The Pantheon

The Indigo Conference - Part IV

After getting their Pokémon back from Nurse Joy the group had peeled off in different directions, each heading toward the stadium with a little more spring in their step. Or maybe that was just Ashley. Either way, her heart was drumming under her ribs like her body hadn't quite caught up with the fact that this was it. Top 8. And her next opponent was Nate.

Which, on paper, should've made her relax. She knew Nate's style inside out. They trained together during the S.S. Anne and at Pallet Town before the Conference. But the second they stepped onto the battlefield and the crowd caught sight of them—realized who was facing who—the roar was loud enough to make the flags ripple.

Ashley adjusted her gloves and gave Nate a side glance. "So... we doing this seriously or do I need to start planning how to hunt you down?"

Nate just grinned. "Oh, we're doing this. You'll be lucky if I don't wipe the field with you in five."

"I'll give you three minutes," she shot back, "before my Pokémon knock yours out."

The screen behind them buzzed to life. ANNOUNCING: Ashley Ketchum vs Nate Rowan. The names glowed bright across the stadium as both trainers took their places on opposite ends of the field.

From the front row, Gary whistled. "Let's go, Ashy!"

Beside him, Eva and Damien were already half-standing, chanting Nate's name like they were at a concert. Ashley narrowed her eyes and shouted, "Traitors!"

Eva blew her a kiss. Damien gave a thumbs-up and yelled something that sounded suspiciously like "End her!"

Ashley barked out a laugh. "Wow. You get one weather quartet and suddenly everyone's out for blood."

Still, she turned back to the battlefield with a bounce in her step.

"Let's give them a show," she said under her breath, and tossed her Poké Ball high.

Out came Apollo, her Dragonite, wings flaring wide, scales catching the sun like polished gold. The crowd gasped. He gave a mighty cry and flexed, tossing his weight forward like he was ready to take on the world. And then, on the other side of the field—

Nate grinned and released his own Pokémon.

A Tyranitar.

Ashley's jaw actually dropped.

"You have a Tyranitar?" she yelped, pointing dramatically across the field. "Since when?!"

Nate just looked smug. "Since you stopped asking what was in my team, apparently."

Apollo growled low, tilting his head, even he hadn't been expecting that.

"Oh, so we're just hiding pseudo-legendaries now?" Ashley muttered, folding her arms. "Rude."

The crowd, already excited, exploded into cheers. People were on their feet, hollering, some chanting "DRAGONITE!" and others "TYRANITAR!" like this was a championship final. Even the announcer sounded giddy, rambling something about "the clash of two titans" and "a rare showdown between pseudo-legendaries!"

Ashley groaned. "Great. No pressure."

And then the referee gave the signal.

Apollo darted forward, wings slicing through the air. Tyranitar met him with a deafening roar, charging like a tank. They collided near the center of the field in a thundering crash of claw and scale.

Ashley didn't call for a move—there wasn't time. Apollo was already swinging with Dragon Claw, and Tyranitar blocked with Stone Edge so quickly that shards burst outward and scattered across the ground like jagged confetti.