"Nosepass, Earth Power!" Roxanne's voice cut sharply through the swirling sand.The ground beneath Mawile began to tremble, glowing with golden cracks that crawled outward like spreading roots.
"Mawile, Fairy Wind—get off the ground!"
Mawile spun, releasing a burst of pale wind beneath its feet to push itself upward. But the moment the Fairy Wind rose, it collided with the raging sandstorm. The storm swallowed the weak breeze instantly, and Mawile was dragged back down by the weight of blown grit.
"Zap Cannon."
Roxanne said it as if stating a fact, not an order. The glow on Nosepass's nose flared, and a blinding sphere of electricity shot forward. Mawile couldn't recover in time—the Zap Cannon struck squarely, coating its body with flickering yellow static.
"Tsk… paralysis at the worst moment." I clenched my teeth. Paralysis didn't just slow a Pokémon—it could completely stop its movements when needed the most.
"Again. Earth Power."
I couldn't rely on the same trick. "Mawile, close your eyes—feel the ground! Dodge to the side!"
"Maw!"Mawile planted its feet, focusing past the sparks crawling over its body. The instant the rumble of Earth Power shifted, Mawile rolled sharply to the left. The attack burst from the floor just behind it.
"Useless effort. Zap Cannon."
Another sphere of electricity burst forward.
"Fairy Wind—use the sound to locate it! Then Iron Head!"
Mawile spun a small gust, letting the winds carry the hum of the incoming Zap Cannon. Using the echoes, it turned sharply—head glowing silver—and charged straight toward Nosepass's hidden position.
The Iron Head struck through the sandstorm with a solid crack, sending Nosepass sliding back.
"Nice! Keep going—Iron Head again!"
But just as Mawile leaned forward to charge—its legs trembled. A jolt of paralysis froze its muscles, cutting the follow-up short.
Roxanne exhaled softly, almost disappointed."Your idea was excellent. But it's not enough. Earth Power."
A final eruption blasted upward, swallowing Mawile."Maw…!"The little steel-type fell still.
"The Mawile is unable to battle. Winner: Nosepass."
I lowered the Pokéball. "Sorry, Mawile… that one's on me. Rest well."
With a flash of red, Mawile returned.
The moment Mawile disappeared, the sandstorm weakened—then died out completely.Nosepass's body stopped glowing; it had ended the weather itself to prepare for the next phase.
"Next is you—Wingull!"
Wingull burst from its ball with a sharp cry, soaring into the now-clear air.
Roxanne didn't wait."Nosepass. Zap Cannon."
The electrical sphere began forming again.
"Wingull, climb high—dodge and counter with Water Gun!"
Wingull shot upward, the Zap Cannon barely missing its wingtips. It twisted in the air and fired a Water Gun downward.
"Rock Tomb—block it and return fire!"
Chunks of rock burst upward, forming a wall to absorb the Water Gun—then Nosepass shoved the stones toward Wingull like thrown boulders.
"Air Cutter—break through! Then Quick Attack!"
Wingull sliced the rocks apart with sharp gusts and burst through the debris cloud, striking Nosepass with a clean Quick Attack.
Roxanne met the hit with a calm, unwavering order."Accept it. Begin charging Zap Cannon."
Of course—she was betting everything on landing just one.
The Quick Attack knocked Nosepass back, but electricity gathered again, faster this time.A glowing sphere launched upward, homing in on Wingull.
"Go high! Get above it!"
Wingull soared upward—but Roxanne's smirk told me everything.
"Nosepass! Adjust trajectory."
The Zap Cannon curved midair, chasing Wingull like a guided missile.
"Wingull—sharp dive!"
Wingull tucked and plummeted. The Zap Cannon followed—straight into a small rock hump left behind from the last Rock Tomb.
The explosion shattered the mound, kicking dust into the air.
Roxanne's eyes widened slightly. "It hit the terrain… clever."
But she immediately pushed on."Rock Tomb!"
Large stones rose again, forming a cage around Wingull.
"Break it and end this! Water Gun—full power!"
Wingull spun midair, dodging the falling stones with small, controlled shifts of its wings. Then it fired a concentrated Water Gun straight between two descending rocks.
The blast hit Nosepass directly—just as it had begun gathering energy for another Zap Cannon.
The charge collapsed with a violent spark. Nosepass's legs buckled, water dripping down its rocky frame.
It groaned…and fell forward.
"Nosepass is unable to battle! The winner is Wingull! As a result, the winner is challenger Stephen! "
I exhaled hard, finally letting the tension flow out of me."Beautiful work, Wingull. That flying saved us."
Wingull cawed proudly, circling above before landing gracefully on my shoulder.