The intermission heading into the semi-finals of the battle round was a bit longer than the others. Lunch was being served all around the outer walkways and on the avenue leading up to the stadium hosting the Wallace Cup. Conscious of the fact that being late would disqualify them from their next matches, Kenny, Larkspur, and Dawn all insisted that they dine in with one of the vendors catering at the event itself.
So, that was how they found themselves on the top floor of the building, all sharing a circular picnic table under the shade of a big parasol.
"Your Vulpix is really well trained," Larkspur said between sucking tea from his plastic straw.
Ciara nodded graciously. "Leafeon isn't riling her up, so it's easy."
True enough, Vulpix and Leafeon were darting around with Ash's Pikachu and Riolu, playing tag. Both Dawn and Kenny's Empoleons were, unfortunately, too large to play with the more agile pokemon on the roof. They kept each other company instead, speaking in short squawks.
"I still can't believe Piplup finally evolved," Kenny muttered. "What happened?"
Scooping up a bit of ketchup with a fry, Dawn answered. "Well, first, he wanted to protect me as he was. He was afraid he'd change his personality when he evolved, you know? Then, he was just afraid of change. Ash and Brock leaving bothered him. He was still kind of a baby when I got him. We were all family to him. It was scary. He didn't want to change, to keep moving on with life. He wanted things the way they were." Looking proudly over to her starter, she noticed him and Kenny's Empoleon comparing crowns. "He changed a little when he evolved… He's a bit more mature, but he's more trusting and hopeful, too. He's not as defensive."
"You talk about him like he's your baby," Larkspur pointed out.
Thinking about it, Dawn kind of laughed. "I… I guess he kind of is!" She brushed back her hair. "Who was your starter, Larkspur?"
"Leafeon, but I got her as she is from my older brother. He wanted an Umbreon, actually." Larkspur seemed to shrink into himself. "He… got an egg from her and then left her at home. She was really miserable… So, I took her with me. She perked up after that." He shrugged.
"That's so sweet!" Ciara enthused. "Wait… Older brother… Leafeon… Say, your older brother isn't Brahma Kamal, is he?"
He nodded. "Yeah."
"So, you're Larkspur Kamal. It's nice to finally know your last name!" Ciara said. "... Shame about your brother. I wonder why I didn't recognize Leafeon… I was there when he bred her."
"My brother kept items on her to improve breeding chances. Maybe that's it?"
"Maybe." Ciara then turned to Kenny and Ash. "So, who were your starters?"
"Piplup, like Dawn!" Kenny quickly said. "We're from the same region. I started almost two years ahead of ole Dee Dee, though!"
"Do not call me that!" Dawn snapped.
"Right… Sorry, sorry. … Say, why did you start late?"
"Well, you were kind of rude. You said I'd lag behind, so I told Mom I wanted to wait a few months to prove to you I could race ahead! … But, then I twisted my ankle practicing with Glameow… Then, I caught a cold visiting Lake Verity. After that, I found out too late that Professor Rowan had already promised the starters… It ended up being a year and a half before I could actually get a starter!"
"Why didn't your mom just give you an egg to hatch during that time?"
"None of her pokemon ever laid any. Umbreon's actually a rescue and he was fixed when Mom got him. Her Kangaskhan only has the one kid and won't let it leave. Glameow just never found anyone."
"Geez, I thought I had bad luck starting off," Ash muttered.
"Hm? What happened with you?" Ciara asked.
"I started off a few months late, too. But, Professor Oak promised me that the next time it was time to send kids off, I'd have a starter! … But, it was a non-traditional one: Pikachu!"
Upon hearing his name, the rodent bound over, landing on Ash's shoulder. "Cha~!"
"That's right, buddy! I was only a few months from being eleven when I got him, but Professor Oak made good on his promise."
"I guess Vulpix is your starter, Ciara?" Dawn inquired gently.
"Yes!" She smiled meekly. "She was actually hatched about a year before I was able to leave, but Mama and Papa wanted me to have her. So, instead of making money off such a rare pokemon, they saved her for me. We love each other, and whenever I see her I feel my parents' love, too."
"Aw, that's so sweet!" Dawn cooed. "... So, that's why it bothered you so much when Quijote…"
She nodded. "Right."
Kenny stood up. "Well, Quijote got what was coming to him. I just wish I could have done it. I guess I'll give Brendan a good battle as a thank you."
"What makes you think you're gonna battle Brendan?" Dawn asked as they all walked back towards the stadium's lower floors.
"Well, I'm either battling him, you, or Larkspur. One in three isn't bad guessing chances."
After returning from lunch, the crowd was a bit lulled. Demure and surprisingly hushed, they allowed Lilian to introduce the participants of their first match without interruption. "First up are two of our foreign competitors: Dawn and Brendan! Beginning the semi-finals is our tried and tested student of Wallace and another rising star! While only one of them can win the match, I'm sure both have already won our hearts!"
As the crowd gave a well-intentioned but slightly lazy round of applause at Lilian's words, Kenny sulked backstage. He watched on the screen as Dawn and Brendan both stood across from each other on the battlegrounds. He had desperately wanted to battle them both, but now he'd have to wonder which he preferred the chance to battle.
"I-I know I shouldn't root against Brendan since he was nice to me… But, I can't help but want to cheer for Dawn, you know?" Ciara said from where she sat beside Kenny, unknowing sharing the same feelings.
"... I guess we'll just have to hope they both do their absolute best," Kenny decided to answer. The match would figure things out for them.
Dawn stood on one end of the pool, eyeing her seasoned opponent on the other side. A smirk picked up on the corners of her lips, an antsy finger tapping on the metallic surface of the minimized pokeball in her palm. To say she was excited to face Brendan was an understatement.
Brendan stood confident with a hand on his hip, ignoring the few infatuated fans hollering his names over the otherwise quiet stadium. Clearly, the tension of the final few battles had infected the crowd, as well as the contestants. That was fine with him. Against a former winner of the Wallace Cup like Dawn, he'd need a clear head. He tightly clutched his ace's pokeball as well.
"The clock has started! Let both of our esteemed coordinators begin!"
"Alright! Let's give them a great show, Empoleon… Spotlight!"
His pokeball released from Dawn's grip in a winded up toss, Empoleon burst from his small home with enthusiastic showmanship, showing off his glistening wings and crown that profited from the generous sunlight befalling the stadium. "Pol!" He squawked, landing with ease.
"Let's dazzle them, Sawmpert!" Brendan lobbed his pokeball, next.
The bulky Mudfish pokemon appeared next, materializing on the closest platform.
Sizing each other up as their trainers assessed their competition, a subtle posturing match began between Empoleon and Swampert. While the steel type flexed his claws, the water type flexed his muscles. As the Sinnoh native snapped his beak, the Hoenn starter spread a bistro table sized paw.
Dawn, meanwhile, reached an unfortunate conclusion: Empoleon could not out speed Swampert on land. However, that wasn't an issue. He was a water type, after all. "Empoleon, hit the surf!"
"Swampert, you heard the lady: we're taking this to the water!" Brendan yelled out after.
While Empoleon dived into the water with sublime grace, barely disrupting upon entry, Swampert splashed into action. The difference in approach was already setting a tone for the match.
"You wanna copy us, huh? Alright! Let's see who's got the harder head, then! Empoleon, use Headbutt!"
"You know that, too?" Brendan asked before laughing. "Swampert, you use Headbutt, too!"
Obeying their trainers, the two water types swam in opposite directions. They were building up speed. As they turned back around, preparing to charge the other, they began breach the surface. And, they did. Like Sharpedo going after Seel, they rocketed out of the water. Swampert's twin headfins framed around Empoleon's golden crown. The loud noise, not unlike two rocks being thrown at each other, echoed around the arena. Neither moved back. That was the scary part for Empoleon. He'd really given it his all in that, but Swampert had held his own, anyway!
After the stalemate Headbutt, both water types fell back into the surf, eyes locked onto each other all the while.
"What a magnificent start to the match!" Lilian narrated. "Though Swampert's a little more bulky than Empoleon, the tenacious steel type is giving it his all! What'll happen if this match goes long range?!"
"Only one way to find out," Brendan muttered. He threw out a hand, commanding Swampert with authority and certainty. "Use Whirlpool!"
Dawn's eyes widened. That was her signature move for Empoleon! They could handle this, she knew it! "Alright, Empoleon, we're gonna counter spin against that with Drill Peck!"
As Swampert began twisting the pool into a ferocious eddy, it warped into a raging vortex. The roar of it was so loud that it drowned out all other noise in the stadium. As it approached the submerged penguin, he braced himself. His beak began to glow. As he felt it suck him in, he allowed himself to go straight for the bottom of it. Once there, he used Drill Peck.
Shifting and shaking like a building struck by a strong wind, the Whirlpool began to falter. Then, it failed! The waters calmed and Empoleon surfaced for air before giving a victorious caw to Dawn.
"Empo!"
"Good job, Empoleon!" she praised.
"Here I'd have thought we'd have the advantage on the water," the Hoenn native mused. After all, there was much more of it in Hoenn then in Sinnoh. "If she's this used to it, we're just gonna have to get Empoleon out of it. Sweep him away with Muddy Water, Swampert!"
Empoleon watched with wide, shocked eyes as the water around Swampert turned murky. Soon, it was completely brown, shrouded in ichor and muck. The water began to rock. The slurry began to rise and wrap around him. He found himself captured by the tide and rocked. The water was too obscured for him to orient himself. Bracing against an end he couldn't predict, Empoleon soon found himself tumbling across the stage.
Though he righted himself and stood, the penguin found his vision severely inhibited. He tried to clear away the grime, but puddles of mud were trapped by his own face ornaments. His accuracy would suffer for this.
None the less, he and Dawn both knew they had to press on. "Empoleon, you alright?!"
"Pol," he chirped back.
Pumping both fists before spreading her legs as if she were getting into a fighting pose herself, she loudly called out her next command: "Great! Get at 'im with Ice Beam!"
Unfortunately, the Ice Beam was off target. Not only was Swampert underwater, but the attack only managed to hit the tainted pool water. The effect this had was curious, though. The water turned frigid and as Empoleon poured on the power, a sheet of ice began to form across the surface of it.
Brendan jolted in a panic as he realized Empoleon's true strength; those ranged attacks were nothing to sneeze at! "Swampert, she's freezing over the ice. You've gotta get out of there!"
Though Swampert was quick to obey and try to race the ice to get out of the pool, when he tried to breach, he instead hit a solid sheet.
"Though Brendan cost Dawn some points earlier when Swampert tossed Empoleon out of the water, this complete caging of Swampert is really biting chunks out of Brendan's points! Empoleon's turned the tide!" Lilian announced.
"Empoleon, that's great!" Dawn praised. It wasn't what she had in mind, but it worked.
Brendan gritted his teeth. This wasn't good. He quickly looked at the clock from the corner of his eye. No need to act desperate, though. There was still time. "Swampert!" he called out. "Use Mud Bomb!"
On the screens, the audience could see Swampert press his huge, webbed paws together. A sphere of dark, solid mud formed between them. As soon as he threw it, the ice sheet that had covered the pool was broken. Fissures split all along it. Some of the chunks of ice crashed into each other, further crushing them. Swampert quickly hopped out of the water, glaring at Empoleon.
The pool was thoroughly tainted now. Mud and ice swirled around in it, evidence of the two starters' battle.
"That was certainly an explosive escape," Dawn praised.
Brendan nodded. "Yeah, Mud Bomb's come in handy more times than I can count. It's one of the moves I'm most proud of."
"Really? Well, I should show you a move Empoleon's proud of, then… Steel Wing!"
Grinning with glee upon being ordered to use said move, Empoleon brandished a blue flipper. Soon, it gleamed gunmetal gray. The Steel Wing was his preferred close combat move and that was no secret. "Empooooo!" he cried out, running at Swampert as fast as his waddling gait would allow.
Though Swampert raised his paws to defend himself, he found himself knocked back over and over again by Empoleon's Steel Wings. One blow after another, Swampert was barraged by Empoleon's fury.
Brendan wouldn't stand for it, though. "Whirlpool!"
Empoleon was blasted back as the water type move expanded. Unfortunately, at this angle, on the flat stage, there was no way for him to counter it. Once again, Swampert's water type move crashed into the steel type, sending him flying across the water like a thrown stone. Eventually, he sunk beneath the waves.
Lilian was practically hopping from foot to foot. "Swampert sent Empoleon off like a bullet! That carefully crafted Whirlpool's gonna cost Dawn some points!"
Beneath the water, Empoleon glared at the wavering outline of Swampert. Dawn, meanwhile, gripped a fist tighter. "Empoleon, come at him again with Ice Beam!"
Swimming through the murky water, Empoleon was obscured from Swampert's view. However, the grime was also compromising Empoleon's vision. The result was that, as Empoleon took shots at Swampert from the water, the other water type had to try to dodge the sudden attacks. The two were leaping back and forth, trying to anticipate the other's action. While the pool had turned brown from Swampert's Muddy Water, the stage was slowly turning blue from Empoleon's Ice Beam.
It was a full on reversal of the original colors.
Tired of seeing Swampert dodging the issue, Brendan held his hand out high. "Headbutt!" The dark water was their territory! Swampert was master of the marsh!
This was their chance! Swampert would come to them! "Empoleon, use Headbutt and Drill Peck!"
Empoleon's beak began to glow blue as Swampert leaped back into the water. Before the Sinnoh starter could start his attack, Swampert caught him in the stomach. Pushed back through the water, Empoleon struggled not to cry out from the impact. Instead, he lowered his head, pinning Swampert right in the back for a critical hit with his Headbutt-backed Drill Peck. The momentum both pushed Swampert down and away with an added spin to it.
Spiraling down after being Headbutted, Swampert hit the bottom of the pool. Empoleon, on the other hand, made a break for the surface. He couldn't hold his breath for much longer!
"What's happened to Swampert, folks?" Lilian led on. "While that flashy Drill Peck upgrade earned Dawn some points, Empoleon's winded and still can't see well! He might be a sitting Farfetch'd if Swampert gets back up!"
Suddenly, a dark form surface on the water. It was Swampert…!
Or, his back anyway.
"He's fainted!" Lilian called out. "Dawn is the winner!"
The crowd erupted into cheers at the news. Dawn, meanwhile, shouted out praise to Empoleon before looking at Brendan. She gave him a thumbs up. Clearly he wasn't bothered to have lost to her as he smiled back.
The crowd was still rowdy and loud from the last climatic match, forcing Lilian to shout on her mic over the roaring audience. "I imagine it'll be tough to top that last match between Dawn and Brendan, but as they say, the show must go on! For the last battle of the semi-finals, we have Kenny, the hardened coordinator who's made quite a splash at this tournament, and Larkspur, the aspiring upstart who's made waves with his sturdy and elegant grass types! Only one of them can make it ahead to the finals, where they'll face Dawn for the coveted Aqua Ribbon! I'm sure I'm stating the obvious when I say that both of these competitors are going to give this everything they've got, and really allow their pokemon to shine! Let's give them our undivided attention!"
Larkspur walked onto the stage from behind the curtains first, a visible stiffness in his stride towards his corner. He stopped, turning his neck to gaze up at the scoreboard. Across from his face, young, meek, and crowded with messy green hair, was the bold, sharpened visage of Kenny, a smirk worn on his features in the portrait displayed. 'It had to come to this sooner or later, huh…' The coordinator fiddled with his collar, doing his best to put on a brave face.
A few whoops and claps could be heard among the crowd. An underdog always seemed to strike the compassionate chord of some, and the competitive side in others. A few calls evidencing this could be heard.
"You go, little dude!"
"Don't be scared, just try your best!"
"Knock that Sinnoh punk down a few pegs!"
A nervous chuckle and flushed cheeks followed. Swallowing back the urge to thank onlookers who would probably never hear him, Larkspur chose to focus on his approaching opponent.
The brunette took the stage with a smoother stride, flashing a grin at his younger opponent. "Hey, Lakspur! Let's give them a good show, huh?" Kenny encouraged, holding a pokeball outward.
"Y-yeah! You bet!" The youth hesitated before holding up a sphere of his own, nodding to Kenny. The show of sportsmanship left his knees feeling just a bit less shaky.
By the end of this exchange, the duo's points had filled up on screen.
"And… Begin!"
"Leafeon, I choose you!" Larkspur shouted, releasing the grass type quadruped.
"And, I'll use… Breloom! Let's show them what you've got!"
The Mushroom pokemon appeared in a flash, already adopting an offensive stance, throwing a few jabs to make a show of its fighting prowess. "Bre! Bre! Loom!"
"Okay Leafeon! Let's show them how you shine, with Sunny Day!"
"Uh-uh!" Kenny tutted, punching forward with a grin. "Mach Punch!"
Leafeon had parted its mouth halfway, ready to launch an orb of solar energy when she was intercepted by a red and green blur that had already dashed its way across the platforms spanning the pool.
Leafeon squealed as its mouth was knocked shut with an uppercut to the jaw, tumbling through the air in an ungraceful heap. The grass type stumbled across the far end of the stage, surprisingly managing to keep her footing.
Even Lilian gawked. "Were you able to catch that!? Breloom spanned the entire pool in time to knock Leafeon senseless, preventing her from lighting up the skies! To say that Breloom is well-trained is quite the understatement! That show of toughness will cost Larkspur some points."
And, sure enough, it did. It wasn't enough to make one sweat bullets, but the younger coordinator's points did chip an inch or two.
Larkspur tried to recover. "Power up with Swords Dance!"
Leafeon was eager to jump into action, prancing and turning about with vigorous swipes of the leaf atop its head. It cried in enthusiasm, adrenaline giving it such a rush that its fighting spirit and attack power gained a significant boost.
The grass type's playful, acrobatic nature was also put on display, its glowing form knocking Kenny's points down a bit.
"Oh, and Larkspur comes back by raising Leafeon's attack power! It sure looks like it's having fun, and Kenny will have to be careful getting close from now on!"
Seemingly heeding Lilian's warning, Kenny continued. "Pull back, then Energy Ball!"
Breloom shouted, firing a verdant orb of natural energy from the nearest waterborne platform.
"Leaf Blade," Larkspur countered with a shout.
Leafeon sprung forward, swinging the leaf atop her head in a glistening arc across the condensed orb of energy. Sure enough, she sliced through with ease, forcing the mass to bounce and fluctuate before exploding in a glistening burst of emerald energy and smoke.
The beautiful show of precision and beauty knocked Kenny's points down a notch.
The younger coordinator breathed a sigh of relief, only for his breath to hitch again.
"Fury Cutter!"
The fighting fungus leapt through the dispersing smoke, slicing at Leafeon with a glowing forearm.
The first blow struck, followed by a series of glistening slices that made a jagged pattern across Leafeon's body. Attacking with swordsman-like precision, Breloom retreated once more.
"Ooh, and Kenny takes advantage of the show that Larkspur made of his own Energy Ball! And, Fury Cutter leaves its mark on Leafeon. This match is like a coordinator's game of chess, and we all have the privilege of witnessing its heart-stopping results!"
With that tactical assault, Kenny gained the jump on Larkspur once more.
The green-haired greenhorn's iris' trembled. "Quick, use Sunny Day!"
Still airborne, Leafeon, much like a feline, righted itself before hitting the arena floor, skidding across the wooden support. Still sliding, the eeveelution fired a yellow orb skyward.
Sunny Day exploded over the open dum, shining down scorching rays of light.
"Leafeon finally launches its Sunny Day attack! That's a beautiful sunshine if I've ever seen one! And, way to stick the landing after such a brutal assault! I'd say that might even the score!"
"It is impressive," Kenny admitted. "But, it's not going to do us in! Fury Cutter!"
Adrenaline rushing and fighting spirit peaked, Breloom lunged at Leafeon with a vigorous swipe.
For the first time since the match begin, Larkspur grinned. "Dodge it!"
Leafeon's crouching body grew vibrant under the bright sun, each of her leafy appendages taking on an emerald shine. A similar glint in the pokemon's eyes appeared, her body quickly ducking flat under the strike, sliding beneath the confounded Breloom.
"Leaf Blade!"
Turning back towards the stumbling Breloom, Leafeon cried, swinging her blade in several swift moves. Breloom was sliced by one attack after the next, unable to recover from its mishap.
Already off-balance, Breloom was knocked forward on its face.
~It's so fast!~ Rosa marveled from her seat in Ash's lap, blinking repeatedly at the swift recovery on Leafeon's part. ~What happened!? I thought Breloom was faster!~
"It's definitely faster than before," Ash agreed, brows furrowed. "Now that the sun's out, it's like a whole new pokemon… I get it, now. Its ability must be…"
"And, Leafeon's Chlorophyll kicks in, dramatically boosting its speed, and it positively shines under the free energy source, to boot! Look at all the power and speed behind those Leaf Blades!"
"Synthesis!" Larkspur cried out, hoping to ride the momentum.
With Breloom down, Leafeon bathed in the sun's healing properties, her scratches beginning to fade.
With several bright moves in succession, Larkspur gained a significant lead. Kenny's points dipped just below half after several drops in a row. The chestnut-haired trainer grimaced. "For a rookie, he's not bad at all. I'm gonna have to close the deal quick."
Those thoughts weren't his alone. Gentle fingers drummed against dark jean shorts, deep blue eyes fixated on the screen displayed in the locker rooms. "He's doing great for such a bad match-up. Kenny might not make it to the finals if he doesn't get his act together."
Dawn's brows furrowed. It wasn't as if she had anything against Larkspur; he was a really nice kid, and pretty good for his experience level. But, the thought of missing out on facing Kenny in the finals wasn't one she was loving. "Usually, he holds a situation together better than this."
Great minds thought alike, it seemed. Kenny tightened a fist, moving on to his next order. "Pull yourself together, Breloom! You're tougher than this. Lock on to Leafeon's movements with Mind Reader!"
Breloom's eyes narrowed, each of them glowing blue. Leafeon's intentions could be felt, as could its growing fear. Despite what the scoreboard told, they had it right where they wanted it.
"Energy Ball!"
The Mushroom pokemon held his arms outward, conjuring a growing, crackling orb of light.
Larkspur stammered, calling out to Leafeon. "J-jump, and dodge that!"
Already trembling, Leafeon jumped high above ground.
"Bingo," Kenny muttered, watching Breloom fire the blast.
Just as the cunning fighting type had planned, Larkspur's haste had guaranteed his success. The airborne Leafeon was unable to defend against the incoming Energy Ball, squealing as it exploded.
"Ooh, looks like Kenny and Breloom exploited the fear they created with Mind Reader! That break in composure is going to cost Larkspur some points!"
Kenny furrowed his brows. "Fury Cutter, again! Let's wrap this up!"
Breloom hopped towards the falling Leafeon once more, leaning forward in a relentless dash that climaxed in striking Leafeon right across its belly. Breloom continued, juggling the other grass type with one pursuit after the next.
"Leafeon…!" Larkspur gawked, searching for any commands to give. But, he was stumped.
"Now, finish it!" Kenny threw both arms outward.
Breloom obeyed, swinging both forearms across Leafeon in a cross formation. Finished with its assault, it landed with ease.
Leafeon fell unconscious.
"With that impressive combination, Leafeon is unable to battle, which means that Kenny moves on to the finals!" Lillian shouted into her mic. "In this case, brains and brawn won out over beauty. Let's give both of our competitors a big hand for putting on such a great show!"
The crowd roared in applause as both coordinators returned their pokemon, each retreating from the fanfare.
The crowd was thunderous with applause and screams. Lilian's voice was barely heard over the clamor. "We bring you our final match: Dawn against Kenny! These two have gone through the gambit, as you've all witnessed! It's all leading down to this! It can only end in absolute victory, a spectacular grab at the Wallace Cup!"
Standing across from each other, Dawn and Kenny grinned. This was it! They'd both dreamed of this as children, hadn't they? In their own ways, at least. To perform on stage with their pokemon in front of this crowd was beatific, almost. Truly, this would test them both! Twinleaf Town would perform for all of Kanto! These childhood friends turn coordinating rivals would prove to each other what they were made of!
"Skarmory, prepare for action!" Kenny commanded, releasing his new catch.
The steel bodied bird took wing. Each flap was accompanied by metallic whirring that bordered on sounding organic. The iron skinned raptor looked every bit as intimidating as intended.
However, while Kenny's silver vulture dazzled the crowd, Dawn was soon to overtake that awe with her own white-winged owl.
"Togekiss, Spotlight!"
Flying much more quietly, barely above a whisper with each delicate flap, Togekiss took wing as well. The softest hoot escaped her beak. "Toge." Motherly as ever, she looked upon her opponent with compassion. However, she would not let Dawn down! Though Skarmory was much more sleek and fierce looking, Togekiss was loyal to the core! Princess Salvia's royal aviary had not raised her to be a pushover, either!
The buzzer for the timer sounded. "Let the match begin!" Lilian shouted.
A finger thrust out from an arm held high, Kenny boldly spoke the first move of the match into motion. "Skarmory, use Spikes!"
Spreading its silver and crimson pseudo-feathers apart, the bird flapped once, twice, and thrice. Twinkling, tiny clusters of agitating spikes were flung across the stage. Some sank below the water, but the rest laid a terrible trap on stage.
"There. Now, we're playing stamina! No resting, Togekiss!" Kenny announced aloud.
Dawn nodded. That was fine. There were few pokemon who could remain aloft as long as she could. Togekiss wasn't the fastest, but she was sturdy as they came for fliers! "If you want us to keep up, try to stay ahead! Togekiss, use Sky Attack!"
Glowing white, Togekiss began building up the energy for her gutsy move.
"I've always been ahead!" he taunted. "Steel Wing!"
Flanking Togekiss before jostling her in the air, a long, brilliant white glow covered Skarmory's wing as he attacked and left its mark on his opponent. The super effective move earned an utterance of pain from Togekiss. However, she would not relent! Instead, she gave chase to her opponent, finally using Sky Attack.
Glowing white herself, she rammed the steel type from behind, sending him tumbling mid-air.
Skarmory caught himself before he hit the water, however.
"Early in the match, but we're being treated to another avian showdown! With danger lurking below, how long can these two remain in the air?!" Lilian, like the crowd, was genuinely curious. Two flying types usually meant a match of who would wrestle the other down to the ground first. Skarmory, with his superior speed, seemed to have the upper hand!
This was reflected in points, with Dawn having lost just a bit more than Kenny.
"Night Slash!"
Skarmory turned on a dime upon hearing the command, shooting at Togekiss with a shriek. Deep purple trailed from his metallic wings.
"Aura Sphere!" Dawn countered.
The motherly dove raised both of her wings, pouring a collection of spiritual energy into a teal sphere, lobbing the ball towards her approaching opponent. "Toge!"
Skarmory struck at the orb, dark-tinted wings struggling against the Aura Sphere.
The sphere crashed through Skarmory's defenses, exploding in a flash of blue and violet.
Skarmory fell from the smoke, wavering before regaining balance.
"Oooh, and Aura Sphere wins out over Night Slash! What a beautiful explosion, too!"
Kenny's bar dropped to around three quarters.
"I should've guessed," Kenny quipped, grinning despite his position. "If that's not enough, then we'll have to kick things up a notch… Skarmory, use Autotomize!"
Skarmory cried out, his entire body lighting up. Every metal segment of his body shifted and gleamed, loosening just enough to allow the pokemon more mobility.
"Great, now, Steel Wing!"
The avian took off again, flying by Togekiss as little more than a gray blur. Coated wings slashed across Togekiss, downing the vulnerable fairy type.
"What speed! Skarmory's Autotomize shows off the true beauty and efficiency of steel types!"
Meanwhile, Togekiss was in a downward spiral towards the pool, where explosive spikes lay dormant.
"Togekiss…!" Dawn gasped, her eyes following her companion to the traps that lay below. "I have to do something about those spikes… If Togekiss falls into those, we're in trouble."
The spikes, though, set the lightbulb off. Brows knit, Dawn threw a palm forward. "Clear out those spikes, Togekiss, with Fire Blast!"
Mere feet from the sabotaged platform, Togekiss fired off a spreading bath of flames that roared over the waters. Water sizzled and boiled, steam rose, and metallic mines were burnt to a crisp.
The vibrant red and yellow flames kept the bow-winged Togekiss hovering above the platform, to boot. Whistling, she finally pulled up, spiraling into her usual jovial acrobatics.
"Beautiful! Dawn's Togekiss halted her fall with Fire Blast! The flames billowed with beauty, and roasted away Skarmory's hazards, to boot! The duo put an end to their troubles in a perfect combination of quick thinking and dazzling firepower! That's going to put Kenny in a tight spot!"
"Fire Blast… So, that's the move that Dawn was hiding from us! You did it again,"Ash marveled, with glowing eyes and a hand to his chin. "It looks like she took a page out of our book, too," he remarked to Pikachu. "That was just like when Infernape used Flare Blitz to get rid of Toxic Spikes in our battle with Paul! Who would've thought she'd take advantage of that!?"
"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu chirped, beady eyes glowing. Dawn was really something else!
While Kenny had pushed back into the lead with his previous combination, Dawn shot forward again, with the former's points resting at around two thirds. Dawn's were, once again, a bit higher.
"I'm impressed, Dee… Dawn," Kenny corrected himself. "You really caught me off-guard. But you're just putting off my victory!" He rested a palm on his hip again, pointing forward. "Autotomize again, and then, Night Slash!"
Steel Wing was preferable, but repeating the same combination wouldn't benefit anyone in a contest. Skarmory adjusted his body once more, speeding by Togekiss in a eerily dark streak.
A pitch-black explosion followed, dropping Togekiss from the debris.
"What a terrifying assault! Skarmory really isn't letting Togekiss take it easy!"
Dawn's points now matched Kenny's.
Dawn could feel her heart race and her fist clench just a bit too tight. 'He's not making this win easy… Every time I push ahead, he puts us right back where we started." Fitting of a true rival, though. Dawn smiled widely at the notion. Her focus returned to the match. "Bring it down with Aura Sphere!"
Togekiss turned the dive into a graceful spin, curving up towards the sunny skies once more. Raising both feathery wings, she conjured another Aura Sphere, tossing it at Skarmory.
"Dodge by going underwater, and be quick about it!" Kenny ordered. Having a steel type underwater would be quite detrimental, weighing them down with moisture. But from what he'd heard of Aura Sphere, disrupting its chase would be the only way to truly lose it.
Skarmory shot towards the pool, quickly descending out of the crowd's first-hand view thanks to his marvelous speed. Having the eerie foreboding feeling that something was chasing his tail, he circled through the waters. Surely, he'd be able to lose that feeble blast, that way.
Aura Sphere followed, splashing into the pool afterward. It was on the life force's tail, that much was clear. The churning currents and rushing water that trailed Skarmory, though, threw the Aura Sphere for a loop. Tossed and churned, the orb of light fizzled and dispersed in a pitiful conclusion.
"Ooh, that's got to sting. Aura Sphere is known for its tenacity in chasing down an opponent, but Skarmory put that powerful fighting type move through the wringer! Tough luck for Dawn and Togekiss."
Dawn was fortunate that her fighting spirit didn't drop in line with her points. Her eyes scanned the waters, where Skarmory dwelled. If she could just draw it out, she could make Kenny and Skarmory appear less than graceful…
Come to think of it… Not too long ago, she'd seen another instance of the same sort of tactic, hadn't she? Misty's boasting about roasting Croconaw out of the water came to mind, pulling Dawn's lips up into a smirk. She raised a hand, throwing it downward. "Togekiss, use Fire Blast on the water!"
Intent on winning this match for her trainer, Togekiss circled down, launching a flaming star from her mouth.
It collided with the water, forming a beautiful, steaming red star, unfolding on the surface like a flower that rippled and boiled the water below it. Cheers and hollers echoed throughout the stadium at the sight.
Skarmory, however, wasn't so enamored. Squawking in pain below the water, he coughed after swallowing enough water to disturb him. He'd been under long enough, he decided, rapidly surfacing to huff and dry his feathers just above the pool. Arceus, that'd been hot.
It certainly wasn't a graceful return.
The full-on humiliation brought Kenny's points down to around a third, with Dawn leading by a small margin.
"Ooh, and Skarmory was yanked out of the water with that beautiful Fire Blast! This puts Kenny in a pinch, but looking at these two coordinators, how this match will end is anyone's guess! While Skarmory's taken damage, the attacks on Togekiss have left the Jubilee pokemon tired!"
Kenny snorted, a cocky smirk on his maturing features. "I'm not gonna lie, Dawn. You've got me in a tough spot here. You've come a long way since…"
Memories of sobbing and sparkling hair came to mind, but Dawn's returned gaze shoved those out. Even if he was no longer pursuing her… She'd grown into a fine, polished coordinator. She deserved more respect than that. "...Since we had our first contest battle. Hate to tell you, though, I'm the one walking away with the Aqua Ribbon, here! Skarmory, Autotomize, then Steel Wing!"
Skarmory shifted gears once more, zipping at Togekiss in a crimson and silver blur.
Dawn's shoulders - and blood pressure - relaxed when Kenny avoided any degrading remarks. "We'll see. Dodge it, togekiss!"
Well aware of Skarmory's dexterity, Togekiss swerved upward, one wing dipping to swerve her out of the former's path. Chills ran down her spine when the winds passed by her, but the relief of avoiding Skarmory's first strike washed over. She hovered, beady eyes peeled for Skarmory.
The other avian squawked, flanking Togekiss with a vicious, explosive Steel Wing.
The impact sent her soaring sky-high, her body eerily still.
"Ooh, that one had to hurt! Togekiss tried her best, but she just wasn't fast enough!"
"We're not out yet," Dawn insisted, but her frown betrayed her. "Aura Sphere!"
"Toge…!" The fairy type whistled as an elegant wing was raised, forming another teal orb. "Kiss!" She cried, launching the attack with ferocity that was rare for a pokemon with her demeanor.
"Dodge it, Skarmory!" Kenny ordered.
Skarmory's superior speed bore fruit. He ducked under the pitch, swooping out of Aura Sphere's path. The attack shot on, its momentum dunking it into the pool.
"That didn't work last time, and it's not working now," Kenny boasted. "Night Slash!"
Haughty and eager to close the deal, Skarmory took off with violet-laced feathers.
Dawn, meanwhile, didn't utter a command one way or the other.
Kenny squinted at her silence. To ignore a potential finishing blow with barely more than a minute left on the clock… It was awfully suspicious.
A break in the pool's calm drift sent his heart pounding a few beats faster.
"Skarmory-!"
Before the warning could finish leaving Kenny's lips, the errant Aura Sphere crashed into the flying pokemon's underside, interrupting the coordinator with a squeal and a booming explosion.
Watching the ashy Skarmory descent from the smoke, Kenny exhaled. "You sneaky little… You planned that out, didn't you!"
All the smugness in the world had gathered on Dawn's face, a cheek-to-cheek smile and closed lids saying it all. She dramatically flicked her blue locks in response. "You've caught me red-handed. I had a bit of inspiration from someone I know."
"Who…" Kenny started, the lightbulb flickering only moments after, his eyes turning to the crowd. He had no idea where that teal, spiky-haired hothead was sitting, but Dawn didn't need to elaborate for him to get the idea. The guy could be a bit thick-headed, but when it came to battles, he was a whiz.
No wonder he and Dawn clicked so well together.
"Achoo!" Ash jolted, rubbing his nose from amongst the crowd. "Either I caught a cold somehow, or someone's talking about me… But man, Pikachu, did you see that Aura Sphere!? It was just like what I did to stop Team Rocket back in the forest! Dawn did it perfectly!" He gushed, starry-eyed and fists clenched.
"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu gushed, waving both paws above his head. Way to play it cool, Dawn!
Still startled from her trainer's sudden sneeze, Rosa shook her head before looking back to the field. ~That Aura Sphere was awesome! Kenny didn't know what hit him!~
"There's just one minute on the clock left! Both coordinators better make this time count!"
That announcement brought both friends, and their onlookers, out of their thoughts and banter.
"That's just what we'll do! Night Slash, one more time!" Kenny commanded with a grin.
As soon as Skarmory regained its balance and began moving, Dawn called out. "Endure it!"
Togekiss didn't have a choice. By time Dawn's words reached her, she was already feeling the pressure. Quite literally. She coughed and huffed, trying to retain her composure.
Skarmory had already long passed her by, doing boastful loops around the pool to show off his incredible agility. By now, Dawn's considerable lead was shrinking. Neither could afford to lose many more points!
"I've got 'er now," Kenny assured himself. "Now, finish it! Steel Wing!"
Skarmory swooped back around, silver sparkles trailing his body. It admittedly looked like he was leaving behind stardust.
It was quickly approaching, and Dawn was smirking from ear to ear. Waiting a few precious moments longer, she took her initiative with one terrifying call. "Fire Blast!"
Togekiss spread her wings, blooming a roaring pattern of fire. Right before Skarmory's terrified eyes.
Nearly losing his footing in a panic, Kenny called out. "Pull back! Outrun it!"
The attack was too wide to simply swerve past at this distance. Skarmory turned on its tail instead, zipping away from Togekiss and his encroaching predator. He could feel the residual heat snapping at his tail-feathers.
"Now, let's really make that Fire Blast shine!" Dawn ordered, one hand held near her heart, the other dramatically outstretched.
Togekiss fanned its wings once more, her whole body budding with a white glow.
Kenny, meanwhile, was too glued to his fleeing pokemon's fate to notice or even hear Dawn. By now, Skarmory and the Fire Blast were nearing the end of the pool. "Pull up, now!"
Skarmory frantically turned his nose up to ascend, his brassy heart jumping when he just barely avoided the worst of the heat.
While one pokemon fled from the Fire Blast, another approached it. Togekiss had taken off, her angelic form swooping into the eye of the flames. The pressure behind her latest attack shoved the center aside, allowing Togekiss to pass through a fanning ring of fire.
"Check that out! While Skarmory wouldn't be caught dead entering that Fire Blast, Togekiss dove into it head-on! Using what looks like Sky Attack, she's blown right through it!"
"Sky Attack!?" Kenny echoed in apprehension, quite a few moments too late.
Just as the maneuver was apparently composed, it unfolded without a hitch. Togekiss had passed through the fading Fire Blast, coating herself in the more persistent flames. The heat clung to her white shining aura, creating something not too unlike the image of a phoenix around Togekiss.
"Let's see how you like Sky Phoenix!" Dawn declared with pride, pointing upward. "Togekiss?"
"Toge!" She cried, swerving up after passing through her very own target. With all of her momentum and all of Kenny's confusion, she had little trouble catching up with Skarmory, striking it with her radiant, flaming body.
The fire and Sky Attack's veil dispersed upon impact, creating a quick, but impressive afterimage before fading away before the stadium's eyes.
Togekiss made a quick departure herself, gently circling the air above the pool to recuperate.
"...And we're out of time! Just in time for Togekiss to finish her beautiful counter-attack, too. It's been an amazing effort by both competitors, but only one could come out on top!" Lillian dramatized, turning her attention to the scoreboard. "Which makes our winner… Dawn!"
With Kenny's points barely above zero, his image disappeared from the screen to make room for Dawn's face, which took up the center of the screen, and "WINNER" spelled out in large, golden letters.
"It really came down to the wire, and Kenny's quick and sturdy Skarmory put Dawn through the wringer. But that last minute strategy on Dawn's part sealed it all! What an amazing show!"
Deafening shouts and whistles from the crowd nearly drowned Lillian's voice out, even with the stadium's speakers in her favor. Fans of both coordinators alike shouted out in appreciation of the heart-throbbing match. What an exciting conclusion!
Ash whistled through two fingers between his lips, pumping his fist in support of his girlfriend and her pokemon. "Woo-hoo! Alright, Dawn! Way to take it home!" He cheered, absolutely rowdy over the match. That combination'd really caught his eye, too!
"Pika-Pikachu!"
~Yay, Dawn!~
Ciara shrunk in her seat, a pair of fingers tapping at her arm. "Kenny really did his best, too…" Moments afterward, she flushed, straightening up stiffly in her seat. "B-but I'm happy for Dawn, too! She was amazing! I-I-"
Ash silenced the fretting girl with a hand on her shoulder, flashing a smile. "Take it easy. It's tough rooting for two people you like when they're up against each other. We've all been there."
The girl curtly nodded, returning her eyes to the stage.
Awestruck in the face of her victory, Dawn stood speechless in a heart-stomping stupor. That was, until she watched a tired Togekiss hover back down towards her platform. "...Ah! Togekiss! You were wonderful!"
She sprinted to the landing pokemon, throwing her arms around her. "You really pushed your limits out there, didn't you? Thank you so much. That Sky Phoenix was just perfect, too!"
"Toge-Toge~" The Jubilee pokemon chimed, embracing her trainer with her large wings. She was on her last legs, right now, but helping her trainer achieve victory was more than satisfying!
After this, she'd need a nice, long nap.
Whether it was by coincidence or intuition, Dawn held out Togekiss' pokeball. "You ought to have a nice, long rest. Thanks again, Togekiss." With that, the pokemon was absorbed in a red flash.
"Thank you, Skarmory," Kenny recalled his exhausted, toasted pokemon. He took a long deep breath, soaking in the initial disappointment. "All the way to Kanto, just to lose, huh…" He scowled, looking across the pool to his blue-haired rival. He couldn't help but smile.
"You really earned this one, Dawn."
"A wonderful back-and-forth between both coordinators! I was on the edge of my seat!" announced, over his microphone, beginning the traditional judges' review.
"Beautiful, and remarkable!" added his predictable commentary.
"Both Togekiss and Skarmory looked healthy and glistening, and showed wonderful composure through a tough, trying battle. It's very easy to see that both Dawn and Kenny raised them well!" Suzie added, with her breeding expertise.
With the three main judges having said their piece, Lillian took over. "Now, Wallace will say a few words for this cups' victor!"
A short, organized scramble brought an elevated stand to Dawn's end of the stage, where she stood proudly amongst her pokemon. Absol and Clefairy stood on either side of her, with Pachirisu before her. Too large for the platform, Empoleon and Togekiss stood beside it on each end. The former didn't seem incredibly happy about this, but hey, he was still in the spotlight.
With Lillian and the three judges standing by, Wallace approached the Twinleaf native for a second time. "Dawn, once again, I would like to say 'bravo!' You and your pokemon both showed a great deal of composure and creativity, making you fitting two-time winners. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that it puts a smile on my face to've seen you grow so much as a coordinator. For all of your hard work in bringing out your pokemon's beauty, I'd like to present to you the Aqua Ribbon, once more!"
Just as was custom the last time around, the beautiful, coiling Milotic beside the Master Coordinator let loose a miniscule iteration of Aqua Ring to gently carry the ribbon towards Dawn.
The girl ceremoniously accepted it into her hands, her smile pressing all the way across her flushed cheeks. "Thank you, so much! It's been an honor to compete in this event again, and I had a great time with my pokemon! It's a great event to meet tons of talented coordinators, no matter what region it's held in!"
"Chi-pa!"
"Clefa~!"
"Sol."
"Kiss!"
"Empol!"
Dressed as elegantly and flamboyantly as usual, Wallace raised his hands toward the sky. "Very well said. I've greatly enjoyed the techniques and passion exhibited not just by Dawn, but Kenny, and every other coordinator here, as well! I truly hope that this event has taught everyone to forge a deeper and more brilliant bond with their pokemon! I pray that soon, we'll all meet again!"
Milotic took her cue, pointing her head towards the sunny sky, only to fire a roaring violet flash out of her mouth that climbed the skies all the way to the top of the dome. The head and wings of a dragon emerged from the brilliant burst, exploding far above the stadium. Multicolored sparkles rained down onto the crowd, earning thunderous applause.
After allowing everyone to get their pokemon healed and put away supplies, an after party of sorts was held. The vendors catered and soft music was played over the speakers. Children and pokemon alike dived into the once again clean pool.
Behind the stage, Brendan stood by his teacher, hands in his pockets and shoulders up by his ears.
"You got angry on stage," Wallace chided, swirling a red, plastic cup of something that was orange but decidedly not orange juice. "That was inappropriate. What was that about?"
Leaning against the railing surrounding the party zone, Brendan lifted the clip to hide a frown. "I was trying to defend my new friends." Speaking of them, he looked over to where Ciara was standing across the pool, all alone with Kenny.
Wringing her hands together, Ciara walked beside her crush. "Y-you did really good today. Even if you didn't win, it was so impressive! S-Second place is really cool."
"You think?" Kenny asked, genuinely flattered. He chuckled. "Thanks."
Another pair of eyes was on the couple. Seated at the most decorated table among all of them, Dawn cooed over her childhood friend and her new fire loving friend.
"Aw," she purred. "They're so cute! Aren't they, Ash?"
The teen was stuffing his face with cake and sandwiches. "Phffoo?"
"Ciara and Kenny?" Dawn asked, raising a brow.
"Oh! Yeah, they are!" he agreed after swallowing. "Speakin' of familiar faces…"
"Yo! Dawn!"
Turning around, she spotted the speaker: Maddox. Furrowing her brows, she forcefully dug her fork into her slice of cake. "What do you want?"
"To congratulate ya," he said simply. He clicked his tongue and gave her a quick finger gun. "Ya did great out there! Lookin' forward to our next battle!"
Just as quickly as he'd walked over, he left.
"... That was strange," she muttered. "Thanks!" she yelled. "That was so unusual for him, wasn't it?!"
"Maybe he respects you now." Ash shrugged before moving onto the cookies, only to realize Empoleon and Pikachu had gobbled all of them down. "Guys, really?!" He looked over to his cup… Only to see Rosa had emptied it. "That was my third plate… I guess we're done here."
As he got up, he spotted Suzie by the bar. "Hey, Dawn! C'mon! I want you to meet Suzie before we go!"
"The breeder?" Dawn asked. "You know her?"
Ash nodded. "Oh yeah!"
Getting up, she and the rest of the party followed Ash over.
"Hey, Suzie!" Ash yelled aloud, waving to the green-haired woman.
"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu chattered, greeting her, as well.
"Hm? Ash!?" The judge turned, brows raising high when she spotted the familiar face. "I had no idea you were watching the cup! And I'm certain I didn't see you among the competitors…"
She blinked, spotting the yellow mouse. He looked comparatively smaller on Ash's shoulder, now that he was practically her height. "Oh, hello, Pikachu!" Suzie reached to scratch behind his ear with the expertise of a seasoned breeder. "I hope Ash has taken to petting and treating you with care, like I instructed?"
"Cha~!" Pikachu cooed, happily craning his neck for the gentle hand. Ash sure had!
The raven-haired trainer chuckled. "The one and only. It's great to see you, again!" How long had it been, now? A couple of years? "I wasn't competing. I was here watching the winner!" With that, Ash jerked a finger over towards the blue-haired coordinator with a grin.
"Oh, Dawn! Congratulations!" Suzie gushed, clasping her hands together in excitement. "Your battles and your appeal were all very enjoyable. You've raised such elegant pokemon!"
"Thank you! We try our best!" Dawn replied with a small bow. "I've heard of your work! You're very talented!"
"You're too kind," Suzie's lips curved upward. "If Ash is with you, he'll have to bring you to my boutique in Celadon, sometime! ...Oops, I guess that leaves you feeling a little obligated, doesn't it?" She meekly admitted, cupping a few fingers over her mouth with a nervous chuckle.
"We actually passed through Celadon a while ago," Dawn recalled. "...Ash, you should've told me you knew a boutique in the area!" She pouted, just a bit disappointed in her boyfriend.
"Look, we were really busy…" Ash stammered, waving his hands in front of him after taking a small step backwards. "...But next time we're in the area, we'll swing on by! It's no big deal, really."
"That sounds like fun," Suzie agreed, beaming at the two trainers. "We'll have to catch up, too, Ash. Until then, I guess I should leave you two to celebrate! Lillian did say you were a two-time winner.
"She did, didn't she?" Dawn echoed, failing to hide a proud, cheeky smile at the fact. "Well, alright. We'll see you again!" She waved as she grabbed Ash's hand, tugging him off.
"H-hey!" Ash yelled, stumbling along with Dawn. He turned to wave as he was pulled along, and Pikachu did the same. "Sounds good! Bye!"
"Pika-Pika!"
Still holding his hand, the two stood across the pool, slightly secluded by the curtains of the stage and the approaching twilight. In the pool itself, Kenny's Empoleon surfed Ciara's shiny Vulpix safely across.
"Empo…" the water type whined.
Dawn looked to Ash before smiling. "Aw, we can stay a little while longer. Why don't you guys go play in the pool?"
Whooping with glee, Empoleon quickly scooped up Rosa. It'd been a while since he'd been able to surf with her! Pikachu began to hop after them, but the burst of a pokeball caught his attention. He looked back to see that Dawn had released Buneary. His ears stood erect as she moved beside him.
He smiled. He supposed it wouldn't hurt to go swimming with her. "Pika!"
"Buneary!" The normal type cooed, her paws pressed together coupled with quite a bashful smile and rosy cheeks.
Both lagomorphs dove into the pool with much more subtle splashes.
With that, Dawn and Ash were alone again.
"Oh!" Ash suddenly muttered before bending down a bit, giving her a peck on the cheek. He then let go of her hand to wrap his arm around her waist. "I never gave you a real congrats! I'm super proud of you!"
Blushing furiously, Dawn hid her scorching face in her hands. A moment's silence calmed her, and she rested her head against the side of his chest. "Is this how we're gonna celebrate from now on…?"
"Hm?" He cocked his head before chuckling. "Well, I wouldn't mind it!"
Our heroes enjoyed each other's embrace in the radiant red light of evening, vaguely aware of Kenny trying to cheer on his own Empoleon in a race between the two steel birds. Rosa and Vulpix, meanwhile, let out little yips to encourage their own friend to hurry towards victory. The Wallace Cup might have come to an end, but the fun was just beginning. New friends and progress could only make their adventure better!
