"Wrathia!" Barry screamed, throwing the ball into the field. "Your turn!"

On top of the platform materialized his newly acquired Pokemon, her fur as black as coal and eyes burning with determination. Any other fire type would've probably flinched at the sight of water surrounding them, but Wrathia simply scoffed, a small ember escaping through her fangs.

At least the sight of Crasher Wake's grimace brought him some pleasure. He could see the confusion and hesitation on his face, even through his mask.

"What is this!?" Melissa yelped through the speakers. "Is my eyesight as bad as I've been told or did our contestant just sent out a fire type!?"

"Fire and dark, if I'm not mistaken. A bold strategy, considering neither of those would be good against its opponent."

"Has our challenger lost his mind already or does he have a hidden plan? In any case let's give him a good cheering for his bravado, folks!

He tried to ignore the booming voices of the commentators, breathing deeply and focusing his attention on the fight ahead. He couldn't get caught off guard like he did before.

There was a reason he'd called in Wrathia. She had a way to win this battle, even if it was insanely risky and not very likely to happen. But that's where he came in; he needed to think of a way for his strategy to work; that was the whole point of teaching her that particular TM. He had the end goal, now all he needed was to plot a course to arrive there.

"Forward!" Wake ordered with a mighty shout. "Annihilate that fiend with Water Pulse!"

Once again the pool shook as Seaking jumped. This time he opened his mouth and released a torrent of spiraling water towards them, almost as wide as the platforms themselves.

"Jump!"

Wrathia lowered her forelegs slightly, leaping up just before the attack reached her. Her body reached what looked like more than teen feet up, until she hovered right above her opponent. This was his chance.

"Use Smog on the arena!" Barry ordered.

Smiling, the Houndoom opened her maw and spat a noxious wave of purple, poisonous smoke downwards. The heavy cloud not only covered most of the arena but it penetrated into the water around Seaking as well.

Barry smiled to himself as Wrathia landed on another platform at his right, "What was that about weak trainer, Crasher Wake?"

His taunt made the man wince for a moment, but after the initial sprout of anger he simply laughed, putting both hands on his hips.

"That's the spirit, my boy!" He punched the air in front of him, smiling. "But don't think a little poison is gonna bring us down!"

"I don't expect the poison to." He grinned. "Say, can you see my Pokemon anywhere?"

For a moment he simply looked at him confused, until his eyes set on the arena. Wrathia was nowhere to be seen, the cloud of toxic smoke too thick to make out anything inside the arena.

"Oh my goodness, she's disappeared! I'll repeat it once more folks; the challenger's Houndoom has disappeared into that thick smoke! Could this be his master plan?"

"Nothing I, Crasher Wake can't handle!" The man assured his audience. "Seaking, keep using Water Pulse! We'll hit her eventually!"

The next seconds were a grueling torture for Barry. With every torrent of water that shot out the smoke he prayed that none would hit Wrathia, especially not while she was mid jump. She might've been able to survive one blast, but if it hit her while she was moving into another platform then she'd surely fall into the toxic water, and that would be it.

Wake and his Pokemon got more desperate the more time passed. They must have known Barry didn't expect to win with poison damage alone; that would take a lot more time than he had in his hands.

"Alright, that's enough! Seaking, jump and dispel the smoke with a Water Pulse from above!"

Barry grit his teeth, trying to contain a smile. That was the exact chance he was waiting for.

Without further ado the Leader's Pokemon did a jump almost as impressive as Wrathia's, and in the middle of the air shot the most powerful attack yet, pushing itself even further up. The column of water tore a hole through the smoke, dissipating it almost effortlessly.

The arena became visible again, and Wake made a face that Barry would remember forever.

Standing on a platform far away from Barry was Wrathia, fur glistening with a pale green glow. Between her jaws was a gigantic, pulsing sphere of energy she'd been gathering that entire time.

"I cannot believe my eyes, folks! Is that what I think it is?"

"No!" Wake yelled, panic clear in his voice. "Seaking, stop her! Water Pulse!"

Barry sent his arm forward, smiling. "Solar Beam!"

But his Pokemon did not attack. Barry's smile died on his lips as he saw Wrathia still gathering energy, still not ready as the torrent of water fell over her.

It hit her hard enough to sink not only her body, but the entire platform she was standing in. The water of the pool violently swirled as it swallowed them both, Barry simply staring in horror.

"Wrathia!" he yelled, desperate.

"It's over, kid." Crasher Wake crossed his arms, grinning. "No one can stand against…"

A column of light tore through the water, blinding them. The force of the explosion pushed both trainers back as their bodies were completely soaked by the resulting cyclone. Seaking didn't have time to dodge as the light swallowed it whole with an ear-shattering roar.

As soon as the attack dissipated, they could see the water Pokemon's body stuck to one of the walls, completely unconscious. Smoke rose from his fins in tiny, spiraling wisps.

Cheers and screams erupted from the podiums, strong enough to drown out Melissa's voice as she yelled in excitement. Barry saw as Wrathia's shaking paw rose from the water, claws closing around one of the remaining platforms. She barely managed to climb onto it before collapsing, a proud smile stuck to her lips.

He raised her Pokeball and returned her to it, only after cleaning his eyelids with the back of his sleeve. Wake stared at him in awe, and did the same soon after. No words were needed as they stared each other down, taking out another one from their belts.

This was his last shot. He needed to defeat both of Wake's remaining Pokemon with only one. His fingers pressed tightly against the metal of his starter's Pokeball. If anyone could do it…

"Pedri!"

He yelled the name with every ounce of strength left in his voice as he threw it. The Prinplup materialized soon after on top of one of the two remaining platforms, his fins crossed and a frown stuck to his face. He was ready to fight.

"Now that's what I call an impressive water type," Wake said, grinning. "But I'm afraid not impressive enough, for he will have to face this!"

The light that exploded in front of Barry grew, and grew and grew until the true form of the Pokemon he was supposed to face revealed itself. If not for the myriad of emotions already running through him he might've been paralyzed with fear, what with a gigantic sea serpent staring him down, its burning red eyes set on them.

The Gyarados' constantly open mouth released a roar that shook Barry to his core, and almost made him drop his Pokeball. His starter didn't falter however, as he stared the beast down, eyes full of determination.

"And there it is folks, Crasher Wake's famous Gyarados! How will our young contestant fair against the wrath of the ocean itself!? Keep watching to find out!"

"It will be an interesting match-up indeed. Since they are both water types the fight will come down to whoever one is physically stronger."

Barry knew that very well, which is why he wasn't as scared as he should have. If there was one Pokemon that could compete with such a beast when it came to strength, then that was Pedri.

"Gyarados, bite him down to size!"

"Pedri, use Aerial Ace!"

Wake's terrifying Pokemon threw itself at them, its fangs covered with dark energy. Its speed was almost enough to throw them off, but Prinplup barely managed to move to the side before he could be chomped down. Taking advantage of his opportunity he slashed at the beast's side with his iron fins.

Barry's expression darkened as he saw his starter's slash leave nothing but a scratch. He tried to swallow his doubt down and ordered another attack. Pedri jumped forward, but before he could even wind back his arm the beast's tail swatted t him with enormous strength, throwing him directly into the water.

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"Get up!" he yelled, desperation growing inside him. "Use Metal Claw!"

"Counter with Aqua Tail!"

Pedri jumped out of the water like a torpedo, his right fin glowing with white energy. Gritting his teeth he slashed once again, his attack connecting with Gyarados' tail. The clash sent a wide ripple through the water, as the smaller Pokemon was sent backwards, falling once again into the toxic pool.

Barry opened his mouth to declare another attack, but no sound came out. There was something stuck in his throat, something solid and heavy and hot that prevented him from even moving. He saw as Pedri desperately tried to claw his way out from the water, his body shaking as poison took hold of him. Gyarados, being able to float above the water, did not have the same problem and without waiting it threw itself at Pedri, ready to finish the fight.

He couldn't do anything. Despair freezing his body, Barry could only watch as Gyarados played around with his best Pokemon, throwing him from one extreme of the arena to the other with its tail.

Even without instruction Pedri still did his best, slashing and fighting back whenever he had the chance. He'd even managed to get a few good hits in, but at this rate there was no chance for him to win, not while neck deep in poisoned water and being thrown around like a rag doll. Not with such a disgraceful trainer commanding him.

Barry lowered his head, eyes covered in shadows, and raised Pedri's Pokeball. His friend wasn't at fault, and there was no need to make him suffer further if the result of the battle was clear as day already.

His finger barely touched the button when a familiar voice broke through the arena.

"DON'T GIVE UP!"

The scream startled him out of his daze, while also silencing everyone in the arena. He turned his head up towards the sound and into the stands, where he noticed a particular red coat and white hat.

"You can do it!" Niss yelled at the top of her lungs, punching the air up. "Come on Barry, kick his ass! Kick his ass, kick his ass!"

Her chant became contagious, as everyone around her started screaming in unison while raising their fists to the sky. He could've swear he even heard Melissa screaming it. The cacophony of screams filled the entire room, traveling from the air into the ground and all throughout Barry's body, making him shudder with something he couldn't quite identify.

That's when it happened.

Barry closed his eyes and took a deep, deliberate breath, unconsciously summoning that strength he'd called so many times before. Once he opened them he felt it, spiraling around his body and behind his eyes, covering him like a gust of weightless, warm wind. Staring down at his hands he saw the golden wisps dance around him like old friends, and smiled.

Then he looked up, and the world itself changed. He didn't just hear the chants, he saw them as well. Wavering threads of what appeared to be glass danced in the air, glistening with all the colors of the rainbow as they floated down to him. They enveloped his arms, legs and torso until there was no part of him that wasn't glowing. Judging by the way everyone in the audience kept cheering, they didn't seem to be able to see it like he could. How curious. He felt the power spiral around his fingertips, and laughed. An outwardly, not quite human laugh that shook the entire arena in waves.

The voice talked to him then.

"You're a slow bloomer, aren't you? How much longer were you going to make me wait before finally syncing with me?"

Barry looked around, but no one was close enough and the voice sounded right next to him. No, it sounded even closer, like coming from inside his head.

W-who are you?

"We can talk about it later. Now you have a fight to win, don't you?"

He looked towards the arena, where Pedri still held on against the might of his opponent. Clear as day was the rainbow colored flame inside him, burning with fierce determination. He then lowered his sight to his own body, the transparent glowing threads still dancing around him.

What do I do? What is this?

A cackle was heard inside his mind, so inhuman and mischievous that it made him shudder violently.

"What else? It's the crystallization of Emotion, spun into raw power by my hand. You may use it as you wish, for it is my gift to you."

At any other moment he might've questioned the voice further, or perhaps be too weirded out to act. But now his starter needed him, and he would not let him down again. He threw his hand forward, smiling, and the voice that came out of his mouth was intertwined with someone else's.

"Pedri, get up!" he ordered, grinning from ear to ear. "You weren't born to be on your knees, were you!?"

His words triggered something on the Prinplup. As the burning wisps and threads that covered Barry traveled to him, he slowly got to his feet, pushing the terrible weight of his exhaustion as back as he could. Before him stood his opponent, wielding a power unlike any other he'd encountered before. Any other Pokemon would have given up against such a terrifying beast.

He smiled, as his body began to glow. He was not just any Pokemon.

A collective gasp was heard around the arena as Pedri's form began to change. He grew to almost twice his size, and from his beak upwards three sharp protrusions rose like trident-shaped horns.

No, not horns, Barry thought.

A crown.

As the light dissipated he saw the final form of his starter, and couldn't help but laugh with joy. His black fins were now rimmed in blue, shining steel and were as wide as his body, under which were sharp golden claws. From his neck down to his waist his fur was white in a collar-like pattern, making him look a lot fancier than Barry ever expected him to be.

Without a second thought he raised his Pokédex, whose voice could barely be heard with the screams ringing around him.

Empoleon: The Emperor Pokemon – Water/Steel Type: One of the proudest creatures in existence; the crown-like horns that grow from its beak attests to its power. It can swim faster than a jet boat and, while it tends to avoid unnecessary disputes, if anyone threatens its pride it will decimate them with its wings that can cut through an ice floe.

Barry looked up at his friend; pride was certainly what he so clearly saw dancing inside him, burning so strongly it was almost painful to look at it. All around him he could hear the cheers and screams of Melissa and the audience, but he paid no mind to them.

He was in the middle of a battle, and the only important thing was the opponent in front of him.

"Gyarados, use Waterfall!" Crasher Wake yelled, sweat running down his forehead.

Barry laughed again, the solution to his problem so clear he couldn't believe he hadn't seen it before. Melissa, Maylene and Niss had all been right about him; he really should've been relying on his instincts from the get go. To try and imitate someone he admired, someone with a style of battling so fundamentally different from his own was nothing but futile.

As he threw his hand forward to declare an attack, he finally understood. All the strategies and ideas that flooded his mind in battle, that he'd considered too risky or stupid to work, he should've been relying on them from the very beginning.

In front of him Gyarados dove into the water, and a moment later a massive geyser of water exploded up, traveling towards Pedri.

"Slice through it!"

Pedri did as he was told, without a moment's hesitation. Winding back his wing he slashed at the pulsing whirlwind of water. It cut through it effortlessly, showering the arena with droplets of water as it exploded outwards. More screams rang all around him, and he even saw the Gyarados' eyes open wide in surprise.

But that was only the beginning.

"Pedri, let's finish this! Ready a Metal Claw!" He raised his fist, a wild smile covering his face. "Come on Crasher Wake, give me all you've got!"

"Same goes to you, kid!" the man bellowed. "Aqua Tail one last time!"

Empoleon threw his wings to the side, and the energy that covered them made the water rise all around him in wild spirals. As the platform he was standing in began to sink by the pressure alone, Barry gave his next order.

"Now Aqua Jet! Combine them like Reiko taught us!"

All the moisture in the air gathered around Pedri's wings, and began swirling through its sharp edges like a water jet. The pressure being released could be felt even in the stands at the sides of the arena, almost powerful enough to make Gyarados doubt himself. However this didn't last long as he threw his body forward with a roar, swatting the air with his tail.

"This is it!" Barry screamed, eyes gold and fearless. "You folks in the audience like improvised special moves, right? Then yell it with me!"

He felt the weight of everyone's emotions fall on him as he threw his hand forward, declaring his final attack.

"Emperor Claw!"

As his scream was echoed by the entire audience, Pedri jumped forward, determination burning through him. With all the strength left in him he slashed the air with both his wings in an X shape as soon as Gyarados' tail fell on him.

He felt the impact in his bones, rumbling inside him like an earthquake.

"I cannot believe my eyes folks! That was the absolutely most amazing exchange we've seen in a long time! And the winner is…!"

Water and dust stopped falling on the arena, showing him a view that could have honestly made him sob in joy. On top of the floating, unconscious body of Gyarados stood his starter, looking down at him with a proud look on his face.

"Barry's Empoleon! By Mew I swear I have never seen such a sturdy Pokemon in all my years as a commentator!"

"We've been commentators for a month, Melissa."

At the other extreme Crasher Wake smiled as he returned his Pokemon to its ball, his eyes shining with excitement. After a few moments he took out another from his belt, and this did not faze Barry at all.

"That was very impressive, kid," he said, spinning it in his hand. "What do you say? Still have enough strength in you to take on my main Pokemon?"

Barry put both hands in his hips, shaking his head playfully. The very idea of giving up now was ludicrous, even if Pedri could barely stand, even if victory seemed almost impossible. From the depth of his heart he yelled back his answer:

"BRING IT!"

----------------------------------------

Half an hour later Barry and Niss walked out of the Gym, hands empty and no new badge to be seen on them.

And yet the boy smiled to himself and looked up at his friend, who still hadn't stopped freaking out about the fight and didn't seem to care much about her loss. She almost looked like him, barely containing herself from bouncing in place as her words got jumbled together in excitement. To his side was Lucas, doing pretty much the same.

The fire behind his eyes had evaporated after the fight, and for the first time he was okay with that. He'd have tell Niss what happened, but he was somewhat sure he could summon the feeling and that voice back if he really tried. He felt more solid, somehow. More grounded in reality.

"…and the name you came up with was really cool too!" Niss finished speaking, her cheeks turning red. "Barry, that was incredible."

Lucas nodded- "As the first Gym battle I saw that was pretty amazing, yes."

He shrugged, heat rising to his face, "T-thanks. I'll definitely give it my all next time."

"Same for me!" Niss smiled, raising one fist. "Now that we know how he fights we can come up with a good strategy to beat him."

More and more people yelled encouragements at them as they walked past, smiling and giving them thumbs up. He appreciated them and waved back, and even Niss didn't seem as bothered as usual.

He saw two familiar figures approaching from the exit of the Gym, and gulped. Reiko and Percy walked to them, the first looking down with a strange expression on her face, and the second looking bored as usual. Niss noticed them, and her smile died as soon as she did.

An awkward silence fell over them for a few moments, accompanied by his friend's clear, heavy animosity. Finally Reiko looked up, and spoke.

"That was a great fight, Barry," she said. "And… uh…"

She scratched the back of her neck, cheeks turning the same color as her hair.

"I'm… sorry," she finally said, startling them. "For the other day. I picked a fight just because I was angry, and I realize it really isn't any of your fault. I'm sorry."

Next to him Lucas looked as confused as ever, having no idea who these people were. Niss on the other hand was too stunned to speak, eyes wide and teeth clenched.

"It's… okay," Barry said, smiling back. "At least on my part, I don't mind. I know how sensitive those topics are and how they can make people feel."

Another silence fell, as they all waited for Niss' response. The girl looked as lost as a Spinda, and needed a few seconds before coming up with a good answer. She looked too incredulous, like she couldn't believe Reiko's anger had dissipated so quickly. Barry had an idea of why she felt that way.

"Yeah, what Barry said." She shrugged, almost too violently. "If you're okay with it… uh, yeah."

A third awkward silence, followed by Percy smiling in relief and Reiko clapping her hands as she smiled.

"Perfect!" she yelled, tone relieved. "Now, we need to discuss all about this party that's coming up."