Chapter 20: Chapter - 20
3rd person POV –
The cold air filled the spacious arena of Snowpoint Gym, swirling around icy pillars that loomed above a glistening, frozen battlefield. Trainers from the nearby area gathered in the stands, eager to witness this anticipated battle. Candice's reputation as an Ice-type master was well-known, but Jordan, a rising star, had come with a team of impressive powerhouses ready to challenge her for his eighth badge.
Across the frosty field, Candice smirked, her breath visible in the freezing air. She was ready to put Jordan through his paces. "I hope you're ready, Jordan!" she called out, her Glaceon at her side, eyes gleaming with determination.
Standing calm but focused, Jordan returned the gaze, his Infernape, Glaceon, Glalie, Froslass, Gallade, and Gardevoir surrounding him, each standing stronger and larger than usual. "I am, Candice. And I promise, this will be a battle you won't forget."
The referee raised his flag. "This will be a six-on-six battle between Gym Leader Candice and Challenger Jordan. Only the challenger may make substitutions. Let the battle begin!"
Candice wasted no time, calling her Glaceon forward to the battlefield. Jordan responded by sending out his Glaceon, larger than Candice's but equally nimble.
"Glaceon, start things off with Hail!" Candice ordered.
Her Glaceon leaped gracefully, conjuring dark clouds that unleashed a shimmering cascade of hail over the field, reducing visibility and making the icy floor even more treacherous.
Jordan smirked, unaffected by the hail pelting down. "My Glaceon, use Mirror Coat!"
Jordan's Glaceon mirrored the hail with a shimmering aura, creating an icy shield that glistened against the falling ice. His Glaceon glared back, eyes locking with Candice's as it braced for Candice's next attack.
"Let's keep them guessing, Glaceon! Use Ice Beam!" Candice commanded.
Her Glaceon unleashed a piercing beam of icy blue energy, cutting through the hail toward Jordan's Glaceon. But Jordan's Glaceon countered with its own Ice Beam, meeting the attack mid-air. The beams collided in a flurry of icy shards, each Glaceon vying for control.
"Now, Glaceon, finish it with Shadow Ball!" Jordan ordered.
Jordan's Glaceon unleashed a dark, shadowy orb, catching Candice's Glaceon off guard. The attack hit directly, knocking Candice's Glaceon back as it fainted.
Candice smiled, recalling her Glaceon. "Not bad, Jordan. But we're just getting started."
Candice sent out her Glalie, an orb of ice with piercing eyes and jagged teeth. Jordan mirrored her choice, sending out his larger, more imposing Glalie.
"Glalie, start with Crunch!" Candice shouted.
Her Glalie dashed forward, jaws snapping open with dark energy as it aimed for Jordan's Glalie. But Jordan was ready.
"Use Iron Head!" he commanded.
Jordan's Glalie met Candice's Glalie head-on, its metallic-coated skull clashing with Glalie's Crunch. The impact echoed across the gym as both Glalies recoiled slightly.
"Follow up with Ice Shard!" Candice called out.
Her Glalie quickly launched a barrage of sharp ice shards, aimed at Jordan's Glalie. But Jordan's Glalie retaliated, using Ice Fang to catch one of the shards, shattering it in its icy jaws.
"Now, Glalie—Finish with Shadow Ball!"
Jordan's Glalie formed a shadowy orb, hurling it toward Candice's Glalie. It landed a direct hit, sending Candice's Glalie to the ground, defeated.
As the field grew colder, Candice sent out her Froslass, a ghostly figure floating above the icy ground. Jordan called out his own Froslass, whose eyes held a steely determination.
"Froslass, use Double Team!" Candice ordered.
Candice's Froslass flickered, creating multiple illusions of itself around the arena. Jordan narrowed his eyes.
"Froslass, use Ominous Wind!" Jordan commanded.
Jordan's Froslass summoned a gust of eerie wind, blowing through the illusions and revealing Candice's real Froslass. Candice bit her lip, but she had another tactic up her sleeve.
"Alright, Froslass—use Shadow Ball!"
Candice's Froslass hurled a dark orb at Jordan's Froslass, who evaded with surprising speed.
"Froslass, counter with Ice Beam!" Jordan shouted.
A beam of ice shot from Jordan's Froslass, catching Candice's Froslass mid-air and sending it crashing to the ground, unable to continue.
The air grew tense as Candice sent out her Piloswine, the Ice-Ground powerhouse. In response, Jordan sent out Gardevoir, her elegant figure casting an almost ethereal glow in the frozen gym.
"Piloswine, start with Earthquake!" Candice commanded.
Piloswine stomped hard, causing tremors to ripple across the icy floor. Jordan's Gardevoir, though, gracefully levitated, avoiding the attack entirely.
"Gardevoir, use Energy Ball!" Jordan called out.
Gardevoir conjured a bright green orb of energy, launching it directly at Piloswine. The Grass-type move hit hard, forcing Piloswine back as it struggled to stay on its feet.
"Finish it with Moonblast, Gardevoir!" Jordan shouted.
Gardevoir summoned a glowing orb of lunar energy, launching it at Piloswine with remarkable force. The attack hit Piloswine directly, knocking it out of the battle.
Candice's Weavile took the field next, its claws gleaming as it glared at Jordan's Gallade, who met its gaze with calm intensity.
"Weavile, use Night Slash!" Candice commanded.
Weavile dashed forward, claws cloaked in dark energy as it aimed for Gallade. Jordan countered swiftly.
"Gallade, use Leaf Blade!"
Gallade's forearms glowed with green energy as it met Weavile's Night Slash with Leaf Blade. The two Pokémon clashed in a rapid series of strikes, sparks flying from each impact. But Gallade's strength prevailed, pushing Weavile back.
"Gallade, close combat!" Jordan ordered.
Gallade unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, overwhelming Weavile and sending it skidding across the ice, defeated.
Candice recalled Weavile, smiling as she sent out her ace. "You've pushed me this far, Jordan. Now let's see how you handle my Abomasnow!"
Jordan responded by calling out Infernape, who emerged onto the field with flames blazing a fierce blue, illuminating the entire arena. The temperature in the room noticeably increased as Infernape's heat radiated outward.
Candice smirked, holding up her Mega Stone. "Abomasnow, Mega Evolve!"
Abomasnow roared as it transformed, growing larger, its snowy Armor gaining thick, sharp spikes. The air around it grew colder, but Infernape's blue flames fought back the chill.
"Infernape, let's finish this. Use Flare Blitz!" Jordan called.
Infernape charged forward, its entire body cloaked in blazing blue flames. The intense heat melted some of the ice underfoot as it barrelled toward Mega Abomasnow.
"Abomasnow, counter with Blizzard!" Candice shouted.
Mega Abomasnow summoned a ferocious blizzard, snow, and ice swirling toward Infernape. But the flames around Infernape were so intense that they evaporated the ice in seconds, allowing it to push through and land a direct hit on Abomasnow.
The impact was explosive, flames and ice colliding as both Pokémon pushed their strength to the limit. When the smoke cleared, Abomasnow fell to the ground, defeated, while Infernape stood triumphant, blue flames dancing around it as the crowd erupted in cheers.
The referee raised his flag. "The winner is Jordan!"
Jordan recalled Infernape, smiling with pride as Candice approached him, a grin on her face.
"You're an incredible trainer, Jordan. You've more than earned this Icicle Badge," she said, handing him the gleaming badge.
Jordan took it, a surge of accomplishment washing over him as he added it to his collection. His journey had led him here, and with all eight badges, he was one step closer to the Sinnoh League.
3rd person POV –
The atmosphere both in Snowpoint Gym and beyond was electric as people reacted to the incredible battle that had just unfolded between Jordan and Candice. Spectators in the stands were on their feet, while audiences across Sinnoh tuned in from homes, restaurants, and Pokémon Centres to witness the intense fight live on television.
Inside the Gym
As Infernape's blue flames flickered and Candice's Mega Abomasnow lay defeated, the crowd in the Snowpoint Gym erupted into cheers and applause.
One spectator, a teenage girl bundled up in a thick coat, gasped, "Did you see the way that Infernape's fire turned blue? I didn't even know that was possible! That's like… beyond normal Fire-type power!"
An older man nearby, clearly a seasoned trainer, nodded in agreement. "That's not something you see every day, I tell ya. That young man has some special bond with his Pokémon. You can see it in how they fight together. That blue flame? That's no ordinary Infernape."
A group of kids in the front row cheered wildly, jumping up and down. "Jordan's Infernape is so cool! He's like a superhero!"
Candice's fans were equally taken aback but respectful, many of them smiling at the impressive skill Jordan had displayed. "I didn't think anyone could take on Candice's Mega Abomasnow so directly," one remarked. "It's been ages since we've seen a challenger that strong."
Live TV Broadcast
Across Sinnoh, people were glued to their screens, as the announcers on Snowpoint TV broke down the battle with contagious enthusiasm.
The announcer, Marcus Steel, leaned forward excitedly, his voice charged with admiration. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have to say, this is one for the history books! Jordan has just achieved his eighth gym badge with a perfect streak against Candice's formidable Ice-type team! Let's talk about that phenomenal Infernape. Not only was it faster and more powerful than most Infernape we've seen, but that blue fire—let's just say it heated the arena and all of Snowpoint with it!"
His co-host, Rebecca Haze, chimed in, "Absolutely, Marcus! It's rare to see an Infrared with flames that are hot and unique. It seems like Jordan's bond with his Pokémon amplifies their power beyond standard limits. And let's not forget his Froslass, Glalie, and Gallade—they all handled Candice's team with incredible skill. Each of them looked like they were crafted for this icy battlefield."
Marcus leaned back, nodding. "And there's more to Jordan than just his battling skills. I'm hearing he's also a brilliant mind, someone who's been developing patented technology and inventions for the Pokémon community—quite the résumé for someone so young!"
Rebecca glanced at her notes. "You're right. He's come out of a well-known law firm specializing in patents. We could be looking at not just a future champion, but a potential game-changer in the tech world, too."
Marcus looked thoughtful for a moment. "It's exciting to see someone like that in Sinnoh's Gym circuit. He's got power, strategy, and intelligence—a rare combination that has everyone's attention."
At the Snowpoint City Pokémon Center
A few trainers who had just finished their battles were gathered around the TV, their jaws dropping as they watched the replay of Infernape's Flare Blitz.
One trainer, bundled up in winter gear, whistled lowly. "Wow, he completely nullified Abomasnow's Blizzard. I thought Candice's Mega Abomasnow was unbeatable in her home gym, especially with her mastery over the Hail strategy."
His friend, a young woman holding a Pokéball, shook her head in disbelief. "Not against that Infernape. Did you see how the flames turned blue? That means it's burning at a far higher temperature than normal flames. I'd bet Infernape's power level is off the charts. Jordan is like a legend in the making."
One of the Pokémon Centre's nurses smiled, overhearing them. "Jordan's been a name around here for a while. I remember when he started his journey—now look at him, just one step away from the Sinnoh League. It's hard to believe he's accomplished all this in just a few months."
A man seated nearby laughed, "And if he wins the League, he'll have broken the record Champion Red Ketchum set years ago! That's no small feat."
On Social Media
Social media platforms across the region were abuzz with reactions, with hashtags like #JordanVsCandice, #BlueFlameInfernape, and #SinnohLeague bound to trend.
One tweet read: "Just saw Jordan take down Candice's Mega Abomasnow with a blue-flaming Infernape. This is Sinnoh history in the making. That kid is going places! #JordanVsCandice"
A prominent Pokémon researcher tweeted: "Interesting to see that Jordan's Pokémon display unusually high power and size traits. This hints at some advanced training methods or a unique bond. Looking forward to studying this further! #BlueFlameInfernape #PokemonResearch"
Another fan posted: "I don't know what's cooler—Jordan's battling skills or the fact that he has an impressive scientific background and patents. Imagine being that talented! #Infernape #FutureChampion"
In Hearthome City Café
A group of older trainers gathered in a cozy café, sipping on hot tea and watching the broadcast on a large screen.
One of the elderly trainers chuckled. "I remember the days when trainers needed years to get that strong. But here comes Jordan, burning through the Gym circuit with style and power."
His friend nodded thoughtfully. "And he's almost beaten Red's record, too. Only four or five months since he started, and he's on his eighth badge? That's remarkable. This kid has both talent and discipline."
A younger trainer sitting nearby listened in, wide-eyed. "I'm starting my journey next month, and I hope I can battle like that someday. I can't imagine being as powerful as Jordan at that age. He's an inspiration for sure."
Sinnoh League Officials' Office
The officials of the Sinnoh League gathered around a table, reviewing footage of the battle. A senior official, Ms. Tanaka, sighed with admiration.
"This young man is a force to be reckoned with," she said, replaying the clip of Infernape's blue Flare Blitz. "If he maintains this momentum through the League, we could see one of the most impressive challengers in recent history."
Her colleague leaned in, nodding. "Jordan has stirred up excitement across Sinnoh. We're expecting a record-breaking viewership for the Sinnoh League this year. People want to see if he can go all the way."
Another official added, "We'll need to consider him for special honors if he continues on this trajectory. A trainer of his caliber, especially with that inventive mind of his, has the potential to leave a lasting mark on both competitive Pokémon and our research divisions."
As news of Jordan's victory spread, the reactions were clear: excitement, admiration, and awe. From fans in the stands to officials in the Sinnoh League, everyone felt the impact of Jordan's powerful journey. His mastery over his team, his intellect, and his bond with his Pokémon had inspired trainers young and old. With each battle, he was reshaping the region's expectations, and with the Sinnoh League on the horizon, everyone knew Jordan was a name they would be hearing for a long time to come.