This is it...

Gabe took a deep breath and pushed off the wall in the tunnel he'd been leaning against, and stood beside his partner, Jupiter. It was a strange feeling for Gabe to be battling alongside the enemy. And while that was the truth, he began to see her as an acquaintance rather than a foe in the short time they'd known each other. As if that weren't enough, they were about to get to know each other in the most intimate language known only to Trainers. Battle...

Gabe could hear the roar of the crowd thundering through the arena as the host of the Hearthome City Battle Tournament got up on stage. The man boasted a powerful presence and carried himself with dignity. Taking the microphone, he cast his gaze upon the spectators and enthusiastically greeted the crowd. Though large crowds weren't his thing, he knew that Palmer was in the crowd along with his mother. Having spoken to them prior to entering the tunnel, he was given a little confidence boost, so that helped.

"Gooooood afternoon Hearthome!" He exclaimed, getting a pumped reaction from the crowd. "Welcome to the annual Hearthome City Battle Tournament! It brings me great pleasure to bring you a first in the history of this event," he waxed on.

"As all of you are aware, this year we have decided to host a double battle style tournament. This will be the first of many more in the future. With that being said, I won't make you all wait any longer. You all came to see battles, not listen to me ramble. So let's bring out our first two teams!" boomed the host as he motioned to the board.

The screen lit up to display Gabe and Jupiter on the right and their opponents, Dennis and Kimberly on the left. Taking their cues, both teams walked out of their tunnels and assumed their positions in their respective trainer boxes. The host stepped down as the judge for the event assumed his post.

"The rules of engagement are as follows. Both sides are allowed four Pokémon each! That's two Pokémon per partner! The battle ends when either side loses all four Pokémon! Switch-ins are prohibited!" the judge elaborated.

No switches huh? That's new. It must be to speed matches along because of all the entries, thought Gabe as he listened to the judge further explain the rules.

"Now that the rules have been explained... trainers, send out your first Pokémon!" boomed the judge.

Jupiter and I agreed Jamie and Toxicroak first so...

Gabe snatched Jamie's ball and enlarged it, Jupiter doing the same to her first choice as well, before launching it.

"Jamie, let's do this!" Gabe called out.

"Toxicroak, it's time!" Jupiter stated in a commanding tone.

Emerging from their spheres, Jamie and Toxicroak assumed battle positions, giving each other a side glance in greeting before readying themselves for their opposition.

"Hippowdon, you're up!" Kimberly exclaimed.

"Gible, time to battle!" Dennis shouted.

The black, Heavyweight Pokémon and the Land Shark Pokémon materialized onto the battlefield and prepared themselves for a fight. The instant they were summoned, an unexpected sandstorm erupted from Hippowdon, making it more difficult for viewers to see.

"It appears that our opponents have given themselves quite the advantage. Two Ground-types against a Poison and an Electric-type... how convenient for them," Jupiter mused with a giggle.

"You're right... Jamie won't be really effective here with only one move to go against their combination. Well... she can't take a Hippowdon, but that Gible on the other hand..." Gabe trailed off.

Jupiter gave him a wry grin.

"Don't you worry your pretty blond head. Just leave the troublesome stuff to me. Just deal with that Gible. It may be a small fry, but a dragon is still a dragon," Jupiter stated firmly, focusing her attention forward.

"Both sides ready!?" asked the judge, getting a nod from either side. "You may begin!"

"Gible, use Dig!" Dennis commanded.

"Hippowdon, cover it with Stone Edge!" Kimberly hollered.

Gible dove underground, his whereabouts veiled by the continuous stream of sand blowing through the arena. At Kimberly's command, Hippowdon opened fire upon the adversaries before her with a barrage of jagged stones.

"A direct assault huh? Toxicroak, take those stones out with Bullet Punch!" Jupiter ordered.

Arming his fists with steel-like hardness, Toxicroak let loose a flurry of punches that blew apart each stone that traveled his way and then burst forth at breakneck speeds, raising his fist to strike the massive Ground-type who ignited her teeth with flames to retaliate. Deftly avoiding the jaws of the enemy, Toxicroak peppered her with a barrage of heavy punches, sending her skidding back.

"Jamie, Gible's underground somewhere! find him and don't lose him!" Gabe commanded.

Adhering to her trainer's call, Jamie set to work trying to find the little shark dragon. Trying to see anything in the sand was next to impossible. However, she wasn't looking ahead, but rather... down. It was then that she spotted Gible, circling her in a predatory fashion underground.

I can't see what's going on very well due to that storm. But I have a feeling Jamie's pinpointed Gible. I can barely make it out, but I can see her tail moving and she's crouched. She's doing what my cat used to do when she spotted anything moving...

As if to prove his hunch correct, Gible shot out of the ground, mouth agape as he prepared to bite onto Jamie's tail.

"Jamie, use Iron Tail quick!" Gabe countered.

Immediately, Jamie coated her tail with steel and swung it downward at the tiny shark dragon and swatted him away, sending him skidding along the ground before diving again.

"Tch... what a nuisance!" Gabe muttered to himself as Jamie went back to searching.

"Hippowdon, drive that Toxicroak back! use Stone Edge!" Kimberly bellowed.

A mass collection of stones shot towards Toxicroak who crossed his arms in preparation, guarding against most of the damage before prepping his counter blow.

"Double Edge!" Kimberly cried out.

Big mistake, Jupiter thought with a grin as Hippowdon geared up to press her assault.

As Toxicroak leapt back, Hippowdon gathered in an intense amount of energy before rampaging forward, cloaked in a bright white aura. Toxicroak stood and waited, clenching his fists in preparation as he awaited a command. With a smirk, Jupiter sprung her trap.

"Ice Punch..."

Cocking back his fist, Toxicroak produced a chilling aura around him as he poised himself to strike. Bracing himself, Toxicroak delivered a staggeringly strong Ice Punch right in the face of the oncoming Hippowdon, knocking it back with immense force. The blow was indeed a heavy one as it froze a portion of Hippowdon's body and poisoned her as well.

Gabe's eyes widened as he witnessed the display of might by Jupiter's Toxicroak. He knew that she had a strong team, but it was now more clear than ever, that there was a massive power gap between them. Gabe's attention was quickly diverted back to his own battle when Jamie was set upon by Gible.

"Dragon Claw!" Dennis blurted.

"Iron Tail!" Gabe countered.

Jamie lashed out at Gible with her steel-coated tail, clashing with the claws of the tiny dragon as he agily moved about. After a brief exchange, the two broke apart and closed in once more. As Giblr swung a second Dragon Claw, Jamie bared her fangs and laced them with an icy aura, clamping down hard upon the tiny claw of the little dragon. The chilling aura riddled his body with pain and caused the dragon to promptly topple over and pass out.

"Gible is unable to battle!" the judge declared.

"Great work Jamie! keep it up!" Gabe hollered.

Dennis frowned and returned Gible for a much needed rest. Not expecting the Luxio to be as quick and strong as she was, he'd gravely underestimated her.

"Kadabra, let's go!" Dennis belted out, launching the bipedal psychic feline into battle.

As if rehearsed, Jupiter and Gabe frowned at the appearance of the spoonwielding adversary. Both of them knew that it would be a troublesome endeavor to take care of such a threat. A loud noise caught their attention, prompting Gabe and Jupiter to turn towards the source. Hippowdon had just used Bulldoze as Toxicroak neared, driving him back a significant distance.

"That Hippowdon is more resilient than I anticipated," Jupiter disclosed, knitting her brow in agitation. "Still... I'm afraid I can't let it roam free like that. Toxicroak, Ice Punch!"

"Kadabra, intercept Toxicroak with Psybeam!" Dennis cried out.

"Oh no you don't! Jamie, Signal Beam, now!" Gabe ordered fiercely.

As Toxicroak closed in on Hippowdon, Kadabra aimed his spoon and loosed a beam of multicolored energy that shot towards Toxicroak. The blast was deflected, however, by a well aimed Signal Beam that punched it aside, leaving Toxicroak just enough time to land the finishing blow on Hippowdon who had released another Bulldoze which tore up the ground, carving a path towards Jamie.

Jamie was catapulted backwards from the attack and slammed with a Psybeam while Hippowdon was bashed in the head by the heavy fist of Toxicroak. When the dust settled, both Hippowdon and Jamie were out of commission.

"Both Hippowdon and Luxio are unable to battle!" the judge called out loudly.

Gabe winced as he saw Jamie lying on the ground, out of commission. With a sigh, he returned her and held the ball for a moment.

"Thanks Jamie... you did well," Gabe smiled.

"Indeed she did. Had she not used Signal Beam, Toxicroak would have been done in," Jupiter stated with a soft smile. "So you have my thanks, Barry..."

Gabe nodded and clipped Jamie to his belt. Grabbing Houndoom's ball, he drew it back and fired it.

"Houndoom, front and center!" Gabe roared.

A chilling howl shattered the air as Houndoom erupted from his sphere. Blowing smoke from his nostrils, the hound took a whiff of the air and detected the scents of those who had fallen, one of which was familiar to him. With a snarl, he turned his eyes upon his foes, his teeth crackling with flames as he bared his fangs at the enemy.

Dennis gritted his teeth at the appearance of the hell hound. Not only was it bad news for him, but Jupiter's Toxicroak had barely taken any damage at all. While Dennis was wrapped up in his thoughts, Kimberly reached for her final teammate.

"Gastrodon, I need your assistance!" Kimberly cried out.

Emerging from the sphere was a blue and green Sea Slug Pokémon. The East Sea Gastrodon was not something Gabe wanted to see, and while he did have a strategy, he also had that Kadabra to worry about. Jupiter, for whatever reason, was not unnerved by either of the opposing Pokémon. And judging by the look on Dennis's face upon Houndoom's release, Kadabra probably didn't know anything to counter Houndoom.

Silence held the arena in its grip for a few moments before Jupiter broke the silence with a command.

"Attack Kadabra, X-Scissor!" Jupiter commanded.

That's why she wasn't worried! thought Gabe as he watched Toxicroak propel himself at Kadabra.

"Psybeam!" Dennis counteracted.

"I'll leave the Toxicroak to you. Gastrodon, after that Houndoom. Use Water Pulse!" Kimberly exclaimed.

Gastrodon opened fire on Houndoom with a succession of large spheres of fast moving water, prompting the canine to leap back and away to avoid them.

"Get moving, use Flame Charge!" Gabe commanded.

Swaying away from another Water Pulse, Houndoom ignited himself with flames and bolted forward with ever-increasing speed.

Meanwhile, Toxicroak found himself in a troublesome situation against a teleporting Kadabra. All he could do was evade the Psybeams as they were fired. Jupiter knitted her brow and bit her lip. It was certainly frustrating, but she was not about to let it throw her off.

This is rather inconvenient. Toxicroak can't get a hit in unless he moves faster than his opponent... I guess I'll have to do that after all.

Jupiter continued to watch as Kadabra teleported, attacked and teleported away. Getting the rhythm down, she waited until Kadabra flickered into view again to act.

"Me First!" Jupiter commanded.

At that moment, Toxicroak was enveloped in a bright blue aura. Then, quick as a flash, and with deadly accuracy, Toxicroak extended his right hand and fired a thick beam of psychic energy that was fifty percent more powerful than what Kadabra had been using, nailing him in the abdomen before he could teleport.

"Let's try this again... X-Scissor!" Jupiter commanded once more.

Obeying her command, Toxicroak lunged. Meanwhile, Houndoom was being kept at bay by Gastrodon and his constant streams of high pressure water.

Houndoom can't get anywhere near that Gastrodon. Any attempt I make at getting close just gets shut down. Houndoom's getting tired. On top of that, he's already taken a Mud Bomb and a Return. All Gastrodon suffered was a Beat Up... Looks like I'll have to try another approach, Gabe thought as he looked up at the sun.

"Houndoom, Flame Charge! get in close and wait for my signal!" Gabe shouted.

"I don't know what you're planning, but it won't work! Muddy Water!" Kimberly hollered.

A swirling vortex of dirty water whipped up around Gastrodon, creating a defensive barrier that protected him from all sides while attaching at the same time. Houndoom ducked under and around the assault, his body moving like a blur due to the multiple uses of Flame Charge.

"Water Pulse!" Kimberly shouted powerfully.

"Jump and use Solar Beam!" Gabe countered, much to Kimberly's horror.

Gastrodon fired off a Water Pulse, only for it to be swiftly avoided as Houndoom leaped into the air with a howl. The resounding cry echoed through the stadium creating a crimson aura around Houndoom's body. With Nasty Plot in effect, Houndoom took advantage of the sun's rays and loosed a massive beam of golden energy upon Gastrodon.

An explosion rocked the arena as the beam connected with its target, kicking up dust and creating a mushroom cloud in the process. As the smoke cleared, Gastrodon was revealed to be out of commission.

"Gastrodon is unable to ba-" the judge began, only to be cut off by the sound of a loud crash from the other side of the field.

The source was a highly exhausted Toxicroak drawing his fist back after delivering a Sucker Punch to the back of Kadabra's head at a downward angle, slamming Kadabra into the ground.

"Err... Kadabra is also unable to battle... meaning Barry and Jupiter advance!" the judge declared.

"Whoa! what an intense matchup! such passion! such ferocity! this was truly an exciting way to start. Let's hear it for these four!" the host boomed, whipping the crowd into a frenzy.

After shaking hands with Dennis and Kimberly, Gabe and Jupiter exited the arena to heal their teams. It had been a crazy match, but he and Jupiter came away from the match, victorious.