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Pokemon, Asylum of the Damned

Chapter LXX

Saga XIII- Master Battles Saga

Chapter XII- Hurricane's Eye

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Only two days now stood between Tom and the Pokemon battle to end all 
Pokemon battles. In just forty-eight hours, he would be facing off against 
the Pokemon League champion, and he was in for the toughest fight of his 
life. Sitting by himself at the dark, dimly lit bar of the Trainer Lounge, 
Tom sighed, thought to himself some more, and rested his cheek in his palm. 
After training all day long, he let Porygon Two and the rest of his Pokemon 
rest, and Tom knew that they had all gone down to the Pokemon spa for some 
much-deserved relaxation. Tom's eyelids began to droop, and he looked at his 
watch. It was ten 'o clock, and Tom began to think of heading back to his 
suite for the night.

Suddenly, a short, wide glass slid down the counter, stopping right in front 
of Tom with the thin straw brushing past his lips. Tom looked to where the 
glass had come from, and saw the burly bartender cleaning out a hearty-sized 
mug with a small towel. "There's your martini," said the bald barkeeper in a 
thick, gruff voice.

Tom looked at the drink, and then back at the bartender. "I didn't order 
anything," he said.

"I know you didn't," said the barkeep, "she did for you."

Tom looked over the bartender's burly shoulders to see a thin blonde woman 
sitting at the edge of the counter. She looked up at Tom, and almost as soon 
as they made eye contact, she dropped her sight to the counter.

"Thanks," said Tom quietly, picking up his martini and moving to the blonde.

As soon as Tom pulled up a stool beside the woman, he saw her cheeks flush a 
bright red as he brushed her shoulder-length fluffy hair out of her eyes. 
"Thanks for the drink," said Tom, batting the straw around with his 
fingertip.

"It was nothing," she replied.

"What's the occasion?"

The woman weakly grinned. Tom could tell she was very shy when she meekly 
murmured, "You just seemed so lonely by yourself there."

"Well, you should know who I am," Tom said, "What's your name?"

The blonde hesitated before she answered, "Claire."

Tom gingerly sipped on the martini. He never did care much for alcohol, but 
he felt ashamed not to take a sip. "So, are you a trainer?" Tom asked, 
bearing the odd tingling at the back of his tongue.

"Yeah," said Claire quietly, brushing her hair off of her plain white shirt, 
"I'm not really that tough of a Trainer, though. My best Pokemon is my 
Pidgey."

Tom had to struggle to keep his tongue from rattling off a barrage of 
bragging. "Well, we all have to start somewhere," said Tom. "When I started, 
I had nothing but a Pokedex and a few empty Pokeballs that someone gave to 
me."

Claire giggled quietly. "Well, I just started a month ago," she said, "I 
watch the tournament for fun. The first one I ever watched was the last 
one."

"I was in that one," said Tom. "I, well, sort of had to quit."

"Yeah, I saw it all," said Claire empathetically. "Who knew that Team Rocket 
could be so daring?"

"Certainly not me," said Tom, deciding to keep his escapade in Mega City 
between him and Sabre.

"When I saw you battle," said Claire, flushing red again, "I decided I would 
try training Pokemon too."

Tom beamed. "Really?" He asked.

"Well, that Rocket guy scared me a bit," she said, "but I'm pretty sure I 
wouldn't run into one of them."

"And I hope no one ever does again," Tom muttered silently under his breath.

When Tom took a quick glance at Claire again, their eyes met once more, and 
it was not long before Claire sheepishly looked back down at the counter. 
"So, you've seen Moltres, right?" Tom asked.

"Who hasn't?"

"Want to know how I found him?"

Claire grinned eagerly. "Sure I would!"

Tom grinned back, gingerly taking another sip of the martini before shifting 
himself closer to Claire. "Well, it all started after I quit the last 
tournament..."

-End....?

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