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

The Battle Against The Master
Chapter 26


I sighed and leaned back in the chair in the waiting room.  Musashi must
be finishing off her battle with Lucas right about now.
I couldn't do it.  I know Rare Beauty could've beaten Houndoom easily,
one Hydro Pump was all it would've taken.
No.
During the battle my mind kept remembering all the times my pokemon
had gotten seriously hurt.  It ended with Inferno's battle against Rhydon. 
After all that I couldn't release Rare Beauty.  My pokemon weren't ready
for the Pokemon Master.  'I' wasn't ready.
I have the utmost confidence that Musashi will beat the Pokemon Master. 
And I'd be watching her victory from here in the waiting room.
Inferno came from Nurse Joy and scowled briefly at me before sitting
down silently.  I winced.  Ramona, Rare Beauty, Shelldon and even Zeus
had each given me a dirty look.  Raptor only gave me one of
understanding, with his link to me he knew why I had forfeited the match.
After Musashi's battle I'd have some explaining to do.  But I'm reassured
to know that Raptor will be in my corner when the time comes.
I wasn't looking forward to that time though, not by a long shot.
On the T.V. the door opened and Musashi walked out into the arena. 
There was a gasp from Nurse Joy as it suddenly got a little more crowded
in the room.
<(Longtail!)> Raptor chirped.
<(I thought I'd come watch the match with you.)> Longtail answered.
"Make yourself comfortable, the battle's about to begin."  I told her as
she sat down next to Raptor.


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

Truthfully, I'd been surprised that I had fought Lucas instead of Satoshi. 
I couldn't believe he lost!
Then again, the Houndoom must've surprised him.  It sure surprised me,
Vaporeon had been barely able to beat it.
Now I was almost giddy, I was going to go up against the Pokemon
Master in only a few hours!
Second by second, minute by minute the hours ticked by and I almost
literally jumped out of my skin when the clock tolled 12.
I'd chosen my team carefully, the six of them were my six strongest with
a decent elemental variety.
Venusaur.
Lupis.
Blastoise.
Sandslash.
Pidgeot.
Raichu.
Together we could beat the Pokemon Master!

My stomach clenched in nervousness as I entered the arena where I'd
battle the Pokemon Master.
"I challenge you!"
"Accepted."  Richie grinned.
"It will be a six on six battle!  No time limit!"  The referee said as the coin
went up in the air.  Richie had to send out first.
"Go Mind Bender!"  I blinked at the green bird-like pokemon that came
out of the pokeball and checked my pokedex. 
"Xatu, the Sprit pokemon. The evolved form of Natu.  A Psychic/Flying
type, it hardly moves or talks.  It stares fixedly ahead, people have come
to believe that it's body looks both into the past and future."
Great, Sandslash won't work . . .
So let's try Electric.
"Raichu go!"
"Xatu, Prophecy!"
An eerie greenish glow surrounded it just as I called for Thunder Bolt. 
To my surprise it sidestepped the attack!
I bit my lip and went for Agility.  Xatu began teleporting every time
Raichu came close.  When it vanished for the umpteenth time I ordered a
Thunder for the spot I had hoped it would rematerialise next.
Lady Luck was with me.  Direct hit.
<"Such a strange pokemon."> Machop murmured as Xatu squeezed out a
Psychic before fainting.  Raichu was woozy but still in good battling
condition.

<"Johto?">

"Go Rocky!"
"Bangiras ras!"  The green and purple pokemon roared, I flinched as I
pulled out my pokedex.
"Bangiras, the Armour pokemon.  The evolved form of Pupitar.  A
Rock/Evil type, this pokemon is aggressive since it has a tough body no
attack can single handedly defeat.  It barely flinches when under attack,
it's armour-like skin protects it in battle."
Oh crap . . . Raichu would be a goner if she stayed in the arena . . .
"Raichu return!"  I returned her ball to my belt and pulled out another
one.  "I'm counting on you to defeat that thing . . ."  I murmured. 
"Blastoise go!  Surf!"
"Mangle!"
It charged right through the Surf attack with a grunt and went hand to
hand with Blastoise.  
"Blow it away with Hydro Pump!"  His cannons snapped into view and
released a high pressured blast right into Bangiras, sending it all the way
across the arena and buying Blastiose some time to get his second wind.


~~~~~~Blastoise's POV~~~~~~

I can't help but wonder where this guy came from.  He's powerful!  Not
even Tochi has withstood all the water I've pumped at him so far!  He's a
Rock Type too!  This is almost insulting.  But Musashi-master is counting
on me to take him out.  It'll be hard though, a Rock pokemon that can
withstand the five Surf attacks and three Hydro Pumps this one has is
bound to be an interesting opponent.
I could sense he was weakened, perhaps about half health by now.  I
know because the same roughly applied to me.
He rammed into me just as I drew myself into my shell.
Yup.
Real interesting opponent.


~~~~~~Bastet's POV~~~~~~

I glarrrrred balefully at Julie.  I wanted to see Satoshi now.  Brrrrringing
my claws out I apprrrrroached her, thrrrrreatening.
"I can't bring him here Bastet!  He's probably battling the Pokemon
Master right now!"
Perrrrrhaps so . . .
She doesn't underrrrrstand though.  Satoshi saved my life.  I want to be
close to him.  My old trrrrrainerrr . . .  I hissed to myself.  My old
trrrrrainerrr was crrrruel, she beat me and the otherrrrs when we didn't
perrrrforrrm to herrrr too high expectations.  Finally she abandoned us all
except forrrr herrrr starrrrting pokemon.  I only hope the otherrrrs arrre
farrrring as well as I am now with good trrrrainerrrs.


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

Blastoise panted and I gave a sigh of relief when Bangiras finally fainted,
the battle had been unbelievably difficult for poor Blastoise.  I recalled
him so he could rest.
"Go Titan!"
"Lupis go!"  We said as the same time as we released our pokemon.  I
took one look at the other pokemon and groaned.  This was one of the
very few Johto pokemon I could recognise.  And it just so happened that
Fire was very strong against this pokemon.
"Attract!"
He winked at Lupis and she suddenly got all weak kneed.  My jaw
dropped, whaaaa?
"Fire Blast Lupis!"
Lupis just loped over to Forretress, the pokemon, and nuzzled him.
Frustrated I slapped my forehead and tried to call for Flamethrower.
She still ignored me and continued to rub against him.  I fumed, if I
recalled her now I'd be one pokemon shorter.  And by the time she
snapped out of it then it'd be too late!  It was a lose - lose situation!
"Lupis, return."
I cursed under my breath, now who could I send out?
"Pidgeot go!  Wing Attack!"
He dove and hit Forretress with his wing, it winced and he went in for
another attack.  I bit my lip, Bob's Sonic Boom would have it out for the
count by now.  I watched Pidgeot attack, and wondered . . .
"Pidgeot!  Try a Sonic Boom!"
He looked at me in surprise, he knew as well as I did that he had no
experience executing the attack and that it might go wild.  I nodded,
affirming my order.
I had no doubt that he could do it, he was fast enough.
He ascended into the sky before turning around and dive-bombing
straight at Forretress.  When he passed I began to count.
"1."
"2 . . ."
"GEEEOOOOT!"
The big Bug/Steel type flipped over, little spirals in it's eyes.
A shiver crawled through me.

<"The air is changing . . . something's coming."> She shuddered.
 I asked as I called for Pidgeot to use Whirlwind
on Richie's Raichu, Sparky.
<"That's the worst part Musashi, I don't know.">
My eyes widened, Machop Never called me Musashi unless it was
serious.  She always said 'my friend'.


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

As I watched Musashi's big battle the hairs on the back of my neck rose
and before I knew it Charmeleon had forcefully taken control and was
watching the sky through the window.

<"Something's wrong.">

<"Don't know, but the air's changing.">

<"I'd bet Machop felt it the same time I did.  Probably Makaar too.  The
three of us are the spirits of magic springs, we're more sensitive to
changes.  The other pokemon will probably pick it up in a day or so.">
A wave of comfort ran through me and the both of us relaxed.  I took
control again and smiled.
   I thought before opening my mouth to say it out
loud.
<(That's alright.  You looked like you needed it Father.)>
 Then it hit me.  I was talking to Raptor
telepathically!
(Venusaur's battling Zippo!)  Shelldon exclaimed.  I returned my
attention to the T.V.  They were both down to their last pokemon!  
"Venusaur, Vine Whip!  Tie up Charizard!  Especially the mouth!"
"Fire Spin!"
At least a two dozen vines snaked out and bound Charizard's arms, legs,
wings and mouth.  She looked like a Mummy in green bandages.
"Solar Beam!"
The bulb began collecting sunlight it took a lot longer than Venusaur
usually takes.  I peered closely and saw the almost invisible beads of
sweat on her forehead from the effort of holding the enormous amount of
solar energy in her bulb and trying to restrain a thrashing Charizard in her
vines.
Did Venusaur actually think she could store enough sunlight to take out
Zippo in one shot?
Watching her I decided that she most likely did.
"Fire!"
Venusaur literally threw Zippo into Richie's platform, while she was
stunned Venusaur fired with a tremendous roar that surprised me. 
Venusaur's usually so quiet . . .
The beam was so bright that we all had to turn away from the T.V.  The
white out lasted for a good five minutes before it finally dissipated.  I
flinched inwardly, I don't think even Inferno could've stood up to that
much power.  And that's saying a lot.
We all finally looked.
Zippo was down . . .
<("MUSASHI WON!!!!")> We all hollered in joy as the seven of us,
including Longtail joined in a huge group hug.  My pokemon temporarily
forgetting that they were angry at me for forfeiting the battle against
Lucas.
Soon we would be going home back to Pallet, where we would all train
hard and rest while Musashi waited for the next league games to defend
her title of Pokemon Master.
Actually, I guess the politically correct term for her status would be
Pokemon Mistress . . .

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