Rapidash hadn't fallen yet; the flames along its back only burned hotter!
Feeling the rolling heat, Ralts hopped back to the ground and pushed itself up with one hand. From beneath its fringe, its bright eyes locked onto its foe.
They stared each other down, neither giving an inch.
The air between them crackled—one wrong move and the fuse would be lit.
On Grey's side, the counterplan spun up.
Given Ralts's state, Teleport couldn't be chained, and he had to keep it in reserve in case Rapidash suddenly went for Smart Strike—one clean hit could spell a one-shot.
On top of that, he had to watch for Poison Jab and Flame Charge.
Everything else was manageable—pick the right moment and it could be solved without much trouble.
[Still don't see how Ralts wins this.]
[The power gap's too big. Knock Off hurt, but that's one burst.]
[Weird—why isn't Grey using other Psychic moves? Kinda baffling.]
Chat didn't get it.
Against a Rapidash, kiting from range is the obvious line.
But Grey? He kept calling for close-quarters.
This little one's psychic ability seems… a bit lacking…
Blaine had noticed Ralts's Teleport wasn't like others of its kind.
Most Ralts are second to none at Teleport—rivaling the Abra line in Kanto. It's like they're born for it.
But Grey's Ralts struggled with psychic technique.
Which told him one thing: Ralts wasn't reliable at pure psychic execution.
And if so—nothing to fear!
"Rapidash, Quick Attack!"
Answer speed with speed.
If Grey loved Quick Attack so much last round, Blaine would return the favor.
"Hnh!"
Rapidash snorted twin streams of white from its nostrils. Hooves hammered the floor in a ringing cadence.
It lunged, white afterimages streaking together with its flaring fire as it tore across the field!
Tap-tap-tap!
It had already boosted with Flame Charge; stacking Quick Attack now only made it faster.
"Raaalts…"
Ralts's gaze tightened as the galloping Rapidash blurred into smears of light; a dizzy spell pressed at its mind, lulling it toward sleep.
"Don't look at it! Eyes front!"
Grey's voice cut through.
Ralts jolted, snapped back, and shook off the sway.
The hoofbeats closed in. Ralts angled its head, listening hard—still no clear read on where the strike would come from.
Grey sank into the moment, watching everything.
Rapidash was tracing circles, angling for a perfect blind spot.
So—
There would be only one chance!
Shhk!
White flared.
Rapidash surged straight at Ralts, forehooves cocked to stomp down!
"Slip left to shave the damage—then Charm!"
Grey didn't ask it to tank—he trimmed the hit to the minimum.
THUD!
The stomp crashed down, the heavy report echoing around the arena.
Barely skimming away, Ralts staggered; its green fringe swept aside like fog, revealing those round, brilliant eyes.
Adorable. Disarming.
Rapidash's movement slowed. Something in its chest went soft—Ralts suddenly seemed too cute to strike.
A cool blue flash.
Rapidash's Attack plummeted—hard.
It didn't even notice anything was wrong—only sank deeper into those eyes.
Too cute to hurt.
"Cutting power? Won't matter!"
Blaine read Rapidash's state, and his own spirit flared hotter. "Rapidash—Flamethrower!"
"Frrr!"
Rapidash shrieked; the flames along its body flowed forward and gathered, a massive fireball swelling to more than half again normal—
A lance of orange-red fire ripped out, sweeping toward Ralts!
Under the still-present harsh sunlight, that Flamethrower hit like a freight train.
Air scorched and crackled.
Space rippled and bent in its wake, impossible to read.
And as Flamethrower roared, Rapidash planted its hooves and drove forward again!
Cha-chang!
Under the blazing sun, Rapidash's horn lengthened, metal sheen flashing bright!
"Life Dew."
Grey was right on time.
Ralts folded its hands; Water-type energy burst forth!
A fountain of life-rich droplets jetted from the red horn on its head, slamming into the incoming Flamethrower—steam billowed, white fog swallowing the field!
In a blink, neither side could see a thing.
"Using Life Dew to fog the field and block Rapidash's line, huh…"
Blaine thumbed his sunglasses, the other hand in his pocket. His tone darkened. "Rapidash—if you can't see it, burn it all. Fire Spin!"
No more tiptoeing. If you can't find the mark, clear the field.
At this range, Fire Spin was the best instantaneous answer.
Rapidash snapped its neck; torrents of fire lashed out, weaving into circling bands that whipped down!
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!
The glow inside the fog popped bright—Ralts pinpointed Rapidash's position at once.
Harsh light washed over Grey's features as he lifted a finger, a smile tugging at his mouth. "Zen Headbutt."
"Hm?"
Blaine felt the wrongness in a snap.
Ralts's Teleport was shaky—and Grey wanted Zen Headbutt?
Wait…
Could it be—?!
Realization pricked his nerves.
But stopping Rapidash mid-commit wasn't simple now.
All he could do—was meet it head on!
"Rapidash—Flare Blitz!"
Blaine threw the finisher.
Perfect timing—the harsh sunlight was about to end!
In less than half a breath, Rapidash ignited in an explosive blaze—the flames flipped to a ruinous ghost-blue.
With the sun's boost, that azure fire swelled massively. Muscles bunched along its legs; the pressure of its power stole the breath.
Rrrrumble—
The ground shook with its charge; you could hardly stand.
Ralts kept moving forward, a pink-violet psychic radiance flaring from its crown, pouring down through its body—amping its physical force higher and higher!
Neither side dodged. The final exchange became the most primitive kind—a body-to-body collision.
Now, it was only a question of who was harder.
KRAAANG!
Flesh to flesh, psychic light and fire braided together and blew out—
Air boomed; stones powdered to dust and vanished in midair.
"Ralts!" (I want… power!)
Feeling the gap between them, Ralts gritted down and drove its head forward—
Flash!
Zen Headbutt connected—and then a brighter brilliance erupted from within Ralts, bursting outward in waves.
The light of evolution!
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