Lilycove was the crowning gem of Hoenn, the place where the land ended and the sea began.

A vast metropolis that infiltrated countless miles inland, winding its way across beaches, plains, and rivers until its urban sprawl brushed against the vast azure expanse of the Arisen Sea, there was no other place where humanity had so thoroughly stamped their claim on the world in the region. Not even Sootopolis could compare in terms of sheer scale.

It stood in stark contrast to much of the rest of Hoenn, where the other, former city states carved their niches and stuck to them, moving upwards rather than outwards, leaving much of the surrounding wilderness to itself. Lilycove had some unique quality that seemed to exempt it from this pattern.

In the past, Lilycove commanded a vast trading empire, balanced against its rivals of Sootopolis and Mossdeep. With the development of matter-energy conversion and the widespread proliferation of access to teleportation over the last few decades, that had quickly crumbled.

Nowadays, Lilycove maintained its prominence as Hoenn's greatest city through tourism, and by leaning into its history. Concert halls, museums, restaurants, exhibits, nature walks, you could find almost anything here. A full seven of Hoenn's sixteen major universities kept campuses in Lilycove, many with focuses on the arts, the sciences, history, and the management of human settlements.

After all, there were Unovan ships in the harbor, forty feet under the waves, open for diving expeditions. Statues, tableaus, and memorials dotted many street corners or park squares; each of bronze, wood, or steel, each of another epitaph, another larger-than-life personage or scene from the city's long history. Unlikely habitats and nesting grounds for native pokémon remained, carefully managed and maintained as urban sprawl spread around them, leaving swathes of nature in the midst of steel and stone in the form of parks and reserves.

For the cultured mind, the city had a certain allure.

And for those more interested in sunbathing, surfing, and goofing off in the beautiful waters, there were all sorts of options for that too. Lilycove boasted some of the finest beaches in Hoenn, as well as vast shopping centers, each full of stores and goods second to none in the region. The Boardwalk, rebuilt after its razing at the hands of Unovan occupiers over the course of the Last War, stretched gloriously out into the waters, never trembling under the tramp of many thousands of feet upon it each day, and providing many a spot for Sealeo and Walrein to bathe in the shade on lower platforms designed specifically for their use.

The nature of Lilycove's relationship with the rest of the world might have changed as technology evolved, but those networks and friendships it had struck up in the centuries prior hadn't gone to waste.

Ash had admired its bright colors, vibrant atmosphere, and the subtle cheer that pervaded the bustle of the city as he'd found his way to the Pokémon Center earlier that morning. It was eminently tempting to take a few hours to peruse some of the nearby sites, take a while to rest. It had been a long two weeks of training, and he was interested to see if his experiences on the mountain, and his proximity to the past, might give him any insight into the past of this place.

Tempting. Tempting. But no.

He undoubtedly could have petitioned the League for more generous accommodations had he been so inclined, but he found it more nostalgic this way. Simpler. The rooms were enough for his purposes, and he could live with the looks of surprise and recognition he attracted while going in and out.

After he'd stuck his head out the door to growl at the other trainers making a racket in the common room, it was quiet. Less distractions and interruptions.

Friend-Trainer, you look utterly deranged.

"So long as I only look it," Ash muttered as he scribbled another set of possibilities onto a slip of paper and posted it up against his room's bulletin board, joining it to the manifold tableau. He was, admittedly, a bit of a wreck.

You also smell terrible. It's quite offensive.

"Sorry." He grunted. "I'll clean up later."

Thanks to having obsessively (Dazed's word; he preferred 'prudently') planned out a dozen different battle plans for Champion Wallace for the last two days, he felt marginally less unprepared than he had felt when he left the slopes of Mt. Pyre. His (justified) panic had been replaced by a growing sense of purpose and resolve, especially once he reminded himself of Michael's advice and stopped treating it like some unique, unapproachable event in his life.

Well. He would be fighting another of the champions of international television before an audience of thousands; that was rather unique, but it was still just a battle.

That being said, he intended to win, however unlikely that might be, and that entailed a lot of planning.

A lot of planning.

And (prudent!) obsessing.

But that was fine.

He could shower later.

Nidoking grunted something, then nudged a few of the hundred-or-so sticky notes around to present a more effective solution. Dazed had been kind enough to read them into Nidoking's and Torrent's minds so that they could keep up. Sadly, reading and writing was exempt from the intuitive knowledge pokémon otherwise possessed of language.

"I— yeah, that's a good idea," Ash mused as he surveyed the changes. Torrent would be more effective if that occurred. "Thanks, Nidoking."

His friend grunted in acknowledgement, then leaned away from Ash.

Okay, maybe the shower should come sooner than he originally planned.

Please.

"We can do this," Ash muttered to himself as his eyes scanned the multilayered network of assembled information. Each note held potential matchups, short explanations of techniques that Ash had gleaned from Wallace's previous battles, and expected reactions to various changes in the battle. It was mind-boggling to work with, but anything worth doing wouldn't be easy.

Besides, his team did an amazing job of helping him manage it. Even if Steven would probably brag about how Metagross would do such a better job.

Ugh, Metagross drove him mad sometimes.

Champion Wallace would be an exhilarating opponent to face on the world stage. Millions of eyes would watch this battle. Millions! He couldn't give this anything less than his best.

Not that he would ever consider doing otherwise.

Wallace's cornerstone was his Milotic, though he had a more balanced team overall than Steven. He rarely led with Milotic, preferring to save it for the perfect moment to turn the tide of battle. Its skillset was diverse, featuring a devastating mix of raw power, peerless mastery over water, and an absolutely disgusting emphasis on regeneration.

Gyarados was his muscle, the other half of his twin sea-serpents, though the great leviathan still moved with dazzling elegance, and preferred to strike with techniques that emphasized complexity and beauty rather than a delightfully straightforward Hyper Beam. Fighting it would be completely unlike the short, frenzied bouts in which he'd faced off against Lev both near Mt. Ember and at the Indigo Plateau.

That was a common, core characteristic of all of Wallace's team, however. They'd earned their fame for their skill in Contests and battles alike, and that showed no matter what competition they entered. Historically, it took a lot for Wallace and his team to drop the charades and properly brawl with their opponents.

Nowadays, it took quite a lot indeed.

Still, each and every one was a threat. Aside from Gyarados and Milotic, Wallace's most regular fighters were Tentacruel, Wailord, Ludicolo, and Whiscash, but he had a large and diverse team beyond even that.

In total, there were as many as twelve fighters that Ash had to account for, without counting any new additions he might have made that hadn't been added to public record yet. Unlike Lance and Steven, whose preferred areas of specialty were limited in scope no matter how far abroad they looked for new teammates, Wallace could, at this point, tailor his choices in new teammates to whatever skillset he liked.

Steven had been tight-lipped about Wallace's full team in the past. It made Ash wonder how long he'd been planning this.

And that meant that, unfortunately, Ash couldn't be certain which might be used in a low-stakes environment like the Wallace Cup's exhibition match. There were too many potential variables.

Frankly, he was just glad that he didn't have to compete in the Contest itself. In general, he would prefer to steer clear of such a massive affair, even if some part of him thought it would be an interesting experience. There was so much on his plate already though, trying to figure out how to go about crafting a performance would be a bridge too far.

He would indulge Daisy, and his own curiosity, some other time.

One of the few breaks he had taken from his preparations was to let his friends, his mom, and Professor Oak know to watch the Wallace Cup. Daisy, he presumed, would either be present or watching regardless, so he told her nothing. It would only invite her pestering.

He didn't offer any additional context to any of them. It was more fun that way.

He started as knuckles rapped suddenly against his door. The haze of battle thoughts fell away, and Ash abruptly realized just how utterly exhausted he was.

Dazed considerately pulled the door open with her psychic abilities. Nidoking grunted his hello to Steven, in his garish tourist disguise, as he entered with a small smile on his face.

"Ash! I'm glad you seem—Oh, what's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Ash said evenly. Then louder, "What's wrong?!"

Steven blinked. "Is it the battle?"

"Yes!" Ash jabbed an accusing finger at him, stepping closer menacingly. "Yes it is! Steven! Three days! Three days to plan, Steven! That's not enough time to plan! Steven!"

Steven took a step back as Ash got closer, his nose wrinkling and a look of helpless bemusement painting his aristocratic features. "It's just an exhibition match! What's there to worry about?"

A growl emerged from somewhere, maybe from his soul, and Ash snarled as his mentor. "An exhibition match against the seated Ever Grande Champion! An exhibition match live, In front of the entire world! I'd say that's something to worry about!"

He's been like this for days.

Dazed muttered into all their minds. Ash steadfastly ignored her.

Steven scowled. "How did you—Ugh, Phoebe told you, didn't she?"

Ash sharply nodded.

"I knew I shouldn't have trusted her…" Steven muttered. He waved Ash's concerns off. "I didn't tell you because I wanted it to be a surprise. And to avoid you doing whatever this is," Steven said as he gestured at Ash's enormous collage of notes, each covered with wild scribbles and connected to one another with pins and lines of string. "You look deranged."

That's what I said.

Ash suspected that Dazed had been spending too much time around Claydol recently.

"This looks like one of Sidney's planning boards." Steven looked pointedly at Ash. "Do you really want to be like Sidney?"

"No," Ash grumbled. "But I have to be ready!"

Steven sighed. "I wanted this to be fun for you. This doesn't seem very fun, does it?" He shook his head, touching the crease between his brow. "We're going out for lunch in ten minutes," he said. "Does that sound agreeable?"

Ash started to decline, certain he should spend a bit more time working on his plans, but between the rumbling of his stomach (when was the last time he'd eaten, actually?) and Nidoking's stern look, he sighed and nodded. "Fine."

"Finish up whatever this is, then please shower." Steven's nose wrinkled. "What else have you done since you arrived in Lilycove?"

Ash inclined his head towards the mess of sticky notes.

Steven checked his watch. "Ten minutes. I'll be waiting in the lobby."

With that, Steven nodded to Nidoking and Dazed and ducked out of the messy room, though he took a moment to adjust his massive sunhat and the giant sunglasses he wore to protect his identity first.

Ash looked to the board, then the bathroom, and grimaced.

Maybe a few hours off would be good for him after all.

XX

The next day left Ash feeling refreshed, eager, and a little nervous; all normal things when preparing to face one of the most powerful trainers in the world.

His heart was pounding the moment he woke up, but though some residual anxiety called to him, he didn't bother with additional preparation beyond skimming his notes.

Steven was right. He hadn't spent long on the subject, but he pointedly reminded Ash that going into battle strung out and weary would be just as bad as going into battle underprepared, and that self-care was an important skill to exercise too.

He'd been sullen, but Ash accepted the advice. He'd needed some time off.

So, instead of returning to his board and notes, Ash contented himself with easing his mind instead. He chased Sneasel around the room (but stopped when his downstairs neighbors banged irritatedly up on the floor),relaxed and took a refreshing nap with Nidoking, waxed down Torrent, and spent a few hours simply stroking Seeker's soft blue fur, letting himself think about whatever came to mind that wasn't the exhibition.

After a solid night's sleep and making sure to eat a proper meal to start the day, he actually felt human by the time Steven came to pick him up.

The former Champion didn't bother with a disguise this time. Steven strode proudly into Ash's room in his suit, his silver hair impeccably groomed and a slight smile on his face. Armaldo shuffled behind him, cold eyes sharp as she assessed them.

Ash's lips flickered at the sight of the aquatic predator. He'd be receiving his own Anorith soon enough, likely within the month from what Steven had suggested yesterday during lunch. Anticipation mounted within him, though he suppressed it as he nodded at Steven.

"You seem to be in a better place today," Steven observed. "Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be!" Ash grinned, the familiar battle-hunger swelling like a tide within him. Sneasel hissed beside him, flashing his wicked claws. Armaldo glared at the little dark-type, though it didn't bother Sneasel one whit. "Do I even want to know what the betting pools are looking like?"

Steven coughed. "Well, they aren't quite as balanced as they normally would be. Wallace is the clear favorite in this case, I'm afraid. As the match hasn't been announced outside of closed circles, we have yet to see what the public might think."

Ash frowned. It was logical, naturally, but he couldn't help but be disappointed. He'd grown strangely accustomed to the League's unhealthy gambling rings. "Did anyone bet on me?"

"Lance did," Steven said immediately. "Although I will say that it's not quite the sum that he's placed on previous matches. And Claydol," he added distractedly. "Claydol said whenever there are ten thousand to one odds, you should take it. Forget the fact that we're already rich. Karen, Will… I think Professor Oak even placed a token bet, although from what Lance said I think he was just trying to be supportive."

He snorted. Well, at least Professor Oak was in his corner, faith in his chances aside. Gary would have just bet it all on Wallace to mess with him.

"But forget that. Let's go," Steven said, smiling. "People are coming from all over the world for the Wallace Cup! There's supposed to be quite a few impressive competitors taking part this year. I'd like to introduce you to a few, as well as a couple other visitors, before the exhibition match."

"Any familiar faces?" Ash asked as he finished lacing up his boots and adjusted his bent cap. He hadn't gone out of his way to dress up all fancy for this, but at least he'd made sure to wear some of the more presentable clothes that he'd gotten when Karen had taken him shopping during his stay in the Plateau.

They didn't even have any tears! Practically brand new.

"Fino and Flannery will be there," Steven said with a smile on his face. "Fino's always been a regular fan of the Contest circuit. He's even judged a few matches since he stepped down from the Elite Four."

Ash nodded along, pausing to pat Lairon and toss him a chunk of scrap metal with generous heaps of peanut butter slathered all over it for a bit of extra flavor and protein. "Who else?"

"Juan, of course. Fantina from Sinnoh, Elesa from Unova…" Steven listed a few more names, no doubt having memorized it to be sure he wouldn't be taken off guard. "Lance was hoping to attend, but there's been a spot of trouble in Indigo."

"I haven't heard anything." Ash's eyes narrowed. He received a handful of reports each day from various Indigo League personnel, though none ever required his presence. Most were just sent to every Elite Four member as a way of keeping them in the loop.

"It's nothing drastic from what I heard. Lance didn't offer much detail, but it sounds like some giant Rhydon in Fuchsia is being troublesome. Apparently it's been hassling wild pokémon to transport it to the Indigo Plateau," Steven said. "I couldn't tell you why. I didn't pay that much attention, to be honest. Lance is more irritated than anything."

Mamoru? Ash couldn't think of too many other giant Rhydon with a vested interest in the Indigo Plateau. He'd have to check with Lance later. Maybe he was trying to visit Chinatsu… Although Ash couldn't totally dismiss the idea of him going to try and pulverize Lance for whatever reason either.

Oh well. He trusted Lance to take care of himself.

With that, Steven led Ash away from the Pokémon Center. Lilycove was bustling today, filled to the brim with eager tourists ready to watch the Wallace Cup. The streets were clogged the closer to the Lilycove Contest Hall they got, though Metagross' intimidating presence and the deferrance Steven's simple presence invited shooed most away.

They attracted plenty of stares, but for once Ash wasn't too bothered. He was supposed to draw attention today, after all. There was no purpose in shying away from the crowd.

Even Steven seemed to… well, not exult in it, but he showed no sign of discomfort. He stood tall and proud, every inch the former Ever Grande Champion. He didn't acknowledge the citizens, keeping his gaze straight and forward, but today he commanded respect.

Ash enjoyed it, honestly. Steven tended to be awkward and fumbling in his personal life, always unsure the moment something unexpected came up. That Steven was nowhere to be seen today. Only Steven Stone, the Iron Wall of Hoenn, remained.

He'd come to like both sides of the man, but there was something to be said about the certainty this side provided.

The Contest Hall was a massive, angular building that jutted up over Lilycove. While it was only a few stories tall, it was so utterly huge that it managed to dwarf the skyscrapers that rose above it. Its simple volume was enough to earn it a rank among the most impressive architectural achievements made by humankind, but it was more than simply a space.

It was beautiful. He didn't have the words or knowledge to describe the significance of the columns and the flowing shapes and the influences that went into its design, but even to an untrained eye, he could unselfconsciously say that it was one of the most impressive buildings he'd ever seen or set foot in.

Moreover, while it didn't hold the same awe for him as it would for Coordinators, Ash wasn't ignorant to the significance of this place. Though the venue had undergone significant evolution, the first contests were held on these grounds, the first Top Coordinators crowned. It was the site of many a Grand Festival, and today it was host to one of the biggest coordinating events of their season, hosted by the reigning champion of the region.

This was their Indigo Stadium, and today he would add his mark to its storied history.

Steven led Ash through the crowds without a care in the world. Some initially started or growled at them for skipping the long, long lines that led into the Contest Hall's heart, but a simple look at Steven, Ash, and Metagross cured them of any protests.

Whispers cropped up behind them, spreading like a wildfire through dry brush. Ash gave them little heed, but caught one here or there.

'Was that who I thought it was?'

'Do you think something is…'

'That's the Ketchup kid, isn't it?'

He allowed a little smirk to touch his lips.

Security gulped at the sight of Metagross and waved them through. It wasn't long before they slipped past a few additional layers to stand in a back room, richly appointed.

A familiar voice screeched. "Is that ASH KETCHUM?!"

Ash flushed as a dozen faces turned towards him. He recognized a few, almost all of them adults: Daisy Oak foremost amongst them, but also Fino and the Gym Leaders Juan and Fantina, though he'd never met the latter two in person. The rest were unfamiliar to him.

Except for the grinning redhead who rushed up and eagerly shook his hand. "I can't believe I'm actually meeting you! I'm your biggest fan, you know! The way you beat Lucille? Brilliant! I can't believe you beat a celebrated Master like Fino Moore. Are you really in the Elite Four? Wowwowwow—"

"Flannery, please stop."

The Lavaridge Gym Leader laughed at him, while their audience stared with a mix of bemusement and amusement. Her eyes glittered with mirth. "You sure? I can keep going!"

"I'm sure you can," Ash muttered even as Steven drifted past, greeting Flannery with a nod. "But if you do, I'm not going to help you with Piper's techniques anymore."

Flannery gasped. "You wouldn't dare!"

He fought down the urge to smile. "Try me."

"Wow, Ash! You sure have cultivated quite the following," Daisy said as she drifted closer. Save for the stylish apparel, she looked the same as she always did: long brown hair, a bright smile, and clever eyes. It was uncanny just how much she resembled Gary, though a shadow of Professor Oak hung over her as well. "And you've even stepped foot into a Contest Hall again! I never thought I'd see the day."

Ash grimaced. "Things didn't go too well last time."

Daisy's easy smile dimmed. "I suppose not."

"Don't make it all depressing." Flannery chided. "Nothing bad could possibly happen today!"

He flinched as a dark azure flame flickered in his mind. "Please don't say that."

"Hmm. 'Kay. You do have some pretty terrible luck," Flannery acknowledged, then lightly punched him in the shoulder. "But c'mon. Today's supposed to be fun!"

Ash's eyes drifted over to Steven. "People keep telling me that."

It was true, of course. He couldn't wait to face down Wallace. But until it was underway, he was still leery about pissing the universe off.

"I feel like I'm missing something," Daisy said, eyes drifting between Ash and Flannery. "I'm not averse to spoilers, you know."

No surprise there. Gary was the sort to flip ahead to the end of a book just so he could know what happened and piece things together as he read through it. Maybe that gnawing curiosity was genetic in the Oak family.

Ash opened his mouth to answer, then thought of Daisy's radio silence with Gary. She spoke with him every now and then, but it was a rare occasion that he normally had to hunt her down for. He might not have cared over the last few years, but for however unlikely it was, Gary was a friend now, and despite himself he found himself unimpressed with Daisy's conduct toward her brother.

The Oak family really was a mess, though Ash couldn't help but feel some irrational guilt as he thought of the events that Giovanni had set in motion.

Still, he snapped his mouth shut. Of all the karmic justice he felt he could deliver, this was perhaps the smallest. Let her see for herself.

"Nothing for you to worry about," Ash said breezily instead. Apparently the exhibition with Wallace was still something of a secret, although he'd managed to see a few signs around Lilycove promoting Wallace's opening battle against a surprise opponent. "You'll see."

She pouted. "I hate you so, so much! Lisia would tell me, but she was pulled away to help with the preparations," Daisy complained. She jabbed a finger at him. "Just so you know, I fully expect to see you participating in a Contest one of these days! It's only fair after you snuck out of the last one."

"Snuck out?" Ash scoffed. "You mean I was called away to support the League during a massive disaster, right?"

If things in Greenfield hadn't worked out then Ash had no doubt Daisy wouldn't be treating the situation so lightly. As it was, she sniffed. "If that's how you want to put it, then yes. You owe me a debt! I will collect."

"One day," Ash acknowledged. Flannery twiddled her thumbs, clearly bored with their conversation.

When he realized that Daisy had satisfied herself, and was preparing to drift off to mingle elsewhere, his eyes narrowed. "Gary's doing well, you know."

Daisy flinched. "Oh. That's—That's great."

"I can smell the delicious awkwardness," Flannery whispered into his ear, too low for Daisy to hear, though Ash doubted she'd have a hard time deciphering the gist of the muttered conversation. "Is this juicy family drama that I should know about?"

Ash just shook his head, then focused back on Daisy. "You should reach out. He'd appreciate it."

"I, uh, yeah. That's probably a good idea," Daisy muttered, refusing to meet his eyes. "I should do that."

She glanced over to an immaculately-dressed blue-haired woman with a girl perhaps a few years younger than Ash at her side. If he had to guess, she'd be ready to start her journey in a year or two. The girl's eyes were massive as she circled around, fixated on all the famous figures around her. "Oh! Uh, have I introduced you to Johanna?"

She caught the woman's eye and motioned her over. Johanna gently guided her probably-daughter beside her, keeping a hand on her shoulder just in case they were separated in the crowd.

"Hello!" Johanna beamed. Her voice was warm, reminding Ash somewhat of his mother. An aching longing stole over him. "It's good to see you Daisy! I haven't had the chance to attend the cup since your debut."

She turned to him. "You must be Ash Ketchum!"

He nodded cautiously. "Yes ma'am."

Johanna laughed. The sound was so familiar that it hurt. "So polite! It's a pleasure to meet you. This is my daughter, Dawn. We've both followed your battles; it's a delight to see such talent in the training world take root so splendidly."

"Hi!" Dawn squeaked out, half-hidden behind her mother.

Ash waved, though the girl seemed too starstruck to really respond. Awkward, yet familiar. He could only hope that she warmed up in time.

There were times he missed being a random trainer. Lots of them, in fact.

They made small-talk for a few minutes, Ash introducing Flannery (whose vibrant hair garnered interest from Dawn, who seemed rather bemused by their contrast), and the trainers spending a fair amount of time discussing the circuit and what they thought of the upcoming performances.

Ash was mostly lost once the talk turned specifically to coordinating, but it was interesting to see what seasoned veterans of the other trade made of training. An insight into a wholly different perspective.

"Oh, it looks like Fantina needs me!" Johanna eventually exclaimed, and with a single, questioning glance at her daughter, who quickly shook her head, smoothly made her exit. "Enjoy yourselves!"

Dawn seemed rather surprised with herself to have stayed behind with them, but Daisy soon gave her a warm smile and she relaxed.

With that, the four of them smoothly fell into conversation. Well, Ash, Flannery, and Daisy did. Dawn grew a bit more confident and threw her thoughts in every now and then, but as a rule she seemed to hang onto Daisy's every word.

The Oak really did have a way of luring young, impressionable trainers into the world of Coordinating.

Then again, she spoke of it so passionately that even Ash was somewhat curious. He couldn't blame anyone for falling into her traps, even if he would always prefer the satisfaction of breaking an opponent beneath his heel.

Maybe it was an effect of standing in the heart of Coordinating country, surrounded by the best in the business, but regardless, the thought was infectious. You couldn't knock it until you tried it, right?

Time drifted quickly. It felt good to really catch up with Flannery without the haze of the battle marathon (which proved to be quite the topic of conversation with his friends) hanging over him. Flannery regaled the others with blazingly enthusiastic tales of her gym battles and Ash's many, many victories on the day of his challenge; she couldn't shut up about Infernus, of course, but paid plenty of attention to the rest of his teammates as well.

Ash appreciated that, and he spoke fondly of their battle as well. Flannery's fiery spirit ensured that it stood out amongst the others, although her awful disguise didn't hurt matters either.

Daisy was happy to share her own insight on training, especially the basics that Dawn was interested in. She would indeed be starting her own journey in just a little over a year, and was already preparing for her exams to receive her training license already. Daisy had a similar talent for teaching as her grandfather, discerning what information was better to clarify and what was more important for Dawn to reason out on her own.

And even Dawn was surprised to have something to talk about once Ash learned she was from Sinnoh and asked her about the far-flung region. She was young, sure, but she had a surprising trove of knowledge tucked away, no doubt a consequence of being the daughter of an internationally-recognized Top Coordinator, with all the travel that entailed. It was a subject he was genuinely interested in, and she seemed pleased to have knowledge worth sharing with the people she and her peers had taken as role models.

It was…fun.

After the dreary stay on Mt. Pyre, this was what Ash needed. He craved people, strange as it was for him. Life. Energy. Reality. It felt good to trade stories with Flannery and jabs with Daisy. It felt good to catch Dawn up on various events they spoke about and subtly urge her into choosing the lifestyle of a battler.

It felt good to talk. That alone almost jolted Ash out of the conversation, but after a moment's thought he just smiled and leaned back into it.

He was even disappointed when Steven drifted over like a silver specter and told him it was time to go.

"Wish me luck."

Fino stepped over with Plinia at his side. The half-blind Typhlosion sniffed at Ash, then nodded at him. "Fight like you did in Forina and you will have nothing to be ashamed of," the Fire Master whispered, too low for the rest to hear.

"For what?!" Daisy practically wailed, although he could see the gears turning in her mind as she glanced between Ash, Fino, and Steven. He wouldn't have expected anything less. She couldn't hide her awe of the former Ever Grande Champion, even if he never spoke directly to her.

He kept his expression carefully neutral as he met her eyes. She was a smart girl. She would figure it out, or she wouldn't.

Daisy's eyebrows sharpened. "Wait a second. Is that why Lisia was being so cagey?"

"Good luck!" Dawn chirped, though she clammed up the second Steven smiled at her. She'd mentioned that it was her first time outside of Sinnoh, so Ash could only imagine how overwhelming the experience was without trading conversation with all these famous people.

That was definitely something he could relate to. He smiled appreciatively at her.

Flannery leaned in close. "Champion Wallace is faster than you'd expect. He spends a lot of time building up techniques, but they're ready way before his team actually releases them. The extra time is just to make them pretty. Don't get baited in," she said, then paled. "Please don't tell the Champion I warned you!"

"We won't," Steven smiled. Flannery groaned as she realized that he'd overheard. "Your secret is safe with me. Claydol, on the other hand…"

The construct flashed blue as Flannery looked pleadingly at it.

I make no promises. Can you make me an offer I won't refuse?

"Probably not."

Oh, you poor thing.

Flannery just cursed and stepped away as Steven led Ash away. Claydol lingered to offer its delightful company to Ash's friends. Poor, poor Dawn.

Actually, he felt worse for Daisy. No doubt Claydol would have a field day with whatever it gleaned from her.

Daisy hadn't spent the last few years trading barbs with Gary like Ash had. While that simple fact pissed him off a bit, it didn't change the fact that Claydol would destroy her if she tried to get sassy. He could take a little satisfaction with that.

"Claydol?" He whispered to himself, hoping Claydol would do the predictable thing and eavesdrop.

Yes, my favorite test subject?

Bingo. "You bet on me, right?"

I did! It's the definition of a long-shot, but I figured that I'd be obscenely rich if it pays off. Maybe I'll buy Devon Corp if you win. Can you imagine the look on Steven's face? I'd make a great CEO. And spiffy in a suit.

"I'll do my absolute best if you promise to make Daisy as uncomfortable as possible while I'm gone."

Please. You'd do your best to win if the prize was a bowl of nails without any milk. But I'll do my part. Don't you worry about me.

"Bring up her Gardevoir. It threatened to kill me," Ash murmured, even if that left him holding back a laugh. "I don't think she knows that."

Oh, that's just silly. Stupid thing. Can you even die?

"I don't even know anymore."

Finding out would be so exciting! But that's an experiment for later. Preferably away from Steven's prying eyes. I'll leave dear Daisy craving the sweet, sweet release of death. A bit of light torture has nothing on my ability to make you silly humans uncomfortable.

"Much appreciated," Ash whispered. Steven watched him warily. "Nothing to worry about. Just getting a friend some well-deserved revenge."

"I have the uncanny feeling that you've created a monster."

"More like feeding it," Ash said with a shrug. "You're the one who created it."

Horrified recognition flashed in Steven's eyes as he led Ash through a labyrinth of uncannily identical hallways. "Claydol?"

"Claydol."

Claydol.

The construct projected into their heads, though its words were faint and whispery. No doubt it was trying to multitask.

"I knew Claydol spent too much time with Cynthia." Steven groaned. "My worst mistake."

"Cynthia?" Ash blinked. "I figured Claydol picked up its personality from Lance."

Steven grimaced. "He played his part, believe me. Leaving a young, impressionable Claydol around a teenage Lance of all people…not my brightest decision. Even Fino warned me!" he complained. "But you've only met Champion Cynthia Carolina. You have no idea who she is without all the alliteration."

Ash cracked a grin. "I wouldn't mind finding out. She made Claydol?"

"She and Lance ended up as Claydol's unwitting parents and role models, with me the unwitting third roped into it," Steven said, though he looked as if he was in utter pain as he spoke the words. "But enough about suboptimal personality templates. Tell me what you have planned for Wallace."

"Hit hard, hit fast," Ash said. "Don't give him time to set up techniques."

Steven hummed, thinking. Metagross stared blankly ahead as they escorted Ash and Steven through the Contest Hall. Perhaps they would speak to him one day. "A good approach. Wallace is known for the intricacy of his techniques, certainly. But you know that."

"He's reached the pinnacle of two worlds," Ash said. "I'd be an idiot to underestimate him."

The former Champion glanced away momentarily, then fixed Ash with a firm look. "Indeed. Champion Wallace is a Master of the highest order. He might not have the sheer power and speed of Lance, Cynthia's intellect, or Metagross, but he's a formidable opponent. Fight him like he's the last foe you'll ever face."

Ash ran his fingers across the row of Pokéballs on his belt as a savage grin carved across his face. "I can do that."

"Good," Steven exhaled. He stopped and rested both hands on Ash's shoulders as they approached one last door. "I'm proud of you either way, you know. You, barely more than a rookie, were asked to face the Ever Grande Champion in an exhibition. No teacher in the world could be prouder than I am now."

He glanced away, unable to suppress the radiant smile that sprouted forth. "I'm just lucky to have had such good teachers."

"You're more than your teachers," Steven said firmly. "We have our part to play, but you've earnedthis. Fight well, Ash."

"I will," Ash promised. "Enjoy the show."

Steven cracked his own smile. "I suspect that I will."

With that, Steven stepped back and allowed Ash to progress. Metagross watched with blood red eyes.

He took a deep breath.

"Here we go."

—And stepped forward through the final door. A black-suited security guard accompanied by a fluttering Beautifly offered him a respectful nod and passed him a microphone, helping him with the clips and straps to fasten it to his jacket. Coordinators worked hands-free, it would seem.

He reminded himself of the stakes. Three-on-three, singles. This was just an exhibition match, after all. A chance for Wallace and his challenger to show off before the Wallace Cup. Get the crowd hyped up, and really show what was possible at the highest end of training. Give the trainers on the lower rungs something to strive towards, to emulate, to surpass.

It wasn't supposed to be anything serious.

Unfortunately for Wallace, Ash didn't do casual.

Three chances to win. Three chances to conquer. Three chances to claw victory from Wallace's team

He'd take them all.

By the end, he'd end with a full half of a Champion's team broken before him. Ash would accept nothing less, nor could his family.

So he stepped through and was immediately taken by the sheer size of the arena: the Lilycove Contest Hall was enormous, designed to offer space for awe-inspiring displays of skill and power from the Coordinators who attended their events, not to mention host various other competitions and events.

Yet for the Wallace Cup specifically, it had been converted to reflect the nature of its host. A great central island loomed in the middle of the Contest Hall, yet all around it was an enormous lake. The water spanned for more than a hundred yards all around, vast and sparkling in the light that came shining down from the ceiling. Ash estimated there was more than enough room for two dozen large water-types to dance about simultaneously.

Big enough for anyone's purposes, anything.

It was a fitting arena for Wallace, though Ash found himself a touch concerned. Nidoking wouldn't be especially useful here thanks to the limited land. Most of his techniques would utterly reshape that island. The spot of land was large enough for even a Snorlax to move comfortably, but Ash didn't want to risk interfering with the space for his team.

Various possibilities narrowed down into a smaller range. It meant he had fewer options, but it sharpened his focus. Unnecessary dross was discarded from the table.

Good.

Enormous roars greeted Ash as he entered. Thousands upon thousands of voices roared at the sight of them; the Wallace Cup had advertised that there was a surprise competitor facing down Wallace, but not who.

His ears ached as they roared their approval. It was entirely surreal to hear so many voices chanting his name. The entire world was watching this.

He grit his teeth as Champion Wallace entered from the other door on the opposite end of the field. The turquoise-haired man looked uncannily similar to Lisia in the spotlight (or perhaps it was the other way around), soaking up the adoration of the cheering crowd.

Their cries rang like thunder through the arena, shaking the earth and testing the sound-dampeners built into the walls and ceiling with the sheer number of people lending their voice to the great chorus.

It reminded Ash of the Indigo Conference. How his blood thundered in his ears alongside the crowd's excitement, how his hands trembled! This was a feeling he didn't know he had forgotten, something indelible to the great stadiums of his craft. Something that spoke to his heart, deeper than fear and joy. He stilled the Lightning coursing through him, taking slow breaths to center himself.

He breathed out, and grinned dangerously for the audience, giving each side of the stadium around him a simple nod.

This was nothing new, even if he had to remind his nerves of that.

"The challenger approaches!" the announcer sang. Ash fought down the childish urge to say that he'd come in first. "Ladies, gentlemen, pokémon! Please allow your eyes to feast on the fantastic Champion Wallace, glittering gem of the Ever Grande League and sponsor of this wonderful tournament!"

The crowd roared, a single wall of noise to rival the Storm.

The announcer pumped his fist up in his booth, belting out, "AND his challenger, Aaaaaaaaaaaash Ketchum!"

The applause practically shattered his eardrums after a moment of silence, ecstatic with the confirmation of Wallace's competitor.

"Our esteemed Ever Grande Champion Wallace needs no introduction!" the voice boomed. Based on the applause, the crowd agreed. Ash's opponent gave a gracious, flourishing bow in response, requiring no words to feed their enthusiasm.

"But our challenger… You might recognize him from the Indigo Conference, where he shattered record after record to claw his way to the Final! You might recognize him from the Indigo League, where he claims a position as the youngest Elite Four trainee to ever enter the National League's ranks! You might even recognize him from the Fortree Challenge, whispered of in awe all throughout Hoenn and beyond!"

The roar became deafening once more as the announcer paused for effect. Ash felt a thread of flush creeping onto his cheeks, though he somehow managed to keep his face straight through the tide of acclamations.

"ELITE FOUR ASH KETCHUM has accepted the invitation to this glorious battle as an opportunity to prove his own strength, and to celebrate the Wallace Cup with our wonderful spectators! GIVE HIM A WARM WELCOME, EVERYBODY!"

He'd never actually been asked, he thought vaguely, but Ash wasn't willing to break the crowd's fantasy as they again rattled the Hall as much sound as physically possible.

They loved this, he realized, as a bolt of insight ran through him.

The Indigo Conference was one part entertainment, another part necessary tradition to bind their nations together, with all the solemnity and weight that entailed. It was understood that battling was as much an extension of the need and drive to survive and persist in a hostile world as it was a joy in and of itself. Contests—Coordinating as a sport—originated from a desire to entertain, to show off, to draw joy from an audience and show off the limits of what would and could be explored.

It struck him, in a way that Daisy's teasing and cajoling could never, that this was what Coordinators, the cream like him, felt at their best; that this was what Coordinating was about, not simply putting on a show, but rather carrying the hopes and dreams of others forward, and projecting them into the world.

It wasn't his path, and probably never would be, but he felt he understood the other side of the coin better than he did before.

Was his mother watching now? Ash had messaged her, but he knew she was busy. Gary certainly was. No doubt he was panting with the opportunity to see Ash shown up on the world stage.

Each of the other three of the Pallet Four had sent confused acknowledgements that they'd throw the channel on, but Ash knew that they'd probably be ecstatic to see him properly put to the test now that events were underway. Their training at the Lake of Rage had left them hungry to see him defeated, even if they didn't wish him any ill will.

"Welcome! Welcome!" Wallace cried into his microphone, casting his arm wide as if trying to wave to all the thousands of spectators at once. Legions of his adoring fans cheered. "It is my sincere, singular pleasure to introduce you to the sixth annual Wallace Cup!"

He paused, managing the crescendo of enthusiasm with grace and aplomb, clearly knowing what marks to expect and adapting to any variation with ease.

"Today will be a day of elegance and vibrant competition, a day to celebrate the beauty oft overlooked, inherent to battle and expressions of skill. We—"

Wallace continued along that vein for a long, long time.

Fault him for it, but Ash tried to pay attention. He really did. But Wallace used so many words, when about a tenth of them would have done the trick. It quickly turned into a game of managing his own nerves, while simply waiting for the Champion to get to the point. Such was not a natural strength of Ash's. He managed to hold himself as if he was as attentive as anyone else, though, which ensured that he wasn't completely caught off guard when the spotlight flickered onto him.

Ash blinked. He wasn't supposed to have prepared a speech, right? The audience would be horrifically disappointed if so.

"Welcome, Elite Four Ash! It is my pleasure to welcome you personally to the Wallace Cup," the Champion said proudly, meeting his eyes across the field.

Ash inclined his head in acknowledgement, holding his silence for now.

He wondered if Wallace felt awkward constantly mentioning a competition named after him. How had that even happened in the first place? Even Gary wasn't egotistical enough to name something like this after himself.

Actually, the more Ash thought of it, the more he wasn't sure that was the case. He'd have to make sure not to give Gary any ideas.

Wallace appeared like a legendary figure in his stark white mantle, his signature as an Ever Grande Champion. The Champion's turquoise hair, immaculately styled, shone brilliantly in the bright lights of the Contest Hall, and his every word was accentuated by thunderous applause, though when he desired he spoke in a way that left the audience silent and leaning in, hung on his every word.

It was a far cry from the exhausted, worn down man that Ash had seen in Ever Grande City. Wallace cleaned up well. No surprise there.

Lance was a bastion of strength, forceful and mighty as a pillar for the people of Indigo to rally around. He was a blazing hero of old transplanted into the modern era, representing hope and justice to the people of Indigo in a time when they most desperately needed it.

Steven had always been concise and collected in his tenure as Champion in the interviews and press conferences that Ash had seen as he was studying how to communicate on that stage. He gave sufficient information, ensured the people knew what the problem was and how the League planned on solving it, and quietly slipped away. Efficient, but never one to play to the crowd. The region knew it wouldn't falter under his supervision.

Wallace was a showman. He wove his words like a master, every pause and intonation deliberate and well-practiced. His body language embodied confidence, then joy, then exultation. All planned, none superficial, none insincere.

The Ever Grande Champion was an actor at heart, someone who could spin a crowd with a deadly silver tongue. Someone calculated, clever, and breathtakingly insightful.

"Elite Four Ash!" Champion Wallace thundered. He appeared perfectly at home above the vast lake. "Are you ready to begin our battle?"

Ash just nodded, at first not trusting himself to speak into the microphone.

But after a moment he steeled himself. It didn't feel right to just disregard the effort that Wallace had put into this event.

"We'll fight with everything we have. We're ready."

The crowd roared, an electric charge filling the arena. Energy built.

Wallace seemed pleased, and though it was hard to tell from such a distance, a glint entered his eyes.

"This is a three-on-three exhibition match! Each matchup shall be one-on-one, with each combatant to continue until surrender, or until one fighter is knocked unconscious!" a referee declared. She pointed a colored flag at Wallace, smiling through her professionalism, clearly just as eager as everyone else. "Champion Wallace, as the incumbent Champion and Master of the Hall, you will release first."

Wallace cast his cloak aside with a flourish to reveal the row of Pokéballs lined along his waist. Most were adorned with bright stickers or custom paint jobs, the personalization helping them stand out from a distance. When the Champion plucked one, seemingly at random, and released his first teammate, the pokémon exploded in a great shower of sparkling light that reminded Ash of a gentle rain, composed of blues and greens.

The light coalesced into a shaggy-furred creature with bright green hands and feet. A rain dish sat proudly atop his head like a crown, and a brown stem grew from it.

Ludicolo.

The water-type bowed to the crowd eagerly, waving as they burst into applause.

Ash hid a smile. This was already going to plan, though he doubted it would stay that way for long. Battles had a funny way of wrecking his preconceived notions.

Wallace's Ludicolo was famous across both the battling and Coordinating scenes. He was a daring fighter, incredibly skilled in martial arts despite his clunky appearance, and moved with an incredible rhythm no matter the situation. Every battlefield was a stage in Ludicolo's eyes.

He squawked happily at the crowd, ignoring Ash, and he hopped from side-to-side as he warmed up. The water-type already found a silent tune to dance to, sashaying happily with his yellow fur sailing about it like one of the hula skirts that Ash saw in Sudmauna.

"It is my honor to introduce you to Esteban il Bello!" the announcer cried. "He is a true artist, and one of the first of Champion Wallace's magnificent team to be captured. I doubt there are any among you who don't remember him for his vaunted performances in the 993 Lilycove Spectacular, or the wildly popular Pokéstar Studios film, Orre's Last Sunset, in which he played the role of no less than three Ludicolo belonging to repulsive criminal Miror B, and wowed audiences all over the world with his dramatic flair…"

Ash tuned out the announcer and ran over his knowledge of the opponent. He knew the famous Esteban il Bello from watching several videos of him; his performance at the first Wallace Cup against Juan, his title match against Steven, and even a particularly memorable instance of him half-drowning Sidney's Zoroark in a flood of Muddy Water.

He'd enjoyed that video a little too much.

Wallace's journey through the first two members of the Ever Grande Elite Four in his Champion's Challenge had been swift and deadly, like an executioner, but Ash thought that he had managed to glean a few useful tidbits.

None of Sidney's famed aggression had helped him against Wallace's team. Ludicolo had literally danced around Absol's attacks and made a mockery of the savagery of his opponent in making a game of it, literally laughing in the face of his snarling foes, even as they leapt on him with all the killing intent of Sidney's reputation.

As much as Esteban seemed to enjoy the spotlight, Ash knew, there was a deadly warrior lurking within. He specialized in delivering his Seed Bombs while dancing around the opponent and seemed to have a particular knack for avoiding danger by a hair's breadth. A frustrating opponent.

Esteban's true weapon came in the form of his water manipulation. The element leapt to his command, dancing alongside Esteban to an unseen rhythm, and could be wielded with terrifying speed, precision, and force. He'd give the edge to Esteban over Torrent if it came down to a contest like that, and only one of them had been trained by an incarnation of nature.

"Challenger, you may release your first fighter!"

Nidoking was too slow. Plume would be an option, but he'd seen the Ludicolo deal with flying-types uncannily well in the past. It was a notable weakness of most Ludicolo, so Wallace seemed to have trained relentlessly against that possibility.

There were a few options that Ash might have used, but he knew which of his teammates he'd planned for in this instance. Ludicolo was a solid first choice, easily one of Wallace's best fighters for testing an opponent, and had a reliable track record.

Which was why Ash had planned specifically around it.

He listened to the crowd's roar as he released Oz, who manifested in a flash of light and beat her chest madly, the sound rumbling like distant thunder thanks to the force behind her great muscles. Sparks whipped out from her tails as she set her eyes upon her foe and bared her dull teeth.

Wallace smiled at her, a glint of recognition in his eyes, but Esteban just waved to more of his adoring fans.

"Begin!"

The Ludicolo immediately spat up a fat glob of shimmering water which hung suspended over the battlefield for an instant before detonating into a vast black cloud. Rain immediately came pouring down and filled the rain dish upon Esteban's head, nourishing him and providing a constant source of water that the Ludicolo could use to heal himself and fuel his techniques.

Ash wanted to cackle like a madman.

Wallace didn't know.

He hadn't prepared.

Ash had never been so grateful for the Ever Grande League's chronic manpower shortage.

Wallace didn't even realize what a terrible mistake he'd made by giving Oz access to a free Rain Dance. He'd set up Storm Surge for her without even realizing the danger.

"Yes!" Ash hissed, the word rolling off his tongue. He thought back to the dozens of plans he'd constructed for various eventualities. "Oz, A-1! This is it!"

The plan was simple: promote initial aggression, feel out Esteban's capabilities, and set up for the beginning of the true fight once he'd built up and began to get serious. They had to bait him into mistakes if they wanted to finish the Ludicolo.

Wallace had even been kind enough to set them up for success.

She flashed forward in a roar, carried by an immense flex of muscles into a Quick Attack, but stopped just short of slamming into Ludicolo as her Flash Step ended. A great pulse of light and electricity blasted off Oz as she came to a sudden stop, barely managing to hold herself steady, and the Electivire only just came short of smashing into Esteban's open palm and a firm cylinder of ice that he had frozen in front of him.

The first phase of this plan began swimmingly: Oz closed the distance and prevented Esteban from leveraging his powerful ranged techniques, stunned him with a Flash and clap of thunder, and sprayed countless blazing sparks from her tails into his face.

Esteban stumbled backwards, unprepared for the sensory onslaught, and Oz rushed forward to deliver a haymaker that even Infernus would respect—

And then Wallace started singing. It was almost infuriating how good his voice was. Could the Ever Grande Champion just be bad at anything? How did he even have enough time in the day to learn to sing? He'd dipped his toes into almost as many disciplines as Professor Oak.

They weren't words that anyone would truly recognize, though Ash at least knew what they were. Sootopolis had separated itself off from most of Hoenn for ages, its citizens emerging only for trade and war, and that isolation had birthed a unique dialect just different from the ordinary language to be puzzling.

It was rare nowadays, largely extinct as Sootopolis opened its gates to the world at large in the wake of the Last War, but Wallace belonged to a prominent family. They kept the tradition alive.

Ash might have been familiar with Sootopolis' vaunted history, but he wasn't that familiar. He couldn't decipher Wallace's song in the midst of battle (and that was assuming it had anything useful in it at all and wasn't just to set the tempo).

No, what mattered was that Esteban had begun his dance. Wallace's fans cheered as Esteban seamlessly ducked beneath Oz's heavy blow, though he was still rattled as she detonated a thunderclap right in his ear. But he moved smoothly and spun away from her, turning with a flourish to the crowd.

Both Ash and Oz gritted their teeth. They wouldn't be played with!

Oz'd follow up came swift as the thunders she called, and the next strike faster, faster, yet always a second behind the frustratingly nimble opponent.

Rain came pounding down faster and harder as the Rain Dance tossed up by Esteban grew stronger. The sad little island in the midst of the lake was soon drenched in fuel for the Ludicolo's water manipulation, and he gained strength and vigor with every moment that his rain dish filled.

The dance he'd drawn Oz into against her will didn't phase him at all; indeed, it seemed only to bide time for him to build up his own power and reserves; to seize control of the battlefield early, leaving no room for an opponent to take it back as the flailed uselessly.

But their plan was solid.

Oz couldn't land a solid hit on him. Esteban was fast. More than that, he seemed to have a preternatural sense for what attacks were truly dangerous. He shimmied away from a Thunderbolt, sashayed around Oz's sparking tails lashing out like twin whips, and a dozen other strikes that threatened to land in the first seconds of battle.

Yet she didn't need to. Sparks showered Esteban's eyes. Every Thunder Punch she swung struck nothing but empty air, but detonated in a shower of electricity and force that rattled the Ludicolo. Golden lightning lashed out from her fur as she fought, blasting out in harsh crackles to threaten the Ludicolo with every motion.

They needed to disrupt Esteban if they wanted to win. He rarely took a hit while he was dancing, but if they could make him miss just one step…

Esteban grew faster as the rain fell. He made no move to attack other than to snag a few round seeds from the plant sprouting from his head and began to juggle them, adding a bit of showmanship to his routine as he avoided each direct hit. But he played more defensively as time went on, especially as Wallace's song grew a bit more intense, and Ash knew it was time to strike.

"Flash!"

Oz smashed her large fists together to create a blinding burst of light even as she sprayed a fountain of sparks from her twin tails, though Esteban dragged a sheet of water up like a shield to absorb their heat and light. He staggered back as Oz launched herself at him — a drunkard's stumble, Ash realized, fully practiced and never at risk — but skated away on a thin film of water that swept him away from her attack.

Oz didn't have Ash's perspective, however, and, falling for the feint, lunged, seeing an opening long anticipated.

Instead she just got a faceful of one of Esteban's large seeds and roared out her frustration as it detonated in a storm of force and splinters, though the lightning crackling about her like a cloak whipped at Esteban and caught him. He did a neat pirouette away from anything more dangerous, however, and Ash immediately knew what he was going to do next.

"Close your eyes!"

She just barely managed to do it in time. Esteban descended into a wobbling, spinning Teeter Dance that left Ash ill just from the sight of it. His cocky gaze was alight with psychic power that would've compelled Oz to follow along if she'd caught sight of it, though Esteban scoffed and cut off the technique the moment he realized it wouldn't work.

It was one of Esteban's signature moves, especially against opponents who preferred to get up close and personal. The Ludicolo would lure them close to enthrall them with Teeter Dance, make them nauseous and dizzy as his foes tried to follow along, and would then strike ruthlessly while they were off balance.

Wallace shifted his tune even as the crowd's eyes hungered for battle. It was less frantic now. More emphasis was put on smooth, flowing notes that translated to a graceful dance on Esteban's part.

They traded blows for a few moments more.

Oz swung and caught him with the edges of the concussive blasts, while Esteban worked out her attack patterns and recovered with Rain Dish. She attacked, he defended or dipped or ducked or artfully staggered out of harm's reach.

Ash intentionally took a back-seat, watching and waiting for the moment the pace of the fight would change, aware that Oz would need a guiding hand to pick out the weaknesses she couldn't see. Any second now…

There!

Esteban spun closer with a sudden ferocity. With new vitriol, he hurled a Seed Bomb into Oz's face, though she manifested a shimmering psychic barrier to deflect it, and Ash saw the moment that the Ludicolo switched to offense.

The water-type squawked out an eager battle cry as he charged into battle, squaring himself in a way he hadn't in the battle yet and staring down his opponent.

There was the fighter they'd been waiting for.

Oz braced herself and rushed to meet him, but roared as the water-slick ground suddenly came alive beneath her feet.

Ash whipped out command after command as she struggled to find her footing and the Ludicolo brought his water manipulation to bear, shattering Oz's foundation even as he leapt close and landed a gentle slap against her burly chest.

A moment passed between them, Oz and Esteban, in the moment before he reversed his momentum and sent himself twisting away.

Oz blinked, blatantly nonplussed.

He winked at her before spinning away with deceptive speed.

Oz snarled.

"Leech Seeds on you," Ash called out to Oz, who surged the electricity around her to chase after Esteban. The little pods had already sprouted and began to dig into her fur in an attempt to burrow into her flesh and steal nutrients for their master to claim. "Burn them off."

She'd already ignited her fist with Fire Punch and scraped the Leech Seeds off with a wince, though at least the water pounding down upon her might soften some of the sting. Most of Wallace's team had some sort of self-sustaining abilities. Ash's study of Wallace left him with the distinct impression that the Water Master couldn't bring the most power to bear for a Champion.

That didn't mean he couldn't outlast his opponents.

They traded a few more strikes. Oz was heavy and forceful while Esteban flowed with the battle. He dodged what he could, often carried forth by water. If Oz's lightning-fast strikes threatened to land, Esteban would conjure up a whip of water to wrap around her fist and direct it away. He steadily took minor damage and squinted thanks to the barrage of light, but Esteban was terribly skilled in hand-to-hand combat.

He wasn't necessarily flashy in his movements, though the Ludicolo would always add some sort of flourish with his aquatic tendrils or do a little trick for the crowd, but he was effective. Esteban was clearly used to facing opponents up close who had a physical advantage.

Well, no point in playing to his strengths.

"C-3!"

Oz grinned.

Esteban twirled away at Ash's command, finishing with a little shimmy for the crowd, and seemed uncharacteristically wary of Oz as she used Quick Attack to surge back across the arena (and batted away a Hydro Pump that Esteban somehow shot off as a corkscrew) and turned to face her opponent.

Oz's thick fists crackled with electricity as she charged up power. Esteban wasn't about to just let her sit back and prepare, though. The tiny little island they fought on suddenly flooded with water as if high tide had come. It didn't cover more than Oz's ankles, but that was enough with Esteban.

A hazard of facing a Water Master in an environment that utterly favored him.

Despite the danger, Ash didn't miss the fact that Oz's enormous charge never conducted through to strike Esteban. He'd suspected some sort of electric-nullification technique at work, but it was nice to have confirmation.

Esteban's eyes squeezed shut in concentration as he held his hands facing Oz while she focused her own power. The water around Oz suddenly hissed and steam erupted from the pool as great bubbles began to pop forth and burst in the air.

Scald.

Oz fought back a grimace as the searing water surged upwards, clinging to her fur, and began to climb her pillar-like legs, burning her deeply.

Was that an aspect of water manipulation? Ash had never thought that was possible. Scald normally had to be fired from the user, the water flash-heated by their own energy. He'd never imagined it being activated at a distance. Perhaps a new development? Wallace hadn't used this technique previously.

Most pokémon would have let their concentration fail beneath the boiling assault.

Not Oz. One couldn't train with Infernus without getting used to a little heat, although Ash had to admit that being doused in boiling water was a little different from being roasted by an open flame.

Still, it didn't stop her from unleashing a Shock Wave so powerful that it blinded the entire audience for a moment. Oz roared as the net of electricity blasted forth with a crack and the bitter scent of ozone.

The arcing power flashed forward in a crackling blue wave, conducting through air and water alike in such an all-consuming manner that Esteban couldn't have been able to dance away from it.

Or shouldn't have been able to.

Instead, he implemented a neat little trick into his dance, flourishing both hands to the sky. The Shock Wave honed in on him, drawn by his bioelectricity, and surged closer even as the water around him rose up in a protective sphere.

It didn't quite touch him.

The Shock Wave struck the water barrier instead and burst it, but Esteban was untouched beneath.

He grinned at her and Ash both, eyes alit with patronizing amusement, as though congratulating them for their own little neat trick.

Esteban turned away from them and bowed to the audience, flipping some long strands of yellow fur out of his eyes, and squawked inelegantly as Oz used Flash Step to cross the distance, blind him again, and socked him right in his smug jaw.

"Yes!" Ash cheered Oz on with no little personal satisfaction as she pummeled him.

Electricity surged about her, channeled forth with every one of her strikes to chase after Esteban as he did his best to tango away. He was less effective this time, rattled and twitching minutely with the continual aftereffects of her landing a proper hit, and Oz landed a few more blows, though she couldn't quite pin him down.

Each of her blows ate away at him, though, and it signified a shift in the battle.

Ash felt satisfied as Wallace's song abruptly changed to something truly aggressive. Something urgent.

The sudden anger in Esteban's cocky eyes didn't hurt either.

…It was probably going to hurt Oz, though.

Ash had planned around Esteban's arrogance. He was untouched in most battles, too fleet-footed for most attacks to land, and skilled enough to redirect just about anything that might. No doubt he'd expected the same from a mere Elite Four trainee.

They would show him.

This was where the battle really began.

Oz continued to fight simply, sticking to the basics. Esteban proved vicious, turning the rain against her. Water would slap her as she blinked or punched. Sometimes, a strangling aquatic whip coalesced in Esteban's hand (utterly unnecessary since he could have formed it anywhere, but the crowd ate it up) and he made a show of lashing Oz with it or curling it around her neck to restrain her.

She was too strong for it to do much, but it absolutely pissed her off.

It pissed Ash off too.

Oz knew the plan. She maintained her aggressive posture, kept Esteban pinned down, and absolutely refused to give him the space to truly work.

That was easier said than done. The Ludicolo was ferocious, whipping closer to slap Oz with Leech Seeds that demanded time and attention to scrape off, and somehow juggled Seed Bombs theatrically before hurling them where Oz would inevitably run right into them.

He expertly maneuvered himself around Oz's aggression, positioning himself perfectly for the place and moment best suited to his purposes, with the audience always in mind.

Eventually, he found the center of the island, and made his move. Water propelled him upward to leap above Oz when she was about to land a hit, only to lash around her ankles like Tangrowth's vines and freeze solid, rooting her to the ground. Oz's physical strength enabled her to shatter the shackles, but Ash felt a surge of satisfaction.

Esteban had been forced to start mixing in ice techniques. He didn't do that unless he was serious. Ash had always just assumed that it was actual ice attacks, but after the Ludicolo's show with the boiling water he had to wonder if it was yet another extension of water manipulation.

Something to consider.

The Ludicolo seemed to exult in his superiority now. Oz took every hit without flinching and far outshone Esteban in physical and elemental power, but he was good. He laughed off Oz's straightforward attacks, ducking beneath her whiplike tails and surrounding her with grasping tendrils of water that would steer her in different directions whenever she tried to launch an attack.

Only her electric cloak seemed to give him pause. It forced him to keep his distance lest he be caught in its paralyzing grasp. Esteban was content to dance madly at the edges of the cloak's rang and caught any errant strikes or Thunderbolts with a shield of water.

He was already gloating.

Esteban's attacks grew more vicious as Oz made a show of slowing down. Cold mist seeped from the arena as a frigid aura swept over them all, coiling up in intricate shapes. He gave an exaggerated yawn as Oz flung a Thunderbolt and stepped aside. A glob of water levitated from the pool and collected before him. With a gesture it suddenly split into several dozen long spears of water, each of which quickly froze into jagged needles of ice.

The Ludicolo danced forward and thrust the storm forth. A great gale of frigid wind and frozen spears shot forward as if fired from a cannon, though Oz was canny enough to catch the blast on a Protect. They clunked uselessly to the ground.

And then it was Oz's turn. She'd been holding herself back so far, investing strength into her attacks but never overextending. The psychic barriers flared as she unleashed her reprisal.

Movement ceased, and she and Esteban exchanged blasts of lightning, gales of frozen air, and chunks of ice. The elemental battle exploded in flashes of light and gold, each glittering like fireworks through the haze of mist.

The audience ate it up.

"Esteban! Esteban! Esteban!" was the presiding chant, though Ash caught various cries for Wallace, and even a few for himself.

It was abundantly clear who the favorite was. No surprise there. He wasn't fighting an exhibition in the Ash Cup. This was the definition of Wallace's home turf—it could only be worse if this was hosted in Sootopolis harbor itself.

He returned his attention to the battle as Oz dove through the haze of residue at her opponent.

Esteban grunted as Oz caught him on the backfoot and teetered to the side as she began flinging one Thunderbolt after another.

He caught most on smooth shields of water, but they came faster and faster until one finally managed to break through his layers of defenses. He stumbled backwards, stunned, but managed to cast a wide spray of frozen shards that pierced Oz's thick fur and the dermal barrier beneath, lodging in muscle.

She boiled and froze in rapid succession as Esteban pushed his water manipulation to his limits. Any fighter less tough would've broken beneath the alternating blasts, yet Oz stood firm, yanked them free, and resumed her assault.

He was impossible to strike up close, so she broke him down with brute force. Psychic barriers held off his endless barrages of ice, though blades and tentacles shaped of water contorted to slip past her defenses and bound her again and again.

Her aggression was what saved her. Esteban steadily chipped her down, never faltering thanks to the rejuvenation offered by the rain, but he couldn't truly hurt her.

Ash didn't feel particularly worried yet, however. Oz derived strength from the rain as well. She just hadn't unleashed it yet.

Esteban was steady. He was impossible to strike, possessed incredible power over water and ice, and steadily wore down his opponents while he remained strong and vigorous. It reminded Ash of his previous fights against Cynthia's Lucario and Karen's Absol.

How to overcome an opponent like that? Oz and Ash had discussed it at length.

You knock them off-balance. You push them past their limits. You take the little blows they deal. You leverage an instant of ferocity into victory.

So Oz bided her time as the battle dragged on and Esteban brewed his storm. Razor-sharp blades of ice cut into her flesh, whips of water knocked her off balance, and endless streams of purple-tinged bubbles poisoned Oz's wounds when they burst against her fur.

And when she was worn down and Esteban pressed close with palms full of ice and a smug look in his eyes, Oz held one mighty fist to the clouds.

A spear of lightning came crashing down, suffusing her in a blinding armor of electricity that burst forth like a glowing gold sea of jagged bolts, and Oz howled as her muscles grew empowered by the sudden rush of energy.

Her aura rose like a raging storm, lashing out with thunder and lightning that Esteban was forced to shield against with a wall of white water, though just the errant strikes managed to shatter his defenses.

The Ludicolo froze the rain all around him, wheeling around a thousand spears of ice, but there was nothing he could do to the living pillar of electricity that drew countless awed cries from the crowd.

"WRECK HIS FURRY BUTT, OZ!" Flannery's voice rose above all others.

Ash smothered a grin as Oz leapt at Esteban with her empowered body. It was almost like a reduced form of Rampage in that sense. She would never be especially agile, but she was fast.

A clap of her hands and blast of electricity shattered the icicle spears before they could get close

Esteban easily merged the water left over into a whip to slash against Oz, but it boiled away from the heat and power radiating off her.

Esteban's eyes widened in fear as he tried to dance away, but Oz was having none of it.

She closed the distance and seized him in a monstrous hug.

The Ludicolo flailed as countless volts of electricity wracked his form, the sheer power enough to overwhelm the fine control needed to manipulate water and ice with the stunning precision it had managed before.

He struck out at her; Magical Leafs, Bullet Seeds, Bubble Beams, Water Guns the likes of which could pass for Hydro Pumps from lesser pokémon, but Oz weathered every blow as she applied her immense physical and elemental strength to the singular task of crushing her foe in her grip.

She staggered as every remaining Seed Bomb exploded in her face, but never let Esteban go.

His dance was done.

He was tough, though, and more and more water spilled into the lily pad atop his head as he directed it towards him. It offered a brief surge of strength. Esteban couldn't break free, but he was intent on damaging Oz and lasting as long as possible.

Esteban even manifested a Protect between them, but Oz simply whipped her tails around and pierced his flesh with it, shattering his focus in an instant before she used one burly arm to hug him right back into her crackling fur. He cried out in agony, but Oz wasn't finished.

Not when he could still threaten her. She was panting as more and more blows littered her fur and flesh, but Oz raised her fist to the skies again, focused her will, and Esteban shrieked as another lightning bolt came crashing down upon them both.

Two Storm Surges was more than she could safely handle—a fact obvious by the way she roared out in pain—but it did what it needed to do. Wallace's song was drowned out by the din of thunder. Esteban went slack in her grip.

Oz shoved him away, staggered backward, and howled her victory to the crowd.

They were stunned into silence, but the light show flashing about her shining form inspired them to a raucous rush of applause that felt like it would burst Ash's eardrums.

He grinned ear to ear, and shouted out his own praise to her, though it was lost in the audience's mad chorus, and focused everything he could upon their connection to tell Oz just how impossibly proud she was.

She'd defeated a Champion-level fighter in single combat.

He was a cocky fighter, one that was unprepared for her (and even did Oz a few favors in setting up the storm), but they'd outplayed him.

Oz had done it!

It was ugly, it was brutal, and it was savage. But the day was hers.

Wallace wasn't smiling anymore. He didn't appear angry or upset, but he was surprised. Shocked, even. Ash met his gaze evenly, unable to repress the eager grin that carved across his face.

The Ever Grande Champion saw it, visibly paused, and then chuckled self-effacingly, allowing the spotlight to turn away for just a moment.

He glanced towards the VIP box and beamed at Steven, who looked positively radiant with Metagross at his side. The steel-type occupied several seats and made everyone around them appear incredibly uncomfortable.

Flannery's jaw had dropped at some point over the last minute or so, but when he caught her eye, she whooped and yelled for Ash so hard that her face went red. Then Wallace, who had managed to hear her cry above the crowd, sent her a curious glance and she immediately hid her face in her hands.

Daisy and the rest merely stared, too gobsmacked to react much. Dawn had her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide and awestruck. Even Lisia gaped like a Magikarp.

Ash couldn't help but notice that Daisy looked horrifically uncomfortable as Claydol's whole body shone brilliantly beside her, probably telepathically projecting all sorts of awkward comments into her mind.

"Magnificent!" Wallace declared. He dropped some of the formalities, apparently shocked out of them. He clapped for Oz. "You're truly a superb fighter, Oz! Well-done, Ash. But let us continue to give our wonderful audience a glorious show!"

He unclipped another Pokéball from his belt. This one was painted a dark blue with brown stripes. Ash already knew what was coming.

He couldn't wait.

Wallace's Swampert emerged from the Pokéball with a flash of blue starbursts, and the scent of the sea washed over the battlefield.

The amphibious creature was both sleek and powerful. Bulging muscles rested beneath smooth skin. While the Swampert wasn't grotesquely built like the images Ash had seen of her Mega Evolution in the classified files, her form still spoke volumes of physicality and raw strength.

Unlike Esteban, this was a fighter with functional power. Swampert was built to fight. Built to swim. Built to hunt. And despite being a born warrior, Swampert was beautiful. The water-type moved with an uncanny grace, every motion deliberate and smooth, every aspect speaking of incredible care.

None of that detracted from the that fact that Swampert looked like she lifted heavy objects almost as often as Bruiser did either. Her blue skin was shiny and soft, and every fin was perfectly straight without the rips or tears endemic to Swampert who competed in frequent battles, but the muscle and power underneath was evident.

It was the perfect combination of grace and power.

"Océane Le Boueux!" the announcer gasped. "Océane Le Boueux this early in the match? Champion Wallace must be truly eager for this battle! You probably recognize Océane—"

Ash tuned the announcer and audience out as they waxed poetic about Océane's acting credentials, numerous Contest victories, and spectacular performances in battles past. But the announcer was right. Océane never came out so early. She was ordinarily one of Wallace's anchors.

It was odd to think of a pokémon like Swampert as a Contest Champion, but Wallace seemed to take pleasure in raising up unremarkable pokemon to their greatest possible heights. Feebas, Magikarp, Tentacool, Lotad, Mudkip…none radiated the majesty of what one would expect from a refined and elegant trainer like Wallace.

He preferred to foster talent.

Ash could respect that.

Still, Océane was one of the worst possible matchups for Oz. Oz had ways to hurt ground-types, but a Swampert like Océane would be practically immune to her attacks.

Swampert were terrifying ambush predators in the wild, lurching up from the murky waters of a swamp to drag off unsuspecting prey. In Hoenn, they often made victims of electric-types like Plusle, Minun, and Electrike.

Nowadays the world was a bit tamer, thankfully.

Wallace was playing to win.

An intricate weave of artificial blue scales draped over Océane's gills and fins, the result of the ball capsule she'd been released with. They ran down her back like azure armor, but she easily shrugged it off and hurled it back to Wallace, who snagged it without blinking. She stretched, luxuriating in the freedom offered by her accessory's removal, and bowed deeply to Oz.

Oz panted, finally exhausted from her release of power, and soaked to the bone. She still managed to bow back.

It was nice to see a bit of respect after Esteban's cockiness.

"Begin!"

"S-2!"

Oz lashed out immediately with a Thunderbolt. It wouldn't harm Océane, but it would at least surprise and temporarily blind the Swampert. She charged forth immediately after, swinging like mad, but met nothing but air.

The notes of a…harmonica? Wallace didn't seem the type. Ash would've expected something like a harp from the Ever Grande Champion. Maybe he'd bust out a triangle next.

But that didn't seem to matter: Wallace played madly on his harmonica and Océane acted.

She vaulted over the charge, kicked off against Oz's head to send her stumbling, and landed in the midst of the muddy wasteland that the Rain Dance and the previous battle had reduced the battlefield to. Swampert seemed to relish the fresh mud against her soft skin and paused to slather a few clumps over herself, but then slapped her powerful hands against the island.

Boom.

An Earthquake ripped through the platform and carved winding fissures all around Océane. Oz stumbled as the earth literally rolled beneath her feet, but barely caught herself before any chasm could swallow her.

Water and earth mixed at the Swampert's command to become a thick, cloying mud.

Great clumps streamed towards Oz, burying her beneath a sticky, tar-like deluge, and Océane roared as she leapt at the Electivire again.

Oz managed to rise from the morass, turn, and grapple with her as the mighty Swampert slammed into her, confident in her electricity-resistant hide to weather the worst of Oz's thunderous strikes, and the two descended into a whirlwind of twisting limbs and furious blows as they twisted in the mud.

Oz hammered her fists into Swampert again and again and again. The strength bestowed upon her by Storm Surge ensured that those strikes left deep bruises, but Océane rolled with the punches and cushioned each attack with armor of congealed mud.

Oz's attacks landed, but the worst of their sting was eliminated.

Ash called out order after order to Oz. She was locked in combat, but with her strength rapidly fading he ensured that she received an outside perspective of the battle.

Wallace just kept ripping away on his harmonica, sounding like some of the old tunes Ash had heard from old movies set in Orre or other frontier regions.

Océane's physical strength was only a tiny fraction of the match. She contested Oz, her bulk a match for the Electivire's, but that was mostly to ensure that she couldn't regain her footing and properly leverage her incredible strength. The mud soaked up every bolt of electricity with ease. More importantly, the mud from all across the island crawled closer and closer, sticking to Oz like glue and slowly drowning her in a filthy heap.

It was a testament to Océane's skill that she managed to make mud of all things appear beautiful. While it was a sludgy mess, she ensured the mud flowed beautifully. It was seamless and smooth rather than clumpy, somehow managing to seem graceful despite its crude nature.

Oz tore her way out again and again, but Océane was fresh.

She was not.

Oz slammed a Brick Break into the Swampert's gut and sent her sprawling, but Océane easily sprung to her feet and leapt right back in for more. Mud came swirling around her in a technique that Ash couldn't identify: Océane rarely made appearances, but the level of skill required to manipulate mud like this was incredible on its own.

He suspected it was a bridge between water manipulation and earth manipulation, though he couldn't begin to fathom how difficult it was to manage both at once. From what he'd gleaned from his experiences with Nidoking and Torrent, each required a specific frame of mind.

Earth manipulation required a firm will and presence of mind. Water manipulation demanded a certain flexibility, a willingness to bend but never break. To combine them together spoke of long, long training and a level of enlightenment that Ash had to admire.

It wasn't fun to have it used against them.

While Océane heaped endless streams of mud upon Oz's shoulders to smother her electric cloak and steal her breath away, she also used it as a shield. Mud would leap between her and Oz to dampen the force behind a punch, or coil around Oz to absorb her Thunderbolts.

The Electivire was reduced to physical strikes. Brick Breaks, Swift, and Fire Punches…not that the last was particularly effective against a mud-drenched Swampert.

She landed a few hits, but the Swampert was slippery. It was a pattern that Ash had expected, honestly, but it was still frustrating. Wallace excelled in elemental manipulation. He'd mastered the high-level techniques that were normally common to only the greatest of specialists, each one a testament to his skill as a trainer.

It was quite an asset in Contests. Wallace could construct intricate arrangements of water, vast constructs of mud, ice sculptures…the possibilities were endless.

Océane put that on display. She went flying from a headbutt from Oz, dodged Oz's flashing tails, and sent the Electivire a cheery wave before she vaulted right back in. Oz was exhausted from the fight, worn down by Esteban's steady attrition, and half-suffocated by the endless tides of mud that drove against her. Every one of Océane's steps conjured up a shuddering of the earth, an earthquake in miniature.

And so Océane came slamming down with glowing hands, pressed against Oz, and crushed her into the mud. Oz roared, but the Swampert summoned greater and greater quantities of mud to come crashing down upon them until Oz went still while Océane grappled her.

The crowd roared Wallace and Océane's names as she finished Oz off by snagging her in a chokehold, and Ash was quick to return her.

"Superb," Ash whispered, and set his eyes on Océane as she reset.

She was a brutal opponent, swift and powerful in equal measure, with a healthy dose of elemental manipulation to accentuate both qualities.

She wouldn't go down without a fight. He'd set up several plans in advance for this specific eventuality, but it was hard to choose between them.

Nidoking could contest her earth manipulation, but his control would be weakened since she'd turned the battlefield into a mess of mud. He'd struggle with footing as well, and Ash suspected that Océane would be able to use her mud to reduce the influence of his toxins. It would soak up Nidoking's venom too easily.

Dazed could contest her as well, though he would prefer to use her against other opponents. Her teleportation would allow her to easily escape Océane's mud snares, and she was powerful enough to lock the Swampert down.

Infernus would be at an immediate disadvantage. Enough said. He might get a kick out of it, but they were playing to win.

But there was only one member of Ash's team who he trusted not to be restrained by mud. Who Swampert had no chance of grappling into submission.

He released Bruiser.

"And Ash Ketchum releases his Machamp! It was last seen in the earliest rounds of the Indigo Conference as a Machoke. After the phenomenal display so far, I think I speak for all of us when I say that I can't wait to see how far this fighter has come!"

Bruiser calmly surveyed the thousands upon thousands of cheering fans. Ash heard Flannery and Daisy shouting his name, though it was likely lost in the roar for Bruiser. He smiled at them, turned to Océane, and bowed his head.

Océane bowed back. She was slightly bruised and battered from Oz's final strikes, but she was still in good condition. Ash had no doubt she would do her best to give Bruiser a good fight.

Not that they would give her a chance if they could help it.

Bruiser wore a white knit cap on his head. He gently took it off and tossed it to Ash, the force enough to overcome the air resistance. Ash caught it and carefully stowed it away in his bag.

Ash gave him a calming, but grim smile. "Don't hold back. She can take it."

Bruiser hesitated, then nodded. All four arms fists raised in preparation for combat. The worn ends of the black belt fluttered around his waist.

The audience quieted as the referee raised his hand. "Begin!"

Ash had requested that Bruiser not hold back. If anyone could take his full strength, it was a Champion's pokémon.

So Bruiser didn't.

His muscular legs and core tensed, then Bruiser exploded forward in a grey blur. Océane flinched but held her ground, erecting a shimmering green Protect to stop him in his tracks.

That was a mistake.

Ash relished the panic in her eyes when one of Bruiser's mighty fists plowed straight through the Protect and hammered into her powerful chest.

Océane might have been the first Swampert to fly.

Breath exploded from her as a loud crack sounded throughout the arena, which had gone utterly silent the moment Ash gave his order and Bruiser leapt into action. The green wisps of Protect faded away into nothingness even as Océane went spinning off of the island. She skipped along the water; one, two, three times, and then crashed into the outer barrier of the battlefield, making the psychic protections flare up briefly.

She collapsed into the water as dead weight, though Ash saw a few signs of life as the water churned.

Wallace didn't return her, so she at least had some fight left in her.

He had to respect that sort of toughness. Not many would be willing to keep fighting after a straight hit from Bruiser. Even if the Protect probably absorbed the vast majority of the force, she most likely had a few cracked (if not broken) ribs from that hit.

Bruiser returned to his starting position in front of Ash, shooting him a cautious thumbs-up when Ash gave him an approving nod. The two of them elected to wait, allowing their opponent a chance to collect herself, to face them on good terms.

The crowd began to murmur impatiently after half a minute passed, then a minute, no doubt wondering whether or not she'd rise, but it appeared that the Swampert was indeed still battle-ready; she just needed some time to recover.

As she hauled herself up from the water's surface, at first slowly, then with increasing vigor, Wallace cracked a somewhat nervous smile, color returning to his face from where he'd gone pale when Bruiser first struck Océane.

Water roared as she finally seemed to regain herself, swirling up in a colossal, murky pillar, which immediately began to move. The mental fortitude required to manipulate the miniature cyclone must have been incredible, yet even a wounded Océane managed it.

Ash inclined his head to her dark silhouette within in respect.

Bruiser did as well, but he still didn't hesitate to hurl a storm of Polyblasts at her for good measure. The tiny Focus Blasts scattered off and smashed into the water, barely missing his foe. It still managed to rip a few chunks out of, though, although they were quickly filled in.

It roared ten, no twenty feet above the water with Océane in its center, the twisting column far enough away from the island that Bruiser couldn't just leap out and finish her off. Océane had clearly seen better days: one of her fins was bent backwards, her chest was already coloring a deep, dark purple, leaking blood from where the skin had simply split under the imparted force, and a bit of blood spotted her mouth.

But her eyes were alive.

Water frothed as she reared her head back, coalesced a massive sphere of water that could only be a Hydro Cannon meant to blast Bruiser off the island and into the water where she would be at her strongest…

And then she descended in a hacking fit, coughing up several globs of thick blood, all pretenses of grace and elegance gone.

No Hydro Cannon for her. Ash was almost disappointed. The audience certainly was, if the cries of concern were to be heeded.

He fought not to shoot a skeptical look around him. She was a champion level fighter. What were they concerned about? It was just a bit of blood. It'd heal right up after a few days and a check up at the Pokémon Center.

Still, Océane wasn't done. Her water column nearly collapsed as her concentration broke, but she managed to recover enough that it simply slipped her back, deep into the water where Bruiser couldn't strike her.

She wheezed as she slid into safety, barely managing to avoid Bruiser's second Polyblast, and not without a pained wince.

He was limited in ranged attacks at the moment, though Ash planned on fixing that in the future. They would make do for now.

Mud crawled with a life of its own as Wallace went mad on his harmonica, the notes frantic. Heaps and heaps of the stuff came crashing down upon Bruiser in congealed globs.

Bruiser flexed to break its hold, reaching up and scraping it away, then hurling it away when it tried to surge back against him.

Ash had never been so grateful to have been the only trainer dumb enough to train a Machamp to be stronger.

But the mud was only the beginning. Océane's manipulation lacked the grace that she'd exhibited before, but the Swampert still managed to create a vast tidal wave that came crashing into Bruiser even as he tore his way from a new skin of mud.

Bruiser was stronger than any other, but he still lacked the ability to anchor himself. That was another project that Ash was working on.

So he was swept away, though he fought for any purchase he could on the muddy island.

Bruiser was pulled away into the lake, where Océane immediately tried to snare him with tendrils and crushing cocoons of water. Bruiser was, unfortunately for her, so strong that he was able to tear himself free with ease.

There was a small issue, however. Bruiser was impossibly dense.

His strength came at a cost. The Machamp's muscles were like iron, and his bones and connective tissue had to be strong enough to match up. He wasn't a born swimmer.

So, he had the strength to tear himself free, but Océane had recognized (or perhaps had been guided by some secret message in Wallace's harmonica tunes) that this was probably one of the best possible ways to exhaust him.

She underestimated Bruiser's strength.

Through sheer, monstrous athletic gumption, he clawed his way back to land. Another tidal wave immediately surged to hurl him back into the dangerous waters, but he managed a Protect this time that prevented him from being swept away. The wave parted around the barrier.

Mud crashed down on him next, with the Swampert lurching after it from behind. Her movements were stiff and slow compared to her previous ferocity, but she fought through the pain to wrap her limbs around Bruiser's body in an attempt to grapple him down and drown him in a tide of muddy water.

Unfortunately for her, grappling Bruiser was quite possibly the worst thing she could have done; her desperate last attack had no chance of succeeding when Bruiser had only experienced a light workout so far.

One of his upper arms reached back, clenched gently around Swampert's midsection, lifted, and slammed her into the mud.

It parted around her from the imparted force, only to slowly ooze back to fill the void.

She didn't rise.

The crowd roared. Ash was nearly deafened by their howls.

Wallace returned Océane with a blank expression. "You—I, well done," he said at last. His serene veneer cracked, and the champion struggled for further words.

A mixed expression turned Wallace's face. On one hand, Ash detected a surge of excitement, the rush of a challenge, but a blend of confusion and simple shock colored the rest.

That was understandable. Ash had had every intention of blindsiding Wallace; the fact that he'd succeeded was probably as disconcerting to the Champion as it was a joy for Ash.

Wallace soon found his words once more, glancing around at the crowd self-consciously. "Let us continue! This is a fine introduction to the Wallace Cup!"

A connection was forged as he met Wallace's eyes across the field.

Ash didn't pry—well, he tried not to—but he felt Wallace's mirrored anticipation now as he worked through his surprise and forced himself into the suitable headspace.

The Champion might have been utterly bewildered and taken aback before, but now he was getting eager for this. When was the last time he'd come across an unexpected challenge, after all? He'd dominated two worlds for as long as Ash could remember.

"And this is it folks!" the announcer exclaimed. "We stand ready for the final matchup of an absolutely STUNNING exhibition match. We've never seen anything like this before, folks! This battle has been a shocking upset—"

Ash cut the announcer off, eyeing Wallace as he spoke gleefully into his microphone. "Are you really ready for this to end?"

Shock, just a beat, rippling through the audience, rippling around the world. He grinned at Wallace, who stared at him like a man who's had his whole world rearranged.

"Three-on-three can't be enough for you," Ash continued. "It isn't for me! We're just getting started! How about we go double or nothing?"

Ever Grande Champion Wallace raised his fist. The crowd went silent.

"Double or nothing," Wallace repeated with a smile. He looked lighter than he ever had when Ash came across him in Ever Grande City. "Let's have a proper battle."

In the spectator's box, Flannery gawked, though she fanned herself as anticipation mounted, looking at the people around her as though she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Steven groaned and stuffed his face in his hands, though Ash caught the beginning of an exasperated smile on his face.

Daisy watched with a gaping jaw. Gardevoir looked as though she'd seen a ghost.

Good.

Ash would be lying if he said he didn't take quite a bit of satisfaction in that. A cold pulse of flame in the back of his mind agreed.

'Enjoying the drama?' he thought.

It flickered irritatedly and nudged his attention back to the matter at hand.

"You've exhibited more strength than I ever could have imagined from such a young trainer," Wallace said with a still somewhat-bemused smile. "You deserve my best. Let me show you the magnificence of my illustrious starter, Melody. She will give you the fight you deserve."

Ash's heart thumped in anticipation as Wallace raised another Pokéball. This one was painted cream, red, and blue in an intricate pattern that could only belong to a Milotic.

He was soon proved correct. Ash couldn't hold his gasp when he saw Melody for the first time—he'd met a few Milotic in his travels, though they were still fantastically rare even in the modern day, but Melody effortlessly outshone them all.

She was perhaps twenty feet from the tip of her elegant snout to the four, gorgeous red-and-blue fins that splayed out at the end of her tail. Melody's color was primarily a beautiful cream, scales small enough to pass unnoticed by the untrained eye, but each and every one had a chance to catch the light and refract like a prism; with every movement, sections became kaleidoscopic, an effect that was breath-taking to behold in person.

Adorning the crown of her slender head were long, vermillion fins, each of which draped around her in a way reminiscent of human hair. A nearly-pointed crest rose from her skull, and above her large, gleaming eyes curled two long, reddish 'eyebrows,' what Ash knew were really antennae which helped her attune to sounds and vibrations in her environment.

Every movement was impossibly smooth as she slipped into the water, leaving barely a ripple behind and stilling the still-churning waters around her. It was like he was watching a perfectly-done animation, rather than a real movement.

The Milotic's easy grace held the entire audience spellbound; Melody made them her captive audience with every breath. Even Bruiser seemed entranced by the vision before him, still and reverent in a way Ash seldom saw of him.

The announcer announced something in the background, but Ash didn't listen. This fighter needed no introduction.

This was Wallace's cornerstone, the anchor of his team. This was the pokémon that brought down Drake's Salamence and Steven's Armaldo, sealing Wallace's victory over the two most powerful trainers of the Ever Grande League.

She had competed in dozens of Contests over the last fifteen years, and hadn't suffered a loss in ages. Never once since Wallace had taken his mantle, as far as Ash was aware.

She was Melody, and she would not lose.

Even now, she watched Bruiser from beneath the placid lake, taking his measure with an intense gaze that seemed to strip Bruiser down to the bone.

A competitive gleam filled her eyes, as she seemed to find him acceptable.

Melody's elegant head slid out of the water once she'd warmed up with a quick swim. The whole audience listened attentively as she sang to Wallace, her notes mirroring those of Wallace's Sootopolitan song.

"My pardon for the short notice of battle, my dear!" Wallace called to her cheerfully, pausing his performance. "Our opponent has bested Esteban and Océan in a most unexpectedly glorious fashion! I think, however, that they've gone far enough! You know what to do!"

Melody nodded and turned back to Ash and Bruiser, and for a brief moment, Ash saw more than simple, refracted light in her eyes.

He saw a blazing fire.

She might have embodied the legendary beauty of a Milotic, but Ash couldn't help but note a certain directness to her. Melody's hypnotic motion might dazzle the crowd, but in her Ash saw a razor edge of competitiveness and a furious drive to be the best.

It wasn't in Esteban, and they hadn't given Océan a chance to show it. This was a Champion's pokémon, a resolute soul that would fight for power and victory at the cost of blood and tears.

Just the kind of opponent he wanted to see.

Ash hoped she was ready to prove it on the field. Part of him imagined releasing the newly-minted Lotus onto the field to see whether her glamorous aura would fail her, but that would just be cruel to everyone involved.

"Are you good?" Ash called out to Bruiser, who offered a stiff nod. He wasn't in the best of shape, but he'd managed to come out of his battle with his previous foe in fighting condition. That was enough.

The referee, her wild grin at odds with her professional demeanor, raised both flags. "Begin!"

Bruiser wasted no time in hurling a Focus Blast into the water, but Melody avoided it with contemptuous ease.

She slithered smoothly through the water with impossible speed. Water manipulation was clearly at play. She wasn't faster than Plume, or anything absurd like that, but Melody was faster than anything in the water had any right to be. Faster than Torrent.

Good to know.

"Beauty Untarnished!" Wallace cried.

He no longer relied on song or instrument to carry out his commands. It was odd to see him so direct. So focused. It was as if everything he was had been focused into the battle, where before it had only been a show, half his attention on the audience rather than the task at hand.

While Bruiser threw Focus Blast after Focus Blast, Melody ascended into the sky. It was a technique that he'd seen a dozen times in Wallace's publicized battles, but it was still awe-inspiring to see the technique in person.

She rose wearing an armor of perfectly clear water, draped close to her shimmering scales. Melody caught the light that penetrated the Rain Dance and glimmered brilliantly to the crowd, full of flashing reds and blues that reminded Ash of rubies and sapphires.

Melody didn't just leap out of the water. She was carried.

Her water manipulation pulled the aquatic cloak into the sky with her inside of it, easily supporting her weight and offering Melody the full range of the battlefield. It must have been an incredibly difficult technique to maintain, but Melody looked utterly at ease as she moved swiftly to rest amongst the clouds.

A thin tentacle shaped of her aquatic armor flicked outward to smack Bruiser's next Focus Blast away, and just as easily withdrew and rejoined the whole.

Bruiser watched her warily, prepared for any sort of attack.

On the surface, 'Beauty Untarnished' seemed simple enough; levitation via unconventional means, in this case latent draconic energy, was nothing unusual for a water-type with the potential for it, nor was the watery shield anything new, as Esteban had showed his own proficiency in the skill.

Ash didn't miss the most insidious part of the technique, however: the Milotic flew using her second skin of water, but several glittering rings looped around like shining chains, each forged of crystalline water and refracting more light all around.

Aqua Ring.

Melody wasn't the mightiest of Champion cornerstones. She was a monster, sure, but she was liable to be outmuscled by Dragonite, Princess, and especially Metagross.

Melody's greatest strength, besides the intricacy of her techniques, and her incredible ability to manipulate water, what truly set her apart from almost any pokémon Ash had ever known, was that she didn't stop.

Scratches and bruises and other physical maladies would be wiped away by the passive healing effect of Aqua Ring, a technique she and Wallace had mastered and thoroughly integrated into an armor that would further protect her from most elemental attacks. She barely took damage, and what she did take didn't last.

To the unprepared, she was untouchable.

There were ways to play around that sort of regeneration, but the aquatic nature of the arena made that almost impossible for Ash to manage. Trying to remove Melody's source of healing water would be more or less impossible on the Wallace Cup's battlefield.

And for the attacks that managed to pierce her defenses? If they weren't reflected by her well-trained Mirror Coat, then Melody would just cleanse the damage with Life Dew. She was recognized as one of the foremost masters of the technique in the entire training world.

This wouldn't be fun. Ash would almost take Phoebe's absolutely infuriating stall tactics over a fighter that would just keep coming back for more.

Both actually had the potential for quite a bit of fun, he admitted to himself.

But he didn't think Melody was in the mood for a fun fight. She couldn't fight an eternal battle, naturally. Certain ghosts like Jellicent might be capable of surviving on mere water thanks to their unearthly nature and ability to feed during battle, but Milotic was flesh and blood.

Healing moves might repair damage, but they demanded a price. It cost the user energy to maintain techniques such as Aqua Ring and Life Dew, and each instance of healing would also break down muscle, fat, and other nutrients within Melody's body to provide the raw resources necessary for cellular regeneration.

It might give her multiple chances to come back in battle, but each one came at a steep price. The recovery from those techniques were never fun.

Melody sang a lovely tune from the clouds. It almost reminded Ash of Lugia's Song, but it lacked the supernatural aspect.

The Rain Dance renewed with a vengeance—Esteban's storm had waned over the course of the fight with no master to feed it, but just a moment of attention from a new mistress' attention brought it surging back.

Rain came down in a deluge, then stopped.

"Protect!" Ash warned Bruiser.

The Machamp was way ahead of him. Both had seen this technique used before. The audience cried out in surprise as a vicious storm of razor-sharp ice needles came raining down from where the Milotic had flash-frozen them in the clouds. They drove deep into the mud, piercing whatever they could with deadly force.

Bruiser absorbed them on his shield, but Melody didn't relent. The barrage—a veritable Icicle Storm if Ash had ever seen one—came down for what felt like an eternity before finally abating.

Bruiser had little time to rest before a storm of Ice Beams came arcing down from the black clouds. He was swift in avoiding them, but even as he ducked and dodged with skill that made Ash's chest swell with pride, he barely bothered to fight back with his Focus Blasts anymore.

It was with that in mind that Ash made his decision.

This was quite possibly Bruiser's worst matchup. Milotic could easily put vast distances between them, had an easy time striking from range, and could hit Bruiser from almost anywhere on the battlefield. There was no cover on the tiny island besides mud. That wasn't quite enough to stand up to a Champion-level fighter.

He wouldn't have faced Melody at all in an ideal matchup, but there was no evading it now.

They'd have to go big or go home.

Bruiser flung up a Polyblast that scattered into the clouds and actually managed to scratch Melody, but the Aqua Ring quickly fed her a surge of renewing energy. The broken scale renewed before their eyes with a glint of prismatic light.

Melody scoffed and hurled down another rain of icy blades, each of which landed with no effect. The frustrated Milotic danced away in her aquatic armor then, manipulating it to dive deep back into the lake now that her initial attack had failed. It was just a test to probe their defenses.

They had no time to breathe. She had been in the lake for barely an instant before she surged out in an immense shell that was far larger than it had been before; more of a protective sphere than a close-fitting suit of armor now.

Wallace's arms flung wide, a beatific smile on his face. "Beauty Overwhelming!"

Melody was entrancing as she surged forward with it, manipulating the sphere effortlessly with her water manipulation, sending a dozen tendrils whipping down at Bruiser at blinding speeds. They came down in a flurry, staggered to ensure that he couldn't just wipe them all out with a single attack, and Bruiser's four arms seemed to act with minds of their own as he intercepted the attack.

Tendrils came slashing down, but each was blocked by a punch. Aquatic tendrils (some of which had blades of ice frozen into them for added ferocity) whipped out faster than the eye could see. Melody appeared utterly tranquil within her protective shell of water, yet Ash could imagine the kind of concentration it took to maintain the lashing storm.

It was overwhelming to keep up with, let alone defend against. Dozens of tendrils spawned, struck, and came for a second blow every second. They alternated, struck from almost every direction, and twisted in midair to optimize their chances of landing a true hit.

Ash imagined that this was how Tangrowth's opponents felt when they faced him.

Not a single one made it through.

Bruiser planted himself firmly into the mud and stood still as an unmoving statue, yet his arms were blinding. Ash couldn't even track their movement as they acted as a grey whirlwind. All Ash could see was a vague impression of motion, the splash of water as the fists plowed through the tendrils, and the shattering of ice as Bruiser stood and equaled Melody blow for blow.

Ash hoped that Bruno was watching this. He was still in Hoenn, right? There was a chance. Bruiser's display would bring a tear to his eye.

Melody abandoned the assault as soon as she realized Bruiser wouldn't succumb so easily to such a flurry of attacks. She sang again and swept back to dive back into the water to formulate a new plan of attack, but she made one critical mistake.

She gave Bruiser an instant's opening.

The Milotic cried out as she was suddenly tackled by many, many hundreds of pounds of iron-hard muscle, bone sturdy enough to withstand the insane force generated by that muscle, and four very strong arms.

Bruiser leapt; shooting up like a rocket thirty feet into the air so that he could slam into her protective sphere. Melody was too disciplined to let her technique break down, however, and it immediately tried to force Bruiser out.

Ash could see his determined movement encounter resistance.

But it didn't matter. Ash screamed his support to Bruiser as his friend clawed his way through the frothy water, wrapped all four of his arms around her serpentine body, and squeezed.

Melody's eyes bulged for a brief instant. Her Aqua Ring immediately fed restorative energy to her and shining blue water—her Life Dew technique—covered her in a sapphire-like sheen. But Bruiser's arms squeezed with all their strength. Rampage wasn't activated beyond a brief spurt to propel him into the air, but Bruiser was applying everything he safely could to crushing Melody in his iron grip.

Yet she would not be taken down so easily. Melody's serpentine body came to her aid. She was slippery, even more so with her mastery over water, and managed to slide out of Bruiser's grip, though Ash spotted some nasty bruises where she'd been grabbed. He'd stripped scales off.

Melody collapsed into the water while her restoration techniques went into overdrive. A bright blue glow emanated from the lake as the crowd went wild.

Ash started; he'd was so laser focused on the battle that he'd almost managed to forget that tens of thousands of people were watching them right now.

Irrelevant. He refocused.

Melody's Beauty Untarnished technique managed to get her back into fighting condition even as Bruiser fell heavily into the mud. She let out a keening cry as a sign of her displeasure, and even as he pulled himself up after dragging himself once more out of the water and muck, the entire lake stirred.

Bruiser climbed to his feet only to stare up blankly as the lake reared up like an angry dragon.

Four great walls exploded forth and hung suspended, encroaching upon the island with a looming shadow, Melody hidden somewhere within. He barely had time to brace himself before Melody's furious waves came crashing down upon him with enough force to break down a house's walls.

He was strong enough to dig in with his hands, but it wasn't long before Bruiser was utterly consumed by writhing waves that battered at him with utter detestment, animated by a will that despised the embarrassment he'd just offered her.

He held on. Even the wild power of the collapsing waves wasn't enough to break his grip, but Melody wasn't done.

Once she realized that the fullest extent of her water manipulation wasn't enough to break Bruiser, she went the extra mile.

There was nothing Ash could do for Bruiser as creeping ice spread like wildfire (even his frantic thoughts recognized how odd that simile was) through the twisting waves. Waves solidified mid-break. Currents stilled.

Bruiser was trapped in an enormous cocoon of ice.

Then the ice began to crack. Wallace's eye twitched even as Melody cried out in annoyance. One of Bruiser's grey arms tore through the ice, shattering his prison in a brutal strike empowered by Rampage, and mere seconds passed before he'd leapt out of the ice after to catch his breath in the open air.

Only for Melody to appear in a rush of water.

Ash's eyes widened as the entire lake stirred again and a vast column twisted and coalesced around Melody. She rose up in a great swell of water that soon shaped into a perfect mimicry of an impossibly huge Milotic. It reared fifty feet high and six feet in diameter, driven forward by the Milotic's great strength.

Bruiser had only an instant before the animated Milotic came crashing down upon him. He hadn't had time to brace himself and was swept away by the current despite his best efforts to find purchase. But Melody wasn't content with that: she flash-froze Bruiser, allowed him to tear his way out with sheer strength, and then carried him away just to repeat the cycle again and again.

By the fourth cycle Ash simply returned Bruiser. Each of his attempts had grown slower and slower, clearly driven more by an iron will than an ability to fight, and he wouldn't let Melody draw it out any further.

Bruiser had made his point and more.

"And the legendary Melody demonstrates her strength with stunning aplomb!" the announcer chimed in. "What a privilege it is to see such deft application of our Champion's fine techniques. Elite Four Ash's Machamp proved to be an incredibly powerful and dedicated opponent, but which teammate will he reveal in an attempt to claw back victory?"

Now that was a good question. Ash ignored the announcer as he continued sucking up to Wallace.

Behavior like that was a given considering what event they were participating in, but it was rather obnoxious, and the man wasn't offering tactical knowledge anyways.

Plume might have a good shot, but Ash didn't trust her constitution against the sheer power and versatility of Melody's water manipulation. Just a single strike might send her careening into the waves to be trapped and crushed. She couldn't hit a high enough velocity in this limited arena to be truly immune to Melody's swift attacks.

Nidoking wasn't an option, unfortunately. He doubted Melody would suffer his toxins to be anywhere near her, and he'd be a sitting duck on land. It would be simple for her to flood the island and leave him with no options; Nidoking couldn't swim to save his life.

Dazed could work, but he was hoping to save her just in case Wallace fielded his Wailord.

No, he didn't need to damage Melody right now. Ash just needed to exhaust her. Otherwise she'd just slip away and recover from the brink again and again until her body failed her.

And who better to exhaust her than Tangrowth? He had regenerative capabilities of his own (albeit limited in this environment given the lack of sunlight and nutrients in the soil) and specialized in vast quantities of attacks that could sap any enemy dry. He wouldn't win, but he would do his job.

So, Ash was happy to release Tangrowth onto the field. He gurgled excitedly as he realized just how many people and pokémon watched him in the audience.

Ash smiled and gave Tangrowth a moment to quiver happily before calling his name. "Tangrowth! Listen up for just a second, okay?"

His vines squirmed eagerly as Ash's voice reached him. Tangrowth waved at Melody, who watched him with cool eyes.

Tangrowth's vines drooped when she didn't return his friendly gesture.

Don't worry buddy, Ash thought. We'll get her back for that.

"Begin!" The announcer declared. He sounded a little nervous; they were nearing the point where things would begin wildly spiralling out of control from the original plan for this fight.

Not his problem, Ash decided.

"Shield! Hold out as long as you can!" Ash shouted even as Melody unleashed a vicious Hydro Pump, which was soaked up by an earthen wall. He would have loved to be more subtle, but too much could be lost in translation with Tangrowth. Better to give him clear and direct instructions. He knew that Tangrowth would do his utter best to see them through.

And Tangrowth did that.

He rooted himself into the muddy ground immediately. It wasn't the most efficient for his regenerative processes, but it at least gave him something to work with. There was plenty of water at least.

The conditions weren't optimal, but he could supplement the rest of the needed biological material for Perfect Regeneration with his own body, or even from unused vines.

Tangrowth didn't have to hurt Melody, though Ash certainly wouldn't say no if an opportunity presented itself. He just had to make her waste as much energy as possible. Every drop of power she spent on Tangrowth was one that she couldn't spare on what was to come.

With that in mind, he took something of a backseat for this matchup and strategized for the followup.

The battle was long, brutal, and the utter definition of a grind regardless.

Tangrowth immediately secured himself in a protective barrier of earthen walls. Milotic's strikes broke against the barriers.

They were strong enough to shatter right through, but a few of Tangrowth's vines immediately erected new defenses to prevent Melody from properly striking him down.

They blocked terrifyingly powerful jets of water, flurries of freezing water, and thrashing water whips that were sufficiently dangerous enough to carve through the muddy walls.

Tangrowth fought back with vines which wormed through the mud, each erupting outside his protections to hurl dozens of Ancient Powers. He slashed at her with countless Power Whips, and contested her flurry of aquatic whips with blindingly fast slashes of his own vines.

Most of their battle simply dragged, although Melody had evidently heard enough of Ash's commands to get a sense of his intentions, and tried to conserve her energy.

She focused mainly on the lengthy process of severing Tangrowth's vines, one by one, though Ash realized with satisfaction that the Milotic was growing endlessly frustrated as they regrew, again and again.

Quite hypocritical of her, Ash thought.

But you know what? Tangrowth did his job. Every attack that struck Melody's aquatic armor sapped a bit more of her strength. Every blow she dealt drained her stamina.

The longer Tangrowth lasted thanks to his (im)Perfect Regeneration, the drier the mud grew. The level of the lake dropped, however imperceptibly. He sucked up vast quantities of water, though it was just a drop in the bucket when it came to the lake, but at least he managed to make the stage a little more hospitable to Ash's future battlers.

Still, his strength paled in comparison to Melody. Crashing waves battered down his barriers again and again. Her frozen blades scythed through his vines. She hammered down upon him with attack after attack.

Yet he held. The conditions weren't optimal, but Tangrowth carried out his job to the letter. If only he had the sun…

But as it was, Melody and Wallace were canny enough to realize Tangrowth's weakness: his vines. Instead of destroying them, Melody focused upon forcing him to exhaust his strength. Their game was one that cut both ways.

And when Tangrowth's vines began to thin, Melody struck.

Her will steeled as she slithered close in her Beauty Untarnished's shell of protective water. Tangrowth peeked out from over his earthen defenses, lashed out with a hundred of his vines with Ancient Power orbs on their ends.

…And gurgled in betrayed confusion as they quivered, shuddered, and came lashing back towards him as Melody pushed the limits of her abilities.

She couldn't maintain her control over the water in Tangrowth's vines for more than a few seconds, but it was enough.

Tangrowth cried out for just a moment as enormous quantities of his own silvery Ancient Power spheres fired off as his vines bent in his direction, but then it was over.

His earthen walls were broken. Swift scythes of water carved his vines apart. Water rushed into the mud and froze to ice, paralyzing him.

And Melody brought a tidal wave down upon Tangrowth and froze him whole. It was one of Melody's favored tactics, but it was undeniably effective.

"Our beloved Melody thrives in the face of danger, though she didn't win without cost! Champion Wallace and Elite Four Ash are now even, and I for one can't wait—"

Melody was right where he needed her.

Ash released Torrent. The crowd went wild. Almost anyone who had watched Ash's performance in the Indigo Conference recognized Torrent. He'd been one of Ash's most powerful fighters throughout the entire event.

Torrent appeared with his head held. Crimson eyes leveled upon Melody with interest, though he looked rather neutral towards the Champion-level fighter. She looked down upon Torrent from her aquatic shell, but her great head cocked as the quivering water suddenly went still at Torrent's appearance.

Her harsh gaze sharpened. Melody recognized a rival.

"Begin!"

"T-2."

Torrent was canny enough to remember each of Ash's stratagems with ease and immediately dropped into the water. Melody might have seen a challenge in Torrent, but she acted ruthlessly as Wallace sang out a few convoluted commands.

Water came crashing down on Torrent in an attempt to immobilize the Kingdra and bind him. It seemed to have an upward current behind it, clearly meant to hurl Torrent onto land where he would be far weaker.

But Torrent wasn't on land.

Torrent had spent almost his entire career fighting at a handicap. He made do on dry land where around a third of his raw power was tied up in maintaining his levitation. The Kingdra still crushed the vast majority of opponents that dared oppose him.

And while Melody was the pinnacle of strength and grace, Torrent was finally unshackled.

She tried to crush him in her prison. Melody failed.

Torrent's crimson eyes flashed as he shattered her working. Water shuddered as he broke her hold on it, and Torrent's will managed to grasp the water bound to her as a shell.

It shattered.

Ash would forever treasure the shared looks of shock on Melody and Wallace's face as she came tumbling inelegantly down from the sky. She managed to save her landing, but her aura of invincibility had been broken.

The audience howled, some in victory and some in horror.

She'd exhibited greater strength and skill than Torrent could muster in terms of water manipulation, but Wallace's lack of preparation struck again. The Ever Grande Champion gaped. He'd never expected to face such a young pokémon with a true mastery over water.

Elemental manipulation was hard. Most experienced fighters could barely tap into it. The vast majority of pokemon were limited to the constrained variants in the forms of standard techniques such as Water Gun. They were rigorously trained, drilled into their very core, and easy to access.

Fluid control over an element was the sign of a Master, or at least a fighter approaching that level.

But Melody swam through the water with elegant motions, utterly furious at her minor defeat, and Ash knew that they wouldn't take her by surprise again. Ash spied her Aqua Ring repairing some of the minor damage from the fall, although he felt a surge of pleasure when he realized that the regenerative technique was acting far slower than it had during her fight with Bruiser.

Tangrowth had done his job well. Ash knew he wouldn't have been able to pierce Melody's defenses, but at least he'd drawn her well of regeneration dry.

With the first move done, Melody abandoned her shell. Its job was done. She shot off at Torrent. He attempted to bind her with water, but she snapped it with ease now that she knew to expect it. Torrent was strong enough to contest her with his iron will and connection to his element, but Melody managed to undo his workings with sheer skill and experience.

She still had more than a decade on Torrent.

Melody's water manipulation formed a fierce whirlpool right below Torrent, turning the tables on him as he was suddenly sent spinning. He leveraged his power to dispel it and still the water before him, but Melody crashed right through the resistant water and came winding towards him with serpentine grace.

It didn't take a genius to recognize Torrent's weakness. He was weakest up close.

The Milotic took advantage of that. She tore right through his Smokescreen, sweeping the inky clouds aside with her water manipulation, and shattered every attempt he made to prevent her from coming close. Melody seemed to exult in her victory as she snared Torrent in her grip, coiling tight with enough strength to crumple steel, and Ash could feel his pain as he resisted the attack.

Melody bound him tightly within her grip. She turned to face Torrent's crimson eyes with her own, which shone blue with the brilliant light of Hypnosis. The psychic snare was set, but Torrent's will was steel.

He managed to break free with a close-ranged Dragon Pulse that shattered Melody's concentration and sent her spinning backward with the raw force behind it, though it damaged him as well.

Melody didn't take it lightly, though. She surged forth with incredible ferocity, spinning upward to crash into Torrent with a vicious Dragon Tail, which struck him so hard that Torrent surged up through the water and into the air. A massive current she generated with water manipulation helped guide him out.

"Hold! Stay up there!" Ash roared. Torrent was dizzy after the strike, but the command still reached him. He leveraged all of his power to remain levitated over fifty feet in the air, even though Ash thought Torrent looked utterly nauseous from that blow.

Could he puke from his snout? Ash hoped never to find out.

"Serpent's Rise!" Wallace cried as Milotic shot upward in pursuit of her prey.

But he didn't have much time to recoup from that devastating strike. Milotic rose out in the embrace of her watery replica of herself (a bit narcissistic, Ash thought. Gary would love it) and matched his height, though the strain of maintaining the aquatic serpent must have been enormous.

Yet even a nauseous Torrent was a force to be reckoned with. He threw everything he had into a handful of terrifying Ice Beams that flash-froze several sections of the Serpent's Rise, which he followed up with a massive Blizzard to finish the job and seal the gaps.

Melody was powerful enough to immediately begin to revert the frozen spire to water she could freely manipulate, but Torrent acted quickly. He'd bought himself a few seconds with those attacks.

A core of molten gold manifested in front of Torrent's snout. Draco Meteor.

But instead of aiming it upward to explode into a dozen separate meteors, Torrent focused right on the center of the frozen Serpent's Rise.

And even as Melody tore her way out of the icy prison, Torrent struck.

The Milotic only had a moment to flee before the Draco Meteors struck in a cataclysmic explosion.

Heat and light flashed as though a massive bomb detonated within the arena. Flannery cackled madly from above at the lightshow, but everyone else seemed stunned by the display of raw power.

Melody went flying out of the Serpent's Rise, and the column of water simply collapsed, utterly devastated by Torrent's assault. The draconic energy roared as it soared forth in a blue-green wave of raging flame.

Life Dew coalesced around Melody even as she tumbled through the air, humbled yet again by Torrent's fury. He sent Hydro Pump after Hydro Pump after her, though she used her water manipulation to steer the blasts inches away from her hide.

Her scales had been devastated by the attack and she was a crispy mess after that, although the Life Dew and Aqua Ring did their job, regrowing them quickly enough that she didn't lose too much face.

Countless cream scales came clattering down into the water.

Melody, still damaged by the furious attack, fled.

Torrent came crashing down into the waves as well, though the water greeted him gently as he applied his own will, and he pursued her all through the lake. She recovered wherever she could and countered Torrent's attacks with workings of her own, though he was secure enough to tear right through them, and hurried away from him in a coat of water that carried her into the sky (although slowly and clumsily) as Torrent pursued her.

"No, don't fire!" Ash roared as Torrent raged after Melody, carried forth by a fierce current. He didn't react in time and fired a Dragon Pulse, which immediately reflected off her Mirror Coat.

Torrent managed to duck beneath the reflected attack, and Melody seemed to be finally done with the battle.

She cast aside her vanity.

Dozens of her cream and red scales fired off at Torrent in a barrage as she used Scale Shot to slow him down, although he contemptuously snared them in a wall of water summoned directly from the lake. Melody was mostly healed by then, and managed to fire off a few more attacks, even leaping in for a daring Dragon Tail that Torrent deftly avoided, but she finally grew exhausted enough to where her water manipulation began to falter.

Her control was swept aside by the Kingdra.

"Embrace your dragon!" Wallace shouted fiercely. And just like that, a blue-green haze settled about Melody. Dragon Dance.

She shot forward to bind Torrent again, yet he shot out of the water to negate her speed advantage. Melody blasted out after him, wrapping herself in a cloak of water that she manipulated to fly after her foe, but Ash noticed the conspicuous lack of Aqua Ring layered into it.

Melody was on her last legs.

Her movement was slow. Clumsy. She was weak.

"Freeze her!"

Melody sang in fury as Torrent unleashed an Ice Beam the likes of which Ash had never seen. It came crashing down upon the layer of water she commanded, freezing both it and Melody whole within, but her water manipulation enabled her to revert it to simple water even as the frozen chunk of ice collapsed down toward the lake.

Ash would have to teach Torrent that trick. Wallace really was brilliant.

Yet Torrent just froze the Milotic again, even if she broke free again. He was weary as well.

But Melody had fought three battles now. Torrent had fought one.

When he froze her a third time, and followed it up with a devastating Dragon Pulse, sapping much of his remaining strength, Wallace admitted defeat.

Melody disappeared in a flash of red light.

Ash just stood still, utterly stunned as he locked eyes with Torrent's victorious gaze.

They'd won.

They'd won.

They'd never beaten down a Champion's cornerstone before.

Not like this.

It had taken three of Ash's strongest teammates, but they'd won.

"Superb," Wallace whispered into the microphone, eyes locked on Torrent with admiration. That same hunger for victory filled him like a rising tide. "Show me more! Let's see if you can keep this up!"

Ash grinned back, just happy that Wallace was just as excited as he was.

Wallace swept his white mantle aside to reveal a pokeball painted blue on the top half and grey on the bottom half. Wailord. Ash recognized it instantly and felt a surge of excitement.

The light gushed out like a red river, coalescing into a pile of scarlet that grew, and grew, and grew until Ash's eyes were left wide. The only time he'd seen such a long release was when the King had been released in Greenfield.

At the end, when it was finished, a truly vast Wailord floated lazily in the water. Its bulk took up a huge portion of the lake (at least on Wallace's end) and Ash found himself struck by its simple immensity. How was he supposed to fight something like that?

Oh, he knew. He'd planned for it. But it was one thing to see such a giant on film and another to challenge it face-to-face.

Of course, all his trepidation faded into sheer confusion when the Wailord glanced around the arena with its big black eyes, and winked at the audience in a way that Ash could only describe as suave. Or perhaps flirtatious.

The stands erupted into thunderous applause.

Ash decided at that moment that Coordinators were weird.

Every inch of Wailord was bright and shiny, as though an entire team had spent hours scrubbing it down. Its enormous mouth opened wide to engulf a huge amount of water, though it somehow managed to burst out of the lake in an elegant motion before crashing down in the midst of a vast wave that slammed into the barriers all around the arena.

The water crystallized and came down as gentle snow and flecks of sparkling ice as Wailord winked again to the crowd. They ate it up.

"Champion Wallace leads with his fourth pokemon, the notoriously dazzling Mathéo Le Fabuleux! Famed for his spicy persona and—"

Ash let it roll off of him. Wailord (Mathéo, he supposed) continued to soak up the blatant adoration of the crowd. He even spotted a few fans wearing Wailord shirts. The water-type was one of Wallace's powerhouses, though not necessarily his most effective fighter.

That was relative, of course. It was Champion-level and a terrifying opponent to face. Wallace only had a handful of recorded battles using Wailord since most fell to his Ludicolo and Milotic, but the water-type generally steamrolled his opponents

Wallace might be enjoying the battle, but Ash suspected that he was done with it all the same. He wouldn't suffer any more losses. He had more than a full team to throw at the battle. Ash only had a handful who could contend at this level.

Torrent might contest the Wailord in a match of raw strength if he was fresh, but now he would just be playing to Mathéo's advantages. Few could outright overpower something like a Wailord.

While Torrent was far more talented than he had any right to be at his level of development thanks to how early they began training that aspect of his abilities, a high-tier Master would be able to outmaneuver him.

Ash planned to use it—he'd likely be able to break or diminish Wallace's own workings—but he wasn't optimistic regarding Torrent's chances. He'd already spent most of his fighters optimized against the Ever Grande Champion.

It really was frustrating, he mused. Most fighters couldn't do more than the most basic water manipulation constrained to techniques, and here Torrent was able to do it better than almost the entire world. But that didn't help as much when they were facing the best in the world.

"Begin!"

Torrent had been sapped to his limit by his battle with Melody. Every working of hers that he'd broken had cost three manipulations of his own.

He still fought with all he had.

Torrent unleashed a final Draco Meteor with everything he had. It was his final act. Trying to tie down a fresh Mathéo with water manipulation was a fool's errand, and so he relied entirely upon the enormous draconic power which rested within him.

The molten gold sphere fired up from the waves, hovered in midair…

And was drowned in a great watery tendril that Mathéo spat. He did a little (massive, given his size) roll of victory which sent the water splashing up the sides, and winked saucily at Torrent as the great stream of water devoured the Draco Meteor whole. It still detonated, but it was contained entirely by the water which coalesced into a sphere around it.

Mathéo had enough showmanship to convert the cloud of mist into a shard of falling snowflakes, but that didn't exactly comfort Ash as he leered at Torrent.

One Hyper Beam (which resembled a river rather than a beam) later and Torrent was down for the count, immobilized by an enormous coil of water which trapped him even as the devastating Hyper Beam consumed him whole.

Ash returned him, listened to the announcer, traded a few comments with Wallace, and immediately released Dazed.

To be honest, Mathéo the Wailord was one of Ash's worst possible opponents. His team wasn't exactly optimized for facing aquatic opponents. The vast majority of enemies in that realm would be utterly crushed by Torrent, so he never worried too much about it. All of his best fighters for this matchup had already been knocked out.

Dazed wasn't ideal either, but she had a chance. Facing Wailord physically was ill-advised. While Infernus would be able to deal some devastating damage with his Plasma Blade technique, that just wasn't working consistently enough for Ash's liking. And Mathéo would probably love the opportunity to drown a Magmortar. Ash couldn't help but remember how put out the Magmortar had been when Claydol had teleported a small pond onto him. Adding more water to the equation wasn't going to improve Infernus' chances.

It didn't help that the battlefield had been ruined by the previous battles. The little island was left looking rather sad by this point. Dazed could stand, but a few more solid hits might crumble the island entirely.

Friend-Trainer, how shall I proceed? This is a powerful foe.

"We won't beat him down with raw power," Ash said quietly. He kept his lips away from his microphone to avoid giving his thoughts away. "Wailord will shrug off any standard attacks. You have one shot: Hypnosis. Try to lull it to sleep. Otherwise it will just overpower you."

She nodded.

"Begin!"

Dazed wasted no time. She looked absolutely miniscule on the tiny island next to Wailord, who was considerate enough to waggle its nonexistent eyebrows at Dazed before it tossed an entire tidal wave right at her.

She didn't humor him with a defense.

No, Dazed just teleported right through it, twisting out of space and reappearing in the exact same spot right after the wave swept over her. She looked at Wailord, utterly unimpressed at the clumsy attack, and raised her pendulum in the brief break between the two.

Red light crawled over her like a bloody miasma, filling her eyes and pressing out to ensnare Wailord. Mathéo's beady eyes slowly lulled shut, overcome by the psychic power, and Ash felt a moment of victory—

Wallace whipped out his harmonica and played a furious riff and the enormous Wailord's eyes snapped open.

Damn it.

Dazed tried to release the technique, but the power was slow to leave. She shook it off, prepared to teleport, and then Wailord crooned out what could only be the dulcet tones of a love song of all things. Ash and Dazed stared at the Wailord in utter horror (although Dazed hurried to twist away) but then something horrible happened.

Mathéo winked again, this time with his eyes blazing like twin blue suns, and Ash staggered as a sudden wave of psychic force swept through the arena. How was it this strong?!

Dazed was strong enough to cast it off, but the mighty psychic attack lasted for one second too long before she regained control.

This Attract—more psychic-based than pheromone-based—hit her like a hammer in that instant.

Ash was a little horrified at how lovestruck Dazed appeared. She went slack. Her pendulum drooped in her hand. Her eyes widened as she looked at Wailord in a new light that Ash steadfastly decided to wash out of his mind with lots and lots of bleach.

She was canny enough to sweep that influence away, but Mathéo struck in that singular moment she was lovestruck.

A Hydro Pump three feet thick plowed into her before she could teleport away and swept Dazed off into the sea.

Ash groaned as he returned her. Almost.

Who taught a Wailord to use Attract of all things? Honestly!

"His charm can catch many opponents off guard!" Wallace bowed to Ash, his white mantle fluttering about him. "Many prepare for a battle of the elements. Not so many train against a battle of the hearts."

Ash just looked at Wallace blanky. Dazed just might murder him (and Mathéo) the next time she encountered them. He sure hoped that the Ever Grande Champion knew what kind of enemy he'd just made.

"And Ash Ketchum is left with his final fighter! The glorious Champion Wallace has responded to his initial proddings with overwhelming force, leaving the current matchup 3-5. How will our challenger attempt to reclaim his position? I can't wait to see!"

Ugh. His last fighter.

3-5. It was better than Ash could have hoped for, but when had he ever been content with that?

No. He'd push until the end.

Between the plans he'd made and the way the battle had progressed, Ash only had a few options remaining. Mathéo might be a bit goofy, but he was a devastating foe. His raw power exceeded Melody's, although his control and skill were far surpassed, and he had a…uh, surprising advantage against female opponents.

Mathéo had been used so rarely in the past that Ash hadn't quite expected that. He wondered if Wallace had busted out that ability just to humble Ash a tad.

None of his family could contend with Mathéo physically. He was just so massive. Wailord were unfair, even if most were on the level of an average Gyarados. They were rare and powerful, but without the guiding hand of a Champion-level trainer Ash would utterly annihilate them.

It would be cathartic after this. Dazed would think so, anyways.

If he couldn't win physically, he'd try to strike mentally. Ignoring how it went the first time, anyways.

Ash would kill to earn a 4-6 matchup against Wallace. It was too late to salvage the battle, but he could try!

So he released Sneasel. The little dark-type blinked at the crowd surrounding him, then preened as thousands of coos and cheers shot straight through his ears and right into his ego. Sneasel was way too happy playing to the crowd, pretending to all the world to be a sweet, innocent little fluffball.

Ha! If only they knew.

Ash relied on Sneasel's sensitive hearing this time. "We're at the end of our rope. Our only chance is to use Mind Breaker right on his head, okay? He's a master of water manipulation. He'll hit from every angle. Use ice floes to dance across, then get right up there to hit him. Understood?"

Sneasel nodded steadfastly, his eager eyes trained on his opponent.

Mathéo somehow managed to smirk this time. At least he didn't wink. Ash would appreciate those small mercies.

"Begin!"

Sneasel snarled as Mathéo immediately fired off a Water Gun that would've been a Hydro Pump from any other fighter. He slid beneath it with incredible grace, fired off his own Ice Beam that managed to cover up one of Mathéo's eyes and lightly irritate him, and shot off with terrifying speed to skip across the ocean.

Three Ice Beams fired off from Sneasel's mouth in rapid succession as he approached the limits of the tiny island. Each struck the water and became a floe. He moved so quickly that Mathéo had little time to dispel them, although Ash had no doubt that he could have swept them away if he just had a few more seconds to focus.

But he didn't.

Sneasel leapt across each ice floe with shocking agility, having no trouble navigating the frozen blocks as he crossed the trevasse towards the utterly massive form of Mathéo. He dodged a few more Water Guns, but such clumsy attacks were nothing to Sneasel.

He even ignored one of Mathéo's devastating winks with impunity.

And he landed upon Mathéo's head without any trouble at all. Sneasel yowled his victory. The color drained from the world around him as he channeled absolutely disgusting levels of Distortion through his wiry body, raged with grey power as he prepared to unleash Mind Breaker right atop Wailord's head to finish the fight—and was sent flying up further onto Mathéo's immense body by a well-timed jet of water which leapt from the lake courtesy of the Wailord's water manipulation.

Sneasel cried as he landed heavily upon Mathéo's blowhole, and the Wailord winked yet again at Ash as he activated Water Spout. A massive blast of water burst forth from the Wailord's blowhole with terrifying power.

He'd never heard Sneasel shriek in such a high-pitched way, but that part of his bucket list was finally completed as Sneasel shot off into the sky thanks to the force behind the Water Spout.

Ash mutely returned him, listened to the cheers, and dipped his head to Champion Wallace of the Ever Grande League.

He might've lost, but Ash had the strangest feeling that he'd won.

Steven and Flannery's absolutely insane cheering did a fair job of convincing him.

Daisy's utter shock was a nice consolation prize as well.

XX

"That's how I looked?" Ash complained as he watched the battle with the intensity of Plume eying a juicy Wurmple. He wasn't one to care for appearances all that much, but he flinched to see just how sloppy he looked.

Oh, his outfit was fine. Ash had gone to a bit of trouble to ensure that he wasn't wearing clothes that would embarrass him. Not unless he wanted Karen tearing down Ever Grande to rip him a new one for embarrassing the Indigo League.

It felt blasphemous, but…

"It's the hat," Flannery pointed out helpfully. She poked it, though Ash smacked her prodding finger away. "No offense, but it's kind of a disaster. It looks like it's survived an apocalypse! Or three!"

"It has," Ash said, a defensive note slipping into his voice as he clutched his cap tight. Flannery blinked at him, opened her mouth, then seemed to give up and just stare at him impatiently.

"Maybe it's a little worn," he allowed.

Well-loved was how his mom would've described it.

Daisy snatched it off his head, ignoring Ash's frantic scramblings to get it back. He was tempted to just let Dazed out, but that might be escalating things a bit. "It looks like it was 'a little worn' three marriages and a thousand packs of cigarettes ago. Why are you still wearing this?"

"Give me that!" Ash finally snatched it back, though he had to be gentle to avoid potentially damaging the weathered fabric any more than he had to. He stared at his hat for a moment, basking in fond recollections.

It had survived almost two years of travel along the harshest roads and environments in Indigo and Hoenn. This was the hat he'd worn when he'd left Pallet Town. When he'd met Nidoran and the rest of his family. He'd survived the St. Anne in this hat, had fled from Articuno, had arrested Pierce…

He'd conquered the Indigo Conference wearing this.

He'd survived Shamouti, Greenfield, and conquered the Concepts with it.

He'd vacationed with Steven.

Plume loved nipping it…and had almost transferred that habit to Lairon.

"He sure has been staring at that hat for a long time, hasn't he?" Daisy faux-whispered to Lisia, who just shifted uncomfortably at the Oak's side. She clearly didn't want to get involved.

"It's got a lot of memories, okay?" Ash clutched it tight. He narrowed his eyes at Daisy. "Weren't you all upset about Sableye stealing your hat in Granite Cave? You're one to talk."

"That was totally different!" Daisy squawked, flushing red. "That little savage—"

He ignored her for a bit, content with winding Daisy up a bit. She'd almost been a nervous wreck after Ash had returned from his battle with Wallace in a daze, so Ash at least owed Claydol for that.

"—and besides, hats like that aren't even hard to find!" Daisy jabbed an accusing finger at Ash's cap. He put it back on his head and scooted away from her on the couch so that she couldn't just grab it again. "Seriously, I've seen like ten billion kids wearing that same cap! Just buy a new one if you're that attached to it."

Ash scowled. "Yeah, I wonder why they're so popular now?" he groused.

He was still a little annoyed with Lance for making them so widely available. Did Lance even know what Ash had to go through to get this before his journey? So many postcards…

But of course Lance knew. That just made it more amusing to the Champion.

Flannery gently socked him in the shoulder. "C'mon, it's not so bad!" She said brightly and nodded toward the TV they had the battle set up on. It was currently showing a glimpse of the battle against Milotic, full of massive cyclones and tidal waves and ice. "Who even cares what you look like up there when they could be watching that instead?"

He smiled despite his worry. "Thanks, Flannery. That actually does help."

Lisia leaned in with a smile. She was in her usual Contest get-up, the same that Ash had seen her in back in Slateport before Greenfield happened. It was odd to see her so relaxed, but she seemed to lose all worries when it was just her and the rest. "You really shouldn't worry. Everyone gets so caught up in the show that they barely think about the battlers! Us Coordinators, though…"

"I do love our silly outfits," Daisy said fondly. She smiled at Ash. "Speaking of Coordinating…"

He sighed. "I know, I know. I owe you a Contest."

"There are a few beginner-friendly ones coming up in the next few months," Lisia said helpfully. "Everyone serious will be shooting for competitions that lead to the Grand Festival, but we try to have plenty of introductory events as well! I can shoot you a list if you'd like."

Ash smiled. "Yeah, that'd be nice. I appreciate it."

He glanced away for a moment as he thought back on his loss. Facing Wallace didn't quite feel like facing Steven. The Ever Grande Champion was insanely powerful and outshone Ash in skill by far, but he didn't have that same, overwhelming sensation that his predecessor did.

It didn't feel fair to think that, but it was the truth. Wallace was absolutely a monster with water nearby, but without it Ash thought he might have managed a 4-6 loss, rather than the 3-6 he'd walked away with.

It was just strange, not being utterly shut down by a Champion. Lance would have crushed him beneath his heel without preparation. Cynthia would have danced circles around him. Steven would have ground him down with Metagross.

Wallace had been mighty, but Ash could fight him. He could hurt him. Was that just a measure of his growth after training for Steven for so long? Ash couldn't be certain. Would he feel the same if he faced Metagross with his full might? That was what had stopped Ash in his tracks when he'd faced Steven's team.

Was Wallace actually weaker than Steven, or did he just lack the utter superiority of Metagross?

"I just can't believe you fought Uncle Wallace like that!" Lisia sounded as if she was in awe. "I've never seen anyone stand up to him in a battle. He's overwhelming. Esteban alone beat my whole team!"

"They grow up so fast!" Daisy wiped a faux tear from her eye. "I do hope your mom watched that," she said fondly, her face scrunched up as she eyed Ash. "You did let her know about this, right? She'd be so disappointed if she had to hear about this from someone else."

"Don't worry, I let her know," Ash said easily. "Gary too."

Daisy winced and let the matter die, though he hoped she wouldn't immediately try to forget it. Ash didn't especially enjoy twisting the knife like this, but Ash thought Daisy needed it.

Scratch that, Gary needed it.

That mattered infinitely more to him.

Lisia seemed to pick up on the awkward pause, but Flannery was about as socially aware as Tangrowth, though Ash supposed he could really be talking.

He was just grateful that Flannery was blessedly ignorant and broke the tension like a rampaging Tauros.

"Yeah! I hope everyone got a chance to see that! Man, that was awesome!" Flannery pumped her fist. Piper the Torkoal belched out a cloud of thick black smoke in agreement, which was curious enough that Lairon leaned away from Lisia's gentle petting to investigate it.

He sneezed loudly as the pungent cloud filled his nostrils. Ash tossed him an empty soda can as consolation, which he eagerly devoured.

"The way Torrent took down Melody was so, wow. Champion Wallace's face was like 'Woah, dude, did that really just happen?'" Flannery grinned madly, then blanched as she looked over at Lisia. "Uh, no offense. Champion Wallace was pretty cool too."

Lisia waved her off, unconcerned. She laughed as Tangrowth sent a few curious vines to poke at it. She shook one as she would a hand. "I think it's good for Uncle Wallace," she confided in them. "He's always so serious nowadays. I think he had a lot of fun today. Thank you, Ash."

Ash laughed. He felt lighter than he had since he'd come to Mt. Pyre. "I had a lot of fun too. He's brilliant."

"He really is," Lisia sighed. She stroked her Altaria's fluffy white wings, luxuriating in the downy softness. "Uncle Wallace always pushes himself so hard! My mom says he's been like that from day one—always looking off to the horizon instead of what's beneath his feet. I'm glad he was able to forget that for a moment."

"It's good to forget, even if it's for just a moment," Daisy said, face pensive before her lips curled up into one of her easy smiles. "Maybe that's exactly what he needs."

Ash tried not to frown. It was like an intrusive thought, everytime he looked at her. Distracting him with a problem he wasn't allowed to solve.

He wondered just what was going through her head. Part of Ash wanted to tug Daisy aside and reveal what he'd learned about that awful day in Pallet Town, share what he'd told Gary, but he honestly expected her just to make her excuses and run.

Ash didn't know Daisy that well, but he knew her well enough. Running was what she did. The worst part was that he couldn't even blame her.

Running was terrifyingly easy. He knew that well enough.

"So what does everyone want to do?" Flannery glanced around at them all. She looked at Ash hopefully. "Maybe a battle? You know, something to cleanse the palate?"

Ash laughed. "Maybe Infernus would be up for it."

"Ugh, battlers," Daisy scoffed as she shared a pointed look with Lisia, who nodded in exasperation. "You just blew the whole world's mind and scared the crap out of everyone in the stadium. Don't you think you should take a break?"

"Nah," Ash and Flannery said as one. He continued. "Where's the fun in that?"

Daisy rolled her eyes. "Look, you two can go beat the snot out of each other later. But I've had my fill today. Let's go get a nice dinner or something! Lilycove has some of the best Kantonian places you can find. It'll be just like home!" She nudged Ash. "We can hit up a show! Enjoy life. And when we're done you can go be as much of a barbarian as you like. Deal?"

Ash considered it for a moment, glanced to Lairon (who seemed quite excited at the prospect of food). Flannery's stomach grumbled ominously.

"Deal."

XX

Lilycove's sprawl stretched over miles upon miles of coastline. Great rivers meandered through the city to feed into the endless blue of the Arisen Sea, untouched by the pollution that had wracked them decades before Hoenn got its big wakeup call about its industrialization habits.

Wingull hung about everywhere, occasionally managed by a Pelipper. Several eyed the donut in Ash's hand greedily, although Nidoking's presence at his side dissuaded all but the most daring.

One good Thunderbolt convinced them to keep their distance when a few started feeling brave.

Ash rested against the railing alongside Fino, who had asked him to accompany him to this spot. He peered out from the lighthouse's base and admired the molten gold that drifted over the sea, fading into burnt orange and a thousand subtle hues that reflected off the waves. The setting sun blazed to the west and bounced off the tumultuous sea.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Fino asked.

Ash nodded.

Lucille hung back behind them, twisting her wand-like stick to conjure up intricate display of flames as an example for Dazed. Her skill with Remote Teleportation had progressed nicely, so Ash figured that it was time to really hammer down on Elemental Synthesis.

Who was he to turn down lessons from a Master? Lucille the Delphox was most adept with flame, but she was a brilliant psychic who commanded space and time. She intricately understood the workings of reality on a level that Ash would normally ascribe only to Sabrina.

Dazed was a very eager pupil.

"It really is," Ash said. "The humidity kills me, but Hoenn's a gem. Kanto is wonderful in its own right, but…"

Fino's aged features crinkled as he smiled. "I know what you mean. One would think our humble land was sculpted by the gods."

"Perhaps it was."

Fino inclined his head, no doubt thinking of the beast beneath Lavaridge. "I've traveled far and wide in my day, you know. And no matter how far I wander or what wondrous new sites grace my eyes, I'm always grateful to name Hoenn as my homeland."

"You mentioned you lived in Unova and Kalos for a while after the war," Ash said, his voice brimming with curiosity about those distant lands. "Was there anywhere else?"

"I had quite the wanderlust in my youth, believe it or not. We live in such a beautiful world," Fino added fondly. "There are so many secrets to unearth. So many people to meet. So many friends to make. I could live a thousand lifetimes and not see it all, but I've done my best to see what I can during this one. Perhaps I'll see more if there's a second time around."

Fino quieted as Lucille shot him a stern look, then shook his head. "She doesn't like it when I get all old and retrospective," he confided in Ash with a wry smirk. Nidoking rumbled beside him. "But yes, I've seen what I could. Yet there's so much more to see!"

"You said you wanted to see Onulo with Drake when we spoke in Forina," Ash recalled. "The Seafoam Islands were on your list too, right?"

"Indeed! I expect it won't be too hard to badger the grumpy old dragon into setting sail," Fino said with a laugh. Ash liked that about him—Fino Moore was always smiling. It made it easy to get along with him. "You gave me a few reservations about delving into the Seafoam Islands, though. Something about a murderous white bird if I remember correctly."

Ash snorted. An apt descriptor of Articuno. Perhaps even more so now that Haukea had taken the helm. "That sounds accurate."

"Winter has always held something of an appeal to me," Fino said. He smiled at the look on Ash's face. "Blasphemous, isn't it? I should turn in my credentials as a Fire Master immediately! But Hoenn, for all its charm, is a land of heat. The people are as fiery as the weather. Always driven, always eager. Ice and snow is so foreign! I might have delved deep into fire-types, but there's beauty and wonder wherever you look for it. You only have to open your eyes. There are so many lessons to learn."

Nidoking's ears twitched.

"And what did you find in your travels?" Ash asked. "You've seen more of the world than I can imagine."

Fino was silent for a moment. "Where to begin?" He said at last. "I could go on and on about the wonders of Unova. The dark reaches of the northern frontier, the endless lights of Lumiose, or even the modern wonders of Castelia. Lumiose City in Kalos is like no other city you'll ever see! You can't even imagine what it's like to stand in those streets. But the places are only vessels for people in the end."

Ash nodded.

"The Unovans taught me fortitude and resilience. Their history has been a harsh one, and only grew harsher still in the last century. Tyrants. Ministers. Upheaval. A war the likes of which the world could never have imagined on their doorstep… Life was hard and cruel, but they weathered it all. Generations focused only on putting one foot ahead of the other without a future in sight. And now Champion Alder has rewarded them for their patience."

"My time in Kalos taught me hope. It taught me to embrace the foreign and the strange, and to remember that we're all forged of the same stuff despite our differences," Fino said distantly. "Their aristocrats were eager to build bridges after the war. I was eager to know the nature of a distant land. And there I found injustice. Opportunities quashed by the great to preserve their own power. A concrete ceiling determined by birth. But a flame burned within the Kalosian people, and their world has been reshaped by it. They fought for a more equitable word with action, word, and pen, and they were rewarded for it without a drop of blood spilled."

Ash smiled.

They traded stories for a while: Fino was a font of information. He spoke of Alola, Galar, Paldea, and Orre with the echoes of long experience. While Fino hadn't lived in all of these distant lands, he'd made countless friends in his life.

The world seemed so impossibly large to Ash, but to Fino it was a place filled with friends and memories. It left Ash hungry for more. As much as he loved traversing Hoenn, he found himself eager to traverse the hidden valleys of Sinnoh. He wanted to delve into the depths of the Great Chasm and conquer that harsh land. He wanted to challenge the greatest trainers of Lumiose and beyond.

And then his thoughts turned to the Dark World far to the north, that gaping hole in the world which separated Indigo and Sinnoh.

Perhaps one day he would walk those alien lands as well.

But before that…

Ash stared at the molten light dancing across the waves. The Song sang in his ears, the echo of a mighty Roar lingering beneath it like a malignant voice.

"Aren't you worried?"

"I'm worried about a great many things!" Fino said cheerfully.

He spared a glance behind them as Lucille conjured up a storm of flaming arrows as an example to Dazed, who cradled a flickering flame between her yellow hands. "What will I eat for dinner tonight? Is Flannery happy, or is she sneaking out to the training grounds at night again? Will history look upon me fondly in a century or two, or will they remember me as an idealistic fool, if at all?"

Fino chuckled, though his lips flattened into a line. "And yes, I worry about Lavaridge as well. Hoenn as a whole, truly. We've been blessed to live in truly interesting times."

"That's one word for it," Ash grumbled. His hands tightened against the railing as endless walls of fire filled his mind, followed by a horizon of black clouds filled with lightning that fell like rain drops, and then a bone-chilling freeze that sucked the warmth from everything, even his soul. "What if Groudon wakes? What if Lavaridge just…"

He trailed off, waving his hand.

"What if?" Fino mused. "That's the question, isn't it? It'll follow you around like a bad houseguest if you're not careful. Such big worries for such a young man." The Fire Master chuckled, though it didn't sound condescending.

Ash thought he looked very old for a moment.

Fino stared off into the horizon again, etching the vision into his mind. The setting sun bled red and gold that colored the Arisen Sea like wisps of glinting flame. "I do what I can to prepare. I've warned my people of the danger. I've secured our history. I preserve the future. But if Lavaridge falls…Well, I'll have done everything I can. Anything beyond that is outside of this old man's control."

"And look at this!" Fino flung his hand out to gesture at the grand sight of the Arisen Sea. Islands dotted the horizon, pokemon flew overhead, and crowds of people filled every pier and dock with their laughter. The Wallace Cup ensured that the entire city was overflowing with visitors. "Did any of this exist a thousand years ago?"

"Well, if you want to be semantic it existed, just in a different form."

"Exactly!" Fino crowed. "The world changes. That's the nature of things, eh? And it's much more beautiful for it. So Lavaridge may be wiped off the face of the earth. But it will end one day regardless. Lavaridge hasn't existed forever, nor will it linger on until the end of time. It might change, but so long as its spirit is carried on then I will be content that I've done my duty."

"And the people?"

Fino beamed. "And that's the crux of the matter, isn't it? The people. So long as the humans and pokemon of Lavaridge live on, Lavaridge itself lives on. We'll resettle. We'll rebuild. In the end we'll make something beautiful and new from the seed planted within us. So long as the people survive."

"You've thought a lot about this," Ash observed. "It's been bouncing around in your head for a while."

Fino nodded sagely. "Since the war." He chuckled.

He was quiet for a moment as he deliberated. After a moment he turned to face Ash and Nidoking both. "The world has been good to me, Mr. Ketchum. I've tried to live my life giving back. I trained others to bring out the best in themselves. I supported old Drake's quest because he was a good man. I worked with the people of Unova and Kalos because I knew that I could do my part to make things better."

"I'd say it worked out," Ash said. "You have your team. You have your family. You've made a difference."

Fino cracked another smile. "It's nice of you to reassure an old man. Still! Even with all my efforts, it is unsettling to realize what's coming. Creatures you can't shake hands or crack a joke with. Things. It was comforting to know that we were all human regardless of nation, creed, or station. You can't negotiate with an eruption. You can't befriend a hurricane."

"I don't know about that last one," Ash said as the Song echoed through his ears. A refreshing wind swept in from the northern shores. He felt the Feather cinder on his chest. "They're not all faceless. Some are just like us…Well, kind of like us. They're people in their own way."

Fino gave him a measured look and adjusted his glasses. "I suppose you're the authority on the matter!" He chortled. "I shook hands. I gave gifts. I lent my sweat and blood. And I like to think the world is a mite better for it. We're all human, in the end. Perfectly imperfect! So long as we remember that, we can outlast anything."

"But enough of all this dreary talk!" Fino declared, a new surge of energy tearing through him as he wheeled around to face Lucille and Dazed. Ash's friend had managed to stretch her flame into something resembling a spear, though such a construct wouldn't be fit for battle. His eyes glimmered behind his glasses. "What do you say we make a few fireworks? I think the people deserve a show!"

"How much trouble do you think we can get into before Steven and Wallace make it here?"

"Enough!"

A/N: Whoo! This was a close one…it's still 7/14 somewhere. I think so, anyways. I've been dreading this fight for a while because I wasn't sure how to handle it, honestly! I knew how I wanted Ash to do, but it was still really hard to balance while actually writing. Thanks to the mods for helping out and suggesting countless helpful edits while I was finishing this. I wouldn't have been able to meet my deadline without them!

Thankfully I won't have any massive battles to write for a few chapters, although the next should be very exciting! While I love writing fights, I have to admit that these massive ones versus Champions or Masters are exhausting to work through. I hope that you enjoyed this one! Wallace was a ton of fun to write and I'm eager to write further interactions between him and Ash!

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! We're slowly climbing up on 10,000 reviews which is absolutely insane. I never would've imagined reaching that one in a million years when I first started this story! I truly appreciate your support and would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter!