Hard Enough-Chapter 243: Going for the throat

I sat on the couch, annoyed at myself.

I’d thought myself oh so clever yesterday with my decision to perform a touch-up with my pokemon’s movepool.

Kaede had even been complimentary of my decision.

There was just one little problem that I hadn’t considered.

“And it seems yesterday’s events saw some rattled cages, but also some unusual alliances forming up with the Ace Trainers!” reported the anchor of the morning news.

On the screen a video of myself, Sabrina, Yolanda, Missy, and Kaede, all marching through the Celadon Department Store with baskets in our hands. My basket was full, almost overflowing with what could only be Technical Machines.

A small part of me was glad to see that Yolanda’s features were blurred out.

As a minor, specifically one who wasn’t a pokemon trainer, she still wasn’t allowed to be filmed without her guardian’s consent. Once she became a trainer, it was up to her to say yes or no until she became a more public figure.

I rubbed at my temples and took a moment to breathe in and out. Damn my popularity and damn the news for being wise to this.

“It seems Brock is going to do a reshuffle, Mags!” said the anchor to a reporter who was standing in front of the shops I’d bought the TM's from.

“It does indeed! We had some sleuths ready for any trainers to use this tactic, and it is interesting that it is Brock feeling the pinch, no doubt after the close showing against Kaede. What has taken a lot of people by surprise is that Kaede was also among Brock’s entourage and seen talking with Brock and Sabrina quite amiably, despite her defeat against Brock just yesterday!” gushed the blonde haired reporter, like she had the scoop of the year.

I bonked my head. “Urgh, I didn’t even think to check for them,” I said.

Sabrina floated into the lounge room with a coffee held in the air next to her. “There wouldn’t have been anything you could do. Not this late. Buying online takes even longer, as they have to run security checks on the types of moves you wanted.”

She waved a hand. “Would you have preferred I scared them off?”

I shook my head. “No… they have the right to film us… sadly,” I said. If anything, I had to concede that the news team's decision to post people on the lookout for this sort of behavior was a good call. It was very forward-thinking of them.

“I think.. I am going to order a stock of Technical Machines for the future, so that I can simply draw from them if I want to pull this trick off successfully,” I said.

As Kaede had pointed out, I made things much harder for myself by waiting so late to review my opponents. If I’d looked ahead, I could have saved myself a lot of headaches. Sadly, as I’d pointed out to her, I was a Gym Leader with a host of responsibilities.

“Missy is certainly getting a crash course on what to do and not do as an Ace Trainer,” I said with a sigh.

“So is Yolanda,” Sabrina said as she leaned into me.

I took her hand in mine and began playing with it. “So, think I laid the seeds for Kaede to become a Gym Leader?”

“You were less than subtle, but yes. Kaede’s mind did keep coming back to how much it would ease the pressures she’s under,” she said. She turned her head. “I also noted you asking about acting roles on my behalf. Do you think that is something I should try?”

I offered her a shrug. “If that’s what you wanted, I have to admit I think you’d be quite good at it.”

Sabrina’s expression morphed into a frown. “I am not so confident.”

“You have perhaps the best control of your emotions of anyone I know,” I said. I offered up another finger and waggled it about. “You’d also be able to know precisely how a director wants you to play a scene thanks to your psychic abilities, so that’s less you get lost in translation,” I said. “I know Suzie wouldn’t mind seeing you in movies and television series, that’s for sure.”

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Sabrina nodded, only to frown when the reporter on the screen was shown shoving a microphone into the face of a pimply looking teen shop attendant.

“Sir, could you comment on what Brock purchased?” asked the reporter in a rapid fire manner that had the youth leaning back.

“Urm? Ah?! I think I shouldn’t talk to you!” said the kid. His eyes were darting left and right as he looked for a way to escape the clutches of the reporter.

The reporter smelt blood, however. “Sir! Did you or did you not sell Brock any goods last night?!” demanded the woman.

Sabrina stood and I got the impression that she was about to Teleport to intervene, only for the youth to surprise us.

“It’s the store’s policy not to discuss what people may or may not have b-bought!” said the youth. He flushed at his voice breaking. He looked like he was moments from breaking under the reporter’s assault. He was holding up a paper shield, and he knew it.

The reporter however had to respect it, especially with it having been said on live air. “I see, but we do have video of Brock picking a number of items, would you care to speculate?”

“If that was filmed within the shop then I am afraid it is against company policy and I will have to ask you to delete it!” said the youth with a hint of steel, which was somewhat ruined by the way he cringed back.

The reporter narrowed her eyes. “The images were taken from outside the shop, and Brock, Sabrina, and Kaede are all considered public figures, so they can be videoed,” she said.

The reporter must have sensed she was losing this argument as they whipped back to the anchor. “Well, despite obstructions to the truth, we know Brock was here last night! There is no knowledge of what specifically he bought! Questions like this will need to be asked though, as Brock is going to be taking part in a high end match later today!”

I narrowed my eyes. “Is she implying that I might be doping my pokemon?” I said.

Sabrina nodded, only for a scowl to appear. “You’re not going to like this next part,” she said ominously.

“And we have just heard from Bruce! Brock’s opponent today! We cut live to Bruce!” said the anchor, and the video feed was dropped from the Department Store right as a security guard was shown marching up to the camera with a Machoke at their side.

I suspected they weren’t going to be able to run that other angle, but that didn’t matter, the damage was done.

Bruce appeared and I sighed. He’d had a haircut, I noted.

Instead of looking like a blond Lance, he now reminded me of Eminem from my past life, with his hair closely cropped and a bandana wrapped into a tight profile around his head. On the bandana, dragons were shown in various poses. Instead of a coat with a cape, Bruce was wearing a black singlet that showed off his physique along with a handful of tattoos that I hadn’t known he’d had.

It screamed ‘casual’ in a manner that was effortless, but I could see several signs that let me know that this had taken quite a lot of work and the help of a stylist.

“Bruce, what do you think about Brock’s recent purchases?” said the reporter, a young twentyish something woman with a far too bright smile as she stabbed her microphone into his mouth.

She had a glint in her eyes like what Bruce was about to say was a forgone conclusion.

Bruce swayed back slightly and blinked. “Well, I only just learned of it, but I suppose it makes me feel good,” he said.

“Good?” said the reporter in surprise. “Why good?”

“It means he’s taking me seriously. I’ve been aware of his rise up the Ace rankings for quite a while now. Lots of people like to toss around how the top trainers in Ace rankings and the League are both Blackthorns. For two whole years now I’ve held down the top place and allowed Lance to focus on governing Indigo without one avenue of challenges.”

“Yesssss,” said the reporter slowly, urging Bruce to continue. I tilted my head. What was he playing at?

Bruce smiled in a winning manner and I blinked when I caught sight of a glint of metal. Did he have a metal tooth? I leaned in and spotted a tooth that shone metallic grey. It was also slightly sharper than the others around it. Hmmm, that was certainly a vanity project. I doubted his dentist would have enjoyed putting that in. He’d risk chipping his teeth when he ate if he wasn’t careful.

Bruce continued. “The only people that have in fact risen to challenge Lance have eventuated from the Indigo Cup. Which, let’s face it, has been the kiddies. This year has seen a lot more challenges than in the past, but it’s something I’ve taken pride in. Sadly, not everyone’s recognised the work it takes to stay at the top of the Ace Leaderboards. Brock going out and buying some last minute items? Well, it just means he’s taking me seriously.”

Bruce shrugged. “He beat Lance last year and while some of that was solid work on Brock’s part, it was also that Lance wasn’t taking Brock seriously.” Bruce gave the camera a stare down that could be considered deep. “I’m taking Brock seriously, so I’m glad to hear that he is as well. It will make our battle all the better.”

The reporter nodded, her smile fixed in place. This obviously wasn’t the angle she’d wanted. “Do I hear a hint of frustration being directed towards certain parties? Have they not recognised your work?” she said.

“Certain parties have not,” he said tapping at his shoulder while his arms were crossed. This drew attention towards his draconic tattoos. “I won’t name them publicly, but if you can do the math it is quite obvious.”

“He’s all but saying it,” I said with a snort but I still tilted my head. “It sounds like his beef is more with his family than with me, though,” I said.

“It would seem that way,” Sabrina said. “But I doubt the news will want to leave your appearance at the Celadon Department Store alone.”

She was proven right when the reporter made a show of holding her ear. “We have unconfirmed reports that Brock was seen buying boosters for his pokemon. Care to comment on this? What will you do if Brock is using illegal tactics?”

I shot the reporter a glare. “Wow, wow I hate these guys,” I said. I glanced at the corner of the screen and wasn’t surprised to see the number seventy-six in a specific style. “Of course it’s them perpetuating this rot.”

“You can’t get them for slander either, as they made sure to announce it was unconfirmed reports to cover themselves,” Sabrina said, slipping into her knowledge of laws.

“Damn,” I said with a grunt.

Bruce sniffed. “I won’t have to do anything. Brock is not the sort to do that type of thing,” Bruce replied.

“Huh, maybe he’s not a—” I began to say.

“That said, I will be asking that the organisers have him in his rooms on time, for once. I know that at least in one case at this tournament, he arrived at the last minute for a match, which didn’t allow all of the procedures the League had in place to be followed.”

I dropped my good feelings for Bruce faster than a Pidgey that had just run into a Rock Slide. “Oh, he knows how to imply things, doesn’t he?” I said snidely.

“He is referencing the rules they applied due to me being your girlfriend,” Sabrina sighed.

I squeezed her shoulder and nodded. “Not that people will know that, as it was a rule basically added for me,” I said.

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I rubbed my forehead with my off hand. “Well, I won’t be taking Bruce by surprise as much as I planned, but it doesn’t mean I will drop my plan to change up my pokemon’s movepool,” I said.

“It’s a good plan,” Sabrina said. “He doesn’t know which moves you’ve added, nor to which pokemon. At most he knows that you don’t have four of your pokemon from yesterday.”

I nodded slowly, toying with the idea of… no, that would be putting them at undue risk after they’d given their all to win.

A buzz on my wrist informed me that Kaede was messaging me. “Huh, she’s apologising for drawing attention to us,” I said.

“I doubt it was just her that drew attention,” said Sabrina.

I nodded. “Maybe I should have had an intermediary purchase the Technical Machines on my behalf,” I said.

“They would have suspected Missy, or any of the Gym Trainers,” said Sabrina.

I shook my head, my thoughts instead turning towards the trio of Jessie, James, and Meowth. “I know some people that can be discreet when they have to be.”

Sabrina glanced over her shoulder at me. “Why are you grinning like that while saying such a thing?” she asked.

I chuckled. “They’d be so unsubtle that people wouldn’t pay attention to them due to how weird they’d most likely be,” I said. I could just imagine Meowth standing on top of James’ shoulders while hiding under a large coat and hat, with Jessie in the background being less than impressed only for it to work.

I chuckled and Sabrina raised an eyebrow before I felt a gentle nudge on my thoughts. I relaxed a little and let her see what I was thinking, and she stiffened before nodding, her own lips twitching. “That would be ridiculous,” she said.

I leaned in so I could whisper in her ear. “What do you call a noodle in disguise?”

Sabrina bit her lips as my own grew into a smirk. “Impasta,” I said, enjoying the way she twitched and giggled while leaning against me.

Another buzz had me looking to find a message from the organisers. I frowned as I read it.

“They’re demanding I appear on time precisely and have my team ready for any pre-match assessments that need to be conducted,” I said with a sigh. “They’re calling it coverage to make sure no-one can doubt that the match isn’t on the up and up,” I said.

“That isn’t so bad,” Sabrina commented.

I showed her the time they wanted me to appear. “That’s an hour earlier than usual,” she said.

I nodded with a huff. “They’re letting the gossip force their hand so they can be seen pre-empting things and ‘doing’ things,” I said.

“Well, it’s certainly less than ideal, but I have some messengers to follow up with about who was trying to steal your Megastone,” said Sabrina.

I toyed with her hands. “Anything significant?”

“There are a pair of handlers, a Butch and Cassidy, that keep appearing in the runners after enough time. Sadly, finding them is the difficult part. They are not scryable in the future, which indicates they are actively trying to hide with something purpose built for themselves.”

“Hmmm, always suspicious if you need that sort of equipment,” I said. “Butch and Cassidy though, eh? Those names… did they come up in the Team Rocket raids somewhere?”

“They were mentioned as high scoring teams and individual performers at the Rocket Academy,” Sabrina said.

I nodded. “Right, so my contacts? They might know a thing or two, I’ll give you their numbers so ask them.” I forwarded the trio’s contact information to Sabrina.

Sabrina nodded and made to rise but I caught her before she did. “Hey, don’t judge them too quickly,” I said. “They’re rough around the edges, but they have hearts of gold where it counts,” I said.

Sabrina’s eyes narrowed as she whipped her head around to me. “What sort of strays have you adopted?” she asked.

I smiled winningly at her and Sabrina tweaked my nose with her telekinesis. “That is not going to get you out of an explanation, Brock!” she said.

I raised my hands in defeat. “Alright! Alright! They’re former Team Rocket agents, but they were on and off good and bad at their jobs, they have however on multiple occasions stood up when things were bad. When Team Rocket assaulted Saffron for example, they were found to be helping people escape Team Rocket rather than capturing hostages. They are, by all accounts, good people in bad situations.” I said hands still raised up in surrender.

Sabrina poked me with a telekinetic probe to the ribs. “Very well, but don’t become blind to their ways.”

“I’m not, I’m just trying to help them get on the high road,” I said with a smile. “So be nice, for me? Please?”

Sabrina’s hair adjusted itself as she composed herself. She didn’t need to touch it, it simply readopted its position as though returning to a predetermined position in space and time in relation to Sabrina.

I tilted my head. “You know, if you were an actress you’d save people a lot on makeup and styling with how you can control your hair like you do,” I said.

Sabrina shifted in a manner that let me know she had heard me and liked the idea, but she didn’t want to show it. I just smiled at her in my winning way.

Sabrina prodded me again before leaning in and giving me a kiss. “I will see to your… redemption projects, then, and I will be nice to them,” she said, turning and marching away. She made sure to flick her hair in a dramatic fashion, but I kept my eyes on her hips which rolled as she walked.

“Once your matches are done I expect to spend some time with you on the beach and at some restaurants,” Sabrina tossed over her shoulder. “My shout,” she said and I chuckled. “That’s something to look forward to!” I called after her.

I sighed and gave the clock another look over. With the moved up time, I would need to finish up installing the Technical Machines onto the pokemon I’d be using today.

In future I might also add some of the spare Thunder and Swift TM's that I’d picked up for my other pokemon such as Titan. For now, I focused on the six that would fight.

By the time that was done I had barely enough time to shower and clean up before walking with Missy, Yolanda, Crystal, and Greta to the stadium.

“So… have you heard from A.J.?” asked Yolanda as we meandered down the boulevard.

“Give them hell, Brock!” called a passerby. I waved at them.

“I never expected you to cheat!” cried another and I rolled my eyes before directing my attention to Yolanda.

“I did get a message that he was fine. He’s with Forrest and his friends right now,” I said.

“Oh, Ash and Misty, they’ll take care of him!” she said and I held back a smirk. Chances were, whatever was going on with A.J. and Melvin, they’d take care of it. That… or be right there with him as he ended up in prison, what with how enraged A.J. had been.

Hmmmmmm.

I sent off a flurry of messages for them to check in some more that everything was fine.

I got back a response from Forrest.

“Hmmm, it seems Melvin has good instincts, he packed up and ran an hour before A.J. got there. A.J. is leading the gang plus Bugsy on a chase after the former clown.” I said, reading the highlights of the message out loud.

“Oh, that’s a shame,” said Yolanda.

I nodded. Crystal hummed. “It kinda makes sense A.J. was raised in a circus,” she said.

Greta coughed pointedly and Crystal raised her hands in defense. “What? He’s a rough guy with a lot of knowledge missing about certain things! Brock! Did you know that he had no idea about the pokenet before he signed on with us?”

I shot her a look. “Would have been hard to afford a transceiver or sit in front of a computer with the life he led. It hasn’t impacted his literacy skills growing up in a circus,” I said. “He just read a lot of books for his information.”

I hummed, considering that. I should give him a pokedex when he returned.

“Brock! How do you think you will do tonight?” called a man who almost looked like he was being dragged along by the microphone with how fast he ran with it extended out in front of him.

So it begins, I thought to myself.

“I think I have quite good odds, I have adjusted my team for tonight’s match and think I have strong chances,” I said.

“Any thoughts on the allegations that you will be boosting?” said another man who leapt out of some bushes in front of me. When I kept walking straight at him he backpedalled but kept his microphone angled at me.

“They’re just that, allegations and rumours. I have no desire to use that method to garner an advantage. As a Gym Leader I face it more than enough times each season to despise it. Boosting alone leads to the highest injury rates for my pokemon each year, and I wish I could stamp it out, but sadly, the need to process the trainers wins out and during the busy times I can’t force them to cool off before each match,” I said.

More and more questions poured in and some were even directed at Missy and Greta. When one man turned to Yolanda and Crystal they formed x’s with their arms in front of their bodies. “No questions for us!” they chimed.

The reporter accepted that with a nod and continued on to Greta, asking her about her experiences at the Pewter Gym.

“—a lot with various typings and strategies. At the Pewter Gym I’ve been able to experience a lot more than other trainers normally would, while still developing my skills as a person and a pokemon trainer!” Greta said with a winning smile.

I shot her a pleased look. She had spoken from the heart and her testimony had been glowing, much as Missy’s had been.

I coughed, catching the reporter’s attention once more. “I’m afraid that’s all we have time for today, I’m going to have to check in now,” I said, bidding the reporters good day.

“One last question! Where is Sabrina? Usually she teleports you to these events!” said one man, causing the others to perk up as they hadn’t considered this question.

I shrugged. “She’s a busy woman. She has other things to do sometimes, so I can’t always avoid stretching my legs,” I said.

I then turned and marched into the doors of the stadium. From there it was business as usual as I was led into a separate waiting room like the last two times.

This time however, an event organiser was standing there sheepishly. “I’m afraid I need you to not just lock in your team, but also release them from their pokeballs,” he said. “Karen, Joshua, and Bruce are all being asked to do the same!” he said quickly.

I grunted and released my team. They all glanced around in surprise. “Cool off period,” I said to them.

This earned a derisive snort from Bertha before she raised her arm and flexed while whirring up the drillbit fingers she had. She stopped after a moment, her gaze locked onto the television to one side of the room. “Rhy?” she asked.

I glanced at it before shaking my head. “Nah, we need to watch Karen’s match first. It will help get us in the mood,” I said.

I did just that and was surprised to find that Karen’s match… was over.

“—a rapid fire show down that was a demolition if I have ever seen one!” shouted the anchor gleefully.

“It makes sense! No-one! And I mean no one was expecting this from Karen! She just went from Dark Ponyta to rising Rapidash, stunning people’s hopes and expectations!” shouted the other.

I tilted my head. What had she—

A playback began with the referee raising his flags. “You may each release your pokemon upon the flag drop! Are you ready?” he shouted.

I blinked. “Why are they showing off the start of the match?” I said. Surely the highlights should be coming later on?

“Go Poliwrath!” shouted Joshua.

“Go! Houndoom!” replied Karen.

I felt my eyes climb, that… was perhaps the worst match up that Karen could have possibly drawn. On paper at least.

It was just like if Titan faced a Poliwrath. On paper it was terrible, so perhaps that was the trick? Karen had trained her pokemon to counter this very specific match up?

Joshua looked gleeful while Karen had her signature smirk in place as she wrapped her arms across her stomach.

“Begin!” roared the referee only for Karen to react first. From her necklace a light began to shine and I leaned forward as suspicions I’d had were confirmed.

“Houndoom! MEGA EVOLVE!” she roared, and Houndoom reacted by throwing his head up into the air and howling. An explosion of darkness and fire erupted from him, blowing away the meagre Hydro Pump Joshua had tried to get off.

A few moments later the darkness cleared, leaving a smokey patch of ground where Houndoom strode forward.

It had grown by at least two inches in height, but that might have been the horns that had been previously curved and were now spiking upwards. Across its chest a mantle of bone rested, with spikes protruding forward. Around its front ankles, two anklets rested.

Joshua’s expression was locked in a rictus of shock before he regathered himself. “Hy—” was all he got the chance to shout as Karen stabbed her hand forward and Houndoom launched itself forward.

Around its jaw sparks flew as lightning discharged. Houndoom slammed into the Poliwrath and bore it to the ground, fangs firmly lodged around Poliwrath’s torso.

Poliwrath cried out, only for a flash of lightning to make it twitch.

Karen had paralysed it with that attack.

From there Karen merely had her pokemon continue to savage its foe, winning the first match easily.

The highlight shifted to showcase Houndoom then eviscerating a Quagsire, and setting the battlefield alight with a powerful Inferno in response to Joshua’s release of Pidgeot.

Houndoom then stalked through the flames like a hellhound in truth. When Joshua tried to defuse the fiery situation, Karen levelled her hand at Joshua and grinned. “Blast ‘em!” she called, and her Houndoom unleashed a gigantic Fire Blast that Pidgeot couldn’t escape.

When the highlight reel ended the score was revealed at two to six, with Karen returning her Houndoom after it had taken out three pokemon.

“Karen can Mega Evolve her pokemon?” said Missy in shock.

I nodded. “Yeah, I thought she looked a little rough when we first arrived. She’s been training, it seems.”

Crystal snorted. “She blew her shot at revealing it later, she had good chances against Joshua already, it was a waste to use it there,” she said.

“It wasn’t about holding it in reserve,” I said with a smirk. “It was about sending a message and getting attention her way,” I said.

The girls all blinked at this. “Really?” they said and I nodded.

“I’ve interacted with her a few times, and she’s proud. Kaede getting so much attention would have burned at her. She held off for the last match, but with this being the semifinal she decided to announce herself.” I chuckled. “She thinks I’m going to win and she knows me well enough to suspect that I knew what her big reveal was going to be, so she’s pulled the pin now and is seen as awaiting Bruce or I to meet her tomorrow,” I said.

Crystal nodded slowly before glancing at me. “You and her know each other that well, eh?”

I swatted at her. “We’re sparring partners,” I said.

“Uhmmmm, Brock?” asked the organiser.

I looked up and the man from earlier was coughing. “We… weren't expecting Karen’s match to be as… quick as it proved to be, we’re looking to bring forward your match by… half an hour at least, would that be alright?”

I grinned. “I’d like that,” I said toying with what this meant for the competition. That made four Kanto trainers that could Mega Evolve. For Karen to have gotten it so quickly spoke of how deep her bond with her starter was.

So, the question became, was there a fifth?

Had Bruce made a deal for a power up of his own?

I tilted my head. Karen, much like Kaede, had made a spectacle of her match. Now all eyes were looking to her to win.

Bruce Blackthorn, with his notable dragon influences, surely couldn’t resist the thrown down gauntlet. He would have to respond in some manner.

And what better way was there than to send out his strongest pokemon first?

I shifted pokeballs on my belt. I had discussed it with Kaede last night and she’d waved the idea away, but here and now? It felt oh so right for him to open the match with something powerful.

Or would he anticipate that? Was he calculating enough to go another route in the face of Karen’s demonstration?

I shut my eyes and pondered on this for a few minutes, ideas warring back and forth.

“Brock? The match is set to start earlier. You have ten more minutes!” said the organiser.

Huh, Bruce must not have had any issues with starting earlier either.

When the time came I marched out to the roar of the crowd.

A quick look around showed Karen sitting right in the middle of the stands on my right. A shit eating grin on her face as people gave her a lot of attention.

I rolled my eyes at her. She’d stolen Kaede’s trick, so it wasn’t that clever.

I turned my attention to the other side of the field as Bruce was called out. He marched out with a confident swagger.

We locked eyes and the world fell away.

The referee became like a countdown for us, as we both palmed our first pokemon for the fight.

Who would it be?

Pride or practicality?

What had won out for Bruce?

The flags rose and fell. “Begin!”

I sent out Shrek as my opening pokemon. He landed with a heavy ribbit.

Across from us Bruce’s pokeball disgorged a tall black dragon - his shiny Charizard.

I grinned. Fuck yes! That was a good start!

I’d gotten the call right, now I needed to punish his pride before he got off a Mega Evolved pokemon.