February 7th, Sunday. Windless.
The Indigo Plateau Conference Semifinals.
The official livestream commentators were in position.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Indigo Plateau Conference Semifinals!"
The circular arena was packed to the brim, roaring with cheers and chants.
At the pinnacle of the stadium, the sacred flame blazed fiercely in its silver brazier.
President Charles Goodshow, a small-statured man with a long white beard, smiled warmly.
"I hereby declare the Indigo Plateau Conference Semifinals—officially begun!"
The atmosphere reached its peak.
Beyond the livestream screen...
A golden-haired beauty watched with interest as the aerial camera focused on a strikingly handsome black-haired young man.
"Now, let's welcome the Trainer from Touran—Contestant Natsume!" the commentator announced.
"Go, Natsume-sensei!!"
In the stands, Professor Oak, dressed casually, glanced back at the banners behind him.
"My, Natsume's popularity is truly remarkable!"
Green smiled beside him. "Well, his videos and games do have a wide audience."
"Or maybe it's just his face," Brock remarked, arms crossed.
"...Hmph." Green couldn't even argue.
"Ah, youth." Professor Oak listened to the cheers, smiling as he gazed at the arena. "Takes me back."
At the end of the contestant tunnel, blinding sunlight poured in.
Natsume stepped out, raising a hand to shield his eyes slightly.
Instantly, the stadium erupted in unending applause.
"Executive, come on!!" James, Jessie, and Meowth waved frantically.
"We finally saved up for front-row seats, meow!"
"Don't hold back against the opponent!" James cheered.
"Yeah, teach him a lesson!" Jessie clenched her fist.
"Wobbuffet!"
Bystanders eyed the odd trio with confusion.
At the center of the field, the two contestants shook hands.
"Natsume-sensei, I won't hold back!" Kenpei declared, his fighting spirit blazing.
He adjusted his glasses—plain lenses, a homage to his idol, Champion Steven.
This was his chance to bring glory to Hoenn.
Last year's Ever Grande Conference runner-up, he had trained relentlessly for this moment.
A full 6v6 battle would prove his growth!
"Good luck." Natsume nodded amiably.
Mentoring Steven's junior? A duty I'll gladly fulfill.
Kenpei shuddered under an inexplicable pressure as he returned to his command post, sweat beading on his brow.
That tone... It reminded him of facing Champion Steven himself.
But how could a League Champion possibly be competing here?
Kenpei took a deep breath, steadying himself.
No need to panic. I've analyzed Natsume-sensei's team thoroughly.
That hyper-offensive playstyle...
All I need is solid defense, attrition tactics, and a decisive space-based strategy!
"That boy seems tense," Professor Oak observed, watching the big screen.
Facing Natsume-sensei would make anyone sweat...
Green wiped her brow internally.
"A full battle might better showcase Natsume-sensei's expertise," Brock noted.
"Mmm..." Professor Oak nodded thoughtfully.
More rotations meant more room for strategy.
But... Natsume's team composition was predictable. Would the opponent counter it?
As Professor Oak pondered, the referee's whistle blew.
"Battle begin!"
Kenpei adjusted his glasses and hurled a Poké Ball. White light materialized on the field.
"Go, Cradily!"
The gray-green plant anchored itself with suction cups, pink tentacles swaying, yellow eyes gleaming.
A fossil-revived Pokémon—one of Steven's favorites.
"Cradily is remarkably resilient," Professor Oak mused.
"Leech Seed, Recover..." Brock frowned. "A real nuisance."
Meanwhile, another beam of light took shape, revealing a snow-white, elegant figure.
The moment Sylveon appeared, it captivated the entire audience.
"So beautiful..."
"They say only Trainers who earn their trust can raise one."
Veteran fans gulped, recalling this Sylveon's rampages.
Elegant? Graceful?
Those words hardly fit Natsume-sensei's Sylveon.
Fiercely adorable. Strong yet cute!
"Sylveon, huh?" Kenpei adjusted his glasses, smirking.
How's it gonna beat Cradily?
With Recover, I'll outlast it easily!
"Cradily, Stealth Rock!"
In 6v6, whoever set hazards first gained the rotation advantage!
But as Kenpei schemed—
The snowy blur closed the distance in a flash, ribbons gleaming with a razor-sharp white light!
Why approach?!
Kenpei froze. Shouldn't Sylveon attack from range with Hyper Voice?
His calculations assured him—
Cradily could tank it!
The plant Pokémon raised its glowing eyes, abandoning Stealth Rock to lash out with adhesive tentacles.
Yet before they could ensnare Sylveon—
THUD!
The ribbon struck Cradily's crown like a hammer.
CRACK!
The ground beneath Cradily fractured as its tentacles went limp.
The "Money Flower" collapsed without even firing Leech Seed.
A single Return-powered ribbon—
One-hit KO.
The arena fell silent, the audience stunned.
"Sylveon! (▼ヘ▼#)"
Sylveon stood triumphantly, ribbons swaying, the center of attention.
Watching from afar, Steven chuckled. "Max-power Return right off the bat..."
"Natsume-sensei isn't holding back, huh?"
Kenpei silently recalled his fainted Cradily.
I see... Offensive build, speed-priority strikes. My analysis wasn't wrong.
Losing one for intel? Worth it!
"Go, Dusknoir!"
A chilling aura spread from the Dusk Ball as a ghostly, one-eyed puppet materialized.
The oppressive presence made the crowd shiver.
"People actually run this Ability?" Natsume muttered.
The gravity-like pressure weighed on Sylveon.
"Sylveon!" Sylveon scoffed, flicking its ribbons.
This pressure? Blastoise does it better!
"No effect?!"
Kenpei paled. "Impossible..."
Even if it didn't flee, its movements should slow!
"No matter! Dusknoir, Disable!"
Dusknoir's eye glowed blue—Sylveon's movements lagged for a split second.
Seizing the opening, Kenpei yelled, "Trick Room!"
Reality twisted as dark mist formed a dome over the battlefield.
On the big screen, Dusknoir's phantom-like form flickered, nearly untraceable.
The crowd exchanged glances.
"Using space tactics against Natsume-sensei?"
"Wish him luck..."
Kenpei smirked—then his eyes bulged.
"Dusknoir, evade—!"
"Sylveon!" A Shadow Ball coalesced at Sylveon's bow, invisible in the gloom.
Only when the dark orb stirred the mist did Kenpei realize—
This Sylveon's running mixed offenses?!
BOOM!!
Dusknoir barely escaped the blast, its spectral cloak scorched.
"Return." Kenpei recalled it, face ashen.
One move from a 2HKO...
"Dusknoir is severely injured!" the commentator shouted.
"Still on his first Pokémon, Natsume has forced Kenpei to send out his third?!"
Try it yourself!
Kenpei shuddered.
"But his Trick Room plan worked, right?" Green tilted her head.
Professor Oak nodded. "Natsume didn't bring a Taunt user. Perhaps he has another strategy."
"Here it comes." Natsume's brow lifted as a deafening roar shook the arena.
Dust swirled as Aggron, the indomitable steel juggernaut, slammed its tail.
"Aggron—!!"
The silver-armored beast was a war machine—brutal and relentless.
The audience gulped in unison.
"That's... Kenpei's ace, right?"
"Is he trying to sweep Natsume-sensei under Trick Room?!"
Professor Oak's eyes twinkled. "Excellently bred!"
"Steven entrusted him with its pre-evolution," Brock said, then frowned.
In Trick Room, Aggron was an unstoppable tank.
Only Natsume-sensei's Flare Blitz Arcanine might withstand it.
Gasps erupted.
"What's Natsume-sensei doing?!"
"Why isn't he recalling Sylveon?!"
"No way—he's fighting Aggron head-on in Trick Room?!"
Could Sylveon possibly match this monster?
The crowd held its breath.
"Have it your way!" Kenpei snapped. "Aggron, Iron Head!"
CRASH!
Aggron charged, three horns gleaming—capable of piercing boulders.
The audience tensed.
Type-disadvantaged against this beast?
Natsume-sensei's overestimating himself!
"Protect!"
The barrier alone wouldn't stop Aggron's momentum.
BOOM!
Aggron plowed through, Iron Head smashing Sylveon's shield.
CRACK!
The green barrier shattered. Sylveon leaped aside as the ground beneath it exploded.
"Sylveon! (▼ヘ▼#)" It landed gracefully, licking a minor scratch, ribbons fluttering.
Protect held. Just a scratch.
Natsume still winced.
But recalling Sylveon now would betray its trust.
After watching its teammates shine...
Sylveon wanted to give its all for Natsume!
"Ignore it! Another Iron Head!" Kenpei roared.
Trick Room. Type disadvantage. Three consecutive battles...
Fear gnawed at him.
If even his ace couldn't win...
What then?
Aggron lunged again—slow normally, but a speedster in Trick Room.
Sylveon fired a Shadow Ball to stall it, dodging at the last second.
Panting, Sylveon bared its teeth.
"Sylveon! (`皿´)"
Exhausted from three fights...
Natsume could easily swap to another teammate for the win.
But then—he understood.
A six-Pokémon sweep? At the Indigo Plateau Semifinals?
Natsume almost laughed.
Current Sylveon? Maybe even Blastoise couldn't manage it.
But if it's my Pokémon's wish—
Natsume's gaze sharpened.
I'll make it happen.
"Sylveon, trust me?" Natsume asked.
"Sylveon!"
"Then take a quick break!"
Natsume recalled Sylveon.
Trick Room had seconds left.
In this space, slower Pokémon moved first.
In Natsume's team, only one Pokémon was slower than Aggron...
Even Sirfetch'd was faster.
Wait—there was one.
"Togepi!" Natsume commanded. "Nasty Plot!"
"Togepi doo-ee! (#｀皿´)"
The crowd gasped.
Togepi? At the Semifinals?!
"Under Trick Room, Togepi outspeeds Aggron!"
"Look—it's getting recalled already!"
Kenpei's face drained of color.
Who brings Togepi this deep into the tournament?!
What's his game?!
"Aggron, Earthquake!" Kenpei barked, spine chilled.
Aggron's Iron Tail smashed the ground—seismic waves surged toward Togepi.
But Togepi's eyes gleamed as Nasty Plot maxed its special potential.
A Protect shield enveloped it as Togepi rolled harmlessly through the quake.
Then—Baton Pass.
Sylveon returned!
"Sylveon! (▼皿▼#)"
Togepi's Baton Pass transferred Nasty Plot's boost to Sylveon.
A terrifying aura radiated from it—the crowd gulped.
This pressure dwarfed even Dusknoir's!
As Trick Room faded, Aggron slowed to a crawl.
"Alright, Sylveon."
Natsume raised a fist, his voice cutting through the silence.
"It's your time to sweep."
"Sylveon!"
High noon.
The Shadow Ball that erupted from Sylveon's bow brimmed with apocalyptic energy.
Kenpei shut his eyes in despair.
Even Aggron's monstrous bulk...
Its pitiful special defense couldn't withstand this.
KABOOM!!!
The explosion rocked the stadium.
As dust cleared, the audience gasped.
No way...
He actually won?!
THUD.
The invincible steel titan collapsed.
Sunlight bathed the pristine Sylveon in gold.
It stood over Aggron's fallen form—
Then turned.
A blade honed to perfection, wielded by the black-haired young man.
"Sylveon." Its voice was soft.
"Next."
The calm declaration echoed across the arena.
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