The soft buzz of fluorescent lights fills the air. The staff room smells faintly of Oran Berry tea and disinfectant. A half-empty box of PokéPuffs sits on the counter. Slumped over the folding bed, in a nest of scrunched-up blankets is our protagonist Mia.
Dark circles under her eyes. PokéCenter staff badge dangling sideways. She's out cold.
Mia mumbling in her sleep...
" Let's do this, Audino!"
She raises her left hand—nestled in her bracelet is a Key Stone, gleaming with a pink hue. Her voice steadies as she chants:
"Let's show them our bonds Audino! Mega Evolve!"
The arena dims slightly. A pulse of light erupts from Mia's Keystone. Glowing threads of color—pink, gold, and soft white—arc like lightning to Audino's chest. The energy swirls around her Pokémon in a spiral storm.
Audino's eyes glow, ears elongating as ethereal curls extend from her face like angelic ribbons. His body becomes more lithe yet more radiant, as layers of pastel fur swirl out like silk in the wind. A luminous halo-like structure floats behind his head, shaped like a musical note woven with light.
Mega Audino exuding calm and overwhelming presence—each step on the battlefield leaves ripples of warm energy.
The crowd goes wild.
"WOOOOAH! MEGA AUDINO!!!"
"HE'S SO BEAUTIFUL!"
"IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING?!"
The trainer she's facing have a grim-faced, brushing back his coat, but then cracks a smirk.
"Tch... impressive. But don't count us out yet. Right, Garchomp?"
Garchomp snarls, slamming his tail against the ground, claws digging into the platform.
Mia with her unwavering spirit.
"Now, Audino—Let's greet them with Misty Terrain! !"
He snaps his fingers.
"Dragon Rush, full power! stop them"
Garchomp roars, body becoming wreathed in violent blue flames as he charges like a missile toward Audino. The ground fractures beneath him.
Mega Audino raises his arms, a soft hum echoes. From his hands, a wave of shimmering pink mist bursts forward. The mist collides with the rushing Garchomp.
The host shouting over the chaos
"It's a full-on collision! Audino's Misty Terrain neutralizes dragon-type power, and Garchomp might be in trouble with this advantage!"
" Now Audino... Moon blast!"
With a graceful leap forward ears twitching, Audino's body glows with the power of the moon itself. Blinding light forms in front of his, the energy shifting and crackling with celestial glow.
The moon blast charge forward in a direction striking Garchomp squarely in the chest.
"Garchomp" snarling in pain
The impact knocks the wind out of it as it stumbles backward, the power of the Moonblast overwhelming its defenses. The battlefield shudders as Garchomp's body wavers, the once ferocious dragon now clearly winded.
As the dust settles, Garchomp skids back, panting, small burns across his scales. Mega Audino stands tall, glowing softly, unharmed, serene as ever.
He gritted his teeth
"Shit... they are strong. But I wouldn't want it any other way."
He nods to Garchomp.
"You good?"
Garchomp growls low, nodding once.
Eyes glinting
"Then let's bring the storm. Earthquake! Shake the whole arena!"
Audino leaps lightly as the floor begins to crack. Mia calls out—
"Double Team! Now!"
Dozens of Audino illusions flash out in all directions, dodging debris, moving like whispers.
"This is more than a battle—this is art! His raw might against Mia's graceful strategy! Who's going to crack first?!"
Scene ends with both trainers staring down, Mia's hand on her heart, while his hand curled into a fist.
Mia smiling gently
"We won't back down. Not now."
And also on the opposite side trainer was grinning.
"Good. I'd hate to win easy."
SLAP! SLAP!
A pink paw whips across Mia's face. She jerks awake with a loud snort.
" …Wait, huh?!"
She groggily wake up her eyes focus. Audino is on the armrest, her face the dictionary definition of "I've had enough of this nonsense." Chansey waddles in, sipping tea from a dainty cup, watching like it's a soap opera.
Mia was rubbing her face
"Ow! Ow! What the heck?! What time is it?!"
Chansey simply pointed at the clock
"Chansey."
6:43 AM. Mia's shift starts in 17 minutes.
Mia still tangled in blanket
"I… I was in the Indigo Plateau… we were in the semifinals… Mega Evolution… we had the moment."
Audino raises a brow and gently boops her nose.
"I've been thinking of this mega evolution thing... causing this dream"
She collapses back onto the bed
"Audi." Audino said while waving his paws.
"Yes, yes. I'm awake now. Thank you, Mr. Slaps-a-lot."
She groggily stands, swaying like a tired Ludicolo walking out of the staff room, holding a clipboard upside down, shoes mismatched. Audino and Chansey exchange a look, sigh in sync, and follow their trainer to yet another exhausting—but very real—day.
To Be Continued…