Chapter 78: Finals (4)
~Third POV~
[Johto Region, Goldenrod City, Random Home]
Meanwhile, in Goldenrod City of the Johto Region, a boy was watching the match between Red and Azure as he yelled excitedly, "Whoa! They're Gengar and Venusaur are so strong! This battle is totally wicked!"
Watching TV with his Ralts, Skitty, and Poochyena was Ruby. Ruby was shaking in excitement as his mother, Caroline, chuckled, "Haha… Yes, Ruby, both of those Trainers in the finals are very strong."
Ruby nodded as from the side of the room was Norman Ruby's father as his son said in an excited tone, "Yeah… but they're not as cool or strong as Dad! Right?!"
Norman chuckled, rubbing his son's head as he said happily, encouraging him, "I don't know, son… But who knows? But I know someday you'll become a great Trainer like your old man, eh, Ruby."
Ruby grinned, rubbing his nose as he said, childishly jabbing his thumb to his chest, "Heh! You bet! I'll be the best Trainer in the world!"
Norman smiled seeing that Ruby is this interested in battling. They all sat watching the battle with their son, enjoying the moment of family bonding.
/////
[Kanto Region, Indigo Plateau, Stadium]
The roar of the crowd was deafening. Azure, his heart hammering a frantic rhythm against his ribs, adjusted his grip on the Poké Ball. He could feel the weight of expectation pressing on him, his own burning ambition all coalescing into a single, tangible pressure.
Across the battlefield, Red stood, his posture as solid and unwavering as a mountain. His Venusaur stood tall, having been powered up with Sunny Day still active along with its Attack and Sp. Attack stats buffed by +2 stages.
Now, he stood facing Azure, his gaze steady, unfazed. But that playful smirk on his face, along with a bead of sweat, showed how hard Red planned and fought his way against his Partner Eevee, Arcanine, and now Scizor, who fainted recently against Red's strongest trio of Pokémon.
He managed to take down Snorlax, Red's Pika, and Poli the Poliwrath. Now stood his fourth and difficult obstacle, the Venusaur, powered up.
Its massive flower, a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors, swayed gently in the wind, releasing a calming, almost hypnotic scent that did little to soothe Azure's nerves. This wasn't just any Venusaur; this was Red's Venusaur, a Pokémon renowned for its incredible resilience, its potent attacks, and its unwavering loyalty to its trainer.
*Gulp*
Azure swallowed hard. He knew he had to play this perfectly. He had planned for this moment, strategized, and trained relentlessly.
He trusted his team, and he trusted his instincts. Azure shouted, throwing his own Poké Ball, "Gengar, let's go!"
*Pop*
A swirling vortex of purple energy materialized, solidifying into Gengar, the Shadow Pokémon. Its mischievous grin seemed even wider under the spotlight, its crimson eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Gengar is Azure's Pokémon; he had raised from a timid Gastly, nurturing its potential, honing its skills. He had a deep bond with Gengar, like most of his Pokémon.
The crowd erupted again, a wave of sound washing over the stadium. The clash between the spectral Gengar and the colossal Venusaur was a stark contrast, a battle of wits versus brute force, speed versus stamina, darkness versus light.
Red commanded, his voice calm, controlled, "Venusaur, Razor Leaf!"
*Swp*
Venusaur unleashed a barrage of razor-sharp leaves, each one whistling through the air with deadly accuracy. Azure knew that Gengar was at a severe disadvantage due to the stacked boost against its fragile HP stats.
As a Ghost/Poison-type, Gengar was resistant to Grass-type moves. But he didn't want to take chances.
Azure countered quickly, his voice stern and steady in a determined tone, "Gengar, dodge and use Shadow Ball!"
*Shiii*
Gengar, a master of agility, shimmered and phased through several leaves, the remaining ones slicing harmlessly through the air where it had been moments before. With a guttural growl, Gengar conjured a swirling orb of dark energy in its hands, hurling it towards Venusaur.
*BOOOM*
The Shadow Ball connected with a resounding impact, sending a visible shockwave through Venusaur. However, the behemoth stood its ground, barely flinching.
Its thick hide and rigorous training had hardened it against such attacks. Red instructed, "Venusaur, use Synthesis then Growth!"
*Shiii*
Venusaur's flower began to glow, drawing in the sun's energy to heal its wounds. Azure watched in frustration as the damage Gengar had inflicted was reversed back to full health under the effects of Sunny Day.
He needed to disrupt Venusaur's healing. Azure urged, swiping his hand outward, "Gengar, Confuse Ray, quickly!"
*Shiii*
Gengar's eyes glowed with an eerie light, firing a beam of psychic energy at Venusaur. The Confusion hit its mark, and Venusaur swayed on its feet, visibly disoriented.
Azure seized the opportunity, "Now, Ice Punch!"
Gengar's fist glowed with ice energy, and it darted forward, striking Venusaur squarely in the face. The impact reverberated through the stadium, sending Venusaur stumbling backward.
*CRACK*
Red's expression remained unreadable. He seemed to be observing the battle with extreme interest, analyzing every move, every counter, every weakness.
Red finally commanded, "Venusaur, Sleep Powder!"
*Poof*
Luck played in Red's favor as Venusaur unleashed a cloud of fine powder that drifted through the air towards Gengar. Azure knew that if Gengar inhaled the powder, it would be game over.
Azure shouted, "Gengar, use Icy Wind!"
*Woooosh*
Gengar's eyes narrowed, focusing its ice energy on Venusaur. The Icy Wind attack worked, disrupting Venusaur's ability to use Sleep Powder as the spores were frozen solid thanks to Icy Wind.
The remaining powder dissipated harmlessly in the air or was frozen solid. Not only that, Venusaur recoiled in pain from the Ice-type move.
Azure breathed a sigh of relief. He had managed to avoid disaster. But he knew that this was just the beginning. Red was the Fighter, a title meaning his very good in Pokémon Battles, and he wouldn't give up easily.
The battle raged on, a whirlwind of attacks and counters. Venusaur unleashed Vine Whip, entangling Gengar and constricting its movements. Gengar retaliated with a series of Night Shades, ghostly attacks that bypassed Venusaur's defenses.
The crowd was on the edge of their seats, captivated by the display of skill and power. Azure yelled, gambling on a surprise attack, "Gengar, Hyper Beam!"
He had taught Gengar the move in secret, a weapon he had hoped to unleash at the perfect moment. Gengar unleashed a powerful beam that surged through the air, aiming a direct hit at Venusaur, jolting the behemoth with immense force.
*BOOOOM*
An explosion occurred once the Hyper Beam hit, as Venusaur roared in pain, its body convulsing. The Hyper Beam had dealt significant damage.
Red's eyes widened slightly, betraying a hint of surprise. He hadn't expected that.
Red commanded, his voice regaining its composure, "Venusaur, Synthesis!"
*Shiii*
With Sunny Day fading, Venusaur regained some health from the sun glaring daggers at Gengar. And with Gengar stunned, needing to recharge from the Hyper Beam, Venusaur gained a free turn to heal.
Having enough to continue without worry of fainting, Red commanded, "Venusaur, Petal Dance!"
*Swooosh*
Venusaur unleashed a whirlwind of petals, each one imbued with razor-sharp energy. The petals swirled around the battlefield, creating a dazzling, yet deadly, spectacle.
Azure instructed his voice laced in worry as he yelled, "Gengar, protect yourself with Protect!!"
*Shiii*
*CLANG*
Gengar conjured a massive transparent energy barrier, using it as a shield to deflect the incoming petals. But the Petal Dance was relentless, and the Protect began to crumble under the assault.
*CRACK*
Finally, with a final burst of energy, the Petal Dance shattered the Protect, and the remaining petals slammed into Gengar. Gengar cried out in pain, its body flickering as it absorbed the damage.
Even with Black Sludge slowly regaining its health, Gengar's state wasn't its best. It panted, showing exhaustion against Red's Venusaur.
Azure watched in horror as his Pokémon staggered, its strength waning. Azure asked, his voice filled with concern, "Gengar, can you still fight?"
Gengar looked at Azure, its crimson eyes filled with determination. It nodded weakly, signaling that it was ready to continue.
Azure knew that Gengar was on its last legs. But he also knew that Gengar would never give up. He had to find a way to turn the tide, to exploit Venusaur's weakness, to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. He had to think outside the box to come up with a strategy that Red wouldn't expect.
Then, it hit him. An idea, a gamble, a desperate move that could either win him the tournament or cost him everything.
Taking a deep breath, Azure said, his voice low as Gengar listened, "Gengar… I need you to use Destiny Bond."
Gengar looked at Azure, understanding dawning in its eyes. Destiny Bond was a risky move, a last-ditch effort that would bind Gengar's fate to its opponent.
If Gengar fainted after using Destiny Bond, its attacker would also faint. It was a gamble, but Azure knew he had no other choice with Red's Saur healing mid-fight or amping itself up that could sweep his team.
Azure glanced at Gengar with a determined grin on his face, thought with clenched fist, 'If I saved Eevee till later or Arcanine, this wouldn't have been a problem. But Red's Saur needs to go down, leaving me against his Gyarados and Aerodactyl left…'
The thought unsettled Azure more than he cared to admit. Both were powerhouses, and with his Partner Pikachu exhausted from its battle with Pika in the early round, he only had his Dragonite to battle against 2 of Red's Pokémon.
Azure adjusted his cap, eyes focusing intensely on the battle in front of him as he thought seriously, 'Still, no matter the obstacles in our way… our path forward is to go straight head on!'
Thus, he made his call. Red commanded, sensing that Gengar was weakening, "Venusaur, Solar Beam!"
*Shiii*
Venusaur began to gather energy, absorbing the sunlight into its flower. The air crackled with anticipation as the behemoth prepared to unleash its most powerful attack.
Azure shouted, "Now, Gengar!"
Gengar's body glowed with an ethereal light as it activated Destiny Bond. It stood, poised and ready, awaiting its fate as it muttered, "Gen! Gengar! (If I'm going down today… I'm taking you with me!!)"
*BOOOOM*
*RMBL*
Venusaur unleashed the Solar Beam, a concentrated beam of solar energy that shot towards Gengar with blinding speed. The beam struck Gengar head-on, engulfing it in a blinding flash of light. The stadium shook as the two Pokémon collided, their fates intertwined.
The light subsided, revealing the aftermath of the attack. Gengar stood motionless, its body flickering.
It had taken the full force of the Solar Beam. Then, with a final gasp, Gengar fainted as it saluted Azure with a tired grin, "Gen… gar… (I leave the rest up to you, Master…)'
The crowd gasped, a collective wave of disappointment rippling through the stadium. It was over. Azure had lost another Pokémon… But then, a twist.
*THUD*
As Gengar collapsed, Venusaur suddenly staggered. Its eyes glazed over, and its massive body began to sway. Then, with a final groan, Venusaur also fainted.
The stadium erupted in stunned silence. No one could believe what had just happened.
Both Gengar and Venusaur had fainted simultaneously. The Destiny Bond had worked.
Red stared at his fallen Venusaur, his expression unreadable. He had been so close to victory, only to have it snatched away by a desperate gamble.
The referee, after a moment of stunned silence, raised his hand as he announced in a loud tone, "Both Pokémon are unable to battle! Therefore, both trainers must send out their next Pokémon!"
Azure felt a surge of adrenaline. He still had a chance. He still had 2 Pokémon left, his trusty Pikachu, the first Pokémon, despite being weakened from Pika, could rely upon it if things got tough.
And one fully healthy Dragonite remains on his side holding its Poke Ball. Dragonite within the Poke Ball grinned eagerly, waiting for its chance to shine.
Red, equally determined, reached for his next Poké Ball. The battle was far from over.
The Indigo League Pokémon League Tournament finals had reached a fever pitch, a culmination of skill, strategy, and sheer determination. And Azure was ready to fight to the very end. The destiny bond had turned the tide of the battle. It was now anyone's game.
/////
[Kanto Region, Indigo Plateau, Stadium – Audience Stand]
Meanwhile, in the audience stood Green, Blue, Bill, Prof. Oak, and the Good Gym Leaders as they witnessed the battle between Gengar and Venusaur. They remained silent as they saw the confrontation between the two end in mutual destruction again.
Bill mutters in a surprised tone, gazing between the two trainers, stunned, "He managed to knock out Red's Saur. But how?!"
Prof. Oak explained, recognizing this move being used before, as he stated bluntly, "It's quite simple. Gengar used Destiny Bond to take Red's Venusaur with it once it fainted. I have to say it was a gutsy move to pull."
Others looked confused, but Blue spoke up, nodding his head in understanding as he lightly frowned, seeing Gengar saying, "True. If Sky had allowed Red to continue his setup, it would've been disastrous in the long run. While he lost his Gengar, he traded it off by getting rid of Red's Venusaur in the process."
Bill, understanding the situation, nodded as Green chimed in with a serious expression as she muttered, "Yeah, but now it'll be an uphill battle. While they now have 2 Pokémon left, only one on Azure's side is weakened from the prior battle. Wouldn't it be wise to say it's 1v2 in this case?"
Some nodded their head, but Misty added, crossing her arms as she added, "True. But it's ultimately what plan they have that would determine the outcome of the match."
Erika added as she gazed at the two trainers who earned her Gym Badge in a soft tone, "I agree. Take Red, for example, whose plan lulling Sky into a trap made him get ahead despite his earlier Type Disadvantage. Red managed to take out both his Pokémon. Now that Sky is pushed into a corner, what will he do next to change the battle in his favor?"
Hearing her words, they all nodded, wanting to know who would win this Pokémon Battle as they paid attention to their next move. Green mumbles in an annoyed tone, "Both of them are unpredictable... when you push one, they'll surprise you with an unexpected move or action at a moment's notice. It's hard to tell who'll win..."
Everyone nodded as the Gym Leaders themselves battled Red and Azure. Both brought unpredictable battle tactics and each fought Gym Leaders respectfully.
Unaware of the group, Blue gazed at the match, recalling one feat that Red hadn't gotten from Azure in a curious tone, 'Between the two of them... only Azure challenged and won all the Badges from the Gym Leaders. With his Gym Badges providing him power... guess we'll wait and see who'll really win...'
Prof. Oak merely smiled as he thought, seeing Red and Azure go all out, 'In their hearts, they know they'll go on to face every challenge. Now comes the time to test their skills… The Fighter Vs Move Tutor.'
Prof. Oak lightly chuckled, seeing two potential Elite Trainers shaking their heads helplessly. All eyes were now on Azure and Red to see the end of their battle and who would be the winner of the Ninth Pokémon League Tournament of the Indigo League…
/////
A/N: Thanks, guys, for your thoughts and ideas on what to do with Amphorous. Anyway, how did you like the battle between Gengar vs Venusaur?
I hope it was to your liking how Red and Azure battled using strategies and spamming healing moves. The next one is a long chapter, and the final battle of who is the winner of the Ninth Pokémon League Tournament.
I would like to know who you guys think it is compared to Red vs the MC. Anyway, that's all, and hopefully you guys like the chapter!