"Thanks," said Shiranui as he drank his water and went to his side of the battlefield.
"Ninetales, you're up!"
"Yamamoto, I choose you!" Blaine sent his Ninetales out and Shiranui went with his Pupitar. "So this is Kitsune's evolved form. I'm glad I bought a Fire Stone back at Celadon."
"Ninetales, Toxic!"
"Yamamoto, Earthquake!" Yamamoto was inundated by the Toxic that Ninetales spat and was badly poisoned. In retaliation, the Pupitar launched up and slammed itself on the battlefield, shaking Ninetales into a one-hit knockout.
"Ninetales, return; Rhyperior, you're up!" Blaine swapped his Ninetales for his Rhyperior.
"Rhyperior, Brick Break!"
"Yamamoto, Dig!" The Pupitar had gone underground as Rhyperior charged in and barely missed the Pupitar.
"Rhyperior, Brick Break once more!" A glow came from the ground and Shiranui recognised the light as evolution, but this was one of those rare times where he didn't want his Pokémon to evolve as a Tyranitar burst out of the suspended battlefield right under Rhyperior and nailed it for a super effective hit that didn't do as much damage as Shiranui expected it to do. Why Shiranui didn't want Yamamoto to evolve was apparent when Rhyperior gave the Tyranitar a powerful karate chop, exploiting a double weakness and because it was critical, Yamamoto fell over with a mighty crash.
"Yamamoto, return; Ryuu, I choose you!" Shiranui swapped his Tyranitar for his Dratini.
"Rhyperior, Megahorn!"
"Ryuu, Surf!" The Dratini conjured a tsunami and rode the wave as it splashed against Rhyperior, exploiting a double weakness and Rhyperior fell over with a mighty crash. Ryuu let off a glow and this time Shiranui welcomed the evolution. The Dratini's ear fins became elegant ear wings, orbs grew on his neck and tail and his body grew longer. The glow subsided to reveal Ryuu as a Dragonair.
"Rhyperior, return; Magmortar, you're up!" Blaine recalled the downed Rhyperior and a lava plume erupted from below. Magmortar rode the plume and popped out onto the battlefield. "Magmortar, Sunny Day!"
"Ryuu, Aqua Tail!" The temperature of the battlefield shot up before Ryuu swung his wet tail in a fluid-like motion as if he was water bending, striking Magmortar for a super effective hit. Magmortar's Flame Body ability left Ryuu with a burn, but the Dragonair's Marvel Scale ability made his Defence go up as a result of the burn.
"Magmortar, Lava Plume!"
"Ryuu, Dragon Rush!" Magmortar's claws retracted and scarlet flames shot out, leaving Ryuu scorched, but barely surviving. The Dragonair charged at Magmortar and gave it a menacing tackle before succumbing to the burn.
"Ryuu, return; Titania, I choose you!" Shiranui swapped out his Dragonair for his Gardevoir. Blaine spotted Titania's pendant and deduced it was another Mega Stone.
"Magmortar, Fire Blast!"
"Titania, Misty Terrain! Mega Ring activate!" Shiranui touched the keystone on his Mega Ring and Titania was wrapped in a glowing orb. The orb shattered to reveal Titania's mega form. The Mega Gardevoir made the ground misty and both Pokémon were made immune to status effects. Magmortar blew a searing hot flame from its mouth that formed a 大 shape that was familiar to Shiranui. Titania was inundated, but the Mega Gardevoir survived the attack.
"Magmortar, Fire Blast once more!"
"Titania, Psyshock!" The Mega Gardevoir conjured a javelin made of psychic energy and threw it at Magmortar. The attack was critical and because Magmortar's Defense was its lowest stat, it fell over knocked out.
Blaine returned his Magmortar and walked over to Shiranui. "One more riddle for you: 'A fire that does not burn, but its importance has seven equals,'" stated Blaine.
"That would also be the Volcano Badge," answered Shiranui.
"Right you are!" replied Blaine, handing over the badge and more water for Liam and Shiranui.
"Thanks," said Shiranui before running back to Liam.