Chapter 97: Chapter 97

Psi levitated himself into the lower levels of the Redwood Lab, driven by an equal balance of curiosity and purpose. The humans, the ones called by their kin 'Brain Trust', had been surprised by his appearance but a brief conversation, the best kind he could have with humans, with his Trainer's direct kin had led him to his goal. Their next opponent was Gary Oak, a Pokémon Professor, and one of the few to raise an Alakazam to the heights Psi had reached.

Psi was still new to his form, relatively speaking, and while he had trained hard, he eventually accepted what all those who intended to hit the highest level did; gaining power required effort. Upon first achieving his Mega Form, in the midst of that euphoric revelation that had subtly altered his perception of existence, he had looked at his Trainer. Mega Alakazam had an ability to, if they bothered to look, see the course of a human's life. Upon looking at his Trainer, Psi had nearly gone blind, and that moment, at the climax of power their bond could create, he finally accepted the human as a partner, instead of a necessity. He was still working on accepting his 'brothers', or more accurately teammates, as partners as well, but there were several who the Alakazam just could not fathom.

As requested, he found the collected knowledge of Gilroy Redwood in his old room's closet, and slowly, the Alakazam began to read. It took him a total of twenty minutes to go through the late Professor's entire body of work…and he wasn't that impressed. Psi also knew that he'd found that moon city though, which added to his rep, but as far as actual scientific contributions went…both Samuel and Gary Oak had him outclassed. Psi had, naturally, already read their contributions as well.

He turned his head slightly, as someone that was not an employee had followed him into the basement, and he'd only just acknowledged her presence. She was a 'student' at the Blueberry Academy, though she'd apparently wanted to be a teacher instead. Elena Grimwood, a former scientist of the Imperium who had apparently defected after an experiment involving Shadow went awry. She started reading the documents as well, and Psi made no move to stop her.

The exact moment she processed the final word, he said, "Is it just me, or is all of this…not very much. Some of his discoveries were impressive, but compared to the Oaks…"

Elena chuckled darkly. "It's not just you. It seems like he spent most of his life chasing rumors and found nothing, at least until he got lucky with that Moon city place. Assuming it even exists."

"Oh, it exists. The entire reason the Imperium of Man does not currently control the Moon is because Professor Redwood managed to make it to Lantea City. Without Pegasus operating from that base, the Imperium would have taken the Moon unchallenged. I do not dispute his achievements, they just seem…meager. Compared to the Oaks."

The woman nodded. "I agree. I-"

"I have a Battle to get ready for." Psi interrupted, "I must prepare." And with that, he was gone, just as another of the misfits his Trainer had taken a liking to after saving them at Blueberry Academy descended the stairs. His abrupt exit spared him a conversation with the overly positive mind who next entered the old Professor's basement. They were intelligent, but unrefined. Like a blade that had yet to be sharpened, and Psi had better things to do than sharpen them.

Viggo Spruce slowly peaked down the stairs, saw Elena, and the fading form of Psi, and then joined her. "Was that an Alakazam!? Did you speak to it? Aww man, I wish I could've befriended it…oh hey, what are all these…papers…"

"The life work of Gilroy Redwood. I wasn't that impressed, honestly. Read them if you want, I need some coffee." Elena went back up to the lab's floor then, where she managed to, despite her status as an Imperium defector, learn about what the Brain Trust was working on, and get an education in the finer points of manipulating literally infinite energy, a field she knew little about.

Viggo, for her part, was engrossed with the Professor's research, and very quickly, she gained admiration for him. She read every single paper, wrote down theories of her own, and then went snooping through his bedroom. There was nothing to find, really, except the Professor's old bong, placed under his pillow, hidden and safe. She made her way back to the basement area, and had her Rotom Phone scan the room, at which point, she discovered the secret tunnel.

Opening it was rather loud, and after gaining the attention of one of the Brain Trust, a woman with short blonde hair called Brienne, she was encouraged to explore the tunnel. Unfortunately it was empty, aside from the Pokéball charger that had once held a Sceptile in stasis. After making her way back and closing the tunnel, leaving the basement how she'd found it, Viggo returned to the top floor, and cautiously approached the current Professor Redwood, who was already back to researching. "Umm, pardon me, Professor…" Viggo started, "I was wondering if I could speak with the Dragon Emperor again…I figured you'd know how to get in touch with him…"

Eric looked up from his work, and huffed, "I'm sure the mighty Dragon Emperor is around here somewhere…or a clone of him, anyway. Check outside. His Salamence has been battling something out there for the past few hours."

Sure enough, a clone of Alex Redwood was outside, arms crossed and smirking, as Shruikan put Jade Drachenfel's team through their paces. They weren't weak by any means, but it took every single one of them to even make Shruikan sweat. Alex turned, as Viggo approached. "Ahh, our inquisitive Norstadder! How are you liking the Lab?"

"Oh, the Lab is great and I'm honored to be here," Viggo answered, "But uhh…I did umm, read some things…" She then explained what his Alakazam had been up to, how interested she was by his granduncle's notes, and particularly the secret base hidden on the Moon.

Alex chuckled awkwardly, but didn't mention she wasn't supposed to know about that. It didn't really matter that Elena did, the Imperium was well aware of who inhabited the Earth's only stellar satellite. She finished with a strong desire to go there. Alex shrugged, replying, "Sure. My Granduncle recorded many things up there. I just haven't had time to go over it, what with the Shadowspawn and the World Tournament. Apparently he made a few trips through the Star Gates once his Rotom got its bearings." He held out a hand to the inquisitive student. "Hold tight. It's a big jump."

As Viggo went to take the offered hand, someone else grabbed onto them at the last moment, having heard their conversation, and being very eager to see the Moon as well. Zander Grey was another member of the student's group that Adrie and Jade had requested Alex to include in their 'graduation'. A troubled youth from the mean streets of Ohiana's capital city, Ventosus, the megalopolis that was comprised of formerly well-known cities like Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Cleveland, he'd been sent to the Blueberry Academy's rarely used psychosis ward after Jade had discovered the remains of Rattata in his room, that he'd apparently been killing, just to feel something.

Alex had, at the behest of his newest students, obliged their request, had a clone chat with Zander, and decided that the dark-clothed emotional teen deserved a second chance, after Alex had psychically unblocked his capacity for empathy. Some earlier head trauma in Zander's life had caused the defect, but upon its repair, he demonstrated that he understood what he'd done, and how wrong it was. He ultimately decided to use this new one-time chance to become a proper Pokémon Trainer. Alex had bamfed him over to the Lab, but then the clone with him had been needed elsewhere, and Zander had been left to wander…right into Viggo's conversation.

They appeared right before the once more covered up Star Gate, to the intimidating sight of multiple high powered firearms aimed in their general direction. "Hands up!" Came the order, and the two teens immediately complied.

Alex stepped forward in front of them, a psychic barrier at the ready, just in case. "It's alright gentleman, it's just me." The soldiers aiming the weapons shared a look, but kept their weapons trained on the newcomers as a new voice echoed through the area from his balcony.

Director Colress was already pinching his brow, and sighing. "Emperor Redwood. I'd say it's nice to see you again, but it seems you've brought even more potential security breaches to my top secret headquarters." Colress descended to the lower floor as he spoke. He glanced briefly at Viggo, and his eyes narrowed at Zander, who was currently still dressed in black, with a Griseous Cloak Covenant t-shirt depicting Giratina on it. He focused on Viggo first. "Go on then. What possible reason could bring you here?"

Viggo glanced at Redwood, who gestured and nodded towards Colress, and said, "I read Professor Gilroy Redwood's notes and experiments and…it just…resonated with me. I want to know more about him, and I wanted to see the Moon city he'd discovered…if, y'know, that's…okay."

Colress scrutinized her for a moment, then nodded. The soldiers finally lowered their guns. "Very well. If the Dragon Emperor can vouch for you, I see no reason to deny your desire to learn. I can give you the tour." His sharp eyes shifted to Zander then, who had a dumb, awe struck grin on his face. "And you…Zander Grey, yes? I read your file…and frankly, I'm surprised Redwood brought you here."

Zander gulped. "I uhh, kinda just jumped in at the last second. I really wanted to see the Moon. It sounded like, awesome."

Colress pinched his brow again, and sighed heavily. "Yes, but now that you've seen it, you can't un-see it. And even the Dragon Emperor's word will not be enough to vouch for someone who murders Pokémon for fun."

Alex stepped in, then. "Colress, I brought him out of the psych-ward because he regained his capacity for empathy, and understands what he did was wrong. He has potential. I wouldn't want to see his future wasted."

Colress nodded. "Very well. Unfortunately, now that he's here…he cannot leave. Not yet, anyway. We'll make him into a soldier. We'll break him down, and build him up again as a soldier of Pegasus." He nodded at the guards. "Take him to Ranger Geralt. He'll be more than capable of turning our new recruit into a useful asset."

"Aww man, a soldier?" Zander chimed in. "That sounds…awful."

Alex nodded. "It will be. You're going to hate your existence for a while until your body adapts…but Geralt is my cousin. He's a Top Ranger." Zander's eyes widened, at that. "That's right, he's one of the best Pokémon Rangers known to man. If you prove worthy, if you make an effort, and really try to learn what he teaches to you…you might just become a Ranger yourself, and Pegasus might let you back down to the Earth at some point."

Zander sighed. "I guess…being a Pokémon Ranger would be awesome...alright. So long as I can keep my Pokémon, I'm in."

Alex nodded. "Good luck, Zander. I'll check in soon." He turned to Viggo, then. "I have a match to get to, so I'll leave you to enjoy the tour, and the archive. Learn as much as you can, up here. It's a good opportunity." Viggo nodded, affirming that she would, and with that, Alex's clone bamfed out of existence.

The Original Dragon's Demiplane - Draconis Mons

Alex prime had taken Adrie into Tao's realm to help the young Germanian fairy. After being briefly examined at the Redwood Lab, they had discovered that despite the amount of steel energy and modifications the former Astartes recruit had gone through, his latent fairy energy wasn't in conflict with it. Yet. Eric claimed that as he matured, that would change, and one type would try to overpower the other, likely resulting in Adrie's death. Since Librarian Astartes went through the same grueling training as all other candidates for the Legions, they had some idea of how to help him.

He would never have children, but the modifications he'd survived had given him more durable skin and bones, strength that would become abnormally powerful over time as he hit maturity, enhanced vision and senses, hyper-oxygenated blood, increased healing factor, and burgeoning psychic abilities. Adrie was alright with all of this, but the potentially imminent death worried him, thus, Alex brought him to a place where time crawled, slow enough that they might just be able to help him achieve some semblance of bodily harmony.

First, he'd had the fairy boy take out the Pokémon he'd taken from the corpse of his Librarian mentor, a very high level Kingambit, Aggron, and Skarmory, and Alex had them pair off with Sir Erek, Cenomons, and Atlas, respectively. His team would make them strong, and help them adapt to not being mindlessly infused with Shadow anymore. Adrie himself went to the same chamber where Tao's sandwich had awakened Alex's inner self to perfection, and there, Alex tried to help the young man understand Balance as a concept.

"So, Adrie," He started, once they arrived. "First…let me see that sword made of pure Fairy Energy you summoned against the Shadowspawn." Enthusiastically, the Germanian teen manifested the blade once more, and Alex watched as he did so, copying his technique with psychic energy. "I see…and you're condensing it within a field of…very interesting. But wasteful. It's burning through your energy." The massive sword Alex manifested came out shaped more like a slab of a weapon with sharp edges. It was absurdly long, unwieldy, and had it had actual weight to it, it would've been impossible for lesser men to even lift, let alone wield.

"Using this much energy just for a weapon will tire you out. But, if you contain how much is being spent with the energy's opposite, in my case Dark Type…" The massive magenta greatsword became limned with black, and suddenly felt a lot heavier, though Alex still 'held' it one handed, "The amount of energy wasted becomes significantly less. It's still nowhere near as useful as a plasma sword, but it's not bad for emergencies, or if your battery runs dry." Alex stared at his creation for a moment then, and the shape turned from one befitting a Berserker to a similarly sized katana. Satisfied with it after a few test swings, he let the energy fade, and focused on Adrie. "Do you think you could encase yours in Steel Type Energy?"

Adrie looked at his hand-and-a-half sword, and shook his head. "Nein. I vould not know how."

Alex nodded. "First things first, then. Let's focus on getting you used to feeling the flow of that energy within you."

After an intense sparring session followed by some meditation, Adrie was able to encase his blade in sharpened steel energy, and he seemed eager to get armor like Alex's, dragonbones infused with Plate shards. That wasn't all that Alex had in mind for him, though.

After the equivalent to several months in the demiplane, Alex finally broached the subject of expanding the teen's psychic powers. Despite the steel energy in his body thanks to the Imperium, he was, naturally, psychic and fairy typed, and Alex had taught him a few moves. Quick Attack, though it used normal energy, was quick enough to get out of range of, for example, exploding Bolter rounds from Astartes weapons. Teleport was also useful, and after some meditative sessions focusing on places like Professor Pino's lab,

After mastering summoning his inner steel energy, Adrie had managed to turn it into a shield, and through Alex's training, he developed a useful fighting style that would hopefully stand up to the armored giants of the Imperium. Through the use of clones and multiple weapons on Alex's part, Adrie was able to adapt to short ranged sword attacks, and those from a staff. Only once Alex was certain he wouldn't immediately die to the first Thunder Warrior he encountered, did he raise the subject of opening the fairy boy's innermost pools of energy.

Like Ash, Jimen, and Isamu before him, Adrie proved ready and willing to achieve a higher state of being, and enlightenment. He faced his fears about the Imperium, which manifested as Thunder Warriors from all known Legions appearing around the chamber. Behind where Alex was sitting, cross-legged, an impossibly large staircase led up an impossibly large throne, atop which sat a man radiating the golden power of a God. For some reason, Alex seemed to fall into a deep trance during this first opening, and somehow, the psychic manifestations came to life. Adrie slashed through several, and managed to keep their bolter rounds from impacting against his teacher, and only after he'd 'slain' each projected Thunder Warrior, had Alex snapped back to reality.

Next, Adrie dealt with the guilt of all the friends and training comrades who hadn't survived the brutal conditioning that creating an Astartes required. The people, the Pokémon, the guilt of surviving when they had not had stayed with him, but Alex helped him accept that the Imperium was responsible for their deaths, not Adrie, and with that acceptance, they moved on to the next pool of energy. Next, the chamber was illuminated in fire as Adrie dealt with the shame of being unable to stop the Imperium from killing his family, and burning his home. Once he accepted that he had been a child, and nothing he could've done would have stopped them, the chakra opened.

His grief, over losing his friends and his family, was similarly handled, once Alex was able to explain that energy was not created or destroyed, but recycled. Those who died were never really lost, and once he was able to accept that all that he had lost did not have to define his future, the chakra opened. He was, however, still adamant about facing the Imperium, but Alex had just continued anyway, knowing they would deal with his biases soon enough. Adrie was reluctant to deal with his lies next, unable to recall any, until Alex clarified that lying to oneself also counted.

At that point, Adrie admitted, "Ze biggest lie I have told mineself is…zat I am fine. Zat all the things I have suffered have not…broken me."

Alex nodded empathetically at his words. "It's okay to not be fine, Adrie. Most people aren't. But, admitting that you aren't fine, and accepting that, is the first step towards achieving inner balance. You were broken…but you have been reforged. You crossed the Mediterra Mountains to escape to Italia. You managed to turn your life around at the Academy, and now, you have the power to make sure stories like yours won't happen again." Adrie nodded, and with a deep sigh, the energy pool in his throat opened.

The next two, the final two, were the hardest for the young Germanian. The Light Chakra was about accepting the illusion that the Earth and all that lived on it were separated by the arbitrary lines humans drew across it, but Adrie was adamant that the Imperium was separate. Alex was able to educate him, though. As bad as some of the Prime Archons were, as bad as the Imperator himself seemed to be, the Imperium was part of their world, and there were good people within it. It would take showing them what they were, revealing all the foul deeds the Imperium had done, but they could be redeemed, or if not, they at least deserved the chance. After a few more minutes, Adrie finally agreed that, the least they deserved, was a chance.

The final energy pool was slightly easier to open than the last one. While initially reluctant to let his bonds with his Pokémon be swept away in the cosmic tidal wave of energy that flowed into his body, once he did so, Adrie awakened, realizing that he was floating in the air, meditating before Alex, who had his arms crossed, and was smirking, just impressed with how fast the young man had awakened his potential. Adrie realized everything he'd experienced had been within their shared mindscape, and then, for the first time since entering the demiplane, he went off to take a nap. Alex let him, as they had plenty of time for him to rest and recover.

The World Stadium - Unova Region

Former Route-based interviewers Gabby and Ty, and PNN hosts Ari and Rachel appeared on screens all across the World Stadium building and throughout the Unova region. Ty spoke first from behind a large mahogany desk covered with papers and Pokémon League swag, a big grin on his face, despite how uncomfortable he looked in his dark blue pinstripe suit.

"Ladies and gentleman! It's finally time! We've waited four long years, and now, the seventy-fifth Pokémon League World Tournament is set to begin! For three hundred years, the strongest Pokémon Trainers around the world have gathered to compete in this global crucible of Battle! And now, for the first time in its long history, one Trainer stands poised to claim an unprecedented ten victories in a row, a streak rivaled only by the Pokémon League's first World Champion!"

Gabby chimed in next. "That's right, Ty. Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town is set to become a legend among legends, and our friends at PNN who have been polling the crowds here at the World Stadium can confirm: he is, by far, the fan favorite to win it all." She turned to their co-hosts, then. "Joining us today are familiar faces from our friends at PNN, Ari, Rachel, we all know everybody loves Ash Ketchum, but I hear there's a few dark Rapidashes we might want to keep an eye on this year?"

Rachel gave her a coy grin. "You heard correctly, Gabby. The usual names are on people's minds and lips, Chairman Leon, Champion Cynthia of the Sinnoh Region who has reclaimed her title recently, but the darkest Rapidash has to be our native Champion right grown right here in Unova. Calling Alex Redwood popular would be quite an understatement. Feeding the entirety of Humankind for free has made him a bit of a global icon, with fans swelling his base from every single Region across the entire planet, but that's not the only reason he's our dark Rapidash, is it Ari?"

Ari chuckled knowingly. "It is not. While his perpetually chill demeanor and proven morality have won him many fans, I've spoken with Pokémon Battling experts across multiple Regions, Rachel, and everyone agrees: Redwood's team is in top form. After a recent stint training in the Dark Continent's Selva Muerta, that's 'Jungle of Death' for those unfamiliar with Rio's old languages, his team has reportedly reached heights that, until this modern era, were thought to be impossible, if not absurd. The rumor is that almost every Pokémon he's registered to Battle in this tournament, just over sixty total, has clocked in at level one hundred, and for those who don't know, that's the highest level of power our instruments can measure in a Pokémon, but it is by no means the end of their potential. Pokémon potential is as Infinite as the energy that they were created from, the thing is, until recently, Pokémon who achieved that level were rarely available for study, and often members of Battle-loving species like Charizard or Tyranitar."

Gabby spoke again. "And, reportedly, Emperor Redwood has both of those species on his team, along with several others." A display appeared beside the reporters then, showing Alex in his standard and somewhat iconic black and white robes beside images of each of his known team members. "While we know of about thirty members of his team, the remaining ones are a complete mystery, despite the best efforts of our info-gatherers. These high levels, along with his Earthquake-heavy Battle style, and the wildcards we don't know about, are what are leading many to speculate that he might just be the one to break Ash Ketchum's streak."

Ty chuckled, and to those who knew his views, he was, quite famously, an Ash Ketchum simp. "Let's not get carried away just yet, Gabby. Redwood is powerful, but this is his, and his team's, first World Tournament. They've never been in front of so many Humans at once, and they've never had to go through the kind of gauntlet that lies before them. I think that's as good a segue as any to list the participating Trainers of the Tricentennial World Tournament! Ladies and gentleman, in no particular order, I give you the current top thirty-two strongest Pokémon Trainers in the modern world!"

(And for your benefit, I'm just going to list them here in no particular order under the picture. The names should also align with the picture, from left to right.)

World Champion Ash Ketchum

Galar League Chairman Leon

Victory League Champion Alexander Redwood

Sinnoh Champion Cynthia

Fornian Champion Jessica Gladstone

Indius Champion Sikandar Jiyoshi

Former Unovan Champion Rosa

Kalos Champion Connor Gladstone

Former World Champion Red

Galar Champion, Victor

Rioan Champion Nelinha

Alolan Elite Four, Gladion

Dragon Master Lance Blackthorn

Indigo League Champion Silver Rossi

Alolan Professor Kukui

Vermillion City Gym Leader Leaf

Former Unovan Champion Hilbert

Former Unovan Champion Nate

Nova League Champion Benga

Unovan Elite Four, Damon

Paldean Champion Juliana

Hoenn Champion Rikuya

Melemele Island Kahuna Hau

Kanto/Johto Top Ranger Hibiki

Italia Champion Isabella Fondacaro

Unovan Elite Four, Nick

Battle Instructor Nemona

Former Hoenn Champion Steven Stone

Gabby and her co-hosts stared at the names, and the faces accompanying them. She glanced at Ty. "And…you're sure these are in no particular order?"

Ty nodded in affirmation. "Yup. Completely random, or so I'm told."

Rachel's eyes narrowed, slightly. "You're saying that, completely by chance, the four favorites to win all ended up listed first?"

Ty chuckled. "Apparently. I would guess Ash was always going to be first, but the rest do truly seem random. The likes of Steven Stone would never be ranked last, otherwise. This isn't the line-up that matters though, Rachel, remember it's the Superior Sixteen that will start off the World Tournament officially. Today, we're going to see who those sixteen are! First up we have the Dragon Master of Blackthorn City and former World Champion Lance facing off against the founder of the Alola League, Alola's own Professor Kukui, better known on the world stage as Royal Mask! After the matches today, we're going to have seven matches tomorrow, and the day after, which means our World Tournment's first round of the Superior Sixteen will be here just in time for the end of the work week! Heheh…it's like they planned it that way…"

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Gabby chimed in then. "That's not all we have today either, folks. Capping our first half-day will be Professor Gary Oak of Pallet Town, facing down Unova's own Dragon Emperor, Alex Redwood. Apparently, Professor Oak started the young Redwood, more or less, on his Journey when he gave him a Bulbasaur for his Trainer Exam. We all know why the young Redwood didn't keep the Bulbasaur, who was apparently a Venusaur by the end of the exam, but our reporters in the field tell me the two have since reunited."

"A reunion like that's got to feel good, Gabby." Ty continued. "The first match will begin in twenty minutes folks, so grab some food, and get ready to see how a team of wrestling pros fare against a team of dragons trained by the strongest living Dragon Master on Earth!"

Alex Redwood, the original one, was seated in the locker room he shared with Nate and Hilbert, and all three men had eyes on the screen. As Ty finished, Alex stood, and stretched. "Well guys, they want me out there to officially kick things off. Sure you don't want a spot in the Imperial box seats? The people would love seeing their Heroes."

Nate shook his head. "I prefer silence when watching matches, and I need to concentrate on this one. Lance's skills…are legendary. I can't afford to miss a command because of the crowd's noise."

Hilbert sighed, hands behind his head, and then nodded. "I think I'll take you up on that offer, Champion. The vibe in here is…trying a bit too hard." Nate glared at him, and Hilbert stuck out his tongue, very briefly, before smirking and walking off with the Dragon Emperor. Nate just shook his head. With those two up in the box, it was likely to reek of Leaf within minutes.

As Hilbert and Alex arrived in the box seats situated high above the classic Colosseum style seating surrounding the gigantic Dynamax-capable battlefield below, a referee riding on a Skarmory flew up to Alex. "They're ready for you, sir. Cameras are live."

Alex nodded, and as he did, his armor manifested, rolling simultaneously up and down his body from his belt. He wore all of it today, helmet included, and as he stepped out onto the small balcony in front of the seats, he waved to the absolutely packed stadium. His helmeted visage, eyes burning with blurple energy appeared on the high-flying four-screened device meant to showcase up close moments of competing Pokémon. He smirked, as he looked up and saw himself. The crowd, however, roared. The sound was so loud it nearly ruined his hearing, and he saw many in the crowd proudly waving their Dragon Burgers around. He continued to wave, waiting for the excitement to die down, but after a minute and a half, they were still cheering. Finally, he resorted to using his Voice, and as usual, it cut through the noise.

"Ladies and gentleman! Pokémon and Trainers of all ages! I am, genuinely, honored to kick off the first match of our Seventy Fifth World Tournament! For three centuries, the strongest Trainers alive have competed in intense, honorable, and friendly competition! As one such competitor, I intend to give you all a show worthy of this momentous gathering!" Lux jumped into his hand, igniting the black and white plasma blade and the crowd roared so loud, even his Voice had trouble competing with it. "Let the Seventy Fifth World Tournament…begin!"

The cheers turned to noises of awe, as a massive shadow rolled over Alex's side of the stadium. The Original Dragon, wings spread wide, let out a truly impressive roar, and then lit the gigantic brazier atop the walls near the box seats, situated above and behind them, with a brilliant blue burst of flame. There was only one such box in the stadium, and it was reserved for Alex, the Unova League's chairman, and past Champions of the Victory and Nova Leagues. Jess had also joined them.

As the cheering died down, two sides of the massive field lit up, one red, one green. A new voice, calm, warm, and for diehard Ash Ketchum fans, very familiar, filled the stadium. "Good afternoon Pokémon fans! I'm Rodger Parsons, and I will be your ringside commentator for the white-hot Battles in the Seventy Fifth Pokémon League World Tournament! In the red corner, we have a man who needs no introduction, a former World Champion, and Champion of the Indigo Plateau, the world renowned Dragon Master of Blackthorn City! Lance!"

The roars were once more deafening, and the aged Dragon Master used his free hand to wave to the crowd, a kind but fierce look on his weathered face, as he walked with a cane towards his side of the field. Parsons continued, "...and in the green corner, an island legend who created his own unique style of Battling and the entire Pokémon League of his home Region…it's Professor Kukui!" The Masked Royal's intro theme song played then, complete with pyrotechnics, and in a flash of smoke, Kukui appeared in his wrestling attire with his Incineroar in the Trainer box on their side of the field. The crowd ate it up.

Kukui shouted to them, his voice enhanced by a small microphone on his mask. "Whether you cheer for us or against us, I hope you all Enjoy!" Incineroar roared, punctuating his words as they struck their iconic poses, and the crowd went wild. Across the field, Lance waited patiently, one finger tapping the head of his cane, but a smirk on his weathered visage nonetheless. He too had a mic.

The cocky baritone of Indigo's Dragon Master had not faded with time, as it echoed through the stadium. "When last we Battled, Kukui…you were but a boy. As was I, in truth." He was very much no longer a young buck, the silver in his fiery mane now having taken over most of his head, but his weathered eyes burned with the ferocity of a dragon.

"Let us see how far we have come since the Indigo Plateau. Dragonite!"

Without needing to know which one he meant, the Dragonite in question popped free from his ball, and Kukui swallowed. There was no point in trying to determine which Dragonite it was. All of them were monstrously strong, at this point in Lance's career. It had been decades since someone had gotten past them, as he'd increased the number on his team from three to five.

Kukui smirked confidently beneath his mask. He had exactly one counter for Lance's Dragonite, and the Garchomp he thought nobody knew about. Burnette had compiled a proper dossier on the Dragon Master, without being asked to, and Kukui had somewhat reluctantly made use of some of that information. He wanted a chance to win, without the awful luck of facing Cynthia or Leon in the first or second round. He raised a Luxury Ball as he intoned, "Come, O' Queen of Lanakila! Aurora Veil!"

As the Alolan Ninetales appeared on the field, smirking knowingly as she saw the Dragonite, snow began to fall around her. With an effortless swish of her cloud-like sparkling tails, an aurora of radiant rainbow light appeared above the entire stadium. As her smirk widened, the snow shifted to hail. Across the field, Dragonite's claws each flared with flame and electricity respectively, but they stopped, as Lance spoke. "Dragon Dance." Nodding in silent understanding of his role as the sweep starter, Dragonite launched into a rapid rotation, dragon energy surging in waves of burning purple as he spun, and then absorbed said energy into his body.

His already impressive speed became even faster, as Lance raised a blurple tinged Key Stone for all to see, his downright iconic Indigo League theme began playing throughout the stadium. "I am sorry, Professor…but your World Tournament Challenge ends with me! Dragonite! Ascend now…to the height of your power! DIVINE DRAGONFIRE!" Lance roared, with the crowd roaring with him as he called the special move, and from his outstretched hand, his human energy, his Spiral Power, collided with the dragon energy surging out and back towards him from Dragonite's body. Being as renowned as he was, Lance had a large fan base, and among Lance enthusiasts his Dragonite were typically defined by their roles in Lance's battles. The one that had mastered speed, and the elemental punches, was known as the strongest. The oldest. His starter.

Kukui stood unflinching before the oncoming burning dragon comet. Calmly, confidently, his voice countered Lance's, as he went through the interpretive dance required for a Z-Move. "Ninetales! Moonveil Mandate!" He finished, raising both arms to the sky as if he was supplicating the heavens themselves, and the fairy energy from the unique fairy Z-Crystal arced into Ninetales, as Dragonite approached. It was no longer in its base form though. Through the flames, Kukui saw it now had white wings atop its head, like a Dragonair, as well as smaller wings above its shoulders and ankles, and all eight seemed to be propelling it even faster. The new orb on its tail shone bright through the fire, empowering the elemental attack.

Ninetales' tails swirled in the falling hail, and an image of the Moon appeared as her body glowed with fairy energy, and launched forward as a beam of intensely focused power. Thanks to the hail, Mega Dragonite's Multiscale did not activate, and as the fire encased dragon charged into the resistant beam of super effective energy, he reached between the scales of his belly, and pulled out his held item, a rolled up scroll that suddenly flashed with power, sharply boosting Dragonite's attack and speed by two more stages. Mr. Parsons caught the movement though, helpfully expositing for the crowd. "Lance's Mega Dragonite has activated a Weakness Policy! Combined with Dragon Dance, he's become quite dangerous to Kukui's team…if he can hit!"

Despite his move being slowed to a stop by the super effective Z-Move, Mega Dragonite looked ready for another Fire Punch, but Lance knew better, and shouted, "Dragonite! You need to Roost!" Irritated, the dragon snarled and obeyed, as Ninetales' smirk grew even wider, with a sinister air to it.

Channeling his cool under fire vibe that fit with his current partner, Kukui snapped his fingers, and said, "Ninetales! Have him give us an Encore!" Lance's brows furrowed as he quietly swore, and Kukui's smirk matched his partner's, as a magical light illuminated the Mega Dragonite from above. Clapping white gloved hands manifested all around him. Now, despite his awesome power that very well could've swept Kukui's team, he was stuck with Roost for several rounds, and Kukui had the initiative. "Masterfully done. Return, Ninetales." Kukui ordered, and the smirking ice fox glanced at her Trainer, before looking back at the arrogant dragon as she returned to her ball. "Go! Magnezone!"

The Encore continued as, despite his best efforts, and Ninetales no longer being present, the move persisted, forcing the dragon only to use Roost, but eventually, it would run out of power, and Mega Dragonite would be free to counter. Kukui acted first. "Magnezone! Spray it with Toxic!" Lance's eyes narrowed, as that was not typically a move Magnezone knew, or could even learn, but in Alola, for some reason, quite a lot of Pokémon could learn the move via the Aether Foundation's TM for it.

Magnezone, from across the entire field almost, condensed a ball of poison energy before it, somewhat haphazardly as it was doing so with the natural forces that also helped it levitate, and then fired it directly at Dragonite. Dragonite's scales shone for a moment, and then began to erode as Multiscale became well and truly useless, and the three stage boosted sweeper was now on a timer. Upon seeing the move land, Kukui raised his right hand, and Mr. Parson's voice rang out, "Oh! The Professor brought a Dynamax Band! Cue the music!"

Kukui recalled his partner into his Pokéball as Mega Dragonite tried fighting off the Toxic and the stadium became filled with the fast-paced Galarian techno beat that accompanied every Dynamax transformation. When Magnezone next appeared, it was fifty times larger, and electricity arced across its massive form.

Kukui didn't waste time. "Magnezone! MAX LIGHTNING!"

Irritated, Lance raised his free hand and shouted, "Defend yourself! Earthquake!"

Now finally free of the irritating Encore, Mega Dragonite smashed the ground with pent up rage and raised a large shield of shattered ground and rock, right as Magnezone summoned the power of the heavily charged hail clouds, for a devastating lightning strike. The crack of powerful electricity roared over even the crowd as the pillar of electric pain descended from the crimson tinged clouds summoned by the Dynamaxed Pokémon, and despite Dragonite's ground type attack, the sheer force behind the Max Move helped it blast the rising Earthquake apart, and struck Mega Dragonite directly. Electricity rolled over the stunned, smoldering dragon, and across the field, electrifying it.

Mega Dragonite faltered, taking the powerful blow, and as he struggled to recover and counter, the ongoing hail and poison weakened him further. Kukui didn't let it recover. "End it!" And with a whirling spin of its massive magnets, Magnezone complied with the cold efficiency steel types were favored for. The next bolt of lightning ended the stunned Mega Dragonite's time on the field with an impressive boom. In irritation and disbelief, Lance recalled his Dragonite, and the Alolans in the crowd, and general Royal Mask fans, went wild.

Rodger Parsons egged them on. "You saw it here, ladies and gentleman! The unbridled power of Max Moves, and one of the strongest Electric Type Moves known to Pokémon kind, blowing apart an Earthquake and still landing hard enough for a KO! What an opening! A masterful exchange of Moves from the Professor of Alola! Let's see how the Dragon Master counters!"

Parsons coughed into his mic, as the crowd gasped in shock, awe, and then excitement as Lance's next pick took the field. "Six wings, flapping in tandem, hard enough to be heard even in an arena this size! Three heads, each capable of legendary devastation, and one infamously bad attitude so unruly, it keeps even the bravest Trainers from trying to Mega Evolve it! It's Lance's Hydreigon!"

Up in the box seats, Alex Redwood smirked. He was sitting away from the other occupants, as letting his entire team watch, from under a fairy energy veil, took up some space. "Ghidora…" He muttered softly, as using his Voice psychically would not work on the napping dark type. He felt the Deino's attention, likely with a single open eye. "This is a Master's Hydreigon. One who has conquered the rage to become all but unbeatable. Watch. This is what you should strive to be…and to surpass." The ball rumbled, and Alex's ears translated it as sarcasm, but Ghidora still listened and watched, now intimately familiar with just how strong his newest human was. Not since his Will, had he been possessed by such a strong human.

The Hydreigon, sporting a pair of bright yellow glasses with red lenses over the eyes of its main head, raised all three of them towards the massive Magnezone. The counter was theirs, and Lance took it. "Hydreigon! Void Pulse!"

Choosing STAB over type advantage, Kukui ordered another Max Lightning, and with a ferocious boom, the two moves met…only for the Max Move to be absorbed into the enhanced Dark Pulse. The massive thunderbolt struck the center of the void, only to vanish, as the attack continued on to strike Magnezone.

The already terrifying special attack power of the pseudo-legend was further boosted by the Choice Specs, and did serious damage to Magnezone. As its Dynamax Form faded explosively, Hydreigon did not wait for it to recover from the form change, and it gave the sentient magnet a brutal follow up with a Dark Pulse once it was normal sized, fainting it, without taking so much as a scratch.

Kukui was unfazed. A smirk filled the open mouth portion of his mask. "Betting it all on one Move, eh? Two can play that game! Braviary!" He tossed his next ball, and with a triumphant shriek and a flash, the brave battle bird materialized before a crowd so large, even his bravado paused. A Choice Band was wrapped around his feathered forehead, and seeing that, Lance smirked.

"Special Attack power versus Physical! I love it!" He shouted, before his age made him cough slightly. Steadying himself, he straightened his posture, and then pointed with the cane that kept him upright and balanced. "Hydreigon! Let's give the Alolan a taste of his own energy!" He raised both hands, as if he was shouting 'boo!' at someone, and the Darkinium Z on his wrist reacted. "Black Hole Eclipse!"

Kukui's smirk widened, as he'd already swapped out Z Crystals. "Like that's going to stop us! All Out Pummeling!" Braviary and Hydreigon both shone with the aura native most iconically to Alola, and fired off their respective moves. The three heads of the Hydreigon summoned a massive, gravity bending black hole, but Braviary's talon slashes tore into it, even as it drew the brave eagle warrior into its event horizon. The Black Hole Eclipse exploded, but out of the explosion, still smoldering and glowing with fighting energy flavored aura, Braviary smashed into the three headed dragon with respectable, if suicidal tenacity.

Lance's side of the field was covered in smoke, as Mr. Parsons continued narrating, "An unexpected but not unwelcome clash of Z Moves! It seems despite taking damage, Braviary still managed to land the final part of All Out Pummeling…and there's the Ref's signal! Ladies and gentlemen! It's a double knockout!" The crowd erupted after hearing his words, and sure enough, as the smoke from the collision cleared, Braviary and Hydreigon both lay in an unconscious heap, damaged and properly fainted. Lance's eyes were wide, and then he chuckled to himself, recalling Hydreigon.

"I have to admit…Professor. I'm impressed. But this tie will not last forever." He said with finality and flare, as he drew his next pick.

Kukui was already holding his own choice. "You're right! Soon, the lead, and the match, will be Mine! Go! Lucario!"

Lance's smirk widened. "Garchomp." The ball in his hand opened, and as the Alolan aura hound manifested, it was to the roar of a dragon spoiling for a fight. Both Trainers raised their hands then, as their respective Key Stones reacted to their partner's Infinity Energy. Lance had the initiative, as Garchomp was faster. Sand replaced snow, as the powerful dragon took control of the weather, and turned it to its advantage. "The Battle is yours, Garchomp. My only command to you is this: Win!"

Lance's Mega Garchomp looked back at him, with a mix of love, appreciation, and trust. They nodded in perfect sync, and then, the ferocious dragon raised by arm scythes and cleaved the ground. The difference between his Earthquake and Dragonite's was stark, as a massive roiling wall of stone and rock rose at least twenty feet in the air, curving and covering the width of the field, while also hiding Garchomp from sight.

Once more, Kukui was not shaken, and neither was his Mega Lucario. "Trust your aura, bud. First, deal with the Earthquake, and watch the counter. Bone Rush!" A psychic blue aura bone manifested in the aura hound's paws, as he closed his eyes and gave himself to his innate powers. Effortlessly, the bone became infused with ground energy, and struck, parting the sea of stone and sand with the focused ease of a Pokémon on or at the Garchomp's level. As expected by Kukui, the Garchomp was now underground, having used Dig immediately after the Earthquake. Sometimes, letting a Pokémon choose their own battle style worked out very well. It wasn't often done, it was very risky, especially with a Mega Evolution as violent as Mega Garchomp, and most Trainers didn't know how to counter a Pokémon acting on its own initiative.

Kukui was not most Trainers, though, and Ash's team, in battle practice, had often had to battle on their own instincts against Kukui's. Once again, Lance had underestimated him, but given the type advantage, he didn't know if it would matter. He had faith in his Lucario, but there was a reason Garchomp had surpassed Charizard in terms of team composition. In this era, their species was flourishing almost dangerously so, as Trainers from Paldea to Sinnoh added them to their rosters, and then eventually started breeding them as well.

The Dig attack came swiftly, but Lucario was ready. An Aura Sphere was already in mid flight as it leapt from the ground, and the Mega Garchomp's eyes went wide as the spinning sphere of fighting energy knocked the air from its lungs, and sent it flying. Kukui followed that with a shout, "Quickly! Dragon Pulse!"

Unfortunately for Lucario, Dragon Pulse was still a relatively new move, as TMs for it were a bit difficult to find on an island where the local dragons preferred punches and claws over pulses and meteors. Garchomp being knocked into the air was also not the advantage they assumed it was. The dragon quickly righted itself, and then sped towards Mega Lucario with the terrifying speed that had made it an almost unmatched sweeper.

It barrel-rolled around the Dragon Pulse, and landed right in front of Lucario, as Kukui sighed to himself, and tilted his head down. He knew what came next. The Earthquake shook the stadium as hard as it shook his partner, and the almost bloodthirsty crowd screamed as the super effective move at point blank range knocked Lucario out in a single hit. The aura hounds were arguably as useful as Garchomp was, but they were cannons made of glass, and Lance had let his draconic bulldozer run wild. Rodger Parsons smooth baritone filled the air once more, "The clash of Mega Pokémon has favored the Dragon Master! Ladies and gentleman, the score is now tilted in Lance's favor, Mega Garchomp remains raring to go, and things are looking dire for our Alolan Professor! What will he do next!?"

Kukui smirked. Garchomp was not as raring as Parsons implied. The STAB boosted Aura Sphere had struck hard, but Lance didn't seem worried. Kukui wasn't either. Garchomp was tough, but he had a Pokémon even tougher than the dragon. "INCINEROAR! I choose you!" Appearing with a flash of black and red light in a kneeling position, the Kukui fans in the crowd, and general feline Pokémon enjoyers, went wild. The crimson and black striped Alolan tiger stood up slowly onto two legs, and a downright malicious grin formed as it saw it was facing a Garchomp. Across the field, a bead of uneasy dragon sweat formed on Mega Garchomp's brow, as Intimidate took effect.

Once more, Lance went first. "Scorching Sands! Blind it!" He ordered, and Garchomp nodded in understanding. He knew this was his opponent's first Pokémon, and as such, Lance would battle with him now. The Sandstorm became even stronger as the essence of flame imbued the sands. The crowd's focus shifted to the infrared display on the screens above the battlefield, as visibility became a memory. The shields around the field flared to life as well, as the uncontrolled fury of one of nature's deadliest forms raged within its confines. Yet, even though Incineroar was the target of this, all the crowd saw from him was a burning flame, amidst the sand. A cloak burning so righteously hot that the sand around him became glass, falling uselessly to the ground before it could even reach him.

Slowly, with the menace of a true predator, Incineroar boldly strode into the sand, having to go slow, lest the ground move actually damage him. Any order Kukui gave was lost to the howling sands, but Lance's irritated voice cut through the din. "Break it! EARTHQUAKE!" Incineroar didn't seem nervous though, and as the crowd felt the stadium shake again, there were confused murmurs as, to those watching, Incineroar just kept walking despite the oncoming super effective STAB boosted attack.

Incineroar's Stomping Tantrum was more like a Casual Stroll, as his feet, encased in ground energy, forced the parts of the widespread Earthquake near him to simply return to the ground. The only thing that irritated him was that nobody saw his efforts. If there was one thing that irritated the generally jovial performer, it was making an effort in battle and having nobody able to see it. Sensing the Scorching Sands had ended with the Earthquake, Incineroar, using the move as well, not to attack, but to let his audience see what came next. The announcer human reacted with the appropriate level of awe. "Wow! Incineroar has just cleared the Sandstorm with what seems to be his own Scorching Sands! Impressive, for a fire type."

Kukui just chuckled, aware of what his partner was up to. "You know what to do, Partner!" Incineroar stretched out a lanky, muscled arm, and gave his human a thumbs up. Across the field, both Lance and Mega Garchomp's eyes twitched. Lance sicced his dragon on the fiery cat, but as Mega Garchomp approached for another Earthquake, he vanished, appearing behind the dragon as he struck it with a normal type move, just under the fin. The dragon flinched as the Fake Out worked, and Kukui was already waiting to capitalize on their opening as Incineroar leaped back in front of his Trainer. Z Power surrounded him as Kukui activated the move, and with a smirk, the Incineroar summoned a wrestling ring made entirely of energy around the stunned Garchomp.

The stadium roared, as they knew what came next. In a flash, Incineroar was atop one of the corners of the ring, and Kukui pointed two fingers towards the sky. "Malicious Moonsault!" Deciding to actually do a moonsault this time, Incineroar turned on the corner and leapt, flames propelling him into the air as he combined them with dark energy. His three hundred and sixty degree rotation was executed perfectly, but actual moonsaults were just as dangerous for their user as they were for the one being moonsaulted, and Mega Garchomp in particular was a poor choice for one. Thanks to the angle Incineroar chose, their torsos collided, and the sharp spines along Mega Garchomp's bit into Incineroar, as the explosion of Z Energy was enough to faint him, thanks to Lucario's earlier Aura Sphere.

A true performer to the end, Incineroar bore the pain, and raised both claws triumphantly to the crowd, as Mr. Parsons narrated the rarely used actual moonsault, and called the faint. Kukui watched his partner though, very aware that Garchomp's spines had purposefully hardened just before impact. Once he was done showboating, Kukui recalled him, as Lance recalled his partner as well. "Hang in there, Partner…" Kukui murmured to the shuddering Pokéball, as he chose his next pick. He'd need Incineroar again, and that would be the time to use his single healing item.

The two Pokémon appeared as they were summoned, and without waiting, Lance launched into his assault. He was eager to take the lead again, and like most Trainers, had a low opinion of Snorlax. Bulky as it was, he was confident his Mega Salamence could take it, and his Indigo League theme began echoing through the stadium as his partner mega evolved, and Snorlax's response was only to use Curse. Since its speed was already hot garbage, there was really no downside to the move, for a Snorlax. "Go! Dragon Claw!" Lance ordered, and in a flash, Mega Salamence struck Snorlax twice in quick succession, but the damage, while present, was negligible.

As Mega Salamence came around for another Dragon Claw, Snorlax's eyes suddenly opened, its head tilting upwards as Kukui shouted, "Body Slam!" With surprising swiftness, the obese Pokémon was suddenly on its feet, leaping into the air. Surprisingly strong stomach muscles, hidden below all the fat, smashed into the Dragon Claw, overpowering it as Snorlax sent the Mega Salamence flying with an echoing boom. He landed hard enough to shake the stadium, and after a moment, the crowd roared in approval. Chants of "Sleepy boi! Sleepy boi!" filled the air as Lance's dragon struggled to recover. Both Pokémon and Dragon Master now had a newfound appreciation for just how hard the slothful Snorlax could hit.

"Salamence! Speed up and use Brick Break!" Lance ordered.

Kukui, once again, was unfazed. "You know what to do Snorlax! Wind it up!"

Mega Salamence arced through the air, but as it came around for the attack, its entire body seized up, and Announcer Parsons helpfully called out what was happening. "Ooh! Looks like Snorlax's Body Slam left Salamence Paralyzed! Here comes the counter!"

Sure enough, the paralysis made Salamence lose height rapidly, delivering it straight into the charged up, ice-covered fist of the Snorlax. Its massive hips shifted masterfully, as its training with Kahuna Hau paid off, and helped the slothful Pokémon with a short reach extend just far enough to smash the dragon's face. Mega Salamence's body went rolling across the field from the devastating power behind Snorlax, and after two moves requiring so much effort, the slothful Pokémon fell onto its titanic rear, panting hard, like it had just conquered its natural enemy: stairs.

Lance was quietly fuming as Kukui once again took the lead, four KOs to his three, and he shouted, "Kingdra! Go!" Before the announcer finished calling the round. He'd seen enough to know trying to match Snorlax physically wasn't going to go well, so instead, he opted for a masterful ranged sniper who could keep its distance as long as needed. Or so he assumed.

Seeing his opponent's choice, Kukui recalled Snorlax…and then his Pokéball grew larger, three times, before Kukui threw it back onto the field revealing that his Snorlax had in fact partaken of some Max Soup, or perhaps had simply been born special. Whatever the method, Snorlax appeared in its Gigantamaxed form, but thanks to multiple uses of Curse, Kingdra was able to Focus its Energy and unleash a powerful Hydro Pump that struck with critical effectiveness. Unfortunately, against a Snorlax even a crit did depressingly little. With a snarl of irritation, Lance shouted, "Kingdra! Aim for the tree! Ice Beam!"

Kukui grimaced, as he knew from experience that, in this form, the tree growing out of Gigantamax Snorlax was indeed a weak point, thoroughly embedded as it was in his body. A Scope Lens dropped down over one of the Kingdra's eyes, as he readied the Ice Beam. Kukui countered hurriedly, "Snorlax! Max Lightning!" The fully prone living mountain lazily raised a finger, and a powerful bolt of plasma shot from it across the field, booming through the Dynamax beats that were playing once more.

Unfortunately for Snorlax, the Kingdra dodged easily behind the other side of its bulk, then fired the Ice Beam, rocking in the air as it did so. Snorlax groaned as the tree took the hit, and though it wasn't a grass type, the tree was, and the move was super effective. The prone Pokémon raised a finger again, but once again Lance was faster, and so was his partner. Both Trainers shouted out at the same time.

Kingdra shot a swirling orb of perfectly condensed draconic power into the sky, while the ground below Snorlax rumbled ominously. Snorlax popped a Sitrus Berry into its mouth as it squinted its crimson eyes in concentration. An intense beam of normal energy surged up from the splitting ground beneath Kingdra, as the Draco Meteor exploded up above, and came raining down on Snorlax with brutal STAB boosted power.

Dust obscured everything, but as the ref signaled to Mr. Parsons, his smooth voice filled the stadium, "Ladies and gentlemen…it's ANOTHER double knockout! What a match! Neither Lance nor the Professor are giving up as this Battle only gets hotter! That puts Kukui at five KOs, while Lance remains at four, but Kukui has to be feeling the loss of what is probably his most sturdy Pokémon! Oh! The challengers are picking their next Pokémon! Professor Kukui has chosen a Day Form Lycanroc, and Dragon Master Lance has…his Charizard! I have a feeling it's going to Mega Evolve into a Dragon Type! But will that be enough to account for Type advantage!?"

This time, Kukui struck first. "Alright Lycanroc! Accelerock!" Despite being a rock typed Quick Attack that hit slightly harder, Lycanroc bounced Mega Charizard X was ready to counter. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the NoveI~Fire.net

"Seismic Toss." Lance ordered, and with a brutal flash of movement, entirely on purpose, the Mega Charizard grabbed the Lycanroc by the throat, and did an inverted loop in the air, before landing hard on the rock typed wolf. Lycanroc let out a pitiable whine that made the crowd pause. Kukui looked worried, and even Lance seemed displeased. "Don't drag it out, Charizard. Blast Burn."

Kukui shouted, "Lycanroc! Get out of there, Accelerock!" But it was too late. By the time Lycanroc was back on his feet, the Mega Charizard had already struck the ground. Immensely powerful flames surrounded the stone wolf, and despite his high level and typing, it was still an elemental Hyper Beam to the face. The force of the move sent Lycanroc rolling halfway across the field, at which point Charizard stomped forward, wings spread wide, and roared his dominance. There were still cheers, but after that display of brutality, the crowd was murmuring.

Lance glared up at them. "Dragons…are power! They are Nature's fury made manifest, masters of multiple Types, and unrivaled, when trained properly. Lycanroc fought well…but its defenses are naturally low. Not nearly enough to face a Dragon Type!" Mega Charizard punctuated his statement with a roar, and a torrent of blue flame. "Never forget how ferocious Dragons can be! It will cost you dearly…"

As Lance showboated, Kukui finished tapping the top of his next Pokéball, changing the occupant's held item. Up in the box seat, Alex Redwood and his first partner leaned forward with renewed interest as he shouted, "Venusaur! You're up!"

"It's Venusaur!" Mr. Parsons announced, "Long time Lance fans might remember, Former Indigo Champion Red famously beat both Lance and Gary Oak's Charizard with his own Venusaur! Ever since those legendary Battles, these two species have formed a bit of a rivalry! Charizard may be more popular , but we're about to see which species is stronger when wielded by a Master!"

Lance sneered slightly. "There's no contest. Prove your superiority, Charizard! All we need is one Move! FLARE BLITZ!" Lance's Charizard was just as eager. It flapped into the air, and floated there wings spread, and then curled. It spit blue embers into the center of each wing, and Kukui watched, just impressed, as fire then surrounded it in an aura of damaging power, as the Mega Charizard rocketed towards his Venusaur.

Kukui was still cool as an ice type, arms crossed, and a smirk under his wildly colorful mask. "Vensuaur! Let's show them a real One-hit KO Move!" He moved through his stance then, a new Z-Crystal already in his Z-Ring. He twirled into an awkward three point pose, and his leafy dinosaur roared, as ground typed Z-Energy flared to life around him. Then, Kukui raised his Key Stone as well. "Ultimate Z-Move! TECTONIC CRUSH!" Infinity Energy surged around Venusaur as it Mega Evolved, and then unleashed its attack.

A line of ground energy shot forward under Mega Charizard, splitting the earth, but as he wasn't just going to fall in, Venusaur raised the earth around him in two massive walls, forcing them to slam together. Charizard roared in irritation, as ground energy infused by two kinds of power ups smashed into him. An explosion of molten rock and fire followed soon after, and the Charizard was spat out like a volcanic bomb, and he impacted the field just like one, exploding again as he landed, unconscious.

This combo of Mega Evolution and Z-Moves was technically legal, since Z-Moves were considered single moves and had been known to be used by Pokémon who Mega Evolved before using them. It was the one 'exception', so far, to the one power up per Pokémon per round rule. Generally, using two or more Z-Moves tired out even Mega Pokémon, and using them in conjunction had the same effect. Vensaur panted heavily, but he was the Pokémon still standing, as Mr. Parsons called the faint. The shocked expression on Lance's face made him smirk, and as that smirk appeared on the overhead cameras, the crows erupted, as Venusaur stans were finally justified in their long standing claim: Charizard was only safe because it was part flying type. Without that protection, Venusaur were more than capable of taking them down.

"And with that awesome clash of high tier Moves, the score is once again tied folks! Both Trainers are down six Pokémon, but neither side is losing steam!" Mr. Parsons' voice echoed as Lance brought out his next ball.

"Go! Gyarados!" With an iconic shriek, the massive sea serpent Pokémon took the field, and roared at Venusaur as that trademark sparkling shine appeared on its crimson scales. The mega evolved plant dinosaur shuddered as its attack power lowered in the face of that intimidating glare. "Don't let it catch its breath!" Lance shouted, "Hurricane! Full force!"

That ungodly shriek echoed once more through the stadium as the red Gyarados summoned a force of nature with minimal effort. The very move that, combined with Outrage, made it notorious in ages past. Kukui sighed, knowing he had to switch, and that nothing he had left would help against this monster of the sea. At the very least, it would cost him a Pokémon. There was a reason Lance led with it often, and had used it against Leon's Charizard in the match that had seen Lance lose the World Champion title.

Mega Venusaur winced as the Hurricane spun closer, and it seemed to release some kind of spore attack, before Kukui recalled it into its ball. "And there's the switch! Not entirely unexpected, as Venusaur is a poor choice against a Flying Type this powerful!" Mr. Parsons narrated. Kukui grimaced, as he faced the ongoing storm. Even if he stalled as long as he was allowed, he had no doubt that Lance's Gyarados could keep the Hurricane going. No one he had left had electric moves, or rather, ones that would work against this titan of the sea. And only one of them had any chance of not being blown away.

Venusaur was out, his Key Stone was already locked in use now, so Mega Forms were out, Ninetales was too precious to waste for the remaining dragons, and Slowking would be blown away. That left only one option, and he couldn't Mega Evolve it. It would have to be enough. "Empoleon! I choose you!" He shouted, throwing his partner's ball. The steely penguin appeared in a flash, and grimaced at the Hurricane force winds, but his steel typing kept him solidly in place. Seeing the switch, Lance grinned, and raised his Key Stone, taking the bait Kukui was laying out. Mega Gyarados roared onto the scene even louder than before, as Kukui shouted an order to Empoleon that was lost under the roar of the Hurricane.

"Wipe it out!" Lance roared over the winds, and Mega Gyarados urged the Hurricane towards Empoleon. The winds surged, howling, and yet, Empoleon seemingly stood through all of it. Once the wind died down, what appeared to have been Empoleon disappeared with a poof, and Lance's eyes widened. Substitute.

"Now, Empoleon!" Kukui shouted, as he danced through another Z-Move pose. "Bloom Doom!" Empoleon raised its fins as Z-Power surrounded it, and a gigantic flower composed entirely of grass energy detonated on Mega Gyarados. The Atrocious Pokémon's eyes widened at the sheer power of the move, as it fainted from it.

"Down it goes!" Announcer Parsons shouted, ecstatic. Lance had a look of pure disbelief, but Parsons continued, expositing for his benefit. "The only Grass Move that Empoleon can learn, folks, is Grass Knot, and as we all know, Grass Knot does more damage, the heavier its target is! Mega Gyrados weighs in at over six hundred pounds folks, and with a Z-Move empowerment, that makes its base attack power almost two hundred! A brilliant counterplay by the Professor, and a crucial turning point in this Battle as the Professor once again takes the lead!"

Lance pinched his brow at the explanation, shook his head, and then let out a boisterous laugh. "Credit where its due, Kukui! Well done, indeed! You are, by every measure, a worthy opponent. But I'm nowhere near done yet!"

Kukui raised a fist, as Empoleon roared in unison with him. "Bring it on, Lance! There's no way I'm losing in the first round again!" Lance nodded again, to himself. So that was why Kukui was so adamant about winning. He looked at his remaining partners, and sighed. Aerodactyl, Flygon, and his second Dragonite. He lamented not bringing his Altaria, it could have saved him the match, but as it stood, against an Empoleon, Mega Venusaur, and that Ninetales, he had no chance, and he accepted the loss that was coming.

And, sure enough, it came. Mega Aerodactyl fought valiantly against Empoleon, its speed almost making it clinch the win, but Ice Beam and wide area Surf attacks were just too much to overcome. Flygon had much the same problem, though he did manage to faint the steel typed penguin, the Ninetales from Alola finished him off with depressing ease, and that, brought him to his final Dragonite. The mother of all (but one of his) Dragonite. He didn't bother summoning her normally to the field, choosing instead to Dynamax. If he was going out, in what was very likely the last World Tournament he would live to participate in, he was going out big.

The colossal Dragonite roared hard enough to shake the stadium, but Kukui was already swapping in a new Arceus damned Z-Crystal. Despite the powerful Subzero Slammer, Dragonite survived thanks to Multiscale, and was able to crush Ninetales with a Max Rockfall. This did not, however, knock her out. From underneath the rubble of the Max Move, an Ice Beam ended Lance's second Dragonite, and in an explosion of released power, she shrank back down to her original size. The crowd erupted, as the match ended, and Lance hobbled over to his partner. She growled an apology to him, but Lance shook his head, smiling at her. "We did our best. This next generation is just…that good. They always have been." Dragonite stared at him for a long moment, seeing through his bittersweet bluster, and slowly stood, before giving her Trainer a hug. A single tear ran down Lance's wrinkled cheek. "Get some rest, girl." He murmured, and she growled an affirmative, as he returned her to her ball.

Lance and Kukui met in the center of the field then, his Ninetales a bit worse for wear, dusty, but still conscious. They shook hands, and Mr. Parsons' voice once again echoed through the stadium, "Ladies and gentlemen, the first member of our Superior Sixteen! Professor Kukui, of the Alola Region!" The cheers were deafening, and went on for a full minute, before Lance raised a hand, and gestured for calm. After another thirty seconds, the crowd quieted, and Lance's words echoed throughout the stadium.

"It has…been my honor to Battle for so long, in so many World Tournaments, for such fine fans! The opponents I've faced…the titles I've won…and lost…they made this life of mine worth living. Today…I am announcing my official retirement. Kukui would've gone on regardless, at the end of this Match. I had hoped to end things on a Victory…" He shot a side smirk at Kukui, who chuckled, and scratched the back of his masked head. "But I could not have been beaten by a more worthy Trainer! If this next generation is as strong as you, Professor, the world is in capable hands." The two men shared a handshake, and then, Lance left, slowly, head held high, as the crowd had a multitude of reactions. Grown men shed tears. Young Trainers saluted, and after a few minutes, just before Lance entered the red corner's tunnel, Trainers with dragon types began calling them out, as he approached.

Seeing this, Lance paused, awed, as he heard their combined roars, then, suddenly, the sky darkened over all of them, as a massive pair of wings blotted out the light of the sun and the World Torch. Carefully coiling down the stand's stairs, the Original Dragon maneuvered his massive snout before Lance Blackthorn, who fell to a knee before him.

The Word shuddered with power, echoing easily around the stadium, as the humans and Pokémon alike all fell silent. "Lance of the Blackthorn Clan…you are, and have always been, Worthy. Rest. You have earned it, Dragon Master."

Lance's reply was quiet, as his mic had been turned off by that point, but he held something up to the Original Dragon, a sparkling blurple crystal, and the dragon nodded. "I shall see it passed to one just as Worthy. Go, now. Rest…and enjoy the spectacle my Tamer will be putting on." Lance said something in reply, with a smirk, turned to the crowd one final time, bowed, and then exited the stadium. As one, every single dragon type present let out a mighty roar, marking the end of an era, and the final line of a worthy legend.