Welcome back, everyone! Thanks for stopping by for this latest chapter! If you'd like, we'd really appreciate your reviews and feedback! Enjoy!
Also, as an extra note, I'd like to give a shout out to two other writers! If you've liked the Pikachu/Buneary content in this story, you'll love what ravengal and VGS2 the sexy sausage have written! Both have plenty of lagomorphshipping content, which I'm super grateful for, right now. Give it a look, if you have a moment!
"Next up is the quiet flame, Ciara! Let's see what she has in store for us, this time!"
Ciara ran on stage, clutching a pokeball in each of her hands. "Flareon, Magmar!" She called, spinning on her heel to toss both balls backhanded. "Charm up!"
Flareon cooed, standing proudly on all fours. Beside her, the larger Spitfire pokemon stood, maintaining an ironically cooler demeanor.
The coordinator gestured with a hand held outward. "Flareon, use Fire Spin, on Magmar!"
"Flare!" The fox launched an inferno from her mouth. Upon striking Magmar, the fire exploded into a towering twister, wrapped in vibrant shades of red and orange. Embers rained from Fire Spin freely.
"Look at the power of that Fire Spin! But, what's become of Magmar!?"
Ciara's fluffy purple locks rustled, lit vibrantly by the flames. She always did find the warm ambience of her fire types' moves comforting. It was embarrassing to say, but it was honestly a little invigorating. But, she wasn't here to focus on herself. "Magmar, Confuse Ray!"
Hints of plum began to run through Fire Spin, quickly becoming more vibrant, before purple rings permeated the flames, twisting them into rotating rings of fire. Magmar could be seen from within, exerting his supernatural influence on the storm.
"Wow! Magmar looks none the worse for wear, and even shows control over Fire Spin! What a daunting combination!"
"It's not done yet," Ciara muttered under her breath, swallowing thickly. 'Here we are… the hardest part's coming up. Let's hope we can pull it off!' She adjusted her thick-rimmed glasses, mentally preparing herself. "Flareon, jump into that Fire Spin!"
"Flare!" Flareon sprinted towards her own creation, leaping towards it. This routine had been practiced many times, with many failed attempts. She just had to time the jump just right…
As a gap broke in the flames, Flareon charged through, landing beside Magmar.
"Good," Ciara praised. "Flareon, you know what to do!"
"Flareon!" Flareon jumped once more, this time over Magmar's head.
"Magmar, use Lava Plume!"
"Mag!" Magmar turned his head upward, spitting a rising pillar of lava towards Flareon.
"Flareon, use Flame Charge!"
Flames surrounded Flareon, soon met by Lava Plume. Riding the wave of molten heat, Flareon soared skyward, heading the potent Flame Charge, until she reached the peak of Fire Spin.
"My goodness! Look at that super-powered Flame Charge! Flareon's riding that wave, towards the top of that Fire Spin, like a rocket, launching into space!"
"Flareon!" Flareon leapt to strike a stylish pose, breaking away from the heat. Excess flames showered and split, and Fire Spin died out with it.
Surrounded by dwindling embers, Flareon stuck a graceful landing beside Magmar.
Ciara took the opportunity to bow, to the tune of deafening applause.
"The teamwork between Flareon and Magma was excellent! Magmar's power, and Flareon's playful nature wrapped together quite well," Mr. Contesta surmised.
"Lively, and remarkable!" Mr. Sukizo added.
"I just loved the fireworks!" Nurse Joy commented.
"Full of personality, and full of excitement," Marina praised. "Flareon's ascension through Fire Spin was striking! And, Magmar came out looking just as strong, for manipulating the heat around him! Top-notch!"
"Way to go, Ciara!" Ash cheered from the audience, waving a fist.
"Piiika-chu!"
"Larkspur takes the stage, to grace us with his green thumb!"
"Bellossom, Cradily!" The boy introduced, tossing two pokeballs. "Show us what you can do!"
The fossil pokemon and the small floral dancer appeared side by side; the former making a sturdy landing, and the latter making her entrance with a graceful spin.
"Use Grass Knot, Cradily!"
Cradily tossed its head back, summoning a medley of vines that sprouted through the stage. They weren't satisfied with breaking the earth, though; Grass Knot climbed higher, still.
"Good," Larkspur praised. "Now, Bellossom, please use Quiver Dance!"
"Bel!" Bellossom cooed, hopping onto the lowest of the vines. Spotting the next step up, the grass type spun onto the higher vine, her floral dress twirling as she went. A white ethereal glow trailed her, as she twirled her way up the climbing greenery.
"How beautiful! Cradily's creating a small forest of vines before our very eyes, and Bellossom is making the best of it!"
The vines stopped, after climbing up several yards., each nearly even in stature.
Larkspur beamed. This was going perfectly! Now, for the finisher. "Bellossom, use Petal Dance!"
"Lossom!" Bellossom twirled atop the vines, summoning a cascade of beautiful pink petals that decorated Grass Knot's vines.
"Cradily and Bellossom have worked together to create a garden, right in the middle of our stage!"
Following a gesture from Larkspur, Bellossom hopped down, doing a curtsy after landing beside Cradily. Applause rang out for the trio.
Mr. Contesta began the appeal's review. "A gentle approach, but each pokemon knew their role and acted it out to perfection!"
Mr. Sukizo was next. "Remarkable!"
Nurse Joy followed. "Bellossom really seemed to be enjoying herself! The collaboration really delivered on what you'd expect from a grass type appeal."
Marina was last. "Their trainer clearly isn't the only one with a green thumb! Well done!"
"Up next is the Petite Princess, Ember!"
The redheaded coordinator pranced onto the stage, elegantly tossing both of her pokeballs. "Cherrim, Ampharos! Let's dazzle 'em!"
A petite purple bud landed in the fray, and beside it, a large, yellow biped, the latter decorated with black stripes, and beady red gems on his head and tail.
"Use Growth, Cherrim!"
A low hum came from under Cherrim's purple shell, followed by a green aura surrounding the grass-type pokemon.
"Ampharos, Cotton Spore!"
"Am!" Ampharos spun, unleashing a swarm of cotton balls around itself and Cherrim.
"Now, Cherrim, use Sunny Day!"
A bright orb launched above Cherrim, taking hold above the stadium. Harsh sunlight washed over the field, casting a spotlight on Cherrim and Ampharos.
Suddenly, Cherrim began to change. The purple protective bud unfolded, showing off beautiful cherry blossom petals, two healthy red, berry-like orbs, and a golden, sunny face.
The many tufts of cotton spore glistened under the harsh sunlight, outshone only by Cherrim's lively petals, and Ampharos' glimmering gems.
"Now, to wrap it up!" Ember declared, throwing her hands in the air. "Petal Dance!"
"Cherrim!" Cherrim howled, turning into an enthusiastic spin. A storm of pink petals spun about the sunny arrangement, forming a colorful flower bed amongst the cotton.
Cherrim finished its dance by hopping atop Ampharos' head, and they both struck a pose.
"Gorgeous! Even as we slide into fall, I definitely felt like we got a sample of Springtime, in this arena!"
"I definitely feel like we watched spring bloom before our very eyes, Mr. Contesta, remarked, a little uncomfortable that he'd basically repeated Lilian's commentary. "Well-done!"
"Beautiful, and remarkable," Mr. Sukizo added.
"My heart really feels at ease, after that soothing performance!" Nurse Joy commended.
"You showed off your pokemon's abilities, in the best way!" Marina praised.
"Give a nice, loud welcome to the unstoppable Maddox!"
"Raticate, Poliwrath!" Maddox called out with a grin, wildly tossing his pokeballs. "Let's rumble!"
"Rrrraticate!" Raticate hissed, snapping his mighty incisors.
"Poli!" Poliwrath flipped onto his feet, flexing his muscles.
"Power up to the max, Raticate!" Maddox coached. "Swords Dance!"
Raticate growled, summoning several glowing swords that spun about its person, sharply raising its attack power.
"That's the stuff! Now, use Flame Wheel on Poliwrath!"
Raticate hopped back a sizeable difference, before bursting into flames, spinning rapidly before launching itself in the shape of a blazing spiral. Scorching the ground beneath it, Raticate assaulted Poliwrath.
The water type, meanwhile, widened his stance, holding his gloved hands outward. He'd meet the collision with sturdy vigor, pushing back against Raticate's Flame Wheel.
"What's this!? After powering up, Raticate has attacked Poliwrath!"
Poliwrath's strength was great. But, Flame Wheel was more ferocious, grinding away at the water type's firm grip. The latter began to lose ground, being pushed along the field's surface.
"Don't take that, Poliwrath!" Maddox hollered, throwing a hand forward. His tattered leather jacket whipped around with his movements. "Submission!"
"Poli!" Poliwrath grunted, opening his arms. Flame Wheel plowed into his torso, attacking him with stray heat. But, he'd be no punk's pokemon if he couldn't fight the power, head-on. Poliwrath swung inward, grappling the oncoming Flame Wheel. Then, he let momentum do the rest, tumbling backwards with Raticate. The two pokemon became a spiral of red and blue.
"Finish it!" Maddox called out.
Still rolling backwards, Poliwrath planted his feet into the earth, springing backwards into the air. The self-sacrificial wrestling move carried himself and Raticate in a backwards arc, ending with a climactic collision. Poliwrath slammed Raticate's Flame Wheel into the ground, head first.
The crash brought on an explosive inferno, raining heat across the fray.
When the commotion cleared, both pokemon stood, none the worse for wear.
"Right on!" Maddox cheered for his pokemon. "Totally cool."
"An explosive performance, by Raticate and Poliwrath!"
"A great display of your pokemon's power," Mr. Contesta spoke.
"Loud, and remarkable!" Mr. Sukizo reviewed.
"I was having so much fun, watching this unfold! It was like a real-life wrestling match!" Nurse Joy praised.
"Props for going for a show of strength!" Marina praised. "It's easy to try to be flashy, but sometimes it does just as well to show how strong your pokemon can be!"
"Keep your eyes peeled, for the refined force of Quijote Mancha!"
The showman stood in the middle of his requested water field, atop a raised platform. He tossed his pokeballs with vigor. "Seaking, Aggron! Let's give them a show!"
"Seaking!" The water type dove into the pool, intentionally making a splash upon entry.
Aggron stood atop another one of the platforms, roaring loudly. "Ag!"
"Aggron," Quijote addressed, "Rock Tomb, if you'd please!"
Aggron stomped one of its gargantuan feet against the platform, making the entire pool tremble. Ripples ran through the water, as if heralding an incoming storm. Subsequently, a huge mass of rock erupted from the body of water, towering far beyond it.
"Excellent! Now, Seaking, Waterfall!"
Seaking breached the surface, climbing a soaring river under its belly that ran up the surface of the rocky spire, as if it were a cliff. Reaching the peak of the rock, Seaking jumped the waterfall with practiced grace.
"My goodness! Seaking and Aggron have created a waterfall, in our very own stadium!"
"Excellent!" Quijote shouted, gesturing wildly with his arms - as if he'd created the phenomenon, himself. "Now, the finale! Seaking, Megahorn!"
Seaking dove backwards, belly-up, flipping back towards Aggron's platform. The fish's horn shone with a powerful luster, doubling in size.
"Aggron, Metal Burst!"
Aggron opened his mouth, forming a shining silver orb.
Megahorn crashed into Metal Burst, consuming the field in a flash.
The pool, surrounding Aggron, Seaking, and Quijote glimmered with silver.
"What a shining performance, from Quijote and his team!"
"Plenty of power and confidence in that performance. Well done!" Mr. Contesta spoke.
"Remarkable!" Mr. Sukizo said, as usual.
"I felt like I was watching nature unfold, before my eyes!" Nurse Joy praised.
"Very strong performance! Your pokemon showed their strength and beauty, all at once!" Marina chimed.
"The cool and stylish Ryan is on the scene!"
"Venusaur, Raichu!" The Ace Trainer chucked his capsules with practiced flair. "Let's give them a show!"
The Mouse pokemon and the Seed pokemon appeared side by side.
"Raichu, get on out there!" Ryan commanded.
"Rai!" Raichu turned away from Ryan, springing into a series of backflips, until he found the center of the stage.
"Now, Venusaur, Frenzy Plant!"
"Saur!" Venusaur roared, summoning the forces of nature from below. Gigantic, spike roots erupted from the stage, arranged in a perfect circle around Raichu. Each pointed inwards towards the pudgy rodent.
"Great stuff," Ryan praised. "Now, Thunder!"
"Raiiii! Chu!" Raichu threw his paws outward, firing wild blue lightning from his body. Wild bolts drew to each of the roots like lightning rods, coursing through them.
"Wow! Thunder draws to Frenzy Plant, lighting it up into a sort of lightning cage! Check out the power of both of those moves!"
"Right on!" Ryan grinned. This was going as rehearsed! "Let's wrap this up! Raichu?"
"Chu!" Raichu hopped high, above Frenzy Plant. In tandem, the roots drew together at their ends to catch Raichu, who managed to balance on the tip of his tail!
"Raiiii!" Raichu cried, lighting up with Thunder's full might. White-hot bolts danced around him, and across the field, creating a bold, bright spectacle.
"And, that's a wrap!" Ryan concluded, as Frenzy Plant withdrew, and Raichu returned to his trainer and partner.
"Thank you, Ryan, for that thunderous performance!" Lilian ignored the occasional groan from the audience at her pun.
"Very striking simplicity!" Mr. Contesta remarked.
"Remarkable!" Mr. Sukizo said.
"I loved the light show! Both pokemon are very talented," Nurse Joy praised.
"Both pokemon came together for a dazzling show, with just two moves! I love that showmanship!" Marina commended.
"Up next, is none other than Glenda!"
The cloaked woman took her place on the stage, and grabbed two pokeballs from the inside of her jacket. Professionally maintaining a calm poise, she coolly tossed both capsules into the air. "Dusknoir, Talonflame! If you'd please!"
Two flashes of light took form in the air; one, a hulking shadowy cyclops. The other was an unfamiliar sight - a predator bird with red and grey feathers, forming a pattern resembling a flame on its belly. A black mask surrounded its eyes, accented with yellow. It cried out, expanding its wings. Hot embers cascaded from its feathers.
"What's that pokemon!?" Ash blurted out, fidgeting for his Pokedex.
"I've never seen it before," Brock hummed. "It must be from a foreign region."
"Aha!" Ash fished out his device, pointing it at the stage.
"Talonflame: the Scorching pokemon. In the fever of an exciting battle, it showers embers from the gaps between its feathers and takes to the air."
"Must be a fire and flying type," Ash guessed. "Can't wait to see what it can do!"
"Dusknoir, Shadow Punch. Talonflame, use Me First!"
Dusknoir turned towards Talonflame, holding its fists outward.
There was a gleam in Talonflame's eyes. Without a sound, the avian beat his wings. A lifeless grey aura followed his beating wings, before escaping them. Two undead wings shot towards Dusknoir, leaving a chill in their wake.
The Gripper pokemon ducked under the imitation Shadow Punch, not surprised in the least. He launched his own pair of ghoulish fists towards Talonflame.
In tune with his teammate, Talonflame gracefully rolled out of harm's way.
True to Shadow Punch's nature, both iterations of the move circled back towards their targets.
Without a word from their trainer, Talonflame and Dusknoir twisted in circles, passing each other during their escape. Neither Shadow Punch had given up their chase, so the pokemon had no choice but to climb higher.
"Somehow, both pokemon have used Shadow Punch, and are dodging them with amazing agility!" Lilian narrated. "But, they've yet to escape each other's attacks! Just what could they be up to!?"
Glenda watched from below, silent, for the moment.
Shadow Punch danced an aggressive pattern towards the rising, spiraling duo, whipping up a cyclone of deathly gray that climbed towards the sky. It soon had the duo surrounded.
Eyeing one another, the bird and the ghost tucked into the center of the storm, back to back. Talonflame kept its gaze on the incoming fists, and screeched to Dusknoir.
The two pokemon spun, swapping places. Shadow Punch shot up between them, missing completely. A grunt from Dusknoir prompted the next rotation, and the ghastly wings passed next.
"Talonflame!" Glenda broke her silence. "Flame Charge!"
Talonflame burst into flames, launching himself into the paths of Shadow Punch. Wrapping around the grey spiral, Flame Charge ignited the trails from top to bottom. Both trails flared violently, snapping towards their ends, like the thread leading to a stick of dynamite.
With a shriek, Talonflame intercepted Shadow Punch.
"Hex!" Glenda ordered from below.
Dusknoir hummed a low, haunting note, extending open hands towards the smoke.
Grey smoke died down, quickly. Where Talonflame had been, laid a horrible sight. One that made part of the audience gasp and shriek in terror.
A huge, deep blue eye with a blood red iris floated above, surrounded by a creeping purple aura.
Glenda snapped her fingers. "Brave Bird!"
The horrid eye above contorted, sprouting disfigured purple wings. With a ghostly screech, it fell into a nosedive. The wings flapped, raining swept around the arena, staring blankly at spectators before returning to Dusknoir.
Hex faded away, and Talonflame floated in its place, striking a pose with Dusknoir. The two pokemon bowed, as did Glenda.
Vivian hugged her arms to her chest, nursing a chill that had run down her spine. She hissed in discomfort before turning to nervous laughter. "Ahaha, alllllright, everyone! Give it up for Glenda and her terrifying pokemon!"
Uneasy applause followed. The lack of enthusiasm among those scared straight was made up for by very vocal fans of the appeal.
"My goodness! It's not often you see an appeal like that!" Mr. Contesta blustered. "A bit grotesque for my tastes, but the pokemon were very well coordinated!"
"Remarkably frightening!" Mr. Sukizo spoke, wiping sweat from his brow with a handkerchief.
"Bone-chilling!" Nurse Joy spoke. "Talonflame and Dusknoir left quite the impression!"
"I loved it!" Marina chimed. "No better way to make yourself stand out than to scare the pants off people, right?" She chuckled, and continued. "Talonflame and Dusknoir clearly knew what they were about! What a talented bunch!"
The woman recalled her pokemon, curtly nodding towards the judges before exiting the stage. "Excellent work," she whispered, praising the pokemon as they were clipped to the inside of her jacket.
"Put your hands together for the princess of flash and flare; Dawn Tsumura!"
The blue-haired coordinator stepped onto the stage, preparing herself with a deep breath. She exhaled, closing her eyes to center her focus. 'Here we go. Time to make it through to the battle rounds!' Dawn's lids lifted to reveal two focused blue hues. "Ambipom, Togekiss!" She smiled widely, twirling to toss her pokeballs gracefully into the air. "Spotlight!"
Two flashes of light crossed one another to form on the stage. Ambipom crouched with her characteristic grin, her tails linking into a heart above her. Togekiss stood behind her teammate, her snow-white wings spanned outward.
"Togekiss, get on up there!" Dawn encouraged, throwing a hand skyward.
"Kiss!" Togekiss flapped her wings, gracefully climbing the sky until she found a comfortable height, leisurely twirling about. The high noon sun shone down upon her, giving the Jubilee pokemon an angelic appearance.
"Now, Aura Sphere!"
"Toge…!" Togekiss cooed, whipping up an Aura Sphere, tossing it towards Ambipom.
"Now, Ambipom, Double Hit!"
"Am!" The primate widened her stance, watching the descending orb with unwavering intensity. As it drew close, her twin tails gained a purple glow. "Ambi! Pom!" She'd spin, smacking the sphere with one of her tails to send it into a spin. The second smacked it back into the sky.
"Good job! Now, keep it up, you two!" Dawn encouraged, pumping her fists.
"Togekiss!" Togekiss cried, turning into a spin. One Aura Sphere after the next rained down from her wings, assaulting the stage with a barrage of teal energy blasts.
"Togekiss whips up a whole storm of Aura Spheres! And, they're coming right for Ambipom!"
"Am…" The normal type's eyes narrowed, her entire body poised for action. Every target was just another ping pong ball, ready to get smacked right back.
"It's your turn, Ambipom!" Dawn encouraged. "Double Hit!"
"Ambi!" Ambipom sprang into action, smacking two Aura Spheres, each with one of her tails, sending them soaring. Spotting another incoming sphere, she flipped backwards into a handstand, smacking it away. With another sphere incoming, she somersaulted forward, backhanding it into the sky.
The process continued, with several close-call dives spiking the Aura Spheres out of harm's way.
"Look at Ambipom go! She's smacking every Aura Sphere away as it comes in, and she makes it look easy!"
"You go, Ambipom!" Ash stood up from his seat, pumping a fist in the air.
"Pika-Pika-Pika-chu!" Pikachu hollered, waving his arms. She was on fire!
~You got this, Dawn!~ Rosa waved a paw in support.
"Those ping-pong skills are really being put to work!" Brock beamed. "All that time training certainly didn't go to waste."
"Now, it's time to wrap this up!" Dawn declared, throwing her hands outward. "Togekiss, Sky Attack!"
"Tog…!" Togekiss hummed, spanning her wings. White light gathered around her, gradually bathing the fairy type in ethereal glow. Going beyond that, Sky Attack's aura sprouted from Togekiss' wings, making them appear as if they'd doubled in size.
Dawn pointed down, towards the field. "Go!"
"Kiss!" Togekiss cried, dropping into a nosedive. The wings of Sky Attack flashed in line with her, slashing through each Aura Sphere on its way down. A chain reaction of blue, flashing explosions trailed Togekiss, bursting like a storm of explosive bubbles.
"Get ready, Ambipom!" Dawn coached.
"Ambi!" Ambipom crouched, holding her tails together above her head. Flexing her secondary hands, she waited for Togekiss' impact.
"Togekiss is coming down straight for Ambipom with a fully charged Sky Attack!"
The light of Sky Attack crashed into Ambipom.
Ambipom struggled, feeling the full weight of Togekiss press into the palms of her tails. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to stand, holding Sky Attack within her grip.
A beautiful halo exuded from the point of impact, bathing the battlefield in white.
Dawn's smile stretched to the corners of her cheeks. Her ocean blue eyes shimmering with the results. She could feel her polished bangs whipping about from the impact. The stage settled, and Dawn turned to give the crowd a peace sign and a wink. "And, that's that!"
With all of her strength, Ambipom held Togekiss steady, and propped her above with her tails. "Ambi!"
Togekiss spread her wings outward, smiling for the judges. "Kiss!"
"A flashy show of strength and beauty, from Dawn!" Lilian narrated, to the tune of deafening applause.
Dawn couldn't contain her laughter, running over to crouch by her pokemon, resting a hand on each of their shoulders. "You were both excellent! Everything went just the way we practiced!"
"Oo-ah!" Ambipom chattered, nuzzling into Dawn's hand. She'd need some rest for her tails after this, but she was satisfied!
"Toge!" Togekiss was happy to have played a part!
With that, the coordinator and her pokemon turned to listen to the judges.
"The lengths of Ambipom's strength and control of her tails was shown magnificently, with that last maneuver. It's truly well-trained!" Mr. Contesta praised.
"Lovely, and remarkable!" Mr. Sukizo spoke.
"Both pokemon looked like they were having so much fun," Nurse Joy cooed. "It was like a super-charged game of ping-pong, right before our eyes!"
"Bravo!" Marina cheered. "Togekiss' grace and power really came through, with that Sky Attack, and Ambipom's dexterity shone with her half, as well! Both pokemon really got the chance to shine!"
More than satisfied, Dawn smiled to herself, recalling her two pokemon. "We did it, Ambipom, Togekiss!" She stood to excuse herself, bowing to the judges before making her way backstage.
She exhaled, brushing a stray bang out of her face, as she stepped into the cool locker room. After performing out in the afternoon sun, the air conditioning was a huge relief. Sinnoh summers were doable, but Kanto summers left her sweating.
Not that Dawn would even think to complain, right now. She was smiling so hard, her cheeks were beginning to hurt - she'd pulled it off!
"Dawn!" A soft-spoken voice called. Ciara ran up to her mentor, excitedly taking her hand. "Dawn, that was… incredible! So powerful! That's just like you!" The spectacled girl's eyes shone in admiration.
"Aw, c'mon." Dawn ran a hand through her hair, her cheeks turning pink from the praise. "It was all the pokemon's doing, really."
"Yeah," a deeper voice interrupted, "but, remember who raised those pokemon!"
Brock led the group, tailed by Ash - curse his elder friend's longer legs - and Misty. "That combination went off perfectly! You should be proud."
"Ambipom catching that Sky Attack was incredible!" Ash held a hand up for Dawn.
Dawn beamed. The praise was nice; there was no need to be modest, now, was there? "We did train for that a lot!" She leaned forward to clap her hand against Ash's. "Both of them had to get the angle just right. You should've seen how many times we messed it up before we nailed it."
"Hey, it's the end result that matters!" Misty reminded.
"Good thing, too; did you see Glenda's appeal?" Ash shuddered.
"T-that was freaky," Ciara squeaked. "I was worried my appeal was a bit too spooky… But that…"
"Yours was great!" Dawn assured, beaming at her younger friend. "Flareon looked absolutely gorgeous, out there!"
"He really did his best." Ciara smiled, running a hand through her afro. "I'm proud of him, and Magmar. I just hope we measure up, after that…"
"Hey, no need to-"
"No need to worry," Dawn emphasized, preventing Ash from stealing her catchphrase again. "We've got some stiff competition, but that's fine! When the going gets tough, you just have to keep on trucking!"
"Right," Ciara agreed. "Now, we just have to wait for…"
"Ladies, and gentlemen! The judges have come to their decision! We're about to reveal the top 16 coordinators, who will head on to the battle rounds!"
Dawn and Ciara turned towards the nearest display screen, and their friends, with them. Lilian's face cleared for a blank screen. Ember appeared first, then, Larkspur. An unrecognizable face came before Quijote. Another coordinator the group didn't quite recognize came before Maddox. Two more coordinators appeared before Ryan.
Ciara and Dawn clutched their fists as a couple more coordinators appeared.
"Come on..." Ciara was absently rocking on her heels. This was so nerve-racking!
And… Ciara appeared!
"Yes!" The girl jumped in place, grinning from ear to ear.
"Two spots left…" Ash's eyes narrowed.
"You're up next, Dawn," Ciara reassured. "I-I'm sure of it!"
Glenda's face appeared.
Dawn's eyes didn't leave the screen once. Her knuckles were beginning to grow white with tension. But, surely she had to have made it - her appeal had gone off without a hitch!
...And, Dawn's face was last!
"Made it!" Dawn winked, flashing a peace sign at the group. "I called it!"
"Phew!" Ash exhaled. "I was getting a little nervous…"
"Aw, c'mon. Have a little faith in me!" Dawn teased, nudging him with her elbow.
But, admittedly, she'd started to tremble in her boots, a little…
"Hey, that's in the past now!" Misty chimed in. "Now, it's time to bust your way through the battle rounds!"
"You know it!" Dawn winked.
"Ash Ketchum!" Nurse Joy's voice could be heard over the intercom. "Please report to the registration desk in the main hall!"
"Finally!" Ash hopped out of his seat in the lobby, rushing to the desk that Nurse Joy stood behind. "I'm here!"
"Oh, silly me." The Nurse chuckled nervously, scratching her cheek. "I didn't see you, there!" She reached under the desk, pulling out a package that was secured tightly with duct tape. "This came in for you, just a few minutes ago!"
"About time," Ash whistled, gratefully accepting the package. He was still rocking impatiently on his heels. "Thank you, Nurse Joy!"
"What were you waiting for, anyway?" Dawn leaned over Ash's shoulder, prodding the unmarked box with a finger. "You've been totally restless!"
"It's a surprise!" Ash replied, quickly hugging the package away from Dawn. "You'll see for yourself, real soon!"
"You better mean soon; my first battle's in an hour!" Dawn crossed her arms.
"Don't you worry about a thing!" Ash winked. "Come on, Pikachu! Let's get ready!"
"Pika!" Pikachu agreed, running in pursuit of Ash towards the hall.
"What's their deal…?" Dawn quirked a brow.
"Empol…" Empoleon rubbed behind his head. He'd pressed Pikachu for details, but he wasn't blabbing, either.
"Oh, well. We really should be getting you and Rura prepped, anyway. We'll catch Ash, back at the room!"
"Empol!" Empoleon cawed.
~Imma look fresh!~ Rura yipped, climbing Dawn to sit atop her head.
"Piiiika-chu." Pikachu whined, wiggling his paw around. He'd somehow gotten it lost!
"What is it, buddy? Come on; we're almost ready." Ash huffed, crouching down to help his partner. "You got your paw in the wrong sleeve again, dude…"
"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu complained, his face heating in embarrassment. Had it really been that long since he'd worn one of these? The whole outfit was so loose; it was hard to tell what went where.
A knock could be heard on the door behind them. "Can we come in, already?" Dawn pleaded.
"Yeah, it's getting close to showtime!" Misty agreed, from the other side of the door.
"Just one second," Ash pleaded, fumbling with Pikachu's get-up. "There it is… just pull through, and… aha!" Triumphant, he stood, turning towards the door. "Alright, come on in!"
The knob turned, and the door opened. Dawn stepped forward first, then gasped. Empoleon shoved past Brock, and Rura leaned over his trainer's head to see what the fuss was.
"Ta-dah!" Ash grinned, punching a fist forward. He was dressed in a black suit, decorated with golden buttons down the middle of the torso, and along the cuffs. He wore matching black pants, and a white headband was tied on through his messy dark hair.
"Pika-chu!" Pikachu wore a teal robe with darker green trimmings, and held a fan in each paw that he waved excitedly above his head. "Pika-Pika!"
"Looks like you've got your own cheer squad, Dawn." Brock chuckled.
"Oh my goodness, how cute!" Dawn cooed, clutching her fists in admiration. She couldn't stop smiling. "You two look amazing!"
"We thought we'd pay you back, for gearing up for the league." Ash winked, pumping a fist. "So, we ordered these in to cheer you on in style!"
"Piiikachu." Pikachu rubbed the back of his head, flushing. This felt a little extravagant… but, Dawn and her team deserved it! "We're ready to see you guys on to victory!"
"You won't be disappointed!" Empoleon squawked, fighting back tears as he picked up Pikachu. "We'll make your efforts worth it, cross our hearts!"
"That's great," Pikachu chuckled awkwardly, "but you're… shaking… me…!" Tragically, Pikachu was being jostled around by an emotional Empoleon.
~Yeah, that's awful nice,~ Rura agreed absently, ~but, what about Meema!? If my ma ain't watchin', I'm gonna be pissed! This is my big debut!~
~Rura!~
Rura jumped off of Dawn's head startled. ~Meema!?~ He looked left and right. ~I don't see ya.~
"Now that you mention it, I don't see her, either," Misty hummed. "Ah! W-who's that!?" Suddenly pale, Misty pointed a finger towards the corner of the room.
On Ash's bed, sat a pale, unfamiliar woman, with her hands lying awkwardly in her lap. She had wild crimson hair with grey accents, tied behind her head with a blue bead. Her icy blue eyes were framed with red eyeliner, and she wore a deep grey dress with black frills.
"She couldn't be…!" Dawn held a hand over her mouth. The sight of a seeming stranger in their guest room was a bit unnerving, but there was only one explanation…
"Guys," Ash interrupted, "say hello to Mee!"
"...Me?" Misty tilted her head. Things grew a little too quiet. Brock hadn't budged. She cast a look at her elder friend. "Nothing from you, Brock?" No throwing himself at the stranger's feet, asking for a date? "When there's a woman in the room, you usually…"
"That's no woman," Brock cut her off.
"Eh?" Misty squinted. Her eyes finally widened in realization. "...You're Meema!"
~You ain't my Meema!~ Rura scurried over, circling about to scrutinize 'Mee.' ~Meema's a big, scary Zoroark with a MUCH bigger mane! That's some bull-~
'Mee' glowered at the Zorua.
Rura stilled, sweat dripping down his forehead. ~...Crud, you are my Meema.~
~You should still be behaving when I'm not present,~ the woman chided, her words coming with mismatched, awkward lip flaps. She was still getting the hang of this. She turned to the group sheepishly. ~Indeed, it's me. Sorry for deceiving you all.~
"Brock, you were right on the money!" Misty looked to the man, wide-eyed. "...How could you tell?"
"A man just has a sense about these things," Brock vaguely replied. He smiled. "Anyway, don't be sorry! That's a very good disguise! Anyone else would've been fooled."
~Waddya doin, dressed up like a human?~ Rura tilted his head at his mother. ~What gives?~
"You just said you want your mom cheering for you, right?" Ash beamed, crouching by Rura. "Well, there you have it! She put on a whole disguise, just so she can sit in the stands, with us!"
~Really!? For real!?~ Rura gawked. ~No foolin!?~
~Do you really think I'd miss my cub's big moment?~ 'Mee' walked over, crouching by her son. After a short series of confusing facial expressions, the illusion settled on a smile. She reached to brush a hand through the tuft of fur atop Rura's head.
"She's been working really hard at this," Ash explained, "getting a human look down, just right. We've been practicing it in secret!"
~It's been difficult, matching a human's mannerisms…~ Mee crouched, and gave a soft smile. This one came off more organic than the last. ~But, my one and only deserved the effort. As do you, Dawn.~
"And, me!" Empoleon butted in, gesturing to himself.
~Of course,~ Mee agreed.
"You're all just so precious!" Dawn crouched, nuzzling cheeks with the illusion. "With all of this support, we'll make sure to blow you guys away! We can't lose!"
~Yeah!~ Rura agreed, hopping in place.
"Empol!"
"Now, let's get on with the battle rounds, with the first of many matches!" Lilian riled the crowd, standing off to the side of the battlefield. "We're about to start off strong, with two tough gals, who have already faced off several times before, this season!"
"You better not be counting on an easy win here," Ember warned, running a hand through her maroon locks. "This'll be nothing like last time, Dawn!"
"I hope not! If I'm going to win this thing, I'd like to work for it!" Dawn sent a cocky smile Ember's way, grabbing her two choice pokeballs in preparation.
"You wish," Ember retorted.
"Sparks are already flying between our competitors!" Lilian narrated.
"Empoleon, Rura!" Dawn called out, tossing her pokeballs. "Spotlight!"
"Empol!" Empoleon appeared in a flash, extending a wing towards Ember. She was going down!
"Zor!" Rura yipped, grinning deviously. He tossed his head back to show off his shiny coat.
"Miltank, Ampharos, let's dazzle them!" Ember called on her own pokemon.
The Milk Cow pokemon stomped the field, eyeing Dawn. She'd have her revenge, this time!
Ampharos chirped an eager note, ready to show off.
Lilian raised her hand. "Let the battle… begin!"
As the clock began ticking, Ember's mind raced. 'Dawn plays dirty. I better get aggressive, like, right off the bat.' Brows furrowed, she threw a hand out. "Ampharos, Discharge!"
"Am!" Ampharos launched a wild flash of blue electricity, cutting a web of paths through the air towards Empoleon and Rura. The flashy display cut a small sliver off of Dawn's points.
"Empoleon, protect yourself and Rura, with Whirlpool!" Dawn commanded.
"Pol!" Empoleon nodded dutifully, holding both of his wings outward. Turning them in half a spiral, he brought a twisting current to life. A wall of water appeared in front of the Emperor and Tricky Fox pokemon, spinning horizontally.
The Whirlpool ate up the incoming Discharge, dragging lively blue electricity into its spin. Lightning coursed through the spinning shield, creating a beautiful canvas of blue hues.
"Check out that Whirlpool! It managed to stop Discharge in its tracks, and looks all the more beautiful for it!"
As the crowd cheered, Ember's points took a dive.
"Good work!" Dawn smiled, gesturing forward. "Rura, Snarl!"
~It's my turn, now!~ Rura barked from behind the Whirlpool. He opened his mouth, conjuring an orb made of intense shades of purple and black. He launched it into the water in front of him.
Whirlpool broke apart at the center, corrupted by a violet influence spreading through its waves. It dissipated as Snarl passed on towards Ember's pokemon.
Ember's points dropped just a sliver, again.
"Ugh!" Ember growled through her teeth. "Well, that won't stop us! Ampharos, Zap Cannon!"
Ampharos howled, tossing a black, crackling orb of electricity towards Snarl. Zap cannon broke through the dark-type attack, dissipating it. Empoleon and Rura were within its sights.
Dawn grimaced. "Dodge that!"
Empoleon and Rura leapt out of harm's way, narrowly dodging the sparks that sprayed in the explosion's wake.
"Now," Ember urged, "Focus Blast on Zorua!"
"Mil!" Miltank focused her power, creating an orb of fighting type energy between her hooves. Somersaulting forward, she tossed the blast at Rura.
"Rura!" Dawn called out in worry.
The fox turned towards the incoming attack, looking like a Stantler in headlights. He suddenly felt an overwhelming concussive force.
Focus Blast exploded, sending Rura tumbling unceremoniously along the battlefield.
"Focus Blast lands a direct hit! That's some good teamwork between Ampharos and Miltank!"
Dawn's points dropped a bit, as a result.
~Rura!~ 'Mee' leaned forward in her seat, clutching her dress. Watching her only cub struggle to stand, she felt dread overcome her.
The disguised fox felt a hand on her shoulder. It was her leader. Ash looked awfully calm.
"Don't you worry!" Ash encouraged. "Rura's been preparing for this. He won't let an attack like that get him down!"
"How're you hanging in there, Rura?" Dawn checked. The fox was still covered in soot, his fur frazzled by the blast. Would that bode poorly for their reception from the judges?
'...No need to worry. It's like Ash said; there's appeal in a wild and rowdy looking pokemon, too!'
~Huh-wha?~ Rura groaned, shaking his head. He couldn't tell up from down at the moment.
"Looks like I'll have to rely on Empoleon, for the moment…" Dawn looked to her starter. "Can you do that for me, big guy?"
"Empol!" Empoleon raised a wing, vigilant.
"We've got you now!" Ember declared, and pointed forward. "Miltank, use Stomp on Empoleon!"
Miltank charged towards her opponent, jumping up high. She bent one of her hind legs, ready to smash her hoof into Empoleon.
"Use Drill Peck!" Dawn ordered.
Empoleon lunged forward, turning into a vicious spin, beak-first.
"Got ya, Dawn!" Ember declared excitedly. "Ampharos, use Ion Deluge!"
"Ampharos!" The electric type howled, expelling a great deal of electricity. Currents snapped across the ground, swallowing the battlefield in a bold, blue glow.
Dawn instinctively stepped back, raising an arm to stave off stray electricity. "What in the world?"
"Ion Deluge lights up the field into a beautiful backdrop for Miltank and Empoleon's clash! And, what's this!?"
Dawn squinted to see past the sparks, and gasped.
Miltank had planted her foot squarely into Empoleon's face, standing atop the penguin's beak. A blue current zapped Empoleon, before Miltank pressed further, kicking Empoleon back towards Dawn.
"Empoleon!" Dawn called out.
"What was that!?" Misty gasped, leaning forward in her seat.
"Ion Deluge," Brock repeated. "It's a status move that doesn't deal any damage on its own. For just a couple of moments, it affects the field, and all pokemon on it. All normal type attacks become electric type attacks."
"So, that Stomp… no wonder it overpowered Empoleon," Ash concluded. "Gotta say, for Ember, that's pretty clever. She's improved a lot."
"Pika-chu," Pikachu agreed.
"But, that won't slow Dawn down!" Ash asserted, standing up in his seat to pump a fist in the air. "Keep fighting, Empoleon! You too, Rura!"
"Pika-chu!" Pikachu cried, waving his fans about.
"Dawn started off on a strong note, but Ember is quickly dominating this match!" Lilian narrated, as Dawn's points dropped a couple inches, barely above three quarters of the bar full. "What will happen next?"
"Use Zap Cannon on Empoleon!" Ember ordered.
Ampharos reared his head back, charging a wild orb of electricity in front of his mouth.
"Knock-off!"
An audible smack knocked Zap Cannon out of Ampharos' grip, and it hit the ground with a bang.
"Am!?" Ampharos stammered, looking left and right. What'd happened to his attack!?
"Down here!" A scratchy voice yipped. Rura stood before the electric type, grinning. "You wanna get your eyes checked out? I ain't that small!"
Ampharos growled. What an embarrassment!
"Zorua uses Knock-off to get rid of Zap Cannon, disorienting Ampharos!"
Ember's points dipped lower to match Dawn's.
"Ugh!" Ember snorted, clutching her fists. "You're still a pest!"
"I just know my pokemon's strengths!" Dawn raised a finger matter-of-factly, winking. "All part of being a great coordinator!"
"A totally smug pest," Ember corrected herself. "Ampharos, use Cotton Spore!"
Ampharos began to gather fluffy spores, ready to slow down its opponents.
"We won't let that happen," Dawn argued. "Rura, use Taunt!"
The little fox's tail wagged. It was time for him to shine. "Is that all ya got, ya big doof?"
Ampharos paused, raising a brow at Rura.
'Crud, that was lame. I gotta talk trash better than that if I wanna help Dawn win!' Rura pouted, scheming on the spot. "Can't ya hear me, up there!? Maybe your ears aren't working - that ain't surprising - they look like a Beedrill's butt!"
Ampharos huffed, stomping his foot. "You've got some nerve! Are you sure you're meant to be a contest pokemon!?"
"Ampharos!?" Ember whined. "Like, what happened to Cotton Spore?"
"I don't know what you're yappin' about. I look fan-frickin'-tastic! I was made for the stage. Why don't you waddle on outta here, and maybe I won't kick both your asses?" Rura grinned, holding up his paw to pull his eyelid down at Ampharos.
Empoleon sat up, rubbing the back of his head. "He's spent too much time around Lopunny…" Despite himself, he couldn't help but crack a smirk at the corner of his beak. That was pretty funny.
~Rura!~ 'Mee' gasped, eyes wide in shock.
"Huh? What'd he say?" Ash looked to his pokemon with a tilt of his head.
~Far more than he should've. I'm going to have a serious talk with him, when this is over.~ The illusionary woman folded her arms over her chest, imitating mannerisms she'd seen.
"Aw, take a chill pill, will ya?" Ash replied, shrugging his shoulders with a smile. "It's working, right?"
The glare of an icy-blue eye froze Ash in his seat, sending a chill down his spine. "Uh, never mind." Ash averted his eyes to watch the match. He was pretty sure that stare had worked up a cold sweat. 'Moms are terrifying.'
"Dawn's Zorua is really showing off his dark-type attributes with his disruptive attacks! Ampharos can't seem to get ahold of itself against its tricky foe!"
In line with Lilian's narration, Ember's points dropped to about two thirds of the bar.
"Time to take the offensive!" Dawn smirked, and gestured forward. "Empoleon, Hydro Pump!"
"Empol!" Empoleon threw his head forward, firing the move.
"Miltank, use Rollout!"
Miltank tucked itself in, launching itself at the incoming stream. She met the attack head-on, rolling desperately against it.
"Miltank meets Hydro Pump head-on, in a brave attempt to overpower it!"
Dawn's points dropped just a bit.
But, the little momentum Miltank had built only went so far. Hydro Pump's pressure overwhelmed her, knocking her back towards Ember.
"Ugh!" Ember stomped her foot. "Ampharos, use Discharge!"
"Ampharos!" Ampharos cried, firing another storm of electricity.
Both Empoleon and Rura were zapped, crying out in pain. Dawn's points dipped to a bit above half.
"Hang in there, you two!" Dawn encouraged, shaking her fists. "You can do it!"
"Pol…" Empoleon groaned, shaking out his wing to disperse any clinging static.
~I ain't going down, yet!~ Rura sat up, shaking his head.
"Time to break out a move we've worked on!" Dawn announced, holding an open palm over her head, smiling from cheek to cheek. "Rura, Snarl! Empoleon, Hydro Pump!"
"Zoru!" Rura tilted his nose skyward, creating another purple orb over his head.
"Empol!" Empoleon lunged forward, firing Hydro Pump right into the core of Snarl. Dark type energy twisted into Hydro Pup, corrupting the powerful torrent with disruptive energy. The attack quickly become a black and purple burst, exploding between Ampharos and Miltank. Several sickly dark waves crashed into the two pokemon.
"What a beautiful combination! It's rare you see a combination of dark and water, but Dawn's pokemon have pulled it off!"
Ember grimaced, watching her points dip to about half. "Ugh, you've done it now, Dawn! Time for a combination move! Ampharos, Zap Cannon! Miltank, Focus Blast!"
Ember's pokemon hopped next to one another, linking their paws and hooves in harmony. An orb flashed to life between the two; an ordinary Focus Blast snapped and sizzled with electricity, quickly doubling in size. Both pokemon were forced to step back, jointly wielding a large, electric blue blast, wildly fluctuating with static.
The two pokemon cried, and tossed it towards Rura.
"What a beautiful joint attack from Ampharos and Miltank!"
Dawn's points dropped below half.
Rura stood up, suddenly faced with the gigantic blast coming his way. He stared blankly, finding himself unable to move. He'd frozen in fear.
A loud, booming explosion shook the field, assaulting it with wind and smoke.
~Rura!~ Mee barked in horror, jolting out of her seat. She lunged for the stage without a second thought.
A sturdy pair of arms wrapped around Mee's torso, yanking her back. The illusory woman struggled with all of her pokemon might, but to no avail. "Take it easy!"
~But, leader…!~ Mee looked back to Ash with bared fangs.
Ash grinned, even as he struggled to hold Mee still. They were getting looks, now. "Take another look!"
She ceased struggling, and looked to the field.
Rura had braced for the worst. Huddled in a cowardly heap on the floor, his eyes had been shut tight. He waited for the attack to come.
But, it never had.
~What the…~ Blinding smoke had begun to clear. The fox sat up, blinking the soot out of his eyes. His view was blocked, this time, by…
"What's this!? Zorua was right in the crosshairs, but all of that was taken head-on by his teammate, Empoleon!"
The Emperor pokemon groaned, supporting himself with one of his charred, half-numb wings. Covered in marks and crowded with static, the water/steel type challenged his opponents with a half-lidded gaze. "Is that… is that all you got?"
"Empoleon…" Dawn watched, her ocean blue eyes trembling. She smiled. "You never could pass up a chance to be the hero, could you?"
"Empoleon!" Empoleon turned to Dawn, waving his wing as if it were obvious. He'd always do his best to protect his trainer and his teammates!
"Ugh, how is he still standing!?" Ember stomped her foot with a groan. "You're a real pain, Dawn." She smiled, despite her commentary.
Dawn smirked, in turn. "My pokemon never give up! Right?"
~Heck, no!~ Rura barked.
"Pol!" Empoleon shook his head.
Mee breathed a heavy sigh of relief, falling back into her seat. ~Thank goodness.~
"What'd I tell you?" Ash winked, relaxing back into his. "No need to worry!"
"Empoleon's so brave," Misty marveled. "Water pokemon really are the best~! But… I can't believe he's still standing… those were two really powerful, super-effective attacks. And, Zap Cannon means he's paralyzed, to top it off."
"Dawn was prepared," Brock replied. "It was that Hydro Pump and Snarl combination; Snarl's a dark type move that lowers the special attack of the target. So, Ember's combination was watered down from the start."
"Now, it's time for Dawn to turn things around!" Ash cheered, hopping out of his seat. He felt Pikachu scale his shoulder, and pumped his fists in the air. "You've got this, Empoleon! You too, Rura! Give 'em heck, out there!"
"It's time to counterattack," Dawn declared. "You guys ready?"
"Empol-!" Empoleon started, then squawked, stumbling over. Electricity still numbed his nerves. "Pol…"
"That paralysis…" Dawn frowned.
"Now's our chance," Ember declared excitedly, pointing forward. "Miltank, use Stomp! Ampharos, Ion Deluge!"
"Am!" Ampharos cried, drowning the field out in blue.
Miltank charged forward, leaping towards Empoleon with grace.
~Uh-uhn! Not a chance!~ Rura barked, jumping in Miltank's path.
"In another show of comradery, Zorua defends Empoleon! These two pokemon are admirably in sync!"
"Rura, Night Daze!" Dawn ordered, closing a fist in front of her.
"Zor…!" Rura lit up with a violet aura, standing out amongst the electric blue. His paws were coated in a deep red, as they were held up above his head.
"Empoleon," Dawn coached, "Ice Beam!"
Still grounded, Empoleon opened his beak, firing a freezing ray towards Rura's forelegs.
Rura's paws were shrouded in cold, giving off a spiral of intense red and sky blue. He let out the mightiest roar a Zorua could, slamming his limbs into the ground before him.
A dark blizzard blasted from the impact point, assaulting Miltank and Ampharos with freezing winds and black ice. Miltank howled, thrown back towards her comrade.
"Zorua and Empoleon band together for a beautiful combination of Ice Beam and Night Daze! Ember's team's been faced with a terrifying storm. What a comeback!"
"Ugh! Are you two okay!?" Ember fretted, clutching her arms. That attack was way too cold.
"Mil…" Miltank moaned, sitting back up. She was freezing!
"Am!" Ampharos shook himself off, standing up.
"Let's combine moves, one more time! We'll finish them, this time!"
Miltank stood, joining paws with Ampharos.
"Not this time," Dawn interrupted. "Empoleon, Whirlpool!"
"Empolll!" Despite his injuries, Empoleon had to be up to the task! He raised his wings above his head, summoning a raging whirlpool with a cry. He tossed it forward with all his might.
Just as a powerful blast had begun to form between Miltank and Ampharos, a current had swept them up, tossing them every which way.
"Ugh! Pull it together, you two!" Ember urged, shaking her fists.
Miltank flailed, but had no luck against the cyclone. Ampharos was faring no better.
"It's time!" Dawn decided aloud, throwing a hand in the air. "Rura, Empoleon, you know what to do!"
~Yessir!~ Rura yipped, running back towards Empoleon. ~It's all on you, Empoleon!~ With that, he jumped at his teammate.
"You can count on me!" Empoleon caught Rura between his wings, hoisting them back overhead. "Em… pol!" With a squawk, he tossed Rura towards the Whirlpool.
Dawn grinned, crossing her hands over her chest, throwing them outward. "It's time for Sunset Whirlpool!"
"Zo!" Zorua soared, hovering above Whirlpool, now, where Ampharos and Miltank spun about, trapped. ~Here we goooo!~ Rura grinned, diving into the water. Or, rather, he dove right for the eye of the Whirlpool.
His paws lit with red and purple, lifted up high. As gravity brought Rura down, he slammed his paws down with him.
A vividly colored shockwave blasted the center of the Whirlpool. Beautiful, striking hues of red, purple, and black corrupted the waves, consuming Ampharos and Miltank with them.
"What in the world!?" Ember blurted out.
Whirlpool bent to Night Daze's will, curling into a brilliant sphere of multicolored water. Gasps and shouts of awe overtook the stadium, at the beautiful and terrifying kaleidoscope Dawn had created before their very eyes.
Sunset Whirlpool burst, leaving nothing but a colorful mist in its wake. Rura stood at the center, proudly, with his nose held high. His fur looked lustrous in the aftermath.
Meanwhile. Ampharos and Miltank laid unceremoniously, unconscious.
"Miltank and Ampharos are unable to battle," Lilian ruled. "...which makes Dawn the winner of this round! And, what a finish, too!"
Ember's image on the screen, underlined by a barely visible bar of points, disappeared to give Dawn's visage center focus.
"We did it!" Dawn sprinted onto the stage, just in time to catch a collapsing Empoleon. Cradling the bird, she beamed with pride. "Thank you for holding out there, Empoleon. You really did save the day."
"Pol!" Empoleon replied, tears building in his eyes. He just wanted to cry…! But, no - he'd be strong! He shook his head to free himself of tears, letting out a proud squawk.
~Don't forget about me! I wrecked that!~ Rura reminded, charging into Dawn's arms.
Dawn laughed, catching her pokemon with a free hand. "Not a chance! You were a real star, Rura! Thank you, both!"
"Please take good care of Empoleon? He took some pretty heavy attacks out there, and he's paralyzed."
"You have nothing to worry about, Dawn," Nurse Joy replied, chipper. "Your Empoleon and Zorua will be good as new, in no time. I loved the performance, by the way!"
"Appreciate it!" Dawn smiled brightly at the nurse, and turned to take a seat in the locker room with a huff. "Well, that's one round down," she thought aloud. Running a hand through her blue locks, she looked about the room, hoping to kill some time.
By chance, she'd made eye contact with quite a sour face. Ember sat a few benches away, her legs crossed, and hands buried in her lap.
The brunette spotted Dawn, and she turned away. Her nose scrunched.
"Hey," Dawn started uneasily, giving a sympathetic smile. "That was-"
"Yeah, yeah. Like, just get on with it." Ember scowled.
Dawn tilted her head, puzzled.
"You're gonna rub it in, aren't you!?"
"Huh? Oh, no!" Dawn waved her hands in front of her frantically, before standing up. "Actually, I wanted to thank you for that battle! We had a lot of fun."
"Chyeah. You, like, dominated," Ember rolled her eyes.
Dawn approached the brunette and held a hand out. "That's just the way the Poffin crumbles, sometimes. You made us work for it!"
The young woman hesitated, before taking Dawn's hand. "Hah, yeah, whatever. You're, like, painfully chipper."
"That's how we tough it through the rough patches!" Dawn winked. "I better see a smile on your face, so you can toughen up and battle us, again!"
Ember showed half a smirk, and stood, retracting her hand. "Next time, I will beat you!"
Just then, Nurse Joy called. "Ember Rhodes, your pokemon are fighting fit!"
Ember huffed, and turned to approach the desk. "Just don't go losing, after beating me."
"Dawn!" Ash ran backstage, skidding to a halt when he spotted his girlfriend, with Pikachu not far behind. "Way to go!"
"...Oh, Ash!" Dawn looked up from her team, who sat with her on a nearby bench. "Did you see all of that?"
"You bet I did!" The teen rushed over, his fists clenched in excitement. "You whooped, out there!"
"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu waved his fans about, giving his congratulations.
~Rura.~ Mee stepped past Ash, leaning down to get closer to eye level with the fox.
Rura froze.
~I'd really like to know where you got that language. That was completely inappropriate.~
Ash opened his mouth to speak, but he recalled the look he'd gotten earlier. He hesitated.
~But, Meeeemaaaaa,~ Rura whined, staring at his paws. ~It worked…~
The group fell into an uncomfortable silence, the humans exchanging glances.
~...That said,~ Mee continued, crouching down to his level to pick him up, nuzzling his cheek. ~You did an excellent job. You served Dawn and her team well.~
~Aw, c'moooon! You're embarrassing me!~ Rura whined. But, he made no attempt to wriggle his way out of her grasp.
"Oh, but that Sunset Whirlpool~!" Misty cooed. "It was beautiful!"
"I really owe you one, Misty!" Dawn beamed at the redhead. "I was only able to master it, thanks to your command of water type attacks! You were a huge help!" She held a fist out.
Misty smirked, and bumped her fist against Dawn's. "To teamwork!"
"Now, you're on to the top 8," Brock added. "Three more matches to go!"
"Yeah," Dawn nodded, "and, I'm going to win them all!"
