[Lily]: It really was Shadow Ball! So what Elite Four Aaron said was true!
[Leon]: This must be part of some strategy. Champion Diantha's strength is undeniable—I can vouch for that.
[Mustard]: Little Leon's right. Making your opponent ignore your tactics is, in itself, a high-level tactic!
[Aaron]: Wait, seriously? So I was only playing on the first level of this game? No wonder I can't beat the big sis!
[Diantha]: G–Good that you understand that now.
Diantha was panicking.
She didn't even know why.
Why had she instinctively opened with Shadow Ball again?!
That wasn't even Gardevoir's STAB move!
Something was definitely wrong—she felt like her hands were being guided by some unseen force.
Watching the broadcast on the giant screen, she realized instantly—
This entire thing was aimed at her!
The Battle Scene
The match between Cynthia and Diantha had just officially begun.
Garchomp cleaved through the incoming Shadow Ball with ease, not losing a hint of momentum.
Its jade-green claws gleamed with a chilling light.
"Cynthia, that's just like you—charging straight in without hesitation. I've always admired that,"
Diantha teased, even as she readied her own move.
"Garchomp, Dragon Claw."
Cynthia didn't even look at her opponent, issuing her command with calm precision.
"GRAAAR!!"
Garchomp's crimson eyes blazed—it was fired up!
"Gardevoir, Psychic!"
Since Cynthia didn't respond to her words and only grew more aggressive, Diantha had no choice but to get serious.
After all, her ace Pokémon was Gardevoir, not Gallade.
Trading blows up close with a Garchomp was pure suicide.
But that didn't mean she was helpless—
they were both Champions, and the gap wasn't that wide (or so she believed).
More importantly, Gardevoir's Fairy typing gave her a natural advantage over Dragon types.
Even though Dragon Claw's elemental power wouldn't affect her, Garchomp's raw strength alone was enough to shatter defenses.
Blue psychic light burst from Gardevoir's eyes, enveloping the entire field in a pale aura.
In that instant, Garchomp felt its movements stiffen, bound by unseen pressure.
It was a one-on-one match—no switching allowed.
If Garchomp wanted to win, it had to break through on its own.
"Aerial Ace."
At Cynthia's light command, Garchomp's body erupted with blue energy.
Jet-like thrusters ignited along its back, propelling it forward in a flash of light.
The Psychic barrier shattered like glass as Garchomp cut through it, diving straight toward Gardevoir.
"Moonblast!"
Diantha hadn't expected Cynthia to come out swinging like this.
She quickly countered with one of Gardevoir's strongest Fairy-type techniques.
Moonblast—powerful and radiant, and doubly effective against Dragon types.
Even if they traded blows, she would still come out ahead.
In the audience, however, [RECURRING] Chloe's face tensed up.
Analyzing both Pokémon, she couldn't help but worry.
"Garchomp looks at a disadvantage... Moonblast is way stronger than Aerial Ace!"
"Ash, Cynthia isn't going to lose, right?"
"Relax," Ash said confidently. "She's Cynthia."
Hearing his conviction, [RECURRING] Chloe actually felt a bit more at ease.
[Lance]: Five years later, and Cynthia's fighting style is still as fearless as ever. She's giving Diantha no room to breathe!
[Grimsley]: Huh? Am I seeing this right? I thought Diantha had the advantage—Moonblast is super effective!
[Drake]: You can't just rely on type matchups. Otherwise, Pokémon battles would be boring.
[Drayden]: Dragons are known for overwhelming power. Cynthia's Garchomp, especially, is a master of burst damage. If not for Fairy immunity, this battle would already be over!
[Diantha]: Hey! I'm right here! The battle's only just started! Why are you all acting like I've lost already?!
[Ash]: I believe in Champion Cynthia! She's definitely going to win!
Back in Pallet Town, Cynthia smiled faintly as she watched Ash's comment scroll across the feed.
That boy was so earnest—it was almost adorable.
But even she had to admit—Diantha was strong.
Still, she would not lose.
She and Garchomp shared the ultimate bond.
The Battle Heats Up
Moonlight shimmered around Gardevoir's body—the energy of Moonblast.
Drawing upon lunar power, it could even reduce the target's Special Attack.
A beautiful, devastating move—Gardevoir's signature.
The Fairy energy condensed in front of Gardevoir like a gleaming shield.
It was the perfect mix of defense and offense—
and Garchomp had no choice but to strike from the front.
"Cynthia, what will you do now?" Diantha murmured.
But she already suspected the answer—Cynthia wouldn't fall for something that simple.
"Dig."
As expected—
Garchomp suddenly dove underground, vanishing just as the Moonblast exploded.
The timing was perfect, the counter flawless.
"Gardevoir, Teleport!"
Reacting instantly, Diantha's Gardevoir blinked away just as Garchomp burst from below, narrowly avoiding the strike.
She exhaled in relief.
Had that hit landed, Cynthia's follow-up assault would've been unstoppable.
"You're as strong as ever, Cynthia. No wonder you're Sinnoh's Champion," Diantha admitted sincerely.
Cynthia brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling faintly.
"You've grown, too. I'm impressed."
"Then I'll show you my full power."
Diantha touched the pendant resting over her heart—
and in its center gleamed a Key Stone.
As Kalos's Champion, of course she possessed the power of Mega Evolution.
"Now—shine bright, Mega Gardevoir!"
The Key Stone flared, sending a rainbow helix of energy spiraling into the Mega Stone on Gardevoir's chest.
In an instant, Gardevoir's form transformed—
radiant and transcendent.
Mega Gardevoir entered the field.
Even Cynthia's calm expression shifted slightly.
She smiled. "Then it's time for me to get serious too."
"Let the world witness our bonded power."
"Bond Transformation—Garchomp!"
The audience: "???????"
Bond Transformation?
What the heck was that?!
Even Diantha's eyes widened.
"So... you've mastered that power too? So Ash really does create miracles."
A surge of azure flame erupted from Garchomp's body.
A matching aura of wind and light surrounded Cynthia herself—
their energies resonating like twin stars.
Gold streaks flared across Garchomp's scales as its form sharpened,
each edge gleaming like a blade forged by their unbreakable connection.
Unlike a Mega Evolution's raw bulk,
this transformation radiated pure explosive speed.
"This... this is the power of our bond," Cynthia declared softly, eyes gleaming.
[Diantha]: I expected nothing less, Cynthia. You always manage to do what others cannot.
In the stands, Ash suddenly jumped to his feet.
No one understood this power better than him—
Bond Transformation!
That was the same phenomenon he had once shared with Greninja!
"[RECURRING] Chloe, what's Bond Transformation?"
"It's the power born when a Pokémon and its Trainer's connection reaches the deepest level," Ash explained, though even he couldn't describe it perfectly.
[Professor Sycamore]: Ahhhh! I just finished my notes on Mega Evolution, and now I have to start a new paper! Cynthia, you're ruining my workload!
[Professor Oak]: Calm down, Augustine. This Bond Transformation seems unrelated to Mega Evolution—it doesn't use Key Stones or Mega Stones. It's more like a resonance between Trainer and Pokémon, similar to Ash's Greninja phenomenon.
[Cynthia]: Exactly. It was actually a reward I received from the livestream system. But yes—it's born purely from the bond between me and Garchomp.
[Professor Oak]: Fascinating... Then Bond Transformation might be a new field of study altogether.
[Professor Sycamore]: Now that you mention it, Kalos records do speak of Greninja's bond form. This may truly be related!
[Cynthia]: Perhaps. You should definitely research it further.
[Ash]: Garchomp looks so cool! That sharp aura—it's like it's about to slice through the screen!
[Gary]: Yeah! That fusion of Trainer and Pokémon power—that's pure main-character stuff! Just wait, I'll get that kind of power someday!
[Ash]: No way! That's my thing! I'm gonna have Greninja again someday!
[Gary]: Hah! Plenty of Trainers have Greninja. What makes you so special?!
[Gothitelle]: Am I the only one shipping them? Ash and Cynthia's chemistry is off the charts! The Bond Transformation suits them too well!
[Lusamine]: Agreed! Ash × Cynthia forever—"CynAsh" supremacy!
The Final Clash
The transformed Garchomp shone like a living blade,
its aura lighting up the entire Colosseum.
Even Mega Gardevoir, radiant as the moon, seemed to pale before that brilliance.
"Mega Gardevoir—use Dazzling Gleam!"
Knowing the threat before her, Diantha didn't hesitate.
This new form of Garchomp was fast, overwhelmingly so.
Light flared across the field.
Garchomp's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Let's end this, partner," Cynthia whispered.
"Set up—Stealth Rock."
Rather than charge immediately, she laid her trap.
Blue stones glimmered briefly before vanishing into the arena floor.
It was preparation—
the calm before the storm.
Next, it would be Garchomp's time to strike.
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