Dawn won the Grand Festival. Half her dreams achieved, despite everything she has gone through. The trauma from dealing with Team Galactic and Hisui didn't slow her down. She remained strong and determined. She took control of her life.

Dawn's final battle against Paul, meeting up before they both would make their attempt to challenge the League. Her Infernape Kentaro was formerly Paul's and made it extra symbolic. Paul had his starter Torterra. They both had type advantages against each other, so it would come down to skill.

Torterra stomped the ground with Earthquake, Kentaro jumping up to avoid it. Torterra created Rocky spires with Stone Edge to try and hit Kentaro in mid-air; Like a trained ninja, he managed to do graceful spire landings and navigated his way through like an ape in the forest. Torterra used Rock Climb to climb the spires, gaining a new form of speed as the two shot between spires and tried to run into each other. Torterra avoided the fire while Infernape avoided the thrown rocks and sharp leaves.

Torterra used Rock Smash to shatter the spires and send the rocks flying everywhere. Kentaro avoided the rocks flung at him by engulfing his limbs in flames and smacking the stones back, turning them into flaming projectiles going Torterra's way. Torterra retracted in his shell, Spun around, using Rock Polish and using it to spin around the battlefield like a battle top. Again Torterra had a way to close the speed gap.

The Infernape could no longer use the spires to avoid the ground, and as the last one crumbled, he'd be back on the ground, vulnerable to Earthquake upon landing and not able to jump back in the air in time. Torterra already lifted its front legs. Kentaro was ordered to use Mach Punch, landing on the ground quicker than expected, closing the distance on Torterra before he could finish the attack, hitting his lower jaw and flipping him on his back.

With any normal Turtle Pokémon a Rapid Spin would have worked, but Torterra had a tree on its back and that was a disadvantage it had. It was left a sitting Psyduck as Kentaro Flamethrower and engulfs the Torterra. Both had been fighting multiple Pokémon beforehand and this fight had been about whom could deliver the final blow. It was Kentaro and Dawn.

Paul accepted the defeat graciously, acknowledging Dawn's strength.

Dawn panted heavily. She was nearly there. Luckily between opponents to face there were little rest stations. You get a fifteen minute break, time to eat some snacks or heal up the team. Though you had to clear the station quickly to move on, in case a different challenger would progress.

She held the six Pokéballs, of the team that was getting her through her challenge up until now. And these six would be used for her upcoming champion battle.

Dawn's Lucario Khebhut was up against Break, Barry's Empoleon. The Empoleon's sharp metallic flippers glowed with the power of Brick Break, while Khebhut used Bone Rush. She literally punched the ground, and pulled a bone out of it to fight with. The flipper and the bone clashed rapidly several times. Neither letting up until with a Brick Break the bone was broken in half. Khebhut wasn't done as she wielded the bone fragments as escrima sticks.

It cost her a bit of range and the already cracked bones wouldn't hold up to a continue onslaught. She threw one half of the bone, which Break deflected with one of its flippers. Khebhut closed the distance and whacked him in the face with the other half, the first one having been a faint. But she was in range of Break as well, whom backhanded her with a Brick Break. Both have been dealt super-effective blows.

Empoleon used Aqua Jet as Lucario used ExtremeSpeed, the two rushing around the area, becoming two blue projectiles that slam into each other. Once they stopped speeding Khebhut used Aura Sphere, which was blocked with Protect. Empoleon used Brick Break again, but Khebhut weaved through the attacks thanks to Detect.

Empoleon used whirlpool, creating a watery Vortex that headed towards Khebhut. She used Vaccuum Wave to create a hole in the Whirlpool. However, Break shot out of the Whirpool in another Aqua Jet, absorbing the excess water of the Whirlpool and shooting forward in a larger watery projectile that knocked Khebhut of her feet. She panted heavily and looked hurt but kept going. The Empoleon came in for a second attack.

Khebhut shot forward. Before the attack connected, she slid onto her knees and leaned back, sliding under the watery torpedo that Break the Empoleon was. She shot an Aura Sphere upwards, knocking Empoleon out of its watery cocoon upwards. Khebhut jumped upwards as the Empoleon was still dazed and used a Sky Uppercut to shoot up the opponent even higher, into the ceiling. When the Empoleon fell out from the ceiling onto the ground, out cold. Dawn and Khebhut had won.

Barry took it in stride. He had done better against Dawn then in any other fight they had before and he had learned a lot. And he had fun.

Dawn was finishing up healing her last Pokémon. Kentaro the Infernape, she only got it from Paul at a certain point in her journey, but was always affectionately referred to as her second starter. Mostly because he took that role in her battle theme. She loved Ozzy but he was a contest Pokémon through and through, though he got to shine in the Grand Festival.

The Infernape had drank the Lemonade given. This Pokémon Lemonade was not for human consumption as it was basically a carbonated medicine for Pokémon. Dawn learned that the hard way that one time she mixed it up with Lemonade for human consumption. Such a silly anecdote she could laugh about in hindsight. She started to think less of the dark time and more about the good times. She was improving in more ways than one.

Sameryu 'Sam' the Garchomp roared at the Drapion in front of her. Dawn was about to conclude the battle against the first Elite Four, Aaron. The Garchomp had her leg lifted up to initiate Earthquake, but the Drapion stretched out its arms, grabbed her legs and then started to throw her around a few times. Then the Drapion pinned her to the ground, blue icy energy in its maw.

Sam's head became metallic and she slams it in the Drapion's face. It may have knocked out a teeth and caused him to bit his tongue. The Drapion staggered but recovered quickly and spat a glob of Toxic. The Garchomp was quick to dodge several globs. Until the Garchomp used the Cross Poison, the purple venomous energy cross created by slashing heading towards Sam. Sam wanted to dodge, but found that two Puddles of Toxic blocked off her route. If she stepped into one, she'd be badly poisoned.

Then she had to Dig underground to avoid it. But that was playing into Aaron's strategy. Drapion was able to use Earthquake too. It also used it in a way that when it slammed its pincers into the ground, it cracked it in a way that headed towards the globs of Toxic , the part of the floor collapsing and able to leak the poison into the underground tunnel of the Garchomp.

The floor started collapsing and Sam would be trapped underground with poisonous liquid all around, the poison would take it out over time. However, a burst of sand shot out of the ground and covered the room. Sandstorm, which would work well for Garchomp's Sand Veil ability. But Drapion knew Rain Dance, doing an awkward shaking of its body that could be interpreted as a dance, and a rain cloud formed above them. No Sandstorm, no evasion boost.

But that wasn't the plan. The piles of now soaked sand that littered the room were purple…the wet sand had absorbed it. Clever girl. However, Drapion wasn't out for the count as it stretched out its arms towards Sam. Whom grabbed its wrists. Not this time. She twisted the arms behind the Drapion in a swift motion, so that he couldn't pull her in and use Ice Fang. She bit down on the tail so he couldn't use that either. So now the Drapion had all its limbs restrained.

Sam planted a foot in the back of Drapion, slammed him into the ground, and a crater formed into the wet soil around them, the earth shaking as Earthquake landed and Drapion was knocked out.

Aaron chuckled and gave a thumbs up.

The arenas where the Elite Four fights had bleachers of course. A lot of the people were gathered around Aaron and Bertha's. Because that's where most challengers wipe out. Most don't bother to go the arenas where the rest of the Elite Four await since a lot of people rarely get far. And even if someone reached all the way to Cynthia, they were so tuckered out they could barely last.

Between each match Zoey would move from arena to arena to follow her love. She know that she would eventually make her way to Cynthia's whom had rarely been used in League capacity since most don't need to go there. But Zoey was sure it would see use today. She had the utmost fate in Dawn. She was not the only one, Dawn's parents, aunt, uncle and cousin, the Pokémon Dawn didn't take with her to the Elite Four, Barry, Lucas, the STAT trainers, even Paul were there to see her when she comes. And she means 'when', no 'ifs'.

She was happy that Dawn had been doing better. She had loyally stuck by her side, and their relationship has grown stronger. She knew already that one day she would marry that girl, she would have a family with her, grow old with her. But that is far in the future, as in the present she wants to see Dawn kick ass because it was hot.

Bertha was a wipe out point for a lot of trainers since Bertha was that experienced and strong. Right now Atilla the Floatzel stood against a massive Hippowdon. The beast had already set up Sandstorm and had the advantage. Not to mention the Rock Polishes it had set up and now that Hippowdon was pretty fast. Visuals were at a minimum as the sand cloaked the battlefield. Dawn barely could make out two red glints in the sand, from its eyes to warn Atilla to dodge.

Atilla nearly had ended up between those massive jaws. Even though Pokémon don't do fatal damage in Pokémon battles (or they shouldn't) in the wild to fight to the death, those could bite through the carapace of a Feraligatr. Why was Dawn suddenly thinking of that.

Atilla used Aqua Jet but in the sandy surroundings he missed and nearly ended up in the jaws of the Hippowdon again. And she saw electric sparks in those jaws…Thunder Fang. She had Atilla use a quick Rain Dance to disperse the Sandstorm and gain visibility again. Though that Hippowdon wasn't done as Atilla used Rock Climb to quickly traverse the terrain and avoid another Aqua Jet. It set up Sandstorm again. It became a game of cat and mouse, setting up rain and sand alternatively, giving one another a veil briefly, rarely giving one another time to counter.

It was seemingly endless but Dawn was quick to adapt. The rain and sand had turned the terrain in a wet sandy and muddy terrain. She decided to go for a direct approach as Atilla shot through the Mud at Hippowdon; seemingly getting careless. The Hippowdon clamped down with Thunder Fang on Atilla…But it didn't hurt as badly as it should. Atilla had cloaked himself with the wet muddy sand, creating something similar to a Mud Sport to weaken electric attacks. He was in the beasts maws but he was also close enough to bit himself, with Ice Fang. On its face, encasing its upper face and eyes in ice.

The Hippowdown roared as it stumbled around. The next part of Dawn's plan was unexpected. Now on a combat team, you don't give a Pokémon a move that corresponds to its weaker attack stats. Floatzel was more of a physical attacker. So he wouldn't be able to do with a super effective move if it was his inferior stat and didn't give STAB. But there was more then one way to use a move. Like use Ice Beam to freeze the ground. She had waiting for an opening.

The Hippowdown was in her element in the mud and sand. But not on the ice where the lumbering brute fell down. Waterfall…turning Atilla in a watery projectile. Slower than Aqua Jet but more damage output. He slammed in the side of the HIppowdon, knocking it down and sending it spinning like a top on the ice. Being blinded by the Ice on its face and disoriented it wasn't able to act on Bertha's commands.

The Flaotzel, engulfed in the power of Waterfall bounced off a wall and back into the Hippowdon, sending it spinning on the ice once again, like an oversized ice puck. It was done a few more times, before Atilla's final Waterfall slammed into the Hippowdon hard enough to knock her on her back, and another one before she hit the ground was slammed in her gut, knocking her out.

Bertha smiled warmly like a kind grandmother proud of her grandchild. She happily allowed Dawn to proceed.

Cynthia was waiting in her quarters, calmly waiting. Normally days like these were long and boring since few people made it to her, only to get easily dealt with. So most of the time she spent her day reading, watching Netflix on her phone, reading her books and otherwise be bored out of her mind. But now she wouldn't be bored for long as she knew Dawn would make it here.

Not only as a friend and mentor, she would be happy to see Dawn to challenge her. Dawn is a unique breed of trainer, like her. She would be ready for the first real fight she'd have in ages. And she is thrilled beyond belief.

Flint's Infernape was no Kentaro. The guy was much bigger, battle-scarred and ferocious. Sam was holding out, the shark dragon being the best counter, with the sunlight up. The first instinct is to go for Earthquake. But of course it was expected as the Infernape jumped up, curled and went from a Flame Wheel to a meteor that crashed into Sam. Not very effective type-wise, but hard hitting otherwise. Staggering, Sam raised her leg again to bring it down and quake the earth but her ankle was grabbed, she was thrown in the air, and hit with a powerful Mach Punch.

The Infernape closed in but a purple, venom-covered talon of Sam shot up and socked the Infernape in the jaw. The Poison Jab didn't poison unfortunately. It went for Close Combat, rapidly pelting the Garchomp with blows, whom used her own limbs to deflect them. She was not given an opening to use Earthquake. And several of the Close Combat's moves started to break through her defenses and hit her in the head.

Maybe it's like with Drapion, time to grapple. Only the Infernape has five dangerous limbs, including its tail, and it seems that the Infernape is very agile and twisting itself around Sam with his other limbs and grabbing hold himself. Time to play a little risk…

Sam just bearhugged the Infernape. The Infernape set itself ablaze with Flare Blitz and Sam found it hard to keep hold of him, the sunlight not making things easier. She spat out a sphere of draconic energy into the sky, and it split up into a rain of projectiles. Sam dropped on her back…on one hand, with less open air on her back the flames of the struggling Infernape grew hotter. On the other hand, the Infernape made a great shield for her own Draco Meteor.

Once the smoke cleared Sam pushed the unconscious Infernape of her. She barely managed to get back up. Her own HP was in the red and she needed healing. But she pushed through.

Flint just laughed heartily as she was let through. Little over half way through the Elite…though the hardest two battles had yet to come.

Dawn finished her drink quickly. She checked the status of her team on her Pokédex. HP full, sufficient PP for the important moves. She was ready. She put on her hat, her purse hanging by her waist, stroking the Pokéballs on her belt. She had come this far, she was ready for the final battle.

Lucian's Bronzong was up against Rie, Dawn's Weavile. The Bronzong was Sinnohan, so its composition made Dark attacks neutral. Unlike other regions where different metal compositions would have made the attacks super effective. But Rie was the only one healthy enough and could resist at least half its attacks. For the other she would be fast enough to-DAMNIT HE HAS TRICK ROOM!

In Trick Room, that bellend of a…well bell, moved around the room like a Ninjask with Speed Boost and on ten cups of coffee. Rie was panicking. She was used to being the fastest thing in every arena. Luckily her reflexes were not affected and was barely able to avoid the Gyro Ball slam of the living bell. So Dawn had to play it smart. Trick Room can be stalled out.

Dawn started to hum a tune. Rie was more of a battler, but Dawn was still a coordinator and all her Pokémon used some moves. Rie started to do some elegant ballet. When that Trick Room'd Bronzong would go by again…she danced out of the way. Dawn hummed a different tune and Rie shifted the dance to jump style. And did a few more times. She may not have speed, but she had the music in her, the unpredictable movements that prevented Bronzong from hitting her. She was nearly done stalling out Trick Room.

Then she only had to use Taunt. Pulling her eyelid down and sticking out her tongue. The anger marks appeared on Bronzong as it briefly went red and gave off steam. He fell for it. No Trick Room today. He may have been slower but it could still attack. It went for Heavy Slam, charging at Rie. Rie's claws glowed dark and slashed…knocking the Bronzong back further than anyone was expecting, leaving a long scratch on its paintjob.

The dancing Rie did was weird, but it was not only meant for dodging. It was a disguised Swords Dance. Swords Dance is a dance, but no one said what type of dance it should be. No two species of Pokémon danced alike and could pull it off, so Rie could pull of a Swords Dance with ballet, jumpstyle, country, whatever. Her attack was maximized.

Rie still danced around, her claws glowing. However, the Bronzong may be locked out of status moves, but it could still make up for its lack of speed. Its eyes glowed green and grass started to grow, and tie itself into knots. It made Rie trip. She was lightweight so the Grass Knot didn't do much but she was open. The Bronzong charged in with Iron Head.

Like with Atilla, Rie uses a rarely-useful Special move. Though the Icy wind in Bronzong's face lowered its visibility and slowed it down enough so that Rie could dodge out of the way as the Bronzong clumsily landed onto the ground. Ready to take another Night Slash, hitting the Bronzong. The Bronzong got up and it gleamed with a metallic shimmer. Iron Defense. The taunt has worn off…It could boost its defenses and set up Trick Room again.

That's what it did, and Lucian would not fall for the same trick twice. However, Dawn had another idea. She spent nights camping, went through dark caves. Times where her lights failed she had relied on her other senses to get to safety. The Bronzong was fast, but it was still perceivable. She had to rely on her other senses. She gave the 'NOW!' to Rie as she turned around, delivered a Night Slash to the fast Bronzong whom was about to collide. This time it was a critical hit, bypassing the defense boost, as the Trick Room became visible again and shattered, and the Bronzong fainted.

Lucian quietly closed the book he had on him during the battle, adjusted his glasses, and congratulated her. He waved his hand in the direction of the next stop…the champion. She was so close…

Dawn entered the arena. Cynthia's Arena, a Champion's Arena. And she had a chance to win the title. Cynthia stood tall, proud and strong in front of her. She was smiling, but there was something steely about her, it is her 'battle mode'. "Hi Dawn. Hope you have been keeping well. I knew it was a matter of time until we met here. I knew that, of all challengers, you'd be the one to make it all the way up here to me."

"Glad I didn't disappoint." Dawn said with a soft smile of her own. She was tired and weary from four battles before, but the thought of confronting the Champion…She felt her energy returning.

"I feel mixed emotions. Despite your determination to become a champion, despite the chains that come with it, my reluctance still holds strong. But even stronger is the warrior inside me. I am a Champion. You don't get here for taking it easy. You are not just a good trainer, not just a skilled trainer. You are a passionate trainer, a trainer whom enjoys every aspect, it fuels their determination, to overcome their limits, to seek higher challenges, to rise above…enjoy the burst of adrenaline, as sounds, colors, and flashes adorn the battle scene, a spectacle that you are directing one half of. You lose yourself in those moments, you feel the thrill. To be a champion, you need to have a thirst for battle. How is your thirst for battle Dawn?"

Dawn understood. With both her contests and Pokémon battles, the important ones, she felt the rush too. "Unquenchable." Dawn said. She couldn't help licking her lips with anticipation.

Cynthia chuckled. "Dawn, you're a delight." She recomposed herself. "Thank you forMt. Coronet. And theDistortion World. I'm truly grateful. I am grateful you grace me with your presence and give me the great battle I desire so much. And I thank you for learning me…and reminding me of what I still want in life.

Together, you and your Pokémon overcame all the challenges you faced, however difficult. It means that you've triumphed over any personal weaknesses, too. The power you learned...I can feel it emanating from you. But that's enough talk. Let's get on with why you're here. Are you ready?"

Dawn looked at the bleachers. It has been filled with people, they are going to get a rare treat of a trainer whom had not only reached Cynthia but may be able to give her a run for her money. This arena didn't have this full a stadium in years. But Dawn focused on the recognizable faces. Friends, family, her other Pokémon…and Zoey. Their smiles, their eyes filled with love and support. And Paul whom was still a grumpy-gills but there was some approval in his look. The nod he gave is the closest thing he could muster for support. At least in any case, she had earned his respect.

"Ready as I'll ever be!" Dawn replied.

"In that case…" Cynthia said as she pulled out her first Pokéball. She licked her lips. She had a bit of a manic smile. She is happy that she can cut loose for the first time since long, against a challenge whom would be able to handle it. As thePokémon LeagueChampion, I accept your challenge!" She snapped her fingers.

The loudspeakers jumped to life as music started playing. It was Cynthia's theme. It really helped to pump them up for battle. Both women stared each other down, their eyes ablaze as they pulled out their Pokéballs.

Let the battle begin…

TO BE CONTINUED