Upon hearing Machoke's voice, Aipom's eyes widened as she immediately started moving in the bag, the boy noticing this as he snapped, "Hey, let her go! She has nothing to do with your plans!" Hitmonchan turning to Medicham and saying, "You know, he has a point. Why did we kidnap her again?"

The woman blinked before taking a deep breath and replying, "It was a safety precaution in case Machoke and his friends did catch up with us. By having her gagged, she is unable to give him advice," the members of the Hitmon family nodding in understanding save for Tyrogue who sighed, "You just made that up, didn't you?"

Medicham shot him a glare and remarked, "I have no idea what you're talking about," the woman all the while fidgeting with her hands as Tyrogue sighed, "My god, you're a horrible liar," Machoke barking, "I don't care what the reason is! I just want you to let her go!"

"Don't forget handing over the mask, too," Blaziken replied, Machoke nodding and saying, "Yeah, that too. We need that back as well."

Hitmonchan briefly turned her attention away from the plan to look at Gallade as she smiled and winked at him, saying, "Hi, Gallade," the boy wincing as a chill went up his spine. He was never going to get used to this. Of course, Squirtle and Magnemite lying there was also quite intimidating.

Medicham no longer had the patience for this. Back on the train, she was calm and collective even when the team was attacked because, hey, they were on a moving train, so even while being distracted by heroes, they were still moving forward. But now they were not, so this seemed like nothing more than a major inconvenience.

Dodrio turned to Tyrogue as the middle head whispered, "I know you said we were just here to watch the magic the unfold, but I'm able to fight again," the right head nodding and replying, "And he's not just blowing smoke this time," Tyrogue letting out a sigh and replying, "Me too, but honestly, I have much more faith in these guys. We'll join in if we have to, but you know from experience how tough my siblings are."

However, it seemed Medicham had different plans than the heroes as she said in a forced calm voice, "You three keep them busy for me while I activate the mask from inside," Hitmonchan nodding and replying, "Yes, ma'am!" before striking a fighting pose, Hitmonlee and Hitmontop doing the same.

Machoke gritted his teeth as Gardevoir placed a hand delicately against his shoulder and squeaked, "We'll handle these three! You take care of Medicham," Machoke nodding with a warm smile and replying, "Thanks, you're the best."

However, the Hitmon family was not going to make this easy for him as all three rushed at him, attempting to stop him in his tracks. But just as they were about to do so, Blaziken rushed in Hitmonlee's way and sent a roundhouse toward him only for him to block the incoming kick and once again overpower her attack, knocking her on her back.

Gardevoir got in Hitmontop's way and attempted to stop her attack by grabbing onto her ankles. The other girl took full advantage of this and spun her body around, picking up Gardevoir and swinging her like she had Hitmonchan, only much faster as a means of making her dizzy.

Gallade, on the other hand, had stopped Hitmonchan by blocking her boxing glove with his arm blades, holding them in an X formation. However, the girl already had a countermeasure in mind as she saw an opening and swung her other glove just slightly above the belt as she believed in playing fair.

However, while Machoke's allies may have been losing right now, this certainly provided enough of a distraction for him to pass by them and run inside the shrine after Medicham, all three glad that he could at least pull that off. Now they had one less thing to worry about, or at least they hoped they did. After all, Machoke had lost rather easily to her, and for his first loss in his entire life to be so quick was certainly not something that could be brushed off and forgotten.

When the boy caught up with Medicham, he pointed at her and snapped, "Stop right there! I have a score to settle with you!" Medicham's eye twitching as she quickly resumed her calm look, sighing, "You just don't give up. I admire your fighting spirit, but that alone will not be enough to save you," the woman then setting Aipom and the mask down behind her and striking a battle pose with both arms lifted up, her hands pointed away from her head as she lifted one foot.

But just as Machoke was ready to fight, Medicham smirked, another rare look from her and shifted her leg forward before sending it backward into the mask, sending it flying right atop a pedestal in the middle of the shrine. Machoke's eyes widened in sheer terror as the mask started to glow, his jaw dropped as it was too late now. Whatever the villains had planned for that mask they had pulled off.

Or at least that was how it seemed. Just as quickly as Medicham's confidence returned, it quickly faded. The light vanished as her eyes widened with shock, the mask falling off the pedestal, landing on its side before repositioning itself upright, what with its side being too pointed for the mask to stay like that.

"No, this makes no sense," Medicham uttered, "Giratina was supposed to awaken! It says so in the scriptures!" Machoke shrugging and remarking, "Maybe the scriptures were wrong. You can't believe everything you read," Medicham gritting her teeth and fuming before retorting, "WELL, I'M STILL NOT GOING TO PRISON!"

Machoke panicked and remarked, "Geez, where did all that calmness go!?" the woman taking a deep breath and replying, "Well, I guess I am no longer in a rush, so I have no need to break character. The others can lose and be sent to prison for all I care, but there is no way you are taking me in. If I defeat you twice, reviving Giratina will seem like a small feat in comparison."

Aipom all the while just looked relieved that their plan had failed. Still, she really hoped Machoke could win after the way he had lost earlier. After all, there was no denying that Medicham was a force to be reckoned with, even if her initial plan had just failed miserably.

However, Machoke was not so calm right now as he gritted his teeth, remarking, "What the hell kind of ally are you!?" Medicham's eyes going wide as the boy added, "Seriously, they turned to you because you had a common goal! You were something they trusted, and now you're talking about how you're okay with them being beaten and arrested!? You guys may be evil, but at the very least, other villains I've met have had a sense of honour! Rotom and Scrafty, while not the best of friends, still seemed to care about each-other and, well, Onix and Bisharp actually made for a really good team!"

"That is because they were weak," Medicham remarked with a sigh, "Look what happened to them. They all lost eventually. That will never happen to me because I do not let petty things like friendship distract me from what is truly important."

Machoke fumed more but figured this was getting him nowhere as he readied himself for the fight. There was no way he would lose, not after coming so far.

Unfortunately, it seemed the Hitmon family might just win as the others were still getting beaten rather badly. Hitmonlee was standing on his hands while sending various kicks toward Blaziken, the chicken holding up her arms in an X formation to block them only for a few to still end up hitting her. Hitmontop had sent Gardevoir flying into a pillar with her last move and was coming back for more. And of course, Gallade was still being overpowered by Hitmonchan's boxing gloves, Tyrogue and Dodrio now wondering if they should get involved.

However, just as Hitmontop got close to Gardevoir, the girl took a deep breath and prayed quietly, "Look, inner power. I know I've been trying to make myself good enough not to need your help, but this opponent is far too powerful. I was so badly beaten that I did not even have a chance to bring you out last time. I can't afford to have extreme pain be the only means of bringing you out, so please, help me right now before it's too late."

Right after she said this, her hands actually started to glow violet once more. Her eyes sparkled until the light faded, the girl staring at her palms in disappointment as Hitmontop spat, "YOU SHOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION!" Gardevoir panicking and sending her arms forward as a last ditch effort to block another strike.

Strangely enough, when Hitmontop's feet rammed into her hands, they actually stopped in their tracks while Hitmontop could no longer move forward. Gardevoir's eyes went wide as she took full advantage of this, lifting the opponent up and swinging her head-first into the pillar she had just been knocked into. After that, Gardevoir noticed that her muscles had become slightly more noticeable. Sure, she was still skinny as could be, but it was showing more and her chest even expanded just a tiny bit.

It seemed the glow fading was not a sign that her power had left her but that it had become a permanent part of her. In a shocking turn of events, Gardevoir's regular self had merged with her powerful self so her strength was now in-between the two states, stronger than her old self but not quite as strong as when the power was activated.

Things were starting to look up for Blaziken as well as like when Bouffalant had her in a similar spot, the chicken noticed Hitmonlee start to slow down after a few kicks. With that in mind, she spread her arms out, letting the boy's feet get close to her before latching her arms around his ankles. Hitmonlee's eyes widened as she pulled back on them, causing the boy to land on his back.

She wasted no time getting onto his back and setting him up for a Boston crab, Hitmonlee's eyes widening. Blaziken would have used her family's famous submission hold, but she could not take the risk and knew this particular hold was much more difficult to get out of even if it was less painful.

Unfortunately, Gallade was not doing so well. While the girls had gotten the upper hand for the time being, he was still struggling as Hitmonchan continued to hit him with a variety of punches. Currently, she was tapping him multiple times with the top of her right glove while pumping up her other fist, the girl sending a fierce uppercut to his chin.

Gallade coughed up blood as he fell hard on his back, Hitmonchan gasping, "Are you okay!? I didn't ruin your handsome face, did I?" Dodrio's right head asking, "What the hell? First she's going all-out in trying to beat him then she flirts with him?" Tyrogue sighing, "Yeah, she's been like this ever since she hit puberty. She puts business ahead of hormonal issues, but the flirtatiousness never truly leaves."

However, Gallade gritted his teeth and slowly pushed himself back up, taking deep breaths and uttering, "Alright, that's it," as Hitmonchan backed up, both scared and impressed as the boy grunted, "I am sick and tired of losing! Seriously, ever since I came to Earth, I've been getting my ass kicked, but not anymore! I can't call myself worthy of my position if I can't defeat one villain!"

Hitmonchan's heart raced when he said this as a big smile crossed her face, the girl batting her eyelashes. Gallade stared as she blushed, saying, "I have to admit, I easily fall for attractive men like you," the boy blinking and asking, "Attractive? Um, well..." the girl adding, "But now I know for sure that this is true love I'm feeling."

The girl then turned away and added, "Oh, but it can't work. We are on opposite sides," her eyes widening as she grinned, asking, "How about a deal? If I win, you have to join the forces of evil and go on a date with me!"

Gallade's eyes widened as he sighed, "Look, I'm flattered you feel like you do about me, really I am, but I can't agree to such a thing. If I become evil, it'll mean leaving my sister without me around to help her get through life. I can't do that," Hitmonchan smirking and remarking, "In other words, you're afraid I'll win."

Gallade gritted his teeth as she added, "I don't mind that. That answer made you even more attractive, but come on, after all that talk of winning, it sounds like you're not even sure anymore," the boy taking a deep breath and grumbling, "Alright, fine! If I lose, I'll strip myself of my hero title and go out with you!"

The boy panicked briefly before noticing both Gardevoir and Blaziken were too busy with their matches to hear him say this, letting out a sigh of relief. He could only imagine how his sister would react to him agreeing to such a thing because of pride.

While all of these events were going on, Machoke and Medicham's match had started with Machoke rushing toward his opponent. The woman simply waited for him to close in before sending her finger toward his chest.

Unfortunately for her, Machoke had seen enough of her technique to know this was coming. As such he very quickly grabbed hold of her wrist before hurling her hard into the wall. Medicham grunted in pain, feeling ashamed of herself for not seeing that coming. After all, he had done something similar before.

It did not end there as the boy proceeded rush at the weakened Medicham, sending a hard punch to her face. However, the woman ignored the pain as she rammed her palm hard into the boy's gut, his eyes going wide as she proceeded to send more palm punches into him.

"I'll give you some credit, you do seem capable of thinking from time to time," Medicham stated, "but you're still far too rash to defeat me. You should have seen this coming."

To make matters worse, Medicham quickly shifted from using her palms to her fingers, Machoke's eyes now even wider as he was starting to feel incredibly weak, just like before. After all, her finger punches were far stronger than any of her other regular moves, especially with the way she new exactly which parts to hit.

With that, Medicham ended her assault by striking him hard in the chest, shouting, "ACUPRESSURE!" applying three times as much force this time as Machoke coughed up blood. This was the same move she had used on Tyrogue and it had come very close to being the one finisher that could beat him.

It was so strong, in fact, that it actually left what looked like a burn on the very spot it had hit, Machoke falling hard on his back. Aipom had tears in her eyes, the monkey wishing she could have helped. It seemed even with Machoke knowing Medicham's style, he still could not stand up to her.

"Some champion fighter," she said with a look of disappointment in her eyes, "Even if he was a dunce, I still would have expected the one who defeated Talonflame to put up much more of a fight. You were actually better the first time we fought. You have learned nothing."

"Actually, there is something I have learned," Machoke grunted, Medicham's eyes wide with shock as he rubbed the light burn mark on his chest and added, "It's that you're not as strong as you seem."

"What are you talking about!?" Medicham retorted, gritting her teeth, "Look at how much damage I've dealt to you! It's a miracle you're still standing!" Machoke replying, "Actually, no, it isn't."

Medicham growled and rushed at him, sending an onslaught of finger punches into him before he could say more. However, Machoke ignored every hit and grabbed hold of her wrists, her eyes widening as he smirked, twisting them as she tried her best not to cry out in pain.

Afterwards, the boy lifted her high above his head while still holding her wrists, leaning backwards and slamming her head hard into the floor. Medicham groaned in pain and fell on her back, trying her best not to let this get to her.

"When I lost to you, I felt like I had taken in the worst pain ever, like nothing could be any worse than what I had just felt," Machoke stated as Medicham stared blankly at him, the boy adding, "But after the fight was over and we all woke up, I felt as if I had not taken in any damage whatsoever. It was almost as if your finger punches had actually done nothing to me."

"Well, it's only natural!" Medicham remarked, "You had time to rest up!" Machoke remarking, "We were only out for five minutes! Talonflame and his team mates had my friends hospitalized for a week and even Scrafty and Rotom had left Gallade and I feeling rather weak after our matches with them! You call them weaklings, but at least they had more of an effect on us than you did on me!"

Medicham gritted her teeth, fuming and barking, "ALRIGHT, FINE! SO I'M NOT POWERFUL ENOUGH TO KEEP OPPONENTS DOWN FOR A LONG TIME!" the woman taking a deep breath and adding, "But at the very least, I was able to keep you out long enough to make my escape, and that's good enough for me."

With that, Medicham readied herself once more as Machoke was feeling a bit more confident. And once again, Aipom was just so happy to see Machoke taking this as seriously as he was.

During this time, Gardevoir was on the defensive as Hitmontop had recovered from the pain dealt to her earlier, spinning toward the hero and hoping to take her by surprise. However, Gardevoir was once again ready, feeling more confident than ever before as she simply sent out a low kick when Hitmontop got close, causing her to lose her balance and fall flat on her face.

But just as Gardevoir was about to take full advantage of this, Hitmontop quickly rose up her tail and sent the spike hard into her shin. Gardevoir squeaked in pain as Hitmontop removed the spike, righting herself so she was balancing on her head spike yet again and spinning with her legs out. Gardevoir was unable to react in time as Hitmontop proceeded to kick her multiple time in the face, sending her flying back a bit.

Blaziken, on the other hand, was still doing a fairly good job keeping Hitmonlee in place, the chicken saying, "Come on, just give up," Hitmonlee retorting, "NO! THIS MOVE FOR ANYONE ELSE IS ALMOST INESCAPABLE, BUT I'M TOO STRONG TO BE BEATEN BY IT!" the boy applying extra force to his legs as Blaziken smirked, retorting, "You overestimate yourself!"

"Not quite," Hitmonlee remarked as after a few seconds, he had actually managed to overpower the chicken as he threw his feet back, Blaziken now flying away from him with her head facing the ground. Just as she was about to position herself upright to avoid taking in pain, Hitmonlee used his hands to propel himself toward her, wrapping his ankles around her neck and lifting her up just a little bit before sending her head hard into the concrete.

All the while, Hitmonchan started to send more punches toward Gallade. However, the boy was more determined than ever as he blocked each incoming punch with his arm blades. Eventually he saw an opening and took full advantage of this, the boy sending a fierce chop with his hand into Hitmonchan's forehead.

The girl winced in pain as he proceeded to send another chop, this one to her gut before sending a fierce roundhouse into her cheek. After that, he leapt at her from behind and grabbed hold of her arms, leaning backward and planting the back of her neck hard into the ground. While the others were not looking so good, Gallade had shockingly gotten the upper hand, the boy taking a deep breath.

Unfortunately, his focus was directed elsewhere when he noticed Gardevoir taking in a rather fierce beating from Hitmontop, his eyes going wide as Hitmonchan slowly rose back to her feet. She rubbed the back of her neck, her cheeks pink as she thought, 'Oh my god, he touched me!' before noticing his guard was down.

Hitmontop continued to wail on Gardevoir, sending various kicks into her before springing into the air and sending a drop kick into her skull, the girl whimpering in pain and rubbing her forehead. Gallade wanted to go in and help but was stopped dead in his tracks when Hitmonchan crept up behind him, latching her arms around his shoulders as his eyes widened.

"A word of advice, never turn your back to your opponent, handsome," Hitmonchan said with a wink, tightening her hold on him as the boy's eyes widened, his cheeks turning a bit pink when he felt her chest pressed up against him. However, that thought soon left him when the girl lifted him up, delivering her own Suplex. As if that was not bad enough, this one was much more effective than Gallade's had been.

Now his advantage was gone while Gardevoir was now trying to find a way to get hers back. All the while, Hitmonlee had wrapped his legs around the downed Blaziken's neck, pulling hard with a figure-four headlock while the chicken cried out in agony. Things were not looking up now.

All the while, Medicham was attempting to strike Machoke with a series of finger punches. However, Machoke had actually managed to keep his distance, the woman grunting, "HOLD STILL!" only for Machoke to once again grab her wrists, twisting them.

Medicham fumed and spat, "NO, LET GO!" only for Machoke to lean back again, saying, "If that's really all you got, you can't possibly beat me!"

But just as it seemed Medicham was going to take in the same move from before, she was ready this time, a smirk forming on her face. With that, she shifted her legs downward, lifting them up before sending her feet hard into the boy's chest. This proved just effective enough for Machoke to stop his attack, falling hard against the floor and releasing his hold on the girl.

After that, Medicham proceeded to flip herself sideways, ramming her elbow hard into the boy's gut. With him now distracted, the woman proceeded to turn herself onto her back before reaching her arms up, grabbing hold of Machoke's wrists. Then then proceeded to wrap her ankles around his before pulling upward, shifting her back into an arch position while having a similar effect on Machoke.

The boy's eyes widened in agony as his back was now being bent horribly, Medicham smirking and saying, "You seem surprised, but yes, head-on attacks are not the only moves I know. I do have a few submission moves in my arsenal, and this is one of the best ones I know."

Machoke was now trapped in this hold as Aipom wished she could tell him what to do. Could he possibly get out of this?