Nowhere to Hide

9: Endurance

Meanwhile, I figured out her strategy, and I fell for it twice. Gardevoir was using Calm Mind.

"Shadow Ball," Paul called to his tired Froslass. At first, I thought he was pushing Froslass too hard, but looking back at Gardvoir, he had no other option. He was ramping up the pace to give Gardevoir as little time as possible to use Calm Mind. He figured it out too.

However, instead of dodging, Gardevoir redirected the Shadow Ball into the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust. Paul covered his Mouth. "Icy Wind!" He muffled.

On the other side of the battlefield, Diantha's intentions became clear. 

"What a Marvelous tactic! The Champion stirred up a dust cloud to cover her while her Gardevoir Mega Evolv-"

Sycamore didn't even get to finish. Dozens, and I mean dozens of Shadow Balls shot towards us like freight trains. Froslass had to teleport around to dodge them all, and despite Pikachu's speed, one still grazed his tail.

"You okay buddy?" I asked. "Pikaaaa" He replied weakly. Gardevoir summoned more Shadow Balls.

"Use your aerodynamics!" I shouted. Pikachu understood, almost diving into one of them, But he spun and narrowly dodged with the wind. I mentally cursed myself. I used this technique against Paul five years ago.

Gardevoir looked like she was about to summon more, but Froslass appeared in front of her. Use Disable!" Paul shouted. Gardevoir flinched at the move but fired a Point Blank Dazzling Gleam. Froslass took the attack, but she looked barely able to float after. Even Paul looked concerned.

"Nice work." Paul muttered, "At this rate though we are inevitably losing."

"Gardevoir is a Fairy-Type." I noted. "Pikachu, I know you're hurt, but we need to close the distance."

"Chu!" He obliged, dodging another Dazzling Gleam. However, Gardevoir caught Pikachu in her Psychic grasp when he was only feet away. 

"Looks like Pikachu was caught once again, this time by Gardevoir! The last time a Pikachu fought with such passion..."

I held my breath.

"...was when Champion Red visited Kalos last year! What a marvelous time that was."

I looked at Paul for backup, but he and Froslass were using a status move. It didn't look like Calm Mind, and I'm not even sure Froslass can learn Calm Mind. "What are you doing?" I whispered.

"Winning us the battle. Just keep diverting their attention. You were doing your role perfectly before you began questioning me."

It looked like Pikachu and I were on our own... or I guess, at the mercy of Paul's 'plan.' Bonus points if we can take down Gardevoir ourselves.

"What was your plan?" Asked Diantha. "Charge Gardevoir with an Iron Tail? That tail is in no state to attack right now."

"We weren't going to use Iron Tail," I said, pulling a Z-Crystal out of my pocket. Pikachu was surrounded by the Golden light coming from my Z-Crystal, freeing him from Gardevoir's grasp. 

"A Z-Move! This will be marvelou-" You know what, fuck it. I'm not making Sycamore say marvelous anymore.

"Pikachu, use Corkscrew Crash!"

As if out of nowhere, Pikachu's injured tail turned Iron. From it, he launched a titanic steel drill, which went ramming towards the Mega-Evolved fairy. "Protect!" Diantha called, but even that is unlikely to stop it. Once again, I shielded my eyes to protect myself from the stirred-up dust.

"Gardevoir is not knocked down. She is barely floating, but it looks like the challengers blew their chance to take down this Magical Mistress."

"We are on our last thread, but yours will be cut," the Champion of Kalos declared. "Gardevoir, deliver checkmate. Use Bide!"

Gardevoir's eyes glowed a brilliant white and it started floating high into the air. A brilliant ball of energy collected at her chest.

"Well, looks like it's actually over," I sighed. Pikachu just smiled. There's no shame in losing an awesome battle.

"No, it's not," Paul said. I was confused, but there was no time to think. Gardevoir released the Bide Lazer of doom on our side, tearing up the battlefield. Pikachu set up a Protect, but even he knew it wasn't enough. Froslass just stood there... or I guess, floated there? Either way, it had to be over.

I reopened my eyes. There were burn marks on the side of the Arena, which didn't surprise me.

"Pikachu and Froslass... wait what? Froslass is still floating? Ahem, Pikachu is unable to battle."

My mouth hung open, and the champions on the other side looked perplexed. 

"How..." said Diantha, "is Froslass unscathed?"

Paul cleared his throat. "When Gardevoir was distracted with Pikachu, I had Froslass use Psych Up to copy Gardevoir's status boosts. I didn't predict that Ato's Pikachu would use a Z-Move, but a well-timed Endure patched that err in my plan. I can tell that Champion Diantha is right now, trying to tell Mega-Gardevoir to use Recover, but I will fix that. Froslass, Shadow Ball.

The icy ghoul launched a quick Shadow Ball at the tired mega. Even before it made contact, Gardevoir collapsed and reverted back into her normal state.

"This is incredible! After two long hours and countless challengers, these two have ended the exhibition match! Paul Shinji, after winning the Lily of the Valley Conference and now this exhibition match, will be watched closely throughout the tournament; and I know all of Kalos wonders who this mystery trainer Tom Ato is. Gardevoir is unable to battle. Challengers Paul and Tom are the winners!"

The applause was deafening.

I ran over to Pikachu. "Are you alright, buddy?"

"Pikaaa," he said weakly.

"There there, take it easy," I said, placing him gently in my hoodie. "But not too easy, we're doing special psychic training with Mai tomorrow! After our round one battle of course."

I turned around, to see Paul hugging Froslass. "Froslass, you fought bravely. You should be proud of yourself, as I am extremely proud of you. Go take a long rest," he said, returning her to her pokeball. I think Paul finally gets it.

"That was an amazing battle." I said, walking out. "See you around, Paul!"

"Is that all you have to say to me?" He asked in a low voice.

I turned around curiously.

"Ketchum."