Before I begin, I would like to thank authors HollisHawk and Jack of Blades for submitting their characters to this story, so if you see the trainer names of Vanessa Venom (character by HollisHawk) and Jack Cameron (character by Jack of Blades), they do not belong to me.

Four

The new morning had now arrived, awaking the fresh new day of Day Six of the Hoenn League. Since there were only two battles left in the competition, the battles were going to be waged later on in the afternoon. This gave Beka the perfect time to sneak out and explore the city of Evergrande by herself…

The morning breeze, being of a mixture of crisp salty air from the sea and warm wind that floated from the surrounding forests, gently blew around the female trainer as the wind gently picked up her red hair and seemed to run its invisible fingers through the silky strands. Beka was walking down a peaceful avenue that was surrounded by tall buildings that supplied not only Pokemon needs, but also the needs for one who wanted to shop or just simply send the day enjoying the city atmosphere. Soon, Beka came up to the end of the street she was walking on and saw that a corner café was sitting before her. The gray building stood tall along the corner of the street, with Beka peering inside to see that red curtains of velvet hung and painted on the window, in red and gold-outlined paint, of the shop read:

Evergrande Café: Simply Sip Your Worries Down the Drain.

"Nice title," Beka said, pressing along a soft laugh.

Beka then reached out and took hold of the brass handle that connected to the glass door and pulled back, opening the door. She then let herself slip in and once she was inside, let the door close shut behind her. The inside of the café had a warm welcoming feeling to it, like the warmth of a mid summer's day, with its tile floor arranged in black and white, like a checkerboard, white walls dimpled with pictures of a city upon the water, and black metal tables with matching chairs along the floor of the shop. Beka slowly walked up to one of the paintings that hung from the wall of the café and peered into it, seeing the city up close. Beka then realized she had seen this city before and when she scanned the painting over, just to make sure she hadn't missed a single detail of it, she saw black cursive writing at the bottom. Looking at the writing, it spelled out:

Alto Mare: 2003

'No way,' thought Beka, her hazel eyes slightly widened to the sight of this, 'Alto Mare City!'

She remembered that she watched the anime movie about Alto Mare shortly before she was transported to the Pokemon World and knew that it was home to the Legendaries, Latios and Latias, as well as the Soul Dew, the crystal sphere that was held deep within the hideaway of the Eon Pokemon and kept the city from plundering into chaos.

'Wait,' thought Beka, turning her thoughts to a few months back, 'back in Vendraturf, Wally said that the Soul Dew was found hundreds of years ago by the people who first settled in the city…but, there hasn't been any Pokemon News reports of Alto Mare falling into chaos, so there has to be a Soul Dew in the vicinities of the city…there can't possibly be…two Soul Dews in the Pokemon World…can it?'

Just then, a French accented voice snapped Beka back to reality as the voice said:

"Bonjour! How may I help you today madam?"

Beka turned her head away from the painting and toward the direction of the voice. At a counter stood a middle age man with dark brown hair, black eyes, and had a thin French mustache over his upper lip, wearing an outfit of a waiter, with a white button up long-sleeve shirt, black pants and polished shoes, and had a red menu pamphlet under his arm. He smiled softly as Beka said:

"Oh, my I please have a table?"

"But of course!" the waiter smiled, "Would you like to dine inside the café or just outside?"

"Why not," smiled Beka, "outside sounds like a good place to dine…it's so pleasant this morning."

"Yes it is," the waiter smiled as well and said: "come this way then…"

Beka followed the pleasant waiter toward another door that rested at the other end of the café and they both existed out of it. Beka and the waiter then stepped outside to a small, iron fenced-in part of the café where there were about five black and white checkered metal tables and matching seats that rested on the red brick ground. The waiter led Beka to one of the tables and let her take her seat. Handing her a menu, he asked:

"Would you like something to drink while you decide what to order madam?"

"Sure," said Beka and then quickly glimpsed at the drink section of the menu and said: "I'll have the hot chocolate please."

"Okay," the waiter said nodding, "be back soon!"

With that, the waiter turned and reentered into the shop while Beka watched him leave. She then turned her gaze back to the menu and wondered what to have. She was craving for a dessert and decided that, even though it was still morning, to try one of their specials of the day, in which today would be…raspberry cheesecake.

'I think I'll choose that!' Beka said, having a big smile upon her face to be able to indulge in something she hadn't had in a long time.

"Excuse me," came a voice from behind Beka, "but may I sit here with you Beka?"

Beka was surprised when she heard the voice. She didn't know who it was, for it sounded like a mature woman's voice, and it knew her name. Beka turned her head and saw a woman standing before her. She looked like she was about in her early twenties, although she was three inches shorter than Beka was and had a very thin built, with long, wavy red hair that housed purple dyed streaks, skin that was slightly tanned, and had long purple fingernails that looked like they were filed into sharp claws. Perhaps the most noticeable feature to this woman was her eyes, for her right eye was colored in a deep dark blue, like the midnight sky, while her left was a milky white and slitted like a cat's. The stranger wore an attire consisting of a dark purple long skirt with a long sleeved shirt of the same color, flip-flop sandals, and jewelry consisting of a gold chain belt around her waist, thick gold wristbands and anklets, with the anklets being thicker than her wristbands. Beka, a little curious of whom this person was and not wanting to be rude, said:

"Sure, go on ahead."

"Thank you Beka," the woman nodded and then proceeded to a chair that sitted across from Beka on the other side of the table.

The woman sighed a breath of relief as she sat down and got settled within the metal chair, just as the waiter had come out with Beka's hot chocolate. He placed the white mugged drink at Beka's place and then said:

"Oh? I see we have another customer! What would you like to drink madam?"

"Some hot tea please," the woman said.

"Okay," the waiter said nodding, "I'll be back with your drink."

He then left to return into the café. Beka looked down at her hot chocolate, to see that it was prepared the way she liked it: it was a milky chocolate brown hued liquid with a huge mound of frothy whipped creamed dollop on top with chocolate shavings sprinkled all over. Beka gingerly took the mug to her lips and sipped on the hot liquid, being careful not to burn herself. The drink was extremely rich in flavor, but not too rich to make Beka's insides turn upside, with the delicate softness of the whip cream melted with the drink. Beka then looked up to see the woman looking back at her, which caused Beka to ask:

"So, how do you know my name?"

"Well," the woman said, "you are going to be my next opponent in the final four of the Hoenn League."

"Oh," said Beka, her voice filled with recognition, "then you must be Vanessa Venom! I heard that was my next opponent, but I didn't get a chance to see your picture on profile. It's an honor to meet you Miss. Venom!"

Beka stuck out her green fingered and white-gloved hand to Vanessa so she could shake it.

"Please," said Vanessa, shaking Beka's extended hand, "just call me Vanessa; and it's an honor to meet you too."

"So I understand you train Poison Elements," said Beka, "I just battle a Poison trainer yesterday…Omar Sergio."

"Yes," Vanessa nodded, "I saw that battle and I'm impressed by your skills."

"Well," said Beka, "you should really be thanking my Pokemon. They are the heart and soul of everything that I do as a trainer. Without them, I wouldn't be here…so if you want to give praises to someone, give it to them…"

Beka stared thoughtfully at her drink, seeing the distance reflection of clouds in the sky.

"Here is your tea madam," came the voice of the waiter, sort of startling Beka from her thoughts.

A white mug with golden brown transparent liquid of hot tea, along with sugar and cream, was placed before Vanessa and she thanked the waiter. The waiter nodded and then turned to Beka and asked:

"Have you decided on something to eat madam?"

"Yes," nodded Beka, "I'll have your raspberry cheesecake please."

"Ah, excellent choice!" the waiter said pleasingly, "I'll be back with it soon!"

He once again left back into the shop as Vanessa, after preparing her tea the right way, began to delightfully sip at her hot tea.

"Ah, delicious," Vanessa said softly. "Vanessa…"

Beka said, finally finding the words to ask Vanessa a question, "…I…don't want to be rude or anything like that, but…what happened to your left eye?"

"It's okay," Vanessa said, softly smiling, "a lot of trainers have asked that question to me all the time…you aren't an exception…" Vanessa then began to say: "Well, I got into an accident, which I do not want to get into details with, that left me like this…I'm blinded in that eye, thanks to the accident and for some unexplained reason…tears will stream out of it…"

Just as Vanessa had said that, a thin line of tears fell from the milky eye.

"Oh, sorry," Vanessa apologized as she took out a purple handkerchief and wiped her eye dry.

"No, it's okay," said Beka softly, "no need to apologies, I should be the one saying sorry since I brought up the subject…"

"It's quite alright," Vanessa said softly.

Just then, Beka heard: "Here's your raspberry cheesecake madam!"

Beka turned and saw the waiter place a white china plate down before the trainer, with a big slice of raspberry cheesecake. The triangle slice of delight was made up of a vanilla-bean and light pink swirled filling with chocolate cookie crust, whipped cream along the side, and raspberry syrup gently swished back and forth along the top of the dessert. Beka's eyes glittered in delight and her mouth watered at the heavenly sight before her.

'Mmm…cheesecake…' thought Beka, sort of resembling a famous television character.

"Enjoy!" the waiter said and once again left.

Pick up a fork, Beka sliced the pointed end of the cheesecake and picked it up with the fork. She then placed the piece in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed. Immediately, she felt like she was in cheesecake heaven and was craving for more. Beka looked up to see Vanessa was still sipping on her tea and being curdious, she asked:

"Would you like some Vanessa?"

The Poison Element trainer, seeming surprised at the offer, simply said:

"Sure!"

With another fork at hand, the two female trainers dug into the cheesecake. Soon, they would become enemies on the battlefield, but for now, the tides of friendship were washed upon this current atmosphere.

0o0o0o0o0o0

"So does anyone know where Beka is?" asked Brendan, who, along with May and Benen, were sitting in a lobby area of the Pokemon Center, wondering where their friend had run off to.

"Beats me," said Benen, "I haven't seen her at all this morning and I was the first one up."

"Maybe she went to get in some last minute battle training before her match later on today," said May, pressing on the suggestion.

"Probably," said Benen, nodding in agreeance to May, "it would seem like a possible thing Beka would have done."

"Well, in that case," said Brendan, "I guess we have nothing to worry about."

"Unless of course," said May, "our own personal renactor of Casanova was to find out where she has gone to."

"Well," said Brendan, pressing on a smile, "we'll just make up something for the little Poliwag."

"First of all…I would like it if you were not to call me by that name, unless of course, I'll have to have Aurora use you as a target practice…" came the deep, dark voice of the blue eye trainer, who was standing right behind Brendan when the Hoenn trainer had spoken. Brendan immediately froze in terror at the familiar voice of his friend and then heard him say: "…and second, what do you mean by 'make up something'?"

"Uh…" said Brendan, who was now sweat-dropping, "…well…I…"

May sighed and said to Edgar: "If you must know Ed: we haven't seen Beka this morning and we are trying to figure out where she is and…"

"BEKA'S GONE MISSING!" Edgar shouted at the top of his voice, causing everyone in the Center to turn toward the group.

"Hey," said Brendan, "keep it done will ya? You're making a scene."

"So!" exclaimed Edgar again, "Is it wrong to shout about how shocked I am about Beka's disappeance!"

"Take it easy man!" exclaimed Brendan, "You're making it sound like a crime investigation story!"

"Take it easy!" Edgar exclaimed even louder, "What if something bad happened to her? Huh? What if she sprained her ankle and can't walk? What if she broke her leg? What if she's dangling from a cliff? What if Team Sky has captured her? What if...WHAT IF…"

"Hi Ed," came Beka's voice from behind Edgar.

"GAH!" screamed Edgar at the soft voice of the female trainer.

He turned to see Beka was, sure enough, standing behind, safe and sound.

"Beka!" said Edgar, happy anime tears streaming down his face as his blue eyes grew and soften into a happy stare as he hugged Beka, "I missed you! I was so worried!"

"Oh…uh, okay," said Beka, pressing on a soft smile and sweat-dropping.

"So, who is with you?" asked Brendan, curiously pointing at the stranger Beka had brought along.

"Oh!" said Beka, breaking from Edgar's hug and running over to Vanessa's side, where she then said: "Guys, this is Vanessa Venom. She is going to be my next opponent in the Hoenn League."

"Hello everyone," Vanessa said humbly, nodding her head in a small bow.

"Hello, I'm Brendan," said Brendan, shaking Vanessa's hand.

"I'm May," introduced May, waving to her.

"The name's Benen," Benen said while bowing his head in greetances.

"And I'm Edgar," greeted Edgar.

"It's nice to meet you all," Vanessa said.

Just then, another voice floated into the group as it said:

"Brendan? May? Edgar? Is that you guys?"

The voice, sounding masculine, made the group turn toward the direction from whence it came from. Standing before the group was a teenage boy, about the same age as Beka and the others, with rich brown colored hair and brown eyes. His attire consisted of a red sleeveless jacket that covered a black shirt, blue jeans, red and black sneakers, and a red and white Pokeball imprint cap.

"No way!" exclaimed Brendan, "Jack… Jack Cameron!"

"Yup," Jack smiled, "the one and only!"

"Jack!" exclaimed May, "it's been years since we last saw you!"

"Yeah, it has been!" said Jack, "Ever since the Battle Frontier."

"Battle Frontier?" asked Beka, not knowing what that place was about.

"You've never heard of it?" asked Vanessa, "The Battle Frontier is perhaps one of the few places just outside the Hoenn region that hosts numerous battle challenges all in one place."

"Wow, interesting…" said Beka, now wanting to know more about this place called the Battle Frontier.

"Well," came Brendan's voice into Beka's hearing, "this is Beka…she's been traveling with us through-out Hoenn for the past months."

Beka turned toward Brendan and saw that he was introducing Jack to her.

"Oh, hey!" said Beka, nodding in respect, "It's a pleasure to meet you!"

"As here too," Jack smiled, bowing as well.

"And this is Beka's next opponent/ new friend, Vanessa Venom," May added in to the introductions.

"How do you do?" said Vanessa, bowing in respect.

"Fine, how about you?" Jack asked, returning the bow.

"Just fine," Vanessa smiled softly.

"So Jack," said Edgar, with a grin on his face, "I just saw that you will be my next opponent in the final four."

"Yup, it appears so," Jack returned back the smile with one of his own.

"Really?" asked May, "How did you know Jack was even here?"

"Well," said Edgar, "before I came over and heard…Sweatband-Boy…call me that dread name that only Cousin Misty can referee me to, I checked out my next opponent and saw that it was Jack. I was surprised too, since I haven't been able to see other trainer's battles within the League, except of course for Misty's and Beka's."

"I see…" May said softly.

"Well Edgar," said Jack, fist up in the air, "ready to be send back down with the rest of the past defeatees?"

"Hah!" Edgar laughed, with his fist up in the air as well, "I've been a whole lot stronger since the Battle Frontier Jack and I'll prove it to ya!"

0o0o0o0o0o0

Day Six of the Hoenn League Competition. Final Four. Beka's Battle.

"Welcome one and all to the Final Four of the Hoenn League Competition!" came the chiming voice of Mrs. Destiny over the microphone, "Today's battles will determine who will advance to the final two and to finally the victor of the Hoenn League! Without further or due, let's welcome Vanessa and Beka as they launch the first battle of the Final Four!"

The cheers of the crowd filled the Hoenn League stadium as the two female trainers made their way to the battle field. Beka came in from the right while Vanessa from the left side of the stadium's openings that lead into the battle field. Once both trainers made it to their respected trainer's boxes, they nodded to each other, as if saying they were ready to begin. Taking a Pokeball into her hand, Vanessa threw out her first Pokeball into the sky and called out:

"Silver go!" The Pokeball popped opened and in a mesh of white light materialized…

"GGGAAAHHHH!" came a distance scream from the stadium seating near Beka's side of the field, making Beka jump in fright.

Beka turned and saw it was Misty, climbing on top of Ash, as if to get away from the sight before her with her blue eyes in flared in fright.

"A-A-A-An…A-A-A-ARIADOS!" Misty screamed out, "I HATE BUGS!"

"Relax Mist," Ash said, sweat-dropping and having a half-closed blank expression on his face, "it's not going to come after us…"

Sure enough, Beka saw it was an Ariados standing before her on the field.

"A-ria-dos!" hissed out Silver in its bug voice.

Beka nodded, seeing the Bug/Poison Element ahead of her, and then took out her first Pokeball and threw it, calling out:

"Absol, I choose you!" In a flash of white light materialized Beka's Absol upon the field.

"Ab-sol!" cried out Absol in its deep voice.

Battle Situation:

Beka's Absol vs. Vanessa's Ariados, Silver

BATTLE BEGIN!

"Silver, begin with Sludge Bomb!"

Silver's pincer mouth opened to show a mass of purple light beginning to form from within. Once the energy of the orb was fully collected, the sphere shot out, now taking the form of a mass of toxic sludge.

"Absol, dodge and use Bite!"

Absol, lowering itself upon its white legs to add in a spring of energy, leapt into the sky and evaded the oncoming Sludge Bomb, which crashed into the spot where Absol would have been if it hadn't moved. Then, getting its target aimed from the sky, Absol came down at Silver with its teeth being bared as it came in for the attack.

"Now Silver, use String Shot!"

Silver opened its mouth and a spray of white material snaked out of its pincer mouth.

"Absol, dodge again!"

Absol, hearing its trainer's call, stopped Bite and did a mid-air twist, causing it to barely miss String Shot and to land back on to the field upon its white paws and black claws.

"Silver, use Body Slam!"

Silver began to make a mad dash at Absol, upon its insect legs, and then threw itself into the air toward Absol in order to prepare for Body Slam.

"Absol, use Blizzard!"

Absol opened its mouth and a powerful blast of wind, snow, and ice formed out. This caught Vanessa by surprise as Silver was sent back fly toward its side of the field. Silver was still able to battle, although its HP was cut in half, and showed it by pulling up its front legs up and pressing them near its body, as if showing its arm's muscles.

"Wow," said Ash from the stands, "that's one determined Ariados."

"Please don't say that word!" said Misty, covering her eyes in her hands.

"Okay Silver," said Vanessa with a smile on her face, "good! You're still ready for more! Okay, let's use Agility!"

Silver suddenly disappeared before Absol and then reappeared on the field on the other side of the field, only to again disappear. Silver did this continuously on the battlefield in order to boost its Speed Status and to confuse its opponent. Absol tried to keep up with Silver, but was shaking its head as its red eyes began to sting due to following the constant movement.

"Absol," said Beka, "don't let Silver confuse you! Just stay where you are and relax!"

Absol turned and nodded to its trainer in agreeance. It then, still standing up, closed its ruby eyes and listened to the Poison/Bug Element that danced around it; listening for a pattern in its movement.

"Now Silver, use Baton Pass!"

Silver, turning to Vanessa, gave it's a trainer a stare as if saying:

'Are you nuts! I'm about to win this round! You can't make me switch out now! I'll be ruler of the world if I do this!'

"Now Silver," Vanessa said sternly.

Silver, with a disappointing sigh, began to let its body glow in a pale white light and soon, it transformed into a red baton-shaped object. The baton swirled and twisted in the air and then transformed into a flash of red light as Silver returned back into its Pokeball. Vanessa then said to Beka:

"I must apologies for Silver's behavior. Strangely, it believes it will be future ruler of the world…"

"Oh," said Beka, pressing on a smile at Silver's personality, "it's okay. Silver has been raised very well though."

"Thank you," said Vanessa, "but that doesn't mean that I'll be nice to you in this battle Beka."

Beka just simply laughed and gestured Vanessa to continue. Vanessa nodded and then took out her next Pokeball, with it slightly glowing in a flash of white light in the Poison Element trainer's hand.

'It must be Silver's Baton Pass,' thought Beka, 'it's transferring its Status to the next opponent, which will be the Speed Status.'

Vanessa then threw her next Pokeball into the air and called out:

"Phantom, go!"

In a flash of white light appeared Vanessa's next Pokemon, Phantom the Tentacruel. Phantom was a Poison/Water Element that had the blue and black body of a jellyfish with two giant red jewels pressed into the sides of its head and one smaller one in its forehead, two blue pincers that hanged from under its body along with about fifteen or so grayish-brown tentacles, and piercing black eyes. "Ten-ta-cruel," called out Phantom in a deep voice.

"Oh wow!" exclaimed Misty, with her eyes gleaming in a bright light at the sight of the Water Pokemon, "A Tentacruel!"

"Geez," muttered Edgar under his breath, "get a grip cousin…"

Battle Situation:

Beka's Absol vs. Vanessa's Tentacruel, Phantom

BATTLE BEGIN!

"Phantom, begin with Toxic!"

Phantom, raising up two of its tentacles over its head, began to form a mass of purple light in the space between the tentacles, followed by a blast of toxic sludge to come falling out of the Poison/Water Element's grip and toward Absol.

"Absol, dodge with Aerial Ace!"

Absol suddenly disappeared into thin air as the Toxic slammed into the empty target on the opponent's side of the field. Then, just as it reappeared, Absol came up from behind Phantom and slammed a powerful Flying Element assault on the jellyfish Pokemon. Vanessa smirked and said:

"Capture it Phantom!"

Whipping its tentacles backwards, the gray-brown mass of waving structures wrapped around Absol's form and caught the Dark Element in its grasp. Absol tried to struggle against the mist of tentacles, but was rendered motionless when the tentacles bided tighter around its white form. Beka wondered about how she was going to free her companion from that trap and then an idea popped into her mind. With a smirk upon her face, she called out:

"Absol, use Thunderbolt!"

Hearing its trainer, Absol's scythe immediately began to glow and crackle with bright yellow electricity, as well as the rest of its body, and sent out the blast of electric current coursing through Phantom. Wincing in pain from the Thunderbolt, Phantom's tentacles loosed from Absol's form and gave the Dark Element a good chance to escape the forest of tentacles and to make its way back to its side of the field.

"Don't let that Thunderbolt stop you Phantom!" exclaimed Vanessa, "Attack with Blizzard!"

Phantom, with its black gaze aflared with determination, let its forehead jewel glow in a pale blue light and flicker in an icy-white mist. Then, from out the glowing gem came a powerful blast of Blizzard's fury at the opponent. Beka called for Absol to watch out, but Blizzard got to the Dark Element first and immediately froze it into an ice crystal. Beka's hazel eyes plastered in horror at Absol was frozen still within the ice and cried out:

"Absol!"

"Now Phantom, use Hydro Pump!"

From its blue and black body, a powerful surging blast of Hydro Pump was sent across the field and slammed into the ice crystal, breaking the frozen prison and for it to blast Absol into the field and for it to faint.

"Absol is unable to battle," called out the referee, "Tentacruel is the winner!"

Beka held out Absol's Pokeball and asked for her Dark Element to return. A thin beam of red light shot out of the Pokeball and hit Absol, causing Absol to become one with the light and to return back into its red and white vessel.

"Thank you Absol," said Beka to its Pokeball, "you deserve as good rest."

Beka then pulled out her second Pokeball and threw it out into the field, calling out:

"Salamence, I choose you!" In a flash of white light once the Pokeball popped open, materialized Beka's Salamence.

"Sa-la-mence!" bellowed out Salamence onto the field.

Battle Situation:

Beka's Salamence vs. Vanessa's Tentacruel, Phantom

BATTLE BEGIN!

"Phantom, let's begin with Sludge Bomb!"

Just like it had prepared Toxic, Phantom raised up its long tentacles and formed a sphere of toxic sludge in its open space and then released the purple sludge at Salamence.

"Salamence, use Aerial Ace to dodge!"

Salamence took to the sky upon its red wings and easily evaded Sludge Bomb. Then, with a poetic grace upon its crimson wings, made a graceful flip in the air before disappearing into thin air. It then, just as Absol had done, suddenly reappeared behind Phantom and slammed the aerial attack into the back of the Poison/Water Element.

"Don't give in Phantom!" exclaimed Vanessa, "Grab it!"

"Fly Salamence!" exclaimed Beka.

Salamence took to the skies again, but it didn't get far when Phantom had wrapped its tentacles around the dragon's back legs.

"Now use Ice Beam!" exclaimed Vanessa.

Beka saw that a spark of icy-blue light was beginning to form from Phantom's forehead and she then cried out:

"Salamence, Dragonbreath!"

Salamence craned its head down toward Phantom and opened its mouth. From deep within its throat sparked green flashes of light which flooded into green draconic fire down upon Phantom, causing a critical hit to the Poison/Water Element and for it to become parlayed. With paralyzes taken over, Salamence broke free of the tentacles and took to the sky, with Beka calling out:

"Now Salamence, use Dragonbreath one more time!"

Throwing its head forward with mouth wide-open, Salamence unleashed another blast of Dragonbreath down at Phantom and this blast caused Phantom to be slammed into the ground and for it to faint.

"Tentacruel is unable to battle," called out the referee, "Salamence is the winner!"

Vanessa quietly recalled Phantom back into its Pokeball and thanked her battle partner a job well done. She then pulled out her next Pokeball and called back out Silver; this also followed by another scream from the audience. Beka simply sweat-dropped and decided it was time for a Pokemon exchange.

"Return Salamence!" said Beka, holding out Salamence's Pokeball. In a flash of red light, Beka recalled back her Salamence into the Pokeball.

"Huh?" asked May, "Why did Beka recall back her Salamence? It has a clear advantage over Silver…"

"Who knows," said Brendan softly. Beka then took out her last registered Pokeball and threw it out, calling out:

"Milotic, I choose you!"

In a flash of white light from the mid-air Pokeball came forth Beka's Milotic.

"Mi-lo-tic!" called out Milotic in its beautiful aquatic voice.

Battle Situation:

Beka's Milotic vs. Vanessa's Ariados, Silver

BATTLE BEGIN!

"Silver, use Toxic!"

Silver, opening up its white pincers, spat out a massive mound of toxic sludge at Milotic.

"Milotic, use Safeguard!"

Milotic squinted its crimson eyes, as if to concentrate its chi, and soon, a crystal veil arose from around it. Once Toxic hit, it immediately disintegrated on contact to the crystal barrier and brought no harm to Milotic.

"Nice," Vanessa commented, then added: "Silver, use Hidden Power!"

With its body flashing in a pale white hue for a brief moment, Silver began to have tiny spheres of white light dance around its form as they grew. Once they grew to a right size, Silver released the Hidden Power attack upon the field at Milotic.

"Milotic, Icy Wind!"

Milotic raised up its fanned tail and splitted it, causing from between the open split a powerful blast of ice and wind to come spiraling out; slamming into and deflecting off Hidden Power.

"Now Silver, use Leech Life!"

Silver began to run at Milotic with its pincers now glowing in a faint light green light, getting ready to attack the Water Element.

"Milotic, use Blizzard!"

Milotic, raising up its fanned tail again and splitting it, caused this time for the icy rage of Blizzard to play out and sweep across the field, hitting the oncoming Ariados back. Silver, determined not to give up, made a powerful jump at Milotic, clasped to its tail, and sank its pincers into its scaled tail. Milotic let out a high pitched cry as the blistering pain of Leech Life took hold and the Water Element was drained of its strength. Silver leapt back to its side of the field while Milotic began to recover from its injury.

"Okay Silver, let's use Signal Beam!"

Silver's pointed appendages on its back flashed in a red and green light and the two beams danced out and slammed into Milotic, causing a critical hit to befall upon the dragon serpent Pokemon.

"Don't give up Milotic!" Beka shouted encouragement to her Water Element, "You've faced tougher opponents before, so let's use Hydro Pump!"

Milotic opened its mouth and a powerful blast of water bursted forth and twisted its way toward Silver.

"Dodge Silver!"

Silver evade over to its left as the Hydro Pump flew by its right.

"Good, now use Signal Beam again!"

Silver once again released the Bug Element attack at Milotic.

"Milotic, jump!"

Raising up into the air while coiling up upon its tail like a spring, Milotic leapt into the air and with its graceful arch in the air, it watched as Signal Beam hit the empty target on the field.

"Now Milotic, use Tackle!"

With its head down at Silver, Milotic began to fall down toward the Poison/Bug Element.

"Silver, use String Shot!"

Silver unleashed another spray of sticky white String Shot at Milotic.

"Now Milotic, use Iron Tail!"

Flipping in the air so its tail was now toward Silver, the scaled and fan-tipped tail glowed in a metallic light and easily slashed through the String Shot, while also slamming a powerful blow upon Silver, causing the insect to faint.

"Ariados is unable to battle," called out the referee, "Milotic is the winner!"

Vanessa recalled back Silver and thanked it for a job well done, followed by the statement:

"Don't worry, your quest for world domination will be alive again soon…"

Vanessa then pulled out her next Pokeball and said to Beka:

"You know, you've been a very strong opponent Beka…in fact, you are one in a few trainers that have really given me a run for my money, but you are now about to meet my very first Pokemon, the one Pokemon that has helped me through thick and thin and will give you a battle of a life-time…"

She then threw her Pokeball into the sky and called out:

"Arsenic, let's go!"

In a flash of white light from the Pokeball materialized Vanessa's last Pokemon: Arsenic the Nidoking. Arsenic was a Poison/Ground Element that had purple colored spiked skin with a tan underbelly, white claws and toes, giant ears that had a green hue in the inside of them, a giant purple horn that poked from between its forehead and nostrils, teeth that protruded out, and sharp black eyes. Beka noticed that this Nidoking was a bit different from an original, the difference being that Arsenic was a bit bigger than the average Nidoking and had blue tips on his huge spikes.

"Ni-do!" bellowed out Arsenic in its thunderous roar.

Battle Situation:

Beka's Milotic vs. Vanessa's Nidoking, Arsenic

BATTLE BEGIN!

"Arsenic, begin with Rage!"

Arsenic, seeming to brew with an emotion of anger, charged at Milotic in a stampede of fury as he began Rage.

"Milotic, Hydro Pump!"

Milotic opened its mouth and a powerful blast of water streamed out toward the oncoming Nidoking.

"Now Arsenic, ride with Surf!"

Arsenic, his body glowing in a blue light for a brief moment, suddenly was rising from the ground as a tidal wave was instantly created from the battlefield. The Surf attack helped Arsenic evade the Hydro Pump as the powerful Water Element blast just simply crashed into Surf and became one with the wave.

"Now Arsenic, use Thunder!"

With its body glowing in a faint yellow aura, electricity seemed to dance around Arsenic's horn that rested on the bridge of its head and then, a powerful blast of the attack was sent down upon Milotic.

"Milotic, Protect!"

Milotic, surrounding itself in a shield of golden light, stood up to the Thunder attack as the powerful Electric Element blast negated off the Water Element as well as the now crashing Surf attack. The two Pokemon where back were they started on the field and then Vanessa called out:

"Arsenic, Brick Break!"

Arsenic, with his left fist slightly glowing in a reddish-brown aura, charged at Milotic again in hopes of landing the powerful Fighting Element attack at the Water Element.

"Milotic, Ice Beam!"

Raising up its fanned tail up toward its face and splitting it, a ball of icy-white light formed and then formed into an oncoming stream of dancing ice.

"Arsenic, now switch to Flamethrower!"

Arsenic, now stopping Brick Break, opening his mouth and deep from within his throat blasted forth a stream of red, orange, and yellow light that twisted together to form the stream of flames. The Flamethrower incinerated through the Ice Beam easily as the blast continued forth toward Milotic. Milotic was hit by the Flamethrower, although not causing much damage to its HP, causing a flaring red blotch to occur on Milotic's peach-tone smooth skin.

'Oh no!' thought Beka, 'Milotic's burned! Safeguard's effect is down!'

"Now Arsenic, finish with Thunder!"

Arsenic's horn glowed again in crackling yellow electricity and in a massive series of sparks, sent out a large blast of the raging Thunder attack. Milotic was struck by the Electric Element attack and took out the rest of its HP, causing it to fall and lay fainted on the field.

"Milotic is unable to battle," called out the referee, "Nidoking is the winner!"

"Milotic, return!" called out Beka, holding out Milotic's Pokeball.

A stream of red light shot out of the Pokeball and hit Milotic, causing the Water Element to become one with the light. Melting with the beam, Milotic returned back into its Pokeball.

"Thank you Milotic," said Beka, "you deserve a long rest."

She pulled out her last Pokeball and threw it out, calling upon Salamence. In a flash of white light, Salamence returned back to the battle field and the final round began…

Battle Situation:

Beka's Salamence vs. Vanessa's Nidoking, Arsenic

BATTLE BEGIN!

"Arsenic, begin with Secret Power!"

Arsenic's body glowed in a pale aura flash and then from his mouth shot out a stream of multicolored arrows as they twirled their way toward Salamence.

"Salamence, Hyper Beam!"

Salamence opened its mouth and from within formed a golden orb of light. Once the attack was ready, the orb blasted out in a beam of searing light which caused Secret Power to be dissolved by the attack and for the attack to slam into Arsenic. Arsenic, although taking heavy amounts of damage, was still standing strong after the powerful attack and let out a powerful roar to show he wasn't going to give in.

'Vanessa has raised that Nidoking very well,' thought Beka, 'like all of her other Pokemon I saw. She is a very talented trainer…'

"Arsenic, now use Ice Beam!"

Arsenic opened its mouth and sent out a frosty blast of dance light toward Salamence.

"Salamence, counter with Flamethrower!"

Salamence opened its mouth and unleashed a full frontal blast of Flamethrower at Ice Beam. The two attacks hit and exploded on contact, negating each other off.

"Arsenic, Icy Wind!"

Arsenic opened his mouth again, this time letting a powerful blast of wind and ice come out and toward Salamence.

"Salamence, Fire Blast!"

Salamence, opening its mouth up again, unleashed an even powerful Fire Element attack at the opponent, in the form of a fiery five pointed star, as it hit Icy Wind and again caused a negating effect.

"Arsenic, Sludge Bomb!"

Arsenic had opened his mouth, yet again, and this time unleashed a powerful ball of toxic sludge.

"Salamence, dodge!"

Salamence, spreading out its wings, took to the sky, but didn't get up in the sky quick enough and was slammed by the Sludge Bomb. Salamence roared in pain as the Poison Element attack took its effect.

"No! Salamence!" exclaimed Beka.

"Now Arsenic," said Vanessa, "finish off with Ice Beam!"

Arsenic opened its mouth again and a powerful Ice Beam flowed out. Beka knew she only had one chance left and she gave out her final command:

"Salamence, Hyper Beam!"

Salamence, hearing its trainer's cry, ignored the Sludge Bomb and opened its mouth to unleash another Hyper Beam, only this one seem to begin to glow a bit brighter. The Hyper Beam slashed through the Ice Beam and slammed into Arsenic, the searing burning of the hyperactive energy melting into its skin and causing a massive critical hit damage to the Nidoking. Arsenic fell back in defeat and fainted.

"Nidoking is unable to battle," called out the referee, "Salamence is the winner. The victor of this battle is Beka!"

The roar of the crowd echoed through out the stadium at the victory of the first trainer to move on to the final round of the League. Beka ran up and threw her arms around the Dragon/Flying Element's neck and gave the dragon a big hug of congratulations. Meanwhile, Vanessa had recalled her Nidoking back into his Pokeball and said to the red and white sphere in her hand:

"Arsenic, I am very proud of you…to you and the others on a job well done…"

Just then, Vanessa looked up to see Beka before her, with her green-fingered and white gloved hand before her.

"Vanessa," said Beka, "you are an amazing trainer. I am honored to battle someone like you and hopefully in the future, we will have a rematch." "Yes," Vanessa said nodding, "and when that day comes, I will be ready."

They both shook hands in good sportsmanship as the crowd continued to applaud for both of the trainers.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Edgar's Battle.

"We have now come to the final battle of the Hoenn League Competition," came Mrs. Destiny's voice over the microphone, "and so, without further or do, let's welcome our two final trainers: Edgar and Jack!"

The cheers of the stadium roared and echoed throughout as the two final trainers entered into the battlefield. Edgar, coming from the right side of the stadium, proceeded up to the chalked trainer's box that was traced onto the field while Jack, coming in from the left, proceeded as well up to his trainer's box on his side of the field. Once the two trainers had reached their respected sides, a signal was given out to show that they could begin their battle. Once the signal commence, Jack took out his first Pokeball and threw it, calling out:

"Gyarados, go!"

The Pokeball popped opened and in a flash of white flight formed out the serpent dragon Water/Flying Element of Gyarados, as it levitated slightly above the ground. The Gyarados released out a harsh hissing roar as it entered upon the field, but to Edgar, this Gyarados wasn't as scary as the one his cousin had battled with earlier. Without hesitation, Edgar pulled out his first Pokeball as well and threw it, calling out:

"Raiden, go!"

In a flash of white light, Raiden appeared on the field, sort of letting a thin stream of electricity dance around its blue and yellow fur, as the Electric Element gazed up into the amethyst eyes of the Gyarados through ruby eyes.

"Man-ec-tric," Raiden growled out softly.

Battle Situation:

Edgar's Manectric, Raiden, vs. Jack's Gyarados

BATTLE BEGIN!

"Gyarados, start off with Earthquake!"

Gyarados, bring up its tail near the back of its head, slammed its yellow scaled underbelly to the ground, causing a massive shockwave to occur and followed by an enormous blast of the Earthquake attack to streak its way across the field toward Raiden.

"Raiden, use Quick Attack!"

Raiden, crouching upon its blue legs to act like a spring, bounded in a graceful leap over the battlefield as Earthquake rumble by under it. Then, while still in the air, came down at Gyarados in a flash of white light and slammed into Gyarados' forehead, just to deliver a small damage to its HP. Seeing the damage done, Raiden returned back to its side of the field.

"Gyarados, use Hydro Pump!"

Gyarados, quickly recovering from the Quick Attack, opened its huge mouth and a concentrated blast of water spewed out down toward Raiden.

"Raiden, counter with Thunder!"

Raiden's body began to glow in a bright crackling of yellow light and then unleashed a massive blast of electric current out toward the oncoming Hydro Pump; slicing through the attack to eventually negate it.

"Gyarados, use Earthquake again!"

Gyarados, as it had done before, slammed its underside onto the ground and caused another blast of earthly energy to blaze its way across the field toward Raiden.

"Okay Raiden, dodge and use Thunder Wave!"

Raiden, leaping into the air once again, again evaded another Earthquake. Then, its body beginning to glow in a pale white and blue aura, Raiden, unleashed a series of bluish-white electric currents at Gyarados and struck the Water/Flying, causing paralyzes to occur to Jack's Gyarados.

"No, Gyarados!" exclaimed Jack.

"Now Raiden," called out Edgar, "finish off with Thunderbolt!"

Raiden, its body glowing again in a flashing yellow aura, sent out another stream of electrical current toward Gyarados. Since Gyarados was combined of the Water/Flying Elements, both super effective to Electric Element attacks, was easily knocked out of the battle.

"Gyarados is unable to battle," called out the referee, "Manectric is the winner!"

Jack simply recalled back his Gyarados and thanked it for a job well done. He then took out his second Pokeball and threw it into the battlefield, calling out:

"Espeon, go!"

In a flash of white light, an Espeon, a Psychic Element that looked like a desert fox with soft lavender colored fur, giant ears that had purple hues on the inside, thin whiskers on the sides of its face, a red ruby jewel that glowed upon the creature's forehead, a long tail that splitted into two, prong-like tips, and deep amethyst eyes that glowed with a deep intelligence.

"Esp-eon!" called out Espeon in a small voice.

"An Espeon, huh?" said Edgar, pulling out Raiden's Pokeball and then calling out: "Raiden, return!"

In a flash of red light, Raiden materialized back into its light energy form and returned back into the Pokeball. Placing Raiden's Pokeball back upon his belt, Edgar threw out his next Pokemon and called out:

"Luna, go!"

In a flash of white light, Edgar's shiny Absol, Luna, appeared on the field before the Espeon.

"Ab-sol," Luna called out as it appeared onto the field.

Battle Situation:

Edgar's Absol, Luna, vs. Jack's Espeon

BATTLE BEGIN!

"Espeon, start off with Swift!"

Espeon opened its mouth and sent out flashes of golden stars of light upon the opponent's side of the field; slamming into Luna and causing slivers of its HP to drop. Edgar knew Luna could take the attack and urged her to stand her ground, in which she did.

"Okay Luna," said Edgar, "let's go in with Shadow Ball!"

Luna opened its mouth, showing that a sphere of black energy was beginning to collect within, and then sent out the ball of Ghost energy at Espeon; the attack crackling with purple and black electricity as it spin its was down the field toward the Psychic Element.

"Espeon, use Shadow Ball as well!"

Espeon, just like had Luna preformed, released its own version of Shadow Ball toward Luna's attack. The two Ghost Element attacks slammed into one another, causing an explosion to occur on the field and for thick smoke to envelop the battlefield. Seconds later, the smoke cleared and left the two opponents to go at it again.

"Okay Espeon, use Iron Tail!"

With its forked tail swaying gently in the air, as if it was detecting changes in the wind, Espeon focused its energy upon its tail; causing it to glow in a metallic hue. Then, the Psychic Element charged at Luna at full force in order to deliver the Steel Element attack.

"Luna, use Bite!"

Luna, seeing Espeon heading right in front of its direction, also charged toward the fox Pokemon, teeth bared and sort of tinting in a faint black aura. Once it got within close range, Espeon swung its tail and it slammed right across Luna's face, giving a powerful blow to the Dark Element and causing Luna to be sent back toward its side of the battlefield. Edgar gasped in shock on how powerful Jack's Espeon was, even though Psychic attacks wouldn't affect Luna, that didn't mean that Jack didn't have any other plans up his sleeves.

'Gotta be careful next time,' thought Edgar.

"Espeon, use Assist!"

"What?" asked Brendan, "But…an Espeon can't learn Assist, it's not even an Egg Move."

"Unless of course," said Beka softly, making the group turn towards her, "Jack's Espeon is just like my Blaziken…it is, or was, infected with a PokeVirus and has caused it to learn a certain move it can't get from experience or from an Egg…"

"That's right," Brendan said, realizing he had told Beka about this months ago when they first began their journey in Hoenn, and then turned back to the battle.

Espeon, rising up upon its back legs, lifted up its right paw and it started to glow in a white sphere around the small paw. From the white light came forth the movement of Espeon slamming its paw to the ground and unleashing a powerful shockwave and blaze of Earthquake. 'It's using Earthquake!' exclaimed Beka in her mind. Edgar caught sight of the attack as well and called out:

"Luna, dodge and use Shadow Ball!"

Lower itself upon its red legs and gaining energy as if it were a spring, Luna bolted up into the sky and easily dodged Earthquake. Then while gliding upon the breeze, Luna opened its mouth and unleashed the powerful blast of Shadow Ball. The crackling of dark energy Ghost Element attack zoomed down toward Espeon and slammed into the Psychic Element, causing a powerful critical hit to Espeon.

"Espeon!" exclaimed Jack.

"Now Luna," called out Edgar, "use Slash!"

Still coming down upon Espeon, Luna raised up its right paw as its black claws glowed in a brilliant white luster. Then, when it was in close range, Luna swiped out its right paw across Espeon and caused a powerful critical hit to the Psychic Element; causing it to faint.

"Espeon is unable to battle," called out the referee, "Absol is the winner!"

Just as before, Jack recalled his fallen Pokemon and thanked it for a job well done. He then looked back up to the field and sweat-dropped, seeing Luna tackling and pinning Edgar to the ground and showering the black-haired, sapphire-eyed trainer with Absol kisses on his face while Edgar released howls of laughter. Jack then simply laughed, to see that Edgar must have raised his Absol to be so caring for its trainer, but then he finally spoke up and said:

"Edgar, you have certainly grown in strength after the Battle Frontier. I mean, you've been able to knock out two of my Pokemon and you have been able to still keep your team in the game…"

"Well," said Edgar, getting back up to his feet, "I told you so!"

"Heh, right," Jack said, taking a hold of his last Pokeball, "well Edgar Knight, it's time to let this show go on…"

With the flick of his wrist, Jack threw out his last Pokeball and called out:

"Let's show 'em what we got! Go, Furai!"

The Pokeball popped opened and a mesh of white light poured out, taking the form of Jack's last Pokemon. Standing upon the field was Furai, Jack's Flygon.

"Fly-gon!" screeched out Furai to the field before Edgar and Luna.

Battle Situation:

Edgar's Absol, Luna, vs. Jack's Flygon, Furai

BATTLE BEGIN!

"Furai, use Earthquake!"

Raising up into the air upon its green and red outlined wings and doing a small back flip in the air, Furai slammed its long light green and dark green patterned tail into the ground, causing a powerful shockwave to occur and to follow with a powerful blaze of Earthquake that surged its way toward Luna.

"Luna, dodge!"

Luna heard Edgar's command and bounded into the air, evading the passing Earthquake as it rumbled its way across the battlefield.

"Now Furai, use Hyper Beam!"

Flinging its head up toward the sky, Furai opened its mouth and began to collect golden particles from within in the shape of a golden sphere. As soon as the ball of hyperactive energy was collect, Furai unleashed the attack, in the blast of a golden beam, toward the air bound Absol. The attack hit its mark and caused Luna to crash back onto the field.

"LUNA!" exclaimed Edgar, with a deep look of concern in his eyes.

Upon hearing its trainer's words, Luna gradually climbed back upon its feet, but was now shaking violently due to the power of the Normal Element attack.

"Luna," asked Edgar, "can you still battle?"

"Sol," Luna growled out and nodded to its trainer, as if saying: "Yes".

Edgar nodded and then called out:

"Okay then, let try your Bite!"

Luna, with a powerful leap forward, charged at Furai with its white teeth bared and faintly gleaming in a black aura.

"Furai, dodge!"

With its wings spread out, Furai shot higher up into the sky, with Jack calling out next:

"Now use Hidden Power!"

Furai then stopped in the sky and let its body glow in a faint white aura that outlined its body. Soon, tiny spheres of white light began to dance around its draconic form and grow as they took each orbiting turn around the Flygon. Followed by a powerful cry from Furai, the spheres shot out down toward the field at Luna.

"Luna, use Shadow Ball on that Hidden Power!"

Opening up its mouth again, Luna unleashed another blazing sphere of Shadow Ball at the oncoming Hidden Power. The two attacks slammed and negated off each other in the air, calling the opponent's attacks to a draw.

"Nice one," commented Jack, and then called out: "Furai, use Sandstorm!"

Furai released out a powerful roar as it began to beat its large wings toward the ground, kicking up sand as a humming melody vibrated from the Dragon/Ground Element's wings. The sand became a powerful twister that twirled its way up into the air and then transformed into a blasting desert storm upon the opponents. Luna slammed its sapphire blue eyes shut while Edgar held up his arms toward his face, in order so that the sand would not block from his view, yet he couldn't see the battlefield because of the storm's thickness.

"I…can't see…" the black haired trainer spoke, but then he heard Jack's call out:

"Now use Hidden Power again Furai!"

This caused Edgar to yell out:

"Luna! Brace yourself!"

From the storm, flashes of lights occurred within and then came a powerful cry of pain; the voice sounding like Luna.

"LUNA!" exclaimed Edgar again, knowing his Pokemon was now in serious trouble.

Edgar couldn't help but watch as the storm died down to see the result of the last attack. The sand eventually subsided and cleared off the battlefield, showing that Luna lay on the ground, fainted from both the Sandstorm and Hidden Power.

"Absol is unable to battle," called out the referee, "Flygon is the winner!"

Edgar recalled back Luna into its Pokeball and said:

"Thanks buddy, take a nice long rest."

Edgar then pulled out his next Pokeball and threw it out onto the field, calling out: "Hydro, let's go!" In a blast of white light from the sphere materialized Edgar's Blastoise, Hydro.

"Blas-toise!" called out Hydro in a deep voice.

Battle Situation:

Edgar's Blastoise, Hydro, vs. Jack's Flygon, Furai

BATTLE BEGIN!

"Furai, begin with Frustration!"

With a red pressure mark appearing upon the side of its green head and its black eyes squinting in an angry emotion, Furai took to the sky and charged across the field toward Hydro.

"Hydro, use Surf!"

With its body glowing, for a brief moment, in a thin-lined blue aura, Hydro gave out a bellowing cry that caused a surge of water to form underneath its feet and to lift it up into the sky as the water grew to an immense size of a giant tidal wave.

"Furai, switch to Hyper Beam!"

Furai, skidding to a halt upon its green and red-outlined wings, craned its neck back and sent out an immensely powerful Hyper Beam toward the Surf attack. The golden light sliced through the Water Element attack and literally caused the water to evaporate due to Hyper Beam's surging hot temperatures.

"Now Hydro, jump off and use Hydro Cannon upon Furai!"

Leaping off from Surf, Hydro was high above from Furai as it caught the dragon Pokemon in its deep brown eyes. Positioning itself in the sky, Hydro aimed its two huge cannons down toward Furai and the two cannons began to glow in a bright blue light. Then, bursting forth from the cannons came two powerful bright blue surges of light of water elemental energy down toward Furai. The two blasts of lights slammed into Furai and caused the Flygon to screech out in pain.

"Get out of there Furai!"

Hearing its trainer's words, Furai blasted out from underneath Hydro Cannon and let the rest of the attack crash through the ground over the spot where Furai was at. Furai levitated back toward its side of the field, shaking violently due to Hydro Cannon's power and force that took out its HP down to the red zone, yet it still was determined to continue on.

"Furai," called out Jack, "are you still able to battle?"

Furai deeply nodded its head, knowing that it wanted to battle for its trainer until the bitter end.

'That Flygon of Jack's,' thought Beka, 'it has a lot of heart…' then, a small smirk pressed against her face as she ended her thought: '…just like mine…'

Jack nodded and then said: "Okay Furai, then let's go and perform Fly!"

Spreading out its huge wings toward the sky and beating them toward the ground, Furai took to the skies and raised high above the battlefield while performing an aerial ballet as it went up.

"Okay Hydro," said Edgar, with a smirk, "time for some target practice!"

"Blast!" called out Hydro, aiming its cannons toward the sky.

"That is," said Jack, "if you can catch Furai."

"Okay Hydro, use Hydro Cannon!"

Hydro, with its cannons glowing again in a watery blue aura, began to shot out a series of water beams toward Furai in the sky.

"Furai, dodge!"

Furai, seeing the oncoming blasts of water, evaded each blast that came to it; except for the last blast that Hydro shot out and slammed into Furai's long tail, sending it off balance in the sky and toward the ground.

"Now Hydro," called out Edgar, "finish this off with Surf!"

With another flashing blue glow from its body, Hydro called forth another Surf attack and for this tidal wave to rise up and slam into the off-balance Flygon's back and for it to crash the Dragon/Ground Element into the ground. Furai struggled to regain back to its feet, but then fell again and fainted in the collapse.

"Flygon is unable to battle," called out the referee, "Blastoise is the winner! The victor of this battle goes to Edgar!"

An enormous wave of cheers and applauds filled the stadium as the final victor was announced to the crowd. Edgar stood there in shock, realizing that now he was moving on to the final two. With a smile upon his face, Edgar leapt into the air and gave out a cheer to the blue sky and then ran up and jumped on Hydro's back and hugged the giant blue turtle creature around its neck, thanking the Blastoise for a job well done.

"Hey Ed," came Jack's voice over Edgar's ears.

Edgar looked up to see Jack had walked up to him and his Pokemon and slided off Hydro's back to meet the other male trainer. "Yeah?" asked Edgar. Jack stuck out his hand and smiled, saying:

"Congratulations on to making it to the final two, you've really improved since I last saw you battle. Good luck to you on your battle tomorrow."

"Hey," said Edgar, slapping his hand into Jack's and they both shook, "thanks a lot Jack. I really enjoyed battling you as well. I hope we get to battle each other again soon."

"Same here," Jack said.

"So," Ash said, "Edgar's going into the final two. Then that means…" he turned to stare at Beka, "…he'll be battling you Beka."

"Yeah," said Beka nodding, "he will…"

She stopped in her sentence and turned to look down upon the battlefield, where she also saw Edgar looking back up at her with a soft look in his eyes as if knowing about the same fate that she will face.

'So,' thought Beka, 'we will have to face each other tomorrow in the finals…wow, I really don't know what to say…'

0o0o0o0o0o0

And so, the adventures within the Hoenn League will end next chapter in the final showdown between Edgar and Beka.

Again, thanks to HollisHawk and Jack of Blades for subscribing and letting their OCs debut in Emerald. Hope you all enjoyed it!

(This is a second debut of this chapter since when I first published it, a majority of this chapter got bundled up within the site. To those who had re-read this chapter due to the error earlier, my apologies.)