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Pokemon, Asylum of the Damned

Chapter LXIX

Saga XIII- Master Battles Saga

Chapter XI- Final Round

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Tom felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of his shoulders when he saw 
the newscast on the television at the Pokemon Center the next day.

"Authorities from Mega City have finally subdued the last remaining Team 
Rocket member from its Mega City operation," said the reporter. "Alex Tekcor 
was arrested late yesterday after a battle in the Tower City Pokemon League 
against Tom Simms. Tekcor was charged with numerous counts of theft 
exceeding one million dollars, Pokemon neglect, abuse, and abduction, grand 
theft auto, severe credit card fraud, and interference with Pokemon League. 
It was Tekcor who allegedly attempted to ban Simm's Moltres from the League, 
but only succeeded for one match. Tekcor was sentenced to fifteen years in 
prison with no chance of bail, and the five thousand dollar bounty that he 
placed on the defeat of Tom Simms in the Pokemon League has been offically 
lifted."

Tom breathed a sigh of relief. "Now all I have to concentrate on is winning 
that triple threat!"

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He had to admit, it did look odd to have the new circular battlefield in 
front of him rather than the standard rectangle. Even more bizzare was 
seeing the three trainer stands placed an equal distance from each other 
along the edges. Tom had only been in a few two-on-two battles, and he 
wondered how he would do in this two-on-two with another two to worry about. 
Suddenly, Tom's music filled the stadium. Taking a heavy breath, Tom stepped 
foot into the arena with Porygon Two close behind.

"The following contest is scheduled for two falls," came the voice of the 
unseen announcer over the stadium, "In a special two-on-two-on-two triple 
threat! Introducing first, from Yorin Town, earning a total of ten badges, 
he is the Pokemon League's People's Champion, Tom Simms!"

Tom smiled weakly to the cheering crowd, with immesurable doubts forming in 
his mind.

"And his first opponent, from New Cinnabar, earning a total of eight badges, 
Ricky Mauren!"

Tom's tall, slim opponent walked onto the field, accompanied by the same 
kind of rhythmless noise of Carton's over the loudspeakers.

Suddenly, an even more horrendous racket to Tom's ears filled the stadium. 
"And their second opponent, from Zero City, earning a total of eleven 
badges, Ron Kena!"

"What is that noise?" Poryon Two complained as a man with obscenely baggy 
clothes marched out onto the field.

"They call it rap," Tom said, gritting his teeth, "I call it crap."

As soon as all three had their headsets on, they all held a pair of 
Pokeballs in their hands. "Politoed, Spinda, go!" Ricky declared, throwing 
his Pokeballs onto the field.

"Muk, Gengar, go!" Ron yelled, throwing his two Pokeballs on the field.

"Rhydon, Kangaskhan, go!" Tom yelled, throwing his two Pokeballs into the 
field.

Within seconds, the six Pokemon had all materialized on the field, quickly 
shifting their eyes at their opponents. Rhydon snarled at Kangaskhan 
quietly, and Kangaskhan hissed back.

"You're using those two?" Porygon Two gasped. "Why them?"

Tom grinned smugly. "Who better?" Then, covering his mouthpiece, Tom said, 
"Besides, I've got a plan."

"You better know what you're doing," Porygon Two muttered as the referee 
took the field.

"Hey poser-boy," Tom heard Ron taunt Ricky, "Hope you got yo' lucky pants 
on, son, cuz I'm gonna' kick yo' sorry ass all over this field."

"Your poison Pokemon are good at what they do," Ricky retorted, "looking 
ugly."

Tom remained silent, hoping to have both of his opponents tear into each 
other for him. "Hey, what about you, Moltres boy?" asked Ron, "What up with 
him?"

"Someone must have beaten you senseless with an illiterate stick," Tom 
chuckled cruelly, hearing Ron growl quietly on the other end. "I'm sorry, 
Moltres can't come out to play today, but I'm still going to beat you both."

"Just try," said Ricky.

"Trainers ready," The referee declared, "Pokemon ready, begin!"

"Spinda, Take Down that Muk!," Ricky ordered, "Politoed, Hydro Pump!"

"Muk, Sludge that Spinda! Gengar, Shadow Ball that Rhydon!

"Kangaskhan, Mega Punch that Politoed! Rhydon, Surf!"

The battlefield instantly erupted in chaos. Kangaskhan and Politoed were 
trading blows with one another, as were Rhydon and Gengar with each other. 
Spinda and Muk were fighting each other on the edges of the field, far away 
from the melee in the middle. As the fury continued, the Pokemon suddenly 
switched opponents, double-teaming them or turning on each other at a single 
thought. Water gushing from Rhydon's and Politoed's mouths swept the field 
as Kangaskhan and Gengar stood apart from one another, staring each other 
down heatedly. Just as Ron opened his mouth to command Gengar, Tom suddenly 
shouted, "Kangashan, Body Sam that Politoed!"

Rhydon was shielding his face with his arm, quietly wincing as Politoed's 
Hydro Pump quickly overpowered his Surf, the water leaking through his rocky 
skin and driving an unbearable pain through his nerves. Suddenly, Kangaskhan 
sent himself smashing into Politoed's back, knocking him forward and 
sputtering on his own attack. For a moment, Kangaskhan and Rhydon locked 
eyes before rushing at their opponents again. Kangaskhan threw punch after 
punch at Politoed's cheeks while Rhydon steadily pushed his way forward 
against Gengar's Shadow Ball attacks blasting upon his body. Kangaskhan's 
last punch took a wild swing to the left, missing Politoed's face 
completely. Politoed sucked in another deep breath, and blasted a fierce 
Hydro Pump into Kangaskhan's chest. Kangaskhan roared as he was knocked onto 
his back, continued to be pummeled between the ground and Politoed's Hydro 
Pump. Just as Kangaskhan felt like his chest cavity would collapse, he 
lashed his tail out at Politoed's feet, sweeping Politoed by the heels. As 
soon as Politoed hit the ground, Kangaskhan clambered back to his feet and 
lumbered towards Politoed. Politoed could see Kangaskhan reach for his 
throat, and let out another Hydro Pump from his mouth. Quickly grabbing 
Politoed from the growth on his head, Kangaskhan tore Politoed off of the 
ground just in time to let the Hydro Pump blast by his face and over his 
shoulder. Just as soon as Rhydon finally collapsed to his knees from the 
Gengar's merciless assault of Shadow Balls, the Hydro Pump suddenly shot 
over from behind his shoulder, smashing into the Gengar's chest. Rhydon 
pushed himself back up to his feet as Gengar fell to the ground, and let out 
another Surf from his mouth. The wall of water came crashing upon Gengar, 
sweeping him out of the field. Gengar lay face-down on the arena floor, 
completely motionless.

Tom heard Ron snarl with contempt as he zapped Gengar back into his 
Pokeball. Seconds later, Ricky had recalled his Spinda after Spinda had 
suddenly collapsed to the ground, vomiting heavily from Muk's poison. The 
melee seemed to clear up, as all four remaining Pokemon took a minute to 
glare at each other.

"Muk, Sludge that Rhydon!" Ron suddenly ordered.

"Politoed, Body Slam the Kangaskhan!"

Tom suddenly panicked. "Rhydon! Kangaskhan! Body Slam!" he screamed.

As Rhydon threw himself at Muk, Muk suddenly belched out a glob of slime, 
spattering all over Rhydon's face. Rhydon screeched in agony as the slime 
left a burning sting on his rocky skin a he smashed himself onto Muk. 
Kangaskhan and Politoed hurled themseves into each other, knocking both back 
down to the ground as soon as they hit with a thud. Rhydon whined and 
moaned, rubbing his burning eyes as Muk squeezed out from under him, weezing 
and trying to catch his breath. As soon as Muk sucked the wind back into 
him, let let out a thick black glob of slime at Rhydon, slattering it all 
over Rhydon's chest. Rhydon moaned again, feeling his stomach begin to 
churn. As Muk continued to weeze and gasp, Politoed had already knocked 
Kangaskhan onto his back with a blast of Hydro Pump, and threw himself onto 
Kangaskhan's belly with another Body Slam. Now mounting Kangaskhan and 
pinning him firmly to the ground, Politoed began battering Kangaskhan's 
cheeks with his palms for a Doubleslap attack. Muk spat another Sludge onto 
Rhydon's face, driving Rhydon's eyes shut. Now roaring with pain as his 
insides began to burn, Rhydon staggered around with his eyes shut, suddenly 
unleashing a Surf attack. The blast of water missed Muk by a long shot, 
instead smashing into Politoed's back, knocking the Pokemon off of 
Kangaskhan's chest. Kangaskhan rolled back onto his feet, rubbing his 
stinging cheeks as Muk lunged at Rhydon with another Body Slam. Muk only 
managed to make Rhydon stagger backwards, with the churning inside of 
Rhydon's gut sending him blindly stumbling across the field. As soon as 
Rhydon could open his eyes, he saw himself charging towards Politoed weakly 
rising to his feet. With no time to turn his heavy body, Rhydon simply 
lowered his horn and stampeded towards Politoed. Politoed yelped with 
surprise and pain as Rhydon smashed him in the back with his Take Down, 
sending both Pokemon spilling to the ground. Muk took another lunge forward 
at Rhydon, only to be blindsided by Kangaskhan's Mega Punch. As Muk 
collapsed onto the field, Rhydon weakly staggered back to his feet, his 
stomach feeling like it could explode at any moment. Knowing he had little 
time before he would pass out, Rhydon looked at Kangaskhan, and Kangaskhan 
looked back at him. Then, with a grin apiece, Kangaskhan and Rhydon gave 
each other a quick nod.

"That was your plan?" Porygon Two asked skeptically.

"What better way to make them get along?" Tom asked as Politoed staggered 
back to his feet. "Rhydon, Kangaskhan, Body Slam!"

Suddenly, Kangaskhan knelt down before Rhydon, holding his hands together. 
As soon as Rhydon stepped on Kangaskhan's hands, Kangaskhan vaulted Rhydon 
into the air. Catching Rhydon by the ankles, Kangaskhan whirled around at 
Politoed. No sooner had Politoed gotten back to his feet, Kangaskhan flung 
Rhydon upon him like a giant pole, smashing Politoed flat in a heartbeat.

The crowd winced with sympathy as Rhydon's body smashed a crater into the 
field. And when neither Pokemon moved, Tom and Ricky grimaced, zapping their 
defeated Pokemon back into their Pokeballs.

"Why me first?" Tom heard Ricky whine.

"Shut yo mouth and deal, fool," Ron sneered.

With that, Ron and Tom locked eyes. "Looks like it's just you and me," said 
Tom.

"Just bring it."

"Gladly," Tom replied, "Kangaskhan, Dizzy Punch!"

"Muk, Toxic!"

As soon as Kangaskhan wound back his fist, Muk spat out another glob of 
slime, slashing against Kangaskhan's face. Kangaskhan suddenly roared, 
holding his face in a burning agony. "Muk," Ron ordered again, "Sludge!"

As Muk took in another deep breath, Tom yelled, "Kangaskhan, Body Slam!"

Kangaskhan began to bear the burning as Muk spat out another glob of Sludge 
at him. Gritting his teeth and snarling, Kangaskhan threw himself forward as 
the Sludge blasted upon his chest, smashing his body upon Muk's. And as 
Kangaskhan weakly rose back to his feet, Tom ordered, "Kangaskhan, Dizzy 
Punch!"

As his stomach churned, Kangaskhan threw his fist upon Muk, smashing his 
knuckles into Muk's slimy body. Muk quickly bounced back to his slimy shape, 
suddenly swaggering and dazed.

"Muk, get your head straight!" Ron ordered, "Sludge!"

Muk suddenly moaned and slumped onto the ground, belching a thick puddle of 
Sludge around him.

"Now, Kangaskhan!" Tom suddenly yelled, "Mega Punch!"

With that, Kangaskhan sent his fist smashing into Muk's body again, 
splattering Muk's slimy body into twice its size upon the field. And with a 
simple, quiet moan, Muk fell still.

"And the winner of the final round," the announcer's voice declared with 
ecstasy, "Tom Simms!"

The crowd cheered wildly as Kangaskhan collapsed to his knees, weezing 
heavily. Tom zapped Kangaskhan back into his Pokeball as he speedily slid 
down the ladder of his trainer box.

"We won!" Porygon Two cheered, "We won the Pokemon League!"

"And we're not done yet," Tom grinned, glancing at Ron and Ricky as they 
muttered in defeat and shame, walking without a shred of pride as they 
trudged out of the arena.

Within seconds, Tom was enswaramed by a mass of reporters, shoving camera 
lenses and microphones at him. Suddenly, a slim woman edged her way to Tom's 
side, holding a microphone to her lips and staring straight into the closest 
camera. "Thanks Jerry," she said as if finishing a conversation, "I'm 
standing here with the new Pokemon League champion Tom Simms." Then, jabbing 
her microphone at Tom's face, she said, "Mr. Simms, congratulations on your 
stunning victory!"

Tom grinned weakly as Porygon Two nudged his ankle. "Well, I have all my 
great Pokemon to thank," Tom said sheepishly, hoping that would stop Porygon 
Two from prodding him in the leg.

"Now that you're the country's Pokemon League champion," the interviewer 
said, "you can challenge the world Pokemon League champion for the highest 
Pokemon training championship in the world." Then, after a brief pause, she 
asked, "Do you plan on making the challenge?"

As soon as the microphone was at his mouth again and the cameras were all 
aimed at him, it took Tom hardly a split second to say, "Hell yes."

-End... for now....

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