Chapter 10

"TRAINERS! SEND OUT THE NEXT POKÉMON!"

"This battle is just getting started." said Philip, "Henry, let's go!"

The Gallade came forward, swinging his arms to show off his strength and speed.

Cinderella smiled at Ariel, "Okay, it's your turn, Gardevoir!"

Ariel gracefully walked out, waving to the audience. Several male Pokémon in the stands began swooning over Ariel. For some reason, Ariel always had this air that made others attracted to her. Henry the Gallade almost fell under her spell, but he quickly gathered himself together.

"A Gardevoir, huh?" said Philip, "Such a beautiful trainer to have beautiful Pokémon."

"Oh, Gardevoir is more than just pretty." said Cinderella.


In the stepfamily's box, the Stepmother and stepsisters looked over the matchup with the girls' Pokémon.

"So, both evolved forms of Kirlia are going to be battling." said the Stepmother, "Very interesting. But what can the Masked Maiden's do after she took away Patricia's victory the other day?"

"Mother," said Sabrina, embarrassed, "The Perfect Princess Contest is over. Can't we just enjoy the battle for now?"

"Emerald!" Patricia shouted, "What are you doing?!"

Emerald was leaning over the railing, gazing lovingly at the Masked Maiden's Gardevoir.

"Wow! That Gardevoir's so beautiful!" he thrilled, "I think I'm in love!"

"Are you joking, Emerald?" said Blair, "You hardly even know her!"

"Berry, don't tell me Emerald's under the influence of Attract." said Princess.

"No, he's not." said Berry, "He just has a soft spot for pretty Pokémon."

"What? I can state my opinion, can I not?" said Emerald, "Blair, I'll bet you two Poképuffs Gardevoir wins this round."

"Oh yeah?" said Blair, "You're on!"

Their attention returned to the field where Ariel and Henry were facing off.


"Henry, use Psycho Cut!" Philip ordered.

Henry's forearms glowed light blue, growing and extending in the back like a blade. He swung his arms repeatedly, sending multiple light blue rings of energy at Ariel.

"Gardevoir, use Teleport!" Cinderella cried.

Ariel's body glowed and vanished right before the Psycho Cut reached her. She reappeared seconds later four feet away from she once stood. Philip stared, surprised.

"OOO, GALLADE TRIES TO ATTACK AND JUST MISSES! GARDEVOIR DODGED IT WITH TELEPORT! HIS HIGHNESS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH A MOVE LIKE THAT!"

"Gardevoir, Magical Leaf!"

"Henry, Aerial Ace!"

Ariel sang as she summoned and fired multiple glowing leaves at Henry. Henry became engulfed in light as he charged at Ariel through the sharp leaves.

"GALLADE IS GETTING BATTERED RUNNING THROUGH THAT MAGICAL LEAF! IT LEAPS ONCE AGAIN AND, OH! GARDEVOIR TRIED TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, BUT GALLADE'S AERIAL ACE HITS! THE BATTLE IS GETTING INTENSE!"

"Fury Cutter!" Philip shouted.

Once again, Henry's bladed arm glowed into blades and he repeatedly slashed at Ariel with him. She cried out as he hit her five times. At the fifth time, he punched and knocked her backwards ten feet.

"MULTIPLE HITS! THAT WAS ALSO SUPER-EFFECTIVE!"

"Gardevior, use Moonblast!"

Ariel gathered energy from the moon, forming an orb of pink energy in her hands which she threw at Henry.

"Dodge it and use Slash!" yelled Philip.

Henry leapt into the air, his arms glowing and extending into blades again. He swung and parried the Moonblast which hit the ground in a cloud of dust. Raising his right arm, he fell from the air and struck down on Ariel, knocking her back again.

"A GOOD DODGE AND A FIERCE BLOW FROM GALLADE!" called the announcer, "SUCH AMAZING SKILL AND POWER! GARDEVOIR IS BARELY HOLDING ON! CAN THE MASKED MAIDEN FIND A WAY OUT OF THIS PREDICAMENT?"

Rose was starting to get worried. Ariel hardly made a good hit, and Henry was good at dodging and countering everything Ariel threw at him. How could she possibly win against a Pokémon so fast and strong?

Cinderella, however, remained calm. She was watching and waiting.

"Henry, Fury Attack again!"

Henry charged again.

However…

"Gardevoir, use Hypnosis!" Cinderella called.

Ariel looked at Henry right in the eye as her eyes glowed light blue. Henry skidded to a halt as he came in eye contact with her. Philip's eyes widened when he saw that.

"No, Henry!" shouted Philip, "Don't look into it's eyes!"

But it was too late. Henry's eyes glowed as his lids drooped and he fell onto the field, fast asleep.

"OH MY! GARDEVOIR HAS PUT GALLADE TO SLEEP WITH HYPNOSIS! WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS HEATED BATTLE?"

"Henry! Wake up!" Philip called out, "You have to get up!"

"Good job, Gardevoir!" said Cinderella, "Now use Dream Eater!"

Ariel's body glowed with a light blue aura as he held out her hand. Henry's body glowed with the same aura as energy seeped out of him and into Ariel's body. Her bruises faded away as her energy was restored.

"Now use Moonblast again!" said Cinderella.

Once again, Ariel summoned the energy from the moon, throwing another pink orb at Henry. Still asleep, he was helpless as the blast hit him in an explosion of dust. When the cloud had cleared, Henry laid on the ground, awake, but unable to move.

"GALLADE IS UNABLE TO BATTLE! GARDEVOIR IS THE WINNER!"

The audience again applauded. A Machoke came out and carried Henry off the field.


Up in their box, Emerald cheered loudly.

"Yes! Yes!" he thrilled, "I knew she could do it!"

He turned to Blair. "Alright, I won the bet. Hand them over."

Blair frowned as she handed over her Poképuffs to Emerald.

"Ah nuts," Blair mumbled, "Those were my favorite flavors…"


"SEND OUT THE NEXT POKÉMON!"

Philip smiled at the Masked Maiden. "If I really want to have a chance to beat you, I better start to really heat things up around here."

He let out a whistle and Lacy the Rapidash galloped into the field with a neigh.

"And my Rapidash, Lacy, is just how I like to heat things up."

Cinderella giggled. "Heat things up? That's funny."

Philip gave a chuckle, "I made you laugh. But I'm afraid it won't make me go easy on you."

Philip moved first again. "Lacy, Flame Charge!"

Lacy's mane flared up as she galloped towards Ariel at lightning speed. Ariel didn't have a chance to react as Lacy slammed into her, knocking her back. Lacy glowed light blue.

"OOO! THAT DEALT SOME DAMAGE AGAINST GARDEVOIR, AND RAPIDASH'S SPEED ROSE AS WELL! WILL IT GIVE PRINCE PHILIP AN EDGE?"

"Flame Charge again!" shouted Philip.

"Gardevoir, use Psychic!"

As Lacy galloped at Ariel, Ariel used her psychic kinetic powers to grab Lacy mid-gallop. Lacy was then swung around by her hooves and thrown like a ragdoll across the red corner of the battlefield. She crashed face first into the dirt before skidding a few feet.

"OUCH! THAT MUST'VE HURT! RAPIDASH TRIED TO USE FLAME CHARGE AGAIN, BUT GARDEVOIR USED PSYCHIC TO STOP IT!"

Lucy rolled over and got back into her feet, shaking herself to her senses.

Cinderella made the next move. "Psychic, one more time!"

Ariel's eyes glowed as she started her attack. Philip was ready, though.

"Lacy, Flame Charge!" he yelled, "Run in a zig-zag!"

Lacy ran across the field engulfed in flames. This time, she ran in a zig-zag motion at great speed. She was running so fast, Ariel couldn't keep up with her. Before she knew it, Lacy slammed into her again, sending Ariel tumbling. Lacy glowed again as her speed rose again.

"OH, A CLEVER COUNTER MOVE! RAPIDASH RAN IN SUCH A WAY THAT GARDEVOIR COULDN'T MAKE SENSE OF WHERE IT WAS! NOW RAPIDASH HAS HIT ITS OPPONENT AGAIN AND ITS SPEED HAS GONE UP FURTHER! WILL THE MASKED MAIDEN BE ABLE TO BEAT THIS FAST POKÉMON?"

Philip then moved. "Lacy, Megahorn!"

Lacy pawed at the field as her horn glowed green. With a loud whinny, she charged at Ariel.

"Gardevoir, Moonblast!" Cinderella called out.

Cinderella had barely given her order when Lacy rammed Ariel with her horn. Ariel again tumbled across the field. Rose could only stare worried as she saw Lacy's power as a fighter.

"She's so fast and strong…" Rose said to herself, "It's actually quite scary…"

"WOW! PRINCE PHILIP'S RAPIDASH IS QUITE A FIGHTER! IT'S STARTING TO OVERPOWER GARDEVOIR WITH IT'S SPEED AND POWER, AND NOW WITH A MASSIVE SUPER-EFFECTIVE MOVE! IT SEEMS THIS BATTLE IS GOING TO END QUICKLY IF THE MASKED MAIDEN DOESN'T DO SOMETHING SOON!"

"Gardevoir, use Hypnosis!" Cinderella called out.

Again, Ariel's eyes glowed as she used her hypnotic gaze. Lacy happened to look into her eyes and started to sway uneasily. For a moment, Philip looked panicked. Yet it was only for a brief moment.

"Lacy, use Poison Jab on yourself!" Philip shouted.

Lucy's horn glowed with a poisonous aura. Although drowsy, she managed to prick herself on the foreleg with her horn. The poisonous attack snapped her out of her drowsy state and she leapt across the field to show it. She didn't even get poisoned. There was a mixed reaction in the audience as many gave up a loud cheer and round of applause.

"MY GOSH, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT!" said the announcer, "PRINCE PHILIP HAD RAPIDASH USE A POISON-TYPE ATTACK ON ITSELF TO PREVENT IT FROM FALLING ASLEEP! A VERY RISKY, BUT EFFECTIVE COUNTERMEASURE! GOOD RECOVERY FROM HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS! CAN HE KEEP THIS UP, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN?"

"Lacy, Flame Charge again!" Philip called out.

"Gardevoir, Moonblast!"

Ariel started to summon another ball of energy from the moon, but Lacy was faster. She slammed, fully on fire, into Lacy, knocking her back. Lacy's speed rose again as she watched. Ariel tried to get up, but she fell over, completely winded. She didn't move.

"GARDEVOIR IS UNABLE TO BATTLE! RAPIDASH IS THE WINNER!"

The crowd applauded as the Flygon flew out and carried Ariel off the field. Cinderella comforted Ariel as she was carried away for treatment. Lucy trotted over to Philip who smiled approvingly.

"Well done, Lacy." he said.

Lucy gave a small nicker. Cinderella could understand she was giggling with endearing embarrassment.

"SEND OUT THE NEXT POKEMON!"

Cinderella looked at Valiant.

"Should I send you out next?" she asked.

Valiant shook his head. "No. Fire-types are strong against Steel-types. You're going to have to use someone else. You need to find a way to slow her down, or you'll lose for sure. Lacy is a strong opponent."

Cinderella knew Rose wasn't fast enough to take Lacy head on. She knew she had no choice but to use Bella.

"Ampharos, go!" Cinderella called out.

Bella walked out onto the field. Lacy got into stance again as the two sized each other up.

"Lacy, Flame Charge again!"

Lucy again charged in a blazing blitz.

"Ampharos, use Reflect!" Cinderella called out.

Bella raised her arms hands and a shining red barrier or light appeared in front of her. Lacy crashed into the barrier, then slammed into Bella.

"OH, AMPHAROS SET UP A REFLECT BARRIER TO WEAKEN RAPIDASH'S ATTACKS! THAT WAS VERY CLEVER ON THE MASKED MAIDEN'S BEHALF. UNTIL THAT REFLECT BREAKS, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS WON'T BE DOING MUCH DAMAGE WITH PHYSICAL ATTACKS."

Philip flinched a bit. He and Cinderella knew that all the attacks Lacy knew were physical moves. However, they both knew the Reflect barrier wouldn't last for long.

"Lacy, use Poison Jab!"

"Ampharos, use Power Gem!"

Lacy's horn glowed with the poisonous aura she had used on herself earlier and charged at Bella. The red gem on Bella's head was already glowing red. Seconds later, it fired a pink beam of light at Lacy. Lacy wasn't able to take it as she was knocked back. Somehow she managed to stay on her feet.

"OUCH! THAT POWER GEM ATTACK WAS A SUPER-EFFECTIVE MOVE! IT COMPLETELY STOPPED RAPIDASH'S ATTACK! CAN THE MASKED MAIDEN GET BACK IN THE BATTLE?"

"Lacy, Poison Jab again!"

"Power Gem!"

Again, Bella fired her Power Gem move at Lacy. This time, Lacy was able to dodge around the beam. She speared Bella in the side with her poisoned horn. Bella coughed as she hiccupped several purple bubbles. Cinderella gasped as she saw that Bella's face had a purple tinge.

"UH-OH!" exclaimed the announcer, "UH-OH! RAPIDASH HAS DODGED THAT POWER GEM MOVE AND NOW IT'S POISON JAB HAS POISONED AMPHAROS! THE BLUE CORNER'S GOING TO BE IN DEEP TROUBLE IF THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING SOON!"

Cinderella forced herself to remain calm. She knew from Valiant that staying calm in a tense situation meant the difference between winning and losing. Cinderella just had to get something to happen before the poison was too much for Bella.

"Lacy, Megahorn!"

"Ampharos, Thunderbolt!"

Lacy's horn glowed again as she again charged at Bella, whose ears were already sparking with an electrical charge. With a loud cry, Bella's ears fired a powerful bolt of yellow lightning at Lacy. She was hit and stunned momentarily. Lacy recovered from the hit and continued her attack. But this time, when Lacy hit Bella, her legs suddenly locked up and she stopped. Her body crackled with electricity.

"OH MY! RAPIDASH MADE ANOTHER GOOD STRIKE BUT HAS SUDDENLY BECAME PARALYZED BY AMPHAROS'S STATIC ABILITY! IT'S SPEED HAS SLOWED DOWN GREATLY! HOW WILL PRINCE PHILIP BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS UNFORTUNATE EVENT?"

Cinderella had been waiting hoping that would happen. She knew Static sometimes caused a Pokémon to become paralyzed when it made contact. She had accomplished slowing Lacy down. She just needed to defeat Lacy before she could overcome her paralysis.

"Ampharos, Thunderbolt again!" Cinderella called out.

Bella hiccupped more poison bubbles as her poisoning damaged her. Nevertheless, her ears sparked up again and she zapped Lacy with another bolt of lightning.

"Lacy, Megahorn again!"

Lacy again charged and, despite her paralysis, managed to strike Bella again. At the same time, the Reflect barrier shattered.

"BOTH OPPONENTS MADE CONTACT WITH STRONG MOVES AND NOW THE BLUE CORNER'S REFLECT HAS WORN OFF! THE BATTLE IS GETTING INTENSE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! BOTH POKÉMON ARE IN TROUBLE AND THE BATTLE HAS BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH! EVEN I'M GETTING NERVOUS ABOUT HOW THIS WILL TURN OUT!"

"Ampharos, use Reflect again!"

"Lacy, Flame Charge!"

Bella summoned another Reflect barrier as Lacy tried to fire herself up. However, Lacy couldn't move this time due to her paralysis. Bella again hiccupped more bubbles as she took more poison damage. She started to look weak and sick but stayed focused on the battle at hand.

"AMPHAROS JUST SET UP ANOTHER REFLECT BARRIER BUT IT KEEPS SUFFERING DAMAGE FROM POISON! MEANWHILE, RAPIDASH IS STRUGGLING WITH IT'S LINGERING PARALYSIS AND WAS UNABLE TO PUT OFF A MOVE! IT'S ANYONE'S GUESS AS TO WHO WILL PREVAIL!"

Cinderella looked at Bella. She was completely purple in the face and coughing more heavily. She then collapsed into her arms, very sick and weak from the poison. She knew Bella was not going to be able to battle anymore if she didn't get an antidote. Lacy started to charge again.

"Lacy! Wait!" Philip called out.

Lacy stopped. Philip gestured to some Pokémon on the sidelines. Two Machoke immediately rushed over and picked up Bella. They carried her over to an awaiting nurse on the blue corner's side of the field.

"AMPHAROS HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE BATTLE DUE TO DAMAGE FROM POISON!"

Cinderella and Rose watched anxiously as the Pokémon nurse and her Chancy quickly worked on Bella. She was immediately given a Pecha berry and a quick exam. The nurse frowned as she looked at Cinderella.

"My Lady," said the nurse, "I cured your Ampharos of her poisoning, but she's too weak and sick to keep fighting. If she keeps battling, she could lose her life. I'm afraid she can't battle anymore."

Cinderella nodded in understanding. She then waved a white flag that showed that Bella wasn't going to battle anymore.

"AMPHAROS IS UNABLE TO BATTLE! RAPIDASH IS THE WINNER ONCE AGAIN, BUT AMPHAROS IS GOING TO BE OKAY!"

The crowd cheered loudly for the fallen Bella. Rose watched anxiously as Bella was taken off to the side.

"Don't worry, Rose," Cinderella whispered, "She'll be okay."

"SEND OUT THE NEXT POKEMON!"

Valiant didn't need Cinderella's order. He immediately removed his riband and went out onto the field. Lacy was still strong, but still suffering from her paralysis. Cinderella and Valiant still had to be careful. Both parties had only two Pokémon left and Lacy was still a strong fighter.

"Lacy, Flame Charge!" Philip yelled.

"Lucario, use Bone Rush!"

Valiant summoned a blue bone staff made of aura energy. He used it to pole vault over Lacy. The crowd and Lacy gasped at the feat. Even the announcer was stunned. While Lacy was trying to make sense of what happened, Valiant landed behind her.

"OH MY! THIS LUCARIO CAN FIGHT! IT USED IT'S BONE RUSH TO DODGE FLAME CHARGE AND- OUCH! IT'S NOW STRIKING RAPIDASH WITH THAT MOVE SEVERAL TIMES! I'VE NEVER SEEN A POKÉMON MOVE WITH SUCH DISCIPLINED SKILL AND NIMBLENESS! THIS LUCARIO IS A SEASONED VETERAN! IT'S MOVING SO FAST I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH MY COMMENTARY!"

"Lucario, Iron Tail!"

Valiant flipped into the air as his tail glowed white. With a loud cry, he slammed his tail right in Lacy's face. Despite the type disadvantage, the blow sent Lacy tumbling backwards. Her body glowed blue as she struggled to her feet.

"OH MY! THAT IRON TAIL WASN'T A VERY EFFECTIVE MOVE, BUT STILL DEALT SOME MASSIVE DAMAGE! AND NOW RAPIDASH'S DEFENSE HAS FALLEN! MAYBE RAPIDASH'S TYPE ADVANTAGE WON'T MAKE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE IN THIS BATTLE!"

Just then, the sparks around Lacy's body disappeared and she let a loud whinny.

"OH, LOOK AT THAT! RAPIDASH HAS OVERCOME IT'S PARALYSIS! WHAT AN INCREDIBLE TURN OF EVENTS! WILL IT MAKE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE?"

"Lacy, good job!" said Philip, "Flame Charge again!"

"Lucario, Extreme Speed!" Cinderella called.

Lacy charged at Valiant with her revived speed, but Valiant was even faster. He was so fast, his legs were a blur.

"RAPIDASH IS NOW USING'S IT FLAME CHAR- WHAT ON EARTH? WHAT'S WITH LUCARIO? IT'S MOVING SO FAST, I CAN'T EVEN SEE WHERE IT IS! THAT IS THE MOVE EXTREME SPEED! RAPIDASH CAN'T EVEN HIT IT'S OPPONENT! LOOKS LIKE IT'S BREAK FROM PARALYSIS DIDN'T MAKE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE! THIS LUCARIO'S SKILL IS MIND-BOGGLING!"

Lacy looked frantically around the field, trying to catch Valiant, but he was too fast. Not very Philip could tell where he was. He seemed to have disappeared. Before either of them knew it, Valiant appeared behind Lacy.

"Poison Jab, now!" Cinderella called out.

Lucario's paw spike glowed with a poisonous aura. By the time Lacy turned and spotted him, it was too late. She was struck with a well-aimed hit to the jaw. Lacy's face was tinged purple as purple bubbles came from her head.

"UH-OH! LUCARIO ALSO KNOWS POISON JAB AND NOW RAPIDASH IS AFFECTED BY POISON! THIS BATTLE IS GETTING MORE AND MORE CONFLICTING BY THE SECOND! WE HAVE TWO GREAT TRAINERS WITH GREAT POKEMON, AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE EDGE FOR VERY LONG! THIS COULD BE ANYONE'S BATTLE TO WIN!"

"Lacy, Flame Charge again!"

"RAPIDASH IS CHARGING AHEAD AND- OOO! IT MADE A DIRECT HIT THAT WAS SUPER-EFFECTIVE AND RAPIDASH'S SPEED HAS GONE UP EVEN MORE! BUT LUCARIO'S STILL HOLDING OUT STRONG AND RAPIDASH HAS TAKEN DAMAGE FROM IT'S POISONING!"

"Lucario, Aura Sphere!"

"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? OH! LUCARIO COUNTERED THAT ATTACK WITH AURA SPHERE! ANOTHER STRONG ATTACK!"

"Lucario, Extreme Speed!"

Valiant was another blur. Again Lacy and Philip tried to predict his movements, but Valiant was just too fast.

"LUCARIO'S MOVING WITH EXTREME SPEED AGAIN! RAPIDASH IS WATCHING OUT FOR THAT STRIKE FROM BEHIND AND- WHAT THE?! OH, LOOK AT THAT! LUCARIO HAS ATTACKED FROM THE FRONT THIS TIME AND KNOCKED RAPIDASH OFF IT'S FEET AGAIN! ATTACKED FROM A VERY DIFFERENT ANGLE THIS TIME! I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE THIS POKÉMON'S FLEXIBLE FIGHTING STYLE! AND THE DAMAGE FROM POISON IS MAKING THINGS WORST FOR RAPIDASH!"

"Lacy, Flame Charge!"

"BUT RAPIDASH IS NOT GIVING UP! IT USES FLAME CHARGE AGAIN AND IT MAKES ANOTHER DEVASTATING HIT! IT LOOKS LIKE THAT MOVE IS NOW TAKING SOME EFFECT ON LUCARIO!"

Valiant was now struggling to stand on his feet.

"We have to take her out in one move, Mistress." said Valiant, "I can't take another hit from Flame Charge."

Cinderella then called her trump card. "Lucario, use Earthquake!"

"What?!" gasped Philip, "Flame Charge, now!"

Lacy charged aflame at Valiant with a loud whinny. Valiant used the last of his strength to leap up and punch the ground with his fist. The whole colosseum shook violently, causing people and Pokémon in the stands to scream in alarm. The tremors caused Lacy to trip over her own hooves. However, the momentum of her Flame Charge sent her somersaulting towards Valiant. There was no time to dodge. Still aflame, the tumbling Lacy crashed right into Valiant, crushing him under her weight in the process.

Several people screamed.

The two Pokémon rolled together until they crashed into the wall beneath the stands in a cloud of dust. Philip, Cinderella, Alex, and Rose could only look on, fearing the worst. The two of them could be seriously injured. There was a nervous silence as everyone tried to find out what happened.

The dust cloud cleared revealing the two had cracked a hole in the stands. Both of them were completely dazed and couldn't move.

"RAPIDASH AND LUCARIO ARE UNABLE TO BATTLE! WE HAVE A THIRD DRAW!"

Various Pokémon from both sides of the field came running over and helped Valiant and Lacy up. They wobbled on their feet as the Pokémon helped them off the field.

"THIS HAS BEEN A TENSE, BATTLE! WE'VE HAD VICTORIES AND TIES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FIELD! THIS HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT BATTLE! BOTH TRAINERS ONLY HAVE ONE POKÉMON LEFT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! IT ALL COMES DOWN TO ONE FINAL ROUND! TRAINERS, SENT OUT THE LAST POKÉMON!"

Alex left Philip's side and ran out onto the field. Rose froze where she was and trembled, very scared. The crowd stared and started chattering, wondering what was taking the Masked Maiden so long to send out her last Pokémon.

Rose looked at Alex. She had seen what a strong fighter he was and was getting very nervous. She looked at Valiant, then at Mikey, Red, Ariel, and Bella sitting on the side, watching.

Fearfully, Rose looked at Cinderella.

"Cinderella, I can't do it…!" she cried.

"Yes, you can, Rose." said Cinderella.

"But I've never battled in the Pokémon League before!" cried Rose.

"My Lady…" Valiant said weakly, "You're the only…one left… You have to go…and battle this round."

Rose fearfully shook her head and started to cry. "I can't! Pokémon battles are so hard! You're all so strong and know how to fight! Only a strong Pokémon like you can be able to win this battle! What can I do being so small?! There's nothing to hope for! Nothing!"

"That's not true, Rose."

Rose snuffled her tears as she looked up at the one who spoke. It was Cinderella. She smiled gently as placed her hand on her head. Cinderella then picked her up. She held her the same way she did whenever Rose was sad. Rose stopped crying and looked up at Cinderella. She was smiling an encouraging smile.

"There's always hope, even when it seems there is none." said Cinderella, "Don't forget that I'm here with you. Together we can do anything. Even if you're not as strong or fast as Valiant and the others, we can work together to win this. I believe in you, Rose. And I'm sure your mother believes in you, too."

"Don't doubt yourself, my Lady…" said Mikey, "Believe in yourself and…and win this battle for us…"

Rex smiled. "You're the best dancing fighter...I've ever seen... I've never seen anyone...dodge and dance...as gracefully as you..."

"Don't worry about what you can't do..." said Ariel, "Think about...what you can do... Use your defensive skills...and lady-like charms...to your advantage."

"And don't forget...your newest move..." added Bella, "The longer it goes on...the better chance you have...at dealing damage... We believe in you..."

"My Lady…" said Valiant, "This is about personal achievement right now… You can do this… Commit yourself and go…"

Their words slowly gave Rose some confidence. She looked at Cinderella.

"We believe in you, Rose." she said, "Let's win this battle. Together."

After a moment, Rose's confidence returned, and she smiled with a nod.

"Okay. Let's do this."

Rose leapt down from Cinderella's arms and ran onto the field. The crowd cheered loudly at her entrance. Rose faced Alex, knowing that her friends were with her.

"LET THE FINAL ROUND BEGIN!"