Love in the Time of Temerity

Chapter 18: A Glory

In the end, we simply couldn't resist the chapter title. No matter who wins, we had use the word "Glory" in a chapter title somewhere. That's this chapter, Chapter 18. Please enjoy.

Chapter 18

A Glory

The clouds crackled with energy, covering up the setting sun. Beneath Gloria's feet, the land pulsed with a familiar, sickly feel that spread through her body. It was the power of Dynamax made real, yet one she knew was the key to victory. Staring across at Hop, she could see how serious he was, the darkened clouds only serving to accentuate that on his face. She had no right to do anything other than give him a true fight to the end.

They had struggled to walk that road, but now, they had reached the end of it. Perhaps they'd walk a new path together; she didn't know. But she knew that she wanted to be here.

Right here, battling with Hop.

Grapploct and Dubwool hit the field, their gigantic sizes drawing great enthusiasm from the crowd. It made the stadium shake, the excitement manifesting in their cries. Gloria met Hop's gaze and they both nodded. The next phase of their battle was ready, only one winner at the end of it all. Each trainer took a step forward, but this time, Hop was the faster.

"Max Mindstorm!" he shouted, his voice amplified across all the screens.

"Dubaaaaa!" Dubwool cried, the bleating rattling the shields that lined the arena. He hunkered down, facing Grapploct and summoning the great psychic rings around his body. He charged, each step the coming of a thundering earthquake. Gloria stayed resolute.

"Max Guard!" With her planted feet came Grapploct's, her prized Pokémon standing firm. His tentacles snapped out, and with them came a shield that Dubwool bashed into, but did not break. It didn't stop him from trying, and Dubwool pushed against it until he managed to push Grapploct back. "Max Knuckle!"

"You, too!" Hop shouted. There was joy in the battle, but Gloria could hear how grim it was. The need to win and prove himself was superseding everything else. Grapploct punched out, while Dubwool jabbed his head forward. The amber fists flew for one another, crashing against the other when they met in the middle of the battlefield. It exploded, ripping apart more of the ground between them. The sand was all but removed from the battlefield. "He's open! Max Mindstorm!"

"Take it!" Gloria shouted. Grapploct bent down, burrowing his giant tentacles in the ground as Dubwool charged for him. He locked himself into the ground and the pink energy of the Mindstorm smashed into him. A grimace rose on Grapploct's face, but he held tight, angling his giant head up despite the damage. "Max Geyser!"

"GRAPPO!" Grapploct formed the briny sphere, larger than usual, with Dubwool straight in his sights. He fired, the force of the water ripping him out of the ground. The sphere hurtled through the air and broke upon Dubwool in a pluming geyser that stretched towards the heavens. Once it did, the plinking was heard, rain beginning to fall around the battlefield.

Dubwool staggered, its wool matted with the water, while Grapploct straightened back up. Hop refused to relent. "Max Strike!"

"Catch it!" Dubwool charged forward with all strength and speed, every step cracking the battlefield apart. He lunged, and his giant horns were set to impale Grapploct. The giant octopus snapped his tentacles out, one wrapping around the horns, while two more grabbed at the side. The fifth tentacle unfurled, striking right upon Dubwool's face and holding him in place. He lifted him, the assault coming to an end. "Max Knuckle! Pummel it!"

"Counter with your own!" Hop shouted. Dubwool couldn't respond, too high in the air. With a great groan, Grapploct lifted him yet higher and let go, sending him straight up. He quickly began to fall, right in range of the coiling tentacles.