Equestria. Winsome Falls. Afternoon.
After entering a Team Battle against the Final Gym Leader Brock, Rainbow Dash and Princess Luna already found themselves at a disadvantage. Two of their Pokemon had fainted. Mienshao and Aurorus. And it was done by Brock's Blissey and Forretress. Mainly Blissey, who was an absolute juggernaut when it came to defence and raw unbridled power that no one apart from Ash and Pikachu were expecting to witness for something so focused on healing.
"Return Mienshao..." Rainbow Dash would hold out her Poke Ball along with Luna, ready to return Mienshao and Aurorus after they fell.
"Bliss! Blissey!" But before they could do so, Blissey rushed in. Luna and Rainbow Dash would grimace at the advancement of the Happiness Pokemon, intimidated by her. Reasonably so, as she was responsible for giving their Pokemon such a hard time. However, Blissey was only approaching for one reason. She would stop in front of Mienshao and Aurorus, placing her arms in her pouch where her egg was resting.
"W-What is she doing?" Luna stuttered, fearing that Blissey would launch another attack. It was unusual for a Pokemon to run up to another downed Pokemon after taking them out unless the entire battle between both trainers had ended.
"Blissey. You don't have to heal them now. We're in the middle of a Gym Battle." Brock said, revealing that Blissey was only there to try and heal them. Despite being absurdly powerful, Blissey was still a healer and helper at heart.
"Oh is that it...?" Rainbow Dash and Luna sighed in unison. They could return their Pokemon without having to worry about anything else. Well, apart from winning this battle.
"Alright. You're down to just one Pokemon each. Let's make it count you two." Brock confidently said. Rainbow Dash and Luna had to go above and beyond for this last battle. It was the final Gym after all and the way to truly enter the Equestria League.
"Well...It's a good thing Brock's only allowed one Pokemon each since it's just him." Pinkie Pie scrunched her face. "But I'm pretty worried about that Blissey over there. She can heal and hit like a train?"
"Forretress is also a problem. It laid out those Spikes earlier. So whoever shows up next will take some damage from the Spikes." Twilight observed, recalling how Forretress used Spikes earlier on in the battle. "But it's fine. Rainbow Dash still has a Pokemon that can damage both of these types and Luna has a lot to choose from."
"We cannot afford to lose this one," Luna spoke to Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow Dash. We shall stick to the plan from before. Only go for Blissey. Then, we can deal with Forretress."
"Gotcha." Rainbow Dash held out her next Poke Ball. "That egg's going down. And I know who can do that for us! Let's go! Braviary!"
"Braviary!" Emerging into the scene was Rainbow Dash's ace Pokemon. Braviary. With Braviary out in the scene, this was proof that Rainbow Dash was going to all-in.
"Since this is the last Gym, it's fitting that I use my tried and true partner. Appear, Darkrai!" Luna commanded as emerging from the shadows behind her was none other than the Pitch Black Pokemon Darkrai. He was hiding this entire time, waiting for his time to spring into action. And that time was now. More than ever to be honest.
Darkrai ascended, crossing his arms before spreading them out, revealing his sharp claws. The Pitch Black Pokemon eyed down the Pokemon he was about to face. But really, he's already seen what Blissey is capable of. This battle would not be kind to him or Braviary. The Dark-Type could already tell. And of course, the Spikes struck them both. Braviary and Darkrai suffered some damage upon entering the battle thanks to Forretress. Even when Darkrai ascended from the shadows, the Spikes still got him.
"This tension...She could use that to summon Rainbow-Braviary." said Rarity after feeling the tense atmosphere. "Now would be a perfect time for him to show up, right?"
"Alright, Braviary! Focus all your attention on Blissey! Aerial Ace, now!"
"Darkrai! Dark Void!"
"Braviaray!" Immediately, both Pokemon took action, fixating their attention on the Happiness Pokemon. Braviary took off like a missile, leaving behind a white trail while soaring through the air.
"I don't think so! Blissey, use Mega Punch! Forretress, Gyro Ball!"
"Bliss! Blissey!" Blissey would use her absurd strength once more, summoning a black orb on her fist while Braviary would approach her. But there was also the Dark Void to watch out for as all attacks were focused on her. "Blissey!" Right as the Dark Void got close, Blissey would use Mega Punch on it, demonstrating more of her titanic power.
With just brute force alone, she not only struck the Dark Void but by preventing any afflictions, she would knock it away, much like she did with Aura Sphere earlier in the battle. And just like at the start of the battle, she attempted to hit another Pokemon with it. In this case, Braviary.
"Even Dark Void?!" Luna was flabbergasted. She could understand why Aura Sphere would be knocked back, but an attack like Dark Void, which could even go through opponents with the properties it possessed, had never been deflected before. With so many opponents, none have deflected Darkrai's Dark Void. The best they had done was either evade it or were immune to it. This was on another level.
Blissey knocked Dark Void away, sending it in the direction of the Valiant Pokemon. Braviary gasped before flying over the void with swiftness, barely managing to evade it. After dodging the Dark Void, the Normal-Flying-Type tackled Blissey.
"Bliss!" Blissey received damage once more. But it wasn't that frequent in this battle and on top of that, she had the means to heal herself. However, this was where Forretress came in. Forretress struck the moment Bravaiary landed an attack, crashing itself into the Valiant Pokemon with Gyro Ball.
"B-Bra!" Braviary took Gyro Ball which was powered by Forretress' lack of speed. The Valiant Pokemon found himself being pushed back and spiralling through the air.
"Braviary! Are you alright?!" Rainbow Dash gasped. Braviary recovered in the air, having his eyes spin for a moment. That Gyro Ball certainly carried a ton of weight behind it.
"What a stubborn duo of Pokemon. Their defences aren't helping at all..." Luna grizzled her teeth. "Blissey is mainly dangerous in an up-close encounter. Then we shall do our best to keep our distance. Darkrai! Dark Pulse, at once!"
"Well, I'm pretty confident in Braviary's strength! Use Superpower!"
"Viary!" Braviary didn't have any ranged attacks to choose from. That wasn't his speciality after all. Even if Blissey carried a great ordeal of strength, Rainbow Dash and Braviary wouldn't let her win in that category. By gathering energy in his talons while Darkrai would generate a spiral of dark energy in his claws, Braviary would once again, head in the general direction of the Happiness Pokemon.
"Hm. Leave this one to Blissey, Forretress." Suddenly, Brock allowed Forretress to stay back for a bit, allowing Happiny to take the initiative for now. "Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Bli...Ssey!" Blissey had her own ranged attack in the form of Dazzling Gleam. By engulfing herself in an orb of rainbows, magical rays of Fairy Magic would jet out of her. These rainbow rays immediately met with Darkrai's Dark Pulse and Braviary himself. The Darkness and Rainbows clashed against each other for a bit while Braviary's talons were pressed against them. Neither side had gone forward just yet because of this collision.
"Using only Blissey against us? Are you making fun of us?!" Luna growled, feeling a bit insulted that Brock decided to keep Forretress back for a bit. "Push through, Darkrai!"
"Go, Braviary!"
"B-Braviary...!" Braviary did his best to try and push through the rainbows, pressing his talon onto them as hard as he could. With a glint in his eyes, he managed to succeed in doing so, diving downwards while breaking apart the rays of rainbows. Darkrai also succeeded, having his rays of darkness consume Blissey's rainbows.
"Oh!" Brock gasped, stunned for a moment that they managed to get through. "In that case...Mega Punch!"
"Blissey! Bliss!" Blissey would meet with both attacks, lowering her rainbow shield. By using Mega Punch, she would encounter both Superpower and Dark Pulse as they were flying alongside each other at the same time.
"This is it!" Luna declared, holding her hoof out, believing that this next collision would be the decisive blow that takes out Blissey.
"That Blissey's going down! Hit her hard, Braviary!" Both Pokemon Trainers yelled. It was a close collision with all three attacks managing to collide at the same time.
Mega Punch hit both Braviary's talon and the beam of darkness from Dark Pulse. A momentary struggle emerged but it did not last long. This was not the decisive blow. Instead, Blissey managed to overpower both of them at the same time. With just Mega Punch, she blew Braviary away and shattered the pulse of darkness with such force that a shockwave travelled through the darkness, reaching Darkrai.
"Braviary!" Braviary yelled after being blown back while Darkai received some shockwave damage which would also push the Pitch Black Pokemon. Both Braviary and Darkrai hit the floor, outclassed by one Mega Punch. And just when it looked like they were getting somewhere.
"This cannot be...!" Luna shuddered. "How can she be so strong?!"
"This isn't looking good..." Rainbow Dash bit her hoof. Braviary and Darkrai could still continue but so far, they were struggling against this one Pokemon, much like their previous teammates.
"Alright, Forretress. You can get back in the action now." Brock spoke as Forretress could act once more. But just on her own, Blissey proved that she could take on two powerful Pokemon.
"Oh yeah? You'll wish you never did that once we do this!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Braviary! Now's a good time to use it!"
"Vi. Braviary." Braviary looked back at Rainbow Dash, nodding in agreement. There was only one thing left for them to do and it was fairly obvious to guess what that would be. The time for Rainbow-Braviary was now.
"You're strong but you won't beat us in speed!" Rainbow Dash declared as her spirit and Braviary's spirit would sync up. The equivalent to the Bond Phenomenon, the Harmony Phenomenon had triggered. A pillar of rainbows shot down from the skies above, entering the Gym and engulfing the Valiant Pokemon.
"Braviary!" With a majestic cry, Braviary would transform. His eyes changed colours, matching that of his trainers while rainbow tips would start forming on his wings. His hair would intensify a bit from this transformation as would look a little bit like Rainbow Dash. Emerging from the pillar of rainbows was Rainbow-Braviary.
"Oh?" Brock raised his eyebrows. He had to pay attention to Rainbow-Braviary who had everything regular Braviary possessed but amplified. And with Rainbow Dash being synced with him, he could pull off more skills and tricks.
"Here it is!" Scootaloo leaned forward. "His attacks should be much harder like this!"
"They should. But I don't think we've seen everything from Blissey yet." Twilight had a gut feeling that they all haven't seen the rest of what Blissey could do.
"Darkrai! Advance and use Poison Jab!"
"Go, Braviary! Aerial Ace!"
"Vi!" Braviary took off once again, faster than before in this state. It was as if his speed and Rainbow Dash's speed merged as one as he left behind a rainbow trail.
"Brace yourselves!" With this speed, Brock would have his Pokemon brace the hit. The endurance of these Pokemon, which went with the theme of this Gym, would truly be tested now.
Braviary, in a flash, reappeared in front of Blissey, hitting her with a high-speed Aerial Ace that was powered up by the velocity Braviary gained. Blissey barely moved from her spot. She stood strong as her endurance was just as staggering as her strength. But then there was Darkrai, who would fly in with poison around his claws. A poisonous affliction was on Luna's mind. Even if Blissey was hard to take down, poison could also finish that for her.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
"Bliss!" Blissey would stand in one spot, using the brightness of Dazzling Gleam to her advantage. The rainbow aura flashed out of her body, creating a blinding light that was spraying random rays everywhere. The rays missed their targets but they did succeed in blinding Darkrai for a bit, forcing him to back away.
"My eyes!" And unfortunately for Rainbow Dash, this meant that she would take the blindness as well since she was connected with Braviary. Rainbow-Braviary would suffer from the overwhelming light as well.
"Gyro Ball!"
"Forretress!" This gave Forretress the opportunity to attack. While Rainbow-Braviary was stunned, the Bagworm Pokemon smashed its body against the Valiant Pokemon. And of course, with this blow to the body, Rainbow Dash would suffer as well.
"Gh!" Rainbow Dash felt the force of steel hit her body which was enough to make her cringe and stagger. Her friends certainly felt that pain as the pegasus held her right hoof while stumbling.
"Are you alright?!" Luna asked after witnessing Rainbow Dash stumble and stagger. Rainbow Dash would manage. For now, at least. But any more hits could do more than just stagger her. "Forget it! That Forretress is still a massive threat! Darkrai! Thunderbolt!"
Luna acknowledged Forretress as a problem. Even if it wasn't as powerful as Blissey, it could still pose as a threat that could cost her and Rainbow Dash the battle and the Gym Badge. Darkrai would ball his claws together, generating a bright flash of electricity before unleashing it with an arm thrust. 100,000 Volts were unleashed, flying rapidly through the atmosphere before crashing into Forretress.
"For!" Forretress closed its eyes once those volts electrocuted it. The Bagworm Pokemon was no longer exempt from this battle since most attacks were directed towards the physical juggernaut that is Blissey.
"Finally putting some respect on Forretress? Nice. But it's too late for that." Brock pointed at them. "You were too focused on Blissey, taken aback by her strength to really think about Forretress. Now it's gonna come back and bite you. Sorry about this! Blissey! Dazzling Forretress, Gyro Ball!"
"Bliss!" Blissey would finally approach them both. The Happiness Pokemon would use another way to travel instead of just running, Suddenly, she would jump on Forretress' head, using him as a way to travel.
"What?!" Luna and Rainbow Dash collectively gasped as Forretress would begin spinning while Blissey was on top. Blissey would spin too because of Forretress' movements, generating a rainbow aura around herself. Brock, much like Ash was well-versed in pulling off interesting tricks. Ash rubbed off on him after all.
"Brave Bird, Braviary!"
"Darkrai, use Dark Pulse! Keep your distance!"
Braviary ascended straight into the air as his body would be welcomed by a fiery rainbow aura. He then soared straight at the Spiralling Duo as the Rainbow Fire around his body would intensify in correlation with his speed. As for Darkrai, he would move back, waiting for the right moment to use Dark Pulse.
Braviary made a sonic boom upon taking off, going for a direct tackle. He was hoping to knock both of them off balance. However, with these spinning tactics, Blissey's Dazzling Gleam was more dangerous than ever. The rays were no longer rays. Now, they were whips, constantly spinning instead of flying and taking off.
The Valiant Pokemon smashed his aura against the whips, managing to break through one of them, only to have another smack him back. Rainbow Dash felt her face being slapped by the rays, causing her to cough for a bit. But she persisted along with Braviary who would charge in once more to try and break those whips. When he broke another whip, the next would hit him, damaging Rainbow Dash once more.
"That's an amazing defence!" Starlight gasped. "She turned Dazzling Gleam into a wall of defence that hits back hard too! How do you get past that if one hits you back when you break the other?!"
"We'll go into the eye of the storm then! Now, Darkrai! Fire!" Luna gave the order for Darkrai to unleash Dark Pulse. This time, from above. Darkrai would fly higher, targeting the very top of this Dazzling Gleam Hurricane. And that was the eye of the rainbow storm.
Darkrai had the target. He would then unleash the beam that was imbued with dark thoughts, going straight for the centre. A successful hit. Darkrai managed to hit the eye of the storm. The impact resulted in a dark explosion that engulfed both Pokemon, consuming the light that Blissey generated.
"Excellent!" Luna thrust her hoof into the air after that successful hit. Endurance or not, that was a brilliant blow that got them both. Blissey and Forretress had their spinning tactic broken up by Darkrai. It was short-lived but it was effective in harming Braviary, that much was true.
"Did that do the trick?" Rainbow Dash leaned in, hoping that the Dark Pulse knocked them both out. Alas, that was not the case. The best it did was make them both tumble and roll on the floor. They were still able to continue.
"Blissey hasn't even healed herself or Forretress for a second time..." Fluttershy observed. "And they're still up."
"If they heal again, then all of that hard work will be wasted," said Twilight, fearing that Brock's Pokemon were unstoppable walls that were hard to break through.
"It's fine!" Luna exclaimed. "Have no fear! They are on the verge of defeat! I can feel it! These next hits will finish it! Rainbow Dash!"
"I gotcha, Princess! Braviary! Let's finish this! Superpower!"
"Use Poison Jab at once!"
Both Pokemon would charge in. And once more, they would focus on only Blissey. This time, they took her healing properties into account. Superpower would form a rainbow aura around Braviary's wings and talons instead of the usual fiery orange while Darkrai's claws were once again, laminated in poison.
Both flew in, soaring alongside each other while eyeing down the Happiness Pokemon. From how determined their eyes appeared, these next hits would be absolutely devastating. All because of one Pokemon.
"Heh." Brock would then put a smirk as he had something else that he had yet to reveal. And that was Forretress' final move that was hidden until now. "Explosion!"
"Forretress!" Unexpectedly, Forretress would reveal its ultimate attack. Getting in front of Blissey, the Bagworm Pokemon's entire body would light up. Luna, Rainbow Dash and their Pokemon gasped upon hearing and seeing this attack that was not to be taken lightly.
The best thing to do now was pull back. If they had the time to do so. Forretress would unleash all of its Infinity Energy, summoning a fierce explosion that would burst out of its body. A fierce gale emerged, covering most of the arena in a white light.
When pulling back, Braviary and Darkrai would find themselves being caught up in this light, along with Blissey. Every Pokemon was caught up in it. No one was spared from it. Rainbow Dash cried out as she could feel the explosion hit her body. Forretress would faint from this attack, as to be expected. But the damage it left behind was monumental.
After the smoke cleared, Braviary and Darkrai failed to get in close. Rainbow Dash, who was trembling, was trying to get past the pain of an explosion hitting her. One of the many differences between her and a Pokemon. Braviary's durability was significantly better. But even if he had better durability, the explosion still stunned and bewildered him. Both Darkrai and Rainbow-Braviary were groaning while on the floor, taken aback by the explosion.
"Well, at least they're both still up. But Blissey still looks healthy." Applejack observed how Blissey, despite being caught up in the explosion, was looking sharp still.
"T-That was close..." Darkrai groaned..."What a troublesome duo..."
"Thanks, Forretress. Return." Brock would return his Forretress. "Alright. It's time for us to finish this, Blissey! Mega Punch!"
"Darkrai! Dark Void, quick!"
"B-Braviary...! Superpower!" A staggered Rainbow Dash yelled. Both Pokemon would have to get up as soon as they could. Darkrai would generate a ball of darkness in his claws, ready to throw it at Blissey, but it was too late.
Blissey managed to reach them both as Forretress' explosion had certainly left them perplexed and damaged. But Blissey did not immediately punch them. Instead, she would grab them both. She picked Braviary and Darkrai up by their necks, having that innocent look on her face even after all of this.
"What is she doing?!" Luna gasped as Blissey would suddenly jump in the air, bringing Darkrai and Braviary with her. Everyone looked up with their eyes widening and jaw-dropping. What was Blissey planning? Judging by how high they were ascending, they could guess what her approach was.
"Bli...Ssey!" While high up, Blissey would then let go of them for a second before slamming both her fists into the chests of Braviary and Darkrai. It felt like being hit by two trains as the duo would be launched downwards at such speeds that they became blurs of their respective colours.
The impact on the ground was tremendous, generating the largest dust cloud yet. Even larger than what Forretress made with his Explosion. Rainbow Dash coughed and gagged as she felt that chest blow, falling on her back. Luna closed her eyes, growling after the dust would rage in her direction.
"This...This can't be...!" Luna bellowed as the force of the impact and dust would push her back.
It had been decided. With Rainbow Dash and Luna both falling on the floor, they would be just like their Pokemon. The dust would settle once Blissey stuck a graceful landing. Shockingly, on her own, Blissey claimed victory. Braviary reverted to his original form as he and Darkrai had fainted.
"Both Braviary and Darkrai are unable to battle! Blissey wins! Thus, the winner of this battle is the Gym Leader Brock!"
"W-We lost...?" Luna sat up, shocked by what she had heard and even witnessed. Many of her friends were shocked too. This was not the outcome they expected.
"That sucks..." Rainbow Dash growled, holding her chest before looking up at Blissey, who kept that gentle and jolly smile on her face. But behind that smile was a Titan of Strength. "Blissey."
"That's that." Brock walked over to them. "Sorry if I went too far. As the Final Gym Leader, I have to bring everything."
"We both lost. I thought for sure victory was within our sights." Luna sighed, holding her head before looking over at Darkrai. It was rather uncommon to see Luna's Darkrai in this state. No one had ever defeated him before. But now, that had all changed once Blissey made her debut.
"That Blissey was something else." Darkrai got back up, also holding his head. "And yet...I don't feel so bad about losing."
"Yeah. Neither do I." Despite how they lost, neither the trainer nor their Pokemon felt gutted at all. "But it still kinda sucks...I can't believe that happened."
"You're officially the first ones to challenge this gym. You've gotten a taste of what a Final Gym Battle looks like. Across every region, the last Gym is always the true test of how far you've come as Pokemon Trainers. It may fall short of the Elite 4 and even the Champion, but it will always push you to your best." Brock rambled, explaining the weight of the Final Gym. "Princess Luna. Rainbow Dash. Never forget this moment."
"How can we?" Luna chuckled. "I was so full of bravado in the beginning. So this is what a Gym Leader's true strength is like...It's amazing."
"Yeah. Which is why I need to win the next time we meet!" Rainbow Dash immediately stood up along with Braviary. "And that'll be very soon!"
"Rainbow Dash is right." Luna helped Darkrai up. "We will not make the same mistakes tomorrow. We will return and claim victory."
"Oh. You'll battle me tomorrow? Well then. I'm looking forward to it." Brock chuckled. "Blissey will be waiting. Right, Blissey?"
"Blissey!"
"Right...Geez, you're intimidating..." Rainbow Dash pulled back when looking at the Happiness Pokemon. She struggled to figure out how this Pokemon invokes happiness when it utterly crushed her Pokemon.
"Rainbow Dash...Perhaps we were not working as a team properly in the beginning." Luna faced Rainbow Dash. "Tomorrow, let us fix that as soon as possible. We will both achieve that Gym Badge together. So it wouldn't be right for either one of our Pokemon to faint and force one of us to drop out."
"I hear you, Princess Luna." Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement. Their teamwork would grow because of this. And it was already amazing. Ash and the others cheered for them for a battle well down and were looking forward to tomorrow's battle.
And since Brock lived in Kanto, it was fantastic that the one gateway that remained and was consistent was the one that led to Pallet Town from Ponyville. Not too far from Pewter City as said by many others. Utterly destroyed in this Gym Battle, Rainbow Dash and Luna vowed to return for their rematch. And Brock would be here, waiting. And so would the Terrifying Blissey.
They got a taste of what it was like to battle the Final Gym Leader. A Paragon of Strength for Gym Leaders and the hardest obstacle to get past before they could enter the league. But it was this paragon that they had to overthrow and become the superior trainers as the journey continues.
Chapter 51 End.