Dusclops rose from the Hydro Pump's aftermath, its single eye glowing with eerie resilience. It looked a little injured but not as much as Gladion hoped.
Gwen grinned, sensing an opening.
"Dusclops, Shadow Sneak!" she commanded, her voice sharp.
Dusclops melted into the shadows, reappearing behind Mystique in a flicker of ghostly speed. Instead of following up to complete the shadow sneak attacks, he stopped as Gwen's grin widened. "Now, Will-O-Wisp!"
Instead of striking with Shadow Sneak, Dusclops conjured flickering blue flames, hurling them at Mystique's unprotected back. The Milotic hissed, caught off guard as the Will-O-Wisp engulfed her, searing her scales.
A burn status took hold, red welts marring her iridescent beauty. She flicked her tail irritably, glaring back at Dusclops.
'Will-O-Wisp huh? It would cause burn damage every now and then. Troublesome' Gladion thought
[Sneaky little ghoul!] Mystique snapped, her voice dripping with indignation.
[Burning me from behind? Have you no dignity?]
Dusclops rumbled, its eye glinting.
[Dignity's overrated, princess. You're just mad I made your shiny tail a crispy snack!]
'Oh so the Dusclops can speak back. Now I know why he chose Gwen as his trainer.' Gladion thought unworried about Mystique.
Gwen smirked, savoring the moment.
"End her with Hex!"
Dusclops raised its hands, dark energy swirling as Hex doubled in power, fueled by Mystique's burn.
Hex was a move that inflicts damage, but if the target has a major status ailment (i.e. is burned, poisoned, paralyzed, asleep or frozen) it will double in power.
The ghostly blast surged forward, slamming into Milotic with brutal force. She recoiled, scales dimming as the attack ravaged her, crumpling into the water with a dramatic splash. Gwen whooped, throwing her arms up. "Take that, bro! Your fancy fish is toast—victory's mine!"
The crowd cheered, caught up in her triumph, but Gladion just stared at her, his expression a mix of pity and amusement. He crossed his arms, tilting his head as if she'd just claimed the moon was made of cheese. "You must've forgotten Mystique's specialty, huh? Did you even watch her previous matches, genius?"
Gwen blinked, her victory dance faltering. "Uh… what?" Confusion clouded her face, then her eyes widened as dread crept in.
'Oh no. Oh no. Did I miss something?' Her mind scrambled, replaying Mystique's battles—Surf, Ice Beam, Hydro Pump… and then it hit her like a Brick Break to the skull. 'Recovery moves. She's a tank with a first-aid kit. How did I forget that? I'm such a Duskull-brained idiot!' She groaned internally, picturing herself bonking her head with Dusclops' stubby arms.
'I was too busy cackling over Sabrina's tricks to notice—argh, Gwen, you absolute numpty!'
Gladion's smirk grew wicked. "Mystique, Aqua Ring!"
Mystique stirred, her scales shimmering as a veil of water enveloped her. The Aqua Ring pulsed, restoring a quarter of her health and washing away the burn status, leaving her pristine once more. She flicked her tail, preening smugly. [Amateur hour's over, cyclops,] she purred at Dusclops. [Did you think a little singe would dim my radiance?]
Dusclops growled, eye narrowing. [Radiance? You're a wet rag with delusions!]
'Ouch, These Pokemon know how to insult better than humans.' Gladion thought
"Recover!" Gladion added, his tone smug.
Mystique glowed brighter, her body mending fully—fifty percent more health surging back, returning her to peak condition as if Hex had been a bad dream.
She coiled elegantly, shooting Gwen a look that screamed 'nice try'. Gwen's jaw dropped, her victory bubble popping with an audible plink in her mind.
'Full health? FULL HEALTH?! I'm doomed. She's a freaking snorlax in disguise, absorbing all the damage like it was nothing!'
"It's payback time," Gladion said, his grin downright evil. "Mystique, Dragon Tail!"
Mystique whipped around, her tail glowing with draconic energy. Dusclops, still smugly hovering behind her, didn't see it coming. The tail slammed into its face with a thunderous crack, sending the ghost rocketing into the ground. A crater formed, dust billowing as Dusclops lay sprawled, knocked out cold.
[Nap time, creep!] Mystique said
The referee's flag shot up. "Dusclops is unable to battle!"
Gwen stared at the crater, her secret trump card buried in it. "Well, crap," she muttered, recalling Dusclops. She grabbed her next Poké Ball, forcing a grin. "Aipom, back in action!"
The monkey pokemon bounced out.
[Round two, fish-face!] it chirped. [I'll smack you silly this time!]
Mystique yawned theatrically. [Oh, it's the tail-twirler again.]
"Swift!" Gwen ordered, desperate to regain footing.
Aipom fired a volley of stars, but Gladion was done playing. "Mystique, Hydro Pump!"
Mystique unleashed a torrential blast, obliterating the Swift and slamming Aipom into a puddle. Two moves later—a dodge and another Hydro Pump—the monkey was out, tail-hand limp.
"Aipom is unable to battle!" the referee called.
Gwen groaned, recalling Ambipom. "Okay, fine—time for the big guns. Gengar, let's haunt 'em!"
Her ace emerged, cackling as it materialized from shadow. Gengar's grin was pure malice, its ghostly form shimmering with menace. Her first Pokémon, her partner-in-crime—Gwen's trump card was here. "Shadow Ball!" she shouted.
Gengar conjured a dark orb, hurling it at Mystique. Gladion countered fast. "Water Pulse!"
Mystique fired a pulsating water sphere, and the attacks collided mid-field, exploding in a cloud of mist and shadow. Gengar vanished into the haze, reappearing behind Mystique with a ghostly chuckle. "Shadow Punch!" Gwen called.
Gengar's fist glowed, slamming into Mystique's side. She hissed, scales bruising, but Gladion grinned. "Attract!"
Mystique turned, batting her eyes as a wave of charm radiated. Gengar froze, hearts popping around its head—infatuated.
The crowd burst into laughter, some whistling. "She's got him swooning!" a guy hollered. "Gengar's down bad!" a girl cackled.
Gwen smirked though, unfazed. "Show your love, Gengar—Lick!"
Gengar floated forward, tongue lolling as it slobbered Mystique with a ghostly Lick. She recoiled, shrieking. [Eugh! You slimy, drooling ghoul—keep that tongue away from me!"]
Gengar giggled, hearts still swirling. [But you're so pretty, shiny lady! Just one more smooch!]
Mystique could not reply as she was paralyzed by the lick.
Gladion glared at Gwen, who was cackling. "Really? Lick? That's your master plan?"
"Love hurts, bro!" she shot back, grinning. "Gengar's just in love thanks to you—deal with it!"
----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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