Pidgeotto soared high, using the blinding sun as cover to prevent Wartortle and Cubone from pinpointing its exact location. The glare momentarily blinded Gary and Giselle, leaving them unable to issue commands.
A blur of gold descended. "Wartortle!"
Gary's Pokémon cried out, staggering back a few steps. Despite being braced for an attack, it was still powerfully struck by the Aerial Ace.
"Cubone, use Headbutt!" Giselle commanded.
"Dream on! Ivysaur, Vine Whip!" Leaf countered. Determined not to be a burden, she focused on holding back Giselle, giving Red the opening he needed to deal with Gary's Wartortle.
Four thick vines shot from the bulb on Ivysaur's back, lashing out to ensnare the darting Cubone.
"Cubone, Headbutt, then Bonemerang!"
Cubone bravely smashed away the first vines with its head, but the remaining two wrapped tightly around it. Enduring the pain, it hurled the bone club in its hand. The weapon spun through the air with increasing force, aimed directly at Ivysaur.
"Ivysaur, dodge it, quick!" Leaf yelled.
For the sake of safety, Leaf gave the command to dodge. This was exactly what Giselle wanted.
"Cubone, use Screech now!"
"Oh no!" Leaf exclaimed in a panic.
A piercing shriek emanated from Cubone, tormenting Ivysaur. Unable to move in time, Ivysaur was struck hard in the head by the returning Bonemerang.
"A good tactic," Gary praised.
"Of course," Giselle said proudly. "I am the top-ranked student, after all."
"Come back, Ivysaur!" Seeing the unfavorable situation, Leaf recalled her partner. "I'm counting on you, Ditto!"
A soft, light-purple blob appeared before Cubone, looking fragile and weak.
"Could her idea be—!" Giselle realized something was wrong and quickly ordered her Cubone to attack.
"Ditto, transform into Wartortle and use Water Pulse!"
Ditto's body shimmered with a white light, reshaping itself into a perfect copy of Gary's Wartortle before unleashing a pulsating sphere of water.
"Don't even think about it! Wartortle, use Water Pulse too!" Gary interjected quickly, fearing Giselle would be eliminated first.
"Gary, don't forget this is a double battle," Red reminded him calmly. "Pidgeotto, Air Slash."
Pidgeotto flapped its wings, and two sharp blades of wind shot down, striking both Wartortle and Cubone. Wartortle's Water Pulse was sliced in half, and the dodging Cubone was caught by the second blast.
"Wartortle!"
"Cubone!"
Gary's Wartortle staggered, having endured another of Pidgeotto's powerful attacks. Giselle's Cubone, however, already weakened from accumulated damage, couldn't withstand the blast from the transformed Ditto. Its eyes spun, and it collapsed.
"Cubone is unable to battle!" Professor Oak announced.
"As expected of your Pokémon. Not a single one is ordinary," Giselle praised, showing no dejection over her loss. She quickly adjusted her stance and threw an Ultra Ball. "Gabite, I'm counting on you!"
"Gabite? It doesn't look like a Pokémon from the Kanto region," Leaf observed, not bothering with her Pokédex since she knew it only contained Kanto data.
"Gabite, a Dragon and Ground-type Pokémon," Red explained. "It's a pseudo-legendary unique to the Sinnoh region. Its status is comparable to Dragonite in Kanto, except this Gabite has not yet fully evolved."
"I see," Leaf nodded. Though she didn't know its specific strengths, hearing it compared to Dragonite made her realize the extraordinary potential of the Pokémon before her.
(So, you're the one they call talented?) the Pidgeotto flying high above seemed to think, its gaze disdainful. (At first glance, you don't look like much. No wonder that guy always looked disappointed when he mentioned you!) To Pidgeotto, talent meant nothing without the blood and sweat of hard work. And it certainly didn't believe its own potential was any less than this newcomer's.
"Leaf, let's switch opponents. Pidgeotto seems very interested in Gabite," Red suggested. After being struck twice, Wartortle's stamina was waning; Leaf's Ditto would be enough to handle it.
"It's somehow turned into two single battles," Professor Oak said with a helpless smile.
"Pidgeotto, Wing Attack!"
"Gabite, Dual Chop!"
Pidgeotto descended in a golden streak, engaging Gabite in close-quarters combat. Their sizes were similar, but Pidgeotto's specially trained wings possessed a raw power that Gabite could not easily resist.
"How can this be! Gabite is being suppressed!" Giselle said in disbelief. Her ace Pokémon was being pushed back by a common Pidgeotto. Even if it was a Shiny, the power difference was outrageous.
"After that last time, my Pokémon underwent long-term, intensive training on the beach," Red explained calmly. "Charizard evolved that night."
(What! That guy actually evolved?! Damn it, I was still planning to surpass it, and now I can't even beat its companion!) Gabite thought, wearily blocking Pidgeotto's relentless attacks, refusing to admit its own weakness. Back at Pokémon Tech, it had been Giselle's champion, effortlessly defeating any who dared challenge her.
(You're distracted!) Pidgeotto thought coldly, slamming Gabite with a Steel Wing that sent it staggering back several steps. (Charizard and I were caught by our master at the same time. You aren't foolish enough to think there's a huge difference in our strength, are you?!) Pidgeotto found Gabite's ignorance laughable.
(Hmph! You're just a common bird. What's there to be proud of?!) Gabite retorted, a desperate attempt to counter the mockery. In its current state, it simply couldn't win.
(Is that so?) Pidgeotto seemed to fall into thought. (You're right. It's ridiculous that I would be kind enough to remind a small fry like you. I regret my words already.)
Ignoring Gabite's desire for another retort, Pidgeotto flapped its mighty wings, creating a cyclone that kicked up a small sandstorm on the beach. Spectators had to retreat from the swirling grit, but no one was willing to look away from the incredible match.
Pidgeotto ascended swiftly, bathing in the warm sunlight. On the ground, Gabite had to squint, trying to anticipate the attack from the sky. A silent thought seemed to pass from the golden bird: I'll teach you what true power is. It let out a sky-piercing cry, a sound so fierce it struck fear into the wild Bug-type Pokémon hiding nearby.
"What exactly is your strategy?!" Giselle asked anxiously, the battle having gone far beyond her control.
"Am I obligated to tell you?" Red said speechlessly. "Pidgeotto is battling autonomously right now. I haven't given any commands."
A thought seemed to pass from Pidgeotto, a piece of wisdom from its master: The higher we fly, the smaller we appear to those who cannot follow.
Dazzling sunlight bathed its golden feathers. Its body began to glow, and a brilliant light of evolution burst forth, stretching and reshaping its form.
"Finally evolving?" Red mused. "It seems Charizard was quite a stimulus for Pidgeotto."
First, the three golden feathers on its head elongated into a sweeping, majestic crest. Its magnificent wingspan widened, and its talons grew sharp and powerful. Its keen, eagle-like eyes locked onto Gabite's weak points.
Finally, the light of evolution dissipated. A 2.3-meter Golden Pidgeot appeared majestically above them, its sharp gaze and broad wings giving it an undeniable regal aura. Its immense Pressure washed over the battlefield. To any passerby, it would be easy to mistake this magnificent creature for a Legendary Pokémon.
***
(End of Chapter)
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