Gardevoir materialized in a shimmer of pale light, descending gracefully onto the battlefield like a falling star. Her eyes were calm but focused, her movements fluid. The moment her feet touched the ground, the psychic energy around her stirred the dust in subtle spirals.

  Across the field, Noivern shrieked and flapped aggressively, circling above her like a vulture. It had taken a hit from Manectric, but Falkner’s Tailwind still swirled around it, giving it terrifying speed.

  Al watched Gardevoir’s posture—shoulders loose, gaze locked. She was waiting. Listening. Trusting him.

  “Moonblast,” he called evenly.

  She responded without hesitation, cupping her hands together and forming a growing orb of silvery light. It thrummed in the air, casting pale glows over her face.

  “Noivern, Boomburst!”

  The sound hit first—a shockwave that split the air. Gardevoir gritted her teeth, staggering back, the Moonblast faltering for a breath—

  “Hold it!” Al snapped. “Steady!”

  She caught herself, refocused. The Moonblast ignited like a miniature nova and fired, a pulsing comet of radiant power.

  Noivern tried to juke upward, but the Tailwind had started to fade. The blast caught its wing mid-turn and exploded.

  The dragon tumbled, shrieking, and crashed into the floor in a heap of wings and clawed limbs.

  “Noivern is unable to battle.”

  Al exhaled through clenched teeth. That had been close. Too close.

  Falkner said nothing as he recalled his fallen Pokémon. But his eyes narrowed.

  “Let’s see how long she lasts,” he said. “Go, Honchkrow.”

  The flash that followed was dark and elegant—a bird draped in shadow, with crimson eyes and a sharp gleam of intelligence. It landed smoothly, feathers slicked back like a mob boss’s suit.

  Gardevoir adjusted her stance, breathing a little harder now. Al could feel her fatigue through the bond they’d built over long hours of training in the woods. But she wasn’t out yet.

  “Calm Mind,” he said softly.

  She raised her hands to her chest, drawing energy inward, her aura settling and expanding like ripples on still water.

  “Night Slash,” Falkner ordered.

  Honchkrow vanished into a blur and reappeared above her, wing-blades glowing black.

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  “Teleport!”

  She blinked out of sight just before the slash landed, reappearing behind Honchkrow mid-air.

  “Dazzling Gleam!”

  A flash of rainbow light exploded point-blank.

  Honchkrow screeched, wings flailing—but it wasn’t down. It twisted hard, wings wide, and dropped toward her again.

  “Thunder Wave!”

  Crackling psychic electricity leapt from Gardevoir’s hand and struck Honchkrow mid-dive. The dark bird spasmed, its wings locking.

  “Finish it—Moonblast!”

  She hurled a compressed sphere of light like a cannonball. It struck Honchkrow dead center.

  The crow crumpled, crashing into the arena floor and skidding to a stop.

  “Honchkrow is unable to battle.”

  The crowd let out a gasp—two knockouts, back-to-back. Gardevoir stood, chest heaving, barely upright, but still glowing with calm power.

  Al smiled faintly. “Just one more.”

  Falkner’s lips were a tight line now. He nodded slowly and drew his fourth Poké Ball.

  “Then I’ll give her someone worthy of her last stand.”

  The next Pokémon appeared in a flash of wind and light—Togekiss.

  Wide wings, shimmering white and red. Graceful and deceptively heavy. It hovered on slow wingbeats, but Al knew better than to underestimate it.

  “Gardevoir, Reflect.”

  She summoned the protective screen, a translucent barrier between her and the opponent.

  “Togekiss, Air Slash.”

  Wind exploded from Togekiss’s wings, cutting like blades.

  Gardevoir ducked, the barrier catching some of it—but she was already staggering. She’d been fighting too long.

  “Try Hypnosis!” Al called.

  She lifted one shaking hand and sent the spiraling psychic rings outward—but Togekiss drifted up, out of range.

  “Flamethrower.”

  The fire wasn’t searing, but the fatigue made it unbearable. Gardevoir cried out as the flame curled around her.

  “Moonblast!”

  She released the last of her strength into the orb. It struck true—Togekiss recoiled, wings buckling under the hit.

  But both Pokémon dropped almost simultaneously—Gardevoir to her knees, collapsing; Togekiss fluttering awkwardly to the ground, dazed and unmoving.

  The silence lasted a breath.

  The referee raised both flags. “Double knockout!”

  Al stood there for a moment, breath held, until the red light of Gardevoir’s Poké Ball whisked her away.

  “Thank you,” he whispered again.

  Across the field, Falkner returned Togekiss without a word. The expression on his face was unreadable—but there was a flicker of acknowledgment in his eyes.

  “Three and three,” the referee called. “Halfway.”

  Al wiped sweat from his brow. “Lets not drag this out, time to finish this.”

  He drew his next Poké Ball slowly, almost reverently. The one he'd been saving. The one who could bring it home.

  “Salamence, you’re up.”

  The sky itself seemed to bend as the dragon emerged, wings unfurling wide, tail lashing with restless energy. He let out a roar that shook the windows of the dome.

  Falkner stared up at the hulking form and finally smiled—just a little.

  “I wondered when you’d bring him out.”

  He raised his own Poké Ball.

  “Then let’s see what the sky’s real apex predator looks like.”