Chapter 251: Asher Handles Looking Cool, His Daughters Handle Winning

The video continued playing.

"Gardevoir, Moonblast!"

Elaria attacked first.

A pink sphere of energy erupted from the pink-haired Gardevoir’s palm, trailing a long tail of light as it shot straight toward Diantha’s Gardevoir.

"Consecutive Shadow Balls."

Diantha’s voice was calm, as though she’d already anticipated this exact move.

Gardevoir swept one hand forward.

Three dark-purple Shadow Balls flew toward the pink-haired Gardevoir in a triangular formation.

Moonblast only managed to destroy one of them.

The remaining two struck the pink-haired Gardevoir squarely in the abdomen.

Gardevoir let out a muffled cry as the explosions knocked her backward.

She struggled to brace herself against the ground with one hand and tried to stand again.

But the moment her knee left the ground—

Her body swayed.

In the end, she could no longer hold herself up and lowered her head weakly.

Elaria recalled Gardevoir.

"Good work."

Then she threw her third Poké Ball.

Red light erupted.

Diancie landed on the battlefield, the diamond crown atop her head scattering rainbow-colored fragments of light beneath the spotlights.

Her red eyes were calm and determined.

Across from her, Gardevoir immediately entered a defensive stance, waiting only for Diantha’s command.

"Diancie."

Elaria clenched her fists.

"Mommy understands Elaria better than anyone."

"So Elaria doesn’t want to leave any regrets in this battle."

Diancie gently nodded.

The diamond crown atop her head began glowing with a soft pink light.

Diantha looked at the same determination in her daughter’s eyes that she saw in her own.

The corners of her lips lifted slightly.

Then she reached up and grasped the Key Stone on her necklace.

"Elaria, ever since the first day you stepped onto a movie set, you’ve never disappointed Mommy."

"Today is no different."

"So show Mommy—just how much you’ve grown!"

"Gardevoir, Mega Evolve!!"

The Key Stone and Gardevoirite erupted with light simultaneously.

Countless multicolored beams intertwined through the air.

Elaria took a deep breath and grasped the Key Stone bracelet around her wrist.

"Diancie, we can’t disappoint Mommy."

"And I don’t want to leave any regrets in this battle either."

"So let’s give it everything we’ve got!"

"Diancie, Mega Evolve!!"

Elaria thrust her arm into the air.

Rainbow light erupted simultaneously from her Key Stone and Diancie’s Diancite.

Within the brilliance—

Diancie’s dress began to lengthen.

It stretched from its original knee-length form all the way down to her ankles, every layer adorned with countless tiny diamond fragments.

Once both Pokémon completed their Mega Evolutions—

They stared each other down from opposite ends of the battlefield.

Two immense forces collided silently in the center of the arena.

Even the air itself seemed compressed to its limit.

Diantha raised her hand first.

"Gardevoir, Shadow Ball!"

Three dark-purple Shadow Balls shot from Mega Gardevoir’s palm in a triangular formation, trailing long streaks of light as they screamed toward Diancie.

"Diancie, Diamond Storm!"

Diancie crossed both arms in front of her chest.

Countless tiny diamond fragments began spinning rapidly around her.

They gathered into a dazzling storm several meters across and slammed head-on into the three Shadow Balls.

The instant the dark-purple energy spheres entered the Diamond Storm—

They were shredded into countless fragments.

Three silent bursts of dark energy exploded above the battlefield like fireworks.

But Diamond Storm didn’t stop.

Still carrying a cloud of glittering crystal dust, it swept straight toward Mega Gardevoir.

"Teleport."

Diantha remained completely composed.

An instant before Diamond Storm could connect—

Mega Gardevoir vanished.

She reappeared in midair directly behind Diancie.

"Mystical Fire!"

Gardevoir brought both hands together.

Pink-purple flames surged from her palms and blasted toward Diancie’s back.

"Light Screen!"

Elaria’s command came almost simultaneously with the flames.

Diancie spun around and crossed both arms in front of herself.

A transparent wall of light appeared.

Mystical Fire crashed against the Light Screen and exploded.

Flames scattered in every direction.

Even with the barrier protecting her, the impact still forced Diancie several steps backward.

"Diancie, Earth Power!"

Diancie raised one arm.

The entire battlefield began violently shaking with her at its center.

Mega Gardevoir lost her balance—

And for a single instant, her chest was left completely exposed.

That instant was enough.

"Diancie, maximum-power Power Gem!"

Diancie raised both arms above her head.

An enormous pink gemstone formed overhead.

Its brilliant light illuminated the entire stadium.

"Gardevoir, Light Screen!"

For the first time, Diantha’s command came sharply.

A Light Screen hurriedly formed in front of Mega Gardevoir.

Power Gem crashed into it.

The barrier managed to block the direct hit but the resulting shock wave still blasted Mega Gardevoir across the battlefield.

She slammed heavily into the edge of the arena.

Gardevoir struggled to rise.

She managed to lift half her body...then collapsed again.

The light of Mega Evolution faded from her body.

Her eyes turned into matching spirals.

She had lost consciousness.

The entire stadium remained silent for three full seconds.

Then—

The referee suddenly raised his flag.

His voice had gone hoarse with excitement.

"Gardevoir is unable to battle!"

"Diancie wins!"

"The winner is Trainer Elaria!"

Confetti and glitter rained down from the dome.

At the top of Prism Tower in Lumiose City, applause thundered endlessly throughout the circular spectator stands of the Kalos League’s main stadium.

Elaria and Diantha walked toward the awards podium together amid the applause.

"Elaria."

Diantha unfolded the dark-blue Champion’s cape and draped it over her daughter’s shoulders.

"Watching you stand beneath the spotlight and earn everyone’s applause through your own strength..."

"Mommy is prouder of that than anything I’ve ever accomplished myself."

Elaria stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Diantha’s waist, burying her face against her mother’s chest.

"Mommy, Elaria didn’t disappoint you."

Diantha fastened the final clasp of the Champion’s cape.

Then she smiled and gently stroked Elaria’s head.

"All right. Starting today, the Champion of the Kalos League—"

"Is you."

The video continued playing.

[Steven]: Elaria became a Champion too! At this point, Brother Asher’s daughters have already taken the Champion title in FOUR different regions!!!

[Misty]: Correction. Raina is a Water-type Elite Four member, not a Champion.

[Flint]: Seriously, though. The achievements of these four daughters combined are enough to fill an entire exhibition hall, aren’t they? Asher’s family is terrifying.

[Steven]: That’s actually a great idea! I’ll build one for Brother Asher later! I’ve already thought of the name—Asher’s Daughters Achievement Exhibition Center!

[Steven]: Then we’ll put a bronze statue of Brother Asher at the entrance, with a line engraved on the pedestal:

"I handle looking cool. My daughters handle winning."

[Leon]: I suggest making the bronze statue in his Kricketune Man outfit.

[Asher]: ?

[Raihan]: Hahahahahaha! A Kricketune Man bronze statue! I vote for that! No—I’m giving it ten votes!

While everyone was still discussing it the image on the screen slowly froze.

Then the familiar system voice rang in everyone’s ears once again.