The Indigo League stadium simmered with stunned silence, the dust settling over Machamp's crumpled form and Misdreavus' ghostly wisps.
Gladion stared at Guy, his teeth gritted so hard they might've cracked, muttering under his breath, "Destiny Bond." The move's brutal effect echoed in his mind: 'If the user faints, the opponent faints too.' A rare, devastating trap—and he'd walked right into it.
He cursed himself, fists clenching. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid! I should've seen it coming. These are not like the games where you can see the move coming. Switching Gengar—Gwen's ace—for Misdreavus, a frail-looking Hoenn ghost, had screamed bait. Even her second Haunter had more power. Destiny Bond's a nightmare move—nothing counters it once it's set. She played me
He kicked the dirt, vowing silently, 'Next time, I'm cooking up a shield for that—maybe a decoy or a status swap. Can't let her pull this again.' Three Pokémon left to Gwen's two—he still had the edge, but it stung.
Colossus, his Pupitar, loomed in reserve, itching to evolve into Tyranitar. But Gladion held back—he wanted that transformation to shine in a future spotlight, not here.
'I'll win with Nyx and my new ace,' he resolved, smirking inwardly. 'Time to flip the script.'
Gwen had to release first, Misdreavus falling before Guy. She grinned, tossing her next Poké Ball. "Vaporeon, let's make waves!"
'If I am not wrong, brother should be releasing Nyx, his Umbreon next. Let's have the battle of the eeves.' Gwen thought
The Water-type emerged, its blue tail swishing as it splashed into the arena's lingering puddles—remnants of Hydros' Rain Dance and Mystique's Surf. Vaporeon purred, eyes glinting.
[Ooh, a nice bath!] it chirped, flicking water at the air.
Gladion raised an eyebrow, then stepped forward, his tone a mix of praise and mockery. "Gotta hand it to you, Gwen—you've been deadly out there. That Destiny Bond? Pure evil—did Lady Agatha slip you a ghost handbook or something? You have gotten a lot sneakier!"
Gwen puffed out her chest, smirking. "Aw, thanks, bro—nice to know my genius is finally sinking into your thick skull! With Guy out, you should start picking your Hoenn starter for second place. What'll it be—Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip? Better choose fast, 'cause I'm snagging Grandpa's room and that Beldum!"
Gladion's smirk sharpened, eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, you're not the only one with surprises, little gremlin. I've got a card you haven't seen—and it's about to steal your thunder."
He flung his Poké Ball with flair. "Lee, time to show your youth!"
A roar shook the stadium as Annihilape erupted onto the field, its hulking form a blend of primal fury and ghostly menace. Its fur bristled, fists clenched, and its eyes burned with rage.
The crowd gasped—jaws dropped, eyes widened. 'What is that?!'
No one in Indigo or Hoenn had seen this Pokémon—borders were closed, knowledge of Primeape evolution to Annhilape was locked away. Even the announcer choked, "Uh… folks, I've got no clue what that is, but it's terrifying!"
Vaporeon tilted its head, blinking. [Whoa, what's this guy? You look like a Primeape who ate a Gengar and forgot to chew!]
'Well, technically Nyx is her cousin so she definitely shares some traits with her. And wow, she is quite spot on. I am glad Gwen or other can't understand her.' Gladion thought
Annihilape snarled, fists trembling with rage. His white hair rising.
[Keep yapping, water rat—I'll pound you into a puddle!]
Gladion's mind drifted, a smirk tugging at his lips as he recalled Lee's evolution—something that still gave him chills.
---Flashback---
Months ago, in a rented training yard, Primeape—Lee—had been a ball of fury, bouncing around like a pinata on a sugar rush.
Gladion had a hunch—Rage Fist, a move that grew stronger with anger, might push Lee past his limits. "We need to make him 'mad'," he'd told his team, grinning. "Really mad."
Zeus, his Electabuzz, cracked his knuckles, sparking with glee.
[Oh, I've got this. Hey, Lee, your face looks like a Mankey's butt after a bad curry!]
Nyx lounged nearby, her rings pulsing as she purred, [And your punches? Weaker than a Magikarp's Splash. My grandma could dodge you blindfolded—and she's a rock!]
Lee's fur bristled, eyes twitching. [You little—say that again, spark-plug! And you, gloom-tail, I'll shove those rings where the moon don't shine!]
Hydros lumbered over, cannons dripping. [You're so slow, Lee, I could nap and still outrun you. Did you trip over your own temper again?]
Mystique flicked her tail, adding fuel. [A brute like you? No grace, no style—just a hairy tantrum with legs. I'd pity you, but mirrors are hard to come by!]
Lee roared, fists glowing as Gladion shouted, "Rage Fist—let 'em have it!" The Primeape charged, pummeling Zeus with a glowing punch—*bam!*—then spun to Nyx, landing another—*pow!* The insults kept flying, each jab stoking his fury. "Ugly!" Zeus yelped, dodging. "Smell like Muk's ass!" Nyx taunted, leaping away. Lee hit fifteen, sixteen, seventeen Rage Fists, his anger a volcano ready to blow.
At nineteen, Colossus rumbled, [You punch like a pebble, Lee—pathetic!] The twentieth fist landed on a training dummy, shattering it.
But the taunts didn't stop—Zeus zapped nearby, cackling, "Your mom's a Slowpoke!" Lee's face turned purple, veins bulging. Gladion froze. 'Uh-oh.'
Lee clutched his chest, eyes rolling back as his blood pressure spiked—a heart attack from sheer rage. Gladion leapt forward, shouting, "Lee, no!"—but then white light exploded from the Primeape. The team stumbled back as his form shifted, growing taller, fur paling, a ghostly aura swirling.
Annihilape emerged, roaring with unearthly fury, fists glowing red-hot.
He lunged, flattening Zeus with a single Rage Fist. [Who's laughing now, bolt-brain?!] Nyx darted in, but a backhand sent her sprawling. [Eat dirt, ring-rat!]
Chaos reigned—Hydros blasted water, Mystique shrieked, [Control yourself, you oaf!]—until Guy stepped up, four arms raised.
[YOUTH, MY PROTÉGÉ!] Guy bellowed, his voice trembling with passion.
[Anger's a flame—don't let it burn you out! Channel it, harness it—be the storm, not the wreck!] He grabbed Lee's shoulders, staring into his wild eyes.
[We're warriors of youth—together, we rise!]
Lee paused, chest heaving. [Youth… huh?] His fists unclenched, the rage simmering down. Gladion wiped sweat from his brow, half-laughing, half-crying. "You almost gave me a heart attack, you lunatic!" Lee grunted, smirking faintly—still mad, but grounded. Guy clapped his back, grinning. [That's my protegé!]
----: Back to the Present----
The flashback faded as Gladion refocused, Annihilape glaring at Vaporeon. The crowd was still trying to figure out what that Pokémon was.
And the one who were the most shocked were the two ghost lovers.
-Author Notes------
We are reaching the end of tournament and next arc would be Gladion finally becoming Gym leader after a time skip.It would not be easy though. *Wink*Wink*
Y'all can read 15 extra chapters on my pat*reon. 3 more than what was offered earlier!!
https://pat reon.com/mrmime24
[No Space]