Ash, Serena, May and Max were walking down the road, across the carnival.
They have just moved away from the little stand, where the old lady was offering people to play a guessing game with her, and if they win, she would give them a Dusk Stone.
May has just played that game, and has won, making her very happy. Her happiness was shown with a big smile on her face, while she was looking at the purplish stone in her hands.
"Congrats, May." Max said to his sister, as he saw how happy she was.
"Thanks', Max," May said. "But I have to say, that if it wasn't for Ash, I doubt I would have won it."
"Well, I helped you with the first two rounds, as I saw how important this was to you," Ash said. "The third guess, was all your doing."
"Yeah, that was a lucky one," May said. "I was really thinking on which hand to go with, and in the end, it turned out that it was the right hand, again."
"After the first two rounds being in the right hand, I was almost expecting the coin to be in that lady's left hand." Serena commented.
"That's what everyone was expecting," Ash said. "And that's why she went with the right hand, once again. I bet that's how she screwed several people, before May."
"Why didn't you help me with the third round, when you already did with the first two," May suddenly asked Ash? "How did you even know in which hands, she was holding the coins?"
Ash smiled. "I knew where the coins were, because I can read surface thoughts," he said, making May's eyes, widen. She knew of this ability, but she forgot about it. She only remembered about Telepathy, as that's what Ash was using to help her. "I was reading her thoughts, and I knew where the coins were.
"As for the third round. I wanted to see if you can guess it by yourself. At that time, I was also reading your thoughts, so I knew which hand you were going to pick, before you picked it. As such, I decided that if you pick the right hand, I would keep quiet, but if you decided to go with the wrong hand, I would have told you not to, and to go with the other one. Fortunately, you chose the right hand, and I didn't have to interfere."
"Well, think you once again," May said. "I don't know if I would get to the third round, if not for you. That game might sound easy, and look easy, but it's not… unless of course, you can read peoples mind. Then it's easy."
Ash smiled, but said nothing.
"Where are we going next?" Max asked.
"Where do you want to go?" Ash asked.
"I don't know," he said. "Let's see what else is around. Maybe there are other games, like the one May played, so we can play something as well, and get some prizes."
"I like the idea." Serena said. "Let's do that."
XXX
Maybe fifteen minutes later, the gang found themselves in front of another large gathering. This gathering was quite big and was a little away from the main carnival, but was still a part of it.
"What's going on here?" May wondered, as the group of people was quite large, and they seem to have circled around whatever was happening, so the gang, can't see anything.
"We won't know until we check it out." Ash said, before they all got to the back of the group, where Ash asked one of the people there, what the gathering way about.
"Hey, what happening here?" Ash asked the boy in front of him.
The kid, around Ash's age, looked at who has asked him that, before he replied. "One of the best trainers in the Fortree City, is taking on a challenges. He would fight anyone who wants to, in a one-on-one battle, and whoever defeats him first, will get a Mega Stone. So far, he has taken on over a dozen challengers, and none have defeated him."
Serena, May and Max, felt their jaws drop on the floor, when they heard that someone is giving away a Mega Stone, just like that. Even Ash was more than a little surprise, but in his case, there was no jaw dropping.
"So, he is willing to risk it and lose a Mega Stone, just like that?" Ash questioned the kid. "He does understand how valuable and hard to find, they are. Right?"
"He knows," the kid said. "Which is why he isn't just giving it away for free. You have to defeat him to get it, but you have to pay a fee of 6000 Poke Dollars, just to get a chance to fight him. So far, he has defeated about 15 trainers, and each of them have had to pay 6000, to get in. You do the math, of how much he has gotten so far."
"That guy just earned, 90 000 Poke Dollars," May said in disbelief! "That's insane."
"Yeah, but how much did he have to pay for the Mega Stone," Ash wondered? "Depending on the stone, probably between 30 and 50 thousand. Of course, if he has just found it, then it probably hasn't cost him anything, which would explain why he was doing this. He makes a lot of money, for nothing, really."
"Is one of you going to enter?" Max asked.
"I won't," Ash said, with a shrug. "I don't really need a Mega Stone, nor the money from selling it. The only reason I could go after it, is so I can give it to someone. But in this case, I'll just leave someone else to get it."
"What about the two of you?" Max asked the two girls.
"Well, it sounds tempting," May said. "But I don't want to risk all that money, when I'm not sure that I can win. I mean, that guy - whoever he is - defeated 15 trainers, one after the other. He can't be weak, if he can do that."
"I might give it a try," Serena said. "I have the money, so I can risk it, even though it's not a small amount. A Mega Stone can be useful, especially if it's for the Flying Type Pokemon."
"It's not," the boy from before heard what Serena said, and spoke. Everyone looked at him. "It's Garchompite. It allows a Garchomp to Mega Evolve, and Garchomp is Dragon/Ground Type Pokemon."
"Damn," Ash said with surprise in his voice. "That guy has found some really useful Mega Stone."
"He sure did," the kid said. "That's why there is all of this crowd. That Mega Stone allows a Pseudo-Legendary Pokemon to Mega Evolve, and as such, is much more valuable than most of the other Mega Stones. Everyone here hopes to get it, even if none of us, have a Key Stone."
"Well, it's easier to find a Key Stone, then a Mega Stone, I guess," Ash commented. "And having an opportunity like this, I'm not surprised that all these people are here."
"I am wondering, who this guy is, if he can take on all these trainers, with just a team of six Pokemon," Max said. "Those Pokemon would have to be at least Elite Four Level, to be able to fight all these battles."
"From what I've heard, Aarune is a former Pokemon Ranger, from Unova Region," the kid said. "He moved here several years ago, and is living here ever since. He is actually considered to be the second best trainer in the Fortree City, with Winona being the only trainer better then him. Of course, that's only when she's using her strongest Pokemon, which rarely happens, as she isn't allowed to use them in an official gym battles.
"Another thing about Aarune is that, as a former Pokemon Ranger, he is allowed to carry more than six Pokemon with him at all times. He can carry up-to 12 of them. So far, he defeat 15 trainers, with just six Pokemon, and none of the six, have lost their battles, so he can still use them, though they are tired."
"A former Pokemon Ranger," Ash said. He was curious about this guy.
"The second best trainer in the Fortree city." This time, it was May who said that.
"Not allowed to use her strongest team," it was Serena. "Why?"
… Max got nothing.
It was Ash who replied to Serena's question. "Actually, most gym leaders have Pokemon which they can't use in the gym battles, because they are too strong. They are not allowed by the Pokemon League to use them against young trainers, as that way, barely anyone - if anyone - would ever get a badge in any gym."
"Yeah, that's right," Max said. "Our dad had an elite team of Pokemon, but he hasn't used them in a while, ever since he became a gym leader. Since then, he kept them at Professor Birch's lab, where they were safe, and the professor was taking care of them."
Neither Ash, nor Serena were going to say that if those Pokemon were with Norman when he was attacked, then maybe nothing would have happened to him. They both know that May and Max know this, but it was not their decision to send them away, and there is nothing they can do to change Norman's decision, or what happened to him.
"Well then, I guess battling this guy, might be a good decision," Serena said. She got a curious looks from May, Max and Ash, so she decided to explain her words. "If I battle him, then I can see how good he is, and be able to guess how good Winona is, when she's using her best Pokemon."
"What's the point," May asked? "Winona can't use her strongest Pokemon against you, so it doesn't matter how good they are."
"That's true," Serena said. "But I am curious. I want to see how powerful the gym leaders, truly are, when they are not holding back, or nerfed by the Pokemon League's rules."
"I guess that's a good decision," Ash said. "In Lavaridge Town, I actually had a one-on-one battle against Flannery, and she was using her strongest Pokemon. She wanted to battle against me at her best, because she knew who I was, and wanted to see how far she is. I guess you want to do the same thing with Winona?"
"Maybe." Serena said shortly, not revealing her plans.
"Which Pokemon are you going to use," Ash asked? "I don't know if your Hoenn Pokemon, are at the level where they can defeat this guy's Pokemon."
"I don't know," Serena said with a thoughtful expression on her face. "I guess it depends on which Pokemon he uses."
Ash nodded, before he looked at the kid, who has been giving them information, so far. "Hey, which Pokemon has Aarune been using so far?"
"He was using, Golurk, Seismitoad, Krookodile, Flygon, Hippowdon and Rhyperior," the kid said. "Actually, he is still using that Rhyperior, but I guess, he will switch it after one more battle. He has been switching his Pokemon after every two or three battles."
May and Max didn't know about some of the Pokemon that Aarune was using, because they are not native to the Hoenn Region - or Kanto and Johto, which they know about - but they knew about Flygon and Hippowdon, and knew how tough they are.
Ash and Serena did know about all the Pokemon, Aarune has been using so far, and they raised their eyebrows in surprise at the Pokemon the guy has. It's quite a collection, in their opinion.
"They are all Ground, or at least part Ground Type Pokemon." Serena said.
"Yes," the kid said. "Aarune is a Ground Type Pokemon trainer, so all of his Pokemon are at least part ground types."
"This actually makes me even more curious about why he would give away a Garchompite," Ash said with a frown. "Garchomp is a Dragon/Ground Pokemon, so with a Mega Stone for a Garchomp, he would have been much stronger."
"Maybe he already has one Garchompite," May said. "If that's the case, and he ended up finding another, it would explain why he was giving it away like this."
"Or," Ash spoke. "He isn't interested in Mega Evolving Pokemon, but is in the money he can earn from this. That is a possibility. Another possibility is that he is doing this because he doesn't think that anyone can defeat him, and is using an opportunity to earn a lot of money. That might explain why he is switching Pokemon, and not just going with one, until that one loses."
"Actually," the kid spoke again. It seems that he is listening to everything that Ash and his friends are talking about. "He already has one Mega Stone, and a Key Stone, as such, he doesn't think he needs another one, even if it is, Garchompite."
"Which one does he have?" Serena asked.
"I'll leave that a secret, in case you have to battle against that Pokemon," the kid said, making Serena frown. "It wouldn't be fair for you to know."
"But you know," May said. "Wouldn't that also be unfair if you battle against Aarune?"
"I'm not going to battle against Aarune," the kid shook his head. "I can't defeat him, and I don't have 6000 Poke Dollars, to throw away."
Ash looked at the kid with narrowed eyes, making the boy back away a little bit. Few seconds later, Ash smirked. "Ok, if you don't want to tell us… then don't," Ash said. "It's your decision, and it doesn't matter if it's good or bad."
The kid said nothing, before he turned around, and went forward through the crowd, so he can see the battles, because from where he is, he can barely see anything.'
Serena, May and Max looked at Ash, wondering what was that about. "What just happened?" Max wondered.
"Ok, I just nicely told him to go away… after I took a peek in his mind, to see which Pokemon can Aarune, Mega Evolve." Ash said, much to the shock of his girlfriend, and two friends.
"So, which Pokemon is it?" Serena was the first to recover from the shock, and asked.
Ash smirked. "I'll give you a hint, but I won't tell you," he said, making Serena narrowed her eyes at him. "You have the pre-evolved form of that Pokemon."
Serena gained a curious look on her face, as she was thinking on which Pokemon she has, whose evolved form can Mega Evolve. The list is a bit long she has to take into account some of the Pokemon she caught in the Johto Region, as some of them, can actually Mega Evolve.
May and Max were also curious, but they couldn't guess, because they only know of some of Serena's Pokemon, and not all of them.
"So," Ash spoked again. "Are you going to go and fight him… or not?"
"I will," Serena said. She didn't figure out which Pokemon, Aarune can Mega Evolve, but it doesn't matter in the end. It would be interesting to be surprised. "But first, I'll watch one or two matches, to see how he fights, before I go in and battle him."
"What if he loses in one of those matches?" May asked.
"He defeated 15 trainers in a raw," Serena reminded. "What are the chances that he will lose against the next one, or the one after that, especially if he uses new Pokemon, and not the ones who have already fought?"
Ash respected Serena's decision, as it is a good one, and proves that she doesn't charge head-on, but waits and thinks of the best way to go. Ash is proud of the way Serena has gotten so far, and she is proving that day after day, not just by her battle style, but also training style, and some of the decisions she is making, like the one now.
The four of them pushed through the crowd, and went closer to the battlefield, where they saw two people, along with two Pokemon standing and looking at each other.
On one side of the field, is a boy, or around 15 years of age, with a Rhydon in front of him.
On the other side of the field, is a man in his mid-twenties. He has blonde hair, blonde eyebrows, as well as small blonde goatee. He wears a red hat on his head, white t-shirt, with some small patches of brown, red and blue around the collar, as well as red bermuda shorts. The shorts is tied with brown belt, which has something like a gun holster on both sides, though he doesn't have guns, but some flags in different colors. Finally, he has red jacket, and brown boots.
In front of the man, stood his Pokemon. A rather large Steelix.
The two, part ground type Pokemon, were standing across each other, and glaring at one another. Suddenly, they attacked.
XXX
For the next half an hour, Serena, Ash, May and Max, stood in the crowd, and watched the battles. In that time, Aarune has defeated two trainers, the one with the Rhydon, being the first, and after that, it was a guy with a Skarmory. Both have been defeated by Aarune's Steelix, but have managed to do some damage to the Steel/Ground Dual Type Pokemon, prompting Aarune to return it after the battle against Skarmory.
Finally, Serena decided that it was time for her to fight. She has watched those two battles, and in that time, she was able to study Aarune and his battle style, which is why she is confident enough to take on him.
Another thing that Serena has figured out… ok, she thinks she has figured it out, but still isn't 100% sure. She is 90% sure that the Pokemon that Aarune has, which can Mega Evolve… is Swampert. In Serena's opinion, it fits perfectly, as she has its pre-evolved form, and on top of that, Swampert is a part ground type. With Aarune being ground type trainer, it fits in.
Now, Serena doesn't know which Pokemon, Aarune is going to use, but there is a possibility that he will use Swampert, so she would normally have to choose a Pokemon, which is strong against Water and Ground type Pokemon. Normally, that would be Grass Type Pokemon, as they are stronger then both Water and Ground Type Pokemon, but surprisingly, Serena doesn't have a single Grass Type Pokemon. Not even a part Grass Type, which means that she can't use that.
Of the Pokemon Serena currently has with her, she can use Delphox, which is Fire/Psychic type Pokemon, but she doesn't want to use her strongest Pokemon, even if she can win with it, regardless if Swampert has some resistance from Delphox, as it's part Water Type.
The other five Pokemon she has with her are, Magnetone, Corphish, Bagon, Torkoal, and finally, Altaria.
Serena has transferred Altaria from Oak's Ranch, few days ago, as she has an Altarianite, and a Key Stone, so she wanted to train a little with her, and see if they can form a bond necessary for the Mega Evolution. So far, they were unsuccessful.
Not counting Delphox, the only Pokemon she has on hand, which can potentially go against a Mega Pokemon, would be Altaria, as Serena has had her for much longer than the other Pokemon, she has caught in the Hoenn Region. She got Altaria, as Swablu, back in Johto Region.
Magnetone, Corphish, Bagon and Torkoal, wouldn't have much of a chance against a Swampert, even in its normal form, let alone a Mega Form.
As such, Serena has decided to use her Altaria and see how it goes.
Seeing that the battlefield is empty again, save for Aarune, Serena walked ahead, and to the field. "I guess I'll be going next." Serena said, after she stepped on the battlefield.
Aarune looked at Serena, and narrowed his eyes at her. She seems familiar, but more than that, she seems way too relaxed going into battle with him, which doesn't seem right to him, considering that he has just defeated like... 17 trainers in raw, and hasn't lost a single match in a while.
The fact that she seems familiar to him, makes Aarune wonder from where he knows her.
"Ok," Aarune spoke. "If you want to battle me next, then so be it."
Serena nodded, and then walked to Aarune, before she introduced herself, and then gave him the 6000 Poke Dollars, which are a required fee for battling against Aarune. "My name is Serena Gomez. It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise," Aarune said, as he took the money and shock hands with Serena. "But tell me. Do I know you from somewhere? It's just... You look really familiar, but I can't remember from where."
Serena looked at Aarune, with surprise on her face. She wondered for a moment, from where he could know her, but then she remembered that she competed in the Silver Conference, so maybe it's from there. "Maybe it's from the Silver Conference," Serena said. "I competed there over a year ago."
"That's right," it has finally dawned on Aarune! "You are that girl who got to the quarter-finals, on her first try, where you lost against Ash Ketchum, who later won the tournament."
"Yeah," Serena nodded. "That would be me."
"Well, it seems we have a celebrity here," Aarune said with a smile, while the crowd cheered once they heard who Serena is, and now know that she is really good, so it promises a good match against Aarune. "Ok. Let's see what you've got."
Serena nodded, and went to her side of the battlefield, while Aarune stayed where he was.
The referee was standing on the side of the battlefield, from where he announced the match between Serena and Aarune. He then told them to choose their Pokemon, which they did.
"Come on out, Altaria!" Serena shouted as she released her Pokemon. At the same time, Aarune released his Pokemon. "It's finally your turn, Swampert!"
The two Pokemon appeared from their Poke Balls, with Altaria floating in the air, while Swampert stood on the battlefield. The two were across of each other, and were looking at their opponents.
Serena smirked when she saw that Aarune has chosen a Swampert, which means that she was right, and that the Pokemon that Aarune can Mega Evolve, is Swampert.
Aarune looked at Altaria with a surprise on his face. Altaria is a Dragon/Flying, dual type Pokemon, and with Swampert being a Water/Ground, Swampert's moves are all but useless. The only chance he would have is if he can outlast Altaria, or outgun it with its Mega Form.
Ash, May and Max looked at the two Pokemon, and while Ash smirked, as he realized that Serena must have figured out which Pokemon Aarune can Mega Evolve; May and Max were curious because they noticed a smirk on Serena's face.
"Why did Serena smirk, when she Swampert?" May asked. "Swampert is a tough opponent."
"It's probably because Altaria has a huge type advantage against Swampert," Max said. "Though, I doubt that Aarune - if he is as good as they say - doesn't have something up his sleeve, to fight against opponents, who have advantage over his Pokemon."
"Maybe you are right," Ash said. "But I guess we will have to wait and see. So, just watch. The battle is about to start."
The three of them, along with the rest of the crowd started cheering, when the referee started the battle.
"BEGIN!"
Aarune started the battle by telling his Swampert to use Mud Shot. Swampert then opened its mouth, and fired multiple glowing light blue balls at Altaria, who just stood on the ground and didn't do anything, until Serena told her to use Cotton Guard. Altaria was surrounded with blue energy, before her whole body was surrounded in a ball of cotton. When the mud balls hit the ball of cotton, they just pushed-in a little bit, before they all bounced back. The cotton then disappeared in a puff of smoke before Altaria glowed orange, raising her defense.
Aarune just looked with raised eyebrows for a moment, before he smirked. He knew that this was going to be a nice battle, and he was going to enjoy it more than all the other battles, he has had that day. He can also see that, if anyone is going to defeat him that day, it'll be Serena. He doubts that there is anyone else in the crowd, who can defeat him.
Serena then told her Altaria to use, Take Down, making her Dragon/Flying Type fly at Swampert, tackling it hard, and sending it flying backwards across the battlefield. Aarune tried to get Altaria, by having his Swampert use Hydro Pump, but in the end, even though the attack has hit Altaria, it didn't do much damage, because of Altaria's raised defense, from using Cotton Guard, earlier, and on top of that, Altaria has a resistance against Water Type attack, which means that while not completely immune, like with ground type attacks, the water attacks affect her much less then it's normal.
Serena then went with Aerial Ace, which made her Altaria disappear for a moment, before she instantly appeared behind Swampert. This time though, Aarune was prepared, because he told his Swampert to use, Protect. Serena and Altaria were caught off guard, when a light green energy surrounded Swampert, and made Altaria crush into it, before she was bounced back across the battlefield, making her cry in surprise and pain. Crushing into a solid barrier like that was very painful, even for a most powerful Pokemon, which Altaria is not, even though she is strong.
"Are you OK, Altaria," Serena asked her Pokemon, seeing that she was in pain, but still conscious? She was worried for her Pokemon, which was visible on her face and in her voice. "Can you continue?"
Altaria got back on her feet, looking a little banged-up from that crush, but overall, she was mostly fine, and ready to continue.
"That's a tough Altaria you've got there, Serena," Aarune said. "I expected nothing else. But let's see what it does next."
Aarune then told his Swampert to use Water Pulse, which made his Swampert's tailfin glow orange, before it started gathering water vapor from the air above its tail. Once enough water was collected, Swampert fired a geyser, from the water above its tailfin. Altaria was hit by this attack, and sucked into a water tornado.
Serena saw her Pokemon being thrown around the tornado, and while she knew that water itself isn't much of a problem for Altaria, the power of the tornado, and being tossed around like that, will wear Altaria out. So, Serena told her Altaria to use, Breaking Swipe, and use it on the tornado.
Altaria's tail glowed purple, while she was being tossed around the tornado, before she used all her strength to swing her tail, and hit the tornado with it. It actually took two hits to break the water tornado apart, and to release Altaria from its hold.
Wanting to use a chance, when she saw that Aarune and Swampert were surprise that Altaria managed to break herself free from the tornado, Serena told her Pokemon to use Braking Swipe, once again, but this time use it on Swampert.
Altaria flew at Swampert, and then lashed it across the face, with its tail, dealing it quite a bit of damage.
Swampert groaned, as it held its face in pain, from the hard lash it has just received. Aarune asked his Pokemon if he was ok, and once he received confirmation that it was fine, and can keep on battling, Aarune restarted the battle.
"Well then, you've certainly done better than most trainers have done today," Aarune said, as he looked at Serena. "I feel like that I should use it my all, and go all out to defeat you. Any other way, would feel unsatisfying. As such…" Aarune pushed his hand under the collar of his shirt, and pulled out a silver chain necklace, on which he has a Key Stone, attached. "It's time for, Mega Evolution."
As he said that, his Key Stone glowed, while at the same time, a Mega Stone which was attached to the chain, and then to the back of Swampert's neck; also started to glow. The two stones shot threads of multicolor light, which attached to each other, and caused Swampert to change in front of everyone's eyes.
A couple of seconds later, and Swampert was in its Mega Form, which makes it quite a bit different then it normally is. Definitely bulkier then normal Swampert is.
"Well, damn," Serena said. "I knew he was going to pull this off, but seeing it is still a surprise." She then looked at her Altaria, who was looking at the Mega Swampert, with surprise on her face. "Can we do this, Altaria?"
Altaria looked at Serena, before she nodded her head. "Good."
For the next few minutes, the battle didn't go well for Serena and Altaria. They were giving their all, but their best, was only able to barely keep up with Mega Swampert, and that's only because of the type advantage and speed. Mega Swampert was more powerful than Altaria, though, which is why it gained the advantage, and was closer to win the battle.
Swampert was actually able to do a lot of damage to Altaria, by using an Iron Tail and a Rock Throw, a Steel and Rock Type Attack's, which actually do work on a Dragon/Flying Type, like Altaria, as opposed to the Water and Ground Type Attacks. Those two attacks, are some of the few Aarune has taught his Swampert, to deal with opponents, who have a Type advantage.
Of course, Serena didn't give up, and was using everything she could, to have her Altaria keep-up with Mega Swampert. She has tried to do some damage by using a Dragon Dance, to increase the speed and power of her Altaria, before Altaria fired a Dragon Breath, which hit Swampert head-on, dealing it quite a bit of damage, and even paralyzing it on top of that.
Eventually though, Altaria started to grow weaker, as her attacks were simply weaker than the ones Swampert is hitting her with, which means that even though she is holding her own so far, she will lose her power and fall down, before her opponent.
"Don't give up, Altaria," Serena said to her Pokemon! "We can still do this, we just have to believe in ourselves. Right?"
Serena and Altaria locked eyes with each other for a few moments, as they looked at one another. Serena so she can show that she trusts in her Pokemon, while Altaria wanted to see the trust in Serena's eyes and not just hear it in her voice.
Few moments later - which felt like eternity for everyone else - Altaria nodded at Serena, before she looked back at Swampert and gave a high-pitched cry to the sky.
At that moment, a light started shining from the ring on Serena's left middle finger, much to her, and everyone else's surprise. The light also started shining from Altaria, more specifically, from the inside of the fluffy white feathers, just below her neckline.
Altaria gave a cry, as she was covered in the multicolored light, which engulfed her whole body. In front of everyone's eyes, Altaria changed. Her body became lighter blue in color, while the fluffy white feathers which only covered her arms, before, now grow from the back of her head, from her neck and from her whole back, even going far below her back, almost like a cloak made of clouds.
As soon as the transformation was complete, Altaria gave a cry in a voice which sounded even more beautiful than before.
"WOW, Altaria, you Mega Evolved!" Serena said in disbelief. She was hoping that this would happen, but not like this. She though that she has to initiate the transformation, but it seems that Altaria was able to initiate it for the first time, and finally Mega Evolve, something which she hasn't been able to do so far, for whatever reason.
Altaria gave a nod at Serena, while wearing a happy smile on her face. She was happy that she was able to truly form a bond with Serena, which is what she didn't have up until now, and it was the reason why she wasn't able to Mega Evolve all those times she tried during the training with Serena.
"Well then, let's show them what we're made of." Serena said, as she was ready to continue the battle.
From then on, the battle really went through the roof, so to say. Both trainers had their Pokemon throw their attacks, all over the place, trying to overpower the other through brute force, and without much planning. It was a straight up duel to see which Pokemon is stronger, and not to see which trainer is better.
Aarune had Swampert use some Fighting Type moves, like Focus Punch and Dynamic Punch, with occasional Hydro Pump, and Hydro Cannon; which aren't that effective against Altaria, or Mega Altaria, but he wasn't trying to do damage with the attacks themselves. Instead, every time Altaria was hit, even though the attack doesn't do much damage because of her resistance, she is always sent flying back and crushing into the ground. The attacks don't do damage, but falls like that, most certainly do.
Serena on the other hand, tried attacking with Hurricane, before she moved to some Fairy Type moves, because after she Mega Evolved; Altaria lost her Flying type, but gained a Fairy Type, which allowed her to use moves such as Play Rough and Moonblast, which have done quite a bit of damage to Swampert.
Serena almost ended up defeating herself, when she told her Altaria to use Sky Attack, but Aarune told his Swampert to use Protect. The crush has sent Altaria flying all the way behind Serena, and almost out of the stage. The judge was seconds from declaring Altaria unable to battle, and he would have, if by some miracle Altaria didn't push-through the pain, and managed to get up.
At that point, both Pokemon were very tired, injured, and barely holding their Mega forms from ending. Both Serena and Aarune knew this, so they decided to go all out, in one final attack, and see who the winner would be.
"Altaria, use Solar Beam!" Serena shouted.
"Swampert, use Hyper Beam!" Aarune shouted.
Altaria gathered energy in her mouth, and fired it at Swampert, who also fired a yellow/orange beam of energy, at Altaria. Serena and Altaria were lucky at that moment that the sun was hot on the sky, which allowed Altaria to gather the energy for her attack, much quicker then she normally would. If the sun was covered by the clouds, they would be in trouble.
The two attacks clashed in the middle of the battlefield, instantly creating a huge explosion, which covered them from the eyesight of everyone there, preventing anyone to see the end results of the match.