The weak pulses of electricity was easily avoided...at first. The sheer number of them became too much to just dodge. Kee was fully prepared to us Protect...until the Manetric nodded off to sleep. The Yawn had hit! Kee had figured the gym leader had some other trick than a mega stone to counter his own, and now he was thinking it had to be a Z-move. Even to a mega evolved Pokemon, that was going to be devastating. It was a godsend to the young man. "Houndoom, Fire Blast! Try to end this!" Even with the sparks of electricity flying off the fire-types fire and bone ornaments, he launched a star/fire person at the sleeping electric type. One of the most powerful fire-type moves out there, combined with a powerful special attacker like a mega evolved Houndoom...Kee hoped that he would succeed in winning before Josh's trump card was shown...

Aaron's eyes narrowed. The safer bet would have been to use Protect to defend against paralysis, then use Fire Blast. Even not knowing if the Yawn had hit, the Hail was still coming down, pelting both Pokemon. But in the end, perhaps the risk was worth it, since it was often hard to say when a Pokemon would wake up from Sleep.


Josh Devlin

Normally, the unwieldy FIRE BLAST would be an incredibly risky move to use against a Pokémon so fast. While hitting an unusual target with the full-force attack would be easy, it would almost certainly arouse and anger the electric-type if it wasn't an instant knockdown. The superheated explosion was so bright that Josh could partially see through his Manectric's fur and skin before he had to cover his eyes.

While Kee likely couldn't see due to the light and billowing smoke from the amplified fire-type attack, Saber's snout and chest fur were charred almost a solid black. He was hurting. Once the light wasn't blindingly intense anymore, Josh saw his Manectric's condition and immediately reached for the canine's Poké Ball. Despite his hyperventilating, Saber dodged the beam not once, not twice, but three times.

By the time Josh called out to his Pokémon, Kee could clearly see the exchange the two were having "You're gonna hurt yourself even more if you keep going, Saber! Even Gym safety protocols have their limits!" Despite only being able to retort with a weak bark with barely audible crackling, there was a passionate fire in the Manectric's eyes. One that would overcome his trainer's will no matter how much he tried. Against his better judgment, he nodded and let Saber have his way.

"This is it, Kee. This battle ends here, one way or another!" Josh cried. "We're holding nothing back!" Josh sent out his shiny Luxray, Blitz, but not to battle with; he heeded another Pokémon to support his Z-Pose. Climbing on, grabbing the lion's reins and crossing them, he tensed both his arms. "HYPERSONIC..."

The Manectric, on his last legs, faced Kee's Houndoom, colledting Z-Power while awaiting the completion of his trainer's Z-Pose to release the PRIMAL ENERGY. The Gym Leader shouted as he fiercely whipped the reins back into position, Blitz taking great discipline in not firing his own version of the Z-Move Josh's Gym was known for.

"...PLASMA CHARGE!!!"



A swirl of lightning bolts circled Saber. When the four of them converged on one another in deafening thunder, the weary Manectric let out a loud cry, drunk on the power of PRIMAL ENERGY before disappearing in a piercing, electric, supersonic lunge so fast that not even he who discovered the move could follow it.

---

HYPERSONIC PLASMA CHARGE
[Electric][Priority]
After obtaining Z-Power and using Quick Attack, the user envelops itself in lightning bolts, then charges faster than the speed of sound. This move always goes first (even before other priority moves), and always deals at least neutral damage, regardless of Types or Abilities.

---

Keenan Toral

{WC: 387}
{PC: 9}

NAME            SPECIES           STATUS
Saber           Manectric         Critical 
Braver          Arcanine          KO
Verte           Flygon            KO  

Kee struggled to see the effect of the Fire Blast, even as pools of water gathered here and there or outright vaporized from the continuing hailstorm above them. When the dust cleared, the Manetric stood, with a clear burn mark on where the attack hit. It seemed the gym leader wanted to call it quits, but the dog refused. Even at this range, Keenan could see the Pokemon meant business, and wasn't going to quit that easily, even if standing on his last legs. Each side had one shot, and Keenan knew it was coming. "Get ready, here it comes. Once they finish arguing." Houndoom barked in confirmation. He also knew the opponent was going to strike with everything he had. It was just a matter of when and of what type.

Josh finally confirmed it, and started things off by releasing another Pokemon, but keeping it with him. Time for a gamble! "Houndoom, use Pro-!" In a flash, the Manectric was behind Houndoom, electricity surging around the Pokemon's fur. And Houndoom's. And the path the guy took. "-tect?" Keenan was dumbfounded. No time at all to react, even something as fast as using the defensive move...he had hoped that the attack would be a special attack and combined with Houndoom's special defense and Protect would survive the Z-move. But the black dog reverted back to his normal form and fell on his side. Hail was still up and thumping the lightning dog as well. The ref called it. A draw.

Aaron wasn't impressed with the lack of disipline or the readiness to give up. While he did agree with the dark headed gym leader, Kee also knew the rules, and was too soft hearted anyways. Even if his opponent was a Rocket member, he'd never permanently scar or worse another Pokemon. That Z-move did give the younger blonde something to think about, though. With the roar of applause, Aaron stood up and left, intending on meeting his big brother just outside the gym to drag him to dinner and reflecting on the strategy he used.

Josh Devlin

As both dog Pokémon collapsed, one from the ultrafast charge and the other from being pelted with hail very close to the court's far corner, there was a conflict from the officials watching the match. As Josh recalled his fallen Manectric and the trainers' platforms receded into the ground, Blitz the Shiny Luxray walking toward center court with the Leader atop him, the head official walked between the two.

"The previous exchange is under booth review."

The number of close calls that there had been at his Gym was appalling. He stared with bated breath at the replay of the final exchange. The slow-motion video made even Josh's jaw drop: when he saw the Manectric move more than the length of his body in a single frame in the footage being reviewed, it truly gave him a perspective on how maddeningly fast the move was. And as a component for developing a Sygna Suit for his Manectric, he had to learn to ride the electric-type whilst in the middle of that move. It seemed impossible. At long last, the officials came back onto the court.

"After further review, the ruling on the field has been changed. The Manectric's leg touched the out-of-bounds line before the Houndoom finished collapsing. By rule, the Manectric is designated as disqualified from battle. Judges' call: one point for Challenger Toral. The match is over: Challenger Toral, three; Leader Devlin, two."

There were no further words, other than what Josh's job required him to say. He presented a closed right fist at the challenger's chest level, then opened it up to reveal his Gym's Badge, well-earned. "Kee, wear Mauville's Quick Badge with pride. This Gym has a storied history of being run by some of the toughest and most successful Leaders in Hoenn. Be proud of your battle today."

After the ceremony was over, Josh scooted forward, giving Kee room to climb aboard the Luxray if he so wanted. "Now how about we saddle up and go get something to eat, to celebrate your win? It's lunch time."

---

Keenan Toral

{WC: 346}
{PC: 10}

NAME            SPECIES           STATUS
Saber           Manectric         KO
Braver          Arcanine          KO
Verte           Flygon            KO