The Final Battle

After reviving and healing my team, I proceed through the door, still fuming at the injustice of the situation. I've had to beat four trainers in a row. Four of the strongest trainers I've ever faced. And now, without a visit to a Poke Center and without warning, the champion gets to hand me my first defeat ever.

I take a deep breath and march on, finding myself in the middle of a lit, rotating dais. Cynthia stands before me. Cynthia is the champion. I didn't expect that one. She stands there, seemingly emotionless. After an awkward pause, she addresses me...

"Have you been keeping well?"

Oh, you know, the usual. Saved the world. Trounced all the gym leaders. Beat your lackeys. But they softened me up for you. That was your plan all along. Wasn't it?

"Thank you for Mt. Coronet. I'm truly grateful."

Oh. Well, you're welcome. At least someone is grateful, even if it's the greatest trainer in the world, and you know, she was absent for the whole affair. Universe in danger. Person best equipped to save the day just hangs out not doing that. So yeah, you're welcome.

"Together, you and your pokemon overcame all the challenges you faced, however difficult."

Until now, right?

"It means you've triumphed over any personal weaknesses, too."

Oh, I wouldn't go that far. I've got a god locked up in a box that I could have brought to this little party. And I didn't do it.

"The power you learned..."

Yes?

"I can feel it emanating from you."

Cool?

"But that's enough talk. Let's get on with why you're here."

You know, I didn't actually understand how this thing worked. I'll come back another day. My team isn't ready for this. You can keep your champion status or whatever. I'll just see myself out...

"As the Pokemon League Champion, I accept you challenge!"

What? Hey...

You are challenged by Champion Cynthia.

Alright, we're doing this. Her first pokemon is level 61, but it's too late to back out, apparently. Just try your best or whatever, I guess. My first loss won't come easily.

I have Ninhursag use leech seed. Spiritomb uses embargo. Ninhursag can't use items anymore. Oh well. There's one layer of toxic spikes. Spiritomb nearly takes Ninhursag out in one hit with dark pulse. Both layers of toxic spikes have been placed. Ninhursag did her job. Spiritomb uses silver wind. I have Ninhursag use synthesis. She recovers, but another silver wind hits. Time for petal dance. Spiritomb is hurt badly. Cynthia has her pokemon use psychic. Ninhursag survives. Cynthia saves Spiritomb with a full restore. Ninhursag continues with petal dance and Spiritomb uses embargo again. I switch to Khali and run right into a dark pulse. Khali barely survives.. Leech seed finishes Spiritomb. One down.

Cynthia is clever. She sends out Roserade to clear the toxic spikes. Her Roserade hits mine with a shadow ball, then hits Hanuman with a sludge bomb as he switches in. Hanuman hangs in there. I switch to Articuno. Ice beam nearly finishes Roserade, but isn't quite enough. Roserade hits Articuno with extrasensory, then shadow ball. Articuno is hurt badly, but finishes Roserade with an aerial ace. Two down, but four of my team are badly injured.

I leave Articuno in as Cynthia calls for Gastrodon. Articuno roosts twice and gastrodon uses stone edge twice. I use a hyper potion on Ninhursag. Gastrodon misses with stone edge. I use a hyper potion on Khali. Stone edge hits and knocks Articuno out. I bring in Ninhursag and use leech seed. Gastrodon earthquakes. I have Ninhursag synthesis. Gastrodon sludge bombs. I decide I really need toxic spikes. Ninhursag gets one layer of toxic spikes down. Gastrodon hits Ninhursag with muddy water. I place the second layer of toxic spikes. I use a hyper potion on Hanuman. Ninhursag survives another sludge bomb. I have Ninhursag use synthesis again. A critical hit from sludge bomb finishes Ninhursag. I bring in Poseidon. I revive Articuno. Cynthia's Gastrodon earthquakes. I switch back to Articuno. Cynthia fails to anticipate it and has Gastrodon earthquake again. Cynthia uses a full restore, saving the weakened Gastrodon from Articuno's aerial ace. I have Articuno fly. Leech seed continues to heal Articuno a bit. Gastrodon survives and hits Articuno with muddy water. Leech seed finishes Gastrodon. Three down. My team's still in bad shape.

Cynthia's next pokemon is Milotic. I bring in Khali. Khali hits the leviathan with a confuse ray. Milotic uses aqua ring. I have Khali use perish song. Milotic's mirror coat does nothing. Milotic snaps out of confusion. I switch to Articuno. Milotic uses ice beam. Articuno recovers almost completely with roost. Another ice beam does some damage, but isn't as effective because Articuno is roosting. Cythia switches Milotic out to avoid the perish song.

Gachomp takes damage from my Articuno's fly and hits back with dragon rush. Articuno drops Garchomp with ice beam. Four down. I can win this, especially if Cynthia doesn't use any more healing items. But even if she does, I have some more myself.

Lucario is up next. Lucario's dragon pulse devastates Hanuman. Flame wheel hurts Lucario, but not enough. Hanuman is taken out by a psychic. Ryujin comes in, but Lucario is faster and uses dragon pulse. And I beam with pride when Ryujin survives the dragon pulse and finishes Lucario with dig. Cynthia is down to her last pokemon.

Milotic comes in still hurt from poison. I have Khali use perish song. If Cynthia doesn't revive any of her pokemon, I just won. Even if Milotic takes everything out in one hit from now on, perish song will finish it. I switch to Articuno. Milotic uses aqua ring.

"I won't let it end yet. This match is too fun to let it end this easily!"

You don't have a choice, Cynthia. I have Articuno roost. Milotic's ice beam does reduced damage. I have Articuno fly. Milotic's next ice beam misses. Perish song finishes the battle.

Cynthia congratulates me and says that I am the champion.

"That was excellent. Truly, an outstanding battle."

I thought you had me overpowered at first, but brains beat brawn in the end.

"You gave the support your pokemon needed to maximize their power."

Whereas you decided to use embargo and aqua ring.

"And you guided them with certainty to secure victory."

Maybe if you'd been training while I was saving the world instead of doing whatever it was you were doing, you'd still be champion.

"You have both passion and calculating coolness."

Aw, thanks Cynthia. So do you.

"Together, you and your pokemon can overcome any challenge that may come your way. These are the impressions I got from our battle. I'm glad to take part in the crowning of Sinnoh's new Champion!"

It's finally over? I'm not sure what to say, actually.

"Come with me. We'll take the lift."

We go up yet another level and stride through a bizarre corridor with moving lights on the floor. Cynthia stops me as we reach the next doorway...

"The room ahead is the Hall of Fame..."

Cynthia is interrupted by Rowan, who catches up to us from behind. I thought he was still in Sandgem Town...

"Master! Your last battle was splendid!"

Professor Rowan saw my last battle? At least he's not mad that I haven't been working on the Pokedex Project very much...

Cynthia somehow takes until just now to realize that Professor Rowan is here. She greets him. They exchange banter for a while. I ignore it. Then they pull me into the Hall of Fame. Rowan says, "It's been a while since I last entered this room..."

Cynthia remarks, "If your last time here was when I became Champion, then yes, that would be quite a long time ago."

Why was Rowan here when Cynthia became champion? But I hesitate to ask that out loud. Cynthia continues...

"Master, welcome to the Hall of Fame. Your names will be recorded for posterity here. What you are leaving are the memories of your adventures so far. It's time to record your names. You and your pokemon. Remember, your pokemon are partners that grew with you through many challenging battles. This machine will make a permanent record of your achievement.

Ninhursag / Roserade / Female / Level 47 / Met at Route 204
Ryujin / Garchomp / Male / Level 51 / Met at Wayward Cave
Hanuman / Infernape / Male / Level 49 / Met at Lake Verity
Poseidon / Gastrodon / Male / Level 46 / Met at Route 213
Khali / Mismagius / Female / Level 48 / Met at Eterna Forest
Articuno / Articuno / / Level 64 / Met in a Link Trade

Everything goes dark.

Somehow, I end up back in my room at home. Was it all a dream? Wait, that doesn't make sense. I go down the stairs. Mom sees me...

"Master! Slave came looking for you a little while ago. I don't know what it was about, but he was shouting about you needing to get on a ship at Snowpoint City. You know how impatient he is. He was gone before I could ask. Anyway, how's it going, kid? Is your project with Professor Rowan coming along?"

So, there's more after the final battle? Whatever. I'm the champion!