<Kari>
Umbra and Kari were both unprepared for the Quagsire’s maneuver. “Dark Pulse and try to knock it off course!” Kari commanded worriedly. While still in the air, Umbra flashed a deep violet as he shifted into a dark type, but he was too late. Kari did not know if it was intentional or not, but the hydro pump had launched the Quagsire with enough velocity along with the angle of how he made impact with Umbra his head had become a Skull Bash attack that hit the same time as the Ice Punch.
Umbra landed on his feet and knees clutching his side where he was hit. He tried to stay on his feet but ultimately collapsed. Despite the rest of Kari’s team cheering Umbra on he was unable to get up. The battle was over, Kari returned Umbra and was about to send out a second Pokémon when she saw the time on a nearby clock on a post. “Sorry Loki, but maybe we can have an official battle later, but it’s almost time for the opening ceremony, and I really don’t want to miss it. Sorry again!” Kari apologized as she returned the rest of her team with the exception of Sal. Kari mounts him and waves Loki goodbye before the Salamence took off.
Sal roared loudly as they landed at an entrance to the Grandmasters Arena. Kari craned her neck up as she looked at the outside of the arena. She had seen it afar and from the air while she rode Sal, but it was even more impressive up-close. There were countless people around the arena now, all were slowly entering the arena. “Come on Sal, let’s get inside before the good seats are gone, but I doubt there are any bad seats in this place!” Kari began shuffling inside with the rest of the group. She found a very good seat on the second level near the front giving her a great view over the entire battle arena. She noticed that the stadium seating was built for both people and their Pokémon having larger areas in places for large Pokémon to sit or stand. “Cool,” Kari said to herself and let out her team. Umbra was sill hurt, luckily Kari still had a Fullrestore in her bag that she used on him.
There was far more room than Kari initially thought there would be despite all the people outside filling in, the stadium was full but it didn’t feel overly crowded.
The lights dimmed and multi-positional spotlights lit up the arena pit the Opening Ceremony was about to begin. The stadium was abuzz with noise from people to their Pokémon. After listening to the chatter of the crowd for a while Kari noticed that there was a distinctive chant that was beginning to start, probably from the more veteran members and their Pokémon she thought. The chant grew steadily louder as the center of the arena opened. A circle in the middle of the area opened up revealing a large hole, the rest of the arena split apart into four equal panels and retracted under the seats revealing a huge multi-biomed arena including grass, rocks, streams, waterfalls, larger bodies of water, sand, collapsed building debris, and multi layered and tired levels. Every biome was seamlessly integrated into one another, and in the center was the distinctive Victini logo of the Spire. It was beyond anything Kari had ever seen, the arena looked like it could be a paradise for any type of Pokémon. The chanting in the arena was extremely loud now followed by a steady thumping or stomping as the arena rose to level, it was hard not to get pulled into the rhythm.
In the center of the arena stood a woman, tall, slender and dressed in a very elegant long flowing nightgown which shimmered in the light like the stars. Her long raven black hair shone in the light and was done up in an elaborate fashion while still having some left over so it fell perfectly around her. She was rather young, in her early thirties, and was stunningly beautiful, her ice blue eyes scanned the arena as she raised her arms into the air in a big welcome, and a Z-ring was on her left wrist. She was accompanied by a Primarina who mimicked her gesture. The Primarina had a Primarium-Z round her waist on a silver chain. The chanting crowed continued, and it was now that Kai finally realized what the chant was. “RISE! RISE! RISE TO CHALLENGE!”
The woman’s Primarina sang out a single loud note that overpowered the entre stadium and the crowed died down. “Welcome all to the competitive battling heaven known as the Battle Spire. To those returning trainers, welcome back, and we all hope you all RISE TO CHALLENGE!” the woman spoke, her voice amplified clearly tough the entire stadium. The crowd roared in cheers. “For those of you who are new here, congratulations for making it out here and participating. As a reminder to everyone, other prestigious battle establishments, professional battling teams, as well as potential Elite Four scouts, world renowned professors, and more are present on the island, the Battle Spire can open just about any door for you in the world! So don’t be afraid to reach out, make friends, challenge others, and learn from others, you may never know who is watching.” The crowed clapped and died down again. “For those who do not know me, I am Nevan Valeron, the current director and the chair of the board here at the Battle Spire.” Nevan curtsied to the crowd. The four Jumbotrons showed close-ups of her and Primarina.
“Tonight, the Spire has lined up two spectacular performances, along with an exhibition battle between two of our very own Spire Masters to get you all pumped up! So without further delay please enjoy the show!” With her final words the arena went almost completely dark including the Jumbotrons, and Nevan had vanished.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Deep rumbles echoed through the entire arena. The lights in the arena slowly began to rise again now with different tints of greens and yellows. From four different entrances of the arena floor troops of Rillaboon began filling into the battle field drumming in a powerful rhythm with Thwackey on top of them and around them dancing and banging their sticks in supporting rhythms. The troop filled the outer ring of the arena. Their beats caused them to glow with powerful grass energy, and seemed to fill the entire arena with explosive energy just about every Pokémon and trainer were clapping or stomping along with the rhythm. After the ring of Rillaboons and Thwackeys were formed, an even large group of Aloan Marowak flooded out from the arena entrances spinning, twirling, and throwing their brightly burning bones into the air and performing perfectly timed tosses to one another, it seemed chaotic at first but there was clearly a complex pattern that they were following and their movements and dance was in perfect synchronization with the Rillaboon drum beats. A sharp avian cry echoed over the entire arena as countless Oricorio flew down from the top of the arena of every type circling around in the air each of them glowing with their type energy, the way they were intermixed together along with the dim lights made it seem like they were in a vortex of colorful light.
Kari was swaying with the sound of the music as she watched the Oricorio slowly filter down onto the arena floor skillfully weaving through the bone tosses of the Aloan Marowak until they all landed perfectly intermixed with a set pattern as they all danced in unison to the beat. The bright colors would draw anyone looking in. The Oricorio and Alolan Marowak were dancing and moving at the same time as the Rillaboon’s rhythms got more and more intense and eventually they formed in a huge symbol of the Spire, the Oricorio formations forming the colors as the Alolan Marowak’s fire was the signature burning V of the Victini head. They had used Flamethrower as the flames shot up high and vibrant into the air.
At this point the entire arena was in an excited uproar as the rhythm and beat had gotten everyone extremely pumped and excited. As the performance ended the whole audience gave one final hurrah that synched with the performing Pokémon’s cries of triumph. “RISE TO CHALLENGE!” the entire audience shouted as the Alolan Marowak shot out a final jet of flames into the air before the Kari shouted as well as the rest of her Pokémon, the energy was completely infectious and there was no reason to stop, this was something that she had never witnessed in her life.
As their performance ended the lights in the arena were brought up as the performing Pokémon cleared the arena. The Alolan Marowak were the last to leave the stage as they marched in unison and showed off more of the fire bone twirling skills. Kari applauded along with the rest of the crowd as the group as they left.
<Celeste>
The second performance was already underway, it was a combination of water and psychic Pokémon supporting multiple large spheres of water while various water types and flying types performed in the water and the sky performing all types of aquatic and aerial acrobatics. Celeste sat still in an armchair of her waiting room, her eyes were closed and she was breathing in and out deeply in a steady rhythm.
Sylvia was quietly conversing with Kayo and Sycorax was sitting on the couch eating a Poké Puff watching the ceremony with Aegis, Tempris was resting on her nest. Lucas however had his eyes closed and his breathing in sync with Celeste’s while he calmly performed kata, with perfectly clean, precise, and perfect movement. Sylvia and Kayo were watching as they conversed.
A new wave of cheers and applause signaled the end of the second performance. Celeste opened her eyes and sighed one final time before standing up. Her entire team took notice and gathered around her. “It’s time….”
<Kari>
Nevan walked back out into the center of the arena and greeted the audience. “Such exciting and dazzling performances! Let’s give them all another hand!” Nevan said as the audience cheered once more, after they had died down she continued. “Now for our final event, an exhibition battle between two of our most esteemed Spire Masters! A very sight and event to behold! To those who are new to the Battle Spire, Spire Masters are the pinnacle of Pokémon trainers, pushing themselves and their Pokémon to the absolute max. And what makes them different than League Champions? Well let’s just say they utilize techniques and strategies that are outside of the norm. Without further delay I will turn the time over to our announcer.” Nevan bowed once more and walked out of the arena as the stadium lights lit up, the rings of glowing panels that lined each of the level of the seats and the ring above the arena. The rings displaying the Spire logo along with violet and white patterns.
“Ladies, Gentlemen, and Pokémon,” a man’s voice echoed in the arena, “It is my pleasure to introduce you all to the first Spire Master tonight. Many of you may have encountered in the Spire before, or perhaps at another league outside of the Spire. Heralding from Cyllage City, of the Kalos region! Known as the Empress here at the Spire, her Pokémon are renowned for their speed, precision, cunningness, and ruthless efficiency! Entering the arena now is the Empress herself, Spire Master Celeste Masters!”
From one end of the arena, Celeste strode out from the entrance with her entire Pokémon team around her the crowd cheering loudly as she strode out. Lucas the Lucario was to her left, next to him was Kayo the Aloan Ninetales, to Celeste’s right was Sylvia the Sylveon with her ribbons around Celeste’s arm, and next to Sylvia was Sycorax the Gliscor. Tempris the shiny Volcarona zoomed out from behind them in the tunnel along with Aegis the Aegislash. Tempris flew out into the arena and circled laps around the perimeter, her six yellow pedal shaped wings glowing bright with heat and flame. She circled several times at Celeste made her way to the center of the arena and once she was there, Tempris settled floating behind her. Tempris was quite large compared to the typical Volcarona.
Kari grinned as she saw her cousin, still dressed in her signature predominately white and violet outfit, but with her cropped dark purple and yellow zip-up hoodie. “WOO! GO CELESTE!” Kari shouted in the roar of the crowd, many of them held flags and banners of white and violet with the Spire logo. Kari assumed that these were representative of Celeste’s colors. Celeste waved and smiled around at the audience as she made her way.
The colored display rings around the arena then shifted colors to a light blue that was almost white, and gold pattern with the Spire logo. "It is my pleasure now to introduce another Spire Master, though she may not be as well known as her opponent but don't let that fool you! She was recently officially recognized as the Full Battle specialist at the Battle Spire. Known as the Songbird here at the Spire, her team of Pokémon are renowned for battling like a well oiled machine capable of rapidly adapting, compensating, and countering their opponents and making it easy! Heralding from Motostoke City of the Galar region, please give a warm welcome to the Songbird, Spire Master Ceres Aeons!"
From the arena entrance opposite of Celeste a very pretty young white haird lady walked out with confidence. Being from the Galar region an arena this size must have made her feel right at home. A very large and long black shadow snaked out from benith her in the ground and slowly circled the arena not surfacing. To Ceras's right was her Cinderace, Moegami, to her left was Whisper the Ninetails, behind her to the right was Xoa the Toxapex, and next to Xoa was Ferris the Ferrothron. After they had exited the tunnel Miyo the Milotic floated out behind them looking as elegant, beautiful, and graceful as ever. Ceres held her ocarina in her hand and waved at the audience with the other, she smiled and occasionally blew kisses out to the crowd. The gold trimming, designs, and patterns on her white dress shone beautifully in the arena lights.
Kari noticed there were fans of Ceres as well in the crowed holding similar banners and flags but were colored light bluede and gold. Kari watched the dark long snake shadow circle the arena curious as to what it was. She didn't have to wait long. As Ceres was a.bout half way to the center of the arena, the long snake-like shadow emerged. It was a Pokémon that Kari had never seen before. It has a huge black head with a red underside shaped like an arrow, it's body was slightly wider with short arms and feet with a tail that was longer than its entire body. Kari along with several other trainers pulled out their Pokédexs to see what it was. Kari learned that it was a Dragapult, and by the looks of the one Ceres has, her's was a larger size than the average according to the dex.
Snips the Dragapult emerged from the ground and spiraled around the air of the arena shooting off a few Dreepy only to have them nearly instantly return to his horns. After a few laps and seeing Ceres had made it to the center of the arena. Snips took his place by Miyo behind Ceres's team.
The two teams of the Spire Masters were no strangers to one another, but they still stared one another down as their trainers face eachother with a smile. The two shook hands and bowed slightly to one another. "Good luck!" They said to eachother in unison and turned around, walking towards their own sides of the arena.
<Decided to split it into two parts to break it up and to let other characters have a chance to react to stuff, sorry it came out a bit later than expected.>
