Thud-
Unable to dodge in time, Eevee was struck by Wooloo's Double Kick and went tumbling across the ground, kicking up a trail of dust as she rolled.
"Eevee?! Are you okay?"
"Vee..."
Though only one of the kicks had landed, it had been a super effective hit. Still, it hadn't dealt too much actual damage. Eevee looked so disheveled mostly because she had lost her balance and footing.
She shook herself off, panting heavily as she stood back up. Her stance shifted slightly as she faced Wooloo again, ready to dash at any moment.
Even Marie was slightly startled by Wooloo's earlier move. To transition so cleanly from Headbutt into Double Kick... She didn't recall Wooloo even knowing Headbutt back when they were at the Grass Gym.
She wasn't sure whether to be more impressed by Wooloo's growth or Hop's improving skill as a trainer.
As Marie reflected quietly on the sidelines, the battle continued. Though the maneuver had caught them off guard, Eevee wouldn't fall for the same trick twice.
The only good news for Hop was that Eevee's speed had been slightly hindered after the attack. If he could land just one more hit, maybe he could still win.
"Wooloo! Again! Use Headbutt!"
"Eevee, dodge and use Sand Attack!"
"Vee-!"
As Wooloo charged once more, Eevee sprang to the side. A swirl of fine sand formed around her and was flung toward the oncoming Wooloo.
"Baa-!"
Eevee had trained her Sand Attack under Marie's partner Izzy for a while. She couldn't pull off the same sweeping coverage, but hitting a straightforward charging opponent like Wooloo was easy enough.
Thump-
A cascade of sand splashed across Wooloo, who couldn't dodge in time. Though it managed to shift its angle slightly, it couldn't completely avoid the attack. Grit coated its thick wool, and its vision and accuracy were both significantly affected.
"Now! Double Kick, Eevee!"
"Vee!"
Seizing the moment, Eevee and Yuri acted in sync. With a flash of white light, Eevee dashed forward like a streak, aiming straight at Wooloo.
"Not good! Defense Curl!"
Hop's panicked voice rang out. Wooloo had just swerved twice in a row and had also been blinded by sand. There was no time for anything else he could only brace for impact.
"Baa-!"
Hearing its trainer's voice, Wooloo froze for an instant, then curled into itself. A layer of smooth energy condensed around its woolly body.
Eevee's attack landed right then.
Thud! Thud!
Both strikes from Double Kick connected, landing squarely on Wooloo. With a swift mid-air flip, Eevee landed gracefully in front of Yuri.
"Phew... Yuri, you and Eevee are amazing!"
"Thanks. Wooloo was great too. That last move really startled us. Eevee didn't react in time at all."
Yuri's answer made Hop visibly more animated. Maybe it was because his new tactic hadn't worked as intended. It reminded him that no move is perfect on paper it has to be tested and adjusted through real battle.
Despite the tactic's flaws being exposed on its first trial, Hop wasn't discouraged. The concept itself was solid. Headbutt really could make up for Wooloo's lack of burst speed.
But the downside remained: the move lacked flexibility and didn't carry the kind of finishing power needed to turn the tide in a single hit. If he'd used something more powerful than Double Kick back then, the result might have been completely different.
Hop realized it was time to invest in some TMs and broaden his team's tactical options.
But this wasn't the time to get distracted. Hop was the type to never back down unless forced to. Fortunately, he had Pokémon who shared his spirit.
Compared to Eevee, Wooloo was in much worse shape. And without a secret weapon, it didn't have much left to fight with. But even so, the battle wasn't over.
As long as they were still standing, they would fight. Even just wearing down the opponent a little more was worth it.
"Baa-!"
Wooloo staggered back to its feet, calling out loudly to its trainer. The fight wasn't finished.
"You're fired up too, huh, Wooloo? Me too! Yuri, let's keep going!"
"Yeah, let's do this!"
Inspired by Hop's energy, Yuri's spirits also lifted.
"Eevee, use Swift!"
"Headbutt! Charge in!"
Eevee leapt into the air and spun her tail, flinging a volley of stars across the field. Wooloo didn't flinch, barreling straight toward her.
"Eevee, Double Kick again!"
Yuri knew that using Swift a few more times would probably secure the win more safely. But as Hop's opponent, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
As for Eevee... she had clearly developed a taste for charging headfirst into battle. She didn't hesitate at all and even looked more excited, thriving in the thrill of fighting on the edge.
Wooloo naturally adjusted its trajectory and crashed toward the approaching Eevee at full speed.
But Eevee was ready. Midair, she twisted her body and just barely avoided the impact.
At that exact moment, Hop shouted again.
"Stomp! From the right! Slam into her!"
He rattled off the commands at lightning speed. Wooloo, well-trained and deeply in sync, acted the moment the first word hit its ears. Its front hooves slammed into the ground, unleashing a burst of energy from the Stomp.
By the time Hop finished speaking, Wooloo had already pivoted mid-motion. With the help of the recoil, it launched itself in a new direction, locking eyes with Eevee who was midair, readying her Double Kick.
Wooloo saw the flicker of confidence and surprise in Eevee's gaze.
And Eevee, in return, saw the unwavering resolve in Wooloo's eyes.
Boom! Boom!
Headbutt met Double Kick in a bone-rattling collision.
"Vee-!"
"Baa-"
Both Pokémon were flung backward at the same time.
Eevee had struck cleanly with her front paws, but what she struck was Wooloo's hardest point its skull. Though she landed the attack, she also took the full brunt of the recoil.
Pain shot through her limbs. She crumpled to the ground and struggled to get up.
Wooloo fared worse. Having taken the Double Kick square on its head, it rolled across the field, dizzy and disoriented, and finally collapsed, unable to stand again.
"..."
Marie made no comment about Yuri's final choice in offense and defense.
Battle styles are personal, a reflection of both the trainer and the Pokémon. What works best depends not just on strategy, but on whether the Pokémon accepts and can execute that plan.
So Marie didn't think Yuri's one-for-one trade-off was a bad decision.
She did, however, feel that this Eevee might need more structured training.
At its current level, it simply didn't have enough power to fight the way it wanted.
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