~Sorry
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Lopunny looked much like a rabbit from Earth pink eyes, a small nose, and long tufts of fur above its head. Its coat was a warm brown, with cream-colored feet and fluffy fur cuffs.
But anyone who thought it was "just a bunny" would be making a huge mistake.
Even a normal rabbit can bite when cornered this was the Pokémon world, where even the cutest creatures could knock you flat. And the fact that Whitney chose to send it out last meant she trusted it completely.
Kai, having already battled with Tyranitar and Scizor, decided his next fighter would be Dragonite. His three battlers were still in their growth phase, not yet on par with the likes of Gardevoir or Charizard, so he made sure to rotate them for experience.
The two sides took their positions. At the referee's signal, the third round began.
Lopunny immediately charged forward, her powerful legs launching her across the arena in swift hops.
Closing the gap in seconds, she leapt high into the air, legs together, aiming a flying kick straight at Dragonite's chest.
Kai could have ordered Dragonite to simply fly higher to avoid it, but instead, he decided to meet the challenge head-on.
"You like attacking from the front? Then let's go! Dragonite, Dragon Rage!"
Dragonite opened its mouth, unleashing a swirling, blue-green shockwave at the oncoming Lopunny.
But in a display of remarkable agility, she twisted mid-air, spinning several times to stall her fall until the blast passed beneath her then snapped back into her descent, striking Dragonite square in the belly with her feet.
Kai's eyes lit up. "That's some footwork…"
Then he shook it off. "But now's not the time to admire it! Dragonite, Thunder Wave!"
Electricity crackled between Dragonite's antennae, lancing toward Lopunny. Against most opponents at this range, the paralysis would have been guaranteed, but she pushed off hard and flipped backward, landing out of harm's way.
Even in these early exchanges, she was proving trickier than Kai's previous opponents.
"Lopunny, Quick Attack!" Whitney called.
Kai countered, "Dragonite take to the skies!"
If Lopunny was this evasive on the ground, then Dragonite needed to use its air superiority.
Whitney's frown deepened. This was exactly what she'd feared when Kai sent out a flier. On land, Lopunny's spring-loaded legs could toy with slower opponents, but against true flight… things got complicated.
"Wing Attack!" Kai ordered.
Dragonite dove in tight circles, picking up speed before unfurling its small yet powerful wings, aiming a heavy strike at Lopunny.
She sprinted across the open field, trying to outpace the assault but with no cover in the arena, there was nowhere to hide from an aerial hunter.
As Dragonite closed in, Lopunny leapt again, soaring upward just as before.
But Kai was ready for that trick this time.
"Thunder Punch—now!"
Dragonite shot upward alongside her, fists sparking with electricity, and slammed one straight into her jaw before she could twist away.
CRACK!
The impact drove her to the ground, rolling across the dirt. She managed to avoid injury thanks to her thick tufts of fur, but as she rose, her body seized up paralysis had taken hold.
"Come on, Lopunny! Shake it off!" Whitney called desperately.
Lopunny tried, but her muscles refused to obey. Dragonite swooped in from behind, moving like a golden eagle locking onto prey.
"Dragon Rush!" Kai commanded.
Tucking its wings, Dragonite became a yellow missile, the horn on its head growing larger in Lopunny's terrified eyes.
WHAM!
The blow sent her flying out of bounds, where she hit the ground and didn't get back up.
The referee glanced down, then raised her flag. "Lopunny is unable to battle! The winner of this Gym match is Kai!"
Whitney sighed, returning Lopunny to its ball. These were her three strongest Pokémon, yet she hadn't taken a single round. Frustration bubbled under the surface, but she couldn't change the outcome.
Putting on a smile, she walked over to Kai, now joined by Erika at his side, and said warmly, "You're amazing. I couldn't beat you, so here's your Plain Badge. Keep it safe."
Kai accepted it, the gleaming emblem of his victory.
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