Was there anything better than a trip to the beach in Summer? The blazing sun above you, the cool sluice of water across your browning skin, the crunch of the Hoenn sand between your toes.

And was there anything half as bitter as the taste of betrayal? The taste of Charja-Cola came close, but unlike the playful tang of passho berry and Dunsparce venom, Kazimir Wynter's betrayal was anything but gentle.
"I heard you got a sponsorship," Zac said, as he approached his former friend. "I didn't think you were a Zapsi man."

"Thanks but no thanks," Zac said, cracking open a crisp, sparkling can of Chanja-cola. "Zapsi just doesn't do it for me anymore. Only Charja-Cola gives me the rush of energy that I need to face the day. He took a draught of the superior soda and let out a sound of deep satisfaction. "That's the stuff!"

Zac's eyebrows raised at the mention of filming a commercial. "Me too actually! And the league has let me bring along a special guest!" Zac finished his cola, finding it harder and harder to stay annoyed at his best friend. He had a sneaking suspicion that Kaz had only taken the Zapsi sponsorship to make him jealous. The worst part was that it had worked. " I'm heading out to a little island near Lilycove if you want to come with. I'm sure you'd love to meet the special guest."

"Let's get this battle started then!" Zac said, stretching his neck and pulling out a pair of Pokeballs. "2v2, yeah?"
Zac sent out his two Pokemon, a quick-footed, wide-eyed lizard and a bright red crustacean. The little reptile -Zappa- immediately set to work clearing the area of insects, snapping them up with its electric tongue. Meanwhile Clawitzer rested on the sand, its oversized claw pointed right at Kazimir. "Ready when you are!"

"Of course mate! Just because you have bad taste in soda doesn't mean I don't want to hang out! And you know what? Let's just twist that bet a little. If I win, you have to drink a case of Charja-Cola. If you win, I'll drink the rest of that case of Zapsi. Deal?"

With the stakes so high, it was little surprise when Kazimir came roaring out of the gate. Hyper Beam tore up the sand, and Buster used the force of the knockback to launch herself high into the air with a volley of Dragon Pulses! She rained shots down on Ghidorah, providing cover for Zappa. 

The Heliolisk wasn't as ready as Clawitzer had been, and Goodwitch's Shadow Ball blasted him in the back as he turned away. He tumbled through the sand and scrabbled to his feet, favoring his left side. Zappa's fill popped open like an electrified umbrella, and he hissed bloody murder at the ghost. He sprinted back towards his opponent, gathering a swell of sand around him as he Bulldozed Goodwitch!

-Busta was knocked into the air by Hyper Beam (minor damage)
-Busta shot Hydreigon with a Dragon Pulse!
-Zappa was hit by Shadow Ball
-Zappa retaliated with a Bulldoze 

"Zappa no!" Zac called, as the flames roared towards his darling lizard. The Mystic Fire hit, and Zappa hopped up and down, a scorching burn sizzling up one side of his body. "Time for a replacement. Zappa, Return! Go Megs!" Zac said, trying to juggle two balls at the same time. 

Zac's third Pokemon was a Blastoise, and she shot straight into the fray, drawing in her head and propelling herself towards the barraged Hydreigon with twin jets of water! As she approached her target Megs popped out, aiming to smash her opponent with a high-speed Skull Bash!

Zac went to put Zappa's ball back in his bag, only to realize that the lizard was still on the field! "What? Zappa! Return!" Zac called, but the Heliolisk wasn't listening. Static gathered in the dry, summer air, and Zappa returned fire on Goodwitch with a jagged spear of lightning, straight from the heavens.  

-Zappa was hit by Mystic Fire!
-Zac sent out Megs (Blastoise)
-Blastoise attacked Hydreigon with Skull Bash
-Zappa attacked Goodwitch with Thunder!
-It's now a 3v2?

"Unsporting? Nah ya got it all wrong mate! I'm just so full of energy that I can't let the battle slow down!" Zac tossed out two more Pokemon,  bringing his total up to five! 

Blastoise grabbed for Simba's Plasma Fists as the cat came in lightning fast, lightning crackled along the turtle, paralyzing her. Meg turned just in time to take Ghidorah's Body Slam head on. The three-headed dragon smashed into the slowed Blastoise, and she was down for the count.

Maractus launched a spiny assault at the huge dragon, hailing him with Pin Missiles. 

Goodwitch's cackling sounded across the battlefield, leaking from dips in the dunes and the cracks in Zac's cooler of drinks. Zappa crackled across the sands, dashing and dipping as he Volt Switched, leading the witch on a merry chase. Busta and Flapple watched, Dark Pulse and Grav Apple at the ready, as they waiting for the ghost to reappear. 

"Woooo!" shouted Zac, as he finished his can of Charja-Cola and grabbed another. At this rate there would be none for Kaz when he lost! Just kidding, Zac had plenty more. "Try to keep up mate!" Zac said, searching for one more Pokeball, "This battle's going up to 6v6, I can feel it!"


-Meg was hit by Plasma Fists and Body Slam. Meg fainted!
-Maractus attacked Hydreigon with Pin Missile
-Zappa ran away from Mismagius,
-Clawitzer and Flapple have Dark Pulse and Grav Apple ready. are waiting for the ghost to reappear

"Hey Kaz!" Zac called with infectious good cheer. "You know who could really use some battling spirit right now?" He cast a glance at Tapu Bulu, who was snoozing in a self-grown grove of palm trees. "Bulu! I choose you!" Zac shouted, pointing at the sleeping Pokemon. The legendary made no move to join the battle. "Well, it's part of the battle now." Zac stated, making it official. 

Bulu let out a long snore, and its Grassy Terrain increased. Towering palm trees poked up through the sand, and soon the battlefield dunes were entangled by thick, waxy grass. 

Meanwhile, chaos reigned. Heliolisk ducked into the blossoming forest, zipping back and forth to avoid the Aura Spheres. The blasts of aura energy shattered palm trees and tore through fresh roots, before one of the blasts collided with Zappa, sending him tumbling through the greenery. He shook himself and raced back out into the field, his wide reptilian eyes looking for a window to strike back at his attackers.

"It was those two!" Zac said, pointing out Lucario and Zeraora. Zappa chirped an angry attack, and the air trembled as a static cage of Thunder Wave materialized around Lucario.

Having defeated Hydreigon, Maractus launched another volley of Pin Missiles at Lucario and Zeraora! A thick hail of botanical needles filled the sky, falling with the combined might of a million angry knitters. 

Clawitzer blasted away at the incoming Corviknight with a shuddering Aura Sphere. The attack protected Flapple from the hungry bird, but left Busta wide open to the Phantom Force from Mismagius! Busta's shadow lengthened, and the ghostly witch stepped through, slashing at him with the darkness. Clawitzer fizzed and bubbled in pain. Letting off one last, weakened shot at Corviknight before fainting.  

Greninja may have raised a protective Mat Block to stop attacks from all sides, but Flapple's attack came from above. The predestined Grav Apple plummeted from the skies, ripped from the heavens like a fruity meteor. It descended at terminal velocity, baking as it tore through the skies on a collision course with Greninja.

-Zac sent out Tapu Bulu!
-Tapu Bulu's Grassy Terrain transformed the battlefield with grass and palm trees
-Heliolisk was hit by 1 of the 2 Aura Sphere attacks
-Heliolisk used Thunder Wave on Lucario
-Maractus used Pin Missile on Lucario + Zeraora
-Clawitzer used Aura Sphere on Corviknight
-Clawitzer was hit by Phantom Force and fainted
-Flapple was not hit by Corviknight's Drill Peck
-Flapple's Grav Apple fell on Greninja from above

Corviknight, Goodwitch and Greninja moving in for the kill. They found it. STEEL WINGS slammed and MYSTIC FIRE roasted, leaving the little apple dragon battered and burned on the sands. 

Clouds crowded in the sky above the battlefield, summoned by the heat and the crackling electricity of Zappa. A second later the sky split with THUNDER as a bolt of lighting cracked down towards where the enemies had crowded their enemy.

ZABOOM

It was far from enough to even the fight, but it was a small slice of retribution.

The Heliolisk retreated to the side of his last (useful) ally: Maractus, who flailed in the charged air, filling the arena with jagged, glowing petals. They hunkered down, surrounded by enemies. 

"I said that Bulu needed spirit! Look at the bloody lay-about. GET IN THERE mate!" Zac shouted. Tapu Bulu slept on.

-Flapple fainted!
-Heliolisk used THUNDER on Corviknight/Goodwitch/Greninja
-Heliolisk retreated to Maractus's side
-Maractus filled the air with PETAL DANCE