Want to read ahead. You know where
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Diantha truly lived up to her title as the Grand Duchess of the Kalos Region.
Her estate stretched far and wide, with manicured gardens, tall hedges, and a battle arena so large it could rival any Pokémon League facility.
After her latest Pokémon Contest, Diantha had expanded the grounds even further, commissioning an enormous battlefield, divided into multiple terrains: flat ground, sand, water, ice, and even mixed environments for advanced training.
Every day, a team of caretakers maintained the fields with precision.
Today, under a soft golden sky, Sam and Cynthia walked together toward the sandy arena, their footsteps sinking lightly into the warm ground.
Cynthia leaned in close, her voice a playful whisper against his ear.
"Sam~ use your strongest Pokémon today."
Sam smirked faintly.
"Got it…"
He wasn't particularly fired up.
Battling Diantha was… fine.
But she wasn't the kind of opponent that made his blood boil with excitement.
In the Championship ranking matches, Diantha was skilled, but compared to top-tier Trainers like Red or Leon, her ranking sat a bit lower.
If he were facing someone like them, he might've been more enthusiastic.
Seeing his halfhearted expression, Cynthia crossed her arms and huffed.
"Hey, cheer up! Don't you dare go easy on her."
Sam raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? And what happens if I win?"
Cynthia's lips curved into a knowing smile.
"You still have to ask?"
That look alone was enough to light a fire in Sam's eyes.
"Understood!" he said, his voice suddenly firm.
Watching the two, Diantha chuckled softly, covering her mouth with a gloved hand.
"Cynthia, if I win," she said teasingly, "do I get a reward too?"
Cynthia blinked. For a brief second, she almost laughed outright.
'Diantha? Win? Against Sam?'
She knew exactly how terrifying her man's strength was.
The thought of Diantha winning was adorable, if not impossible.
Still, Cynthia went along with the joke.
"Fine! If you win, I'll give you anything you want. Even if you ask for the stars in the sky, I'll find a way to get them for you!"
Diantha's eyes sparkled mischievously.
"That's what you said! Don't take it back later."
Cynthia tilted her head proudly.
"I'm no coward."
Her confident grin made Diantha laugh.
"Then I'll hold you to that! I'll win, no matter what it takes!"
With that, the Kalos Champion darted across the field, her cape fluttering behind her as she took her position on the opposite side.
Cynthia watched her go, amusement glimmering in her golden eyes.
The real reason she encouraged this match wasn't just for practice; it was for balance.
After all, she herself had often been crushed by Sam in battle.
Her pride as the Sinnoh Champion had taken more than a few dents since he came into her life.
Watching her sister figure, Diantha, experience the same kind of defeat would… well, make things feel a little more fair.
And perhaps, it was also a good excuse to show off her husband's strength in front of her fellow Champion.
As Diantha steadied herself at her end of the arena, she closed her eyes for a moment, breathing deeply.
The breeze brushed through her hair as she centered her mind and adjusted her Contest stance, a mix of elegance and focus.
When she opened her eyes again, they burned with determination.
The Grand Duchess of Kalos was ready to battle.
Diantha's fingers tightened around her Poké Ball, a confident smile gracing her lips.
"Let's show them your elegance, Gardevoir!"
With a graceful toss, a burst of pink-and-white light took shape on the sandy battlefield.
[Pokémon: Gardevoir]
[Gender: Female]
[Type: Psychic, Fairy]
[Ability: Telepathy – allows mental communication with her Trainer and a faint ability to predict enemy attacks.]
[Level: 67 (Champion Intermediate)]
[Potential: Peak Champion]
[Moves: Dazzling Gleam, Disarming Voice, Psychic, Moonblast, Healing Wish, Draining Kiss, and more.]
[Innate Moves: Mean Look, Disable.]
[Condition: Excellent – loyal to her Trainer and known to protect her with her life.]
"Gardevoir~!"
Her voice rang clear and elegant, echoing across the arena like a song.
The Pokémon's graceful movements matched her Trainer's poise, refined, calm, and ready.
Diantha glanced toward Cynthia with a teasing smile.
"Oh, by the way, Cynthia, I forgot to mention something."
Cynthia raised an eyebrow.
"Hm?"
"My Gardevoir has already mastered Mega Evolution."
Cynthia blinked, then let out a low whistle, her lips curving upward.
"Oh, really? This might be interesting after all."
Diantha chuckled softly.
She pulled back her sleeve, revealing a sleek silver Mega Ring that shimmered faintly under the sun.
She wanted to prove to Cynthia, and maybe herself, that she wasn't lagging behind.
At her signal, Gardevoir stepped forward, eyes glowing with psychic light.
"Now then, Mega Evolve!" Diantha commanded.
The gemstone on her ring flared, resonating with the stone around Gardevoir's neck.
A wave of psychic energy rippled outward, bending the air around them.
"Gardevoir!"
The light engulfed her completely.
Her form shifted, slender hands now gloved in pure white.
Her flowing green hair shimmered with silver hues, and her elegant gown unfolded into a radiant dress like something from a royal ball.
When the light faded, Mega Gardevoir hovered above the ground, her eyes gentle yet impossibly sharp, like the moon reflected in still water.
If the ordinary Gardevoir was a beautiful maiden, then Mega Gardevoir was a poised and mature queen.
It was no wonder people across Kalos called her the Super Queen.
Diantha's confidence grew as she admired her partner.
"Magnificent as always," she murmured.
"Let's give them a battle to remember."
From the sidelines, Cynthia smiled knowingly, while Sam stood quietly, hands in his pockets, gaze thoughtful.
Mega Evolution, huh… impressive. But if I hold back, Cynthia will never let me hear the end of it.
He sighed softly. Guess I'll have to take this seriously.
"Your turn, Professor Samuel," Diantha called across the field, her tone light but edged with challenge.
Sam nodded. "Alright then."
He had originally considered using Lucario; it would've been a good type matchup against Gardevoir.
But Cynthia's earlier words still echoed in his mind: Use your strongest Pokémon.
That left only one choice.
Sure, sending out his strongest partner against a mid-tier Champion-level Pokémon was a bit overkill… but then again, Cynthia did promise him a reward.
'Sorry, Diantha. No hard feelings.'
With a small grin, he unclipped a Poké Ball from his belt and tossed it high into the air.
"Come out, Draco!"
The Poké Ball burst open, and a roar thundered through the sky.
A massive Dragonite, nearly thirty meters tall, emerged from the red light, its wings spread wide, casting a shadow over the entire battlefield.
The sheer pressure of its aura made the air vibrate.
"Roooaaarrr!!!"
The giant Dragonite stretched its wings, eyes gleaming with excitement.
It had been training nonstop with Sam, eating well, growing stronger each day, and now, it was more than ready to test its power.
Even Cynthia couldn't help but chuckle from the sidelines.
"You really don't hold back, do you?"
Sam just shrugged.
"You said strongest."
Mega Gardevoir floated calmly in front of the colossal Dragonite, the size difference between them almost comical.
Yet her aura didn't waver.
Her psychic energy flared, warping the air itself, refusing to be overshadowed.
For a brief moment, silence filled the air.
Then, Dragonite's aura burst outward like a shockwave, shattering the psychic pressure around Mega Gardevoir in an instant.
Diantha's eyes widened. What… kind of power is this?!
Even so, she didn't flinch.
"Mega Gardevoir, let's begin! Dazzling Gleam, full power!"
Brilliant light erupted from Mega Gardevoir's body, scattering into a storm of rainbow beams that filled the sky.
The battle of elegance and raw might had begun.