Sunlight and Sunset were arrived for a few minutes at Shalour City. The first thing they did when they entered in the town was first, to heal their pokemons. When this is done, Sunlight tell his sister that he will be making some courses, and Sunset, her, decide to wait until her pokemons were healed. While Sunlight was walking in the town, he stop suddenly at a shop and enter in. He is welcomed by a nice woman who greet him cordially.

“Welcome to my shop, she said. My specialty is jewelry, what bring you here today, young man?”

“Hum, i have this Keystone and this Mega-gem, i want to personalize them.” he answered.

“Hum, i think i can do that, she said. First, let’s begin with your Keystone. Do you know in which accessory you want it?”

“Yes, i would love to inlay the Keystone on my mask, right above the two eyes spots, he answered. Can you do that?”

“This is easy, she said. And for your Mega-gem?”

“I want this one on a bracelet.” he answered.

“That will take me a few hours in order to finish to personalize your gems, she said. So, come back a little bit later...”

“For payment, asked Sunlight. Do you accept gold?”

“Hum, pure gold?” she asked.

“The purest you can find, said Sunlight. Look at one of these gold doubloons, i offer you 20 for the three”

The woman is captivated by the gold coins and smile. She analyze them to see if they were pure.

“This is premium quality gold, she said to him. That will be enough...”

“Alright, then, he said. I will come back later in the afternoon!!”

Sunlight leave the shop and head in direction of the Pokemon Center. He wait a few hours with Sunset and then, the nurse Joy give them back their pokemons.

“That took 2 hours, said Sunset, but now, we are ready to challenge Korrina. The question is, who is going to challenge her first?”

“You will, said Sunlight, i have other stuff to do, just say to her that she will have another challenger after you coming for her.”

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“Oh, make some shopping, he said. I’ll see you after your match, good luck!!”

Sunlight walk away from the Pokemon Center while Sunset was heading in direction of the Gym Leader’s arena. But the problem was that the arena was on a little island near to the city. She don’t wait and use her teleportation to pass on the other side easily. But then, she is welcomed by a young woman with a sport suit and rollerblades.

“Hey, you!! She said to Sunset. You are not supposed to be here before the sunset!! How did you get here, anyway?!”

“Well, i heard your arena was at that place, right?” asked Sunset.

“Yes and no, she answered. This place is effectively an arena, but...”

She see at the neck of Sunset a Keystone.

”A Keystone? She thought, Does that mean she can use Mega-Evolution too?”

“So, if i can only came here at the sunset, said Sunset, then i will come back later...”

“No!! That will be fine this time, answered the woman. My name is Korrina, i am the Gym Leader of this town!”

“Oh, you are the Gym Leader! Said Sunset. Nice to meet you, my name is Sunset Shimmer and i am here to challenge you for the Rumble Badge!”

“Oh, alright then, said Korrina. Do you have a Pokemon who can Mega-evolve, by chance?”

“Oh, yes, answered Sunset. Why asking?”

“Cool, and who is that pokemon?” asked Korrina

“Hum, a Gallade, said Sunset” sending out her Gallade.

“Gallade is partially a Fighting type, said the Gym Leader, like my Lucario. I feel like this battle gonna be great!!”

Korrina bring Sunset in her personal arena.

“Habitually, she said, i make 3 vs 3 battle. But this time, that will be different. One vs one, your Mega-Gallade Vs my Mega-Lucario, are you alright with that?”

“Sure, answered Sunset. This is good for me!!”

Then, the referee announce the rules of the battle and after a countdown, he gave the signal. Korrina send out her trusty Lucario while Sunset send out her fearless Gallade. The 2 pokemons stare at each other with a smile.

“Alright, don’t hold back, Sunset, said the Gym Leader. Because i won’t hold back either. Connect your heart and mind with mine and make one!! Lucario, Mega-Evolve!!!”

Her pokemon start to transform, wrapped by a rainbow light. Then, the symbol of the Mega-Evolution appear in front of him and Lucario reveal his Mega-form.

“My turn, now..., said Sunset. Gallade, listen to me, i need your force and you courage, let me make one with you!! Gallade, Mega-Evolve!!”

Gallade start to Mega-evolve and like with Lucario, he change of form and shine. After he finished to transform, he reveal his Mega-form.

“Wow, this is the first time i see a Mega Gallade of my eyes, said Korrina. My grandfather talked to me so much about how they were brave and powerful!! This is a worthy opponent for you Lucario, so give everything!!”

Lucario and Gallade stare at each other with ferocity.

“Alright, Gallade, said Sunset. Begin with Sword Dance!!”

“You too, Lucario, use Sword Dance!!”

The two pokemons start to charge their attack power. Meanwhile, on Sunlight side, he had make a few purchase in the different shops of the town. Then he head in direction of the Jewelry store to see if the woman had finished.

“Oh, i was waiting for a couple of minutes for you, she said. I am glad to announce you that i have finished crafting”

She gave him the Mask with the Keystone embed in it and the bracelet with the Charizardite on it. Sunlight thank her and go out of the shop.

“Well, now, let’s see if Sunset is done with her battle.”

In the arena, Mega-Gallade and Mega-Lucario are fighting brutally and aggressively. They were exchanging lot of blows and were moving fast.

“Gallade!! Said Sunset. Use Psycho Cut!!!”

“Avoid them, Lucario, and use Shadow Claws!!” said Korrina.

The fight continue in that way, both attacking and dodging at some moments. Korrina and Sunset began to feel tired and same for their Pokemons.

“Give everything on this attack, Lucario, Use Shadow Claws with all your power!!!”

“Gallade, do the same, said Sunset. Charge Brick Break with all your energy and strike Lucario!!”

Gallade and Lucario charge their attack and run at each other, in a flash, they are both hit by each other attacks and slide in direction of the trainers. Lucario stop in front of Sunset Shimmer and Gallade stop in front of Korrina. There is a long silence and the two pokemons were immobile. Then, suddenly, Lucario and Gallade return to their normal form and still standing. Then, finally, Lucario faint first and fall face on the ground, K.O, while Gallade was standing, exhausted, but conscious, in front of Korrina.

“Lucario fainted, said the referee. Sunset Shimmer and her Gallade won!! The victory come to the challenger!!”

Lucario get up on his leg and Korrina hug him.

“You were awesome, Lucario, she said. Good job!!”

Sunset also congratulate her pokemon for his performance. Then, Lucario and Gallade look at each other and make a bumpfist. Korrina shake Sunset’s hand and give her the Rumble Badge.

“Came back whenever you want, she said. Me and Lucario will be honored to fight you two again!! Goodbye!”

“Oh, i forgot to mention, Korrina, said Sunset. You will have another challenger soon, and he is pretty strong.”

“Cool, i’ll wait him!!” she answered.

Sunset leave the arena and disappear to the Pokemon Center. At the same time, Sunlight arrive in front of the shore.

“Wait, where is the bridge, he said to himself. How am i supposed to get on the other side?”

Then, the sun set down and a path magically appear in front of him.

“This place is fucked up, he thought. I am afraid all this water drown me while i am walking to the tower”

“What are you waiting for?! Asked Korrina to him. Go, this path won’t disappear until the sunrise!!!”

Sunlight decide to travel the path with precaution, afraid that all this water trap him and drown him. Slowly, Sunlight make it to the entrance of the tower.

“You must really hate the water, am i right?” she asked.

“I don’t hate it, he answered. I am afraid of it, i couldn’t think to anything else that this path disappear and drown me”

“Oh, i understand, she said. This is indeed scary for some people. Beside, i am Korrina, the Gym Leader of this city. And you must be my challenger...”

She also see on Sunlight’s mask a Keystone.

“Wow, you have also a Keystone? She asked. Can you also use Mega-Evolution?!”

“Not yet, answered Sunlight. I have a Houndoom with me, but i don’t have is Mega-Gem. Ironically, i have a Charizardite X but no Charizard yet.”

“Hum, You seem to love the Fire type, Do you?” she asked.

“A lot, he answered. I would had loved so much to challenge you with a Mega-Pokemon, but none of the two i have can do it yet. But even without Mega-Evolution, i can be able to win against you.”

“Hum, so follow me, she said. This battle will also be one against one, Do you know which pokemon you will use?”

“Yes, i do, said Sunlight. And he is pretty bulky”

“Bulky, hum, i also have one who is bulky too, answered Korrina.”

Once arrived in the arena, the two trainer take place on the field. The referee once again tell the rules of this battle and give the signal.

“Alright, i choose you, Machamp!!” said Korrina.

A four-arm muscular Pokemon appear on the field and pose.

“Time to shine, Incineroar!!!!” said Sunlight.

Incineraor appear also on the battlefield and roar.

“Wow, i never seen that Pokemon before!!! She said. His name is Incineroar, you said? He seem to be pretty strong, and that belt on him, it look like the one of Machamp. Does he is a champion too?”

“Hum, i heard that Incineroars are professional of wrestling, answered Sunlight. They are heavy hitters and ferocious fighters. I am sure he is a match for a Machamp.”

“Alright, then, said the Gym Leader. Machamp, use Cross Chop!!!”

Machamp run in direction of Incineroar, who wait for him.

“Use counter!! Said Sunlight!!”

Incineroar dodge the two blows and counter with a powerful kick in the guts. Machamp is send a few meters away.

“Ma..Champ!!” said the pokemon.

“Can you translate, Motisma?” asked Sunlight.

“Sure, he answered. Machamp just cursed.”

Incineroar laugh at Machamp.

“And now, Incineroar mock Machamp” said the Motisma-Dex.

“Machamp, use Cross Chop again!!” said Korrina

“Machamp obey and rush at Incineroar”

“Use Counter...” said Sunlight.

Incineroar take a defensive stance, ready to counter the attack. Korrina smile to Sunlight.

“You fall for it, she said. Machamp, use Low Sweep!!”

Machamp slide on the ground and kick Incineroar legs, making him fall on the ground.

“Don’t let him get up and use Vital Throw!!” she yelled.

Machamp grab Incineroar, make a few rotations and launch the pokemon away against a wall. Sunlight smile and that was worrying Korrina.

“Finish him with a Cross Chop, Machamp!!” said Korrina.

Machamp charge in direction of Incineroar. Sunlight smile at the Gym Leader.

“Incineroar, he said. Use Revenge!!!”

“What? Said Korrina. Oh no!!”

Incineroar take the hit of Machamp and survive it, then, full of power, strike back with Revenge. The power of the counter move send Machamp flying at the other side of the arena, putting him K.O. Korrina is astonished and silent.

“Machamp is K.O!!! Said the referee, the victory goes to our challenger, Sunlight Blaze, and his Incineroar!!!”

Incineroar fall on the ground, exhausted by the fight. Sunlight smile at him and Incineroar do the same.

“You got this like a pro, he said. You can rest now.”

Korrina bring back her Machamp and walk in direction of Sunlight.

“I have to admit, i was not expecting Incineroar to use Revenge” she said.

“I was prepared, he answered. I knew your pokemons would use Fighting type attacks, and being a Dark/Fire Type, Incineroar would have been disadvantaged. So, i taugh him Revenge, which is an attack that gain more power if the user is hit before he throw it.”

“You know, said Korrina, i never thought of using a defensive strategy in a battle. But after this match, i begin to think that using counter moves are a very good idea.”

“I am glad if i inspired you, said Sunlight. To be honest, i could have use offensive in this fight, but i didn’t. I wanted to use a different strategy and that worked.”

“Well, there is the Rumble Badge, said Korrina. You deserved it. I hope i will have the chance to see you again!!”

“Next time we fight, said Sunlight. I will have a Mega-Pokemon waiting for you!”

“Really?! I can’t wait to see it!!” she yelled.

Sunlight go to the Pokemon Center and see Sunset waiting.

“Hi, Sunset, he said. Guess who won his third badge?!”

He show the Rumble badge, and so does Sunset, with a smile. Sunset told him how she defeated her in a ferocious fight between Mega-Gallade and Mega-Lucario. Sunlight, him, told the incredible fight between her Machamp and his Incineroar and how he beat the crap out of him.

“You know, that was just an idea, said Sunset. When i told you you can use more defensive techniques for your next battles, that was just a random thought. I didn’t expect you to actually do that!”

“I could have used offensive and still pull out a win against her, he said. But i realized you were right about the utility of a defensive strategy. I am actually glad it work very well for me.”

Sunset and him still side by side, sit on a cozy couch, waiting for their pokemons to be healed. They look at each other and smile.

Next Chapter: Chapter 11: A revelating discussion. Estimated time remaining: 26 Minutes