Sunlight and Valerie were ready to battle. The Gym Leader felt suddenly intimidated by the fire reflecting on his mask glasses and the sensation of power that was emanating from him. She imagined for an instant a spiritual dragon materializing behind Sunlight. She was suddenly overwhelmed by an unexplainable fear and left the stage.
"Uh...It seem that Valerie just left the stage, said an assistant. I am sorry everyone, but that will be everything for today. Thank you for your comprehension and assistance. Don't forget to get your gift before leaving!!"
The crowd started to leave. Sunset, Clemont and Sunlight were surprised.
"What's got on to her? asked Bonnie. Why did she ran away like that?"
Sunlight left the stage to look for her. After a few minutes, he found her in her room. She was on her bed and looked terrified. He realized that was his fault. He knocked at her door.
"Don't come further, she said. If you want the badge, i left him in the bag you see at your feets. Just take it and leave."
"I am sorry, he said. I am sorry if i scared you. I was just excited for the battle and that excitation fueled my fighting spirit and determination."
Valerie left her bed and opened the door. She looked at him and saw in his eyes the same flame, but less intense. On his side, Sunlight was intrigued by her eyes. They were beautiful and were piercing into his soul.
"I am sorry if i overreacted, she said. But you were just so..."
"...Intimidating, i know, he said. I didn't think someone could be this sensible to intimidation, especially a Gym Leader."
"I...this is just that i don't like fire, she said. I am terrified of it. When i saw a flame in your eyes, i got scared."
"And i got scared too, sometimes. But you know what i do when i am afraid?" asked Sunlight.
"No" said the Gym Leader.
"I turn it into courage, he answered. Fear can paralyze you, but it can also give you the will to face the danger."
"I...He's right, she thought. I am a Gym Leader, for Arceus' sake. I faced Alan and Ash's blazing determination, i can take his too."
Sunlight was about to leave when Valerie hold him by the arm.
"I will battle you, she said. This time, i promised you a battle, and you'll have it!!"
"In that case, let's do this!" he said.
Sunset and her friends arrived near Sunlight.
"Oh, there you are, said Clemont. You need to stop disappearing like that!"
Sunlight explained to them that him and Valerie had a talk about what happened earlier and that they solved the problem. Valerie brought Sunlight into a room where an arena was built.
"The walls are fireproof, she said. So, you can go all out"
A referee appeared from a secret trap in the floor and explained the rules of the battle.
"Each trainer can use up to 3 pokemons, he said. The first trainer to defeat the opponent's team win. Only the challenger is allowed to change pokemon during battle! Are you ready? Send your first Pokemon!!!"
"I was waiting for this, said Sunlight, putting his mask on. Let's do this, shall we?! I send you, Delphox!!"
"I am not afraid, she said. Throw at me all the heat you want, i will win!! I send you, Aromatisse!!"
The pokemon started to produce a strong, sweet odor. He felt a little bit dizzy, but got over the smell pretty quickly.
"You probably smelt the strong perfume of my Aromatisse, said Valerie. I am not surprised that you and your Delphox actually resist to it's effects. Aromatisse, use Sweet Scent!!"
The arena started to be filled with a cloud of perfume that made Delphox a little bit dizzy.
"Aromatisse, use Moonblast!!" she shouted
Aromatisse started charging her attack.
"Delphox, be ready to counter with Flamethrower." said Sunlight.
Aromatisse threw her attack, Delphox threw her attack right after. The two attacks hit and caused an explosion and lot of smoke
"Delphox, use Mystical Fire!!" said Sunlight.
The fire attack hit Aromatisse.
"That should lower down the power of your pokemon attacks" he said.
"That won't matter, she said. Aromatisse, use Rain Dance!!"
The Pokemon summoned rain
"Of course, you would use this move" said Sunlight.
"I am not done yet!! Use Misty Terrain!!" said Valerie.
The terrain changed and a fairy mystical energy was emanating from the ground.
"And now, use Thunderbolt!!" said Valery
Delphox is hit by the attack.
"Delphox, use Future Sight" said Sunlight.
Delphox moved is wand in the sky.
"Aromatisse, use Thunderbolt!!" said Valerie.
"Delphox, use Psychic!!" said Sunlight.
Aromatisse is left in the air and couldn't move. after a few moments, the Future Sight attack hit the fairy pokemon and put him K.O.
"Aromatisse is unable to fight!!" said the referee.
"Alright, said Bonnie. I knew he could beat Aromatisse!!"
"You can do it, brother!!" shouted Sunset.
"He is no joke, thought Valerie. Using Psychic to immobilize my Pokemon so he can't avoid Future Sight, this is a great combo. If i want to beat him, i need to counter his technique."
She sent on the battlefield a Togekiss.
"Togekiss!! use Moonblast!!" she shouted.
Togekiss blasted Delphox with a ball of magic energy.
"Delphox!! said Sunlight. Use Future Sight!!"
Delphox charged psychic energy in her staff.
"Togekiss!! use Air Slash!!!" shouted Valerie.
The air blades stroke Delphox and made her flinch.
"Use Sky Attack!!" she said.
Togekiss flew high in the sky and charged his power, then, stroke at Delphox at full speed. The power of the blow sent Delphox on the ground. The Future Sight attack began to strike on Togekiss.
"Not this time!! she said. Togekiss, use Protect!!!"
Togekiss blocked the attack with a shield. A few moment later, Delphox fainted.
"Delphox is unable to fight!!" said the referee.
"I have to admit that Valerie used a pretty solid combo, said Clemont. Air Slash can cause the target to flinch due to the surprise, letting her time to charge Sky Attack, which deal a lot of damages. And using Protect to block Future Sight was a simple but well thought strategy."
"I know Sunlight can still pull a win" said Sunset.
"I send you, Charmeleon!!" said Sunlight.
The rain suddenly finally stopped.
"Togekiss, use Air Slash!!" said Valerie.
"Dodge!!" said Sunlight.
Charmeleon dodged the attack.
"Use Belly Drum!!" said Sunlight.
The pokemon glowed of a magic orange aura.
"Togekiss!! Use Moonblast!!" said Valerie.
Togekiss threw the attack at Charmeleon.
"Use Metal Claws!!!" shouted Sunlight.
Charmeleon sliced Moonblast in half with his claws and stroke Togekiss, who was thrown against the ground.
"Use Mega-Kick!!!" said Sunlight.
Charmeleon dove to the ground and hit Togekiss with a powerful kick that caused an explosion. Dust then covered the area for a moment, before fading, revealing that Togekiss fainted.
"Togekiss can't fight anymore!!" said the referee.
Clemont, Sunset Shimmer and Bonnie cheered Sunlight.
"That was unexpected, said Clemont. Using Belly Drum increased the physical power of a pokemon to his maximum, but use a lot of his vital energy in exchange. But using a direct Steel type attacks such as Metal Claws, who are super effective against the Fairy type pokemons, after using Belly Drum was a genius move."
Sunset was admirative of her brother's talent, and knew she had to be as smart as him if she wanted to beat him in the League.
"Great job, Togekiss, said Valerie. Your efforts won't be vain...Go!! Sylveon!!"
The pokemon revealed his pretty ribbons and cute face. Sunlight saw that Charmeleon needed rest.
"Come back, Charmeleon, he said. This is your turn to shine, Houndoom!!!"
Houndoom howled menacingly.
"I won't hold back, said the hero. By the flames, we are bound, by the fire, we'll fight, Can our souls make one!! Houndoom, Mega-Evolve!!"
Houndoom mega-evolved. Valerie and her Sylveon were looking at the transformation with surprise. Houndoom finished to mega-evolve, looking even more menacing with the all the extra skulls and bones on his body.
"I am ready to face anything, said Valerie. Alright, Sylveon, use Baby-Doll Eyes!!"
Sylveon made cute eyes that made Mega-Houndoom hesitated to attack.
"Now, use Moonblast!!" she said.
"Dodge!!" said Sunlight.
Houndoom easily dodged the attack.
"Sylveon, use Dazzling Gleam!!" said Valerie
The attack hit Mega-Houndoom as he landed on the ground. The power of the attack sent him a few meters back.
"Use Nasty Plot!!" said Sunlight.
Houndoom made a devilish smile and started to increase his power.
"Wait my signal, Sylveon!!" said Valerie.
"Houndoom!! Use Inferno!!" said Sunlight
"I knew you would do that, said Valerie. Sylveon, use Dig!!"
The pokemon disappeared in the ground and dodged the attack.
"Her pokemon is underground, said Sunlight. Houndoom, use your sense of smell to detect Sylveon, then use Crunch when she will get out the ground."
Houndoom sniffed the ground and detected Sylveon location, but it was too late. Sylveon popped off the ground and got under Houndoom.
"Use Tickle!!" said Valerie.
Sylveon started tickling Houndoom before he can bite her. Sunlight's pokemon was unable to move and laid down on the ground.
"Now, use Moonblast!!" said the Gym Leader.
The attack hit Houndoom point-blank and forced him to revert to his normal form. The Pokemon then fainted.
"Houndoom is unable to fight!!!" said the referee
Clemont, Sunset and Bonnie were shocked. But Sunlight didn't have any reaction, and was smiling instead.
"I knew you were powerful, he said to Valerie. I knew that behind that cute and sensible Fairy look of yours hide a powerful dragon. Come back, Houndoom, you fought well. Everything is in your hands, Charmeleon."
Charmeleon appeared and faced Sylveon with confidence.
"Sylveon, use Dig!!" said Valerie.
"Be ready to strike back" said Sunlight.
Sylveon reappeared below Charmeleon
"Dodge it!!" said Sunlight.
Charmeleon avoided the attack and landed a few steps behind Sylveon.
"Use Metal Claws!!" said Sunlight.
"Use Dazzling Gleam!!" said Valerie
Charmeleon tanked Sylveon's attack point blank and hit her with his metallic claws multiple times, damaging her body and her ribbons. Charmeleon then grabbed two of them.
"Finish her, said Sunlight. Use Flamethrower!!"
Charmeleon blasted the pokemon with fire for a moment. When he stopped breathing fire, Sylveon was K.O. Charmeleon put his feet on Sylveon's body and growled victoriously. He suddenly glew blue and started to evolve.
"He is..." said Clemont.
"Evolving..."said Sunset.
Sunlight looked his pokemon evolve into a Charizard. But instead of being orange, he was black.
"Charmeleon!! You evolved!! said Sunlight. This is awesome!! You are a Charizard now, a black Charizard!!"
Valerie called back her Pokemon and walked to Sunlight.
"Thank you for this battle, she said. You are indeed a powerful trainer. I am proud to give you the Fairy Badge, symbol of your victory against me."
Sunlight's friends joined him in the arena. Sunset hugged her brother.
"You did it!! she said. Do you think i will have the chance to fight you one day, Valerie?"
"Only time will tell, she said. But for now, you should head to Anistar City. This is where the seventh Gym Leader is located. She is a Psychic type pokemon specialist. You'll learn more of her when you'll meet her there."
She left the arena. Sunlight and the group went to the Pokemon Center where they started to talk.
"The next Gym Leader will use Psychic type pokemons, said Sunlight. I have two Dark types and one Psychic type pokemon in my team. Hum, now that i think about it, your pokemons are all Psychic type, Sunset..."
"Yes, she said. We both have a lot of preparation to do. But why telling me that?"
"You could let my pokemons train with yours, he answered. That would serve as a good practice before challenging Anistar's Gym Leader. On your side, you never fought Dark type Pokemons, so challenging Houndoom and Incineroar could be a good practice for you too"
"Hum, i love the idea, she said. But are not you the one who told me that i couldn't train with you a few weeks ago?"
Sunlight remember telling her that he wouldn't let her practice with him.
"Oh, right, he said. I forgot about it. Thank you for remembering me that!"
"But you know, things also changed since, she said. I have become stronger!"
"I can't deny it, he said. But now that i think of it, we need to become stronger on our own."