Chapter 39: Dragonair!
The Thunder Wave from Copycat had only been a distraction to mislead Asahi, while Green's real goal was to give Jigglypuff enough time to use Sing.
By now, the intense battle between Asahi and Green had drawn a crowd of Rainbow University students to the arena.
While Jigglypuff wasn't uncommon, seeing a Dratini was a rare treat.
For many trainers in Kanto, catching a Dratini was nothing short of a dream.
But now, the crowd couldn't help but feel sorry for the little dragon.
Dratini was clearly the stronger Pokémon, but with Sing successfully initiated, there seemed to be no way to stop Jigglypuff.
If Dratini fell asleep, the match would turn in Jigglypuff's favor.
Asahi was well aware of this and silently applauded Green's clever tactics. But he wasn't worried.
Dratini's ability was Marvel Scale, which increased its defense when inflicted with a status condition.
For days, Dratini had been absorbing the energy of the Dragon Crystal. Even if it fell asleep, it could likely withstand Jigglypuff's attacks until it woke up.
However, Asahi wasn't keen on letting Dratini get beaten up. He had another plan.
"Dratini, stop holding yourself back!" Asahi commanded.
Dratini, now feeling drowsy under the effect of Sing, suddenly lit up with excitement upon hearing Asahi's words.
"Draaaa~!"
Letting out a joyful cry, Dratini's body began to glow with a radiant light.
"You've got to be kidding me…" Green's earlier confidence evaporated, her eyes wide with shock.
The crowd around the arena erupted into cheers.
"Dratini's evolving into Dragonair!"
"This is such a rare sight!"
"Quick, record it! Hurry!"
Amid the excited chatter, Dratini's silhouette elongated gracefully within the light.
As the glow subsided, the soft and adorable Dratini was gone, replaced by a long and elegant Dragonair.
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Dratini had used its evolution to negate the effects of Sing.
"Draaa~!"
Dragonair let out a triumphant cry. With a flick of its head, the newly-formed wings at its sides spread wide. It soared gracefully into the sky.
Jigglypuff, now staring at the majestic Dragonair, widened its already round eyes in disbelief.
Green was equally stunned.
She hadn't expected that Asahi's Dratini had been holding back its evolution this entire time, only to evolve mid-battle.
Now, things were looking grim.
With Dragonair now able to fly, its mobility had skyrocketed. Green's earlier tactics were no longer viable.
"Jigglypuff!" Green called out, trying to rally her Pokémon.
But before she could issue a command, Asahi's voice rang out.
"Extreme Speed!"
With a slight shift of its serpentine body, Dragonair blurred, leaving a faint afterimage behind.
In a flash, it appeared right in front of Jigglypuff. Its tail swung with deceptive speed and force.
Bang!
Jigglypuff was sent flying before it could react.
It wasn't until Dragonair's afterimage in the sky faded away that the crowd fully grasped the sheer speed of the attack.
"So fast!"
"And so elegant! It's absolutely breathtaking!"
"I want a Dragonair too!"
The audience was captivated by the display, their admiration for Dragonair evident in their glowing expressions.
Noticing the crowd's gazes, Dragonair's coiled tail swayed gracefully, further enchanting the onlookers.
"Return, Jigglypuff!" Green called back her defeated Pokémon, clearly dissatisfied.
If Dratini hadn't evolved, she might have had a chance to win!
Asahi smiled lightly. "Mid-battle evolution is also part of a Pokémon's strength."
Mid-battle evolution? Green hadn't even seen tactics like "Stand up, hang in there, dodge now" yet. Compared to those, Dratini evolving mid-fight seemed perfectly reasonable.
"To be fair, I'll keep using Dragonair for the second round. No switching Pokémon," Asahi added kindly.
Green hesitated, her mind racing.
She glanced at Dragonair, now elegantly soaring through the rain-soaked sky, then back at the Poké Ball in her hand.
Finally, she made her decision.
"It's you, Clefable!"
Tossing the Poké Ball, a pink Clefable materialized on the battlefield.
"Clefa~ble!"
Clefable curiously examined the Dragonair hovering above, its eyes sparkling with wonder.
Asahi chuckled. "Did you use that Moon Stone I gave you to evolve it?"
While Clefable was also a Fairy-type, it was far more formidable than Jigglypuff. Its arsenal of Fairy-type moves was in an entirely different league.
Green wasted no time.
"Clefable, use Disarming Voice!"
"Clefa~!"
Clefable puffed out its chest and released an enchanting sound, imbued with Fairy energy, that instantly struck Dragonair.
"Draa…"
Dragonair winced, but it was still within its tolerance.
"Aqua Tail!" Asahi commanded.
Dragonair's sleek body twisted in the air as it dove sharply. In the blink of an eye, it crossed half the field. Its tail, imbued with surging water, lashed toward Clefable.
This maneuver was a trick Asahi had picked up during his battle with Drake.
When Dratini had lacked mobility, the technique felt clunky. But now, with Dragonair's newfound agility, it flowed seamlessly.
Caught off-guard by the fluid motion, Clefable barely had time to shield itself with its arms before the Aqua Tail slammed into it.
The force sent Clefable tumbling across the field, splashing through the rainwater.
"Clefable!" Green's voice brought the dazed Pokémon back to its senses.
Drenched and disheveled, Clefable stood its ground, its determination unwavering.
But Dragonair wasn't about to let up.
Asahi believed in overwhelming opponents with relentless pressure, leaving them no room to recover.
Dragonair shimmered slightly, the blue orbs on its chest and tail glowing faintly.
Energy surged into the sky, and storm clouds began to gather, darkening the night.
"What's happening?" the spectators murmured.
Before they could figure it out, rain began to pour.
The entire battlefield was engulfed in a downpour.