This was it. Machoke and Lopunny were finally going to face each-other. Everyone waited in anticipation to see who would win, the audience not quite sure who to root for just yet.

When the match started, Lopunny immediately raced toward Machoke, the boy holding his ground as the rabbit sent her ears toward him like fists. Machoke took a deep breath and allowed the ears to get close before lifting up his arms and wrapping them around them, a smirk on his face.

"Don't think I forgot how this actually worked when Gardevoir used it against you," Machoke said before leaning backward, Aipom smiling bright when he lifted Lopunny up over his head. He was using his brain and he had only just started.

However, Lopunny did not look the least bit scared as she quickly flipped her body around, her feet landing against the mat and stopping her from taking in damage. Machoke's eyes widened when it was now him being lifted up when Lopunny threw her head forward and pulled on him. Before the boy could even respond, he found himself making a collision with the canvas, the boy rolling around and clutching onto his head while the crowd cheered for Lopunny.

"And in a stunning turn of events, Lopunny has turned Machoke's own counter against him!" Nori exclaimed, Machoke rubbing his head as Lopunny took a deep breath, saying, "Just like you, I learned from watching your match with Heracross. I believe you called this the reverse of the reverse Suplex."

The boy's jaw dropped as he thought, 'Why did I not take that into consideration?' Lopunny bouncing back and forth on one foot at a time, pointing her hand at the boy like a shotgun and shouting, "BANG-BANG!"

"Oh god, she's even copying Gardevoir's entrance," Reika groaned, Cici whimpering in fear. It seemed Lopunny was even better at learning from other matches than Machoke, and this was not a good sign.

However, Machoke's confidence quickly returned when the rabbit sent her ears at him again, the boy leaping up and landing on top of one. However, unlike Gardevoir, he was unable to stand on top of it as the ear ended up dropping under his weight, Lopunny taking full advantage of this and having her other ear strike him on the side.

The boy winced in pain, holding onto the spot as Lopunny smiled, saying, "I already had a countermeasure planned for that, but clearly you're nowhere near as light on your feet as Gardevoir, so that strategy wouldn't have worked for you anyway."

Machoke then trembled and uttered, "Okay, Aipom, clearly my strategies are not working. Do you have something in mind?" Aipom replying, "Actually, those counterattacks were exactly what I had in mind," the boy face-palming. Of all the times for Aipom not to have advice, it had to be now.

Before he could think up something else, Lopunny proceeded to send more attacks the boy's way. Machoke tried his best to avoid them but eventually took a hard blow to his chest. However, he then saw an opportunity as he grinned, grabbing hold of the ear before Lopunny could retract it.

The rabbit's eyes went wide with shock as Machoke exclaimed, "No offence, Lopunny, but you're going down now!"

With that, the boy proceeded to pull on the ear as Lopunny was once again lifted up. However, the rabbit simply grinned, expecting him to try the Suplex again. But this time, Machoke had something different in mind as he swung her ear around like a lasso and released his hold on her, sending her flying hard into the turnbuckle.

Fiarrow's eyes went wide as he spat, "HEY, HE STOLE MY TECHNIQUE!" Machoke lowering his eyelid and sticking his tongue out at the falcon, remarking, "Yeah, that's right, I did!" the boy thinking, 'Although I didn't break the rules when using it myself.'

Fiarrow seemed to remember him almost being punished for it and was about to protest when Weedle remarked, "He's didn't use the ropes to do it, so it's perfectly legal," the falcon grumbling curses under his breath while Scyther said nothing to this.

Aipom gave Machoke thumbs up with her tail hand, exclaiming, "Wow, that was really smart!" before groaning, "I can't believe I didn't come up with that," Reika and her friends cheering as well.

However, one portion of the crowd aside from Fiarrow was not particularly happy to see this, Machoke's eyes widening when he felt an ominous presence behind him. The boy slowly turned and saw a colony of rabbits behind him shooting him death glares.

"Sorry, little guys, it's just, you know, I kinda have to do this," Machoke said with light laughter as Lopunny blinked and nodded, saying, "He's right, my little bunny friends. This is a match and we're both fighting each-other. It's not a fight to the death, so don't worry," the rabbits calming down a bit but still shooting Machoke death glares, one particular rabbit wearing an army helmet, everyone wondering where it got that from.

With that, the match resumed as Lopunny decided to ease up on the ears a bit now that Machoke had found a way to counter her ear punches. With that in mind, the rabbit bounded toward him, bouncing left and right to confuse him before sending a two legged kick his way from a right angle.

"MACHOKE, YOUR RIGHT!" Aipom spat, the boy nodding and turning to said angle before throwing out his arms, grabbing hold of the rabbit's ankles as she gasped in shock. Before she could even respond, Machoke leaned backwards, slamming her face hard into the canvas.

The crowd cheered for Machoke again as Nori stated, "After a rough start, it seems Machoke now has the upper hand as he's managed to counter two powerful attacks in a row!"

However, the rabbits were once again giving Machoke cold stares, the boy trembling as Lopunny got up, holding her hands out to them and saying, "Easy does it. He's not breaking any rules, okay?" the rabbits once again backing up, the one with the army helmet pointing its paw toward its eyes before directing it at Machoke, the boy thinking, 'What is wrong with them?'

Even his friends were worried right now, Cici whimpering, "Those rabbits scare me," Tsuya sighing, "Great, now she's afraid of rabbits," Aipom wondering what was up with them as well. Earth rabbits did not normally act this violent even when their own kind was being harmed.

However, Machoke decided to ignore this as Lopunny sent her ears toward him again. Machoke simply blocked one with one hand, using the other hand to block another before thinking, 'I remember this. Gardevoir was able to block one when using both hands but left herself exposed. I'm not making that mistake.'

However, it seemed Lopunny had a different plan as she said, "I figured you'd counter that," the rabbit using the ears as vaults to leap over Machoke's head, shouting, "BUNNY BOUNCE!" and planting her feet hard into his skull, the boy's eyes going wide as he fell down, the rabbits now becoming much more calm and less angry.

Aipom bit her lip and said, "Okay, I did not see that coming," Lopunny preparing to go in for the attack again, this time aiming for his back. Aipom could not stand to see that happen as she exclaimed, "MACHOKE, SHE'S USING IT AGAIN!" the boy's eyes widening as he quickly rolled to the side just in time to avoid it.

The crowd gasped as Nori said, "Despite all the pain Machoke's head must have been in, he still mustered up the strength to avoid another Bunny Bounce!" Lopunny's eyes going wide when the boy reached his arms around her waist, lifting her up.

Lopunny simply held her ears back, figuring she could stop a collision with the mat by using Heracross' method only for Machoke to end up faking her out as he shifted the direction of his attack sideways, slamming her on her side. The crowd once again applauded this as Machoke sighed, "I knew she was gonna try that," Aipom clapping happily and squealing, "He's doing so well, and I've barely said a thing!"

Machoke noticed Lopunny would not be getting up soon as he decided to take full advantage of this, climbing up onto the rope and saying, "Sorry, Lopunny, but I promised I'd win the tournament for everyone else," the boy leaping up with his elbow at the ready only for a white streak to race toward him, ramming hard into his gut as he was knocked sideways. The boy fell on his back as he groaned in pain, noticing the one who had hit him was one of the rabbits, the lagomorph now standing in the ring and glaring menacingly at him.

As if that was not bad enough, the rabbit with the army helmet immediately pointed forward, letting out a high pitched noise as the other rabbits bounded into the ring, Machoke's eyes widening in absolute terror. After this, the rabbit bounced onto him, some biting into him while others started kicking various parts of him, one even kicking him square below the belt as the boy's eyes widened.

"Hey!" Aipom spat, turning to Weedle, "You're the authority here! Do something about this!" Weedle remarking, "Sorry, Aipom, but it's only illegal for other people to come in and assist a wrestler. Animals are not as capable of following our rules, so it's okay for them to be in the ring no matter what they do."

Reika stared blankly at the caterpillar and retorted, "WHAT KIND OF BACKWARDS LOGIC IS THAT!?" Tsuya nodding and remarking, "Yeah, this is really unfair for Machoke! This is supposed to be a one-on-one fight!" Keiko adding, "How can there not be a rule forbidding this!?" Weedle fuming, a vein forming on his forehead as he spat, "IT'S LEGAL, END OF STORY!"

Fiarrow was rather enjoying the spectacle while Scyther looked annoyed. As much as she wanted to win the tournament, she did not wish to win it in such a stupid manner, and she knew Lopunny would not approve of this either. As for the rest of the crowd, they were too afraid to even speak up against this.

"WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO!?" Machoke spat as Aipom shouted, "TRY-" only for one lone rabbit to sneak up behind her, holding its paw over her mouth and pulling out a switchblade, holding it up for the monkey's cheek was she trembled in absolute horror.

"These rabbits aren't normal," Reika uttered, Weedle nodding and replying, "Yeah, it's recommended that tourists use extreme caution when walking through this park. The rabbits here are extremely aggressive and attack anyone who threatens their own kind."

Reika scowled at the caterpillar and retorted, "That's why you chose this area to have the match, isn't it!?" the caterpillar remarking, "Of course not. I don't play favourites."

It was painfully obvious Weedle was lying, but even so, this hardly mattered. The point was that Machoke was now getting a major beat-down and no one could help him. Or perhaps someone could, and that someone had finally recovered from the attack she had received as she slowly rose up into a sitting position, her eyes going wide at the sight of the rabbits whaling on Machoke.

"STOP!" Lopunny spat, the rabbits stopping and looking at her, the bunny stomping her feet against the mat and barking, "YOU LAY OFF HIM RIGHT NOW!"

The rabbits backed up as Lopunny then turned to the one threatening Aipom and adding, "AND YOU RELEASE THAT NICE MONKEY!" the rabbit gulping and putting the switchblade away, quickly stepping away as Aipom took deep breaths, holding her tail hand against her heart.

"This is a one-on-one match!" Lopunny snapped, "He was just following the rules! I'm ashamed of each and every one of you!" the rabbit noticing Machoke was now in terrible condition as she took a deep breath, sighing, "I'm sorry, Machoke, I wanted this to be fair."

"It's okay, you didn't cause this," the boy replied as the rabbit walked toward the side of the ring, saying, "Still, as much as I want to win, it would be unfair to win in this manner. As such, I'm going to forfeit," Machoke's eyes widening as he smiled warmly, saying, "Maybe we can fight again someday but under fair conditions," the rabbit smiling and replying, "I'd like that."

However, just as Lopunny was about to exit, Fiarrow spat, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" all going silent as the bird snapped, "YOU GOT AN EASY VICTORY HANDED TO YOU ON A SILVER PLATTER AND YOU'RE JUST GOING TO TOSS IT ASIDE!?"

Scyther stared in disbelief at the falcon as he spat, "Lopunny, you've been saying constantly that you can't let the team down! You went all-out in your match with Gardevoir, even putting her in the hospital because you knew it was necessary to guarantee us a spot here in Tokyo, and you're gonna give that all up because of THIS!?"

Lopunny bit her lip, about to protest when the falcon added, "And don't tell me this is wrong! Think about what Machoke did to Heracross! Think about him lying in bed in the hospital right now!" Lopunny remarking, "But he deserved it!" Fiarrow remarking, "So what!? He learned his lesson, so everything should be okay between you now! Are you gonna let his sacrifice go to waste!?"

However, Scyther could not stay silent anymore as she spat, "LOPUNNY, HE'S TRYING TO MESS WITH YOUR HEAD! DON'T LISTEN TO HIM!" Fiarrow retorting, "Are you saying you want us to lose the tournament!?" Scyther retorting, "That's not what I meant!" Fiarrow remarking sarcastically, "Oh, sure it isn't!"

However, while the two argued, Lopunny was now completely still. Machoke stared in confusion as the rabbit bit her lip, uttering, "He's right," the argument stopping as both stared at her.

"Did I hear that correctly?" Aipom asked as Lopunny let out a sigh, turning to Machoke with a serious look on her face and saying, "I made a promise that during the tournament, I would put my team above all else, that I would never give up or stop trying to win no matter what the circumstances were!" Reika groaning, "Oh god, is this going where I think it is?"

'Heracross is counting on the rest of us,' Lopunny thought, placing her hand against her chest, 'If I back out now, unfair advantage or not, I'll be letting everyone down. Sure, Scyther seems not to approve right now, but if I win, she'll be happy with my decision in the end, I'm sure of it.'

With that, the rabbit folded her arms and sighed, "Forgive me, Machoke," Machoke staring awkwardly at her and whimpering, "Oh no," Lopunny tucking her ears in while thinking, 'He might have a counterattack in mind, so I can't let him do that,' the rabbit then shouting, "DIZZY PUNCH!" sending both her ears hard into the boy's face.

Machoke stumbled back a bit, blood coming from his nostrils as his eyes were swirling, all going silent. No one could believe what they had seen. Lopunny, the best sportsman on her team, had just taken advantage of Machoke's weakened state with her best punching technique.

"MACHOKE!" Aipom screeched, "TRY TO OVERCOME THIS!" the boy trying desperately to stay up now as Lopunny took a deep breath, knowing it was time to end this as she charged toward the boy, the rabbits next to the ring applauding her.

However, just as the rabbit got close, Machoke immediately shook his head, snapping back to reality just in time to see her aiming a two-legged jump kick toward his chest. Seeing this, the boy instinctively grabbed her ankles and pulled upward, causing her to fall on the back of her head.

Then taking a deep breath, he gulped and said, "Sorry," Aipom remarking, "Don't apologize! This match is still going!" everyone else just confused by how quickly the boy had managed to overcome his dizziness.

Machoke simply nodded, just about to take advantage of his attack only for Lopunny to quickly send another ear punch into his face, shouting, "DIZZY PUNCH!" Machoke's eyes once again swirling. This time the rabbit was not going to hesitate as she wrapped her ears around the boy and bounced high above the ring.

When she flipped him upside down, everyone knew what was going to happen next as Weedle thought, 'I'm sure this is the result most people would have wanted anyway,' one audience member barking, "THIS IS WRONG!" another adding, "YEAH, LOPUNNY WOULDN'T DO SOMETHING SO DISGRACEFUL!"

Lopunny's eyes widened as she had just mounted her ears on Machoke's feet, the rabbit thinking, 'Disgraceful?' one child crying out, "Why, bunny lady!? I thought you were good!"

Fiarrow simply rolled his eyes and remarked, "She's putting her friends first for the tournament! Once it's all over, she'll be back to her goodie-two-shoes nature, okay!?"

However, Lopunny ignored the words of the falcon as the protests from the crowd got to her the most. They were right. The actions she was taking right now were completely against her nature. There was no way she could accept an unearned victory like this.

With that in mind, the rabbit did not add to her attack when she noticed both she and Machoke were falling toward the canvas, Fiarrow smirking and thinking, 'Well, I'm kinda disappointed, but it looks like we're gonna win this either way,' only for Lopunny to shock everyone when she wrapped her ears around Machoke's ankles. Was she still going to use her Bunny Tornado?

It seemed that was not the case as the threw her ears upward so Machoke was now over her head, the rabbit allowing him to land on top of her when she made contact with the mat, cushioning the blow. Machoke quickly regained consciousness when this happened and blinked, his eyes wide with shock when he noticed he was now lying on top of Lopunny.

The boy quickly got up and exclaimed, "Sorry!" the rabbit smiling and replying, "It's okay, Machoke. I meant to do that," the crowd giving a slow clap before breaking out into heavy cheering, Fiarrow and Scyther both staring in absolute shock. Scyther was happy to see Lopunny do this, but it was still surprising.

Machoke's friends both had wide smiles on their faces as Machoke held out his hand to help Lopunny up. However, the rabbit shook her head and said, "No, we should end this like a true wrestling match," all going silent as Machoke winced, remarking, "What are you suggesting!?" the rabbit sitting upright and adding, "I want you to finish me off like any other opponent. If I'm going to let down my team, I may as well do it with grace and dignity."

Some audience members had tears in their eyes when they heard this, Machoke taking a deep breath and asking, "You're sure about this, right?" the rabbit nodding as Fiarrow gritted his teeth, barking, "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!?"

Lopunny simply rolled her eyes and remarked, "Shut up, Fiarrow," all going silent as the falcon's eye twitched, Fiarrow not believing what he had just heard.

Lopunny then took a deep breath and dded, "I'm not listening to you anymore. Honestly, I hope Scyther wipes the floor with you," the insect smiling and folding her arms, Fiarrow sticking his tongue out at her.

With that, Machoke walked over to the rabbit and took a deep breath, saying, "This is gonna hurt a lot, okay?" the rabbit nodding and replying, "I know."

With that, the boy grabbed her by the shoulders and used all his might to send her flying high into the air. He then proceeded to leap up to her level, flipping her upside-down and grabbing hold of not her arms but her ears this time. After that, he spread them out, locking them in place and shouted, "MUSCLE TOMBSTONE!" sending her head hard into the canvas, however, he applied slightly less force than usual as he did not want to hurt her too much.

Either way, the rabbit found this satisfying enough as Machoke released her, allowing her body to collapse as Weedle took a deep breath, Nori ringing the bell and exclaiming, "AND ON THAT NOTE, MACHOKE WINS AND ADVANCES TO THE NEXT GEN BATTLE FINALS!" the crowd going wild as Machoke rose one fist in the air, a big smile on his face.

Even the rabbits, rather than being upset, simply gave Lopunny an army salute out of respect. Sure, they were the ones who complicated things in the first place, but they could not help but admire a rabbit who was willing to let herself lose for the sake of remaining good.

However, Machoke's concern for Lopunny quickly returned as he asked, "Are you okay?" the rabbit taking a deep breath and smiling before saying, "You went easy on me. Of course I'm okay," both laughing as the boy helped the rabbit up, Lopunny now being the first hero not to end up in a hospital after losing.

Fiarrow simply gritted his teeth but said nothing as right now, he was more focused on his match with Scyther. Despite being her teammate, he was not going to hold back and neither was she. Whatever the reason, the two were feeling rather cold toward each-other right now.

Even so, Aipom felt very relieved as she gave Machoke thumbs up with her tail hand, everyone else in the crowd really happy to see everything turn out so well. While the other matches so far had ended surprisingly bitter for fights between heroes, this one ended happily with both sides gladly accepting the results.

At the hospital, Gardevoir was watching this with light tears in her eyes, thinking, 'I knew you could fight the pressure, Lopunny,' Machoke helping the rabbit exit the ring as Scyther smiled, walking over to her and saying, "You did the right thing."

"Oh, god, enough with the mushy crap already!" Fiarrow groaned, everyone turning to him as Scyther frowned, the falcon adding, "You just got done with a match, a really important one at that! You shouldn't be acting so casually about this!"

The falcon then pointed at Machoke, saying, "The way you treat your victory like nothing makes me sick," before redirecting his finger toward Lopunny and adding, "And the way you handed him victory is even worse," Scyther retorting, "Schweigen!"

All went silent as the bug added, "Focus on our match, kollege," Scyther exiting the area as Fiarrow simply folded his arms, grumbling curses while exiting the area himself. The bug did have a point as their match was only four hours from now.

With that, Lopunny sighed, "I'm really starting to reconsider being on their team," Machoke nodding as Aipom asked, "Hey, Machoke, there's something I wanna know. How did you snap out of your dizziness so quickly?"

Machoke blinked and replied, "Oh, it's because I got dizzy a lot when I was a kid, so I'm used to it," all going silent until Aipom sighed, "Why did I expect anything else?"

And with that, the friends headed off toward the location of the next match, Lopunny feeling like she had enough strength to join them. While the fight between Machoke and Lopunny had gone well, no one knew what to expect from a match between Scyther and Fiarrow, especially with the two feeling so bitter right now.