Author's Note

Apple Bloom will be facing somebody Diamond Tiara faced before.

42. Battle 3- Apple Bloom vs. Bruno

As morning came to the headquarters of the Elite Four, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo wondered about Apple Bloom's newest Pokémon.

"So, where did you get that Scizor?" Scootaloo asked.

"So you guys remember that Metal Coat Will gave me?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah, so?"

"That Metal Coat evolved certain Pokémon. That's how my Scyther evolved into a Scizor."

"Impressive information, miss." Said the voice of a burly man.

The girls soon see the karate man: Bruno. Another member of Johto's Elite Four.

"After you prepare your Pokémon," Bruno said, "I shall await you. I'd like to see your Pokémon in action."

"I was healing my Pokémon anyway." Apple Bloom replied. "I'll be ready."

Later, the girls were lead to what looks like a boxing ring. Apple Bloom has changed some of her Pokémon to hopefully defeat Bruno.

"It's time to battle." Bruno said. "Ladies first."

"Thank you, Bruno." Apple Bloom replied. "I start with Scizor!"

"And, I'll start with Hitmontop!"

Scizor came out along with a fighter type who looks like an upside down top. Apple Bloom studies it with her Pokédex. Hitmontop, The Handstand Pokémon. It's spinning action balances attack and defense.

"Hitmontop, use Rolling Kick!" Bruno called out.

Standing on its head, Hitmontop spins rapidly to strike Scizor. Apple Bloom makes her move. "Scizor, use Wing Attack."

Zipping away fast, Scizor rushed in with it's glowing wings. It struck Hitmontop, as Bruno makes a move. "Triple Kick!"

Hitmontop kicked Scizor three times. But, keeping a cool head, Apple Bloom strikes back. "Go, Scizor. Use Iron Head!"

Using it's speed, Scizor headbutted Hitmontop, causing it to faint.

"Hitmontop is unable to battle." Said a referee in a black and white shirt. "Scizor wins!'

"Yee haw!" Apple Bloom cheered as she and Scizor fist bumped each other.

Bruno recalled Hitmontop and prepared fphis next choice. "That speed is amazing. Let's see it stop this one. Go, Hitmonlee!"

Out came a brown creature with springing legs.

"Hitmonlee?" Apple Bloom said as she pulls out her Pokédex.

Hitmonlee, the Kicking Pokémon. The Pokédex said. With spring loaded action, it's kicks can be powerful.

"Let's show em your speed, Scizor." Apple Bloom said. "Use Metal Claw!'

Scizor charged with it's claws glowing. But, Bruno pulled out a surprise. "Hitmonlee, use Blaze Kick!"

With it's legs on fire, Hitmonlee quickly kicks Scizor. Being a bug and metal type, Scizor quickly fainted.

"Scizor is unable to battle." The referee announced. "Hitmonlee wins."

"Scizor, return." Apple Bloom said. "Nice try. Take a good rest." Apple Bloom makes her next move. "Let's go, Pidgeot!"

Pidgeot flew into battle. Bruno acted fast. "Hitmonlee, use Hi Jump Kick!"

Apple Bloom saw Hitmonlee jump high and acted quickly. "Dodge it!"

Pidgeot zipped out of the way before Hitmonlee connected. The Kicking Pokémon suffered damage. Apple Bloom followed it up. "Pidgeot, use Air Slash!"

Pidgeot flapped it's wings to strike the injured Hitmonlee with wings. Soon, the Kicking Pokémon fainted.

"Hitmonlee is unable to battle." The referee announced. "Pidgeot wins!'"

"Return, Hitmonlee." Bruno said. "Don't worry. You did try." Bruno then made his next choice. "Number three is Hitmonchan!"

Out came a creature with boxing glove hands. Apple Bloom's Pokédex came alive with information. "Hitmonchan, the Punching Pokémon. A skilled fighting Pokémon that packs a powerful punch."

"Apple Bloom better be careful." Scootaloo said. "Hitmonchan can unleash a variety of punches."

"Pidgeot, return. I might need you later." Apple Bloom said as she makes her next choice. "Let's go, Typhlosion!"

Typhlosion comes out as Apple Bloom quickly strikes first. "Typhlosion, use Flame Wheel!"

Tucking into a firey ball, Typhlosion rolls towards it's opponent. But, Bruno was ready. "Hitmonchan, use Thunder Punch!"

Just when Typhlosion struck, Hitmonchan punched the Volcano with a fist full of electricity. Apple Bloom was worried for a moment. She decided to try something new. "Typhlosion, use Lava Plume!"

Typhlosion made colums of fire appear and strike Hitmonchan. Soon, the Punching Pokémon fainted.

"Hitmonchan is unable to battle." The referee announced. "Typhlosion wins."

Bruno recalls Hitmonchan, feeling nothing but respect for his opponent. He makes his next choice. Here's a good choice for your Typhlosion. Go, Onix!"

The mighty Rock Snake Pokémon comes out to let out a mighty roar. Seeing that Typhlosion is at a disadvantage, Apple Bloom recalls her friend to bring out her next Pokémon. "Let's go, Politoed!"

This surprised Bruno. But, he still battles on. "Onix, use Dig!'

Onix dig underground. Politoed listened carefully for when it shows up. Onix suddenly came up to attack. Apple Bloom acted quick. "Politoed, use Hyper Voice!"

Politoed sang loudly to harm Onix. Apple Bloom followed it up. "Okay, Politoed. Bubble Beam!"

Politoed blew bubbles at the distracted Rock Snake Pokémon. Soon, Onix fainted.

"Onix is unable to battle." The referee announced. "Politoed wins!"

Apple Bloom and Politoed hugged each other as Bruno recalls Onix.

"You and your Pokémon work well together." Bruno praised.

"Thank you kindly, sir." Apple Bloom replied.

"Now, here's my fifth and final Pokémon. Go, Machamp!"

Seeing Machamp come out, Apple Bloom switched up her strategy. She recalled Politoed, and calls for another. "Pidgeot, back to action!"

Returning to the battle, Pidgeot flies up to confront it's foe.

"Hit em where it counts, Pidgeot.* Apple Bloom calls out. "Use Sky Attack!"

Rising into the air, Pidgeot struck Machamp hard. Brunk then smirked. "Here's my answer to flying types. Machamp, use Rock Slide!"

Machamp made a bunch of rocks appear, and the rocks pummeled Pidgeot. The majestic Bird Pokémon fainted.

"Pidgeot is unable to battle." The referee announced. "Machamp wins."

Pidgeot, return." Apple Bloom said sadly.

Apple Bloom looks at Machamp trying to recover from the Sky Attack.
That Rock Slide is powerful. Apple Bloom thought. Typhlosion would be crushed. And, who knows what Machamp has for Politoed.

At that moment, Apple Bloom has an idea. "I know. Let's go, Hypno!"

Hypno comes out. Bruno strikes fast. "Machamp, use Dual Chop!"

Just as Machamp was ready to hit, Apple Bloom unleashed a surprise. "Hypno, use Poison Gas!"

Hypno blew dark smoke in Machamp. The four armed Pokémon soon got poisoned.

"Let's do this, Hypno." Apple Bloom called out. "Psyshock!"

Hypno unleashed orbs of psychic energy on Machamp. Between the Poison Gas and the attack by Pidgeot, the Superpower Pokémon soon fainted.

"Machamp is unable to battle." The referee announced. "Hypno wins. The winner of this battle is Apple Bloom!"

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo joined Apple Bloom to celebrate this win. After recalling Machamp, Bruno approached the trio.

"Congratulations, Apple Bloom." Bruno praised. "Good use of that Poison Gas, weakening Machamp so that psychic attack can finish him off."

"It was the spur of the moment I needed." Apple Bloom replied proudly.

"With my defeat, you have one more member of the Elite Four to defeat. Then, you face the champion."

End of Chapter 42