets them under control." 
Satoshi sighed to both of us.
<*Father, I can Teleport us all back.*>
Our eyes widened, salvation!
"Okay Raptor, Teleport!"
We vanished from the platform and reappeared in the bedroom.
"You're a lifesaver Raptor."  
I nodded in agreement.  He puffed up proudly.

    Source: geocities.com/televisioncity/taping/2426

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