Ash's battle with Cynthia was starting in 10 minutes. He, Iris and Goh were in the Champion's locker room and Pikachu, Infernape, Lucario, Goodra, Sceptile and Glalie were all out of their Poke Balls.
"Okay guys," Ash said, "Cynthia's probably the strongest trainer alive. She's at least as powerful as Leon so we need to be careful. Pikachu, Infernape, you know her best."
"I remember when we first met her," said a familiar voice and Ash, Goh and Iris all turned to see a blue haired girl standing behind them with a Piplup in her arms, "Paul didn't stand a chance."
"Dawn!" Ash exclaimed in joy and Iris and Goh beamed.
"Great to see you guys," Dawn said and she high fived Ash while Piplup jumped out of her arms to greet Pikachu and Infernape. Lucario, Sceptile, Glalie and Goodra didn't know him so well but their smiles were welcoming, "Sorry I couldn't get here sooner, Ash. I was worried I'd be too late."
"You're here at the perfect time," Ash said, "we're gonna give this everything we've got."
"I know," Dawn said.
"Be careful," Iris said, "Garchomp can beat her own Mega Evolution. If Cynthia's also got a Garchompite, she'll be almost unstoppable."
"She's still a Dragon and Ground type," Ash said, nodding to Glalie who grinned.
"And are we sure Cynthia actually has a Mega Stone?" Goh asked.
"Competitor Ash," said one of the staff members from the doorway, "you need to get to the stadium."
Diantha met Cynthia in the tunnel to the stadium.
"Two more battles to go," Diantha said. Cynthia smiled but there was a wistful look in her grey eyes. "What's wrong?"
"I've decided to retire if I win this tournament," Cynthia said. Diantha was shocked.
"Are you serious?" she said.
"You're an actress," Cynthia said, "you know your last performance will be remembered by everybody. I want to end my battling career on a high note and being Monarch is the highest."
"Well, somebody's got to break Leon's winning streak," Diantha said, "if anybody can do it, it's you."
"You came close," Cynthia said with a smile, "and I'll do my best."
When Cynthia entered the stadium, she barely registered the fact that thousands of people were in the crowd and millions more were watching from home. Whenever she battled, she mentally cut off any spectators and focussed entirely on taking down her opponents efficiently.
Ash was opposite her with Pikachu by his side. The referee announced the rules and when he was done, Cynthia chose first.
"Spiritomb, battle dance!"
A ghostly Pokemon with a grinning face protruding from a heavy stone which restricted her movement appeared. Spiritomb was an exceptionally rare Pokemon, rare enough to be considered Legendary by some people.
"Goodra, I choose you!" cried Ash and a Goodra that looked identical to Diantha's appeared. Cynthia had no idea which of its 3 potential abilities it had, but if it was Gooey, Spiritomb had ways around it, "Use Dragon Pulse!"
"Sucker Punch!"
Goodra started forming the pulse but Spiritomb's gaseous body extended from the keystone with alarming speed. She reached Goodra before the Dragon could fire and slammed into her, then withdrew as she launched Dragon Pulse. The "jaws" opened but Spiritomb, grinning wickedly, disappeared into her keystone as they snapped shut on her and exploded. After Dragon Pulse dissipated, Spiritomb emerged again and laughed mockingly, having barely felt it inside the keystone.
"That keystone's not just for show," Iris muttered.
"Of course Cynthia trained it to do that," Dawn said and Piplup, standing on the wall with Grookey, nodded, "when we first met her, Garchomp blocked Frenzy Plant with just its fins."
"Use Will-O-Wisp!" Cynthia ordered and Spiritomb fired searing hot purple flames across the battlefield which landed on Goodra and burned her.
"Rain Dance!" Ash called and Goodra summoned a rainstorm and Hydration evaporated the burn.
"Shadow Ball!" Cynthia ordered, making a quick mental note of Goodra's Ability as Spiritomb fired an orb of ghostly energy.
"Dragon Pulse!" Ash ordered and Goodra's draconic beam collided with the shadowy orb and exploded, "Now Thunder!"
"Sucker Punch!"
Goodra fired a bolt of electricity into the rainstorm but again, Spiritomb smashed into her before the attack actually landed and retreated into her keystone. This time however, she reappeared with an echoing howl of pain as Thunder descended from the rainclouds and blasted through her gaseous body.
"That did something!" cried Goh.
"It went through the keystone, not around it!" cheered Dawn, "Plus Spiritomb's soaking wet!"
"Goodra, Muddy Water!" Ash yelled and Goodra summoned a wave of filthy water which was powered up by the Rain Dance.
"Return," Cynthia recalled Spiritomb and casually tossed another Poke Ball, "Battle dance!" Her second Pokemon, to Ash's horror, was Gastrodon. Without even flinching, she absorbed Muddy Water with Storm Drain, letting out a triumphant cry as her Special Attack was boosted, "Gastrodon, use your Muddy Water!"
Gastrodon summoned the most powerful Muddy Water Ash had ever seen in his life. A towering, swirling wave, boosted by both Storm Drain and Goodra's own Rain Dance, spread across the battlefield, forcing the referee to take shelter behind his Aegislash's King Shield. Goodra, with nowhere to run, could only stand there as Muddy Water hit her with horrifying force, hurling her across the battlefield despite her resistance to Water type moves. Goodra struggled up, blinking rapidly and rubbing her eyes.
"Oh no!" cried Iris, "Muddy Water got in Goodra's eyes!"
"Goodra, return," Ash recalled his Dragon and sent out his agile Grass lizard, "Sceptile, I choose you! Use Leaf Storm!"
Sceptile crouched, raising his bush like tail and shooting a swirling storm of leaves. Gastrodon screamed in agony as the STAB 4 times effective attack tore at her and she was blasted back across the battlefield. Sceptile smirked as he straightened but then…
"No way!" cried Goh and Hop simultaneously as Gastrodon raised her head.
"Gastrodon took that?" Iris' jaw dropped.
Dawn wasn't as shocked as the others, having seen Gastrodon repel Solar Beam like it was nothing in the past, but she still clenched her fingers on her knees hard enough for her knuckles to turn white.
"Gastrodon's faced Grass types before Ash," Cynthia said casually, "Use Icy Wind!"
"That's super effective and will slow Sceptile down," Dawn said through gritted teeth.
Gastrodon blew freezing air from her mouth and Sceptile hunched, shivering and glowing blue as his Speed decreased. As he did so the rainclouds summoned by Goodra's Rain Dance finally parted and the sun shone through, making Gastrodon seem a bit less threatening. Cynthia held out the Sea Slug Pokemon's Poke Ball.
"Now return, Gastrodon," she said, "Roserade, battle dance!" A small Pokemon with flowers for hands and a leafy cape appeared, "Use Sludge Bomb!"
"Sceptile, Quick Attack!"
Roserade's flowers turned purple as she pointed them at Sceptile and filthy balls of sludge blasted out. Sceptile shot forwards, using the speed from Quick Attack to dart between the Sludge Bomb's before colliding with Roserade.
"That deals with Icy Wind's Speed lowering effect," commented Leon from the champions room.
"Dragon Pulse!"
"Dazzling Gleam!"
Sceptile, who was now right in front of Roserade, opened his mouth and fired Dragon Pulse at point blank range. However, the Dazzling Gleam dissipated it as though it wasn't even there and knocked him off his feet.
"Dragon attacks are useless against Fairy moves," muttered Lance.
"Sceptile, return," Ash switched before Roserade could fire another attack, "Infernape, I choose you!" His Fire monkey appeared. Cynthia held out a Poke Ball, "Fire Spin!"
Infernape fired a swirling stream of red flames which surrounded Roserade before the Poke Ball's beam could reach her. Roserade screamed in pain as Fire Spin both trapped her in the battle and caused super effective damage. Cynthia frowned, the first crack in her casual demeanour.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
"Flare Blitz!"
Roserade tried to use Dazzling Gleam to push away Fire Spin but only succeeded in widening its radius as Infernape surrounded himself with blue flames. Dazzling Gleam was already struggling to contend with the red flames, so it was no match for the blue. A fiery explosion sent Roserade flying across the battlefield and Infernape flinched from Flare Blitz's recoil damage.
"Roserade is unable to battle! Infernape wins!"
"Yes!" cheered Iris, "Ash got the first win!"
"Thank goodness Fire Spin blocks switching," Dawn said as Cynthia recalled her fallen Pokemon.
"Togekiss, battle dance!" The Fairy and Flying type appeared, her innocent smile looking oddly sinister.
"Infernape, return," Ash said and turned to Pikachu, "Pikachu, you're up." Pikachu nodded and leapt onto the battlefield to face Togekiss, "Use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu launched a powerful bolt but, just like against Iris, Togekiss used ExtremeSpeed to shoot away from it. Pikachu fired again and again but the Flying type was simply too fast.
"Air Slash!" Cynthia stopped toying with Ash and Togekiss launched a flurry of Air Slashes.
"Quick Attack!" Ash countered.
Pikachu darted between the Air Slashes and made a terrific leap, slamming into Togekiss' belly. Her innocent smile didn't waver.
"Fire Blast!"
"Thunderbolt!"
A flaming star collided with a bolt of electricity and the explosion blew both Pokemon back. Togekiss recovered first.
"ExtremeSpeed!" Cynthia ordered and Togekiss shot forwards and slammed into Pikachu, who rolled onto his feet.
"Quick Attack!" Ash ordered. Pikachu darted forwards but wasn't as lucky as the first time as Togekiss darted above him.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
"Quick, ElectroWeb!"
Togekiss unleashed a burst of Fairy power while Pikachu, still in midair and in no position to dodge, swung his tail. An orb of electricity appeared on the end of it and expanded into a web of electricity, containing Dazzling Gleam and giving Pikachu a couple of seconds to get out of the blast radius before it exploded.
"Air Slash!" Cynthia ordered, and a flurry of Air Slashes blew away the smoke before landing on Pikachu repeatedly. Just like Emolga, Pikachu flinched with each hit.
"Thunderbolt!" Ash screamed and Pikachu managed to push through the 60% flinch rate and unleash a desperate Thunderbolt but Togekiss dodged it yet again.
"Use Fire Blast!"
Togekiss fired a star from her mouth which exploded when it collided with Pikachu. Ash clenched his fists, praying to Arceus that Serene Grace hadn't activated Fire Blast's burning effect. But it seemed the Pokemon god wasn't answering his prayers today. Flames burst around Pikachu's body and he screamed in pain.
"No!" screamed Dawn.
"Darn that Serene Grace!" yelled Iris.
"ExtremeSpeed!" Cynthia ordered and Togekiss rammed into Pikachu a second time.
Then Togekiss flinched as sparks surrounded her body.
"Pikachu, it's paralysed!" Ash yelled, wondering if Arceus actually had been listening, "Electro Web!" Pikachu launched the web, making absolutely certain that Togekiss had nowhere to go as she struggled to throw it off, "Thunderbolt, full power!"
Pikachu unleashed a massive Thunderbolt and Togekiss screamed in agony. Pikachu stumbled as the burn kicked in again but, to his and Ash's great relief, Togekiss stopped struggling.
"Togekiss is unable to battle! Pikachu wins!"
"That was too close," Dawn said, "if not for Static…" Piplup nodded, his eyes fixed on the battlefield.
"Bad luck Togekiss, you almost had him," Cynthia said, "Gastrodon battle dance!" The Sea Slug Pokemon appeared again, severely weakened by Sceptile's Leaf Storm but immune to half of Pikachu's attacks.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Ash ordered.
Pikachu darted forwards only to bounce off Gastrodon's slimy body before catching fire again. Ash seriously considered putting Pikachu into his Poke Ball - the burn wouldn't affect him as long as he was inside it - but he knew his partner would resent the decision.
"Muddy Water!" Cynthia ordered. Gastrodon's second Muddy Water was nowhere near as powerful as her first, lacking a Rain Dance or Storm Drain boost, but it still knocked Pikachu out.
"Pikachu is unable to battle! Gastrodon wins!"
"Great job, Pikachu," Ash said, picking Pikachu up off the battlefield and placing him beside him. "Goodra, I choose you!" He sent his Dragon back out. Goodra could clearly see Gastrodon again and was scowling, "Dragon Pulse!"
"Earth Power!"
Gastrodon's centre eye glowed yellow and the ground split open while Dragon Pulse streaked across the battlefield. Dragon Pulse landed first but Goodra barely had time to grin before the ground beneath her exploded.
"Gastrodon and Goodra are both unable to battle!"
"Good thing Goodra landed Dragon Pulse before Gastrodon could use Recover," Dawn commented as Ash and Cynthia recalled their Pokemon.
"Infernape, I choose you!"
"Milotic, battle dance!"
The Tender Pokemon appeared to face the Fire Monkey Pokemon. Ash considered switching to Sceptile but surely Cynthia would be expecting such an obvious tactic. She knew him well enough to realise that the only reason he hadn't switched out Pikachu was because the Electric type hated Poke Balls. Besides, Infernape had learned a new trick during his training with Moltres.
"Milotic, Hydro Pump!"
"Infernape, dodge and use Thunder Punch!"
Milotic fired a massive stream of water from her mouth but Infernape darted around it, electrified his fist, lunged forwards, and punched her squarely in the face sending her reeling back but Milotic quickly regained her balance.
"Too bad Infernape doesn't have Iron Fist," Cynthia commented, "Disarming Voice!"
"Flare Blitz!"
Milotic opened her mouth and fired yellow sound waves punctuated by pink hearts and musical notes from her mouth. Infernape simply charged through it with Flare Blitz and smashed into her, sending Milotic sliding back before flinching from recoil, leaving himself open.
"Hydro Pump!"
"Use Dig!"
Milotic fired a super effective Hydro Pump but Infernape recovered from Flare Blitz faster than Cynthia had anticipated. Punching into the ground to increase the speed of his Dig, Infernape disappeared and Hydro Pump soared over the hole he had left behind.
"It recovered so fast," Cynthia said to herself as Infernape burst out of the ground and hurled Milotic into the air, "Twister!"
"Fire Spin!"
Milotic's tail "fan" started spinning and a swirling vortex of draconic energy shot out and collided with Infernape's retaliatory stream of spinning flames. The attacks cancelled each other out.
"Milotic, Hydro Pump!"
"Use Dig again!"
Milotic launched another Hydro Pump and Infernape disappeared underground again, which was exactly what Cynthia wanted.
"Use Recover," she ordered, determined not the make the same mistake she'd made with Gastrodon. Milotic glowed gold, restoring half of her health before Infernape burst out of the ground underneath her. Twisting around as she was hurled into the air, Milotic turned to face Infernape, the ideal position for… "Hydro Pump!"
A super effective Hydro Pump slammed into Infernape at point blank range, hurling him across the battlefield. There was a short silence as Milotic landed gracefully and the referee went to examine Infernape. Iris and Goh slumped, convinced that the Fire Monkey was down and out, but Dawn was still watching intently. She knew Infernape better than they did.
Blaze activated. Just as he had against Paul's Electivire in the Sinnoh League, Infernape rose and screamed at Milotic as flames erupted behind him with an intensity that was as unique to him as Battle Bond was to Greninja.
"There it is," Cynthia murmured with a smile.
However, Cynthia had forgotten one crucial thing. She was familiar with this unique Blaze but Milotic was not. Unlike her trainer, the Tender Pokemon had never met Ash's Infernape. Milotic was watching him with a fascinated expression having never seen a Blaze like this before.
"Infernape, use Fire Spin!"
"Hydro Pump!" Cynthia ordered.
Even with the Blaze boost, Fire Spin couldn't penetrate the Water type move and a massive cloud of steam erupted across the battlefield.
"Thunder Punch!" Ash ordered.
"Dodge it!" Cynthia ordered, planning to finish the battle with a close range Twister.
Infernape emerged from the stream, the ferocious intensity of his flaming head briefly distracting Milotic from his electrified fists. She barely ducked under the first punch but the second collided with her stomach and she hunched over with a gasp of pain as electricity blasted through her body. Cynthia, realising that Milotic's tail wasn't in the perfect position for the intended Twister, changed her plan within a split second.
"Disarming Voice!"
"Use Dig!"
Disarming Voice shot through the steam as it started to clear but couldn't follow Infernape underground. However, Cynthia and Milotic now had a moment of respite.
"Milotic, Recover," Cynthia said and Milotic glowed gold to heal herself once more.
"Flare Blitz from underground!" Ash ordered.
The battlefield started to glow red hot beneath Milotic who shifted, fear visible in her expression as she realised that she'd underestimated Infernape. The Tender Pokemon screamed as flames erupted underneath her, followed immediately by Infernape bursting out of the ground in an explosion of blue fire. Ignoring Flare Blitz's recoil damage, Infernape hurled Milotic into the air and continued his momentum so that he was above her.
"Thunder Punch, go!" Ash roared.
Infernape slammed his electrified fist down into Milotic's face and sent her smashing headfirst into the battlefield. There was no Iron Fist boost behind the blow, but the power of gravity would do. Even Cynthia winced as the rest of Milotic's serpentine body joined her concussed skull on the ground.
"Milotic is unable to battle! Infernape wins!"
"Get some rest, Milotic," said Cynthia gently, knowing that Milotic would be upset about losing to a Fire type, "Garchomp, battle dance!"
Her Pseudo-Legendary Starter Pokemon appeared. Infernape clenched his fists, remembering the first time he had met Garchomp, way back when he was just a Chimchar under Paul's command.
"Draco Meteor!"
"Use Flare Blitz!"
Infernape's entire body blazed with blue fire as he rocketed across the battlefield. Garchomp fired an orange orb into the air and it exploded, sending meteors raining down. Infernape dodged most of them until, just before one Draco Meteor landed right on top of him, he reached Garchomp. She crossed her fins in front of her before impact and there was an explosion as the Draco Meteor landed a split second before the Flare Blitz.
When the smoke cleared, Garchomp was standing 2 meters closer to Cynthia than she was before. It was the only sign she gave of being hurt as she lowered her fins. Infernape on the other hand was lying on his belly and his Blaze has died down.
"Infernape is unable to battle! Garchomp wins!"
"Infernape's even stronger than I remember," Cynthia commented as Ash recalled and congratulated his Pokemon, "but Garchomp still resists Fire."
"Yeah, but it's weak to Ice," Ash said, "Glalie, I choose you!" The Face Pokemon appeared and grinned. Cynthia nodded approvingly.
"Excellent choice," she said and held out Garchomp's Poke Ball, "Garchomp return. Spiritomb, battle dance!" The Ghost and Dark type reappeared, grinning wickedly.
"Use Sheer Cold!" Ash ordered.
"Destiny Bond!" Cynthia countered.
Glalie's body glowed blue and ice spread across the entire battlefield. Spiritomb's wicked grin didn't waver as her eyes glowed purple before she instinctively withdrew into her keystone, despite knowing it would provide no protection against Sheer Cold. The ice cracked and shattered and the frozen battlefield returned to normal.
Then a shadow emerged from Spiritomb's keystone and landed on Glalie. He was unconscious before he hit the ground and Ash mentally noted that he'd only seen Destiny Bond once before, from Katie's Misdreavus way back in Hoenn, and it had also been used on Glalie.
"Spiritomb and Glalie are both unable to battle!"
"They're almost there," Dawn said softly, "If they can just get past Garchomp…"
"Haxorus did," Iris mumbled, "after she beat her own Mega Evolution."
"Sceptile, I choose you!" Ash sent Sceptile back onto the battlefield. Cynthia smiled and tossed Garchomp's Poke Ball into the air.
"Garchomp, battle dance!"
Garchomp appeared again, this time swooping down from above like the angel of death. She landed and snarled softly, fully aware that the rest of her team had fallen and she was outnumbered 2 to 1. Being the last Pokemon standing against multiple foes was always thrilling to Garchomp but it very rarely happened.
"Sceptile, Leaf Storm!"
"Dodge it!"
Sceptile crouched and fired a swirling storm of leaves from his tail. Normally Garchomp would block it but Cynthia knew that she needed to take as little damage as possible since Ash's 6th and final Pokemon hadn't even battled yet. The Mach Pokemon leapt into the air, ascending above Sceptile who looked annoyed that his Leaf Storm had missed, and lowered his Special Attack in the process, but wasn't intimidated.
"Quick Attack!" Ash ordered and Sceptile shot at Garchomp and smashed into her belly. The Dragon back flipped, landing on her feet as though nothing had happened, "Leaf Blade!"
"Use Dragon Claw!"
The leaves on Sceptile's arms glowed light green and extended while Garchomp's claws glowed a darker green and the glow extended to her fins as she lunged to meet her challenger. Then the pair were duelling, neither managing to land a direct blow as they slashed, wove and ducked around each other, searching for an opening.
"Dragon Pulse!" Ash ordered.
"Destroy it!" Cynthia had her opening. Sceptile tried to fire Dragon Pulse at point blank range but Garchomp simply slashed through it, rendering it completely useless and finally landing a direct Dragon Claw, "Fire Blast!"
Garchomp fired a star from her mouth and Sceptile shrieked in agony as he was engulfed in flame. Then a green glow burst around his body as Overgrow activated.
"Yes!" Ash cried, "Use Leaf Blade!"
"Dragon Claw!"
Sceptile and Garchomp lunged. Leaf Blade slashed across Garchomp's chest while Dragon Claw landed in Sceptile's face. Both Pokemon spun past each other and Garchomp visibly winced from the Overgrow boosted attack. Behind her, Sceptile collapsed.
"Sceptile is unable to battle! Garchomp wins!"
"Awesome job, Sceptile," Ash said, "you wore it down just like I needed you to. Lucario, I choose you!" The jackal like Aura Pokemon appeared.
"Ash, I can't remember the last time somebody pushed me into a corner," Cynthia said. She smiled and her grey eyes glinted as she took out her lipstick, "You've earned it."
She swiped the lipstick across her lip and turned it to reveal the Key Stone. When Cynthia activated the Mega Evolution, she did so silently, which made it all the more terrifying as Garchomp grew larger and her claws transformed into massive scythes. She slid the scythes against each other menacingly, as silent as Cynthia apart from the scraping of her claws, knowing that the mere presence of her Mega Evolution was more intimidating than any roar.
"This is it," Ash said and pressed his own Key Stone, "Lucario, Mega Evolve!"
Lucario, lacking Cynthia and Garchomp's sense of showmanship, roared as he transformed into his Mega form. Garchomp smirked at him. This kid still had a lot to learn about making an impression. Cynthia spoke quietly from behind her Starter Pokemon.
"Garchomp," she said and Garchomp looked at her out of the corner of her eye, her gaze softening, "All those years we spent together… training, battling, studying and learning… it's all built up to this tournament. Ash and Leon are the only trainers standing between us and the Monarchy. Let's get to the very top!" Garchomp nodded and leapt into the air as Cynthia yelled, "Use Fire Blast!"
"Double Team!" Ash countered.
A massive Fire Blast erupted from Garchomp's jaws and the 5 point star descended, missing Lucario but wiping out 3 of the 12 copies that he created to avoid it. Cynthia had her second move planned before Garchomp even fired her first.
"Draco Meteor!"
A Draco Meteor, far more powerful than the one Garchomp had used on Infernape, exploded above the battlefield and huge orbs of draconic energy obliterated the rest of Lucario's Double Team and crashed down on the Aura Pokemon with such force that the multiple explosions from multiple meteors hurled him across the ground.
"Use Aura Sphere!"
Lucario rolled, summoned an Aura Sphere that was boosted by both Mega Evolution and Adaptability before he was even fully upright, and hurled it at Garchomp who crossed her fins in front her. The Aura Sphere slammed into her and Cynthia grinned, adrenaline pumping through her body as the attack exploded, weakened by the massive scythes but still causing damage.
The thrill of battle, Cynthia thought, I'd almost forgotten!
"Lucario, Bullet Punch!"
"Garchomp, Dragon Claw!"
Lucario and Garchomp launched themselves at each other. Lucario ducked under Garchomp's first blow and landed a flurry of Bullet Punches before being knocked off balance by a second Dragon Claw. Lucario tried to get under the Dragon's guard again but it was difficult with two massive, lethal scythes that served as both weapons and shields standing between him and Garchomp's body. Although Dragon Claw was technically resisted by Lucario's Steel typing, there was so much force behind the blows that he struggled to even stay close enough to land his Bullet Punches. Garchomp, who had been sweeping entire teams both in and out of her Mega form long before Lucario even hatched, knew what she was doing so whenever one scythe was slashing, the other was defending.
Garchomp's eyes glinted as she swung a particularly ferocious Dragon Claw and knocked Lucario out of range.
"Critical Hit!" cried Dawn.
"Fire Blast!" Cynthia seized the opening and Garchomp's blazing blast, although smaller than the first, engulfed Lucario in flames, eliciting a howl of pain despite Garchomp's Special Attack power being lowered by Draco Meteor.
"Now a super effective one!" Iris squealed in panic.
"Keep up the pressure," Cynthia ordered, "Dragon Claw!"
"Aura Sphere!" Ash yelled.
Garchomp leapt, swinging her claws down as Lucario held an Aura Sphere out on front of him, having no time to fire it from a distance. The draconic energy colluded with the Aura and the explosion blasted both Pokemon backwards.
"Draco Meteor!"
Garchomp fired a second Draco Meteor which rained down on Lucario, weaker than the first but still creating violent explosions when they landed.
"Use Bullet Punch!"
"Giga Impact!"
Lucario lunged through the smoke left behind by Draco Meteor but Garchomp rocketed across the battlefield, surrounded by a cocoon of purple and yellow energy. Lucario's fists couldn't block Garchomp's entire body so he was knocked off his feet.
"Hang on Lucario, it's gotta recharge!" Ash yelled as the Aura Pokemon struggled upright, "Aura Sphere full power!"
In his hospital bed, Greninja opened his eyes.
Lucario focussed hard, letting the Aura Sphere grow to a colossal size as Ash urged him on through their Aura bond. He hurling the attack at Garchomp, who crossed her fins to defend herself but Aura Sphere shoved her back almost 4 meters before exploding. Garchomp, despite shielding herself, was blasted off her feet by the incredible power of the Aura Sphere. Snarling, she picked herself up but Lucario was on her before she could fully regain her composure.
"Bullet Punch again!"
"Dragon Claw!"
Lucario and Garchomp started pounding each other again. Garchomp was finally showing signs of exhaustion and although her attacks were as vicious as ever, her defensive moves became sloppy which allowed Lucario to slip past her guard and land Bullet Punch several times.
"Let's go!" Ash and Cynthia yelled at the same time.
Garchomp's fin swung down as Lucario's fist swung up. Dragon Claw landed on Lucario's skull and he shuddered from shock but his fist still collided with Garchomp's chin throwing her head back. They stood there, trembling with exhaustion, then staggered away.
"Lucario, just a little more!"
"Garchomp, we're almost there!"
"This is it!" cried the commentator through the palpable tension as everybody watched with bated breath, "Both Pokemon are at their limit! The next attack will decide this match!"
Lucario fell on one knee.
"It's over!" Cynthia cried triumphantly, "Use Giga Impact!"
Garchomp ascended, the purple and yellow cocoon formed, and she dived.
"Lucario, Reversal!" Ash screamed to the heavens and, for the first time ever, Lucario's Reversal wasn't red.
"A blue Reversal!" Goh yelled.
In his hospital bed, Greninja sat up.
Lucario, surrounded by Aura, thrust both fists into Garchomp as the Giga Impact descended on him. Trembling with exertion, his entire being focussed into the Reversal, Lucario bellowed as a massive explosion erupted across the battlefield. Ash shielded himself and Cynthia's hair, though she was much further away from the blast, whipped out behind her while the referee's Aigeslash defended itself and its trainer with King Shield.
When the smoke cleared, Garchomp was still on her feet. And Lucario was lying on the ground.
"Lucario!" Ash cried.
The referee approached Lucario, who had to use every last scrap of strength just to stay in his Mega form. The Aura Pokemon could barely even lift his head and launching another attack was completely out of the question. Garchomp was fading in and out of focus. If Reversal wasn't strong enough…
Garchomp's Mega Evolution wore off.
"Garchomp!" cried Cynthia and Lucario snapped into focus, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Somehow, impossibly, Garchomp was still standing. Her eyes were closed, the Mega Evolution had ended, and she was using all of her remaining strength to stay on her feet. After a few seconds, her legs buckled. She collapsed onto her knees and slammed down onto her belly.
"Garchomp is unable to battle! Lucario wins! The victory goes to Ash!"
Goh punched the air, Dawn and Iris screamed and hugged each other with joy, Jessie, James and Meowth wrapped each other in a group hug with tears streaming down their faces, and the rest of the crowd unleashed deafening applause. Ash and Pikachu rushed over to Lucario and Ash had to stop Pikachu from jumping on him, knowing that a light breeze would finish Lucario off in this condition.
"Lucario we did it!" Ash cried, "We actually beat Cynthia!"
Lucario managed a weak smile before letting go of his Mega Evolution and fainting. Ash smiled and recalled him as Pikachu calmed down, remembering the tremendous effort Lucario had needed to beat Garchomp even after she was weakened by 2 other Pokemon.
Cynthia was kneeling beside Garchomp, gently massaging her back until she regained consciousness. Garchomp looked up at her trainer and smiled as she nuzzled Cynthia's hand.
"Garchomp, you were absolutely phenomenal," Cynthia said softly, "Blaze, Overgrow and Aura, yet you were still standing. No shame in losing that battle, right?"
Garchomp nodded. She very rarely lost in her regular form and for almost 10 years, her Mega Evolution had been a guarantee of victory. Lucario had broken that winning streak and Garchomp honestly found it refreshing to be reminded that she wasn't invincible.
Cynthia recalled her Starter and rose to her full height before turning to Ash. She still had a way to go before she could retire and she was glad. Winning all the time had become boring.
"Ash, you and Iris reminded me of how much I love battling," she said. "Thank you."
"Well, if I can beat you, then Leon's going down," Ash said confidently as he shook her hand.