The Indigo Stadium pulsed with tension, the battlefield scarred from the earlier clashes as Gwen Vortex and Blaine faced off, their match teetering on a razor's edge.
Blaine was down to his last Pokémon, five already fallen—Flareon, Houndoom, Magcargo, Rapidash, and Charizard—while Gwen had lost three: Mismagius, Sableye, and Banette.
The announcer's voice thundered, electrifying the air. "We're at the brink, folks! Blaine's got one left, Gwen's holding strong with three. Can the Elite Four's fire master turn the tide, or will Gwen Vortex claim another Vortex victory?"
He continued "Gwen has released her Dusknoir. A rare ghost type Pokémon. It has been said that evolving a Dusclops to a dusknoir is pretty rare and difficult. Are you all excited to see this new Ghost type?"
The crowd cheered at that question as Blaine released his final Pokemon.
Blaine's final Poké Ball flashed, releasing Magmar, his starter. The Fire-type emerged, flames licking its sleek, red form, a snarl rumbling as it squared off against Gwen's Dusknoir.
In the stands, Gladion leaned forward, eyes narrowed, thoughts churning.
'Now that's Magmar looks like a beast. I can feel the heat from it's body's flames even here. A pity that he does not know how to evolve it into a Magmortor. And unlike Pryce, he can't be blamed for it either as it requires a item to evolve a Magmar to a Magmortor.'
'And judging from the battle until now, Blaine's a cut above Pryce—way tougher.' Gladion had just dismantled Pryce with two Pokémon, but Gwen's fight was a grind—closer, fiercer.
'Pryce coasted on politics and old war cred, but Blaine? He's got grit, fire in his veins—his team's sharper, hungrier. This ain't a cakewalk like mine.' Gladion smirked, pride swelling for his sister, but respect flickered for Blaine too. 'Old man's got game—stronger than Pryce by a mile.'
His mind drifted about the time he got to know that Blaine was his grandpa. —'Blaine's my grandpa? He'd only learned it last year, a bombshell dropped casually over dinner when Erza, his mom, muttered, "Your granddad's complicated," and clammed up.' "Reasons," she said—pfft, what kinda cryptic nonsense is that?' Erza had dodged his prodding, her voice tight:
"He's a man I don't approve of—never did. I want no part of him." Gladion's brain had spun ever since. 'What's the deal? Team Rocket ties? Did he cook up some shady Magmar army in a volcano lair? Or maybe he's just a jerk who forgot her birthday one too many times—classic grandpa fail!' He snickered, picturing Blaine in a Rocket grunt uniform, yelling, "More lava, minions!"—but the mystery nagged. 'Whatever it is, Mom's locked it tighter than a Mimikyu's disguise.'
Gladion was half sure that his grandpa Blaine was in the Team Rocket in this reality like the manga. And why his mom has not reported him or put him in jail is probably because she did not know that he was a part of Team Rocket but might have discovered some of his illegal activities.
Initially he was sceptical about Blaine being part of Team Rocket since this version of his looked like a cool grandpa wearing sunglasses but appearances can be deceiving. In the past years, he had done some digging around and interrogated which was another word for 'mind raped' some team rocket goons. He had found out that while Team Rocket had several scientists under their employ, two of them were more important than others.
And one of whose secret name was "Magma". Gladion had no doubt about that it was Blaine and inwardly he cursed his grandpa for being so bad with giving names. He was pretty sure he inherited that trait from him.
Back on the field, Gwen grinned, Dusknoir looming like a spectral tank.
"Just a Magmar, Even my brother has a Magmortar and it's not even his ace Pokemon." Gwen commented with a sneer.
Shock appeared on Blaine's face, 'Did she just say what I think she just said?'
He tried to ask Gwen for confirmation with excitement "Hey brat, Did your brother evolve Magmar to Magmo...."
Before he could finish, Gwen took advantage of his distraction with a smile.
"Shadow Punch!" she called. Dusknoir's fist glowed, striking Magmar with unerring force, rocking it back.
Blaine's voice snapped, "Fire Punch!" Magmar's fist blazed, meeting Dusknoir head-on—the clash sparked, both reeling from the impact.
"Earthquake!" Gwen pressed. Dusknoir slammed the ground, fissures cracking toward Magmar, who leapt, barely dodging.
"Flamethrower!" Blaine roared. A torrent of fire engulfed Dusknoir, who grunted, his bulk scorched but holding. "Phantom Force!" Gwen countered. Dusknoir vanished, reappearing to slam Magmar, sending it skidding across the grass.
Blaine's eyes glinted—'She's tough'—and he pushed back. "Thunder Punch!" Magmar's fist sparked, striking Dusknoir hard, electricity coursing through the ghost.
Gwen winced—'Too close'—and ordered, "Destiny Bond!" Dusknoir's eye flared, linking their fates, but Blaine was not falling for the same trick twice.
In the stands Gladion winced realising Gwen's strategy 'She does not play fair, does she? First getting the number advantages and then using Destiny bond again and again to win the match. And destiny bond is supposed to be a super rare and tough move to learn. Guess that Ghost aura of hers helps her and her Pokémon in learning such moves.'
"Fire Blast!" A star-shaped inferno erupted, blasting Dusknoir before the bond could set. The ghost crumpled, out cold.
"Dusknoir is unable to battle!" the referee shouted. The announcer boomed, "Magmar's Fire Blast incinerates Dusknoir! Gwen's down to one—Blaine's still in this!"
The crowd roared—"Magmar's a beast!" "Gwen's hanging on!"—as Gladion nodded.
'Blaine's no slouch—Pryce'd be toast by now. This is a real fight.'
Gwen's grin didn't falter, her final Poké Ball spinning in her hand. "Gengar, time to spook 'em silly!" Her ace emerged, cackling wildly, his gaseous form swirling over the pond.
Blaine kept Magmar in, sweat beading behind his shades. "Flamethrower—full power!" Magmar unleashed a fiery jet, but Gengar darted aside, giggling. "Shadow Ball!" Gwen ordered. Gengar hurled a dark orb, striking Magmar square, forcing it back. "Thunder Punch!" Blaine barked. Magmar charged, electricity crackling, but Gengar phased through with a taunt—[Too slow, hothead!]—and retaliated with "Sucker Punch!" The sneaky blow landed, Magmar staggering.
Blaine growled, "Fire Spin!" A fiery vortex trapped Gengar, flames licking, but Gwen countered, "Destiny Bond—now!" Gengar's eyes glowed, linking fates as Magmar's next Fire Punch connected. Both collapsed—Gengar grinning, Magmar snarling—knocked out together.
"Magmar and Gengar are unable to battle!" The referee's flags rose. The announcer's voice exploded, "A double knockout! Destiny Bond claims Magmar—Blaine's out, Gwen's victorious! Gwen still has a Pokemon left. Victory goes to her.Gwen Vortex defeats an Elite Four with five Pokémon—a razor-close finish!"
The crowd surged to its feet, a deafening roar—"Gwen! Gwen!" "She did it!"—banners waving as kids chanted, "Ghost queen!"
Gladion grinned, pride swelling. 'She pulled it off—closer than mine, but a win's a win.'
-----Author Notes------
Y'all can read 15 extra chapters on my pat*reon. 3 more than what was offered earlier!!
https://pat reon.com/mrmime24
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