Arthur and Fiametta waited patiently for their match. The day had been a long one for the both of them. Fiametta had been sparring with Arthur most of the day until Ōmukade finally evolved into a Whirlipede. With a few new tricks up his sleeve, Arthur would be able to effectively use him in battle. As the third team was eliminated, it was time for the fourth round. Arthur and Fiametta made their way from opposing sides of the stands and stood by each other. Mrs. Auclair stood in the center of the arena and waited for Victor and Eliot to join them. 

        "Looks like we're rivals today. This should be fun, eh Arthur?" Victor said, stepping into the trainer's box beside his teammate. 

        "It'll definitely be intense, that's for sure," Arthur replied casually, taking a glance over at Fiametta who was looking away with her arms crossed. 

        Arching a brow, he shifted his gaze toward Eliot who was giving Fiametta a rather longing look. Putting two and two together, he figured Eliot had a thing for the fiery tempered ginger. Then again, who could blame him? Beneath all her bitchiness and bravado was an honest, hardworking woman. Despite her cold exterior and self-absorbed attitude, she allowed just a little part of her to crack so that Arthur could see a glimpse of what was inside. 

        "Fiametta," Eliot said, attempting to gather her attention. "If I may be so bold, I would like to make a request that could mutually benefit the both of us."

        Fiametta turned her head to acknowledge him and narrowed her eyes. 

        "I think it's cute that you used the word 'us' in that sentence. But go ahead, indulge me," Fiametta replied sharply. 

        "Well, as we are affianced, I believe it would be best if we were to swap partners. I'm sure our families would agree that it would be a more suitable arrangement. And to make it fair, we'll wager it on this match. Should you win, I'll rescind the offer, but should you lose, well... I need not explain," Eliot proposed. 

        "I'm sorry, did you say that we were 'affianced?' I do believe I haven't given my consent yet, so based on that we aren't entirely a package deal," Fiametta seethed. 

        "If you two are done with your lover's quarrel, I'd like to get this match started," Mrs. Auclair snapped, tapping her foot impatiently as she glared at them.

        Ceasing their comments so as not to irritate their teacher further, Fiametta and Eliot returned their focus to the match at hand. 

        "This is the fourth match of the tournament, meaning that it will determine who moves on to the semi-finals and then the finale. We'll be treating this like a preliminary match up, so you will only be allowed to use one of your Pokémon in this match, so choose carefully. I expect a clean match from the four of you. Since you're all advanced you should know the rules, so why don't we skip the explanation and get on with it? send out your Pokémon!" Mrs. Auclair shouted. 

        "Arum, the stage is yours!" Fiametta trumpeted, giving the sphere an elegant toss in the air. 

        A flash of light heralded her majesty's arrival as she was summoned to the battle arena. Cocking her hip out, she rested a digit-less hand upon it and narrowed her eyes in a half-lidded sneer in Eliot's direction. 

        "Ōmukade, engage!" Arthur roared fiercely. 

        The venomous curlipede burst forth from his capture device and rolled circles around Arthur before coming to a complete stop in front of him. 

        Victor's Noibat—Sonar—was released into the air and was already scouting out the enemy, carefully analyzing his prey as he flapped around the air. On the ground, Eliot's Liepard—Reapurr—waited for his first command. 

        "Begin!" shouted Mrs. Auclair, leaving it open for anyone to take the first move.

        "Reapurr, Night Slash, s'il vous plaît!" 

        "Air Cutter!" Victor called out.

        Reapurr extended his claws and gracefully leaped from where he stood and lashed out at Ōmukade who quickly rolled out of the way to avoid it. Sonar unleashed a current of sharp winds toward Arum who planted her feet and crossed her arms in front of her as her trainer shouted for a Light Screen. Golden aura expelled from her frame and surrounded her in a protective globe that warded off the brunt of the assault sent her way by the pesky winged rodent. Ōmukade was also the recipient of said screen, shielding him from the harsh, gusting winds.

        "Ōmukade, Pin Missile!" Arthur retaliated.

        Ōmukade weaved around Reapurr as he leaped at him again, and aimed his horns at his adversary. An emerald glow illuminated the curlipede's feelers as he took aim and fired off a barrage of sharpened, explosive needles, towards Reapurr. The needles detonated as they hit the ground while the agile feline deftly avoided being struck. He circled around and made yet another leap toward Ōmukade, claws alight with ghostly aura. The attack struck home and sent Ōmukade bouncing into the air with Reapurr leaping in pursuit.

        Sonar weaved around a Razor Leaf assault that threatened to tear him from the sky. Pulling into a kulbit he dove toward Arum, wings aglow as he aimed to ram into her with them. As he neared, he would find his efforts fruitless as he was caught between Arum's digit-less appendages after she'd braced herself for the impact. 

        "Shit, Sonar use Gust!"

        "Trop Kick!" Fiametta cried out.

        Arum brought her leg back and powered it up with nature's energy before punting Noibat straight into the air with devastating force, sending him on a collision course with a now leaping Reapurr whose claws were outstretched to lash out at Ōmukade, who was falling quickly. The balled up centipede landed roughly and rolled along the arena to avoid being crashed into by the plummeting form of his predator. Sonar frantically flapped his wings to right himself in the air after knocking into his teammate while Reapurr landed on all fours, albeit rather shakily after the impact he'd received. 

        "Thanks for the save," Arthur said quickly, receiving a sidelong glance accompanied by a faint blush.

        "Don't mention it," Fiametta shot back, returning her focus to the match. 

        "Strong as ever, aren't we mon amour?" Eliot said with a grin. 

        Reapurr crouched low, poised to strike as she awaited an order from his owner. His tail twitched to and fro in anticipation, savoring the hunt he was on. 

        "Would you expect anything less?" Fiametta replied cockily, placing a hand on her hip as she shot him a sly smirk. 

        "I would be disappointed if my bride-to-be weren't playing hard to get," Eliot teased. "Reapurr, let's change targets! hone your claws and attack Arum with Aerial Ace!" 

        "Sonar, dive in on Ōmukade and use Air Cutter!" Victor commanded.

        Reapurr sharpened his claws and charged Arum, white light engulfing his claws as he surged forth and dove at her. Sonar closed in swiftly and fired off a series of sharp gusts, blowing his target backward into a wall. While nearing his target, his wings lit up as he stretched them, aiming to ram into his target and finish the job. As he closed the distance, the horns on Ōmukade's body began to glow a dangerous violet hue. 

        "Toxic!" Arthur commanded swiftly, much to the surprise of Victor. 

        A stream of poisonous slime spewed from Ōmukade's horns, plastering Sonar's face with sticky goop. The tiny bat dragon frantically flapped his wings as he flew around in a panic after being hit in the face with toxic sludge. At the same time, Reapurr found himself on the receiving end of a harsh Low Kick that floored him, leaving him struggling to get back to his feet, but not without having done some satisfactory damage to his offender. Arum shakily regained her composure and straightened up to look Reapurr in the eyes, her gaze shifting over to Ōmukade who narrowly avoided being carved up by Sonar's wings. 

        "Reapurr, let's seal the deal with another Aerial Ace!"

        "Sonar, go after Arum, use Wing Attack!" 

        Of course they'd do that. I guess I have no choice now do I? Fiametta sighed mentally as her adversaries drew near.

        "Rollout now!" Arthur called out hastily. 

        Ōmukade began to spin his body rapidly before charging recklessly at the converging foes. Arum spread her legs shoulder width apart and enveloped herself in a bright pink aura that wreaked of trouble for her opposition. Ōmukade barreled headlong into Sonar, leaving a springing Reapurr wide open for Arum to unleash a flurry of blurred kicks that hammered into his body relentlessly, the final kick sending him rocketing backwards and skidding along the ground, out cold. Ōmukade and Sonar passed out upon impact with each other. Mrs. Auclair's hand shot into the air. 

        "That's it. Sonar,  Ōmukade and Reapurr are unable to battle! Fiametta and Arthur have won this match and will be moving on to the semi's!"