3:40 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 Smog billowed out before igniting with a plume of molten lava, making Nova wince with the heat of the magma-infused battlefield. Bracing against the surprise eruption of gas, the rocky terrain came into focus, fiery steam moving upward with the hidden fans pulling it toward the air purifiers.

  Well, that was unexpected! It explodes; good to know…

  Nova’s gaze cut through the thick haze as she breathed in the scorching air, eyes narrowing as the smoking floor beneath her trembled; her form mitigated the heat, but the tremors within the earth made her fur bristle with the spewing gas, exploding stone segments, and jets of fire that spontaneously burst from the shifting stage, full of environmental hazards.

  The question is… Did I land it? What the—

  With her heightened perception, she caught the brief shift in the ground just in time. A geyser of steam shot up, narrowly missing her by inches as she danced to the side, her paws hitting the rough, cracked surface with precision. Her claws dug in for a moment, muscles tensing to absorb the shock.

  I still can’t even see him! Nova growled and squinted past the lingering hazy. I have to watch out for the field and my opponent. No, focus, Nova! Relax…

  A ball of fire erupted from a distant pit, likely from the Pokemon creating the artificial environment, sending lava launching toward her at alarming speed. Reflexes kicking in, her body instinctively lowered before leaping into a zig-zag pattern. She darted between jagged rocks and bursts of lava, the scorching heat licking at her fur but never quite touching it as she looked for the hidden plant.

  The crowd was tense, the announcer giving the play-by-play.

  “Scorch, our Scovillain, recovers after that shocking firestorm, spreading his roots to counter the Poison and Fire Damage! What will the Spicy Pepper Pokémon do next?”

  I landed the Poison!

  Excitement budding within her, Nova grinned upon spotting a flicker of sharp green cut through the darkness—leaves. A spark flashed in Nova’s eyes, and she easily danced between each knife-like leaf, the world slowing and their trajectory easily read.

  A second barrage picked up a swirl of wind, blowing apart the darkness and revealing the two-headed fire-plant.

  Trying to bait out a Protect? Not this time, she thought, the heat building within her as she pulled in Rhea’s fortitude.

  Flames coiled around her in a cloak while darting forward. Gathering strength and speed with each bound she made, Nova cut through the fountain of fire and steam, leaving a blazing trail in her wake. The fire grew into a whirlwind around her.

  “Fire Charge eliminates the Razor Leaf before they can get near touching Nova’s fur as she races toward the rooted plant!”

  Nova let out a roar upon nearing him. “Is this all Paldea has to—oof!”

  Her body slammed into a translucent blue barrier, shimmering into existence as the two-headed Pokemon grinned, despite his wilting petals.

  “Protect!”

  The fire flaring out around her dispersed in a rush, immediately halting her momentum. His glowing roots dislodged from the steaming earth, a grin lifting on his green bulb, and the cocky sneer from the red bulb set her fur on edge.

  “Not so tough now, huh, fuzzball?” The red head spat, his voice dripping with venom. “Think you’re some hotshot just ‘cause you’re on fire?”

  “Hey! She’s lovely!” the green head chimed in apologetically, glancing at Nova with a worried expression as a bright light illuminated his bulb inside the Protect. “I’m sorry about him—he’s always rude to strangers…”

  Nova blinked, momentarily shocked at the blast of golden light shot out of the green one’s head as the barrier faded. Two Moves…at once?! How?!

  “Shut up, Greenie!” The red head shot back, eyes glaring as the Protect faded. “Why are you apologizing to the enemy?! Idiot!”

  The moment the shield disappeared, the green head let out a sigh, then, without missing a beat, releasing the Sunny Day. A radiant light suddenly burst into the arena, casting everything in a golden hue.

  Nova's ears twitched as blazing heat bathed them from above, making the announcer shout, “Sunny Day and Protect at the same time—at Silver?! This plant from Paldea has some tricks up his bulb!”

  The yellow sunlight intensified, and Nova felt the heat rise even further as orange energy lashed out from her glowing feet, only for the bulbs to wiggle around both strikes…while arguing! Her heart raced as Rhea’s advice came.

  “Muk, some posts on recent forums say Scovillain has Chlorophyll! He’s going to be faster, Nova!”

  I got that when he dodged my Double Kick… I’ll handle it.

  A volley of Bullet Seeds erupted from his mouth, each seed zipping through the air, the tiny projectiles aiming to force her back. A glint in her eyes gave her ample time to dart sideward, weaving between the attacks.

  “Pfft, you think you're something special just ‘cause you’re quick?” the red head taunted, firing seed after seed. “Bet you think you’re the star of the show just ‘cause you’ve got that fluffy coat, huh? Well, newsflash, you’re not that hot.”

  Nova felt her fur bristle at the insult.

  “I’m totally hot!”

  The green head quickly intervened. “He doesn’t mean it! I swear, you’re really quite stunning! Please don’t take it personally…”

  Nova’s eyes narrowed. What’s with this guy? He’s such a weirdo. Go to sleep!

  Halting on the spot, she lazily tilted her head slightly between the last projected seeds and brought her paw up to her mouth to tap her muzzle. “Aren’t you tired?”

  A puffy cloud exited as she directed it at the flower, who was retreating to a rock he could hide behind. Yet, Yawn struck. She spotted an opening as green light twinkled around the flower, something she’d seen in Erika’s Gym.

  Growth, huh? Too bad you’re about to go night-night!

  Confidence surging, she lunged in, a surge of energy bathing her in white and launching her forward like lightning in a zig-zag pattern through the terrain. However, she redirected the positional Move as the red bulb’s head shone bright white and launched out to Headbutt her.

  What the… Why isn’t he asleep?!

  “Yawn hasn’t activated yet? Nova, he might have Insomnia, too!” Rhea answered quickly. “It’d explain why he isn’t down yet.”

  Nova growled under her breath. Great. This fight’s only getting stranger… I hate not knowing stuff when he knows a ton about me. Paldea’s Pokemon are trouble.

  She was about to prepare a Bite to latch onto the red one’s skinny neck for insulting her, when the green bulb swiveled his head to look right at her, making Nova’s eyes widen as flames gathered in his mouth.

  “I really am sorry about this, you know.”

  “Quit apologizing!” the red one snarled before breathing in deeply to release his own Move.

  Annoying plant! Nova internally grumbled, rolling her eyes. They’re both idiots, but the red one makes the fight less fun…

  The green head’s apology grated on her, while the red one’s venomous taunts pushed her over the edge. “Can you two just stop!”

  Without a second thought, Nova turned and flicked her tail against the ground, kicking a cloud of sand into the dual-headed Pokémon’s face. The mixture of ash and grit caught Scorch mid-sentence, making the green head cough, the fire turning to smoke in his mouth.

  “Ack—hey! I can’t see, Red! I can’t breathe! Help!”

  The angry bulb wasn’t as easily deterred. It opened its mouth just after the Sand Attack, and unleashed a cloud of sparkling crimson powder just as the debris hit his eyes. It hit Nova square in the face, making her nose scrunch up and vision blur as she leaped back.

  “What the Muk did you hit me with?!”

  The smothering cloud enveloped her in a ruby storm, making her stumble, cough, and shake her head, sneezing a few times. Yet, the red haze clouding her vision wouldn’t leave. Ears flattening, her focus centered on the snickering red bulb, rage surging in her chest.

  “You—you are so mean! I hate you!” she snarled, leaping forward to Tackle him.

  Rhea’s voice became distant, almost drowned out in the swirling anger. “Nova—! Listen to me, you’ve—”

  No, no! I just—he’s the worst! This stuff…it's messing with me!

  Her growl deepened, and her wide field of vision zeroed in on one target—the red-headed bulb, sneering down at her. “Your teammates are trash, and look at you—ugly, pathetic little fuzzball. Sad, ugly, nobodies.”

  Nova’s entire body tensed as fury overtook her. Instinctively, something tried to surface in the back of her mind, yet she couldn’t resist the hateful flower in front of her, his words clouding her mind with a primal urge to attack.

  “Ugly?! I’ll show you ugly!”

  With a powerful leap, she lunged forward again, aiming directly for the red bulb’s neck, her sharp teeth gleaming with dark energy. But just as her jaws were about to clamp down, Scorch’s green head whipped around, biting into her scruff with crushing force, making her jaw lock—only her mother could carry her like that! The sudden jolt stopped Nova in her tracks.

  Pain exploded through her as the grip on her neck tightened. Nova’s legs kicked out instinctively, trying to find purchase on the uneven, molten ground, but the red bulb slammed its head into her side, forcing a strained yelp from her.

  Am I…losing?! No! I can’t let him—

  Her thoughts were a mess, the rage making it almost impossible to think straight. Each thrash only worsened the pain, and the tight hold on her neck kept her pinned. The red head snapped at her again, and all she could hear were those mocking words replaying over and over in her mind.

  Trash… Ugly… Sad, nobody.

  In the midst of the chaos, a flicker of memory surfaced, sharp and sudden. Venomoth—Lucian’s Venomoth—had used something like this in Pewter. Rage Powder. She had to calm down. At that moment, Spirit activated, spiking her Attack further and allowing her to snap out of the daze.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Focus, Nova! Snap out of it! Her breath came in ragged gasps as she struggled to clear her mind, suspended in the air by the neck as the red-bulb slammed his head into her again. Yet, Rhea’s voice pierced the storm in her head, distant but insistent.

  “Nova! Synchronoise! Synchronoise!”

  Energy crackled inside her, a familiar warmth swelling from deep within—the first time she’d used this Move as a Flareon. Despite the Scovillain’s grip, Nova closed her eyes, centering herself for just a second on the flames within her. The fiery core of her Fire-Type form roared to life.

  Bright, rippling waves of heat rolled off her fur, the synchronizing shockwave building. She felt the pressure on her neck slacken slightly, as if the Pokémon holding her was reacting instinctively to the impending attack, but it was too late—after all, she was inside his grip—no room for Protect.

  With a defiant roar, Nova unleashed a shout, sending a massive pulse of psychic and fiery energy outward. The shockwave tore through the battlefield, creating a violent ripple in the air that oscillated within the Scovillain.

  Just like that, the teeth around her neck let go, and Nova dropped to her feet, stumbling to the side and almost collapsing; the damage was a lot more than she’d thought.

  Panting heavily, her fur singed in places where lava had erupted too close, she glanced up to see Scorch’s vacant eyes slowly fall forward before hitting the cracked floor beneath him, unconscious.

  The crowd erupted into cheers, the announcer’s voice booming over the arena. “Scorch is unable to battle! What a comeback from Nova, folks! I was at the edge of my seat with that expert use of pressure points—it looked over, and then…bam! A stunning display of Synchronoise!”

  Nova puffed out her chest, but despite her victory, the lingering effects of the Rage Powder still fogged her mind, the frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. She shook her head again, trying to clear the confusion, when Rhea’s voice cut through the noise.

  “Nova! Do you want to come back? You’ve done amazing! You can rest!”

  Trying to ease her quakes, Nova glanced up toward the stands, and then to the grinning face of Blaine high above, looking down at her from behind his dark, round shades. The battle theme of the Gym exploded in the background, flames erupting from the sides of the stage.

  Body battered, fur still smoking from the intense battle, her heart swelled with pride under the blazing sun above.

  No, I’ll stick it out. Let’s see what comes next.

  “One down, folks, and one to go! But will Rhea return Nova… How metal! She wants to stay in! Let’s go!”

  The stadium roared with approval as Rhea’s voice echoed through the energetic music, brimming with pride. “Alright, superstar, let’s find out who’s next! Bring it on, Blaine, we’re here to win.”

  Blaine’s smile widened as he held up Scorch’s Poke Ball, his Arcanine releasing a wave of fire behind him that lit up the sky, illuminated by the golden orb still heating the stage.

  “The Paldean Signal Fire has been lit! Separation will define the new way!”

  Holding out the capsule, the red beam connected to Scorch, returning the defeated Pokémon to recover. Blaine’s words carried to Nova from on high, looking right at her while selecting their last opponent.

  “But Nova’s experience—her wits and past battles—pushed her through. Against an unknown opponent, no less!” He pointed the Ultra Ball toward the audience, eyes gleaming behind his shades. “But this next one, oh… this next one is something special.

  “Can you walk through the flames and guide humanity away from this decay? Nowhere to hide…straighten your heart! There’s hope just in sight. The signal fire is alight!”

  The crowd, on edge from Nova’s fiery comeback, hushed in anticipation.

  Blaine struck a dramatic pose, one arm raised high, and the crowd’s energy surged. The music shifted, electric guitars picking up, rumbling through the arena. Cameras swiveled toward the Gym Leader, focusing on his showman’s flare as he threw the Ultra Ball with a spin, the stadium’s active field around her erupting and dancing to the rhythm.

  Nova jogged back a few paces, the heat from the fissures making her fur bristle with each explosion. She panted, her chest heaving, but her eyes remained locked on the airborne capsule. The Ultra Ball hit the ground, and in a flash of brilliant energy emerged a human-like figure cloaked in purple flames.

  His sleek form immediately captured Nova, and the cameras swiveled to get every angle, zooming in on the sharp, blade-like arms and the dark, almost ghostly flames that danced along his armored form.

  “Ceruledge!” the announcer screamed. “The Fire Blades Pokémon has hit the stage!”

  Nova thought she could hear her own heartbeat, her ears twitching as the whole world seemed to slow, the noise drowned out by the ominous waves escaping from the dark figure amidst the molten geysers and steam clouds.

  Taller than Scorch—more menacing—his body was a mix of dark armor and flowing, ethereal fire that was almost otherworldly.

  Rhea’s voice reached her as a whisper. “Fire and Ghost… Oh, boy. That’s dangerous.”

  The announcer’s voice broke through the mounting tension, nearly drowned out by the music. “Kite, the Ceruledge! The Fire Blades Pokémon, known for its ghostly flames and its cold, high-intensity prowess in battle! This is a Pokémon forged in the fire and shadow of the Ghost World!”

  Nova’s tail flicked, her eyes fixed on the Ceruledge as it stood motionless for a moment, its glowing, fire-like eyes igniting to lock onto her. It gave her the same bone-chilling feeling of their visit to Lavender and Maiden’s Peak.

  “Nova, we can use Synchronoise again!”

  The announcer raised his flags from his floating platform, the music and screams echoing in the background. “Begin!”

  Setting her ground, Nova gathered Rhea’s sent energy. Only, in a flicker of shadows, the Ceruledge melded into the shadow below him, moving like a wraith across the sun-soaked volcanic landscape. Nova knew where he’d appear—like Sucker Punch, it was always at her blind-side.

  If I get hit, my matrix could shatter!

  Canceling Synchronise, a glint appeared in her eye and she jumped microseconds before the sharp, ethereal blade skated under her lifted paws.

  “Nice reaction speed,” he whispered, voice low and otherworldly, as if reaching her from a great distance.

  Her vision widened as Perception caught Kite’s spin, his second blade shifting ever so slightly to slam at an angle against the left side, but without energy. Her energy matrix didn’t take a hit, but she winced nonetheless as the gravity shifted, sending her flying to crash into a molten rock formation.

  Superheated rock erupted around her, forcing the air from her lungs and making spots dance across her vision as it fissured under the weight of the impact; some of her Attack boosts faded in that moment as she tumbled down the jagged rock face to the foot of a molten river near its base.

  Get up… Get up!

  Finding the strength to right herself, Nova could feel her own personal power draining, realizing how intense the battlefield itself was on her energy reserves.

  Still seeing double, Nova cast her eyes up as Kite’s ghostly blades extended further while lifting both high above his head, like Rylee often did. Their edges flickered a sinister green hue, the crowd jumping up and screaming as the blades seemed to pull in the very energy from the sunlight only now starting to dim across the stadium, the emerald flames growing larger.

  “No way—”

  “Protect, Nova! Does he have Pressure—like a Pseudo Legendary? He has to…”

  Nova’s heart skipped as the beams formed, recalling nightmares of Erika’s battle, only this was more solid—sharper. He brought the expanding blade of Grass-Type energy down on her head in a surge of power before she could take a single leap to the side. She braced for impact as the colossal beam of light filled her vision.

  “Solar Blade!” the announcer bellowed, his voice barely audible over the roaring crowd as green filled Nova’s eyes, a sapphire honeycomb barrier defending her.

  Panic flooded her senses as the green blade crashed into the shield with explosive force, magma erupting around her as the molten earth rose—no, she sank—and the shell cracked under the weight. Nova winced as the heat from the molten rocks nearly leaked in, burning her feet.

  Freaking out a little, Nova sprang upward, her muscles coiling as she dodged the lingering magma, the bright light overhead fading with the green aurora that had struck her. But as she landed, her heart sank—Kite was already there, wispy fog trailing from his cold eyes—he was right on top of her.

  His dark-coated blade arms slashed toward her chest, moving faster than she could react; it wasn’t raw speed but something else, something ghostly that bypassed wind resistance—it was skill. Instincts kicking in, she funneled her offensive power into her matrix, creating a buffer, yet it was draining far too fast…a flash of light surrounded her.

  I can’t sustain my transformation?

  Endure succeeded, the release of energy from her reverted form cushioned the blow as the blades struck her bolstered matrix. The impact sent her flying, her body crashing into the same boulder at the edge of the arena, smashing straight through it to tumble over the molten ground. Her own body’s impact echoed in her ears as pain flared through her, consciousness flickering upon coming to a stop.

  “Fluff balls…” she softly cursed, the weight of the approaching ghostly Blade Pokemon making her limbs feel like jelly, her energy matrix barely holding. Her tired eyes lifted to peer through the steam and smoke to Rhea. “Hah. I’m out of range. You’re a strong one. Respect.”

  Kite stopped in front of her, his very presence making her feel like she was being drilled into the ground. Yet, it was the heat from a spout of volcanic activity beneath her side, a small flare of heated energy that ended it—that tiny bit of extra damage pushed her over the edge, and her matrix shattered.

  As darkness took her, she heard Kite’s deep voice, low and calm. “You lasted longer than I thought you would, Nova. Respect. You have nice reaction time…but not fast enough.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind…”

  With a weak smile, she slipped into oblivion.

  Rhea’s eyes never left her little leg-hugger as she slumped onto her side, knocked out by the Paldean Pokemon’s final blow, knowing Nova wouldn’t want to give up to the end.

  Thanks for giving me time to analyze him… You were amazing.

  The smoldering field shifted and bubbled as the bone-chilling Ceruledge turned his fiery gaze to her. Plumes of fire and gas split the cracked, volcanic fissures around him as he held up a blade to her as if commanding her to send out his next victim.

  Fingers tightening around Nova’s Poke Ball, Rhea smiled, feeling the hair stand up on the back of her neck and her heart thump in her chest. So, that’s how you want it? So, this is why you were telling me to have fun over everything else when you were last here, Auntie. Fine.

  “Rest easy, girl,” she said, holding out the capsule to recall her limp Eevee before looking not at Blane or the blade pointing up at her. She felt the blood pumping inside her skin while grinning at the blacked-out private box where the Paldean Champion sat. “I see what you want… Pushing all these buttons to start a war, Champion Geeta…then Kanto will rise to the challenge.”

  Only silence met her as the music, crowd, and announcer fell quiet, leaving only the bubbling lava and hissing gas. Placing Nova in the chamber to teleport her to the Gym Center, Rhea turned her gaze to the still-burning battlefield, the fiery veins snaking across the stone like some kind of natural monster waiting to explode again.

  She could feel the heat from where she stood, the energy radiating from the ground like an overworked engine. Yet, it was the narrow-eyed Paldean Pokemon that kept her smile.

  Alice’s presence flared at the edge of her mind, brimming with raw energy, ready to jump into the fray. Her fierce spirit was undeniable, and Rhea knew she could handle the fight, but…

  “No, Alice,” she murmured under her breath, placing a hand on her haughty little cosmic cloud jumping up and down in front of her, making Lulu freeze. “This isn’t just about winning anymore.” Her voice trembled with the weight of her words, but her team understood. She had to make a statement now.

  Paldea was trying to show off, but Kanto could show off too, and everyone wanted to see her represent her home region like any Legendary-tier Trainer.

  “We’re gonna show them what we’re made of,” she muttered, staring hard at the Ceruledge below. “You want to feel what true power is… Okay, then let’s make you the underdog, Kite. Don’t hate us for the storm you’ve called upon your head.”

  V… Bring victory to us.

  Her lips curled mischievously, holding out her hand dramatically as if she were the bad guy in this story. A blazing Aura of heat surrounded her, resonating with her ghostly girl. “Lulu, let’s show them the Kanto villainess.”

  “Ne-ne!” the cosmic cloud cheered, yet her cadence soon became more sinister as her potent energy expanded.

  In a flash of rainbow light, Lulu vanished from Rhea’s side to appear over the molten battlefield. From her high vantage point, she appraised the fool who had dared challenge the villainess. Hushed silence met her upon her entry, leering down at her blade-wielding opponent.

  The battlefield in its entirety opened up below her—the billowing smoke, the churning rivers of molten rock, the flickering flames licking at the edges of the stone. It was perfect. Just like the scenes out of her favorite dramatic villainess movies against those pesky heroes.

  Unfurling her fluff like a fan, she chuckled, her practiced deep voice echoing across the arena as the intensity of the music, guitars, and drums began to swell in unison with her grand entrance. Rhea and V’s power flooded into her like an endless torrent, one she was learning how to better control as of recent.

  “Foolish mortal,” she announced, her voice echoing across the arena for all Pokemon to hear, black clouds spontaneously gathering around her with the malicious, otherworldly forces she commanded. “You face the cosmic horror… Darkness incarnate… The hungering chaos… Lulu, the eternal cloud of endless fluffiness!"

  As the crowd erupted in gasps at her introduction, Lulu’s eyes glowed with a malevolent glee at their reactions to her titles—self-given, of course—the black hole of endless sorrow cycling around her to bathe the hero below in despair.

  She extended her fan, strengthening the dark, swirling vortex of energy—Night Shade taking form. The attack spiraled outward, casting eerie shadows over the stadium and its occupants to buffer against the shields of the stadium, pulsing as if alive; the very battlefield itself bowed before her greatness. The very air vibrated with the ominous shockwaves that made the skittish foe below dart back out of caution, causing her to shake with soft laughter.

  The Ceruledge across the field paused, his cold eyes flicking yet his own intimidating aura being swallowed by the escaping maelstrom she produced. Lulu’s smirk widened. This hero may have been the embodiment of fire and shadow, but she was a force far beyond his comprehension…a being from another dimension he knew nothing about.

  “I shall devour the light in your soul, oh hero of the blades,” she whispered, her voice low and chilling while lifting her fan as if the very cosmos bent to her will. “Be grateful to hear my name and meet your end at my omnipotent hand, peasant. Oblivion greets you, for you face Mistress Bellelba,” her fan moved to cover her smug smile, “Queen of the Magical Land.”

  The ground trembled beneath her as her attack lowered to rip apart the landscape in a grand show, causing fire and darkness to meet in a haze of glory. When it cleared, the scarred battlefield flickered with ghostly force that twisted with otherworldly shadows, causing the announcer to practically jump out of his box.

  “What is this!? It’s strong, regardless, w-we might be looking at the first public appearance of—of… Ghost Terrain, everybody! Lulu summons Ghost Terrain to set the tone of this battle—what insanity are we about to see from this Legendary?! Hello? Has anyone even seen this before?!”

  “Ho-ho-ho!” Lulu boasted, the sun overhead darkening as if an invisible barrier was sliding into place, casting the whole stadium in shadows. “Welcome, hero…to my world.”

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