章 69: 28
"Hey, May?"
May looked over, not ceasing in giving Swablu a scratch. "What is it, Max?"
"Well..." Max shrugged. "Nothing, really, just... well, I was a bit nervous about tomorrow."
"Oh, right," May nodded. She looked around, noting the landmarks – in particular, the high hills. "Nearly home."
"Yeah, and I'm battling Dad tomorrow," Max agreed. "I'm kinda nervous... I mean, I know I've already got four badges, but..."
"Yeah," May agreed. "It's Dad."
Swablu peeped, and May chuckled. She picked up a bit of Pokeblock, and gave it to him. "There you go."
Chirping his thanks, Swablu floated into the air.
"What have you got him practising?" Max asked, watching the Flying-type go.
"Well, basically, I'm starting with singing without Singing," May told him. "I think he could do a piece of classical music I found, and some acrobatics with that – and if he puts up some mist, then clears it as he rises using Cloud Nine, that's a good visual accompaniment."
"Sounds nice," Max agreed. "Very low-key, but sometimes that's better."
He shook his head. "Sorry, that's not what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to... well, what do you recommend?"
"To battle?" May checked, and got a nod. "Well... you remember when we were training Ethan and Kris?"
Max nodded.
"That's going to help, but he'll be ready for all Kris's tricks. So... if you do use Kris, try to make him think you're going to do one thing before doing another. Apart from that..."
May frowned, looking over the campsite at Guy and Lucario having a deep discussion about the best way to punch.
"Guy's your obvious first choice," she said. "In fact, he's so obvious that Dad's sure to have picked a Pokémon to stop him. But... that means you can pick a Pokémon to stop that."
"Like... Arc?" Max asked. "I guess he'd be good handling a Flying-type."
"Well, that would mean Staravia," May agreed. "Unless Dad's caught something else. The trouble is, Staravia's pretty tough herself."
"Right," Max nodded. "I guess there's no simple answer."
"That's the point," May agreed.
The two siblings were silent for a few minutes, and May lay back with a pleased sigh. Her arms went out to either side, and she looked up into the darkening sky.
"It's going to be good to be home, even for just a couple of days," she said.
"Yeah," Max agreed. "Mom's cooking..."
"Well, who's better, Mom or Brock?"
Max thought about that.
"I know," he said. "Ask them both that at the same time. Then we get them competing over it."
"Sneaky," May sniggered. "I like the sound of that."
They watched the sky darken for another few minutes.
"Hey, look!" May said suddenly, pointing.
"Where?" Max asked.
"Aw, you missed it..." May sighed. "Sorry, I wasn't quick enough. It was a shooting star."
"Well, I guess you should make a wish," Max said.
May nodded, and squeezed her eyes shut for a moment.
"Did you make one?" Max asked, looking over.
"Yeah," May agreed. "I wished that it'd be possible for Manaphy to travel with me... some day."
"That's a good wish," Max agreed. "I wonder how they handle things when Manaphy's not been born yet?"
May shrugged. "I don't know... but yeah, that'd be a good thing to find out."
"Hey, guys!" Brock called. "Do you want some hot cocoa?"
"Sure!" Max called back. "What about you, May?"
"Some for me too, please!"
"Okay, it'll be over in a minute!" Brock called back.
"It's a good thing the weather's so nice," Max said, getting up and finding a stump to lean back against. "This way, we can stay outside while it's warm."
May nodded.
Blaziken came walking over with three mugs, and passed two of them down to the humans. "Here you are," he said, flame licking around his wrist for a moment. "Just the temperature you like it."
"That's really convenient," Max said, with a chuckle. He patted the grass between them. "Hey, come join us!"
"Thanks." Blaziken sat down, crossed legs, and sipped his cocoa.
Frowning, he gave it another flicker of heat, and the noise made Max look over.
"...did you just boil that?" he asked, startled. After a moment, he fumbled out Kris so he could see any reply.
"Yes?" Blaziken said, after waiting long enough to let Max read the answer off. "Is that a problem?"
"He is a Fire-type," May pointed out. "Did you put any marshmallows in?"
"They melted," Blaziken said, morosely. "So did the spoon."
Max did a double take. "But – wait, how?"
"He's just joking," May said fondly. "I'm pretty sure he is, anyway..."
"No, you're right, I am," Blaziken confirmed, with a quick smile. He took another sip of the cocoa, and apparently enjoyed that dose much more. "Ah, it's just right when it burns all the way down."
"Can't argue with that," Max admitted.
He took a gulp of his own drink, then spluttered as some if it went down the wrong way.
"Max!" May said, concerned. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Max nodded, coughing. "Just drank a bit too fast..."
"Well... don't?" May suggested.
"Thanks, that's a real help..."
"So you met Brock kind of like I met May!" Swablu said. "That's kind of an interesting coincidence..."
"Yeah," Stantler nodded, then winced. "Sorry, forgot!"
Swablu's wings flapped lazily, and he came drifting down to alight on Stantler's horns again. "It's okay, I know you didn't mean to."
Stantler sighed in relief. "Sorry... I did wonder..."
"So... uh..." Swablu looked around. "This is probably the closest I've ever been to a city."
"I was amazed the first time I saw one, too," Stantler agreed. "From a long way away they look kind of... well, kind of indistinct. But when you're close you can really see how the buildings make it up – look, there's houses here, and further ahead there's all the much taller buildings. They're called tower blocks, and some of them are called skyscrapers."
Swablu hopped around in a half-circle, and gazed up at the tallest building in sight. "Wow. And humans and Pokémon built that?"
"They did," Stantler agreed. "I've seen some buildings even taller than that – which are just shops. Shops all the way up the inside!"
The Flying-type thought about that.
"But how would humans get to the top?" he asked. "Do they float on Pokémon?"
"No, they use stairs," Stantler told him. He concentrated, and an image appeared for a moment which showed the inside of a building. "There are floors all the way up, and stairs between them."
"Oh, I get it!" Swablu nodded. "Thanks, you sure know a lot!"
Stantler smiled, half-closing his eyes in pleasure, and shrugged – gently, to not shake Swablu off. "I'm glad you think so – I joined Brock to see the world, and so far I've seen a lot... and it's all been fascinating."
Stopping for a moment as Brock and the others stopped, Stantler raised a leg. "This is a lot warmer than it was where I grew up. It's a bit more humid, too – kind of like a really hot day of summer back home, but it's like this all the time."
"So... for me it'd be colder?" Swablu asked. "That's kind of... well, Momma always told me that my feathers are good for stopping cold air to get to me, but I'm not sure how that works."
The group got moving again, more slowly as they moved through the press of people, and Swablu hopped from one prong to another. "So... what's it like, having a trainer? And battling, I mean?"
"Well, Brock's really nice," Stantler said. "He's really helped teach me a lot – about how to battle, and how to use my illusions to stay safe. He says that's every bit as important."
The Normal-type skipped sideways to avoid colliding with his trainer. "And I guess your new trainer is a Coordinator... from what I've seen, the important bit there is looking good, though battling's important too. And May's pretty good at it."
"Yeah, I'm kind of looking forward to the first bit," Swablu agreed. "Battling, though... I'm not all that sure if I can hurt someone."
"Well, anyone you're battling will have wanted to," Stantler pointed out. "Ninetales says that it's more important to show someone you're taking them seriously, in an official battle – if you don't give it enough effort, it's kinda insulting to them."
Swablu considered that, and flapped his wings a bit to stay stable. "I think I understand that..."
"It's something it took me a while to learn," Stantler agreed. He stopped talking for a moment as raised voices started, then continued. "I actually used to do battles by just setting up a Double Team, camouflaging myself with illusions, and standing a long way away."
Swablu giggled, a piping sound. "That must have looked really funny!"
A flash behind the blue Flying-type made Stantler blink, and he nodded. "Yeah, it kind of was – hey, this crowd's a bit loud..."
Swablu switched prongs again, getting to one much closer to Stantler's ears. "Is this better?" he asked, speaking up a bit.
"Yeah," Stantler agreed. "It was a bit, but since then I've learned some better moves – like Me First, that's pretty cool."
"What does that move do again?" Swablu frowned, trying to remember the details.
"Whatever my target was going to do, first," Stantler said. "It's pretty funny too, actually..."
Someone bumped into them.
"Hey!" Stantler protested, taking a couple of steps sideways. "That's kind of rude!"
"Uh – Stantler?" Swablu asked. "I just realized, I didn't ask about it before... I know Ash has Latias, and Max has Jirachi, and I've met Keldeo-"
"He's Ash's Pokémon as well," Stantler interrupted. "But I'm pretty sure he's going home soon."
"Oh, okay," Swablu said. "That's kind of sad. I like him... anyway, do any of May's friends have any other Legendaries?"
"Ash has... um, hold on, I need to count..." Stantler looked up. "Suicune, Entei, Raikou, Ho-Oh, Lugia, Mewtwo and Latios as well."
Swablu blinked. "That's quite a long list."
"Yeah," Stantler agreed. "But they're all really nice – Raikou's kind of bombastic, but he's funny. And Suicune is very kind."
Swablu glanced around. "Oh, hey, look – that's Suicune right there! I didn't notice before!"
Stantler followed his gaze, and saw Suicune standing in the middle of a clear space.
"Thank you," the Water-type said, as the crowd fell silent. "Now. My trainer and his friends are trying to get through the streets to Petalburg Gym. Would it be too much to ask that you didn't make all this noise?"
The large crowd – which, the two Normal-types now noticed, was very large indeed – muttered and shuffled their feet.
"Thank you," Suicune said. "Now, if we could please come through...?"
"Be the hatches dogged tight?" Archie asked, over the intercom.
"They be!" Matt called back. "All fast, shipshape, and finest Sasebo order, cap'n!"
"And Shelly!" Archie added. "Are the ballast tanks all filled?"
"Filled, skipper!" Shelly replied. "An' the engines be ready for startin – we be ready to set sail!"
"Then weigh anchor!" Archie ordered.
"Two and one-half tonnes!" a member of the bridge crew said.
Archie sighed, smacking his hand into his forehead. "Nay, belay, weigh the anchor!"
"Oh, right! Uh, I mean, aye!"
Fumbling in his haste, the unfortunate crewman threw a switch. The clanking grate of the anchor winch echoed faintly through the hull, and then the Kyogre's Revenge trembled as she nosed out of her anchorage.
"Ar, now this be like it!" Archie said, slapping the console. "What speed?"
"Three knots... four... five, skipper," the helmsman replied. "We can't be making more than five knots in these waters, there be shoals."
"Aye," Archie nodded, stroking his chin. "Well, then... Sonar?"
"The channel be straight for forty more yards, then there be a turn right," the sonar-man said, most of his attention on his screen and earphones. "Then we be heading out into the open sea."
Archie leaned back against the rail. "Good... good. How be the weapons?"
"Sharpedo trainers be at tubes one and two," Matt reported.
For the next few minutes, Archie checked on system after system as Kyogre's Revenge sailed out into open water.
"Depth?" he asked.
"It be twelve fathoms," the sonarman said.
"Good!"
Archie chuckled. "Now, here be the fun bit. Dive!"
Up on the surface, a pair of Wingull flew above a small inlet on the rugged Hoenn coast.
"Hey, look," one said, nodding down.
Her mate dipped his flight path, spotting the tiny-looking ship, and frowned. "I've never seen one like that before. Where are all the people?"
"Humans don't have to be on the top of their ships, I think," the female frowned. "They can be inside... I'm fairly sure."
"Really?" the male asked. "Who told you-"
They were interrupted by a great bubbling rush.
As they watched, startled, the strangely-shaped boat vanished under the water in a huge rush of bubbles.
"Do you think someone used Bubble on them?" the male said, after a moment.
"Twenty feet down and holdin', captain," the helmsman reported. "All seems sturdy."
"Good," Archie nodded. "Now, make for the open-"
There was a crunch.
"Cap'n, I think there be a sandbank in the way!" the navigator said.
"...ye don't say," Archie sighed. "All right, let's be back up again."
"...but what I'm saying is, maybe it was damaged," the female suggested. "That could mean it would just break..."
"Or perhaps..."
Water cascaded aside, and the Kyogre's Revenge broached with a splashing sound before beginning to slowly reverse.
"...never seen a ship unsink before," the male noted.
Norman sat on a chair in the lobby of his gym, reading a magazine.
It was quite a good one. The article he was reading was about Mega-Evolution, and specifically the various Fire-types already confirmed to have Mega-Evolutions.
He'd heard they were going to do all the types, one by one.
Linoone churred, bouncing up onto his knee, and he gave the swift-running Pokémon a stroke. "Hey, boy..."
Leaning into the scratch, Linoone let out a sound of ecstatic pleasure.
"So, what do you think?" he asked the Normal-type. "Think you're going to be able to Mega-Evolve?"
Linoone contrived to shrug without getting any further from Norman's scratches.
"Well, you know..." the Gym Leader shrugged, then looked up at a knock on the door.
"Come in!" he called.
The door clicked open, and his children came through – followed by the slightly startling shape of Suicune, turning to speak (actually speak, comprehensibly to his ears) behind her as she did so.
After that, Ash and Brock slipped in with their Pokémon, and the door was closed quite firmly.
"Phew!" May sighed, slumping a little. "Those crowds were awful..."
"Hi, May," Norman called, standing up. Linoone jumped off his lap, dodged through his legs, and claimed the warm seat he'd left behind. "Bad day?"
"Dad, your fan club's awful," Max said, to an agreeing yap from his Electrike – Jolt? Arc? One of those names, anyway. "They recognized us just inside the city limits, and it took us ages to get through."
"Yeah," May agreed. "And it didn't help that they recognized Ash as well..."
"Well, if he had Suicune with him," Norman said, nodding to the blue-white Water-type. "She's – it is she, right?" On a nod, he went on. "She's kind of recognizable, I think..."
"Actually, Suicune was what let us get through," Brock explained. "She told them all off, and got them to make space to let us through."
"I see," Norman nodded. "I've only met you once before – Brock Slate, right?"
Brock confirmed with a tilt of his head. "One of the Pewter Gym Leaders, though I've not done any challenges there in a while..."
"Well, you've got others to take over," Norman agreed. "It's perfectly fine then. Oh, are those two yours?"
Brock followed Norman's gaze to Stantler and Swablu. "Oh, no, just the Stantler."
"Whose is the Swablu, then?" Norman asked.
May smiled, and raised her arm. Spotting the cue, Swablu took off with the lightness of thistledown and flew gently over to alight on her forearm.
"We helped him out a week or so ago," May explained. "He had a broken wing, so we stayed with him until it healed, and... well, we got to know one another."
"It's nice to meet you, then, Swablu," Norman said, speaking directly to the Flying-type. "Of course, my opinion on Swablu is a little coloured by how they stop being Normal-types – the traitors-"
Swablu giggled.
"-but he looks like a handsome Pokémon," Norman concluded. "Take good care of my daughter, Swablu."
Puffing himself up, the blue Flying-type let out a self-important chirp.
Smiling, Norman turned to his son. "And how are you, Max?" he asked. "I got your most recent letter, but..."
"No, nothing much has changed since," Max confirmed. "I've been kind of worried about our battle, though..."
"That's all right," Norman assured him. "It's okay to be nervous."
He switched topics, to take Max's mind off it for a while. "And – would you mind letting me see all your Pokémon? You as well, May," he added. "I've heard a lot about Skitty and Beautifly, but never actually seen them."
"Good idea!" Max agreed. "Hey, Jirachi, you first!"
The Legendary Steel-type poked his head out of Max's bag with a perky grin. Hi, Max's dad! I'm Jirachi!
"It's good to meet you, Jirachi," Norman smiled. "I'll be careful not to accidentally wish anything."
Thanks! Jirachi nodded. It can get kind of inconvenient sometimes...
"Okay," Norman said, after meeting all of Max's new Pokémon. "Ready?"
Ash nodded eagerly. "Yeah!"
Max looked a bit more apprehensive.
"What about you, Max?" Norman asked.
"I... yeah, I think I'll be okay," Max nodded. "Sorry, I'm just kind of nervous..."
Norman considered. "Would you rather go first or second?"
"I think..." Max paused, thinking it over. "I'll go... first."
"Right," Norman said, with a quick smile to reassure him. "Then can the others get off the floor... and can you pick your first Pokémon?"
"I've already chosen," Max said, tapping a Pokéball as the others took their places.
"Good," his father agreed. "Three versus three, last mon standing... or flying, or just there, as the case may be."
The quip, weak as it was, made Max snort. "Okay, got it."
Norman paused, then drew back his hand. "Vigoroth!"
"Guy, you first!" Max instructed, sending the Breloom out at the same moment.
The Grass-type and the Normal-type faced one another, exchanging looks.
Max spoke first. "Mach punch!"
"Quick Attack!" Norman countered, and the two Pokémon shot towards one another.
Vigoroth's feet hit the floor and he kicked off, tucking into a roll and striking out at Guy's shoulder, and the Breloom lashed out with a punch at the same moment so there was an overlapping thwack of impact.
Vigoroth was sent skywards by the impact, but that didn't faze him – he just grabbed onto one of the Gym roof rafters, swung in a tight circle, and came back down on an intercept course.
"Look out behind you!" Max called hurriedly. "Don't let him-"
Vigoroth's second blow hit harder with the momentum, and Guy staggered before swiping out with his tail and knocking the Normal-type sideways.
Guy followed up on his success with a hard one-two combination, and Vigoroth dodged the first blow before being hit by the second and skidding off towards the wall.
"Focus Energy, Vigoroth!" Norman called, and the entirely-not-slothful sloth began doing a hooting chant.
"What's he saying?" Max heard his sister ask.
"It's... not really very polite," Ash replied awkwardly.
"Watch out, Guy!" Max instructed. "Vigoroth's getting pretty worked up – okay, try a Mega Punch!"
Winding up briefly, Guy launched himself forwards with a springing motion of his powerful hind legs.
As he ran, Vigoroth coiled up too, and then began swiping with his long claws.
Guy didn't dodge a single Fury Swipe. Instead, he blocked – putting so much force into the blocks that Vigoroth was clearly being bruised a bit as well – and then just took one or two of them, accepting them as the price of landing his Mega Punch.
The blow knocked Vigoroth backwards, but he once more managed to reorient himself in time and avoid hitting the wall too hard.
"Huh, that's – wait a moment!" Norman said, realizing. "He's got Poison Heal, hasn't he?"
"Yeah," Max agreed. "And he's got your old Toxic Orb, too."
"Good thinking!" Norman praised, as the two Pokémon circled warily. "That's a lot better use than I tended to get out of it – I'm glad I entrusted it to you."
Max smiled, touched.
"Okay!" he said, focusing on the battle again. "Let's try a Force Palm!"
Guy's claws dug slightly into the thin layer of bamboo over the top of the main gym floor, and he used the leverage to come bounding forwards again.
Accepting the challenge, Vigoroth moved as well – then side-stepped, making Guy's blue-glowing Force Palm go wide, and landed a one-two-three combination of both feet and a claw swipe on the wide-open Breloom.
"Guy!" Max called, then sighed with relief as the Grass-type indicated he was still hale. "Great... I was worried..."
"I'll be okay," Guy replied. "I'm tougher than that!"
Max smiled. "I guess you are."
Norman looked on a little wistfully. "I wish I could do that," he said. "It must be great for your Pokémon to be able to talk back."
"It is, yeah," Max agreed. "And... yeah, it's great."
He turned his attention back to the battle. "Okay, Guy – let's try a low leaf storm!"
"Jump over it!" Norman instructed.
Vigoroth promptly coiled and did so – getting into the air, over...
...no attack.
Norman blinked, as Guy moved swiftly forwards... towards where Vigoroth was going to land.
"Wait," he said, suddenly. "Breloom can't learn Leaf Storm..."
"Yeah," Max agreed, and then Guy was close enough.
As Vigoroth landed, his opponent lunged – powerful clawed foot sweeping out to hit his foe in the legs.
The blow knocked Vigoroth sideways and a little into the air – and, spinning faster, Guy slapped his tail into Vigoroth with a rising movement.
Vigoroth managed to partly ride out that blow, but then the third and final component of Guy's combo came into effect.
He sprang skywards, and hit Vigoroth with a Sky Uppercut.
"Good!" Norman said, nodding, as Vigoroth sailed through the air – much less controlled this time. "You worked out an attack combination, and named it after a real attack – that's clever!"
Vigoroth landed, rolled once, and came to his feet, and rubbed a cut lip.
"Unfortunately," he went on. "Vigoroth's not out of the fight yet."
He pointed. "Return!"
"Look out!" Max yelped.
Vigoroth didn't delay in using the attack. He sprang forwards, slamming his fist into Guy's chest and accepting the stinging counterblow, and this time it was Guy's turn to go flying backwards into the wall.
"Ow," he said indistinctly.
"Guy, are you-"
"I'm fine," the Breloom interrupted, reaching up and touching his Toxic Orb. "Or, I will be soon."
"I guess so," Max agreed. "Okay, just hang in there!"
Guy nodded, rolled his neck, and advanced back into battle – his Mach Punch clashing off a Chip Away from Vigoroth.
"I'm amazed how evenly matched they are," May said, softly. "I mean, I know Dad's a great trainer, but... you know. Guy's a really hard-hitting Fighting type."
"Well, if you're a good enough trainer then types are just another challenge," Ash agreed. "But I think Guy's got the advantage here – he's healing, Vigoroth isn't."
"Yeah," May agreed. "But I bet Dad knows that too..."
"Ice Punch!" Norman ordered suddenly.
Caught off guard, Guy's block didn't prevent the Ice-type attack hitting home. There was a musical crash, and he skidded backwards.
"Where's that come from?" Max asked, startled.
"Well," Norman shrugged. "Can't show you everything right at the start, can I?"
Max nodded ruefully. "I guess so... Guy, you okay?"
"I said already," Guy confirmed, brushing snowy ice off his arms. "I'm tougher than that."
"Yeah, but I do worry..." Max said, sighing. "Okay, ready? And look out for the Ice Punch this time!"
"Of course."
Guy lunged, and the two fast Pokémon engaged in another snarling fistfight.
It was about twenty seconds into the latest, complex exchange of punch-counterblow that Guy made a tactical blunder.
Reacting half-way on instinct, he ducked a punch aimed for his face and used the same move he'd used on Lucario the last time they'd sparred.
Specifically, he used Stun Spore, and a dusting of yellow-green particles poofed out from his cap.
It had worked on Lucario, who hadn't been using his Airslip trick to ensure a clean air supply... but here, the disadvantages outweighed any advantage the paralysis had given.
Vigoroth flipped backwards, the dusting of spores settling across his fur but not managing to quell his sheer energy, and launched himself away from Guy with a two-footed spring.
"Facade!" Norman ordered, spotting what had happened.
"Duck!" Max said quickly.
Guy didn't quite have time to.
The Facade produced a rush of air that ruffled hair all through the gym, and sent Guy soaring backwards to slam into the wall most of the way up it.
"I'm okay!" he said, the moment before he hit the floor.
A tense moment later, an arm raised. "Still okay..."
Max sighed in relief. "Phew... that was close."
"Facade's a powerful move," Brock agreed. "Especially like that."
Coming heavily back to his feet, Guy took a couple of deep breaths, and focused carefully on his opponent.
Vigoroth bounced from foot to foot, noticeably tiring, but still able to continue fighting.
Guy tilted his head, judging, then put one foot back on the wall behind him.
It tensed-
-then he kicked off from the wall, fist bent back with a white glow in it.
He punched out at Vigoroth, and the Normal-type had only just started to dodge when the explosion happened.
Norman watched as Vigoroth described an arc through the air, and landed with a thump on the floor of the gym.
The Normal-type twitched, then stopped moving.
"I guess that's one," he said, smiling, and returned the stunned Vigoroth. "You had the Type advantage, but you didn't just lean on it the whole match – good."
"Thanks," Max said, and Guy nodded his tired agreement.
"Now," Norman added. "My turn."
He threw his second Pokéball. "Brave Bird!"
"Brave bird?" Max repeated, then his eyes widened. "Look-"
By the time he could warn Guy, the high-speed Staravia had slammed right into Max's Breloom, and propelled him back into the wall again.
The Grass-type hit the ground with a thud, then staggered drunkenly to his feet. He took a bead on Staravia, chambered a punch, and fell over.
"You did your best, Guy," Max said, recalling him. "Great work."
He frowned. "Okay, I guess this one's obvious... Arc, go!"
Arc's Pokéball spun through the air. It bounced, flashed, and released its cargo – who sniffed eagerly and glanced back at his trainer. "My go!"
"That's right," Max agreed, catching the returning Pokéball. "Be careful, though – Staravia's tough too."
"Got it," Arc agreed, turning back to the battle. He yapped, and electricity crackled through his fur for a moment. "What should I do?"
"Okay..." Max thought for a moment, then pointed. "Wild Charge!"
Electrical energy snapped across Arc's legs, and he boosted into the air towards Staravia.
The agile Flying-type dodged back, evading Arc's attack, and then darted in for a shoulder-checking Quick Attack as his electrical curtain died down.
Arc hit the floor with a pained yelp, rolled, and came back to his feet. Shaking his fur out, he barked – full-throated bark, not a yap – and crouched, ready to spring again.
"Not yet, Arc," Max said. "Wait... wait... Spark!"
The little Electrike jumped, using his electricity again to increase the force of his jump, and he managed to bite down on the tip of Staravia's wing.
The electricity rushed over her feathers, making her cry out involuntarily, and she dove to slap him into the floor.
A stunning impact knocked Arc clear, but the Double-Edge hadn't left Staravia unhurt either.
"Good!" Max said, nodding. "You're doing damage, all right!"
"I think I have a headache," Arc said, shaking the head in question. He took a breath, and perked up a bit. "Okay, ready!"
"Quick Attack, Staravia!" Norman said, and the Starling Pokémon dove into a screaming power dive with shocking suddenness.
She levelled out just inches above the ground, and cuffed Arc with her clenched feet – knocking him back again.
"Arc, this isn't working!" Max called. "Okay, let's change tactics... Charge!"
Electricity flowed over Arc's form in a sleet of sparks as he Charged, before firming up as a pattern of potential in his stiff, bristly fur.
"Done!" he said, nodding. "What now?"
"Sorry, Dad..." Max said. "Dig!"
Norman did a double take. "What? No – Staravia, stop-"
"Quick Attack!" Max overrode himself, and Arc whirled and kicked off from the ground.
Thrown by the sudden change of tactics, Staravia was slow to dodge, and Arc dumped a pulse of electricity in all directions as he Discharged.
Staravia screeched as the electricity slammed into her, and wobbled in the air for a moment.
"All right!" Max grinned, as Arc landed lightly. Then, as the crackling electricity was replaced by a white glow, the smile slid off his face. "Wait..."
Staravia's wings beat steadily, and lengthened. Her tail broadened, splitting into a more ragged affair, and a curl of feathers lengthened in its overhang.
The sides of her head tufted up with more feathers... and when the light faded, the colouring only confirmed it.
"Oh, come on!" Max called, turning to look at Ash. "Seriously?"
"I don't control this!" Ash protested, waving his hands. "It just happens!"
"Sure..." May agreed sarcastically. "It just happens. Which is why it's always at a really dramatic time."
"It's not always..." Ash muttered.
"Great work, Staraptor!" Norman called, drawing Max's attention back to the fight. "Now, use Double-Edge!"
"Arc, face away from her and use Quick Attack!" Max said, hoping to reduce the damage of the attack, and his obedient Electric-type whirled before breaking into a run.
"Left!" Max called, and Arc jinked left – managing to avoid the sweeping wings of Staraptor as she whooshed past.
"Good!" the trainer went on, as Staraptor pulled up to avoid hitting the gym wall and did a wingover. "Now, just keep it up!"
Arc managed to keep away from Staraptor for the next two attack runs – jumping to one side to throw her off, then changing direction and leaping directly over her – but then his luck ran out.
As he dove to one side, Staraptor did too, and the reckless Double-Edge powered by her full momentum hit him in the side and drove him into the corner of the room.
There was a crash at the impact.
"Ow," Arc said, clambering back to his feet. "That was... uh... wait... was I always this tall?"
He looked down at his legs.
His blue-furred, yellow-tufted legs.
"He evolved!" May said, stating the obvious.
"You evolved!" Max added, hurrying over and giving his Manectric a hug – scratching up his flank, and the long yellow fur on his head. "I was worried, and then..."
"I like being taller," Arc decided, rubbing back against Max. "I guess this means I can give you a ride?"
"That'd be nice..."
Norman waved Staraptor off, soundlessly telling her to orbit for a bit and give them the moment.
"Ash?" Max said quietly, after several seconds. "I take it back."
Ash chuckled.
"Okay," Max added, giving Arc a quick scratch and stepping back. "Let's restart!"
"Right!" Arc agreed.
He crouched down, and lightning crackled over his fur.
"Wild Charge!" Max ordered, and Arc pounced. There was a smell of ozone as he used his stored electricity to boost – harder than before, because he had a lot more fur to charge with now.
Staraptor rolled, then had to flap and pull an awkward move to get out of the way of the now-much-larger and just-as-fast canine.
"Whoa," she said, as Arc hit the floor with a springy thud and whirled to face her again.
"Nearly did it!" Max said. "Now – just a bit more! Wild Charge!"
"Double-Edge!" Norman instructed in turn.
Arc's powerful legs pushed him skywards, electricity crackling around him, and Staraptor met the challenge head-on.
The blast of electricity and the woosh of air came at the same moment, making both father and son hold their arms up in reflexive action.
When they could see again, Arc was standing on the floor, favouring one leg, and Staraptor was crashed in a heap against the opposite corner.
"Great work, Arc!" Max called, as the Manectric let out a surprisingly high-pitched whimper. "Rest now, okay? See if that leg gets better, and we'll have a good long play later."
"That sounds nice," Arc agreed, and let himself be returned.
"Well, I wasn't expecting that," Norman admitted.
He glanced over at Ash. "Though, to be honest, I probably should have. Ready for the third part of the match?"
"Sure!" Max agreed. "Who should send their Pokémon out first?"
"I will," Norman elected. "Slaking, go!"
"In that case – Kris!"
Kris' projector flew lazily towards the middle of the arena, then flashed and activated.
Drawing herself out of shapes of pink and blue light, the Porygon materialized. Stand by, ready. Set up complete.
Slaking looked at her, then lay down and scratched his leg.
"Okay, Kris, just like we practised!" Max called. "Ready?"
Ready, Kris agreed electronically.
"Slaking, use Mega Punch!" Norman ordered.
Slaking yawned, then got up and stood erect. He pulled back a fist, then launched the attack forwards.
"Protect!" Max called.
Shield, Kris agreed, a tall antenna telescoping up from her back and flashing green. A matching green shield formed around her, and the Mega Punch went wham into the Protect shield – with no noticeable effect on the Porygon beneath.
"Now, attack!" Max added. "Tri Attack!"
I am not unaware of the plan, Kris muttered. Her vectored head seemed to split, with the beak hinging open, and beams of blue-yellow-red light flashed out in a triangle to hit Slaking on the chest.
He rubbed the point of contact, looking irritated, and yawned.
Effectiveness estimate: too low to be meaningfully-
"He's trying to trick you!" Max interrupted. "Also – Protect!"
Kris switched back from attacking to defending, and blocked an abrupt Hammer Arm from Slaking.
Now that she wasn't attacking any more, the place the attack had hit was visibly sizzling – indicating that at least some damage had been done.
"Thought so!" Max said, then frowned suddenly. "But – wait a moment... Kris, use Psybeam instead!"
Affirmative.
The three lights merged into one, which shifted to purple and broadened out into a disc. Then another beam flashed out, this one purple and round.
"I was wondering if you'd notice," Norman chuckled. "You really don't want to set Slaking on fire, let alone paralyze him."
He pointed. "Speaking of which – Hyper Beam!"
"Pro-"
I am aware, Kris confirmed. Her antennae flared green, producing another spherical shield.
As she did, Slaking drew his hands back. They flashed golden as he brought them back past his hips, then he pushed both forwards at once and a beam of lambent force crashed into Kris' shield.
This time, the shield actually dished in a bit under the impact. Kris skidded backwards as some of the impulse bled through, and she leaned forwards to counter that for the remaining few seconds of the Hyper Beam.
The moment it faded, Max pointed. "Okay, now – hit him while he's recharging!"
"That's right," Brock nodded. "I've read about this – Slaking don't have the usual problem with Hyper Beam, they just recharge while they're loafing around..."
"Right," Norman agreed, as Slaking irritably scratched at the spot where the Psybeam was hitting him. "Okay, Slaking – Taunt!"
Slaking hooted.
You take that back! Kris replied. I am top of the range, cutting-edge equipment. I am certainly not valve based!
"Kris, look out!" Max called.
What-
Slaking used Hammer Arm.
Kris did not have her shield up in time.
I know that feeling, Dexter commented, as Max prised the projector out of the wall.
It's not a great one, Kris agreed. Does this mean I count as out?
"I think you have to," Max said. "There we go!"
He put the projector back in his pocket, and took Guy's Pokéball out for a moment. "This is where I'd really like to have Guy again..."
Norman shrugged. "That's part of being a trainer."
"Yeah, I know..." Max shrunk the Pokéball back down and replaced it, and took Arc's. "Okay, boy, ready for this?"
He sent Arc out again, and the Manectric let out a wurfle as he considered Slaking. His Magnet bounced, the string holding it on visibly straining to fit around his much thicker neck than before.
"You look different from up here," he said.
Slaking shrugged.
"Let's go!" Max said.
Arc's first move was to give a loud bark, electricity pulsing off him in waves.
It adhered to the floor, forming a crackling layer which pulsed and shifted with his every movement, and Norman frowned. "Not seen that before..."
Slaking looked down at the sparking electricity, and scratched his hip.
Electric Terrain, Ethan said. A move which it seems Arc must have learned when he evolved.
I was about to say that, Kris protested. No fair.
"Oh, so that's what it looks like," Norman noted. "Right – Slaking, just ignore it!"
"Spark!" Max called. "You're still tired, so don't overdo it!"
"I feel okay," Arc protested, but duly used Spark. His paws slapped the wooden gym floor as he pounced, and the electrical energy on the floor of the gym let out a bang as it enhanced the current that went through Slaking.
"Great!" Max said, as Arc landed and turned to attack again. "Just keep that up!"
Arc's second attack was a Thunder Fang, chomping down on Slaking's arm, and letting go just as the Normal-type was about to fling him into the wall.
"Okay, just keep it up!"
"Keeping it up!" Arc agreed. He padded around in a quarter-circle, putting him in line with his trainer, and fired a Charge Beam. The electrical current looping between him, Slaking and the gym floor intensified, and there was a faint smell of singed hair.
"Return!" Norman instructed.
Arc yelped as Slaking lunged, and then suddenly a big meaty fist hit him in the chest.
The cord holding his magnet snapped with a ping, sending it flying off in one direction, and he himself went another with the sheer force of the blow.
"Arc!" Max called, spreading his arms to catch his Electric-type.
About half a second later, he remembered that Arc had evolved.
Faced with the unenviable position of trying to catch a canine Pokémon bigger than he was, Max did his best. The impact drove him staggering backwards, and he sat down hard – but he didn't mind.
"Are you okay?" he asked, feeling along Arc's chest for the impact.
"I'm okay," Arc said, sounding a bit breathless.
Brock caught the magnet. "Hey, Max, I've... oh."
A bright orange light began to shine from between Max and Arc, and then brightened and spread until Arc's whole body was flashing an opalescent orange.
"What's going on?" Norman asked, then his gaze flicked to the discarded magazine. "But... oh, wow."
When the glow died down, Arc had changed again.
He was significantly taller than he'd been – not as big a change as the first one, but now he looked about as tall as Norman was.
His mane had grown to outsize proportions, forming jagged spikes covering most of his back, and a pair of horn-like spikes of hair pointed up either side of his head.
Everywhere his fur was spikier, more pointed, and his claws had grown too – and become red.
"I didn't even know Manectric could Mega Evolve!" Norman said.
No-one did, Dexter commented. This is a new one. We'll have to tell Gary.
"But how'd that happen?" Max asked, rubbing Arc's side and feeling the tingling of his electrically-charged fur. "I mean, I've got a Key Stone, but..."
"Wait!" Ash said, realizing. "That Mega Stone we found at Sea Mauville – you were carrying it, right, Max?"
Max reached for his pocket, and didn't find it. "I was – yeah, that must be it! It was... well, Manectrite? Manecite?"
"It feels tingly!" Arc woofed, voice deep and resonant. "And kind of warm, too. Thank you, Max!"
"I guess... yeah, I suppose it must have been partly me," Max realized, squirming a little as he got out from under his Mega Manectric. "That's how it works... but, seriously, that's so cool!"
Slaking sla-coughed.
"Oh, yeah, sorry," Max said, wincing. "I kinda forgot about the battle..."
"That's okay," Norman smiled. "It's a big moment."
"Right," Max agreed. "Okay, Arc – ready for round three?"
"Sure am!"
Arc stood on the gym floor, opposite his opponent. There was a faint crackle from the Electric Terrain still humming through the floor, and he shifted his paws slightly to feel it.
It was nice. Tingly.
"Okay, Arc!" Max called. "Thunderbolt!"
Arc used Thunderbolt.
The resultant blast of electricity surprised him, Slaking, Max, Norman and in fact everyone in the room except perhaps Pikachu.
"Whoa!" Max said, lowering an outflung arm. "That was way brighter than I was expecting!"
"Me too!" Arc agreed, blinking dazzle out of his eyes. "I just put as much as normal into it... wow, I'm really strong now!"
Slaking coughed out smoke.
"I guess that's Mega-evolution for you," Norman said, then clenched his fist. "Okay, Slaking! Return!"
Slaking took a step, and lunged forwards.
Arc jumped to one side, blurringly fast – faster than he'd been before – and pulsed electricity through the floor. "Discharge!"
Another great blast of electricity battered Slaking, who slowed a little and staggered from the sheer electrical energy.
"Slack Off!" Norman said.
Slaking sat down, and began tapping his fingers together.
"...what's he doing?" Max asked, confused.
"I guess he's slacking off?" Brock suggested. "That means he's healing!"
"Oh, yeah!" Max realized. "Don't let him – Charge, and then Discharge!"
Arc barked, a deep sound, and his frizzy yellow mane began to light up as the energy stored in it became visible. There was a hum and greasy feel in the air, and Pikachu waved his tail to gauge the strength of it.
"Pi-ka," he said, contemplatively.
Arc finished Charging, and pawed the ground once before letting off a Discharge.
The electricity flowed from his tail to his horns in a flicker of jumping lightning, and then fired off in a pair of powerful beams which split and resplit to blanket the entire battlefield.
Slaking was hit from three directions at once, and staggered back before wincing as electricity crackled over his form.
"Whoops..." Max said, into the stillness. "Arc, watch out!"
"What?" Arc asked.
"Facade!" Norman ordered.
Slaking lumbered back into motion, charging towards Arc at high speed.
"Oh, right!" Arc said, taking a step backwards.
He glanced back at Max, then turned towards Slaking and frowned.
The electricity on the floor intensified, and then there was a BANG.
"Thunder!" Arc howled, electricity flowing through his fur in a continuous stream and arcing off his horns.
Slaking was caught mid-charge by the powerful Electric attack. He leaned forwards, as though trying to go through a high wind, then was forced back by the sheer energy of the attack and hit the wall with a wham.
The electricity drained away with a series of faint snap sounds, and then all was still.
Arc padded forwards, and tapped Slaking with a paw. "You still awake?"
Slaking mumbled something and rolled over.
"Guess not..."
"I think that means you've won," Norman said, slowly.
He raised a hand to his eyes.
"Dad?" Max asked, noticing.
"Sorry," Norman said, shaking his head. "I'm just-"
His voice went a little husky. "I'm so proud it hurts."
Max walked over, and Norman reached down to give him a hug.
"As a gym leader," he said, with a smile. "I can't express how frustrated I am... but as a father, I couldn't be happier."
Arc flashed orange, transitioning back down from Mega, and picked up his Manectite with care before walking over to Max.
"And yet, at the same time," Norman went on. "It's kind of... I don't know how to say it."
Max looked up.
"I feel... like this really brings home how much you've grown," he said. "It feels like it was just weeks ago I was watching you leave to become an official trainer... and now you've got your fifth badge, and you've beaten me-"
Arc licked them both.
"Hey!" Max protested, using a hand to ward his Pokémon off. "We're having a moment here!"
Norman started to laugh.
That set Max off, and Arc laughed too, and the Gym Leader gathered Arc into the group embrace as well. "Thank you, Arc. You've been a great Pokémon for my son."
"I couldn't have done it without him," Max agreed.
"How many photos do you have?" May asked quietly.
Everything I see is a photo, Ethan replied. Enough.
In a hotel room in Cyllage city, a small red computer received a message.
She considered it, turning the information over, and contemplated whether her owner would like to be woken up for this.
After several seconds of intensive computation, Dee decided she didn't really have the information to be sure, and opted for further research.
Her projector flashed. St- it began, then cut out as Dee belatedly muted herself.
Umbreon looked up from gazing out the window at the night. "Something up?" she asked quietly.
Just wondering if I should wake Gary, Dee replied. It's not urgent, precisely, but I think he'd like to know.
"Well, he had an early night," Umbreon said, gazing back out the window. There was a nice moon out tonight, it was very clear. "I think... hm. What is it?"
In reply, Dee set her projector to produce an image.
Umbreon stared at it for several seconds.
"What," she said, eventually, "is that?"
Mega Manectric, Dee replied. Yes, that's a completely new Mega Evolution. You can see why I wonder...
"How did you find out?"
Max's Electrike just evolved, and they discovered they'd had a Manecite for several weeks – by accident.
"Of course they did," Umbreon sighed. "Okay, I think we should wake him."
"That's great news!" Gary said, covering a yawn. "I'm impressed you managed it so soon after evolving."
Arc wagged his tail, barking, and Dee printed a translation under the screen.
"So – what were the characteristics?" Gary added. "I saw what you looked like, Arc – what else changed?"
"Well, he was really powerful," Max said. "Not so strong, not like I'd expected, but he could produce a lot of electricity."
Pikachu grabbed the 'dex on the other end. "Gary?" he said. "I'm pretty sure he's more powerful than that makes it sound. It's... well, he was stronger than any Electric-type I've ever met who wasn't either me or a Legendary, and I'm not sure about the Legendaries."
Umbreon rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and that really shows some humility right there..."
"He's not great at finesse, though," Pikachu added. "My tail, ears and cheeks help me do complicated shapes with my electricity, but I think Mega Manectric is pretty much limited to firing it all off in one enormous burst."
"Okay, interesting," Gary said, stifling a yawn.
"Is that the first Mega we've seen with a disadvantage?" Umbreon asked.
No – Mega Heracross has overheating problems, for example, Dee cited.
Gary nodded. "Right – thanks for telling me straight away, guys... and for leaving it up to Dee to decide whether to wake me. That's really considerate of you."
"No problem!" Ash said, retrieving Dexter from his starter. "I guess you want to get back to sleep now, though..."
"Pretty much," Gary agreed, with another yawn. "Smell ya later, Ash."
The connection closed.
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