AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. This one is extra-large, as it is the first six-vs-six match of this series. With it, the long-awaited match of daughter against mother is underway. I had a lot of fun making this chapter and the Pokemon involved in it. Overall, it is one of my favorite chapters. As a reminder, Summer is a Normal-Type gym leader with a lot of variety with her type combination. This is where all of Ruby's training add us. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.
See the most recent Save State Chapter for Cover Art details.
Chapter 52 – Bloom of a Summer's Rose
At the Veridian Gym, the doors opened with Ruby entered the facility. There, Summer was talking with Professor Oak, "Oh, you've arrived." The gym leader spoke as she turned to the red hooded trainer, "So, I take it this will be the day." She said as Ruby nodded with a smile, "Very well, I accept your challenge." Summer said before looking back at Professor Oak, "Will you be the judge for the match."
"Of course, didn't need to ask." Professor Oak said before she nodded, then lead the group to the arena. There, some stands were already filled as Roman, Anabel, and Rosa were in the front rows. As the Pokemon professor took his position, Ruby went to the right end of the arena with Summer at the left. "The battle with be a six-on-six match for the challenger's final badge of the Pokemon World League. The match is over when all six of one party's Pokemon have fainted." He said before mother and daughter each readied a Pokeball, causing him to raise both hands, "Begin!"
"Go, Sylveon!" Ruby declared as she sent out her first Pokemon.
"Sly!" the pink fox Pokemon spoke before landing in the arena.
"Come on out, Pidgeot!" Summer said as a massive brown and cream-colored bird Pokemon with a long golden feathered hair top, "Use Air Slash!"
"Pidgeot!" the bird Pokemon unleashed wind cutting strikes from its wing.
"Use Swift!" Ruby called out with Sylveon unleashing the pink stars from its mouth, causing both attacks to collide in a massive explosion, "Now, use Moonblast." She said with Sylveon gathering an orb of pink energy over its head, then launching it through the smoke cloud. However, the attack had missed as Pidgeot got out of the way of the attack, "I didn't think what would hit, but I know where you are now. Use Quick Attack!"
"Syl!" Sylveon said before jumping into the air with pink energy.
"Feather Dance." Summer said as Pidgeot evaded the hit at the last second, dodging by spinning in midair, "Now, Whirlwind!" she said before the bird Pokemon unleashed a strong gale force.
"Syl?" Sylveon said in shock before she was overtaken by the wind, recalling back into the Pokeball.
"Huh?" Ruby said before one of her other pokeballs opened, causing Staraptor to emerge.
"Star?" Staraptor spoke in midair while flapping his wings.
"That move sends back your Pokemon and replaces them with one randomly from your party." Summer responded, "I can't switch out, but I can make you give me a better match-up."
"Actually," Ruby grinned, "This matchup is much better for us. Staraptor, use Close Combat."
"Star!" Staraptor let out a battle cry as he rushed Pidgeot in midair, unleashing a barrage of talon slashes and winged strikes. Pidgeot tried to dodge but was taken back by the ferocity of the assault, "Star!"
"So, you Pokemon learned a fighting-type attack." Summer responded, "In that case, use Mirror Move!"
"Pidgeot!" the bird Pokemon said before its eyes glowed with a light blue light. Suddenly, it began clashing with Staraptor hit for hit. The feathers fell as the two were locked in combat, "Pidgeot!"
"Staraptor!" the starling Pokemon responded before each was sent backward with a direct hit on the other.
"Now they're evenly matched, but we still have range." Summer responded, "Use Air Slash!" she said before Pidgeot unleashed the wind-splitting waves again.
"Sorry, but that wasn't the only new move we learned." Ruby responded as Summer gasped, "Use Aerial Ace!"
"Star!" Staraptor evaded the air slash at high speed before diving towards Pidgeot, emitting a white aura. The bird Pokemon attempted to ready for close combat. However, the starling Pokemon vanished at the last second. The second after Pidgeot gasped, it was struck in the center of mass by the starling Pokemon, bringing both directly down and into the ground. As the dust settled, only Staraptor was standing as the opponent had swirling eyes, "Staraptor!"
"Pidgeot is unable to battle." Professor Oak declared.
"Way to go Ruby!" Rosa cheered as Summer recalled her Pokemon.
"I see, you have grown a lot since the last time you were in this gym." Summer said before she readied her second Pokemon. "Still, I'm only just getting started. Go, Drampa!" she said while throwing the Pokeball, showing a teal and white dragon Pokemon with a long neck.
"Dram," Drampa yawned before looking over the arena.
"This guy doesn't look that fast." Ruby thought before pointing, "Staraptor, use Aerial Ace." She said before her Pokemon dashed at high speed again.
"Use Hyper Voice." Summer responded.
"Dram?" Drampa said before inhaling as Staraptor vanished, "PAAAAAAAA!" he roared as a sound wave blasted through the area. Staraptor reappeared as he was repelled by the attack.
"What!?" Ruby gasped as Summer smirked, "Tsk, use Steel Wing!"
"Star!" Staraptor said as he rushed back in with a silver aura on his wings.
"Steel Wing as well," Summer said as the wings in front of Drampa glowed in a silver aura as well. The two attacks collided and matched in power, bringing both to a deadlock.
"Quick, Close Combat," Ruby called out before Staraptor attempted to unleash his talons on his foe.
"Use Outrage." Summer responded.
"Dram," Drampa said as his pink eyes went red, "DRAMPA!" he said before wildly swinging his body around, crashing into a gasped Staraptor before sending the starling Pokemon into the opposite wall. Ruby looked back in panic as Staraptor had swirling eyes while twitching.
"Staraptor is unable to battle." Professor Oak declared.
"What's the deal with that thing!?" Roman asked as Rosa took out her Pokedex, "Drampa, the placid Pokemon. This Pokémon is friendly to people and loves children most of all. It comes from deep in the mountains to play with children it likes in town. Drampa will protect kids when they're in danger, so their moms don't have to worry. If a child it has made friends with is bullied, Drampa will find the bully's house and burn it to the ground." The Pokedex spoke, "…Huh." He said before seeing Drampa eating a pink-looking berry.
"Wow, this one kind of reminds me of Yang?" Ruby commented, "Except replace kids with her friends…or her hair."
"Oh, I see." Summer said, then chuckled, "Well, I'm glad she has her father's fire still. She was always a little dragon at heart."
"Yeah," Ruby said while recalling Staraptor, "But I have just the Pokemon to take out yours." She said before taking out her Pokeball, "Come on out, Roserade!"
"Rose!" she said as the rose Pokemon entered the battlefield.
"Uh Red, you get that thing is a dragon, right?" Roman called out, "Why not use the thing that is immune to its type."
"Trust me, I have a plan," Ruby responded.
"Let's see it then." Summer responded, "Drampa, use Dragon Breath." She said as the placid Pokemon unleashed a purple beam of energy from its mouth.
"Dodge it," Ruby said as Roserade evaded, "Now, Petal Blizzard!" Ruby said as the rose Pokemon rushed with green petals in her wake.
"Outrage." Summer responded as Drampa gained red eyes. The two Pokemon crashed into one another, but Roserade was pushed back. However, Drampa flinched with a purple aura, "Oh no, poison on contact." The gym leader spoke in worry.
"That's not all." Ruby said before pointing, "Roserade, use Leech Seed."
"Rose!" Roserade said before aiming her red bouquet arm, firing out a flurry of seeds. They latched onto Drampa before sprouting vines that coiled around his body.
"Dram?" Drampa commented before red energy shocked his body, "Dram!?"
"Roserade, Venoshock!" Ruby called out before her Pokemon aimed her blue bouquet arm, unleashing a pillar of poison sludge that collided with Drampa's body.
"A combo that deals two forms of continuous damage to its opponent. One that makes a current move deals more damage on contact. And another that will heal Roserade." Anabel commented, "Quite deadly." She said before Drampa began to roar with a red aura.
"DRRRAAAAAMMMM!" Drampa shouted as Ruby and Roserade gasped.
"How is it angrier!?" Roman asked before turning to Rosa.
"It has the berserker ability, making its attacks stronger at half health," Rosa commented.
"Hey, that's kind of like Yang's semblance when she-" Ruby commented.
"DRRRRAAAAMMMM!" Drampa rushed in with its outrage.
"Uh oh, dodge it!" Ruby said as Roserade got out of the way at the last second, "Time for the big one, use Solar Beam!"
"Roserade!" the rose Pokemon nodded before crossing her arms, causing both bouquets to glow with white light.
"Drampa, Dragon Breath with everything you got!" Summer called out.
"DRAMMM!" Drampa responded as it gathered the purple energy in its mouth, "PAAAAA!" he said before unleashing it all at once.
At the same time, enough energy was gathered in the arms, "ROSERADE!" the rose Pokemon said before unleashing the solar beam. Both attacks collided in midair, resulting in a massive shockwave. Once the dust settled, Roserade lay on her stomach, while Drampa's head rested on the ground. Both had swirling eyes as Professor Oak raised his hands, "Neither Pokemon can continue."
"A double knockout." Rosa commented as both Pokemon were recalled, "They're back to square one, but Ruby still doesn't know what Mega Pokemon her mother has."
"Well, as long as Red saves her mega for later, she should be-" Roman was saying.
"Go, Garchomp!" Ruby said as she tossed out her Landshark Pokemon.
"Gar!" Garchomp roared on the battlefield.
"… Why did I think she would be smart," Roman commented with a sigh.
"Oh, so it's you." Summer said with a slight smile.
"Wait, have you seen this Garchomp before?" Ruby asked.
"Eh!? Uh, N-no, I was just…Go, Sawsbuck!" Summer franticly said as she tossed out her Pokeball. Emerging as a brown deer Pokemon with green leaves on its antlers.
"Hey, that's its summer form." Rosa commented, "Neat."
"Sawsbuck, Take Down!" Summer called out as the deer Pokemon dashed in.
"We know how this goes, match it with Dragon Rush!" Ruby responded as the Landshark Pokemon dashed in as well. the two Pokemon crashed in the center of the arena, each trying to push the other back, "Now, Duel Chomp."
"Gar!" Garchomp said as he opened his maw.
"Two can play at that game," Summer responded, "Use Double Kick!" she said before the deer Pokemon evaded the first chomp. As Garchomp went for the second, he was kicked by the back legs of Sawsbuck. While the gym leader smiled at her counterplay, she gasped as her Pokemon recoiled, "Oh no, Rough Skin."
"Garchomp, Iron Tail." Ruby responded as her Pokemon pivoted his body, causing the tail to glow in a silver color before striking Sawsbuck's side, sending it flying back.
"Impressive, but we're only getting started." Summer said as Sawsbuck got up, "Use Energy Ball." She said as a green orb of life energy was formed between the leafy antlers, then launched at Garchomp.
"Block it!" Ruby called out as Garchomp shielded itself with his fin arms. The blast pushed him back slightly, creating a smoke cloud.
"Now, you're wide open." Summer responded, "Use Horn Leech!" she said as Ruby gasped. Sawsbuck rushed in to jab its horns into Garchomp's abdomen. In doing so, a light green aura raided from his body and flowed into the horns.
"Gar!" Garchomp said before jumping back, while Sawsbuck remained and gained the aura. The effect caused someone of the deer pokemon's wound to heal.
"Did you think you were the only one with a healing grass move?" Summer responded, "This is our combo, use Energy Ball again." She said as the energy gathered in the antlers again.
"Tsk, not this time." Ruby responded, "Garchomp, Earthquake!" she said as her Pokemon stomped on the ground, shaking the arena. Summer staggered as Sawsbuck could not maintain its balance, "Now, Iron Tail!" the red-hooded trainer called out as the Landshark Pokemon dashed in at high speed with a sliver aura tail. At the same time, Sawsbuck tried to fire the Energy Ball, but the attack missed Garchomp as he pivoted for his own. The tail smacked the deer Pokemon across the arena and into the back wall. As Summer looked back, she saw her Pokemon with swirling eyes.
"Sawsbuck is unable to battle." Professor Oak declared.
"Wow, you've gotten stronger." Summer said before recalling her Pokemon, then pulling out a new pokeball, "In that case, come on out, Pyroar!" she said as brown lion Pokemon was seen. Atop its head was a long mane of red and orange fur.
"Huh, looks like when Pyroar has its fur like that, it means it's female," Rosa commented, looking at her Pokedex.
"With a name like Pyroar, it must be a fire type." Ruby thought before she smiled, "Which means, Garchomp, use Earthquake!"
"Gar!" Garchomp said before he was about to stomp on the ground.
"Use Bounce," Summer said as Pyroar leaped into the air, avoiding the Earthquake before crashing into Garchomp.
"Gar," Garchomp recoiled as Pyroar jumped off him, his body staggering in an electric aura.
"What happened!?" Ruby responded.
"Ruby, bounce can paralyze a target after contact!" Rosa called out, "Garchomp can't move out of the way!"
"Sorry, but this is the end of your new Pokemon." Summer said before she pointed, "Pyroar, use Hyper Beam!" she said as her Pokemon opened its mouth with a massive gathering of orange energy. Ruby gasped as she knew she could not switch out or dodge, the attack was already fired. They watched as the beam was about to collide, followed by a plume of smoke. As the dust settled Professor Oak was ready to raise his hand.
However, a roar broke through the silence, "GARRRRRR!" the smoke cleared to reveal Mega Garchomp standing.
"You mega evolved to gain the defense to withstand the attack!?" Summer commented in shock, "How would you think of that?"
"Well, a guy told me that Garchomp's mega is rather slow. So, I thought I would only use it when I needed to other stats more." Ruby said as she smiled while scratching the back of her head.
"Hehe." Summer said in worry, "Why do I feel like this is some form of karma?"
"It was a bit close though," Ruby said before noticing Pyroar was out of breath, "But now, it looks like your Pokemon is the one unable to move. Garchomp, one more time, use Earthquake!"
"GARRRR!" Garchomp stomped on the ground with enough force to send a shockwave that rippled on the arena floor. It collided with Pyroar before sending the flame lioness Pokemon into the ceiling. As the quake stopped, Pyroar fell back down with swirling eyes.
"Pyroar is unable to battle." Professor Oak called out.
"Wow, a one-hit knockout," Rosa commented.
"From a mega Pokemon, that should be no surprise." Anabel added, "And she seems to be able to maintain the connection for the rest of this battle."
"Nice, now Red and sweep through the rest of her mother's team with this mons-" Roman spoke.
"Garchomp, return," Ruby said as she recalled her mega Pokemon.
Roman narrowed his gaze, "I'm starting to think she is doing this on purpose."
"Well, Garchomp does need some rest," Rosa added.
"And Summer has yet to show off her Mega Pokemon," Anabel commented.
"Do you know which one it is?" Roman asked.
"I do, but she said to keep it a secret." Anabel responded, then sighed, "She seems to always ask that of others when she is bad at keeping them herself." She said as Roman nodded.
"I need your help," Summer said as she looked at her Pokeball, then threw it, "Come on out, Bibarel!" emerging was a brown beaver Pokemon.
"Bibarel!" the beaver Pokemon spoke.
"Sylveon, you're up again," Ruby said as she tossed her Pokeball, causing her first Pokemon to reappear.
"Syl!" Sylveon spoke upon landing on the ground.
"Quick Attack," Ruby called out as her Pokemon rushed in.
"Use Strength!" Summer responded.
"Bib!" Bibarel roared before grabbing the ground, suddenly ripping a massive rock from underneath, "Bibarel!" the beaver Pokemon threw the rock at Sylveon.
"Sly!?" Sylveon tried to stop itself before running into the rock, blocking the quick attack.
"Time for Rock Smash!" Summer said as her Bibarel rushed in and punched the rock. The shattering stone smashed into Sylveon, sending her back in pain, "Now Surf!" She said as Bibarel gathered an orb of water in its hands, then slammed it into the ground. A sudden tidal wave appeared in the arena with the beaver Pokemon riding the wave toward Sylveon.
"Use Moonblast!" Ruby called out before Sylveon unleashed the lunar beam. The attack destroyed the wave as Bibarel was still in midair.
"Attack with Cut!" Summer ordered.
"Bibarel!" the beaver Pokemon dove down with its buck teeth glowing in white light.
"Sylveon, Dig!" Ruby said before her Pokemon started to burrow. Just as she was underground, Bibarel crash-landed with a massive dust cloud, "Sylveon!" the red-hooded trainer call out in panic before seeing the dust settle, discovering something else. "Eh?"
"Eh?" Summer said in confusion as well at the sight, seeing Bibarel's torso above ground, but not the head.
"Bib?" Bibarel spoke as its head was in the hole, its teeth just barely out of range of Sylveon.
"Sylveon, if you can hear me, use Swift!" Ruby called out.
"Sly!" the pink fox Pokemon heard the order as Bibarel had a look of panic. Above ground, the sound of shooting stars smacked into the beaver pokemon's face before his head was dislodged from the hole. The rest of his body was hit by the assault before he landed on his back with swirling eyes.
"Bibarel is unable to battle." Professor Oak declared as Sylveon jumped out of the hole.
"Way to go, only one left!" Rosa called out.
"Yes, you've back me against the wall." Summer said as she recalled her Bibarel, then switched to a different Pokeball, "But it's not over till it's over. Go, Kangaskhan!" emerging onto the arena was a massive kangaroo-like Pokemon was an armored skull.
"Khan!" Kangaskhan roared upon entering the arena.
"So, this must be her mega?" Ruby said before looking at its stomach pouch, "Huh?" there was a smaller Pokemon with blueish skin, "Is that its child!?"
"What?" Roman said before turning to Rosa, who had out her Pokedex, "Kangaskhan, the parent Pokemon. It raises its offspring in its belly pouch. Although it's carrying its baby in a pouch on its belly, Kangaskhan is swift on its feet. It intimidates its opponents with quick jabs. It lets the baby out to play only when it feels safe to do so. There are records of a lost human child being raised by a childless Kangaskhan."The Pokedex said, "Can that thing explain why this thing has a baby with it for battle?"
"You'll find out soon enough." Summer said before focusing on the fight, "Let's go."
"Right, use Quick Attack!" Ruby called out.
"Syl!" Sylveon dashed in for the assault.
"Fake Out." Summer said before Kangaskhan rushed in with her arms reeled back. At the point of collision, the parent Pokemon clapped its hands in front of Sylveon's head, flinching the fast assault of the pink fox Pokemon, "Now, Mega Punch!"
"Kangas," Kangaskhan reeled back its left arm with its fist in a white aura, "Khan!" she said before punching Sylveon in the face, sending the pink fox Pokemon back into the wall. Ruby looked back to see her Pokemon still stuck in the wall with swirling eyes.
"Sylveon is unable to battle." Professor Oak spoke as he raised an arm.
"That thing's a beast!" Roman commented.
"I'll admit, this might not be as easy despite Ruby having a lot of Pokemon left." Rosa said as moved to have one hand on her chin, "But she has a couple of trump cards left."
Ruby recalled Sylveon before readying a new Pokeball, smiling at it.
Suddenly her mind went back to a couple of days prior. She stood in the field of the lab with Rosa and Doublade. The red hood trainer held the dusk stone in hand as she smiled, then tossed it into the area. The red stone Pokemon looked at the stone and slashed it in midair. At the moment of contact, the Pokemon began to glow in white light. The two swords began to form into one as the sheath turned into a shield. The light faded to reveal the blade was now pitch black with red lining and the shield was golden and circular. The golden eye was still at the handguard, but it also held the two scarf-like arms, "Aegislash!"
"Wow, so cool!" Ruby commented in glee.
"Aegis!" the blackened blade Pokemon said before spinning its body, causing its sword to unsheathe from its shield and carry it in one of the scarf-like arms. In spinning again, she sheathed the sword in the shield again.
"Those are the two modes of Aegislash." Rosa spoke, "Blade form and Shield form."
"So, she's a sword and shields now?" Ruby said before giggling, "Hehe, that reminds me of someone's weapon from back in Remnant."
"Well, no offense to them, but I think this one is a bit cooler." Rosa said before looking at Aegislash creating a purple-light hexagonal barrier, "And it looks like she already learned King's Shield."
"What does that do?" Ruby asked.
"It's like a protective barrier, but it also lowers the opponent's attack if they try to hit through it." Rosa said, "It will also change Aegislash to its shield form. To change into blade form, all you must do is make an attack."
"Oh, I see." Ruby said, "You must have read up on this."
"I want to help you win as much as I can, so I checked my Pokedex." Rosa said before putting her hand on her chin, "Now, the best advice is to save this sword girl for last in your gym match."
"Why?" Ruby asked.
"Because she is still a part ghost." Rosa responded, "So she will be immune to most of Summer's normal type attacks, even the fighting ones too. Which means if you use Aegislash later, your opponent will have fewer options to get around the sword and shield combo with it."
"Got it, this sounds good." Ruby responded, "Huh, so this is what it feels like to go in with a plan beforehand." In saying that, the flashback in her mind ended as she gripped her Pokeball, "Come on out, Aegislash!" she said as the pitch-back blade Pokemon emerged in its shield form.
"Oh, so you evolved your Doublade as well as your Eevee." Summer said, "No matter, you're still in for a pounding."
"Just try and hit us!" Ruby dared.
"You asked for it." Summer said before pointing, "Kangaskhan, Power-Up Punch!"
"Kangas!" the parent Pokemon rushed in ready to strike, this time the first glowed in orange.
"Wait, but we're a ghost type, why would you-" Ruby said before Kangaskhan punched Aegislash in the shield, "How?"
"Oh…. I forgot about Scrappy." Rosa said to herself, "Whoops."
"Tsk, Aegislash, Sacred Sword," Ruby said before the pitch-black blade Pokemon changed to its blade form, then swung its body.
"Use Bite." Summer responded, causing Kangaskhan to catch the sword slash in its teeth, "Now, Mega Punch!" she said before the parent Pokemon uppercut the blade out of her mouth and into the ceiling. Aegislash hung upside down with its eye swirling.
"Aegislash is unable to battle." Professor Oak declared.
"…" Ruby looked on with her mouth open, then sighed, "This is why I don't like making plans beforehand." She said while recalling her Pokemon.
Roman turned to the others in the stand, "Did Red just go from a four-to-one lead to just two Pokemon before even damaging this thing?" he said with the two girls nodding.
"She still has her mega Pokemon," Anabel responded, but then looked away, "Who is already battle exhausted."
"I still haven't sent this one out yet." Ruby said as she readied a Pokeball, "Come on out, Arcanine!"
"ARRR!" Arcanine howled as he entered the battlefield.
"This one is going to be tough. I can't use fake out again, and bite will only make you stronger." Summer said as she took out her silver locket. In flipping it over, she revealed a mega stone on it, "So, I think now is time to show you my ace's true power." The gym leader said as she pulled up her white hood. Summer then pressed her thumb against the mega stone, causing a pink light started to glow. Soon, Kangaskhan had a light form from its pouch before she was encased in the orb, undergoing its mega transformation.
Ruby gritted her teeth as the orb shattered, preparing for what form of this Pokemon she was going to see. However, Kangaskhan appeared to be the same as before, "…What?" Ruby asked, "Did…Did it fail?"
"Nope," Summer responded, "Look closer." She said as Ruby examined Kangaskhan, then noticed something. The child in the pouch was gone. Instead, she saw it now slightly grown up and near Kangaskhan's left leg.
"Ka!" the child Kangaskhan spoke as she raised her arm.
"Kangas!" Mega Kangaskhan added as she raised the other arm.
"Oh, so the kid became mega." Ruby said, "I get it."
"Really, because this one is just weird." Roman commented, then sighed, "Whatever, just beat it already."
"That is easier said than done." Anabel responded, "Mega Kangaskhan is considered one of the deadliest Mega Evolutions to be faced up against."
"I've heard stories, some tournaments even banned the Pokemon from being used on account of its ability." Rosa added, "Which means, Ruby is in for it now."
"It's okay, we got this." Ruby said before pointing, "Arcanine, Extreme Speed!" She said before the blazing canine Pokemon dashed and crashed into Mega Kangaskhan. However, the parent Pokemon caught Arcanine with its arms around his head.
"Use Power-Up Punch," Summer called out.
"Kahn." Mega Kangaskhan reeled back its right arm. However, in doing so, her grip on Arcanine loosened.
"Dodge out of the way." Ruby called out as Arcanine ducked the punch, "Yes," Ruby cheered before seeing the child Kangaskhan, who punched Arcanine, "What!?"
"That's the ability, Parental Bond." Anabel spoke, "Every attack the mother does, the child will follow up with the same move and a portion of the strength." She said as she focused her gaze, "However, with moves that increase stats, their values are doubled as each move is performed twice."
"Ka!" the child Kangaskhan let out a battle cry as both she and her mother gained a red aura.
"Now, Mega Punch!" Summer said as the child and Mega Kangaskhan rushed in with their fists glowing white.
"Arcanine, time to show off your training." Ruby responded, "Dodge with Flame Charge."
"Arr!" Arcanine responded before his body was engulfed in flames. He then dashed past both punches, getting behind them, "Arr!" the blazing canine Pokemon then charged into Mega Kangaskhan's back, sending her into the child as they slammed into the ground.
"Nice, that move not only increase speed but does a decent bit of damage as well." Rosa commented, then smirked, "But that wasn't the only new move he picked up."
"Right, no holding back!" Ruby called out as she pointed, "Arcanine, use Flame Blitz!"
"ARRRR!" Arcanine roared as the flames turned blue, followed by his rushing toward Mega Kangaskhan. The arena floor was starting to melt under the heat of the charge.
"Quick, use Mega Punch!" Summer called out just as the parent Pokemon stood up. However, she did not have enough time to reel back her arms. Instead, Mega Kangaskhan used both her hands to hold back the head of Arcanine. The blue flames scorched her palms as she gritted her teeth. The backs of her feet dug into the ground as she was pushed, struggling to hold back the power. Summer had a look of panic, but then smiled, "I'm impressed Ruby, you are full of surprised." She said before having a focused look in her eyes, "But then again, so am I."
Ruby did not understand what was meant by that remake. However, she soon had a realization. What happened to the child Kangaskhan? The red hooded trainer looked over the arena for it but could not be seeing her anywhere. At the last second, she remembered one place a Pokemon that size could hide, "Oh no!" Ruby spoke as she saw Arcanine was just over the hole Sylveon had dug before. Before she could give out a warning, the child Kangaskhan emerged from the hole with a mega punch to Arcanine's gut. The blazing canine gasped, losing his focus on the power of his attack. In that opportunity, Mega Kangaskhan reeled back one arm and uppercutted Arcanine with her mega punch. Arcanine was sent standing up on his hind legs before falling on his back with swirling eyes. Mega Kangaskhan then caught her child in midair before both raised a fist into the air.
"Arcanine is unable to battle." Professor Oak declared.
"It's now down to Garchomp," Rosa said with slight worry.
"…" Ruby did not say a word as she recalled Arcanine.
"Are you going to give up?" Summer asked.
"…Heh," Ruby said with a grin, then pulled her red hood up, "Nope, we're gonna win. Go, Garchomp!" she said before tossing out her last Pokemon.
"Gar!" Mega Garchomp roared as he reentered the battle.
"We'll see about that." Summer said, "When you're Pokemon Mega Evolved it lost that rough skin ability." She commented before pointing, "So, let's hit him hard with Mega Punch!" she said as Mega Kangaskhan, and her child rushed in with their arms reeled back.
"That might be true, but I think I figured out a way around your ability as well." Ruby said as Summer had a look of confusion, "Use Duel Chomp on each of them!" She said as the gym leader gasped.
"Gar," Mega Garchomp roared before Mega Kangaskhan was about to punch, then bit down on her hand.
"Kahn!" Mega Kangaskhan recoiled in pain before the child Kangaskhan reeled back for its punch. However, Mega Garchomp had its second attack still. In letting go of Mega Kangaskhan, he attempted to take a chomp out of the child.
"Ka?" the child Kangaskhan said in worry before Mega Kangaskhan shield her, taking a chomp to the shoulder.
"I see, she does have a move that hits twice." Anabel commented, "The child's attack going second is usually done because she won't get hit if the opponent is focused on the mother." She said before having a look of worry, "The mother will do anything to protect her child, even if that means taking another hit when it doesn't need to."
"Hey, if that thing wants to play by hitting twice." Roman responded, "It needs to be ready to be hit twice."
"Gar! Mega Garchomp locked his teeth into Mega Kangaskhan's shoulder.
"Kahn!" Mega Kangaskhan recoil in pain while holding her child.
"Quick, knock it off with Power-Up Punch!" Summer said Mega Kangaskhan tried to hit Mega Garchomp in the face. However, the parent pokemon's arms were not long enough to land a definitive punch. At the same time, the child Kangaskhan was not able to move while held in the mother's arms.
"Just hold on a bit longer, Duel Chomp!" Ruby called out as Mega Garchomp tried to bite down harder.
"Kangas!" Mega Kangaskhan recoiled as her arm started to go limp, causing her to let go of her child.
"Ka," the child Kangaskhan had a look of worry towards her mother before focusing on Mega Garchomp in hatred, "KAAAA!" she said before jumping up and biting down on the Landshark pokemon's neck.
"But I didn't call out to use bite." Summer said in shock.
"Garchomp, you have to shake it off," Ruby called out.
"Gar!" Mega Garchomp recoiled before letting go of Mega Kangaskhan. He then shook his body, sending the child Kangaskhan off and into a wall.
"Ka!" the child Kangaskhan screamed, causing the mother to gasp. She looked over at the child unconscious on the ground.
"KAHHHHNNNNN!" Mega Kangaskhan roared before unleashing a punch into Mega Garchomp's head, followed by more punches into its body.
"Those aren't Mega nor Power-Up Punches." Summer commented as her eyes widened, "Wait, that move is-"
"Oh no!" Ruby called out as the Landshark Pokemon tried to dodge but shuttled from the paralyzed from Bounce. "If this keeps up, he's gonna-" She panicked as he withstood take every hit, but then saw his eyes open with a red light, "Hold on, is that-"
"Kangaskhan!" Summer called out.
"Garchomp!" Ruby called out.
"Use Outrage!" both said at the same time.
"AAAAAAAAAA!" Both mega Pokemon roared as they were filled with wrath towards the other. For each punch Mega Kangaskhan unleashed, Mega Garchomp answered with a slash of its scythe arms. The parent Pokemon caught both arms of the Landshark Pokemon, locking eyes with him before both proceeded to skull bash the other. After recoiling from the impact, Mega Kangaskhan pivoted her body to smack her tail into Mega Garchomp's side. Mega Garchomp responded to the hit with his tail whip attack, but Mega Kangaskhan caught it. She attempted to toss her opponent, but the Landshark Pokemon had seen this move too many times before. After being thrown, Mega Garchomp repositioned himself in midair, then jumped off the wall to head back towards Mega Kangaskhan. He sunk his teeth back into her shoulder, this time hitting the other one. Instinctively, Mega Kangaskhan bit down on his shoulder. The two dared each other's tolerance to the pain, which lead to both letting go of the other at the same time. Mega Kangaskhan still had energy for one more punch, landing it square into the side of Mega Garchomp's head. A silence then fell over the area as the Landshark Pokemon did not move, causing the parent Pokemon to grin. However, that grin turned to a look of fear as Mega Garchomp glared back before headbutting Mega Kangaskhan, sending her to the ground. She tried to push herself up but then fell limp with swirling eyes.
"Kangaskhan is unable to battle." Professor Oak declared, then held his arm to the red hooded trainer, "The winner is Ruby Rose!"
"…We, did it?" Ruby said still in shock, then smiled, "We did it!"
"Gar!" Mega Garchomp roared with the last of his strength before reverting to normal, then sitting down. He then looked over to his trainer, who ran up and hugged him, "Gar," he said with a soft smile and half-open eyes.
At the same time, the child Kangaskhan awakened, having reverted to normal as well, "Ka?" she said before noticing her fainted mother, "KA!" the child Kangaskhan said before running over, nudging her mother's shoulder, "KA!" she said with tears in her eyes before feeling a hand on her head. In looking up, it was Summer, who was taking off her hood.
"It's okay, she'll be fine after some rest." Summer said with a soft smile, "You did great out there, both of you." She said while picking up the child Kangaskhan and placing her in the mother's pouch. Summer then looked back to Kangaskhan, who had slightly regained consciousness, giving each other a reassuring smile. She then recalled the Pokemon to its Pokeball before standing up, facing her daughter, "Ruby, you've grown so much in the time I have watched now, and more when I wasn't watching." She said as Professor Oak walked over with a case, "You've proven that you are worthy of full entry into the Pokemon world league." Summer said as she reached into the case, pulling out an item to hand to her daughter, "As proof of that, I present to you the Earth Badge." Ruby took the badge, which resembles that of a green feather. As she did, the red hooded trainer looked back at her mother, who smiled with tears in her eyes. At that moment, Ruby also had tears as she hugged Summer one more time. The others watched on in joy, but Roman let out a sigh as he lowered his hat.
Hours later.
Ruby walked over to a table with Roman sitting at it, "So, does it say I'm on the leaderboard?" She asked him as he looked at his Poketch.
"Yeah, you're in." Roman spoke, "It looks like this event will only take the first sixty-four to complete the challenge. It looks like you managed to get the thirty-first slot."
"That means they don't even have half the people ready yet?" Ruby responded, "So, anyone on the list that we know."
"Other than that Silver brat, no luck." Roman spoke, then sighed, "Listen Red, I talked with Ana and we're going to follow some leads on people we need to speak with."
"Okay, when are we going?" Ruby asked.
"No we, not this time." Roman answered, "You and Rosa say here with your mother. I'll come back when it gets closer to the tournament's start if I've found nothing by then."
"Why, how come you don't want us to come with?" Ruby asked, "What's going on?"
"Red, do you still want to go back to Remnant?" Roman asked, "Even after finding your mother here, are you willing to say goodbye again." He said as she remained silent, "Not only to her, but to all the Pokemon you caught as well?"
"I mean…Can't I just…" Ruby was trying to say, then sighed, "…I don't know if can."
"Yeah, I thought so." Roman said as he stood up, "You have your badges and all the Pokemon you need for the league entry." He said before adjusting his hat, "Take this time to reflect on all of this because when the time comes, you'll need to make a choice." The orange-haired criminal said before walking away, "Oh, and if by chance you run into Neo…she might try to kill you. So, tell her I'm getting my hat washed, she'll know what that means." He said with a smirk before walking out of the Pokemon Center. Ruby had a look of confusion at the last remark but then sighed. She looked out the window at the night sky, seeing a full moon. As her mind compared it to the shattered one of Remnant, she had the look of worry while hugging herself. A question filled her mind that she could not answer.
What do I do now?
AN: There you go, Ruby is now ready to enter the Pokemon World League. I won't go over all her pokemon's new moves, as most are obvious given who trained with who at the lab. I will also post a Save State chapter soon to cover everything. I do want to talk about how Doublade evolved into Aegislash…Only to get punched out before doing anything this gym. Instead, I'll use this time to talk about Summer's Team and making it. Like I said, she was more a normal-type leader with almost all being normal plus one other type. The theme was to pick ones that were cool looking and some with slightly goofy designs. All of them were a lot of fun to make and use, each one having nice calls to her personality and character. As for her Mega, Kangaskhan was a no brainer given its effect and symbolism. If you have ever fought one online, you know why it can sweep like a monster. But if you used one like I did in the battle mansion, it is deliciously broken and a great way to get a fifty-win streak. To me, the final Outrage moment with both Pokemon learning and using it at the same time was so cool, (I listened to the Johto Victory Theme to hype me up at that part of writing). Now, Ruby will hang back as Roman goes away. We probably won't see either of them for a bit, as the story will move over to the other combined group of WBYNLHRB…that is a lot of names. It may be a while before I return to this series, but I hope to be back sometime this year. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.