In Humilau City, Unova, word of the Double Battle between Grey and Caitlin and Siebold and Marlon quickly spread, attracting a great deal of attention. Countless people wanted to witness a match between these four renowned Trainers.
On the battlefield, all four Trainers threw their Poké Balls at the same time.
Four bursts of red light flashed as Sirfetch'd, Metagross, Carracosta, and Blastoise appeared on the field.
Before the battle officially began, there was still time for the traditional exchange of prebattle banter. However, all four participants were famous Trainers, so none of them intended to hurl any genuinely insulting trash talk at their opponents.
As the restaurant's owner, Siebold inclined his head toward Grey and Caitlin.
"May we prepare a magnificent course through this battle, one that leaves everyone fully satisfied."
As the representative of his side, Grey replied, "That's exactly what I was thinking. Elite Four Siebold, please savor the results of everything my partner has experienced and learned recently!"
With that, the battle officially began.
"Blastoise, let us pour our hearts into preparing this feast and serve the main course immediately! Mega Evolve!"
Siebold understood just how terrifying Grey could be, so he had Blastoise Mega Evolve the moment the match began.
At the same time, Marlon ordered Carracosta to position itself in front of Blastoise while using Rain Dance.
"Carracosta, wash away the sunlight with a downpour and charge forward like a surfer riding the waves!"
Both turtle Pokémon had their own assigned roles.
Grey had no intention of letting Siebold and Marlon carry out their plan so easily.
"Sirfetch'd, use First Impression on Carracosta!"
"Sirfetch'd!"
Sirfetch'd's gaze locked onto its opponent like a targeting system as its leek sword carved a green trail through the air. Bug-type energy surged outward, surrounding its entire body in a bright emerald glow.
It thrust itself forward, the tip of its sword tearing through the air like a meteor before striking precisely through a gap in Carracosta's abdominal shell.
Carracosta had been concentrating all its strength on Rain Dance. The sudden pain in its abdomen caused its body to stiffen, and the Water-type energy gathering above the battlefield immediately became unstable, nearly collapsing into harmless mist.
Fortunately, Carracosta had undergone professional training. Despite the agonizing blow from Sirfetch'd, it endured the damage and continued gathering energy for Rain Dance.
Caitlin immediately noticed the opening and seized the opportunity.
"Metagross, restrain it with Psychic!"
"Meta!"
Brilliant blue light erupted from Metagross's eyes. Its tremendous psychic power wrapped around Carracosta like a massive invisible hand and clamped down on its entire body.
Carracosta's enormous frame was forcibly lifted into the air. It shook violently before Metagross slammed it back down against the ground.
Then Metagross raised it and smashed it down again.
It repeated the process several times.
Meanwhile, Blastoise's Mega Evolution was complete.
"Blastoise!"
After Mega Evolving, Blastoise's limbs had become thicker and more powerful. Its eyes had turned a fierce crimson similar to those of an Alpha Pokémon. A pointed growth had formed beneath its chin, while a raised ridge protruded from its forehead.
A small shell had appeared on each arm, with a steel water cannon extending from both of them.
At the same time, the two cannons on its back had merged into one enormous central cannon. Its muzzle extended farther than Blastoise's head, making Mega Blastoise appear slightly hunched beneath its tremendous size.
[Pokémon: Mega Blastoise]
[Type: Water]
[Level: 67]
[Ability: Mega Launcher]
[Moves: Omitted]
As expected, this Mega Blastoise possessed Elite Four-level strength and was already approaching Champion level. It would probably reach Champion level before much longer.
With Mega Evolution complete, Siebold immediately ordered Mega Blastoise to assist Carracosta.
"Blastoise, use Water Pulse!"
Thanks to Mega Launcher, the power of Mega Blastoise's pulse and aura-based moves increased by fifty percent.
The cannons across Mega Blastoise's body hummed simultaneously. The launchers on its arms and back locked onto Sirfetch'd and Metagross.
In the next instant, three spheres of water wrapped in spiraling waves shot through the air without even the slightest delay for charging.
Grey remained perfectly calm.
"Sirfetch'd, block them!"
"Sirfetch'd!"
Sirfetch'd immediately planted its leek shield firmly in front of itself and endured the first bombardment head-on.
The massive force pushed it backward across the sand, carving two deep trenches beneath its feet.
The second watery projectile arrived immediately afterward.
Sirfetch'd suddenly exerted all the strength in its arm and swung its shield in a wide green arc, boldly counterattacking the incoming blue sphere.
The shield collided with the Water Pulse.
Before everyone's astonished eyes, Sirfetch'd actually reflected the spiraling water projectile back toward the opposing side.
The reflected attack struck Carracosta directly in the face, exploding into a cloud of water and mist.
[Holy crap, was that a shield parry?!]
[How do Fighting-type Trainers even raise their Pokémon? That was a video-game parry, and Sirfetch'd actually pulled it off in real life!]
[I'm on my knees, Coach Grey!]
The livestream chat instantly filled with comments like "W," "insane," and "absolute legend." Even Siebold stared in surprise for a moment after witnessing Sirfetch'd's shield counter.
"What an unusually flavorful appetizer," Siebold said with a soft laugh. "However, how will Miss Caitlin handle the attack aimed at her?"
His gaze shifted toward Caitlin's Metagross.
Metagross was still using Psychic to restrain Carracosta, while the Water Pulse fired by Mega Blastoise was moving at incredible speed. To evade it, Metagross would either have to release Carracosta or devote all its power to escaping.
Either result would benefit Siebold's side.
Caitlin's eyes flashed as she made her decision in an instant.
Rather than continue restraining the opponent, it was better to neutralize the dangerous attack first.
"Metagross, release Carracosta and crush that Water Pulse!"
The blue light in Metagross's eyes suddenly dimmed, and Carracosta immediately fell from where it had been suspended in midair.
"Meta!"
At the same time, Metagross gathered another tremendous surge of psychic power and clenched down on the approaching water sphere.
Bang!
With a crisp bursting sound, the surging Water Pulse was forcibly crushed into countless droplets that scattered across the battlefield.
Having finally gained a chance to breathe, Carracosta once again began preparing Rain Dance.
The moment Grey and Caitlin noticed the move's wind-up, both prepared to attack Carracosta.
They could not allow it to establish the weather.
They could also take the opportunity to focus their attacks and eliminate one of their opponents first.
Carracosta possessed Elite Four-level strength, but it had only recently entered that level. Among the four Pokémon on the battlefield, it was clearly the weakest.
Carracosta was also slow, and the time it took to gather energy for its moves was painfully long, which was perfectly appropriate for a turtle.
Given the circumstances, who else would they focus on?
"Sirfetch'd, use Meteor Assault!"
"Metagross, use Bullet Punch!"
Metagross moved even faster.
Immediately after crushing Water Pulse, it aimed its steel claws toward Carracosta. Silver light spread across its body, and a sound resembling an engine roaring to life echoed across the battlefield as Metagross transformed into a streak of light and charged toward Carracosta.
"Blastoise, it's time to let our guests sample another one of your cooking styles. Use Aura Sphere!"
Siebold gracefully extended one hand and pointed forward as elegantly as if he were decorating a plate.
"Blastoise!"
Blue light erupted around Mega Blastoise as tremendous Fighting-type energy gathered inside the main cannon on its back. Light illuminated the inside of the barrel, and an enormous projectile blasted from the muzzle, trailing a bright blue tail as it flew directly toward Metagross.
Because of its aura-tracking properties, Aura Sphere locked onto Metagross.
Even though Metagross was moving at tremendous speed, it could not shake the attack. The Aura Sphere continued closing the distance.
"Sirfetch'd, throw your shield!"
Caitlin had just been about to order Metagross to deal with Aura Sphere when she heard Grey issue a command to cover her Pokémon.
"Sirfetch'd!"
Sirfetch'd was already charging toward Carracosta, though the golden radiance of Meteor Assault had not yet fully enveloped its body.
After hearing Grey's command, it sharply raised its head and saw the Fighting-type projectile racing toward its companion.
Whoosh!
"Meta...!"
At the critical moment, Sirfetch'd swung its arm without hesitation and hurled its leek shield.
The dark green shield curved through the air and intercepted Aura Sphere's flight path with perfect accuracy.
A mushroom cloud slowly rose from the point of impact as Aura Sphere collided violently with the sturdy shield, filling the air with glittering fragments of energy.
Without slowing its Bullet Punch charge, Metagross used Psychic to seize the leek shield and fling it back into Sirfetch'd's hand.
The two Pokémon cooperated flawlessly.
Metagross reached Carracosta first. All four of its arms exerted their strength at once and smashed directly into Carracosta's abdomen.
Boom!
The heavy impact resounded through the air like the pounding of a war drum.
Sirfetch'd arrived immediately afterward. Covered in brilliant golden light, it resembled a speeding meteor. It charged with its leek sword and entire body, crashing into Carracosta and driving it dozens of yards across the field.
However, Carracosta finally succeeded in using Rain Dance.
Dark clouds swallowed the sunlight, causing the blazing midday sun to vanish in an instant.
The first scattered drops struck the beach before becoming a torrential downpour.
Dense curtains of rain enveloped the entire coastline, covering it beneath a watery veil. Mega Blastoise stood beneath the downpour and immediately appeared refreshed and energized.
"Now it is time for our counterattack."
Siebold snapped his fingers.
Marlon finally issued his second command of the battle.
"Carracosta, use Waterfall!"
"Carracosta!"
Carracosta released a long cry. The moment it swung its blue arms, an enormous column of water surged directly toward Sirfetch'd.
The distance between them was too short. Sirfetch'd was swallowed by the water almost immediately.
Carracosta took the opportunity to plunge into the water column. It slammed its head directly into Sirfetch'd and drove the duck Pokémon across the rain-soaked sand beneath the rushing current.
"Sirfetch'd!"
Sirfetch'd tried to counterattack, but the moment it opened its mouth, it swallowed a mouthful of salty seawater.
Sirfetch'd might have been a duck, but it was actually a complete landlubber.
It rarely even played in water, much less went swimming.
After swallowing several mouthfuls of seawater in quick succession, the entire duck looked miserable.
"Metagross, help Sirfetch'd!"
Caitlin wanted to assist Grey.
Seeing this, Siebold ordered Mega Blastoise to block Metagross's path.
"Blastoise, invite Metagross to remain here and sample another dish. Use Dark Pulse!"
"Blastoise!"
This time, Mega Blastoise fired all three cannons simultaneously.
The instant black light flashed, three rings of dark energy interlocked with one another and blasted viciously toward Metagross.
Metagross was forced to abandon its attempt to rescue Sirfetch'd. It wrapped psychic power around its entire body to increase its speed and barely managed to evade Dark Pulse.
"Caitlin, why haven't you had Metagross Mega Evolve?"
In the middle of the battle, Grey suddenly asked the question.
Siebold had known to Mega Evolve Blastoise immediately, so why had Caitlin not done the same with Metagross?
"I don't have a Key Stone or Metagrossite," Caitlin replied with a shrug.
She certainly possessed the ability and resources to acquire them.
She simply had not done so.
"Then I'll lend you mine."
Grey generously handed Caitlin his Key Stone and Metagrossite.
Siebold and Marlon stared at him.
What kind of battle allowed someone to lend equipment to their partner halfway through the match?
However, neither of them cared enough to object.
Caitlin, on the other hand, was deeply moved when Grey immediately offered her his Key Stone and Mega Stone after learning that she did not have them.
Looking slightly embarrassed, she rested her head against Grey's shoulder.
"Thank you."
"What are you thanking me for? Look at the relationship we have. If you keep thanking me, you'll make us sound like strangers."
Grey affectionately pinched Caitlin's cheek, making her blush even more deeply.
They were still livestreaming.
Did he really have to act so intimate with her in front of everyone?
How awful!
[Unbelievable. You two stopped in the middle of a battle just to rub your relationship in our faces?]
[Sabrina: The three of us are going to make this relationship work!]
[Whoa, a throuple, cough, mods, please don't ban me!]
Grey's behavior immediately filled countless viewers with righteous indignation.
Honestly, it was one thing for him to cuddle with his girlfriend in private. Now he was not even pretending to restrain himself. He was openly doing this during a livestream.
Were Sabrina there in person, would Grey simply hold one woman in each arm?
No one knew whether Sabrina would agree to that.
Of course, considering Sabrina's current personality, she would probably raise both hands in support.
She had already thought Caitlin was a good person, and they were both psychics.
Grey was known as the friend of psychics. Since Caitlin had also received Grey's help, Sabrina believed that the two of them could work together to ease Grey's worries and share his burdens.
The sight brought joy to some people and misery to others.
The miserable one naturally needed no explanation. Other than Cabbage back in Sinnoh, no one saw Grey as some shameless Kanto homewrecker who had seduced away their sweet, innocent young woman.
The happy one was Caitlin's fellow Elite Four member, the Ghost-type specialist Shauntal.
At that moment, Shauntal was not in the office. She was writing in Caitlin's villa in Undella Town.
Watching the interaction between Grey and Caitlin immediately sent Shauntal's imagination racing. She lowered her head and began writing furiously, narrating the scene aloud as she worked.
"Just as Grey wrapped one arm around Caitlin and the two whispered sweetly to each other, footsteps suddenly sounded from the stairs leading up to the pavilion. Grey turned his head and saw that the newcomer was Sabrina."
"Sabrina narrowed her beautiful eyes and whispered, 'I'm sorry. Perhaps I came at the wrong time.'"
"Grey and Caitlin raised their hands at the same time, and Grey replied, 'No, you came at exactly the right time.'"
"Sabrina's face immediately lit up, and she slipped into Grey's arms..."
Another masterpiece for the ages was undoubtedly being born.
Only after Shauntal finished typing did she remember that Caitlin seemed to be planning to bring Grey back to the villa today.
As everyone knew, Unova was a very open-minded region.
Shauntal supported her cheek with one hand, her generous curves shifting slightly as she considered the situation.
"Should I stay outside the room tonight? Should I sleep with my back turned to Caitlin and pretend not to hear anything, no matter what sounds reach me? Or should I join them?"
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