Ben and I were both up early the next day. I hadn't slept very well, too excited for my next match. I was sure I would be facing Ben, even if chances were I would face someone else. We had come all this way together after all wasn't it fitting that it would end the same way? We headed down and watched the matches line up. Sure enough, Ben and I would be competing against each other. Ben grinned at me.

"May the best trainer win," he offered. I nodded. We headed down to the arena and parted sides. This would be tricky. We knew each other's teams and tricks well. It was only a four on four match, but it would still be a struggle. Whoever passed this would be facing off in a battle for the championship. Taking a deep breath I decided to let whatever happened, happen. I released Charren, my charizard pumped for battle. Ben smirked as he sent out Blastoise, his starter looking fierce.

"Blastoise, hydro pump," Ben said calmly. Blastoise charged his cannons, and blasted water straight towards Charren. The charizard took to the sky flying around rapidly in attempts to dodge it. For a while Charren was successful but the blaze of water finally caught up to her knocking her out of the sky. Charren bellowed in rage as she pushed herself off the soaked ground. Tail whipping around she blasted a flamethrower towards the crack in Blastoise's shell. Blastoise was hit hard, but quickly steadied himself. He attacked with another torrent of water, Charren doing her best to dodge and get in close enough to swipe across the shell. Charren's blows were heavy, but against Blastoise she was finally knocked out unable to withstand the high pressured water.

I returned Charren and looked over my pokeballs. I released Leviathan, the gyarados bellowing in greeting. I smiled at the feel of excitement coming from him. It seemed for once he was eager for a fight. Ben shivered, and I smirked. Ben never had been as comfortable around Leviathan as I was. Something I was fully willing to take advantage of. I ordered Leviathan to use a hyper beam. Leviathan measured Blastoise with his eyes before complying, managing to land a direct hit. Blastoise still wasn't out though, following up his attack with an earthquake. I hadn't even known Blastoise could learn that move.

Shaken Leviathan let out a shattering roar. He lunged forward and bit into the blastoise. Blastoise retaliated blasting water directly into Leviathan's mouth, but the gyarados was too angry to care. He shook the blastoise his teeth crunching down on the shell. Blastoise managed to hold on for a couple more minutes before passing out.

"Leviathan, he's out," I said quietly. Leviathan slowly came out of his rage. Noticing the blastoise in his mouth he lowered him gently to the ground and nudged him. Ben sighed as he returned Blastoise.

"This is gonna be tough," he muttered, "Haunter, your turn." I gritted my teeth as he released the ghost pokemon. He might not be fully evolved but he was one of the few of Ben's pokemon that could actually hurt Leviathan. Now wasn't the time to be messing around. Leviathan quickly struck with hyper beam damaging the haunter but not quite knocking him out. The haunter attacked, phasing through Leviathan and draining some of his energy. Leviathan shuddered. He was beginning to tire after the barrage of attacks from Blastoise and the slow drain on his energy. Twisting around he managed another hyper beam attack, at the same time as a shadow ball was sent his way. Haunter was knocked out-along with Leviathan.

We both returned out pokemon. We each had two left to send out. Ben grinned as he sent out his kangaskhan, the pokemon stamping her feet in anticipation. That worked out well for me. I released Kinesis, the kadabra floating as he looked over his opponent before settling down.

Ready Cara?

As ready as I'll be Kinesis. I smiled. With our minds linked the kangaskhan didn't stand a chance. None of the hits landed. Surprisingly Ben didn't look too worried as Kangaskhan was knocked out. He sent out her replacement, Nidoking, and I realized the trap.

Kinesis, look out! Ben must have planned this since sending Kangaskhan out, slowing down Kinesis by wearing out his attacks and following up with Nidoking to poison him. Kinesis shuddered as the poisonous barbs sunk into him. He teleported away but it was too late. He was poisoned. I gritted my teeth. Kinesis might be poisoned but surely we could still take down Ben's nidoking. Kinesis created a pulse of psychic energy and tossed it at Nidoking He managed to dodge the blast and roared, storming towards Kinesis. The kadabra teleported again out of the way and shot a blast from behind catching Nidoking in the shoulder. The powerhouse groaned in pain but still whirled around determined to take Kinesis down.

Kinesis teleported again, but the poison was beginning to wear on him. It wouldn't be long before he was forced to collapse. Nidoking charged again. Kinesis was slower on the teleportation, just being glanced by nidoking before he managed to teleport. He was of target and panting heavily at this point. I winced in sympathy. I touched Kinesis' pokeball wondering if I should withdraw him.

Let me finish. I nodded in reply to Kinesis' thought and watched as he attacked one more time with a psychic attack. Nidoking shuddered as he was thrown back. Kinesis hovered in triumph at the knocked over beast, before collapsing. I quickly returned him. It looked like I had won.

"It's not over yet Cara," Ben said. I looked over in surprise. Nidoking had forced himself to stand back up. It looked like Ben was going to force me to use all the pokemon I was allowed for this battle. I grinned. This wasn't an easy fight. I released Pexle, the ninetales proudly strutting forward. Our minds linked with an ease I usually related to Kinesis. I was improving!

Nidoking charged towards Pexle. Unfortunately while Nidoking was being hit by Kinesis Pexle was fresh from his pokeball. The ninetales easily dodged the attack, quickly sending a blast of fire at Nidoking. The attack didn't have a lot of effect on the ground pokemon. Nidoking twisted around and charged again. Pexle stood his ground, waiting until the last minute to blow a giant fireball in Nidoking's face. Nidoking took the blow hard, but still managed to strike the ninetales. Skittering slightly Pexle spun around this time sending a psychic attack after the ground pokemon. Nidoking flinched hard, wounded already from Kinesis' attacks. Pexle leaped in, striking a final time biting down on Nidoking, and he was out.

I couldn't believe it. It was...I had actually won. I'd won the match! Ben bowed his head across from me. I cheered as I returned Pexle to his pokeball and left the arena. I hurried to the pokemon center. As soon as my team was well I was gonna release them so we could all celebrate together. I entirely forgot about Ben in the rush of my victory. It was only after he entered the center, his head held low, that I remembered. I had won, but it was through crushing my friend.

"Ben." Ben glanced at me as he wearily passed his pokemon over to the nurse.

"Congratulations on winning Cara," Ben said. His smile was thin, barely passing as one. I smiled, my own joy at winning diminished.

"Thanks. It...it was a really tough battle," I offered. Ben laughed hollowly.

"Not tough enough." I stepped over to Ben, wanting to comfort him, but he moved away.

"Don't worry about it. Concentrate on your match. You're gonna be fighting for the championship tomorrow, right?" Ben said easily. I frowned.

"Ben…" The nurse came back and talked to Ben for a moment. He nodded before turning and leaving. He didn't even say goodbye.

Suddenly my victory didn't taste so good.