Gladion released his Blastoise while Gwen released her Venasaur. Both of them were their respective pick of starter Pokémon when they graduated from school.
Both the Pokemons had a fierce rivalry between them and it was time to find out which one was the better of the two starters.
Gladion's Blastoise, Hydros, and Gwen's Venusaur, Bulby, squared off at the centre of the battlefield.
The two titans locked eyes, their history stretching back to their days as a tiny Squirtle and Bulbasaur scampering around the Vortex family ranch.
Rivalry simmered between them, a bond forged in countless petty squabbles. Now, in the finals, it was personal.
Bulby shifted his massive weight, petals rustling as he rumbled in a deep, polite tone audible only to Hydros and the psychics in the crowd. [You've grown big, turtle. Quite the impressive shell you've got there.] His flower tilted slightly, a nod of respect between old foes.
Hydros, however, wasn't here for pleasantries. A proud graduate of the Nyx Academy of Psychological Torment—schooled by Gladion's sadistic Umbreon—he grinned, cannons twitching. [Oh, Bulby, you've grown too—big and fat. Did you eat the whole garden to bulk up that bulb on your back, or is it just all those naps in the sun.]
Bulby's petals stiffened, a low growl rumbling from his throat. [Fat? I'm a majestic fortress of nature, you overgrown faucet! This bulb's pure power—unlike your leaky little water guns!]
Hydros chuckled, water dripping from his cannons as he leaned forward. [Leaky? These are cannons, pal—I'm a tank with guns and a shield, a walking Punisher! You're just a walking salad bar with delusions of grandeur!]
Bulby blinked, his flower tilting in confusion. [Punisher? What's that supposed to mean? Did you hit your head on your own shell?]
Unbeknownst to him, Hydros was riffing on a comic book tale Gladion had spun from his past life—The Punisher, a vigilante with firepower to spare. Hydros didn't know it was from another world; he just thought it was a cool story Gladion made up to hype him up.
[It means I'm here to punish your sorry petals!] Hydros barked, smirking. [You're so slow, I could nap and still dodge your vines!]
[Dodge this, you smug sprinkler!] Bulby snapped, shaking his flower. [I'll bury you so deep in dirt you'll sprout roots!]
The crowd, oblivious to the banter, buzzed with excitement as the referee's whistle cut through the air. "Begin!"
Gladion struck first, his voice sharp. "Hydros, Iron Defense!"
Gladion knew that Venasaur had the type advantage and thus decided to use Iron defense which was a iron type move and would be able to hold against Grass type moves.
Gwen countered instantly, her tone gleeful. "Bulby, Petal Dance!"
Hydros hunkered down, his shell gleaming as a metallic sheen coated it, boosting his Defense. At the same moment, Bulby spun, petals whirling in a vibrant storm of Grass-type fury. The super-effective move swept toward Hydros, a blizzard of razor-sharp flora.
The crowd gasped as it struck, but Hydros stood firm, the Iron Defense absorbing much of the blow. Petals pinged off his shell like hail on steel, leaving only shallow scratches.
Gwen still smirked and continud with her onslaught. "Bulby, Razor Leaf!"
Gladion didn't pause. He knew the Iron Defense was still active.
"Rain Dance—ignore that Razor Leaf!"
Bulby unleashed a barrage of spinning leaves, slicing through the air toward Hydros. The Grass-type attack broke through the iron defense move and bit into his shell, drawing a grunt, but Hydros pressed on.
He reared back, cannons angling skyward as a rhythmic rumble echoed from the sky. Dark clouds swirled overhead, and rain poured down, drenching the field.
The Rain Dance slashed Solar Beam's power by half which was Venasaur's ultimate attack move, boosted Hydros' Water moves by 50%, and dampened Bulby's Synthesis recovery.
Razor Leaf stung, but the stage was set by Hydros.
Gwen's eyes narrowed, her grin was still there.
"Blaistoise defence is remarkable. But every defense has a weakness. Were not you the one that taught me this, dear brother?" Gwen said with a cackle as she gave her next order.
"Poison Powder!"
Bulby's flower pulsed, releasing a cloud of toxic spores. Even Hydros' sturdy shell couldn't block this—breathing was his weakness, and the poison drifted toward him. The crowd murmured, sensing a shift. But Gladion smirked, unfazed. "Hydros, Rapid Spin!"
Hydros tucked into his shell, spinning like a top. The motion kicked up fierce winds, a mini-tornado that scattered the Poison Powder harmlessly into the wind.
Gwen's jaw dropped. "What the—since when can a Blastoise do that?"
The announcer's voice boomed, incredulous. "Unbelievable, folks! Gladion's Blastoise just turned Rapid Spin into a wind machine, blowing away Poison Powder like it's nothing! Who knew a tank could twirl like a ballerina? Gwen's stunned—and so am I!"
The crowd roared, split between cheers and laughter. "Spin that turtle!" a kid shouted. "Gwen, your flower's toast now!" a guy cackled. Hydros' unexpected move had flipped the script, and Gwen's surprise fueled Gladion's confidence.
She recovered fast, her voice sharp. "Bulby, Vine Whip—grab him!"
Bulby's vines lashed out, thick and sinewy, wrapping around Hydros' shell. With a mighty heave, the Venusaur hoisted him skyward—40, 50 meters up—then slammed him down.
The impact cratered the field, water splashing as Hydros hit with a bone-rattling thud. Bulby didn't stop, lifting and smashing him again and again, each crash deepening the shell-sized dents. Blaistoise was in his shell.
The crowd winced, oohing with every blow.
"Solar Beam!" Gwen added, seizing the moment.
Bulby's flower glowed, channeling sunlight despite the rain. A weakened beam lanced down, striking Hydros mid-slam. The turtle groaned, shell scorched, but Gladion's eyes glinted with defiance.
"Hydros, Hydro Pump from the cannons—Hyper Beam from the mouth!"
Still airborne from the latest lift, Hydros roared. His cannons erupted, twin torrents of water blasting downward, amplified by the rain. From his mouth, a blinding Hyper Beam fired, a white-hot lance of raw power. The attacks converged on Bulby, Hydro Pump drenching him as Hyper Beam slammed into his flower. The stadium shook, water and light exploding in a dazzling clash.
Bulby staggered, vines loosening as the dual assault overwhelmed him. Hydros crashed down one last time, free of the grip, but his energy was spent. Both titans swayed, then collapsed—Bulby into the mud, Hydros onto his shell—out cold.
The referee's flags shot up. "Blastoise and Venusaur are unable to battle! A double knockout to start the finals!"
The crowd erupted, a mix of shock and awe. Gladion and Gwen locked eyes, smirks mirroring each other—proud, competitive, unyielding. Five Pokémon remained on each side, and the battle was just beginning.
The announcer's voice thundered. "A double knockout, folks! Blastoise and Venusaur went toe-to-toe—spinning, slamming, beaming—and took each other out! Hydros' Rapid Spin surprise and Bulby's Vine Whip aerial assault—pure chaos! Five left each—siblings don't mess around!"
The crowd buzzed. "That turtle's a twirling tank!" a guy cheered. "Bulby yeeted him—epic!" a girl laughed. "Double KO? Best start ever for a finale!" a kid shouted.
------Author Notes------
Thankyou Dylan, Micheal Dye and Harvey Jones for supporting me!
Y'all can read 15 extra chapters on my pat*reon. 3 more than what was offered earlier!!
https://pat reon.com/mrmime24
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