-Blessed by Divinity: Eternity-

The Fox's True Power

"Milotic, let's keep up the streak!"

"Ninetails, we have a streak to end!"

Both pokemon stared each other down and from where I was stood, I could see that this was no regular Milotic. Something about her aura was different but this only intrigued me more.

"Hydro pump!"

"Use blizzard to freeze it!"

As our opponent launched a torrential blast of water, Ninetails readied her counter. The icy gale covered the field, freezing the water into a block of solid ice which shattered as it crashed on the stage. I looked over seeing that my opponent wasn't surprised by this, her attention still fixed on the battle.

"Milotic, use ice beam on the field!"

Without hesitating, the water pokemon directed her ice attack to the stage beneath our feet, the battlefield freezing over. The move caught me off guard as I didn't expect my opponent to play to our strengths. Ninetails took to the field like a natural, skating over the ice like a true professional.

But my doubts were cleared when I looked to the other side, seeing Milotic slithering over the frosty field with ease. Now this was something I hadn't seen before. It felt like my opponent was saying, 'Who cares if you're an ice type, this battle goes my way.'

"Ninetails, use moonblast!"

"Counter with iron tail!"

The snow fox sprang into the air, summoning the power of the moon as she fired her attack at her opponent. Milotic was quick to respond, twisting her body as she cut through the fairy move with ease, splitting the attack in two, earning a roar of support from the crowd.

Ninetails landed on the icy floor gracefully, her eyes fixed on her opponent. The two circled the battlefield in a slow, tense dance, their eyes never turning away from each other.

"Milotic use moonblast!"

Just as my opponent called out her move, I felt my eyes flare up, focusing on Ninetails. I gently tugged at the threads of the snow fox's aura, pulling at them ever so slightly. Ninetails' fur began to glow ever so slightly, her snowy blue gown changing to a sunny orange colour.

"Fire blast to counter!"

There was no hesitation from Ninetails who launched a huge blast of fire in response to her opponent. The two attacks collided, causing the ice on the field to melt under the immense heat. The ice evaporated, steam covering the field and as it dissipated, both pokemon were stood facing each other, locked in a tense stare.

The crowd erupted into cheering, seeing a such a rare pokemon in action. The announcer looked just as shocked as he commentated over the battle, speechless at what he had seen. My eyes turned to my opponent who had seen Ninetails transform right in front of her.

"Ninetails use moonblast!"

Quickly, the fire fox leapt into the air, firing another powerful fairy attack. Milotic waited patiently for her trainer's command and when it came, she twisted her snaking body into a spiral. The water type coiled her body around the attack, avoiding the move before firing off a powerful hydro pump in response.

While still in the air, Ninetails had no escape from the water move. I focused my eyes again, pulling the fire fox's threads once more, feeling a spark as the connection severed. Ninetails' sunny orange fur sparked as it shifted to a bright electric yellow the moment the water attack hit its target. The blast of water sparked up as it landed, Ninetails landing on the stage nearly unscathed.

From across the field I could see that my opponent was loving every second of the battle. This was the first time Ninetails was exercising her new powers in battle and I couldn't think of a better opponent for her.

"This has been fun, but this battle ends here! Ninetails use moonblast!"

"Milotic, cut through with iron tail, then use ice beam!"

Ninetails put her all into the fairy move as Milotic twisted her body to counter. The water pokemon swung her steeled tail into the attack causing a stalemate for a moment but Milotic pushed through, cutting through the fairy attack. Without missing a beat, the water pokemon fired a powerful blast of ice.

"Finish it with thunder!"

This was it, the battle was reaching its climax and both pokemon were nearing their limit. I could see it took a lot out of Ninetails to continually change forms but she wasn't letting up. The electric fox cried out as her body became engulfed in an electrifying light.

She channeled the energy into her attack which seemed destined to hit its target. Milotic's ice beam passed by, parallel to the electric move, both attacks connecting with their targets. Smoke kicked up as the two pokemon fell to the floor, tired out from the battle.

The announcer stepped up to make a final call but before he spoke into the microphone, Ninetails stood back to her feet, letting out a defiant roar to show she wasn't done just yet.

The crowd were stunned, shocked that such a powerful trainer had lost her streak. But that didn't compare to the look on my opponent's face. Her cerulean eyes were still burning bright under the night sky and even as she recalled her pokemon in defeat, I knew that this wouldn't be the last time we battled.

Ninetails returned to her pokeball, tired from the battle as I crossed the stage, making my way over to my opponent. We met at the center of the stage, both of us grinning after such a heart pumping battle.

"That was some battle, but I never asked your name."

"May," She paused for a moment, her lips curling into a mischievous smile, "It looks like we have a lot to talk about, Aaron."

I froze for a second, realising that my opponent knew my name the whole time. May took my extended hand, shaking it as a sign of sportsmanship for the crowd. I looked over to the announcer, his face clearly showing that he wanted me to continue battling in May's place.

Sheepishly, I rubbed the back of my neck, turning away as May and I stepped down from the stage. Fortunately, we were able to slip out of sight, careful not the be followed. The brunette led me to the gate tower separating the Great Marsh from the rest of the city. As we stepped inside, I could see that the whole place was filled with trainers hailing from all sorts of backgrounds.

May took me by the hand, rushing me up the stairs to the tower's upper floor. This area wasn't as busy, the few people here using the binoculars to look out over the Great Marsh. May sat down at one of the tables as I took the seat opposite her.

"You wanted to talk?"

The brunette leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table, her eyes staring into mine. "Yeah about, you know, Team Galactic. I know you guys need my help so I rushed over here from Hoenn as soon as I heard. Speaking of, where is everyone else?"

I averted my eyes, unsure how to answer. After a brief pause, I responded, "We, uh, got separated but they'll be here soon enough."

May seemed satisfied with my answer, relaxing into her chair. She flipped her hair casually, turning to look out of the glass pane window which overlooked the city. I followed her gaze, looking up into the starry night sky.

"It's not just Team Galactic you know."

I turned to May, a calm look on her face. I waited for to continue her train of thought. "Others have joined them and it looks like they're serious this time. Well, about as serious as they can be."

"Yeah, Red told me that he tracked down what was left of Team Rocket and they're here, in Sinnoh."

"Damn, so it's them, Team Galactic and what's left of Team Aqua and Magma. Maybe we might not even be enough but I don't want to think like that."

Silence hung in the air, neither of us too certain about what the future held. Heavy footsteps at the other end of the room caught my attention and as I turned to see who was approaching, I felt my words being trapped in my throat.

A streak of fiery orange hair lit up the dimly lit room as a face I thought I would never see again slowly approached the two of us.