Chapter 18 Annabelle vs. Lina Vaughn

  The arena was loud, the mass of voices drowned out everything else. The referee raised his flag and looked towards Annabelle. “Ready?”

  Annabelle stepped forward and nodded, Wattson’s PokéBall glinted in her hand as she threw it.

  In a flash of light the Galvantula appeared, across the field Lina tossed her PokéBall and Jolteon leapt into view, electricity crackling along its fur.

  “Annabelle”, Lina said smoothly, a confident smile tugging at her lips. “I can’t believe you’ve made it this far.”

  “You won’t be the one to stop me, Lina”

  Lina’s lip curled up into a grin. “Bring…it…on”

  The referee dropped the flag. “Battle start!”

  Wattson’s legs blurred as he surged forward.

  Sticky Web!” Annabelle shouted, silk already firing from his abdomen in glittering arcs that clung to the dirt like glass threads. The arena floor shimmered as strands spread across the battlefield.

  Jolteon charged instantly, sparks flying from its fur. It darted forward with a Quick Attack, a blinding streak of yellow aimed at Wattson.

  “Electroweb, shoot it vertically right in front of you!” Annabelle shouted. Wattson’s abdomen glowed with energy as he fired a thin, glimmering net of webbing.

  Jolteon slammed into it mid-leap, sparks scattering as the web slowed its momentum. The attack clung to Jolteon’s paws, slowing it down just enough.

  “Good, keep it up!” Annabelle urged, gesturing for Wattson to continue. He dashed forward again, scattering more sticky strands, covering the field in a tactical webbing maze.

  Jolteon tried to pivot and dart through gaps, but the webs sapped its speed just enough for Wattson to land a hard slash across Jolteon’s side forcing her to tumble back.

  Lina’s grin tightened. “Not bad, but don’t get comfortable.” Jolteon shook off the remaining webbing and charged again, sparks flying. “Thunderbolt!”

  “Quick! Sucker punch!” Annabelle shouted.

  In a blur of motion Wattson slammed into Jolteon sending her tumbling.

  Slowly Jolteon rose, her legs shaking as she did.

  “Wattson don’t let up! Thunderbolt!”

  A huge smile crept across Lina’s face. As arcs of lightning jumped from Wattson to the ground below. Annabelle furrowed her brow in confusion and wondered “why is she smiling?”

  “Jolteon stay put”

  A huge discharge of electricity left Wattson and enveloped Jolteon, she closed her eyes as the energy washed over her. A light green glow radiated outward from her as her wounds started to heal.

  Annabelle let out a sigh “Wattson, no more electric attacks. She has Volt Absorb that attack just healed her!”

  Wattson stomped his feet in frustration. “Don’t worry bud, for now use agility.”

  For a moment Wattson’s fur shimmered as his speed was boosted.

  “Jolteon, Headbutt”

  “Jump to the side and use Fury Cutter Wattson”

  In a blur Jolteon crashed into Wattson’s side sending him tumbling.

  In disbelief Annabelle mumbled “she’s still faster even after an agility, wow.”

  “Jolteon Quick Attack!”

  “Wattson String Shot then Fury Cutter.”

  Jolteon lunged forward and a thread of silk wrapped around her legs, Wattson rolled to the left just as Jolteon landed where he had just stood.

  His front leg lashed out and scraped along Jolteon’s side.

  Lina narrowed her eyes “what a weak attack, that spider is all bark and no bite. Here is a real attack, Jolteon Iron Tail.”

  “Wattson, Fury Cutter again.”

  Fury Cutter smashed into Jolteon’s left side just as Iron Tail slammed into Wattson’s left side sending both Pokemon rolling across the ground.

  A look of pure confusion was on Lina’s face “What? That seemed stronger this time”

  Jolteon hopped back to her feet and from across the arena Wattson struggled to rise, his legs shaking from the strain.

  Annabelle’s voice was tight and full of worry. “Wattson are you okay?”

  He clicked his mandibles and nodded his head. “Good then let’s finish this!”

  “Jolteon Wild Charge, take him out.”

  Electricity coalesced around Jolteon as she pushed off the ground launching herself at Wattson.

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  “Fury Cutter!”

  “Really that same attack again, you never learn Annabelle.”

  Energy radiated off of Wattson’s front leg as he swung it as hard as he could.

  The blow connected with Jolteon sending a shower of sparks in all directions.

  Like a bullet from a gun Jolteon shot across the arena and crashed into the far wall. The wall shattered and rocks tumbled free and rolled across the ground.

  The referee raised his flag signaling the knockout. “Jolteon is unable to battle, winner Annabelle!”

  Lina recalled Jolteon with a deep scowl on her face.

  “How? That attack was so weak, was he holding back this entire time?”

  A grin flashed across Annabelle’s face “Guess you’ve never heard of Fury Cutter before. It doubles in power after each hit.”

  Before Annabelle could even savor the victory, Lina called out, “Enough talking, lets finish this.”

  “Send out your Frogadier, my Galvantula has the advantage this match is mine.”

  Lina smirked as she threw her next PokéBall.

  The frog appeared in a swirl of water, sleek and deadly with a water shuriken already spinning in its hand.

  Annabelle’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s not a Frogadier! When did he evolve!”

  Without warning Greninja shot forward.

  Whoa… he’s fast Annabelle thought.

  “Wattson, thunderbolt.”

  Before he could unleash the attack, a massive Night Slash slammed directly into his side, sending him tumbling across the ground.

  “Galvantula is unable to battle!” shouted the referee.

  This fight was over before it had even begun.

  “Not as easy as you thought now is it, Annabelle?”

  Annabelle bit down so hard her teeth ached. “Well, there goes our type advantage.”

  With a flick of her wrist Annabelle sent Hank’s PokéBall flying.

  In a blinding flash of light, the massive Arcanine appeared and loosed a howl that had students and teachers alike covering their ears.

  Across the field, Greninja crouched low, water rippled around his feet. The two Pokémon stared at each other fire and water, predator and ninja.

  Lina smirked. “Let’s see how that mutt of yours holds up after a bath.”

  Annabelle pointed forward. “Hank — Fire Blast!”

  Flames gathered in his throat, erupting outward in a blazing sigil that seared across the battlefield. The wave of heat forced the spectators in the first few rows to lean back.

  “Hydro Pump!” Lina countered.

  Greninja thrust both his palms forward. A torrent of pressurized water slammed into the incoming inferno. Fire and water collided mid-field with an earth-shaking boom, and the entire arena vanished beneath a churning wall of steam.

  Wendel jogged into the stands just as the explosion shook the arena. He stopped and stared as steam covered the field below.

  “Annabelle?” he muttered, scanning for her silhouette.

  Then he saw Hank jump out of the mist, his fur was soaked but he stood like a drawn bow ready to strike.

  Over Wendel's left shoulder two students caught his attention.

  “Did you see that?”

  “Yeah, that Arcanine is strong, but he doesn’t stand a chance against a water type”

  The shorter of the two nodded his head. “Looks like that redhead drew the short straw today.”

  Wendel glanced back at them. “A disadvantage doesn’t mean certain defeat; I wouldn’t count her out just yet.”

  “But—”

  His voice was drowned out from below.

  “Now, Hank! Extreme Speed stay on him!”

  The ground cracked under his feet as he lunged forward.

  Greninja flipped backward, narrowly avoiding the strike. Hank dug his claws into the ground, forcing himself to turn.

  “Now Hank Slash”

  His front left leg carved through the air for another attack.

  Lina’s voice rang out. “Substitute, now!”

  A ripple of water covered Greninja’s body.

  Three razor sharp claws cut Greninja in half bursting the substitute from the impact. The water fell to the ground with a loud splash.

  “Where did the real one go?” Annabelle’s eyes darted to the right.

  A shadow flickered across the ground. “Hank, above you!”

  Greninja dove from above, a spinning Water Shuriken slicing downward. Hank twisted aside, but the edge still grazed his flank, water droplets hissed as they turned into steam.

  “Quick Attack!”

  Hank launched forward, chasing Greninja. The two danced across the field neither being able to out speed the other.

  “Hank! Thunder Fang!”

  “Water pulse, straight down!”

  Greninja jumped and released a torrent that smashed into the arena floor sending the frog skyward.

  Annabelle gritted her teeth. “We can use that—Hank, watch him! Pounce when he gets close to the ground.

  “Water Shuriken”

  Hank jumped backwards just as a shuriken slammed into the ground. A second one caught him in the back knocking him to the ground.

  A third and fourth smashed into his ribs pushing him even further across the ground.

  A small whine came from Hank as he stood back up.

  “You good?”

  With a snort that sent small flames shooting out of his nostrils Hank dipped his head.

  Then, a splash from across the field.

  “He’s back on the ground; we need to end this hit him with everything you have.”

  “Greninja, Quick Attack to get in close then use Chilling Water.”

  In the blink of an eye, Greninja was ten feet to the right of Hank. A blue glow enveloped Greninja as he slid to a stop.

  Greninja’s foot snagged on a strand of Sticky Web left over from Wattson.

  “Giga Impact! Thank you Wattson!”

  White energy crackled around him. The ground quaked beneath his paws as he exploded forward.

  “Finish this!” Annabelle shouted.

  “Endure!” shouted Lina.

  The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the arena.

  Hank dropped to the ground exhausted from the attack.

  For a heartbeat, Annabelle thought it was over.

  With sheer willpower Greninja stood back up, his arms hung loosely at his side.

  Greninja took one step forward before coughing up blood.

  “Now Hydro Pump!”

  A massive stream of water hit Hank square in the chest, hurling him backward into the wall with a bone-rattling thud.

  The silence that followed seemed to suffocate Annabelle.

  “Arcanine is unable to battle! Greninja wins! The match goes to Lina Vaughn!”

  Annabelle stood frozen, her fists were trembling. Hank lay unconscious against the arena wall.

  Annabelle blinked twice and cleared her head before she ran over to him, placing a hand on his head and scratching behind his ear before recalling him into his PokéBall. “You did so good bud. Take a break you deserve it.”

  Lina approached from the opposite side. “You’ve changed, Annabelle. You’re not that timid little girl I remember. You made me work for that one.”

  Annabelle managed a small smile. “Next time, I won’t lose.”

  Lina chuckled. “Ohh really? I’ll keep training then.” Then she turned and headed off the field. “Come on, Greninja lets go get you checked out.”

  As she walked off, Annabelle lingered in the arena, the crowd was still buzzing. She brushed her hair behind her ears; eyes fixed on the empty end of the field.

  She brushed her hand over the top of Hank’s PokéBall. So close, she whispered inwardly. I’m still not strong enough… not yet.

  Annabelle started off the field, Wendel’s eyes widened as he realized she was heading straight for the infirmary alone.

  “Annabelle!” he shouted, breaking into a jog to catch up. “Wait up!”

  She glanced over her shoulder, hair sticking to her forehead from sweat, and gave a faint nod. “I’m fine, Wendel. Just need to check on Hank.”

  He closed the distance beside her, matching her pace. The roar of the crowd faded behind them, replaced by the quiet echo of their footsteps.

  “You were incredible, you almost had Lina.”

  “Yea, almost…But my best wasn’t enough.” Snapping her teeth in frustration.

  They walked the remainder of the way in silence.

  Together, they pushed through the infirmary doors. Nurse Meryl looked up, giving a quick nod. “I’ll take it from here,” she said.

  Annabelle sank into a chair, brushing a damp strand of hair from her face.

  “Annabelle—” Wendel started.

  “Don’t…just go check on Cecilia. I want to be alone.”

  For a few seconds it was quiet.

  “All right, I’ll be back in a little bit.”

  With a soft click the door closed behind Wendel.

  “I’m still too weak.” She whispered under her breath.