"Get 'em, Scolipede!"

"Volcarona, I choose you!"

I did a double take. "They're both bug types!"

"Scolipede is also a poison type though," Kenny pointed out.

"And Volcarona is part fire type," Cynthia added, smiling wryly. "Flint also wanted to use one."

Flint was Sinnoh's fire-type specialist and also a member of the Elite Four. I was surprised that he hadn't come to watch the exhibition battle. Surely he would have made it through Ace's gym if he'd wanted to support his fellow Elite Four member.

"Scolipede, use Swords Dance!"

"Volcarona, start cooking up a Quiver Dance!"

Both bug types circled each other with graceful motions. I recorded this segment of the battle on my Poketch. "This is performance-quality—Ace and Aaron could be Pokémon coordinators!"

"That's very high praise from a Top Coordinator," Steven remarked.

Cynthia beamed. "I'll extend your kind words to them after the battle."

When the dance was over and both Pokémon focused on attacking, I stopped recording. "I'll send this video to May later. Maybe she can come up with a performance for Beautifly with this."

Kenny looked at Cynthia. "I'm confused. Swords Dance should only boost a Pokémon's attack, while Quiver Dance raises special attack, special defense, and speed—but Scolipede is just as fast as Volcarona, maybe even faster."

"That's because Ace's Scolipede has Speed Boost as her ability," Cynthia explained. "She'll keep getting faster throughout the battle until and unless Ace switches her out."

Ace had no plans to do that; he clearly wanted to make the most of Scolipede's ability. "Use Aqua Tail!"

"Dodge it, Volcarona!"

"Follow up with Poison Jab!"

Volcarona spun to dodge Scolipede's Aqua Tail, which broke apart the battlefield in the middle, though Poison Jab landed a critical hit. Both Pokémon reeled from the crippling attack.

Kenny's eyes widened. "What happened to Scolipede?"

I'd battled often enough with Quilava to recognize fire damage. "Scolipede got burned! That means Aaron's Volcarona must have Flame Body as its ability."

"Correct," Steven affirmed. He crossed one leg over the other. "I'm not sure I approve of a bug-type specialist using a Pokémon with Flame Body when it could have had Swarm, which is more befitting for bug types."

Cynthia glared at him, her silver eyes like burning steel. Having seen her in her Unova villa and excited for a date with the Hoenn Champion, I almost forgot how frightening of a Champion she could be. "Don't be too traditional, Stone. I believe type specialists can and should pull as many tricks as they can to challenge their opponents."

"Of course."

I snapped my fingers as if just remembering something. "How was your date in Amity Square, Cynthia?"

Cynthia smiled at me. "We actually weren't allowed in there. Nerissa didn't think my Garchomp or Steven's Metagross were 'cute', so we hiked up Mount Coronet instead. I caught a Ralts!"

She sounded so excited, I was happy for her too. Soon, challengers would have to battle a powerful Gardevoir or Gallade! But I was shocked that not even Champions could bypass Amity Square's strict regulations. Nerissa was a tough cookie.

"Volcarona—finish with Fiery Dance!"

Not even Speed-Boost-fast Scolipede could dodge the flames that spiraled around her. Volcarona's innate beauty captivated me. I wondered if Fiery Dance was a move that I could teach Quilava.

The Squishy-like drone hovered over the exhausted, burned, collapsed Pokémon. "Scolipede is unable to battle!" Scolilpede's icon on Ace's side of the screen became gray, leaving five Pokéball icons.

Ace returned Scolipede to her Pokéball. "You were amazing out there, Scolipede—powerful and beautiful."

The drone continued, "Ace must send out his next Pokémon before Aaron can make a substitution."

"I don't plan to," Aaron assured the drone, stretching his arms. "Volcarona and I are on a roll."

Volcarona danced around the battlefield, proud. Ace kissed an Ultra Ball and called out Crobat. "Aerial Ace!"

"Dodge it, Volcarona!"

Crobat outsped the bug type. His left wing tilted slightly to make a sharp turn and catch his opponent, striking its soft belly.

I'd considered teaching Aerial Ace to my Togekiss. It was a powerful flying-type move that never missed—and it looked epic in contests. But I preferred Togekiss's innate grace and went with Air Slash, which frequently startled opponents into flinching. Still—Aerial Ace was a devastating move.

The drone buzzed around the curled-up bug type. "Volcarona is unable to battle!"

Aaron sighed as he returned Volcarona to his Pokéball. "You were wonderful in your first official battle—and I'm glad it was against Ace."

And with one move, Ace had caught up. Both trainers had one Pokémon down, but Aaron was at an advantage, because Ace couldn't substitute Crobat until after Aaron sent out his next Pokémon.

Aaron gripped his Pokéball with his Vespiquen-designed glove. "Yanmega, I choose you!"

Yanmega buzzed so loudly my ears rang.

Ace winced. "Crobat, use Aerial Ace again!"

"Yanmega, Detect!"

Crobat tilted his wings to make another sharp turn, but Yanmega dodged twice in a row and then shot up several feet as if pulled by a string.

"Yanmega's flying is wicked!" Kenny exclaimed.

"Like Scolipede, Yanmega's ability is also Speed Boost," Cynthia explained. "Unlike Scolipede, Yanmega has the advantage of using her enhanced speed in flight."

"Leading with Detect helps too," Steven added.

I nodded. "It's a common strategy among coordinators whose Pokémon have Speed Boost."

"Among trainers too, that I've noticed from my experience as the Champion of Hoenn."

Kenny blinked. "Then why didn't Ace do that?" He glanced at me and then Cynthia.

The Sinnoh Champion seemed to have an explanation for everything. "I've battled Alder a few times, and his Volcarona always leads with Quiver Dance. If Ace watched those battles, he may have predicted Aaron might do the same."

I noticed Paul watching the battle intently, his eyes narrowed. His elbows were propped on his knees, his black-clad hands folded in front of his mouth so that his expression gave nothing away. Meanwhile, Electivire's poker face consisted of an eternal scowl so ferocious that sparks of electricity sprang from his fingers.

"Yanmega, use Ancient Power!"

"U-Turn, Crobat!"

Crobat zipped between the rocks floating around Yanmega and struck at the fast Pokémon before returning to his Ultra Ball. In his place, Ace sent out Greninja, which took the brunt of the Ancient Power attack.

Kenny and I almost fell off our seats. "That's not a poison type!"

Steven poked Cynthia playfully. "Explain that, love."

The corner of Cynthia's mouth twitched up in a mysterious smile.