‘Fracture! Hang back and use Focus Energy! Jormund! Get in there and beat them down!’

‘Queen, Knight, split up and surround Jormund!’

Spectators roared as the four Pokémon began their brawl. The double-battle had only just begun, and the tension was rising for Bracken. After several hours of devising strategies and choosing who she believed was a strong pair for the job, her partners were on the field and battling against Chief. Chief had become more serious now, looking fired up for the battle. Bracken couldn’t help but feel scared. As feared, Chief had chosen the large Rampardos for the fight, and it was now in full sprint towards Queen and Knight. She simply couldn’t shake off regret for her choice.

I knew he was going to use those ground types...why didn’t I choose Miracle...

But it was too late for regrets now. Bracken brought herself into focus and scanned the arena like a hawk for a strategy. Unexpectedly, she found one.

‘Queen, keep on moving towards Jormund! Knight, go around it and towards Fracture! Stop that Focus Energy!’

The Gallade nodded and advanced ahead of Queen, speeding around Jormund. He narrowly missed a strike from Jormund’s intact horn and continued towards the Marowak, who was shaking and glowing slightly red.

‘That’s it! Now Queen, freeze that Rampardos then go to help Knight!’

Nidoqueen braced herself and, opening her maw wide, launched a thick beam of ice towards Jormund. The Rampardos ground to a halt as Chief shouted his instruction, but he was too slow in firing his own Ice Beam. It was quickly enveloped by Queen’s, which began to freeze his body.

Meanwhile, Knight had reached the Marowak and was sparring against it with his bladed arms. Fracture parried the blows with his solid bone, soon noticing Nidoqueen, who had finished her attack and was now bounding towards the duel.

Chief called out to Fracture. ‘Don’t worry about Jormund, just focus on your opponent!’ Marowak followed the order and continued to protect himself, ignoring the frozen Rampardos.

As Queen reached Fracture and Knight, Jormund suddenly burst free from his icy prison. He had been melting the ice from inside with Fire Punch, his hot fists finally smashing the ice to pieces. Bracken was completely unaware as Chief had never called for Jormund to do this.

Unable to think fast enough, Jormund was free to attack. At word from Chief he turned with a roar and ran loudly towards Queen, head held downwards as he prepared a Zen Headbutt. The attack connected with Queen’s side and threw her away from Fracture – she scraped her heavy tail and limbs across the ground to slow her movement, stunned for a moment from the unexpected attack.

I need to focus that Rampardos down, he’s too powerful...

‘Queen, Ice Beam the Marowak this time! I need both of you to go for Jormund!’

Knight broke contact with Fracture as Queen began to freeze him, and instead turned to Jormund. With incredible agility he weaved through its legs, up its tail and onto its back, holding onto Jormund’s large neck tightly. Queen, however, was having trouble freezing the Marowak.

‘That will do, Queen! Just stop it moving! Go and help Knight!’

Only Fracture’s feet had successfully frozen, its body still hot from the Focus Energy. She ceased her Ice Beam and came over to Jormund.

‘Do the same thing to Jormund, Queen! Stop it moving so Knight isn’t thrown off!’

‘Don’t let her do it, Fracture!’ Chief boomed.

Marowak, frozen to the spot, launched the bone in his hand towards Queen in a forceful Bonemerang as she Ice Beamed Jormund’s feet to the ground. Seeing the approaching bone, Queen ducked and lashed out with her tail, sending it back with a Brick Break. Bracken breathed a sigh of relief, glad that Queen had defended herself.

‘Keep it up, Queen! You’re doing great!’

Queen managed to block another Bonemerang from Fracture, but as Jormund became weakened from Knight using Close Combat on his back, Chief changed tact.

‘Rock Tomb the Nidoqueen!’

As Queen became trapped under a heap of heavy boulders, Jormund broke his legs free of the ice and roared loudly. Bracken watched in horror as he lowered his head again and aimed for the rocks. Ignoring Knight’s continuous attack, the Rampardos shot forwards and shattered the tomb, Queen flying out towards the arena wall. Watchers gasped as she left the arena boundary and rolled in a cloud of dust towards the wall, finally hitting it hard with her back and fainting. The attack, which seemed to happen in a split second, left Bracken speechless.

‘Bracken’s Nidoqueen is unable to battle!’

*

Continues in Part 3.