"We'll take you on! Let the 'Twins of Lumiose City' test your strength!"
Just as Ash's voice fell, two boys dressed in vintage-style outfits raised their hands and confidently stepped onto the battlefield.
"I'm Steven, from Lumiose City in the Kalos Region. My Pokémon is Inkay!"
"I'm Erwin, also from Lumiose City in the Kalos Region. My partner is Flabébé!"
Pop! Pop!
The boys wasted no time. With practiced motions, they tossed their Poké Balls, and two petite Pokémon floated out onto the field.
Both were unique to the Kalos Region. Inkay, a Dark/Psychic-type Pokémon resembling a squid, had once traveled to Kalos alongside Team Rocket. In fact, in the original timeline, James had even caught one himself.
[Pokémon: Inkay]
Level: 8
Type: Dark / Psychic
Nature: Naughty
Ability: Suction Cups
Potential: [Green]
Moves (Copyable):
[Skilled]: Hypnosis, Tackle
[Novice]: Peck, Bind, Payback
Erwin's partner, Flabébé, was another iconic Pokémon from Kalos—popular among many Trainers.
It resembled a tiny flower fairy and bonded with a Fairy Flower from birth, which it carried its entire life. Depending on the flower's color—red, orange, yellow, blue, or white—its final evolution into Florges would appear in different hues, with white being the rarest.
The Flabébé floating before them held a red Fairy Flower, the most common type.
[Pokémon: Flabébé]
Level: 7
Type: Fairy
Nature: Gentle
Ability: —
Potential: [Green]
Moves (Copyable):
[Skilled]: Tackle, Vine Whip
[Novice]: Fairy Wind
As their opponents sent out their Pokémon, Ash and Serena didn't hesitate either.
Pop! Pop!
The battlefield sparkled as Froakie and Clefairy emerged.
Thanks to Ash's consistent daily training, Froakie had grown impressively strong. Serena, influenced by Ash's dedication, had also worked hard during the camp—training her Clefairy diligently. Though she didn't have a leveling system like Ash's, two weeks of effort had still borne fruit.
Now, Clefairy had reached LV.9, making it one of the highest-leveled Pokémon among all the campers.
With both sides ready and their Pokémon on the field, tension surged in the air like static.
Standing at the edge of the field as the judge, Professor Oak raised his hand.
"Battle… begin!"
"Let's go, Ash!"
"Let's do our best, Serena!"
Their classmates gathered around the battlefield, cheering loudly. With two of the camp's top trainees clashing in the opening match, excitement was at an all-time high.
"Serena, Clefairy doesn't have a recovery move. In this match, try to conserve your energy. Have Clefairy support Froakie—cover and distract one of the opponents while I handle the other."
Ash transmitted his thoughts via Aura, quietly guiding Serena.
"Got it," she nodded, accepting his plan without question.
Just as the two whispered strategies, their opponents had already launched their offense.
Steven: "Inkay, use Hypnosis!"
Erwin: "Flabébé, attack with Vine Whip!"
"Inkaaay~"
"Flabébéé~"
The two Pokémon sprang into action, flying through the air.
Inkay spun like a top, its tentacle-like arms whipping around as the glowing spot atop its head pulsed. It launched waves of hypnotic brainwaves directly at Froakie.
Meanwhile, Flabébé, flower in hand, whipped its vines with elegant ferocity.
Their plan was clear: ignore Serena's Clefairy for now and double-team Froakie—take it out fast, then deal with the rest.
Inkay's Hypnosis would paralyze Froakie while Flabébé's Vine Whip struck hard. A typical "focus fire" strategy.
Unfortunately for them, they were targeting the wrong opponent.
Froakie narrowed its round eyes, and its stance instantly shifted from calm to razor-sharp.
"Froakie, dodge and use Quick Attack!"
"Clefairy, use Mimic on Inkay!" Serena responded swiftly.
"Froa!"
"Clefaa~"
Froakie leapt nimbly, dodging Flabébé's vines as they lashed through the air. It didn't even glance at the glowing head of Inkay—keeping its eyes narrowed into tight slits.
Then, with explosive speed, Froakie shot forward like a blur and rammed straight into Inkay with Quick Attack.
Meanwhile, untouched and unpressured, Clefairy calmly stood its ground and mimicked Inkay's Hypnosis, replicating the technique flawlessly.
Seeing Ash go for Inkay first, Serena followed his strategy—leaving Froakie to deal with Steven while she held off Erwin.
"Clefairy, use Hypnosis on Flabébé!"
BOOM!
At that moment, Froakie's Quick Attack struck like a bullet, sending Inkay flying.
"Inkay!"
"Flabébé!"
Flabébé wobbled midair for a moment—then, hit squarely by Clefairy's Mimicked Hypnosis, its petals trembled, and its eyes drooped.
It floated gently down… fast asleep.
Steven: "Inkay!!"
Erwin: "Flabébé!!"
Their trainers cried out in disbelief.
Despite striking first, they'd lost momentum in an instant. Their carefully timed assault had collapsed.
In theory, their strategy had been sound—eliminate one Pokémon fast, then gang up on the other. But they had gravely underestimated Froakie's strength… and Clefairy's utility.
Inkay and Flabébé—one knocked back, the other fast asleep.
Seeing the golden opportunity, Ash didn't hesitate.
"Froakie! Counterattack!!"
And just like that, the tide had turned.
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T/N:
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