Welcome back, everyone! Your feedback is greatly appreciated, as always. This chapter comes with some new art, based on one of the performances! After you read, check it out on our another-rxad tumblr, if you like! Thanks for reading!


"Seaking, use Surf!" Quijote called, holding a hand outward.

"Seaaaa-king!" A swelling tide lifted the water type, growing into a wave that dwarfed Flareon and Magmar.

"Now, Nidoking, add Poison Tail!"

A segmented, armor-clad tail smashed into the ground, its tough hide glowing a sickly purple. Toxins leaked into the growing current, assaulting the stage with sludge and muck.

Flareon cried in shock, ducking her head to guard herself from the oncoming wave. The ground was yanked out from under her, a flood of poison seeping into her fur. As the ringing in her ears faded, she heard her teammate, Magmar, grunt in pain.

"Flareon! Magmar!" Ciara gasped, holding a hand to her mouth. "Are you alright?"

"Flare…" Flareon turned to her trainer. Her face was discolored by a streak of blue under her orange fur.

"What luck! Not only had Magmar already been poisoned, but Quijote's combination has left Flareon poisoned, too! Ciara and her team have found themselves in quite a tough spot!"

"We're not giving up, yet!" Ciara grimaced, adjusting her thick-rimmed glasses. "We still have tricks up our sleeve!"

"Poor little thing; after our last match, you still don't have a clue!" Quijote chuckled, pinching the bridge of his nose in mock pity. "Your thread of fate was snipped the moment I entered this festival."

Ciara stared down the man, but surprisingly, didn't stay anything. The nerve! "Hmph! I'll have to show, rather than tell. But, that is a real coordinator's line of work! Nidoking, Venom Drench!"

Nidoking pointed his horn towards the washed up pokemon, spraying a thick, poisonous goo that hindered both of its victims.

With Ciara's team unceremoniously covered in poison, her points dropped to about a third.


"Hang in there, Ciara!" Ash pumped a fist, leaning forward in his seat.

"Quijote's really showing no mercy," Brock said. "As if being poisoned isn't enough, Venom Drench lowers the stats of any pokemon who's already infected with the status. Ciara's pokemon are disoriented, and weakened, to boot."


"Mar…" Magmar huffed, getting back onto his feet. Infectious poison made his body feel sickly, and his head dizzy. But, he hadn't joined the gentle coordinator, just to lose as soon as he entered the ring. "Magmar!" He roared, igniting his impossibly hot flames to evaporate any remaining toxins that hadn't been absorbed.

"Good going, Magmar!" Ciara praised. "Flareon, you can do it, too! Flame Charge!"

"Flare…." Flareon whined, standing on all fours. "Flare!"

Fire surrounded the quadruped, burning away any remaining poison. But, the effects were already setting in; the roar of Flame Charge was feeble. It'd barely encompassed the fox.

"In a fiery defiance, Ciara's pokemon show they aren't ready to give up, just yet!

Quijote's points dropped a tad, still standing at over half.

"Admirable, but all for naught." Quijote smiled, and gestured forward. "Seaking, Waterfall on Magmar!"

Seaking launched itself at Magmar, riding rushing waters.

"Smokescreen!" Ciara interrupted.

"Mag…" Magmar leered at Seaking, and flooded the field with thick, black smoke. Seaking disappeared into the smoke.

"Flame Charge!"

"King!" Seaking was knocked into plain sight, carried by a fiery, full-body tackle from below by Flareon.

But, fire type moves didn't tend to bother Seaking - especially from a weakened opponent. The fish adjusted himself, staring into the face of his opponent, unphased. "Seaaa-king!"

"Flare…" Still afloat with momentum, Flareon cowered in the large water type's shadow. That attack hadn't hurt it at all!

"Seaking takes that surprise attack, with no damage! And, it's not shy about showing it!"

Ciara's points dropped another sliver for the show of strength.

"I'm afraid this is over," Quijote narrated. "Seaking, Megahorn!"

Seaking's horn lit a vibrant green, growing finer and sharper than usual. Ducking its head, it fell forward to jab Flareon.

"Flareon!" Ciara commanded, crossing her arms over her chest. "Flame Charge, and Baby-Doll Eyes!"

"Flare!" Flareon narrowed her eyes, regaining confidence. Red and orange flames enveloped her, before she winked at Seaking, smiling about as widely as a Flareon could.

Two hearts enraptured in fire circled Flareon, crashing into Seaking. It recoiled, falling back into the fading smoke.

"King…" Seaking shook its head, disoriented. Its entire heart was committed to showing off the beauty of its strength… but, somehow, he felt at ease. His resolve was soothed…? He didn't like this.

He liked the sudden rush of heat, even less, as a flame burst around him before fading.

"Oh, dear! A charming counter-attack by Flareon has made Seaking docile, and left it with a burn, to boot! This is a textbook example of a coordinator using their pokemon's charm to overcome sheer strength!"

Quijote's points dropped steeply, to about a third.

"G-good going Flareon!" Ciara praised, making a 'victory sign' to her pokemon. "I knew you could do it!"

"Flare-Flare!" Flareon yipped with joy, turning to face her trainer. Suddenly, poison bubbled through her system, making her shrink and whine. This stupid poison…!

"Good," Quijote admitted, "but not quite good enough. Nidoking, Earth power!"

Nidoking slammed a fist into the ground, sending tremors through the stage. Golden energy burst under Flareon, launching her into the air.

"Flareon!" Ciara gasped.

"Now, Seaking," Quijote continued. "Use Surf!"

"King!" Seaking shook its head, regaining focus. A powerful tidal wave surged under it, moving to swallow Flareon and Magmar.

"You can do it, Flareon!" Ciara encouraged, shaking her fists. "Use Flame Charge, and Fire Spin!"

Flareon ignited once more, this time turning into a wild spin. A whirlwind of flames climbed above ground, morphing Flareon into a blazing spinning top. Surf crashed into the combination, only to be split down the middle, Steam rose from the turning whips of heat.

"Magmar, you use Fire Punch!" Ciara continued, gesturing to her other pokemon.

"Mag! Mar! Mag!" Magmar grunted, punching away at the oncoming current with white-hot fists.


"Check it out! They're blazing right through that Surf." Ash smiled, folding his arms over his chest. He was impressed!

"Pika-Pika-chu!" Pikachu waved his fans. Go, Ciara, go!

"It's not every day you see fire type moves overwhelm water," Misty added.

"As a fire type user, Ciara clearly trained to overcome her type's greatest weakness," Brock added. "That's a lot of discipline for someone of her experience level."

"Yeah… but, that move Flareon's using…" Ash trailed off. "It looks like-"


"That looks like a Counter Shield!" Dawn leaned forward in her seat on the bleachers, with Empoleon beside her, and Rura in her lap. "I never would've thought to use a fire type shield against a move like Surf… Ciara's gained a whole lot of guts, since we met her, huh, Empoleon?"

"Empol!" Empoleon cawed.


"Mag!" Magmar cried, suddenly feeling the cruel sting of poison. He recoiled, leaving him open to be tossed aside by Surf.

Flareon howled, similarly neutralized by the poison.

"Magmar, Flareon!" Ciara gasped. Her points were barely a sliver, now…

Quijote glanced at the screen above the field, and scowled. 56 seconds left. "You're still stubbornly holding on… you're wasting my time! Nidoking, Earth Power, on Magmar!"

Nidoking smashed the field, sending golden cracks through the soaked battlefield.

'It's do or die…' Ciara mused, squinting. But, she had an idea! Quijote could only use the same move so many times! "Okay," she shouted, "Magmar, use Lava Plume, straight down!"

"Mag!" Magmar pointed his hands below him, just as Earth Power's aura shone under his feet. With a roar, he expelled scalding lava into the explosion.

A mighty explosion of magma and earth rocked the field, propelling Magmar to new heights atop the spout.

"Wow! Magmar used Earth Power to create his very own volcanic eruption! Talk about using an opponent's move against them!"

Quijote watched his points slide down, and grimaced. 35 seconds left.

"Th-this is my last chance…" Ciara mused, looking the field over. Flareon was barely hanging on, and Magmar was up above… they had to either knock Quijote out, or knock out his points. What could she do…?

"...! Flareon! Jump up high!"

Flareon obeyed her trainer, leaping above the stage.

"Now, Magmar, use Lava Plume towards Flareon!"

Magmar spit another stream of lava towards his teammate.

"What are you up to?" Quijote demanded. "Is this a joke!?"

"F-far from it!" Ciara replied. "Flareon, Flame Charge!"

Flareon understood, now! She lit up, once more, just in time to be blasted forward by the jet of lava. Glowing, white-hot liquid coated Flareon's attack, zeroing in on Nidoking.

The poison type recoiled, attempting to leap out of harm's way.

A roaring, fiery explosion covered Quijote's side of the field.

Ciara raised an arm, guarding herself from hot smoke and ashes.

Quijote growled under his breath, squinting into the obscuring blackness.

The stadium was collectively silent.

Flareon was hunched over, breathing heavily. Before her, Nidoking laid on its back, unconscious.

A loud 'ding' could be heard over the loudspeakers. Ciara and Quijote looked to the overhead screen.

Quijote's points had run out.

"Quijote Mancha's score has hit zero! With just a few seconds left on the clock, the winner is Ciara, by a hair!"

Flareon and Magmar hoisted themselves up, smiling at the screen before collapsing in a heap.

Ciara gasped, cupping her mouth with her hands. "We… we did it!"

"I…. tch...!" Quijote snarled, recalling his conscious and unconscious pokemon, storming off.

Meanwhile, the younger coordinator rushed to embrace her pokemon. "You two were just wonderful! C-c'mere!"

"Flare!" Flareon warned, eyes half-lidded. She looked to her fur, which was still dirtied with poison.

"Mag…" Magmar lazily gestured to his arm, letting off a bit of steam. Unfortunately, he wasn't built for close contact.

"O-oh, right…" Ciara chuckled uneasily. "Well, job well done, both of you… let's get you fixed up." The lavender-haired girl recalled both of her pokemon.


"Now, that's quality content." Dawn gushed, crossing her arms smugly around Rura.

"She kicked the crud out of that prissy pants!" Rura snickered.

"Good riddance!" Empoleon squawked.

"...Ciara!" Spotting her colorful 'do out of the corner of her eye, Dawn jumped out of her seat, rushing to meet her friend. Letting Rura hop out of her arms, she took Ciara's hands into her own. "You rocked it!"

"Dawn…!" The girl's cheeks flushed a dark red, and a smile spread across her face. "I did! I really showed him!"

"He won't be mouthing off to you again, anytime soon!" Dawn winked.

"Hm."

Both girls turned their heads, spotting a sour-looking Quijote at Nurse Joy's counter.

"Oh, you're still here?" Dawn sing-songed, and stuck her tongue out at him.

Quijote scowled, and turned to ignore them.

"Anyway, that was spectacular! He had you in a tight spot, but your pokemon shone bright! I especially loved the flaming Baby-Doll Eyes! How adorable!"

"Oh, th-thanks…" Ciara's blush darkened. "We prepared that move, for tight situations, like this…"

"It was perfect!" Another, boyish voice chimed in. Larkspur had appeared. "You really frustrated him by suppressing Seaking's power - I think that was your turning point!"

"Gosh… I'm glad you guys liked our performance…" Ciara began to shrink with sinking shoulder, before righting herself. She had the right to be confident! "I had a lot of fun!"

"Larkspur, and Maddox, please report to the stage in five minutes!"

"Well, I guess I'm up next…" Larkspur took a deep breath, and chuckled. "Wish me luck!"

"Do your best!" Ciara encouraged.

"Don't take that guy lightly," Dawn warned. "Make sure to clean his clock!"

"Yeah, I've seen his contests…" Larkspur nodded. "I'll be sure to win!"


Maddox vs Larkspur

"Steelix, Sand Tomb!"

"Groar!" The Iron Snake pokemon roared, tearing the ground apart under Bellossom. Swirling sand collapsed into a pit, dragging the small grass type towards the depths.

"Bellossom!" Larkspur gasped. "Escape, with Petal Dance!"

"Lossom!" Bellossom cooed, summoning a flurry of pink petals at her feet. Howling winds tore through the sand, lifting the pokemon in a beautifully choreographed dance within her element.

Maddox lost some points from the display, putting him at about three quarters of his score.

"Moving to your own groove - not bad!" Maddox grinned. "But, we're not letting you get off, that easy! Raticate, Hyper Fang!"

"Raticate!" The normal type hissed, lunging at Bellossom, his teeth poised to snap.

"We're not done moving, yet!" Larkspur extended his hand. "Quiver Dance!"

"Bellossom!" Bellossom turned into a nimble dance within her petals, leaving a beautiful white glow behind every step. Raticate's mighty fangs snapped shut, chomping down on thin air.

"Look at Bellossom's graceful footwork, in the middle of Petal Dance! The little superstar uses her beauty to her advantage, dodging everything that comes our way! This could be problematic for Maddox!"

In tune with Lillian's narration, Maddox's points dropped again.

"Dancing all around my moves without fear - that's real punk. But, not punk enough!" Maddox shouted. "Iron Tail!"

Bellossom suddenly found herself within a huge shadow, and squeaked. A tremendous weight smashed into her, sending her bouncing off of the field, courtesy of Steelix.

"Bellossom!" Larkspur gasped.

"Loss…" The small, fragile pokemon groaned, shaking her head. She was seeing double.

"Sorry, dude, but you're done!" Maddox punched the air. "Steelix, Stone Edge!"

Steelix smacked his tail against the earth, starting a tremor. Spiked stones erupted in a straight path, rushing for Bellossom. The small grass-type cowered.

"Tangrowth!" Larkspur commanded. "Use Power Whip!"

Tangrowth spanned its long, vine-like arms, spinning into a ferocious cycle. Launching past his vulnerable ally, he smashed his limbs into Stone Edge. The stone spire was smashed into rubble.

"Right on!" Maddox cheered. "Raticate, meet them, head-on! Flame Wheel!"

"Raticate!" Raticate barreled forward, turning into a blazing wheel that slipped past Tangrowth's defenses. Ducking under Power Whip, it grinded into the grass type's torso, sparks and embers flying every which way.

Both Larkspur and Maddox's points dropped.

"Steelix, use Autotomize!"

Steelix rumbled, standing upright. The various tough segments making up its body began to spin wildly, breaking down resistance between each bond.
"Steelix looks totally awesome, using Auto-to… Autotomize!" Lilian stammered. "Whoo! That's a mouthful… anyway, it's totally showing off its steel type prowess! I think that means more points for the mighty and loose Maddox!"

"Not just yet," interrupted Larkspur. "Bellossom, use Leaf Blade!"

"Lossom!" Bellossom leapt at Steelix, spinning to execute a whirling Leaf Blade.

Leaf Blade struck at Steelix, and only hit thin-air. The Iron Snake's body whirled around the strike, frustrating Bellossom. She jumped once more, striking at Steelix's midsection.

Steelix bent his body, leaning his center out of Bellossom's range.

"It's so fast." Larkspur frowned, watching his score dip again. "We'll have to step things up… Tangrowth, Grassy Terrain!"

Tangrowth drove its arms into the ground below, spreading a green aura across the stage. Vibrant grass began to sprout up, decorated by the occasional weed and flower. Maddox's points dropped to below half.

"There's more!" Larkspur gestured to Steelix. "Magical Leaf!"

"Bellossom!" Invigorated by her element, Bellossom twirled, attacking Steelix with a flurry of emerald leaves. Surrounding the steel type, they left no route for escape.

Grass and petals suddenly lifted from Grassy Terrain, filtering into Magical Leaf. Steelix roared in pain, coiling inward to protect its tough hide.

Maddox's points dropped to about a quarter.

"Bellossom combines Grassy Terrain with Magical Leaf to create a whole new attack, leaving Steelix cornered! Larkspur may have reclaimed the advantage!"

"You got me cornered, here, man!" Larkspur laughed. "We've got no choice but to roll on through! Raticate, Flame Wheel that field!"

"Rat!" Raticate twisted into a Flame Wheel, blazing a trail across the vibrant grass. Embers clung to greenery as it went, starting one blaze after the next. Within moments, Grass Terrain was blazing, heating up the stadium.

"Bellossom!" Bellossom cried, recoiling from snapping flames. Her Magical Leaf had backfired her, cornering her within the chaos.

"Bellossom!" Larkspur called in worry. "Just… I-" The boy stammered, struggling with a retort. What was he supposed to do, here!? "Be careful!"

"Now, that's what I'm talkin' about!" Maddox cheered, crossing his arms. "Steelix, Stone Edge!"

Steelix roared, standing at the edge of the field, out of the flames' reach. On his command, spiked stones burst from the earth, turning the field into a fiery hellscape.

"My goodness! In just two moves, Maddox has made the field entirely his own! How horrifying!" Lilian whooped, fanning herself to stave off the heat.

A booming explosion caught the attention of the competitors and spectators alike.

"Bellossom!" Larkspur gasped, rushing to catch a falling Bellossom in his arms. Dirtied with burn marks and scratches, the grass type stirred.

"Bell…" The pokemon replied weakly, collapsing in her trainer's arms.

"Growth…" Tangrowth growled, sitting up amongst the wreckage.

"Bellossom is knocked out! Aaand, Larkspur is out of points, making Maddox the winner!"

Whoops of applause rang out for the powerful trainer and his frightening display, and likely for his gentle and graceful opponent, too.

As Tangrowth was recalled, Grassy Terrain receded, and most of the flames, with it.

"Whoo!" Maddox whooped, recalling his pokemon to sprint across the field. By the time Larkspur looked up, he'd already been pulled into a headlock. "My man, that was great! You really made us go all-out. Real cool."

"H-hey…!" Larkspur wriggled, before giving up. Sheesh. "...Yeah. I had fun." His eyes fell half-lidded. So much for winning, or facing Dawn.

But, being a good sport was important.

"Keep it real, Larks." Maddox slapped the boy roughly on the back, retreating towards the locker room. "My crew needs to heal up."

"Y-you too…" Larkspur muttered.

Larks?


"Thank you! Your pokemon will be fighting fit, soon," Nurse Joy cooed, accepting her tray that now held two pokeballs. "Don't stray too far!"

"Thank you, Nurse Joy." Larkspur bowed his head to the professional, and turned to look for a seat. Instead, he found himself face to face with…

".Dawn? Ciara?" Larkspur halted in his steps. "Hey, guys - girls."

"You did great." Dawn gave a sympathetic smile. "Sorry you couldn't go on."

"You-you think so?" The boy's eyes grew wide. His face heated, flattered by his would-be mentor's praise. "Thanks, but…"

"But, nothing! Losing is a bummer, but at least you lost to someone tough! You know, I haven't beaten Maddox, either," Dawn admitted, scratching her cheek.

"You… you haven't!?" Larkspur gawked at Dawn, as did Ciara. "But, you're so…"

"He's tough," Dawn interrupted. "If I face him, then I'll avenge your loss - that sound good?"

"You'd do that for me?" Larkspur lit up.

"What're friends for?" Dawn winked.

"Thanks for your patience, everyone!" Lillian's voice blared over the loudspeakers, catching the attention of the trio. "With the first round finished, we're about to reveal the match-ups for the second round!"

The remaining faces on the screen in the locker room began to scramble, each of eight faces flipping over to truly randomize the results.

As they began to unfold, Dawn and Ciara's eyes were glued to the screen.

Ciara was first, matched against a woman they didn't recognize.

Glenda was third, against a boy that neither of them knew.

Ryan, against a boy who looked to be about Dawn's age.

Last, were Dawn and Maddox!

"Well, that figures." Dawn beamed. "Looks like I'll get to keep my promise, after a- ah!"

"Now, that's too real!" Maddox pulled Dawn in, sporting a huge toothy grin. "I was hoping I'd get to rumble with you, Dawn!"

"Watch… the… hair…!" Dawn grunted, shoving her palm into Maddox's face. With enough force, she pushed herself free. She quickly began adjusting her hair into its proper place. "It's cool that you want to run around with your hair all dilly-dally, but I like to keep mine pristine."

"Hey, that's just me, man. No one rules my 'do - not even me!"

"What's with them?" Larkspur whispered, holding a hand up to speak discreetly to Ciara.

"I'm not sure," the girl muttered. "That's one thing about Dawn I don't really…"

"Anyway, I hope you're ready to get whooped! I've got a friend to avenge!"

"You're throwing hands for Larkspur, huh? That's real. Don't let me down, Dawn!"

"I won't," the Sinnohan girl promised. "Just you wait!"

"Things are getting awfully heated here," Larkspur muttered.

"Uh-huh," Ciara agreed. "I'm getting fired up, too! I have to win, so I can fight Dawn, next!"


ROUND 2

"Thanks for your patience, everyone!" Lilian called out, standing in the middle of the main stage. "After eight thrilling contest battles, a few of our competitors have persevered to take part in the quarter finals! Now, we'll be seeing the first of four battles, so get pumped up for….!"

The first of the two coordinators ran into the ring, skidding to a halt on his end of the field. A husky teen pumped a fist in the air with a shout of excitement. "...the unstoppable Maddox! We saw his overwhelming presence in his battle with Larkspur, in the last round! He hasn't been stopped, so far, but let's see how our next contestant fares!"

The latter entered the stage with a spring in her step, though not as loud and pronounced as her opponent's. Brushing a blue fringe out of her face, Dawn came to a halt, and eyed her opponent. Her expression became stern. "Let's see what Dawn and her dazzling pokemon bring to the table! Can creative combinations cut it, or will sheer strength and showmanship triumph!?"

"Hey, hey, don't count my girl, Dawn out yet!" Maddox jeered, grabbing two pokeballs from his belt. "I'm ready for a rumble!" Stepping forward, he tossed them both.

A Poliwrath and a Slowbro appeared in front of Maddox. Poliwrath flexed, And Slowbro let out a loud yawn.

"Thanks," Dawn chuckled nervously, putting on a forced smile. This guy was weird. But, at least he was nice. "But, you don't have to worry about me! My pokemon will speak for themselves!" Dawn took both of her chosen capsules, and twirled to toss them into the air. "Pachirisu, Lopunny, Spotlight!"

"Chi-chi-chi-pa!" Pachirisu chattered, kicking her legs with enthusiasm before sticking the landing. She hopped from foot to foot, full of energy!

"Lop!" Lopunny twirled on her way down to the field, landing on her tip-toes. Throwing a punch, she winked to the crowd. "Lopunny!"


"Give 'em hell, Dawn!" Ash whooped from his seat. "This time, you'll beat him!"

"Pika-Pikachuuu!" Pikachu cheered, hopping in Ash's lap.

~D-do it, Dawn!~ Rosa cheered from the seat beside Ash, leaning forward to focus on the match alone.


"...And, the battle's on the clock!" Lilian announced, gesturing to the 5:00 on the screen. "Begin!"

"Hope you're ready for this!" Dawn beamed, and gestured forward. "Pachirisu, use Sweet Kiss!"

"Chi-pa!" Pachirisu winked at her opponents. A swarm of hot pink hearts hovered, and swarmed towards Slowbro and Poliwrath.

"Now, add in Discharge!"

Pachirisu screeched, launching a wild array of blue lightning into the air. Seemingly stray bolts hunted down Sweet Kiss, striking through the hearts to link to the next. The hearts exploded into pink bubbles and mist, transforming Discharge into a storm of pink lightning.

Maddox's points took a dip, for the display.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Maddox cheered. "Slowbro, Amnesia!"

"Slow…." Slowbro spaced out, paying the world around him almost no mind. The lightning that struck him was hardly even noticed.

Poliwrath, on the other hand, tumbled over from the shock.

"Slowbro, use Surf!" Maddox ordered.

Slowbro yawned, creating a tidal wave that crashed across the field, threatening to swallow Lopunny and Pachirisu.

"Lopunny," Dawn called, "Ice Beam!"

Lopunny fired cold energy from her mouth, freezing the incoming tidal wave in place.

Both Dawn and Maddox lost a small sliver of points from the exchange.

"Not bad, not bad!" Maddox grinned. "Slowbro, let's keep it coming! Psychic!"

A blue glow outlined the lazy pokemon, as well as the ice. The frozen wave ripped apart into chunks of ice, all of them sent to assault Lopunny and Pachirisu.

Both of Dawn's pokemon shouted in pain, nailed by the frozen barrage.

"Poliwrath, Submission!"

Out of the cold storm charged Poliwrath, who lunged to tackle Lopunny.

Pain struck Lopunny suddenly, knocking the wind out of her. She found herself being tumbled across the contest floor by Poliwrath - how humiliating!

"Poliwrath comes out of the chaos with a great Submission attack! Maddox really made the most of that ice!"

Dawn's points dropped another inch.

"Lopunny!" Dawn called out in worry. "Use Circle Throw!"

Still tumbling, the rabbit grinned. She pulled in her legs, pressing her feet to the tadpole pokemon's chest. With a grunt and a kick, Lopunny tossed Poliwrath backwards over her head.

"And, Lopunny fights back, with Circle Toss!"

"We've got 'im now! Pachirisu, Electro Ball on Poliwrath!"

"Chi!" Pachirisu spun, launching Electro Ball at her airborne opponent.

"Slowbro, use Psychic to put down that Electro Ball!" Maddox countered.

"Slow…." Slowbro exerted control of the orb of electricity, freezing it in mid-air. "Bro." Electro Ball shot towards the currently readjusting Lopunny, instead.

"Think fast, Lopunny!" Dawn warned.

"Lop?" The normal type had just gotten on her feet. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the sizzling collection of lightning coming. She spun on her heel, smashing Electro Ball with the back of her ear. The orb was knocked away, exploding behind her.

Dawn and Maddox's points both dropped, to about three quarters.

"The pace is picking up, and neither side is giving an inch!"

"You haven't seen anything, yet!" Dawn boasted, gesturing forward. "Lopunny, use Jump Kick on Poliwrath!"

Lopunny lunged, rearing her leg back for a full-weight kick.

"Take that on, Poliwrath! Dynamic Punch!"

Poliwrath reared his fist back, coating it in a burning orange light. With a grunt, he swung forward, throwing a devastating right hook at his opponent.

Lopunny shouted, smashing her foot into Poliwrath's side.

A dull, pounding pain struck Lopunny's face. Out of her one open eye, she could see Poliwrath's gloved fist smashed into her cheek. Similarly, she saw her foot buried in his torso.

"Goodness! Look at that clash!" Lillian hollered. "A fierce exchange of blows, right out of a title fight! It's not often you see that kind of showmanship in a contest - but, surprising displays are what the Grand Festival's all about!"

The emcee's excited shouts were a jumbled blur of irritating noises to Lopunny, hardly making sense. Feeling awfully dizzy all of the sudden, she fell back, collapsing in the middle of the stage.

"Lopunny!" Dawn gasped, clenching her fists. "Can you get up, girl?"

"Lo…" The pokemon groaned, still belly-up, center-stage. She held her head, slowly sitting up. Once she'd managed that much, she stood up onto two feet.

"That's the way!" Dawn cheered. "Now, let's keep on trucking!"

"Lop….!" Lopunny howled, throwing a fist in the air. She stepped forward, and stumbled wildly, before tripping over her own feet, falling face-first.

"Oh, dear! Lopunny's been confused by Dynamic Punch! All of that flare in the head-on charge may have come with a hefty price!"

"Oh, Lopunny...!" Dawn buried her face in her palm, heat flooding her cheeks. "Come on, girl, get it together…"

"Chi-chi-chi!" Pachirisu snickered, cupping her paws over her mouth.

Dawn groaned. "Who's side are you on…?"


"Talk about some rough luck," Brock lamented. "I don't think I'd be standing right after an attack like that, either. This could be bad."

"No kidding," Ash agreed. "Lopunny's really got two left feet over there, huh?" Ash deadpanned, sweat dripping down his forehead. He had to cheer them on, of course, but she looked pretty ridiculous.

"Pikapi!" Pikachu scolded, turning to give his trainer a look of offense. This was no time to be cracking jokes at her expense!

"Yeah, sorry," Ash nodded. "Don't worry, though - they'll figure something out!"


"Well, Lopunny's not herself right now… I'll need to work something else out, if I want to win this." Dawn glanced up at the scoreboard. Maddox's points were at about two thirds, while her own had dropped to half her original score. She could only assume the tripping was responsible for that difference. Great.

"Don't leave me hanging, Dawn!" Maddox jeered from across the field. Getting you while your back's turned really isn't cool. But, you're putting me in a tough spot here, dude."

"Be careful what you wish for," Dawn warned. "Pachirisu, use Rollout! It's up to you!"

"Chi-pa!" Pachirisu tucked her body in, jumping forward to wrap herself up with her tail. Spinning forward, she launched herself at Slowbro.

"Poliwrath, use Mud Shot!"

Poliwrath had regained his composure, flexing to fire compact masses of mud at the small Elesquirrel.

"Good luck hitting Pachirisu," Dawn boasted. "She can't stay in one place for long!"

"Pa!" The whirling blur of white and blue that was Pachirisu bounced wildly, leaping right over a hunk of mud that splashed violently across the battlefield. Jerking into a zig-zag pattern, Pachirisu safely evaded Poliwrath's attacks.

"Look at Pachirisu go! Even during a Rollout, it's staying clear out of danger, with all of that pep!"

Maddox lost a small sliver of points for the display.

"That's the way!" Dawn cheered. "Now, add in Electro Ball!"

"Chi-chi-chi-pah!" Golden electricity weaved into the spinning Squirrel's tucked form, conducting wildly with her increased speed. In no time at all, Pachirisu had become a flashing wheel of lightning.

The wheel passed Poliwrath, and crashed into Slowbro, blasting the fray with smoke and lightning.

Maddox's points dropped to about half.

"Pachirisu deals some serious damage in style! Oh- but, what's this!?"

"Slow..." Slowbro yawned lazily scratching his belly. A gentle green glow surrounded him, making the burns and scratches on his bulky body vanish.

"That's Slack-off! Slowbro won't go down that easy, Dawn!" Maddox boasted.

"Taking them out head-on won't be easy, then." Dawn frowned, assessing her field. Pachirisu had bounced back to her side in the explosion, and Lopunny… she was standing, again! "Lopunny! I need you, now!"

"Lop!" Lopunny shook her head, gesturing a raised paw to Dawn.

Dawn looked at the clock; three minutes left. "Then, let's get rolling! Use Dizzy Punch on Slowbro!"

Lopunny sprinted, leaping towards the lazy pokemon, the fluff of her ears coated in a multicolored glow.

"Now, Pachirisu, add in Sweet Kiss!"

Pachirisu winked, launching a flurry of hearts at Lopunny.

The vibrant hearts clung to the fluff of Lopunny's ears, coating them in a vibrant pink. She winked, and turned into a spin, swinging her ears around like violent flails, meant to bash Slowbro. Hearts twirled around her ears, exaggerating the pokemon's power and beauty.

Dawn's combination knocked Maddox's points down a sizable margin.

"Slowbro, Foul Play!"

"Slow…" Slowbro blinked. Lopunny was coming right at him, lashing out at full steam. He lazily pivoted on his foot.

"Lop!" Lopunny came in swinging, striking at Slowbro with all of her might.

A dull pain struck her right in the back. She tumbled forward, completely losing concentration. She landed in a heap before Maddox.

"Ooooh! All of that style built into her combination, only to be swept aside by Foul Play! Dawn's looking to be in a tight spot here, and so is Lopunny!"

After Slowbro's humiliating turn-around, Dawn's points had dropped to a third of her original score.

"I'm all for going all out, Dawn, but I won't let you do it, alone!" Maddox declared, and punched forward. "Poliwrath, use Surf!"

Poliwrath assaulted the downed Lopunny with a tidal wave, sweeping her up.

"Slowbro, use Psychic! Sweep 'em up!"

Slowbro's eyes illuminated, taking hold of the wave. Surf swept across the stage, dodging Slowbro completely to swallow Pachirisu.

"Pa!" Pachirisu screeched, rushing to run away from the current. But, she was a moment too late to scram. Surf swept her up, violently tossing her about. She was beginning to feel dizzy…

Surf had become a whirlpool, under the influence of Slowbro's Psychic!

"Lopunny! Pachirisu!" Dawn called out in worry.

Lopunny shouted something or another that probably voiced her discontent, helplessly tossed around by the cycle. Pachirisu screeched, just the same.

"Surf and Psychic have picked up both of Dawn's pokemon, leaving them helpless to fight back!"

"We're in real trouble…" Dawn grimaced. "That combination fell flat, and we haven't had any luck overwhelming Maddox's pokemon..." What was a coordinator to do, in this kind of mess?


"Come on, Dawn!" Ash cheered, standing out of his seat. "Turn the tides on him!"

"Pika-chuuu!" Pikachu shouted, waving his fans wildly. They had to have something up their sleeves!

~Things look bad for Ma', out there.~ Rosa whined, leaning forward in her seat.

"Whirlpools are usually Dawn's thing, right?" Misty asked. "Having that used against her must be a psyche out… but, she didn't come this far, just to lose!"


"So, straight overpowering them won't work… we'll just have to go all-out!" Dawn declared, raising a fist. "Lopunny, use Ice Beam on Surf!"

"Lop-! Lopunny!" She responded, opening her mouth to freeze the currents tossing her around. One wave after the next solidified, trapping first Pachirisu and then Lopunny, herself, in glimmering ice.

It was time to show the crowd what this bun was made of. Lopunny grit her teeth, and focused.

Suddenly, the frozen sculpture shattered. Shards and chunks of ice flew every which way, broken by one of the rabbit's fierce kicks.

Lopunny twirled, landing on one foot, her opposite leg bent at the knee. That was the kicking power her new stage gave her!

"Catch Pachirisu!" Dawn commanded.

Watching the falling Elesquirrel, Lopunny snatched her up with her ears.

"Breaking through solid ice that she herself set up - quite a feat for Lopunny, and a gutsy move on Dawn's part!"

Dawn's points rested at about a quarter, with Maddox's nearly double that. There were about two minutes on the clock.

"Lopunny, Pachirisu, it's time!" Dawn shouted, holding an open palm over her head. "Lopunny, hold Pachirisu over your head!"

"Lop!" Lopunny hoisted her ears upright, lifting Pachirisu far above her head.

"Now, Pachirisu," Dawn added, "use Discharge!"

"Pa-chi!" Pachirisu screeched, spraying blue bolts of lightning all about the field, from atop her perch.

"Poli!" Poliwrath cried, jumping back after a stray flash of lightning struck him.

"Lopunny, you know what to do!" Dawn coached.

Lopunny hopped onto one foot, and spun into a wild pirouette , beginning to dance across the stage, with so much loose electricity flying from atop her head.

"Pa-chi!" Suddenly spinning wildly, Pachirisu chattered in joy, focusing her electricity towards the sky. Blue bolts channeled together, forming a wildly fluctuating cage of electricity above Lopunny and Pachirisu, spraying loose electricity around the stage.

Loud whoops of shock and applause came from the audience, marveling at the combination that was worth of an appeal of its own.

"Poli!" Poliwrath grunted, guarding himself from static.

Slowbro was hit with a full bolt, and yawned.

"Check that out! Pachirisu and Lopunny have created a lightning storm before our very eyes, tempered into a crown, above their beautiful footwork! And- er, earwork!"

"That's wild, Dawn! Totally wild!" Maddox laughed, watching Lopunny and Pachirisu's show unfold.

"That's called Thunder Tiara!" Dawn boasted gesturing to the move with pride in her eyes. "And it's gonna take you down!"

"You really think so!?" Maddox grinned, and punched forward. "Hey, Poliwrath, rattle them up with Dynamic Punch!"

"Poli!" Poliwrath barreled forward, jumping between shocks to make a quick path for Lopunny, his fist blazing with energy.

"You're not gonna take that, are ya, Lopunny?" Dawn goaded.

"Pun!" Lopunny jumped out of her spin, turning to quick and wild leaps, dancing amongst the artificial lightning. Blue bolts flailed around her with every move, giving her the appearance of a wild dancer in the middle of a rave. She pumped her fists and kicked her legs, having the time of her life.

As much as Lopunny loved to punch opponents out, she was still that graceful Buneary at heart, who loved to show off her beauty.

What better way to show off those two qualities?

Poliwrath was already in her face, letting out a roar as he threw his punch.

Lopunny beamed, leaving herself wide open.

That was, until a lightning bolt struck Poliwrath, sizzling it on the spot.

"Now, Dizzy Punch!" Dawn coached.

Lopunny winded up, her wrist's fluff coating in a rainbow shine. She delivered a striking uppercut to Poliwrath, knocking him on his rear.

"Good! Now, Jump Kick on Slowbro!"

"Punny!" Lopunny sprinted forward, and jumped at Slowbro, with a leg geared back.

Discharge circled her, preventing Slowbro from any fancy footwork. The water/psychic hybrid found his face contorted by a fierce kick to the jaw, tumbling him over.

"Talk about a comeback! With Dawn's Thunder Tiara, she's staging a full-frontal assault on Maddox's pokemon, in style!"

Maddox's points had dropped to about a quarter, even with Dawn's. There was a minute and a half left on the clock.


"Keep it up, you guys!" Ash cheered wildly, whooping from his seat.

"Pika-chu! Pika-chu!" Pikachu cheered, hopping in Ash's lap.

~Kickass!~ Rosa yipped.

"Rosa," Brock chided.

"Oh, leave 'er alone! It's absolutely gorgeous," Misty cooed. "Beauty and muscle all in one - I love it!"


"Cool, Dawn. Really cool." Maddox ducked under a bolt, grinning. "Slowbro, lift up that Pachirisu with Psychic!"

"Slow…" Slowbro sat up, exerting a telekinetic grip on the Elesquirrel.

"Pa!?" Pachirisu squeaked, suddenly pulled out of Lopunny's grip to hover above the field. Still exerting Discharge, she flailed her stubby arms and legs.

"That figures…" Dawn frowned.

"Lop!" Lopunny put her hands on her hips, rather miffed. They'd cut her dance short!

"We still have a chance to win this," Dawn shouted. "Pachirisu, use Rollout!"

Pachirisu grinned, and obeyed, somersaulting in mid-air. Discharge whipped around her, cycling with her spins.

"I don't know what you're up to, Dawn," Maddox started, "but I'm not finding out! Poliwrath, Mud Slap!"

Poliwrath turned to Pachirisu, launching a big hunk of muck at the spinning squirrel.

"Ice Beam, on Pachirisu!" Dawn ordered.

Lopunny turned to fire an Ice Beam at her teammate.

Mud Shot hit its mark, exploding. Smoke and frost clouded the battlefield.

The audience's eyes were drawn to the shroud, until it died away. Where Pachirisu had been, she continued to be suspended. But, she was no longer a spinning blur.

A beautiful frozen shell encased her, its surface wildly uneven with spikes and decorative wisps that had, a moment ago, been unruly lightning. Pachirisu stood in the sculpture's center, letting off more electricity. She was panting - thank goodness for the cool interior - she hoped this battle would be over soon! This little girlie needed a rest, putting out all that electricity.

"Man, what's up with that!?" Maddox gawked.

"That's a new spin on an old favorite!" Dawn winked. "We call this one the 'Glitter Bomb!' You ready, Lopunny?"

"Lop!" Lopunny nodded to Dawn, and crouched.

"Then, let's go!" Dawn cheered, swinging an open palm forward.

Lopunny sprinted at the suspended sculpture, and jumped. Turning her hips and head, she whipped her ears back. Making eye contact with Pachirisu through the ice, she winked. "Y'ready, sis!?"

"Yerdarnrightimready! Put'noutallthisdischargehere? Immaneedtosleepforaweek! Go'nandknockmeint-"

Lopunny grew tired of the chatter and whipped her head forward, smacking the Glitter Bomb right out of Slowbro's grip.

Maddox swallowed. Pachirisu was sent dive bombing right towards-

"Slowbro! Poliwrath!"

Glitter Bomb hit its mark, exploding into so many asymmetrical, glimmering shards. Lit by so many flickers of the dissipating discharge, they turned the stage into a veritable snow globe. The combination had lived up to its name.

"Perfect!" Dawn grinned, before turning to the reality of the situation.

Pachirisu stood, barely. On top of being dizzy, she was definitely exhausted.

Lopunny stood towards the center of the stage, battered, but willing to continue.

Slowbro sat up, covered in ice and soot.

Poliwrath held himself up on one knee.

Dawn swallowed thickly. "Both of his pokemon are still conscious…"

A loud 'ding' stole the coordinator's attention.

On the screen, Maddox's point bar had dropped to nothing.

"Maddox is out, by point knockout! In that stunning finishing move, Dawn and her pokemon have wrapped up the match, with under half a minute to spare!"

Dawn stared at the screen, and her face lit up with glee. "We won!"

"Chi-pah!" Pachirisu cheered… before collapsing on her back.

"Lopunny!" Lopunny cheered, similarly falling on her rear. What a battle!

"You're both all tuckered out." Dawn gave a sympathetic smile, and returned both of her pokemon. "Hey, Maddox! ...Huh?" Dawn paused. Her opponent was already gone.

"Huh... " Dawn blinked. "He's not usually one to dodge attention… Oh, well. I'd better get these guys healed up." Dawn would bow to the audience, before turning to the inside of the stadium.


"Excuse me! Nurse Joy?" Dawn rushed to the counter backstage, holding her two pokeballs. "Could you please heal my pokemon?"

"Well, sure, Dawn!" Nurse Joy chimed. "...But, you'll have to wait your turn."

"Huh?" Dawn blinked, suddenly shrieking. Maddox had been standing right beside her! "W-when did you-!?"

"I was just letting the winner have her spotlight, man!" Maddox slapped Dawn on the back with a grin. "Thought I'd go and turn my pokemon in first."

Dawn was, admittedly, a bit surprised. "That was nice of you," Dawn replied, "but my pokemon were too tuckered out to bask in the limelight. So, I made a beeline here. They're the stars, after all."

"Right. That's real. I get you." Maddox nodded, crossing his arms, looking solemn.

That only lasted a moment.

"That Glitter Bomb, though! Way to take me out of it! Hah, I'm not even mad, losing to a move, like that!"

"Glad you're a fan! It's a spin on an old favorite," Dawn winked. "I used something like that, back in my Sinnoh Super Contests. But, the Thunder Tiara was new."

"I thought I had you, taking that one apart. I guess you're the one with the groove for contests."

"Well, being creative and flashy is important," Dawn agreed, "but, there's something to be said for showing off a pokemon's power and stubbornness, too! Most people aren't bold enough to run on that, alone."

"Rockin' a lot of wisdom, today." Maddox nodded.

"Maddox, your pokemon are fighting fit!" Nurse Joy interrupted, holding out her tray.

"Thanks, Nurse." Maddox accepted the pokeballs. "So, uh… I guess that's it, huh."

Dawn gave a polite smile. "Well, it was fun while it lasted! I'm pretty proud of myself, finally beating you."

"Yeah, it was! Keep repping that pride, and take it to the top!" Maddox gestured a thumb at the screen. "You might end up fighting that Glenda, so don't lose, alright? Wouldn't be cool, going down to old money."

"Hey, Glenda's fantastic!" Dawn huffed, glaring at the taller teen.

Maddox blinked. "Whatever you say, pipsqueak. I'm heading out. Have fun with your pokemon."

Dawn's expression softened into a smile. "Don't you worry - I will!"

Watching Maddox leave, Dawn handed her pokeballs over to Nurse Joy. She glanced away out of the corner of her eye, and grew stiff. "G-glenda!?"

The older woman had been passing through the locker room. She turned her sights on Dawn.

Dawn's face turned red - how embarrassing! "I g-guess I got carried away there! Just, you know…!"

Glenda showed the faintest hint of a smile, and kept on moving without a word.

Dawn exhaled. "Me and my big, fat mouth…"


"So, what do you think!"

Dawn winked, posing with her two competing pokemon. "Was that a winner, or what!?"

"That was amazing!" Ash gushed, taking both of Dawn's hands. His eyes sparkled with wonder. "Maddox really had you on the ropes, but you stuck with it!"

"Well, when you can't overpower someone, all you can do is out style them~!"Dawn winked, gesturing to herself with all of her deserved vanity.

"That's the Dawn I know!" Ash gushed. "Just for the record, I was totally cheering my heart out," he boasted, patting his bicep. He'd done so much hard work, out there.

"Don't worry, I had a feeling," Dawn teased.

"The pokemon were, too!" Misty added.

"They were thrilled," Brock agreed. "Even if some of them need to learn to mind their language," he cut his eyes to Rosa.

"Am I gonna have to be more strict?" Ash joked, resting his hands on his hips to narrow his eyes at his 'daughter.' "That's really unbecoming." Sheesh. He couldn't even keep a straight face, saying that.

~H-hey! I was just speaking the truth!~ Rosa whined. ~Lopunny totally kicked ass, out there!~

"Well, I mean… you're right." Ash chuckled. He caught a look of disapproval from Brock, but he couldn't be bothered by it.

"I learned from the best!" Lopunny chattered, brushing a paw through the fluff of her ear. "I couldn't'a done it without all of our fierce training sessions, Rosa!"

~We've come a long way since that ring match, huh?~ The Lucario smiled softly.

"Don'tforgetme, yajerks!" Pachirisu whined, flailing her paws. "Doyaknowhowmuchworkitwaskeepinupthatdischarge!? Immaneedawholebunchofpoffinst'getmyenergybackup!"

"You were great, too!" Pikachu assured, patting the Elesquirrel on the back. "That was some seriously impressive lighting. Our training really paid off."

"Yera!" Pachirisu panted, running out of breath, finally. "Yer a good coach, Pikachu. After this is over, imma need your help, some more!"

"You can hold me to that," Pikachu chuckled.

"Hey, Pikachu~"

The mouse stood upright, his attention leaving Pachirisu. "Yeah?"

"What'd ya think of my dancing~?" Lopunny winked, crouching to nuzzle up to the now-much-shorter mouse. She crossed her paws past her waist to swoon. "Pretty fancy footwork, ain't it?"

Pikachu laughed - probably way too much. "Y-yeah, I liked it a lot! Maybe you could show me how you do it sometime." He felt his mouth grow dry, as if all eyes in the room were on him. "Just… don't thrash me like you did those other pokemon, haha!"

Lopunny giggled. "Y'mean you don't want me to kick your butt?"

Pikachu shook his head. "No, I mean- I'm not afraid of a good brawl! Just, you know, not when we're dancing- I mean…"

Lopunny could squeal - Pikachu was crimson right now - what a cutie! The poor boy was practically simmering. So, she decided to be considerate and show a little mercy. "You're so silly, Pikachu."

The mouse groaned. This was why he didn't play the romance game… how confusing.

"Well, one thing definitely hasn't changed." Brock chuckled.

"No kidding." Ash smiled, with a roll of his eyes, crouching down to allow Pikachu to escape up his shoulder. His best friend gratefully accepted the gesture. "Girls, right, buddy?"

"And what does that mean?" Dawn was already in Ash's face, snagging him by the cheek.

"Ith doeshn'sh… mean anyshing!" Ash stammered, his face losing color. But, getting another look at Dawn… he saw that smirk in the corner of her mouth. She was playing along.

"I wash jush gonna shay how amathing you all are!"

"Wise words, Ketchum," Misty added, looming menacingly by him.

Maybe she wasn't kidding.

Hearing Ash swallow, Dawn released her boyfriend with a roll of her eyes. It was easy to get jitters during the Grand Festival, but her company made that tension much easier to bear.