Chapter 6

Surprises

Rui led with her Florges and a Blaziken while Michael led with a Medicham and an Aggron.

The announcer wasted no time and said "3...2...1...BEGIN!"

"Flora! use attract!" Rui ordered.

Michael was expecting this and ordered "Celeste! Block it, Goliath use iron head!"

The Medicham jumped in front and took the barrage of glowing hearts unphased, then jumped away allowing Aggron to smash into the fairy type, and one-shot it.

As the Florges fell to the ground, Rui gasped. She didn't need her Florges for her overall strategy but the Aggron's raw power was surprising. However, she quickly regained her composure as her Blaziken came out of nowhere and hit Goliath in the face with a high jump kick. The steel-plated titan fell to the ground with a thud. Michael wasn't concerned, his face a blank slate as if he was doing no thinking apart from calculating and evaluating what was in front of him.

Rui smirked but it faded as soon the Aggron got up. Despite the quadruple weakness, the Aggron seemed relatively fine.

Rui recalled her Florges and threw out a Dragonite before saying "Tempest, Dragon Dance!"

"Goliath, use rock tomb, Celeste, Safeguard" Michael ordered calmly.

The Medicham held her hands together and focused as a blue aura covered both it and its partner.

The rock tomb appeared around Tempest but it was too late as the Dragonite finished boosting and dodged before going in for a dragon rush on its own, no commands needed.

Michael was caught off guard as his Aggron was caught off guard by another high jump kick and dragon rush. The two moves had succeeded in breaking his best wall.

As Michael returned Goliath, he pondered for a moment before sending out a rather odd choice, his Salamence.

Everyone in the stands gave a confused look, as the boosted Dragonite would be a major threat to its fellow dragon. However, unlike yesterday Michael's mother and sister were in the contestants' seats, as family members were welcome. The most out of place person there, Professor Krane smirked as he realized what Michael was planning

"Cinder! Use flare blitz, tempest, Dragon Dance!" Rui ordered.

"Razor aerial ace, Celeste, use calm mind," Michael said, causing his Salamence to rush forward and slash at the Blaziken, intercepting it and knocking it away.

Tempest finished a 3rd dragon dance and rushed forward, Michael's Salamence barely endured the hit, but then retaliated with a dragon claw.

The blow seemed to do no damage, Rui smirked and replied "ever heard of multiscale?"

Then Blaziken went in for a flare blitz on Razor, finishing where its Dragonite opponent had started.

As the Salamence fainted, Rui smirked and said "what ya gonna do now"

Michael in response sent out his Jolteon and said "This! Celeste! Psyche Up!"

Rui went wide-eyed, she had fallen right into a trap

Celeste glowed purple and looked at Dragonite, stealing all of its stat changes!.

"Celeste, Ice punch! Volt! Thunder!" Michael ordered.

Rui was shocked as both of her Pokémon were knocked out in five seconds flat, Michael had allowed her to boost up as much as she wanted just so he could turn the tables.

Rui returned her two Pokémon before revealing an ultra ball and saying "it's not over yet! Go Cobalt!"

Out of the red and yellow Pokéball came a massive, four-legged iron beast with a silver x covering its face, the same Metagross Wes had snagged all those years ago.

Michael was intimidated enough, but then Rui pulled back her sleeve revealing a black bracelet containing a white gemstone. Michael had already deduced what this was thanks to the blue and yellow stone visible on the Metagross's forehead just above the X.

"Cobalt! Mega evolve!" Rui exclaimed as her Metagross glowed red and was swallowed in a blinding light, when it cleared, Cobalt was floating above the ground and its four legs had become arms. It also gained four legs on the back of its head. The cross on its face had turned pale gold, and it gained two small holes and a spike immediately below the cross, giving the impression of a goatee.

Michael had heard of Mega evolution, but this was the first time seeing it in person.

The mega Metagross then rushed forward and Zen Headbutted Volt at an incredible speed, Rui hadn't even given a command, and as his Jolteon was sent flying through the air, he figured it out. Rui was telepathically communicating with her Pokémon.

Michael still had an idea of how to win though and as the Metagross rushed towards Celeste. Michale called "Guard Swap, NOW!"

Celeste glowed purple before the attack landed, the Zen headbutt one-shotting it all the same.

Rui shook her head and said "looks like it's down to one! Doesn't matter if you are weakened by defenses. Your still not gonna be able to survive my next attack!"

Michael smirked and said "are you sure?

Professor Krane smirked as Michael returned his two fainted Pokémon and pulled out one of the three ultra balls he usually had locked away in the lab and tossed it saying "Go Flare!"

Michael's Moltres appeared, and Rui felt her heart sink. There was no way she could outspeed the legendary bird Pokémon, nor endure a hit with Cobalt's weakened defenses.

"Flare! Fire blast!" Michael ordered.

Rui stood there in silence, accepting defeat with grace as the Moltres unleashed a ball of fire, the deadly sphere of fire forming into the kanji for fire. With a massive explosion, Cobalt was engulfed in smoke, when it cleared the Metagross was lying unconscious and steaming.

As Cobalt reverted to normal in a red flash, the referee nodded and said "Metagross is unable to Battle, Michael wins 1-0!"

The crowd cheered for Michael as Rui smirked and offered Michael a handshake, which he eagerly accepted.

Michael put on a glove and petted Flare before saying "sorry you didn't get to do much"

The Moltres gave a happy kaw before it returned to its Pokéball The two then walked back towards the stands passing the other two remaining trainers.

Wes and Cynthia took their places as the crowd cheered even louder, this was sure to be a match to remember….

Author's note-2 matches left, then an aftermath chapter to set up act 2.

1. Yes, Rui took some inspiration from Anabel and passively gives her Pokemon psychic commands. it's only useful in double battles as her opponent can react mostly the same one-on-one.

2. Next match will be interesting, but more of a prelude to the 6 on 6 finale of the PWT

3. Apologies for the short chapter length, but this part of the story has natural points to end on. after the tournament the chapters can be longer.