Chapter 13: Double Battle  

"Can Daniel and I battle first?" I asked. 

"Sure. Be our guest," Anthony obliged. 

"Cool. Zuko, up for a battle?" I grinned. Zuko stood up on two legs as if to intimidate Ash and Misty, mimicking my smile except with much sharper teeth. 

"This will be good practice for Cyndaquil." Ash exclaimed, taking out a Poke Ball and clicking the center so it expanded. "Cyndaquil, come on out!" 

"Corsola, let's show them how great Water Pokemon are!" Misty threw her own Poke Ball into the air. 

Corsola emerged from the inside of her Poke Ball, looking quite happy to be out in the sun. She hopped around, smiling and singing. Cyndaquil popped out, looking very sleepy as he yawned. 

"Awe, he's so cute!" I practically squealed. "Can I hold him after the battle, Ash? Please!" 

"Uh, sure I guess." Ash looked very taken back by my sudden girliness. 

"Remember when you were that small, Zuko? Wow, such great memories." Zuko sighed, looking embarrassed, but also curious. I knew my dad's Cyndaquil evolved into a Typhlosion and had become a mentor and friend to Zuko over the years. Zuko tugged my sleeve as if to wake me out of my nostalgia. "Oh, right. Sorry, I'll pay attention now." 

He ran forward to face Corsola and Cyndaquil. 

"Snitch, let's show them your epic moves!" Daniel pointed to the field for about ten seconds with the air of confidence only he could possess, then turned around. "Snitch, where'd you go?" 

I sighed. "You're always losing him. I wish he couldn't turn invisible." 

"He's not lost, he's just trying to be funny." Daniel defended his Pokemon, putting his hands up to his mouth to make his voice louder, "Come out, Snitch! Olly olly oxen free!" 

I rolled my eyes right before a huge purple mass with huge red slits for eyes roared, "GEEEEEENGAAAAAR!" right in front of me. 

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed, falling over. 

The troublesome Gengar pointed at me and laughed. Daniel beamed at him. 

"Will you stop doing that?" I yelled. "Zuko, use Flamethrower on him!" 

"Does she always fall over like that?" I heard Ash ask. "That's the second time in the past hour." 

"Seems like it," Misty replied flatly. 

"Come on, Em. We're supposed to battle," Daniel switched to a low voice, "your parents, not each other." 

"Tell that to Snitch," I grumbled, standing up with as much dignity as I could muster. "Don't you do that again." 

Snitch gave a mischievous grin and waved playfully before turning towards my parents. 

"Um, ready to battle?" Misty asked uncertainly. 

"Yeah. You guys can attack first since you're... ready," I finished lamely, seeing as I was still flustered and trying to get my head in the battle. 

"Ok. Corsola, use Bubblebeam on Zuko!" Misty said. 

"Cyndaquil, use Flamethrower on Snitch!" 

Cyndaquil's back erupted into flames as he opened his mouth, ejecting a huge inferno towards Snitch. Snitch moved so fast to the side that it looked like he'd teleported. Corsola let out a jet of bubbles from her mouth, which hit Zuko's belly. He winced a little, but remained otherwise still. 

"What? That hardly did anything!" Misty complained. 

"That's because Zuko here is amazingly strong. He's taken way worse Water type moves." I grinned. 

"Well, he may be fine with water, but can he take the heat?" Ash boasted. "Cyndaquil, use Flamethrower!" 

"Match it, Zuko," I said. 

"Quillllll!" Cyndaquil let out another Flamethrower. Zuko roared, flames licking his tongue as his Flamethrower propelled forward. 

They met, the attacks mingling to create amazing colors I never thought possible in flame. The flames struggled against each other, first moving towards Zuko, then towards Cyndaquil before exploding in the middle. 

"Wow. That was nice." I felt like fist pumping from all the epicness. "Your Cyndaquil is really strong, d...Ash!" 

Arceus, I was going to keep almost calling him dad. 

"Thanks, but we're just getting warmed up!" Ash said. 

"Corsola, use Tackle!" Misty commanded as the smoke billowed around us. I couldn't see, but I guessed she was coming at Zuko since Snitch was a Ghost type. 

"Zuko, get ready for a Thunder Punch." I looked through the smoke, trying to spot Corsola's pink and white body. I could see Zuko's flaming mane through the smoke. He was an easy target. I just had to spot Corsola... 

A pink antler poked out of the smoke. 

"There, at ten o'clock!" I pointed to Corsola who was to the left of Zuko. He roared, plunging his paw downward. He hit Corsola, who flew in the air, landing on her stubby feet, but looking pretty beaten up. 

"Are you ok, Corsola?" Misty cried. 

"After a Sludge Bomb she won't be!" Daniel called.  

Snitch launched himself above the disappearing smoke cover and sent a purple, gooey Sludge Bomb right at Corsola which slammed into her. She looked like a purple and pink Muk. 

"Use Recover!" Misty commanded. Corsola glowed and the Sludge Bomb disappeared. She looked good as new as she hopped around with energy. 

"Awe, Manatee." Daniel frowned. "Let's try our luck on Cyndaquil. Use Psychic!" 

"Smokescreen so he can't see!" Ash said quickly. Cyndaquil opened his mouth, releasing more smoke. 

Snitch looked around, confused. 

"Bubblebeam!" Misty said as Ash shouted, "Flamethrower!" 

A combination of bubbles and fire hit Snitch squarely in the belly. He cringed and opened his mouth wide. 

"Snitch, use Psychic to stop the attack," Daniel commanded before sighing. "He always does enjoy looking dramatic when he's attacked, doesn't he?" 

I shook my head in disapproval. "Yep." 

Snitch grinned, his eyes glowing blue as the bubbles and fire stopped. 

"Uh oh." Ash gulped. 

"Send them right back!" Daniel waved. 

The fire and bubbles were sent back through the blackness. All we heard were squeals from Corsola and Cyndaquil as they were hit. 

"Zuko, I think it's time you joined the fun." The smoke had cleared and I could see Cyndaquil and Corsola getting up from the attack. Zuko went down on all four paws. "Use Flamethrower on Corsola." 

He did, letting loose another fiery jet. It hit Corsola, who flipped backwards. 

"Use Psychic on Corsola, Snitch!" Daniel stood, looking extremely confident that this would be the last blow. 

"Mirror Coat!" Misty yelled.  

Corsola glowed, a white sheen surrounding her like a shell right as the Psychic blue aura tried to wrap around her. Instead, it bounced off and headed right back at Snitch, who yelled in pain as he was hit and lifted off the ground. His purple body thrashed as he tried to fight off his own attack. As the attack ended, Snitch fell to the ground, unable to get up.  

"Thought you had us, didn't you?" Misty winked mischievously. 

"Yep. Wrapped up in a pretty bow and all," Daniel admitted, recalling Snitch and murmuring to his Poke Ball, "Thanks, you did great." 

"Zuko, Thunder Punch on Corsola!" I growled, aghast that Daniel's Gengar had been defeated. I hadn't expected a Mirror Coat attack. Note to self- don't underestimate my teenaged mom. 

Zuko raised up on two legs as he came towards Corsola, who whimpered. 

"Bubblebeam!" Misty called. 

Corsola hit Zuko again, but he continued with his attack and landed the punch. Corsola fainted. 

"Corsola, return." Misty held out her Poke Ball. 

"Ok. A Cyndaquil versus a Typhlosion," Ash stated. "This should be interesting." 

More interesting than you know, I thought, smirking. 

"Zuko, you ok?" I asked gently. He was panting, looking pretty worn out. His flame mane was flickering out every couple seconds. The second Bubblebeam at close range definitely hadn't done him any good. He nodded, but I could tell he was almost finished. All he had to do was hold his own against Cyndaquil. 

"Cyndaquil, Swift," Ash ordered. 

Cyndaquil opened his mouth and aimed. Golden stars flew towards Zuko who wasn't fast enough to dodge. They started exploding as they made contact with his body. 

"Block the rest with Flamethrower," I called, starting to sweat a little. I didn't want to lose this. 

Zuko managed to block the rest and Cyndaquil stopped attacking. 

"Let's finish this with a Thunder Punch," I said. Zuko ran after Cyndaquil who, panicking, got himself backed into the corner of the field. Zuko towered over Cyndaquil who cowered, looking scared. 

Right as Zuko's paw began emitting electricity, Ash yelled, "Jump onto him!" 

Zuko began to lower himself towards Cyndaquil to finish the Thunder Punch, but Cyndaquil jumped onto Zuko's head, tightly gripped his ears with his front limbs. 

Zuko growled, looking absolutely ridiculous with Ash's Cyndaquil as a hat, holding on for dear life as my Typhlosion shook his head. 

"Use Swift on his head!" Ash exclaimed.  

"No you don't," I said through clenched teeth. "Eruption!" 

The attacks were simultaneous- multiple stars pounded into Zuko's head as a fiery blast from his mane knocked Cyndaquil into the air, sending him flying. Cyndaquil tumbled and rolled, looking down for the count. 

Zuko dropped to the ground in a heap, unmoving, his quill mane no longer lit. 

"I'd say that's a tie," Daniel admitted. 

Ash went to pick up Cyndaquil, who stirred feebly in his arms, "You did a great job, Cyndaquil. I can't believe how strong you're getting." 

I walked over to Zuko, kneeling down and stroking the fur between his ears. He opened his amber eyes weakly. 

"He sure is strong, isn't he?" I whispered. Zuko looked over at the tiny Cyndaquil, his eyes twinkling, before lowering his head. "Take a nice long rest. You did a great job." 

I returned Zuko to his Poke Ball before standing up and going to shake Ash's hand. "I didn't think we'd lose that one." 

He shook back, gripping hard. "It was a great battle." 

"I just knew by looking at you guys that you'd be really strong." I nodded, feeling a little emotional. It was weird being beaten by my parents without them even understanding what was going to happen in the future.  

"I had that feeling about you too." Ash grinned. I smiled back weakly. 

"Now we need to battle Anthony and Amanda." Ash definitely looked ready for more. 

"I'll hold Cyndaquil for you," I offered. Ash placed Cyndaquil into my arms. The tiny Pokemon looked up, startled to see a stranger. 

"Hi, Cyndaquil. Don't worry, I won't bite." I smiled and tickled his belly gently. His small arms squirmed as he tried to get away. He giggled and I couldn't help but smile, memories of Zuko being this small when we just started out as partners started playing in my head. I stopped and went to stand over by Daniel, still cooing to Cyndaquil. 

"Why don't you put a bonnet on it and raise him as your baby?" Daniel asked sarcastically. 

I turned Cyndaquil away as I glared at him. "Hey! Cyndaquil are awesome." 

"So am I, but I never see you looking at me like that." 

I ignored him, "Sh! They're starting the battle."

Hello Readers!

Here's the well awaited update! I feel pretty swamped with writing lately since every single story I haven't finished yet, people want me to update. I mean, I'd rather have that then everyone begging me not to update, sooo I'll take it.

If you like it, please vote and comment! How did you like the battle? I absolutely love writing about all these different Pokemon. I would hate to meet Snitch in real life though. He's the biggest pain. I don't know why Daniel's Pokemon all have to share his most annoying qualities. Like Trainer, like Pokemon, right?

Pokemon Question of the Day: Would you like your Pokemon to have certain personalities? You don't have to have them match that horrible nature chart or anything, though I can get that adamant Pokemon would have higher attacks and all. It does make some sense, but still.

Thanks for reading! Have an amazing day.

-Flips