Chapter 105: Round 1's Finest
The arena's roar was still climbing when Malcolm stepped onto the platform, and Minnie walked to hers like she was strolling through a garden.
She waved at the crowd. The crowd waved back. Her red polka-dot dress swirled around her knees, and that perfect white bow sat atop her dark hair like a crown of innocence.
Malcolm didn't wave.
He stood at the far end of the platform with his hands in his pockets and his iron-gray coat hanging open. His face held the flat, unreadable calm of a man who had seen worse things than a cheering crowd.
Briv watched from the sideline. His hand was still wrapped around Patricia's, and Patricia's grip had tightened.
"He looks like he's already won," Patricia murmured.
"He hasn't," Briv said. But he wasn't sure he believed it.
"TRAINERS—READY YOUR POKÉMON!"
Minnie threw first.
A Pokémon burst from her ball with a flash of pink light and a sound like wind chimes. Clefable. The fairy type landed softly, its wings fluttering, its eyes bright and kind.
The crowd cooed.
Malcolm threw his ball without ceremony.
A Pokémon formed on the platform—dark, sleek, with a body like shadow given shape and eyes that burned crimson. Zoroark.
The crowd's cooing stopped.
"BEGIN!"
Minnie moved first.
"Clefable—Moonblast!"
A sphere of silver light formed between Clefable's hands. It launched.
Zoroark didn't dodge. It caught the sphere and shattered it with a swipe of its claws.
Minnie's eyes widened.
"Now," Malcolm said. His voice was low and flat. "Night Daze."
Zoroark's body exploded into darkness.
The wave of shadow and nausea slammed into Clefable. The fairy type staggered, its eyes glazing.
"Clefable—Wish!"
Clefable's body glowed.
"too slow," Malcolm said.
Zoroark was already moving. It crossed the platform in a blur of black fur and crimson eyes, and its claws found Clefable's chest.
Clefable flew. It hit the barrier. It slid down.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH ONE—MALCOLM WINS!"
The crowd was silent.
Minnie recalled Clefable. Her hands were steady. Her smile hadn't faltered.
"You're good," she said.
Malcolm didn't answer.
She selected her next ball.
She threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—round, pink, with a soft body and eyes that held ancient calm. Wigglytuff.
Malcolm recalled Zoroark. He selected his next ball.
He threw it.
A Pokémon formed—tall, dark, with a body like a tattered cloak and eyes that glowed with malevolent intelligence. Honchkrow.
"BEGIN!"
"Wigglytuff—Dazzling Gleam!"
Wigglytuff's body blazed with pink light.
Honchkrow took the hit. It ruffled its feathers. It didn't fall.
"Dark Pulse."
A wave of darkness erupted from Honchkrow's body.
Wigglytuff took the hit. It bounced backward. It didn't fall.
"Play Rough!"
Wigglytuff lunged.
Honchkrow rose into the air on silent wings. It circled once. Twice.
"Brave Bird."
Honchkrow dove.
The impact cracked the platform.
Wigglytuff didn't get up.
"MATCH TWO—MALCOLM WINS!"
The crowd was still silent.
Minnie recalled Wigglytuff. Her smile was gone now, replaced by something quieter. Something harder.
She selected her final ball.
She held it for a long moment.
Then she threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—large, pink, with a round body and eyes that held nothing but warmth. Blissey.
Malcolm recalled Honchkrow. He selected his final ball.
He threw it.
A Pokémon formed—massive, dark, with a body like a coiled serpent and eyes that burned with cold fire. Hydreigon.
The crowd gasped.
"BEGIN!"
"Blissey—Soft-Boiled!"
Blissey's body glowed.
"Draco Meteor," Malcolm said.
The sky above the arena darkened. Meteors rained down.
Blissey took the hits. Its body shook. It didn't fall.
"Soft-Boiled!"
Blissey healed.
"Draco Meteor."
More meteors.
Blissey healed. Again. Again. Again.
Malcolm watched without expression.
"Now—Dark Pulse."
A wave of darkness.
Blissey took the hit. It staggered.
"Hyper Voice."
A blast of sound.
Blissey flew backward. It hit the barrier.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH THREE—MALCOLM WINS!"
The crowd was silent.
Then, slowly, the silence broke into applause. Not cheers. Applause. The kind of applause reserved for something inevitable.
Minnie recalled Blissey. She walked to the edge of the platform.
Malcolm met her there.
"That was clean," Minnie said. "You didn't waste a single move."
"No," Malcolm said.
Minnie nodded. She walked off the platform.
Team Thirteen led. One to zero.
The host's voice rang out.
"Second match! Joel versus Shego! Trainers—ready your Pokémon!"
Joel swaggered to his platform with his hands in his pockets and his chin high. His gray jacket flapped in the arena's artificial breeze. His PokeWatch gleamed.
Shego walked to hers like a predator who had already chosen her prey. Her black-and-green combat suit hugged every line of her athletic frame. Her emerald eyes were half-lidded with something that wasn't quite boredom and wasn't quite hunger.
"TRAINERS—READY YOUR POKÉMON!"
Joel threw first.
A Pokémon emerged—large, brown, with a shell of rock and eyes that burned with fury. Torterra.
Shego threw hers.
A Pokémon formed—tall, dark, with a body like a shadow and eyes that glowed with green fire. Sableye.
"BEGIN!"
"Torterra—Earthquake!"
The platform buckled.
Sableye took the hit. It didn't fall. It didn't even flinch.
"What?" Joel said.
"Shadow Sneak," Shego said.
Sableye's shadow stretched. It disappeared.
It reappeared behind Torterra.
The strike connected.
Torterra staggered.
"Again—Earthquake!"
The platform buckled.
Sableye took the hit. It laughed.
"Foul Play," Shego said.
Sableye's claws glowed with dark energy. It struck.
Torterra flew backward. It hit the barrier.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH ONE—SHEGO WINS!"
The crowd cheered.
Joel recalled Torterra. His smirk had faded.
"Lucky," he said.
Shego didn't answer.
Joel selected his next ball.
He threw it.
A Pokémon formed—large, blue, with a shell and cannons and eyes that held steady calm. Blastoise.
Shego recalled Sableye. She threw her next ball.
A Pokémon emerged—tall, elegant, with a red crest and eyes that burned with psychic light. Gardevoir.
"BEGIN!"
"Blastoise—Hydro Pump!"
A torrent of water screamed across the platform.
Gardevoir raised a hand. The water split around it.
"What?" Joel said again.
"Psychic," Shego said.
Gardevoir's eyes blazed.
Blastoise rose into the air. It struggled. It couldn't move.
It slammed down.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH TWO—SHEGO WINS!"
The crowd was on its feet.
Joel recalled Blastoise. His hands were shaking.
He selected his final ball.
He threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—large, green, with a body like a tank and eyes that burned with determination. Venusaur.
Shego recalled Gardevoir. She selected her final ball.
She threw it.
A Pokémon formed—tall, dark, with a body like a nightmare and eyes that glowed with crimson fire. Houndoom.
"BEGIN!"
"Venusaur—Sludge Bomb!"
A sphere of poison launched.
Houndoom dodged. It launched.
"Flamethrower!"
A torrent of fire.
Venusaur took the hit. It staggered.
"Again—Sludge Bomb!"
Another sphere.
Houndoom took the hit. It staggered.
"Now—Nasty Plot."
Houndoom's eyes blazed. Its power grew.
"Dark Pulse."
A wave of darkness.
Venusaur flew backward. It hit the barrier.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH THREE—SHEGO WINS!"
The crowd erupted.
Joel recalled Venusaur. His face was white.
Shego walked to the edge of the platform.
"Good try, kid," she said.
Joel didn't answer. He walked off the platform.
Team Thirteen led. Two to zero.
Briv's chest was tight.
Patricia's hand was cold in his.
The host's voice rang out.
"Third match! Courtney versus Kay! Trainers—ready your Pokémon!"
Courtney walked to her platform with her back straight and her eyes forward. Her collared shirt was buttoned to the top. Her skirt was pressed. Her brown hair was pulled back so tightly it looked painted on.
She looked like she was marching into a war, not a Pokémon battle.
Kay walked to his platform with an easy stride and a warm smile. His blond hair caught the arena lights. His deep blue eyes scanned the crowd, found Briv, found Nicola, found Patricia.
He winked.
Nicola's expression didn't change. But Briv saw her jaw tighten.
"TRAINERS—READY YOUR POKÉMON!"
Courtney threw first.
A Pokémon emerged—large, gray, with a body like a boulder and eyes that burned with cold precision. Golem.
Kay threw his.
A Pokémon formed—large, green, with a body covered in leaves and eyes that held gentle calm. Leafeon.
"BEGIN!"
"Golem—Rock Blast!"
Rocks fired in rapid succession.
Leafeon dodged the first. The second. The third.
The fourth clipped its shoulder.
Leafeon stumbled.
"Now—Earthquake!"
The platform buckled.
Leafeon lost its footing.
"Rock Blast."
Another volley.
Leafeon couldn't dodge.
It fell.
"MATCH ONE—COURTNEY WINS!"
The crowd cheered.
Kay recalled Leafeon. His smile didn't waver.
"That's one," he said.
Courtney didn't answer.
Kay selected his next ball.
He threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—large, blue, with a shell on its back and eyes that held ancient wisdom. Blastoise.
Courtney recalled Golem. She threw her next ball.
A Pokémon formed—tall, elegant, with a red crest and eyes that burned with psychic light. Gardevoir.
"BEGIN!"
"Blastoise—Hydro Pump!"
A torrent of water.
Gardevoir raised a hand. The water split.
"Psychic."
Blastoise rose into the air.
It slammed down.
But it didn't fall. It pushed itself up.
"Now—Ice Beam!"
A lance of frozen light.
Gardevoir took the hit. It staggered.
"Again—Hydro Pump!"
Another torrent.
Gardevoir took the hit. It slid backward.
"Psychic!"
Blastoise rose again. It slammed down again.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH TWO—COURTNEY WINS!"
The crowd was on its feet.
Kay recalled Blastoise. His smile was gone.
"Okay," he said. "Okay."
He selected his final ball.
He held it for a long moment.
Then he threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—massive, green, with a body like a dinosaur and a flower on its back. Venusaur.
Courtney recalled Gardevoir. She selected her final ball.
She threw it.
A Pokémon formed—large, brown, with a shell of rock and a tree on its back. Torterra.
The crowd murmured.
"BEGIN!"
"Venusaur—Sludge Bomb!"
A sphere of poison.
Torterra took the hit. It grunted.
"Earthquake."
The platform buckled.
Venusaur took the hit. It staggered.
"Again—Sludge Bomb!"
Another sphere.
Torterra took the hit. It didn't fall.
"Wood Hammer."
Torterra's body glowed. It swung.
Venusaur took the hit. It flew backward. It hit the barrier.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH THREE—COURTNEY WINS!"
The crowd erupted.
Kay recalled Venusaur. His hands were steady.
He walked to the edge of the platform.
Courtney met him there.
"Good match," she said.
"You too," Kay said.
He walked off the platform.
Team Thirteen led. Two to one.
The host's voice rang out.
"Fourth match! Dariana versus Callum! This match is decisive! If Dariana wins, Team Thirteen advances! Trainers—ready your Pokémon!"
Dariana walked to her platform with the graceful stride of a dancer entering a stage she knew by heart. Her long brown hair flowed over her shoulders. Her dark eyes were calm. Her smile was warm.
But Briv saw the steel beneath it.
Callum walked to his platform with a slouch and a sneer. His purple hair hung in his eyes. His leather jacket creaked. His piercings caught the light.
He looked at Dariana like she was a puzzle he was going to solve by breaking it.
"Hey, sweetheart," he said. "Ready to lose?"
Dariana's smile didn't waver.
"I'm ready," she said. "Are you?"
Callum's sneer deepened.
"TRAINERS—READY YOUR POKÉMON!"
Dariana threw first.
Gallade materialized on the platform. The blade-armed psychic type landed in a crouch, its red eyes scanning Callum with cold intelligence.
Callum threw his ball.
A Pokémon formed—large, dark, with a body like a nightmare and eyes that burned with crimson fire. Houndoom.
The crowd murmured.
"BEGIN!"
"Gallade—Close Combat!"
Gallade blurred forward.
Houndoom dodged. Barely. The blade missed its throat by inches.
"Flamethrower," Callum said.
A torrent of fire.
Gallade took the hit. It staggered.
"Again—Close Combat!"
Another lunge.
Houndoom dodged. This time, not fast enough. The blade caught its shoulder.
Houndoom yelped.
"Dark Pulse."
A wave of darkness.
Gallade took the hit. It slid backward. It didn't fall.
"Psycho Cut."
Gallade's blades glowed with psychic energy. It swung.
The strike connected with Houndoom's chest.
Houndoom flew. It hit the barrier.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH ONE—DARIANA WINS!"
The crowd cheered.
Callum recalled Houndoom. His sneer faltered.
"Lucky," he said.
Dariana didn't answer.
Callum selected his next ball.
He threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—large, purple, with a body covered in toxic spikes and eyes that burned with malice. Drapion.
Dariana recalled Gallade. She selected her next ball.
She threw it.
Vespiquen materialized on the platform. The regal bug type hovered, its wings humming, its red eyes fixed on Drapion.
"BEGIN!"
"Drapion—Cross Poison!"
Drapion's claws glowed. It swung.
Vespiquen rose into the air. The claws missed.
"Attack Order."
A swarm of bees erupted from Vespiquen's body.
Drapion took the hits. It staggered.
"Again—Cross Poison!"
Another swing.
Vespiquen dodged. It launched again.
"Defend Order."
Vespiquen's body glowed. Its defenses rose.
Drapion attacked. Again. Again. Again.
Vespiquen took the hits. It didn't fall.
"Now—Power Gem."
A sphere of light formed. It launched.
Drapion flew backward. It hit the barrier.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH TWO—DARIANA WINS!"
The crowd erupted.
Callum recalled Drapion. His face was red.
"Bullshit," he said.
Dariana didn't answer.
Callum selected his final ball.
He held it for a long moment.
Then he threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—massive, dark, with a body like a coiled serpent and three heads that burned with cold fire. Hydreigon.
The crowd gasped.
Dariana recalled Vespiquen. She selected her final ball.
She held it for a long moment.
Then she threw it.
Croagunk materialized on the platform. The small poison-fighting type landed in a crouch, its yellow cheek markings bright, its eyes sharp.
Callum laughed.
"That's your last hope? A frog?"
Dariana didn't answer.
"BEGIN!"
"Hydreigon—Draco Meteor!"
The sky darkened. Meteors rained down.
Croagunk dodged the first. The second. The third.
The fourth caught its leg.
Croagunk stumbled.
"Dark Pulse."
A wave of darkness.
Croagunk took the hit. It flew backward. It hit the barrier.
It didn't get up.
Callum laughed again.
"MATCH THREE—"
Croagunk glowed.
White light blazed from its body—brighter than the arena lights, brighter than the chandeliers.
The crowd fell silent.
The light grew. The small body swelled. The limbs lengthened. The throat sac expanded.
When the light faded, Toxicroak stood on the platform.
It was tall and wiry, its blue body gleaming, its orange throat sac pulsing, its red eyes burning with cold fury. Its claws were long and sharp. Its smile was a promise.
It opened its mouth and croaked.
The sound echoed through the arena.
Callum's laugh died.
Dariana's eyes blazed.
"Toxicroak—Close Combat!"
Toxicroak launched. Its claws glowed.
The impact connected with Hydreigon's chest.
Hydreigon flew. It hit the barrier. It didn't get up.
"MATCH THREE—DARIANA WINS!"
The crowd erupted.
Briv screamed. Patricia screamed. Nicola screamed.
Dariana recalled Toxicroak. Her hands were trembling.
She walked to the edge of the platform.
Callum met her there. His face was white.
"You got lucky," he said.
"No," Dariana said. "I got better."
She walked off the platform.
The host's voice rang out.
"Team Thirteen wins the matchup! Three to one!"
The crowd roared.
Briv was already moving. He pushed through the crowd. He reached the sideline just as Dariana stepped down.
She saw him.
She smiled.
He caught her in his arms.
"You did it," he said.
"We did it," she said.
The night was still young.
But for now, Team Thirteen had qualified.
Team Fourteen was out.
=====
The roar of the crowd was still thundering through the arena when the overhead screens flickered and shifted. The applause for Team Thirteen's qualification hadn't fully died before the host's voice cut through the noise again.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the draw continues! We have two more teams to determine!"
The crowd's energy shifted. Briv felt it—a fresh wave of anticipation, hungrier than before. He was still standing near the sideline with Dariana's hand in his, Patricia pressed against his side, and Nicola a few feet away with her arms crossed.
The glowing sphere descended once more.
"Team Fifteen!"
The crowd waited.
"The first member of Team Fifteen—Runo!"
Runo Misaki burst through the trainer entrance like a firework. Her sky-blue twin-tails bounced with each stride. Her yellow lace-up top and frilled white skirt caught the arena lights, and her striped orange socks were a declaration of war against subtlety.
She pumped her fist at the crowd. The crowd roared back.
"She's got energy," Patricia said.
"She's got something," Nicola replied, and her voice carried an edge Briv couldn't quite read.
"The second member of Team Fifteen—Lindsay!"
Lindsay walked out with a bounce in her step and a smile that could melt ice. Her golden-blonde hair swayed beneath her headband. Her crop top and skirt were bright enough to blind.
She waved at everyone. Everyone waved back.
"The third member of Team Fifteen—Ben!"
Ben Tennyson strode out with his hands in his jacket pockets and a confident smirk on his face. His messy brown hair was windblown. His green eyes scanned the arena like he was already cataloguing threats.
He spotted Briv in the crowd. His smirk widened. He nodded once.
Briv nodded back.
"The fourth and final member of Team Fifteen—Julye!"
Julye Makimoto walked out with the precision of someone who had rehearsed every step. Her silver ponytail swung in a perfect arc. Her pink cropped top and matching shorts were stylish and practical, and her white boots clicked against the platform with military rhythm.
She took her position beside Runo, Lindsay, and Ben without a word.
The crowd's cheer was still echoing when the host spoke again.
"Team Sixteen!"
Another hush.
"The first member of Team Sixteen—Officer Jenny!"
Officer Jenny marched out in her crisp navy uniform, and the crowd's cheers turned respectful, almost deferential. Her teal-blue ponytail swung with each step. Her green eyes swept the arena like she was looking for threats.
She took her position with military precision.
"The second member of Team Sixteen—Jasmine!"
Jasmine glided out like she was walking through a palace garden. Her long black hair flowed past her shoulders. Her turquoise outfit glittered with golden jewelry and sapphire gemstones. She smiled at the crowd with the warmth of a sun-drenched afternoon.
She took her position.
"The third member of Team Sixteen—Gwen!"
Gwen shuffled out with her hands shoved deep in her jacket pockets. Her short black hair was streaked with turquoise. Her dark eyeliner was sharp enough to cut glass. She looked like she'd rather be anywhere else.
She took her position without looking at anyone.
"The fourth and final member of Team Sixteen—Elsa!"
The arena went silent.
Elsa emerged from the trainer entrance like a figure from a winter legend. Her platinum-blonde hair was braided over one shoulder. Her ice-blue gown shimmered with light that seemed to come from within. Frost trailed behind her, delicate patterns that melted the moment they touched the platform.
She walked with the calm assurance of someone who had never needed to prove anything to anyone. Her eyes were the color of frozen lakes. They swept across the arena, and even from the sideline, Briv felt the cold weight of her regard.
The crowd erupted.
Briv's breath caught. He'd heard the stories. Everyone had. But seeing her in person was different. She wasn't just beautiful. She was elemental, like stepping too close to a glacier.
The overhead screen flickered.
TEAM FIFTEEN VS TEAM SIXTEEN
RUNO VS JENNY
LINDSAY VS JASMINE
BEN VS GWEN
JULYE VS ELSA
The arena exploded with noise.
Patricia's hand found Briv's. Her fingers were cold.
"All four matches?" she said.
"All four," Briv confirmed.
"The entire team fights."
"The entire team fights."
The host's voice cut through the din.
"All four matches will determine which team advances! Each duel is worth one point! The team with the most wins advances to the next round!"
Briv's mind raced. Four matches. Four opportunities. Four chances to fail.
He looked at Runo on her platform, her twin-tails swaying, her teal eyes blazing. She was Patricia's friend. He'd seen her fight before—she was fast, aggressive, unpredictable.
Across from her, Officer Jenny stood with her arms crossed and her expression unreadable.
"We're about to see something," Nicola said quietly.
Briv turned. Nicola was watching Elsa, not Jenny. Her sharp brown eyes were fixed on the ice queen with an intensity that bordered on hunger.
"Something good or something bad?" Briv asked.
Nicola smiled. It wasn't a nice smile.
"Both."
The host raised his arm.
"Trainers—ready your Pokémon!"
Runo moved first. She grabbed a ball from her belt and hurled it with a battle cry that echoed across the arena.
A Pokémon erupted from the flash of light—large, blue, with a fin on its head and fists that crackled with electricity. Electivire.
The crowd screamed with delight.
Officer Jenny didn't flinch. She threw her own ball with the calm efficiency of someone who had done this a thousand times before.
A Pokémon formed on the platform—massive, brown, with a face like a bulldog and eyes that burned with determination. Granbull.
"BEGIN!"
Runo struck first.
"Electivire—Thunder Punch!"
Electivire lunged. Its fist crackled with electricity.
Granbull took the hit. It grunted. It didn't fall.
"Play Rough," Officer Jenny said.
Granbull's body glowed with pink light.
It slammed into Electivire.
Electivire flew backward. It hit the barrier. It didn't get up.
"MATCH ONE—OFFICER JENNY WINS!"
The crowd screamed.
Runo recalled Electivire. Her teal eyes were blazing. She wasn't upset. She was furious.
"You're good," she said.
"I know," Officer Jenny replied.
Runo selected her next ball. She held it for a moment, then threw it with everything she had.
A Pokémon emerged—tall, sleek, with a body like a sword and eyes that gleamed with steel. Gallade.
The crowd murmured.
Officer Jenny recalled Granbull. She threw her next ball.
A Pokémon emerged—large, blue, with a shell on its back and eyes that held steady calm. Blastoise.
"BEGIN!"
"Gallade—Psycho Cut!"
Gallade's blades glowed with psychic energy. It swung.
Blastoise took the hit. It staggered.
"Hydro Pump."
A torrent of water.
Gallade dodged. It spun. It launched again.
"Close Combat!"
A barrage of strikes.
Blastoise took the hits. It didn't fall.
"Now—Hydro Cannon."
The water pressure increased tenfold.
Gallade took the hit. It flew backward. It hit the barrier.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH TWO—OFFICER JENNY WINS!"
The crowd was on its feet.
Runo recalled Gallade. Her hands were trembling.
She selected her final ball. She held it for a long moment.
Then she threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—large, green, with a body like a dinosaur and a flower on its back. Venusaur.
Officer Jenny recalled Blastoise. She selected her final ball.
She threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—tall, elegant, with a red crest and eyes that burned with psychic light. Gardevoir.
"BEGIN!"
"Venusaur—Sludge Bomb!"
A sphere of poison.
Gardevoir raised a hand. The sphere dissolved.
"Psychic."
Venusaur rose into the air.
It slammed down.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH THREE—OFFICER JENNY WINS!"
The crowd erupted.
Runo recalled Venusaur. She walked to the edge of the platform.
Officer Jenny met her there.
"You're strong," Runo said.
"Thank you," Officer Jenny said.
Runo walked off the platform.
Team Sixteen led. One to zero.
The host's voice rang out.
"Second match! Lindsay versus Jasmine! Trainers—ready your Pokémon!"
Lindsay bounced to her platform with a smile that could power the arena. Her golden-blonde hair swayed. Her bright blue eyes sparkled.
She waved at Jasmine. Jasmine smiled back with the grace of a princess greeting a subject.
"Hi!" Lindsay called out. "Good luck!"
"Good luck to you as well," Jasmine said.
"TRAINERS—READY YOUR POKÉMON!"
Lindsay threw first.
A Pokémon emerged—large, pink, with a round body and eyes that held nothing but warmth. Blissey.
The crowd cooed.
Jasmine threw hers.
A Pokémon formed—tall, metallic, with a body like a snake and eyes that gleamed with cold intelligence. Steelix.
"BEGIN!"
"Blissey—Soft-Boiled!"
Blissey's body glowed.
"Steelix—Iron Tail."
Steelix's tail swung.
Blissey took the hit. It flew backward. It hit the barrier.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH ONE—JASMINE WINS!"
The crowd gasped.
Lindsay recalled Blissey. Her smile faltered.
"That's okay," she said. "That's okay."
She selected her next ball. She threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—tall, blue, with a body like a dinosaur and eyes that held ancient calm. Meganium.
Jasmine recalled Steelix. She threw her next ball.
A Pokémon emerged—large, gray, with a body like a boulder and eyes that burned with cold precision. Golem.
"BEGIN!"
"Meganium—Petal Blizzard!"
A storm of petals.
Golem took the hit. It grunted.
"Rock Blast."
Rocks fired.
Meganium took the hits. It staggered.
"Again—Petal Blizzard!"
Another storm.
Golem staggered.
"Earthquake."
The platform buckled.
Meganium lost its footing.
"Rock Blast."
Another volley.
Meganium fell.
"MATCH TWO—JASMINE WINS!"
The crowd was silent.
Lindsay recalled Meganium. Her smile was gone.
She selected her final ball. She held it for a long moment.
Then she threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—large, blue, with a shell on its back and cannons that gleamed. Blastoise.
Jasmine recalled Golem. She selected her final ball.
She threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—tall, elegant, with a body like a serpent and eyes that held ancient wisdom. Milotic.
"BEGIN!"
"Blastoise—Hydro Pump!"
A torrent of water.
Milotic took the hit. It rippled. It didn't fall.
"Recover."
Milotic's body glowed.
Blastoise attacked again. Again. Again.
Milotic healed. Again. Again. Again.
"Now—Ice Beam."
A lance of frozen light.
Blastoise took the hit. It staggered.
"Again—Recover."
Milotic healed.
Blastoise attacked. It was slowing. Its movements were heavy.
"Now—Hydro Pump."
A torrent of water.
Blastoise took the hit. It flew backward. It hit the barrier.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH THREE—JASMINE WINS!"
The crowd erupted.
Lindsay recalled Blastoise. She walked to the edge of the platform.
Jasmine met her there.
"That was fun!" Lindsay said.
"It was," Jasmine said. "You fought well."
Lindsay walked off the platform.
Team Sixteen led. Two to zero.
Briv's chest was tight.
Patricia's hand was cold.
The host's voice rang out.
"Third match! Ben versus Gwen! Trainers—ready your Pokémon!"
Ben walked to his platform with his hands in his pockets and his smirk firmly in place. His messy brown hair was windblown. His green eyes sparkled with confidence.
Gwen shuffled to hers with her hands still shoved deep in her jacket. Her dark eyeliner was sharp. Her expression was unreadable.
They looked at each other.
Something passed between them. Something old and complicated.
"TRAINERS—READY YOUR POKÉMON!"
Ben threw first.
A Pokémon emerged—large, green, with a body like a lizard and a tail that burned with fire. Charizard.
The crowd screamed.
Gwen threw hers.
A Pokémon formed—tall, dark, with a body like a ghost and eyes that burned with purple fire. Gengar.
"BEGIN!"
"Charizard—Flamethrower!"
A torrent of fire.
Gengar laughed. It dissolved into shadow.
The fire passed through empty air.
"What?" Ben said.
"Shadow Ball," Gwen said.
A sphere of darkness formed. It launched.
Charizard took the hit. It staggered.
"Again—Flamethrower!"
Another torrent.
Gengar dodged. It laughed again.
"Shadow Ball."
Another sphere.
Charizard took the hit. It slid backward.
"Now—Sludge Bomb."
A sphere of poison.
Charizard took the hit. It fell.
"MATCH ONE—GWEN WINS!"
The crowd gasped.
Ben recalled Charizard. His smirk was gone.
"Okay," he said. "Okay."
He selected his next ball. He threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—large, brown, with a body like a dinosaur and eyes that held ancient calm. Torterra.
Gwen recalled Gengar. She threw her next ball.
A Pokémon emerged—tall, elegant, with a body like a serpent and eyes that held ancient wisdom. Milotic.
"BEGIN!"
"Torterra—Earthquake!"
The platform buckled.
Milotic took the hit. It rippled. It didn't fall.
"Recover."
Milotic's body glowed.
Torterra attacked again. Again. Again.
Milotic healed. Again. Again. Again.
"Now—Ice Beam."
A lance of frozen light.
Torterra took the hit. It staggered.
"Again—Earthquake!"
The platform buckled.
Milotic took the hit. It didn't fall.
"Hydro Pump."
A torrent of water.
Torterra took the hit. It flew backward. It hit the barrier.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH TWO—GWEN WINS!"
The crowd was silent.
Ben recalled Torterra. His hands were shaking.
He selected his final ball. He held it for a long moment.
Then he threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—large, orange, with a body like a dragon and eyes that burned with determination. Dragonite.
Gwen recalled Milotic. She selected her final ball.
She threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—tall, dark, with a body like a nightmare and eyes that glowed with crimson fire. Houndoom.
"BEGIN!"
"Dragonite—Hurricane!"
A storm of wind.
Houndoom took the hit. It staggered.
"Dark Pulse."
A wave of darkness.
Dragonite took the hit. It staggered.
"Again—Hurricane!"
Another storm.
Houndoom took the hit. It slid backward.
"Now—Flamethrower."
A torrent of fire.
Dragonite took the hit. It fell.
"MATCH THREE—GWEN WINS!"
The crowd erupted.
Ben recalled Dragonite. He walked to the edge of the platform.
Gwen met him there.
"Good match," Ben said.
"Thanks," Gwen said.
Ben walked off the platform.
Team Sixteen led. Three to zero.
The host's voice rang out.
"Fourth match! Julye versus Elsa! This match is decisive! If Elsa wins, Team Sixteen advances! Trainers—ready your Pokémon!"
Julye walked to her platform with the precision of someone who had rehearsed every step. Her silver ponytail swung. Her pink outfit glittered. Her deep blue eyes were calm.
Elsa walked to hers like a figure from a winter legend. Her platinum-blonde hair was braided over one shoulder. Her ice-blue gown shimmered. Frost trailed behind her.
They looked at each other.
Julye's expression didn't change. Elsa's didn't either.
"TRAINERS—READY YOUR POKÉMON!"
Julye threw first.
A Pokémon emerged—large, blue, with a body like a dinosaur and eyes that held ancient calm. Aurorus.
The crowd murmured.
Elsa threw hers.
A Pokémon formed—tall, elegant, with a body like a serpent and eyes that held ancient wisdom. Milotic.
"BEGIN!"
"Aurorus—Thunderbolt!"
Lightning arced from Aurorus's body.
Milotic took the hit. It rippled. It didn't fall.
"Recover."
Milotic's body glowed.
Aurorus attacked again. Again. Again.
Milotic healed. Again. Again. Again.
"Now—Ice Beam."
A lance of frozen light.
Aurorus took the hit. It staggered.
"Again—Thunderbolt!"
Another arc.
Milotic took the hit. It staggered.
"Hydro Pump."
A torrent of water.
Aurorus took the hit. It flew backward. It hit the barrier.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH ONE—ELSA WINS!"
The crowd cheered.
Julye recalled Aurorus. Her expression didn't change.
"Okay," she said.
She selected her next ball. She threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—tall, sleek, with a body like a sword and eyes that gleamed with steel. Gallade.
Elsa recalled Milotic. She threw her next ball.
A Pokémon emerged—large, blue, with a body like a bear and eyes that held ancient cold. Beartic.
"BEGIN!"
"Gallade—Psycho Cut!"
Gallade's blades glowed.
Beartic took the hit. It grunted.
"Frost Breath."
A wave of cold.
Gallade took the hit. It staggered.
"Again—Psycho Cut!"
Another swing.
Beartic took the hit. It staggered.
"Now—Close Combat."
A barrage of strikes.
Beartic took the hits. It fell.
"MATCH TWO—JULYE WINS!"
The crowd cheered.
Elsa recalled Beartic. Her expression didn't change.
"Good," she said.
She selected her final ball. She held it for a long moment.
Then she threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—massive, pale, with a body like a glacier and eyes that held ancient power. Regice.
The crowd gasped.
Julye recalled Gallade. She selected her final ball.
She threw it.
A Pokémon emerged—tall, dark, with a body like a blade and eyes that gleamed with dark energy. Bisharp.
"BEGIN!"
"Bisharp—Iron Head!"
Bisharp lunged.
Regice took the hit. It didn't flinch.
"Ice Beam."
A lance of frozen light.
Bisharp took the hit. It staggered.
"Again—Iron Head!"
Another lunge.
Regice took the hit. It didn't flinch.
"Blizzard."
A storm of ice.
Bisharp took the hit. It flew backward. It hit the barrier.
It didn't get up.
"MATCH THREE—ELSA WINS!"
The crowd erupted.
Julye recalled Bisharp. She walked to the edge of the platform.
Elsa met her there.
"You fought well," Elsa said.
"Thank you," Julye said.
Julye walked off the platform.
The host's voice rang out.
"Team Sixteen wins the matchup! Four to zero!"
The crowd roared.
Team Sixteen advanced.
The arena was chaos.
Briv stood frozen on the sideline. His heart was pounding. His mind was racing.
Team Sixteen had swept. Four matches. Four wins. Elsa had taken down Julye without breaking a sweat.
And now Team Sixteen was moving on.
Patricia squeezed his hand.
"Hey," she said. "We're still in this."
"I know," Briv said.
But his eyes were on Elsa.
She stood on her platform, calm and composed, surrounded by her teammates. Officer Jenny was shaking hands with Jasmine. Gwen was still standing off to the side with her hands in her pockets. Jasmine was smiling at the crowd.
Elsa looked up.
Her eyes found Briv.
They held for a moment.
Then she turned away.
Briv's chest was tight.
"Come on," Nicola said. "Let's find Dariana."
They pushed through the crowd.
The night was still young.
But the tournament was moving on.
And Team Sixteen was the next threat.
=====
The noise of the arena faded behind them as they pushed through the tunnels, the concrete walls swallowing the roar until it became a distant, muffled pulse. Briv's ears rang with it. His skin still prickled with the leftover adrenaline of watching Team Sixteen dismantle Team Fifteen match by match.
Patricia walked beside him with her arms crossed. Her blond hair had come loose from its tie. She hadn't fixed it.
"We got lucky," she said.
"Did we?" Briv asked.
"We qualified first. We didn't have to play a fourth match. We didn't have to watch our entire team fall."
Nicola walked ahead of them, her boots clicking against the concrete. She didn't look back.
"Lucky isn't the word," Nicola said. "We qualified because we won. That's not luck. That's earned."
Patricia didn't answer.
They found Dariana in the trainer lounge, a long, low-ceilinged room with bolted-down benches and a wall of monitors showing replays of the night's matches. She was sitting alone on one of the benches, her hands wrapped around a paper cup of something steaming.
Her Toxicroak sat beside her, its long limbs folded, its red eyes half-closed. It looked almost peaceful. Almost.
Dariana looked up when they entered. Her smile was tired but genuine.
"You guys," she said.
She set the cup down. She stood. She hugged Patricia first, then Briv, then Nicola.
"Toxicroak evolved," Briv said. "That was incredible."
Dariana looked at the Pokémon beside her. Toxicroak opened one eye. It grunted.
"He did it for me," Dariana said. "He was losing. He knew it. And he evolved because he refused to let me down."
Toxicroak closed its eye again. Its throat sac pulsed once. It was the closest thing to a blush a poison type could manage.
Patricia sat down on the bench opposite Dariana. She pulled her knees up to her chest.
"We're up against Team Sixteen next round," she said. "If we win our next matchup."
"If," Nicola repeated. She didn't sit. She leaned against the wall with her arms crossed.
"We will," Briv said.
He heard the words come out of his mouth. He wanted to believe them.
The monitors flickered. A replay of Elsa's Regice destroying Julye's Bisharp played on a loop. The ice type hadn't even flinched. It had absorbed every hit like a glacier absorbing rain.
"I've never seen anything like that," Dariana said. She was watching the replay too. "Regice is a legendary. A real one. And she commanded it like it was her starter."
"She's an ice type specialist," Nicola said. "Or she was. Before."
"Before what?" Patricia asked.
Nicola didn't answer for a moment.
"There are stories," she said. "About where she comes from. About what she gave up. Nobody knows the truth."
Briv watched Elsa on the screen. Her platinum hair. Her calm expression. The way she moved like winter itself.
"She's going to be a problem," he said.
Patricia looked at him. Her blue eyes were sharp.
"We've faced problems before."
"Not like her."
"She's just a trainer," Patricia said. "She's just a person. She can be beaten."
Briv didn't answer.
He wasn't sure Patricia believed it either.
The door to the lounge opened.
Kay stepped inside. His blond hair was still perfect. His deep blue eyes found Nicola immediately.
"Hey," he said.
Nicola's expression didn't change.
"Hey."
"I wanted to say good match. Earlier."
"You too."
The silence stretched.
Dariana looked at Briv. Briv looked at Patricia. Patricia looked at the ceiling.
"I'm going to get more tea," Dariana said.
She picked up her cup and walked to the corner of the room. Toxicroak followed her, its footsteps silent.
Kay rubbed the back of his neck. He looked at Briv.
"Congratulations on qualifying," he said.
"Thanks," Briv said.
"You guys are going to do great."
"Thanks."
Kay looked at Nicola again.
"I'm sorry. About earlier. About the way things ended."
Nicola's expression didn't change.
"That was two years ago, Kay."
"I know."
Silence.
"So we're fine," Nicola said. "We're fine."
Kay nodded slowly. He didn't look like he believed it. But he didn't push.
"I'll see you around," he said.
He left.
Nicola didn't watch him go.
Patricia got up from the bench. She walked to Nicola.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You don't have to be."
Nicola looked at her. Her sharp brown eyes flickered.
"I know."
She pushed off the wall.
"Let's find the others. We should celebrate while we can."
They found Samuel outside the arena, standing on one of the floating bridges that connected the trainer facilities to the main dome. The night air was cool. The canal below glowed with soft blue light.
He was alone.
"Hey," Briv said.
Samuel turned. His dreadlocks were loose around his shoulders. His colorful loose clothing was rumpled. But he smiled.
"Hey," he said. "Congratulations."
"You too," Briv said. "Team Eleven qualified."
"We did."
Samuel's smile faded a little.
"Everything okay?" Patricia asked.
Samuel looked at the canal. The water rippled, catching the light.
"I fought Niklaus earlier," he said. "And Samantha. The Eclipse Squad people."
"We heard," Nicola said. "You beat Niklaus. Then lost to Samantha. Then Niklaus beat Skarmory."
Samuel nodded.
"He was watching me the whole time. Niklaus. During the match. Not with hate. Not with respect. With curiosity. Like I was a puzzle he was already solving."
Briv felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"Did he say anything?"
"No. But after the match, I saw him in the tunnel. He was talking to someone. A woman with pink hair and red glasses."
"Malva," Nicole said. "She's Elite Four. Kanto."
"She was with the Eclipse Squad?"
"She used to be. Before."
Samuel rubbed his arms.
"I don't like it. They're planning something."
"They're always planning something," Nicola said. "That's what they do."
"But this feels different."
Briv looked at the canal. The water was dark under the blue light. He thought of Elsa. Of Niklaus. Of the Eclipse Squad and their cold, careful plans.
"We'll be ready," he said.
Samuel looked at him.
"Will we?"
Briv didn't answer.
The celebration was small. A few drinks at a bar near the canals. A toast to qualifying. A toast to Toxicroak. A toast to Team Thirteen.
But Briv couldn't stop thinking about the next round.
Team Sixteen was waiting.
So was Elsa.
And somewhere in the dark, the Eclipse Squad was moving.
The night was still young.
But it felt older than it should have.
The bar was crowded with trainers and their Pokémon, laughter and clinking glasses filling the warm, low-ceilinged space. Briv sat in the corner booth with Patricia on one side and Dariana on the other.
Nicola sat across from him. Her drink was mostly untouched.
Runo appeared at the edge of the booth. Her twin-tails were deflated, her teal eyes red-rimmed.
"Can I sit?" she asked.
Patricia slid over.
Runo dropped into the seat. She put her head on the table.
"I lost," she said. "Three to zero."
"You fought Jenny," Briv said. "She's a police officer. She's trained her whole life."
"I still lost."
"You made her work for it. I saw the second match. Gallade almost took down her Blastoise."
Runo looked up.
"I know."
She looked around the bar. She saw Dariana. She smiled a little.
"Hey. Good job on your match."
Dariana smiled back.
"Thanks. You too."
Runo looked at Briv.
"Your team is next," she said. "You're going to have to fight Team Sixteen."
"Not yet," Briv said. "We have to win our next matchup first."
"Against who?"
"We don't know yet. They haven't drawn the next round."
Runo put her head back down.
"I hate waiting."
Patricia laughed.
"We all do."
The bar door opened. A gust of cool air swept through the room.
Briv looked up.
Elsa stood in the doorway.
The room went quiet.
She didn't move. She just stood there, scanning the crowd. Her eyes found Briv.
She walked toward him.
The conversation around them died. Patricia's hand found Briv's under the table.
Elsa stopped at the edge of the booth.
"Briv Ambertone," she said.
Her voice was soft. Cool. Like water running over stones.
"Elsa," Briv said.
"You fought well tonight. Your girlfriend too. The evolution in her match was impressive."
"Thanks."
"I wanted to meet you. Properly. Before we face each other."
"We haven't been drawn yet."
"We will be."
Briv's mouth went dry.
Elsa smiled. It was a winter smile. Beautiful and cold.
"I look forward to it."
She turned and walked away.
The room stayed quiet for a long moment.
Runo lifted her head.
"What the hell was that?"
"I don't know," Briv said.
He looked at Nicola.
Nicola was staring at the door. Her expression was unreadable.
"That," she said, "was a warning."
The night was no longer young.
And the League had only just begun.