"Deidra Agrona has sent out her last Pokémon! I can't say I've ever seen this one in person before, but it seems to be quite the powerhouse! From the faraway Unova region, she's sent out a powerhouse just short of myth, in both rarity and power: Hydreigon!"
"Ah, it seems I was right," Professor Oak muttered, cupping his chin with his thumb.
"Another Pseudo-Legendary?" May asked. She could believe it, after getting a glance at the Brutal Pokémon down on the field. Ash's tense body language gave her the same impression.
"I believe so. I'm not quite as familiar with it, but Hydreigon is often argued to be a Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon hailing from the Unova region; it's often floated among the other powerhouse Dragon-type, Haxorus. But its relative rarity and power are argued to be a step ahead. If that's what Ash has ahead of him, then he's in for quite the battle."
"Looks like it," Drew agreed. "But in Ash's favor, look at the numbers."
"It's sure to be a valiant and exciting last stand, even as Ash has a tremendous lead in pure numbers — a resounding four Pokémon remaining against Deidra's one! Although they've all taken damage, this is an upset rarely seen as far as a Conference Finals!"
"So close," Dawn bunched her hands, narrowing her gaze. "Ash is so close!"
Brock laughed nervously. The tension was getting the better of him. "I'd think that you'd be ecstatic and lighting the crowd with your cheers. You feel as tense about this as I do?"
"I can't lie," Dawn replied. "This is great! He's got all the momentum! But, underestimating Deidra isn't a good idea. Not from what I've seen. He needs all of our support, right now."
"Em-pol!" Empoleon agreed.
"I'm glad I'm not alone," Delia said, smiling. "He can do it, though. I know he can!"
"I hope you've enjoyed your free reign," Deidra said, as Hydreigon stretched out their necks in an unsettling fashion. Her tone lacked any humor. Any goodwill built through the fight. "You've seen the last of it."
Ash laughed, adjusting the brim of his cap. "Maybe. But I'll never know, until I try!""
"Stay focused," Peeks cautioned. "We don't know what's coming next."
"I know," Ash agreed. He tapped a Poké Ball to grow into his palm, and tossed it into the air.
"Floatzel!"
"Zel…!" Floatzel appeared in front of Ash. He still bore scratches and burns, but he looked significantly more rested than at the start of the battle. He looked over his shoulder and grinned.
"Ash has chosen Floatzel! Although he was weary, he's had quite some time to recover!"
That uncertainty was all the more reason to take the initiative. "Rain Dance!"
Before Floatzel could so much as lift his paws, Deidra's shout echoed. "Tri Attack!"
Three crackling orbs flickered in each of Hydreigon's mouths — one fire elemental, one ice, and one lightning. They fired like cannon shots, ambushing Floatzel at a breakneck pace.
"Not enough time," Ash tutted. "Dodge it! Aqua Jet!"
Floatzel abandoned his setup, wrapping his body in a jet. It propelled him high above the Tri Attack; all three exploded in succession, highlighting his veil in reds, yellows, and blues,
"Hydro Pump!" Ash cried.
Colorful mist danced around the Water-type. He threw his head forward, spitting a torrent.
"Use Dragon Dance," Deidra said coldly.
Hydreigon started thrashing and spinning wildly, snapping their three sets of jowls in a slightly unsettling furor. In the process, Hydro Pump blasted them back towards Deidra.
'She just had them take it?' Ash questioned, but filed his thought away. "Dip Ice Punch in it!"
Floatzel was luckily familiar with this, after his brawl with Dragonite. His freezing paw dipped into the jet, freezing a crescent battering ram onto his forearm.
"Now, Rain Dance!"
Floatzel used his free paw, chucking a dense orb of moisture into the air. The night sky was quickly obscured with a blanket of dark gray, as a harsh downpour began.
"With a bit of struggle, Floatzel has set up Rain Dance! Both Pokémon have made an honest effort to build speed and attack power!"
"Charge in!" Ash punched the air. "Ice Punch!"
Floatzel sprinted and glided across the wet field with ease. drifting back and forth with puddles splashing beneath his aquadynamic feet, he quickly closed the gap. He swung at Hydreigon.
Hydreigon's three heads weaved. All three of them wormed their way around the ice.
Floatzel grit his teeth in frustration. "Zel! Float! Zel!" Swinging his body about in an orange blur, he wielded the frost like a weapon, prioritizing backhands and haymakers intermittently.
Hydreigon's backing off, weaving, and ducking under proved his efforts futile, however.
"Use Crunch."
Floatzel tried to retract his paw. All three heads gnashed into the ice, startling him and yanking him in. "Float!" He cried, pulling back. His heart raced, as sharp fangs and powerful jaws gnashed the ice into pieces.
"Maintain your airspace!" Deidra ordered. In lockstep with her, Hydreigon retreated into the air.
"Dragon Dance!" She followed; the Brutal Pokémon followed her every word in sequence.
'That's weird,' Ash thought, squinting. Hydreigon moved like… a puppet. He shook the thought off. He had no time for overthinking. "Ice Aqua Jet! Give 'em all you've got!"
Floatzel twisted on slick terrain, surrounding himself in a churning powerful veil, twice as large as usual. He continued to spin, propelling himself towards the airborne dragon. Icy paws twisted around him in rapid succession, freezing his Aqua Jet into a proper iceberg. Hydreigon was within his sights; moments from collision.
"Use Tri Attack!"
Hydreigon shot another three projectiles from his mouth. The fire hit first, hissing away to melt the Ice Aqua Jet. The ice came second, refreezing and fracturing the jet until it splintered.
The lightning came last, detonating in a very contained thunderstorm.
"Floatzel!" Ash cried.
Shattered ice dropped in a small avalanche. The orange weasel fell belly up, too, unconscious.
The referee raised a flag. "Floatzel is unable to battle! Hydreigon wins!"
"Aww…!" Misty groaned, hitting her seat with her palm. "I was really rooting for Floatzel."
"Dude. I know he was already beat up, but Floatzel made, like, no headway," Koda said.
"Even with Swift Swim, he wasn't fast enough," Max grumbled. He gripped the fabric of his shorts. 'C'mon, Ash. Knock her out of the League, already! I know you can do it!'
"Thanks, Floatzel. Sit the rest of this out." Ash recalled the Sea Weasel, clipping him back to his belt. "Alright," he exhaled, taking a moment to calm himself. "That could've gone better, but…"
He threw his next. Staraptor appeared, fanning his wings with a shrill cry.
"I'm back for more? Very well! Let's end this, and claim our hard-earned victory!"
"Floatzel is out, and Staraptor is back in! Like their comrade, they've taken plenty of damage. Will the blood-tinted bird fare better, with their command of the skies!?"
Floatzel's downpour continued. Raindrops tapped the field and accrued puddles in succession.
Deidra was silent, sparing Ash not a glance of acknowledgement.
"Let's do this!" Ash gestured a hand forward. "Aerial Ace!"
"Staaar…!" Staraptor shot toward Hydreigon like a bullet. But, the benefits of being a Flying-type were great. Before making contact, he shot up towards the sky, looping back around for the kill.
"Dragon Dance," Deidra commanded. "Use it to weave around them."
Hydreigon started to spin and snarl, pivoting out of the way of Aerial Ace. Staraptor looped back around with a squawk of effort. Each time, Hydreigon floated wayward; up, down, and around. A red aura bathed the Brutal Pokémon. Unconventional movements left them unscathed.
"They've gotten so fast…!" Ash grit his teeth in frustration.
"Tri Attack!"
Fire, ice, and lightning crackled in Hydreigon's maw. All three fired towards Staraptor.
"Dodge that!"
Staraptor turned belly-up, plummeting back down towards the field. He could hear the sizzling and hissing of all three projectiles behind him. Moments before colliding with the ground, he executed a loop, and Tri Attack detonated beneath him. Smoke flooded the field, disguising him.
"Star!" Staraptor shot out of the smoke, flanking Hydreigon. His beak aimed at their back.
"Fend them off! Crunch!"
The main head craned their neck backwards, snapping at Staraptor. Startled and flustered, the bird squawked, flapping his wings to pull off to a safe distance.
"Use Tri Attack."
Red, blue, and yellow fired in succession at the retreating Predator Pokémon.
"Use Hyper Beam!" Ash cried, waving a hand.
Magmatic orange gathered in front of Staraptor's open beak. He fired the concussive blast.
Three deafening explosions went off in a chain reaction. Thick, inky smoke banketed the field.
"What has happened!? Hyper Beam and Tri Attack made direct contact! It's hard to see the battle right now, but Hydreigon rises above the ashes! Is Staraptor down for good!?"
From his vantage point on the field, Ash knew better. Staraptor laid low, resting his body on solid ground. He was breathing heavily, recovering his strength from Hyper Beam. He was exhausted. The cool rain was a nice reprieve, until it finally died out. The skies cleared.
"Just hang low," Ash coached. "Wait until you recover from Hyper Beam." Even so, he couldn't see beyond the smoke. He'd heard that Hydreigon was up high, but why?
"Use Dragon Dance, once more!"
"Well, that answers my question," Ash said, gritting his teeth.
"Hydreigon uses Dragon Dance for the fourth time! They're approaching maximum speed and attack power, making the most of Hyper Beam's recoil! Will this come back to bite Ash and the rest of his team!?"
The crimson aura came and went, as Hydreigon finished their dance. Deidra nodded her chin. "Corner them. Use Crunch, and finish it."
The monstrous silhouette of Hydreigon crept through the veil of smoke, and they broke for it Hydreigon was upon a grounded Staraptor, snarling with hunger. They snapped at him.
"Close Combat!" Ash cried.
Hydreigon's right head snapped at Staraptor, only to be backhanded by his wing.
Staraptor pushed himself belly up, and kicked the main head in the face. A black blur forced him to push himself off his belly with his wings, flying backwards, belly-up in a fretting escape. Hydreigon was already upon him, nipping and snapping at him. He frantically kicked at them, but it was hard to keep up. His heart was pounding. Feathers were being nipped off.
"They're too fast, now!" Ash exclaimed. "Even Close Combat isn't enough!"
Of course. Close Combat! Staraptor reached Ash's conclusion before the words could leave his lips, and past experience served him. He swung his wings backhanded, smacking them against the ground. The recoil sent him flying skyward, out of the clearing smoke.
"Close Combat provides a daring escape! Even the dogfighting Staraptor is having trouble!"
Staraptor hung above, breathing a sigh of relief. He was… What was that foreboding feeling? Why had his blood run cold?
"Staraptor!" Ash cried. "Behind you!"
A black blur swept behind and above Staraptor. The unnerving specter of Hydreigon hung over him, like something out of a nightmare.
"Crunch! Bring it to heel."
Staraptor's eyes shrunk to pinpoints. Sharp fangs dug into his wings and back, locking him in place. He wheezed, and his body started to feel limp. Blood red eyes fluttered weakly.
"Staraptor has been seized by Crunch! What a terrifying opponent!"
"Oh, Staraptor…!" May gasped, cupping her hands over her mouth. "How horrible!"
"That Hydreigon is a freak of nature," Drew muttered. "I've never seen anything like it."
"I believe we're seeing why they're known as the Brutal Pokémon," Oak mulled, frowning.
"Just how are you going to get yourself out of this one, Ash…?"
"Staraptor…" Ash's fist trembled at his side. There was nothing he could do, and he knew it. All of his physical moves were held at bay, and he was facing the wrong way to use Hyper…
His eyes widened. "That's it! Staraptor, use Hyper Beam toward the ground!"
The avian's eyes shot open. Unable to move his body one way or another, he fired a blast from his mouth. The concussive force sent him and Hydreigon flying higher; coating both in its glow.
Hydreigon snarled, maintaining his lock on the bird's body stubbornly.
"Hydreigon! Release them!" Deidra cried authoritatively.
Hydreigon immediately did so, and Staraptor was sent soaring past them.
"There!" Ash cried, waving a hand. "Now bring it back down!"
Staraptor threw his head down, directing a sweeping beam toward Hydreigon.
"Use Tri Attack!"
The fiery orb made impact with the root of the beam, near Staraptor's beak. He cried, recoiling away from the explosion. Frost numbed his body, and electricity surged through him explosively.
Staraptor dropped from the sky, trailing smoke. Unconscious.
Ash tutted, holding out Staraptor's Poké Ball. The red ray of light recalled him. "You did great."
"Hydreigon's brutal assault continues! The momentum Ash enjoyed has come to a screeching halt, as he's now down to two Pokémon to Deidra's one, with basically no headway!"
"Yeah, things are starting to look tight for us, huh?" Ash laughed, clipping Staraptor to his belt.
"A little," Peeks agreed. "But we've still got Rosa, and you still have me!"
Ash smirked, nodding at his partner. "You've been watching, right? I know it's gonna come down to you, in the end. We're gonna have to use everything we can learn about that guy to win."
Peeks smirked, cocking a brow at Ash. "Would you assume anything else?"
Ash laughed. "Not for a moment. But for now…" His gaze became stern. He picked up his final Poké Ball. "I'm going to give it my best shot! Rosa… I'm counting on you!"
Rosemary appeared, rotating her arm and stretching her neck out. ~A longer break would've been nice. But I can work with this.~ At the very least, her stamina had recovered.
"Sorry," Ash chuckled. "Best I can do. You up to help us pull in the win?"
Rosa smiled at Ash. ~I promised, didn't I? I'm fighting with you 'till the end.~
Ash nodded, smiling. He pointed towards his opponent. "Deidra! I told you about the bond between me and Rosa… Now we're going to show you just how far that bond goes!"
"Don't insult me with your clichés!" Deidra shouted back. Her gaze was icy, just as it'd been when they'd met. Piercing through him, rather than meeting his own. "Be silent, and fight."
"Alright, Rosa! Mama's cheering you on, girl!" Dawn hopped out of her seat. This time, Lopunny was privy, hopping up to piggyback on Dawn's shoulders instead.
"Beat the scales off that bastard!" Lopunny whooped.
"What happened to your decorum?" Empoleon scoffed, before waving a wing. "I'd tell you to beat them black and blue, little Rosemary, but they already are! Go, and claim your valor!"
"Oh, they're so full of excitement…" Delia could only glow, despite the change in stakes. "I guess I'll have to cheer hard for my granddaughter, too!"
"Rosa's a good match for Hydreigon," Brock thought aloud. "But I'm a little concerned."
"Oh, Brock. I'm sure Ash can find a way!" Delia reassured him. "Just give him a chance!"
"No, not that," the student dismissed. "It's Deidra. Ash has only ever talked about how cold and distant she's been towards him… Until today. Through the battle, she seemed more and more amicable with Ash. But as soon as she was brought down to Hydreigon, her demeanor changed, and in a big way. I can't help but wonder why."
"Now that you mention it, that is strange," Delia agreed. "But that's not for Ash to worry about!"
"If I know him, I have to imagine he already is," Brock mulled quietly.
Dawn paid Ash's opponent no mind, cheering and waving her pom poms with enthusiastic vigor. "Fight, fight, Rosemary! Punch on through to victory!"
"Okay… Let's do this!" Ash pivoted sideways, drawing back an open palm. "Aura Sphere!"
Rosemary mimicked his stance, summoning an Aura Sphere in her paw. She roared, pitching it overhand. The blast spun a swift path for the Brutal Pokémon.
"Hydreigon! Move," Deidra ordered sharply.
Without warning, Hydreigon stretched into a dark blur, and disappeared.
"Hydreigon is gone! What speed!"
Rosemary's eyes remained glued to the Aura Sphere, however. It came around in an arc, shooting back towards Ash's end of the field in a sharp left turn. She followed the arc, and felt a presence looming up behind her.
"Now! Bone Rush!"
A staff spawned into her paw. She felt the chill of danger and spun around, twirling her staff to strike Hydreigon in all three heads with a backsweep. Hydreigon snarled, hovering close.
"Use Crunch," Deidra ordered. "Crush it."
One of Hydreigon's puppet heads gnashed down on Bone Rush, wrestling it from the Aura Pokémon. Their main head gnashed down on the staff, crushing it to pieces.
A familiar teal glow highlighted her back. Rosa smirked, and dove into a backflip.
Aura Sphere soared under her, approaching Hydreigon at point-blank range.
"Use Tri-Attack!"
A three-pronged blast obliterated Aura Sphere. The shockwave sent a crying Lucario flying. She was sent sliding across the field, catching herself on her paw.
"Several sneak attacks, back to back! Rosemary's crafty battling holds the line!"
"Use Dragon Dance!" Deidra cried.
The Brutal Pokémon hovered above the fallout, snapping and spinning wildly. Their attack and speed pushed towards its zenith, earning cries of excitement and worry from the crowd alike.
"If they keep this up, it's do or die,' Ash growled. He raised his palms. "Aura Storm!"
The night sky paled in comparison to the light in Rosa's core. It was pushed outward, forming a gigantic burst of energy. She roared with effort, throwing it overhead.
"Aura Storm returns! Copycat is out, making way for a new signature attack!"
Aura Storm burst, and a blitz of Aura Spheres ambushed Hydreigon.
"Retreat! To the right!" Deidra commanded.
Hydreigon stretched into a blur that was all but invisible in the night sky. The audience's only clue as to where they were was the Aura Storm veering to the left, giving chase.
Hydreigon flew loops around the storm at Deidra's command. Several of the Aura Spheres made contact, detonating and thinning the herd.
"Hydreigon is stubbornly giving Aura Storm the slip. But the bulk of those glimmers in the night sky are persisting like a swarm of buzzing Beedrill! They can't shake them off!"
"Charge in," Deidra ordered, pointing towards Rosa.
Hydreigon barrel rolled around an Aura Sphere, and plummeted towards the Lucario. Storms of dust kicked up in their wake, and the barrage came down like a meteor shower.
Ash's eyes widened. "She's turning them on us! Get ready!"
~Right!~
"There's one behind you! Pull out of the way!" Deidra commanded.
Hydreigon quickly pulled up, and an Aura Sphere plummeted past them.
"Start running!" Ash coached.
Rosemary sprinted away from the coming ambush, conjuring a Bone Rush in her paws at Ash's urging. One Aura Sphere after another detonated, blowing splinters of earth away.
An Aura Sphere was coming from directly overhead. She jammed her staff into the earth and vaulted into a handstand, striking it with a bicycle kick. It was sent flying back to Hydreigon.
Meanwhile, another Aura Sphere pursued her from a dust cloud.
She yanked out the Bone Rush, flipping onto her feet. A spinning sweep knocked it back home.
Hydreigon snarled, as two Aura Spheres detonated against their scaldy hide. They roared angrily, craning their necks to look for the perpetrator. A blue figure shot out of the smoke.
"Meteor Mash!"
Starlight and diamond dust leaked from Rosemary's fist. she swung at the dragon's jaw.
"Seize her! Crunch!"
Hydreigon wormed their way out of Rosemary's path. They pulled behind her. There was nothing the Lucario could do, as sharp fangs gnashed into her shoulder.
"Ack!"
"The Meteor Mash ambush failed! Hydreigon has captured Rosemary in a nasty jawlock!"
"Damn it," Ash hissed under his breath. "...Wait. She said Crunch." That was a Dark-type move.
Hydreigon's barbaric and underhanded attacks ignited something deep within the Aura Guardian. A gold aura burst around her body, making Hydreigon squint in pain. Her chest spike jutted out like a lance. The spikes on her wrists grew into sturdy hooked blades.
"Ash's Lucario powers up! It looks like Justified has increased her attack power!"
"That's how we roll!" Ash boasted, pumping a fist. "Rosa! Meteor Mash! Backhanded!"
Rosa wrestled for freedom, but found her entire left side immobile. Instead, she flexed her other arm, coating her wrist spike in starlight. "Riah!" She cried, striking over her shoulder.
Meteor Mash slashed at one of the smaller heads, jabbing several scales off. They hissed. The other puppet-like head snarled and chomped at her locked arm. The main head bit down.
Rosemary winced.
"Release them!" Deidra cried; not a tactical cry, but a command. "Do it now!"
Hydreigon seemed to snap out of their furor, and unlatched their jaws. Rosemary fell.
"We won't prolong this," Deidra said matter-of-factly. "Use Dragon Dance."
Ash watched Hydreigon thrash from above. A familiar voice echoed in his head.
~Pa. Deidra is scrambling for control. She and Hydreigon aren't in sync.~ Rosemary landed roughly, rolling onto one knee. ~It's like she's treating Hydreigon as an extension of her.~
Ash's face screwed up in confusion. "Whaddya mean by that?"
~You should take your own advice,~ she answered.
Ash blinked, unsure what to make of her words.
~Fighting Deidra won't be enough to get through to her,~ she elaborated. ~You'll have to reach out to her heart. Be prudent, and be vulnerable.~ Why did those words sound so familiar to him?
"Rosa, where's all this coming from?" Ash asked. He sounded disarmed.
~I feel my time in this fight is coming to an end.~
Rosemary's warning came in time, just as Deidra called for Tri-Attack.
"Rosa…" Ash grit his teeth. There was no time to mull over her words. He'd have to take them, and trust them. "Okay. We might as well go down swinging!" He punched the air. "Aura Storm!"
The Knight of Rota forced another orb into her paws, summoning all of her fighting spirit left. It flickered and wobbled, roughly half as impressive as the last. She roared, firing it into the air.
It burst into many small blasts, coming into the path of elemental bombs. They pelted the dropping attacks one after another. The ice shot ricocheted off course, and another Aura Sphere burst it into frost. The lightning shot was bounced between three more, detonating into sparks.
The fire shot made it through, striking Rosemary without remorse. Blazes consumed the field.
Ash guarded himself with his arms; his jacket billowing from the heat. "Rosa…!"
Rosemary stood, slack and hunched over. Covered in scorches, she breathed heavily. Her eyes turned up to Hydreigon, and then back to a tense Deidra. ~...Sorry. Leaving it to you, again.~
She collapsed. Smoke and ashes scattered to the wind.
"Lucario is unable to battle!" The referee called. "Hydreigon wins!"
"Ash loses one after another! His Lucario put up an impressive fight, but Hydreigon has brushed off that damage with plenty of gumption to spare! The diminishing returns of fighting with Pokémon who have already seen battle have finally fallen in Deidra's favor!"
"What the heck are you doing out there, Twerp!?" Jessie hissed, squeezing an unfortunate Meowth in a bearhug. "You were beating that snob, four-to-one! Don't you go choking on us!"
"Ack…! She's…!" Meowth choked, squirming his way out of Jessie's arms. He coughed. "She's a monstah. I don't t'ink anybody but Pikachu could get rid o' that triple chomper."
"If that Pikachu's half of what you make him out to be, then I might still put money on it," Slide said. She'd just finished wriggling a wad of cash from an audience member's wallet and tucked it in her fur, hopping up on James's shoulder.
"Yeah… Yeah! You got a point, slide!" Meowth snapped his fingers. "Dis is Pikachu we're talkin' about!"
"Yes, you're right!" James cheered. "The mouse of a thousand blast-offs! Of course he can win!"
"Rosa…" Ash held her occupied Poké Ball, clutching it tightly. "Guess I gotta take your words to heart," he muttered. He took a deep breath, and met Deidra's eye. "Hey, Deidra!" He shouted.
The woman didn't respond.
"Your Hydreigon's amazing!" He said, grinning.
She bore her canines. "Don't delay the inevitable with empty platitudes!"
"There's nothing empty about it," Ash said. "In fact… Why not show Lance how great they are?"
Mutters of confusion echoed in the audience. Deidra took in their prying, and loathed it. "Shut your mouth!" She barked. "Don't presume to understand our clan's matters!"
"I've picked up on how you battle with Hydreigon," Ash continued, ignoring her dismissal. "I understand how you feel, but you're not giving them your trust. You're talking to them like a weapon; not a partner. And I know you're better than that!"
Hydreigon's three heads wormed around in confusion. Their immediate expectation for combat dulled, as it became clear that there was going to be a lul. They looked at Deidra expectantly.
"What would you know about us!?" Deidra snapped. She breathed heavily, digging her nails into her palm. "What would you know about control slipping through your fingers; your hubris coming back to bleed you and the people you care about!?"
Her lower lip trembled. Hot tears spilled from both of her eyes. Feelings bottled for years spilled free. "...About cutting a divide between… between you and the one who trusts you most!?"
The entirety of Indigo League Stadium was captured in a spell of discomfort and confusion. Hundreds of people abuzz with the heart-stopping thrill of the battle quieted. Some murmured words of confusion; of scandal. Many eyes turned upon the VIP box hosting the Champion.
Lance, for his part, hugged his arms across his chest. His fingers drummed anxiously on his bicep. As a beacon of certainty and commanding words, he found himself at a loss for them. Great regret started to bubble under the surface. Concern dominated any sense of shame.
He felt a small, kind hand on his shoulder. President Goodshow's bushy beard turned up in a smile. "Calm yourself," he soothed. "I believe we can trust Ash to handle this."
Lance hummed thoughtfully. "...I do hope you're right."
"It seems that our competitors are talking out some personal matters. In exchange for the stunning skill and excitement they've offered us tonight, I suggest that we all be patient just a bit longer. We may even learn a thing or two, as we have with Ash before!"
Ash looked up to the emcee's station and nodded, grateful. "I know a lot about that," he resumed, returning his attention to Deidra. "Just a few months ago, I was there, too."
"Ash!?" Delia exclaimed. Her hand nervously over her heart. "Just what do you think you're saying…?" She bit her lip. "Oh, he knows where this story leads…"
"I don't think this is a good idea," Brock grumbled. "All of that, on live television? Maybe he should reconsider this speech." On the other hand, knowing Ash, it'd be easier to wrestle an Onix than talk him out of something once he'd set his mind to it.
"It's fine," Dawn said. "If Ash thinks this is the right thing to do, then I believe him."
"I get supporting him," Brock replied, frowning. "But you do understand the risks?"
"Of course I do." Dawn nodded. She clasped her hands together under her pom poms. "But I had an experience like this too. Where a rival or two of mine needed to understand where our pain and experience came from. Where it helped them understand their own problems."
The crowd was still abuzz, waiting on Ash's next word.
"He knows what he's doing. No need to worry!"
"I have a lot of people who care about me, and support me," Ash explained. "But they always say the same thing, without fail: that I don't think things through. When someone, or something is on the line, I'll throw myself into danger, no matter how much it worries them!"
Peeks nodded sagely. "Don't I know it."
"Patient number one, right here," Ash laughed, offering his arm to Peeks. The mouse jumped up to scale his shoulder. "And heck, it's basically an open secret at this point," he joked, gesturing to the audience. "But I've been getting into it with Team Rocket, over the past couple months. You've all heard of the Silph Vigilantes, right?"
Scattered words of confusion echoed, from those who hadn't kept up with the news. Coos of concern, from those who had. Enthusiastic cheers, from those who appreciated his heroism.
"And I wasn't alone for that! But I made the mistake of believing that I was. And that mistake… hurt my best friend in the world." His fingers tenderly scratched the top of Peeks's head.
The mouse purred, leaning into his palm.
"And you find that comparable?" Deira's eye narrowed. "A paltry misunderstanding?"
"Hey, little misunderstandings can pile up!" Ash countered. "First you're brushing off his worries, then they get mad and they start overlooking yours. Suddenly, they don't wanna see their own flaws and bite back at you, so you do it, too. You keep jabbing at each other, and then before you know it, that person isn't even talking to you anymore."
Peeks nestled into Ash's neck. They were beyond saying sorry, as they'd promised weeks ago. The memories were still tender, though. He still had days where he muttered apologies.
"Those were the worst days of my life," Ash said with a somber note. Despite it, he grinned, tapping his scarred cheek with his index finger. "It hurt a heck of a lot more than this baby, I'll tell you that much!"
Peeks bemusedly rolled his eyes.
"But when it came down to it, I needed to trust my best friend. We needed to put their faith in each other and break down those walls." He brushed his cheek against Peeks. "Now, we're closer than ever!"
"Cripes. Did we really do that much damage to the Twerp and Pikachu!?" James asked, recoiling with guilt. "Even as a rotten villain, I feel more putrid than a week-old banana peel."
"Oy vey. I think we owe it to the Twoip and that cutie Pikachu to root for 'em, now." Meowth said flatly, as he hung over one of the seats for a view. His ears hung over, reflecting his gloom.
Jessie bit her nail, face screwed up with conflicting feelings. She liked being an evil mastermind. But, something about the Twerp being so… vulnerable made her uncomfortable.
"Maybe it's for the best that we're not chasing Pikachu, anymore."
"But, that's what makes me want to be strong." Ash tightened a fist, meeting Deidra's eye. "Strong enough that I don't have to worry. Strong enough to know nothing can come between me and my Pokémon — not a misunderstanding, and not someone trying to tear them away!"
"That's our promise!" Peeks echoed emphatically.
"That's why I want to face the Champion's League," Ash explained. His tightened fist was punched into the air with a cry of declaration. "That's why I want, one day, to be Champion!"
"Ohoh!" Mr. Goodshow chortled, leaning forward in his seat. "What did I tell you? He's a natural."
"Indeed… Indeed he is." Lance cupped his chin thoughtfully. Surprising even himself, he smiled. "He's come a long way from the day we met. I only hope he can inspire the same in Deidra."
"Holy bologna. That dude gives killer speeches," Jimmy whistled.
"He's a real crowd pleaser, too!" Marina giggled, pointing toward the stadium. "Just listen!"
"Ketchum! Ketchum! Ketchum! Ketchum!"
"What a speech! You heard it here first, ladies and gentleman — A hometown hero has spoken his heart, and thrown down the gauntlet — a statement of victory with no shortness of compassion for his stalwart opponent! Make sure to dry those tears, folks!"
Deidra, herself, couldn't believe her eye and ears. An entire stadium — an entire region heard their innermost thoughts and fears. She hadn't been scolded or admonished. She wasn't feared.
How could she even feel resentment? How could anyone hate the boy before her?
She cried. Silently, she cried, wiping at her eyes. "I presumed so much of you," she admitted. "I presumed privilege, and airheaded arrogance. I owe you many apologies, Ash Ketchum."
"Hey, don't look at me!" Ash said, smiling. "Look at Hydreigon! And anyone else important to you," he winked, nodding towards the VIP box. "Hydreigon wants to fight by your side, y'know."
"...Yes. Indeed. I apologize for withholding my trust," she steadied her way through spilling tears. "For hiding you away from the world. Will you join me, Hydreigon?"
The Brutal Pokémon floated closer to their trainer, and brushed their foremost head against the scarred side of her face. One puppet-like head wrapped around her, while the other nudged her large bang away from her face. Hydreigon licked away the tears spilling from her blind eye.
Coos and awes of admiration hit her ears. She almost couldn't believe them.
She never thought she'd see the day.
"Hydreigon… Thank you," she uttered, embracing the dragon, before releasing him. "And thank you, Ash. Your convictions are far beyond my imagination. They've surpassed even my own." She regained her ferocious candor, pointing at him with a forthright stomp. "But I'm going to surpass you again, and defeat you!"
"That's the spirit!" Ash cheered. "You'll show the world how great Hydreigon is, and I'll show the world how great Peeks is!" Without further ado, Ash grinned, reaching to grip the brim of his cap, turning it toward the back of his head. "Peeks!" He cried, gesturing a hand toward the fray.
"Pikapi!" Peeks cried happily, crossing to sprint down his arm, somersaulting onto all fours.
"...I choose you!"
"I've gotta hand it to 'im," Drew said, leaning on his armrest. "The guy's a miracle worker."
May sniffled, wiping tears out of her eyes. "He may worry us, and do and say some dumb things, sometimes. But there's no one with more heart in the world than our Ash."
"You know, I should take offense to that," Drew snorted. "But, I can't even argue with you."
A smile stretched to the wrinkled corners of Professor Oak's face, as he nodded approvingly. Grandfatherly pride warmed his heart. "When one is in need, Ash is reliable, indeed."
"Ash has chosen his Pikachu, to nobody's surprise! This is the final round!"
The clamoring and cheering finally started to die down to a mild rumble. Ash could hear his heart in his ears, and the faint scratch of dirt under his sneaker as he steadied his posture. Sweat dripped down his rigid brow. His fists balled up.
Peeks leaned forward, ears and tail alert.
Deidra stood upright, by contrast, arms crossed.
Hydreigon hissed in eager anticipation.
"Okay! Let's do it!" Ash shouted. "Use Zippy Zap!"
"Ka!" A golden aura of lightning burst around Peeks, and then glimmered the full spectrum of the rainbow. He shot across the field in an instant.
Hydreigon cried. Peeks smashed into the dragon's hide, leaving a trail of colorful stardust.
"Seize him! Crunch!"
Peeks ricocheted before Hydreigon could snatch him, carried up into the air by Zippy Zap.
"Peeks shows off a new move! 'Zippy Zap' confounds Hydreigon with its speed!"
Deidra frowned. "Use Tri Attack!"
Hydreigon shook off the cracking blow, and spat fire, ice, and lightning in return.
"Counter, with Thunderbolt!" Ash cried.
"Piiika… Chuuu!" Peeks cried, firing his Thunderbolt. It caught all three shots in its radius. First of all, the lightning shot illuminated and fed on Thunderbolt. It exploded violently, sending a crying Peeks flipping back down towards earth. He slid across the field on all fours.
"Crunch!"
Hydreigon lurched out of the smoke, gnashing down on Peeks.
"Iron Tail!"
Peeks coated his tail in steel, bringing it up to guard his hide from Hydreigon's jowls. They clamped down on his tail, yanking him into the air.
"Now, use Thunderbolt!" Ash swiped a hand through the air.
Peeks sent a hundred thousand volts through the snapping beast, making them seize and thrash about in agony. As long as he was in their grip, he'd keep pouring it on.
"Send him into the air!" Deidra commanded, raising a hand.
Hydreigon spun around at great velocity, whiplashing Peeks before flinging him into the sky.
The sudden lurch was dizzying, but Peeks shook it off in midair with a gasp. He still had hangtime, and that was enough for him to assess his surroundings. His ears stood up; the sound of a fast-moving foe came from all directions. Smears of Hydreigon's silhouette stood out under the headlights, appearing and disappearing at random. Their speed was unfathomable.
"They've got us surrounded," Ash muttered through grit teeth. "Flush 'em out! Counter Shield!"
"Pi-kaaaah!" Peeks started to spin and dance in mid-air, unleashing a far-reaching Thunderbolt.
Flails of lightning whipped through the air in steady swings, orbiting Peeks in greater density by the second. The charge made his cheeks burn, somewhat, but he only needed to last until—
"Draaaghgah!" Hydreigon cried in pain. To Peeks's left, they were seized by lightning.
"Got 'em!" Ash cheered. "Now, use Zippy Zap!"
Rainbow lightning propelled Peeks like a bullet, once again. He smashed his skull into Hydreigon's, and then zig-zagged back towards the battlefield below.
"Follow it up with Electro Ball!"
The Electric Mouse slid across solid ground, throwing his momentum into a swing of his hips. A bundle of gold gathered on the end of his tail, rapidly growing due to his speed. "Pika-Pika-Pika… Chu—Pi!" He swung around, firing a blast that dwarfed him.
"You're persistent," Deidra praised. "But it's not nearly enough. Use Outrage!"
"Graaah!" Hydreigon burst in a royal gold and cyan aura, writhing about in fury. Their first target was their most immediate one — the Electro Ball. They lurched towards it, decimating it in a straightforward tackle. They brute forced their way through, appearing before Peeks in a blink.
The mouse gasped. He was completely in their shadow.
"Fight back, with Iron Tail!"
"Chuuu…!" Peeks spun his way towards the hydra, smashing their puppet head with his iron hammer. "Pi-ka! Ka! Chu! Pi! Ka!" He spun his body in rapid succession, saber-rattling with the three-headed Brutal Pokémon. He was doing a good job irritating them, but each twist left them nipping and raring to seize him.
Finally, Hydreigon's chin smashed into Peeks's skull, sending him flying.
"Pi-kaaah!" He cried, catching himself on all fours. Dust clouds rose around him as he coughed, trying to regain his bearings. "This guy's not giving us a break!"
"This may be our time actually," Ash replied. "Look!"
Hydreigon was teetering and crying in a confused fury. Outrage's side effect had kicked in.
"Now! Grab onto Hydreigon and give 'em the shock of their life!"
"On it!" Peeks sprinted, lunging for his steadily dropping foe. He had all the airtime needed to cling to their odd wings and deliver a painful shock.
Unfortunately, that opportunity never came. All three heads bashed together, and simultaneously, smashing Peeks's spine. The mouse was rattled and plummeted to earth.
He broke the unstable ground, brittle and full of faults after the long battle. Peeks sank into a deep pit, halfway buried in rubble.
"Peeks, no!" Ash cried in worry. "The Outrage didn't last…!?"
"We're very conscious of the extent of Hydreigon's power," Deidra explained. "As you can imagine, we'd like to avoid unfortunate outcomes. They've been trained to bash their heads together and eliminate confusion as soon as they enter that state."
Ash grit his teeth in frustration. "That's impressive, but it's a problem for us…"
"It's a fierce fight on both ends! Peeks has been buried in a brutal counterattack!"
"There's no way she's that strong!" Max exclaimed, leaning forward in his seat.
"This is bad," Misty frowned, gripping her seat. "Now Peeks is cornered. Do something, Ash!"
"A valiant effort," Deidra praised. "But he's trapped. This battle is over. Tri Attack!"
Two vicious rounds of Tri Attack rained in succession, as Peeks yanked himself out of the rock and rubble at the bottom of the pit he'd found himself in. He looked up, and grimaced. "Pika…"
"He's stuck… He can't move!" Ash's jaw locked, as he tried to think of a quick escape. 'Our only answer is to knock those Tri Attacks out of the way. But how… That's it!'
The mental image of Rosemary's Aura Storm knocking Tri Attack about replayed in his mind.
"Peeks, I need your good aim!" Ash shouted. "Knock 'em away, with Electro Ball!"
Peeks's beady black eyes reflected brilliant primary colors; like fireworks in the night sky coming down to earth. He steeled his gaze and raised his tail, summoning lightning. "Pika-Pika-Pika…!"
He dropped a paw on the rock below him, and swung his hips into the air. "Chu-Pi!"
Electro Ball shot out of the pit, bouncing off one of the icy shots. It hit at just the right angle to bounce off of it, knocking and detonating the first lightning shot. It knocked the fire, then the next ice, and then the lightning again. Each prong of Tri Attack ricocheted out of bounds, and Electro Ball gained velocity with each one; so much so that it was too large for Hydreigon to avoid.
They cried, as a deafening flash of lightning consumed them.
"Electro Ball holds the line! Amazing aim from Ash's Pikachu!"
Deidra huffed, but nodded towards the pit. "After him."
It was hard to see anything, underground. The field's spotlights were drowned out by black smoke, and that was all Peeks could see, until a monstrous shadow loomed over. Hydreigon descended, cornering Peeks up against a rocky wall. He stepped back as far as he could.
"Great…"
"Use Crunch," Deidra ordered from above.
One of the puppet-esque heads snapped at him. He leaned his weight to the right. When the opposite came, he hopped and leaned his weight on his lightning bolt tail. "Come on!"
Hydreigon's main head roared, and lurched at him.
"Bounce out of there, with Iron Tail!" Ash cried.
Peeks sprung off his tail, gaining airtime; just in time for Hydreigon to bury his head in solid rock. The mouse smirked, kicking off misshapen rock with his hind legs. "Chuaaaa….!"
He brought down the hammer of his Iron Tail atop Hydreigon's neck, using the recoil to launch himself above the crater he'd made. "Pi-ka!"
"Great work!" Ash cheered, punching the air. "Now, give 'em another! Zippy Zap!"
Multicolored lightning crackled around Peeks, propelling him straight underground again.
"Crunch!"
Hydreigon yanked themselves free, growling in frustration. It was just in time to hear their trainer's command, and allow Peeks to fall into their waiting mouth. They chomped down.
Peeks cried in pain. The sparks around him died.
Hydreigon rose from the ashes with Peeks between his teeth, for all of Kanto to see.
"Crap," Ash cursed. "I got greedy… No helping it now! Thunderbolt!"
Peeks's cheeks started to crackle.
"Ground him!" Deidra cried.
Hydreigon flung his meal down at the field. Peeks coughed, tumbling across the field. He landed on his side, trembling. His fur showed dent marks, and he sported several bruises.
"It seems like this battle is starting to wear on Ash's Pikachu! Can he rebound!?"
"Use Tri Attack!"
Peeks struggled to shift his weight onto his bottom, wiping sweat out of his fur. "Pika-chu…"
He had no time to rest. Cyan, blood orange, and gold all consumed his line of sight.
"Back off! Zippy Zap!" Ash urged.
Colorful lightning propelled Peeks backwards, belly-up across the ground, as elemental shots pummeled the ground where he'd just been. Rock splinters and dust flew in a chaos, but unfortunately, another round of Tri Attack came from over his head. Hydreigon was attacking from a different angle!
He couldn't do anything but make a jagged path out of harm's way. The momentum was enough to shake off the immediate barrage. He flipped over, hitting the ground running.
Hydreigon was orbiting the field like a vulture and its prey. They shot another Tri Attack barrage.
"Hydreigon doesn't let up! A relentless Tri Attack storm puts Ash on the ropes!"
"It's coming from your left!" Ash informed Peeks. "Iron Tail 'em right back!"
He saw the lights out of the corner of his eye. Peeks leaned all of his weight on his right forepaw, sweeping his body around. "Chuuua… Pi-ka!" Iron Tail knocked the Tri Attack back.
The storm of lights and blanketing smoke obscured Hydreigon's vision. They cried out.
"We got 'im!" Ash cheered. "Now, cage 'em in! Counter Shield!"
Peeks pushed off of a handstand, gaining airtime. "Pi-pi-pi… Ka!" He swung his tail, flinging a circular cage of lightning. It slung around the recovering Hydreigon like a hoop thrown onto a bottle, and boxed them in.
Hydreigon cried, locked in by electricity.
"Now's your chance! Let's do it!" Ash cried with ferocity, sweeping a hand. "Iron Tail!"
"Chuuuu…!" Peeks launched into the sky in a vicious spin, winding up with a 'swish' that could be heard for meters. His tail hardened with steel, shimmering brilliantly under the spotlights.
"PI-KA!"
Time seemed to slow down, as Iron Tail pressed forcefully into Hydreigon's skull. Peeks leaned his full weight into them, teeth grit. The Brutal Pokemon roared and flailed. The impact was mighty. But perhaps just mighty enough that its impact shattered the Counter Shield.
"Use Crunch!"
Hydreigon let out a low, angry gurgle. Disoriented and pained, he viciously snapped back, seizing Peeks in his jowls. Peeks hissed, wriggling around for freedom.
"Tri Attack."
Red, gold, and blue leaked from Hydreigon's maw. Then, it exploded.
"A vicious one-two combination! This could be the end!"
"Peeks!" Ash cried, balling his fists.
Hydreigon dropped the mouse. He fell from the shroud of smoke, drawing gasps of worry. Meanwhile, Hydreigon seized and recoiled, feeling numb. Static had left them paralyzed.
There were several wounds in Peeks's left thigh and flank. Blood trickled from the falling mouse.
Ash's eyes widened.
Deidra looked on in horror.
Peeks hit the ground, rolling over onto his side. He trembled, panting heavily. His eyes were open, albeit glassy. His fur was stained with smog and dark red blood, smeared over his flank.
"Ash's Pikachu appears to be injured! Hydreigon might have overdone it!"
"Oh, Peeks…!" Delia gasped, cupping her mouth.
"That was brutal," Brock murmured darkly. "And given everything, I think Deidra will take it even worse than Ash will… That wound looks surface level, but it's ugly at a glance."
"It's ugly, but it's not enough to do Ash and Peeks in," Dawn whispered. "Just hang in there…"
"Now, I know that's not enough to bring my man down!" Lopunny hollered, flailing and rocking Dawn about. "C'mon, Hun! Get off your dusty, fluffy butt and pulverize them!"
Dawn yelped, jostled before Lopunny vaulted onto her feet, jumping and waving her pom poms. "Urgh… Yeah! Lopunny's right! We can't give up on them yet!" She jumped upright, emphatically waving her pompoms. Beads of sweat flew from her brow, glistening under the spotlights.
"Fight, fight, Ash and Peeks! Go extend your winning streak! Zippy Zap and Iron Tail! When we're with you, you'll never fail!"
"Bring home the gold, brother!" Empoleon cried, waving his wings about. "Fight the good fight!"
Brock's own fists trembled with determination. His affinity for his oldest human friend won out over any concerns he had and he stood, roaring his support. "You can do it, Ash and Peeks!"
Deidra's one working eye trembled. Her hands trembled. Her whole body was shaking, and she could hear her heart hammer in her ears. "...I've done it again." She hung her head, gnashing her teeth. Her hand lingered by her belt, and hesitated before grabbing Hydreigon's Poké Ball.
She held it out, ready to recall her partner. "I don't deserve—"
"Hey, Deidra!"
She blinked her dry, puffy eyes, and looked back up. The wounded Peeks was trembling, pushing himself up onto all fours. He panted, brushing the dust off his body with his tail.
The bleeding had stopped. "Pi-kah!" He smirked.
"I seriously hope you don't think we're throwing in the towel, over a few scrapes." Ash smirked, flicking his index finger over the bridge of his nose. "In fact, we're just getting started!"
Peeks echoed his taunt, by expelling crackling lightning from his cheeks.
"Ash… Peeks." Deidra took a deep breath, and stood upright. "...Very well! As are we."
"Ash and Peeks are still in the fight! That's some bottomless determination! Meanwhile, Static has left Hydreigon paralyzed! It could be anyone's battle, now!"
"Let's bring it home!" Ash grinned, outstretching a hand. "Iron Tail!"
"Chuuuua…!" Peeks sprinted towards a numbed Hydreigon. "Pi-ka!" He swung his tail.
"Rebuke their efforts!" Deidra cried. "Outrage!"
Hydreigon snarled, swinging his head at Peeks's tail. Iron Tail parried the strike, and the two went on to flail and expertly swing, creating shockwaves of pure power that echoed across the field. Steel clashed against scales, until finally, Hydreigon knocked an Iron Tail away, sending Peeks skidding across the rubble-ridden field. He hissed in discomfort.
Hydreigon smashed their heads together, dispelling their confusion.
"Use Tri Attack!" Deidra shouted forcefully, stomping the field. Three coalescing bursts of elemental power spiraled in towards the weary Peeks.
"If we can do it with Electro Ball, this will work too!" Ash declared. "Bounce in, with Zippy Zap!"
The full spectrum of the rainbow embraced Ash's partner; its light jagged and defiant. He shot toward the incoming blitz, bouncing off fire, ice, then lightning. He crashed into Hydreigon.
The impact made him ricochet, propelling the crackling rainbow high into the air above Ash.
"Let's use our combined power, Buddy!" Ash roared. "Rainbow Electro Ball!"
"Pi-ka!" Peeks cried. The colorful veil surrounding him channeled all into the broad end of his tail, growing rapidly. "Pika-Pika-Pika-Pika-Pika-Pika-Pika-Pika…!" The ball of vibrant lightning grew larger, and larger, and larger. It was perhaps two or three times even Hydreigon's size.
"What is this!? Rainbow Electro Ball is absolutely blinding!"
"Go!" Ash cried.
"Chu-Pikaaaah!" Peeks somersaulted, lobbing the massive storm at the Brutal Pokémon.
Deidra's cape and bangs whipped around wildly, and her entire form reflected the light spectrum. She could only watch in awe at the unbridled power of Ash and Peeks.
She grinned. "I'd insult you by not fighting back. Hydreigon! Give them your Outrage!"
Hydreigon cried to the heavens, and threw their mythical force at Rainbow Electro Ball all at once. Royal hues crashed into the projectile, slowly bringing its progress to a halt.
The entire audience watched on in awe, in coos of wonder and tense silence alike. Even in the dark depths of night, Indigo Stadium was bathed in the full spectrum of the rainbow.
Dust and snaps of lightning flared violently in the stalemate.
The beauty of the storm reflected in Ash's eyes. He smiled wide as he cried, "Thunderbolt!"
Peeks felt numb. Every muscle in his body was screaming. His side hurt. His fur was matted with sweat, dirt, and smoke. But, his stubborn spirit shone like a beacon. He, too, smiled.
"Piiiii… kaaaa… Chuuuu!"
Thunderbolt rained down upon Rainbow Electro Ball, making the huge blast flicker and crackle.
The field was then swallowed in a blinding light, and deafening thunderclaps.
Ash guarded himself, raising his arms, as his jacket flailed about wildly behind him. His hat flew right off his head, before he pressed it back down upon his tresses. Blinding lights of all hues consumed his field of vision, no matter how tightly he shut his eyes. Eventually, it faded away.
Ash blinked, hearing only a low whining sound for a moment as he gathered himself. He saw Peeks, trembling and not looking back at him, instead staring across the field.
And, there, he saw it, just before Deidra returned him. Hydreigon had fainted.
Ash felt his blood run cold, then incredibly hot.
He'd won!
"... Meaning, our winner is Ash Ketchum, of Pallet Town!" came the announcer's voice, finally breaking through the temporary deafness.
Ash barely heard him, though, rushing onto the field to greet his weary starter.
Peeks, smiling softly, turned around. His big, dark eyes squinted as he smiled at Ash before collapsing, thoroughly exhausted. Ash skidded on his knees, hand barely coming under his starter's cheek in time to keep him from hitting the ground.
His heart hammered in his chest as he stood, cradling Peeks to his chest. Tears began to spill down his cheeks. Then, he leapt up high, and whooped loud enough for the whole world to hear.
"We did it! We won!"
"Pi-Pikachu!"