Episode 59:
To Be A Master: Part I - A New Plan

Icy’s pokémon were pretty worn out by now. The day’s battles were coming to a close. The final match was about to begin. Icy took his pokémon to be healed then, he and Sara went to the Grand Stadium to watch the match.

“Welcome back pokémon fans. Well, it’s been quite an eventful day and we are down to what should be the last battle for the night. So far, Nicky, from the Seafoam Islands, has defeated the first two elite trainers. Now he faces the third, Agatha. Ahh, it looks like the battle is about to begin.”

Nicky looked at his pokéballs. “Hmm. Gotta beat her ghosts now.” Nicky selected one of the balls. Agatha took her place.

“Let’s get this over with fast little boy. I’m already late for a date.” Agatha threw in her pokéball containing Gengar. Nicky choose a Sandslash.

“Sandslash, go underground now!” His Sandslash quickly disappeared into the earth. Agatha didn’t look too worried. Meanwhile, Icy jotted down some notes. Just as Sandslash came through the ground under Gengar, Gengar faded and Sandslash went through him. Confused, Sandslash looked all around for its opponent.

“Gengar, lick attack now!” Icy remembered well how this part went. Gengar appeared right in front of Sandslash and licked him. Sandslash looked sick but still stayed on its feet. Agatha just grunted, upset that the attack wasn’t enough to paralyze Sandslash.

“Sandslash, slack attack!” Sandslash swiped Gengar a few times but it did little more than separate Gengar temporarily. Gengar pulled itself back together again. “What?!?” Nicky was shocked at the punitive results of the attack.

“Let’s finish this off the right way Gengar. Hypnosis followed by dream eater.” Gengar’s hypnosis waves put the already worn down Sandslash to sleep, then Gengar followed up with its dream eater attack. Sandslash was beaten and Nicky held its pokéball out to return it. “Humph, this is all too easy.”

Nicky decided it was time use a new strategy. { If I can’t use regular attacks against that ghost, I’ll try going with a more defensive approach. } Nicky pulled out his second pokéball. “Vileplume, it’s your turn now! GO!” The large plant pokémon jumped out from the pokéball and planted itself on the field in front of Gengar. “Vileplume, stun spore.”

“Gengar, night shade, don’t let it find you.” Gengar’s nightshade kept Vileplume from knowing where to target its spores. “Now you will watch your Vileplume go down as well. Gengar, lick it now.” Gengar licked Vileplume but it had no effect. Icy checked his pokédex, which he had begun to use now more often.

“Vileplumes are grass and poison. This particular situation favors Vileplume because it doesn’t need to move in order to attack. Vileplume uses long-range projectile or spore attacks. In this battle, Vileplume’s attacks can damage Gengar.”

“Vileplume, poison power… wait, no, sleep powder!” Nicky commanded. Vileplume emitted sleep spores. This time, Gengar was the one sleeping. “Mega drain now.” Vileplume sucked all of Gengar’s energy away. Agatha had to recall her beaten Gengar.

Icy continued to watch the battle. “According to ‘Dee’, Vileplume is impervious to Gengar’s poison attacks. I think Leafy would be able to do the same.”

“But isn’t Vileplume the evolved form of a Gloom? Are you sure that Leafy is as powerful as that Vileplume?”

“Leafy can be just as good as that Vileplume! She trusts me. She won’t let Gengar beat us again. Tomorrow, we’ll be training for these situations.”

Agatha sent out her second pokémon, a Haunter. Nicky decided to keep Vileplume in the match. “Haunter, hypnosis attack.”

Nicky couldn’t afford to let Vileplume be defeated now. “Petal dance Vileplume. Confuse Haunter with it.” Vileplume began her petal dance. Haunter tried to remain focused, but the petals swirling around Vileplume were distracting him from his target. “FIRE!” Vileplume sent the petals flying at Haunter who was able to dodge most of them. “Quick, sleep powder!” While the last of the petals were being fired off, Vileplume added sleep powder to the remaining. Some of the sleep powdered petals hit Haunter. It slowly fell asleep and Agatha recalled it.

“That’s amazing! That Vileplume beat two of her pokémon! If Leafy can do that too, I’m set!”

“I don’t know Icy. Don’t you think Agatha will be ready for that type of attack next time?”

“Even if she is, Leafy won’t be beaten by her lick attacks. Leafy can work on perfecting the attacks that worked in this battle. I’m having Dee keep an analysis.”

Agatha was getting slightly ticked off now. “You may be good now kid, but we’ll see just how good you really are. Go Gengar!”

Nicky decided now was the best time to use Vileplume’s ultimate attack. “Vileplume, charge it up now!”

“Gengar, confusion ray attack!” Agatha smiled with her plan but then frowned seeing Vileplume was still charging up. An expired Full Heal canister was lying in Nicky’s hand. “S***!” Even with the small amount of sunlight left, Vileplume was able to fully charge its solar beam. “Crap, Gengar night shade.”

“Solar beam now!!!” The field became completely dark. It was like time had just stopped itself and stood still now. Icy and Sara looked around but, like the rest of the spectators, couldn’t find the two pokémon. Suddenly, the intense beam of light from Vileplume’s solar beam ripped through the darkness over the field. The audience was stunned for a moment. It all happened so quickly. The darkness cleared away, revealing a bright white Gengar and a panting Vileplume.

Agatha was shocked, but not as white as her Gengar. “This can’t be. Gengar return. Arbok go!” Agatha’s Arbok slithered onto the field. Nicky determined it was time to let Vileplume sit it out. He returned it to the pokéball then selected another.

“Ok Butterfree, your turn now!” Nicky selected a Butterfree to fight the venomous Arbok. Icy’s eyes lit up. Sara opened a silver pokéball and let Aura watch. (Aura is the golden Butterfree that Sara now owns, remember?)

“Wow, a Butterfree. Let’s see what he does with it.” Aura seemed very happy to see another of her kind battling.

“Butterfree, psybeam now!” Agatha knew Arbok would go down in an instant if the psybeam hit it. Arbok dodged the beam just by a hair then lunged for Butterfree with jaws wide open. “Confusion now!” Arbok was only a foot away from sinking its venomous fangs into Butterfree when it suddenly found itself confused and bit its own tail. Arbok figured out what had happened a little too late though. “Psybeam Butterfree!” Butterfree finished Arbok off with just one hit from the psybeam leaving Agatha with only one pokémon left.

“Darn. I’m not going to win this one. Oh well, I can still weaken your pokémon so you can’t beat Lance. Hmm, what am I saying? I hate that jacka** of a trainer. Nevermind. Go Golbat!” The enormous bat appeared hovering over the field. “Bite now!” Golbat swooped past Butterfree then snuck up from behind. It sank its fangs deep into Butterfree’s back. Butterfree screamed in pain.

“NO! Butterfree! Return now!” Nicky was about the cry but help the tears back. Icy was reminded of how he felt when Buttercup was almost killed by Blaine’s Magmar. Nicky gathered himself and took out another pokéball. “Raichu, go! Thunder attack, NOW!” The Raichu began to light up. The sky roared with thunder. Suddenly, enormous lightning bolts came striking down to Raichu. Raichu channeled all the electricity towards Golbat. Golbat puffed out some smoke before hitting the ground and fainting. Nicky had won.

“Wow. What a battle! Nicky looks like he might be able to take out Lance as well. Due to the time, that battle will be postponed until tomorrow morning. Remember, the snack bar opens 30 minutes before the match so get your refreshments…” he continued to babble on and on as the crowd filed out of the stadium.

“So Icy, are you going to battle the Elite 4 tomorrow?”

“Yes. But not in the morning. I’m going to use that time to strategize. My pokémon and I have a great deal of training to do. I WILL become a pokémon master!” Sara and Aura followed Icy back home.

Once again, Icy was awoken by the pestering Dodrio… eh-hem, I said, once again, Icy was awoken by the pestering Dodrio. Hmmm… Icy continued sleeping peacefully through Dodrio’s horrible morning crowing. Two fluffy, yellow earmuffs covered his ears. Sara and Aura were in the den playing games when Icy finally woke up several hours later. He joined them and everyone went to Brock’s Diner for breakfast.

“That trainer Nicky was really great last night.”

“Yes he was. Are you going to see him face Lance today?”

“I guess I should. I want to be completely prepared for anything Lance can throw at me.” They finished their breakfast and headed towards the Grand Stadium. The battle had already begun! “Shoot! Quick, let’s find some open seats!” They got two seats close to the mid-level section of the stadium and watched the match currently in progress.

Lance’s Gyarados fell to Nicky’s Raichu. It was now 3-2 in favor of Nicky. Raichu got back into its fighting pose and awaited its next opponent. Lance drew his cape, attempting to look all big and tough, and sent out his fourth pokéball. Nicky looked at his next opponent with fear in his eyes. The pokémon Lance sent out was like no pokémon he’d ever seen.

“Wha, what is that?” He clicked open his pokédex.

“Aerodactyl, an once to be believed extinct pokémon. This fearsome flying creature has many sharp teeth showing that it was a carnivore.” Nicky put the pokédex away quickly not wanting to hear anything more that would scare him or his pokémon.

“That thing likes like it’s made of rock so Raichu is useless. Raichu, return!” Nicky didn’t want to lose now, not after making it this far… “All right Blastoise, it’s your turn to battle now!” The giant shellfish pokémon took the field. “Hydro pump now!”

“Huh! Crap. Aerodactyl, fly to avoid getting hit.” The stone bird flew up high as Blastoise fired its water cannons. Because Aerodactyl was made on rock, it couldn’t move quickly enough to avoid all the blasts but did manage to survive. “Ok, now use sky attack!” Aerodactyl swooped down towards Blastoise.

“Withdrawal now!” Blastoise complied quickly and Aerodactyl smacked flat into its shell. “Now, finish it off Blastoise.” His Blastoise took Aerodactyl by the tail and held it in front of his water cannons. After a thorough soaking, Lance gave up and recalled the beaten bird. “YYYYEEEEEESSSSSS!!! One more to go!”

“GGGRRRRRR… I can’t lose this match… D***… Ok Dragonite, it’s all up to you now.” Lance sent out his final pokémon, Dragonite. Nicky looked at the huge dragon pokémon.

“Ooohhh… That thing’s huge!” Blastoise waited for Nicky’s commands. “Ok, Hydro pump again Blastoise.” It fired the jet stream of water from its water cannons directly at Dragonite.

“Agility now Dragonite. Follow it up with your Hyper Beam!” Dragonite completely dodged the water blast and charged up its hyper beam.

“Oh no.”

“Fire!” Dragonite made a perfect shot on Blastoise knocking it out with one hyper beam.

“Oh, Blastoise return.”

“It’s 4-3 now folks! Lance looks like he may make an incredible comeback here. Don’t forget to fill up on…” Suddenly, fighting sounds are broadcasted over the PA. The crowd cheers as a new announcer takes over. “Ok, Nicky is getting ready to select his next pokémon.”

Nicky looked at his remaining pokéballs. He still had Sandslash, Vileplume, and a Dewgong. “That’s it, ice can beat dragons. All right Lance, prepare to lose. I’m gonna be a Pokémon Master! Your turn now Dewgong! GOOOO!!!” The seal pokémon entered the field. Dragonite was still recovering from the hyper beam energy drain.

“Shoot, an ice pokémon. Dragonite, slam now.” Dragonite’s speed was greatly diminished due to its low energy state.

“Dewgong, now’s your chance. Ice beam now!” Dewgong fired its ice beam directly at the slowly charging Dragonite. In the blink of an eye, Dragonite was encased in a block of ice. “Finish it, aurora beam!” Dewgong fired the colorful beam at the Dragonite-popsicle, finishing it off for good. “YES!!! WE DID IT!! I WON!!!!!” Nicky jumped up and down while Dewgong clapped cheerfully. Lance just sank his head as he recalled Dragonite. He walked over to Nicky.

“You are a very talented pokémon trainer. You have proven this by defeating the world’s four strongest trainers. Now, by the power vested in me by the Pokémon League, I hereby name you, Pokémon Master Nicky. Congratulations master trainer Nicky, you have done what others can only dream of doing.” Lance presented Nicky with a multi-colored badge. In it were multiple gemstones that sparkled brightly in the sunlight. Nicky held the badge up high into the air. The crowd applauded the young boy for his valiant effort and skill. After the festivities were finally over, they crowds left and waited for the next set of battles to start.

Icy and Sara left for the training arena. “That was cool. Nicky sure knows how to handle pokémon. I wish I could do that well too…”

“You will Icy. But I think you should change the lineup a bit.”

“Right. Ok, my lineup. Cyber, Hocus, Wiggler, Leafy, Vapor, and Buttercup. You guys are going to make me a pokémon master!” After training his new team in the arena for a few hours, Icy signed up to battle the Elite 4.

“You just in luck, the last trainer just cancelled a few minutes ago.”

“Hmm, why?”

“I’m not really allowed to say. Sorry… You are scheduled to battle them in about one hour. Can you be ready by then?”

“Yeah. I’ll be more than ready!”

“Well, good luck little boy.” Icy took his pass and went back with Sara. They ate lunch and then picked up Icy’s pokémon from the pokécenter where they were healing from the training.

“Let’s go guys. Our dreams await!” They headed back to the Grand Stadium. Icy was in the greatest of moods when the stadium seemed to vanish. “What, what’s happening?” Suddenly, everything was gone, replaced by a dark world. “Why am I here? I don’t have time to play games with you now Mewtwo!”

“Come now Icy. Is that any way to treat the one who cured you? Personally, I’d be much more grateful.”

“Somehow, I can’t picture someone like you being very grateful for anything.”

“Whatever. There’s no riddle or conflict this time Icy. I merely wanted to wish you the best of luck.”

“Huh? Am I getting this right? You are wishing me, luck?”

“Oh… Yes Icy, I am. Please, I may be heartless at times, but you can understand that I do possess a heart like you all the same. I can’t help it if I carry a deep hatred towards trainers though. But still, you interest me most of all. So, once again, I wish you luck. Please don’t go and embarrass yourself again like you did battling Agatha. That can really damage your reputation as a trainer.” Mewtwo snickered audibly so Icy could hear.

“Why you little…” his stopped after noticing he was back in normal time and space again. The phasing had worn off. Sara was staring at him funny.

“Ummm, who are you talking to Icy?”

“Oh, no one… C’mon, let’s get to the stadium!” They continued on their way. In the back of Icy’s mind, he thanked Mewtwo for his kindness.