Skylar stood frozen for a moment, heart still pounding from the victory over Lapras.
Across the battlefield, Lorelei remained composed.
Silent.
Deadly.
She reached to her belt and selected her next PokéBall with calm precision.
With a flick of her wrist, she released it onto the battlefield.
A burst of cold, shimmering light formed into a tall, slender figure—
Jynx.
Elegant.
Deadly.
A psychic mistress clad in an ethereal shimmer, swaying slightly as if to a music only she could hear.
Lucario stepped forward beside Skylar.
Still breathing hard.
Still wounded.
But ready.
Skylar touched his shoulder briefly.
"We can do this," he said, voice firm.
Lucario nodded.
His aura flickered—weak, but burning bright.
The referee's flag dropped.
"Battle begin!"
Lorelei moved instantly.
"Jynx—Lovely Kiss!"
The air twisted.
A wave of psychic charm radiated outward—intangible, but suffocating.
Skylar's eyes widened.
"Dodge and aura cloak!" he barked.
Lucario closed his eyes.
Focused.
His aura shimmered around him like a shield, distorting the energy.
He sidestepped narrowly, the hypnotic energy grazing past him.
But he stumbled slightly, the earlier damage from Lapras slowing him down.
Skylar clenched his fists.
He couldn't rely on power alone.
He had to out-think her.
"Lucario—Double Team!"
In a blink, five Lucarios appeared, weaving and dancing across the ice.
Jynx paused.
Her psychic senses tried to pin down the real one—but the aura cloaking made it harder.
Skylar smiled grimly.
Make her guess.
Make her slip.
Lorelei lifted a finger.
"Jynx—Ice Beam! Wide sweep."
A chilling beam of energy fanned outward like a scythe.
One illusion Lucario shattered.
Then another.
The real Lucario barely dodged, skating across the ice, but the freezing mist nipped at his legs.
Skylar gritted his teeth.
They couldn't dodge forever.
He pointed sharply.
"Close Combat! Now, rapid!"
Lucario blurred forward.
He struck in a wild, weaving dance—punches, kicks, feints.
For a moment—Jynx was overwhelmed, pushed onto the defensive.
Skylar's heart soared.
But then—
Lorelei's counter came.
"Psychic—grip."
Invisible hands snared Lucario midair.
He froze—struggling—but trapped.
Skylar shouted:
"Aura Pulse! Break the hold!"
Lucario roared.
He released a burst of raw aura energy—
Cracking the psychic grip just long enough to tumble free.
But the damage was done.
His landing was rough.
He slid across the ice, chest heaving.
Jynx smiled coldly.
Lorelei didn't waste time.
"Jynx—Focus Blast!"
A sphere of condensed psychic energy formed between her palms.
It launched like a meteor.
Skylar's heart stopped.
"Extreme Speed, right side dodge!"
Lucario moved—
Too slow.
The Focus Blast clipped his side.
He spiraled across the field, landing heavily near Skylar's feet.
He struggled to stand.
Blood ran from a gash on his shoulder.
Skylar knelt beside him, hands shaking.
"You've done enough," he whispered.
Lucario shook his head stubbornly.
He rose.
Wobbled.
But refused to fall.
Skylar bit his lip.
He couldn't ask more.
But Lucario's spirit demanded it.
Skylar stood.
Raised his arm.
"One more time," he said fiercely.
"Aura Sphere—full focus!"
Lucario summoned every scrap of energy left.
A sphere formed—
Tiny.
Flickering.
But burning bright.
He launched it.
Straight at Jynx.
Lorelei's answer was merciless.
"Jynx—Psychic Reflect."
The Aura Sphere struck the barrier—and exploded harmlessly outward.
The backlash threw Lucario backward.
He hit the ice hard.
And didn't rise.
Silence.
The referee raised the flag.
"Lucario is unable to battle! Victory to Jynx!"
Skylar closed his eyes briefly.
Pain shot through him—not just for the loss.
For his partner.
For everything Lucario had poured into this fight.
He walked slowly to Lucario's side.
Kneeling.
He touched Lucario's chest.
Felt the faint pulse of aura—still stubborn. Still proud.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"You were perfect."
He returned Lucario to his PokéBall with trembling hands.
Pocketed it against his heart.
Then rose.
Eyes burning.
He still had Pokémon left.
Still had strength.
Still had dreams that needed him.
Skylar drew out his next PokéBall.
Held it high.
Time to change the battlefield completely.
Time to summon a shadow.
"Darkrai," he whispered.
And the nightmare answered.