Nimbasa Festival Arc: Battle Among Friends

As they entered Join Avenue and found a promising store, Mari winked at her friend. "Look around, will you?",
"See you in a minute!" Jacky waved at her and then walked through the rows. Her friend made her way to the back of the store, where all sorts of odds and ends could be found. She selected a pack of blue velvet hair ribbons that matched the color of her kimono.

Jacky selected several dresses and disappeared into the dressing room when she heard Soleil call out next to her. "Finally! My faith in you has not been shaken, Susan!" Mari joined her again. "How's the search going, Mrs. Heavens?" she asked. Jacky pulled back the curtain to reveal herself in a calf-length white dress with equally white faux fur draped over her shoulders. "What do you think? Does this look too granny-ish?",
"Hmm..." Mari eyed her. "It doesn't look bad, but I think... it doesn't suit you.",
"Too white?",
"Yes, and too plain. You need something darker for an occasion like this. White is not gonna stand out much.",
"Hmm... Then, all the ones I've selected are too light in color... I guess I'll have to look around again..." While Soleil stepped out of the dressing room, wrapped in a long, light robe with gold cloth around her waist, Jacky kept looking. "I can't decide..." she mumbled as she wavered between a midnight blue dress with gold chains at the waist and a dark red dress and bronze bangles. "I prefer the blue one, if that helps", Mari said.
"Hmh..." Jacky nodded. "Okay. Give me a second." She disappeared back into the locker room. She changed her clothes, then pulled the curtain aside. The blue fabric fit her figure perfectly, the gold chains fell to her left, and the cut of the dress that covered her left leg only accentuated it.
"Whew. Not bad." Mari nodded appreciatively. "It suits you way better.",
"Do you really think so?",
"Of course I do. Take a look in the mirror." Jacky turned to a mirror and was visibly surprised. "I hardly recognize myself. I never thought I would look that nice in such an extravagant dress...",
"You look wonderful." Mari gave her a raised thumb. "Then, I'll take that." Jacky grinned. "Good, then let's go to the jeweler's!",
"Aye, aye!" She changed back into her normal clothes, and then followed her friend after she paid for the not so cheap dress.

They entered a jeweler and looked at the various pieces of jewelry in the glass cases. They were all collectively beautiful. "Look." Jacky pointed at a golden necklace with a classy- looking crescent moon pendant. "Do you think that goes well with my dress?",
"Definitely." Mari nodded, then walked over to a woman behind the counter. She asked her to unlock the display cases so they could try out the accessories. Jacky immediately fell in love with the gold necklace, while Mari opted for water drop-shaped earrings with blue stones and a silver necklace of an identical shape. They paid and then left the store again. "I would have liked to have something for my hair", Jacky muttered, looking at the bags she was carrying. "But I couldn't find anything I liked...",
"Oh, you'll look just great, even without fancy-schmancy hair stuff." Mari giggled and patted her on the shoulder.

The next morning, Mari woke up early and prepared breakfast while Jacky was still snoring away peacefully. She woke her up at 9 a.m and Jacky grumbled about it, but then got up and had breakfast together with her. Then, they went downstairs to the lobby, where they met Yuna, who greeted them cheerfully. Next to her, Soleil was dreamily looking at a silver bracelet with all kinds of stones and charms, and Viv, whose presence was surprising them as well, was typing away on her Xtransceiver in the corner while poking at her cereal. Kattlea was flipping through various magazines. They had not seen the guys yet. Laslow and Chris seemed to be all up and about already. "Hello", Mari greeted Yuna and Soleil. "Do you want to do something as a foursome today?",
"What do you suggest?" Yuna asked eagerly.
"Oh, I have an idea," Jacky spoke up. "How about a double battle?",
"Oh, that sounds fantastic!" Mari agreed. "After that, we could go to the amusement park and eat at Join Avenue!",
"That sounds wonderful!" Soleil rejoiced and jumped up. "I can't wait!",
"I'm in." Yuna nodded with a smile. "It'll be lots of fun, I'm sure.",
"Well then! Let's go!"

They headed off to a suitable place. "Okay... so who's gonna team up with who?" Yuna asked.
"I don't know, we'll leave the choice up to you", Mari replied.
"I want to battle alongside Mari!" Soleil demanded, grinning.
"Okay, that means Yuna and I will team up", Jacky concluded.
"Yaaay!" Soleil was psyched like a hyperactive Purrloin.
"Very well." Mari pulled out a Pokéball. "Gabite, you're up!",
"Sigilyph, this will be our stage!" Soleil and Mari made the first move. "Let's go, Medicham!" Jacky shouted and Yuna followed. "Cherrim!",
"You're very keen on making Gabite and Medicham fight all the time, huh?" Mari crosses her arms and Jacky laughed. "Well, you could call it a habit of sorts."

"Okay, Gabite!" Mari stretched out her arm. "Let's start with Earthquake!" Gabite stamped its foot on the ground and made it shake. "Air Slash, Sigilyph!" Soleil commanded, and her Pokémon, the only one unaffected by the Earthquake, sent blades of condensed air at its opponents. "Psycho Cut, Medicham!" Jacky commanded. Medicham formed a blade in its hand and fended off the air scythes with deft movements. "Dragon Rage, go!" Mari shouted, and Gabite spewed a beam of blue flames at Cherrim. "Petal Dance!" Yuna prompted. Beautiful petals appeared around Gabite and began to swirl around it tumultuously in alignment with Cherrims movements. Gabite, however, burst through the attack. "Dragon Claw!" It aimed at Cherrim with a merciless strike. "Deflect it, Medicham!" Medicham jumped in front of Cherrim and blocked Gabite's attack with a Psycho Cut blade. Then, it counter-attacked with Brick-Break, knocking Gabite back. "Cherrim is a ranged fighter while Jacky lets Medicham counter any melee attacks. They balance each other perfectly", Mari analyzed. "Guess we have to step up and separate them from each other. I will engage Medicham into melee combat so you can focus on Cherrim", she said to her partner.
"Got it!",
"Alright! Gabite, Rock Tomb!" Gabite roared and sent stones hailing down at their opponents. Medicham destroyed the rocks, however, before it dashed towards its rival.
"Dragon Claw!",
"Ice Beam!" Sigilyph aimed at Cherrim, while Medicham blocked Gabite's attack with a new Psycho Cut blade, and a fierce duel broke out between the two. Gabite struck again and again with its claws, and Medicham passively defended itself before lunging for a counter-attack with its blade, which was again blocked by Gabite. Sigilyph was onto Cherrim right now, cornering it with Air Slashes while it tried to keep it away with Petal Dance. But it got increasingly exhausted from its attempts, and it failed to defend itself against the next Ice Beam from its enemy. "Great! Now Air Slash, Sigilyph! Let's show them who's the real queen on the stage!" Soleil shouted. Cherrim faltered as the very effective attack hit it with full force. "Cherrim, can you still fight?" Yuna asked. Her Cherrim nodded despite the damage it had taken in already. "Good, then use Sunny Day!" Cherrim shot a beam of light towards the sky, which made the clouds clear and intensified the sunlight. In response, its ability Flower Gift was activated and it changed forms. "Attack and special defense of the opposite side have been increased..." Mari muttered to herself. "Not good. Gabite, Dragon Rage!" Gabite blocked an attack from Medicham and spat blue flames right into its face. Medicham put its arm in front of its face and backed off slightly, whereupon Gabite was able to force it to the ground with a powerful Dragon Claw. It skidded back and straightened up again.

"Energy Ball!" Yuna shouted, and her Cherrim gathered a large ball in front of it, sending it at Gabite. "Psychic!" Soleil commanded, and her Sigilyph stopped the attack mid-air before sending it back. "Medicham, use Shadow Shard!" Medicham made a Shadow Ball appear in front of it and shattered it. The shards drilled into the Energy Ball and destroyed it. "Go, go, Sigilyph! Air Slash!" Soleil's Pokémon performed an elegant spin and kept relentlessly attacking. "Protect!" Cherrim formed a green shield in front of it that bounced off the blades. Medicham and Gabite engaged into a direct blow exchange again, but this time, Medicham managed to hit it's opponent a few times, forcing it to back away. "Gabite doesn't stand a chance anymore!" Yuna shouted. "Solar Beam, Cherrim!" A powerful beam of light shot towards Gabite. "Psychic!" Soleil commanded, and Sigilyph stopped the beam before sending it back at the attacker. Cherrim pranced to the side. "Now Ice Beam!" Sigilyph aimed at Cherrim seconds later and when the beam hit, it froze its target. "Very nice! Gabite, attack!" Mari commanded as her dragon pushed Medicham back. It darted out towards the frozen opponent, ready to take it down. "Protect it, Medicham", Jacky prompted and Medicham jumped into its way again, using its blades to fend off the following Rock Tomb.

"Now target Sigilyph! It keeps interfering!" Jacky shouted and Medicham threw its blade at Soleil's Pokémon. It was knocked off balance. "Now Shadow Ball!" The attack thundered against Sigilyph and it collapsed onto the ground. "Oh... Oh my!" Soleil held a hand in front of her mouth. "I never expected our glamorous performance to end so abruptly! It's almost rude!",
"Now is our chance, Gabite! Cherrim is left uncovered! Bury it!" Mari shouted and Gabite buried the grass-type Pokémon beneath a pile of rocks. The ice shattered and it was left unable to continue the fight as well.
"That leaves just the two of us", Mari stated. Jacky grinned. "We can do this, Medicham. We could keep doing this all day."
Gabite and Medicham were both already badly battered. "Go, Mari!" Soleil cheered her on as she withdrew her Pokémon. "You will be the last one left standing, the winner of this incredible test of strength!",
"Thanks for the encouragement. After all, I'm no longer standing in your shadow, Jacky, am I?",
"You never did. At least not in my opinion." Jacky smiled. "Bring it on, friend.",
"As you wish. Rock Tomb, Gabite!"

The dragon hurled rocks at Medicham and charged after them for a follow-up attack. Medicham smashed the rocks with Brick Break when it dashed out behind them and its Dragon Claw struck its hip. Medicham tried to retaliate, but Gabite blocked its attack. "Finish it! Dragon Rage!" This last attack forced Medicham onto its knees before it collapsed. "Hah. I won!" Mari grinned.
"That was awesome!" Yuna exclaimed enthusiastically. Mari and Jacky withdrew their Pokémon.
"Indeed! Oh, how my heart relishes in all these memories!" Soleil clapped her hands. "Memories of breathtaking battles and glorious victories or crushing defeats!",
"Well then, this was a very nice recap of the tournament." Mari crossed her arms. "Off to the park! We go! Oh..." She paused for a moment. "...Wait a minute... Jacky, we had a date with Elesa, remember?",
"Oh! Right!" She nodded. "Uh... I almost forgot about that, to be honest...",
"We can wait for you guys", Yuna suggested.
"Alright, thanks, guys. See you in a bit!" The two friends hurried off to the gym.