The explosive double knockout of Blastoise and Venusaur was just what the crowd needed. Two fully evolved Kanto starters to start off the finals was truly marvelous to both the crowd and the patriots of the region.
Craters dotted the terrain, testament to the siblings rivalry as well as the power of both the Pokemon, rain was still active from Hydros rain dance but the finals were far from over.
Gladion and Gwen faced each other, five Pokémon left apiece, their competitive smirks mirroring each other.
The referee's flag waved, signaling the next round, and Gwen reached for her Poké Ball with a gleam in her eye. Check latest chapters at n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net
"Aipom, let's swing it!" she called, tossing the ball with flair.
The Long Tail Pokémon burst forth, its tail twirling like a circus acrobat's baton. Its purple fur glistened, and it chattered excitedly.
Gladion blinked, 'Aipom? She is using him in the finals. Really? He has been born this year. Anyways, I finally have an answer from where Aipom is from. My game and anime knowledge says Aipom's a Sinnoh native. But Sinnoh has it's borders closed with us so how could have Dad got an Aipom egg.'
After the Infinite Wars, Hoenn's Aipom population had dwindled—most of them migrated to Sinnoh which had thinned their numbers back home. Ben Vortex, a renowned breeder with a knack for reviving struggling species, had been tapped by Hoenn's leaders to help. This was also one of the acts that led to the start of trade and trust between the two regions.
They'd sent him two or three Aipom to kickstart a repopulation effort, rewarding his success with cash and a single male Aipom to keep. The rest settled back into Hoenn's forests, thriving once more. Gwen had lucked out with the egg.
'She totally fluked into this,' Gladion thought, smirking. 'Dumb luck suits her.'
He shook off the surprise, grabbing his own Poké Ball. Since Venasaur was the first one to get knocked out, Gwen has to release her Pokémon first. "Mystique, Show us your beauty!"
Milotic emerged in a shimmer of light, her serpentine form uncoiling with regal grace. Both siblings knew the matchup was lopsided—Aipom was a sprightly rookie, hatched just this year, while Mystique had honed her power for more than four years under Gladion's meticulous training. Gwen's grin didn't falter, though—she had a plan.
"Aipom, Swift!" Gwen ordered.
Aipom's tails glowed, flinging a barrage of golden stars toward Mystique, a classic Normal-type move. Gladion waved a hand casually. "Dodge it, Mystique—Water Pulse!"
Mystique swayed, her lithe body weaving through most of the Swift stars with balletic precision, though a few grazed her scales. She retaliated with a glowing orb of water, launching it at Ambipom. Gwen reacted fast. "Iron Tail—deflect it!"
Ambipom's tails hardened, gleaming metallic as it swung them like clubs. The Water Pulse splashed against the Iron Tail, bursting into a harmless spray. "Now, Agility!" Gwen added. Ambipom blurred, its speed spiking as it darted across the field, a purple streak in the rain-soaked arena.
Gladion's eyes narrowed. "Mystique, Ice Beam!"
Mystique's eyes flashed, firing a frigid beam from her maw. Ambipom zigzagged, its boosted speed barely keeping it ahead, but the Ice Beam grazed one tail. Frost crackled, freezing the tip solid, and Ambipom squeaked, stumbling slightly. Gwen grinned wider. "Last Resort!"
Gladion's eyes widened as Ambipom glowed, unleashing a desperate, all-out burst of energy. 'Last Resort? She's burning moves fast—wait…' Realization hit like a Thunderbolt. "Mystique, knock it out before it switc—"
Too late. "Baton Pass!" Gwen shouted triumphantly.
Aipom vanished in a flash, passing its boosted speed from Agility and enhanced attack from Last Resort to its replacement.
A hulking figure materialized—Dusclops, the Beckon Pokémon, its single red eye glowing ominously through the rain. Its tattered cloak billowed, a ghostly specter towering over the field.
Gladion's jaw clenched. 'She's been talking to Sabrina, hasn't she? No way my dumbo sister cooked this up alone.' The combo screamed psychic strategy—Sabrina's influence was all over it.
He glared at Dusclops, another Hoenn native, and his mind raced again. 'Borders with Hoenn just opened—how'd she snag this one? Agatha. That old hag must've tipped her off—ghosts don't respect borders. Kanto or Johto, she'd know where to find 'em. She must have given the location to Gwen' He cursed Agatha silently.
Gwen had a smirk on her face.
'Take that Glady! I have been busy for the past months too ya know. Lady Agatha is the best. Dusky is such a great addition to my team and there is also another ghost that I caught thanks to her.'
Agatha too had a smirk as she let out a mad cackle. 'A pity that he has not evolved into his final form. It would be a difficult battle for her now but fun none the less.'
The announcer's voice cut through, brimming with shock and glee. "Folks, hold onto your hats—Gwen's pulling out not one, but two Hoenn Pokémon! First Aipom, now Dusclops—straight from the tropics to Kanto's finals! This isn't just a battle; it's a sign of the budding friendship between the Indigo Region and Hoenn! After years of war and closed borders, these siblings are showcasing a new era of unity—trainers and Pokémon from different regions, hand in hand!"
The crowd roared, some chanting "Hoe-nn! Hoe-nn!" as the diplomatic angle sank in. Gladion rolled his eyes—leave it to the announcer to turn a fight into a peace treaty. Gwen, meanwhile, seized the moment. "Dusclops, Shadow Ball!"
Thanks to Ambipom's Agility, Dusclops attack speed had increased and it moved with eerie speed for its bulk. Its hands glowed, conjuring two Shadow Balls in rapid succession—dark orbs pulsing with ghostly energy, amplified by Last Resort's lingering boost. They hurtled toward Mystique.
Gladion smirked, unfazed. "Mystique, Hydro Pump!"
Mystique reared back, her tail fin slicing the water as she unleashed a torrential blast from her maw. The Hydro Pump roared, its power swelled by Blastoise's earlier Rain Dance, the downpour still soaking the field.
The water stream collided with the Shadow Balls, shattering them in mid-air. Ghostly energy dissipated into wisps, overwhelmed by Mystique's superior might, and the Hydro Pump surged on hitting Dusclops.
-----Author Notes------
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