{"sf1_id":555650,"sf2_id":"zeRp0zMn","title":"Part 2 The coach and the master","author":"LPN","words":2621,"posted_at":"2013-06-25T17:17:00.000Z","tags":["Fighting","Pokemon.adventure","Transformation"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/555650-part-2-the-coach-and-the-master","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/zeRp0zMn","image_url":"https://www.sofurryfiles.com/std/thumb?page=555650\u0026ext=.jpg","description":"","content":"The  \ncoach and the master\n\nThe next morning Cory started to teach Dash  \nabout the rules of the poke battle championship. To qualify one needed a team  \nwith a minimum of three members and defeat a number of type masters that  \nresided in various towns and villages.\n\n\"There are a total of seventeen type  \nmasters, each a master of his or her type. When you defeat one of them they  \ngive you a pin representing their type. You only need eight pins to qualify,  \nbut the more you have the higher your rank becomes.\"\n\n\"Okay, it seems simple enough,\" Dash  \nstated. \"So, how many pins do you have right now?\"\n\nCory started drawing circles on the floor  \nwith her front leg.\n\n\"Well, none. But there is supposed to be a  \ntype master right here in this town. We were heading here when we met you.\"\n\nShe continued to tell him that that the  \ntype master was supposed to be a steel type and she had planned on Sune's fire  \nmoves to win the match.\n\n\"I'll stay out of the way and support her  \nwith my poison powder attack to...\"\n\n\"That won't work,\" Dash interrupted. \"Steel  \ntypes are immune to the poison condition. It is better to use your razor leafs.  \nThey won't do much damage to a steel type but they can hit multiple targets and  \ngradually wear them down. Just make sure to avoid being hit by any powerful  \nmoves.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Okay that's great! Let's go right away!\"  \nCory began to move towards the door.\n\n\"Wait! We can't go yet,\" Dash said as he  \nmoved to stop her. \"I need more information to make a suitable strategy.\"\n\nAfter a couple of hours Dash had gotten all  \nthe information he figured was relevant. Cory knew the moves aromatherapy,  \ntackle, razor leaf and poison powder while Sune knew ember, roar, quick attack  \nand fire spin. Unfortunately they did not know what kind of pokemon this steel  \nmaster was but as long as the difference in power was not too great he reasoned  \nthey had a fair chance of winning.\n\nOn their way to the type master's challenge  \narea on the outskirts of the village a voice called out to them.\n\n\"Ey! Use them runts who had a tussle with  \nthat Slitter mook?\"\n\nThe speaker was a ryhorn about half as big  \nas the archanine, Clint, who they had met the day before. He wore a similar  \nscarf to Clint, indicating that he was part of the village peace keeping team.  \nWhen they nodded yes he continued...\n\n\"The name's Earp, I'm the leader of the  \ngroup Clint sent to catch Slitter but the warmit was gone when we arrived in  \nthe forest, but thanks to ye all we have a good hunch 'bout where he's hiding.  \nJust wanted to tell use to be careful if ye leave town.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThey thanked Earp for the warning and  \ncontinued on their way. The challenge area looked like an open field about the  \nsize of a tennis court. There was a deep mote, half filled with water,  \nsurrounding it and two wooden bridges at each end was the only way on or off  \nit.\n\n\"Okay, let's have a fast run through of the  \nplan,\" Dash said. \"The match is two versus two, so Sune will use fire spin to  \nimmobilise one opponent and team up with Cory to take out the second opponent  \nbefore the first can break lose.\"\n\nSune and Cory nodded as the trio went over  \none of the bridges.\n\n\"We're here to challenge the steel master!\"  \nCory called. \"Is anyone there? Ally wally oxen free!\"\n\nThree figures emerged from a house on the  \nother side of the arena and crossed the other bridge. As they stopped in front  \nof them, the bridges on both sides retracted into the sides of the mote,  \ntrapping them on the arena.\n\n\"You know, if you just checked the house  \nfirst, you wouldn't have had to yell,\" commented the largest figure, a four  \nlegged pokemon covered in heavy armour. \"Anyhow, the battle is three on three,  \nthe team which knocks out all the members of the other team wins.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Wait! I'm only the coach,\" Dash objected.  \n\"I wasn't supposed to fight.\"\n\n\"Should have thought of that before  \nentering the arena bub. You can always hop in the mote. Falling in there counts  \nas being knocked out. The fight starts at the sound of the gong.\"\n\n\"It is okay, Dash,\" Sune told him. \"You  \ndon't have to fight.\"\n\n\"No,\" Dash replied. \"This might actually  \nwork to our advantage.\" He sized up the competition before continuing, in a  \nmuch lower voice so the other team could not hear them. \"The one that looks  \nlike a pair of spinning gears is a klink. He should be our first target. The  \nyellow one that looks like she got a meat eating plant on the head is a mawile,  \nshe is both fast and strong so we must restrict her movement. The last one is a  \nlairon. He is part rock type so fire attacks won't do as much damage as to an  \nordinary steel type. He will be our toughest opponent.\"\n\nAs soon as the gong rang Cory sent a flurry  \nof razor leafs at the opposing team while Sune trapped the lairon in a vortex  \nof swirling flames with her fire spin attack. Dash sent his sand attack towards  \nthe mawile as she dodged Cory's razor leafs. The attack missed but stopped her  \nlong enough for Sune to be able to trap her in another fiery vortex. The klink  \nhad recovered from Cory's razor leaf volley and sent a bolt of electricity  \ntowards her with his thunder shock attack. The electric move caught her of  \nguard so she failed to dodge. Luckily grass types like her was resistant to electrical  \nattacks so the damage was not too bad. Before the klink could do anything else  \nit was hit with a swarm of embers from Sune. The attack did massive damage and  \nsent the klink spiralling to the ground. Dash rushed in and delivered a tackle  \nthat sent it spinning right into the swirling fire that imprisoned the mawile,  \nknocking her over.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Cory, now!\" Dash commanded.\n\nOn cue Cory launched another volley of  \nrazor leafs. When they passed through the flames they caught on fire and caused  \nthe occupants inside to cry out as they were pelted with burning razor leafs.\n\n\"Okay, that's enough!\" exclaimed the  \nmawile. She looked over her shoulder, towards the lairon and continued. \"Boss,  \nI'll finish this!\"\n\nShe was surrounded by a faint green glow  \nand suddenly rocks as big as basketballs rose into the air and were hurled  \ntoward Sune, extinguishing the fire spin as they passed through it. They hit  \nSune with a loud thud, knocking her to the ground, but she was still conscious.\n\n\"I am Cobalt! The strongest of the  \ndisciples serving under steel master Ruck!\" the mawile boasted. \"You may have  \ndefeated Charlie in spite of having type disadvantage by ganging up on him. But  \nthat won't work on me!\"\n\nCobalt began to move at lightning speed. As  \nshe passed Dash, she winked at him and continued towards Cory who sent another  \nwave of razor leafs flying. Dash stood mesmerized, as he watched Cobalt deliver  \na magnificent flame thrower attack that sent Cory to her knees. And the ancient  \npower attack she had used on Sune would have been enough to make her the undisputed  \nchampion of the grand festival. How could they ever had believed that they were  \nable to beat such an amazing person?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nDash's heart began to beat faster as she  \ngracefully made her way towards him.\n\n\"What's your name, little coach?\" Cobalt  \nasked as she reached forward and scratched him under the chin, like he was her  \nprecious little pet.\n\nDash was so overcome with joy that he began  \npurring. She wanted to know his name! Incredibly beautiful Cobalt wanted to  \nknow his name!\n\n\"My! Are you ever cute,\" Cobalt continued.  \nHer voice soft as a cinccino's fur. \"But I don't want to hurt you, so why don't  \nyou hop into the mote for now and we can pick this up after the match.\"\n\n\"GET AWAY FROM HIM!\"\n\nThe scream caused them both to flinch. A  \nsecond later Cobalt was reeling away from the effects of a swarm of embers.  \nDash looked over to see Sune standing a few feet away. She was battered and  \nbruised and panting hard.\n\n\"DON'T TOUCH HIM!\" she screamed at the top  \nof her lungs and let lose another swarm of embers.\n\n\"Hon, I touch whatever I want,\" Cobalt  \nreplied as she effortlessly avoided the attack. \"So, just BACK OFF!\"\n\nAs Cobalt said the last part she started  \nglowing faintly green and again rocks started to float into the air.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"No, you don't!\"\n\nCory ran up to Cobalt and tackled her in  \nthe chest, sending them both tumbling over the side of the arena and into the  \nmote.\n\nAs soon as she was out of sight, Dash's  \nhead cleared. How embarrassing! He had fallen victim to Cobalt's attract and  \nnow they were down to only him and Sune, with their strongest opponent still in  \nthe game.\n\n\"Well, I must say that you have impressed  \nme.\"\n\nDash and Sune turned to see the lairon, whose  \nfiery prison had died down, giving them an approving smile. \"Just to make  \nthings clear. I'm steel master Ruck. And now we will see if you are worthy of  \nthe steel pin.\"\n\nAs soon as Ruck finished the sentence, Sune  \nused fire spin to encase him in a new fiery vortex. But to their amazement Ruck  \ncalmly walked through it without taking any notable damage. Suddenly he broke  \ninto a charge heading towards Sune. Dash swept a sand cloud into his face, enabling  \nSune to dodge as Ruck smashed his head into the ground, where she had been only  \nmoments ago, sending rocks and pebbles flying.\n\n_\"That  \nwas a head smash,\"_ Dash thought. _\"It's one of the strongest rock type moves  \nthere is, but it causes recoil damage, so if we can just dodge it enough times  \nhe might knock himself out.\"_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThough that probably wasn't likely. Ruck  \nwas supposed to be a master after all. He would not make such a beginners  \nmistake.\n\nDash rushed of towards their opponent,  \nattempting to knock him of course with a tackle, as Ruck once again charged at  \nSune to deliver a devastating head smash. He bounced of the larger pokemon's  \narmour plating without even making a scratch. Sune was too tired to dodge, so  \nshe stood her ground, showering her adversary in embers, hoping he would succumb  \nbefore he reached her. Alas it was all in wain. The head smash connected and  \nwhen the dust cleared, Sune lay unconscious on the ground.\n\nRuck immediately charged at his next target.  \nLuckily Dash was a little faster and managed to dodge the attack. But the  \nrecoil damage, which should have come as a side effect of the powerful move, never  \noccurred.\n\n_\"Crap!  \nHe must have the rock head ability,\"_ Dash cursed in  \nhis head. _\"I really wish I could use_ _something else than just sand attack and  \ntackle!\"_\n\nNow the metal plates on Ruck's head began  \nto glow bright white and he swung his head, clipping Dash in the side as he  \ntried to dodge.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAs Dash struggled to his feet after the  \niron head attack, he saw Ruck bearing down on him with another head smash. The  \nmoment after everything was black. At first Dash thought that everything was  \nover. Then he realized that everything was black because he was burrowing his  \nway through the ground. He was using dig! Now it would be easier to dodge  \nRuck's attacks. As long as he didn't use a move like earthquake that is.\n\n_\"With  \nmy luck he probably knows it. He is a steel and rock type after all. Wait a  \nminute... he is a steel and rock type!\"_\n\nRuck had just realized that Dash had  \nescaped underground and started to rise up on his hind legs to execute an  \nearthquake attack, when Dash burst from the ground and delivered a massive blow  \nsquare on Ruck's jaw.\n\nRuck reeled back from the impact but  \nremained standing. He would not go down that easily.\n\n\"Ruck! Let's finish this!\" Dash challenged  \nand charged at his opponent. This was the last resort.\n\nRuck let out a roar and met the charge,  \nready to deliver a final head smash. As the two collided the arena was  \nenveloped in thick smoke, hindering anyone from seeing anything.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAs the dust  \ncloud settled Dash was the last one standing. They had won!\n\n\"You have proven yourselves to be strong  \nadversaries, worthy of the steel pin,\" Ruck said as Cobalt handed Cory, Sune  \nand Dash each a pin of polished steel.\n\n\"So, want to pick up where we left off?\"  \nshe whispered in Dash's ear as she handed him the pin, earning herself a dark  \nlook from Sune, as she walked back to Ruck and Charlie.\n\n\"This pin holds a record of all you did to  \nwin this mach. It will help to determine your ranking when the championship  \nbegins.\" Ruck continued.\n\nThen, apparently done with ceremonies, he  \ngave Dash a mock bump.\n\n\"That was pretty slick, bub. Pretending you  \nwere the weakest on the team, when you really were the trump card.\"\n\n\"I'm the coach,\" Dash replied feeling  \nembarrassed, both from the praise and Cobalt's invite. \"I wasn't supposed to  \nfight in the first place.\"\n\n\"And did you ever make me regret not  \nletting you have that two on two battle.\" Ruck laughed. \"In that case we would  \nhave won!\"\n\nAs they made their way back to the inn Sune  \nand Cory assaulted Dash with questions.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Did you not use your powerful moves  \nbecause you wanted to see how strong we were?\" Cory asked. \"How did you get so  \nstrong? That dig you did was super powerful, super, duper, ultra, tuper  \npowerful! What was that last move?\"\n\n\"It's called last resort. It is the fifth  \nstrongest normal type move. It only works if you have used all your other moves  \nfirst, though,\" Dash explained. \"The reason dig did so much damage is the same  \nas why your razor leafs were so powerful against that kabutops. Ruck was both  \nsteel and rock type. Both of which are vulnerable to ground type moves. As a  \nresult dig did four times the damage. And since it is a pretty powerful move to  \nbegin with...\"\n\n\"Why didn't you use them earlier?\" Sune asked  \nobviously upset about something. Probably because of ending up on the receiving  \nend of a head smash.\n\n\"I didn't know I could use them,\" Dash  \nreplied simply. At the others raised eyebrows he continued. \"When you found me  \nyesterday, all I was sure of was that my name was Dash and that I had fallen  \ninto a river while crossing a rope bridge. I have memories, but if they are  \nreal, something really strange is going on.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHe didn't tell them anything more, despite  \ntheir prodding, not sure they could handle the truth. Cory probably could, but  \nSune... he'd be lucky if she ever spoke to him again. That is, of course, if it  \nwas the truth and not a delusion caused by some kind of trauma.\n\nHe would just have to ride this  \nmerry-go-round till the end and see where it took him.\n\nThat night a menacing shadow fell over the  \nhome of Clint and his family. When the delibird mailman arrived the next  \nmorning he found the door broken. He carefully made his way inside. His scream  \ncould be heard next door.\n\n  \n  \n\n","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/555647-part-1-his-name-is-dash.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/555659-part-3-dashes-and-cinders.json"}