"I had it easier with Lucian than past challengers had.
Gone were his Medicham and Girafarig…immune to Dark and Ghost Types respectively—though a well-prepared Trainer had other ways to deal with these Pokémon and their secondary typing.
He still had his Bronzong and brought on a Gallade—both could easily be taken care of with proper preparation.
No…the issue with Lucian's Pokémon has never been their typing, but their Psychic strength.
Lucian's were some of the strongest Psychic Type Pokémon I had battled until I met Sabrina of Saffron City."
Lucario felt the warmth of the Poké Ball leave him. Something chalky and powdery filled his mouth as he subconsciously chewed on it. It tasted like sand. Sand and dirt and grime. He wanted to retch. Then…the pain in his side subsided.
Something cool, wet and soothing sprayed his side where the burn was, instantly beginning to heal the seared flesh and subdue the pain. It was nice.
Lucario opened his eyes and found he was being supported by Sam as his partner force fed him a Max Revive. He coughed and sat up. "That stuff tastes disgusting."
"Yeah, I know," replied Sam. He watched the Full Restore dry up in Lucario's fur. "But it's faster than waiting for you to sleep it off—and I can't exactly go see a Nurse Joy."
Lucario grunted in responded.
"Why did you do that back there?" asked Sam. "You risked cheating to help me win."
Lucario remained silent.
Sam didn't say anything further. He waited for Lucario to respond.
"I have lived for some time now," explained Lucario. "As long as you have been alive, I have lived twice as long. In that time, I have only come to join you as your friend and partner quite recently…and even so I can see and feel how important defeating the Champion is to you and your other Pokémon."
Lucario turned to look at Sam.
"In the time I have known you…it has come to be important to me, as well. I cannot explain it…but it has become my goal as much as it has been Empoleon's, or yours."
Sam was speechless. He didn't know what to say. Finally, he found the words. "Just don't go jeopardizing your health and safety again. I can always battle the Elite Four again…but I can't do it without my partners."
Lucario smiled wide, baring fangs harmlessly. "It would be advisable that you do. Your strategy, Pokémon, methods of attack and battle style have been laid bare before your enemies. A change of team would be recommended if you attempted this again."
Sam laughed. "Back in your Poké Ball. Time's up, and we'd better get going."
Lucario smiled and was returned to his Poké Ball.
The bell notifying Sam that his return to the field was imminent. He had but a single Elite Four member left…and then it was Valentina.
"Don't get cocky now," warned Aurelio. He reappeared beside Sam as the platform rose up towards the field again.
"I know," nodded Sam. "I'm nervous, more than anything really."
"That's to be expected. Rowan threw up at this point of the challenge if I'm not mistaken." Aurelio laughed while he remembered.
"Really?" asked Sam. He was trying not to hurl himself.
Aurelio nodded. "Threw up his dinner right over the side of the challenger's box. They had to call a recess so he could empty himself…and call a clean-up team for the vomit. It wasn't pleasant."
"I'll be sure to tease him about it later," teased Sam. He smirked at the thought of a young Professor Rowan losing his nerve.
"It's what he would want," said Aurelio.
"It's what you would want," reminded Sam.
Aurelio shrugged and the challenger's box locked into place above the field. "Just be careful. Don't get cocky," warned Aurelio. He made sure to repeat himself. "I've seen many dethroned this close to their goal. Lucian won't be easy."
"You know about him?" asked Sam.
"No. But I know how cruel fate can be," Aurelio answered sombrely. "Be careful."
Sam nodded. He turned his attention to Lucian and the recently repaired field.
"Lucian is the last roadblock," Rowan from the stands. "But it's not going to be an easy one."
Cynthia shook her head. "Lucian is where he is in the Elite Four because he's good. He's cunning, clever, and self-aware. This challenge could very well end here."
"It's all up to Sam, really," agreed Palmer.
"He's got this!" cheered Jeremy. "He's not going to lose to anyone."
"He lost to me," chided Maylene with a smirk.
"Yeah, but he came back and won the second time," protested Jeremy. "And he's going to be just fine here. The Elite Four doesn't scare him."
"How could he be afraid when he has the best support anyone could ask for?" asked Alyssandra.
Lucian closed his book with flair. He rose from his seat like an elegant price and approached his box. He stepped to railing and surveyed Sam and the field below. He seemed to look at everything with a calculated, quizzical gaze. Everything he did, every thought he had, he was looking for a way to win—he was plotting already.
Sam steeled his gut.
Then Lucian spoke. "You defeated Aaron by exploiting his arrogance and shattering it. You defeated Bertha by turning her own cold, calculated, logic against her and unnerving her normally calm, collective demeanour. You defeated Flint by matching his brute, unwavering strength with your own; defeating an unstoppable force by becoming an immoveable object and playing out that old adage."
Lucian spoke calmly, quietly, and without much emotion. "You will not do the same to me. You will not unnerve me with your strength, you will not topple me with your power. And you will not bate me into arrogance and hubris."
The referee called out the rules of the match, and the names of the challenger and his opponent. All that was left was to release their Pokémon.
Lucian's tough exterior had worked. Sam was unnerved.
He was already stressed because he didn't have a definitive ace up his sleeve to deal with Dark type Pokémon. It was the same issue he had with Fantina's Ghost types before.
But this time, regardless of his Pokémon Breeder license, Sam was not allowed more than the six Pokémon he had brought with him.
In a pinch, his Luxray and Garchomp had Crunch, his Lucario had Dark Pulse. Luxray and Garchomp took normal damage from Lucian's Psychic types, as did Lucario thanks to its secondary Steel typing.
Regardless, it was not he definitive, decisive win that Sam would have liked. Still, it would have to do.
Lucian sent out his Bronzong, and Sam his Garchomp.
In this, Sam had a slight advantage, for Bronzong's secondary Steel typing made it weak to Garchomp's Flamethrower.
Garchomp prepared to burn Bronzong to a crisp, while Bronzong prepared at Psychic attack.
Garchomp was faster, and the flames licked at Bronzong's side; the Pokémon cried out but did not go down.
Steel type Pokémon were known tanks. Bronzong was no exception. It was slow and bulky, but it could take a hit.
Sam's took a split second to think of a strategy, but it was enough of a window for Bronzong to retaliate against Sam. The Pokémon let loose a Psychic attack that struck Garchomp head on.
Sam gritted his teeth.
"Remain calm," warned his grandfather.
Sam could feel his heart rate rise, and it was only the first round of this battle. His grandfather was right; he needed to regain composure.
Sam called for Garchomp to disappear below ground. He needed time to think of a strategy to wear down the Bronzong while also conserving Garchomp's energy.
Being underground would give Garchomp the advantage of defence, while also giving him a greater speed advantage. Very few things were faster than a tunnelling Garchomp.
Except Lucian's ability to think on his feet.
Before Sam could event think of a new plan, and no sooner had Garchomp dived below the pitch, than did Garchomp become engulfed in a churning mass of earth—Bronzong had used Earthquake.
The damage Garchomp took was minimal, sure, but even the smallest amount of damage could add up. Besides, Garchomp had been trapped and made immobile as the earth and dirt settled. Garchomp was a sitting duck.
Sam cried out.
Bronzong went for a Psychic attack.
Luckily, Garchomp was able to break free just in time—but dodging had distracted it from Lucian's real plan.
Bronzong had unleased a Gyro Ball attack.
Garchomp cried out, was knocked back, and tumbled across the floor. She was weak and panting heavily. Garchomp didn't have a lot left in her. Sam needed a plan; fast.
"Sam, breath!" cried Aurelio. "Do not let yourself be distracted by your opponent. He's doing this on purpose. He's trying to psyche you out! Don't fall for it! You need to fight back!"
Bronzong prepared to attack once more, but Sam knew his grandfather was right.
Bronzong gathered more energy for a Psychic. It levelled itself and closed in on the exhausted Garchomp.
Lucian smirked from his battle box. He could sense it was over; Bronzong would win out over Garchomp. It was only a matter of—no! He withdrew his smile.
Sam smiled. So, he was prone to arrogance—he just had the wherewithal to notice it and bring himself back from his hubris. Sam would exploit that and subvert every one of his expectations.
Sam did nothing.
His friends cried out and cheered from the stands. But only his grandfather seemed to understand what was going through his sly mind.
Bronzong unleashed the Psychic attack. The Pokémon had closed the gap between Garchomp and itself—it had not expected much of a resistance.
Sam would prove it and Lucian wrong.
"Garchomp, Flamethrower!" cried Sam.
Flame erupted like a fountain from Garchomp's jagged-toothed mouth. The flames licked Bronzong's metal flame and engulfed the Pokémon.
Garchomp did not cut the flame. Not yet. She waited until Bronzong's body had heated up and began to glow from the flames.
Once the enemy Pokémon started to resemble a smith's handiwork, Garchomp cut the flame, and watched as the Bronzong creaked and collapsed, unable to battle.
Garchomp roared triumphantly, and Sam raised a fist in the air.
"You have won the round, but not the battle," Lucian warned coolly.
Sam knew he was right, but the victory had been a morale booster, and the boost it provided to him, and his Pokémon was not insignificant. It was quite palpable indeed.
One done, four to go—but at least it was one down.
Yet Garchomp was in no shape to continue battling. She needed to withdraw and rest. If she was coming back out in this fight, it was at the end, if at all. Any more fighting might seriously hurt her—irrevocably.
Sam begrudgingly recalled his Garchomp and began to deliberate in his head which Pokémon he'd be sending out next. Luxray, or Lucario? Both were risky, but they were currently his best hopes—at least for a quick victory. One that wouldn't leave his Pokémon too worn out for Valentina.
Lucian, on the other hand, was not shaken by the defeat of his Bronzong. No, in fact, he had already sent out his next Pokémon—a Mr. Mime.
"He's using his Pokémon to gather more intel on Sam's battle style," Rowan pointed out.
Palmer nodded. "He clearly didn't learn enough from his colleague's fights."
"It serves two purposes," added Nancy, "Gathering intel for strategy building, and unnerving Sam."
"It's working on both fronts," muttered Niya.
Aurelio crossed his arms and faced his grandson. "They're right you know."
Sam glanced over at his grandfather leaning against the rail of the challenger's box. "Who are?"
"Rowan, your grandmother and Palmer." Aurelio pointed at them in the stands with his chin. "He's gathering intel and trying to unnerve you. Can't you hear them?"
"No, I can't. How can you hear them?" asked Sam.
Aurelio shrugged. "Dead privileges?"
Sam rolled his eyes and unleashed his Lucario.
He needed a Pokémon that was fast, strong, and could shatter Mr. Mime's barriers. These Pokémon were notorious for throwing up tough barriers of psychic energy to stop their opponents dead in their tracks, then attack while they were trapped behind the barriers.
Lucario could shatter these barriers, resist a normally super effective typing, and hopefully hold out until Mr. Mime was down for the count.
"Are you up for this?" Sam asked Lucario through their mental link.
"For victory, I shall be." Was Lucario's response to him.
His Pokémon sounded exhausted, and Sam felt bad sending him out so soon, but Sam knew that Lucario would fight to the death to achieve Sam's—no, it was their dream now. It was the dream Sam shared with all his Pokémon, from Lucario to Empoleon. They had set out on this journey together, and their only goal had been to beat Valentina and become League Champion.
Sam couldn't back down now. He had come too far to lose—too far to doubt. He couldn't unnerve Lucian; he couldn't break him through any fault of his own. Lucian was too good for that—and there would always be an opponent out there like that Sam would have to face.
He would not be able to rely on trickery or undoing his opponent without, and it was something he knew would be true for Valentina as well. It was time for skill and determination to win out.
Lucario was released in a beam of red light, and instantly got to work in chasing after Mr. Mime.
But the opponent Pokémon truly lived up to his name, and quickly began to throw up barriers of Reflect and Light Screen.
But Lucario would not be defeated. It was an imperfect tactic, for psychic energy was not the same as Aura, but Lucario could see a faint ripple in the air with its powers. He'd still hit a wall here or there, but he could see the general path to Mr. Mime.
The Pokémon had created a set of barriers that seemed to form a narrow maze that led to dead ends, and eventually, to Mr. Mime.
Lucario had to be careful, or he would fall into the opponent's—lightning cracked through the arena, and a bolt of lightning hit Lucario, sending the Pokémon slamming into a nearby barrier.
A second bolt came crashing down, but this one Lucario was able to dodge. It left the field scorched and scarred where it had struck.
Mr. Mime was going to pick off Lucario like a Rattata in a trap. But Lucario would not fall for it. He would not stumble about in this maze like a rat, while Mr. Mime attacked him mercilessly.
"Take him down, Lucario!" Sam cried. "Rip down those barriers and bring that Mr. Mime down!"
Lucario snarled and gathered energy in his paw. With a Force Palm, he shattered several barriers in front of him. Just a few more to Mr. Mime.
Lucario dashed forward and shattered even more with a Dark Pulse that tore down the psychic barriers.
Mr. Mime started to panic and threw up more barriers.
Lucario shattered them.
Lucian remained calm and called for a Psychic.
A blast of energy caught Lucario in the shoulder, but the attack had not been accurate as Mr. Mime continued to throw up a fortress of walls.
But Lucario would not be deterred. He hunted his prey with purpose. There was only victory ahead for him.
With a snarl and another Force Palm, Lucario shattered through another layer of barriers. Then another, and another. A Dark Pulse, a Force Palm, an Aura Sphere. Lucario chipped away at the cavalcade of barricades.
Finally, with the last of the barriers down, Lucario struck at Mr. Mime with a Dark Pulse.
The small Pokémon flew backwards, struck by the dark energy, and skidded across the field.
Without his barriers, Mr. Mime was weak and exposed. It let loose another Psychic attack, but it missed.
Lucario struck out with Force Palm, catching Mr. Mime in the chest and bringing the Pokémon down.
The field around Mr. Mime splintered and rose, and Mr. Mime sunk into a crater as the Pokémon fell unconscious.
Lucario stood up, raised his head to the sky, and howled to the moon above.
Lucian had begun to sweat.
Sam cheered internally. He had started to worry Lucian. The scary monolith—the stalwart statue of a man—had finally been brought low to feel fear and concern.
Lucian would never admit it, but he was human, and he could bleed.
"You've found your courage again, my boy," Aurelio said, clapping his grandson on the back.
"I had a bit of doubt," said Sam. "I…I've got skill, but I've spent a long time relying on my unorthodox methods. I've used surprise tactics to shatter my opponent's will; to pull the proverbial rug from out beneath them, get them off balance and bring them down from within their own mind. I have skill, but I never fully used it because…I guess I never fully believed in myself."
"You have a lot riding on these next two matches," Aurelio added. "It shook your faith when you couldn't rely on the same old tactics as before. But you learned a valuable lesson—and you learned it quickly before it cost you victory. Now bring this battle home."
For his Pokémon. He had to fight for them, as much as he did for himself.
Lucian had quickly recalled Mr. Mime after the Pokémon's defeat. Sam noticed he whispered to the Poké Ball as he withdrew his Pokémon—at least he wasn't completely cold and heartless.
Lucario had insisted on staying in the match a little longer. The defeat of Mr. Mime had invigorated the Pokémon. Lucario said he could feel an odd energy running through him.
If it were an anime, Sam might've thought Lucario would change forms to defeat his opponents. But that wasn't possible here, and Sam was going to chalk Lucario's newfound energy up to a second wind or an adrenal rush.
Lucian had not been rocked by the loss of Mr. Mime either and instead sent out his next Pokémon: an Alakazam.
What Alakazam lost in a Super Effective type advantage, it would gain in sheer strength. Alakazams were known for unrelenting psychic power that could crush opponents quickly. They were fast, and they could take a few hits to boot. Not that it mattered, most Alakazams could take down their opponents before that become an issue though.
Sam kept his cool this time. Lucario hit like a truck, and could take a few hits—but only a few, especially with how worn out he still was from the previous fight against Flint.
As expected, Alakazam came out swinging and shot an Energy Ball at Lucario. It was likely just a way of testing Lucario before coming in strong.
Lucario was easily able to dodge the Energy Ball, and then a second. Lucario landed on the left of the field and kept a close eye on Alakazam.
Rightfully so, as Alakazam soon let loose a terrifying hunk of psychic energy, appropriately the Psychic attack.
Lucario got hit, skidded back, but stayed standing. He swayed a little, and on Sam's command, let loose an Aura Sphere.
Alakazam was unable to dodge, as the move never missed, but the Pokémon looked barely changed by the attack.
Lucario dashed across the field, aiming for a Force Palm. He and Sam knew they'd have to take down Alakazam before Alakazam could take them down. It was a show of force, and speed.
Alakazam was able to dodge out of the way of the Force Palm, and struck Lucario in the side with a Psychic, but Lucario did a flip, soaring into the air as the wave of energy just missed his tail.
Lucario glared at Alakazam, and the two Pokémon locked eyes. Lucario unleashed a Dark Pulse attack, knocking Alakazam back to the edge of the field.
Then came another Aura Sphere that slammed Alakazam back into the arena walls.
The Pokémon let out a cry as it slammed into the concrete, but Lucario did not relent.
Another Aura Sphere left an imprint of Alakazam in the wall.
Lucario prepared a Force Palm and ran towards Alakazam, hoping to end this battle as soon as possible.
Sam gave a small cheer as Lucario rushed to bring Alakazam down. But Sam could see the smallest hint of a smile on Lucian's face, and he realized his folly.
This had been far too easy, and Sam had been a fool not to notice it sooner. Lucario hadn't been faster than Alakazam; in fact, Alakazam had been plotting and biding his time.
Sam cried out to Lucario. "Lucario, it's a trap!"
But Lucario had gone in too close, and Alakazam righted itself, and unleashed a Focus Blast that caught Lucario full in the chest, sending the Pokémon flying back across the arena, into the other wall near where the spectators sat.
Lucario slumped to the ground after sliding down the wall. Yet, the Pokémon did not go down like a Pokémon with regrets…everyone could clearly see Lucario was smiling.
Indeed, Alakazam was also now unconscious.
The match was paused, the referee demanded a replay of footage. Even Lucian suddenly seemed shocked and surprised by something for the first time in this entire match.
No one could explain how Alakazam had been taken down in such a flash. The Pokémon was weak but had enough energy in it to keep battling when it unleashed the Focus Blast, and no one saw Lucario attack.
Valentina swooped down from her throne in the champion's box and began to confer with the referee.
Sam nervously awaited the results as he recalled Lucario from the field. He would need to heal Lucario up as soon as this fight was over. There were only two Pokémon left—assuming he wasn't thrown out of the league for whatever transgression he had supposedly committed.
"What the hell happened?" Aurelio demanded.
Sam simply shrugged.
Similar murmurs of confusion and surprise erupted from Sam's friends and family in the audience. No one was quite sure what was going on. Even Cynthia seemed confused by what was happening.
The muttering was cut off by a loud cackle from Valentina.
"Let me tell them," she said. Valentina wiped away a tear and approached the edge of the referee's box. "It seems, upon examination of the fight footage, that Sam's Lucario used a Dark Pulse as it was blown back by the Focus Blast. The attack was close range, and nearly unnoticeable because of the Focus Blast, but it is legal, and so both Pokémon are legally considered unable to battle. Continue with the match!"
Lucian looked displeased, but otherwise did not show much else in way of emotion. Ever the stoic bastion of level-headedness, he released his Gallade without so much as a blink.
Sam was down to his Luxray. One of his earliest Pokémon, after Staraptor and Empoleon. Luxray was the only Pokémon he had left on him that knew a Dark type move.
Sam would have to be careful, as Crunch was a close contact, physical move, that would require Luxray to quickly get near his opponents and strike at them without being hit by the special, dangerous at a distance, psychic moves.
Luxray might be able to hold its own against Gallade, since Gallade also used physical moves, but his speed would still be put to the test by this Pokémon.
"Luxray, charge in and use Thunder!" cried Sam. Sam hoped he could use the Thunder attack to
Lightning cracked through the sky, but Gallade was quick enough to dodge.
Lucian called for a Stone Edge, and the earth rose up like jagged blades to strike Luxray, who was able to cut through them with an Iron Tail to continue its attack run on Gallade.
Gallade initiated a charge against Luxray in return. His arm blades glowed with psychic energy.
Sam figured it was Psycho Cut. The energy could be launched at range or be kept as a coating on the Pokémon's appendages for a physical strike. Considering Gallade was charging, however, Sam had a feeling he would be striking Luxray with physical contact. Sam would need to counter that.
"Luxray, bite down on Gallade's arms with Crunch!" he cried.
It was something he had read in an interview Valentina did with Pokémon Trainer Weekly. She had made use of a technique that applied Pokémon type theory and battling. Certain Pokémon were weak to certain opposing types and strong against others, which meant they'd incur more damage from an attack that was their type of weakness and take less or no damage to types they were strong against.
Using this, Valentina figured the same worked for moves, and that moves of opposing types cancelled each other out in the same way. Like when Water Gun hit Ember, or Ember hit Razor Leaf, or when Ice Beam collided with a Rockslide.
Sam was hoping the Dark type Crunch would cancel out the psychic energy Gallade had been storing up and perhaps even do some damage.
Sam had gambled correctly.
Luxray bit through the Psycho Cut and clamped down on Gallade's arms with the strength of a vice. Gallade cried out in pain and the energy on its arm blades dissipated.
Gallade couldn't get Luxray to release its bite, no matter how hard it tried.
Sam used the inch and took a mile. "Luxray, bite down harder and use Thunder Fang!"
Luxray clamped down hard enough to taste Gallade's blood. Gallade cried out as electricity began to course through his body. Luxray did not relent, even as the lightning began to arc back on himself. Luckily, Luxray was resistant to Electric attacks.
"Now use Thunder!" cried Sam.
Weakened, Gallade could not help but fall to his knees as Luxray released its death grip on his arm and leapt back out of the way.
A massive bolt of lightning fell from the sky and caught Gallade in the back, pinning the Pokémon to the ground and leaving it in an unconscious heap on the field.
The referee took a moment to make sure Gallade was truly down for the count before declaring Gallade unable to battle.
Sam's gut wrenched with excitement.
Lucian was on his last Pokémon, and Luxray was still fighting fit. Sam had no illusions that this would be an easy fight, but he knew now that he had the advantage, and perhaps in just a few short moves, would be face to face with Valentina.
Finally.
There was no backing down now.
Lucian's tough façade was starting to show cracks. Sam had defeated Gallade with the speed and ease he had dismantled Lucian's colleagues. Lucian had begun to think himself above that, but to be brought low just as quickly had shaken his pride.
Previously, Lucian had only expended three Pokémon to take down two of Sam's. It was not the best odds, but they had been more favourable than now.
The tables had turned—though Lucian didn't know that this was Sam's last Pokémon with any Super Effective attacks against him; and he didn't need to find out.
Lucian, through gritted teeth, released his final Pokémon: an Espeon.
It would be feline Pokémon against feline Pokémon. This would be interesting.
Unlike Gallade, Espeon was going to be a far more distanced opponent, attacking from afar to bring down Luxray.
Luxray would still need to get in close to deliver any decisive blows. Most of Luxray's victories had come after physical contact.
Sam would need to be careful how he approached this. He took a moment to scan the field. It had been torn up pretty good by this fight, between the Earthquake and the Stone Edge.
He could use that to his advantage. A flatter field would have left Luxray more exposed and open to attack. Here he could easily dodge and hide behind the new obstacles. These would be a boon.
Luxray charged in at Espeon as commanded. The plan was to close the gap as soon as possible.
Espeon and Lucian didn't waste a moment and sent a Shadow Ball zooming across the field for Luxray.
Luxray dodged left the move collided with a rock.
Espeon's eyes glowed and the Pokémon used Psychic.
While Luxray wasn't hit directly, the psychic energy collided a few feet short of Luxray, sending the Pokémon flying into the air with a cloud of dirt and dust.
While Luxray tumbled through the air Espeon let loose a Signal Beam that struck Luxray in the side.
Luxray cried out and landed on his feet, but he had been weakened by Espeon's last manoeuvre. Sam would need to close the gap—fast. Victory was so close Sam could taste it; he couldn't let it slip away.
Luxray was on his feet, and Sam sent him in for a Crunch attack. As Luxray closed the gap, Sam called for a Thunder.
Lightning cracked across the field, and struck the spot where only moments before, Espeon had been. The Pokémon had been able to dodge the attack.
Another Thunder, then another, and another. Luxray didn't have too many left.
Espeon returned fire with Psychics and Signal Beams. Luxray was struck twice but managed to remain standing. The Pokémon was weakening fast, and was running out of energy for Thunder, but he had done exactly as Sam planned.
When Luxray had finally caught up to Espeon, the Pokémon was exhausted from dodging, and was trapped in a small cul de sac of stones and rubble.
Luxray pounced on Espeon, and the Pokémon began to bite and claw one another. But Luxray brought a swift end to it with a Crunch attack to Espeon's mid-section, followed by a Thunder Fang. Luxray's signature, and the same way it had brought down Gallade..
The Espeon cried out, fell limp in Luxray's jaws, and bounced on the ground as Luxray released his opponent.
Luxray fell but did not fall unconscious.
A moment of silent permeated the arena before the stands erupted in cheers and laughter.
Sam had made it to the final obstacle: Valentina.
Lucian said nothing. He merely stared blankly as he withdrew and thanked his Pokémon. The two locked eyes, and standard at each other. Respect flowed between the two opponents. Neither hated one another, nor bore any ill will. They had each fought their hardest, and they each respected that.
Lucian nodded to Sam, and Sam nodded back, and he returned to his seat in the champion's box, while Sam's challenger box receded into the waiting room once more.
Only Valentina remained, and yet while Sam should have been excited, he felt like he wanted to throw up.
