Luke liked to joke that Lance looked like an oversized Dodrio. Even so, a Champion with this many years in the field couldn't be underestimated. Last year's Master League run had ended with Lance in second place, narrowly edged out by Leon's monstrous Charizard. Cynthia sat ranked third, but the gap between the two of them was razor thin. Today would come down almost entirely to who brought their best form.
Cheers rolled through the stadium in waves. Even Luke found himself caught up in the energy of watching a genuine world-class match live.
"Kojie!" Haunter cupped its claws like a megaphone and cheered wildly for Cynthia.
Eevee stared out at the field, her dark eyes gradually widening with interest.
"Watch closely, this is going to get brutal," Luke said, clicking his tongue for effect. If this scares these two into finally taking a break from training we come out way ahead here.
"Kojie!"
"Vee!"
Both nodded seriously.
"Both competitors in position!" the commentator called. "Let's see who comes out on top!"
Clair, in her light blue bodysuit with hair tied into a high ponytail, frowned and glanced sideways at Luke. He got invited by Cynthia? She'd never once heard of Cynthia inviting a man to watch a match live. The reserved guest seats were normally exclusive to Diantha and Diantha alone. Why would that arrangement change now?
Unable to work it out, Clair shook her head and turned her attention back to Lance on the field, expression complicated. As heirs of the Dragon Rider lineage both she and Lance carried exceptional talent. Her own brilliance, though, had always lived in the shadow of his. Watching his back as he walked ahead of her, radiating that unshakable sense of justice, Clair let out a quiet sigh.
Hopefully he actually pulls this one off.
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The crowd's noise built steadily until the referee's whistle cut through and both Poké Balls hit the field simultaneously. Red light flared. The ground shook.
A scarlet-scaled Red Gyarados rose up, roaring with ferocious intensity.
"ROAR—!!"
"Lance's Red Gyarados has entered the field!"
Gyarados stretched close to twenty feet long, dwarfing even Lance's own imposing height. Its Intimidate ability briefly silenced the crowd before the cheering surged right back even louder.
Cynthia looked small standing across from something that massive. A faint, knowing smile crossed her lips anyway.
"Cynthia answers with the Blessing Pokémon — Togekiss!" the commentator boomed.
Light and effortless, Togekiss spread its triangular wings like a glider and claimed a strong position in the air almost instantly.
Up in the box Luke pulled up the system's Pokédex and turned to the two Pokémon beside him, half-joking. "Not scared, are you?"
Haunter and Eevee said nothing, staring at the field with wide, silent eyes.
Luke nodded, satisfied. Look at that. Too terrified to even speak.
The sheer density of moves listed on Gyarados's entry made his scalp prickle, though it also spoke plenty to its raw power.
"Red Gyarados. Dragon Dance sweeper. Very likely carrying a Mega Stone," Luke murmured to himself. "Togekiss barely flinches under Intimidate and hits a Dark-type Mega Gyarados for super effective damage."
"Classic Cynthia. Fifth floor thinking, easily."
"Real question's whether Lance commits to a forced Dragon Dance."
Clair's brow twitched and she couldn't help cutting in. "Dragonite is the real key to Lance's victory."
Luke glanced at her, mildly surprised, then shook his head. "Dragonite's strong, sure, but its Speed is a real liability. Its team-sweeping efficiency doesn't come close to a Dragon Dance-boosted Gyarados."
"Lance is running enhanced Dragon Dance this match. Guaranteed."
Clair opened her mouth to argue and found nothing to actually say. She grabbed her whip instead and snapped it open in frustration.
Luke's brow twitched too, and he cleared his throat, refocusing on the match.
Togekiss versus Gyarados. Luke started running through the possibilities in his head. Most of his instincts came from countless hours in-game, sure, but the read here felt clear regardless. Cynthia only really had one viable opening move.
"Thunder Wave!" Luke and Cynthia called out at almost the exact same instant.
Paralyze Gyarados first. Obviously.
Clair shot Luke a strange look. Then, checking the field again, her expression shifted to something closer to horror. Cynthia's actual command matched his prediction exactly.
He read her move before it even happened?
Lance, unbothered, called his own command with cold authority. "Gyarados, Dragon Dance!"
"ROAR—!!"
Gyarados's roar shook the arena, its momentum swelling instantly, speed surging enough to snap the rocky pillars scattered across the field clean in half.
A target that massive should have made Thunder Wave a guaranteed hit. Instead, as Gyarados's tail slammed into the ground, the shattered rock debris flew up and deflected the weak electric arc entirely.
"Thunder Wave's power is intentionally kept low to make the tell harder to read," Clair explained, a touch smug. "But that just handed Lance an opening to exploit the terrain instead."
Luke had correctly called Lance's tactic. Clair had immediately swooped in with the counter-explanation that turned the tide right back. Luke had nothing to say to that. These two families are basically running their own side competition right now.Is this guy seriously running on some kind of cousin-complex energy too?
"Still," Luke murmured, eyes on Togekiss. "I've got a rough read on how she's planning to close this out."
______________________________
Thunder Wave had failed. Red Gyarados, fully charged from Dragon Dance, radiated pure murderous intent, its eyes bloodshot. A brilliant light burst from the crown atop its head.
Lance closed his eyes, lifted his cloak, and reached out into empty air. A wave of shimmering light pulsed from the Key Stone on his wristband. His eyes snapped open, sharp as a blade.
"Gyarados. Mega Evolution!"
The whole stadium gasped. Mega Gyarados emerged covered in razor-sharp scales, its fins spread wide like wings, drawing a fresh wave of awe from the crowd.
Cynthia studied the massive creature with a small smile, brushing her hair back. Her whole presence sharpened in an instant, eyes turning blade-keen.
"Togekiss, dodge Ice Fang then Sweet Kiss!"
Togekiss held the air advantage, but Mega Gyarados could glide too. Jets fired from its side fins as it launched itself skyward, jaws wide, an icy Ice Fang lunging straight for Togekiss.
Crack!
Togekiss dodged cleanly and answered with a fluttering Sweet Kiss. Gyarados staggered, dazed, and crashed headfirst into one of the jagged rock pillars.
BOOM!!
It hit the ground hard, a fresh gash torn open by the impact.
"Gyarados is disoriented and has taken real damage from its own momentum!" the commentator roared.
"Dazzling Gleam!" Cynthia called sharply.
Blinding light surged across the field. Under the dual Fairy-type assault Mega Gyarados let out a pained roar, a faint bloody mist rising off its body — and the pain snapped it fully back to focus.
"Gyarados. Ice Fang."
It lunged again, fangs sinking into Togekiss and knocking it clean out of the air.
Thud!
Togekiss hit the ground hard. But the massive Gyarados froze mid-motion too, its eyelids growing heavy.
"That's Yawn, delivered by Togekiss!" the commentator called out.
Lance's frown deepened. "Waterfall!"
A crushing current slammed Togekiss into the barrier at the edge of the field.
"Togekiss is unable to battle!"
At the same moment Red Gyarados shuddered once and dropped into a deep sleep.
By official record Lance held a slight edge over Cynthia overall. In practice the two of them were close to dead even.