Countdown: 2

~~~Season 9: Johto League Elites~~~

Opening: Pokemon Johto

Chapter 59: Grand Finale

The pokeballs released shimmering effects, bubbles for Natalie and electricity sparking on the ground for Lyra.

Stantler and Delibird cried when the landed on the field. Lyra's Togetic and Venomoth were sent out.

"Delibird, use Aerial Ace!" Delibird hopped into the air, and then span quickly down towards Venomoth.

"Venomoth, Silver Wind!" Venomoth released dusty wind. The wind passed over Delibird, and kept it in one spot in the air, but the wind around Delibird caused the Silver Wind to make Delibird glow, depleting Lyra's points. "Oh no!"

"Oh yes! Delibird, Ice Ball!" Delibird, still in the Silver Wind, formed a ball of crystalline ice and shot it through the wind. It pierced the wind and fell towards Venomoth and Togetic. "Stantler, Ice Beam!" Stantler breathed a beam of icy energy that froze the ball of ice and expanded it.

"Togetic, use Magical Leaf!" Togetic released colorful leaves that hacked against the outsides of the ice. It smoothed out the cragginess. "Steel Wing!" Togetic whirred around and slammed it with a glowing wing. It shattered over Togetic and caused Natalie's points to drop slightly.

"Nice. Stantler, Zen Headbutt! Delibird, throw a Present to Stantler!" Stantler sped forward, its head glowing and shimmering. Delibird twisted in the air and dropped a pearl on the head of Stantler. It exploded and Stantler rammed forward, slamming into Venomoth, throwing it across the ground.

"Venomoth!"

Stantler scooted back and Delibird landed on its back.

"Venomoth, Psychic!" Venomoth fired energy at the two pokemon. "Togetic, use Metronome!"

"She relies on luck with that move, yet she's so confident..." Natalie thought to herself.

Togetic fired Bullet Punch.

Natalie jumped. "Eh?" She was deep in thought, and didn't realize what was happening. Her two pokemon were chucked across the field. Natalie's points fell. Five minutes left. "Delibird, use Icy Wind!" Delibird started spinning on one foot and wind started spinning roughly in a tornado forming around Delibird. It shot high and Delibird threw it towards Togetic and Venomoth. "Stantler, Shadow Ball!" Stantler shot a ball of dark energy inside the tornado. It sailed through and exploded on Venomoth. The tornado engulfed Togetic and Venomoth both.

The two pokemon stood up weakly. Lyra's points were reduced to less-than-half. Three minutes were left.

"Togetic, use Metronome!" Togetic waved its hands. Suddenly, Delibird was thrown off of Stantler. Gravity must have set in. Venomoth was also downed to the ground, laying down.

"Heh, you grounded yourself! Delibird, Ice Ball!" Delibird formed a ball of ice and slapped it at the opponent. "Stantler, follow through with Shadow Ball!" Stantler threw a large ball of energy at the ice. It sucked it in and the ball glowed white and dark as it sailed towards Venomoth and Togetic.

The clock ticked down.

"Togetic, use Magical Leaf!" Togetic twirled and threw some rainbow colored leaves at the ball of energy. They clashed with it, but the leaves were destroyed. However, it slashed through the Shadow Ball, and took down some of Natalie's points. Lyra's points went down for the appeal of Natalie. The Shadow Ball collided with Venomoth, and Lyra's points went down again. She was left with one fourth, and a minute and a half was left.

"We have to do this before it's all over!" Lyra thought to herself. "Venomoth use Stun Spore!" Venomoth waved its wings and the orange dust surrounded Delibird and Stantler. Suddenly, Venomoth flew into the air, as Gravity disappeared. "Togetic, take advantage of their lack of movement and use Metronome!" Togetic waved its arms and released a blinding light.

"Ah! It's Flash..." Natalie whispered. Natalie's points fell.

"Venomoth, Psychic!" Venomoth fired off a blue beam of energy. It collided with Delibird, who was flung into the air.

"Delibird, use Icy Wind!" Delibird span in mid air and formed a tornado of spiraling, chilly wind. It was thrown towards its enemies.

"Venomoth, Psychic!" As Venomoth surrounded the wind in energy, both of their points fell a bit. Lyra was left with only a couple of slivers. It evaporated the wind. Suddenly, Delibird appeared from the mist and spiraled down, Aerial Ace around it.

"Stantler, Zen Headbutt!"

"Togetic, Steel Wing! Venomoth Silver Wind!" Venomoth released a wave of wind as Togetic sailed for the oncoming enemies. Togetic slammed Delibird out of the air, but Stantler clashed with Togetic and sent it flipping down, plopped on the ground.

The buzzer went off.

"The winner is..." Jillian started. Lyra had no points left. Natalie had one-fourth. "Natalie! Natalie is the Top Coordinator!"

The audience went wild, as everyone cheered for the winner of the Grand Festival.

Lyra stood, a smile on her face after smearing off the disappointment. She dashed on the field and took her pokemon in a huge embrace, thanking them.

"Thanks so much for an amazing, amazing journey, guys..." Lyra said, crying. Natalie was handed a large gold trophy with a red ribbon the front by Mr. Contesta.

"Congratulations, Natalie Perch. You started your journey and worked hard with your pokemon to win throughout the Johto Region. You deserve this!" He said to her. "And thank you so much everyone who participated!" He shouted.

Lyra recalled her pokemon.

Outside of the building later, the buildings had been deserted and everyone was living the fullest out of the attractions and things on Juniper Island. Some people had left on the ferries, but the majority were still in the alleyways.

Ethan, Lyra and Natalie stood in front of the Hotel.

"Well," Natalie said, holding her trophy, slinging her blue hair out of her face, "that was awesome, Lyra. And now, I will be departing. I'm going to head to a different region. The Grand Festival in the Hoenn Region starts soon, so I wanna get there so I can watch.

"Oh! Natalie, if you find out, can you tell us how May does? She's a friend of ours," Ethan asked.

"Sure." Natalie then heads off towards the ferries, where one was about to depart.

"Well, neither of us won, but we both did great. And out pokemon, too. That's the main part. We should head to New Bark, too..." Ethan explained. Suddenly, his PokeGear rang. He checked it.

Professor Elm was on the other side. "Ethan! Ethan! I saw the Grand Festival and Johto League! Congrats on getting so far, you two! By the way, a man I would like you to talk to called earlier. I need you back here ASAP! So, try to get here!" He then hung up without Ethan or Lyra saying a word.

"I'm thinking we should head to New Bark Town?" Lyra asked. Ethan nodded.

"This could be interesting. Now, we leave..."

Later on the ferry...

"Juniper Island..." Ethan finished his sentence from earlier.

...

And that is the ending of the Grand Festival and the Johto League Competition, and most importantly: Their main Johto Journey. But never fear, there is the Series Finale coming up next, to check that out!

Everyone, remember, this story will follow through to the Sinnoh Region after it ends~