Harley and Ivy stand on their respective platforms, the neutral gray surface of the arena stretching between them. Harley, ever the showman, strikes a playful pose, her baseball bat casually slung over her shoulder. Her eyes gleam with mischief as she gazes across the battlefield at Ivy.
Beside Harley, Houndour stands poised and alert, its dark fur rippling slightly as it surveys its opponent. The canine's orange markings seem to glow with inner fire, and wisps of smoke curl from its nostrils, a testament to its fiery nature.
On the opposite platform, Ivy maintains a composed and serene demeanor, her posture radiating confidence and tranquility. Her emerald-green skin shimmers under the arena lights, and her red hair cascades down her back like a fiery waterfall.
Beside Ivy, Budew stands small but resolute, its yellow bud held high, its blue-green leaves trembling slightly. The tiny Pokémon exudes an aura of determination, its eyes fixed on Houndour, unwavering in its resolve.
"Alright, Red," Harley calls out, her voice echoing through the arena, "no hard feelings, but I gotta warn ya, I'm about to mop the floor with ya! Houndour and I make a killer combo!"
Ivy smiles serenely, her eyes sparkling with playful defiance. "Don't be so sure, Harley," she replies, her voice calm and confident. "Budew and I have a few tricks up our sleeves. We're not going down without a fight."
Houndour lets out a sharp bark, its voice filled with challenge and anticipation, as if echoing Harley's taunt. Budew responds with a soft but determined cry, its voice filled with courage and resolve, mirroring Ivy's confidence.
Orion, standing just outside the arena, clears his throat, drawing the attention of the two trainers. "Alright, ladies," he says, his voice ringing with excitement and authority, "let's get this show on the road! As referee, I'll explain the rules. This is a one-on-one battle. The first Pokémon unable to battle loses."
He pauses, his eyes twinkling with anticipation. "Any questions?" he asks, his gaze sweeping over Harley and Ivy.
Both trainers shake their heads, their expressions a mixture of excitement and determination.
Orion grins, his eyes shining with delight. "Then let the battle begin!" he exclaims, throwing his arms out wide.
Harley, ever impulsive, is the first to issue a command, her words tumbling out in a rush of excitement. "Houndour, go get 'em! You know, do that thing! Be awesome!" she shouts, her instructions vague and ill-defined.
Ivy, taken aback by Harley's lack of direction, pauses for a moment before issuing her own command. "Budew, um, try to do something nice? Maybe…show them your moves?" she says, her voice uncertain and hesitant.
Despite the vague and somewhat nonsensical commands, both Houndour and Budew attempt to follow their trainers' instructions. Houndour takes a tentative step forward, its head cocked to the side, as if trying to decipher what Harley meant by "that thing." Budew, on the other hand, remains rooted to the spot, its leaves trembling slightly, unsure of how to "show them its moves."
Orion watches the unfolding scene with a mixture of amusement and understanding. He knows that both Harley and Ivy are new to this, still learning the ropes of Pokémon training. He can see the excitement in their eyes, the eagerness to learn and grow. He knows that with time and experience, they will both become skilled and formidable trainers.
Ivy, recalling the information from the Pokédex, finally manages to formulate a more coherent command. "Budew," she says, her voice filled with a mix of authority and gentle coaxing, "use Absorb!"
Absorb is a Grass-type move where the user steals HP from the target, inflicting damage.
Budew, hearing the clear and direct command, responds immediately. Its small body radiates a soft, green glow as it focuses its energy, drawing upon the power of the natural world around it. With a determined cry, Budew unleashes the move, launching a stream of verdant energy toward Houndour.
The Absorb attack streaks through the air, a vibrant ribbon of green against the neutral gray backdrop of the arena. It strikes Houndour squarely, the energy seeping into its body, sapping a portion of its strength.
Houndour yelps in surprise, staggering slightly as the Absorb attack drains its energy. Harley, however, remains unfazed, her eyes gleaming with mischievous excitement.
Ivy, on the other hand, beams with pride and satisfaction. "Well done, Budew!" she praises, her voice filled with warmth and affection. "That was a perfect Absorb!"
Spurred into action by Ivy's success, Harley snaps her fingers and issues her own command, her voice filled with playful aggression. "Houndour, give that little plant a taste of fire with Ember!" she exclaims, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Show 'em what you're made of!"
Ember is a Fire-type move where the user attacks by spitting small flames at the target, with a chance to inflict a burn.
Houndour, eager to please its trainer, obeys immediately. Its eyes narrow with determination as it rears its head back, gathering its fiery energy. With a mighty roar, the dark canine unleashes its attack, spewing forth a volley of red-hot embers towards Budew.
The Ember attack erupts from Houndour's mouth, a fiery torrent of burning sparks that streaks through the air towards its target. The embers strike Budew, the super-effective Fire-type attack causing significant damage to the Grass-type Pokémon.
Budew cries out in pain, its small body engulfed in flames. The air crackles with heat as the scent of burnt leaves fills the arena, a testament to the devastating power of the Ember attack.
Ivy gasps, her eyes widening with worry as she watches Budew struggle against the fiery onslaught. "Budew!" she cries out, her voice filled with concern. "Are you alright?"
Harley, on the other hand, is ecstatic, her eyes gleaming with triumph as she witnesses Houndour's successful hit. "Yes!" she cheers, pumping her fist in the air. "Way to go, Houndour! Now finish it off! Don't let that little plant get away!"
Ivy, seeing the determination in Harley's eyes and the ferocity in Houndour's stance, knows that she has to act quickly. "Budew, dodge it!" she shouts, her voice filled with urgency. "Get out of the way!"
But it's too late. Houndour, fueled by Harley's encouragement and its own fiery nature, is simply too fast. Before Budew can react, Houndour unleashes another Ember attack, a torrent of flames that engulfs the tiny Pokémon once more.
Budew cries out in pain, its small body unable to withstand the super-effective attack. Its eyes flutter closed, and it collapses to the ground, its body still smoking from the embers. Budew has fainted.
Orion, seeing that Budew is unable to battle, steps forward, his voice filled with authority. "Budew is unable to battle!" he announces, his voice echoing through the arena. "Houndour wins! Harley is the victor!"
Harley whoops and hollers, jumping up and down on her platform, her baseball bat held high in triumph. "Yes! We did it, Houndour!" she cheers, her voice filled with elation. "We're the champions!"
Houndour barks proudly, wagging its tail excitedly as it basks in the glory of its victory. It looks up at Harley, its eyes filled with adoration and loyalty.
Ivy rushes over to Budew, kneeling beside its fallen form, her face etched with concern. "Oh, Budew," she murmurs, gently stroking its leaves. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry. I should have protected you better."
She gathers Budew into her arms, cradling it gently, her eyes filled with tenderness and affection. "Don't worry, little one," she whispers, her voice soft and soothing. "We'll get you all healed up in no time."
***
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Advance chapters in P@T0n Najicablitz.