Chapter Five
Hitmonchan vs. Blaziken Ex
Combuskin smiled as though Hitmonchan was making a joke. "You? Take on
Him?
Ha ha ha ha ha!"
"Talk is cheap Feather Duster, you want to set this up or are you just a chick," he paused, "oh wait, I guess you are either way."
"Ok," said Combuskin, "You want to fight Him, it's your funeral. Just name the time and the place."
Now Hitmonchan smiled. He had been wanting this match up for some time. He knew that the trainer didn't allow his Pokemon to fight without his instruction. But he also knew that, being old school, he would never get the chance to face off with this Thunder Chicken that now ruled the tournament scene.
Scyther pops out of his Pokeball and sees Hitmonchan and Combuskin shaking hands.
"This can't be good." He thinks.
"Let's do it tonight, in the gym." Hitmonchan said. "But we go by the rules. Even though the Trainer won't be there, we still play by the rules."
"What are you two up to?" Asks Scyther.
Combuskin smiles and says, "See you later, loser. Your going to be toasted tonight."
Combuskin ignores Scyther and leaves the room to go tell Blaziken Ex to get ready for the fight.
"What was that all about?" Asks Scyther.
Hitmonchan smiles and starts his short workout. He glances at the clock, just three hours to go.
...
Midnight at the gym. Blaziken Ex and Combuskin are standing by the ring. The room is dark.
"He's not going to show." Says Blaziken Ex, "He's not that stupid."
The lights come on and Hitmonchan walks straight to the ring and climbs up through the ropes.
"What did I tell you?" Asks Combuskin, "These old school Pokemon are all brawn but no brains." He turns to Hitmonchan, "No plus power is going to save you tonight old man."
"Talk is cheap Feather Duster. Let's see what you got."
Scyther appears in the doorway as Blaziken Ex starts to get into the ring.
"Hold on!" Scyther shouts. "I thought you agreed to play by the rules?"
"Yeah, so what?" Says Blaziken Ex.
"So," Says Scyther, "You have to start with a Torchic, then evolve into Combuskin, then to yourself."
Combuskin gets up and struts toward Scyther.
"Wait," says Blaziken Ex, "He's right. Let's do this right and show these two oldies what the new breed are all about." Blaziken whistles and a Torchic pops out of his Pokeball.
"Wow!" Says the Torchic,
"I've never been up this late! Is this some secret meeting? Are we going to learn a new technique? Where's the Trainer? Is he going to let his kid stay up this late too?"
"Just get in the ring," Says Blaziken Ex. He helps the little Torchic up into the ring. "We're just going to put these old guys in their place. This is a fight."
The Torchic takes on a serious look and walks to the center of the ring. Hitmonchan looms over him, the little Torchic looks up and tries a Singe attack, but the attack doesn't go off.
"My attack didn't work. Do I get to try again? Why didn't it work?"
"Hold on," says Blaziken Ex, "You have to gather energy first."
"My turn," says Hitmonchan. He gathers energy and strikes out with a jab. The little Torchic is rattled, but bravely stands his ground.
"Here," yells Combuskin, "eat this." He tosses a Rare Candy into the ring and the Torchic quickly gobbles it up. In a flash he is replaced by Blaziken Ex.
Hitmonchan steps back.
"Didn't expect to see me for another turn or two, did you?" He laughs.
Blaziken Ex gathers energy and smiles at Hitmonchan. "Ok, let's see another one of your famous jabs old man."
Hitmonchan gathers his second energy and cocks back his right hand for a jab. Just before he punches, he slips a Plus Power in front of his glove. The punch lands solid and blackens Blaziken Ex's right eye.
Blaziken Ex looks down at Hitmonchan in anger.
"Now you burn old man!" He gathers his second energy and lashes out with a Blaze Kick that sends Hitmonchan to the canvas in a gout of flame and smoke.
Hitmonchan slowly struggles to his feet. His whole body is smoldering. Smoke rises up from his blistered skin. His gloves are burned. He tries to speak but coughs hard as the smoke fills his mouth and nose.
Scyther raises a white towel and looks sadly at Hitmonchan.
Hitmonchan clears his throat of the smoke and says in a ragged voice, "Do not you dare interfere in this match."
"It's over old friend. You're badly burned and he's barely hurt." Says Scyther. "Sure you might land your Haymaker next turn, but it's just not enough anymore. It's over." He raises his hand to throw in the towel.
Hitmonchan snatches the towel out of Scyther's hand and throws it away outside the ring. He coughs hard again, more smoke coming out, and slowly says, "While I Still Stand It Is Not Over!"
Hitmonchan cocks his right hand back to throw the punch.
Combuskin breaks into laughter, "He didn't even remember to try and gather energy. The best he could do now is just another jab."
As his fist comes forward Hitmonchan pulls something from his smoldering vest.
Remembering his black eye, Blaziken Ex winces expecting another plus power.
Hitmonchan activates the Ancient Technical Machine Rock that his trainer showed him last week.
Blaziken Ex is teleported out of the ring and Torchic instantly takes his place. But with the damage already done, Torchic immediately passes out and is returned to his Pokeball.
Hitmonchan staggers and looks into the eyes of the stunned Blaziken Ex.
"He cheated!" Shouts Combuskin. "He's not allowed to..."
Blaziken Ex shoves Combuskin back and silences him with a glare through his blackened eye.
He turns to Hitmonchan, bows his head, then ushers Combuskin out of the gym.
Hitmonchan looks at Scyther and passes out, returning to his own Pokeball for a much needed rest.
Scyther, standing alone in the gym, turns out the lights. "I guess we're not the
ex after all." He says to the empty gym and, allowing himself a feeling of a little old school pride, goes back to his Pokeball as well.
.
