Part CLXI: Will the Third Fall?
"Folks, welcome back to the fourth and final day of the Wallace Cup." Jillian said as Ash and Brianna walked out of the wings and made their way towards the battlefield as the crowd cheered for them. "This is the third day of battles and by the end of it we will crown a new Wallace Cup winner, the first new one since Sinnoh last held the Cup a few years back, as well as the first winner of the Misty Ribbon. We start with the semifinals in the morning then lunch and the final in the afternoon so get pumped as the Wallace Cup draws to a conclusion!"
At this the crowd cheered even louder, really getting into it as the cup entered its last day. So far it had been an exciting Cup with many twists and turns that some didn't see coming, a few surprising performances and upsets, and a lot of intensity. Now only 4 remained with a shot at winning it and claiming the Misty Ribbon.
For his part Ash was calm and relaxed ready for this battle. He'd already selected his Pokémon for it and while it would be a surprise to basically everyone, he fully trusted it and knew that he could win. He was going for the ribbon this time, it was named after Misty now so he had to, and he had to defend May's honor given who he was about to face.
Still, that didn't mean that he couldn't use this as training for his Pokémon, including the new move he'd taught it, at the same time. Plus, when he won with it, it would really piss Brianna off and show just how good he was and how far he'd go to defend one of his closest friends from whatever the hell Brianna and Drew were trying to do to her.
As for Brianna, her face was twisted with rage as she snarled at Ash across the ice battlefield that they were approaching, hate burning so intensely in her eyes that it almost faltered Ash as he walked. This was the monster who'd dared to break poor Drew's innocent and good heart when he took that bitch May from him.
True that event had been beneficial to Brianna for she was able to heal Drew with her own pure love and show that she was the best girl for him while also breaking May's heart in the process because Ash didn't choose her, that didn't mean that the monster before her wasn't going to pay for his countless crimes. Add in that he'd had the audacity to unjustly scar her and get away with it and she'd really show him that her justice would be hard, swift and divine.
Usually, Brianna would save her strongest for the finals, but she was either going to face some prissy no name girl that had her own weird agenda that Brianna didn't understand or Serena who was a bug beneath Brianna's shoe and no real threat to her in a Contest. She'd just use another strong Pokémon against them, but Ash had to get her best, he was too good for anything less unfortunately.
Even Brianna had to admit that in a pure battle Ash was the best in the Cup, his reputation preceded him, but she'd still show him that in a Contest battle no one was better than her. Her tutelage under Drew would really show how good his training and style was when it was used to defeat the massively inflated ego of Ash Ketchum.
Yes, this battle was going to be oh so sweet for Brianna and she couldn't wait to get it started so that her justice could be rightfully served. She was going to once again put a monster in his place just as she'd done the last two days and bring even more justice for the true heroes like her and Drew. Then she'd face the last villain in the finals, she did expect Serena to win after all, and put May's proxy in her place for the second time that year but that would just be a taster for the Grand Festival where Brianna would reign supreme and crush all to show just how good she, and therefore Drew, was.
This was her day; she'd claim that stupidly named ribbon and demand that it be renamed the Drew Ribbon in honor of her beloved and a true hero and legitimate Top Coordinator not a villainous monster like Misty. She'd do so right after Misty had to present it to her so that all would know who rightfully deserved the praise even if Drew had never won or even entered the Wallace Cup before, he was that deserving.
Brianna grinned at the thought of her impending victory, the scar on her face twisting as she did, and pulled out a Poke Ball ready for this battle to begin. It was time to continue her righteous crusade for all things good and just in this world and put one of the worst villains the world had ever known in his place.
"At last, we face each other, monster." Brianna called across the battlefield a sneer on her face now and her voice dripping with scorn, derision, and vitriol for the person across from her. "A battle between good and evil will soon take place for all to see and as always good will triumph today when I destroy you and bring some more justice to the world."
"If that is how you see what is about to happen Brianna then I will win because I know in my heart that me and my friends have done nothing wrong." Ash said calmly not rising to her words. "It is you lot, you, Drew, and Kenny, who have let negative emotions cloud your judgement and lead you down this dark path to create what you are now. We never did anything to you lot but after the last few days I can see that you are a lost cause and so I will do what I must to defend my friends."
"Shut it you fiend, how dare you speak such heinous lies to a pure being like me." Brianna roared incensed by the vile words that the personification of evil had just spoken to her. "I know the truth, I speak the truth, and you and your abominable ilk are to blame for all the evils done upon poor, innocent, sweet, Drew."
"Sweet, innocent?" Ash asked confused. "I haven't heard any stories that would paint him in such lights."
"Shut your lying mouth while I educate you, you brainwashed fool." Brianna roared to shut Ash up, he should not be allowed to sprout such nonsense for the world to hear. "Drew is the very embodiment of good in the world and that, well I can't use the only word appropriate for May lest I get a formal warning but you know what I mean, is responsible for all of this. She broke dear Drew's heart and betrayed him in the worst was, he just did what he had to to put her in her place. Unlike you who allowed himself to be brainwashed by May's filthy lies, I saw the light and followed it. As for Kenny, his petty issues are of little concern to me but as he knows the truth as well he is an ally who you assaulted illegally."
"Kenny and I had a fair battle that he requested and chose the rules for." Ash said with a sigh. "I know that I went overboard at the end of it, I didn't realize how much power was at play and for that and all the pain that it caused I do apologize but I will not apologize for defending Misty from him. She rejected him and chose me; he just couldn't live with it, so I put him in his place. As for May and Drew, I am sorry for breaking May's heart as I didn't know about her feelings, but it is not my fault that Drew was the way he was to her, that was his own evil that caused it and you've fallen for his lies. That said, after all you lot have put May through, unfairly I may add, I'll defend her as well which is why I'll defeat you today."
"I will hear none of your vile lies or defamation to Drew's amazing character." Brianna snapped back. "Nor will words ever make up for the scars you gave me, only you hide in jail for the rest of your miserable life will and that won't happen so I will get my own justice now and show the world that I am pure and good by conquering your great evil. All that we do is fair and just and soon you will experience that first hand though I do thank you for breaking May's heart because she deserves to suffer for what she did to Drew. It was only because I am Drew's true love, his rock and support through such times that he was able to survive. All I do is for his glory and to honor his light in this world."
"Clearly you are too far gone for reason to get through so let us finish this with our Pokémon and be done with it." Ash said pulling out his own Poke Ball. "I usually don't subscribe to the whole nicknames and titles that Contests seem to like to give people but today I'll make an exception for you, today I'll embrace what they call me and upset you to end your tantrum in the Wallace Cup. Someone must restore some sense to it for the final, and win that first Misty Ribbon, and that person will be me."
"Bring it, it is you and your lot's disgusting presence that have tainted this Cup and I will enjoy purifying it with my divine good." Brianna said before looking to Jillian. "Well, start this already, I have evil to defeat for the world to see."
"Huh, oh right, um yes let's begin." Jillian said a little distracted by the tone of the talk and glancing at the Mr. Contesta during it who just nodded to proceed but it was almost certain at this point that Brianna would get a formal written warning once the Wallace Cup was over. "I guess we should start with the coordinator present as she is the number 1 favorite on the circuit this year, the best of the Big 3 and only one remaining in the Wallace Cup, and the only coordinator present to reach a Grand Festival final in the past. She's going for her 5th ribbon and qualification in the Kalos Grand Festival with the Wallace Cup, give it up for the Flower of Kanto, from Chrysanthemum Town, it's Brianna!"
As she was speaking Jillian had swept her hand to Brianna's side and the crowd let out a polite but not overly loud cheer for her. Brianna's attitude and rather ruthless streak that was currently on track to threaten Kenny's record for most Battle Offs in a year hadn't won her many fans but that was fine with her. She was here to win and show that she was the best, she didn't care what the ignorant masses thought of her because their insignificant opinions mattered naught to her, only Drew's supreme one did, and she knew she had his praise and blessing which meant the world to her.
"And against her is another trainer from Kanto meaning that it will be Kanto v. Kalos in the final regardless of what happens this morning." Jillian said getting back into the swing of things as she gestured to Ash's side. "He's one of the most well-known trainers in the world following last year's revelation of fairy types, which he was responsible for, but his exploits on the Contest scene are just as impressive. Already he's defeated two of the Big 3 in the Wallace Cup and is going for an unprecedented three for three to truly live up to his title. Give it up for the Upset of Kanto, from Pallet Town, it's Ash!"
This time the crowd let out a larger roar at the introduction. They knew of Ash from his history, it was now well known by this stage of the Wallace Cup, and his exploits in the Cup had really helped him gain a lot of support from the crowd. He just smiled at that as it clearly irked Brianna that they favored him right now, but he pushed it to the back of his mind as he set himself ready for the battle. It was time to once again defend his friends and put Brianna in her place.
"And on that note." Jillian said as she raised her arm before bringing it down. "Battle begin!"
"Flygon, steal the show." Brianna said tossing out her best Pokémon as the timer began to count down.
"Noibat, I choose you." Ash said going with his latest Kalos Pokémon and the only one he'd caught this year that could evolve but hadn't yet. "I know you can do it."
"A Noibat against a Flygon, ha you really are arrogant if you think you can win this just like Drew said you were, I'll enjoy crushing you." Brianna said with a laugh. "Flygon, hit it with Dragon Breath. That will be super effective on that runt of a dragon type."
"Noibat, dodge and counter with Acrobatics." Ash said as the large, insectoid like, green ground and dragon type opened its mouth to spew forth its attack as the battle began. "Show off your flying skills to evade and land a hit. Size or evolution doesn't matter if your foe can't hit you."
Noibat just let out a noise of confirmation before he shot forward and to the side with his flying type attack, keeping an eye on the gust of breath spewing forth from Flygon's mouth the entire time. He knew that a hit from that, while probably not enough to take him out, would be devastating as he was weak to his own secondary type, and he'd be near the edge of defeat after one hit. However, he was a primary flying type and with 3 other flying types on his team Noibat had had a lot of training flying so he was a lot faster than he'd been when he'd hatched and thanks to his small size he was also very nimble.
All that played to his advantage as he shot forward before speeding to the side to avoid the dragon type attack, his speed such that he was able to close on Flygon and stay ahead of the attack as Flygon moved its head to try and hit him. The larger dragon type did not have a flying type but a ground type as its primary and Noibat would use that to his advantage as it made him the more natural flyer of the two. That was why he'd managed to avoid the attack and get in close so that he wouldn't miss.
Then, as the attack ended, Noibat turned on a dime, activated Acrobatics again, and tore at Flygon. Before the larger Pokémon could react, Noibat slammed into the side of its head as hard and fast as he could. All it did was annoy Flygon and move its head a bit, but it was a clean hit and did damage just as he'd hoped. It also pissed Brianna off that Flygon had been hit by such an insignificant opponent, but she saw the opening and took it.
"Fire Blast." Brianna yelled as Flygon rolled with the hit so that Noibat never vanished from his sight. "Roast that pest with your purifying flames of justice!"
Noibat was too close to Flygon to avoid the intense blast of fire that formed a 5-point star after it erupted from Flygon's mouth and slammed into Noibat as he flew away, engulfing him in the flames and causing him to wail as he struggled to stay aloft from the hit. Thankfully, he was resistant to fire type attacks due to his dragon type, and he wasn't burned but still it was painful and took all his strength to stay aloft but he showed his training by managing it.
"That's it now end that thing with Dragon Breath." Brianna said with a cackle in her voice, any hit would weaken it enough for a Dragon Breath to defeat it. "Bring it down for the good of all that is right and true in the world."
"Dodge with Acrobatics and counter again." Ash said. "I know you can do it Noibat, I have faith in you."
Noibat understood what his human wanted and activated his attack and shot to the side just as the Dragon Breath barreled at him from behind, avoiding it and going low before skimming over the ice as fast as he could and at Flygon. This may be Noibat's first serious battle for Ash, but he'd been training hard since hatching and loved his human, as did all the others in his team who'd all won and earned their own glory for the team and each other.
Now it was his turn to win, and really show off by beating a strong foe like Flygon, while also setting up their team for a shot at winning this competition that they were in. He was going to get so much respect from his friends for this, he knew it.
All that fueled Noibat as he shot over the ice while Flygon tried to bring the Dragon Breath to him, but he was too fast for it to reach him and Flygon was just hovering there, completely open for the counter attack. That came as Noibat reached the point just below Flygon and then shot up as the Dragon Breath ended to slam his head into Flygon's lower jaw as it closed its mouth.
Again, the flying type attack was not resisted or strong against the Mystic Pokémon, so it did average damage, but Flygon let out a groan as it was flipped over in the air from the hit. Still, Brianna wasn't the number one coordinator on the circuit this year for nothing.
"Fire Blast again, burn that evil Pokémon." Brianna roared as Flygon was flipped. "It can't be allowed to defile such goodness for this long."
"Dodge Noibat." Ash said. "Roll and reposition for a Boomburst. Let's see Flygon handle that."
"If it dares defy you then hit it with Steel Wing." Brianna snapped. "Drive it into the ice for a Dragon Breath to end it."
The flip was what allowed Noibat the time to glance back and see the Fire Blast forming in Flygon's mouth. That was all the warning that he needed to time his roll to the side and slightly down so that the star missed him as he was in a barrel roll ball between the left horizontal and left lower diagonal points.
It was a surprisingly graceful move that cost Brianna plenty of points for the miss, not that either were really focused on the points in this battle, and was something that many coordinators struggled to pull off. Of course Ash managed it from all the training his flying types did but that was beside the point.
Still, while that dodge had worked, Brianna had planned a backup for it and as Noibat broke from his roll and turned to unleash a Boomburst, his latest move that Ash had taught him with Pikachu's help after Pikachu was almost beaten by one hit from the powerful normal type attack in a recent battle, Flygon was already darting forward in the air towards him. Flygon's wings had turned to steel and before Noibat could line up his attack the steel type attack, this one an attack he wasn't resistant to though not weak to either, slammed into his chest and sent his light body blasting back across the battlefield with a wail.
Noibat hit the ice hard and bounced up and off it as Brianna cackled with laughter at the hit, spinning wildly in the air before he hit the ice again and bounced a second time though not as high before finally landing on the ice and sliding a fair few feet towards Ash deep on his side of the battlefield now. It took a few seconds, but he finally came to a stop battered from the hits and near the end of his ropes, but he was still in it as he sat up with a grimace.
"It's done for, annihilate it with Dragon Breath." Brianna said joy and triumph in her voice. "This victory and the sweet justice it brings all that is good in the world is ours."
"Dodge, I know you can do it Noibat." Ash said his love and trust pouring into his voice. "You've got this, we can still win this battle."
That was what Noibat needed to hear, and he knew what he had to do. True it was possibly a bit early, but he was ready for this, all his training and what he'd learned in the battle had led him to this moment. It was time, time for him to join the others at his maximum potential and bring glory to Ash and his team by winning this battle in style.
"Noibat!" Noibat roared as he stood up on the ice and triggered the change deep in his cells just before the Dragon Breath could be released, glowing bright white for all to see and causing Flygon to pause in surprise at what he was doing.
"What! The monster is evolving his Pokémon mid battle, that's illegal!" Brianna wailed as Noibat began to evolve before her and glaring at Jillian. "That's clearly cheating. Disqualify him! Immediately!"
"No can do." Jillian said with a shrug. "A natural evolution within a Contest battle is perfectly legal, it's there in the rules you agreed to abide by as a coordinator. Stone or item-based evolutions during a battle aren't legal, though they are legal in appeals, but Noibat's evolution is experience based so this is perfectly fine. It's actually the third evolution in a Contest battle this year after Serena's Rhyhorn and Emily's Eevee evolved in regular Contests this year."
"That is so unfair!" Brianna roared already planning her formal complaint no matter what happened in the battle. "How dare you deny me my rightful victory from this blatant cheating. Well, that won't matter. Flygon, destroy that evil monster with Dragon Breath and show all why we are the best."
While all this was going on Noibat was evolving for all to see. His body grew by at least a meter in size, his chest elongating, smoothing out, and narrowing, his legs lengthening and becoming more pronounces while his feet talons became more distinct, his tail shooting out with what looked like barbes on it as a kind of plumage collar formed around his neck and flowed onto his back.
However, the most distinct changes were to his wings and head. His head became sharper, his ears much larger, and a crest formed on his nose while his eyes shifted to more normal shaped. As for his wings, they significantly increased in size and definition, shooting out to the sides and become thick, stronger, and more streamlined as spikes shot out of them, two on each side, while the ends became more pointed. Lastly his talons on his wing tips lengthened and split into three. At the same time a pair of glider flap things formed on his back that would only add to his flying abilities.
Noivern roared as the evolution ended and the light fell Ash gasped at his first sighting of Noibat's evolved form, he'd look into it later but for now he just smiled at it. Noivern was no longer purple, though his chest, underbelly, underjaw, and the ends of his wings were still a royal purple, but rather an intimidating black. Other than the purple parts, and the blood red talons, markings on his toes, and crest over his nose, the gray rough, and teal green in his ears and the underside of his glider wings, Noivern was now jet black and certainly looked more like his secondary dragon type than he had as a Noibat.
All this happened while Brianna was ranting and so when she recovered and ordered the Dragon Breath, Noivern was ready and shot up right before the super effective attack could hit and at an angle that took him towards Flygon while remaining above it the entire time. With his new, greater wingspan and strength, Noivern could fly a lot faster and did just that easily avoiding the Dragon Breath as he got into position for his counter the moment it ended. Ash had given him an order that he had yet to execute after all, and it was time to show that off with his newly evolved form.
The moment the Dragon Breath ended, Noivern was almost directly above Flygon and his ears in position so that Flygon couldn't avoid it as he unleashed his Boomburst at last only this time it was stronger thanks to his evolution. The terrible explosion of sound shot out of his ears and slammed into Flygon's whole body from above. As with the flying type attacks before, Flygon wasn't resistant to normal type attacks either only this one was a lot stronger as Boomburst was one of the strongest normal type attacks out there, and Flygon wailed as the explosion of sound hit him at full force.
Flygon had no chance of staying aloft from the hit and was thrown down hard and fast into the ice below with enough force to crater it with a boom, the Boomburst adding to the cracks around it while also dispersing the ice almost immediately. Still, he was a fully evolved Pokémon and while he was nearing his own limits he was still just about in it. Brianna saw this and the positioning and decided to go all out to ensure that she won, and justice served despite Ash's complete disregard for the rules.
"Hyper Beam!" Brianna roared her indignation and fury clear in her voice. "Use all your power to bring justice to all and demolish that evil doer's Pokémon once and for all!"
"Dodge it Noivern." Ash said and he saw claws of power form on Noivern's talons and grinned at the new move he'd clearly learned upon evolving knowing what it was immediately. "And hit it with Dragon Claw."
Noivern had learned the move when he'd evolved and knew that Ash would know it when he saw it, so he activated it for Ash to see as he began to fly around and down towards his foe. At the same time Flygon opened his mouth and blasted a beam of orange light that was the powerful normal type attack, one of the few of that type with a base strength higher than Boomburst, at Noivern.
It was a good move, but Noivern already knew he had this and all his flying practice, along with his new more streamlined and agile body despite its size, allowed him to dodge it as he spun around and down to Flygon, easily hugging the beam but never letting it touch him. He was only able to do this because of his training and because he'd been so high in the air to begin with when he'd let loose his Boomburst, but Noivern was able to manage it and as the Hyper Beam ended he knew that he'd won the fight.
The move was powerful but had a drawback, the Pokémon using it couldn't move for a few moments afterwards and Noibat used that, reaching Flygon as the Hyper Beam ended and slashing his Dragon Claw across Flygon's face before with a roar of triumph. As Flygon slumped back and to the side, the super effective dragon type attack had been way too much for him to handle after everything else he'd taken and he was out the moment it hit, Noivern soared high into the air before rolling and flipping around as he arched back to Ash's side to stand in front of his trainer, wings raised high in triumph.
As he landed the judges saw the swirls for eyes on Flygon's face as it lay in the crater and instantly hit the Xs to signal a Battle Off while all just stared in slack jawed shock at what had just happened in the first semifinal. The sound rang out though and it was clear as day that the battle was over.
"I, I don't believe it, but there is no denying it." Jillian said recovering from the shock and glancing at the clock that showed 22 seconds left in the battle. "But with less than half a minute to go Ash has defeated Brianna by Battle Off in what has to be the shock upset of the year, living up to his title and advancing to the final of the Wallace Cup. Add in that Ash has beaten the other two Big 3 this year and he's now the first to defeat all favorites on the Kalos Contest circuit this year and the first to do so in one Contest."
At this the crowd finally found their voices and cheered loudly at the end of the great battle they'd just witnessed. Meanwhile Brianna was apoplectic with fury and rage at the injustice she'd just suffered, so much so that she couldn't actually speak at the moment. All she could do was splutter and recall Flygon, she'd be having serious words with it later, before she turned to storm off furious at how impotent she was in that moment.
She'd come here to win, to show that justice always prevailed when it was on the side of good and she'd failed, she'd let evil prevail and continue to permeate the world. She'd been unfairly, and she knew that it was unfair because that evolution should have been an immediate disqualification, beaten once again and it made her beyond furious.
So much so that she was still unable to speak or do anything, let alone acknowledge the monster that had just prevailed and furthered his own great evil, but leave and seek the comfort of her darling Drew before they left to find that final Contest she needed to qualify for the Grand Festival. There she'd go scorched earth to get her 5th ribbon and then it was onto the Grand Festival where her real revenge would be had. The Wallace Cup was rigged against her so that evil could win, and she'd lodge a formal complaint about it, but for now she needed her love and the comfort he brought.
In the coming days, Brianna's conduct in the Wallace Cup would be reviewed as it had clearly been unacceptable. The Committee would ultimately issue her with a formal written warning for conduct unbecoming of a coordinator due to her outbursts in the battles and her disrespect to a fellow competitor after her loss, as well as bringing disrepute to Contests.
This was the same warning Misty had once gotten after cursing a few times in the HopHopHop Town Contest the year before and would mean that Brianna had to keep her behavior in check for at least a year. If she failed she'd be disqualified immediately from that Contest and further violations would lead to a suspension from the circuit or even a ban from competing for a set amount of time.
Brianna of course didn't care about all this. She had one more Contest to win to reach the Grand Festival, which would be filled with people so insignificant that calling them insects would be a compliment to them, so she could keep her cool there as she vented her frustrations on those lucky enough to be blessed by her justice. She'd then just have to show more in the Grand Festival and win it to expose the corruption that had led to her unfair warning as she became a Top Coordinator but again all in time for while evil had won today, good would always win out in the end, Brianna knew it.
As for Ash, he frankly didn't care for Brianna's little outburst at the end. In fact, her not saying anything and just storming off was better. All he did was recall Noivern and thank him for winning the battle before he turned and left as well smiling at defending May's honor and advancing to the final of the Wallace Cup for the first time.
He knew who he wanted to face in it and gave Serena a reassuring smile as he passed her heading into the bowels of the stadium. Serena took that smile and let it wash over her and fuel her as she prepared for her own match against another deluded but not quite as toxic person as Brianna that would commence the moment the ice was fixed.
Ash of course noticed none of this as he hurried to the special waiting room for the first finalist, the rules had been altered to keep the two finalists separate during lunch, but Ash would be able to watch Serena's semifinal there to see if she advanced, to wait. Brock had been allowed to bring him and Serena, should she advance, lunch there but he couldn't stay, nor the others could visit them before the final so that there was no unfair advantage. Well, if it was against Serena than Ash knew her well, but he was still going to be guessing her Pokémon and if it was Amelia he'd have no clue.
Regardless, Ash had the Pokémon he planned on using in the final already ready and he was going to take it out as they waited to prep it and get ready. He picked up the pace as Jillian's voice was heard over the speakers indicating that the second semifinal was about to start, and he didn't want to miss a moment of it. Soon Ash would know who he'd face that afternoon as he went for the first ever Misty Ribbon. He couldn't wait.
"Well, the first semifinal is in the books and yet again Ash keeps up his surprising streak of upsets with that stunning one of Brianna complete with an evolution to really excite us and get the final day starting with a bang." Jillian said as the crowd cheered at her words and Serena and Amelia walked out of the wings to their starting points. "But the Cup must go on and we have the second amazing semifinal to enjoy, and it is going to be just as good as this could potentially one day be a matchup on the Showcase stage between a future Kalos Queen and her rival."
As Jillian was speaking Serena and Amelia reached their starting points and locked eyes. Serena was as calm as she could be, but she'd seen enough in this tournament to know Amelia's true nature. The girl had not taken her loss in Fleurrh the year before well and the hate from it, coupled with her inability to recognize her own faults, had corrupted her just as hate for May had done to Brianna.
Now, looking into Amelia's hard eyes Serena had to repress a shudder at the look she received in return from her rival, a look of pure hatred that promised destruction that didn't match up with the sweet smile Amelia had on her face. It was disconcerting to say the least, but Serena pushed past it to focus on the upcoming match and what was at stake, a spot in the final and the chance to face Ash for the Misty Ribbon.
Amelia for her part was just as ready for this match because this was her final. She couldn't care less if she won the Wallace Cup or not, this was the final false performer she had to crush, and she'd saved the best for last in the one who'd dared to humiliate her in her hometown the year before. She was going to enjoy this immensely.
"So, without further ado let's meet the Kalos girls battling for the right to face Ash in the final of the Wallace Cup and thus represent our region in the most prestigious Contest of the year." Jillian said thrusting her arm out to Serena's side to start with her. "And who better to start with than the Kalos Princess herself, the Master Class winner and most recent challenger to Aria for the crown of Kalos Queen, and one of the home region favorites on the Contest circuit this year as she shows the circuit what a Kalos performer can do in a Contest, from Vaniville Town, it's Princess Serena!"
The crowd roared at that as Serena just smiled at them. She knew the region loved her because of her Showcase pedigree and for once she was willing to really embrace that because it would piss Amelia off to no end and might cause her to make a mistake even if she wasn't a fan of being called Princess. Amelia for her part just looked even angrier at that though it only showed in her cold eyes.
"And against her, a Showcase rival who's got a lot of Contest potential and has already taken down the other two Master Class finalists who were competing in the Wallace Cup as well and now going for the clean sweep." Jillian said sweeping her arm to Amelia's side. "She's got a chance to take down Serena, but will she take it? It's the Pride of Fleurrh, from Fleurrh City, give it up for Amelia!"
The crowd didn't give as loud a cheer to her as they did Serena which annoyed Amelia, but she pushed past it because she couldn't blame the ignorant masses for being, well, ignorant and opened her mouth to speak. Serena knew what was coming next and prepared her retort, she wasn't going to let Amelia get into her head.
"Enjoy that sound while you can, I'm going to silence them and show them that I was always better than you." Amelia said her voice sickly sweet so as to not give away the hate she held for Serena that she was barely keeping in check. "I should have won last year and gone to the Master Class, not you. There I wouldn't have failed to take Aria's crown like you did. You're nothing but a disgrace to performers and I will enjoy showing the region that today."
"I may have failed but until you've faced Aria you can't know what it is like to truly see our Queen in action, she is truly as close to flawless as can be, she is the ideal we all strive for but none of us are yet at her level." Serena said calmly as she raised a hand to her heart. "And while I will acknowledge that you are better than me on the technical side of performing, you lack the spark needed to move hearts. That is what Aria has, what Palermo saw in me, and what I know I can ignite in time."
"Keep talking it won't change a thing." Amelia snapped back struggling even harder now to keep her emotions in check. "I'll still beat you and show that I am better, show that you are nothing even with all the help you've gotten to get this far. Don't think I'm blind or stupid Serena, I know that you're May's protégé in Contests and that you travel with Misty as well, I saw you in the crowd in Couriway and I know that you can't compete if either are judging with the exception of this Cup's appeal round. Must be nice, having two Top Coordinators' boots and other parts to lick, I'm sure you've learned a lot from the Princess of Hoenn and the Prodigy of Sinnoh."
"I have and I am eternally blessed to the kind women I call my role models and mentors in Contests." Serena said simply her voice filled with nothing but respect and gratitude to her close friends and not rising to any of the bait Amelia was throwing at her. "They have taught me more than I have taught them, and I will win both today and this Cup for them, to show them that I am worthy of their support and friendship. I will claim the first Misty Ribbon and live up the honor, skill, and history that Misty herself has done for the Wallace Cup and Contests in general. That means I'll be beating you today. It's not just for me though, it's for Miette and Shauna as well, to avenge how you treated them."
"Ha fat chance, I'll be the one who claims my third head with yours and show that all the Master Class finalists are nothing compared to me." Amelia spat with a derisive snort that was distinctly unladylike now incensed to actually try and win the whole Wallace Cup if for no other reason than to put Serena in her rightful place beneath her. "Then I'll beat that guy who's not even a coordinator and you can watch as I win the first Misty Ribbon to show that I am the best Kalos has be it at this, performing, beauty, whatever."
"That's where you're wrong because there is one more thing motivating me more than anything else to reach that final and that is the chance to face him for the Misty Ribbon." Serena said unable to contain her emotions for once as Amelia was pushing all the right buttons now. "There is no one I admire more, look up to more, than Ash Ketchum and that includes May and Misty. He's an inspiration that transcends all disciplines and any who know and love him like I do know that. The chance to battle him for this title, for the ribbon named after Misty, I can't pass that up so I will crush you Amelia, here and now and show you that you are still the same spoiled, arrogant, girl who I beat in her hometown last year."
"Why you little…" Amelia snarled as she pulled out her Poke Ball causing Serena to do the same and stopping herself before she used a word that would probably get her disqualified immediately even if Serena was the only woman she'd ever use that word on. "Just get your Pokémon out and let's settle this now so that there is no doubt that I am the best. You'll get that from me, and I know that you can't counter her, you used up your fairy already."
"True but I still have three strong Pokémon left and you and Ash will get one each." Serena said calmly now knowing fully what she was facing but still unsure how to beat it though she kept her expression neutral to not give away that she already had an advantage. "So, I'm ready whenever you are Amelia. Let's battle once more so I can beat you again."
"Alright ladies that is enough friendly banter." Jillian said clearly missing the depth of the argument but choosing that moment to butt in and start the second semifinal. "We're already more than frothing for this battle no so battle begin!"
"Dragonair, perfection." Amelia said tossing out her Poke Ball in a graceful motion.
"Delphox, let's go." Serena said throwing her starter out as the second semifinal began and the timer started to count down.
"Dragonair, start us off with Attract." Amelia said going with her default strategy though she had another reason for this and as Serena was her toughest false performer to face she couldn't risk a barrage like against that Venusaur, that and she had nothing good to face a Delphox so this might come to points as much as she hated to win like that as it didn't really show who was best the way a Battle Off did. "Let's see if it's the same or a different gender. Given Delphox's ratio, the numbers are on my side."
"No point in risking that." Serena said knowing that Delphox was female so it wouldn't work but she needed to keep up appearances just in case a better opportunity came up later to take the Attract and counter with a guaranteed hit. "Block it with Flamethrower."
"I was expecting something like that." Amelia said as the flames shot forth from Delphox's stick to intercept the Attract, it wasn't necessarily the attack she'd expected as a defense, but it was what she needed for the next part of her grand strategy to actually land an Attract and win this if the genders worked out for her. "Dragon Dance into Dragon Rush."
As the flames hit the hearts and destroyed them in an inferno before they could be a threat, not that they would be, Dragonair quickly danced the mystic dance that was Dragon Dance thus raising her attack and speed. Then as the dance ended and the fire consumed all the hearts, Dragonair shot forward with overwhelming menace and closed in on Delphox.
Delphox hadn't seen this due to the fire and the timing of Dragonair was on point, once again showing the technical dominance Amelia had with her Pokémon, so that as the flames ended Dragonair came barreling at Delphox and slammed head first into her face, the little horn it had striking Delphox in the forehead for added effect. Delphox let out a wail of pain as she staggered back from the powerful hit and was momentarily distracted and too close to dodge or block what came next.
"Attract." Amelia said as she grinned in triumph. "This is where we win my darling girl."
Serena had to fight back a grin as Dragonair winked, sending hearts right at Delphox as she recovered. There was no way to dodge them, not that Serena needed to order a dodge, as the hearts burst on Delphox, and nothing happened. Amelia had revealed that her Dragonair was female before the start of the battle, the same gender as Delphox, so the Attract wouldn't work.
"What!" Amelia exclaimed in horror at the failure and the injustice of her attack failing. "How dare you have a rare female Delphox. You continue to defy your rightful better you false performer."
"Fire Blast." Serena said ignoring the outburst, it was better to do that than to give into it and besides this was the opening that she'd been waiting for. "And then Flamethrower before Dragonair can recover. Fire won't be effective, but a hit is a hit and that's what counts in a Contest."
After her win over Tierno the day before Serena had finally grasped the key to Contests and May had told her as much the night before when she praised her for her showing against a trainer who was technically better than her. It was all in the art of the battle, the way you coordinated, conducted, and performed in it to show off moves and land hits. It wasn't about knocking out the other Pokémon but preventing hits, gracefully dodging attacks, and landing them in return.
Once Serena fully understood this she was able to take her performing skills and properly apply them to a battle thus both learning how to conduct one and improving her performing at the same time with the new grace a battle offered her. She'd finally grasped this against Tierno and now she was really embracing how her style could be transitioned into Contests.
This, this was the very thing that Serena had been chasing with her decision to partake in Contests. This new way to see her Pokémon, to use them and their moves in ways that awed the crowd and moved them the way she wanted to be able to do was just what Serena needed to improve as a performer.
Aria had once battled her, the battle that had led to Fennekin evolving into Braixen in fact, and that had taught her some stuff but now, after the battle with Tierno and facing a foe like Amelia, Serena truly understood it. This was what would take her to the next level in both performing, though she was still far from Aria's level, and coordinating at the same time.
Of course, she'd reflect on all that later. First she had a battle to win for herself, Miette, Shauna, and all those who might be affected by Amelia's toxic nature. The same genders helped and reduced Amelia's moves by one but as the 5-point star of Fire Blast burst from Delphox's stick Serena knew not to count that out and that this battle would come to the wire as neither held an advantage in it if she recalled what Dragonair's last move was correctly.
Dragonair was far to close to the attack to avoid it and the blast of fire slammed into her, sending her flying back with a wail of annoyance more than pain, she was resistant to fire type attacks after all, as it engulfed her. She slammed into the ice and rolled over it unable to stop herself for a moment due to the slick surface. Of course, Delphox saw this and pressed her advantage by leveling her stick at Dragonair and blasting out a gout of flames at her opponent.
Again, the Kanto dragon type had no way to avoid the attack as she was just getting up on the ice before the flames engulfed her again. This time however she wasn't moved, just engulfed by them and the ice around her began to melt on the surface though that wasn't going to impede her too much. Dragonair wasn't burned but it was still annoying though Amelia saw the opening.
"Ice Beam." Amelia said as the flames roasted her Pokémon. "Cut through that and hit Delphox."
"Dodge and counter with Psybeam." Serena said as Dragonair opened her mouth and a ball of ice formed in it. "Show your moves as if it were a Showcase, Delphox."
"Get ready to dodge." Amelia said as the blast of ice shot out of Dragonair's mouth and at Delphox, the fire from the Flamethrower attack dying just as the Ice Beam was launched so there was no real mingling of the attacks. "If that bitch wants to play like that then we'll match her, we have more maneuverability after all and then counter with a Dragon Rush."
Delphox saw the Ice Beam fly at her and with a graceful cartwheel she leapt to the side easily avoiding it and landing on her feet on her ice, sliding over the smooth surface as she leveled her stick at Dragonair. Before she'd even stopped sliding, Delphox sent out a peculiar ray of psychic type power at her opponent.
However, Dragonair was ready for this, and she rolled over the ice to the side without having to duck down, easily avoiding the attack and then launching off it as she was upright. Her speed and attack were boosted from the earlier Dragon Dance, so she was closing fast. That gave Serena one option, and she was going to use it. If she was going to lose points from a hit then she may as well take some of Amelia's in the process as every little helped.
"Flamethrower." Serena ordered. "It will have to charge through it to hit you. Brace and hold your ground so that you can use Scratch the moment the opening arises."
"A worthwhile sacrifice to land the hit." Amelia said as the flames burst from Delphox's stick and right into the path of the charging Dragonair. "Show that we hit harder than anyone else Dragonair."
Dragonair knew that she couldn't dodge it, so she didn't bother, she just plowed through the fire and slammed her head, spike first, into Delphox's chest causing her to stagger back with the hit. So far she'd taken three fire type attacks, which she was resistant to, while Delphox had taken two dragon type attacks that she wasn't weak or resistant to which meant that Delphox had taken more damage but in a Contest battle hits and dodges mattered the most and Serena knew it.
That had been why she'd taken this hit just now. She knew she'd land one in the process, and she trusted Delphox could remain standing for a counter and thus land another hit to continue to chip away at Amelia's points.
Delphox could do that and as she staggered back, the claws on her left forepaw sharpened and glowed with normal type power. Delphox used the momentum to bring her arm up and, well, scratch Dragonair along the side of her neck and face. It wasn't a strong attack, but it was a hit and that was the important thing.
"Ice Beam." Amelia called out as she grit her teeth at her mistake, she'd not taught Dragonair any close quarters combat moves, especially a tail-based move which could use her agile body and freestyle skills without the need for the charge of Dragon Rush. "Freeze that false performance Pokémon. If we can't infatuate it then we can at least freeze it in place."
"Dodge and counter with Flamethrower as you back up." Serena said as a ball of ice formed in Dragonair's mouth. "Keep close enough to battle without risking that Dragon Rush being at full power but far enough away to dodge and counter its Ice Beam."
"Dodge that, you are more agile after all." Amelia spat out. "Then lunge with Dragon Rush."
Delphox barked in agreement as she leapt back and spun in the air to avoid the attack. The Ice Beam missed, though barely, before it impacted on a wall a froze the section there. As Delphox landed and slid back over the ice she raised her stick and a gout of flames shot out at Dragonair without missing a beat.
Dragonair was ready for this as she rolled to the side, dipping low to hug the ice this time, and allowing the flames to pass harmlessly over her head. Then, as soon as she was in position, she launched herself at Delphox with another Dragon Rush while Delphox was still sliding backwards. Delphox however saw this coming, and this time was ready and slid to the side on the ice with a graceful move that allowed Dragonair to shoot past her as she leaned her torso out of the way forming a C as Dragonair missed before landing on the ice and sliding on it.
"Fire Blast." Serena said.
"Ice Beam." Amelia countered as Delphox slid her left foot back to slide and pivot on her right and bring her stick up to bear on Dragonair as she finally came to a stop from the slide that had started when she'd leapt back to avoid the last Ice Beam attack.
As the blast of fire shot out, Dragonair was already sliding around on her chest to face it and pressed herself as flat to the ice as she could manage. Then as it came, she rolled so that the base of the star was over her this missing her as she opened her mouth, formed the ball of ice in it and then shot it out at Delphox in a single, smooth, well-practiced, motion.
This time the blast of ice flew true and slammed into Delphox's hip causing her to grunt from it, but she was resistant to ice type attacks, so she was fine, it was just annoying that the attack had hit her this time. Thankfully, the freezing effect wasn't triggered so she could still move but Amelia had seen this and already launched her next move.
"Dragon Rush." Amelia ordered.
"Dodge and counter with Flamethrower the moment you have an opening." Serena said as Dragonair launched herself off the ice and at Delphox.
"If you miss, Ice Beam again the moment you know that you'll hit Delphox." Amelia said. "This time we will freeze her and then win as we deserve to. We are the best after all."
Serena ignored this and so did Delphox as Delphox focused on what she had to do. She couldn't slide out of the way like before, the hit to her hip had delayed her enough that Dragonair would reach her before she could. Her only option was to leap up and forward to avoid the attack by going over it. Thankfully Dragonair had been pretty low to the ground when she launched so the Dragon Rush would only strike her in the gut if it hit, had it been any higher and Delphox might not be able to do this but with her freestyle training she could with ease.
As Dragonair neared, Delphox tensed her knees and them leapt up and forward, her timing on point thanks to her training with Serena and her team to pull this kind of thing off, just as Dragonair reached her. She easily cleared the dragon type who looked up in surprise as Delphox cleared her, but she was still going to use her next attack and as such rolled and twisted in the air to land on her chest facing Delphox as she slid back over the ice, her mouth open and the ball of ice forming ready for the moment Delphox was open and unable to avoid it.
For her part, Delphox had the put her left forepaw down on the ice as she pitched forward, tensed and bent her elbow, before doing a one-hand hand spring off the ice as wasn't going to land the flip any other way, it had been too shallow, and she didn't trust a forward roll so instead launched herself as high as she could. She was bigger than she'd been as a Braixen so this kind of move took some practice, but she'd been doing so and could easily manage it as she spun 180 degrees in the air to face Dragonair and finished her flip to land, knees bent, and stick raised as she slid back over the ice.
Both Pokémon had timed the moves just right so that they landed at roughly the same time and were both sliding back as they launched their latest attacks. With the slide over the ice, they knew that they couldn't dodge but that meant that the other couldn't either so poured everything into their attacks as the beam of ice shot out of Dragonair's mouth at the same time the gout of intense flames shot forth from Delphox's stick.
The fire and ice type attacks tore across the battlefield before they met equidistant from their respective targets and collided, both Pokémon still sliding back and roaring as they put their all into the moves. In the end one had to give, and the deciding factor was the type of the Pokémon casting the attack.
Dragonair was not an ice type, but Delphox was a fire type, so an attack of her own type was boosted because it was the same type as she was, well the same as her primary type at least, and that gave it the necessary additional strength to overwhelm and break the Ice Beam. That ended Dragonair's attack and all she could to was close her mouth and watch the flames approached her.
A second later they washed over her but again she was resistant to the type and despite other hits, Dragonair was still in the fight as the flames engulfed her. She was still upright for her body type though and as the Flamethrower was ending, Amelia got her counter ready determined to land this one and really with a follow up planned that would win it for her, she knew it.
"Dragon…" Amelia began but suddenly, just as the last of the fire ended, the buzzer went off to signal the end of the battle.
That had was a surprise to both girls as they'd ended up getting so into the battle that was a mix of grace and power with plenty of performance elements to it that they'd forgotten about the time limit. So too had Jillian and the crowd it seemed as it took a moment for her to find her voice and remember that she had a job to MC the end of the battle.
"I'm sorry, that was so intense that I lost track of time and that match went down to the wire on points which means that the winner is…" Jillian said as she found her voice and looked to the screen, Amelia and Serena doing the same to see both points bars near the end with one at around 5% and the other probably around 12% so there was a clear winner, and that winner was… "…Serena!"
At that the crowd cheered in response to the declaration and Serena just looked amazed at her victory and advancement to the finals to face Ash. It was what she wanted, and she'd done it by blending her performance style with how a Contest battle should be fought though there was of course plenty of room for improvement after that.
Now, though, she had her shot at a third ribbon and not just any ribbon but the Misty Ribbon, the most valuable ribbon on all the Contest circuits and named after a good friend, rival and mentor when it came to Contests. She'd have to defeat her unrequited love for it, but Serena would have it no other way.
"With that Serena has advanced to the finals and after lunch she will face Ash to see who will be the latest and newest winner of the Wallace Cup." Jillian said to the cheering crowd.
"Dragonair return, that wasn't your fault but the judges for their unfair judging of your skills and hits." Amelia said recalling her Pokémon and already planning a formal complaint to the Committee for unfair judging as she felt the resistance to fire type attacks should have counted for more and looking up at Serena a snarl on her usually composed face. "Don't think you've won this war between us Serena, you're still nothing more than a false performer who gets lucky breaks when facing a superior opponent like me. This win was stolen from me just like it was in Fleurrh when the crowd didn't accept I was best. Mark my words, I will have my judgement on you and put you in your place for all to see one day."
With that Amelia turned, plastered a sad smile of defeat on her face, and left before Serena could even recall Delphox. She knew that she was the real victor today, but the unfair judging had cost her just like in Fleurrh the year before.
Even here where there were professionals to judge it, and not an ignorant audience who didn't know talent if it slapped them repeatedly in the face with a Magikarp, they couldn't see her brilliance and dominance, but her complaint would expose them. That was just a matter of formalities though and only because she'd lost unfairly to Serena of all people. Amelia was still primarily focused on the Master Class, so she was going to change and immediately head to Gloire City to prepare for her inevitable victory in it and subsequent defeat of Aria as there was no point in staying for the meaningless final.
To Amelia the Wallace Cup was nothing more than practice and revenge on those false bitches, of which she had gotten two of them but their leader and the worst of them by far still eluded her. One day though, when she was Queen Amelia, she'd put Serena in her rightful place and the path to that began in Gloire where Amelia would be ready when the Master Class rolled around in a few weeks' time. There she'd win and all would see her royalty and supremacy, she knew it.
As for Serena, she just shook her head at Amelia's petty reaction, it was as she'd expected if she'd won, and recalled Delphox, thanking her for a spectacular battle and win. Without her Serena was sure she'd have lost as her other two Pokémon couldn't have handled Dragonair and besides the other strong one was better suited to face Ash anyway, and now Serena had that chance. She'd avenged Miette and Shauna, put Amelia in her place again not that that girl would ever learn from her mistakes as she couldn't recognize them, and advanced to the final, Serena couldn't be happier.
With a smile on her face, Serena put away Delphox's Poke Ball as she turned and left the stage to head to the special waiting room reserved for the second finalist. There Brock would bring her lunch and she'd spend the time with her choice for the final preparing because if Serena was to win the first ever Misty Ribbon she'd need to be at her best.
She was about to face Ash Ketchum after all and only being at your best could beat him. One thing was certain to Serena as she entered the bowels of the stadium and the lunch break began, the final was going to be one hell of a match.
"Folks, after such an exciting start to the last day of the Wallace Cup it is time for a much-needed break and to get some food because those matches left us hungry for more." Jillian said once Serena and Amelia had left the stage indicating that it was lunchtime and as such many of the people present were getting up to stretch, get food, use the facilities, and what not. "So, we will now take a two-hour lunch break and then resume with the final between Ash and Serena that will determine who will claim the first Misty Ribbon and become the newest Wallace Cup winner."
"Well, those were interesting." Dawn said to those of their little group still left after the break for lunch began. "Very Ash in the first one and Serena is really showing how her style is transitioning well to Contests, especially after her last two battles."
Right now, only Dawn, May, Bonnie, Shauna, and Miette were present in their little group, along with Pikachu and Azumarill of course. Brock had left to bring the packed lunches he'd made to Ash and Serena in their now separate waiting rooms before the finals while Lucy accompanied him before they went of for their own romantic lunch during the break. Lyra and Khoury were doing the same thing on that front while Emily and Adam were going to eat together and discuss it, but it wasn't a romantic lunch, at least not yet.
As for the others, Max and Owen had gone to get the lunches for everyone staying in their seats during the break, Owen was on duty for lunch making today as Brock wanted to focus on Ash and Serena's and Max was helping him given the numbers. Meanwhile Trevor and Tierno were off to do their own thing and then come back for the matches leaving the 5 girls to dissect the semifinals.
"Trust Ash to do that though." May said with a smile. "Not only did he use arguably his weakest Pokémon at the moment to beat Brianna and what I can only presume was her best, thus showing how much better he is while not overdoing it, but he also got Noibat to evolve during it which was a huge boost for him going forward. That was the deciding factor in the end I think as Noibat didn't look like he could take another hit there."
"It was but the points were also on his side so if he managed to avoid a hit he'd still have won." Miette said recalling Ash's battle well and how it had only helped deepen her feelings for him though with a close friend and rival like Serena in the final against him Miette had no idea who to support for it. "Did you notice that?"
"No, I was too busy focused on the battle." Shauna admitted. "It was rather intense and surprisingly graceful on Ash's part. He's really good with flying types."
"It's his most common type." Dawn said explaining why Noibat, and then Noivern after the evolution, had looked so good in that battle. "He always has at least one per region at this point, so he knows them best I'd say. That's why he was able to dodge like that, knowing Ash that was a factor in his choice as much as anything else."
"I just thought Noibat was so cute and cool when it evolved into Noivern." Bonnie said excited to properly meet Noivern later when the Wallace Cup was over. "So, I lost tract of the points at that point in the battle."
"I did notice the points but that's more because this is my thing." May said. "Though honestly I don't actually think Ash noticed. He's never really understood how Contest points work, he just uses Contest battles as a way to train and treats them as normal battles with a challenging element."
"This is Ash, if it's not directly in the battle he wouldn't notice it, though in a direct battle nothing really escapes him." Dawn said. "But his tactics there were beneficial in the points department, an inadvertent bonus that Ash would of course pull off without realizing it."
"It was all on his side though for that." Miette said. "Noibat is small and agile, plus is a flying type unlike Flygon I think though I'll admit I don't know that species of Pokémon well."
"Flygon has the Levitate ability which gives it the biggest benefit of a flying type in the immunity to ground type attacks but it's not a flying type." May said. "The species is native to Hoenn, and Drew has one as well, so I know it well. It's a ground and dragon type, Vibrava adds a dragon type when it evolves from a Trapinch."
"Thought so, I only know it from seeing Brianna use it in footage, but I'd heard that its dragon type was secondary and flying types are almost never primary types hence why I presumed it didn't have one." Miette said. "Though I know that Noibat and Noivern are exceptions to that as their flying type is primary. Still, that was to Ash's advantage, and he used Noibat's smaller size, coupled with Acrobatics, to dodge and counter against a larger opponent that wasn't as graceful in the air."
"It was necessary there." Dawn said simply. "Dragon type attacks are one of only two types that are super effective against their own type, the other is ghost if I recall correctly, and other than fairy's immunity only steel resists dragon so a hit would have been devastating on Noibat. It could survive the Steel Wing and Fire Blast attacks, but it would have only taken one hit from Dragon Breath to weaken it to the point of defeat from even the Fire Blast which Noibat is resistant to."
"And clearly Brianna was going for the Battle Off rather than a standard win on points." Shauna said. "She's rather unhinged now though I've never met her before this Cup, so I don't know what she was like before."
"She's always had a spark of darkness but it's now well beyond acceptable, and the Committee will take notice." May said glad that the Wallace Cup had exposed Brianna to the point of needing this. "They'll slap her with a formal written warning for bringing disrepute to a Contest and conduct unbecoming of a coordinator if I had to guess. That will last a year and basically mean that she'll have to behave herself in the Grand Festival or else she'll be immediately disqualified if she's deemed to have violated her warning. Multiple violations could result in suspension from Contests or even a full season ban, but she wouldn't go that far. She's lost it but the asshole behind her hasn't, and he'll keep her in line."
"That is still good for the Grand Festival though." Bonnie said. "Serena may face her there so keeping her more muzzled will be good for Serena and her wellbeing in the Grand Festival should she face Brianna in it."
"It will be." May said with a nod. "And Brianna's loss to Ash will temper her I think, or at least get the man pulling her strings to temper her. She was too gung-ho there and Ash used that to his advantage as we all knew he would, even if he took a couple of hits in it. That was probably the final catalyst he needed to get Noibat to evolve."
"And from there it was that Boomburst move which I didn't expect and a Dragon Claw to win by Battle Off." Dawn said. "Add in that he forced Brianna to use and miss with Hyper Beam and the battle was his in the end given the recharge needed with that move."
"Boomburst likely comes from that side adventure we had in Joule Town." Bonnie said. "Ash faced a Pokémon there that knew the move, so did Clemont, and it was really strong though I think that Pokémon had an ability that boosted it even more."
"Pikachu." Pikachu confirmed from May's lap where he was sitting, he'd faced that Boomburst, and it had almost vanquished him despite being the only hit he'd taken in the battle. "Pi, Pikachu."
"Still Boomburst is strong on its own." Shauna said. "It's what, the second strongest normal type attack out there."
"Third." Dawn said as she thought about the normal type attacks that she knew of. "If I recall Explosion is stronger, as is Hyper Beam, but Boomburst is up there and Flygon wasn't resistant to it, so it was useful and drove it into the ice. That was what forced Brianna to use the Hyper Beam that cost her in the end, though if she'd landed it she would have won. A typical Ash battle."
"True and then there was Serena's after him." May said. "That was certainly interesting. She's improved so much in the Wallace Cup alone that I wouldn't be surprised if Serena is top 8 at least in the Grand Festival regardless of whether she gets the full 5 ribbons or has to qualify via the special wildcard round after getting 3 ribbons."
"And good for us." Miette said while Shauna just nodded in agreement. "We needed that as well after facing Amelia ourselves. She's aggressive but still technically superior and Serena played into that well though the same genders worked well for her as it negated Dragonair's Attract. Serena really showed what a performer could do when using what a Showcase Pokémon can do in a Contest battle."
"And Delphox is her starter, so she really knows Serena well." Shauna said. "It was a solid battle and Serena forced it to points in the end."
"Not hard, Dragonair is resistant to fire type attacks so a Battle Off was unlikely, but a Contest battle is about more than damage and Serena knows it." May said. "She showed that yesterday against Tierno where she focused on grace, moves, dodges, and counters and it continued today. I wouldn't be surprised if she really understands Contest battles now, she's just had two classic ones where she focused on the essence of them and the needed hits to win on points. People like Brianna have tainted the nature of Contest battles, so it is nice to see them restored a little."
"True Brianna's battle did look more like a normal one and she was the only true coordinator left in the Cup." Miette said. "It was the performers who put on the real Contest battle for us."
"It wasn't as close to a Contest battle as we saw yesterday but that can be chalked up to Amelia's, er, issues with Serena and being forced to adapt due to the lack of super effective moves." May said. "She let that get out of hand a little bit with those Dragon Rush attacks. Serena kept her cool and countered when she needed to. That's what did it in the end I feel."
"It was cool to see Serena win like that." Bonnie said happy that her friend and surrogate big sister had won. "And now she will face Ash for the Misty Ribbon."
"I wonder how Misty is feeling now." Dawn said with a grin as she looked down on the judges where Misty was watching Piplup, who was with her today, play with Wallace's Milotic and eating a special lunch provided to the judges by the Committee. "She's the one who will present the ribbon soon and it will either be to her boyfriend or a rival. That will be fun to watch."
"It was a possibility and when all, but Amelia already knew her and had made it to the battles it was all but confirmed." May said. "Still, it will be a good final and at least it is Ash and Serena in it, so Misty won't have to present it to someone like Brianna."
"You don't think Serena is outclassed?" Miette asked. "Ash is really good at battles."
"It comes down to more than a straightforward battle and Serena knows this better than anyone." May said thinking on it. "After her last two battles she'll have some sense of how to win this one I think though she will have to adapt to facing someone like Ash rather than the more Contest styles that Tierno and Amelia have."
"And they both know each other well so they can predict Pokémon better." Dawn said. "Serena only has two left to choose from, right?"
"She does but in all honesty there's only one she can go with." May said thinking on the other two. "The other maybe, if Ash was using Greninja then Serena would have used it, but he won't because of the Battle Bond is too close to Mega Evolution so it may result in a disqualification. That leaves Ash with 5 options if he made any changes last night for his final Pokémon and Serena will know all 5. Serena's two remaining have advantages over all but one of them but that is the one he's least likely to use because of the battlefield. He may go with power but again the ice is a factor to consider. That leaves two realistic ones for Ash, both of which Serena's likely one can counter. It will be pretty even in the end."
"So unpredictable and probably unexpected when it happens." Dawn said. "Fitting to end the Wallace Cup on."
"Very." May said as the others began to return with their lunch. "But let's discuss more as we eat."
They all nodded as Max and Owen began to hand out boxes of Galarian curry done Kalos style to the girls and they tucked into their food. For the rest of the lunch break they ate and chatted, slowly joined by the ones eating lunch elsewhere, until a buzzer sounded, and they focused on what was to come.
A few moments after that the judges were settled and Jillian took her spot and began to speak while Ash and Serena walked out and onto the stage. The final of the Wallace Cup was upon them, and it was time to watch and see who would claim the first Misty Ribbon and become the newest champion of the Wallace Cup.
