INTERLUDE - HAYSTACK II

No longer did his feet feel like they were tied down with lead. With the wind at his back, Louis ran as fast as he could. Every time his leg touched the ground, his body felt lighter, and his eyes never left the back of Justin's head. Arcanine figured out that he was here first, turning his head toward him and growling slightly. People recoiled and avoided the fire type in response out of fear while Justin stopped in his tracks.

"Justin," Louis said.

His old friend slowly turned, facing him fully. Louis blinked, desperate to chase the tears that were already building up. He didn't even know why he was crying. His tears meant joy, sorrow, regret, but most importantly, there was hope. The feeling ballooned in his chest and made Louis stand just a little straighter. Just a little taller. More confident. He stared into Justin's eyes and found nothing.

"I've been looking for you," Louis continued. "We have unfinished business."

Justin kept silent, simply studying Louis, who did not retreat or flinch away from his empty yet piercing stare.

"Grace told me you were going to speak to me," he said. "Where were you?"

"I never told her that," Justin finally spoke, his body unmoving. "In fact, I stayed silent when she asked."

"I know. Your demeanor was apparently very shaky, so she thought differently. That doesn't matter now. Justin, I'm here to talk. Just… come talk to me."

"There's very little to talk about. We've been through this song and dance before," Justin said. "You will disapprove of what I set out to do, and I will simply disagree. We will butt heads, and no one will change their mind. Why waste time?"

Louis dug his nails into his palm in frustration. This couldn't be a repeat of what had happened in Solaceon where he'd desperately tried to convince his friend not to leave, but how? Was he—

Was he ready?

He sharply inhaled and his chest tightened.

"What are you doing right now?" He asked.

"Arcanine wanted to enjoy some fresh air."

"Isn't that what you would constitute a 'waste of time'?" Louis frowned. "After all, you aren't training right now."

"My Pokemon have needs, and I supply those needs," Justin said. "A cohesive unit that enjoys themselves will progress faster than a ragtag group of personalities that keep clashing and doing whatever their trainer wants at all times. You of all people should know."

Louis took the comment in stride. He had been hit a thousand times before, and he had gotten back up each time. Tonight was no different. It was like someone pouring hot oil on him after being set on fire and having his nerves destroyed.

"You care, Justin," Louis said. "You care about Arcanine. About your other Pokemon. Isn't that proof—"

"I do care, but care takes many forms," the boy shrugged. "Are we done?"

So he did care. That was one foot in the door.

"We aren't."

"You have nothing to offer me, Louis. I've beaten Volkner already. All that remains is me getting my flying license, and I will be able to fly to Victory Road. It is a shame that there aren't any ferries to go there. I suppose the League uses it to stop inexperienced trainers from getting themselves killed."

"So like you?" Louis said. Justin didn't even deign to answer.

Still, that made Louis hesitate. Justin had five badges already? Despite having scoured videos of Gym Battles online, he hadn't found Justin's anywhere, which meant that he must have asked for the recording to be turned off. And a flying license? That must have been his mysterious sixth Pokemon. Still, that meant that Louis had no more time to prepare. And if he let him go now, who knew if he'd see him again before he left the city?

Could he even do this?

"I do have something to offer you. A battle—"

"A battle that we both know I will win, so what is the point? You wouldn't challenge me."

"No. I'll give you the battle of a lifetime," Louis said with a sneer he thought he'd lost a long time ago. "I'll show you that you can't hold a candle to me."

Gone was the soft-spoken tone that had become a part of him throughout the months. Vocal chords clicked into place, confidence slipped through his pores and the edges of his fingers tingled in excitement. He hadn't spoken like this in months.

"Victory Road? Don't make me laugh," Louis scoffed. "If anything, the one going there should be me. I've got what it takes, and you don't."

Talking this way after so long was like desperately grabbing onto any kind of plank after a ship had sunk in the middle of the sea. He fumbled around, flailing around the water until he found something to support himself on. Memory.

"Don't tell me that you're too terrified to respond," Louis jeered with a tone so obnoxious he made himself want to puke. How easy it was to slip into old habits. How comforting. Like drawing on a well that was almost empty. "I'm talking to you. Or will you ignore me? Louis Bianchi?"

Arcanine shot Louis a glare, but a pat from Justin stopped him from going further.

"Your efforts to get a rise out of me are pathetic. Your family name holds no power any longer."

"You think you'll be able to run Pherzen like this? Pariah I may be, but pariah you will become. A recluse like you could never run a company that size. You need to go above and beyond. Do things that aren't rational or needed, like speaking to people and doing them favors. You need to be social."

"Nonsense."

"At the end of the day, that's what this is about, isn't it? Pherzen," Louis pressed, taking a step forward. "Does Patrick agree? Does he know the extent of how warped you've become?"

"He knows."

"He knows the condition, but he doesn't know its extent," Louis said with a smug huff. "You haven't spoken in months, I'd bet. If he actually sees you, who knows how it'll change? You think you'll still be his successor? Nothing was signed. It was a mere verbal agreement. It's all dust in the eyes of the law."

This time, something shifted in Justin's eyes.

"Everything I do, I do for humanity's medical advancement," Justin muttered.

"You'll advance nothing like this. You'll be put in a division away from the public eye where you can't embarrass him, and you'll have to answer to someone else once he retires. How does head of manufacturing sound? Or head of PR—" Louis stopped himself from guffawing. "Nevermind. Someone like you couldn't do PR."

"I'll make you eat those words."

Louis smiled. Prodding at Justin's goal was still something that could trigger something in him, because in the end, it was all for Pherzen. Victory Road, the isolation, the training. All to inherit a company. He had a one-track mind.

"So you agree to the battle, then," Louis said, waiting for Justin's nod. "Good. I want it in writing."

"What?"

"In writing. A contract. If I lose, you may do what you wish. It's not like I could stop you regardless," Louis spoke. "If you lose, you travel with me and Maeve. If it is legal counsel you want, I still have a few lawyers I could call, and I'm sure I could at least find one in Sunyshore at this moment. The name Bianchi is toxic, but it still has weight."

"What's in it for me?"

"Oh? Is that doubt?" Louis smiled. "I thought you were going to win. But as a gesture of goodwill, I won't tell any of the others you're here."

"Fine. You're a sorry excuse for a trainer regardless."

"Keep them coming. I've lived in a state of emotional agony for the past five months."

Justin might have been inflicted with darkness, but was still a teenager. Prod and talk down his ambition, and he would respond in kind. The hints of his former self that he'd seen in Solaceon and Veilstone had made Louis realize that he couldn't beg for a change of mind.

He had to force it out of him.

No one could be truly emotionless, surely.

—

"So let me reiterate, Mr. Bianchi. A five-on-five with three switches for each trainer, and these are the correct conditions?" Mr. Murphy asked.

Louis crossed his arms and nodded. "Yes. That is correct."

A five-on-five was not ideal, especially with Combee, but it was the only way Louis had gotten Justin to agree. A four-on-four wouldn't satisfy him, and Louis had even hidden the fact that Combee hadn't evolved yet out of fear that Justin would have changed his mind. He wanted a fight. The stout Mr. Murphy adjusted his glasses and handed to contract to his equivalent— Mr. O'Brien, who was Justin's own lawyer.

"Are there any loopholes?" Justin asked.

O'Brien eyed the contract from side to side. It was a short one, barely a page long that stipulated conditions for loss and victory. Justin had added the condition that a loss from Louis would make him have to stop 'bothering him' for a period of five years. It was essentially a restraining order without having gone through the legal process. Not only that, but tonight would have to be a secret. Louis wouldn't even be able to tattle to Maeve.

Louis already knew that having to carry this burden alone would crush him.

And yet, it was now or never.

Damages for breaching the contract included Louis speaking well of Justin to his father (it seemed that he'd gotten on his nerves there) since Louis and Patrick used to be acquaintances thanks to his father, and he would value Louis' words. There was also monetary compensation that would cost Louis an arm and a leg and would bleed his metaphorical coffers dry.

"No loopholes," O'Brien said with a gruff voice. "Irontight."

The lawyer handed Justin a pen, and he signed. Louis did the same.

Their verbal agreement was now legally binding.

—

It was the dead of night, and the arena Louis and Justin stood in was completely empty save for the employee working the graveyard shift and the League-employed Kadabra.

Louis had used the precious time with the lawyers to desperately come up with a strategy— any strategy. Not only had he found himself in a five-on-five when Combee was still weak in battle, but Denzel's words from this afternoon rang truer now than they had when he'd first heard them. He didn't want to leave a battle like this to chance. That was essentially what he'd done his entire career as a trainer. To blindly go into a battle and hope for the best was to set yourself up for failure.

So here he was, desperately trying not to drown as he grabbed his first Pokeball. Louis' fingers twitched until he tightened his hold over his Pokeball. He had no idea what Justin would start with or how far his old friend had progressed, but he knew enough about types to know what Gabite was his safest bet. Justin had no ice nor dragon types— unless his sixth was a dragon, but Louis doubted that.

"Ready?!" He called out.

Justin answered with a silent nod. Louis counted down.

Gabite appeared in a brilliant flash of red and roared mightily once he realized he was about to battle, exposing his triangular, sharp teeth. The dragon's eyes narrowed at his opponent. His body was covered in dull, burgundy scales save for the white ones on his belly and the dark ones interspersed at different intervals. His eyes were darker than night, his snout had doubled in size and teeth as sharp as Gabite lined it like a razor. Krookodile.

Gabite squared himself, pressing down on the hard, rocky ground of the arena—

"Sand Tomb and Dig," Justin said.

The ground under Krookodile's feet turned soft, and the dark type sunk beneath it with an eerie silence. The Sand Tomb traveled with incredible speed toward Gabite, seemingly following Krookodile's trajectory underground.

"Bulldoze!" Louis snapped.

With a snarl, Gabite stomped a foot on the ground, causing it to shake uncontrollably. Unable to bear the pain, Krookodile jumped out of his Sand Tomb early and clawed at Gabite, raking away a few of his scales and exposing the tough, pink flesh below.

"Scary Face and Torment."

Sweat began to accumulate on every inch of Louis' body. Krookodile's face seemed to grow larger, more sinister. He opened his mouth, revealing rows and rows of teeth that could cut through his arm like butter and he emitted a low growl that made Louis shiver and his breathing quicken. Even Gabite, who was about to retaliate with Dragon Claw had to stop. Something else— something small shifted in Krookodile's eyes, and Gabite's own seemed to grow darker in response with the dark type's. The ground type buried again, and Krookodile sank into the sands. Louis called out for another Bulldoze, but Gabite seemed incapable of using the move.

So Louis went for the next best option.

"Earth Power!"

The ground bubbled all around the Sand Tomb and then exploded. The burst kicked up sand, dirt and rocks into the sky, and Louis heard a low-pitch hiss come from somewhere else underground.

"Again!"

Louis' leg bounced on his podium. He leaned in, awaiting another Earth Power—

And nothing happened.

He flinched when a massive burst of sand wrapped around the arena with a deafening howl. It wasn't a Sandstorm so much as it was a localized burst of sand, sped up to such a degree that even Gabite grunted in pain from the wind. The dragon type dove into the Sand Tomb as if he was jumping headfirst into a pool and buried to get away from the blast and chase Krookodile. Louis' mind raced, desperately attempting to explain Torment. Two times, he had ordered to use a move, and twice it had failed after the first attempt. Either it was a more powerful Disable that would prevent Gabite from using moves after using them once—

"Get back up and Bulldoze!" Louis quickly ordered.

The ground burst open, and Gabite forcefully dragged Krookodile out of the floor with a claw digging deep into his gut. The ground type's teeth grew dark as he Crunched at Gabite's neck, puncturing his scales and digging deep into his flesh. Gabite brought the ground type into the air with his proto-flight and then slammed both himself and his opponent into the ground as they brawled, forcefully creating a Bulldoze. The floor shook, and Krookodile's powerful Sandstorm ceased at once.

So he couldn't use the same attack twice in a row, Louis thought.

"Scary Face and Foul Play," Justin said.

Once again, Louis flinched at Krookodile's horrifying face. A maw that could swallow him whole opened, and he bit down on his tongue to force himself not to scream. To Gabite, however, the attack was less effective than the first time. He still slowed, allowing Krookodile a moment of respite. Darkness gathered around the Pokemon's fist, and he slammed a palm right into Gabite's chest. The impact knocked all the air out of Gabite's lungs and sent him tumbling back right into an already-formed Sand Tomb that he sunk into. At this point, the entire arena was covered in Krookodile's Sand Tombs. Anyone other than Gabite would never be able to beat him.

This had to stop now.

"Rush in!" Louis screamed. "In close quarters, you'll win! You can't use an attack twice in a row!"

An Earth Power propelled Gabite out of Sand Tomb, and he clumsily flew toward Krookodile as fast as he could. Often, he nearly stumbled out of the air or had to push himself back up with his legs.

"Scary Face and sink," Justin countered.

The third time was basically a blip on Gabite's radar, and the dragon rammed into Krookodile before he could retreat underground again. Gabite's claw shone turquoise, and a Dragon Claw dug deep and raked across the dark type's chest, followed by a close-quarters Dragon Breath and another Dragon Claw. Justin stood completely still as he recalled Krookodile, and Louis breathed a sigh. It was as much relief as it was worry, because he knew Gabite was needed to finish off Krookodile. The ground stopped shifting and solidified, although it was now horribly uneven due to the permanent Sand Tombs Krookodile had created. Justin sent out his Audino, who eyed Gabite with a suspicious tint.

"Yawn," Justin spoke.

Audino opened his mouth wide, and Louis felt compelled to yawn as well. The drowsiness only lasted a second, however. Louis was determined to use the little time Gabite had left to deal damage before recalling him.

"Bulldoze and Dragon Claw!" Louis snapped.

Audino's skin wasn't tough like Krookodile's, and they needed to exploit that weakness. Gabite shook off the lingering pain from the fight with Krookodile and blurred toward Audino—

And slammed head-first into a psychic barrier.

"Misty Terrain," Justin continued.

Pink dust emanated from Audino's body. Little by little at first, and then overwhelmingly until the battlefield was nothing but pink. It was so bright Louis found it hard not to squint. Not wanting to have a dragon fight on a terrain designed for fairies, Louis recalled Gabite and immediately sent out Bisharp instead. The tall steel type stared around in confusion. Finding Audino in this terrain was almost impossible. The normal type's pink skin bled perfectly into the pink light. The dust had clung to Gabite's scales, but it perfectly slid off Bisharp's metallic skin.

"Swords Dance and Night Slash! Tear through the barrier" Louis ordered.

Bisharp's body moved in a rhythmic motion, and he finished the dance by striking a pose. His blades glinted and sharpened. With a grunt, he ran toward Audino, who waited patiently for the steel type with an unwavering, gentle smile. Darkness enveloped Bisharp's hand, and he slashed across Audino—

Who disappeared, transforming into pink dust.

From the other side of the arena, a fireball slammed into Bisharp's back. It was weak— far too weak to actually deal a large amount of damage, but the flames were still painful to the steel type. Next, grass knotted around his ankles, keeping him still until pellets of mud struck him from another direction. Blades grew out of Bisharp's legs, cutting apart the grass, but the dark type was just as confused as Louis was.

Where was Audino?

Justin simply observed, his face still unmoving as another fireball was hurled toward Bisharp. This time, the steel type dodged, but a beam of ice got him in the leg. These attacks were all so varied, but they were all weaker and slower than they should be. Not only that, but they formed anywhere Audino wished. There was no way the normal type was traveling that fast. Louis would have loved to know what was happening, but he had no time to waste.

"Metal Sound," Louis said.

Bisharp whetted his blade across his own body, creating a horrible sound that made Louis wince. A small, painful squeal from Audino revealed his location, and Bisharp rushed toward the source of the sound. His hands once again grew dark, and this time, he slashed across the real body. The Night Slash tore through the barrier and across Audino's chest. Blood seeped out of the wound, seeping onto the pink ground. Justin ordered Audino to Yawn, and he did before disappearing once more, somehow vanishing into thin air.

Had that been the real body, or an illusion? The fact that Louis didn't know scared him, and now he was on a timer again. He told Bisharp to use another Metal Sound, but Audino didn't let anything slip this time. Bisharp cried out in pain as a dozen attacks slammed into him from all sides. Streams of flames, beams of ice, electricity, mud— anything he could possibly conceive. He recalled Bisharp before he could fall asleep or take too much damage.

Audino reappeared as soon as he was the only one on the field, the wound on his chest having been half-healed and progressively knitting itself back together as dust coated the gash. Bisharp specialized in one-on-one battles where he could see his enemies, and Louis had expected him to be able to fully take advantage of that against the slow-moving Audino. Whereas Audino had been a mere healer before, he was now possibly the most annoying Pokemon to face. Illusions, barriers, healing, Yawn, pulling every move under the sun? What Louis needed to beat Audino were wide attacks. Firepower. He released Ninetales, who curiously smelled her surroundings.

Flames enveloped her right away, coating her fur and protecting her from the dust's potentially malignant effects. Her tails lashed, her eyes flashed, Drought bore down onto the battlefield and Louis swept his arm.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Burn up the field!"

Ninetales let loose an eerie howl, and flames spun around her wider and wider each time until they enveloped the entire arena. Audino slung more mud at Ninetales, and this time a jet of water. Ninetales shook off the pain and finished burning up the field. The Misty Terrain began to waver, and it was only a matter of time until it collapsed completely. Ninetales' eyes flashed once more, and her head snapped toward her left. She knew exactly where Audino was.

"Will-O-Wisp!" Louis yelled.

"Yawn," Justin said.

If they could somehow get Audino to be permanently burned, then they'd be in a good position. Louis internally swore as another Yawn took effect, but he couldn't afford to use his last switch here. Ninetales was the only Pokemon who could take Audino down or at least weaken him. Another jet of water hit Ninetales in the chin, but it was even weaker this time, as if it was tied to Misty Terrain's condition. Wisps crawled into the plane of the living kicking and screaming and rushed toward Audino.

"Encore and Magic Coat."

The blond trainer blinked as the Will-O-Wisps died in agonized screams as they slammed into a multi-colored barrier. At the same time, Audino twirled, and his eyes shone with a dull grey.

Ninetales would now feel compelled to use only Will-O-Wisps. Her hold on her flames collapsed, and they now ran wild across the arena. Her coat of fire dissolved into thin air, and another Will-O-Wisp floated toward Audino. The normal type again used Magic Coat to cancel the attack.

Louis bit his lip. Yawn was ticking, and Ninetales would be stuck using Will-O-Wisp longer than it would take for the move to take effect. Audino couldn't exactly hurt her that much either, but he didn't need to.

The short of it was, he'd been completely fucked.

Louis couldn't afford to lose Ninetales here. He unclipped her ball and with a heavy hand, recalled her. His dilemma grew more manageable when the Misty Terrain did not rebuild itself, however. Instead, it appeared to be stuck in its half-broken state.

A pragmatic person would have sent out Combee as a sacrifice. A way to reset the tempo of the fight and to get Ninetales back in right after.

Louis… couldn't.

"It's up to you," he whispered as he sent out Bisharp again.

Audino was possible to track now, and so long as they overwhelmed his healing factor, than victory was possible. Like clockwork, Justin ordered him to Yawn, and he did so right as Bisharp pushed against the ground with a darkened hand. Grass tied around his feet, but Audino's attacks were weaker now, and he easily tore through the Grass Knots by running.

"Disarming Voice."

Tears formed around Audino's large, blue eyes and he let out a harrowing scream. Bisharp hesitated for a split second, allowing Audino to sling another fireball at him. It was only now that Louis understood what was going on. The fire, the water, the grass— everything had formed from Audino's will.

It was glamour powered by the Misty Terrain. Or maybe the terrain provided the glamour itself? And yet, Audino was a normal type!

Bisharp silently tore through Audino's psychic barrier. He brought another hand forward, this time cutting with Slash. More blood and dust gushed out of the wound, but Bisharp did not stop. He was locked in, and kept shredding Audino apart.

"Life Dew," Justin said.

The wounds healed, but a lot slower than they appeared. By the time Bisharp had cut ten times, only one had knitted back together. Justin wanted to buy some time, but he had none. Louis expected him to use one of his switches, but he did not. Instead, the Misty Terrain began to collapse in on itself and Audino's attack turned into a continuous Disarming Voice that bought him a precious few seconds.

"Wish."

A light appeared above Audino's head and rose through the ceiling. It was Audino's last act. The normal type fell, bloodied and unconscious. Bisharp neatly shook his arms, throwing the blood off his blade in one go.

Since Wish had been used, it was obvious who would come next. Krookodile materialized onto the field, and the ground instantly began to shift once more. Bisharp immediately sunk into a Sand Tomb, but Louis had been ready for it.

"Metal Sound!"

The sudden screech surprised Krookodile, and the shifting sands stopped for a second. Bisharp jumped out, continuously using the sound to buy himself some more time.

"Metal Claw!"

With newfound stamina, Bisharp ran toward Krookodile, who violently shook his head to focus. A burst of metal from under Bisharp's feet helped him jump above the ever-increasing amount of Sand Tombs, and he let out a reverberating scream as his hands shimmered bright white—

And Krookodile buried, hiding safely from the attack. An expected, development, but annoying nonetheless. Even worse, the Yawn finally took effect, and Bisharp stumbled until he fell asleep.

It was over.

The Sand Tomb swallowed him whole, and Krookodile finished him off below ground where Louis couldn't see. Bisharp was spat out from the earth like a rag, and Louis recalled the steel type. He of course sent out Gabite once more, and the dragon was eager to continue the match with his arch-enemy.

"Torment."

Louis clicked his tongue, but the move was more annoying than debilitating. Krookodile's eyes drew in Gabite's gaze, locking him into non-consecutive moves.

"Dragon Breath and go in," Louis said.

Blue flames danced in Gabite's mouth, and he spat the attack out with a roar. Krokoodile did not bury this time, because Justin knew that would just prompt an Earth Power or Bulldoze. Instead, he took the attack head-on, using his bulk to resist the hit. Gabite flew forth, and Krookodile snarled, squaring himself to prepare for impact. Gabite slammed into his chest with a loud crash, and Krookodile slid backward.

"Foul Play."

The dark type threw a darkened fist at Gabite's chest, and scales flew out like shrapnel out of a grenade. The dragon delivered a vicious Dragon Claw to Krookodile's nose, and the two Pokemon entered a terrible melee. All discipline vanished into thin air. They clawed, bit, headbutted, anything that would get one to dominate the other. Louis bit his lip when Krookodile threw Gabite back with a powerful gust of a Sandstorm and his sheer bulk, and the Wish re-entered his body.

Scales quickly rebuilt and reappeared. Cuts mended. Blood evaporated. Krokoodile grinned.

Gabite drew on tired breaths.

"Earth Power," Louis said.

They had to keep their distance now. The Wish had ensured that Krookodile would beat them up close. The ground under the dark type's feet exploded with boiling earth and singed Krookodile's scales.

"Thrash," Justin said.

Krookodile's eyes glinted— this time with fury. He sank into the ground, but left his upper half exposed as if he was a Feraligatr swimming through a swamp. He was faster than he'd ever been, going as fast as Gabite could fly. The earth seemed to liquefy and push him forward like water currents.

"Alternate between Bulldoze, Earth Power and Dragon Breath!" Louis yelled. "Then run!"

The ground shook, earth burst open with deafening booms and the concentrated stream of draconic energy all hit Krookodile, who looked like he couldn't even register the pain. Gabite jumped to fly away, but Krookodile emerged from the earth with a wave of mud at his back. It clung to Gabite and kept him grounded, allowing Krookodile to get his hands on him.

Another melee began.

This time, Krookodile was clearly dominating. He slammed every single body part against Gabite. So much so that Louis felt like he was hurting himself. Something in his hand crunched when it hit Gabite's flank, and yet the onslaught continued. Krookodile savagely bit Gabite's arm and tore. The sheer violence made Louis flinch, but Justin didn't even react. All of the sophisticated strategies had been thrown to the wayside. Gabite fought back as best he could with Dragon Claw, Metal Claw and Slash.

And yet, this battle could only go one way.

Krookodile stood over Gabite's unconscious body with tired heaves, but he did not celebrate with a roar. Instead, he stumbled around and kept fighting the air. Louis quickly recalled Gabite before he could get caught in the crossfire, and Krookodile ran forward, slamming his head against Kadabra's barrier at full force and hurting himself in the process.

Louis took a deep breath and sent out Empoleon. The steel type instantly got into an alert position, but he blinked confusedly when he saw Krookodile's mental state. Louis thought Justin would recall him, but he did not. He was probably too tired to hope to use without Audino's Wish.

"Brine."

Clouds instantly materialized above Krookodile, who was still clawing at the edge of the arena. They stabbed into Krokodile, denting and peeling off his scales until the ground type fell unconscious. Louis was sure of it now. He'd been Gabite's explicit counter. Audino wouldn't have had the firepower to deal with the dragon. Justin silently recalled Krookodile and sent out his next Pokemon.

A human-sized Pokemon emerged from the red light. He had beige fur, duck-like lips and a green lilypad for a hat. Ludicolo began to dance to a non-existent rhythm as soon as he appeared on the field. Water and Grass meant that Empoleon's water moves would basically be useless in this fight, but they had other levers to pull. Louis waited for Justin to speak first.

"Rain Dance."

For Swift Swim, Louis instantly thought.

"Ice Beam!"

Shards of frost formed around Empoleon's mouth until they started to shine. Three arcs of ice barrelled toward Ludicolo, who opted to take the attack in order to finish off his move. Small bolts of electricity shimmered in the clouds and droplets began to fall.

"Again!" Louis barked.

"Teeter Dance."

Ludicolo's dance grew more vigorous, and Empoleon's Ice Beam fired off before it could be completed, missing entirely. Empoleon was swayed into the dance and started following Ludicolo's every move.

"Leech Seed," Justin continued.

Ludicolo spat out a set of seeds at Empoleon, all while keeping up his dance. They landed on the steel type and immediately burst open. Thorny vines wrapped around Empoleon's body and slowly began to suck his energy.

"Now Mist."

It took a few forced coughs, but a thick mist slid out of Ludicolo's mouth just as the Teeter Dance grew weaker and weaker. Empoleon blinked as he snapped back to reality, but Ludicolo was already gone, having slipped into the mist. All that remained was a terribly loud storm overhead, the accumulating water and the mist.

And they were on a timer.

"Icy Wind and Aqua Jet!" Louis yelled.

Empoleon honked, and water instantly surrounded him. Aided by the rain, he jumped and flew like a bullet. Ice formed at the edges of the attack, but that wasn't what they were looking for. Instead, the constant spinning from Aqua Jet created a perimeter of cold air that would harm any Pokemon near them, and now that Empoleon had a constant supply of water, he would be able to use the technique until he fainted. Somehow, every time the Leech Seed froze, it glowed neon green, unthawing itself and continuing to drain the water type's energy.

Empoleon traveled across the arena, sweeping the entire battlefield with ice. Frost enveloped the floor, and the water that had accumulated began to freeze over into a thin sheet of ice. Once Empoleon reached the end of the arena, Ludicolo let out a displeased croak.

They hadn't expected Empoleon to be this good. Louis smiled, but it disappeared as soon as Justin spoke.

"Sunny Day."

Everything disappeared. The stormy clouds, the rain, the thunder, it all evaporated in mere seconds. A second sun formed high ahead in the arena, and both Empoleon's Aqua Jet and Icy Wind lost in volume. It wasn't all that bad, however. The Sunny Day made the mist thin, and Ludicolo's shadow could be seen dancing—

"Grass Knot."

"Freeze it!" Louis yelled.

These weren't the little vines that Audino could use. Instead, they were massive and were capable of grabbing Empoleon's entire body. Empoleon exhaled, letting out another Icy Wind that froze the vines that attempted to wrap around him.

"Energy Ball. Keep up the pressure," Justin continued.

There was no vegetation to be seen anywhere except the Leech Seed, so instead, Ludicolo drew the energy from himself. A small part of his hat withered away, forming into a green ball of glowing light. With a confident cry, he sent it forward, and it seemed to curve and follow Empoleon wherever he went. It wasn't the only Energy Ball either. Ludicolo sent out more and more until he looked like a dead plant—

And then, he regenerated everything with Synthesis.

"Ice Beam! Just hit them out of the sky before they get to you!" Louis yelled.

Empoleon nodded, and weakened rays of ice intercepted each Energy Ball, causing them to explode mid-air. Grass grew wherever they did so, cracking and growing through the thick sheet of ice that Empoleon had created.

Louis' tongue pushed against the back of his teeth. He had enough information now, and he had strategy. Waiting around would be the death of him. He had to rush in and overwhelm before the Leech Seed caused too much damage.

"Slide and Metal Claw!" Louis screamed.

Aqua Jet might have been weakened, but Empoleon could still make use of his biology. He launched himself on his stomach, using his flippers to slide on the ice faster than a car. Ludicolo twirled, and sharpened leaves emerged from his beige fur and flew at Empoleon, cutting the softer parts of his flesh. On a dime, Ludicolo croaked and the weather changed again, and rain began to fall. Weaker than the first one this time, but it allowed him to slide away as if he was on an ice skating rink, constantly harassing Empoleon with hit-and-run tactics using Razor Leaf and Energy Ball.

The steel type didn't flinch. Instead, another Aqua Jet formed around him and he blurred, ramming into Ludicolo. He slashed across the water type's fur and skin with Metal Claw. Ludicolo grunted in pain, but his hands stuck to Empoleon's skin and glowed neon green. The steel type's eyes wavered, and Louis soon realized more of his energy was being drained.

"Ice—"

But Empoleon was already on top of it. Three arcs of ice sprayed Ludicolo across the chest, mouth and face until the grass type finally let go. Empoleon squawked, hitting him with a Metal Claw before escaping away, and another wave of Energy Balls flew toward him. Justin wasn't switching, Louis noticed. He wasn't switching because nothing could take down Empoleon like Ludicolo could.

"Synthesis," Justin spoke.

And there was also that. But each subsequent Synthesis would be weaker than the last. Ludicolo wasn't like Denzel's Roselia. He could only draw on the move a few times before exhausting himself. Louis' heart shook in trepidation as Empoleon formed into another Aqua Jet fused with an Icy Wind.

"Take the hit," Justin said.

"Stop—"

Too late. Aqua Jet was too fast, and Empoleon once more rammed into Ludicolo's chest. The grass type slid back onto the slick ice, straining against Empoleon's sheer weight.

"Tickle."

Pushing through the pain, Ludicolo's hands shifted under Empoleon's armpits. The steel type began to laugh. A strange, uneven honk combined with short breaths. At the same time, Ludicolo's hands shimmered green once more and Empoleon fell. Not because he fainted, but because he just laughed so uncontrollably that he couldn't stand.

"Ice Beam! Empoleon!"

No orders went through. The draining attack combined with the Leech Seed proved too much for Empoleon. The water type fainted, and Louis clenched a fist.

This was bad. Extremely bad. But Louis took a breath. He couldn't let panic get a hold of him. Not all was lost.

Ninetales came out of her ball next, and she growled in displeasure at the rain. Thankfully, Drought counteracted much of the Rain Dance, and much of the clouds dissipated until only the only rain left was a little patter that was barely noticeable. That meant Ludicolo would be slower, his water moves would be less effective and Ninetales would almost be at her full potential.

"Will-O-Wisp! Burn up the field again!" Louis barked.

Five spirits from another world materialized around Ninetales in a circle and rushed toward Ludicolo. Then, she clad herself in fire. The ice instantly melted below her feet, turning into water, and that water subsequently turned to vapor before it could even have an effect on her. Ludicolo spat out a powerful jet of water toward the wisps, but it had no effect. Instead, they only screamed in rage and each one entered the grass type's body. A purple flame enveloped him and shone brightly.

"Disable!" Louis snapped without missing a beat.

He'd seen Grace's Jellicent enough to recognize a Hydro Pump, and knocking it out of his arsenal would be key to winning this battle. Ninetales' eyes flashed grey, and the water cut out like someone had turned off a faucet in a sink.

"Water Pulse," Justin said instead.

Ludicolo found his voice, and a ring of water barrelled at Ninetales.

"Inferno!"

Flames spluttered and exploded outward, and Ninetales' eyes shone bright pink. She picked up the flames, molding them however she wished and formed a barrier that evaporated the Water Pulse before it could reach her. The blue flames formed into an elongated spear and they slammed into Ludicolo, lighting him on fire— real fire this time.

"Synthesis through it and approach to Tickle," Justin said.

The Synthesis was half-baked, but it bought Ludicolo some precious seconds. The water type slid across the little water that remained liquid, but Louis wouldn't let him.

"Imprison!"

Ludicolo slammed against a psychic wall and soon realized that there was no way out. Ninetales' eyes flashed, and the fire intensified. It burned everything to smithereens until Ludicolo's body was ashen and smoking, running through all of the oxygen that had remained in the box.

Justin recalled his Pokemon. The sheer brutality of this fight was far beyond what Louis was used to from his training with Maeve, and yet he knew he had to push on.

"I see your Ninetales has improved," Justin acknowledged.

Louis opened his mouth, but he didn't know how to answer. It was the first time in the fight that Justin had actually spoken a non-order. The Drought finally reached its full potential now that Ludicolo was gone, and the fight for influence had been won.

"She has," Louis finally said. "She's my ace."

"Let's see how she fares against mine, then."

Justin released Arcanine, and Louis drew a sharp breath. Ninetales' flames were just as useless against him as they were against herself, and both fire types intensely stared at each other. Louis was surprised that Justin hadn't sent Toxapex. He was probably keeping her for last since he didn't take Combee seriously, and the poison type wasn't exactly the best at actually utilizing water type moves and moving around. Or maybe… it was sentimental? Still, this was… perfect, wasn't it?

The training with Maeve. Constantly throwing Ninetales against her Infarnape. Fire type against fire type.

"Nasty Plot!" Louis yelled.

Ninetales' eyes darkened, and Louis always liked to imagine she dreamed to burning Gabite to a crisp. The flames around her and Arcanine shone with a brighter, more intense blue, but that wasn't the point. The goal was to power up all of her other moves.

"Hypnosis!" Louis added.

"Agility and Play Rough," Justin said.

Ninetales' tails straightened and weaved together into a half-circle as she stared down Arcanine with the intent to put him to sleep. Arcanine's body loosened, and he blurred with that speed his line was famous for. He might have been on land, but he was almost as fast as Cecilia's Talonflame and that was without Extreme Speed. The canine was bigger than Ninetales, and he slammed into her barrier. He opened his mouth, his teeth darkened, and he Crunched through the quickly erected shield.

Just as his eyelids closed, he rammed into Ninetales, breaking her focus and snapping out of his daze. He continued beating her up with every body part he could manage. Paws, his head, teeth, or just hurtling his body at her. Ninetales desperately countered with shields, blocking wherever she could, but they couldn't stay on the defensive. They had used a setup move.

"Extrasensory!" Louis yelled.

Arcanine's teeth stopped mere inches from Ninetales' already-bloodied throat, although the flames had vaporized most of the remaining blood, and he began to whine as the fire type ransacked through his brain. She lifted him up in the air and slammed him head-first into the ground—

"Roar."

There was a certain twinge of something to Justin's voice. Not excitement per se, but something. Arcanine bellowed out, and Ninetales repeatedly blinked, not understanding what had happened before the fire type sent her flying with a Take Down, shaking his head to bear through the recoil.

That move was an actual problem. Combined with Arcanine's speed, Louis was convinced that this was the move they needed to take away and not Play Rough.

"Disable!" Louis yelled as soon as Ninetales got back on her feet.

Another flash of Ninetale's eyes, and Arcanine growled in frustration.

"Flamethrower."

Louis contained a smile. The flames would do nothing to Ninetales. Arcanine breathed out a huge stream of flames powered by Drought. They merely tickled Ninetales—

Arcanine broke through the flames and bit one of her forelegs with Crunch, dragging her as he ran at full speed. They'd used the flames to hide themselves and lower their guard! Louis' leg bounced and his heart was clamoring in his chest, but there was a way to react here. An opportunity.

"Confuse Ray!"

"Let go—"

The light was faster than Justin had expected. It shifted as it entered Arcanine's body, and the fire type's teeth snapped tighter. Ninetales shrieked in pain and Louis heard her foreleg snap. Arcanine let go and kept running, ramming at full speed into Kadabra's barrier. Ninetales' foreleg was a bloody mess, bent the wrong way and clearly broken. It dangled over the floor as the fire type desperately stayed conscious.

"I—I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he stammered as tears welled up in his eyes.

Louis grabbed her Pokeball with a trembling hand, but Ninetales' head whirled toward him and she glared. At first, he thought that she blamed him as well. Confusing a Pokemon that had a hold on her had been reckless, and Louis had been too lost in his own adrenaline to realize that, but when the glare intensified as soon as he aimed toward her, he realized it was because she wanted him to fight.

But then, something buzzed in his mind. Like the static noise of a television.

…wet blanket and fight!

Louis winced as the headache spread through his head, and his vision blurred. Arcanine was running through the arena, using Flamethrowers on what he must have thought was Ninetales.

"Sorry," Louis said again. "Go in and Hex."

While his vision recovered, Ninetales painfully hopped forward. Being down one foreleg meant that she was a lot slower than before. Justin simply waited for Arcanine to snap out of his Confusion in silence, not even offering a word of support. Ninetales' eyes shimmered, and smoke emanated out of Arcanine's body. The fire type yipped, writhing on the floor in agony as the Hex worked through his body. Louis realized that the confusion's effects were tampering out, however.

"Hypnosis, quickly!"

Ninetales' tails formed into a circle, and she stared down Arcanine with an intensity never before seen. Louis' jaw clenched when fifteen seconds passed and the Hypnosis hadn't finished off. Ninetales' focus was fraying with her leg in such a condition.

"Reversal," Justin spoke.

He'd somehow known that Arcanine was good to go before Louis had. The fire type's muscles tensed, and he blurred toward Ninetales, who cried out in pain as her broken leg was once more caught in the crossfire. Louis already knew that Reversal dealt the most damage when a Pokemon was on the brink of fainting.

Ninetales did not get up.

But Arcanine was on the brink, barely able to stand. He struggled back to his feet as the Drought died out and the flames that had been swarming the arena turned to a dull red and then vanished. Louis' ears were ringing. If he hadn't spent so long apologizing to Ninetales or trying to get her out of the fight, then it would be her standing right now and not Arcanine.

He stood there, frozen as he blinked. The ringing in his ears grew louder and his heartbeat slowly calmed as the adrenaline left his body. His fingers relaxed, he swallowed and moistened his lips.

What now?

Combee was the only one left.

"I'm waiting for your fifth. You have ten seconds left," Justin warned. His voice was distant now. Far away.

Louis blinked and the ringing in his ears reached a crescendo. He sent out Combee, who took flight as high as they could.

"And I thought you were finally taking me seriously," Justin said. "After this long, she's still a Combee? What a waste."

Combee was the weakest member of his team, but she was no longer useless. She'd trained with Maeve's Gligar a multitude of times.

"Flamethrower. Finish it off," Justin said.

"Shield yourself and Air Cutter!" Louis yelled.

Honey leaked from Combee's carapace and slowly formed into a wall in front of them. It burned up, turning into a dry, darkened mess, and Combee cried out from the burns. Still, they beat their wings and the air sliced up Arcanine's flank. The canine wavered, but another order from Justin snapped him back awake.

"Fill his mouth!" Louis continued.

Honey clumsily flowed around Combee and then floated toward Arcanine, who slowly opened his mouth. Flames appeared deep in his maw right as the honey entered and coalesced inside.

The Flamethrower burned as much honey as it could, desperately trying to break through, but another Air Cutter sliced up Arcanine and finished him off. Even Justin was surprised at that, although it was only on his face for a second. Wasting no time, he sent out his last Pokemon.

It was a huge raven that dwarfed Combee, although it was still smaller than Pauline's Braviary. Around seven feet, if Louis was right. Its plumage was covered in steel, and deep red eyes set upon Combee like they were prey. With one flap of Corviknight's wings, he took to the air.

This was bad.

"Drill Peck."

Corviknight spun, warping the air around itself until it appeared like a huge drill. It flew toward Combee, whose Air Cutters only tickled the steel type. Gust didn't fare any better. Corviknight was too heavy to be knocked off-course. Louis barked out an order, and the honey formed into another wall.

The flying type's beak easily broke through and stabbed into Combee, sending her tumbling toward the ground. The honey fell as well, now lifeless and Combee crashed into the arena with a dull thud. Louis' arms went limp to his side, and the world seemed to grow just a little darker.

"I will not lie, Louis, your first four Pokemon were impressive," Justin said. "I am satisfied with this match."

He grabbed his Corviknight's Pokeball—

Combee's wings fluttered.

Then they glowed and grew, as did the rest of their body. Evolution, Louis thought. He sucked in air through his teeth and covered his eyes as Combee grew into a full-fledged Vespiquen.

The first thing Louis noticed was the buzzing. It filled his ears and overtook all of his thought. A weight pressed down his chest and he found it difficult to breathe, having to consciously suck in and expunge air. His heart began to beat so loudly that it was almost painful. Tingles continuously ran up and down his spine and he wanted nothing more but to run out of here. Things crawled out of Vespiquen's skin and began secreting massive amounts of honey, healing the wound from the Drill Peck that had carried over at the same time. Louis nervously clenched a fist, and realized he was sweating buckets. It was like he'd dipped his hand in water.

Even Corviknight seemed intimidated. He no longer eyed Vespiquen like prey, but an equal. A threat. Justin stood there, his face unmoving.

Louis' mind raced, but all of his thoughts were consumed by the buzzing. Vespiquen sprung to action without his command, bending honey around her and throwing it forward.

"Drill Peck again. We have the advantage," Justin said.

Corviknight squawked. The sound was metallic and screech-like. It would have been unpleasant to listen to had Louis been able to focus. Vespiqueen screeched, and her honey clung and solidified around the steel type. Its rotation meant that the majority of it was continuously flung away, but it slowed Corviknight and forced him to abandon his attack. Vespiquen could control it so well now. As if it had come to her instinctually, and Louis supposed it had. Vespiquen were supposed to lead hives.

"Steel Wing," Justin continued.

Louis could only stay silent. Honey crawled all over Corviknight, whose wings shimmered bright white. The flying type's huge wingspan slammed right into Vespiquen's abdomen, but she used the close range to infiltrate his armor with honey. While Corviknight was covered in steel, they needed their feathers to fly. The honey solidified, and Corviknight fell to the floor with a loud crash, as did Vespiquen. Yet, that didn't stop the constant, debilitating buzzing. Louis placed his hands over his ears, but even that didn't seem to work.

The bug type screeched, snapping her pincers together. A bridge of honey still linked the two Pokemon, and more and more things crawled onto Corviknight. Shapeless, horrible things that Louis couldn't even begin to describe. The bird squawked as the grubs infiltrated past its armor and past its skin. Honey began to leak from his beak and its eyes as it furiously thrashed on the floor. His squawks turned into gurgles and horrible coughs that kept spitting out more and more honey.

Corviknight was drowning, Louis realized.

"Vespiquen! Stop, you're killing it!"

He could barely hear the sound of his own voice through the buzzing. Louis quickly grabbed his Pokeball, and just as his finger hovered over the return button, Justin recalled Corviknight. Louis looked at Justin and saw something he thought he would have never seen again.

Genuine worry.

He'd been terrified of losing his Pokemon.

In front of them lay what remained of the battlefield. Honey-soaked, full of potholes, water vapor, chunks of ice at its edges, grass, scorched earth.

Louis' legs felt like jelly.

"You— you win," Justin huffed. "You got me."

"No! No, I lost!" Louis yelled. He clicked his tongue and recalled Vespiquen. "This was terrible sportsmanship from me! I should have recalled Vespiquen right away—"

"I was too scared. I— It's been so long," he said, stumbling back. He collapsed and sat on the ground. "I didn't know I could be scared any longer."

The blonde's lips quivered. "I'm sorry."

Louis had won. Justin would travel with them, and he'd potentially saved a friend from killing himself in Victory Road.

And yet, victory tasted like ashes in his mouth. All this time, he had worried about Gabite's evolution, and Vespiquen was the one whom he should have watched out for. He was a failure. He'd failed Justin, Justin's team, and his own Pokemon.

He'd won, but at what cost?