"And here we are at the last battle of our first round. For this match, we have a treat as this is going to be a battle of Champions! We have on one side, two champions from Kanto, Simon Neptune and Dan Kuso facing off against our regions Champion Alice aka Titanica along with her partner and mentor Hope Ginova!" Leon said as the crowd cheered.
"Tournaments have always been a hit or miss for me. But, when I'm with the one who's been by my side since the very beginning and grown to this point… I just want to do the best I can." Hope said.
"Hope, you don't need to make a speech. I know you're nervous but it's okay. Besides, I'm gonna make sure we both reach the finals." Titanica said.
"Hey, I'm not gonna let you have all the fun." Hope said.
"Tough talk, but you gotta beat us first." Dan said.
"We'll make sure your victory won't become easy. And it almost seems like you two are becoming an item." Simon teased.
Hope's face became a little red. "Wh-what?! Don't joke about that, Simon!"
Alice was also blushing. "It's just a psyche out. Don't fall for it." she said.
"Both sides may bring out their first Pokemon!" the ref said.
"Okay. Let's go, Hitmonlee!" Dan said.
"I can assure you both...I'm quite serious." Simon said. "Take flight, Nagana!" he called as Nagana, his Naganadel appeared.
"That's fine by me, I'm not gonna hold back either!" Hope said. "Come on out, Metagross!" hope said releasing the quad-legged steel and psychic type.
"I have not once held back in these battles." Titanica said. "Let's do this, Dragonite!" she said sending out her Dragonite.
"You may...begin!" the ref said.
(Cue- The Apex of the World- Fire Emblem Three Houses)
"Okay. Hitmonlee, attack with Low Sweep on Metagross!" Dan said.
"Nagana, would you kindly treat Dragonite with a Poison Jab?" Simon said.
"We won't be giving you guys the chance. Twister!" Titanica said as Dragonite created a powerful twister that caught both Nagana and Hitmonlee.
Hitmonlee powered through and hit one of Metagross's legs with a low sweeping kick, but Metagross didn't feel a thing.
"Sorry Dan, but if you were looking to cut down Metagross's speed, it's not gonna work!" Hope said. "Metagross, retaliate with Zen Headbutt!"
Metagross charged and hit Hitmonlee right back with a Psychic infused headbutt, dealling a supereffective hit and taking it down.
"Return! Let's give it a shot next. Go, Tauros!" Dan said switching out to his Tauros.
"Nagana, avenge Hitmonnlee! Attack Metagross with Throat Chop!" Simon called as Nagana dealt a devastating Dark attack to Metagross.
"Meteor Mash!" Hope called as Metagross went for its signature move.
"Take flight and use Leech Life!" Simon called as Nagana took to the sky before he came crashing back down on top of Metagross.
"Forget about me?" Titanica asked. "Dragon Rush!" she said as Dragonite rushed into Nagana, finishing him off before he could leech Metagross's energy.
"Damn it, sorry big guy." Simon said, returning him. "Let's see if you can handle the heat. Vulcanus, shake things up!" he said, bringing out Vulcanus the Heatran as he roared.
"Tauros, strike down at Dragonite with Ice Beam!" Dan said as Tauros fired a beam of ice that hit Dragonite dead on.
"Return!" Titanica said recalling Dragonite. "Go, Urshifu!" she said, sending out her Urshifu.
"Good, now let's work to bring down Metagross, Simon. Tauros, go for it with Bulldoze on Metagross." Dan said.
Metagross withstood the earth quake, but even it knew it couldn't handle two supereffective moves back to back.
"Vulcanus, engulf Metagross in a Magma Storm!" Simon said as Vulcanus's eyes glowed and he stomped the ground, unleashing a maelstrom of fire underneath Metagross. It was too much for Metagross to take as it collapsed.
"Return!" Hope said, recalling Metagross. "You did good. This is Urshifu's first battle, and I wanna see the impression it can make." Hope said. "So my next guy is gonna be someone that can give him the big spotlight."
"What do you mean?" Titanca asked.
"What's he talkin about?" Dan asked Simon.
"It's hard to say but in any case, stand ready." Simon said.
Hope brung out his next pokemon. "Alright, it's go time! Bet none of you have ever seen a Pokemon like this! Come on out and show yourself to the world!"
Hope threw his ball as popping out was a large stack of rocks in the air. Then, the two largest stones underneath it unfolded to stand on the ground as they acted like legs as the smaller stones became flexing arms. The final three pieces made up a head as the center stone had a face, the overall Pokemon standing like a monolith.
"What the heck is that thing?!" Dan asked.
"Bzzt! Stonjourner, the Big Rock Pokemon! A Rock Type! It stands in grasslands, watching the sun's descent from zenith to horizon. This Pokémon has a talent for delivering dynamic kicks." Rotomphone said.
"Hope...you really make too big a deal out of some things." Titanica chuckled. "Besides, this is far from Urshifu's first battle. Let's go! Brick Break!" she said as Urshifu got close to Tauros before dealing a powerful blow and finishing it with one hit.
"Dang." Dan said.
"Vulcanus...fire Flash Cannon on Stonejourner." Simon said as Vulcanus fired.
"Jump, Stonjourner!" Hope called as the Rock Pokemon used it's mighty legs to leap high into the air.
"Whoa!" Bow called. "Look how high it got!"
"Now use Body Press!" Hope called as Stonjourner rocketed down like a meteor and smashed into Vulcanus with all its weight legs first, dealing great damage. It then leaped off as Vulcanus recovered.
"Let me finish it for you! Use it! Dynamic Punch!" Titanica said as Urshifu laid down a powerful strike to Vulcanus, finishing it. "Between your unorthodox battle style and my skills...we make a good pair."
"I was gonna say the same thing." Hope smiled.
"Down to the last ones. But that's fine. It makes it more exciting! Go, Charizard!" Dan said sending out Charizard.
"I still got one last trick up my sleeve." Simon said as he returned Vulcanus. "It's showtime, let's go, Absol!" he said, bringing out one of his Perfect Links.
"Charizard's got a massive weakness to Rock type moves. I'll take care of him." Hope said. "Can you take care of Absol, Alice?"
"Consider it done." Titanica said. "Go, Urshifu! Use Wicked Blow!"
"Absol, Psycho Cut!" Simon said. Both Pokemon clashed their moves together as they were blown back. Absol didn't take as much damage from Wicked Blow since he was a Dark type himself, and Urshifu wasn't at all affected by Psychic type moves.
"Stonjourner, take out Charizard quick! Use Rock Slide!" Hope called as Stonjurner summoned boulders to fall on Dan's perfect link.
"Dodge it!" Dan said as Charizard swiftly avoided the falling rocks before getting close. "Scorching Sands!" he said as Charizard hit Stonjourner with scorching hot sands, taking it down quickly.
"Well, guess it isn't that easy." Hope said. "My last Pokemon...better make it count. Go for it, Tyrantrum!" Hope said calling out the t-rex pokemon.
"Hey Dan, what do you say we switch dance partners?" Simon asked.
"Fine. But it's gonna end quickly." Dan said.
"You can say that again." Titanica said recalling Urshifu as its ball grew bigger before she tossed it, Gigantamaxing it.
"Go! Deal with it with…" Dan said.
"I won't give you the chance! Go! G-MAX One Blow!" Titanica said as Urshifu laid the final blow to Charizard, finishing it before it could even make a move.
"No way...she's gotten this powerful?!" Dan said.
"Absol's the only one left." Titanica said.
"Absol...let's do it." Simon said. "Beyond Evolution...Mega Evolve!" he said, activating the keystone on Caladbolg as Absol became Mega Absol.
"Getting serious, huh Simon?" Hope said. "That's fine by me. Let's cut straight to the Climax!"
"Absol, Superpower on Tyrantrum!" Simon said.
"Block it with Iron Defense!" Hope called as Tyrantrum guarded with buffed defense, still taking a little damage. "Now for a big move. Use Dragon Dance!"
Tyrantrum danced in the air with draconic energy bursting from it, raising its Attack and Speed. It then landed on the ground.
"Now it's my turn, Simon!" Hope said. "Ready for this?! Tyrantrum… use Head Smash!"
Tyrantrum charged head on to Absol delivering a powerful headbutt which resulted in an explosion around Absol.
"Nice move, Hope. But your tyrantrums gonna take a lotta damage from that." Dan said.
Hope smirked. "I wouldn't be too sure."
The smoke cleared, revealing Tyrantrum perfectly fine.
"Normally, Tyrantrum would take damage from a move like that. If, that is…. I didn't give Tyrantrum an Ability Patch." Hope said.
"Ability patch?" Ajna asked.
"It's an item that's just been recently discovered. More often than not, a Pokemon has one of two Abilities at random. But with the Ability Patch, you can change that Ability into its Hidden Ability." Cheetah said. "And because Tyrantrum's hidden ability is Rock Head, it nullifies any recoil damage from moves that would normally issue it."
"That means that Tyrantrum can pull off Head Smash without any problem." Adora said.
"Yes. Pokemon with Rock Head can use moves that deal recoil damage as much as they want without any worry of hurting themselves in the process." Cheetah said.
"So, Simon. Absol up for some more?" Hope asked.
"As long as Tyrantum doesn't mind that he Plays Rough." Simon said as Absol tackled Tyrantrum as a cartoon dust cloud formed before he ran back.
"Good thing Tyrantrum used iron defense back there." Hope said. "Okay, bud, use Dragon Tail!"
Tyrantrum slapped Absol with its tail as it fell back.
"One more time for the win! Use Head Smash!" Hope called as Tyrantrum charged.
"Absol, Zen Headbutt!" Simon called as Absol retaliated with a headbutt of his own. "Full power!"
The two pokemon collided heads and pushed against each other before passing each other as an explosion occurred in the middle of the battlefield.
Tyrantrum kneeled a bit, but thanks to Rock Head, it was able to overcome its damage, while Absol collapsed on the ground, returning to normal.
(end song)
"And the winners are Titanica and Hope the Victor!" Leon said.
"You did really good, Absol." Simon said, picking him up.
"Hey, Simon." Hope said approaching him as he outstretched a hand. "Nice fight. Let's go again sometime."
"Yeah." Simon said as the two shook.
"Now we move on to the semifinals." Titanica said.
"Yup." Hope said. "Y'know Alice… you've really gotten so strong when it comes to Pokemon battles. I'm proud of you. But honestly, I was a bit worried at first because I thought you were getting too strong."
"You don't need to worry about me, Hope." Titanica smiled. "I'm not too strong. Besides, if this will be my last battle here in Galar, gotta end it on a powerful note."
"True. Let's ride this...all the way to the top." Hope said.