A Venomoth emerges from Koga's thrown Poke Ball.

"Supersonic!"

I see my Altaria reel back with a cry as it shakes its head. No surprise the ninja would be a fan of status effective moves. Koga has probably given himself an advantage already and if I lose this battle I've lost overall. Normally, I wouldn't be fazed but Ellie is watching and this is the first she's seen me battle here in a very long time, I don't want to be defeated in front of her.

"Flamethrower."

I watch calmly as Altaria shakes its blue head again, sending its tendrils back in a toss of irritation as it tries to discard its daze to obey.

As its small beak opens and flames emerge I realise I am clenching my hands. I glance down in surprise. My briefcase is back at the table and I feel odd without it, its handle has been therapeutic as a stress aid. I unclench my hands and look ahead as the Veonomoth reels back in a flurry of smoke and flames. It is injured but still fighting.

Koga cocks his head slightly and I see him glance briefly to our audience. I look too and am touched to see Ellie leaning over the fence, enraptured with her focus on Altaria and I. Kenji remains beside her, interested with a small smile on his face though he stays nervous.

I turn my attention back to Koga as he pushes back the ends of his crimson scarf over his shoulder. Ellie is wearing its twin or rather predecessor I suppose. How odd to think this man, a member of Team Rocket, high up I have gathered, and friend of its boss, should have been one of her rescuers so long ago.

Koga gives me a small smile. "Gust."

The wind attack does little damage to Altaria, sending it back with a grumpy protest as its cloud like wings are ruffled slightly.

I suppose this is a Flying Pokemon versus a Bug Pokemon so I should have an advantage but I didn't feel it until now. I had anticipated another status attack, something poisonous but maybe Koga's Venomoth doesn't know those moves.

"Flamethrower." It's repetitive but it's also super effective and I need the win.

Altaria turns its head slightly, turning back to me in puzzlement before it strikes down at itself with its beak.

My hands clench again as I realise the confusion has taken over and my Pokemon has damaged itself.

Koga's expression is unreadable as he folds his arms. "Psychic."

Purple waves of light bounce out from his Venomoth but they are only for show as the attack is a mental based one.

Ellie yells and I look her way instantly. She has clapped her hands to her ears and her eyes are clenched shut as she shakes her head. Steven reaches to her instantly in concern. I want to run to her but I see Morty moving towards her.

Morty pulls one hand away from her ear and murmurs into it. He and Ellie look my way together, for a moment she is frightened but then her hands drop away and she grips the fence again, taking it tightly in her hands as if for support.

"I'm okay dad, keep battling!"

Dad. I hear the murmurs and see the looks and it is clear most of our audience assumes she is addressing Koga. Maybe it's the dark hair and the red scarf but probably it's that no one here could imagine I would've found her again or that she would still be alive after all this time.

I turn my attention back to the battle, time to try again. "Flamethrower."

Koga smiles and even as the attack works this time he still smiles.

The Venomoth cries out as its singed wings stop beating and it starts to fall to the ground. A beam of red light calls it back to its Poke Ball before it hits the floor.

"One, one, all to play for then Larry," Koga calls out to me happily.

"The good folks want a show."

There is a rapturous cheer at my response and I'm almost embarrassed by it. I don't usually court the attention but just this once I think I'm actually enjoying it a little.

I call back Altaria and wonder which Pokemon to call out next.

"Let's do it together, on three!" Koga calls eagerly.

I nod and reach for a Poke Ball.

"One. Two. Three!"

The red beams shoot out together as we call out our final Pokemon for battle. The restaurant is warm and I can feel the heat brushing against me threatening to conjure sweat.

"I was hoping you'd show me this one!" Koga cries out with delight.

His Crobat flaps its four wings excitedly as it waits for a command while my Flamingo stand calm with only a vague interest.

Koga turns to our audience, when his gaze lingers I look too out of intrigue and see Lance glowering back at the ninja. The Kanto / Johto Champion has a fierce fire in his eyes and though the rest of his face is emotionless his annoyance is clear. He wants Koga to win this. I wonder if it's simple pride because Koga is part of his Elite or am I wrong and it's actually that he wants me to lose? I think about his jibes, implications that he would've cared for Ellie better than Steven and that Kenji wouldn't be near her, does he want to prove I'm not good enough to look after Ellie? I don't know, I've long gotten lost in the politics of Kanto and Johto and apparently they're following me in Paldea. I realise cynically that Paldea has its fair share of the same, Geeta is certainly one for political games after all.

Koga's hand reaches up and he points forward suddenly. "Wing Attack!"

The Crobat moves quickly, smacking at my Flamingo with its four wings, which move too fast at once for my Pokemon to evade.

Flamingo wobbles back on its lone standing leg as it squawks in pain.

"Close Combat!"

The retaliation is given before the Crobat has a chance to fly back and evade it. Flamingo swings its wings solidly, effectively punching the Crobat with them. The effect is minimal but some damage is done.

Koga's mouth curdles slightly as he looks to the ground briefly. He lowers his hand as he gives an order. "Wing Attack."

I suppress a wince as my Flamingo takes another beating. Koga is pressing for a type advantage win then.

I consider my options and realise there is one he cannot expect.

I look to Koga as I reach into my jacket. "At the risk of messing up my suit a bit... It's time to get some wind at our backs."

I produce my Terra Orb and hold it forward. As the power of the orb sends a charge shooting up my arm I sink my feet into the ground to steady my balance and instinctively reach to fix my tie with my free hand.

There is a rush of air and I feel my hair getting tossed back in different directions with the force it.

My Flamingo is lost to a glow of lights for a moment before becoming surrounded in a gem like exterior whilst the green and pink balloon like jewels of the Terastal power of Flying Types crowns its head.

"What the heck is that on its head?" Of course Kenji would be the one to query the phenomenon first. "It looks like a circus decoration!" It seems like every time he speaks I am forced to wonder why I saved him and why I should defend him.

I face the baffled Koga with a serious expression, daring him to mock the display like Kenji.

"I'd advise you to stay on your toes, because I'm about to scatter you to the wind!" I warn him. "Brave Bird!"

Flamingo tucks its wings firmly by its side before charging forward in a blur. The movement is fast and the glow of its Terastallized form makes it difficult to see what's happening. It collides with Crobat and for a moment there are only lights and colours.

I know I have taken a risk, Flamingo will take damage from this too and if it hasn't inflicted enough it won't take much to finish it.

"Yay dad!"

Only at Ellie's cheer do I realise the outcome. I am stunned as I stare forward and finally take in that the Crobat is lying in an unconscious daze on the ground. My Flamingo is on both its feet and its thin legs are shaking but it is upright.

I hear a wild clapping and turn to see it is Ellie. The gesture spreads quickly into a loud applause from the crowd. I face Koga once more as I recall my Flamingo.

I give a gasp of surprise as a form collides with me from the side and I am winded briefly by the impact. I tense as I half-expect an attack before I realise the pair of arms about me are not trying to restrain me just hug me.

I look down to Ellie in surprise and smile before I wrap one arm about her in return. The murmurs start quickly in the crowd but I can't worry, I'm happy for the people of Medali to see this and proud that I can show I finally brought my daughter home and that she wants everyone to know I'm her dad.

"That was great dad!" She looks up at me excitedly and for one brief moment I see her as she was, that wide eyed, hyper child who was always in awe of my battling. "What even was that? It looked so cool!"

Cool? Have I ever been called that? Not even in jest I don't think.

"Yes Larry, what was that?"

Koga has approached me and stands close by, his arms are folded and he has a calm, slightly quizzical look on his face.

"Terrastalization," I answer. "It's something discovered in Paldea over a hundred years ago, and quite recently some professors have been able to harness the power into Tera Orbs."

"Home advantage then."

I wonder if he thinks I have cheated until he grins and sticks out his gloved hand for me to shake.

I keep one wrapped about Ellie as I accept Koga's hand and shake it.

"Something you were keeping up your sleeve for Team Rocket?" he pries as he withdraws his hand.

"Yes, and you've proved that Team Rocket should be disadvantaged by it."

Koga gives a mocking laugh and shakes his head. "I have a teenaged daughter Larry, I'm immune to the Rocket jibes. Trust me, there's no insult I haven't already heard from her. If I'm not a traitor to the family then I'm an embarrassment for being on television as part of the Elite, outdated with my fashion sense, and apparently out of touch with my battling skills." He shrugs. "The irony is she's always bragging about me to other people but Arceus forbid I should hear it."

Ellie breaks from me as she giggles at Koga.

The ninja looks down to her before grinning at me again. "You'll know about it soon, you're a cool dad now because you beat an incredibly talented, Elite ninja and that is something but you'll be boring and embarrassing her with your weird food obsession soon enough."

"Oh, what kind of desserts do you have here?" Ellie quips happily.

We head back to the table, although I have to pause a few times to accept congratulations and handshakes, which makes me a little uncomfortable as I'm not used to this kind of attention. I give up nodding and fixing my tie and opt for rushing back to my seat to avoid any further interactions.

Lance sits down with a dramatic swish of his cape to ensure it hangs over his seat. His annoyance remains on his face but he says nothing.

Koga takes a seat beside Kenji and I hear him ordering sake. He looks over to Lance as if daring him to say something.

I am relieved when Morty breaks up the tension by applauding me as he sits.

"Wow Larry, didn't think you were that interesting, very impressive! So what was that light show all about huh?"

I see Looker and Steven staring at me with intrigue and swallow a sigh as I realise I'm going to have to explain Terastallizing all over again. I'm not one for history lessons but seeing Ellie's look of intrigue I realise I'll have to try my best.

I'm tired and it's been a long day but I'll have to indulge a long evening I suppose. At least it means more time with Ellie.