While Shauntal was still letting her imagination run wild, Caitlin had already thrown the Metagrossite toward Metagross and activated the Key Stone in her hand.
"Metagross, Mega Evolve!"
"Meta!"
Metagross unleashed an earthshaking roar and charged straight toward the Mega Stone.
In the next instant, dazzling light enveloped its body. An enormous surge of Mega Evolution energy transformed Metagross's form, and Mega Metagross emerged within moments.
"Metagross, use Brick Break on Dark Pulse!"
Mega Metagross's strength increased dramatically after Mega Evolving. Fighting-type light surrounded two of its arms as it raised them and smashed them into the Dark Pulse fired by Mega Blastoise.
Bang!
Mega Metagross shattered Dark Pulse with Brick Break.
Mega Blastoise aimed its cannons at Mega Metagross again, only to discover that its opponent had already become covered in silver light and was charging directly toward Carracosta.
At the moment, Carracosta was completely focused on driving Sirfetch'd across the beach. Sirfetch'd, a duck that could not swim, was already on the verge of passing out.
There was no helping it. Sirfetch'd could barely exert any strength while trapped in the water. Even gathering energy and attacking Carracosta with its leek sword was extremely difficult.
All it could do was strike Carracosta repeatedly, but the attacks had little effect.
"Carracosta!"
Carracosta opened its mouth and prepared to unleash Hydro Pump directly into Sirfetch'd's face at point-blank range.
However, it never got the chance to inflict further damage.
A high-pitched mechanical roar suddenly echoed across the battlefield. Carracosta instinctively raised its head, only for its entire field of vision to turn dark.
Boom!
A steel fist struck without warning.
Mega Metagross had reached Carracosta and slammed a brutal punch directly into its cheek.
Carracosta failed to evade and was sent flying with a single blow.
The Waterfall immediately ended, and all the water beneath Sirfetch'd dispersed.
"Sirfetch'd!"
I'm saved! Thanks, buddy!
"Meta."
No problem. We're partners.
Mega Metagross gave Sirfetch'd a slight smile.
The two Pokémon stood back-to-back, preparing to launch fierce attacks against their respective opponents.
"Mega Blastoise, use Water Pulse!"
The rain continued pouring down, and Siebold immediately ordered Mega Blastoise to unleash an all-out assault on Mega Metagross.
"Blastoise!"
Mega Blastoise brought both arms together while positioning the enormous cannon behind its head alongside them.
From a distance, it looked as though three massive cannons had been combined into a single weapon, creating an intimidating sight.
"Caitlin, have Metagross clear a path for Sirfetch'd. We'll focus our attacks and take Blastoise down first."
Grey understood how dangerous Mega Blastoise was.
As Siebold's main combatant, Mega Blastoise possessed terrifying offensive power. Its Water Pulse was also strengthened by Mega Launcher, so neither Mega Metagross nor Sirfetch'd could afford to withstand it directly.
"All right."
Caitlin nodded gently, immediately understanding Grey's intention.
"Metagross, keep an eye on Blastoise. The moment it attacks Sirfetch'd, use everything you have to stop it!"
"Sirfetch'd, use Detect and approach Blastoise as quickly as possible!"
Grey immediately issued his command.
"Sirfetch'd!"
A faint golden light surrounded Sirfetch'd. Its gaze became exceptionally sharp, like that of an eagle capable of seeing through every incoming attack.
The next moment, Sirfetch'd moved.
Deep craters appeared one after another across the beach as Sirfetch'd advanced toward Mega Blastoise using a mysterious, unpredictable series of steps.
"Blastoise!"
Only a few seconds later, Mega Blastoise finished gathering an enormous watery projectile within its three cannons and fired it directly at Sirfetch'd.
Sirfetch'd sprinted sideways and avoided the enormous spiraling sphere of water. However, countless smaller water projectiles immediately followed it in an unbroken barrage.
"Now, Metagross!"
At Caitlin's command, Mega Metagross focused all its attention and released a tremendous surge of psychic power.
The countless incoming water projectiles instantly froze in midair, unable to advance another inch.
Sirfetch'd weaved through the dense barrage, but several sharp stone blades suddenly erupted behind it and blocked its path.
It was the Rock-type move Stone Edge.
The moment Grey saw the stone blades, he knew Carracosta had attacked.
In the distance, Marlon and Siebold bumped fists, seemingly celebrating the successful interruption of Grey's offensive.
But had they truly stopped it?
Just as Mega Blastoise began to relax, it suddenly sensed danger.
Crackle!
Brilliant arcs of electricity appeared directly before it, while a powerful gust of wind scraped painfully across its face.
Mega Metagross suddenly appeared in front of Mega Blastoise. Its four steel arms smashed into Mega Blastoise's face as countless electrical currents surged through its body.
At that exact moment, Sirfetch'd arrived.
"Sirfetch'd!"
Sirfetch'd swung its leek sword and cleaved through the stone barrier. A deep emerald glow surrounded the weapon as it slashed forward with tremendous force.
The leek sword continued extending throughout the swing, overflowing with concentrated Grass-type energy before striking Mega Blastoise directly across the neck.
The Grass-type Leaf Blade was super effective.
"It's still standing?!"
Watching Mega Blastoise breathe heavily without collapsing, Grey could not help but marvel at its incredible stamina.
He had no idea how Siebold had trained a Mega Blastoise capable of enduring so much punishment.
It was practically a legendary damage sponge.
"Carracosta, use Earthquake!"
When Marlon saw Mega Metagross and Sirfetch'd gathered together, he immediately seized the opportunity and ordered Carracosta to attack.
Rumble!
The sand shook violently as powerful seismic waves spread recklessly across the battlefield.
Just before the attack struck Mega Metagross and Sirfetch'd, Caitlin lightly pointed one slender finger.
"Metagross, use Magnet Rise!"
Magnet Rise was a status move that allowed the user to avoid Ground-type attacks.
Naturally, Mega Metagross was capable of using it.
Seeing this, Grey immediately followed with another command.
"Sirfetch'd, jump onto Mega Metagross!"
"Mega Blastoise, don't allow those two Pokémon to escape. Keep them in their seats and make them properly enjoy the other chef's signature dish!"
After hearing their plan, Siebold obviously had no intention of allowing Grey and Caitlin to succeed.
"Blastoise!"
Mega Blastoise immediately obeyed. It aimed its cannon at Mega Metagross while pressing one hand down on each opposing Pokémon.
"Meta!"
Mega Metagross exerted all its strength to activate Magnet Rise, while Mega Blastoise used every ounce of its power to prevent it from taking flight.
As the two struggled against each other, Sirfetch'd abandoned its attempt to jump onto Mega Metagross. Instead, it gathered Grass-type energy and used Leaf Blade again, slashing Mega Blastoise across the arm.
Bang!
The attack caused Mega Blastoise to cry out in pain and instinctively release its grip.
Mega Metagross finally broke free and rose into the air, bringing Sirfetch'd with it.
Mega Blastoise, meanwhile, fell to the ground and endured the full force of Carracosta's Earthquake. Combined with all the damage it had already suffered, its remaining stamina had reached a dangerously low level.
"Excellent! Sirfetch'd, finish Mega Blastoise with Leaf Blade!"
"Metagross, use Psychic to restrain Blastoise!"
Grey and Caitlin coordinated their commands, with one Pokémon attacking while the other controlled the target.
Mega Metagross successfully used Psychic to restrain Mega Blastoise on the ground, preventing it from standing. Sirfetch'd then unleashed Leaf Blade and struck Mega Blastoise directly across the head.
After enduring one powerful attack after another, the absurdly durable Mega Blastoise finally collapsed.
Only Carracosta remained on the opposing side.
The viewers watching the livestream immediately began cheering.
[The streamer and his top donor are way too compatible! You can tell they've practiced fighting together plenty of times!]
[Do you think the streamer might still be...]
[Don't make Grey laugh.]
[There's only one turtle left. Are they going to win this?]
[I know why they won. It was the teamwork between a Gym Leader and an Elite Four member.]
[Then I know too. The team that used Mega Evolution won.]
Another fierce exchange followed.
In the end, Mega Metagross completely restrained Carracosta with its psychic power, allowing Sirfetch'd to land a successful Leaf Blade and bring Carracosta down.
The battle finally came to an end.
Once it was over, Siebold wiped the sweat from his forehead and addressed Grey and Caitlin.
"That was a truly magnificent battle! I feel that after allowing this inspiration to mature for a little longer, I may finally reach the level of a genuine world-class chef."
After speaking, Siebold deliberately bowed to Grey.
"Mr. Grey, the coordination between you and Miss Caitlin has given me a great deal of inspiration. Please accept this card as a small token of my appreciation."
Siebold took out a black card engraved with a logo and presented it to Grey with both hands.
"Sure, thank you."
Grey saw that it was only a card and did not think much about it. After thanking Siebold, he placed it in his pocket.
Siebold was worried that the gift might cause an unnecessary misunderstanding, so he explained further.
"Ordinarily, I should give one card to each of you. However, since the two of you are together, I took the liberty of altering the card's privileges. From now on, whenever both of you visit any restaurant under my ownership, your entire meal will be free, and you'll also receive a specially prepared gift."
"I understand. Thank you."
Grey finally understood the thought Siebold had put into the card and gave him an approving thumbs-up.
As for Caitlin, the moment she heard Siebold say that she and Grey were together, she stopped hearing everything that followed.
Had they not been in public, Caitlin would already have been giggling to herself.
"Ahem, it's getting rather late, so Caitlin and I should get going. Mr. Siebold, Mr. Marlon, we'll see you again when we have the opportunity."
Grey noticed that it was already two in the afternoon.
He planned to have their Pokémon treated at the Pokémon Center, then accompany Caitlin through the Marine Tube to Undella Town.
Once they reached Undella Town, they would sleep there for the night. The following day, they would travel through Reversal Mountain to Lentimas Town and take a plane back to Kanto.
Of course, they could have simply ridden Reshiram or asked Little Riolu to teleport them home.
However, special occasions required a proper sense of ceremony.
Grey was bringing Caitlin home with him. Naturally, they had to take a plane.
Their schedule was neither particularly tight nor especially relaxed.
According to Caitlin, Skyla, an ace pilot, would fly the plane from Lentimas Airport and personally take them home.
Grey had heard a little about Skyla.
Recently, because she wanted to avoid unnecessary work, she had begun using something called Air Battles to decide whether challengers deserved a Gym Badge.
Honestly, Grey thought the entire concept was absurd.
Had Skyla used some sort of real-time strategy game to decide whether someone received a Badge, that might have been slightly more reasonable.
Instead, the outcome depended entirely on whatever Skyla imagined inside her own head.
Gym Leaders truly had it much too easy.
Were something like that to happen in Kanto...
Grey fell silent.
Actually, what punishment could anyone impose there?
Grey scratched his head and decided he would judge the situation after meeting Skyla in person.
Returning to the matter at hand, Grey soon finished having the Pokémon treated.
Since it was already getting late, he and Caitlin bought some drinks and entered the Marine Tube from the Humilau City entrance, heading south.
Inside the Marine Tube, Caitlin linked her arm through Grey's and leaned happily against his shoulder. She pointed toward the Pokémon swimming beyond the surrounding glass.
"Grey, have you ever visited somewhere like this before?"
"No. This is my first time."
Grey strolled through the underwater tunnel while watching the Pokémon swimming freely outside, unable to suppress a sigh of amazement.
When he had first played Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 as a child, he had visited the Marine Tube in the game. The place had left an enormous impression on his young mind.
Now he was truly walking through it himself.
Honestly, the sight was no less astonishing than it had been back then.
"Humanity has explored less than one percent of the deep sea. No one knows how many different Pokémon may live down there."
Caitlin gazed at the side of Grey's face, looking like an endlessly curious child as she continued asking questions.
"Grey, what do you think?"
"I think the number of undiscovered Pokémon will only continue increasing with time. First there were a hundred, then two hundred, and now there are more than a thousand. Perhaps there could even be two thousand someday."
Grey's voice carried a trace of wonder.
"I also wonder how many Legendary Pokémon might be living in the deepest parts of the ocean."
"Legendary Pokémon... I've hardly seen any Legendary Pokémon myself."
Caitlin looked equally fascinated by the thought.
Grey paused after hearing her response. His eyes shifted thoughtfully before he slowly asked, "Caitlin, would you like to see Kyogre and Lugia?"
"Kyogre and Lugia?! Could they really appear here? I heard that the Pokémon living around the Marine Tube are mostly species native to Unova, along with ordinary Pokémon brought in from elsewhere, such as Wailord."
Caitlin certainly wanted to see Legendary Pokémon, but she understood Unova's geography. Encountering Legendary Pokémon that lived in the depths of the ocean would be extraordinarily difficult.
"Anything can happen if you believe strongly enough. Someone as sincere as you is certain to encounter a Legendary Pokémon."
Grey patted his chest and confidently guaranteed it.
"R-Really?"
Caitlin's eyes lit up. Grey's words had clearly captivated her.
Grey nodded solemnly.
"Really."
Meanwhile, in Kanto...
"What? What do you mean Grey wants Lugia and me to travel to Unova as background actors and help him woo a girl?"
//Check out my P@tre0n for 30 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810.