Pokemon Adventures: Soul Ch20 Cold as Ice!

Chapter 20: Cold as Ice!

A dim light crept into the room, as the thin white curtains that hovered over the open windows rustled gently in the wind. A cool breeze swept into the room, sending a cold waking shiver down my spine. I slowly awoke, gradually coming to my senses as though being lifted out of a dream. I felt warm, and I soon realized that I was in Spirit's arms, as she was tightly gripping my head into her bosom. I shook my head loose, and crawled out of bed. I walked across the room, to a desk where our pokeballs sat comfortably. I peered inside of them, and saw all of our pokemon graciously sleeping, all except for Emperor and Hellfire.

"Good moning" I said in a cold voice.

Emperor and Hellfire peered up at me from within their respective capsules.

"We are gonna challenge Candice today. Shouldn't be too difficult" I reassured them.

I quickly showered, and got dressed. As I began lacing up my shoes, Spirit began to stir up from her sleep.

"Soul?" she asked, as she sat up, rubbing her eye.

"Yeah?"

"Why are you leaving so early? Its only 5 a.m."

"We are behind schedule, so I want to get a move on" I responded.

I grabbed up my pokeballs from the desk, and placed them on my waist. I released Emperor from his capsule. Emperor stretched his wings out, and shook his entire body.

"Do you already have a strategy to beat Candice?" Emperor asked me after he was done stretching.

I thought about the battle I had last night with Red and Gold. Do I have what it takes to find my own latent power? I thought to myself.

"Not yet…However, I honestly think that we're just gonna sweep her with Hellfire alone…And if it's needed, I will switch into Titan, and finish the fight with him…" I said, as I thought about the weaknesses of an ice type.

"Yea…chances are she has an Abomasnow. They are native to the land here, so it is to be expected" Emperor said, as he walked over to the window, pulling back the curtains.

It wasn't snowing outside, but the coldness swept into the room, as though the warm air was being devoured by the winter.

"Weather seems to be in our favor…" Emperor muttered.

"Not if she uses an Abomasnow. Did you forget that they have an ability that summons a blizzard at will?" I retorted.

"Won't matter as much if we are indoors" Emperor grunted.

Spirit briskly hopped out of bed, folding her arms tightly together from the cold.

"Emperor! Its cold outside, close the windows!" she said as her teeth chattered.

Spirit stretched out her arms, and quickly tip-toed into the bathroom. As she tiptoed by, I could see underneath her skirt, just enough to see her pink laced underwear, with a cute teddiursa picture on it. Spirit caught me looking at her butt, and she closed the door behind her with the "bruh, I caught you lookin'" smile. Emperor closed the windows and the shades, and walked toward me.

"Let's go…" I grunted.

"Not gonna wait for Spirit?" Emperor asked.

"No need, I don't plan on being long…" I declared, in a cold but confident tone.

Emperor and I approached the gym doors, marching through a few feet of snow. The feeling in my toes was gone, despite the fact I was wearing boots.

I glanced back at Emperor, "Do you think I have what it takes to be a Champion?" I asked him.

Emperor stared at me with a confused glance, "Soul, I have utmost respect for you and your abilities. If I, no, if we didn't believe in you," Emperor pointed at the other pokemon on my waist, "We would have left you a long time ago. Those capsules don't stop us from leaving; they are just a method for carrying us around with you…Why the sudden doubt?" Emperor questioned.

I shook my head, "It's nothing…" I said, as I pushed the gym doors open.

As we walked into the gym, we could feel the temperature drop even further. The air was so cold, that my eyebrows began to frost over.

"Hmph…" I grunted.

The cold won't stop me from taking down Candice. If Red himself could train on the peak of Mt. Silver, in the Johto region, then how could I let a little cold air in a Gym scare me out?

"Hey Soul! I expected you to come by today, but you are way earlier than I expected!" said a nearby voice.

I turned to my right, and Candice was walking into the gymnasium from her office.

"The early bird catches the worm" I said to her.

Candice laughed, "You aren't kidding! I know you are eager to battle me, but can you wait a bit? Prof. Oak and the others wanted to watch the battle today" Candice said with a smile.

I shuttered, and became tense.

"They want to watch my battle?" I said coolly.

Candice nodded, "Yeap, Red said something about watching your growth" Candice said, placing a finger on her chin, trying to understand what Red meant.

I gritted my teeth in anger, and clenched my fist. I have to fight in front of not one, but two champions? What if they don't see progress in my strategy? What if…I shook my head. I can't let my thoughts get to me. Red said it himself; he thinks I am a genius, he wouldn't come to watch me battle if he didn't really believe so. When did I learn to doubt myself…did losing to them affect me that bad?

"Yea…hurry up and call them. I want to get this started" I growled, I wanted to prove myself to the Champions. I will show them real strength!

Candice shook her head, "Alright, alright! Sheesh! I'll ring them up now…" She responded, as she walked back into her office.

I walked over to the center of the arena, and stared up at the ceiling. How? How do I unlock my potential? I asked myself. The gym doors behind me opened up once more, so I turned around to look at who came in. Spirit walked through the doors, and closed them behind her, as she looked around the gym to take in the scene.

"Not as big as most Gyms, huh? Candice doesn't have a receptionist either. No bleachers, or chairs for people to sit on…Hmm and its super cold in here too!" Spirit grumbled and complained.

"If you're going to grunt and moan, go back to the center and wait for me…" I said in an annoyed tone.

Spirit puffed out her cheeks in anger, "You're so rude! I come out here to support you in the freezing cold and that's the thanks I get?"

"Who asked ya to come anyway?" I growled.

Spirit sighed, and walked to the side of the arena.

"I'll just watch from the sidelines…" She said briskly.

Once more, the gym doors opened up; Red, Gold and Prof. Oak walked into the gym. Red and Gold were huddled over Prof. Oak, who was shivering madly.

"Holy grimer, it is cold out here!" Prof. Oak complained, as he shivered. He took two steps into the gym, and immediately grimaced.

"What the Muk! It's even colder in here!" he said, as he sniveled and sneezed.

"Ah, c'mon professor! It ain't so bad!" Red laughed, patting Prof. Oak on the back.

"Yeah! You definitely get used to it!" Gold reassured him.

Prof. Oak sneezed once more, and wiped away his boogers with a hanky he pulled out of his pocket, "The training in those mountains really put you to the test, I can see the results in you!" he said happily beaming at Gold and Red.

The three of them approached Spirit's side, and they all welcomed each other with open arms, and hugs.

"Good to see you Spirit! You know, you're one of the best trainers we've seen out in Sinnoh so far!" Gold said to her after giving her a hug.

Spirit blushed and giggled, "Thanks! I got some training tips and strategy from Soul!" She said, not taking all of the credit.

Red looked over at me on the field; and I stared right back at him. He nodded his head to me, and I nodded back.

"He looks serious…" Gold muttered to Red.

"Good, we'll get a better show that way. That's the kind of trainer he is, similar to Silver's style of battle," Red began, "Unlike us he fights with a different source of energy."

Spirit looked at Red, "What do you mean energy?" she asked.

Red crossed his arms, and closed his eyes in thought, "Gold fights with his pokemon as partners, I fight with my pokemon as friends. Soul on the other hand, he uses them as weapons."

Candice came back into the gym from her office, "Sorry Soul, I tried to call them but-" she stopped mid-sentence when she saw everyone was already there.

"Oh, I guess everyone was up early today" Candice said with a hesitant smile.

She turned her attention to me; her face now a bit more serious.

"I've seen your name in the papers a numerous amount of times, defeating Gym leaders from all over. I have even met with them, and spoke to them about your battles. You have serious skill…" She said, acknowledging my achievements.

I shrugged, "I know that I'm better than the average gym leader, the last good gym battle I had was against Maylene…The others are just jokes. I think you are the same," I said with a smirk.

Candice smiled and closed her eyes, "Your attitude is that of a champion. But let me enlighten you. Maylene is so powerful, because she got her training from none other than Volkner himself!"

Red wore a surprised expression, surprised to hear that.

I turned to Red, "You know about Volkner?" I asked him.

Red nodded, "The Professor, Gold and I arrived to Sinnoh ported in Sunyshore City. You see, we came by ship, and that's the port we come to from the kanto region, since it is the closest. Volkner caught wind of our visit (word travels fast when you're a champ) and showed us around the city. His gym is amazing, and it serves as the power to the entire city!"

Red's face became more serious, "But right before the Professor, Gold and I could leave, he challenged me to a battle! His battle prowess, and his intelligence on the field. He is by far the most powerful Gym leader and Trainer in the Sinnoh region. I was able to beat him in the very last moment, but he didn't even use his most powerful pokemon. Nor did I, but his power is definitely acknowledgeable."

Hmph. Seems like I know where we're going next. I need to beat Volkner...I thought to myself.

"We digress; the point is Maylene grew stronger because of her training with Volkner. But I am here to tell you, she's not the only one who trained with him!" Candice said confidently.

I stared Candice into her eyes. She was brimming with energy, ready to take my challenge head on, without holding anything back.

"Hmph. Sorry, but you're just a stepping stone to me. You might have trained with the best, but the best has stepped before you…Allow me to show you the difference between us," I grabbed a pokeball from my waist, preparing for our battle.

Candice reached into her pocket, and pulled out a remote. She clicked a button, and the whirring of heavy machinery clanked into motion. The gym shook, as the ceiling above us began to open up! The sky was cloudy and gray, completely blocking out the sun entirely.

I stared at Candice; I will be the first to choose! I thought.

"Titan, come forth!" I called out, as I tossed Titan's pokeball onto the field.

With a puff of smoke, Titan appeared from within the pokeball. Titan stood in the center of the field, with its arms held high.

"This is it! I long for battle!" he declared, as he turned to me, "You said you will show me power, now is the time you return on that promise!" he growled.

I nodded to him confidently. With your power and my guidance, there is no way we can lose I thought to myself.

"For your safety, I ask that anyone who is watching our battle take refuge in our spectator box seats," began Candice, as she pushed a couple of buttons on her remote.

Two steel doors opened up on the ground, and a loud cranking noise rumbled throughout the gym. A steel containment unit with huge glass windows rose out of the ground. Once fully risen, Candice pressed another button and opened up the steel door to the containment unit.

"Step inside, I promise that the warmth will keep the windows from defrosting, and keep you all nice and toasty!" she finished with a smile.

Red smirked as he closed his eyes, "I see…it's gonna be that kind of battle…" he said with a smile, "I'll be fine right here."

Gold turned to Prof. Oak and Spirit, "Let's get inside guys!" he said as he walked them into the special spectators stand.

The steel door slammed shut as Candice pressed another button.

The machine locked into place, and the cranking could be heard once more, as the entire spectator box rotated along the walls and centered itself on the roof above!

"From there, you will be able to see the entire battle, and stay out of our way! As you see, the whole gym is our battlefield!" Candice turned to me, as she put the remote back into her pocket. Suddenly, the temperature in the room began to decrease again!

"Right now, the temp in this room is 25*F. As the battle goes on, the temp will drop further," Candice's expression was full of confidence. She lifted her arm and pointed right at me, "You've said that you wanted the best, and you want to experience a level of difficulty that will allow you to become the strongest. Do you want to fight in these harsh conditions? Or would you rather I fight you like any other normal leader?" she finished boldly.

Candice is one of the most serious leaders I have faced since Maylene…I thought to myself. I glanced over at Titan, who was still more than eager to battle. Of course, he's used to these kinds of conditions by now. He has lived in these mountains for so long now, it must be normal to him I thought. I already knew that Hellfire would be able to keep herself warm as well, being a fire type pokemon and all. I then remembered that Red and Gold trained in these harsh conditions as well, so I have to show them that I can do it, too! I looked over to Red, and gave him a nod. Red looked back at me with a grin, knowing I would choose nothing else but the harshest of conditions.

Candice smiled, "The rules are simple. Only two pokemon are allowed per trainer, and only one of them can be outside of their pokeball at a time. We both may switch willingly between the two, and the battle is only over when a trainer no longer has any pokemon left to battle" she began, "And one more thing. In order to best prepare you for real combat…Attacking an enemy trainer is fair game! A great trainer will be able to defend himself and his pokemon in the midst of chaos. Besides, if you get knocked out, then you won't be able to give your pokemon orders. So feel free to attack me, too" Candice finished with a wink.

I nodded in agreement, "Your test is futile, I already know who will win…" I said coldly.

"My first choice is Abomasnow!" Candice called out, tossing her pokeball.

With a puff of smoke, Abomasnow appeared. It growled loudly, and its voice echoed throughout the stadium. Almost instantly, a blizzard began to brew.

Candice turned to Red, "I knew you'd stay out here with us. In order to avoid paying for a referee, I'd hope you'd do it for me, Champion" Candice said in a pleasant and girly voice.

Red began to blush a bright red, "Uh! Su-Sure! No problem!" he stammered.

Candice giggled; "Whenever you are ready then…" she said lowering her stance.

Red looked at Candice, then back at me.

"BEGIN!"

"End this quick! Titan, Close Combat!" I called out. The best way to not freeze is to move with my pokemon! If I keep moving, not only will I be able to defend myself, but I will be able to keep warm! I thought. I dashed next to Titan, as we both charged at Abomasnow.

Candice stepped back, and seemingly disappeared into the blizzard, "Abomasnow! Focus blast!" she called out.

Abomasnow formed a giant energy ball, and fired it towards Titan and me, kicking up a great flurry of ice and snow. I dodged it with Titan, as we both rolled to the right. I got up, and grabbed Titan's arm.

"Brace yourself!" I growled, as I threw him into the mist after Abomasnow.

"RRRARGH!" Titan growled, as he flew in, preparing to attack Abomasnow with his close Combat.

As Titan swung his fist into the cloud, he felt his arm pass through nothing!

"What!?" he exclaimed, as the mist cleared, revealing a Froslass in Abomasnow's place!

Heracross flew through the Froslass, landing on his feet on the opposite side; kicking up another mist of snow and ice.

Froslass used the given opportunity to charge straight forward to me, attempting to attack me head on!

Candice appeared out of nowhere, grabbing my neck and my arm from behind, holding me in place!

"Froslass! Ice Beam!" Candice called out.

I used my free arm to grab Hellfire's ball, and released her from her capsule, "Hellfire! Use Fire Blast!" I cried out.

With a puff of smoke, Hellfire erupted scorching hot flames from her mouth, defending me from the ice beam!

I reversed Candice's hold, and tried to grab her back. Candice was onto my strategy, and immediately let go. She leaped backwards, revealing her blue and white stripped underwear underneath her mini-skirt. She landed gracefully back onto the ground, "Not bad!" she smirked, as she disappeared back into the blizzard.

"Wait! Doesn't that mean Soul is disqualified!?" Spirit exclaimed from above in the spectator's box.

Gold shook his head, and pointed at the ground; "Look carefully" he said.

Spirit glanced down, and was shocked. When the mist cleared, Titan was visible, but he was inside his pokeball!

"How did Soul find the time to pull that off?" Spirit said in a shocked tone.

Gold shook his head, "It was clear as day! How'd ya miss it? Right at that moment, when soul grabbed Heracross' arm, he gave it its pokeball to hold! Just in case his plan backfired, he had Heracross hold the pokeball so he can retreat inside of it!" he explained.

Spirit's eyes brightened up, "Wow, he's a genius!" she said in an admiring tone.

"Hmph" I grunted, as Hellfire and I stood side by side, "We need to get Titan back..obviously Candice has a trap waiting for us…" I said to Hellfire.

"I have an idea…" Hellfire growled.

"I'm all ears…"

"We set up a pincer attack…She'll take the bait"

"No that won't work…but maybe-" right before I could finish my sentence, Abomasnow appeared before me, roaring loudly.

Hellfire and I leaped back, as Abomasnow thrusted its arms downward to the ground. The impact of its huge arms caused the ground to crake, and the earth itself broke apart in attempt to try and hurt us.

"Hammer Arm?!" I declared, as I identified Abomasnow's attack, "Hellfire, Fire Blast!" I called out.

Hellfire opened her mouth and blasted a huge flame at Abomasnow. However, as quickly as it showed up, Abomasnow disappeared back into the snow.

"Hellfire! On Me!" I called out, as we both dashed after Titan's ball.

Titan stared at me helplessly from within his ball, unable to do anything about the situation.

Hellfire and I were right about to pick up Titan's ball, but at that moment, Abomasnow appeared yet again; attempting to use Rock Climb to cut us off before we had a chance to recover Titan.

I smirked evilly, "Oh so predictable…" I said coolly.

Right before Abomasnow could cut us off, I put Hellfire back into its ball.

Titan saw that Hellfire was safely inside her ball, and he erupted out of his own with a puff of smoke. BOOM! Titan nailed Abomasnow with his close combat…is what I thought! To my horror, Abomasnow had disappeared, and in his place was Froslass!

Titan's attack did nothing!

"Ice Beam!" Candice called out from nearby.

I grabbed Titan, and jumped to the left of Froslass, narrowly escaping its ice beam attack!

We rolled on the ground briefly, and quickly stood up.

"Dammit!" I growled, as once again, Froslass had disappeared!

"Got any other bright ideas!?" Titan growled out of frustration.

I turned my head, and saw Red was staring out at us, observing every move that Candice and I made like he was reading a book, when suddenly.

"Hmph…" I said with a smirk, "I have a great plan…" I said confidently, as the snow storm brewed on.