"I won't lose to you next time!"
In the waiting room, Chaz threw out the classic line of a sore loser before spinning on his heel and storming off.
"Talk about a textbook exit... is that some kind of specific subculture thing?"
Kashiwagi watched his retreating back, then glanced at the data on his Phone. He confirmed it: this guy was indeed Lisia's self-proclaimed contest rival from the games.
No wonder the name sounded so familiar.
According to the records, Chaz's ace was a female Machoke nicknamed "Macherie"—matching the special NPC perfectly. If Kashiwagi remembered correctly, Chaz had rescued this Machoke from a cardboard box on a rainy night.
But the real kicker? Chaz had a massive crush on Lisia, while his Machoke was head-over-heels for Lisia's Altaria, Ali.
Talk about a twisted love square!
A Pokémon in the Human-Like egg group falling for one in the Dragon and Flying groups? That was even more absurd than Piplup falling for Mawile—at least those two shared the Field group!
"You two are headed for a dead end," Kashiwagi muttered.
Even though Chaz didn't look that old, Kashiwagi couldn't help but think:
That's a one-way ticket to jail, buddy.Is Lisia even fourteen yet? Probably not.
He shot a quick message to Lisia, asking if she knew a Coordinator named Chaz. The reply came back exactly as expected:
『Never heard of him.』
A one-sided rivalry combined with an unrequited crush... this kid really was a "genius" in his own way.
As Kashiwagi felt a pang of pity for the guy, Lisia suddenly sent another message:
『My dear student! You know about the Wallace Cup, right?』
Kashiwagi: 『Of course. It's a special Pokémon Contest hosted by the Contest Master, Mr. Wallace. It tours the world, and the winning Aqua Ribbon can be used in the Grand Festival of any region. Coordinators from across the globe flock to compete...』
Lisia: 『Whoa! Your typing speed is scary!』
Kashiwagi: 『Actually, I just copy-pasted that from PokéWiki.』
Lisia: 『Ehh~ let me admire you for at least a second, okay? Anyway, down to business. Sootopolis City is hosting the Wallace Cup the month after next. Let's have our "Master vs. Apprentice" showdown there!』
Kashiwagi: 『Good idea. That way, I can grab the ribbon and complete my set of five early.』
Lisia: 『Wow! Such confidence!』
She followed up with a string of angry Altaria stickers.
Kashiwagi countered with a sticker of a snoring Hydreigon.
Lisia: 『Then I'll be looking forward to it! The Master-Apprentice battle at the Wallace Cup!』
Kashiwagi: 『Don't cry when you lose.』
Lisia: 『Bold! Looks like Master has to teach you a lesson in humility!』
She sent a final sticker of Altaria wearing a "scary face."
Kashiwagi chuckled and put his phone away.
The month after next huh...
he currently had four Gym Badges. If he saved the Sootopolis Gym for last, he only had three more to go. He could definitely make it in time. Unless, of course, some time-consuming disaster struck.
Worse comes to worst, he'd just skip the gym for the Cup. No big deal.
His gaze shifted to the TV screen. The second match of the first round was about to determine his final opponent.
Though, to be honest, it didn't matter who it was—he had already decided which Pokémon he was sending out.
"Let's use this battle to commemorate your transformation..."
He lifted a Poké Ball, holding it up against the overhead light. For a split second, the light seemed to pierce the casing, revealing a restless, shimmering fish-like silhouette within.
Five minutes passed in a flash. The finalist for the Fallarbor Contest was decided.
Kashiwagi rose from the bench and headed toward the stage tunnel.
"Let's go!"
...
...
Vrrrrm—!
With a low, mechanical rumble, the main stage split down the middle. A massive rectangular pool rose from beneath, flanked by semi-circular platforms acting as diving boards.
"And now, it's time for the Final Battle of the Fallarbor Contest!" Vivian's voice electrified the stadium.
"Who will emerge victorious and claim the Fallarbor Ribbon? Will it be Mr. Kashiwagi on the right? Or Ms. Aya on the left?"
Vivian gestured between the two competitors, stirring the crowd's excitement. "Let's find out!"
On the giant screen, two large portraits appeared alongside the circular point gauges.
Kashiwagi stared at the older sister with long, light brown waves in the distance, his eyes filled with determination to win.
In the Pokémon anime world, gender differences are blurred in many aspects, which leads to women not only possessing considerable strength and status in the Pokémon battle world, but also being recognized as having greater talent as Coordinators.
Over 70% of Top Coordinators were female. Against an opponent like this, he couldn't afford a single slip-up.
"Second Round, Final Match! Time limit: five minutes! No pauses! BEGIN!"
Ding!
As the countdown hit zero, four Poké Balls soared into the air!
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
"GYAAAA-OOH!" "PELI-PELI!"
A cloud of blue stars exploded, coalescing into the massive, serpentine form of a Gyarados as it crashed into the water with a thunderous splash. Hovering just above was a Pelipper, its enormous beak snapping shut as it beat its wings.
Suddenly, misty grey clouds gathered over the arena. A crystalline downpour began to fall, creating rhythmic ripples across the clear pool. Drizzle had been activated.
But that wasn't all.
Facing the Shiny Feebas and Blissey emerging from a vortex of azure water, the ferocious Gyarados let out a blood-curdling roar!
"ROOOOAR!!"
Intimidate activated!
Yet, the two targets didn't even flinch for a second.
For one, Intimidate was useless against a Feebas with the Oblivious ability. Secondly, their spirits had already undergone a qualitative metamorphosis.
Even as Blissey was affected, and felt the pressure, her eyes showed no fear—only a sharp, guarded alertness toward a powerful foe.
Kashiwagi's points ticked down slightly.
However, because of his Pokémon's unshakable composure, the deduction was negligible.
In fact, Aya lost a small chunk of points because her "scare tactic" failed to impress.
In the stands, the audience erupted as they caught sight of the Shiny Feebas.
"Unbelievable!" Vivian shouted into her mic.
"For the finals, Kashiwagi has brought out a Pokémon we haven't seen the whole tournament—a Feebas! And it's a Shiny! Is this his secret weapon?"
The three judges leaned in, their eyes fixed on the purple fish.
Despite the species' reputation for being "shabby," this Feebas possessed incredibly healthy, clean scales. Its fins were neat, its body was plump and vibrant, and its eyes sparkled with an intelligence rarely seen in its kind. As it darted through the water, it exuded a strange, undeniable charm.
It was, quite simply, "ugly-cute."
The judges exchanged nods of approval.
Many Coordinators used Feebas to try and create a "before and after" contrast, but most failed because their Feebas actually looked neglected.
A wild Feebas might be ragged, but one raised with love?
That was a different story entirely.
At least as far as Mr. Sukizo and the others were concerned, Kashiwagi's Feebas had already redefined the meaning of a "glow-up."
"I simply adore the sparkle in its eyes!" Nurse Joy exclaimed.
"Remarkable!" Mr. Sukizo added, unable to contain his signature catchphrase.
Aya's next command was momentarily drowned out by the judges' praise, but Kashiwagi's sharp ears caught it anyway.
"Gyarados, Twister! Pelipper, Water Pulse!"
Gyarados's four crown-like dorsal fins glowed with a brilliant azure light. He took a deep breath and exhaled a swirling vortex of draconic energy.
Simultaneously, Pelipper launched a massive sphere of blue water from above.
Instead of colliding and exploding, the two distinct elemental energies spiraled together, merging perfectly!
In an instant, a cross-shaped spiraling water bullet roared forward, tearing through the pool and kicking up a massive wake.
The falling rain seemed drawn to the projectile, weaving into a jet-stream tail of blue mist that gave the attack far more power than the two moves could ever achieve alone.
It was a flawless, professional-grade combo—leagues beyond the simple same-type tricks Chaz had shown in the previous round.
"What an incredible Hydro-Bullet! Gyarados is showing off its sheer majesty!" Vivian's voice rang out.
Kashiwagi's point gauge plummeted, losing nearly a sixth of its total just from the sheer brilliance of the execution.
If the hit actually landed on Feebas and Blissey, he'd be in serious trouble.
"Don't panic! Blissey, Light Screen! Feebas, use Ice Beam to freeze the screen, then strike from below!" Kashiwagi commanded.
"Happy-~!" Blissey raised her tiny hands, manifesting a shimmering, translucent wall of light. Right on cue, the Shiny Feebas opened her mouth and fired a jagged bolt of freezing blue energy.
Instead of passing through, the Ice Beam coated the Light Screen, instantly turning it into a sheet of frosted, white glass. With a powerful flick of her tail, Feebas slammed into the bottom half of the frozen pane.
CLANG!
The sheet of white glass tilted forward at a sharp angle, creating a makeshift ramp just as the spiraling water bullet arrived.
Sssss—BOOM!
The water bullet hit the slick, frozen surface, skidding upward and soaring harmlessly over the heads of Feebas and Blissey. It exploded high in the sky, raining down a shower of dazzling light particles.
Aya froze.
Having her combo redirected and broken cost her over a sixth of her own points.
It worked! Feebas thought, her heart swelling with joy.
Deep down, Feebas knew she wasn't as strong as Mawile or the others.
Despite Kashiwagi's constant encouragement, she had been nervous. But this moment proved it: even if she wasn't the strongest, she could stand her ground against giants!
I truly have transformed.
The words, training, the care, the effort of her trainer—none of it was a lie.
"Fee-bas!"
The purple fish stared down the distant Gyarados and Pelipper, her hesitation gone. Now, there was only a burning desire to win for her Trainer.
Just as Kashiwagi said: this battle was her debut as a new being!
Sensing the change in Feebas's mood, Kashiwagi and Blissey exchanged a smile.
Now that their companion had regained its confidence, it was time to sound the horn of counterattack!
"Haze! Then, Blissey, use Skill Swap on Gyarados!"
Feebas exhaled a thick, chilling black fog that blanketed their side of the field in mystery.
Blissey's eyes glowed with a psychic blue light. Suddenly, the mighty Gyarados felt a strange sensation—like something vital had just been plucked from its soul.
Aya realized Kashiwagi was a master at counter-plays and didn't dare waste another flashy move.
"Pelipper, Hurricane! Gyarados, Dragon Rage!"
You aren't the only one who could play the counter-game!
Pelipper beat its wings furiously, whipping up a massive, milky-white windstorm.
Gyarados roared, spewing forth a blast of azure dragon fire. The two moves fused into a Draconic Firestorm that swept across the entire arena!
The water's surface churned violently, the waves crashing in a waves of destruction. The sheer scale of the move began to drain Kashiwagi's points.
But as the Haze was blown away, Feebas was nowhere to be seen. Only Blissey remained, standing firm on the diving platform.
"HAPPY!"
Blissey stood tall, her Light Screen reappearing to buffer the wind. Against her legendary Special Defense, the "raging" firestorm felt like a mild spring breeze.
Then, she activated the Intimidate ability she had just stolen from Gyarados.
"HAPPY—!!!"
Blissey's face suddenly went "Dark Mode"—looking exactly like a head nurse about to deal with a stubborn patient who refused to take their medicine.
Gyarados and Pelipper both flinched, suddenly having vivid, terrifying flashbacks of being stabbed in their butts by giant needles at the Pokémon Center!
Both of them shuddered and clenched their butts!
Nurse Joy's eyes lit up in the judges' booth, and she started clapping enthusiastically.
"Blissey stands unshaken in the storm! She used Skill Swap to take Gyarados's Intimidate, and now Gyarados and Pelipper are scared!" Vivian cheered.
Aya ignored her dropping points and screamed, "Get it together! Look out, Feebas is coming!"
The duo snapped out of it, but Feebas had already breached the surface right in front of them.
From the distance, Blissey began to sing a hauntingly beautiful, high-pitched melody.
"Lululala—!"
Hollow pink hearts materialized, circling Feebas's body. The Shiny fish twisted gracefully in mid-air, her scales glowing with an enchanting radiance as she launched a barrage of hearts in every direction.
"So cute! A duet of Captivate and Disarming Voice! It's a duet of Hearts!" Vivian cried out.
"GYA-OOH?!"
"PELI?!"
The hearts pelted the two opponents.
Both Gyarados and Pelipper were male, and under the influence of the allure of female Feebas's charm, their eyes turned into hearts as their fighting spirit crumbled.
Their Special Attack stats plummeted!
Aya's points took a devastating hit, falling instantly below the halfway mark, hovering dangerously close to the one-third line.
There were only two minutes left on the clock.
Aya's gaze hardened. She knew she was running out of time. This "novice" Coordinator considered by outsiders to be weak in Concert Battles, was even more formidable than she had anticipated.
Since that was the case, It was time to go all out!.
"Gyarados, Pelipper, snap out of it! Use Outrage and Hurricane! Don't let her escape back into the water!"
She screamed with everything she had.
As Feebas began to fall, the two opponents regained their senses. Pelipper whipped up one final, desperate storm, while Gyarados, wreathed in indigo dragon flames, began to spin violently in the waves!
Kashiwagi's expression shifted. "Blissey, use Psychic to pull Feebas out of there!"
Blissey reached out with her mind, but the energy in the pool was too chaotic; her psychic grip was shattered by the turbulent waves.
In an instant, the flame-wreathed Gyarados merged with the Hurricane.
A massive, sky-reaching Water Spout formed, its walls spinning with the force of a natural disaster, trapping the Shiny Feebas inside as she was swept high into the air!
It wasn't just a move—it looked like the wrath of nature itself.
Aya's third combo had arrived!
"Gyarados and Pelipper have shown us a brand-new combination with their perfect teamwork! Shiny Feebas is in serious trouble! Can it possibly break free?!"
Vivian's voice echoed throughout the stadium, tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
Kashiwagi ignored his rapidly draining point gauge and the countdown—only one minute left.
His mind raced: Should I use Gravity?
No. Looking at the vortex forming at the base of the pool from Gyarados's rotation, he realized Gravity would be useless. It wouldn't stop the centrifugal force.
So, how to break it? Ally Switch? No, that would just swap one victim for another.
He looked up at the spinning purple speck trapped in the towering water column, then down at the frozen glass shards of the Light Screen bobbing on the waves.
A wild, idea gradually took shape.
"Feebas! Jump! Ride the wind and jump out of there!" Kashiwagi roared, his voice straining to reach into the heart of the storm.
"You conquered the thirty-meter Dragon Gate Waterfall by swimming against the current! A measly Water Spout isn't going to stop you!"
He poured every ounce of belief into his shout.
"Blissey is going to give you a stepping stone, but you only have one shot! Do you hear me? One shot! You can do this! Burst out and show them the miracle you were born to create!"
His voice was nearly swallowed by the howling wind, but Vivian, standing closest to the stage, heard every word.
"Mr. Kashiwagi is telling Feebas to... jump out? What a bold, reckless plan! With less than thirty seconds on the clock, can a Feebas really pull this off?"
The crowd was in an uproar. They could barely see Feebas—only a purple blur whipped around by the gale.
To jump out of that?
It seemed impossible..
"Pure delusion! Increase the wind speed!" Aya wasn't about to give him an opening.
Pelipper flapped its wings with frantic intensity, accelerating the vortex until the water hummed with lethal force.
...
Inside the storm, Feebas was losing consciousness.
The world was a spinning nightmare of pressure and noise. Her level wasn't high enough to trade blows with a Gyarados and a Pelipper, and the Water Spout had pushed her stamina to the absolute limit.
In the haze, a voice drifted in.
Jump... Dragon Gate... Water Spout... One chance...
She didn't quite understand.
Was he asking her to charge out?
What about the points? Was the time up? She must have beeen a burden to Blissey and Kashiwagi, right? Were they going to lose?
Sigh..
I tried so hard....
Blissey supported me, and the Trainer gave me this stage... but I'm failing them.
I guess I really am just a useless—
"WRONG!"
The thunderous roar of Aggron seemed to explode in her ears.
"No matter how weak you once were, no matter what you've endured, as long as you keep going, you can overcome anything!"
"The Trainer doesn't lie. If he says you can do it, you CAN! Don't you dare give up! Don't you dare admit defeat!"
"CLIMB! KEEP CLIMBING!"
"Miracles exist in this world for those who grab them!"
Feebas's eyes snapped open. A mysterious surge of strength welled up from deep within her core, giving her exhausted body a second wind.
Though she was still being tossed around, her mind became ice-cold and focused.
The vague words from Kashiwagi suddenly became crystal clear.
Climb.
"I see, I have to climb again."
She looked up at the distant sky. Even if it was covered in grey rain clouds, it was still brighter than the dark, suffocating depths of the Dragon Gate falls.
One chance. No time for mistakes.
But that meant the battle wasn't over.
Her Trainer hadn't lost yet!
Since there was still a chance...
This is the crucial moment for victory!
Aggron had once said that you don't need to catch every opportunity in life—you just need to identify the most critical one and grip it with everything you've got.
A flash of pink light caught the corner of her eye.
The moment had arrived.
In the past, she had no talents. She was "nothing." But now, Feebas understood there was one thing only she could do—one reason why her Trainer chose her for this moment:
To climb against the world.
"FEEEEE-BASS!!"
CRACK!
Using her psychic powers, Blissey hurled a slab of frozen "Light Screen" glass directly into the vortex beneath Feebas.
The violent winds immediately began to tear the glass apart, but for a fraction of a second, the spinning Feebas found a point of leverage.
Her tail fin felt like it was splitting from the sheer force. Her muscles screamed in protest. But she caught it.
THE CHANCE.
GO!!
She stared at the sky, letting out a silent scream. The water trapped in the vortex seemed to respond to a mysterious power, aligning into a familiar shape—a "waterfall" within the storm!
A waterfall leading to freedom!
She refused to be defeated!
Feebas charged upward against the spiraling current, her eyes devoid of doubt, her resolve as firm as iron pillars.
Then, a brilliant, blinding light erupted from her body, so radiant that even the roaring Water Spout couldn't hide it!
Outside, the audience shielded their eyes. The "natural disaster" of the water tornado seemed to freeze as a pillar of pure light pierced through the center.
Within that light, a tiny, stubborn life form was swimming upward, defying gravity, defying the storm, defying the impossible!
The spectators clenched their fists, forgetting to cheer, forgetting the red numbers of the countdown.
Every eye was glued to the summit.
Until—the barrier was shattered!
BOOM!
Like a clap of thunder, a shimmering silhouette hung suspended in the high air. It was small, yet it stole the breath of everyone in the stadium.
Then...
the silhouette began to change. Its body lengthened, its fins expanded into delicate, colorful fans.
The audience gaped, watching the miracle unfold in the sky.
They were witnessing the birth of a legend—the moment the caterpillar leaves the cocoon and becomes the butterfly.
"Beauty"
At that moment, had just found its new definition.