I stood frozen as the blue telekinetic light of Psychic slammed Sylveon into the marble for the third time. The sound of the impact echoed through the high-ceilinged gym, and my heart sank with every dull thud.
"What's going on?" I whispered to myself, my mind racing through every battle manual I'd ever read. "Disarming Voice should be disrupting the focus. Why isn't it working?"
I looked at the thin, shimmering membrane surrounding Mismagius. It wasn't the emerald-green sphere of Protect, and it wasn't the reflective shine of Mirror Coat. It was something else—something elegant and clinical.
"How about that~? Surprised, non?" Fantina's voice broke through my panic. She struck a pose, her purple gown flaring around her like a blooming orchid.
"I am not afraid to tell a fellow artist my secret! This is a double-layer barrier formed entirely by Psychic energy. By splitting a thick barrier and shrinking the inner layer, my Mismagius creates a pocket of vacuum—a space with no air! And as you know, sound cannot travel through a vacuum! Your Sylveon's Disarming Voice is a masterpiece of melody, but if it cannot reach the ears of the mage, it is merely a silent dance."
My jaw nearly hit the floor. "A vacuum barrier... using only Psychic? That's not just a move; that's molecular control."
I realized then the sheer gap between a traveling Trainer and a Top Coordinator. Fantina hadn't just taught her Mismagius how to fight; she had taught it how to rewrite the laws of physics on the battlefield.
"Is that a common counter?" I asked, trying to steady my voice. "Have you faced so many sound-based teams that you had to develop a vacuum seal?"
"Oh~ Non, non, non," Fantina wagged a finger playfully. "This move was developed for the Grand Festival stage—for a different kind of performance entirely! But it serves quite well as a shield, does it not? I believe that with your talent, Julian, you will reach the stage where such secrets are common. But for now... the stage belongs to me!"
"It's not over yet!" I shouted. "Sylveon! Hold your ground! Continue with Disarming Voice!"
"Fly... ah!" Sylveon struggled to her feet, her ribbons frayed and her fur matted with gray dust. She inhaled and released another sonic wave. "Sylveon-speech-sound~~~!"
Again, the sound hit the vacuum barrier and vanished. Again, Mismagius flicked a ghostly hand, and the blue aura of Psychic seized Sylveon, hoisting her up and slamming her down.
"Julian~ why do you persist?" Fantina's expression turned from playful to suspicious. "You know it is ineffective. Are you hoping for a miracle? Or do you have a plan hidden beneath that hat of yours?"
She narrowed her eyes, watching the field closely. Then, her eyes widened. "Aha! I see! You are betting on stamina!"
I didn't answer. I didn't need to.
"You want to use the protection of Light Screen and the buffs of Calm Mind to turn Sylveon into a living shield," Fantina explained, her voice admiring yet firm. "You are forcing Mismagius to maintain that vacuum barrier constantly. It is an 'overt strategy'—you are telling me exactly what you are doing, and you are betting that Mismagius will run out of energy before Sylveon runs out of spirit!"
"That's exactly it!" I yelled over the sound of another impact. "You wouldn't dare drop that barrier, Fantina! Because the second you do, my Sylveon's boosted voice will shatter Mismagius's focus. It's a war of attrition now!"
I looked at Sylveon. She was covered in bruises, her breathing ragged. My hand moved to my belt, hovering over her Poké Ball. I hated this. I hated seeing her take this kind of punishment just to drain an opponent.
"Sylveon, that's enough," I said softly, my voice cracking. "I can recall you. We have two more. You don't have to take another hit."
Sylveon looked back at me. Her watery blue eyes were usually full of affection, but right now, they were burning with a fierce, stubborn pride. She let out a sharp, defiant cry. "Fly-ah! (I'm not done! I'm still standing!)"
I felt a lump in my throat. Who taught her to be this stubborn? Oh, right. Me.
"Fine," I whispered, lowering the Poké Ball. "Let's finish this act."
One last time, Mismagius's gems flared. The final Psychic grip was the strongest yet. Sylveon was lifted high into the rafters of the gym and then plummeted like a shooting star.
CRASH.
The dust cloud was massive. When it cleared, Sylveon was lying still, her ribbons sprawled across the marble.
"Sylveon is unable to battle!" the referee cried. "The winner is Mismagius!"
I didn't wait for the formal transition. I sprinted onto the field, sliding on my knees to reach her. I didn't care about the dust on my clothes or the "spectacle" of the match. I scooped her up in my arms.
"You were amazing," I whispered, checking her vitals.
Fortunately, the Eviolite and her Calm Mind stacks had done their job. The injuries were mostly superficial—bruises and exhaustion rather than broken bones. Mismagius had held back just enough to keep it a sport, not a slaughter.
"Thank you for your mercy, Fantina," I said, standing up with Sylveon in my arms.
"It was a magnificent display of heart," Fantina replied, bowing slightly. "Your Sylveon's soul is as bright as any Ribbon-winner's. Truly, Julian, if you wish to stop here, I will grant you the badge. You have proven your worth."
"I told you," I said, my gaze hardening as I returned to my Trainer's box. "I'm not here for a handout. I still have two Pokémon left, and Mismagius is tired. Her movements are slower, and her barrier is flickering."
I looked down at the Poké Ball in my hand. Then, I looked at the one next to it.
"Togepi, I need you to step up one more time! Let's show them the power of the 'Little Egg'!"