Both battle platforms rose up on either side of the battlefield with a trainer on each. The field consisted of a deep tank and six floating platforms. Under the water was a maze of tunnels and dead ends which added to the competition.

Each platform had a view screen on the front of the raised barrier so that trainers could switch between cameras of the underwater tunnels.

"So," Dannyl called across the field. "What rules shall we use?"

Honey thought for a moment before holding up two pokeballs in between her fingers.

"Let's make it a two on two match. We will use our own pokemon from our previous training. Agreed?"

"Whats the point in that? Is not as though yours will be as strong as mine. Why not use the test pokemon.?" Dannyl called back.

Honey grinned as she pulled a shiny black leather case out from her pocket in her jeans. Opening it revealed 24 gym badges.

"The league badges of Hoenn, Johto iand/i Kanto?"

"Why yes.." Honey smiled "I don't just raise pokemon for contests! So, are the rules agreed?"

Dannyl gulped. "Agreed." Came the reply.

"Trainer Honey Virae has challenged Dannyl Al'Dere to a pokemon match on the Research Stadium amphibious battlefield. Two pokemon a piece, no time limit. Begin!"

Honey put one pokeball back on her belt and pressed the button on the other, bringing it to full size. With her eyes closed, she kissed the ball and raised her head. Her eyes gleamed bright as she confronted Dannyl.

"Here's a pokemon which has won many contests for me!" she declared as she threw the ball. "Corrastar, go!" A shiny, twinkling Corsola emerged.

Dannyl laughed. "What kind of contest could that thing win?" Raising a pokeball, a mischievous grin swept over his face. "Just because there is water on the field, it doesn't mean that we have to use water types! I choose Striker!"

The Sceptile burst from its ball on a floating platform across from Corrastar and snarled at the little pink pokemon.

"Leaf blade attack!" Dannyl ordered while Honey shouted "Spike Cannon!"

Striker jumped through the air with arms outstretched with blades exposed to meet a barrage of glowing white shots from Corrastar's horns.

"Try again Striker!" Dannyl called.

This time, the Sceptile dodged the incoming attack and slashed across the poor Corsola with a serrated blade on its right forearm.

"Corrastar! No!" Honey shrieked as the super effective attack sent the pink pokemon hurtling into the water. "Go under water and use recover!" she ordered.

Corrastar swam down and into a tunnel. Both trainers quickly brought up the camera view on their view-screens and watched as the Corsola shone, replenishing HP.

"Dammit!" Dannyl cursed. "Use a solarbeam to destroy the underwater tunnels Striker!"

Honey gasped as the grass type took in sunlight. "Hide Corrastar!"

The pink pokemon vanished from the viewscreens as it took off down another tunnel to evade the attack.

Striker let out a shrill cry before a crackling solarbeam shot out from its mouth into the water to explode into the rocks below. Several camera transmissions were disconnected as the caverns fell in on themselves and Corrastar was buried.

"Yes!" Dannyl cried, punching the air.

Honey smiled wryly. "What exactly are you celebrating?" she asked as she flipped back a lock of hair over her head. Dannyl looked confused at this but this soon turned to shock as Honey ordered the next attack.

"Rock Slide, now!"

A stream of rocks flew from the water to smash into the Sceptile's side. "No!" Dannyl yelled. Corrastar followed this up by rocketing out of the water to fire a spike cannon into the grass type.

Striker cried out again and lashed out with leaf blade, hitting the Corsola dead-on.

Both pokemon collapsed, panting heavily. This was going to be close.

"Striker, quick attack!"

"Corrastar! Recover!"

The Sceptile hit but to no avail as the Corsola regained health once more.

"That's cheating!" Dannyl yelled. However he looked at it, Honey was about to win this bout and her Corsola could get back HP whenever she wanted.

"Finish it Corrastar!" Honey called.

A glowing aura surrounded the Corsola as it pumped home one final spike cannon into the Sceptile.

A desperate groan escaped Striker's mouth as he collapsed on his platform.

"Striker, return!" Dannyl growled. "Let's see how you handle this! Gooo,…"

"Stop this immediately!" a voice boomed around the hall.

Both trainers whirled around to see Dennis and Leigh flanking Professor Rowan. "What exactly do you think this is? A stadium used to settle any old grudge!"

He turned his eyes on Dennis. "You should know better. It's going to cost goodness knows how much to replace this battlefield's equipment! The Pokemon league doesn't have an infinite supply of money you know!"

"I..I'm so sorry sir but…"

"No buts!" the Prof. yelled. Taking the three trainers in at a glance, he spoke to all of them. "Your presentations are due at 10am tomorrow morning. I expect you all to go to your quarters and complete your presentations NOW!"

With obedient nods and hasty feet, the three trainers ran out and into the night.

"I hope that taught you a lesson back there" Honey quipped to Dannyl

"What?" he asked. "You didn't win"

"What? Of course I did!"

"The match wasn't complete, so no, you didn't"

"Why you…." Honey muttered as Dannyl ran on ahead. She would get him back for this.