The students in attendance were full of energy and excitement as the trainers inside the arena prepared themselves for battle. In the stands, the rest of Louis' team of Pokémon stared in shock, at the sight of Azul standing alongside Zack.

"What's Azul doing with Zack?!" exclaimed Staraptor.

"Nngh, I knew I saw him at Suzuki's training field!" growled Lucario.

"Nice of him to tell us," snarled Marowak.

Louis had to keep his nerves under control, not only for the upcoming match but also for the fact that Azul was competing for Zack.

"I can't believe this is happening," he sighed.

The academy's referee stepped into the ring and raised his arms into the air.

"Ready?" she called.

The trainers and Pokémon readied themselves for the beginning of the match. Louis wiped the sweat off his forehead.

"BEGIN!"

Time seemed to stop. Almost in slow-motion, Louis watched his competitors launch their chosen Pokémon into battle.

"Corviknight, use Steel Wing on Leafeon!" commanded Sasha.

The Corviknight flapped its wings and charged toward Leafeon. The steel bird's wings began to glow white as it prepared to swing at the grass Pokémon. However, Daryl ordered Leafeon to dodge the attack, with quick maneuvers.

"Now use Leaf Blade!" he added.

To Louis' surprise, the leaf on top of Leafeon's head turned light green and transformed into a bright, sharp blade. With dexterity in its veins, Leafeon hurtled toward Sasha's Pokémon and swung the Leaf Blade with tremendous force. Corviknight took a massive hit from the swing and bounced off the ropes.

Zack saw that the steel bird was left out in the open.

"Perfect," muttered Zack. "Greninja! Use Quick Attack!"

With incredible speed, Azul dashed toward the Corviknight and struck with a powerful kick, knocking it backwards. However, Corviknight was not backing down yet. A tight duel between Azul and Corviknight began. Leafeon attempted to use Razor Leaf on Braixen, but her flexibility and speed prevented it from connecting.

The young adult from Johto figured he needed to get in on the action, so he began to think out how to act.

"Braixen, use Will-o-Wisp on Corviknight," called Louis.

"You got it!" replied Braixen.

Braixen retrieved her stick wand from her tail. A pink, light and dark blue flame began to emit from the tip. She swung the wand toward Corviknight and fired the ball of burning heat at the Pokémon. Before Sasha could react, as she was still focused on Leafeon and Azul, the Will-o-Wisp struck Corviknight, dealing a substantial amount of damage.

"Haha! They've still got it," cheered Roy.

Leafeon became briefly distracted by the burst of fire that collided with Corviknight. Zack found the perfect moment to strike.

"Greninja! Wrap Leafeon with your tongue and swing it at Corviknight!" commanded Zack.

"His what?" blurted Louis.

Azul leapt into the air. The scarf around his neck began to unwrap and revealed to Louis that it was indeed his tongue all along.

"That freaking scarf is his tongue?!" he shrieked.

Azul's tongue wrapped around the Leafeon's body. With tremendous force and agility, Azul swung Leafeon at Corviknight, where the two Pokémon collided with one another.

Although he was still freaked out by the fact that Azul's scarf was his tongue, Louis had to remain focused on the battle before him. Then, the young adult remembered that fire-type Pokémon were very effective against grass and steel types.

"Braixen, use Flamethrower," commanded Louis.

Taking their lessons from the training session a short time ago, Braixen held her wand tightly and closed her eyes. She began to picture a small fire inside of her body.

'Five...four...'

The imaginary fire grew bigger with each decreasing number.

'Three...two...one...'

The red hot flames from within burned like a raging inferno. Nothing would be able to put it out.

'Zero!'

Braixen leapt into the air and swung her wand, pointing it at the collided Corviknight and Leafeon. A gigantic stream of flames shot out from the tip and hurtled straight toward the two beasts. The students and staff in attendance were in awe at the tremendous, intense heat, displayed by the power of the fox Pokémon.

"Holy moly!" one student exclaimed.

"It's huge!" another detailed.

"Corviknight! Get out of the way!" yelled Sasha.

"Leafeon! Look out!" Daryl shouted.

Unfortunately for them, the commands to their Pokémon didn't reach them in time, as soon, the two creatures were engulfed by the massive flames. Azul and Zack watched, amazed by Braixen's power. Every audience member felt the heat from the powerful blast.

"Whoa...Suzuki wasn't kidding," muttered Zack.

"Huh...neat," mumbled Azul.

As the inferno subsided, the trainers and audience members were treated to the sight of the Corviknight and Leafeon struggling to stand. However, the previous attack was too much to take for them as they collapsed under their own weight.

"Leafeon and Corviknight are unable to battle," the referee announced. "Sasha Thompson and Daryl Orton are eliminated."

Both trainers were disappointed at their elimination.

"Aw man," moaned Daryl.

"Dang it," grumbled Sasha.

The two individuals returned their beasts to their capsules and stepped out of the ring. Now it was down to Louis and Braixen against Zack and Azul. Louis swallowed the lump in his throat.

Taki could see the expression displayed on her friend's face.

"Louis seems a bit worried," she said.

Lucario replied, "I wouldn't be surprised. He and Braixen are taking on Azul at the moment."

Zack moved to the corner directly opposite Louis, with Azul following him. The final two competitors locked eyes with one another.

"Hey, Louis," called Zack. "Let's give these guys something to remember."

"Okay," replied Louis.

Both trainers pointed forward.

"Braixen..." Louis started.

"Greninja..." Zack began.

"Show them what we got!" both trainers exclaimed.

The fire-fox and the ninja-frog charged at one another. What ensued was a long and incredible back-and-forth between the two creatures. Louis and Zack had adrenaline pumping through their bodies.

"Look at 'em go," said Roy.

Miguel grinned from the sidelines.

"That's my boy," he said.

"They've both got heart," added Coach. "I don't think I'll be able to guess who'll win."

"Braixen, use Scratch," called Louis.

The fire-fox nodded. She ran toward the ninja-frog, with her sharp claws ready to attack. However, Louis caught a glimpse of Zack with a confident grin on his face.

"Gotcha," the young trainer said.

"Huh?" blurted Louis.

Without warning, Zack prepared for another attack.

"Greninja! Jump out of the way," he commanded.

As Braixen was about to scratch Azul, he bounced high into the air, surprising Louis.

"Now use Water Shuriken!" called Zack.

Still in the air, Azul raised an arm upward, and a large, shuriken-like shape began to be formed from the frog-ninja's arm.

"No way," gasped Louis.

Then, without a second thought, Azul threw the water shuriken straight toward Braixen. Alertness swept through the young adult's bloodstream.

"Braixen, LOOK OUT!" he yelled.

The young adult's calls reached Braixen on time. However, before the fire-fox could react, the water shuriken collided with her, dealing a lot of damage and sending her flying. Braixen slid across the surface of the ring before coming to a complete stop.

The crowd fell silent

"Braixen, are you alright?" Louis called.

Braixen tried as hard as she could to stand up again. Sadly, the pain inflicted upon her was too much to handle and she collapsed.

The battle was over.

"Braixen is unable to battle," the referee declared. "Louis Serrano is eliminated. The winner of this match is Zack Sanders and Greninja."

The crowd applauded the conclusion of the battle. Taki, Roy, and the Pokémon alongside them, couldn't believe their eyes. Louis actually lost a battle.

"Oh man..." said Roy.

"I hope Braixen is okay," added Taki.

From the sidelines, Coach and Miguel were amazed by the end result.

"Whoa...that was too close to call," said Coach.

Louis stepped toward Braixen and picked her up, with her arm around the young adult's shoulder.

"You alright?" he asked.

"Nngh...not really," answered Braixen.

The young adult's friends and remaining Pokémon helped the duo out of the ring. Louis sent Braixen back inside of her Pokéball and gave it to Taki.

"I'll meet you guys at the Pokémon Centre," he said, in a worried tone.

Taki nodded. She and the rest of the party made their way to the Pokémon Centre. Louis took in a deep breath.

"Nice work out there, Louis," called Zack.

The young adult gestured a thumbs up over his shoulder.

"You deserved it, man," he replied.

Zack stepped out of the ring. Unbeknownst to him, Azul was not alongside him.

"Louis!" called Azul.

The young adult spun around to see Azul, still in the ring. Louis could tell that underneath the tongue-scarf, Azul was grinning, pridefully.

"I beat you!" he said. "Now I know that you and the others were just holding me back."

Louis raised an eyebrow, a little confused.

"I'm better off without you all," he proclaimed.

The frog-ninja walked off and returned to Zack. As Louis watched on, he began to clench his fist as years of subsided anger began to surface again.

'That...little-!' he thought.

...tell me I didn't hear him just say that. The nerve of that Pokémon.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Is there something you enjoyed? Can you guess what happens next? Or...what do you hope to see in future chapters? If so, go ahead and leave a review explaining any of these reasons. (Please don't leave hurtful reviews)

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Thanks again. See you next time

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna find something to whoop that Greninja's butt.