In the Footage—
Prompted by Korrina, the group remembered that they had just been discussing how she was the Gym Leader of this very city. They had forgotten in the blink of an eye.
"Come on, Korrina! We're battling in the next round! I'm definitely going to beat you just like last time!"
Hearing this, Korrina's cheerful face immediately puffed up like a steamed bun. "Battle it is! Why bring up last time?! If you're going to play that game... I beat you the time before that! You were my 100th consecutive victory victim!"
When Korrina and Ash first met, they had a sudden, impromptu battle—a match that marked Korrina's 100th win in a row.
Ash's smile faded as he puffed out his cheeks in response. "That was an accident! Later, my Pikachu even beat your Mega Lucario!"
The two of them bickered back and forth like a young couple. Watching from the side, Chloe felt an inexplicable urge to sing a melancholy love song. After their brief spat, the two looked at each other and laughed in unison.
"Ash, you really haven't changed at all! Still like a little kid!"
"Korrina's the one acting like a kid!"
"Alright! Let's save the small talk for later. For now..." Korrina raised a fist, her smile blooming like a flower. "Let's get ready to enjoy the battle!"
Ash extended his fist and bumped hers. "You bet!"
[Lance: Good grief, what is with this chemistry?! I feel like I could ship this!]
[Bea: Ship it! Ship it hard! That's my girl! I'm rooting for my best friend!]
[Korrina: Bea, don't talk nonsense!]
[Diantha: Oh, the subject herself has appeared! I actually agree. In terms of interaction, Korrina and Ash are incredibly in sync. Likely because you both love battling and have such similar personalities.]
[Korrina: Even Champion Diantha is doing this...]
Seeing Diantha join in, Korrina was flustered. She could argue with Bea, but Diantha was technically her superior! Why was even the Champion shipping her with Ash? Yet, deep down, she felt a tiny spark of joy. In the footage... she and Ash really did look like they shared a unique bond.
[Catlin: Teehee, I still want to see Cynthia x Ash! My girl is the endgame!]
[Steven: Hmm, actually, May and Ash are quite good together.]
[Lorelei: If we're talking about who looks most like a couple with Ash, it's obviously Misty. The first companion traveled through three regions... if she isn't the one, who is?]
As the Champions and Elite Four members started acting like "shipping" fans, the heroines all turned beet red. Only Ash remained completely bewildered. He leaned over and whispered to Brock.
"Brock, what does 'CP' mean?"
Brock: "..." This is a hard question to answer for a boy with negative romantic EQ. "You can understand it as... the person who will always be by your side in the future."
"Oh? Then shouldn't that be Pikachu?"
Red:?Cynthia:?Brock:?Misty:?
When everyone starts posting question marks, you are definitely the problem! Truly the "Conversation Ender," Ash Ketchum! While everyone was debating ships, you provided the ultimate answer. So, Pikachu is the true love after all?
"Um... Ash... is there... I mean... anyone besides Pikachu you want to be with forever? A woman!" Misty grit her teeth, forcing out the question. This was as close to a confession as she could get. She felt that if Pokémon and men were removed from the options, she should be the one!
"Eh... well, obviously my Mom!"
Everyone: "..." Well played, Ash. Well played.
"Hehe, Mom is very happy to hear that," Delia said with a smile. "But Mom also wants a daughter-in-law eventually. Of course, you're still young, so you don't have to worry—but the 'you' in the footage should probably start thinking about it."
Delia gave Misty a meaningful look. Seeing the support in Delia's eyes, the dejected Misty perked up instantly.
With the "Mother-in-law's" backing, her chances were much higher! Little did Misty know, Delia was thinking: Misty, Serena, Korrina, May... they're all such good girls.
Why doesn't Ash just bring them all home as daughters-in-law? Gary had six girlfriends at age ten; her son, having ten or eight when he grew up, shouldn't be too much to ask, right?
In the Footage—
Ash and Korrina submitted their names, and soon, their match was called. This was the highlight of the festival! Neither had lost a single match since the festival began, and both were operating at a level far beyond the "Normal Class."
This was a promotion match. The winner would enter the Great Class, meaning they would be ranked among the top 1000 Trainers in the world.
The referee Rotom declared the start of the match! Both threw their Poké Balls simultaneously.
Korrina released a purple and white Pokémon with a slender body and long, sleeve-like fur on its arms. It had long whiskers and a long tail—a Mienshao. Ash, meanwhile, sent out Gengar.
"Oh? The Mienfoo I fought back then has evolved!"
"Hehe~ impressive, right? But Ash, you're being quite technical, aren't you? Bringing out Gengar!"
Ash knew she was a Fighting-type specialist, so he brought a Ghost-type to counter her! Fighting moves are ineffective against Ghosts, effectively locking out most of her moveset.
"I'm taking the first move! Mienshao, Acrobatics!!"
Korrina struck first. Mienshao glowed white and blurred across the rocky field, reaching Gengar in an instant. Its sleeve-like fur lashed out, slamming Gengar into a boulder with enough force to crack the stone.
"So fast..." Ash was startled. Even if he had been prepared, Gengar likely wouldn't have dodged that.
"As expected of a Fighting-type! Gengar, Psychic!"
Psychic beats Fighting, and invisible telekinesis is much harder to dodge! A pinkish-purple glow erupted from Gengar as an invisible force reached out for Mienshao.
"Detect!"
Mienshao's eyes gleamed as it read Gengar's every movement. It began to "dance" across the rocks, weaving through the invisible Psychic grasp with fluid, beautiful motions.
"Great! Mienshao, Acrobatics again!"
As the Psychic energy waned, Korrina seized the opening.
"We won't fall for the same trick twice! Gengar, maximize Psychic in a circle around yourself!"
As Mienshao charged, the purple glow around Gengar expanded violently. Instead of reaching out, the force formed a barrier.
Mienshao's speed became its downfall; it couldn't stop in time and slammed into the Psychic shield!
"Got her! Slam her into the ground!"
With a creepy grin, Gengar used its mental power to smash Mienshao repeatedly against the floor. By the time the energy faded, Mienshao was battered and bruised.
[Sabrina: Good counter. Even though it's a Ghost-type, its mastery of Psychic moves is solid.]
[Catlin: This Gengar seems to have a natural gift for move variety. Between Psychic, Fairy, Ice, Poison, Dark, and Ghost moves... its coverage is insane. Why did anyone ever think this Gengar was weak?]
In the Footage—
Korrina broke into a sweat. Dealing with Ghosts was such a pain. "Mienshao, U-turn!"
Mienshao gathered its strength, flickered like a phantom, and delivered a swift kick to Gengar's head before retreating back into its Poké Ball. In its place, Korrina's ace appeared: Lucario!
In the VIP box, Cynthia nodded. "Switching to Lucario is a smart move. While its Fighting moves are ineffective, its Steel typing makes it immune to Poison. Plus, most Lucario know a certain signature move—Bone Rush."
Upon entering, Korrina didn't issue an attack immediately. She looked at Ash with narrowed eyes. "Ash, I'm going all out!"
"Come on! I've been waiting for this! Riolu, watch closely!" Ash shouted to the Riolu in the stands.
Korrina threw two heavy punches into the air, spun gracefully, and struck a pose.
"Life Energy—Erupt!!" "Lucario, MEGA EVOLVE!!"
She pressed the stone on her glove. A brilliant bond of light connected Trainer and Pokémon. Lucario's form shifted—its fur grew, black markings spread, and it sprouted lethal spikes. Mega Lucario let out a roar that shook the stadium!
"Finally! Mega Evolution!!" Ash's excitement reached a fever pitch.
"Gengar, be careful! This Lucario is on another level!"
"Ginga!" Gengar's face was grim. The pressure coming from the opponent was overwhelming. This was a different league entirely from Mienshao.
"Lucario, Bullet Punch!"
In the blink of an eye, Lucario's fists glowed silver. It was in Gengar's face before the ghost could blink. A barrage of ten or more punches landed in a single second, followed by an uppercut that launched Gengar into the sky!
"Don't let him go! Use Bone Rush!"
Lucario materialized two blue energy bones and leaped above Gengar, hammering him down toward the earth with lightning speed.
BOOM!
The ground shattered, and dust filled the arena. When the smoke cleared, Gengar lay in the crater, eyes swirling.
Two moves. Gengar was defeated. Lucario's power was terrifying!
[Catlin: A Mega-evolved Lucario is a monster. I want one.]
[Gurkinn: Lucario with that level of talent are rarer than Pseudo-Legendaries. Even an Elite Four member would struggle to find one like that.]
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