Chapter 410: Vs Battle Maven Spencer
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Battle Frontier – Battle Palace]
The tension was palpable. The battle between Azure and Battle Maven Spencer was about to begin –
"HOLD IT!"
The shout echoed from the entrance tunnel. Everyone turned to see a short, slightly rotund man in sunglasses sprinting onto the sidelines, panting heavily.
It was Scott, the owner of the Battle Frontier. Scott yelled, waving his arms frantically, "Spenser! Azure! You can't just start a battle between a Frontier Brain and a three-time League Champion without telling me! I almost missed it!"
Spenser closed his eyes, a vein throbbing on his forehead as he muttered, "Scott... this is a battle of spirit. It requires focus. Your yelling is disrupting the flow."
Scott said dismissively, pulling out a camcorder and finding a seat near Ruby, "Yeah, yeah, spirit, flow, mumbo, jumbo whatever. Just give me a show! The data from this match is going to be gold!"
Spenser sighed, regaining his composure. He looked at Azure, then at the Pokémon as he declared, "Let the battle begin!"
Spenser signaled nothing. Azure stood like a statue.
On the field, the Pokémon reacted instantly. Suicune and Gengar seemed to hold back, eyeing each other, while Slaking loafed around.
But Crobat and Sceptile locked eyes. Without a sound, Crobat screeched, its four wings beating furiously, "Creeee!!! (You first weed!)"
*Zooom*
It blurred into a purple streak, diving straight for Sceptile. Its fangs glowed with a sinister red light—Leech Life. Sapphire cried out, "It's fast!"
Sceptile didn't flinch. It stood its ground, watching the incoming bat. Just as Crobat opened its jaws to clamp down on Sceptile's neck, the Forest Pokémon moved.
*PEW*
It wasn't a dodge. Sceptile's claws glowed with a white, jagged energy. It thrust its hand forward, intercepting the Leech Life with a point-blank Hidden Power.
*BOOM*
The impact was jarring. The energy is smashing into Crobat. It was super effective as it hit Crobat dead on.
Crobat was blasted backward, tumoring through the air before correcting its flight. Sceptile didn't let up.
*Shiii*
It brought its hands together, forming a swirling sphere of green energy—an Energy Ball. But instead of firing it, Sceptile did something that made Scott's jaw drop.
*GULP*
Sceptile shoved the Energy Ball into its own mouth and crunched down. Ruby exclaimed, "What is it doing?!"
Green smirked, crossing her arms, stating, "Watch."
*SHIIII*
Sceptile swallowed the energy. Instantly, its body began to pulse with a deep, verdant light. The veins on its leaves glowed neon green. By ingesting the raw Grass energy, Sceptile had forcefully triggered its ability: Overgrow.
*SPLAT*
Crobat, shaking off the rock damage, hissed. It spat a glob of purple sludge—Toxic—aimed directly at the glowing Sceptile. Sceptile didn't move... or so it seemed.
*Wooosh*
The sludge hit Sceptile, passing right through it as the image dissolved into mist. Sapphire cheered, "Double Team! Go, Sceptile!"
Suddenly, the arena was filled with a dozen glowing Sceptiles. They stood in a circle, all pulsating with the Overgrow aura, all staring Crobat down.
Crobat hovered in the center, its eyes darting frantically. The [Bright Powder] it held made it harder to hit, but it didn't help it find a target.
Spenser watched calmly, trusting his partner. Crobat closed its eyes as it thought, 'If I can't see him… then I'll hear him!'
*SCREE*
It opened its mouth and emitted a high-frequency screech—echolocation. Sound waves rippled through the arena, bouncing off the stone pillars and the copies of Sceptile.
Crobat's ears twitched. It picked up a solid mass among the illusions.
*Zoooom*
Its eyes snapped open, and it dove with a Wing Attack, aiming for the Sceptile on the far left. But Sceptile subtly smirked…
*CRACK*
Another Hidden Power slammed into Crobat from the right side, nowhere near where it had attacked. Crobat cried out, spinning out of control, "Keee! (Nani?!)"
It looked confused, disoriented. It had heard the real Sceptile on the left, but the attack came from the right.
The crowd murmured to themselves as Sapphire asked, confused, "How did it miss? Crobat's echolocation is perfect!"
Pikachu and Pichu (Mew) cheered wildly from the stands, pumping their small fists, "Piii! Pika! (You got this!!)"
Crobat frantically tried to ping the area again, but the sound waves felt... wrong. They were fuzzy. Muffled. It couldn't pinpoint anything.
*Zoooom*
Suddenly, a shadow fell over the bat. High above, clinging to the domed ceiling of the Palace, the real Sceptile released its grip.
Gravity took over. The Forest Pokémon plummeted like a green meteor, the blades on its arms extended and glowing with a terrifying intensity, boosted by the [Meadow Plate] and the Overgrow ability.
Leaf Blade.
*SHINNG*
Sceptile spun in the air, becoming a buzzsaw of emerald light. It slammed into Crobat with critical force, driving the bat into the sand.
*BOOOM*
A massive cloud of dust erupted. When the dust settled, Crobat lay fainted in a crater. Sceptile stood over it, the leaves on its back rustling, surrounded by a faint, shimmering green veil that was slowly fading.
Spenser raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed, and murmured, "Remarkable."
Up in the stands, Scott was baffled by the scene as he couldn't help but voice his thoughts, "I don't get it. How did Sceptile trick the echolocation? Double Team creates visual illusions, not auditory ones."
Green flipped her hair, a proud smile on her face as she stated, "It was the green veil. Did you see it fading just now?"
Sapphire asked, guessing, "Safeguard?"
Green explained, pointing at Sceptile as she saw through the trick, "Exactly. When Sceptile used Double Team, it used the visual chaos to climb to the ceiling. But Azure knows Crobat relies on sound. So, Sceptile set up a Safeguard barrier around itself."
Ruby argued, confused as he made a baffled expression, "Safeguard protects against status conditions, though. Not against sound?"
Green corrected with a nod, agreeing but explained knowingly, "Usually. But Azure uses it differently. He creates a dense layer of energy that acts like soundproofing foam. It filtered the sound waves. When Crobat used echolocation, the sound didn't bounce off Sceptile properly—it was absorbed and scattered by the Safeguard. Crobat was hearing 'ghost' echoes from the clones, not the real body."
Scott, who was recording everything, whistled in an impressed tone, "Using Safeguard as a stealth cloak against sound... that kid is terrifying. And he didn't say a single word to order it!"
Down on the field, Spenser recalled his fallen Crobat as he whispered thankfully, "You rest well, my friend."
He looked at Azure with an approving nod as he stated, "Your spirit is sharp. Your Sceptile fights with the cunning of a veteran general."
Azure simply nodded to Sceptile. The Grass-type gave a thumbs-up, but it was breathing heavily as it cried out, "Scep… (Heh. It was nothing…)"
Despite Sceptile acting tough, Azure knew his Grass-Type had been pushed. The combination of Overgrow and the high-energy moves had taken a toll.
Spenser nodded as he sent out his next Pokémon, "But spirit alone cannot overcome raw power! Go, Slaking!"
The massive ape roared, beating its chest, "Slaaa!! (I. Go. Next!)"
*Rmbl*
The ground shook with its weight. Slaking was a monster of physical stats, capable of crushing boulders with a single finger.
Azure's eyes flickered. He looked at Sceptile, then glanced briefly at Eevee.
Sceptile understood as it sighed, "Sce… (I understand.)"
It leaped back, retreating to Azure's side in a flash of red light as Azure recalled it without a verbal command. Azure looked down at the small Eevee standing by his leg.
He didn't need to yell. He didn't need to gesture.
Eevee stepped forward, her fluffy collar bristling. She looked at the giant Slaking—a creature twenty times her size—and let out a determined, high-pitched war cry, "Veee! (You're going down!)"
The crowd went silent. It was fox versus ape.
Azure grinned, his eyes flashing with intensity as he thought proudly, 'Let's show them what we're made of Eevee.'
Slaking yawned, its Truant ability making it sluggish at the start. Eevee seized the moment as it ran forward...
*Sssss*
She didn't just run; she ignited.
*FLASH*
As she leaped into the air, a transformation overtook her. Her brown fur erupted into a mane of cream-colored fluff, and her body turned a vibrant red-orange. In mid-air, she had become a Flareon.
Eevee now evolved. Flareon roared, "Vooo (Time to burn!)"
*BAM*
She slammed into Slaking's massive chest, wreathed in a cloak of fire—Sizzly Slide. The impact was accompanied by a hiss of searing heat.
Slaking grunted, finally showing a reaction as a red burn mark appeared on its fur. The Burn status was applied instantly.
*FLASH*
But before Slaking could retaliate, the Flareon backflipped off its chest. And in a shower of evolution sparkles, reverted instantly back into the small, brown Eevee, landing gracefully on all fours.
Scott lowered his camera, adjusting his sunglasses in disbelief, "Whoa, hold on! Did you see that? It evolved and then... devolved? Just like that? Where's the Fire Stone? That shouldn't be possible!"
Ruby and Sapphire were equally stunned. Ruby muttered, intrigued, "I've never seen an Eevee do that. The biological implications are staggering."
Green, leaning against the railing with a knowing smirk, spoke up and stated, "It's not a normal evolution. Years ago, Team Rocket experimented on her. The 'Eevee Reconstruction Experiment.' It gave her the genetic instability to mutate into her evolutions and revert back at will."
Her expression darkened slightly in a somber tone, "Originally, it was excruciating for her. Every transformation was agony."
Scott looked at the Eevee on the field, who was currently wagging her tail, looking completely fine. He couldn't help but ask, "She doesn't look like she's in pain now. Did Azure train her to ignore it?"
Azure's voice cut in softly, "No."
Though he couldn't command his Pokémon, he could answer the spectators as he explained briefly, "When I found her, she was suffering. But we found a way to heal the trauma. With a little help from a Mythical friend, her genetic code was stabilized. She retains the power, but the pain is gone."
Eevee, hearing this, turned her head and gave a sage, dignified nod to the audience, though with her fluffy collar, it just looked incredibly cute, "Eevoi! (That's right.)"
Azure added, his eyes returning to the battle in a casual tone, "We don't use it often. It draws too much attention. But here... against the strongest Frontier Brain... we have nothing to hide."
On the field, the battle continued. Spenser noted the Burn on Slaking as he thought, 'Physical attack power cut in half. Smart.'
Slaking, following its instincts, prioritized recovery. It sat down and closed its eyes, a snoozing bubble appearing.
*Zzzzz*
Azure's eyes narrowed as he saw the sleeping Slaking, as he thought, 'Rest. The burn healed, and Slaking's health topped off, but now it was Asleep.'
Eevee didn't waste the turn. She summoned a dark, crackling energy, launching a Baddy Bad attack.
*Bang*
It struck the sleeping giant, and immediately, a shimmering wall of light erected itself in front of Eevee—Reflect. Sapphire noted, "Defense screens. Smart."
Slaking began to snore, but its body moved on autopilot. Sleep Talk.
*ZOOOOM*
The move selected was Mega Punch. Despite being asleep, Slaking launched a fist the size of a boulder at Eevee. The air pressure alone kicked up sand.
Eevee didn't dodge away; she dodged in. Her tail glowed with a metallic sheen—Iron Tail. She slammed her tail into the ground like a spring, vaulting herself vertically over the incoming fist.
*Boing*
As she crested the arc, she delivered a Double Kick to Slaking's face with a battle cry, "Evoi! (Take this! And some of that!)"
*Thud*
*Thud*
Slaking's head barely moved. It was too bulky. The damage was negligible against its massive HP pool.
Ruby analyzed, pushing his glasses up as he muttered, "This is bad. Slaking is a tank. Physically, its HP is off the charts. Even with the type advantage on the kicks, Eevee can't punch through that wall before Slaking wakes up and lands a hit."
Azure, however, was grinning as he thought, 'Seems like Eevee noticed. Time to see our training using Mimic didn't go to waste.'
Eevee landed and stared deep into the sleeping Slaking's eyes. Her eyes glowed with a mysterious light.
*SCREEE*
She opened her mouth, and instead of a growl or a cry, a haunting, melodic tune emerged. Three distinct, dark notes echoed through the Battle Palace.
Mimic: Perish Song.
The crowd gasped. Sapphire yelled in pure shock and disbelief, "Perish Song?! Since when can Eevee learn that?!"
Green explained calmly, enjoying the show as she explained to them, "She can't. But Azure taught her Mimic. It lets her copy moves she's seen before. And she's seen a lot of terrifying things with him."
A dark aura fell over the battlefield. A spectral count appeared over both Pokémon as they have 3 turns left...
Spenser's hand tightened on his staff. He realized the trap immediately as he murmured, "A timer..."
Slaking, still asleep, used Sleep Talk again. The move selected was Mega Kick as Azure mentally frowns, thinking, 'This is dangerous. Even with Reflect Up, a STAB-boosted Mega Kick from a Slaking could be a one-hit KO for a small Pokémon like Eevee. Even with [Eviolite] it's a gamble; fortunately, she knows better…'
Eevee didn't panic. As the massive foot came crashing down, her body glowed lilac. The tuft of fur on her forehead split, revealing a red gem. Her tail split into two.
*FLASH*
Eevee evolved. She was now Espeon as it cried, "Espee... (I see now.)"
Using the fine hairs on her body to read the air currents, Espeon predicted the trajectory of the kick before it even fully launched. She side-stepped with unnatural grace, the wind of the kick ruffling her fur as she missed pain by inches.
*WOOOOSH*
Seizing the opening, Espeon closed her eyes and hummed. A drip of water could be heard as Espeon flashed with psychic power, activating Calm Mind.
*Drip*
Her Special Attack and Special Defense rose by +1 stage. Spencer frowned as Espeon was setting up…
The Perish Count fell to 2...
Slaking, still snoring, used Sleep Talk a third time. Giga Impact.
*ZOOOOM*
The sheer force of the move caused the sand in the arena to liquefy. Slaking became a missile of destruction.
Espeon remained calm. The air currents told her everything.
*Wooosh*
She waited until the last fraction of a second, then leaped straight up, the Giga Impact passing beneath her. She landed softly and used Calm Mind again. Her Sp. Atk and Sp. Def rose to +2 stages.
The Perish Count fell to 1...
Slaking used Sleep Talk once again. But Slaking's eyes snapped open. It had woken up. It roared, preparing to crush the pest that had been dancing around it, "Slaaaaking!! (Ahh… good nap. Bye-bye foxy…)"
Azure nodded as he thought, 'Now this is game over.'
*FLASH*
Espeon glowed one last time, reverting to the small, adaptable Eevee. Eevee winked mischievously, crying out, "Vee-Voi! (Okay! Bye-bye loser!)"
*Zap*
She slapped her tail against the ground, a red energy enveloping her—Baton Pass. She vanished in a streak of red light, and in her place, a sinister shadow emerged from the ground.
*Pop*
Gengar appeared, cackling wildly, pointing its finger at Slaking, "Gengar! Gen!!! (Hahaha!! You're about to lose hard, ya dumb ape!)"
Because of the Baton Pass, Gengar inherited the +2 Special Attack and Special Defense boosts, along with the lingering Reflect. Slaking was confused before it suddenly clenched its chest tightly, "Sla… - KING?! (What… Ack!)"
The Perish Count hit 0.
A mournful bell tolled in the spectral plane. Slaking's eyes rolled back. The sheer spiritual weight of the song crushed its consciousness. The giant ape swayed, then collapsed face-first into the sand with a thunderous thud.
*THUD*
The stands erupted. Scott yelled, filming frantically in an excited voice, "Unbelievable! Burn, Reflect, Mimicked Perish Song, dodging as Espeon, and then Baton Passing the boosts to the next Pokémon? This kid is playing 4D chess without saying a word!"
Spenser recalled Slaking, staring at the Poké Ball with deep respect as he stated, "You fought well."
He looked up at Azure, a fierce grin breaking across his face, complementing him, "Superb! Truly superb! You weaponize adaptability like no other Trainer I have ever seen. Your spirit is not just strong; it is fluid, like water!"
Azure tipped an imaginary hat. Gengar floated in front of him, juggling shadow balls, eagerly awaiting the final opponent. Spenser boomed, "But the trial is not over! You have defeated the body. Now, you must face the soul! Come forth! Suicune!"
*Tmp*
The Aurora Pokémon walked on the sand, its ribbons flowing in an invisible wind. It stared down the Shiny Gengar, the air temperature dropping instantly.
Gengar's eye twitched. Suicune narrowed its gaze.
The final bout was about to begin.
Gengar turned slightly, catching Azure's eye. A single, almost imperceptible nod passed between Trainer and Pokémon. It wasn't a command; it was permission.
Azure raised his hand, the Mega Glove on his wrist gleaming under the Palace lights. He pressed his fingers against the Key Stone.
Gengar cackled, "Keh! (I can't believe I'm doing this…)"
*FLASH*
A blinding iridescent light erupted from the center of the arena. The symbol of Mega Evolution burned in the air, connecting Azure's heart to Gengar's soul. The light shattered, revealing a terrifying transformation. Gengar had grown, sinking into the ground, its body gaining a third eye—and its color shifting from a deep, spectral black to a stark, brilliant white.
Mega Gengar had arrived.
The Mega Gengar looked down at its white arms and let out a grumble of genuine annoyance, its tongue lolling out in distaste, "Ghe...! (Ugh! I hate this color! Doesn't scream scary ghost, damn it!!)"
Sapphire leaned over the railing, her eyes wide as she exclaimed, "Whoa! It Mega Evolved! But... why does it look so mad?"
Green let out a helpless chuckle, shaking her head as she stated, "It's not the power she hates. It's the look."
Scott asked curiously, lowering his camcorder, bewildered, "The look? Are you saying it's hard for Azure to control?"
Green corrected, pointing at the pouting ghost, explaining, "No. Azure's Gengar is vain. She hates the Mega Evolution because she turns pure white. She thinks it ruins her 'spooky aesthetic' and makes her look too much like a sheet ghost. At least according to my Gengar in their little council of theirs."
Ruby adjusted his glasses, staring at the field as he nodded in agreement, "She dislikes the color palette? Truly... a Pokémon of culture. And… I kind of agree."
Scott muttered, zooming back in, "Enough aesthetics. Look at Suicune."
*ZOOOOM*
The Legendary Pokémon wasted no time. With a burst of speed that cracked the sound barrier, Suicune vanished as it used Extreme Speed.
*SPLASH*
Before Gengar could even finish complaining about her Mega Form, Suicune was there, point-blank range. It opened its jaws, unleashing a Hydro Pump with the force of a bursting dam.
*THWUMP*
Gengar's instincts—sharpened by years of battling alongside Azure—kicked in. She didn't dodge left or right; she sank straight down. Its ability Shadow Tag prevented escape, but it didn't prevent hiding.
Gengar melted into her own shadow just as the high-pressure water jet shredded the air where she had been floating. Suicune landed gracefully, its eyes scanning the ground. It sensed the ghost moving underneath the sand.
The North Wind roared, "SUIIII!!! (You shall not escape!)"
*SPLASH*
Suicune began to spin, water generating around its body in a massive vortex. Surf. But it wasn't a wave; it was a centrifuge. The spinning water drilled into the ground, churning up the sand and forcing Gengar to resurface to avoid being ground to dust.
*SPLASH*
Gengar popped out of the ground, spinning through the air. She clapped her hands together, summoning five spectral blue flames. Will-O-Wisp.
She threw them not at Suicune, but at the spinning water. The intense heat of the ghost-fire met the churning water.
*HISSSSSS*
The arena was instantly engulfed in a blinding cloud of steam. Visibility dropped to zero as everyone couldn't see.
Sapphire cried out, "They can't see!"
Spenser's voice echoed calmly through the mist, "Suicune doesn't need to see."
*SHINNG*
A shimmering light pierced the fog. Suicune, momentarily blinded, stomped its paws. The moisture in the air began to crystallize. A transparent, hexagonal barrier expanded outward from the Legendary Pokémon, pushing the mist away and enclosing the area around it.
The Crystal Wall.
Ruby noted, recognizing the move from the lore, "That's Suicune's special technique! It creates a barrier that reflects attacks. But... wait, Gengar is inside it!"
The wall sealed shut. Gengar was trapped inside the crystal dome with Suicune. The air inside was finite. If Gengar didn't finish this fast, she would suffocate.
Gengar looked around the airtight prison. She grinned as she thought, 'If I were trapped in here with Suicune, then Suicune was trapped in here with me.'
*FLASH*
Her third eye glowed crimson. She drove a spectral nail into her own chest, sacrificing a portion of her health.
*STAB*
A dark, jagged aura erupted from her body, bypassing the physical defense of the Crystal Wall and sinking directly into Suicune's spirit. Gengar used the move Curse. The Curse began to sap its vitality, turn by turn.
Suicune roared in agony as the ghostly energy constricted its heart, "SUIII!! (Ack! Such a nasty trick!)"
*SPLASH*
Forced into a corner, Suicune retaliated. It fired a Hydro Pump inside the enclosed space. The water ricocheted off the crystal walls, creating a chaotic kill zone.
*Boing*
*Boing*
*Boing*
Gengar wove through the bouncing water jets, charging a Shadow Ball between her hands. She fired.
*BOOM*
The Shadow Ball collided with a second Hydro Pump, the explosion rocking the crystal dome. Scott yelled, "They're tearing each other apart inside that thing!"
*SPLAT*
Gengar, panting, launched a glob of toxic sludge—Sludge Bomb.
*PEW*
Suicune countered with an Ice Beam. The beam froze the sludge in mid-air, shattering it into toxic hail, but the Ice Beam continued, striking Gengar's arm.
Ice crept up the white fur of her Mega form. Frostbite.
Gengar hissed, shaking her frozen arm. The damage was mounting. But then, Suicune flinched.
The Curse tightened its grip, a purple aura flaring around the beast. Suicune knew it couldn't outlast the Curse. It gathered every ounce of moisture left within the Crystal Wall as it began to condense...
*SHIII*
Suicune prepared a final, devastating Hydro Pump, aimed directly at Gengar's chest. There was no room to dodge inside the wall.
Azure watched, his expression unchanged. He didn't shout. He just believed as he thought smugly, 'Now, Gengar.'
*SPLASH*
As the massive torrent of water exploded from Suicune's mouth, Gengar didn't move to dodge. In fact, she grinned devilishly as she thought, 'Tch. Took the damn mutt long enough. Now to turn this battle around!'
*SWF*
She slashed her claws through the air, tearing a hole in reality using the move Phantom Force. But she didn't step into it. She opened the portal directly in the path of the Hydro Pump.
*Wooosh*
The massive stream of water entered the portal—and vanished. Suicune's eyes widened in alarm, 'Nani?! Where – '
*Swf*
Behind Suicune, right at its shadow, a second portal tore open. And then came Suicune's own attack.
*SPLASH*
Suicune was blasted from behind by its own Hydro Pump from its own shadow, accelerated by the spatial warp. The impact slammed the Legendary Pokémon face-first into the Crystal Wall it had created.
*THUD*
The crowd gasped in unison. Sapphire screamed, "It redirected the attack?!"
*CRACK*
The Crystal Wall shattered from the impact. The shards of light rained down like glitter. But Gengar wasn't done.
*ZAP*
She lunged forward, grabbing the stunned Suicune by the ribbons. Green energy siphoned from the beast into the ghost as it used Strong StyleGiga Drain.
Gengar's health surged back, repairing the damage from the Curse and the frostbite. Suicune struggled to stand, its legs trembling.
The Curse flared one last time, draining its remaining stamina. It looked up, preparing one last desperate attack, but Gengar was already in the air.
The white ghost summoned a jagged bolt of electricity of Thunderbolt, the +2 Special Attack boost from Eevee, making the air crackle violently as it uttered, "Gengar~ (Sorry buddy, for I alone am the dishonored one!)"
*ZZZZZT*
The lightning crashed down, overpowering the weakened Water-type. A blinding flash engulfed the Battle Palace.
*Thud*
When the light faded, the mighty Suicune lay still on the scorched sand. The silence held for a heartbeat, and then the stands exploded.
On the field, the white armor of Mega Evolution shattered, fading away like mist. Gengar returned to her black, shiny form.
She looked down at herself, saw the black color return, and let out a sigh of pure relief, "Gengar… (Oh, thank Giratina that I'm returned to normal.)"
Azure was already there. He slid onto the sand and wrapped his arms around the ghost. Azure laughed, burying his face in her cool, gaseous fur, "You were amazing! Turning its own attack against it? That was genius."
Gengar's eyes widened, and a deep blush overtook her face. She giggled bashfully, hugging him back, "Gengar~ (Ah! You're making me blush~)"
Azure called out, "Sceptile! Eevee! Get out of here!"
*Pop*
In a flash of light, Sceptile appeared, nodding approvingly at Gengar. Eevee leaped from her Poke Ball and tackled Azure, licking his cheek. The whole team was a pile of joy in the center of the arena.
Spenser walked forward, his expression solemn but his eyes warm. He recalled Suicune, whispering a word of thanks to the beast, before turning to Azure.
Spenser said happily, his voice carrying effortlessly as he eyed them, "In the Battle Palace, we test the bond between trainer and Pokémon. We strip away commands to see if the hearts beat as one. Today, I did not see a Trainer and his tool. I saw a single spirit, moving in perfect harmony."
He opened his hand. Resting on his palm was a golden emblem as Spencer stated proudly, "The Spirit's Symbol. It is yours."
Azure stood up, gently taking the symbol as he thanked Spencer with a light bow, "Thank you, Spenser. This battle... it reminded me that I don't need words to tell them how much I trust them."
Green ran onto the field, followed closely by Ruby, Sapphire, and the sparking Pikachu and Pichu (Mew). Sapphire shouted, slapping Azure on the back hard enough to make him stumble as she said excitedly, her eyes sparkling, "That was incredible! Using the Crystal Wall against him? Genius!"
Ruby agreed, tipping his hoodie, "A truly beautiful finish."
Green smiled softly, handing Azure a water bottle as she stated excitedly, "Six down. You're really doing it."
Azure breathed, looking at the golden symbol glinting in the afternoon sun as he stated happily, "Yeah. Six down and one to go…"
*Clap*
*Clap*
But the celebration was cut short by the sound of slow, deliberate clapping. Scott stepped out from the shadows of the entrance, his sunglasses reflecting the tired team. Scott said, though his usual chill energy was replaced by something more serious, "Bravo, Azure. Bravo. You've conquered the Palace. You've beaten Spenser."
He walked closer, his voice lowering as he grinned knowingly as he stated, "But now, the fun and games are over. You have one facility left."
He pointed a finger toward the towering structure that loomed over the entire island, piercing the clouds. Scott said excitedly, "The Battle Tower. And at the top waits Salon Maiden Anabel."
Azure's expression hardened. Scott warned with a confident grin, "She isn't like the others. Spenser tests your spirit. Noland tests your knowledge. But Anabel... she is an Empath. She feels every emotion, every hesitation, every strategy before you even fully form the thought. She is the strongest Trainer in the Frontier. If you want that final symbol... you're going to have to go beyond anything you've shown us today."
Azure looked up at the tower. The wind picked up, rustling his hair.
He felt Eevee tighten her grip on his shoulder. He felt Pikachu spark next to him. He grinned as he said casually, clutching the Spirits Symbol tight, "Anabel, huh? Sounds like the perfect final boss. Let's go."
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter as we're nearing the end of the Battle Frontier/Emerald Arc soon enough...