The crowd's murmurs swelled into a roar as Craggy, Gladion's newly revealed Pokémon, stood tall in the center of the arena.

Craggy was a Kleavor, an alternate evolution of Scyther, its form a striking departure from the familiar Scizor.

Unlike the sleek, metallic sheen of its Bug/Steel cousin, Kleavor was a rugged fusion of insect and stone, its Bug/Rock typing evident in its jagged, axe-like arms.

The massive, crude axes attached to its forearms pulsed with latent power. The desert field, with all the sand, was the perfect stage for Kleavor's debut.

Aaron stood on his platform, his face a mask of barely contained frustration as he stared at the unfamiliar Pokémon. 'It doesn't look like any Pokémon I've seen. Damn it, he's using me as a stepping stone to reveal his Pokémon.'

The thought burned, fueling his anger. 'I'm being treated as a joke. He's just trying to gain a lot of engagement and more popularity from this match by humiliating me, a former soldier.'

The sting of perceived mockery cut deeper than the battle's losses. Aaron's military background had taught him to command respect, to dominate through strategy and force, but Gladion was turning this fight into a spectacle to earn more popularity and money.

His gaze flicked over Kleavor's rocky form, assessing its strengths. 'The Pokémon is at least a Rock type from the look of things. With my Water types, I have an advantage against it.'

A flicker of hope steadied his resolve. 'I still have my ace Ludicolo, relatively unharmed. But he's got three Pokémon left, including this one. He's got the match just like boss rpedicted. But I will be damned if I let this arrogant kid win just like that. The others in Team Aqua would humilate me for the rest of my life.'

The odds were grim, but Aaron wasn't out yet. His military training and experience demanded he adapt, exploit any edge, and turn the tide.

"Golduck, Water Pulse!" Aaron ordered, seizing the initiative.

Golduck, still on the field, channeled the lingering effects of the Rain Dance. Its gem glowed as it unleashed a pulsating orb of water, amplified by the fading rain into a torrent that surged toward Kleavor with surprising force.

Gladion's eyes gleamed with confidence. "Kleavor, Double Team!"

Kleavor's form blurred, dozens of afterimages springing into existence across the desert. The Water Pulse slammed into one such copy, exploding in a spray of sand and mist, leaving the real Kleavor untouched.

"Quick Attack to get up close, then Stone Axe!" Gladion commanded.

The illusions disappeared as the real Kleavor moved like a blur, its speed defying its rocky bulk. It darted across the sand, pincers clicking as it closed the distance to Golduck in an instant.

One of its axe-like arms glowed with rock type energy, the crude blade sharpening as it swung in a devastating arc.

Aaron did not have the time to give a command but Golduck reacted just in time, its eyes flashing as it raised a shimmering Protect barrier.

The Stone Axe crashed against the shield, the impact reverberating through the arena. The barrier held for a moment, then shattered under Kleavor's raw power and the blade's sharpness.

The axe grazing Golduck's side. A trail of blood seeped from the wound, staining the sand red.

The crowd roared, the screens zooming in on the crimson streak and Golduck's pained grimace.

Aaron gritted his teeth, his mind racing. 'That move is devastating. I can't let him use it again.' He saw the blood, the way Golduck's stance faltered, and knew he had to act fast. "Golduck, please, use all your energy to use Disable!"

Golduck's eyes glowed with a desperate intensity, its gem pulsing as it channeled every ounce of its remaining strength.

A psychic wave enveloped Kleavor, locking onto the Stone Axe move and sealing it away.

Golduck collapsed, unconscious, its body slumping into the sand, the effort too much for its wounded frame.

A staff member from the Gym hurried to Aaron's side, concern etched on their face. Aaron handed over Golduck's Poké Ball without a word, his jaw tight. 'That wound's serious. The Poké Ball will keep him in statis but still let's just have him treated urgently…' He couldn't bear to see his Pokémon in agony, not after such a valiant effort. The staff member nodded, rushing off to ensure Golduck received immediate care.

Gladion watched the exchange, his expression softening briefly. 'Quite an admirable Golduck, with such tenacity. It followed its trainer's command to the last breath.'

He respected the sacrifice, the loyalty that drove Golduck to burn itself out for Aaron's strategy. 'That Disable will make sure Kleavor can't use Stone Axe again for the rest of the battle.'

It was a setback, but Gladion's confidence didn't waver.

Aaron, now down to his final Pokémon, reached for his ace. "Ludicolo, let's go!" The Water/Grass-type materialized, its lily pad hat swaying as it landed on the sandy field.

The Rain Dance had faded, the clouds parting to reveal a harsh sun, reducing Aaron's watery advantage. 'I'll have to use Rain Dance again to tap into that ability,' he thought.

'It's good that my previous Pokemon battles didn't reveal Ludicolo's trump card.' He'd kept this move hidden, a surprise he hoped would catch trainers like Gladion off guard.

"Ludicolo, Mist!" Aaron ordered.

Ludicolo spun, its movements almost playful, as a thick fog billowed outward, cloaking the desert in a disorienting haze.

The screens struggled to penetrate the mist, the crowd leaning forward in anticipation.

Gladion's grimace returned. 'Agh, not again.' Aaron's fondness for obscuring tactics was becoming a pattern, one that could neutralize Kleavor's speed if he wasn't careful.

But then his lips curled into a knowing smile. 'Kleavor's a perfect counter to this, thanks to his egg move.'

"Kleavor, Defog!" he commanded.

Kleavor's wings buzzed, kicking up a gust that swept across the battlefield. The mist dispersed, revealing Ludicolo mid-motion, its arms raised in the familiar sway of Rain Dance.

The move was nearly complete, dark clouds gathering once more above the desert. Gladion's eyes narrowed.

"Don't let him complete it! Stone Edge!" Gladion shouted.

Kleavor slammed a pincer into the ground, summoning jagged stones that erupted in a straight line toward Ludicolo.

The sharp rocks tore through the sand, striking the dancing Pokémon with relentless force. Ludicolo staggered, sent flying backward, its body skidding across the dunes.

But the Rain Dance was completed, and rain began to fall once more, heavier this time.

To Gladion's surprise, as the rain struck Ludicolo's body, its wounds began to close, the bruises and cuts from Stone Edge fading before his eyes.

Gladion raised an eyebrow, his mind racing to identify the trick. 'That Ludicolo has a hidden ability. I believe it should be called Rain Dish. The ability would allow the Pokémon to gradually recover HP in rain. The fight just got a lot more interesting.'

-------Author Notes------

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