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Torch, rocking a red dress shirt under a white motorcycle jacket, almost a mirror of Jane. His hair is closer to orange red while hers has hints of purple in the right light. She’s wearing her favorite black biker jacket over a red, shredded tank top.

Jane’s feral grin matches the toothy smirk of her bipedal sand crocodile.

Just before the match starts, Naomi is pulling up her tablet’s pokedex for us to check the Blaziken’s League ID.

Zephire is female, progeny of Flannery’s original starter Blaziken. She’s won two regionals and made top 8 at worlds once after being classified as mega evolved three years before that.

A clip from a Kalos Regional shows her wreathed in flames, kicking the shit out of an opponent Mega Lucario.

Reported Missing …., returned to Lavaridge Gym recently. While expected to make a full recovery, odds are low she’ll return to the WPC stage.

“Oh, it's that Blaziken.” Well that's ironic.

“Kurt?” Naomi looks at me confused while the call comes from the field.

“Battle Start!”

Torch, clearly proud to see this bird back in action, “This is what you wanted Zeph, the road back to the top starts here. Hold Nothing Back!”

Jane growls out, “Get ready Crooky, we’re going all out!”

As the Krokorok rakes his claws together, Blaziken raises one leg high up in vertical splits.

Move names are already flashing on the dex screen, Hone Claws and Focus Energy.

Shoji channels the excitement of the crowd, “Let's Go!”

Jane’s off first, “Bulldoze!”

Crooky kicks up a cloud of dirt and gravel while charging on all fours across the field.

Blaziken brings her leg down with a slight rotation. Her hips posture out a bit, looking over her shoulder at the incoming lizard with a wink.

Really?! The tablet confirms the move Attract.

The croc slows slightly in hesitation just before reaching the bird.

In a dance of red feathers, Zephire kicks back dirt to block sight moving into a low spinning kick to catch Crooky in the legs.

We all see Jane’s lizard flop tail over head to a painful landing on his back.

Moves flash across the dex app but Torch is already calling out, “Flame Crush!”

Blaziken’s arms ignite like rockets as she launches forward to make a three point landing on Crooky’s face. Torch’s own hair catches wind like a matching flame.

Jane’s quick answer, “Foul Play!”

A blurred snap of massive jaws catches the burning claws in a strange judo throw meets crocodile death roll. Blaziken hits the dirt.

The crowd groans in sympathy for the bird.

“Stomping Tantrum Crooky!”

Torch sweeps a hand, “Roll!”

Our Krokorok leaped up to stomp both feet onto the downed bird but she flips up and backwards to dodge. Mid-roll she sends quick kicks into Crooky’s face before landing upright.

The lizard’s hissing growl carries over the crowd. Jane uses that anger, “Power Trip!”

Crooky charges forward, maw open and ready to snap! Blaziken leaps backwards while aiming a wicked, burning roundhouse kick into the side of his face!

Dust and gravel go flying from Crooky getting sent back to the ground.

Jane desperately wants to get more damage in, “Crunch!”

One Hundred pounds of fury and teeth launch for the overgrown chicken! Blaziken’s beak opens and fires off a fast ball of bright white fire that smacks right into the roof of Crooky’s gaping maw. The move had enough force to flip the Krokorok backwards, once again he smashes into dirt.

This time, Crooky stays down.

“Krokorok is unable to battle, Challenger Jane has 30 seconds to send out her next Pokémon.”

Cheers overpower whatever commentary comes from the caster desk.

Jane is grimacing while returning her darling sand monster.

Naomi is showing Citro a breakdown of Blaziken’s moves used so far. Including Low Sweep, Fire Punch, Blaze Kick, Counter, Double Kick, Fire Punch, Crush Claw, the last move being Flame Burst.

She was so quick moving from one move to the next I doubt any casual viewer caught all of that.

I have an idea of how she plans on using Golisopod. Jane certainly seemed very interested yesterday when Blue asked for more stories about jousting and sword fights.

Jane sends out her Golisopod, “We can do it, Triton!” The ref waves the flag, “Swords Dance!”

As the crazy big, bipedal bug scrapes his large claws together with a spin, Torch calls out his next move.

“New Dawn.”

Blaziken takes another yoga pose with one leg bent up to the opposite knee and her claws together. The previously fading light of the setting sun flares from behind Torch and his bird. Illuminating them both like waves of heat.

I spot moves dash across the dex app screen, Sunny Day, Morning Sun, Roost, Focus Energy.

Holy Shit, that's a lot of buffs and healing.

Jane isn't blind, “Aqua Jet! Stop her!”

Just like Blaziken did earlier, Triton erupts with water propelling him across the field. But It's not a short distance.

Torch smirks, “Lighting Counter.”

Jane ain’t deaf either, “Abort! Jet back! Sand Attack and Harden.”

A feathered claw arcing with electricity tickles the outer shell of Golisopod’s blocking claws. Some of the sparks even travel up the remnant water splashing off the bug. Sand gets kicked up to cover his retreat.

In that brief second Jane shouts, “Razor Shell!”

Triton switches directions again into a water covered superman punch that catches a surprised Blaziken right in the chest.

Glaring with pain, the bird lunges forward, her beak practically breathing lightning as she pecks Golisopod in the claw holding up his guard.

The fuck was that move?

Naomi shouts, “Who taught that bird Spark Peck?!”

Jane is trying to keep pace, “Aqua Jet back again!”

He’s slower this time.

Torch is sick of the back and forth, “Follow with Flame Charge!”

“Quick Guard!”

Triton withdraws behind his thick shelled arms once more, easily withstanding a burning shoulder check.

Jane points forward, “Clamp to Razor Shell!”

Golispod’s claws miss grabbing the bird but he still swipes a clean, water-covered hit across Blaziken’s face!

“Zek!” The angry caw is all the warning before the flash of a lightning-covered leg smashes Triton aside so hard he skids several yards before managing to roll into a standing position.

Sparks arc across his damp body, he shudders in pain.

The gym leader is ruthless, “Pyro Ball.”

Another fireball forms, this time the bird drops it and kicks with all her might!

Pyro Ball streaks across the field like a meteor.

“Mud Shot Now!”

Triton barely spits out a ball of mud that just blocks the fire attack before it hits him. A burst of steam drifts by the bug, blocking sight.

Then we see him staggering, and finally collapsing to the ground. His shells are covered in plasma burns and scorch marks.

I feel like he definitely got in a few powerful hits onto Blaziken. She’s looking a bit like a bird that got caught out in the rain. The match reminded me of kendo or fencing more than the Knight's Tale I told Blue.

“Golisopod is out. 30 seconds, Challenger.”

As the audience cheers, Jane is fast on the swap this time.

Ares the Aerodactyl replaces Golisopod in a flash.

Flags wave, and Jane won't let Blaziken heal up again even as Torch calls, “Roost.”

Jane replies with, “Primal Call!”

“Shit!” Citro, Naomi and I cover our ears a half second before a bone shaking shriek fills the stadium!

Anyone using a dex app would see the stupid combination of Ancient Power, Screech, Scary Face, and Super Sonic. Something we begged Jane to never practice in city limits.

As Blaziken and even Torch stagger, you can’t deny its effectiveness. Ares is small for his species, but annoying as hell.

Neither of the opponents shake it off as the Aerodactyl swoops around to build massive speed before slicing a high speed wing and wind into Zephire! The Blaziken gets thrown like a traffic tragedy!

She gets up while Ares is banking around, Torch didn’t like that at all, “Feather Wisps!”

The bird ruffles out dozens of feathers covered in flames that fire off towards Ares. They track him like tiny missiles, refusing to burn up.

Jane doesn’t bother figuring the move out, “Blast them away with Whirlwind then Fly up.”

Ares barrel rolls into a climb that sends a gust of wind strong enough to scatter most of the strange feathers, the remaining quills finally burn up before ever catching up to the speed demon.

Torch scowls as the Aerodactyl reaches the limit of height regulations, “Soon as it comes in range, counter with a High Jump Kick.”

Tension builds but I can see Jane’s smirk. She has every reason to be confident this time.

Ares plummets towards the target. Blaziken leaps! Ares blasts another Supersonic right in the bird’s face while just barely spinning aside of the disrupted kick! The heat alone is enough to singe some of his feathery mane.

Blaziken might not recover in time to land properly from the big jump!

Jane makes sure of it, “Aerial Ace.”

Inverting a roll back towards the falling chicken, Ares smashes into her just right so that she’s spinning wildly.

Just before she impacts the ground, Jane puts the nail in the coffin, “Smackdown!”

Torch can only watch as his dazed pokemon impacts the ground only for Ares to use the tumbling momentum to pick Blaziken back up and slam her back into the gravel once more.

Despite the brutal landing, Blaziken still looks to be picking herself up slowly.

Even our red head looks conflicted giving a final call, “Dragon Claw.”

Ares hops up with a single flap before stomping Zephire’s head back into the dirt with his talons.

He flaps off to the side and watches, not sure if he’s won or just really pissed her off now.

Torch is scowling, “It takes more than that Zephire! Come on!”

Jane waits, I know she must be kicking herself, having to be so rough on one of her favorite pokemon.

Still conscious, Blaziken rolls over. She looks at Torch before rolling her eyes, a dismissive claw waves towards the ref. Some folks in the crowd sigh or gasp, some nod, a couple from the fan club look angry.

“Zephire has withdrawn. Aerodactyl and Challenger Jane win!”

Most of the crowd stand for applause and cheers.

Ares is in the center of the field, practically strutting with his head held high, even bowing towards the crowd. While passing Zephire, I spot the bird flick a rock into Ares’ feet! He stumbles but catches himself, glaring at the Blaziken only to be tackled to the ground in a hug from Jane!

Jane then hops over to Zephire and helps her up. The Blaziken ruffles the hair of the slightly shorter redhead girl before glaring at the gym leader still moping about in confusion.

“Ziken!”

Torch startles a bit, he even looks embarrassed to be called out. The lad jogs to the center of the field taking out a small case.

While the crowd cheers for the badge presentation, I glance towards the castor desk on screen. Shoji is waiting for his cue to wrap things up, while Sarada looks positively livid. She stands up, confusing Shoji, and stalks out of the camera frame.

While Jane talks to Torch, Blaziken is giving a couple pointers to Ares. It looks like she’s giving him some hints for his Dragon Breath move that I know he hasn’t managed yet.

Finally Shoji takes over, “What a fun battle ladies and gentlemen! I know everyone will be hitting up the replay to figure out some of those mind blowing… or ear piercing moves! See you tomorrow for more exciting Lavaridge action!”

Down on the field, Blaziken taps on Torch’s shoulder and points to the Gym Leader’s entrance. A clearly larger Blaziken is holding the wheelchair of a very angry Flannery. Miss Sarada is also there, and I can feel the disdain and disappointment from here.

Naomi notices as well and snorts, “Doesn’t look like the gym will front Torch for the fines he’s racked up today.”

Citro doesn’t know about that stuff, “Well, I don’t understand why he was pushing so hard to win. Even the Blaziken knew Jane had done enough to earn the badge.”

Naomi explains as we start walking down to meet Jane, “I’m pretty sure I know why. If the jerk doesn’t explain via apology I’ll tell you on the way back to the hotel.”

Jane is racing over to meet Flannery rather than meeting us. However, Torch is standing there waiting for us.

“This should be interesting.” I do spot his angry little fan club in the stands that still hasn’t left, “Or maybe this is more trouble than it's worth.”

Ignoring all that drama, Blaziken practically skips over to us, bumps past Naomi and grabs me in a hug. Awfully energetic for an ‘Unable to Battle’ pokemon.

I can’t tell if it was the bird or Naomi that squawked. The heiress is almost as pissed as the much larger Blaziken pushing Flannery’s chair.

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