Chapter 34

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="14800640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="mim27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 27"><U>Chapter 27</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 28"><U>Chapter 28</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 29"><U>Chapter 29</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 30"><U>Chapter 30</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 31"><U>Chapter 31</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 32"><U>Chapter 32</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 33"><U>Chapter 33</U></A>   |   <B>Chapter 34</B>   |   <A HREF="mim35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 35"><U>Chapter 35</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 36"><U>Chapter 36</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 37"><U>Chapter 37</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 38"><U>Chapter 38</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 39"><U>Chapter 39</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 40"><U>Chapter 40</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/oldnews.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Old News</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/zrfic/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>My Fanfics</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/zrart/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>My Fanart</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/a-j/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Authors A-J</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/k-z/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Authors K-Z</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/art/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Fanart List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/ffsubmit.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Submit a Fanfic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/fanart_submit.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Submit Fanart</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://pub46.ezboard.com/beeveesmb" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://pub46.ezboard.com/beeveesmb"><U><B>Message Board</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Chapter 34</I></div> <div> <B>A Master in the Making: Chapter 34: Let the Games Begin!</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Hey!  I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that made it to the Obsidian League Games!"  Recognizing the familiar voice, Zeth and Destiny turned to find the speaker sprinting over to them.</div> <bR> <div>     Richard Callegh grinned as he caught up to his friends, "It's good to see you two again.  I didn't see you at the opening ceremonies, and I was starting to think that you weren't going to be here."</div> <bR> <div>     "Miss the games?" Zeth asked, shaking his head.  "Never!  I've worked long and hard to get myself all ten Obsidian League badges.  No way I'm going to skip this!  You must have just missed me or something."</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, I wasn't sure you'd even be in the area.  Last I heard you were on your way back to the Orange Islands with my dad's friend Lawrence."</div> <bR> <div>     "Nah," Zeth said, as the three of them walked toward the Obsidian Stadium.  "We had a little disagreement and split up.  Lawrence let me have one of his hoppers, though.  It's really helped us get around and win badges!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Oh, so that's how you got all ten badges," Richard laughed.  "I was wondering when you said that, because I've barely managed eight and I had five when I saw you last.  When did the two of you get back together anyway?  I know you weren't with Zeth when he was with Lawrence, Destiny."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny shrugged, "I was busy investigating some ancient legends with a friend of mine.  Zeth helped too, even though he wasn't with us most of the time.  Once we were done with that, we both met up again."</div> <bR> <div>     "Ancient legends, huh?  See anything interesting?"</div> <bR> <div>     "I can't think of a time that we didn't see anything interesting when we were involved with that," Zeth remarked.  "I even got an Articuno feather out of it.  I have it stashed back in the <I>Skylark</I>.  I'll have to show it to you sometime!"</div> <bR> <div>     By this time, the three of them had entered the stadium, heading for the trainer's lounge, where contestants could meet each other and prepare for their matches.  "It sounds like you had a great time," Richard said, and Destiny winced.</div> <bR> <div>     "No, not really," she said, remembering what had happened during that quest..  "At least I didn't have a good time.  Zeth didn't have as much trouble as me."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth chuckled, "That's a matter of opinion...  We probably shouldn't say any more, because it'll only make you curious, and we can't tell you everything.  There's uh...  people and pokémon that wish to remain unmentioned."</div> <bR> <div>     "So does that mean I can tell you some of what I did, then stop in the middle too, just to make us even?" Richard joked.  "I'll have to tell you about some of the stuff that happened to me.  I even ran into Team Rocket again."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny nodded, "Yeah, there's a lot of that going around.  We've had our fair share of close encounters with them.  Haven't had any trouble with the Dragons, though."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth moaned, "Speak for yourself.  I've had enough of them to last me a lifetime."</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, well," Richard said, sounding curious.  "It seems we have plenty of adventures to catch up on.  How about we find something to eat and sit down to talk about them?"</div> <bR> <div>     "A little later," Zeth told him.  "They have me down for the second match.  It'll be starting in ten minutes or so."</div> <bR> <div>     "What?  That soon?  I need to find a seat!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Don't bother.  Just stand at the edge of the field with me and we'll both cheer for Zeth," Destiny suggested.</div> <bR> <div>     Richard thought about that for a moment, "Well, it may be unusual for one contestant to be cheering for another, but it sounds good to me!"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     As the announcer called out Zeth's name, and that of his opponent, Zeth took a moment to scan the field, noting that, unlike the Indigo Championships and the Topaz City Games, there was only one basic fighting field.  Any tactics that he might use would have to come from his pokémon's own talents, instead of from the terrain.</div> <bR> <div>     Across from Zeth, in the red trainer box, was Patrice, an elderly woman that had won quite a few trophies in her many years as a trainer.  From what Zeth had heard, she was not someone to underestimate.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth selected a pokéball from his belt as the announcer finished the introductions.  According to stadium rules, as the trainer in the green box, he was required to send out the first pokémon.  Occasionally a trainer in the red box would go first, he had heard, but it was uncommon for a trainer to forfeit the advantages of going second in a match this important.  Those who did were usually the kind of cocky trainer that either became champions or, more commonly, lost miserably.</div> <bR> <div>     "I choose you, Sting!" Zeth called, hurling his Beedrill's pokéball to the Stadium floor.  At the other end of the field, Patrice watched Sting for a moment, then threw her own pokéball, releasing an Electrode.  Zeth frowned.  Not only were the ball-shaped pokémon extremely fast, but electric attacks and bug types didn't go together.  Sting would have to think fast and move faster if she wanted to avoid getting zapped.</div> <bR> <div>     "Let's go, Sting," Zeth called.  "Pin Missile!"  At his command, the Beedrill flew towards the Electrode, darting upwards as she closed in on it, then leveling out to shower it with a rain of needlelike projectiles.</div> <bR> <div>     The Electrode was as fast as Zeth had expected it to be, rolling away before the attack could hit and retaliating with a blast of electricity.  Sting, expecting such a counterattack, also managed to dodge.  Zeth shook his head slightly, knowing that this would be one difficult opponent for the Beedrill.  "Try again, Sting.  Swift attack!"</div> <bR> <div>     Sting repeated the previous maneuver, rocketing towards the Electrode and then arcing up and above it to scatter Swift stars all around it.  This time she didn't aim directly at the Electrode, but around it, hitting it with a light volley as it moved to avoid the attack.  As the expected Thunderbolt attack shot toward her, she quickly spun to the side, the electricity passing so closely that Zeth thought it might have actually brushed her.</div> <bR> <div>     It didn't appear to have injured her, though, so Zeth called out his next attack, "Nice job, Sting.  One more time!"  As the Beedrill circled around for another pass, Zeth could see Patrice shaking her head in disgust.  She probably thought he was crazy for trying the same trick this many times.  Predictability was a serious flaw in new trainers -- one that almost always caused a disastrous defeat.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth had no intention of being predictable, and he knew the Beedrill didn't either.  As Sting darted back toward the Electrode, she shot up, as if she were going to fly over it again.  Then, even as the ball pokémon fired off a Thunderbolt to intercept her flight path, the Beedrill was dropping and spinning to the side, pouring Swift stars directly into the Electrode and then slamming it with both stingers in a devastating Twinneedle attack as she shot past.</div> <bR> <div>     The attack was not without its downfalls, however.  A split-second later, Sting suddenly dipped down to the ground, electricity dancing across her body.  Zeth winced as he realized that, while Sting had managed to avoid any intentional attacks, she had hit the ball pokémon with her Twinneedle before it had finished discharging the full force of the failed Thunderbolt attack.  As a result, she had gotten quite a nasty shock.</div> <bR> <div>     Sting managed to regain control of her flight in the short time it took for the Electrode to recover from the surprise attack.  "Okay, Sting, try for a Toxic attack!" Zeth ordered.</div> <bR> <div>     "Teleport, Electrode," he heard Patrice call out, as Sting sent a stream of purple goo hurtling toward the electric pokémon.  He frowned as the spherical pokémon disappeared before the poisonous attack could hit it.  He tensed as it reappeared underneath Sting.  Then he winced as it blasted her with a well-aimed Thunder attack, knocking her out of the air.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth recalled Sting, knowing that this match was far from over.  His next choice of pokémon was easy.  "Let's go, Florio.  Razor Leaf attack!"  Zeth's Ivysaur only took a moment to glance at his opponent before unleashing a flurry of his sharp leaves.  As Zeth had expected, the Electrode dodged.  It seemed to be especially good at that.</div> <bR> <div>     "Your Ivysaur's resistance against electricity won't help you any," Patrice called.  "Rollout!"</div> <bR> <div>     The Electrode spun towards Florio at high speed, but Zeth gave no commands.  Florio knew exactly what to do without an actual command, in this particular case.  The two of them had come up with the idea years ago after a trainer's Donphan had utterly defeated Florio with its Rollout attack.  The plan was simple.  The Ivysaur dropped on his belly, extending his vines to form a ramp over him just as the Electrode reached him.  The ball pokémon shot up the vine ramp, ending up flying through the air instead of injuring Florio.</div> <bR> <div>     It was an effective counter, but it wasn't as entirely defensive as it seemed at first glance.  As the Electrode landed and skidded to a stop, looking confused, thin vines suddenly entangled it, coming from the Leach Seed that Florio had hit it with as it passed over him.  As the vines sucked away the Electrode's energy, Florio contributed to the damage with a second volley of Razor Leaves.</div> <bR> <div>     Patrice quickly called for an Explosion attack, but the Electrode fainted before she even finished calling out her instructions.  Zeth grinned, always having enjoyed the reaction he got when he pulled that particular trick.</div> <bR> <div>     "Not bad," Patrice admitted.  "I'll have to remember that one."  The elderly pokémon trainer chose a second ball.  "Okay, Heracross, it's your turn!"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth stared at the bug for a moment, sizing it up.  As a bug, it had a type advantage, but it was also a more physical pokémon when it came to battling and would need to get in close to do any real damage.</div> <bR> <div>     "Heracross, Horn Attack!"</div> <bR> <div>     The Heracross spread its wings and zipped toward the Ivysaur as Zeth called out his own commands, "Vine Whip, Florio.  Grab its horn!"  The beetle pokémon apparently heard Zeth's orders and pulled away before the vines could grab it.  Zeth switched tactics, "Now Razor Leaf!"  The Ivysaur's second attack missed as well, as the Heracross dodged farther away.</div> <bR> <div>     "Get back in there," Patrice told the bug-type.  "Use your Fury Cutter!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Poisonpowder!" Zeth called, as the Heracross shot toward Florio.  A glistening cloud puffed out of the Ivysaur's bud, surrounding him, but this time, the Heracross didn't dart away, instead choosing to fly straight through the powder to slash at Florio with its claws.  The Ivysaur smacked at the bug with one vine, only hitting with a glancing blow not strong enough to do any damage.  Then the Heracross was spiraling away and circling for another assault.  Zeth was certain that the bug had received a good-sized dose of Poisonpowder, but it wasn't showing any effects yet.  Florio threw himself sideways as it passed again, barely dodging its sharp claws.  "Good job, Florio.  Now grab it with Vine Whip."</div> <bR> <div>     This time the Heracross didn't dodge quite as fast as it had the time before, almost certainly due to the poison slowly working on it.  The Ivysaur managed to wind one vine around its large horn, yanking it back towards him.  "Solarbeam!" Zeth quickly commanded, as the Heracross tried to pull itself free.</div> <bR> <div>     Florio started charging his Solarbeam, almost dropping the Heracross when the bug started slashing at his vine with its claws.  With his other vine, Florio poked the beetle pokémon hard, making the bug involuntarily stop swinging at his other vine and smack at the one hurting him.</div> <bR> <div>     The Heracross was smart enough to realize that it was just a trick to keep him stuck there long enough for Florio to finish charging, but he had fallen for it long enough that he had no chance to break free in time.  Instead, he ducked his head down, pulling his horn and Florio's vine in the path of the Solarbeam the Ivysaur was releasing.  The beam hit the Heracross in the head as a result, but it also washed over the Ivysaur's vine.  Florio dropped the Heracross with a yelp of pain and pulled his vine back to blow on it, giving the dazed bug a dirty look.</div> <bR> <div>     "Finish it off, Florio," Zeth called out, smiling with satisfaction as a barrage of Razor Leaves knocked the Heracross out of the fight.</div> <bR> <div>     "Return, Heracross," Patrice called.  "Let's turn up the heat!  Go, Magcargo!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Florio's not going to like this," Zeth muttered to himself.  "All right, use Take Down!"  Zeth was sure that the Ivysaur hated to get close to the fiery pokémon, but he knew that Florio's long range grass attacks would get burned away before they could hit.  Of course, so would Florio if he got close, but there were really no other choices.</div> <bR> <div>     Nevertheless, the Ivysaur ran towards the lava snail, extending his vines as he ran.  Zeth wondered for a moment what Florio thought he was going to accomplish by attempting a Vine Whip.  Then the Ivysaur slammed his vines down on the ground, pushing himself in the air with them like a gymnast doing a handspring.  The move flung the Ivysaur over a Flamethrower attack the Magcargo spat at him, then brought him down on the snail with all the power of a full Body Slam.</div> <bR> <div>     But the Magcargo was not so easy to beat.  As Florio came crashing down on top of it, it curled up in defense and surrounded itself in flames.  The Ivysaur ended up landing hard on top of a fireball.  Zeth sighed as the Ivysaur ran around in circles, beating at flames and shouting at the top of his lungs.  He had hoped that Florio might last longer then that against the fire snail, but now it was definitely time to switch pokémon.  Taking Aqua's pokéball from his belt, he released the Cloyster onto the field, at the same time returning the Ivysaur to his own pokéball.  "Okay, Aqua, put that Magcargo on ice!"</div> <bR> <div>    The snail pokémon pulled itself into its shell and spun away, dodging the Ice Beam that Zeth's Cloyster hurled at it.  At a command from Patrice, it continued the roll, heading for Aqua at full speed.  Perhaps she thought that just because Aqua had no vines, he couldn't counter a Rollout attack as well as Florio.  Of course, with Aqua there was another solution.  "Teleport!" Zeth called.</div> <bR> <div>     Aqua flashed out of sight as the Magcargo hurtled through the space he had previously been in.  A split-second later, he reappeared a short distance away to pummel his opponent with a Spike Cannon attack.  The Magcargo spun away again, stopping for a moment to fire off a hasty Flamethrower that glanced off of the right side of Aqua's shell.  "Let's end this match, Aqua!" Zeth shouted, feeling the surge of excitement that accompanied a victory in sight.  "Clamp!"</div> <bR> <div>     The Magcargo tried to get away, spinning backwards as Aqua moved toward him.  Then Aqua teleported directly behind him and caught the lava snail as it rolled right between the open sides of his shell.  Smashing his shell closed on the Magcargo, Aqua doused it with a full-power Water Gun, releasing it from his grip at just the right time to send the fire pokémon flying away like a living cannonball.  The Magcargo tumbled wildly for a few moments before slamming into the front of Patrice's trainer box and falling to the ground.</div> <bR> <div>     It was obvious that the Magcargo could fight no more.  Even as the referee raised the flag to indicate that the last victory went to Zeth, the crowd started cheering wildly, except for a few boos from those that had favored Patrice.  Returning Aqua to his pokéball, Zeth hurried down the steps of the trainer box, heading for Destiny and Richard, who were waiting for him below.</div> <bR> <div>     "Great job!" Richard shouted over the din from the crowd.  "If this match is any example of your skills as a trainer, then I'm going to have a tough time beating you!"</div> <bR> <div>     "If you do beat him," Destiny pointed out.</div> <bR> <div>     "We'll just have to wait and see," Zeth said neutrally.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     The three of them made it off the field, and hurried through the lower corridors of the stadium, almost to the doors of the trainer's lounge when they were intercepted by a news reporter.  She held a microphone out to him, talking him to him as she did.  "Zeth Raltier, I'm Carrie Masters from LeagueTV.  What did you think of this last match?"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth blinked, not expecting the reporters to be swarming him yet.  After all, it was only the end of his first match.  Then again, there was only one reporter this time, and he supposed that they had to interview <B>someone</B> on the first day of the games.  "Well, uh, it was a pretty even match," he started.  "Patrice was a great opponent.  If everyone here is as good as she is, then these games will be quite a challenge."</div> <bR> <div>     The reporter switched to her next question, "This is your first time at the League games, correct?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah," Zeth confirmed.  "I've done some tournaments before, like the Topaz City games, but this is my first time at the actual League.  I've done pretty well so far.  I just hope I can keep it up."</div> <bR> <div>     "He's good," Richard agreed.  "Last time we battled, he beat me.  We'll have to see if the outcome is different this time around."</div> <bR> <div>     "I'll be looking forward to that," Zeth said.  </div> <bR> <div>     "Well, thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us," Carrie told them.  Her cameraman switched off his camera, while she continued talking to them.  "Not much of an interview for you boys today, I'm afraid.  They just want a few quick first impression interviews for the moment.  Maybe I'll get to catch up with you for something longer later on."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth laughed, "Like my big interview when I win?"</div> <bR> <div>     Carrie shrugged, "Maybe.  You never know.  I'm sure you have some celebrating to do, though, so I'll let you three go now."</div> <bR> <div>     "All right," Zeth said, heading into the trainer lounge.  "I'd better get Florio to Nurse Joy right away, I guess, or he'll be complaining for the next month and a half..."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Once in the lounge, Zeth used one of the convenient vidphone and pokéball transfer units that had been installed there for easy access to the Obsidia Pokémon Center and trainers' reserve pokémon.  Calling up the pokémon center, Zeth sent Sting and Florio over to the Nurse Joy working there.  Aqua was nearly unscathed from his part of the battle, so Zeth decided not to send him over.  He was sure that the staff at the pokémon center would have enough on their hands as it was without giving them any more pokémon to deal with.</div> <bR> <div>     "Zeth Raltier," stated a female voice from behind him.  He turned around, wondering if another reporter wanted to talk to him.  It was no reporter, however, but one of the other trainers.  "I'm Janice Patton," she told him.</div> <bR> <div>     "Hey, Janice!" Richard said, coming over to join them.  "The two of us met yesterday," he mentioned to Zeth.  "She's been waiting to see you."</div> <bR> <div>     "Really?" Zeth asked.  "Why me?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Because, in my opinion, you're the one to beat this year," Janice said.  "I've been keeping track of your progress since I saw you battle in the Topaz games.  You were very good then, and I can tell that you've gotten better."  Grinning, she added, "Just don't loose before I battle you, because I want to have the satisfaction of beating you!"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth chuckled, "I'll keep that in mind."</div> <bR> <div>     "Good," Janice said, then glanced over at a big screen at the other end of the room, showing the current match going on.  "I'd stay and talk, but my match is next, and I think this guy's just about beaten."</div> <bR> <div>     "We'll meet up with you later, then," Zeth suggested.</div> <bR> <div>     "Absolutely," Janice nodded, glancing at the screen again as one trainer's Magmar fell to his opponent's Feraligatr.  "That's it.  Got to go."</div> <bR> <div>     "Hey, good luck!" Zeth called as she hurried out the door.  Then he turned to Richard, "I didn't realize I was so popular."</div> <bR> <div>     Richard shrugged, "I don't know if you are, yet.  Remember, this is the big one.  Everyone who's here has already proved that they're good trainers.  It automatically puts us in the spotlight.  Just wait until you win a few more matches.  Then you'll really be popular!"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Zeth and Destiny stepped through the doors of the pokémon center, both bearing plastic bags from a local grocery store.  "Sting, Florio?" Zeth called, looking around for his pokémon.  "Either of you here?"</div> <bR> <div>     A Blissey heard them and came over to greet them.  "Hi, Blissey," Destiny said to the nurse pokémon.  "My friend's looking for his pokémon - an Ivysaur and a Beedrill.  Do you know where they are?"</div> <bR> <div>     The Blissey nodded an affirmative, "Blissey bliss blissey!"  Zeth started to take out his pokédex to translate, but the pokémon stopped talking before he could grab it.  Waving for them to follow, the Blissey walked into the back of the pokémon center.</div> <bR> <div>     There they found racks filled with pokéballs, each space labeled with a number.  Zeth realized that with so many pokémon to handle, Florio and Sting would be returned to their pokéballs once treated, just to keep them out of the way.  "So which ones are mine?" He wondered, looking at all the row of pokéballs.  The Blissey started typing on a computer that was beside the door, as Zeth and Destiny glanced around the room.</div> <bR> <div>     "Offhand, I'd say those were yours." Destiny said, pointing to a duo of blue and white pokéballs on the shelf.  The Blissey finished checking the computer records, and hurried over to the two spheres Destiny had pointed out, bringing them with her when she turned to come back.</div> <bR> <div>     "Yep, you're right," Zeth acknowledged, as he accepted the pokéballs from the egg pokémon.  "Thanks, Blissey."  Clicking the balls to his belt, he walked out of the storage room, with Destiny close behind.  The two of them had planned to go to the center's dining room next, but when they went there, they found another group of trainers was having a party there.  "The dorm," Zeth suggested.  "I didn't see anyone in there."</div> <bR> <div>     "Good idea," Destiny said, turning around.</div> <bR> <div>     They didn't find anyone in the pokémon center's dormitory, even though the rest of the center seemed to be busy with trainers coming and going.  Zeth was only a little surprised, knowing that all trainers participating in the League were given hotel rooms at the Jigglypuff's Song.  He remembered that Destiny had chuckled when she had heard that was where they were going to be staying at.  Zeth still didn't know why -- it was a popular hotel chain, after all.  Maybe he would ask her sometime...</div> <bR> <div>     Releasing all of his pokémon, Zeth addressed them, "Okay, all of you.  We've already won the first round of the games, thanks to Sting, Florio, and Aqua." Zeth nodded at the three pokémon as he mentioned them.  "I'm sure you all know that this is the big event, the one we've been training so long for.  And I'm also sure that you're all tough enough to get our team to the top.  Over the next few days, no matter what happens, I want all of you to just do your best, and don't worry about winning or loosing."  He paused for a moment, then added, "That's my job," a trace of humor in his voice.</div> <bR> <div>     "That being said," Destiny took over.  "We decided to have a little first-victory celebration." Reaching into the bag she held in one hand, she pulled out a box of ice cream.  Zeth dug around in his bag as well, taking out a pack of paper bowls.  "Who wants ice cream?"</div> <bR> <div>     A chorus of affirmatives answered Destiny's question.  Handing the box of ice cream to Zeth, Destiny released her own pokémon, as Zeth began passing out bowls of ice cream.  "Make sure you save some for me and you," she reminded him.  "I don't want to give all of it to the pokémon!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah, yeah, I know..." Zeth rolled his eyes as he set a bowl in front of Blaze, "Like I'd ever forget to leave some for myself!"  Scooping out another serving of ice cream, he set it before Teak, noticing at the same time that the bowl he had just handed Blaze was empty.  "Whoops, sorry, buddy.  I really should fill up the bowl before I hand it to you."</div> <bR> <div>     Blaze glanced up at Zeth quizzically, {But you gave me some already.}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth returned the look of puzzlement, "I did?  Then where is it?"</div> <bR> <div>     {I ate it, of course.}</div> <bR> <div>     That earned the Growlithe a look of incredulity from Zeth, "But I just gave it to you less than a minute ago!"</div> <bR> <div>     "And he had the bowl licked clean fifteen seconds after that, Zeth." Destiny told him.  "I'd be surprised if he even tasted it..."</div> <bR> <div>     {Yes, I did,} Blaze insisted.  {And it was quite delicious too.}</div> <bR> <div>     "You're nuts, Blaze..." Zeth continued passing out the sweet treat to the rest of the pokémon, noting with some amusement that none of them bolted down the ice cream anywhere near as fast as Blaze.  He stopped at Florio, realizing that the Ivysaur's leaves were burned along the edges.  "You've sure seen better days, Florio."</div> <bR> <div>     The Ivysaur scowled at him, {Yes...  I know...}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth chuckled as he handed the plant pokémon a bowl.  "You in a bad mood?"</div> <bR> <div>     Sting buzzed in what Zeth had come to understand was a laugh.  {He's still sore from his battle.  You should have brought him burn cream instead of ice cream.}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth nodded in understanding, "Oh, really?"  He glanced at the scorched tips of the Ivysaur's leaves again, "Sorry, then.  I didn't realize your leaves hurt that much."</div> <bR> <div>     Sting buzzed with laughter again, {It's not his leaves that hurt.  You forget that he barbecued his hindquarters as well.}</div> <bR> <div>     Florio shot a betrayed look at the Beedrill, {Sting!}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth found himself grinning even though he tried to stop himself.  "Well, uh...  That's pretty bad, Florio.  Couldn't Nurse Joy give you anything for that?"</div> <bR> <div>     {She didn't know about it,} Sting mentioned, laughing harder as Florio blushed with embarrassment.  {He was too embarrassed to tell her.}</div> <bR> <div>     "Poor Florio," Destiny said, taking pity on the Ivysaur.  "I'll ask Nurse Joy if we can have some medicine for you.  You'll feel better once we get you some burn cream."</div> <bR> <div>     {Only physically,} Florio muttered, glaring at Sting.  {My self-esteem might never recover, however.}</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>     Even though his next match wasn't scheduled until mid-afternoon, Richard Callegh decided to spend the morning at the stadium watching the ending of the first round.  The round had lasted two and a half days, due to the large amount of contestants attending the games, but it was just about finished now.  Now, with half the trainers defeated, the remaining rounds would be far quicker.  Once they were in the final rounds of the League games, there would only be a handful of official matches a day, but there were certain to be challenge matches held in their place.  This event was a superb opportunity to improve skills, so quite a number of the trainers usually stayed to battle each other throughout the finals, even if they lost the main competition.</div> <bR> <div>     As Richard neared the stadium, however, he was surprised to find multiple police cars scattered around the parking lot, and the officers from those cars turning back a mixed crowd of trainers and spectators.  Confused, Richard pushed his way through the crowd until he ran into a policeman trying to get everyone to leave.  "Hey, what's going on?" he asked.  "Why is the stadium closed down?"  Elsewhere in the crowd, others were calling out the same question.</div> <bR> <div>     The police officer raised his hand, "Can I have everyone's attention for a moment?"  He waited until the crowd had quieted before he continued.  "There's been a bomb threat, so we had to shut down the stadium.  Most likely, this is only a nasty prank, but we can't take any chances.  If everything checks out, the games should resume tomorrow morning, or perhaps later this evening.  In the meantime, no one will be allowed into the stadium for any reason."</div> <bR> <div>     Richard groaned, staring over at the empty stadium at the other end of the parking lot.  "So much for my match this afternoon..."</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>