Gerard is in a losing position, but will he be able to turn it around? Or will Ian manage to win? Is Diancie enough to settle this for him? We'll have to find out!

Just a Bad Writer for Fun: I guess we'll have to see, won't we? It's certain to be a thrilling skirmish, what will the state of Ian's team be when Gerard finally sends Diana back out?

KedharS: I wouldn't say she's that interested. It's not like she has a crush or anything, they're just cool right now.

Guest: Nice to see someone rooting for the bad guy, it's really refreshing.

Thunder Fire: Nope. Even if he wins, it would have to be an official challenge match. Besides, he wants to defeat all the Leaders first, not just Gerard.

Aquahaze675: We'll have to see.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 561

If Gerard was bothered by the fact he was down to his last two pokemon, it wasn't showing on his face. He seemed perfectly calm as he recalled his Bastiodon, instead of looking upset or even irritated at the setback. Ian thought it might just be him putting on a tough face, but he couldn't deny that it was also making him feel nervous.

"Temblor, go," Gerard said, sending out his next pokemon. His Rhyperior emerged from his pokeball and landed in the quicksand, slamming his large hands against his armored chest and roaring, glaring at the Miltank.

"And Gerard's sixth pokemon is his Rhyperior, as we expected," Lila said, the ringing in her ears finally subsiding. "Ian still has three pokemon in decent shape, so this has to be where Gerard turns it all around!"

"Don't forget," Dakota reminded Lila, "the Gerard still has that Diancie of his. A mythical pokemon isn't something that should be taken lightly."

"I would never forget about Diancie!" Lila replied, letting out a wistful sigh as she rested her cheek against her hand. "Such a gorgeous pokemon… but still, it's important to see just how much Gerard can do before having to rely on her, after all, Ian might have a plan to win!"

Dakota admitted that was probably true. She looked to Akira for confirmation, but Akira was silent, looking at the battlefield calmly. She shut her mouth, for once, letting him think about the situation in peace.

"Opal, we need to take down that Rhyperior next," Ian called. "If we can beat him without losing too much, we'll have three pokemon to take down that Diancie!"

"Miltank!" Opal snorted in agreement, stepping forward as best as she could through the quicksand. She charged forward, raising her hoof.

"Brick break," Ian ordered. Opal struck Temblor in the chest with a powerful fighting move, the hulking pokemon letting out a cry of pain.

"Nice, that looked like it hurt a lot!" Dakota cheered.

"Don't think it'll go the same as with Tank," Gerard replied, his voice just barely above a snarl. "You can't paralyze us to reduce our speed. Temblor! Bulldoze!"

"RHYPERIOR!" Temblor bellowed, pulling one leg free of the quicksand and stomping it down hard, swinging one of his massive arms. A powerful shockwave erupted from the large Rhyperior, barreling forward with the force to level the entire battlefield. And this was a very effective stage to use the move on.

"Mil-!" Opal gasped out, the crushing pressure of the attack pushing her onto chest and forcing her deeper and deeper into the quicksand. She struggled to keep afloat, and could barely resist the impact. But she was still stuck.

"Bulldoze reduces your speed," Gerard calmly replied. "And that's under normal conditions. In a situation like this, where you're trapped in the quicksand, your maneuverability is hampered even more. It doesn't feel pleasant, does it? To struggle while barely being able to move?"

"Opal!" Ian cried out.

"That is pretty dangerous," Akira noted. "He took quick advantage of the quicksand, and now that Miltank won't be able to move very quickly."

"…Really? All that thinking for that?" Dakota scowled, turning to look at her boyfriend. He'd really said that with a straight face. "Did you think that was funny or something?"

Lila thought it was possibly the worst joke she'd ever heard, but she held her mouth to suppress a faked snicker anyway, since she would be the kind of person who would laugh at a joke that bad.

Right now, though, the only bad joke Gerard could see was that Miltank.

"Now, while you're reduced to such a weak state, unable to struggle, we can take our time," he snarled menacingly. "Temblor, use rock wrecker!"

"Rhyperior!" Temblor growled. He raised his hands and gathered up stones into a massive boulder held together with sheer force, and smashed Opal with the attack.

"MILTANK!" Opal cried, the rock smashing against her and breaking into pieces, dealing her an incredibly devastating blow. As she held on with scraps of health, Temblor stood immobilized, shaking from the recoil of the attack.

"What was that move?!" Dakota exclaimed, shocked.

"Look at Miltank!" Lila wailed, horrified by Opal's bashed, battered, bruised, and bleeding body, stuck in the quicksand. She looked almost dead.

"Rock wrecker is an incredibly devastating move," Akira said. "It's like Satsuki's hyper beam. An attack with immense destructive power, using so much of the user's strength that their body needs to take a moment to recharge. And as a Rock type move, it's even more powerful than usual when used by Rhyperior, one of the only pokemon that can learn it."

"It looked awesome," Dakota admitted. She knew that Satsuki, like any Gyarados, had a devastating hyper beam. "That Miltank was doing so well, but right now it's like she's on the verge of fainting just from getting hit by one move."

"That's super not good," Lila agreed.

"But it's not all bad," Akira said. "Like I said before, incredibly powerful moves like rock wrecker and hyper beam have their own drawbacks. They can deal massive damage, but in exchange the user finds themselves immobilized, temporarily sapped of their strength. So if they don't finish off the opponent, it leaves them incredibly vulnerable for a counterattack."

"Oh!" Dakota brightened, turning back to the battle. "That's good, then! Ian's still in this! It's time for Miltank to strike back!" And there was nothing Dakota liked better than picking on someone who couldn't fight back.

"True," Akira nodded. "…Assuming, of course, that she can."

"What-what do you mean?" Lila asked.

"Take a look," Akira said, pointing at Opal, who was in the process of trying to stand. But she had been so injured by the move that she found it nearly impossible. Between her weakened body and the constricting effects of the quicksand, even getting up was proving to be a chore. "Because of the terrain, it's taking that Miltank a lot longer than it should to recover. It might even be enough time to mitigate the drawback of rock wrecker."

"You said before you used your Miltank to soften up my Bastiodon," Gerard called out. "But what you failed to realize was that I had been using Tank to soften up your Miltank! Get a few good hits in, and then, should Tank fall, finish things up with Temblor and his rock wrecker. True, I expected Tank to do a little more damage than he managed to, and thus your Miltank still has some strength to fight back, but with this quicksand it's becoming far too difficult."

"Opal!" Ian called out to his Miltank, desperate for Opal to get back onto her hooves.

"You don't have nearly the experience at making use of your tools that I do, Ian," Gerard continued. "I was fully expecting Tank to fall, and I just wanted him to weaken your team up as much as he could. That's how I fight."

Ian didn't reply, still calling out to his Miltank.

"Mil… tank…" Opal panted, finally managing to somewhat stand, even though she was in very weak condition. But that was enough for Ian.

"Opal, now, use high horsepower!" Ian shouted. It might be a little taxing to use all of her strength, but Opal needed the force of the high horsepower to tear herself free from the deep entrenchment of the quicksand, and get some of her mobility back.

"Miltank!" Opal sent her energy into her legs and launched herself out of the sand with a powerful charge, aiming right for Temblor. Fortunately for her, the Rhyperior was still suffering from the aftereffects of using rock wrecker, and didn't have the energy to even brace against the attack, let alone try to dodge.

Opal slammed her front hooves into Temblor, the Rhyperior roaring in pain as she knocked him backwards, his massive body falling and hitting the quicksand with so much force it looked like it actually sent up a splash, the sand beginning to suck the pokemon down as he remained immobilized, Opal landed on the sandy pool in front of the Rhyperior, smiling a little. Let's see how HE liked being trapped in the sands.

"Nice!" Akira cheered. "Not only did Miltank use an effective attack to take advantage of Rhyperior's backlash, but she also freed herself from the quicksand while trapping him in it, as well! The tables are turned!"

"But it still looks like a strong gust of wind could knock that Miltank out," Lila said worriedly, staring at the battered cow pokemon.

"That shouldn't be a problem," Akira assured her. "Just watch. Remember Miltank's specialty?"

Realization dawned on Lila and she brightened, gasping out, "oh! That's right, I almost forgot!" Then her brightness faded and she made a face. "Ugh…"

"Opal, use milk drink!" Ian ordered, taking the opportunity provided by Rhyperior's immobilization to have Opal heal some of her health.

"Mil!" Opal nodded, leaning over and beginning to suck from one of the udders, grossing out a lot of the audience as they watched her begin to heal from some of her damage by drinking her own milk. It wouldn't be enough for a full recovery, not nearly, but by recovering half of her maximum health it was a good start.

"Temblor!" Gerard snarled. "Free yourself, now! You've spent long enough being restrained by that sand and that energy drain, don't you think?"

"Rhyperior," Temblor agreed, finally getting the energy to move again. But he was still trapped in the quicksand, struggling against it.

"Fine then. Let's show them what you look like at full force," Gerard said calmly. "Use high horsepower yourself."

"What?" Ian gasped.

Temblor strengthened his body and ripped his arms free of the muck with a roar, slamming them against the ground and using his powerful muscles to pull the rest of him out, charging at Opal with an incredible amount of speed and power. The massive rock pokemon barreled towards Opal like an avalanche, startling the Miltank.

"Opal, use protect!" Ian quickly ordered. Opal raised her arms and created a large pink forcefield, stopping Temblor's charge easily, much to the Rhyperior's frustration. Temblor battered against the barrier helplessly, but there was nothing he could do.

"Now, use your high horsepower," Ian ordered. The barrier dropped, and Opal launched herself at Temblor, using all of her strength this time.

"Rhyperior!" Temblor roared, the impact of the Miltank doing a lot of damage. But unlike before, this time he could move. And that meant he had the strength to brace himself, and even with all her power Opal couldn't make him budge.

"Hammer arm!" Gerard shouted. Temblor raised his arm and slammed it down upon Opal, smashing her into the quicksand again with a painful downswing, Opal crying in pain as she hit the ground.

"Oh no, she's right back where she was before!" Lila gasped.

"This isn't good," Dakota said.

"Don't worry," Akira said, knowing that hammer arm wasn't without its downsides, but even he was having trouble making his "don't worry" sound all that convincing. That Miltank looked down for the count.

Temblor panted, stumbling back. He had taken some major blows, and even with his bulk his strength was starting to flag. Hammer arm was a powerful move, especially against a Normal type pokemon, but it consumed a lot of energy, reducing the speed of the pokemon who used it. And it still hadn't been enough to finish that Miltank off! She had restored a lot more health than he had expected. He was prepared to launch another attack, when he paused.

"Temblor, what are you doing?" Gerard shouted. "Attack!"

But Temblor couldn't attack. How could he? The Miltank lying helplessly in the quicksand before him was the most lovely thing he'd ever laid eyes on! Opal stared up at him the clearest and most lovely deep blue eyes, eyes so wondrous he wished that his trainer had taught him surf, so that he could swim inside of them. Her round, rubenesque figure was so tantalizingly plump and gentle, and she looked so… so soft! Female Rhyperior had bodies as hard and rocky as his own, was it so wrong of him to wish to embrace something so soft and tender? Of course not! He ignored his trainer's commands, lowering his hand not in an attack, but to lend aid to the trapped waif. How could he have been so rude, attacking such a vivacious thing? For the life of him, he couldn't imagine what had ever convinced him he must hurt her in the first place!

When the lovely Miltank placed her hoof in his hand and let him free her, it lightened the weight on his chest. She had given him the opportunity to seek forgiveness for his horrendous sin, and when she lunged forward and hit him in the jaw with a powerful blow from that same hoof, he took it like a man with a smile on his face. It was what he deserved, after all, for harming such a wonderful pokemon. As he fell back into the sand, disoriented, Temblor mused if this is what humans meant by feeling weak in the knees and the world spinning around you when you fall in love, enduring the deserved pummeling unleashed on him by the wonderful pokemon he had fallen for.

"…Yep, attract's a killer, alright," Lila dryly said, not sure what else to say about what had just happened. Dakota and Akira had much less experience with remaining professional, both trying to suppress their laughs.

Even Gerard had been stunned by it, for once having nothing to say. At the same time, Ian hid his face in his hands. No matter how many times he ordered the move, it still didn't make it any less embarrassing for him.

"Return," Gerard said, recalling Temblor. He sighed. He had one pokemon left. So it came down to this. He glanced at the weakened Miltank, a stone's throw away from fainting. He would have to take care of her before she could heal herself. "Diana. Now is the time for us to make our stand."

Gerard threw the sparkling pink pokeball into the air, and Diana emerged with a glistening sheen of pink, lighting up the darkening sky with a curtain of dazzling radiance.

"Gerard's final pokemon! He's sent his Diancie back out!" Lila cheered. "But will she be enough to defeat Ian's remaining three pokemon?"

Gerard smirked. Of course she would.

"Diana, use moonblast!" He ordered.

"Diancie!" Diana raised her hands, firing a beam of pink light out from the diamond on her chest, the fairy laser burning a path straight for the weakened Opal.

"Miltank!" Opal protected herself with a pink barrier, the moonblast fading away against it. Seconds later, the barrier dropped… and Opal was immediately hit with another moonblast, not able to use another moonblast. Opal flew back and hit the sand, letting out a pained groan, before losing consciousness.

"Miltank is unable to battle," Lila announced. "Diancie is the winner!"

"One down," Gerard said as Ian recalled Opal to her pokeball. "Two more to go."

Ian had expected that, though. He knew that Opal probably wouldn't be able to do much against Diana, but that was fine. What he needed was Sapphire right now, and with her speed she would be able to take the initiative and greatly hinder Diana.

"Sapphire, come back," Ian said, sending out his Crobat once again.

"Nice move," Akira noted. "Let's see how his Crobat fights against Diancie, knowing what we know about what she can do."

"Sapphire, start with taunt!" Ian ordered, Sapphire flapping her wings and catching the tailwind, flying around Diana and cackling, drawing the Diancie into a fighting stance, ready to attack the flying pokemon and not giving a single thought towards her own defense.

"Crobat!" Sapphire called out, daring Diana to attack. Once Diana had fallen for the taunt, then she wouldn't be able to use safeguard, or heal bell, or any other sort of move to prevent against the inevitable poison from toxic or confusion from confuse ray.

But unfortunately for Sapphire, that wasn't what Gerard was planning at all.

"So we can only attack?" Gerard snarled at him. "It seems like you continue to make light of our abilities, Ian!"

He turned to Diana.

"Diana!" He shouted.

"DIANCIE!" Diana raised her hands and began glowing pink, forming a cloud of shiny pink diamonds out of the light, filling the sky with a massive barrage of diamond missiles. She flung her hands forward and the battlefield was engulfed in a tornado of sharp gems.

There was nowhere for Sapphire to escape to, the diamond storm was everywhere. Hard and sharp gems sliced into her body and punched tiny holes in her wings, pelting her and battering her from all sides, Sapphire struggling as hard as she could to withstand the assault but finding herself coming up short. There was just too much, and it was all too painful. The sky was darkening by the approaching night, but right now it was lit up by a veil of flashing pink lights that illuminated the entire stadium, stunning everyone with the display.

"No way…" Lila gasped.

"That Crobat only got one move in," Dakota said, stunned. She was so surprised that, for once, she wasn't even taking pictures.

"Ian underestimated his opponent," Akira said. "Diancie is a mythical pokemon. A trick like taunt, toxic, confuse ray, they're good moves to pull off against powerful pokemon, certainly, but when you're weak to that pokemon already, it can't be a surprise that a fragile pokemon like Crobat wouldn't be able to last long."

"Sapphire!" Ian cried. He had underestimated that Diancie, this wasn't going like he had expected. Every second more and more diamonds filled the skies, pelting away at his pokemon and draining her strength, preventing her from using a move. It was taking everything she had to remain in the air.

"No! Crobat!" Kate wailed. Her sentiments were shared by her… friends… though not for the same reasons. None of them wanted Gerard to win.

"Cro…" Saph choked out, the storm finally dying down, the diamonds cracking into dust that lit up the dark sky, Sapphire plummeting from the sky and landing in the quicksand. She let out one last choked gasp, and Ian, stunned, recalled her to her pokeball.

"Crobat is unable to battle," Lila gasped. "That means Ian is down to his final pokemon, as well!"

"This battle is really heating up!" Dakota said. "…Shit! I totally missed and amazing shot!"

"Gerard managed to even things up," Akira replied. "He took out two of Ian's pokemon quite quickly, and now they're both down to their final pokemon. The question is whether or not Ian can defeat a mythical pokemon with his last pokemon. At the very least… that Diancie is still subjected to the taunt. Which means it has been weakened, even if he wasn't able to poison her."

"Iron. It's all up to you," Ian said, sending out his last pokemon. Everyone was watching intently, to see how this battle would go.

At the very least, win or lose, this battle had been a pleasant surprise that could honestly be comparable to the main event they had come here to see, which was a victory in and of itself.

Ian and Gerard are entering the climax! Will Ian's Aggron be able to defeat Diana? Or will Gerard manage to pull out the win after all? It's certain to be a thrilling climax, that's for sure!