My father stood before me, strong and resolute like a warrior should be. Yet here I was remaining within his shadow as the sun continued to fall to darken the night. I lunged my toss forward. As soon as the plastic ball had landed in the gentle sand below. The hatch unleashed my Clefairy, poised and prepared for a fight. He rallied his limbs toward the air and pointed toward my father with a gleeful grunt.

Autumn tossed his Poké Ball and out appeared another form from the opposing field. His Arcanine, with four limbs, spiked-puffy hair along his black and orange stripes. Indicated how intimidating this Pokémon was. Mitigating a loud roar that swayed the palm tree's around us.

It seemed that my father was already too powerful and well prepared for this very scenario. My heart beat so fast that I felt like I was about to faint. The overwhelming strength exuded from his veteran Pokémon was too staggering a difference. That I felt there was no way I could win this without effort.

Smacking my cheeks together and focusing my attention on my Dad's starter Pokémon. I levied a hand towards my opponent. Steadying my Pokémon to strike.

"Clifford, Double-Slap!" I shouted with echoing declaration.

The buoyant Pokémon bounced with swiftness toward the towering behemoth and attempted a move that could cause twice the damage. This was short lived unfortunately, as the canine kept his eye on his opponent within approximation.

"Agility!" Whooped Autumn.

"What—

I didn't understand how Autumn was able to use this move so early on before the attack had been incited?

Was there something that I missed?

As Clifford maneuvered closer to my opponent's Pokémon. He raised his right hand and bounced his way toward Arcanine's face. The beast steered his body with angular precision. Clifford was confused, because within a split second; he lost sight of his opponents whereabouts. I knew almost immediately that Arcanine was able to avoid Clifford's move uninterrupted.

So fast!

"Clifford—

"Arcanine, use ExtremeSpeed."

The creature then seemed to disappear like a blur in the wind. Arcanine walloped Clifford by using the brunt hooves of his massive body that sent him flying. Clifford barreled and bounced in an unfortunate attack sting that I was not prepared to witness. The Pokémon crashed and pounced toward a tree that nearly broke the thick tree trunk in place.

"Clifford!" I shouted with desperation. Knowing full well that I was underestimating the power that my father wielded. Clifford my most power ready player in the field, fell to the floor in agony from the defeat.

"You're Pokémon are slow, they're unable to keep up with my Pokémon's speed. If you prepared to have a Pokémon that could out-speed mine. You would have had a good start." Smiled Autumn with excitement in his eyes.

"Return Clifford." I declared, trying to hold back my emotions during this fight was extremely difficult to do. I used the button of my capsule to relieve the Pokemon's form back into the device to seal it away for a rest. This was already pretty upsetting to see my Pokemon getting pummeled so easily.

My father's strength is on a whole other level.

Without a minute to lose, I knew that if I didn't prove to him that I could defeat his Pokémon it would all be over. But I still kept getting this nagging feeling in my head, it was a negative feeling.

Will he actually beat my Pokémon?

"Angel come-on out!" I yelped with an anxious squeak.

Angel, my Jigglypuff was able to be summoned from her Poké Ball with haste. She, being the most eager to battle among my party. Puffed herself up as she inhaled enough air to make herself appear larger than her opponent.

"Jiggly-puff!" Squeaked Angel as she angled her body upward to intimidate her opponent.

"Do not be afraid! Trust in your Pokémon Leaf!"

"Angel, Sing!" I shouted with a pointed gesture.

My Pokémon posed at the ready, raising her tiny limbs in the air and with a furrowed brow was about to let out a loud melodic sound that—

"Status conditions won't work on me. Take Down Arcanine!"

"Rawwwwwer!" Barked the Pokémon as he sped head first and used the brunt end of his forehead to collide with mine before even finishing her next move. Angel was unprepared for the incoming three hundred and fifty pounds of force that knocked her clean out. Unable to recover from any of her energy. As she collided from the attack smashing facefirst, skidding across the sand.

"Angel!" I shouted with desperation.

My heart was pounding; I had two Pokémon left to take on my Dad's team. Who knows how many members he had altogether? But I was being genuinely outclassed by him.

"Leaf, you're still forgetting about my Pokémon's stats. He's more practiced in being able to avoid your Pokémon because of their lack of speed. The difference here isn't the Pokémon's strength. The comparison is how fast they can react at the beginning of a turn. When they are at a lower level they cannot compete."

This is so unfair!

My emotions were getting the best of me. I've worked real hard to get to where I am now, but my Dad was defeating all of my Pokémon like they were sandpaper. Did he not understand that I was still learning the ropes.

But what if that was his point all along?... Calm down Leaf! I've got to not let this get to me! I'm going to continue this adventure with my friends, no matter what! I am going to prove to Dad right now that I am no pushover.

After retrieving Jigglypuff within her device. I suddenly realized that this was going to be harder to do then I thought possible.

If my Dad uses ExtremeSpeed, Take Down, or Flamethrower. It's going to be too easy for him to land a hit and destroy every member of my team. What could I use that have the capability of at least going first in a turn?

I needed to think quickly, my Dad was not going to be patient enough for me to make a decision after using those two. The problem I had now is that I had a bug type and grass type. All are weak against Fire Types. If I used Lucy in this next upcoming turn. She still would not stand a chance even after I've decided a turn.

Maybe Ivy could work?

Status conditions could hinder Arcanine's mobility and he's not too distant a level behind my Dad's faithful canine friend.

Reaching into my bag; I retrieved yet another small capsule. Pressing down the button with my index finger. The device encapsulated my fist in preparation for the sensors to release my Pokémon's form.

"Ivy let's do this!" I yelped with nervous twitch. Tossing the device toward Arcanine's patient direction. My plan to immobilize again was in motion.

"Saur-saur!" Nodded my starter with renewed excitement.

"Arcanine, Flamethrower—

"Sleep Powder!" I smiled with glee.

Ivy released a powerful volume of silver dust up into the sky. Spraying the volume downward to the large fiery pup in question. Arcanine unfortunately dodged the amount conveyed from Ivysaur's bulb. Suffice Ivysaur's ability to allow a lower accuracy move to go first. Arcanine was just too quick and avoided the move.

I don't understand? How is Arcanine still avoiding them?

"Flamethrower!" Gestured Autumn to his dog-like Pokémon for his next powerful move.

"Look out Ivy!"

My Pokémon was sweating with fright. The heat that was being summoned within Arcanine's jaws was felt even by me who was leading Ivysaur from behind. This was nearly enough heat to boil a frog in a hot kettle.

This move is going to decimate us.

The massive fireball shot straight towards my starter Pokémon. Enveloping him in flames. Ivy was completely consumed by Arcanine's elemental embers. Spiraling toward the sky as my Pokémon shrieked with terrible anguish.

"Saauuurrrr!!"

"Ivy no!!!"

The flames had soon dissipated and all that was left was a black charred teal dinosaur. Caked in burns god knows how severe?

"Ivy return!" I bellowed with anxious disapproval in my voice. Holding the device toward his helpless shriveled frame. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him in this battle alone. As his mass surrendered himself toward the capsule in defeat.

I stared toward my father as he smiled back toward me like this was all but a game to him.

I didn't understand why he needed to go this hard against my team all for the sake of being able to make a decision that I wanted no part of?

Why doesn't he understand that I don't want to do this?

I've wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug look off of his face. Just to prove that I'm not going anywhere but forward. That I'm not one to lose a battle.

But this stark reality was becoming more apparent with every second I waste trying to think. With only one Pokémon left, the odds of winning my own battle against my father has significantly gone down.