Episode 54: The Blood-Soaked Crescent
"Niko! Charlotte! Warren! And…?" Professor Sycamore said as he opened the front door to his lab.
"Hi, I'm Brittany. I used to travel with Niko."
"JJ. Same," JJ said, shaking Sycamore's hand.
"And ah, Fay! Oak's assistant. Welcome as well!" Sycamore said pleasantly.
"Long time no see, Professor," Fay said with a warm smile.
"Well, what can I do for you all? Shouldn't you be preparing for your battle with Drasna?" Sycamore wondered.
"Actually, Professor, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something," Niko said, "if you have the time."
"Of course! I was just finishing up some research before heading to the stadium. What's going on?" Sycamore asked, letting the five trainers inside and into a lounge area where they all sat down. He served up some tea before sitting down and looking directly at Niko.
"So, it's about mega evolution…" Niko began, explaining his initial difficulties with mega evolving Venusaur. Then he went into how he found the Aggronite in Terminus Cave before detailing how exhausted he felt after mega evolving Venusaur and Aggron in the same day, and then the following day when he nearly fainted. Charlotte and the others pitched in whenever necessary, but it seemed like Sycamore understood.
He was silent for some time, trying to think this through. "It's an odd mixture of two different abilities, the way I see it. The first ability is to simply mega evolve. We know two things about mega evolution—that it requires a strong bond between trainer and Pokémon, and that Pokémon can sense their particular mega stone. You've clearly exhibited both of those traits, Niko."
"What's the second?" Brittany asked.
"The second ability is something called Bond Phenomenon. Are you familiar with it?" they all shook their heads. "Bond Phenomenon is a transformation that affects specific types of Pokémon. It is different from mega evolution or primal reversion—another type of temporary evolution that only three Pokémon are known to go through. There is only one documented case of Bond Phenomenon, and it started here, in this lab."
"Really?" Niko wondered.
"Yes. With a Froakie that I used to own. It went to this incredibly capable, caring trainer named Ash. That Froakie, throughout his journey, evolved into a Greninja. However, after that the bond between Ash and Greninja continued to grow, eventually allowing Greninja to evolve further, in a process very similar to mega evolution. But that is not why I bring this up.
"Ash and Greninja's bond was close enough that they saw everything as one—their senses were one, and their nerves were one. When Greninja—then called Ash-Greninja—got injured in battle, Ash felt it. When he began practicing it—trying to understand this power—he nearly fainted on more than a few occasions."
"So, what're you saying exactly?" Warren wondered.
"I'm saying Niko might have a similar connection with mega evolution. You've successfully mega evolved two Pokémon now, correct?" Niko nodded. "Have you felt a similar level of exhaustion?"
"More so with Venusaur than with Aggron," Niko said, remembering how he felt when Aggron fainted versus when Venusaur nearly fainted.
"Hmm…alright then. So I maned my initial theory. Your abilities are based in part on how close you are with that particular Pokémon. Essentially Niko, you have an ability just as unique as what Ash had, but it's more tied to mega evolution. Charlotte, you've used this before, do you feel the same way?"
"No. But I've only used it once," she stated.
"Right. But there lies the difference—she hasn't. And none of your opponents, all of whom used mega evolution in their battles with you, felt the same way."
"So what does this mean, then? I have some sort of ability, what do I do with it?"
"I'm…not quite sure. I'm merely trying to explain it. But it might enhance the power of your mega-evolved Pokémon more than any Pokémon like them. In other words, your particular Mega Venusaur might be stronger than any other trainer's Mega Venusaur."
"That would explain why it took down Siebold's Pokémon so easily," JJ said. Sycamore nodded in response.
"Exactly. That Mega Venusaur is a force to be reckoned with, if you're able to control the mega evolution energy that you feel."
"So I was right, then," Niko said, causing Sycamore to raise an eyebrow. "I never touch my Key Stone like others do. I get a warm feeling in my chest, and then I feel like I have to mega evolve."
"Interesting. That certainly helps expand the theory more. So, to sum up—you have a strange connection to mega evolution energy that allows you to take advantage of your strengthened bond with your Pokémon in a way other trainers—with the possible exception of one—cannot. On the flipside, you feel their pain, and they feel yours. You're intimately connected. That begs one question: How did you attain this ability? Niko, do you think it's been with you this entire time?"
"No, because I would have sensed other mega stones littered around the world, right?"
"Okay, then let's narrow down the possibilities, then. You said you tried evolving Venusaur before the Pokémon League. When did you do that?"
"In Shalour City," Niko said.
"Did you feel the connection then?"
"Not in the same way. It wasn't anything like this."
"So something must've happened to you between then and now. I'll look into it, and get back to you. Anyway, you have to get going—your battle with Drasna is in a couple of hours."
"I'll look into it with Professor Oak when I get back to Kanto," Fay said before standing up with Niko and the others.
Niko nodded, standing up with his friends. "Thanks, Professor. I really appreciate it!"
"Anytime, Niko. Please, if you need anything else, let me know."
Niko shook Sycamore's hand, and he and his friends set off towards the stadium with a lot to consider.
The field for Drasna's battle was circular as well, but with two curved pots with something burning on the inside, as a light stream of steam slowly emitted from them. A purple glow illuminated the floor of the battlefield, as some unknown material sat underneath.
The announced introduced both Niko and Drasna and, as usual, the referee explained the rules of the match. Niko looked over at his next opponent—an elderly lady with black hair and the odd-looking necklace made from what he presumed were dragon's fangs.
"I'm excited for this battle, Niko," Drasna said. "I've kept an eye on you throughout the Lumiose Conference. You seem like a strong trainer, a worthy opponent to take on the test of dragons. Are you ready?"
"Yes," Niko said simply. In the stands his friends and family watched. Noibat—herself a dragon type—sat on Charlotte's lap to watch the battle. In the President's box Bonnie, Clemont, and Ash all watched as well. His rivals were watching.
"Good. Good, then let us begin. Altaria, please come on out!" she said kindly.
"Glalie, I choose you!" Niko shouted.
"Starting strong with an ice type," Warren said. "This looks promising."
"Use ice beam!" Niko commanded.
"Altaria, cotton guard," Drasna said. She wasn't as fired up as Malva or Siebold. In fact, Niko hadn't fought a trainer quite like this. He got an entirely different vibe from her. Altaria surrounded itself in fluffy cotton to minimize the damage taken from ice beam before using moonblast on Drasna's command. The Humming Pokémon conjured a pink orb that looked similar to the moon and fired it off, nearly hitting Glalie, who protected himself at the last minute.
"Double team!" Niko commanded.
"Sing, Altaria," Drasna said in a calm tone. Altaria now released a sweet song that, once again, Glalie managed to protect from. It, however, forced the copies to disappear.
"Ice beam!" Niko commanded. Glalie fired off another round of ice beam which hit Altaria.
"Dragon pulse, please," Drasna said, holding a hand out kindly. Altaria released a stream of pink and purple draconic energy that hit Glalie, knocking the Face Pokémon to the ground.
"Glalie, you can keep going! Let's set the tone for this battle! Use double team!" Glalie multiplied himself and all charged towards Altaria. "Use crunch!"
"Dragon pulse, please," Altaria fired off the dragon pulse, eliminating all but one of the copies. Glalie then appeared to the Humming Pokémon's side and crunched down on its wing, eliciting a scream from Altaria.
"Ice beam!" Niko commanded.
"Moonblast," Drasna said. Both Pokémon summoned their attacks and repelled on another—Glalie crashed down into the ground, and Altaria several feet away. Glalie struggled to get back up, as did Altaria. Both stared the other down before collapsing in defeat.
"Altaria and Glalie are both unable to battle! Niko and Drasna will now send out their second Pokémon!" the referee declared.
"Altaria, well done," Drasna said. "Noivern, your turn darling!"
"Druddigon, I choose you!" Niko shouted. "Let's start off with dragon claw!"
"Dragon pulse, Noivern."
Druddigon dodged the stream of draconic energy before leaping into the air and slashing at Noivern with large, green glowing claws. Noivern skillfully dodged it before pelting the Cave Pokémon with a flamethrower, forcing Druddigon into the ground.
"Noivern, use dragon pulse again," Drasna said calmly. Druddigon dodge the attack and shot into the air to use dragon tail this time. Once again, Noivern managed to dodge the move as Druddigon glided back towards the ground.
We have to find some way to pin it down, Niko said. He then turned to the two pots on each side of the battlefield. I wonder if those move at all…he thought. "Druddigon, I've got a plan, but it's tricky. Are you up for it?"
Druddigon nodded.
"Excellent. Let's go! Druddigon, use night slash!" Niko commanded. The Cave Pokémon shot up into the air to tackle Noivern. He successfully did so, slashing at the Sound Wave Pokémon and knocking it into the ground. "Now, use superpower on that pot and throw it at Noivern!"
"Ah, Noivern, please dodge," Drasna said calmly, "I see what you're trying to do, Niko," she said as Druddigon picked up the pot and tossed it at Noivern. "I appreciate the effort, but I'm afraid that won't really work," she smiled. "Noivern, please use air slash."
The Sound Wave Pokémon fired off blue blades of cut air at Druddigon, who blocked them with night slash before charging in with dragon claw. This time, Noivern didn't budge—it stood its ground and pelted Druddigon with dragon pulse.
"Don't give in!" Niko commanded. Druddigon nodded, continuing to push forward, using his elongated green claws to protect himself from the draconic energy. "Remember why we're here, Druddigon!"
"DRUDD!" Druddigon roared out, bursting through the dragon pulse and slashing at Noivern, who collapsed onto a knee. Druddigon turned around, his tail alight with green energy.
"Now, dragon tail!"
"Flamethrower."
Druddigon fought through the stream of fire, as he did with dragon pulse, and slashed at Noivern with his tail, knocking the massive dragon-bat to the ground. Druddigon fell to one knee as well, wincing from the constant attacks thrown at him.
"Noivern is unable to battle, Druddigon is the winner!" the referee declared.
"Noivern, return. Well done. Kingdra, go," Drasna said, throwing out a third pokéball containing a massive seahorse-like Pokémon. "Use rain dance."
Suddenly a cloud appeared over the battlefield, and it began to rain.
"Druddigon, use dragon claw!" Niko commanded. The Cave Pokémon charged forward, using his wings to glide him over the now-slippery battlefield floor. However, Kingdra easily evaded it. "What the…?"
"Kingdra is a swift swimmer, Niko," Drasna said with a smile. "Kingdra use dragon dance."
"Druddigon, dragon claw!" Niko commanded. Once more, Kingdra managed to dodge the move.
"Now, dragon pulse," Drasna said. Kingdra fired off a stream of draconic energy that struck Druddigon directly in the chest, launching the already exhausted Cave Pokémon into one of the pots, easily shattering it. Druddigon couldn't get back up.
"Druddigon is unable to battle, Kingdra is the winner!" the referee declared. "Niko will now use his third Pokémon!"
"Serperior, you're up!" Niko commanded, finally summoning the Regal Pokémon. "It's been awhile. Let's win this one, like we always do. Serperior, use coil!"
"Dragon dance, Kingdra," Drasna said. For nearly a minute, the two Pokémon sat there, powering themselves up. "Now, dragon pulse."
"Serperior, dodge it!" Niko shouted. The Regal Pokémon slid and slithered across the wet battlefield before charging down towards Kingdra. "Leaf blade!"
"Kingdra, dodge it," Drasna said. Kingdra attempted to move out of the way, but it seemed that Serperior managed to catch up with it, striking the Dragon Pokémon with her long, glowing green tail. Kingdra was slammed into the ground. "Ice beam."
"Defensive leaf tornado!" Niko commanded, and Serperior summoned a thick column of leaves around herself. "You've been practicing that, haven't you?" he muttered. "Now, use coil on Kingdra!"
"Dragon dance," Drasna said as Serperior lunged forward and wrapper her long, serpentine body around Kingdra.
"Giga drain!" Niko commanded. Serperior began to glow green as she absorbed Kingdra's energy. "And…throw it!" She then turned onto her side and spun vertically, eventually rocketing Kingdra across the field. "Yeah…I remember why I love battling with you so much. Serperior, leaf blade!"
"Dragon pulse," Drasna directed. Kingdra fired off a stream of draconic energy that Serperior quickly moved past before leaping into the air and somersaulting forward to slam her tail down on Kingdra's head, forcing the Dragon Pokémon into the ground.
"Kingdra is unable to battle, Serperior is the winner!" the referee declared. "Drasna will now use her fourth Pokémon!"
"Niko isn't doing too bad, actually," JJ said, leaning forward. Charlotte nodded in agreement, with Noibat chittering excitedly for her friend and his Pokémon. Earlier in the battle, when Noivern was out, Noibat seemed particularly interested, even leaving Charlotte's lap momentarily to get a close look.
"Druddigon, your turn," Drasna said. This was her fourth Pokémon, and Niko still found her calmness unnerving. "Use dragon tail."
"Leaf blade!" Niko commanded, thrusting a hand forward. Serperior slithered across the battlefield towards Druddigon. Both tails were glowing bright green when they leap into the air and collided them together, emitting a powerful vibration from the impact. "Coil!"
"Wait, Druddigon," Drasna said quietly.
"Giga drain!" Niko shouted. Serperior once more took energy from her opponent before it struck.
"Revenge," Drasna said. Druddigon's eyes began to lightly glow and he grabbed Serperior by the tail and threw her off somehow. "Now, dragon tail."
"Serperior!" Niko commanded as the Regal Pokémon was in midair. "Re-orient yourself and use leaf blade!"
Serperior cried out as she dove towards her opponent, her tail glowing a bright green color. Druddigon held out its claws, ready to strike. But Serperior was faster, and with a quick somersault through the air, she landed her tail atop the Cave Pokémon's head, forcing it into the ground.
"Now use leaf tornado!" Niko commanded. Serperior landed and fired off a rush of leaves from her tail, striking the Cave Pokémon and overwhelming it. "Now finish it off with leaf blade!"
"Dragon tail, dear," Drasna said. Druddigon's tail lit up with a green glow as it charged towards Serperior. Both attacks collided, just like they did the first time, except Serperior managed to throw down Druddigon's tail this time, as if it were an arm wrestling match.
"Leaf blade!" Niko shouted. Serperior spun around and slammed her tail into Druddigon's face, forcing the Cave Pokémon to loudly crash into the battlefield, unable to move.
"Druddigon is unable to battle, Serperior is the winner!" the referee declared. "Drasna will now use her fifth Pokémon!"
"Niko's lost two Pokémon and she's lost four…" Warren said. "He can win this!"
"I think so, too," Charlotte said, petting Noibat as she chittered cheerfully.
"Dragalge, you're up," Drasna said, summoning a thin, odd-looking Pokémon that resembled a sea dragon. Its main body was curved in way that resembles the number three. Its sides were a dull shade of purple with slender vertical lines. Its pectoral fins and tail fin resembled dried up kelp. It had a straightened brown snout, a red leaf-like crest, and a brown-green antenna on top of its head.
"Dragalge, the Mock Kelp Pokémon. Poison and dragon type. Their poison is strong enough to eat through the hull of a tanker, and they spit it indiscriminately at anything that enters their territory," Charlotte's pokédex read.
"Dragalge, use sludge bomb," Drasna commanded. She seemed slightly terser, but subtly so. Niko then commanded Serperior to block them with leaf blade, and successfully so. "Hm. Dragon pulse."
"Serperior, dodge it and use coil!" Niko directed. The Regal Pokémon slid across the battlefield and away from Dragalge, curling up and emitting a transparent aura.
"Sludge bomb," Drasna directed. Dragalge then fired off a series of small, purple and black balls made of toxic material at Serperior, who winced as she took each hit. "Now, dragon pulse."
"Serperior, use—" Niko paused. Serperior briefly turned a shade of purple. "You're poisoned…" he steeled himself. They weren't going down without a fight. "Serperior, use leaf blade!"
Serperior dodged the dragon pulse and slithered towards the Mock Kelp Pokémon, the tip of her tail lighting up in a light green glow. She then leapt into the air and was about to strike when the poison gripped her again and she fell to the ground, just as Dragalge pelted her with sludge bomb and ended it.
"Serperior is unable to battle, Dragalge is the winner!" the referee declared. "Niko will now use his next Pokémon!"
"Serperior, return," Niko said. "You did great. You took down two Elite 4-level Pokémon. I'm very proud of you. Slurpuff, I choose you!"
"Ah, a fairy type. I was wondering when I'd see one of those. Dragalge, ready yourself, please," Drasna said kindly.
"Slurpuff, use cotton guard!" Niko commanded. Slurpuff surrounded herself with cotton candy armor and rushed forward towards her opponent, who pelted the field with sludge bombs in an attempt to strike. Slurpuff, knowing better, dodged each one before leaping into the air and using dazzling gleam, which hit Dragalge but hardly seemed to faze it.
"Dragalge, thunderbolt."
"Use psychic to throw it back!" Niko commanded. The Meringue Pokémon's eyes began to glow as she bent the bolt of electricity and thrust it towards Dragalge, who dodged the attack and retaliated with sludge bomb. "Psychic again!"
Slurpuff's eyes continued to glow as she threw more attacks at the Mock Kelp Pokémon, none of them really doing much damage. This is what Drasna wanted, Niko realized—if Slurpuff was too focused on redirecting the attacks, then she couldn't use psychic on Dragalge directly, allowing the Mock Kelp Pokémon to get away with, well, just about anything.
"Dragalge, use surf," Drasna commanded. Dragalge summoned a wave of water that came crashing down on Slurpuff. "Now, thunderbolt."
With the Meringue Pokémon wet, Dragalge conjured a bolt of lightning that struck the fairy type, enhancing the power of the attack and rocketing her backwards.
"Slurpuff!" Niko shouted as Slurpuff fell towards his feet. She slowly got back up, albeit with difficulty. "Fine then. Dazzling gleam!"
"Dragalge, sludge bomb," Drasna commanded. The Mock Kelp Pokémon fired off another series of sludge balls at Slurpuff, who used the dazzling gleam to stop some of them and dodge the rest on her own.
"Play rough!" Niko commanded. Slurpuff charged down the field before leaping onto Dragalge and mercilessly beating on it, hoping to wear it down enough to use psychic on it. However, immediately after making contact Slurpuff felt sick—she briefly turned a light shade of purple, and her attacks got weaker.
"Sludge bomb," Drasna commanded. Dragalge then shot Slurpuff with a series of thick balls of sludge, launching the Meringue Pokémon into the ground. She slid for some time before coming to a stop in front of her trainer.
"Slurpuff is unable to battle, Dragalge is the winner!" the referee declared.
"Return, Slurpuff," Niko said. She's managed to even the playing field now. All I have are two Pokémon left. But…this is exactly how I fought against Malva. We can do this.
"It's gonna be a close match," Clemont said in the box above. "Think he can pull it off?"
"I don't know," Bonnie said, "Drasna is not the Elite you want to underestimate."
"More so than Wikstrom?" Clemont asked. "If I remember, you struggled against him the most."
"Drasna was easier for me, yes, but that doesn't mean she's easier for others. Niko is having difficulty with that Dragalge, which means he will have far more difficulty with her last Pokémon, if he makes it that far."
"Aurorus, I choose you!" Niko shouted, summoning the Tundra Pokémon. In the Pokémon Village, Wulfric and the others were cheering for their friend who just appeared on the television. "Use ice beam!"
"Dragalge, dodge and use thunderbolt," Drasna commanded. The two elemental attacks collided in the middle of the field before Aurorus emitted a thunder wave from her massive, rainbow-colored sails to temporarily paralyze the Mock Kelp Pokémon. "Hmm."
"Aurorus, use avalanche!" Niko commanded. Above Dragalge appeared a thick, dark cloud. Then a massive avalanche of rocks and snow pelted the paralyzed Dragalge, forcing it into the ground. "Ancientpower!"
"Dragalge, surf," Drasna said calmly. The Mock Kelp Pokémon got back up, surprisingly quick, and summoned a massive wave of water that poured over the ancientpower and struck Aurorus directly. "Again."
"Aurorus, keep going! Use ice beam!" Niko shouted. His entire match might hinge on Aurorus defeating Dragalge, since it was clear Drasna has not yet sent out her strongest Pokémon. The Tundra Pokémon roared out, her sails flaying in the air as she fired off a powerful stream of ice from her mouth, freezing the oncoming wave. "Avalanche!"
"Dragalge, dodge and use thunderbolt up close," Drasna said calmly again, as if she believed that she had the upper hand still. The Mock Kelp Pokémon leapt over the frozen wave, dodging the avalanche, and fired off a thunderbolt at Aurorus, who blocked it by using avalanche on herself. "Now, surf please."
"Use ice beam again!" Niko shouted. Aurorus managed to strike quicker, hitting Dragalge directly with the ice beam and knocking it backwards onto the first frozen wave, causing it to slide down around it. "Avalanche!"
While Dragalge was down, Aurorus released another avalanche of snow and rocks from the sky, pelting the poison and dragon Pokémon. Niko then turned to the referee, who had to tilt his head to the side, around the wave, to see the result of the attack.
"Dragalge is unable to battle, Aurorus is the winner!" he declared. "Drasna will now use her sixth and final Pokémon!"
"Dragalge, return. Well done, my dear. I am very proud of your work today. Niko," she said with an elderly smile, "you're doing well. Very well, if I must say. Dragon Pokémon are not easy to overcome, yet you are doing so quicker and with more passion than my opponents in the past have. But now, I think it's time for this to end. Salamence, I choose you."
As soon as Salamence entered the field, Niko noticed the necklace it was wearing. Like Drasna's, it was made of dragon fangs, albeit smaller ones. Drasna then touched her own Key Stone that sat amidst her fanged necklace.
"Salamence, my dear, show Niko the power we inherited from our ancestors. Mega evolve!"
Salamence began to change form, far more than many of the mega evolutions Niko had seen previously. Its wings melded together into a single huge, crescent-shaped wing. Its face, neck, body and tail were narrower, and its tail was noticeably shorter in length. The ridges above its eyes were now far less prominent, and it no longer possessed the thick, gray scaling over its lower jaw. Instead, the smooth red flesh underneath had been left exposed, increasing its streamline appearance. The upper pair of fins resting on the sides of its head were now elongated and tapered. The remnants of its shelled underbelly were drastically transformed into a segmented, more aerodynamic, vest-like armored frame. This frame encased its chest and shoulders with the pieces interlocking.
Niko looked in awe at the massive Pokémon floating in front of him and Aurorus. He felt a pang of fear as he looked up at the Dragon Pokémon.
"Aurorus, use ice beam!" Niko shouted.
"Salamence, please use dragon rush," Drasna commanded. Mega Salamence dove towards the ground, skillfully dodging the ice beam and crashing into Aurorus, dragging it across the battlefield. "Flamethrower," she said calmly. While holding onto Aurorus, who was tucked inside Mega Salamence's left wing, the Dragon Pokémon fired off a stream of fire that burned the left side of Aurorus' body. She roared out before Mega Salamence turned and threw her across the field. Aurorus crashed onto the ground, unable to get back up.
"Aurorus is unable to battle, Salamence is the winner! Niko will now send out his sixth Pokémon!"
"Woah," Warren said in shock. "That thing is…"
"…strong," Charlotte said. For the first time in a while, she wondered if Niko could actually win this.
"Aurorus, return," Niko said. "Feraligatr, I choose you!" The Big Jaw Pokémon was summoned to the field, looking up at his opponent and not feeling entirely intimidated—at least, not like Aurorus and Niko did. "Use hydro pump!"
"Flamethrower," Drasna said calmly. Mega Salamence fired off a heavy stream of blue fire at his new opponent, which was met with a high-pressured blast of water. "Dragon rush."
"Ice punch!" Niko commanded, but he underestimated Mega Salamence's speed. The Dragon Pokémon was soon upon Feraligatr, who barely landed the attack before being thrown to the floor. The Big Jaw Pokémon slowly got back up, stumbling a little but successfully getting back on his feet. "We can do this, Feraligatr. We're capable of this. Use whirlpool!"
"FERA!" Feraligatr roared, conjuring a swirling vortex of water and tossing it at Mega Salamence, who dodged the attack and used dragon rush again, knocking Feraligatr back to the ground. "Fe…ra…"
"You can do this!" Niko shouted. "Don't give up! Use ice punch!"
"Salamence, use aerial ace," Drasna commanded. Mega Salamence charged back down to the field, its wings as red as blood, as it slashed as Feraligatr's side, too fast for its opponent to land an ice punch. "Now, dragon claw."
"Feraligatr!" Niko shouted. Mega Salamence charged down from behind, two small green claws hiding under his wings. Salamence turned to the side to let the claws strike Feraligatr, this time knocking it down for good.
"Fera…fera…" Feraligatr said, breathing heavily. It then collapsed onto the ground, face-first.
"Feraligatr is unable to battle, Salamence is the winner! The victory goes to Drasna of the Kalos Elite 4!"
Niko rushed to Feraligatr's side, sliding across the field. "It's okay buddy. What matters is that you're alright," he said in response to Feraligatr's miserable expression. He pet the crocodile before returning him, standing up, and turning to face Drasna.
"You did well," she said with a bright smile. "You came up short, but no master of anything succeeds 100% of the time," she grabbed Niko's shoulder. For an elderly woman, she was quite tall, only a few inches shorter than Niko. "You show an extraordinary amount of promise, Niko. Don't let that get away from you. Don't forget that."
"Thanks, Drasna," Niko said, lowering his head in reverence.
"Oh please, my boy, I might be an Elite, but you have proved yourself on par with us. With more training, you could certainly defeat me."
"You think so?" Niko said. It was odd for such a powerful trainer to say this, but he could tell Drasna meant it with full sincerity.
"Indeed. No great trainer should believe that they are invincible; that they are unbeatable. We all lose eventually. But," she raised a finger, "we can all rise to see another day, too."
Niko was taken aback, again, by the unusual kindness and wisdom Drasna imparted on him.
He simply nodded, Drasna brought him in for a hug, and they left it at that.
Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed. Of all of the Kalos Elite 4, I really wished they showed Drasna in the anime. Given the tone set in XY(&Z), she would have been a solid character. I tried to replicate her calm and endearing personality in this battle. I think I did a decent job of it.
Next episode: Season 7 finale!
