I heard the crowd’s murmurs as a tension-filled silence fell onto the battlefield. Their anticipation for what’s to come mixed with disbelief that I, the challenger, drew first blood.

  Their surprise was not unfounded.

  Dragons were known to overwhelm their foes with raw, destructive power. When one fights with said beasts, the results would seem inevitable.

  Poison was the opposite, they waited, they festered, they endured until you realized far too late and fall.

  My theory had worked for now, but it wasn’t flawless. There were still gaps, cracks that Clair would eventually find and exploit. But the lapse in knowledge would work to my advantage.

  She had prepared for a far more defensive Trainer, for my poison to stall and suffocate as it always did. She hadn’t anticipated the early aggressive push– far away from the style that had carried me here.

  There was still a cost. One of my three limited switches and two of my usual late-game anchors. The script was flipped– but there would be far less improv from now on.

  ‘Now. What's your move, Dove?’

  Clair Blackthorn studied the field in silence. Flygon’s defeat still lingered in her thoughts– not because of the loss itself. The green dragon had never been among her most honed partners.

  She used the narrow window to choose her next Pokemon carefully, using the time to assess Loki’s change in approach.

  His file had painted him as a defensive maestro, skill honed from the four years of experience as a Trainer. He was methodical, irritatingly patient, one who won by outlasting his opponents in a war of attrition.

  But today, that wasn’t the man she was battling.

  This Loki fought with urgency, restlessness, making quick decisions. This was a man with something to prove.

  Clair’s lips curved upward into a smile as her fingers tightened around an Ultra ball.

  She had seen the same from countless trainers before, but there was a thought deep at the back of her mind that whispered about the familiarity of his style today.

  Déjà vu settled over her, briefly causing her pause. But she shook the feeling away, refocusing on the battle.

  I watched as Clair tossed the Ultra ball high into the air. It burst open in a flare of red light, and from it descended a breathtaking avian, its wings unfurling with a slow, desperate grace. Cloud-like plumage draped its body and wings.

  A melodic, soothing song followed as Altaria, the Humming Pokemon, blessing the venom drenched battlefield with its voice.

  Cassian waddled along to the tune, looking quite pleased with himself. ‘Focus.’ I teased him through our psychic link.

  “Is a gentleman forbidden from dancing to a song from a lovely lady?” He clapped back, earning a raised eyebrow from me.

  Before I could respond, the referee signaled for the match to resume.

  “Dragon Dance!” Clair ordered.

  Altaria responded with a lilting chirp, using its cloud-like wings to carry herself into a graceful aerial waltz. Each turn was elegant– captivating as draconic energy gathered within her.

  ‘Don’t let her, Power Gem.’

  “My apologies in advance, Madam.” Cassian intoned. With a gentle sweep of his hand, massive, venom laced stones tore free from the ground, each one wrapped with psychic energy as they hurled towards the dancing dragon-bird.

  With a rhythmic clap of Clair’s hands, Altaria halted her dance and plunged downward, twisting gracefully as one of the barreling stones tore past her.

  “Disarming Voice.” A beautiful song burst from the Dragon-Flying type, its harmonic force shattering the rest of the incoming rocks into glittering fragments as she surged toward Slowking.

  Cassian was rubbing his ears, apparently even though he resisted the Fairy type move he had still sustained damage. ‘Incoming. Slow her down with Icy Wind.’

  He nodded calmly. Drawing on the remnants of Kite’s lingering Tailwind, Cassian chilled the air down to frigid temperatures and sent it upward to intercept Altaria. The chilling winds slowed down the dragon as frost lingered on her feathers.

  Altaria winced, frost clinging to her feathers, yet she pressed further though the stinging cold. “Break its concentration– Dazzling Gleam.” Clair’s voice cut through the air.

  A vibrant pink light gathered around the cloud bird then it bloomed around her in a radiant halo, colorful explosions of brilliant light– like a mesmerizing firework display– washed over the battlefield.

  Explosions of prismatic light erupted around Cass, the Fairy type energy detonating in concussive bursts, causing some minor damage to the Poison-Psychic. However, the shockwave rocked his stance, breaking his balance and causing his control of the Icy Wind to falter.

  The dragon master seized the opening without hesitation. “Dual Wingbeat– then follow it up with an Earthquake.”

  I winced as the names of the moves left her lips. ‘Reflect– minimize the damage.’ I thought hurriedly.

  “I’ll try.” He replied, his voice strained as Altaria’s Dual Wingbeat sent harsh winds toward Slowking with two strokes of her wings, chipping away at the psychic barrier that covered his form.

  The dragon– in quick succession– drove her talons to the ground. The earth cracked, fissures tore through the hard floor as a wave of dense rock hurdled toward Cassian.

  Earth slammed into the weakened barrier, the impact causing shockwaves to thunder inside the barriers. The move was amped with Altaria’s energy– which was already amplified by the Dragon Dance she performed earlier.

  “I can’t hold on much longer, partner.” Cassian grumbled through our link, strain seeping through his usually unflappable tone. His protective cover shattered, and the force of the impact sent him hurtling backward. His body skidded through the air before slamming toward the arena’s own barrier.

  When the dust finally settled, Cassian lay motionless on the ground— fainted.

  “Slowking is unable to battle. Challenger send out your next Pokemon.” I heard the referee announce.

  ‘You did enough,’ I said softly through our link. I felt his presence in my mind ebb as I recalled him into his Quick ball. ‘Trust in us.’

  I grab a blue Poke ball painted with rolling waves of different blue hues, tossing it toward the edge of the lake at the center of the arena.

  Scorpio the Toxapex emerged from his Dive ball with a hiss, spines flaring as he fixed a venomous glare on the Dragon type that had just taken down his brother.

  The referee nodded and swept his arm downward, signalling for the battle to resume.

  Clair wasted no time. “Earthquake.” She commanded, fully intending to bring Scorpio down as fast as possible.

  “Baneful Bunker!” I countered. Scorpio follows quickly, closing himself in his crown as Poison Type-energy envelops his protective shell. Earth collided with the barrier, but the full brunt of the damage was absorbed. “Sludge Wave and Surf!” I followed up immediately.

  ‘Time for Scorpio’s approach.’ I thought slyly.

  Violent clicks tore from the Poison-Water type as the residue from Kite’s earlier bombardment answered his call. The scattered toxins surged together, forming into a rising tide. Scorpio rose with it, riding the large venom filled wave.

  I heard Clair click her tongue at the unbelievable sight. “Dragon Pulse– erase that wave.”

  Draconic energy gathered at Altaria’s beak, condensing into a brilliant glow before being unleashed toward the oncoming wave.

  “Liquidation, intercept it then Toxic Spikes!” Scorpio laughed mischievously, spinning in a spiral and sending a pillar of Poison toward the beam of brilliant blue energy. The massive wave of poison raining down several small venom spikeballs.

  The two beams collided midair, light and venom grinding against each other in a violent stalemate— then the Dragon Pulse surged forward, overwhelming the wave and crashing into Scorpio’s crown with force.

  Scorpio let out a harsh grunt as the impact tore him from the crest of the wave, his armored body skidding hard across the stone. But he had stalled the Dragon Pulse enough for the wave to push through and crash down on Altaria, causing the dragon bird to crash down to the ground.

  I could hear the Toxapex’s clicks of pain as he righted himself. He was battered, but was still ready for battle.

  Altaria however was undeniably poisoned and was unable to stand, her pristine feathers were soaked and heavy with poison. More of the toxin was sinking into her, further decreasing the silent countdown.

  Clair studied her Pokemon for a moment before giving a sharp nod. “I’m withdrawing Altaria from the battle.” She said to the referee, voice still steady.

  “What?” I asked, surprise slipping into my voice. “How come? Natural Cure would have cured her of the poison and you could have dried her wings?”

  “Altaria’s wings are soaked— she can’t fly,” Clair explained as she recalled the dragon into her Ultra Ball. “The time it would take to dry them with a move would leave her wide open.” She didn’t look back. “And the amount of poison she’s taken would render Natural Cure meaningless.”

  I nodded at her words, understanding them, yet still unsatisfied as she called out her next Pokémon.

  Emerging from the Heavy Ball was a quadrupedal dragon, its massive form unfolding beneath a shell that shone like living metal. Light caught along its armored plates as it moved, three great ridged segments rising along its back like the spine of some ancient war machine.

  Shelgon, the Endurance Pokémon— the second stage in the fearsome Salamence line. Even in this incomplete form, it radiated stubborn resilience, a living fortress built to weather storms and punishment alike.

  I exhaled slowly. ‘If it’s a battle of attrition you want, a battle of attrition you’ll get.’

  “Sludge Bomb.” Scorpio clicked excitedly, spines rattling as he sucked up the pooled poison, condensing it before hurling massive orbs of sludge toward the dragon.

  “Intercept them with Dragon Breath.” Clair ordered. The dragon huffed, breathing in draconic deeply before sending out bursts of draconic energy toward the falling bombs. Causing the Poison move to explode mid-air and droplets of toxic liquid to fall on its shell.

  “Anchor yourself,” Clair said sharply. “Iron Defense.”

  Metallic light rippled across Shelgon’s shell as its plates locked together, grinding into place

  Clair nodded once. “Good. Now return it— Rock Slide.”

  The arena bucked violently. Stone spears erupted upward in a brutal line, tearing through the sludge-coated floor toward Scorpio. I had to react instantly—

  “Sludge Wave and Surf again!”

  Poisoned water surged, lifting Scorpio as he rode the wave like he had earlier.

  “Don’t let it eat you up– Outrage!” Clair yelled.

  Shelgon huffed angrily, drawing in an abundance of Dragon-type energy. The light around its shell burned brighter and brighter, swelling until it glowed an intense, blinding blue— Then it detonated, erupting in a brilliant supernova.

  The blue flames singed Scorpio’s crown, heat biting deep into his shell, but he pushed through the fire anyway. The venom wave evaporated on contact, shredded by the oncoming torrent of draconic energy.

  Scorpio leapt above the typhoon of heat, clearing the inferno in a single bound before plunging straight down toward Shelgon.

  “Poison Jab!” I yelled.

  Toxapex followed through, his two front limbs sheathed in violet energy, spikes flaring as he drove the attack downward, aiming straight for the heart of the dragon’s armored shell.

  Shelgon huffed, digging its hind legs deep into the ground as its shell flared with a renewed metallic sheen as it braced itself for the move.

  Scorpio laughed maniacally as he drove the jab downward, poison detonating on impact and forcing Shelgon back.

  “Zen Headbutt— now, while he’s close!” Clair snapped, seizing the opening immediately.

  “Baneful Bunker quickly!” I shouted at the last second.

  Psychic-type energy enveloped the front of Shelgon as it lunged toward Scorpio, its armored head wrapped in a shimmering pink glow.

  Scorpio only laughed, lowering his crown as poison surged to meet it, coating his spines in a lethal violet sheen.

  The dragon collided with the poison barrier, the impact dealing minimal—but still super-effective— damage to the Poison-type.

  But just as the Zen Headbutt began to fade, towering toxic spikes erupted from Scorpio’s crown, lancing forward with vicious precision and impaling the dragon straight through the eye.

  The two Pokémon sprang apart, creating space between them. Shelgon stumbled, swaying on its feet before managing to steady itself.

  There was no denying it now– it was poisoned. And with Scorpio’s Merciless in play, the advantage was ours.

  “How troublesome… looks like we’ll have to use it after all,” Clair sighed, a note of reluctant admiration in her voice.

  “Such a troublesome Pokémon. Draco Meteor.” Her command was calm, almost clinical, but the weight behind it made the air itself seem to tremble.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  My eyes widened as Shelgon drew in a massive surge of draconic energy, scales glowing brighter with each heartbeat, before unleashing it straight upward in a blinding, roaring column of power.

  The beam of draconic energy shot into the sky, a blazing pillar of blue fire that illuminated every corner of the arena. Scorpio’s eyes narrowed, spines rattling as he gauged the incoming attack. The Draco Meteor blazed downward toward the arena before crashing down with a cataclysmic roar. The shockwave tore through poisoned water and sludge alike, flattening spikes and ripping up the ground.

  Scorpio, caught in the heart of the impact despite his desperate evasive maneuvers, was thrown backward crashing into a barrier. With a sharp, pained click Scorpio went limp and fainted.

  Shelgon staggered, armor scraped and scorched where its own draconic energy had slammed into it. Smoke curled from its broken plates.

  “Toxapex is unable to battle. Challenger send out your next Pokemon.”

  I said nothing as I recalled Scorpio back into his Dive Ball, still reeling from the sheer intensity of that attack. The battlefield hummed with residual energy, a reminder of just how devastating Shelgon’s Draco Meteor had been.

  Clair had deemed my Toxapex such a threat that she’d risk damage to her own Pokémon to take him down. Shelgon was still poisoned and it bore the scars of her decision, plates cracked and scorched.

  I smiled and let out a slow breath, feeling the weight of the battle settle around me once more. ‘Stand proud, Scorpio. You did enough.’

  Grabbing Kite’s Great Ball from my belt, I sent it soaring into the air. With a flash of light, he emerged above the battlefield, wings outstretched, cutting through the sky. And the signal came for the battle to resume.

  “Shelgon’s weak! Finish it! Shadow Ball, then Sludge Bomb!” I shouted immediately.

  Even on its last legs, poisoned, exhausted, barely able to strike—the dragon still put up a stubborn, punishing fight.

  It lashed out with what little strength it had left—ragged Outrages, weakened Flamethrowers that slightly damaged my Crobat, and even one last, desperate attempt at Draco Meteor, the draconic energy flaring only to collapse under its own strain. Each attack was slower than the last, every motion dragged down by poison and exhaustion.

  In the end, the fire dimmed, the rage faded, and the dragon finally gave way—its massive form crashing to the battlefield as the last of its strength bled out into the scarred ground.

  “Shelgon is unable to battle. Leader Clair send out your next Pokemon.”

  I let out a slow, relieved breath as the Dragon Master recalled her fallen titan.

  Clair clipped the Heavy Ball containing the downed Shelgon back onto her belt. Instead of immediately sending out her next Pokémon, she paused—then turned her gaze toward her challenger.

  She wasn’t fazed by his switch in battle philosophy– it was only natural for a challenger to adapt once they knew their style was read. But this wasn’t just a simple adjustment. Loki had overturned his entire approach, flipping his style of battling on its head, surprising her in the process.

  The normally defensive, stalwart, near-infallible Poison-type specialist was taking audacious risks—making bold gambles where he would usually stay planted and wait for the perfect opening.

  She had wanted to test him on the resilience of his tactics, to see how he’d respond when patience and positioning were challenged by sheer brute force. That was why she opened with Flygon.

  But Flygon was never allowed to dictate the tempo, overwhelmed by Crobat’s speed and the unnerving synchronicity he shared with Slowking.

  Then came Altaria. The beautiful bird had done her job in bringing down the troublesome Slowking with the sheer power of her voice and performance. Clair had expected Toxapex to fall just as easily, another wall ground down by their pressure.

  Instead, the defensive bulwark was made into an offensive battering ram, slamming the bird down to the ground.

  Clair had intended to meet a defensive wall with another, but Shelgon was thoroughly outmatched in his offensive capabilities. She had no choice but to unleash her trump card to take down the persistent pest.

  If she were being honest, Loki had already passed her test. Yet her pride as a Dragon Master would not allow her to hand over her Gym Badge so easily.

  A genuine smile crossed her face, fleeting but unmistakable. With a smooth motion, she drew a Poké Ball from her belt and released her next Pokémon into the battlefield.

  I watched as her Poké Ball arced through the air, bursting into a flare of red light. From it emerged a long, serpentine dragon, scales shimmering blue. Each side of its head was adorned with small, angelic wings, a single horn rising from its forehead. Crystal orbs gleamed along its body, one at the base of its neck, and two more balanced along its tail.

  Dragonair, the graceful intermediary of the Dragon-type lineage, renowned across the lands as a symbol of the Blackthorn Clan.

  The referee sliced the air with his hand, signaling the battle’s resumption.

  I swallowed hard. Kite was already worn down from taking two attacks from Flygon and Shelgon. With his injuries the battle had been quickly decided.

  We traded blows, Crobat unleashing a flurry of Shadow Balls, Sludge Bombs, and Cross Poison. A desperate attempt to leave lasting damage.

  The serpentine dragon weaved through the onslaught, dodging or enduring most of Crobat’s attacks. Without missing a beat, it unleashed a flurry of Dragon Pulses, each blast streaking toward Kite with deadly precision. They struck him squarely, and with a small, concussive explosion, Crobat tumbled to the ground, fainted.

  “Crobat is unable to battle. Challenger send out your next Pokemon.”

  I sighed, recalling Kite back into his Great Ball. I paused for a moment, gazing at the container with pride. ‘You did good, Kite. Sleep well.’ I thought, giving my laziest Pokémon his due recognition. Then, grabbing a Heal Ball from my belt, I sent out the Pokémon inside.

  Lyra, my Sneasler, leapt into the air with infectious excitement, a mischievous laugh escaping her lips as her sharp eyes locked onto Dragonair.

  “Lyra, Fake Out!” I shouted.

  The agile Sneasler shot forward, her claws striking the ground just beneath Dragonair as she let out a teasing snicker. The sudden jolt caught Dragonair off guard, the serpent flinching and losing altitude slightly.

  “Keep up the pressure! Use your speed!” I called. Lyra grinned, circling Dragonair, ready to strike again. “Poison Jab!”

  Lyra didn’t hesitate. She twirled through the air, claws glowing with venom.

  “Dodge it— Agility!” Clair barked. Dragonair twisted midair, its body moving with uncanny precision, narrowly avoiding Lyra’s Poison Jab

  Lyra crouched low, claws scraping the ground as her mischievous grin widened. “Alright, girl, Swords Dance!” I called. Lyra’s body tensed and shivered as a crimson aura surrounded her claws, her muscles tightening as she sharpened every edge, every strike now packed with devastating potential.

  Clair’s eyes narrowed. “Dragon Dance.” The serpentine dragon danced. Moving elegantly as draconic energy coiled around her scales, causing her body to shimmer as its speed and power increased.

  “Dire Claw, Lyra!” Lyra sprang forward. her claws slashing in a wide, sweeping arc aimed at Dragonair’s side. The attack connected partially, scratching scales and drawing a faint line of shimmer, but Dragonair twisted elegantly to absorb part of the impact with its coiled body.

  “Dragon Tail!” Clair ordered instantly. Dragonair’s tail lashed low, striking Lyra’s legs mid-attack and throwing her off balance. She stumbled but recovered quickly, eyes narrowing as she prepared her next strike.

  “Close Combat!” I shouted, urging Lyra to exploit the opening. Lyra surged forward, her strikes were a blur as she aimed for Dragonair’s torso with both fists and claws, every blow empowered by her Swords Dance. The serpent twisted midair, evading the brunt of the assault, but a few hits landed, leaving faint bruises along its shimmering scales.

  “Thunder Wave!” Clair countered, and Dragonair’s orb flared with electric energy, sending a crackling bolt that struck Lyra squarely. The nimble Sneasler staggered, limbs twitching as paralysis slowed her movements— her strikes now just slightly off rhythm.

  I called out for Lyra to dodge just as Clair’s voice cut across the field. “Scale Shot.”

  The crystal orbs along Dragonair’s body gleamed, spinning small scales that streaked toward Lyra like tiny missiles.

  Lyra tried to leap out of the way, but the lingering paralysis from Thunder Wave seized her muscles. She froze mid-motion, unable to dodge as the bright, spinning scales slammed into her again and again.

  I clenched my fists. ‘Hang in there, Lyra! You can still turn this around!’ Lyra summoned every ounce of willpower and launched toward the dragon.

  “Poison Jab with Close Combat.” She spat, snapping her claws toward Dragonair’s side. The serpent twisted, avoiding the worst, but some hits grazed its scales.

  “Good, good— Now Dire Claw!” I barked. Lyra lunged, desperate to regain control, her movements jagged but determined. Dragonair reacted with calm precision, coiling to strike back with Dragon Tail, forcing Lyra backward once more. But the Dire Claw had hit.

  Some of Dragonair’s scales darkened and hardened, her body instinctively adapting as Sneasler’s paralytic venom coursed through her system. Her muscles twitched under the sluggish weight of the poison, but her innate ability— Marvel Scale— activated, bolstering her defenses and reinforcing her scales against more attacks.

  Dragonair’s activating ability wouldn’t help us, but a risky thought enters my head. “Lyra, Can you give me a Sunny Day?”

  Lyra chirped sharply, her eyes glinting with defiance as she gathered a surge of fire energy within her small, agile frame.

  “Don’t let it, Dragon Pulse!” Clair’s voice rang sharply across the field. She took in draconic energy in her maw, sending out a beam of heat toward Lyra.

  “Dodge, Lyra! Twist to the side!” My heart raced as the blast streaked forward, slicing through the air with deadly precision. Lyra leapt, flames flickering along her body, but the paralysis from earlier still lingered, slowing her reaction. The beam grazed her side, sending a shockwave of heat and force through her small frame.

  Lyra refused to yield. With a determined chirp, she gathered every ounce of her Fire-type energy and unleashed Sunny Day. Spreading her arms wide, flames licking along her claws and body, she projected a brilliant orb of light that now hovered above the battlefield like a miniature sun.

  She laughed mischievously one final time, a defiant sparkle in her eyes, before her knees buckled and her strength gave out. Lyra gave me one last, proud glance, a silent message of all she had fought for, before collapsing to the ground and fainting.

  “Sneasler is unable to battle. Challenger send out your next Pokemon.”

  I quickly recalled her back into her Heal ball. “You did amazing, Trouble.” Before reattaching it back to my belt, before reaching for a Heal ball.

  I hurled the container toward the crater left behind by Shelgon’s Draco Meteor. From the red light sprang Magnolia, my Vileplume. Her broad petals unfurled proudly as she landed.

  Once the battle resumed, we sprung to action.

  “Cover the area.” Magnolia cooed sweetly as vibrant pink fumes exploded out of the flower atop her head, clinging to Dragonair’s scales causing her body to glitter inside of the pink veil that enveloped the arena.

  Clair paid no mind to the spores now clinging to Dragonair’s form, her focus instead snapping to the blazing orb still hanging overhead from Lyra’s Sunny Day. She knew with the sun, my Vileplume was dangerous.

  “Rain Dance,” she ordered calmly. “Get rid of that sun.”

  Dragonair hummed, following Clair’s command for a performance, even through the lingering poison left by Lyra. She moved with quiet elegance, coiling and swaying as dark clouds slowly gathered overhead, inching closer to swallowing the miniature sun.

  The paralysis caused small hiccups in her dance, brief stutters in an otherwise graceful motion. The clouds were slow to form, slow to fully cover the sun, yet she continued steadily through the motions.

  I could see Clair’s eyes narrowing, suspicion creeping into her expression as we seemingly allowed Dragonair the time to blot out the sun without interference.

  Then Dragonair’s movements faltered. Her coils slackened, her motions growing sluggish… slower… until they stopped entirely. Before the rain could fully manifest, her eyes fluttered shut, and she drifted downward, overcome at last as sleep claimed her.

  Clair’s eyebrow raised as she cast a scrutinizing eye toward the pink fog. Before gazing back up at me. After a long moment, she lifted her eyes from the battlefield and looked back at me.

  “Using Sweet Scent to disguise Sleep Powder…” Clair said slowly, a smile forming at her lips. “Clever. But surely you had no knowledge of this one’s ability?” She gestured toward the softly snoring Dragonair, her eyes never leaving mine.

  One of my eyebrows lifted in intrigue. “When Lyra managed to inject her poison, Dragonair’s scales visibly darkened, a clear sign of hardening,” I answered. “Her body was responding to danger, basically confirming it had Marvel Scale– am I wrong?”

  The Gym Leader gave a small nod but offered no reply, turning instead toward the referee.“I’m withdrawing Dragonair from the battle.” Clair said calmly, recalling the slumbering dragon into her ball.

  “This one’s a new addition to my team, but he’s an eager one. I grant you the privilege of gazing at his form.” She said, throwing a Poke ball in the air. A massive green dragon emerged with a thunderous roar, its spiked head and the barbs scattered across its body were a warm, golden yellow. Broad green wings unfurled, shaped like thistle leaves, beating the air with crushing force as the true weight of Clair’s challenge descended upon the arena, landing on a hill not enveloped by Magnolia’s Sweet Scent.

  I recognized it instantly as a Druddigon, but it was different. Its coloration was unlike any I had ever seen, the hues far removed from the familiar reds and blues I knew.

  The signal to resume the battle came, and neither of us wasted a second.

  “Hone Claws.” Clair calmly ordered

  “Grassy Terrain and Growth!” I called out.

  I watched as Druddigon amassed Dark type-energy, shadows coiling around its claws, maw, and eyes. Its gaze sharpened, attack potency rising as a deep focus settled over the dragon.

  Within the pink fog, Magnolia drew in a small collection of Grass type-energy from the battle-scarred field beneath her feet and a soft green glow spread outward, illuminating the fog-shrouded battlefield. Under the fumes it was guaranteed that there was a vibrant field full of life.

  “Can you spot the plant?” Clair asked her beast.

  Druddigon responded with a low groan, shaking its massive head in the negative.

  “Then we have no choice,” Clair said calmly. “Flamethrower, attempt to draw it out of its hiding place using heat.”

  “Petal Dance, stay as hidden as you can.” I countered.

  The rough dragon drew fire deep into its maw before unleashing towering pillars of flame, the inferno tore through the fog. At the same instant, massive petals erupted from every direction within the haze, bursting forth like living blades as they shot toward the dragon.

  Druddigon twisted its body, using the torrent of flames to burn the incoming petals to ash, but they were unrelenting. More petals burst from the fog to bombard the dragon from every direction.

  “Change of plans,” Clair spoke. “Stomping Tantrum, sniff out that flower.”

  The dragon roared, channeling Ground type-energy into its rugged feet. It slammed them into the hill, sending mini-quakes rumbling across the arena. The tremors rattled the battlefield.

  Magnolia would be affected, but the damage would be minimal due to her Grass typing resisting the Ground attack.

  “Found her?” Clair asked.

  My eyes widened as the dragon gave a nod.

  ‘What? How?’ I asked in my head when–

  “Good. Flamethrower.” Clair said. Druddigon responded instantly, gathering a surge of fire in its jaws before releasing the inferno, the flames streaking across the battlefield.

  “Mags! Grassy Glide, dodge the fire!” I yelled out.

  I held my breath, eyes locked on the blazing stream of fire as it tore toward the spot where Druddigon assumed Magnolia was hiding within the thick fog. Then, a streak of green shot to the side, avoiding the inferno.

  I winced as I heard a small whimper. She must’ve been hit.

  “Still locked on her position?” Clair asked and Druddigon confirmed. “Charge up a Hyper Beam.” Clair commanded and Druddigon followed, slowly amassing a bright light within its maw.

  I clicked my tongue in frustration. “One more Growth!” I called out to the not-so-hidden Magnolia.

  For a brief moment, the battlefield fell silent. Then, from within the pink fog, a brilliant glow illuminated.

  Druddigon’s Hyper Beam and Magnolia’s Solar Beam blasted forward, in two brilliant beams of light. One, a blinding white and the other a vibrant yellow of sunlight.

  The two attacks collided and the impact shook the entire arena, sending shockwaves throughout the building.

  Everyone covered their eyes as a blinding explosion of light consumed everything, blasting away Magnolia’s Sweet Scent fog, scorching the ground below, burning away the Vileplume’s Grassy Terrain.

  When the light faded, the battlefield was scarred with a giant strip missing off where the two attacks met. In opposite ends Magnolia’s petals drooped, her skin charred and singed. While Druddigon was sent a small distance from the now vaporized hill.

  “Both Pokemon are unable to battle. Challenger please send out your next Pokemon first.”

  We both quietly recalled our fainted team members in their respective balls as we looked back on the devastation that the two had left.

  We were down to our last Pokémon, and I had no idea who Clair was sending out next.

  I believed in Scylla. She was my starter, my first partner, the one who had been by my side through every battle, every victory, every setback. No matter what Clair sent out next, I knew I could trust her.

  I gripped her worn Poké Ball tightly, a deep wave of nostalgia washing over me as I hurled it into the air. In a burst of light, Scylla emerged, wings unfurling, her eyes gleaming red with determination.

  Clair’s eyes narrowed at the purple stone embedded in her metal collar. Its surface was smooth and marble-like, etched with a flowing design of maroon, brown, and pale green.

  “You’re a user of Mega Evolution,” she said, intrigued. “I had no knowledge that Dragalge could wield such a form.”

  “Didn’t know?” I scoffed. “Or were you just ignorant like the rest of those stuck-up elders?” I barked.

  If the Dragon Master was bothered by my comment, she showed no sign.

  “You intrigue me, Challenger,” she began. “You’ve made remarkable strides in preparing for this match. Truth be told, I’ve already deemed you worthy of the Rising Badge. You’ve passed my test– But– ” She paused to whisper to one of her Gym staff. The girl nodded quickly and dashed off, returning a few moments later with a Poke Ball.

  “I assume you plan to use Mega Evolution as a show of your spirit?” She asked.

  I gave her a single nod in return.

  “Then I shall match your spirit with my own.” She smiled, a spark of challenge in her eyes, and sent the Poké Ball soaring into the air. With a brilliant flash, a majestic Dragonite emerged, its wings cutting through the light as it ascended. Scars etched across its powerful body told tales of countless battles, marking it unmistakably as from her own personal team. It hovered above, its gaze fixed, every inch radiating strength and command.

  Dangling from a sturdy metal chain around Dragonite’s neck, a stone glimmered. Its smooth, golden-beige surface was adorned with a flowing stripe of teal, lavender, and white.

  Extra extra long chapter as an early Christmas gift.

  Hello, apologies for taking too long with the chapter. I was busy with last minute school work and had no motivation (and I procrastinated a lot) and ideas for how this part of the battle was going to play out. I’m not very good with battle choreography, but y’all can be the judge of that. As always comments, suggestions, reviews and corrections are much appreciated. Thank you for reading.

  Pokemon mentioned in the Chapter:

  Flygon

  Altaria

  Slowking

  Toxapex

  Shelgon

  Dragonair

  Sneasler

  Vileplume

  Druddigon (Shiny)

  Dragalge

  Dragonite