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Latias giggled, her form shimmering back into her true draconic shape. She hovered just a few feet off the ground, her psychic aura creating a ripple effect in the air. "One by one," she chimed telepathically. "Show me the 'Titan' spirit!"
I looked at my team. "Alright guys, this is a friendly spar, but don't hold back. She's a Legendary; she can handle it. Lens, get the drone into 'Cinematic Combat' mode!"
Round 1: The Noble Bolt (Jerry)
Jerry stepped forward first, adjusting his silk scarf. He didn't look like a common rodent anymore; he looked like a silver bullet.
The Clash: Jerry used his new Thunderbolt build-up, sprinting in a blur to create a static vacuum. He launched a high-speed Super Fang aimed at Latias's wing, trailing a whip of lightning.
The Result: Latias simply tilted her body, letting Jerry pass through her illusionary afterimage. She tapped him with a gentle Psychic nudge that sent him tumbling.
The Lesson: "Speed is a tool, not a solution," I noted. Jerry needed more than just 'fast'; he needed to read the flow of the battle.
Round 2: The Street Queen (Tammy)
Tammy went in with psychological warfare. She used Torment to prevent Latias from using the same move twice, then vanished with a Pursuit-enhanced dash.
The Clash: She lunged from the shadows with a Hone Claws-boosted Slash. For a second, her claws actually grazed Latias's psychic barrier.
The Result: Latias chirped in surprise but responded with a Mist Ball. The explosion of light blinded Tammy, leaving her disoriented.
The Lesson: Tammy had the grit, but she lacked the range. She needed to master Assist to pull moves from her teammates to cover her blind spots.
Round 3: The Shadow Guardian (Raven)
Raven didn't rush. she used Detect, her eyes glowing crimson as she mapped Latias's every muscle twitch.
The Clash: As Latias dived, Raven unleashed a Night Slash followed by a freezing Ice Beam. The ice actually crystallized on Latias's wing for a split second.
The Result: Latias flexed her power, shattering the ice instantly. She didn't counter-attack; she gave Raven a nod of respect.
The Lesson: Raven was the most stable, but she was playing too defensively. She needed to trust her team to take the hits so she could land the finishing blow.
Round 4: The Sun Shinobi (Kage)
Kage stepped up, his red Focus Sash fluttering. He took a deep, rhythmic breath—Sun Breathing.
The Clash: He didn't use the stick. He held out his hand, forming a Sun Rasengan. It wasn't the chaotic mess from before; it was a tight, spinning core of solar energy. He combined it with a Quick Attack to close the gap, slamming the orb toward Latias.
The Result: Latias had to actually use Dragon Breath to cancel it out. The collision created a massive steam cloud. When it cleared, Kage was on one knee, panting, but he hadn't lost control.
The Lesson: He was learning to "bottle" the sun. He didn't need the Mega Stone to be a monster; he needed the discipline to be a Master.
Final Round: The Primal Maiden (May & Blaze)
May stepped onto the field, Blaze the Torchic perched on her shoulder. She wasn't glowing amber, but her posture was perfect.
The Clash: I gave the command: "Titan-Sync! Falcon Flare!" May launched Blaze into the air. While Blaze used a spinning Ember, May followed up with a lunging punch that carried the sheer physical weight of her Vigor Strain without the rage.
The Result: Latias actually had to dodge. She flew high into the canopy, laughing.
[Chat Log]
IceCreamQueen_C: That coordination... they aren't just training Pokémon. They're training a unit.
Steven_Stone: The Treecko's energy control has improved 40% in one day. How?
SilentRed: [GIF: Standing Ovation]
Latias landed, shifting back into her human form. She walked up to me and tapped my nose. "Good song, Singer. Your 'Titans' have heavy hearts, but bright souls." She glanced at May, her eyes flickering with a knowing light. "Keep the girl close. The sea is getting restless."
Before I could ask what she meant, she vanished in a flash of pink light, leaving behind a single, glowing Soul Dew shard on the grass.
"Well," I breathed, looking at my exhausted, battered, but grinning team. "I think we're ready for the forest traveler now. Lens, end stream. We need to sleep for a week."