"Huh? Miss Diantha, you want to battle Ash?"
Serena looked at Ash in surprise.
"Yes," Diantha replied with a gentle smile. "Because Ash is probably the person who understands Mega Evolution the most right now. And, thanks to him, Gardevoir and I were able to master Mega Evolution."
She gave an honest explanation.
Ash, of course, had no objections.
He nodded casually, agreeing right away.
"In that case," Clemont spoke up, adjusting his glasses, "let's head to the forest clearing behind the mountain. It's wide enough for a battle, and more importantly, no one usually goes there. I'm guessing Miss Diantha doesn't want a crowd watching?"
Diantha nodded. "That's right." Of course, she didn't want others to see her fight at less than her full strength.
What she didn't know, however, was that Ash didn't even need his full strength anymore to battle a Champion…
And so, the five of them made their way to the mountain's clearing.
The open space stretched out for hundreds of meters, vast and ideal for a true battle.
"Alright then. Come forth, Gardevoir!"
"Garde~!"
Diantha released her Pokémon.
"It's here! Diantha's Gardevoir!"
Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie were all wide-eyed, watching intently.
"Your turn, Ash," Diantha said expectantly. "Which Pokémon will you choose?"
Ash hesitated. He hadn't yet decided, so he simply released all of his Pokémon at once.
"Everyone, come out!"
In flashes of light appeared Servine, Pignite, Froakie, Fletchling, Lucario, Metagross, Gardevoir, Meloetta, Sceptile, Garchomp… Only his massive Gyarados remained in its Poké Ball.
[Pokémon]: Gardevoir
[Classification]: Embrace Pokémon
[Type]: Psychic, Fairy
[Ability]: Synchronize, Trace
[Hidden Ability]: Telepathy
[Potential]: Blue
[Level]: 79
[Moves]: Moonblast, Stored Power, Misty Terrain, Healing Wish, Growl, Confusion, Double Team, Teleport, Disarming Voice, Wish, Magical Leaf, Heal Pulse, Draining Kiss…
Level 79. A true Champion-tier peak. Not bad. Though Ash suspected this was the only Pokémon Diantha had at such a level.
He then glanced at his own Gardevoir—level 77. The gap wasn't much. This could be interesting.
"Alright, then I'll choose you, Gar—hm?"
Before Ash could even finish, Sceptile suddenly leapt forward, landing firmly in front of him.
"Cha-mo!"
"You want to battle, Sceptile?"
The Forest Pokémon nodded firmly, but his eyes kept flickering toward a certain serpent.
Servine.
Servine didn't avert her gaze either. She glanced at Diantha's Gardevoir, admiration gleaming in her eyes. Someday, she wanted to be as strong and elegant as that Pokémon.
Ash chuckled, instantly understanding. "So that's it. Sceptile wants to show off in front of Servine."
"Alright then," he said with a grin, "Sceptile, it's your stage!"
Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie all settled in to spectate.
…..
"Gardevoir, use Psycho Cut!"
"Garde~!"
In front of Gardevoir's forehead, a glowing psychic blade formed—shimmering with lethal precision. It slashed forward toward Sceptile!
"Sceptile, Counter with Pound!"
"Cha-mo!"
Sceptile didn't flinch. As the Psycho Cut closed in, the spiked tail lashed out like a whip.
Shatter!
The blade broke apart instantly.
"Cha-mo!!!"
Sceptile roared, his aura flaring.
Diantha's expression tightened. She could feel it now.
This was the same Sceptile who had shone so brightly at the Lily of the Valley Conference in Sinnoh. But back then, she hadn't directly faced him—she hadn't understood his true scale.
Now she did.
"Tier-3 Legendary Rank…" Diantha whispered under her breath. "When will my Gardevoir ever break through this wall?"
Her hand moved subconsciously to the pendant hanging at her chest.
The Keystone.
Yes. She had no choice—Ash's Sceptile was far too powerful.
"Ash," Diantha said solemnly, "show me… Show me just how strong a Pokémon beyond the Champion level can be! Gardevoir, it's time—Mega Evolve!"
"Hum!"
"Garde~!"
Her Keystone flared to life, resonating with the Gardevoirite hanging at her Pokémon's neck.
Light burst forth.
Mega Evolution—activated!
"In that case…" Ash smirked. "Sceptile, it's your turn to Mega Evolve. Let's surpass evolution itself!"
"Cha-mo!"
Buzz—buzz—buzz!
The air itself shook as their energies collided, forming an invisible clash even before either side moved.
Neither side could suppress the other… yet it was clear who had the stronger momentum.
"Garde~!"
Mega Gardevoir!
Her elegant white dress billowed, regal and dazzling.
"Cha-mo!"
Mega Sceptile!
Even more imposing than before, blades gleaming with unmatched sharpness.
------
"One strike will decide it," Ash said coolly.
Diantha inhaled deeply, nodding. She understood. Ash was giving her face—allowing her Mega Gardevoir the chance to prove itself.
But deep down, they both knew… this was about whether her Gardevoir could withstand a single blow from Mega Sceptile.
"Mega Sceptile—Leaf Blade!"
Twin blades of emerald energy formed along Sceptile's arms, radiating killing intent so sharp it felt like it could pierce the heavens.
The pressure alone was enough to sting their eyes.
"Go!"
"Cha!"
One stomp.
The earth itself quaked, fissures splitting apart as if from an earthquake. And that was just from his step.
The sheer force poured over Diantha and Mega Gardevoir, suffocating in intensity.
"Mega Gardevoir, use Light Screen, then follow up with Protect!"
A shining barrier snapped up in front of her Pokémon.
But Mega Sceptile was already upon them.
The Leaf Blade slammed into the barrier.
Crack—shatter!
The wall broke instantly.
Mega Gardevoir barely had time to summon her Protect shield—
BANG!
The glowing green dome splintered in less than a heartbeat.
The twin blades came down. One was poised right at Mega Gardevoir's neck.
And then—
Whoosh…
They dispersed into nothingness.
The overwhelming force slammed into her regardless, shattering her Mega Evolution form and dropping her back to the ground, panting and beaten.
….
Silence.
The clearing was utterly silent.
Ash's Mega Sceptile had won—without question.
--------------
T/N:
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