4:45 p.m. November 3rd, Tuesday, 106 PH (Post Hoopa Event). Day 147.
Events: Rhea and the girls are on a Badge Hunt, trying to get all the Kanto Encrusted Badges before time runs out! Our girl started her journey on the 9th of June, and the end of registration for the Winter Indigo Cup is December 5th (31 days away).
The heat of the field brushed against Roxie fur as she stabilized, landing lightly on the scorched rock. Her paws brushed against the rough surface as the crowd’s roar surged in a tidal wave of sound. The heat of the volcanic arena pressed in around her.
She swiftly took account of the molten lava coursing through the veins of the battlefield before darting to a higher vantage point, her locking onto the Combusken standing opposite her.
“What out for his legs, Rox,” Lori counseled, no doubt studying their opponent’s public data and what he could know at their tier. “Yikes! Its Fighting Moves will be a nightmare if he lands one, but we’ve got something he won’t see coming. Remember Vermilion? Time to show your stuff, girl!”
Roxie’s tail wagged, her focus narrowing on the cocky Combusken across the zone. She could see it in his posture as the announcer introduced them—he was simmering with confidence as he tilted his beak, giving her an upward smirk.
“What a matchup! Draden, the Combusken, versus Roxie, the Rockruff. I’d hold your bets on this one because Draden has some nasty counters to our rocky girl! Oh? Are we getting some chatter between our contestants?!”
Her ears flew up as the bird did a side flip, flames trailing after his feet. “Let’s make this good, Roxie,” he encouraged, sounding bold and assured while making a few swift foot movements, but Roxie heard an unspoken respect buried beneath his theatrics. “I try to get to know my challengers. How are you?”
He’s not one of the mean ones, huh? Well, most Gym Pokemon tend to be pretty cool…
Bounding up onto a jagged rock formation closer to the center of the field, she puffed up her chest with a bright smile. The stone radiated heat under her paws, but the burn only heightened her adrenaline.
“I’m good. Thanks! But you better keep up, birdie. I don’t go easy.”
His eyes sparkled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, love!”
The announcer’s voice boomed overhead, making Roxie’s fur bristle slightly with the background music playing. “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s hear it one more time! The final showdown of the Silver-tier! Rockruff versus Combusken! Rock versus Fire and Fighting! Let’s see if Roxie can overcome the disadvantage and claim victory in this blazing arena!”
Flames erupted from around the stadium’s edges as, without warning, Draden moved. He crouched low, his muscles coiling like a spring, and a flicker of golden-orange energy flared around him, Lori calling it out and Terri’s soft chuckles passing through the connection.
“Focus Energy.”
“We’re all behind you, Lt. Stone!”
“Let’s do this, Roxie!”
Gables, Melon, and Zyra reflected her sentiment as his power thickened, the intensity growing until it pulsed like a heartbeat around him.
In response, Roxie bared her teeth with a smile. She threw her head back as Lori funneled energy into her, sensing a pulse of power resonating in unity between Terri, Lori, and her. Letting out her mighty voice, it reverberated through the arena while summoning the special Move Lori had purchased for her after the Vermilion Gym win.
“Let’s shake things up!”
The air shifted around her, sand swirling in a sharp cyclone before exploding outward. The expanding surged out, bringing much of the crowd to their feet with the announcer’s shouts.
“Roxie unleashes a massive Sandstorm for her tier, countering the blazing sun overhead! Draden is blinded and taking chip damage!”
The arena transformed. The once-bright battlefield dimmed under the cloud of swirling grit, drones scrambling to adjust to the changing environment as sand-resistant cameras buzzed into place. Draden’s smile didn’t falter as he took up a stance, squinting and glancing left and right as the roaring winds and sand that buffered him.
Sharpening her already piercing vision, she spotted the Combusken through the storm’s turbulence. With a sharp , she kicked off her platform, Attack rising. Yet, at that moment, a faded blue glow Draden and he launched right for her, zig-zagging between rock formations and seemingly running on air, blurring his movement.
Reacting on instinct, force burst forth, propelling her into motion to meet the bird. Spinning at the last second, her white-highlighted form grazed past his illuminated figure, missing his glowing beak.
Breaking apart, she flipped around to land on a broken rock formation, a small smile brightening her face as he immediately twirled and shifted momentum. White energy pushing her forward again, she sprinted to meet him. Somehow, he was finding her through the haze.
“Okay! Let’s go!”
Meeting him head-on, she felt the collision ripple through her body, canceling each other out—it was almost a deadlock in power. Disconnecting to tumble over the ground with their dissipating energy, another burst of Normal force launched her back into motion as Draden did the same. Upon meeting, she saw his smile, full and eyes alight.
In that brief second collision, he laughed, “You can’t hide from me.”
“Who’s hiding?!” she shot back with a toothy grin.
Ricocheting away, they raced around the volcanic zone, meeting in short explosions of Flying and Normal energy that propelled them apart with sand raging around them—it was tipped in her favor.
“Draden locks onto Roxie with Aerial Ace, empowered by Focus Energy! Roxie meets him with a +1 Quick Attack! Blasted away, they scramble to remain on the offensive, trying to gain the upper hand and leave the opponent gasping for air! Only one side has the field advantage, though. Roxie is slowly chipping away at Draden!”
Her body blurring, a newfound surge of familiar power rising within her, as she circled the battlefield in a whirlwind of motion and shot at the bird—her Aura flipped from white to light .
A twinkle flashed in Draden’s eye as she broke through the storm, trailing a Rock-type beam in her wake. He pivoted at the last second, his fiery cloak steadying him despite the chaos. Roxie’s vision narrowed as he twisted in a sharp circle, evading her as she slammed into a rock formation, the impact fracturing it.
He’s getting faster?
“Muk… You dirty old man!” Lori growled with a laugh. “He’s like Mimi, Roxie. He’s got his Dream World Ability—Speed Boost. Keep Sandstorm up. You know what to do now if he uses Aerial Ace. It’s not that strong. He’s also got Detect, like Nova.”
Great… He’s an expert dodger, huh?
Roxie noted the shift and dug her claws into the rock beneath her, easily breaking into the stone to give her purchase to keep stable. She spotted Draden beyond the veiling sand, flames lighting in his beak before sending three balls peppering her way to flush her out.
She darted left, then right, her movements erratic, testing his patience. The embers dimmed under the fury of the Sandstorm as she reignited it, their heat barely brushing her fur as they exploded over the area.
“You’re a smart one,” Draden muttered, his voice carrying an edge of laughter. “But don’t think I haven’t dealt with Sandstorms before.”
Breathing in deeply, he released a stream of fire that struck the ground and cycloned outward into a growing vortex. Roxie darted back, trying to keep her distance as the expanding heat pushed back her sand. She strained a smile as her form blurred multiple Rockruff spreading out around the field, flickering as if not real.
“There you are—eh, were!” he snickered, glancing around as the sand was pushed back with the fire roaring between them. “Shall we dance?”
The heated wind blowing Roxie’s fur to the side, she flexed her claws, Lori gauging his new strategy. “Fire Spin can only last a minute before the Sandstorm sweeps it away. Try to pull him away from—”
Draden vanished. Blinking, her keen eyes widening in shock, she glanced left and right—nothing. Then, he reappeared right in front of her, pointed finger aimed right between her eyes. A blue shell immediately materialized to defend her.
How the—
Her focus snapped as his finger slid right through her Protect, making her tense as a light pulse of Normal energy connected with her forehead. Stumbling back, she blinked rapidly, trying to recover as he spun in a circle, orange gleam erupting around him.
“Endeavor!”
“ to Double Kick!”
Claws sinking into the stone beneath her and gritting her teeth, Roxie reinforced herself, a coat of reactive force encircling her in a white film. The weight of the first kick pushed her back centimeters, rock chipping away beneath her. Yet Draden winced as he took half of his own attack, her retribution forcing him to cancel his follow-up strike.
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“Eesh! What a counter!” he hissed, dancing away.
“Paralyze him!” Lori shouted between their connection.
Roxie was already pushing forward, sparks flashing in her mouth as she bit down hard on his arm; the effect didn’t activate.
Unlucky… I’m not done, though—son of a Muk!
Blue, ethereal flames lit in Draden’s mouth, forcing Roxie to release him, her form flickering again. The Ghostly fire lashed out, passing through her mirror image as she darted around the Combusken’s side…but he was too fast.
Using one foot to spiral upside down, Draden sent a cone of her own sand into her face, her eyes closed. “Not bad, fluffy girl, but I win this—”
She knew what was coming, and she didn’t need to see it. Lori’s power infused her and shadows enveloped her, carrying her away from the kick that was no doubt aimed between her eyes. Her vision cleared just as she reappeared above the bird, paw igniting with Dark Energy. Unable to see the blow coming until the last second, it met the side of his face with an eruption of force that propelled him into his own Fire Spin.
Landing rather ungracefully on her back, she breathed heavily, gulping as she noticed the ghostly flames of Will-O-Wisp only a foot from her face, still burning.
Wow. That was a close one.
Struggling upright, Roxie’s sharp gaze tracked him through the raging Sandstorm to the dwindling cyclone of fire. Only, all she saw was another flash of dull blue energy. Timing her movements, she crouched low, her muscles coiling before she sprang forward with a burst of speed, Quick Attack clashing against Aerial Ace.
Their collision sent them both skidding back, and Roxie shook off the heat clinging to her smoking fur, a little shocked some of the last embers of the Fire Spin had been pulled with him to singe her. Draden landed gracefully, his smirk widening as he rubbed his cheek.
“Not bad, pup. Not bad at all. But how much longer can you last?”
Roxie’s grin turned feral as she braced herself, her sharp claws digging into the heated rock for leverage, ready to propel herself forward. “I’m just getting started.”
Heart racing, she steadied herself. Draden mirrored her stance, flames licking at his talons as his cocky smirk remained in place, a faint hint of anticipation sparking in his eyes—he was enjoying their clashes. The swirling Sandstorm around them cast shadows over the battlefield as it thickened with the Fire Spin’s end, the gritty winds tugging at her.
She surged forward, closing the distance with a burst of speed, and shifted her weight mid-leap to strike with electricity dancing over her fangs. Sparks crackled in her mouth as she aimed for his shoulder. Draden dodged with a fluid twist, the electricity snapping at empty air.
His counter came fast—too fast. Draden spun low, his talons carving a glowing arc in the sandstorm as he unleashed another surge of Fighting-Type energy aimed squarely at her chest. The first strike glanced off, Quick Attack managing to push her away fast enough to deflect the brunt, but the second caught her backside, sending her tumbling across the battlefield.
Muk! I thought I dodged it…
“How bad is it?” Lori asked, likely trying to interpret her answer as Roxie rolled to her feet.
32%, probably, Roxie growled, shaking off the sting in her ribs. Her breathing was heavy, but her gaze remained locked on the Combusken as he pressed forward, his movements a blur enhanced by Speed Boost. I’m fine!
“Don’t let him control the tempo, Roxie!” Lori urged. “You’ve got this. Time to pull out the claws! Make it count.”
Roxie’s paws glowed with a pale white glow as she leaped into the air, spinning to meet Draden head-on. The jagged energy extended from her outstretched paw, making the Combusken choke and try to dodge as it carved through the storm in a downward slash.
Draden’s eyes widened as he barely managed to sidestep the full rake with his consistently accelerating speed, yet the razor-sharp swipe grazed his arm and sent him skidding back.
“Roxie lands a powerful Crush Claw, lowering Draden’s Defense and forcing his retreat!” the announcer bellowed as the crowd roared. “But can she maintain the momentum?”
Draden didn’t stay on the defensive for long. With a determined snarl, he launched forward, flames pushing him forward in a swirl of heat. The power of the fire made Roxie brace herself against the stone as it parted the Sandstorm.
Just as he reached her, she twisted her body, tail lashing out to kick up a cloud of grit directly into his face. Eyes forced shut, she sidestepped as he faltered, but only for a moment. His fiery talons slammed into the ground as he flipped over her, aiming a precise Aerial Ace from above as the bright aura encircled him.
“What the—who taught you how to fight like this?!”
Her instincts screamed, and Roxie dove to the side, Nova and Pikachu’s proud, puffed-up chests flashing across her mind from all their practices. She narrowly avoided the glowing strike while repeating Pikachu’s mantra.
Fear leads to anxiety! Inaction leads to loss! Act! Spark those cheeks!
Tail smacking against the ground, the hot stones illuminated and shot into the air at the Combusken. The attack struck his shoulder, throwing him slightly off-balance and staggering him but failing to halt his advance.
“Smart play, Roxie,” Lori encouraged, her energy steadying Roxie’s form. Yet, she could feel it starting to grow more challenging for her Trainer. “I’ve got you, so don’t worry about me! I feel you. Just keep him guessing! We’ve seen a lot of his tricks!”
Roxie darted forward again, this time faking a Quick Attack before pivoting into a Bite. Her sharp teeth barely missed his leg as he retreated, twisting sharply. His counterattack came with a surge of fiery energy that forced her to backpedal.
He’s so slippery, like Gabs and Nova!
Their battle became a flurry of movement—slashes, dodges, and bursts of elemental energy filling the battlefield. The Sandstorm began to fade, its duration running out, leaving the arena clear and the crowd on their feet. Roxie’s breathing grew heavier with every exchange, and her movements began to falter as Draden’s Speed Boost continued to amplify his agility.
I’m doing my best but…he keeps getting faster!
Pressure kept building in her chest, making her legs begin to quiver, but it wasn’t from exhaustion. Something was pulsing within her core, the frustration of the bird’s nagging Aerial Ace and threatening feet keeping her from pursuing any ground she could gain.
I’m down to 17%, Lori… I have to take the gamble!
“Do it! Do it! Do it!”
Waiting for the moment Draden shifted toward the offense, Roxie lurched forward, claws extending to deadly length—the white energy shifted brown. Power surging through her, smile brightening, her paw rose to meet the bird’s wide-eyed face, Aerial Ace pushing him right into her Rock-infused, Attack +1, STAB Crush Claw.
He cut the Move to reposition, but it was too late. The shimmering energy encasing her paw promised to end the match as she drove it out with all her strength—but then, the glow shattered just before impact, the energy dispersing harmlessly into the air.
“What?!” Roxie gasped.
Her momentum carried her forward as Draden zeroed in, fear flipping to victory in an instant; she was caught too off-guard to summon a Protect. Pivoting on his talons, he spun in a tight circle, his foot glowing with fiery orange energy as he delivered a devastating kick to her side—only, it met a sharp eruption of rainbow light. A surge of energy unlike anything she’d ever felt welled up inside her, radiating outward in a burst of light.
Roxie could hardly hear the crowd gasping, the announcer’s voice rising above the chaos. “Draden lands a critical Double—what the?!”
Lori’s blood ran cold as she watched the Double Kick surge toward her little pup’s side, only to be absorbed by a rush of multi-colored light. The moment hung in suspended disbelief, and Lori’s hands shot to her mouth as her legs trembled, a tight knot of fear in her chest loosening with a burst of exhilaration.
Her breath caught, realization dawning with a sharp clarity that made her squeal in unrestrained delight. “Oh, my Mukin’ Arceus! You’re evolving!”
The announcer’s booming voice was almost drowned out by the thunderous cheers from the crowd. “What’s this? Roxie—yes, Roxie is evolving into Lycanroc! Ladies and gentlemen, we’re witnessing a rare moment here! And it’s Midday Form! Look at that sleek, fierce design—this pup has grown into one serious challenger with some claws to match those intense pink eyes! Have you seen a prettier Lycanroc with that salt-and-pepper theme? I think not!”
Roxie’s form elongated, her legs becoming more slender and defined as her body surged with energy. Her fur smoothed into a bright, pale white, accented by deep black streaks down her sides. The pronounced spikes on her mane and tail glistened under the harsh volcanic light, her expressive eyes narrowing with newfound confidence.
Bouncing up and down, heat rising up her throat, Lori fought back tears. “Roxie! Roxie, you’re incredible! Oh, Arceus!”
“Kub! Kub!” her Legendary cheered from beside her, the rest of her Pokemon joining in from their Poké Balls. “Kubfu!”
Draden staggered back, his earlier bravado tempered into wary respect. He crouched low, flames curling at his talons, but even his Speed Boost-enhanced frame couldn’t hide the hesitancy in his movements.
Roxie’s sharp gaze locked onto him, her fur bristling with a deep brown aura as the Sandstorm roared back to life. The battlefield transformed into a chaotic vortex of grit and stone, and Roxie’s form became a blur, nearly imperceptible amidst the swirling haze.
“Roxie takes advantage of her new Ability—Sand Rush!” the announcer exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. “This battlefield is now her playground, folks! She’s not about to be outsped! Draden stands no chance!”
Blaine’s hand shot forward, a beam of red light connecting with the Combusken through the haze and pulling him back into his Poké Ball. The fiery Gym Leader raised his arms, drawing the crowd’s attention.
“Enough! This match is over!” His deep laughter reverberated through the stadium as he clapped his hands and fireworks shot into the sky as the heavy metal music roared to life. “What a spectacular finish! Lori Medina, you’ve tipped the scales too far. Between Roxie’s evolution and Terri still in the challenge, there’s no way to recover with the time we have left. I throw in the towel!”
The crowd roared with approval, their energy surging through the arena as the announcer’s voice boomed and the cameras showed every angle of her beautiful wolf. “Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in four years, Gym Leader Blaine has surrendered a match! Lori Medina—wha, am I seeing that ranking right, folks?! Gold-3!”
Lori’s knees nearly gave out as she glanced at the scoreboard, the confirmation of her victory sending a wave of elation crashing over her. “We did it!” she shouted, her voice cracking as she laughed, tears streaming down her face as Terri jumped into her arms to hug her. “We…won a Silver Encrusted Gym Challenge without losing a single Pokemon?!”
The Sandstorm began to die down with the crowd’s chants, the gritty winds settling as Roxie stepped forward, her Midday Form glowing with the intensity of her newfound strength. But just as the crowd began to calm, a second eruption of rainbow light engulfed Roxie. Gasps echoed through the arena as her form shifted again, her silhouette sharpening and twisting into something entirely new.
“What’s this?!” the announcer cried. “Another evolution?! Roxie is transforming again! What are we witnessing?! Ladies and gentlemen, only here! Has there ever been a more hype Silver-tier challenge than what we’ve seen today in history?!”
Her white fur darkened, the black melding into a dusky alabaster hue that shimmered like the evening sky. A jagged white stripe stretched across her back, and her sharp, pink eyes glinted with an unyielding intensity. The spikes of her mane grew longer, more pronounced, and her stance exuded an aura of raw, untamed power.
“She’s Dusk Form now!” Lori whispered. “Girl!”
Blaine chuckled, stroking his mustache as he observed the transformation with an approving nod. “I should have known,” he mused, his tone rich. “A Rockruff bred by Christie… Of course, she’d have the potential to shift between Forms. And what a beauty she’s become. It’s 5 p.m. sharp—perfect timing for a Dusk Form evolution. What a conclusion!”
The audience erupted, their cheers blending with the stadium’s ambient heat to create an atmosphere of pure electricity as pictures were snapped from all angles. Lori wiped her eyes, her gaze locked on Roxie as the newly evolved Lycanroc turned to face her, tail wagging and bright eyes brimming with pride.
We…made a Gym Leader surrender. Muk, maybe we aren’t such screw-ups, huh? We actually won without either of you fainting… I guess we have something to hold over the other girls. We are strong.
Roxie barked, the sound sharp and clear, carrying a new resonance that echoed her strength and determination. As the crowd continued to cheer, Blaine approached the edge of his platform, his expression one of genuine respect.
“Congratulations, Lori,” he said, tipping his hat. “This is why I chose you to be last: I could feel it in your Aura, waiting to be released. It’s why I do what I do—to see Trainers like you and Pokémon reach heights they never thought possible. You, Terri, and Roxie earned this victory. I expect to see you defeat your teammates in the Silver Cup. Fire glows the strongest in the shadows.”
As the Sandstorm fully dissipated, the stadium lights dimmed slightly, casting the volcanic arena in a golden glow that mirrored the triumph etched into Lori’s heart.
Did you see that, Miky, Mom? I’m growing. I’m okay… We’re okay.
- Growing Community =D
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