From the very start, Alceides had been indecisive and in the mindset that at some point he would lose and that would be okay, because the knowledge gained from a defeat would be just as a helpful as a win. He kept this idea through the first round, wavering at the resolve of his Pokemon. The second round, he pushed past that farce and finally realized that he wanted to win no matter what. This win would be for him, for his Pokemon, and for Annie all together. In this final stage, where he would be pitted against the blue-haired woman he remembered seeing at the Tower before its ruin. She had a dazzling appearance not only then, but now, as well. They never got to speak, but he could tell from the first round that she was made of sterner stuff. The two had struggled relentlessly to reach where they were now, the boy being reminded of everything that had contributed to this day.

The contest battle with Annie, his meeting with Fred, the first time he attempted a combination move in the wild against a Riolu, all the support from his best friend Ashley -- they were all harmonizing together. The naive boy who believed in anything and anyone was no longer, though no longer clouded with doubt and apprehension. To show everyone who had supported him, and his dream, that they weren't wrong he had to prevail just once more. The blood within him was hot, the excitement building internally.

As the two stood in their respective squares facing off one another, his opponent delivered some kind words before introducing her Pokemon. The Floatzel and Mawile from the first round, not only did they pull off amazing combinations but the two were also individually strong. This was surely going to be his greatest challenge to date, but he wouldn't back down not an inch.

"Thank you! I feel the same, so let's have a beautiful, fun battle that neither of us has to be ashamed of!" the boy agreed, beaming a smile toward the woman indicating that no matter who won they would still feel happy for the other - at least that's how he felt.

"Alright, all eyes are on you again, it's the final performance! Ophiuchus, Momo!" the boy introduced his own Pokemon who were resting, while they could, before leaping forth from their containers.

His Aipom, Momo, had been with him from the very start and the two were incredibly close. Though Seviper wasn't one of the first to be captured, she had a naturally easygoing and eager to please attitude making her a darling to work with. Together, the two had a synergy that he hoped would be unmatched. Surrounded by the roar of the crowd, the boy gripped his fists with determination.

Mirai Soleil // Notes: -- // word count: xxx

Standing on this grand of a stage, prepared to perform in an equally grand battle - there was very little more than the boy could find himself wishing for. At this very moment, all eyes on them, time seemed to stand still for just a moment. His breath caught, but it was no longer in fear of anything to come he was simply overwhelmed with his desire to prove his mettle against this woman who had done the same. Beginning in the mud and climbing through it, tirelessly and ceaselessly, he would have liked to say that he did so never looking back. But that looking back, the doubt in his ability was what had separated him from the overly confident and arrogant others who couldn't look in the mirror quite the way he had managed.

It didn't matter what song they played in the background, the melody of battle brimming forth from his heart was enough to fill his ears with a deep pounding. Gazing at his Pokemon, he was shocked to see them grinning and swaying - he had unconsciously begun tapping his foot and they felt his sincere inner rhythm and tagged along. A confident smile spread across his lips, Alceides finally donning a confident robe for himself. Mirai was allowed to take the first move, just as Jaye had done the prior round. It only worked out better for him, he favored counter-attacks after all.

There were two unexpected events that he was met with; one trivial and the other not quite as much. The first, was a very obvious delight as the boy chuckled and grinned with the lady naming her unique technique - just like he did! What glorious fate, to have such an ingenious opponent brought before him as a final test. The excitement in his blood had become too great, seeping into his bones as well. The next was the sheer amount of tenacity displayed by her two Pokemon - specifically the Floatzel. Forming air into a shape wasn't normally an issue, however, turning a large expanse of water into another shape was certainly splendid.

He didn't want to win easily, he desired and craved obstacles that he could climb over. The tower left him dejected, but his friends and this contest had put him on the track toward his dream - toward becoming the Coordinator King. Two dragons began to soar through the sky, ripping through the air as they closed in from both sides.

"Let's show them, Momo, Ophiuchus, that we're not going to be taking anything laying down! Use Ice Punch to freeze the water, and let's use a Flamethrower through that wind and aim for the Mawile!" he roared, as his Aipom gathered chilly energy around her tail before leaping forward and meeting the aquatic dragon head on as it would freeze over.

Seviper would inhale deeply before releasing a stream of flames that would whip dangerously toward the Mawile, only made worse by the winds that were kicked up by the aero dragon. Aipom had only countered the move, waiting for a better moment to go on the offensive - while Seviper would take the fight right back to the intimidating fairy. At the very least, they would get to see the boy shine furiously even if that light would be extinguished.

He would strive with all of his being to ensure that such a fate was impossible.

---

TL;DR

Seviper used Flamethrower on Fairy Wind and Mawile
Aipom used Ice Punch on Whirlpool, freezing it

Mirai Soleil // Notes: -- // word count: xxx

Their attacks collided beautifully, with the Whirlpool being frozen and then shattering into a spread of icy crystals that cascaded around his Aipom. She was pretty pleased with herself, as well, grinning from ear-to-ear. Having such a skilled opponent was an amazing feeling, he was being tested and improving. Licking his lips in satisfaction, his eyes were glittering with both amazement and desire. The desire to win, the numerous ideas that fighting this woman had given him for the next time he participated in a contest.

Thanks to the fierce Fairy Wind, the flames from the Seviper's Flamethrower would maneuver upward, rising along with the Mawile and chase forward like a beast that had found its prey. The flames would most likely envelop the Mawile and the Floatzel who had hitched along for the ride before they were able to rise up to the spotlight.

"That was beautiful, Ophi! Now, Aipom let's use Swift!" he announced passionately, as his Aipom prepared energy within her tail before firing off a volley of star-shaped blasts toward the pair.

---

TL;DR

Flamethrower rises along with Fairy Wind, blocking Magnet Rise and likely damaging the two
Aipom uses Swift, hoping to hit both of them

Mirai Soleil // Notes: -- // word count: xxx

Flames licked hungrily at the wind, chasing after the duo before being doused by another whirlpool formation. This time, instead of shaping it into a dragon, the Floatzel manipulated the water and was able to use it as a barrier in the form of an exquisite rose. His eyes glittered with astonishment, the way she utilized her Pokemon's moves were unlike any he had seen before. He had become somewhat accustomed, even prepared, for combination battles - it was his main strength, in a sense. For her to be so creative, it was throwing a wrench into his countering and inspiring him all the same.

To face such a worthy opponent, he couldn't ask for anything more than what he was getting today. This Contest had surpassed all of his expectations, even facing such harsh criticism after the first round. Alceides wasn't the type of person to become discouraged so easily, the only reason it even weighed anything within his mind was that of his lingering tower trauma. She didn't realize it, but she was helping the boy without realizing it.

The leftover shards of ice that had been falling due to the initial whirlpool shattering were abruptly melted, ending the beautiful shower that twinkled beautifully in combination with the stars that were sent soaring through the sky. A burst of electricity sent forth from the Mawile moved to knock away the Swift that had been aimed at the duo. But even this could only make him smile, he didn't want to win an easy battle he needed to struggle like this, to persevere and overcome.

It seemed as if they would keep up the aquatic flower, blocking them from conventional attacks. But, for the moment, they seemed to want to retain the semblance of aerial combat. It was fine, but holding a heavier Pokemon would surely inhibit her speed to a degree, so he sought to form a pincer on the ground with his two Pokemon.

"Alright, you two move around them on either side. Let's use Combination: Shadow Rise!" the boy ordered, his tone tinged with very obvious excitement. Getting to release every stop, every move and combination he practiced was wonderful. The amount of experience he would walk away with was going to be momentous.

The two Pokemon began their respective preparations with the Aipom forming a dark purple almost gooey orb of energy within her tail, as Seviper gathered and focused dark energies within her being. When she was ready, the serpent would expel the Dark Pulse as a wave that would meet the flung Shadow Ball and mesh. The two attack types were very similar in nature, so it was natural that together they would create a synergistic effect. The two techniques would combine and form a large raven that would climb and attack from underneath. He could only wait in anticipation for how they would react.

---

TL;DR

Seviper uses Dark Pulse
Aipom uses Shadow Ball
The two combine and form a bird flying underneath the Mawile and Floatzel

Mirai Soleil // Notes: -- // word count: xxx

The dark black raven that the boy had crafted was beautiful, made even more by the atmosphere and setting of the contest. However, it was nothing more than a precursor move - he needed to get his opponents to move but needed sufficient firepower to do so. In response, the pair began a respective charge before joining up and smashing into the bird - forming a heart in the air. The boy smiled in response if nothing else his opponent was already a master in the art of showmanship, something he would have to glean off of in his future experiences for sure.

Though it definitely wasn't in the manner he was expecting, who could expect such a unique combination, after all, they had broken their formation and it was time for them to be targeted individually. In these battles, working as a team was a must but the two Pokemon in front of him seemed to be in sync a touch more than he could've hoped. Alceides wanted a fierce competition, but the way the two handled every single thing thrown at them almost flawlessly...

He had decided that he needed to break them up, though it was going to be easier said than done. Utilizing Magnet Rise, Iron Head, and Aqua Jet, the two created circles in the sky. Mawile was sure to be able to keep up the maneuver for a while, but the Floatzel wouldn't be able to maintain flight with the particular move for very long.

"Alright now, let's shake things up a bit. Ophi, Glare at the Floatzel! Momo, launch a widespread Swift to mess up their movement!" the boy commanded his Pokemon, having assessed the situation in his own manner.

The Swift wasn't the important part, though he did feel a bit of dissatisfaction with using it again so soon, their main object was Floatzel. Grounding him would set the playing field at a much different pace, and it would be hard to avoid her gaze while dodging stars at the same time. He just needed to push and corner them, he could see the summit behind them where he could achieve victory.

Trilling in acknowledgment, the serpent would fix her gaze on the Floatzel and waited for it to notice the gaze before being paralyzed by the fierce leer. Aipom, on the other hand, would gather energy before firing it in a conical shape upward to send their enemies into disarray.

---

TL;DR

Seviper uses Glare on Floatzel
Aipom uses Swift in a spray

Mirai Soleil // Notes: -- // word count: xxx