Love in the Time of Teamwork

Chapter 5: A Battle

A moment of reiteration: yes, the structure is the same as the Grand Magic Games. Yes, some moments may seem similar. Is it the same? No, and I think you'll see that by the end of the story. For now, please enjoy Chapter 5!

Chapter 5

A Battle

"Clemont! What do you think you're doing?" Bonnie yelled from the stands, despite the fact that Clemont was so involved in the competition, he likely didn't hear her. Serena saw fit to remind Bonnie of this little fact by putting a comforting hand on her. "Does he want to lose or something?"

"Nah," Ash said, crouching down next to Bonnie. Gary and Brock hung back, the pair obviously still not used to the general vibe of the group, despite their friendship with Ash.

"You guys don't want to watch?" Serena asked teasingly. Brock chortled a little, wearing a slightly mollified expression as he walked up next to Serena.

"Guess it's been a long time since I've been in a tournament...or even watched one that wasn't on TV."

"I am watching," Gary explained to defend his position. Serena somehow doubted that, but when she saw how narrow and focused his eyes were, she saw no reason to defy him. Instead, she turned her attention back to the battlefield where she could see the source of Bonnie's displeasure.

"Looks like Chespin's stomach has struck again," Serena sighed out. "Well, we knew we weren't getting first place for this one anyway."

"That's okay," Ash reassured them. "Once Chespin recovers, if he can score just a couple more points, we'll finish in a high position."

"I don't think Chespin's getting back up," Bonnie pointed out sadly. Serena had to agree with the little girl; while there hadn't been an extraordinary amount of poffins littered on the ground, the fact was that Chespin ate them all. In effect, Chespin was stuffed full and prepared to take a nap if it weren't for Clemont pulling on him in vain to start competing again.

"Sometimes Chespin's a lot of trouble, huh?" Brock asked, watching as Buneary broke free to score at least one more goal. "It's pretty heated out there with only a few minutes...and that Team Brutal hasn't done anything."

"That's what worries me," Gary said. He was stepping forward now, placing his head in between Serena and Brock while pointing to Seamus, who was finally off his feet and stepping forward slowly. "I get the feeling that he made those poffins fall just to get Chespin out of the game. Not sure if it's because he's on our team or if he's just being a jerk. Either way, he's smart."

"So what if he's smart?" Ash protested. Pikachu shook his hand angrily at the implication as well, with even Dedenne joining in on the fun. "We've got willpower."

"That's right!" Bonnie agreed. Serena didn't verbally agree with her friends, but she did nod emphatically. Gary sighed tiredly.

"Somehow, I'm not sure if that'll be enough," Gary told them.

"He's making his move, now," Brock informed them. All of the trainers turned back to the arena and saw what suddenly became a rather horrific sight. Alakazam and Seamus were in the center of the field now and Alakazam's eyes were glowing blue. All at once, the Pokémon and their trainers were levitated by the Pokémon's Psychic attack and then tossed along as though they were rag dolls. For those Pokémon that weren't affected, their trainers were thrown into them instead. Meanwhile, Seamus was laughing as Alakazam's move levitated all the balls in the arena towards his goal, scoring a sudden twenty points within a matter of seconds.

"See now," Seamus cried out, his gaze directed solely at Team Ketchum's box. "You and all your Pokémon are just tools to be used at my disposal. Thanks for weakening the herd!"