Chapter 1: Quicksand
Cory had never felt worse in his life..
At least, he couldn't remember feeling this depressed. Everything he had worked for, the last two years of his life down the drain in a matter of minutes. That was the reality of Pokemon battling he realised. He sighed to himself as he watched the tide wash up onto the shore then creep back into the darkness. He realised his life was like the waves before him. He was so close to achieving his goal. Now he was a washed up loser. He trudged up the rotting wooden ramp and started along the wharf.
This was once where the S.S. Anne threw a huge party every year. He watched his step as a family of krabby passed him as he made his way to the end of the wharf. He could have caught one, but no. He never bothered with capture much. He only captured pokemon he would battle with, and he never settled for mediocrity. Of course he was offered a pokedex like all promising beginners but he never used it. He knew battling was his purpose. Maybe he had been wrong all along.
He slumped himself down at the edge of the wharf, his feet dangling over the side. He plunged deep into thought as he stared out into the endless ocean. Perhaps he was being too hard on himself. Had he not proven his worth along the way? Had he not proven he was an elite among all trainers? No.. None of that even mattered anymore. He had failed when it was truly his time to shine.
He wished the memories of today would disappear, although he knew they would never fade, this day will be fresh in his mind for a long time yet. He shut his eyes tight to fight back the tears as the memory crept back into his thoughts..
"I can still win this" thought Cory as his brain worked furiously, watching his heracross constantly dodging massive bursts of energy from underground. Cory had never battled like this before, this was the first time he had ever felt himself panicking.
"This is truly an amazing strategy Bob, Rex's steelix is firing hyper beams at heracross from UNDER the arena!"
"Quite right Bob, although these two trainers are truly talented for making it this far, I think it's plain to see who is the better one"
"Couldn't agree more Bob"
Cory shot a angry glare towards the commentators, isn't it against the rules to take sides?
"Uhh, ummm.."
Cory's mind worked furiously in the few seconds he had to spare. Too late, the sandstorm had already grown too violent for heracross to continue flying, while hyper beams continued relentlessly. His heart pounded as he gaped into the inpenetrable curtain of deep brown that had engulfed the entire battlefield.
"Rex's Steelix has a definite advantage in this sandstorm. I dont know if Cory can turn this one around."
"Quite right Bob, Heracross will have zero eyesight in there, and no sense of direction".
What was with the Bob's? It seemed like no-one was on his side, no-one. But still, Cory refused to fail, he blatantly refused to go down! "Okay, right now steelix is still underground so it's far too dangerous for heracross to attempt to dig his way out of the sandstorm. How can I lure steelix back up?" Corys mind was blank...
Suddenly it came to him. Idiot! Why hadnt he thought of this straight away? "Heracross!! Earthquake!!" He roared into the megaphone, in hopes heracross would hear him. The battlefield began to shake violently and a ear splitting screech of pain exploded from beneath the battlefield. A rush of triumph ran through Cory's body as he watched steelix burst through the ground, trembling in pain. "Heracross!! Dig your way out!!".
....Nothing......The entire audience watched closely, waiting for a sign that heracross had heard, or even that it was still conscious. Steelix managed to pick itself up and let out a bellow that sent shivers down Cory's spine. Where was heracross? True fear was setting in. Sweat rolled down Cory's brow as he watched steelix lunge forth into the sandstorm.. He glanced at his opponent directly opposite from him, way at the other side of the stadium. Looking your opponent in the eye is extremely discouraged in this tournament, that may spark emotions such as rage, pity, cockiness. Its not wise to battle with emotions. Cory realised why as he caught Rex's expression. He was smiling! Smiling! This battle was far from over.
* * * * *
"Cory! Are you still moping around here? Come and enjoy yourself dude, it's our last night in Kanto!"
With that Cory awoke from his daydreaming and turned to the person who had called to him from the beach. He was shrouded in darkness and from a distance Cory could only make out his toothy white smile.
"Are you just gonna sit there? Let's go damnit it"
"Actually, I..I think I'll just stay out here a little longer" Cory replied weakly.
The mysterious figure lingered for a few seconds before shrugging his shoulders and turning back towards the sounds of loud music. Allowing Cory to once again indulge in his own self pity.
* * * * *
Heracross was never scared, but this moment was the closest he'd ever been to it. The sandstorm was throwing him around like a feather, he felt completely helpless, he couldn't see anything but roaring thick brown sand in every direction. He didn't know what was up, what was down, no sense of left or right. He was straining to stay balanced against the current, desperate.
"Her...ss...dig......or way....."
His master was calling orders to him, but it was futile, the storm had grown too powerful.
"Well Bob, at this stage, the outcome of the battle may be out of the trainers hands."
"Im inclined to agree with you there Bob, there's not a lot they can do from out here."
The battle was in his favour, his pokemon had the advantage in the storm, the commentators were on his side. All these things repeated in Cory's mind as he stared at Rex, unable to look away. Rex was staring hard at the battlefield, as if looking for a opening in the sandstorm, a little weak spot or anything that would allow him to see what was happening in there. Was he worried? As if answering his question, Rex's eyes met Cory's. For a second, there was a powerful tension between them, broken with a wink from Rex. A wink! He's not worried at all.
Heracross could sense danger near him, but where? He turned just in time to see gigantic steel jaws coming at him, but with razor sharp reflexes heracross narrowly dodged the attack, but a huge spike from steelix body connected with his chest, sending him flailing in some direction. The pain was almost overwhelming, heracross barely had time to come to grips with what just happened before the steel jaws came at him again, heracross dodged, but again, steelix's body connected with him, this time knocking him to the ground. Heracross's whole body was quivering in pain, but he was determined. This time ready as the jaws lunged towards him, heracross poised himself, and right before impact, heracross reacted. In a split second, heracross clamped onto steelix's bottom jaw, dropped onto his back and positioned his legs under steelix's throat, steelix's momentum pulled heracross over and with perfect timing heracross kicked out with all his might, sending almost nine hundred pounds of solid steel helplessly flailing through the air. But now was not time to relax, heracross was now on the offense, and he accomplished it without guidance from his master.
The crowd roared with disbelief as steelix's gigantic body broke the surface of the sandstorm and sailed through the air. A surge of triumph and relief flowed through Cory's body. He was overcome with joy. Unlike Rex, he noticed, who's mouth was almost touching the floor. Cory felt a smile forming on his face, he didnt know what heracross did but he did it right. Steelix hit the ground like a giant anchor, shaking the entire stadium, even causing people to fall off their seats. Steelix groaned as he pulled himself upright.
"Well Bob, that was sure unexpected"
"Couldnt agree more Bob, whatever heracross did, he turned the tables in this battle."
The crowd went into a frenzy as heracross's bruised battered body emerged, limping from the sandstorm. "Heracross!! You're alright!" yelled Cory, unable to contain his excitement. Heracross heard the call, but ignored it. He didnt need Cory, he realised". "Heracross?" Why wasnt he responding? Did the sandstorm affect his hearing?
Steelix wasted no time, he dived into the ground and bursted back up directly beneath heracross, but heracross was too quick. He dodged the attack and responded with a swing of his fists. An explosion sent a shockwave through the arena and knocked steelix, again, sailing through the air.
"Holy cow Bob! In all my years ive never seen a more perfectly executed dynamicpunch technique!"
"Bob, we have to take into consideration the density of Steelix's body. Its going to take more than that to take him down. So my money is still on Rex."
"Id have to say youre nuts Bob."
"Couldnt agree more Bob."
Completely disregarding the judges comments, Cory leaned over the barrier and congratulated heracross, who simply glanced at him as if he were a stranger. Cory stood back upright, completely confused. What had gotten into heracross?
Steelix recovered from the brutal blow in seconds and was back on the assault, he charged at heracross. This time Rex was the first to react.
"Steely! Harden!"
Steelix's body shone a deep black as heracross's fist connected. This time, the explosion had no effect on steelix. The crowd roared again as the hardened steelix collided with heracross's fragile body, this time sending heracross flailing. With a snap of the tail, steelix grabbed heracross by the foot and coiled him up, halting heracross's attempt to escape. Heracross's body looked small and pathetic bound in steelix's huge steel coils. Heracross was unable to brace himself for the pain as steelix's coils tightened around heracross's body. He could hear his own body armour cracking in steelixs grip. "Yes steely, thats it, torture him!" Rex cackled with glee at the realisation of victory. Heracross exhaled deeply as steelix's coils weakened thir grip, then cried weakly as they tightened again. Heracross was done for. Cory knew this. But he refused to give up. He was back where he started. The whole battle had turned around again, in seconds. Barely a minute ago, the battle was in his favour, and now..
"REX!!" A young man with spiky reddish brown hair bellowed from the judges stand. He was seated directly in the middle of the judges table, but now he was standing. He was wearing a dark trenchcoat over a black japanese style tuxedo. Six gold-rimmed pokeballs lined the inside of his trenchcoat. The audience quietened at the sound of this mans voice. "This is an official warning. Either end the battle now or command your steelix to release heracross. Torture is strictly against the rules! Understand?"
"Y..yea.. S..sorry sir.." replied Rex weakly. At that, the man nodded and sat back down. Rex's attention immediately returned to the battle. "Steely! Finish this! Hyper beam!!!"
"Wait!" Called Cory, this isnt happening. Corys head was spinning, his mouth was dry, his eyes were burning. Rex's gaze landed upon Cory. Without looking away, Rex smiled and called "Now Steely!"
An incredible hatred overcame Cory. He wanted so badly to reach over and break his opponents neck with his bare hands. His heracross was losing concioussness. He didnt know what to do. He couldnt lose! He just couldnt! Not now! He had come too far. Steelix's mouth opened to reveal a giant ball of blue light, he reared his head back, Corys mind raced for options, but nothing. Suddenly all sound ceased. The crowd went silent. Rex was yelling into his megaphone frantically, but no noise came out. Cory never thought he would be making this decision. But he couldnt bear to see one of his pokemon like this. Steelix's nostrils flared and steam gushed out as if his insides were boiling. At the last moment, before steelix released the hyper beam, Cory snapped back into reality.
".....I FORFEIT!!!" Yelled Cory, with all his might.
Rex's eyes widened as he looked up from the battle. Cory could feel thousands of shocked eyes on him. "I GIVE UP!!! I...I...quit"
The man in the middle of the judges table nodded, and signalled towards the commentators.
"Well Bob, I'm absolutely stunned."
"I dont blame the kid Bob, he didnt have much of a choice, I sure wouldnt want to see my pokemon suffer like that. It was pure honour."
"That was deep Bob. Now lets go get some fries."
"Couldnt agree more Bob. The Pokemon League of Kanto, hereby declares Rex Farac the victor. Rex Farac will progress to the finals."
Cory was startled as his podium automatically lowered. He sighed, but was relieved it was over in a way. Steelix released heracross, and let his limp body fall to the ground. As the podiums reached the ground, Rex threw open the barrier and rushed onto the battlefield towards his steelix. Cory stood for a moment, then opened his barrier and slowly made his way onto the battlefield towards his crumpled heap of remains that was once his heracross. As he got down on his knees at his heracross's body, all feelings of regret left him. His heracross was struggling for breath, inhaling in short, sharp gasps. His body armour was cracked from head to toe, his left fist was bent out of place and his wings were mangled beyond recognition. He was covered in cuts and bruises, and sand caked his eyes and ears. What had he done? How could he have let his pokemon go through this? He felt like a monster. He was no trainer. He glanced up at Rex, who was hand-feeding his battered steelix and petting it's solid steel forehead. He stood up and stepped back as the on-call chanseys put heracross onto a stretcher and rushed him off. Cory was lost. He was alone. The crowd was chanting Rex's name. He had lost a battle for the first time in his life. He had put his pokemon through unspeakable misery. Tears filled Cory's eyes as his knees gave way and collapsed. He was on his knees for the first time. Cory had never felt worse in his life..