I swear, this is a rare 10k chapter for me these days…But there is a reason! So, let's get into it! (And thanks for welcoming me back everyone!)
Part 2
Serena was nervous, and she couldn't deny it. Of course, Ash had won many battles before, and no matter who the opponent, she always believed he would pull out a victory, but something about the sheer caliber of this battle put her on edge. It was the same for Clemont, who was tapping his foot as he clutched his knees. Bonnie, of course, was a freewheeling ball of excitement.
"Just five to go and it's VICTORY!" she called, Dedenne emulating her atop her head.
"Ash still has an uphill battle," Brock said, puncturing her enthusiasm. "Diantha knows three of his Pokémon, even if Pikachu could be guessed, and I'd suppose he can only guess at one. Combine that with Meganium being a wall that pushes back…"
"Hey, Brock, no need to worry! We just have to cheer Ash on with all we've got!"
"Pip piplup!" Piplup confirmed, thumping himself proudly on the chest. At the same moment, Ash's pokeball exploded on the battlefield, revealing Infernape, his hair of fire flickering in the wind, making it seem larger under the effects of Sunny Day. Ash seemed to have chosen well, but Meganium pawed at the ground, remaining a force to be reckoned with.
"I hope he can do it," Misty said, setting aside whatever cheer Dawn had planned to sit nearer to the front row. "Though he's acting surprisingly restrained compared to his usual strategies."
"It's just proof he's grown up," Iris agreed with a shrug before Dawn looped their arms together. "I might give him a hard time, but Ash has the skills to take on even a Champion like Diantha. We've seen what he did in the Lanakila Conference."
Down the row, Gladion chuckled, and Serena's eyes were drawn to a vast majority of Ash's rivals, many of whom had gotten tickets for the front-row show. Alain was front and center, his body quivering with the excitement of a battle, and Astrid was right next to him, eyes drawn to the burning ape, ready for the battle to resume. The rest of Ash's rivals (minus Paul, who wouldn't be caught dead mingling with their group) each had varying levels of investment, from Hau (who Gladion separated from Lillie) to Tierno and Trevor (the former of which was tapping his foot to give Ash a rhythm). None, however, were more invested, than Ash's mother and Professor Oak, the former recording in detail while the professor gave sagely nods from time to time.
Serena smiled at their support, as well as everyone and the bustling Pokémon above, the Sinnoh section of which was most cheery in their support for Infernape. Ash was going to win this. She knew it.
To emphasize that point in her mind, she locked eyes on the battlefield, right as the newest round began.
"Infernape, Mach Punch, let's go!"
"Fernape!" Infernape cried, blitzing across the field faster than Diantha could blink. From a novice trainer's view, it would have looked like he'd teleported, only for his fist to sink into Meganium's face. The clean hit made Bonnie cheer, but a quick look to Diantha showed the Champion ready to counter without missing a beat. This was nothing like the battle with Aurorus.
"Petal Blizzard!" Her snap echoed from down below, and before Infernape could dodge, the cherry blossoms whirled around Meganium's figure. They didn't appear to do much in the way of damage, but the blowback sent Infernape flying into the air. Ash punched right back in.
"Counter Shield!" he cried. Infernape's mouth opened at the command, and from it was released a torrent of flame that wrapped around in whips. The fiery lashes beat back against the storm of petals, lighting them aflame. Diantha wasn't surprised by it, and she had little need to worry with Light Screen still active, shielding Meganium from much harm. "Now let's use Dig!"
"Dragon Tail!" Diantha was no longer wasting a single movement. As soon as Infernape had burrowed into the ground, Meganium's tail grew larger. Clemont gripped his knee tighter.
"It's a trap…she's waiting for him…" he breathed.
That was proven true as Infernape emerged from the ground in his own hole, his swipe missing and his face getting walloped with the Dragon Type attack that sent him to the ground. He was quick to flip backwards, landing on his feet again. Ash was right there with him, bouncing back from the blow. "Flamethrower!"
"But there's a Light Screen up!" May called, stuffing popcorn in her mouth. It seemed like stress eating, but Serena agreed with the action. As the flames rushed from between Infernape's jaws, they created a blaze upon the grass before splitting upon hitting the Light Screen. Meganium was still protected, but when Serena looked, something in Ash's body stance had changed.
The field was aflame, and the night was overtaking the day as Ash readied himself for another attack. Diantha was swifter, not wishing to lose her advantage. "Dragon Tail!"
"It's the same strategy as before!" Brock cried, but no one could hear him over the crowd. Certainly not Ash, who was forced to call a dodge as Meganium moved.
"Gaina!" Meganium's tail pounded the ground, sending her to the air as she spun and then collided with Infernape's chest. He was thrown off, spiraling until he hit his own hole amidst the burning grass. Ash looked unconcerned, and Serena was starting to wonder why when Diantha called another Sunny Day and Synthesis combo.
"If he doesn't find a way to stop the healing…" she started to mutter. Meganium's petals had begun to glow, the orb of light shooting into the air and obliterating the nighttime over the stadium. Her body began to heal, recovering before Infernape could attack.
"Flare Blitz!" Ash shouted, before the process could end. Like a shadow, Infernape leapt from the hole, his flaming hair wrapping itself around him until it became a bright blue blaze that streaked right for Meganium.
"I-i-infernape!" he cried and his body made contact, crashing into Meganium with full force. The blue flames clung to Meganium's body but soon dispersed, leaving her damaged, but none the worse for the wear. The field was further set on fire, and Serena began to see it: the edge of the Light Screen that surrounded Meganium was beginning to melt.
Only Clemont and Brock appeared to have taken notice.
Bonnie certainly hadn't, pouting with a loud, "Why isn't Meganium burning? He's hit it with so many Fire attacks!"
"This is why you haven't won a League yet," came a snicker from behind, belonging to a bespectacled Max. She growled at his presence. "It clearly has the Ability, Leaf Guard."
"Why don't you guard your mouth?" Bonnie snapped her chair back, knocking it into Max's knees, but everyone else remained focused on the battle.
"Petal Blizzard!"
"Ganiuuuuuum!" At such close range, Infernape didn't stand a chance, not while suffering from the recoil damage of Flare Blitz. The blossoms swirled and whirled before firing all along Infernape's body. Despite the reduced effectiveness, he was feeling the attack keenly, an endless barrage that chipped away at the monkey's stamina.
"Without Flamethrower, he can't get close…come on, Ash!"
"Flare Blitz Counter Shield!" Ash shouted, gripping his fist tight to his body. Despite the pain he was enduring, Infernape stood strong, his body lighting aflame with the blue blaze that sent a conflagration to the blizzard around him. The petals were lit on fire with that same blue hue, while Infernape spun, sending his wild Flare Blitz everywhere as he charged for Meganium. Those petals hit the grass, each blade igniting a fire that spread and encircled the battling pair. "Go!"
"Infer…" The monkey collided with Meganium, the explosion of blue flames pluming into the air with smoke. "…nape!"
"Into the ground, now!" Ash called, swiping his hand out. He was back in true form, Serena felt, no longer letting the stalled battle with Aurorus slow him down. Infernape's blaze didn't relent, though he shuddered from the effects of the recoil before he dove underground, far from Meganium's reach while he suffered.
"Ah! That's…" Whatever Clemont's realization, it had to have been twofold, because Ash had another smirking grin come across his face.
"Now let's use a classic, Infernape! Light up the field!"
"What is he planning with that?!" Dawn shouted with a laugh, leaning over and almost falling on Serena this time. It was a crazy move, though one Dawn seemed to recognize as the field cracked in the center where Infernape had dug underground. Meganium trotted backwards, even Diantha taken aback by this latest move. The grass withered underfoot, becoming a mighty blaze that soon expanded outwards, encompassing Meganium without being an attack. All eyes were drawn to the Herb Pokémon in the center of the blaze, eyes wide as they saw Ash's intention.
The Light Screen was melting.
"Of course!" Clemont shouted, slapping his knee. "Lighting the grass on fire isn't a move, so it isn't impacted by Light Screen, but enough heat, and it'll take the barrier right out! With Meganium surrounded and the flames amped up by Sunny Day…"
"Synthesis!"
"Not this time, Diantha! Mach Punch!" Ash's cry was met by an immediate emergence of Infernape from underground, his bright-white fist soaring upwards to sink into Meganium where her flower met her neck. The Synthesis was interrupted, Infernape driving Meganium back as his body was smoking from the effects of so many Flare Blitzes. Brock frowned at seeing that, and it proved to be with good reason.
"Dragon Tail!"
"Megay!" Meganium's tail, in that moment of desperation, grew larger than ever before, and unable to block, the appendage swung upwards and cracked into Infernape's chin. The crowd gasped, wincing from the blow as Infernape was thrown through the air and landed on the charred grass with a rather sickening thud. It had been a devastating blow to the Fire Type, who lay there, prone and twitching on the battlefield as smoke rose from his figure. Red sparks convulsed along his body, and Serena began to fear that in one fell blow, the hearty Meganium had taken a second member of her boyfriend's team.
Looking to Ash, though, one would never guess it.
"It's not over yet!" Ash shouted, throwing his fist into the air with that maddening grin, flush with the adrenaline of battle. "I told you, Diantha, we're going out with everything blazing! Come on, Infernape, I know we can do it together!"
"Fer…nape…" Infernape grunted, hearing Ash's voice as it rang through the stadium. Diantha's body grew tense, and Meganium hunkered down. The Champion wouldn't give Infernape the moment to recover.
"Petal Tail!" She wasn't scared, that much was obvious, but she wouldn't let Ash press his hidden advantage. Meganium sprang forward, her green tail swirling with the familiar blossoms. She brought it crashing down towards Infernape as he attempted to stand.
That was its biggest mistake.
"INFERNAPE!" The explosion of Blaze ignited the air of the stadium, and Serena could feel the heat where she sat, all of Infernape's body incinerating the petals that fell towards him. That same blaze caught Meganium in its grip, lighting a beacon towards the sky.
"Well…this is something…" Diantha laughed, covering her eyes at the sweat that formed. Or so Serena guessed; she could feel it, too.
"Time to finish this! Mach Punch!"
"Fernape!" Infernape, despite exhaustion radiating along his body, exuded power as he zipped forth to land a burning fist straight into Meganium's face from midair. She couldn't resist, her Dragon Tail failing to land and flickering out. She was sent crashing into the burned field.
"Flamethrower!"
"InfeeernAAAAAPE!" At last free of the Light Screen, Infernape fired out a blaze stronger than any Serena had seen in Ash's battles. Like a beam of searing destruction, it ripped across the field. Meganium's eyes grew wide, but it could not avoid the insane power of Infernape's Blaze before it broke into the wall and turned it to molten metal before the fire faded away.
Meganium was what was left, smoking for a second, before she fell to the ground. Infernape shuddered, but raised a fist towards Ash in victory.
"Meganium is unable to battle. Infernape is the winner!"
"Yes!" Kalas shouted, unable to contain his glee. "I-I mean, Ash Ketchum takes the lead once again! Is Diantha on the backfoot?"
"I seriously doubt it…" Malva drawled, watching her co-commentator with amusement. In the crowd behind them, Buizel was firing water from Torterra's back, each of the Pokémon reveling in their teammate and trainer's achievement.
"It's true," Brock said at Malva's assessment, "Diantha is down one, but Meganium chipped down Infernape enough to get Blaze to activate. Ash knows he's on his last legs…and I'm starting to get the feeling that Sunny Day wasn't just to improve Synthesis…"
"Hmm, it's possible…" Clemont said, drawing attention while he stroked his chin. Diantha had called her Pokémon back, now, but Ash kept Infernape on the field. It was obvious to anyone that he wasn't going to delay the inevitable, and with Infernape's firepower, he would take advantage of the fire raging above. "Diantha has immense team synergy. Light Screen for defense, and then Sunny Day…I'm afraid Ash's team won't have that…"
"But they do, Clemont!" Bonnie insisted, leaning back and showing off a confident grin. "They have Ash."
"Well, that's true enough…"
A flash of light down below faded, revealing Diantha's next Pokémon as it appeared on the screen. It wasn't one that Serena could call herself familiar with, despite her years of travels and training, but Kalas made sure everyone in the stadium could understand what the Champion had called out.
"A rare appearance of an almost equally rare Pokémon, Diantha has called Volcarona to the field. How will Ash and Infernape handle this newest threat?" They were about to find out, either way, neither waiting for the other to make a move.
"Quiver Dance!"
"Mach Punch!"
Volcarona chittered, its red-orange wings sending small flecks of fire on the air while its body glowed. Infernape, his Blaze still burning strong but his body fatigued, flew towards his opponent. Despite that speed, Volcarona had managed to move even faster, zipping to the side and outside of the glowing fist.
"Fiery Dance!" Diantha took advantage of the newfound speed under the blazing sun, and its body was wreathed with flame. It zipped around Infernape, the monkey turning as he tried to get a bead on his opponent. The smoldering Bug type crashed into him and broke off, faster than Infernape could find it. If the battering kept up, Infernape would most definitely fall.
"Counter Shield!" Ash yelled through gritted teeth. His greatest advantage of speed had been taken from him, but he still had his uniqueness. Infernape spun about on his arms and legs, sending his heat ray around. It burned across Volcarona, sending the Pokémon back with a conclusion to its attack. "Dig!"
"Fernape!" Infernape ceased his blazing fires to burrow into the ground, safe from harm and the Fiery Dance that had inflicted more wounds upon him.
"Signal Beam, Volcarona!" Diantha said with a snap and nod in her Pokémon's direction. It fluttered up high, smoke wafting down from its wings before its horns and fuzz began to glow purple. It fired straight towards the most recent hole Infernape had made, each intrusion to the field showing up as the beam cut into the ground. It formed a trench, churning the dirt and making a line across one edge of the field closest to Ash, connecting a few of the holes. It eliminated Infernape's network of escape. As it ended, Infernape was thrown from the ground, crying out at the blistering attack. "Hurricane!"
"Flare Blitz!" It was a last-ditch attack. Everyone on their side knew it. As Volcarona's wings began to beat with a fury that sent its ashes into the stadium air, Infernape wrapped his body in the blue blaze that stretched high. He leapt upwards, right for where Volcarona's gale was centered. His fist struck out with that heated fire, turning to a white blaze and impacting with Volcarona's eyes.
It lingered for a moment, and then exploded in midair. The air was awash with heat that made Serena's pores tingle with sweat. Some of the smaller Pokémon with them were almost blown backwards, and Clemont even needed to hold to the railing of their seats to prevent liftoff. Soon after, the heat faded, and the smoke cleared, revealing Infernape in midair, fist against Volcarona as his fire faded. The Sun Pokémon's wings fluttered, waiting.
Then, Infernape fell, collapsing upon the field.
"Infernape is unable to battle! Volcarona is the winner!" The referee's call, giving victory to Diantha, made some in the crowd groan, but a great many more cheer for the excitement of the battle. Ash didn't look as excited, but he smiled for the well-fought battle, calling Infernape back with a show of thanks.
Over the stadium, the sky grew darker, night returning as Sunny Day faded at last, and with a red beam, Volcarona returned to Diantha's side. She said something, but Serena couldn't hear what it was, though she smiled at the jiggling pokeball in her hand. When she finished, the Champion looked up to Ash, who was picking his next partner as the two locked eyes.
"Your Infernape is as well-trained as Greninja and Pikachu," she said, her soft smile hiding her steely gaze. "I expected as much for all of your Pokémon. You've come a long way since we battled in forests or together in Nova Town. I've seen your strength firsthand."
"I'm not totally there yet. Not until I beat you, Diantha," Ash announced, much of the crowd hanging on his words. They had both chosen their next partners, waiting to toss them out to the battlefield.
"Perhaps not in your mind, but please, Ash, take my next pick as acknowledgement of your strength, or rather," she said, pressing the button on her pokeball, "take it as acknowledgement I no longer see you as child or warrior, but as an equal."
Serena already dreaded what the pick was, but Ash held no fear. He tossed his own pokeball upwards, the light exploding with Krookodile's return to the battle. There was no enthusiasm for that, though, as Diantha's own emerged with sparkling light, her necklace glistening in the stadium lights, and her graceful form rolling off waves of psychic power.
"It's Gardevoir!" Kalas cried out. "The Champion's strongest Pokémon has made an appearance! Will Ash take it down to cement his dominance, or will the Champion lead as we head for intermission?"
"Whatever it is, Diantha has shown she considers each member of Ash's team as worthy of importance against her greatest teammate," Malva commented, not letting Kalas's enthusiasm and speculation overtake their jobs. "How this battle ends will be decided here regardless."
"Krookodile, keep your guard up!" Ash called out to his friend. Krookodile looked back, offering a thumbs up and ready for the command he knew was coming. Diantha, too, was waiting, and as she had done the whole battle, she waited for Ash to call the attack. "Stone Edge!"
"Kroooka!" Krookodile's body was surrounded with the jagged shards of stone, and with a thrust of his claws, he sent them straight for Gardevoir. The woman didn't say a word, and Serena never expected her to, nodding her head to issue her command.
"Voir." Gardevoir didn't dodge, but her eyes lit up blue, and before the stones could hit, she froze them in place. With a flash, sent them straight back for Krookodile. A couple hit his figure before Ash called his next command.
"Dodge underground!" Krookodile's body lowered, his claws cutting into the dirt and escaping the rest of the stones that fell around the burned battlefield. Gardevoir made no move, while Ash called his next command. "Aerial Ace!"
"Reflect." Diantha's low volume showed how little she was worried of the newest attack, and as Krookodile emerged from the ground, his limbs glowing white, her partner moved. Unlike Light Screen, Gardevoir's Reflect worked as differently as it ever did, a momentary shield against the physical attack coming at her. Krookodile hit it with force, but the attack did little against the stalwart Emanation Pokémon. "Shadow Ball!"
"Don't let go, Krookodile, use Dragon Claw!"
Ash's call stunned the crowd, including many in their own section. The one move Krookodile had that Gardevoir was immune to seemed the most bizarre choice, but he grinned with Ash's call nonetheless. The white of his arms transformed to green, becoming giant claws that buried themselves deep inside the shield of Reflect that was protecting Gardevoir. From the Psychic and Fairy Type was formed a large ball of crackling darkness. With nowhere to move, Krookodile was struck by the attack, but he refused to relent, and from where they sat, Serena could see a series of spiderweb cracks appearing on the Reflect.
"Now, let's go! Stone Edge! Bring it all right to the center and break on through!"
"Gardevoir, Moonblast!" Her snap was audible, but Ash wasn't letting it deter him. The whirling stones that formed around Krookodile gathered to a point, and once they were at the very center of the spiderweb, the Intimidation Pokémon grabbed the stone and kicked at it. The spike drove itself into the shield, and with a wrenching crack, the Reflect broke.
"Go!" Ash shouted, punching the air. Krookodile spun around, a grin on his face as he grabbed the large shard of earth. He dove right for Gardevoir as she gathered energy around her body. She wasn't alarmed, but Krookodile refused to be stopped. He rammed right into her, the giant stone causing a red bruise along Gardevoir's side.
"VOIR!" The energy finished gathering, and Gardevoir fired before Krookodile could escape. The pearlescent pink orb fell from her hands, and Krookodile was struck straight in the chest, flung backwards and into the ground where the attack blew apart more of the trench with pink glitter on the air.
Ash's body sagged, and Serena knew what had happened. The pair of sunglasses pattering on the sand confirmed it. All that was needed was the referee making the call.
"Just like that, Diantha takes the lead!" Kalas cried, the crowd's excitement reaching a peak. "A turnaround of fortunes for Ash, but with Gardevoir's peerless connection to Diantha, he would have been hard-pressed to take a victory here."
"It likely doesn't help that Krookodile already took some damage from Aurorus, and with a weakness to the Fairy Type, well, Diantha seized that victory. Time will tell if Ash can recover from his position behind."
"We'll find that out after the intermission, though, folks! Our battlers will have thirty minutes to rest and recover. So, grab some popcorn and drinks and meet us back here! The battle won't be long!"
"Aw, he was so close!" Bonnie whined, kicking her legs up and down. She was quick to recover. "But he still has Greninja and Pikachu, so it'll be okay."
"Mm," Serena vocalized, but soon found herself standing. Clemont, too, was on his feet, and Delia was the first to notice, giving them both a smile of permission.
"I'm sure he'll want the encouragement for the second half," Ash's mother said, patting Serena on the shoulder. "He's made it so far, though. I know he'll perform wonderfully in the second half."
"Yes, and I'm sure the other ace of his team is just getting ready for action, too. Ash isn't out of the fight yet," Oak said, a grin on his face seeming to recall his youth and old passions for battling.
"Let's go," Serena whispered to Clemont, pushing him from the section. The others were all falling to a discussion of the battle, with Alain and Gladion in particular discussing what Ash might choose next, or Sawyer and Seamus talking of Gardevoir and the threat she posed. The only ones missing from conversation were the salesmen in their section, but they were of little importance to Serena. In fact, none of it mattered to the two as they slipped into the hallway.
Pelting down the length, Serena was surprised to find the door to Ash's waiting room open, and three usually conspicuous figures already inside, still dressed in their concession uniforms.
"Look, twerp, you need to step it up out there! You're making our very intense training sessions look bad!"
"I don't think we're the ones who gave him very intense sessions, Jessie…"
"More like dey were curbstomps…"
"Don't question my judgment!" The loud slap echoed down the hallway, and Serena couldn't help but shake her head as she pushed the door open a little further. "Look, we have lots of merchandise of you and your team here, and I have to pull my very famous weight, so you better win so they'll sell like hotcakes!"
"I'll try my best."
"And Pikachu, you betta bring da twoip a victory."
"Pi." Pikachu had nodded, and with that plus the arriving pair's footsteps, the members of Team Rocket (Serena wasn't sure where they stood), turned away. Their little pep talk over, Jessie huffed and stormed from the room, calling loudly for those looking to get their concessions. James and Meowth scrambled after her.
"Glad to see they haven't changed much," Serena said with a laugh. The levity was appreciated by Ash, but when Serena looked down, she found her boyfriend's hands shaking. "It's not like you to be so nervous."
"Huh?" Ash asked, looking up to her as a rattled breath came out. "Oh. I guess I am a little, but…really, I'm just excited. Battling Diantha as an equal…it was like there was this moment of clarity. I stopped seeing her as the Champion I needed to beat and more for the person she was. Taking the best parts of her team to work individually and for the greater whole. They're really working together out there."
"I noticed. Between Light Screen and Sunny Day, each member of her team managed to make another member work," Clemont noted.
"It says a lot about her…" Ash's hands clasped together, and the grin on his face came into focus. "It's the best battle I've ever fought. Every move is calculated by her and every move I make shows a little bit more of her. I want it to keep going. I want to see more of what makes Diantha work as both a Champion and a person."
"You'll do it."
"Pikapi! Chu pika!" Pikachu thumped his chest in agreement, and Ash ruffled his fur. Their smiles were infectious, making Serena want to smile more, cementing her own dream as she watched Ash approach his.
"Do you know who you'll be sending next?"
"Yeah. The rest of my team is giving Diantha the battle of her life!"
"Pi pika!"
At Pikachu's agreement, the three in the room fell to silence, enjoying that time of relaxation. Ash was still tense, eager to get back out on the pitch, but it wasn't until the bell rang, indicating five minutes left of intermission, that the duo decided to leave Ash and Pikachu to their silent preparations. Before they departed, Serena turned back, flashing him a smile to give him strength, and a quick word. "Good luck, Pokémon Master."
His thumbs up showed his appreciation, and she left the room, running down the halls and back towards the seats. It was a little busier to get back in the stadium, and she needed to squeeze past people and Pokémon alike, some familiar and some not, to get back to their section. For a second, Serena thought she could see Mairin in the crowd, but it turned out to be a different teenaged girl with a rather effeminate boy alongside an unfamiliar rabbit Pokémon. A man who looked like the girl's father was with them, and it convinced Serena to pay them no further mind right then. She focused on skipping the steps to make sure she was back in her seat before the timer ended, and once more, Ash and Diantha took their positions on the burned and pockmarked field they had left behind.
"Aaaand we're back, ladies and gentlemen!" Kalas shouted, not quite silencing the crowd, but drawing their attention to the field below. Serena settled in next to Clemont, finding that Lillie was now behind them, Komala on her lap and her eyes wide as they stared.
"Is he doing all right?" she asked in a hurried whisper before the battle could resume.
"Well as you'd expect for Ash," Clemont said with a nervous laugh.
"That means he'll kick her butt! Go, Ash, go!"
"Denene!" The duo that was the younger trainer and her partner cheered loudly, annoying Max in the back row, but making Lillie pump her fists in tandem with the lemon blonde.
Well, Serena thought at their actions, Ash will certainly give Diantha a fight she'll never forget, now.
Said fight was ready to begin, and with it, Diantha wordlessly tossed her newest pokeball out on the field as Ash grinned and sent his flying. "Charizard, I choose you!"
"Rrawr!" Charizard's mighty bellow pierced the air to many cheers at one of Ash's mainstays taking the field. The interest of Alain certainly skyrocketed, with Mairin elbowing him over Ash's latest choice. Serena was more interested by Diantha's choice, a strange Pokémon of pink, blue and yellow, with bulbous eyes and rounded features that wibbled and wobbled.
"I've never seen that kind of Pokémon before…" she said, her eyes fixating on Professor Oak in the hopes of an explanation.
"A Porygon-Z!" the older man said, a finger raised in the air. "Porygon are a very rare species, often known to exist within computers. They're not very common in the competitive circuit and more often than not work with companies behind the scenes, as they're notoriously tricky to train."
"Why's that?" Bonnie and Max asked simultaneously, each glaring at the other for their timing. It didn't help that Bonnie's Pokédex seemed to sigh at its own explanation being silenced, especially when Bonnie gave a secondary glare to it.
"Well, it's just a rumor, but their capabilities can be seen as almost limitless, and can often cause bright flashes that blind their trainers. But again, nothing but rumors. It speaks to the Champion's strength that she trusts one enough on her team."
Serena figured they'd see that for themselves soon enough as the referee stepped forward, between Charizard and the Virtual Pokémon he was up against.
"Battle recommence!"
"We'll start off quick! Charizard, Steel Wing!" Charizard roared with Ash's command, Pikachu cheering his oldest companion on, and the dragon-esque Pokémon was off with a shot. His wings snapped out, glowing silver and aiming right for where Porygon-Z floated above the ground. They were just about to make contact, when Diantha nodded.
Porygon-Z vanished, the Steel Wing slicing through nothing but air as the Virtual Pokémon teleported right behind. From where Serena supposed its bulbous nose was, an attack was being formed, heeding its trainer's commands without words. The Psybeam finished being created and fired in a straight ray that slammed upon Charizard's back, hurting him, but nowhere near enough for him to miss Ash's next command.
"Fly up, Charizard! Then Flamethrower right at the ground!" Brock's face scrunched in consideration of Ash's move, while Charizard gave a quick roar of approval. His already outstretched wings flapped, bringing him higher up into the sky, and his mouth opened to let loose the crushing flames. Porygon-Z slowly dodged the torrential flames, but it was clear to those next to her that it was never Ash's plan.
The fire razed whatever green was left of the field beneath them, and the flames stuck, licking at Porygon-Z. Its heat made the Pokémon chitter in an unintelligible babble, rising up just a little to avoid the scorching remains of Charizard's attack. That was when the Flame Pokémon swooped in, and Ash threw his fist in the air.
"Dragon Tail!"
"Rowr!" Charizard's grunt was met by his long tail wrapping itself in a green glow that then flew down. Porygon-Z was unable to dodge, its beeps and other noises intensifying before the tail hit. The Virtual Pokémon was tossed into the haze of fire, parting it with the grass it bounced along, almost forced into the trench at the edge of the field.
"Tri Attack!"
"Cut through it with Steel Wing!" Porygon-Z's floating body parts recollected themselves, spinning around their axis, and from each piece was created a differently colored orb: each either red, blue or yellow. It sent them soaring through the air, while Charizard's wings once again took on their silvery hue.
A flap of the wings sent him hurtling for Porygon-Z, while the three orbs of the Tri Attack split, each aiming for a different area of Charizard's body. With a growl, Ash's trusted partner saw it coming and spun, his hardened wings cutting through the blue and red orbs before snapping out again to nail Porygon-Z hard, throwing him against the wall.
That second of damage was the mistake Ash couldn't afford.
"Groh?!" Charizard screamed with pain as the yellow orb, the one he hadn't shrugged off, struck him from behind. Charizard's altitude lowered, forcing him to the ground as electrical sparks surrounded his body. He shuddered under its effects, while Porygon-Z rose up, damaged but mostly whole.
"Return." The call surprised most of the audience, but Brock and Clemont were stoic, as if they had seen Diantha's recall of her Pokémon coming. On the screen, the image of Porygon-Z became smaller, with one pokeball image remaining. Everyone buzzed with the wonder of who would be chosen next, and whether Ash would match Diantha's strategy.
"It was a smart play…" Brock said, rubbing at his chin while his eyes lingered on the convulsing Charizard. "She used Porygon-Z to paralyze Charizard, reducing his already slower speed compared to Ash's other Pokémon, and then called it back to use it again for the future."
"Which means she should be calling out a speedy Pokémon of her own…" Clemont mused.
There were only two options for that far as Serena was concerned, and her speculation was proven right as Volcarona appeared upon the battlefield once again, its fiery wings earning a glare from Charizard.
"No worries, Charizard. It might be difficult, but you've got more than enough firepower!"
"Grawr!" Charizard agreed, roaring with a Flamethrower to the air. His jaw snapped shut, and he glared across at the silently buzzing Volcarona. The challenge thrown down, Ash ordered him to use that exact move. "Rawwwr!"
"Quiver Dance!" Volcarona chittered, the flecks of ash and flame around its figure increasing. Charizard opened his mouth to let the flame loose…but stumbled. The audience groaned with worry as paralysis hindered Charizard's movements, and increased Volcarona's own. Diantha's setup was complete, and with it, Charizard now had an uphill battle. "Hurricane!"
"Careeeeeee!" The screeching noise intensified as Volcarona's wings flapped about the air. Just like with Infernape, the winds were fierce, nearly bowling Charizard over. They would have, too, ribbons of wind cutting at the Flame Pokémon with impunity, until Ash intervened with his usual brilliance in battle.
"Stabilize yourself with Steel Wing!" Ash's cry was met by an equally motivated roar, Charizard's wings snapping out and becoming hard. The winds no longer affected his body, and Charizard began to run along the ground, each step a thud as he vaulted himself to the air. Despite the endless winds, Charizard found the right draft to carry his body closer. "Dragon Tail!"
"Fiery Dance!" The winds suddenly ended as Charizard's green tail fell, missing its mark once more. Volcarona vanished with flames, peppering Charizard's body and pushing him back. The speed was too much for the now-slowed Charizard, and he turned his neck in an attempt to locate the Fire and Bug Type, but was unable until it crashed into his front with fire that caused him to yowl. Diantha snapped. "Signal Beam!"
"Vreeeee!" The sharp shriek was met with the purple beam firing into Charizard's chest, sending him falling back towards the deadened field. His body was wracked with convulsions, but in his eyes was a glint. Serena found herself gripping the edges of her skirt tightly.
"Flamethrower!" Ash shouted. That glint became brighter, and as Charizard fell, his mouth opened wide to let the torrent of flame pour upon Volcarona. It screeched, surrounded by the fire that consumed it, unable to break free of the intense heat, despite its own typing. Having bought time, Charizard's wings snapped out to avoid hitting the ground. He flew up, and Ash was ready for him. "Steel Wing!"
"Grooooa!" Charizard's great cry was heard across the stadium. The flames ended, Volcarona shaking them off with its own smoke, only to be run across the midsection by Charizard's steely wings. It cried out, tumbling back through the air in pain, but recovering midflight.
"Fiery Hurricane."
"Another combo move?!" Clemont and Brock cried together. It was already a troublesome situation, made worse by Charizard grimacing in midair. Pikachu called out for his comrade, but the dragon couldn't hear, flinching with the paralysis that overtook him.
"Volcree!" Volcarona's Quiver Dance made it as limber as ever, and as its wings produced countless winds that covered the battlefield, it began to dance, those same wings lit aflame. The fires combined with the winds, the Sun Pokémon crowding around Charizard while he was unable to move. In moments, what started as a hurricane became a cyclone surrounding Charizard, a towering blaze that trapped him within, constantly battering his frozen body. There was no way out, the heat and constant winds causing Charizard to drop a little down to the ground.
Ash, however, showed no concern.
"We might not have that kind of combo move, but we've got moves all our own! Moves we've learned with everyone else, right, Charizard?"
"GRRRRRAWR!" Charizard's triumphant cry was all that Ash needed to give his next command, trusting his partner to pull it off even in the most dire of circumstances.
"Steel Wing! Just like Talonflame taught you!"
"Flame?!" Talonflame cried out from behind, perched with the other birds on Torterra's back. Their attention piqued, everyone in the crowd looked to the center of the tornado to see the shadow inside it begin to spin with his glowing wings. Charizard became like a drill, rising upwards with speed before soaring back down and piercing the surface of the tornado. The winds and flames broke, scattering about as Charizard jetted straight for Volcarona.
"Now, Counter Shield!"
"Charizard, too?!" Dawn asked, shocked at the fact that one of his non-Sinnoh Pokémon had been taught. Yet, taught it had been, as Charizard spun, his Flamethrower becoming a whip. It surrounded the drill he had become, while lashes of flame beat against Volcarona until Charizard slammed home, sending the Sun Pokémon spiraling upwards.
"Time we finish this, Charizard! We're taking back our lead!"
"Slow it down with Signal Beam!"
"That won't slow us! Dragon Tail!" As Volcarona attempted to regain balance, it sent off its Signal Beam for Charizard while he rose. His nimble wings, though wracked with paralysis, shrugged off their effect to allow him to dodge to the side and his tail to slither out with its green glow. His strongest would not be denied. "Now, grab it!"
"Grawr!" Charizard's tail whipped out, but not to hit Volcarona. Rather, it grabbed his opponent, pulling it close to Charizard's body as he snatched it with his arms, holding tight. Its wings pinned, there was nothing Volcarona could do, and Ash grinned while he punched right for Charizard.
"Seismic Toss!" The command was met with cheers, and Charizard started to spin in midair, his orbital movement preventing Volcarona from retaliating until the two came flying back towards the ground, and with a final heave, Charizard pitched his foe down into the charred grass, leaving an indent in the ground where dust rose.
The referee took a step forward. "Volcarona is unable to battle, Charizard is the winner!"
"Yes!" Ash called, Charizard flying back down to the ground and landing at Ash's side. They rose their fists to tap against one another with a grin over the victory that shifted the momentum back to Ash's side. Even Diantha couldn't look disappointed.
"As any Champion should, I researched your team and strategies across all Leagues, but to imagine you would teach Charizard the techniques of your other Pokémon. I'm impressed, Ash."
"I knew we had to," Ash shouted back, recalling Charizard as he did so. "There's lots you can do, Diantha, and I knew that if I wanted to match you, my whole entire team would have to come together in ways you never expected! That means everyone. This isn't just a victory for the six on the field, but all my Pokémon together. We'll prove it! Pikachu, I choose you!"
"Pika!" Pikachu cried with glee, returning to the battlefield at last. Diantha eyed him as the threat everyone watching knew he was, and Serena wondered if she'd be calling her ace just to deal with him.
"The score is evened, and Pikachu is back on the field. Will it be Gardevoir who fights this mighty battler? Or one of Diantha's other choices?"
"Hm, well, Ash, I'm glad we've come to that understanding," Diantha said, and she finally tossed her next choice forth. "I'm glad we both realize it will take every tool we have and every bond to best the other. Just as my bond with Gardevoir is shared by Porygon-Z."
"Beh beh zeee!" The beeping coming from Diantha's Pokémon was just as strange as ever, and its whirling body parts made it even odder while it locked its eyes on Pikachu. Serena tightened on her skirt.
"Then let's push it to the limit! Quick Attack!"
"Pi!" Pikachu called, and he shot off for Porygon-Z, his white streak flashing behind him as he bounded upwards.
"Trick Room."
"Ah! Not good!" Clemont shouted. Serena found herself grimacing, too. Before Pikachu could hit, Porygon-Z's body glowed, and around the edges of the field a box was created, shimmering with square blocks. Pikachu slowed immensely, even against the fast Porygon-Z, his attack missing as the Virtual Pokémon zipped around. "Pikachu's greatest strength is speed, and without any Bug, Ghost or Dark Type move…"
"Ash will figure a way out of it," Lillie said with confidence. It wasn't enough to assure Clemont, and he was forced to frown when Porygon-Z called a Psybeam to the tip of its body and fired it right into Pikachu's back. The mouse fell, but Ash was quick on the recovery.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Chuuuu!" Pikachu summoned the electricity around his body while he fell and fired the raging volt. Just like the last attack, however, it was too slow, and Porygon-Z saw it coming, whirling out of the way as Pikachu landed back upon the grass.
"Tri Attack." As soon as Ash's best partner had landed, the three orbs formed around Porygon-Z's body and were shooting off, each looking to converge on the prone Pikachu. He tried to move, but under the effects of Trick Room, was too slow.
"Porygon-Z is fast," Brock said, keeping his expression stoic while he watched the blue orb slam into Pikachu last, freezing the last few remaining blades of grass and Pikachu's body, as well. "However, that speed seems to come from an ability to teleport, just like Diantha's Gardevoir, rather than any real speed. It makes Pikachu a sitting duck."
"That won't be enough to stop us!" Ash shouted with a grin, as if he'd heard Brock's remark. "Pikachu, use Electro Ball and break that ice!"
"Pi! Pika pika pika pika…" Pikachu's lower half, including his tail, began to vibrate with the electricity forming. The electrical sphere shattered the ice on his body, and Pikachu grinned at his opponent. Porygon-Z was preparing another Psybeam. "…chu pi!"
"Zeeee!" The two attacks fired at the same time. Pikachu's body was broken free, but the Psybeam slammed into him nonetheless, causing his Electro Ball to fly wildly off its mark. The projectile hit the side of the Trick Room, bouncing from its surface and planting into the ground where it left a smoking indent. Serena could see the cogs turning in Ash's head.
"Pikachu, keep on the move!" Pikachu nodded and started to run, removing what little remained of the ice on his body. He was slow, that was for certain, and Porygon-Z was teleporting this way and that, moving through the air with zipping grace. It appeared to spark something in Ash, for he grinned. "All right, I got it! Shoot off as many Electro Balls as you can!"
"Chu pi! Chu pi! Chu pi!" Pikachu cried. His tail was raised, forming Electro Ball after Electro Ball, each firing in a random direction.
Or seemingly random, because Porygon-Z had to move to avoid them. The projectiles would hit the edge of Trick Room and go bouncing off in a ricochet that forced Porygon-Z to move in a different direction, closer to the ground.
No, Serena realized, Ash was moving it closer to Pikachu.
"Now, Thunderbolt!" Ash said, punching his fist upwards with a sign of victory. Close enough that his opponent could no longer avoid the attack, Pikachu called all of the burning electricity to his body before sending the shock roaring outwards to collide with Porygon-Z's body. It twitched, all of its various body parts spinning and moving in yet odder ways.
Diantha, however, was as prone to giving up as Ash.
"Psybeam!"
"Zee…zee…beh!" Porygon-Z's eyes flashed and, in the midst of Pikachu's assault, called a Psybeam that crashed against Pikachu's exposed form, right into the outer edge of the Trick Room. Pikachu grunted, and looked to Ash.
He swung his arm downward, offering no command.
Using the momentum of being pushed back, Pikachu planted his feet to the side of the trick room, and slashed an Iron Tail down on the ground to both prevent himself from hitting the room and to spring towards Porygon-Z. The ground underneath was broken away, and beneath the border of the Trick Room, Serena could nothing but air and dirt. Clemont and Brock's gasps of acknowledgement, and Ash's fire of determination, told her it wasn't a trick of the eyes.
"Tri Attack!"
"Tri Attack Climb!"
"Pika!" Pikachu cried. As Porygon-Z fired its trio of orbs at Pikachu once again, he used his speed, gained from bouncing off, to land another Iron Tail. They might have lost one advantage, but Ash had found his way to gain it back. Pikachu bounded upwards, his tail hitting each of the orbs to get higher. In the crowd behind, Korrina could be heard shouting, recognizing the move as Pikachu gained his air.
"Now, smash down right on the edge of the Trick Room!"
"Stop Pikachu with Psybeam!"
Pikachu fell, the height and gravity unaffected by Trick Room when they took over. Psybeam raced out, but slipped just past Pikachu as his tail stiffened again, sparking a little with his electricity. Then he swung it around, right on the edge of the trench Volcarona had made, now broken apart by Pikachu's earlier action. It exploded with dirt, grass and dust, concealing the area where Pikachu had struck and causing him to be lost. Porygon-Z faced in its direction, but was unable to find its opponent.
Ash had no problem finding it.
"One more time, Iron Tail!"
"CHUUUU PIKA!"
"There he is!" Bonnie shouted, Dedenne now on the railing. His eyes were wide with admiration while Pikachu had clambered up the Trick Room. Porygon-Z's eyes floated upwards, but was too late to stop the mouse from executing Ash's latest command. With a swing of his tail, Pikachu cracked into the Trick Room from outside, an Electro Ball already forming at the edge of his tail.
"Rain Dance!" Diantha shouted. Next to Serena, Clemont blinked at the strange command, but the crowd was focused on Pikachu, breaking apart the Trick Room. Soon as it had shattered, the Electro Ball, now at full speed, fired straight on to strike Porygon-Z. It was blown back, not down yet, but summoning what Serena knew would be its final move.
"Let's finish it with Thunderbolt!"
"PiiiikaaaaaaCHUUUUU!" Pikachu's lightning flashed out as the sky over the stadium rumbled, clouds covering the sky. The first droplets of water hit, splashing the dead grass but not revitalizing it. Then Thunderbolt struck Porygon-Z, shocking it with all of the fury that Pikachu summoned, until it gave a final beep and dropped to the field, smoking. Pikachu landed as well, pawing at the ground to see if the battle was finished.
It was.
"Porygon-Z is unable to battle! Pikachu is the winner!"
"And Ash pulls ahead again with a show of quick thinking and strategy!"
"Pikachu continues to prove his reliability, and I suppose that's why Ash will be keeping him for a later round." Malva's statement showed he was doing just that, with Pikachu returning to Ash's side to receive a pat on the head. He looked a little bruised from the attacks he'd taken, but shook them off with a smile.
"But why Rain Dance…?" Clemont muttered. Brock grunted his same concerns, but no one else seemed to hold them, excited that Diantha was down to two Pokémon as the rain fell over the battlefield.
"De ne! Denene!" Dedenne called, rolling along the banister before jumping back to Bonnie.
"Pikachu was awesome, wasn't he, Dedenne? Soon, you'll be battling just like that! You've already taken down a Rayquaza, after all."
"I wouldn't call that taking one down…" Serena said with a nervous giggle, but Bonnie didn't seek to correct her. They were too attracted to Ash and Diantha choosing their next Pokémon for what would be some sort of penultimate round, one way or another.
"Could it be…?" Clemont asked, covering his mouth as the pokeballs were tossed to field, revealing the last Pokémon to have entered the match. "Of course! She forced a Rain Dance for Greninja! But…but why?"
"The last of our battlers' Pokémon have been revealed!" Kalas shouted, his enthusiasm reaching a fever pitch. "On Ash's side, it's his all-too-famous Greninja! On Diantha, her not-oft seen Kangaskhan! Which will prove to be the winner? Will Ash make it to Gardevoir, and Greninja succeed? Or will it be Diantha?"
"Let's find out. Comet Punch."
"Kangah!" Diantha's latest Pokémon took the stadium by surprise by launching the first attack. Greninja had barely bent into a defensive stance as it raced for him, the child in its pouch cheering loudly while its parent's fist glowed a bright white.
"Double Team!" Ash shouted, throwing his arm out. Serena leaned a little forward, both surprised and a little pleased to see that he and Greninja weren't transforming yet. As Greninja's copies populated the field amidst the rainstorm, she knew he was saving it for later. For the real fight. "Aerial Ace!"
"Ninja!" Greninja's arms glowed white and his copies all ran at Kangaskhan. The Parent Pokémon was relentless already, punching through each copy as it disappeared into water, before its fist met Greninja's in a clash that sent a shockwave over the whole stadium. Cheers rose, but neither side relented on the slippery, muddy field…
…until Kangaskhan's other arm glowed orange.
"Reversal."
"Kang!" The orange fist clocked Greninja in the jaw, throwing him up into the air. He spun, and Ash was quick to order in the recovery.
"Water Shuriken!" Greninja slapped at his sides, creating the throwing stars of water that he tossed on Kangaskhan's figure. It barely made it flinch, and at the sight, Clemont's knee was bouncing.
"Outrage."
The call for such a move silenced some of the Pokémon nearby, Ash's friends worried for what would happen when Kangaskhan glowed red. Ash ordered a Double Team as the red aura pulsed outwards, pushing Greninja back, making tracks in the muddy mess of the field that was left. His copies appeared, each creating a watery shuriken and firing, but Kangaskhan was barreling down on him in moments, and with a mighty heave, it punched Greninja straight in the chest.
"Oof! That is certainly a blow!" Kalas cried, sounding nervous as Greninja hit the ground, rolling along it. He sprang to his knees, eyes narrowing at the beast that simply refused to stop before him. It was already going at him with yet another blood-infused punch.
"Block it with Cut!" The punch came out, and Greninja formed two long blades. He swiped them out, holding them in a cross shape that prevented the Outrage from hitting him as hard as it already had. The concentrated aura was already beginning to fade from Kangaskhan, and before it could fade entirely, Greninja switched the hold on his blades and sliced upwards, cutting across his opponent's jaw.
It barely stumbled, but Serena could see a change. Kangaskhan's eyes became scrunched in, the confusion from its use of Outrage setting in. Already, the child in its pouch had turned around and landed a punch in its own parent's stomach.
This was a move Ash and Greninja had to take advantage of. "Aerial Ace!"
Greninja dashed, kicking up the water from the rain before he flipped into the air and with a mighty kick, slammed into Kangaskhan's head. It crumpled a little, but still barely moved. Diantha, however, trusted her Pokémon implicitly.
"Thunder."
"That's why!" Clemont shouted. On the field, Kangaskhan's eyes were clearing, and its arms were milling back and forth like a turbine, gathering electricity. The rain was falling thick, and Serena's eyes widened, realizing what Diantha's plan had been all along. "She used Rain Dance to support Thunder, and because she knew wanting to take advantage of the rain would call Greninja out."
"KHAN!" Kangaskhan shouted, its confusion all gone. The thunder and lightning rumbled in the sky, before there was another mighty crack and the attack struck down where Greninja stood. Unable to avoid it amidst the rain, Greninja took the blow full-on, smoke rising as the field cracked across its damaged floor. The smoke soon faded, and everyone muttered all over the stadium, worried about the result.
Everyone but Ash, that was.
"Double Team!" The steam and smoke from the collision of the Thunder vanished, and from it, the numerous watery copies of Greninja appeared. Diantha refused to let her inconclusive attack go to waste.
"Comet Punch!" Kangaskhan was unstoppable. As more and more of Greninja's copies appeared around the field, it rushed through, punching each with unbelievable speed that dispersed each into tiny droplets amidst the rain.
Soon after, it found Greninja, punching him across the chest and driving him back. His clones didn't vanish. Not right away, at least.
"Pull them back, Greninja, and let's use Water Shuriken!"
"Thunder!" Diantha's simple cry was the more worrisome of the two. As Greninja's copies vanished into the air, pulled back towards his body, his opponent began to once more turn its arms like a generator. The shuriken at Greninja's sides grew larger, and Ash called for him to run at the unflinching opponent.
The skies rumbled and crackled, and Greninja slid along the slick, cracked floor, right as the clouds of thunder finished gathering. Punching in Greninja's direction, Ash gave his next order. "Plant one and throw the other! Then use a barrage of Water Shuriken, fast as you can!"
"NIIIIIN-JA!" Greninja leapt up high, tossing one of his shuriken down to where the cracks formed. He quickly touched down before bounding for Kangaskhan. His other shuriken came rippling through the air, colliding with Kangaskhan, breaking its execution of Thunder for one moment. It cried out, and that one moment was enough for Greninja to throw shuriken upon shuriken at the ground around himself, creating a mist that made it impossible to see anything, save for the larger, glowing blue shuriken in the center of the field.
Kangaskhan recovered, throwing its arms down, and the Thunder flashed with it, breaking into the center of the field and leaving a thick cloud of smoke to rise from it. Still, Ash held no concern, a grin on his face as he faced down the most relentless of Diantha's Pokémon thus far.
"Cut!"
"Reversal!"
Both had been prepared for the other to retaliate, and Greninja flew out of the smoke. Kangaskhan's orange fist soared out, clashing with the Cut, and winning out…only to make contact with water.
The smoke faded, and surrounding the crackling shuriken Ash had planted for grounding, were the copies hidden in the mist, each dropping aside one by one. Kangaskhan didn't have a chance to turn before Greninja was at his back side.
"Greeeeninja!" It was a single stroke, but Greninja rushed through from behind, slashing against Kangaskhan's backside and coming out on its front. He sheathed his blade, and in an instant, numerous cuts exploded across the Parent Pokémon's body.
Seconds later, they faded, and Greninja turned to his foe, who had not fallen.
It wasn't moving, either.
"Kangaskhan is unable to battle. Greninja is the winner!"
"He did it!" Lillie cried, jumping up to clap hands with Bonnie, while Clemont leaned back in his seat with relief. The crowd itself was going crazy over these implications, and Serena nodded her head, smiling down at Ash as he welcomed Greninja back from his crazy strategy, returning him to his pokeball.
"Kangaskhan was quite the unflinching force," Malva explained to those who wanted to listen and weren't lost in the euphoria. "No doubt it had Inner Focus for an ability, but Greninja won out in the end, and without using his special form. Ash has truly pushed Diantha to her limits so far, but the battle isn't over yet."
"That's right, folks! Diantha still has one Pokémon left, and it is her greatest!" Kalas agreed, which was the reason Ash faced back towards Diantha, few words left between them. It had come down to this. The final round. Winner take all. "It's time for this Champion Battle climax!"
Author's Note: Yes, yes, this was a lengthy second part, but I really wanted to feature the final battle with Gardevoir as its own sort of part. I think it deserves that to really feel worthy. Hopefully the battle as a whole has been good with lots of strategy. Please, tell me your favorite part! Though that said, this short story will finish next time, and the big announcement I've been waiting to give will be given then. I hope you all very much look forward to it!
In the meantime, I'd like to thank people as I am wont to do: to 7roop3r, A Raven Quill, Amourshipper35, Animeloverdog, Cato Yugi, Citylover96, Dark Hero 12, FantasyLover88, Maurice Elias A. Nigma, dewlyfrau, Aero Hybrid, Blac Knight Lucario, Roguekrosm, Blazing Edge and Briellicus Dastorian for favoriting; Luanslayer92, Paleb05, Yoshie 88, dillonsoma, princelotor81, thebeing1 and twilly17103 for following; and a huge thanks to Ander Arias, Galarian Mike, Tenzalucard123, UltimateCCC, Rajiv A. Rajiram, ChE Clarinetist, Kenny Jackson, oomoepoo, XDiamondX90, Captainsquid12 and AmourshippingCanon for reviewing! I'm glad to see people respond to this return! So, until next week, please Review, and as always, Dare to Be Silly.