Flannery felt a bead of sweat trickles down her forehead, her earlier confidence waning as she faced the formidable Garchomp. She knew she had to stay focused, devising a strategy on the fly as Helena prepared to order her move.
"Ninetales, hang in there! We can still turn this around," Flannery encouraged her Pokemon, trying to rally their spirits despite their grave situation. However, her ace and strongest Pokemon had yet to come out.
Dune's eyes narrowed as he observed Flannery's resolve, a faint smirk playing on his draconic face.
"Garchomp..." (Let's see how long that bravado lasts,) he murmured, already thinking of all the things he would make Flannery go through when she eventually fell before him.
"Dune, use [Dragon claw]!" Helena commanded, her voice cutting through the tension-filled air. With a mighty roar, Dune lunged forward, instantly closing the distance between him and Ninetales.
Flannery gritted her teeth, her mind racing to devise a plan.
"Ninetales, dodge and counter with [Solar Beam]!" she shouted, hoping to buy some time and unleash a powerful attack.
Despite her injuries, Ninetales moved with agility honed through past battles. She evaded Dune's initial onslaught, jumping away from his razor-sharp claws and fangs.
As she landed safely away, she gathered solar energy, her tails glowing with intense light as she charged her [Solar Beam].
Thanks to the harsh temperatures, [Solar beam] charged instantly. With a determined cry, she unleashed the gathered solar energy in a brilliant light beam that pierced through the field and aimed directly at Dune.
Dune's eyes widened imperceptibly as he registered the attack, barely dodging it. He evaded the full force of the [Solar Beam], roaring as the intense sunlight-infused beam passed by his body, its heat touching his scales.
Flannery's heart leaped with a surge of hope as she saw Dune stagger back, "Now's our chance, Ninetales! Follow up with [Overheat]!" she called out, seizing the opportunity to press their advantage.
Ninetales, fueled by determination and Flannery's unwavering faith, unleashed a torrent of searing flames from her maw.
Helean's expression darkened as he watched Dune struggle against the assault. "Hang on, Dune! Counter with [Bulldoze]!" she commanded, refusing to let their momentum falter.
Dune summoned his inner strength despite being covered by a constant stream of flares. Stomping into the ground with this tail, a creak on the ground launched forward like a speeding comet, aiming to collide with Ninetales in a devastating attack.
Flannery's eyes widened as she saw Dune's attack. "Ninetales, brace yourself and use [Memento] before it connects to disrupt his momentum!" she ordered, hoping to buy just enough time to turn the tide again.
Ninetales, her fur still covered in dirt from dodging the earlier attack, focused her energy into a casting [Memento].
As Dune's attack finally reached its target and a pillar of ground erupted from the earth towards Ninetales, she tried to launch her final [Memento].
The collision was thunderous, sending shockwaves through the arena. The sound of a Pokemon being launched towards the ceiling was heard. Garchomp's [Bulldoze] met Ninetales' body with sheer force, causing a dazzling explosion and creating dust clouds.
When the dust settled, only Dune stood panting, his scales battered and bruised from the intense exchange. Flannery watched as her Ninetales fell from the ceiling into the ground with a loud thud.
Dune had finished her second last Pokemon, and her [Memento] had failed.
Flannery's heart sank as she watched her Ninetales fall defeated. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for what was to come. There was no turning back now; her last hope rested on her Houndoom.
"Houndoom, it's your time to shine!" Flannery called out, her voice filled with determination as she released her final Pokémon onto the battlefield. As the imposing figure Houndoom emerged, its horns gleaming with a sinister aura, the air crackled with anticipation.
Dune eyed the newcomer with a mix of curiosity and caution, recognizing the threat it posed.
'Hmm, something feels off. I can't grasp what it is, but there's definitely wrong,' Dune thought.
Helena, too, seemed strange; there was something off about that Houndoom; it reminded her of the times when she studied magic alone in her bedroom.
But she quickly composed herself, a confident smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "Dune, let's finish this. Use [Bulldoze]!"
Raising her arm high and touching a gem on the side of her wristband, it started to shine.
"Houndoom, let's show this rich girl what true training is worth!" Flannery screamed as Houndoom was engulfed in a crystal barrier that prevented anyone from looking as it mega-evolved.
Reacting to Flannery's Megastone, their strong emotions connect briefly before Houndoom is freed from the barrier where it mega-evolved.
The medium-sized dog with black fur was now roughly the same size as Flannery, with his horns now the size of a human child. He radiates dark energy into the field.
Before Dune could use [Bulldoze], a system announcement appeared before him.
[New ability detected: [Horns of ruin]
[The power of the Pokémon's ruinous horns lowers the Sp. Def and Attack stats of all Pokémon except itself.]
'WHAT? Another Ruin ability! Not only that, my attack and special defense are reduced; good Areceus, that thing is busted!' Dune screamed inside his mind; with a mighty roar, Dune stomped the ground, its massive form breaking the ground and launching it towards the now Mega-Houndoom with incredible speed.
Flannery's heart raced as she assessed the situation, searching for any opening to exploit. "Houndoom! brace yourself and counter with [Dark pulse]!" Flannery commanded, her voice ringing out clear and strong amidst the chaos of battle.
Mega Houndoom responded with a fierce growl, its horns quickly turning dark with unparalleled intensity from the depths of its being.
As Dune's attack closed in, Houndoom unleashed the [Dark pulse] into the ground, stopping the [Bulldoze] from connecting.
Helena remained undeterred. "Don't let up, Dune! Hit back with [Bulldoze] again!" she commanded, her voice resolute despite the dire situation.
With a determined snarl, Garchomp summoned stomped the ground again, launching it at Houndoom with deadly accuracy.
Flannery gritted her teeth as she watched the attack unfold, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anticipation. "Houndoom, try evading the attack and answer with [Dark pulse]!"
Houndoom braced itself for the impact, its horns pulsing with dark energy as it prepared to retaliate. With a swift movement, it unleashed its own devastating attack, the ruinous horns striking and shattering the earth into pieces.
The battlefield erupted into chaos as the two Pokémon clashed with all their might, each refusing to back down.
Flannery's pulse raced as she watched the battle unfold, every moment filled with tension and uncertainty.
'Good, Arceus. Look at that Garchomp, so strong... No! The focus you are about to lose is gone. Get a hang of yourself, Flannery!'
But amidst the chaos, Flannery held onto hope. She knew that as long as she and Mega Houndoom fought together, they still had a chance to emerge victorious. With determination blazing in her eyes, she prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead, ready to prove that even in the face of certain doom, she could always...
With a thunderous roar that shocked the whole gym, Dune was tired of chasing Houndoom through the gym.
"Garchomp!" (Come here, you little freak!) Dune shouted as he sent attack after attack, finally cornering Houndoom into a corner of the field.
"Dune, finish this, use [Bulldoze]!" Helena shouted, and Dune quickly obeyed; this time, Houndoom wasn't able to escape and received the blow completely.
Falling to the ground and fainting, Flannery stared with a black expression as she saw how her Pokemon had been abruptly defeated.
"Well! I guess we won!" Helenea screamed as she launched herself at Dune to hug him. "Gar..." (Augh, my scales hurt)
Flannery just stood there and retrieved Houndoom back to his Pokeball, "Oh... I guess I was trying too hard... I... I've only recently become a gym leader; I tried too hard to be someone I'm not."
"I have to do things my way. If I don't, my Pokemon won't be satisfied. Thank you, Helena, for teaching me that. For this, you deserve this." Stepping close to Helena, Flannery handed her the Heat badge, officially rewarding her with her fourth gym badge.