Disclaimer: Pokemon and co. doesn't belong to me . . . . blah blah blah . . . Authors Notes: Here I am again and all ready for season 2 of this fic for the few of you that'll probably come banging on my door to demand I finish this already. As usual, Feedback would be greatly appreciated! And so would suggestions for the final chapter of my fic Forever. I kinda got writers block on that one. Ketchum: The Journey Continues Season 2 Soon To Meet The Elite Chapter 18 ~~~~~~Inferno's POV~~~~~~ The Poke-Nomads had left two weeks ago, Rare Beauty and I were still sore after a very rough battle. There were nine trainers left, Satoshi had battled three of them for his position in the top eight. Only one more battle would ensure his position. I winced and rubbed my ribs, unfortunately Rare Beauty, Candy and I were laid up in the Pokemon Centre. Flutter, Lullaby and Paradox had gotten off easy compared to us. At least they were still in fighting condition. The three of us had taken a beating in that third battle and we couldn't fight for another week. Admittedly I was a little distracted for a few days after I watched the show and participated in it. Rare Beauty and I finally knew why no one's seen the faces of the actors. It was simple, and yet we swore we'd never tell anyone. Their costumes, well, they weren't costumes. That's what they really were. *How are your ribs Inferno?* Candy asked. *Better, how's your arm?* I gestured toward her cast. *Nurse Joy says the cast can come off tomorrow. Rare Beauty was finally released yesterday.* A Gyarados with cabin fever is definitely something to be avoided. That lesson would remain etched in my mind, Rare Beauty had nearly torn her stitches while thrashing in a severe case of cabin fever. The Scyther had cut her up pretty badly. I got stuck against a Machamp, trust me when I say the battle wasn't pretty. The same applied to Candy and another Primeape. Rare Beauty against Scyther as well. "How're you holding up Inferno?" Satoshi asked as he walked in after leaving his pokemon with Nurse Joy. *I've been better.* I grinned. He's been visiting us every chance he gets. "Any suggestions for who I should use against Jacob?" Jacob was the fourth guy he had to fight and win against in order to get into the top eight, than against the Elite 4. *I'm thinking Tananda, Zeus, Makaar, Chewy, Shelldon and Raptor.* "Raptor and Makaar on the same team?" I nodded. *Makaar can handle any kind of Psychic type, Raptor would have difficulty with them being Psychic himself. And vice versa.* "Yeah, good point. And Raptor will need the practice for the Elite 4, he hasn't been in that may battles." He paused. "I'd give you a hug but I don't want to hurt you." I shrugged and gave him a hug anyway, I could take a little pain. Candy and I sat on the couch with a couple of sugar-free munchies to watch the match between Satoshi and Jacob. If you don't know who we're rooting for you'd better get a CAT scan. "Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the battle that will tell the world who will be in the top eight and go to face the Elite 4! On the Green side is Satoshi fielding Fearow, Pikachu, Banshee, Raticate, Cloyster and Raptor! On the Red side is Jacob fielding Scyther, Alakazam, Magneton, Onyx, Hitmonlee and Dragonite!" Candy and I winced, how'd this guy get a Dragonite of all pokemon? *Who do you think Satoshi will use against Dragonite?* Candy asked. I frowned as I thought. *Tough call. Of the team he has five of them have more experience, but Raptor is stronger.* I grunted, this was sure to be an interesting battle indeed. "The coin is in the air . . . Satoshi must send out his pokemon first!" Not a good way to start a battle. "I choose you, Chewy!" "Satoshi starts out with Raticate! Jacob sends out Hitmonlee!" "Stonebreaker Fang!" "Rolling Kick!" Chewy ducked the kick and suddenly blurred as he launched his attack, when he stopped Hitmonlee was still standing, barely. "Hyper Fang!" "Hitmonlee is unable to battle! Raticate wins! Satoshi is keeping Raticate in for Jacob's next pokemon. Jacob sends out Scyther!" I didn't have to be Psychic to know what was going on in Satoshi's head, I knew Rare Beauty's messy battle with a Scyther was running through his mind. "Stay away from the blades and finish this quick! Stonebreaker Fang!" Unfortunately Jacob seemed to have anticipated this. "Double Team!" I saw Satoshi wince at that. He bit his lip. "Quick Attack, right!" ~~~~~~Satoshi's POV~~~~~~ It was a hunch, one that I hoped was right for Chewy's sake or Nurse Joy would be treating him for cuts soon enough. He lunged at the Scyther on the right . . . And passed right through it. I uttered a curse that would've floored anyone who knew me. "Focus Energy and Bite one at random! Try to smell it out!" I watched as he collected his remaining energy and lashed out at the Scyther coming in from behind him. Direct hit! I jumped and called for Hyper Fang. Scyther, already weak from Double Team fainted. "Great Job Chewy!" I shouted, he gave me a weak smile before he wobbled. I recalled him. He was definitely getting a treat after this match, they all were! I grabbed Tananda's pokeball the same time he grabbed his. At the same time we tossed out our pokemon. "Jacob has selected Onyx! Satoshi's Fearow will have a hard time with it!" Hard time indeed. Even I wasn't sure what to do. This was the mis- match of all mis-matches. <"I have no idea what to do either."> I groaned and looked at Tananda circling over the Onyx. What to do? What to do? As long as she was in the air Onyx couldn't touch her. But she couldn't injure Onyx as long as she stayed up there. "Damn . . ." I muttered quietly. "Feather Barrage!" Perhaps this would at least take Onyx down to half strength. Hopefully. Granted Feather Barrage was powerful, I just didn't know if it'd be powerful enough to k.o. Onyx. <"I pray to the Fire God that it is."> Charmeleon murmured as he picked up on my thoughts. Onyx roared. I called for a Drill Peck and it roared again before there was silence. I and everyone watching waited for the dust to settle to see if Onyx had fainted or not. "Tananda! Blow away the dust!" I told her, she gave a weak nod and secured herself to the railing before flapping her wings. "Oh no! A Meowth has wandered onto the field!" My eyes widened. "What?!" I wasn't sure if I said that or Jacob did. Onyx suddenly lunged from the dust cloud and speeded toward the stray. "Tananda! Save it!" Fearows weren't built for speed, but in that moment I swear I've never seen her move so fast! Jacob shouted for Onyx to stop, Onyx didn't hear him. I held my breath, this was going to be close . . . Tananda swooped down and grabbed the cat in her claws, when I saw Onyx's tail about to crash down on her I shouted a warning. In her panic she let loose another Feather Barrage. It fainted and she glided up to me, exhausted. Gently I took the cat from her talons, it was in bad shape and shivering from it's ordeal. "Shhhh . . ." I muttered as I scratched behind it's . . . no, her ears. "Mrow . . ." I heard her whimper as she finally opened her eyes and got a good look at me while I examined her wounds. Lots of cuts and bruises, maybe a broken bone. "Everything will be alright." I murmured. "Tananda, take Meowth and tell Musashi to take her to the Pokemon Centre. I'll meet you there after the match." Tananda nodded her head. "Don't worry little one, Tananda won't hurt you." Tananda gently picked her up in her talons and began searching for Musashi and Meowth. Poor little thing, she was just a kitten really. "This has been an exciting battle! Both trainers are down to their last Pokemon!" I shot a glare at the announcer before looking at the pokeball that held my last pokemon. Raptor. "Go, Dragonite!" I winced, could Raptor handle that? <"Raptor will be fine, trust him."> <"You can't keep coddling him! He needs the experience."> <"Look, Draco could handle that easily. And Raptor can beat Draco, see what I'm saying?"> "I guess . . ." I muttered. "Be careful Raptor. I choose you, Raptor!" <(Father?)> "You can take it Raptor! Psychic!" "Hyper Beam!" "Psy-Shield!" Dragonite winced as Psychic hit, Raptor grunted as the shield withstood the onslaught of Hyper Beam. "Slash!" "Dragon Rage!" I bit my lip as he was caught in the watery cyclone. A brown blur was suddenly ejected and thrown into a wall. "RAPTOR!" I yelled desperately, just itching to run to him. The referee walked over to determine his condition when Raptor suddenly gave his chilling shriek and jumped over him! Even I took an involuntary step back when I saw the look in his violet eyes and the dark violet Psychic aura engulfing his body like flames. Dragonite had just made a very grave error, it had made the normally gentle Raptor VERY angry. Actually, he was WAY beyond angry. He was seething. The large Dragon type took a step back as Raptor hovered about a foot off the ground. I winced, if you think an angry Charizard is scary, a seething Raptor will give you nightmares for weeks. I shook my head to clear it, Raptor had to get rid of all that built up Psychic energy fast! So I called for his most powerful, so far that is, attack. "Psy Bomb!" The aura drained into his mouth and he launched it. Even Dragonite couldn't withstand that much Psychic energy. Raptor and I appeared in the Pokemon Centre, he had teleported us to get away from the reporters. After congratulating him on his victory I recalled him and handed him to Nurse Joy. "How's the Meowth?" I asked her. She gave a quiet smile and led me to the recovery room. "She's doing quite well. It's a good thing you saved her from the Onyx, she wouldn't have survived that. Unfortunately it seems her trainer had abandoned her, she wouldn't survive in the wild." My heart sank as I listened to Nurse Joy and looked at the recovering Meowth. I thought. "I'll take her Joy." I sighed, she positively beamed. ~~~~~~Inferno's POV~~~~~~ Because she was too young to name herself, Satoshi had named her Bastet. Bastet absolutely adored him, she followed him everywhere. Satoshi drew the line at the shower though. He'd spent the majority of dinner trying to make something she'd eat. Like the goddess she was named after she was very picky. Finally, about an hour after the pokemon and the girls had finished dinner Bastet finally approved of a recipe. Now it was night and I chuckled at the scene before me. Satoshi was fast asleep, Raptor and Bastet were quietly arguing over who would get to sleep with him. *I'm younger!* <*I'm stronger!*> *Bully!* <*Brat!*> He hissed. I decided to intervene before things got to ugly. *Calm down children.* I gently chided. *Why don't you two just share? There's certainly plenty of room for the both of you.* I chuckled as they gave each other a startled look, apparently the idea hadn't occurred to them. Shaking my head as I watched them clamour over each other for a prime spot I couldn't help but wonder what Satoshi was thinking to take her in. Eventually she'll grow into Persian, the most ill spirited of pokemon with their haughty attitude. Perhaps not though, Raticates are normally very rude. But Chewy isn't. But if Satoshi could mould her into a kind pokemon as he did for Chewy . . . I swear he'll turn into a God one of these days, performing miracles like that. Tomorrow is a big day for all of us, tomorrow we began our trip down Victory Road to meet the first of the Elite 4, the Ice Mistress Lorelei.