"It's time for our 4 remaining coordinators to compete and see who can dazzle in battle. The first 2 to face off will be Ken Eldyn with X the Grovyle against Kira Hightide and her Toxeon. Those 2 barely made it past the appeal round, but did very well in their first match. Let's see how they do."

The 2 stepped out and stood on opposite sides of the stage. Ken looked like he didn't have a care, but Kira looked like she was ready to faint. They stepped to the center to shake hands before the match. He could hear her heart flutter faster as he approached. A smile crossed his face just hearing her nervousness.

"Don't worry so much. It's all for fun, so just enjoy yourself." He leaned in and whispered his message quickly and then backed of. She was stunned for a second before heading back. They faced each other and the ref nodded for them to begin.

"Time to show what we can do Toxeon." The poke came out as she had during the appeal and purred cutely as she waited. Ken smiled before opening his ball and letting X come out and smirk at the little poison-poke.

"X, let's have fun with this one. Battle motion 7." After saying it, he sat and waited for the decision. Kira looked at the boy confused, but shrugged as she decided to try and do what he said and just have fun with it.

"Toxeon, Acid Rain." The poke moved quickly and turned into an ooze. She twisted and jumped like a coil into the air as bubbles started forming all over. The judges looked at it a bit impressed by her. Her body expanded and fired out the liquid toward the lizard. He just smiled as he began his style.

His arms started glowing as he started spinning. The rain was deflected and seeds started flying from the spinning X. He struck every drop and caused an explosion of green sparks that bounced from his body and caused the glow that had happened earlier. The judges were quite impressed, and Kira lost more then half her points, which weren't a lot to begin with.

"Let's make sure he doesn't use our stuff against us. Use Sludge Bomb." The poke reformed quickly and fired a boulder of goo that rolled quickly toward the opponent. X saw it and yawned before jumping onto it and changing it. He started running in place and made the bomb turn and head back to the sender. The judges were again amazed by his coolness and Kira lost more points.

Ken stood as the timer hit 1 second. He already knew the outcome, Kira's heart had stopped beating quickly and was now slower. He smiled as he recalled X and bowed to the crowd. She recalled Toxeon and headed backstage quickly. He followed and caught her before she could go into the locker room.

"That was a pretty decent first shot. You may have done better if I hadn't been using X. He's my second best at these. I would have won anyways, but you would have done better." He smiled and Kira laughed at his bluntness. He felt better about it and let go of her arm.

"I guess we have more to learn before we do another one. I guess Toxeon isn't the best pick for it, even though she did alright."

"Try different next time. Poison Pokemon are harder to make look good then others, so I wouldn't advise it til you get more experience. Anyways, see ya next time." He smiled and walked past her and into the locker room that had his name across the front. She laughed again and headed to change before Zion fought so she could go to the others. He was waiting outside the door.

"You'll get him next time. I could always do it when I win against Kara though. Frost is ready for this." Kira shook her head before patting him on the back.

"She's really good. Just go and have fun." A smiled crossed her as she repeated the words Ken had gave her to calm down with.

"I always do." He went down the hall and she went and changed quickly. There was 2 minutes before the next match so she would be able to make it pretty easily. She put the dress stuff into her bag and headed out and back to the lobby.

She started looking for signs, but got lost in the giant arena quickly. A clock told her the match would be beginning in 10 seconds. She turned quickly and decided to go back, but walked straight into something. She looked up after falling and saw she had hit somebody else.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking and-" Kira looked up as she spoke and was cut off when Leon held out his hand.

"No worries. I was just heading back to my seat. That was a decent first try. Would you like to join me and watch the next one?" He helped her up and she wiped her back to see if she had any dirt on it.

"I would, but I'm kinda trying to find Raz and the others. Do you know where the private boxes are?" He laughed and pointed to a staircase leading up. "Thanks. Want to come watch with us? I'm sure they won't mind, and you can watch Kara better."

He nodded, but turned his head so she wouldn't see him blush at her words. They went quickly as the announcer finished introducing the next 2.

--

"Empoleon, start your Drill Peck." The poke spun quickly, sending the blue lightning from Frost's Ice Beam into the spin. She was encased in a spiraled ice formation before using pure strength and shattering it all, making her metal blades shine in the light as she posed, moving one to her side and turning it to look like a shield, and raising the other into the air like a blade.

"We need to do something they don't expect Frost. I got it! Ice Punch and launch yourself into your flips." The poke nodded and slammed her glowing claws into the stage floor before shooting up and starting the flips. "Now use Dark Pulse multiple times and keep on flipping."

As her flips continued, she released waves of dark energy that formed a sphere as she continued. The crowd watched with awe and waited for how he would be attacking the on-looking foe. Zion smirked and called the last part.

"Use Shadow Claw and release the energy that has built up to hit the penguin." She raised her claw that was smoking with black energy. As she brought it down to release all the power out, the buzzer sounded. She was startled and hit the wrong spot, sending all the energy out and hitting Zion. He laid there dizzy while she tried to revive him.

Kara leaped into the air as the announcer declared her the winner. The scoreboard showed that she had twice as many points as the unconscious Zion. Empoleon also smirked at the victory that sent them to the final match.

"We did it. We just need to beat the guy who beat us last time. No problem, the last ribbon we need is practically ours. Then Leon promised us all the ice-cream we could eat. He has no clue." She was skipping off as she thought of her reward for getting the last ribbon if she could beat Ken.

Raz came down from the private box and dragged Zion to the back with Frost showing him the way to the locker room. The judges and everyone else laughed at it while the young man just shook his head.

"How does someone get knocked out by their own partner?" Zi started coming around, but was still dazed and started talking nonsense.

"Beware the Miltank! They are gonna take over with their mind-controlling milk! We must take them ou-" He phased out as they entered the room where Raz dumped his friend and walked back out to the box.

"If I had to hear about Miltanks again, after being free from it for 4 years." He started imagining strangling the boy. This thought made him laugh while he rejoined the other to watch the last match. He passed Zurtle and Rayne on the way, as they went to check on the other boy.

--

"You coming around?" Zi's eyes were rolling around as he started coming out of his daze. Rayne was holding his head in her lap while Zurtle and Frost sat on the couch and watched the TV.

"Watch out! Wait, where are we?" He looked around the room before remembering what had happened. He looked up and turned red as he realized where his head was. Rayne just continued brushing his head while smirking at his reaction.

"Are you that embarrassed to be near me?" She tried to look hurt from his reaction, and that got the result she wanted from him. He was up instantly apologizing for anything he could think of that would have upset her. She smiled after a few moments of it and leaned against him while being sure to not move her back too much.

"You really think we're too different to be together?" Real pain filled the girl as she kept her head on the boy's shoulder. He thought for a second about it, since it was what he had thought earlier. After a few seconds, he came to the only conclusion his heart would have.

"We're different, but look at Raz and Kira. Those 2 are sickening with their affection for each other, but they aren't exactly the most alike He acts so confident in the face of anything, while she is scared to death of being in the face of anything. The important thing in the end though, is that they love each other. He went through an explosion to save her from the same thing."

He took a deep breath and she looked up at him. He only knew one last thing to say for an answer. "The real question we should look at is basically that. Rayne, I know how I feel now. I knew since I first met you. At the end of the day, I would pick you over even the most delicious cake in the world. That's how much I truly love you."

She smiled as his words wrapped around her. She thought for a second on how to respond.

"Even the most fantastic cake that would taste better then anything else in the world?" He smiled and shook his head. "I guess that'll do then. I suppose I love you, as long as you keep your word of holding me over all cake."

He laughed and put his head against hers. They stayed like that while Zurtle and Frost watched as the last match was about to begin.

--

"Time for the one to decide who will leave with the ribbon. This match will put Ken Eldyn and X, who have 3 ribbons already,against Kara Kiara and Empoleon, who have 4 ribbons. No matter what, this is sure to be a good show of style and skill. Let the match begin!"

The crowd cheered as the 2 got into their respective spots. Kara looked fierce and determined, while Ken smiled and pulled out the ball. The 2 were released at the same time, and again, Ken sat down.

"Battle motion 5." He didn't say another word and X nodded.

"Don't try that MR. Cool stuff. It may have psyched us out last time, but not again. Drill Peck with Ice Beam!" Her poke started and was spinning quickly. She lifted and was charging the lizard while her beak started turning blue from the build of energy. X watched and made no move to dodge.

The crowd watched as X moved at the last second and dodged by bending backwards and starting a spin of his own. He pushed his blades out and spun, hitting the penguin in multiple spots while keeping up with her. Kara watched as the attacks lowered her points quickly.

"How do we beat this? If we don't do something quickly then it's lost. I want that Ice Cream too. It's so cold and nice and, that's it. Empoleon, use Blizzard!"

The spinning poke started releasing the stored up ice energy from her body. The cold quickly caught X off guard and stopped him. He stood still and shivered for a second. When he got over the initial shock, he tried to go back to his attack, but couldn't move. When he had stopped moving, ice had formed and encased half his leg.

Empoleon saw it and changed directions while keeping the ice coming out. Kara was bouncing as her partner hit the lizard before turning and doing it again. She started to call for a final Ice Beam but the buzzer sounded and the match was over. This time, Ken hadn't stood up before zero and was actually waiting for the results.

"Ladies and gentlemen, since the scores are so close, the judges are consulting with each other to pick a winner. It looks like their ready. Nurse Joy will tell us the decision." The announcer walked top the judges area and held out the microphone. The Joy smiled as everyone looked at her for the decision.

"We have decided that even though both were impressive with their abilities, one of them did better to produce the style a coordinator should have. It is our final choice that the winner of the Golden Rod Ribbon is Kara Kiara and Empoleon."

The crowd came alive and cheered the girl. She was bouncing and hugging Empoleon. Ken stood and clapped for her before recalling X and heading backstage. Kara did the same after her and her partner bowed and received their 5th ribbon.

"Hey!" She ran quickly and caught the boy as he entered the lobby. "That was a good match. Your a really good coordinator." She shook his hand before seeing Leon and the others coming. Then she took off and was back and changed before anyone had noticed. Raz saw and leaned toward Leon.

"She eat a lot of sugar or something?" He remembered Zion being that way until recently. The other boy laughed.

"I'm not sure, but she does eat more frozen treats then anyone I know." They both chuckled, but stopped when they got to the pair.

"That was an interesting match you 2 had. Contests still aren't for me, but their worth watching." Raz shook Ken's hand as they started talking without notice of the others, except Kira who still held his other hand.

"You did great Kara. Now you can go to the Grand Festival. All we need to finish is for me to get the other 5 badges." Leon watched while the girl he traveled with smirked and put up a fist.

"When we do go, I'll destroy the competition. Me and Empoleon can't be stopped." The others laughed at her seriousness. As they continued, Zion and Rayne made their way back with Zurtle still "pushing" her wheelchair.

"Zion, hunny. Where have you and Rayne been?" Nami hugged the boy like he was sick or something. He figured it was to feel sorry for him losing.

"We watched their match from the locker room. That was pretty good you 2." Both the finalist turned and smiled. Ken walked over and shook his hand.

"I don't believe we've met. I'm Ken Eldyn. You are Zion Hightide, son of Nami and Spark Hightide. Your Pokemon during the Indigo Tournament were Zurtle the Blastoise, Gyarados, Omnivee, Staryu, and Quagsire. Your sixth never made it out as you forfeited in the semi-finals. A pleasure."

Zion looked at him with a surprised look. Only Rayne, Leon, and Kara shared it. Everyone else had saw it that morning, and Sara crossed her arms sourly. When he finished shaking the other boy's hand, Ken turned to Rayne, but made no movement. He was sniffing the air around her.

"You smell familiar. I don't recognize it though. Have we met before? The smell is so faintly familiar. I know I've met you before my eyes were lost to me." She shifted with unease as the boy continued pondering. Zion moved next to her when her shift caused her to wince in pain.

"I don't know. Your name was familiar to me, but I forget where. I'm Rayne Kasia, by the way." She watched as his face shifted. His mouth fell open and he knew where he had smelled the scent before.

"What's your last name. Kasia is only your middle name." The girl stared at him with amazement.

"No one could know that. I haven't used my last name in so long that not even I remember it. Who are you?" She was getting aggitated as the young man smiled and started laughing. He quit after a few seconds though.

"I'm really not surprised you don't remember me. You were only 4 when mom and dad sent me to the academy to learn to battle." Memories came back to her at the mention of her parents. She knew why this boy's name was so familiar now.

"Kenny?" Tears started forming when he smiled. She reached up and grabbed his hand.

"Long time, no see, sis." He laughed at his words, while the rest watched and waited for their friends reaction. To everyone's surprise, she passed out. Ken continued laughing.

"She never did take shock too well."

--

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A/N: Whoa. They're siblings, wow. Who could have seen a plot move like that coming? ;starts whistling and looking not guilty; Anyways, how is this gonna affect the team? Eh, we'll find out in the next chapter. See ya then.