"Rillaboom, Acrobatics!" The gorilla rushed through the sky at Goodra.

"Give another actor the spotlight! Fire Blast!" Goodra spat a massive kanji shaped flame from its mouth that would've engulfed Rillaboom had it not just melted the ice still stuck on his arms. An order for a High Horsepower got it to power through the rest of the flames when Diantha ordered a Dragon Pulse that blasted Rillaboom away, injuring it's arm even further.

"Let's have them retire from this battle. Fire Blast!"

"Drum Beat, vibrate around!"

The blast was about to burn the gorilla until its intense vibrations from playing its music so hard that the flames danced around him, melting some of the ice around them.

Diantha gasped. "So that's your strategy."

"Perhaps. A change in venue is always nice, but I'll take your suggestion with a different actor," returning Rillaboom back.

"Sure they're not running thin?"

"Hmm, you're waiting for Charizard to show your Gardevoir, aren't you?"

"Perhaps. Though, I'm curious about your other Pokemon."

"Much obliged," throwing out his next Pokeball. "Haxorus!"

The Axe Jaw Pokemon, bipedal with dark yellow green skill and who's mouth had axes to its jaw, stared down Diantha and Goodra.

"Intense. Goodra, you're my penultimate choice. Give this show all you can!" Goodra lifted its arm up in joy. "Great!"

"If you want my starters, you'll have to make the road to the climax by beating this. Outrage!"

Haxorus' eyes glowed red with a similar colored aura surrounding their body. They repeatedly slashed at Goodra with its tusks.

"Dragon Pulse!"

Goodra formed a ball of energy and shot the dragon shaped beam from its mouth at point blank range. The two dragons blew away from one another.

"Rush in with Iron Tail!"

"Showcase your strength! Focus Blast!"

Haxorus ran in slamming it with a quick Iron Tail. Goodra tanked it before hitting them away with the focused energy ball that hurled Haxorous in the air.

The scaly dragon started to go berserk and out of control, rampaging and going completely havoc on the ice battlefield, smashing away the ice rocks and debris, unintentionally racing around and targeting Goodra, forcing the latter to blast them back with another Fire Blast that melted the stadium around.

Diantha initially scowled, knowing full well this was part of Leon's plan from his smile. Then he got anxious when she started smiling and the ice battlefield melted into water.

"Twirl on your leg and use the water from the ground. Muddy Water!!"

Goodra released an entire body of brown water from it's body, which increased from the melting water into a burning, warm water and all. With it's miniature lake created, Goodra's tail directed several streams of water, smashing and drowning Haxorus.

"Wash your head in the water!"

Haxorus endured the powerful waves, smashing its head and rippling the water, washing off its confusion.

Ash gasped. "He found a way to break free of the confusion!"

"Pika-Pika!"

"There's nothing that can stop big bro. Ever since it was a young Axew, they were always super hungry for battle."

"And he didn't have to hurt himself like Iris did.

"He's as bold as Iris," Cynthia thought. "Now what will you do, Diantha?"

"Earthquake!" Haxorus dived down and slammed open the waves, hurling the water up into the air. "Poison Jab!"

"Dazzle them with your determination! Fire your Dragon Pulse at the Muddy Water!"

Goodra aimed up and fired a dragon energy beam that wrapped itself in mud. Per her commands, it dove down and slammed into Haxorus when the latter stabbed and poisoned them. The muddy water impact threw Haxorus across the battlefield while the rest fell down on her dragon, washing away the potential position while Haxorus' fought off the mud that lowered his accuracy.

"Poison Jab!"

"Fire Blast!"

Haxorus's jaws oozed purple energy and stabbed through Goodra's Fire Blast with several burns on their body. Diantha called for Muddy Water, racing above the water and thanks to Reflect, the Ax Jaw dragon was unable to reach it in time before Goodra engulfed their body in the muddy lake, rendering them unable to move.

"Don't get caught in her tide. Go all out, with Outrage!"

Haxorus' eyes glowed and were about to ferally lung out of the water.

"Never repeat the same move twice, Dragon Pulse to the water!" Goodra launched it's dragon beam into the waters and spun around, forming their attack into a mud dragon that uppercutted Leon's dragon type. Directing it even further, their mud dragon attack rose up in the air and bit down into Haxorus, generating a massive explosion that blew the mighty creature to the stadium floor. The ice melted, and Goodra and Diantha took a bow.

"The heroine and her mighty steed have vanquished the vicious dragon," with a smile.

The audience cheered once the referee made the call. "Haxorus is unable to battle! The score is now four to four!"

"Return," opening up the PokeBall where Haxorous transferred back in. Leon took a deep breath. "This really is becoming a battle of Champions. You really do fight differently with every Pokemon."

"My my, is that praise I hear. An actress has to be suited to fight any sort of role. Combat, ferocity, evasive, steady, and ingenuity: my Pokemon and I carry the hearts of everyone through our passionate performance," as she and Goodra raised their hands and waved. The audience cheered her on, captivated and asking for more. And Leon was quick to oblige.

"Rillaboom, let's end this!"

The gorilla jumped out from Leon's PokeBall, rotating their other arm.

"Still got some power left in you?"

Rillaboom nodded.
"Got it."

"Leon and Diantha are both down to two Pokemon left! Who will end up winning this battle!?"

Diantha struck a pose at Leon. "Would you be mad if we wrapped this up and moved to the main course?"

"You could try, but I wouldn't hold it against you."

"Fine then, Finale! Goodra, Fire Blast!"

Rillaboom started playing the Beat creating vibrations that blocked the giant flame stream with the giant kanij of flames exploding around the gorilla's beat-made safe space.

Diantha acknowledged his creativity but had a counter, commanding Goodra to run around and use Fire Blast. This time, Goodra danced out Rillaboom and released the melting breath attack that corroded the sphere of vibrations into a cylinder prison of fire. The gorilla started to sweat. There wasn't any room to escape, and eventually their arm would get tired out, feeling the sweat and starting to have their drum kit and body show small embers around their body.

"Now Dragon Pulse on the ground!" Goodra launched the dragon shaped beam onto the ground and blasted itself up above the fire prison that it made. "Finish it off with Focus Blast!" The slimmy dragon charged up the ball from their hands, and launched it into the fire trap, which grinded and burned reddish-orange as it powered up with more power and speed towards Rillaboom.

"Rillaboom, use Knock Off on your instruments, then High Horsepower to escape!"

The green and gray beast's hands glowed black, setting and spiking the drum set up at the Focus Blast, then glowed brown when the solid and energy attacks collided in an explosion. They endured the brutal pain of the fire aching at the base of their legs before jumping off the falling kit to further their momentum.

"Acrobatics," spinning and delivering a brutal, burning roundhouse kick to Goodra's throat, who flew all the way to the other side of the field, crashing and sliding into a crater on the ground.

"Goodra, are you alright?"

They roared at Diantha, barely able to get themselves up as the trap to defeat Rillaboom's Galar ace disappeared into orange gas.

"Glad, we'll end this climax now! Move duet, Muddy Water, then Dragon Pulse!"

Goodra summoned the muddy lake around itself, then fired the dragon energy beam into a solid coating of energy wrapped in muddy earth it launched at Rillaboom, who Leon ordered to rise up in the air as the dragon followed it, having no room to escape.

"Rillaboom, Charizard won't need to end this. Show them true Champion climax! Spin and absorb the power with Acrobatics!"

Rillaboom tightened its body and tucked itself in, glowing light blue and spinning around as the muddy dragon was about to bite down on contact. They cannonballed straight through the dragon with even more speed and power before it was right above Goodra. Its arm was completely unable to move, but Diantha's call for any attack was too late. Rillaboom focused the Acrobatics into their legs and crushed Goodra into the floor, releasing a massive explosion.

The dust cleared and Rillaboom flipped back to the ground, barely able to stand with burns, mud, only on one of its knees, sliding back to sit on the drum set. The referee flew down and declared Goodra unable to battle.

Diantha lowered her head. "You performed miraculously my friend. Rest now, you've helped us near the Climax."

She took out her final PokeBall and flung it out. "Gardevoir, let's end this actor before he suffers from burnout!"

The androgeous bipedal white and green bodied Pokemon with the body of a flowing gown bowed to its trainer and Leon.

"Ready to set the stage and conclude this endgame?"

A nod from Gardevoir was all she needed.

"Go, Shadow Ball!"

Gardevoir launched the purple sphere from her arms at Rillaboom.

"Drum Beat!"

The roots from the ground pierced the sphere. "Now Knock Off!" Rillabroom dropped the Drum Kit and leaped over to Gardevoir. Diantha simply used her eyes to direct her to dodge, before commanding her ace Pokemon to use Psychic.

Gradevoir acted as command, lifting Rillaboom up in the air and slamming him down to the ground.

Rillaboom was unable to get up and the referee announced that Diantha was the winner. The crowd responded in absolute bewilderment and shock.

"She did it? He's down to one Pokemon now?"

Goh had to agree with Hop. "Maybe she could win this."

Ash grinned. ""

"Thank you my friend, Diantha addressed Gardevoir. "We're one step closer to ending this performance!"

Leon nudged over to Rillaboom, who woke up. "You did great my friend, rest up," returning them to their Pokeball and addressing Diantha.

"Battling with you is an exciting clash of spirit of Pokemon moves. It's always a blast! However," whipping out his new Pokeball, and unveiling his Charizard.

"I'm not finished having a champion time here! And I won't let anyone finish it for me!"

Diantha and Gradevoir glared at Leon and Charizard.

"Both contestants will bow down to their ace monsters. How will events transpire?!"

"I've been waiting for his personality

"I'll show you what Charizard can really do! It's Gigantamax Time!"

"Gardevoir, Mega Evolve!"

Gardevoir transformed into her more stronger regal, white form while Charizard grew to the size of a kaiju, much more dangerous and feral than before. Ash and Pikachu grew giddy. Whoever would win would be the person he'd fight next.

If he could defeat Cynthia anyway. The clash of grace and gigantic power was at his sights

"Gardevoir, Thunderbolt!"

"Charizard, blow her away!"

Mega Gardevoir dodged akin to teleportation around the field, barely avoiding the constant strikes from G-Max Charizard, before striking them down with a Thunderbolt electrocuting and forcing them back. Diantha took the chance, and Gardevoir floated up the body to deliver a Shadow Ball at point blank.

"It's a champion time to turn up the heat! Charizard, time for our G-Max Wildfire!"

Charizard generated a living firebird shape at Gardevoir, flying around it into a vortex intending to burn them alive as the firebird was about to swoop down.

"We'll decide your champion time. Use Psychic!"

Mega Gardevoir exerted its power on the Wildfire bird, pushing it away from her to the point of controlling it.

"What the?"

"Holy crap!"

"Did she just?"

Leon gasped then smirked. "This is the performance I was looking for! Max Airstream!!"

Charizard launched a gigantic wind spiral at Mega Gardevoir. However, Diantha matched her partner's endurance. They took notice, Gardevoir endured it, spinning the Wildfire int the Airstream and manifesting it into a larger phoenix shaped firebird.

"Go!"

The power of their bond resulted in Gardevoir fighting the burning flames and hurling the enhanced Wildfire straight at G-Max Charizard.

"Endure it Charizard!"

Charizard flapped its wings, arms, and head straight in, tanking the whole explosion that slammed them down to their knees. The crowd started to wonder if Diantha could be the one to end Leon's losing streak.

"Finish it, Moonblast!"

"Max Rockfall!"

Charizard summoned the giant stone slab that blocked the Moonblast. The stone slab dropped on top of Mega Gardevoir.

"Get to the front. Moonforce, gather as much energy as you can and hold it!"

Mega Gardevoir rushed straight at the start of the rockfall and gathered as much energy as possible but maintained it at the center. The slab dropped in a massive collision in a large dust cloud.

"Is it over?! Wait, inside!?"

Before the Rockfall dispersed, they noticed a hole at the bottom edge of it, and Mega Gardevoir standing above it, slightly harmed, but still functioning. The crowd was excited, amazed and ecstatic.

"Champion Diantha has survived three Max Moves back to back to back from the undisputed Monarch!"

Hop and Goh were confused, though Ash, Cynthia and Leon had a right guess on what had happened.

"She must've used Moonblast-"

"As a shield-"

"to protect themselves from Max Rockfall-"

"-by making an opening to survive."

Charizard's Gigantamax finally came out and was about to shrink while Mega Gardevoir's energy started to wane, though their nod made sure they would fight with Diantha to the end.

Leon laughed. "The crowd hasn't been this wild before this tournament. You, Alain, Kalos is home to some truly wonderful trainers. Let's end this champion time!"

"Much obliged! Our performance will end spectacularly!"

"Ancient Power!"

Charizard flapped its wings and unearthed purple aura shaped rocks, flapping its wings and shooting them straight at Mega Gardevoir.

"Shadow Ball!"

The rocks flew around it akin to missiles homing in.

"Finish her ace off, Flare Blitz!"

"Catch the rocks and your Shadow Ball with the strongest Psychic you can!"

Mega Gardevoir threw its right hand and stopped them all from converging over her and leaped over Charizard's Flare Blitz, mere inches from getting KO'ed and caught the Shadow Ball in the meantime, floating up into the air. However, Leon ordered Charizard to rise up with another Flare Blitz.

Diantha delivered her last resort. Mega Gardevoir used Psychic and merged the Ancient Power's rocks with the Shadow Ball, focusing its might into a power Rock/Ghost sphere and dove down.

"Our bond will conclude this climax! Majestic Shadow Ball!"

"Charizard, show them the true strength of our bond, Flare Blitz!"

Mega Gardevoir and Charizard rammed their attacks into each other. The crowd witnessed in awe at the shiny purple and dark aura from the former dazzle and holding it's own against the might of the latter's energy body wreathed in flames. Neck and neck, neither one was giving an inch and their attacks' aura only grew into a spiral of energy wrecking the stadium and sending shockwaves of wind towards the audience.

"GO!"

The two exerted their body, and their attacks grinding on both the bodies in an explosion that blasted both of them to the floor. Cynthia gasped, Ash and Pikachu got up from their seats, Hop grew anxious and Goh and Grookey's curiosity reached its peak.

"Who won?!"

The dust settled.

Charizard flapped the dust away, barely able to get themselves back up and rising up from the floor.

Gardevoir stood completely still, never falling or faltering once.

Diantha rejoiced, asking if they were okay but not receiving any response.

"Partner?"

Sadly, the Mega Evolution reverted back to Gardevoir's normal statement. Upon her request, the referee flew down to decide the verdict.

His announcement shook Diantha. They were unable to battle, but were still able to stand.

"The winner of the semi-finals is the Monarch, Leon!"

Diantha bowed with grace and walked over to her partner, who regained consciousness enough to almost fall when she caught them.

"That was one of our best performances yet. Thank you for leading us to get this far."

Gardevoir voiced their approval with a head smile just before Diantha returned them to their PokeBall. She and Leon met in the center of the field.

"Congratulations on reaching the finals," extending her hand.

He took and shook it. "You made me sweat time and time again. I was just lucky today to survive that," with a smile on his face. "That was a battle worthy of being champion tier."

"That was amazing big bro!"

Goh gulped. "Leon will be waiting in the finals."

Ash and Pikachu took a look at Cynthia. Their next battle would be just as spectacular if they were to reach him.