"No way."
"Cooling off should be done personally."
On the sun-drenched sands of Blue Pearl Beach, the girls were deep into a game of beach volleyball. The excitement was palpable as the match was about to kick off.
The family team, consisting of Lillie, Lusamine, and Serena, took their positions against the formidable opponents: Cynthia, Caitlin, Lorelei, and Daisy Oak, forming the powerhouse team. Clair and Hoopa stepped up as referees.
Clair was a special guest invited by Carl, while Lorelei, in the area for work, decided to join in when she heard about the event.
With a call from Hoopa, the intense match began. Clair's presence ensured Caitlin couldn't use her powers to gain an edge, and Hoopa's watchful eyes kept everyone from relying on their Pokémon's abilities.
"I got it!" Lusamife dashed forward to intercept the ball before it hit the ground. Despite being shorter than Lusamine, she was taller than Lillie and Serena, matching Clair and Caitlin in height. Her well-proportioned figure, especially her long legs, made her exceptionally agile on the sand.
Each of the nine girls on the court had her unique charm. Lusamine and Lusamife shared a striking resemblance but exuded different styles. Lillie, with her signature braid, radiated youthful energy. Cynthia and Lorelei not only boasted stunning looks but also carried the distinctive aura of high-ranking officials. Clair and Caitlin resembled fairy-tale characters, a Cinderella and Snow White duo, while Daisy Oak exuded an intellectual beauty. Serena perfectly embodied the charm of the girl next door.
Together, this group of women was a breathtaking sight, each individually captivating, but collectively, they shone even brighter, offering a visual feast that was hard to look away from.
Yet their beauty was just the surface. Their backgrounds were equally impressive. Lusamine and her daughters controlled the Aether Foundation, the wealthiest family in the region. Cynthia hailed from the renowned temple clan in Sinnoh, a champion with global influence.
Lorelei, one of the elite four from Kanto, was unmatched in her research on ice-type Pokémon, revered as a world-class expert. Caitlin came from a family of psychic masters, commanding respect even from Cynthia's lineage, with abilities rivaling elite Pokémon.
Daisy Oak belonged to Kanto's most prestigious family, her grandfather being the famous Professor Oak, and she herself was a Pokémon research expert. Though Clair's psychic talents didn't match Caitlin's, under Carl's guidance, her skills had progressed rapidly.
Serena seemed the most ordinary, with her family running a large ranch, but her culinary skills, makeup prowess, and massage expertise made her Carl's favorite. Her exceptional cooking even won over legendary Pokémon like Mew and Hoopa.
Now gathered on a private beach, they could finally drop their public facades. Here, they didn't need to worry about others' opinions, allowing each to reveal her true self. For those used to constant attention, this freedom was a rare luxury.
Their swimwear was as varied as their personalities. Lusamife's bikini barely contained her impressive figure. Lusamine's one-piece, though conservative, showcased her exquisite legs.
Cynthia and Lorelei opted for tie-up swimsuits, modest in front but open-backed, perfect for showing off sunscreen application. Lillie and Serena's outfits emphasized youthful vibrance. Caitlin was the most conservative, wearing a dress to the beach, contrasting sharply with Clair.
Unfortunately, Carl missed this stunning scene, fast asleep on a beach chair. It wasn't out of aloofness but sheer exhaustion from the previous night, leaving him in a contemplative state.
The night before had been eventful. Lillie and the others had planned to visit Blue Pearl Beach the previous afternoon, but Carl postponed it, claiming evening plans, to align with a scheduled check-in time, avoiding unnecessary travel for Hoopa. But the main reason was a rematch with Clair after dinner.
Their last tie left Carl unsatisfied, prompting him to challenge Clair again. She seemed equally eager, enthusiastically kissing him before accepting the challenge. This time, Carl brought out a massive Steelix, twice the size of a typical one due to consuming special minerals, its sheer size intimidating.
Clair was stunned by the towering Pokémon, momentarily speechless. In her flustered state, she sent out a petite Espeon, a mismatch in scale.
Carl's strategy was aggressive. Steelix, enhancing its defense and speed with moves like Harden and Rock Polish, burrowed underground for surprise attacks. Espeon struggled to cope, and Clair found herself on the defensive.
Espeon attempted to charm its opponent, but Carl quickly adjusted tactics. Steelix, with its fortified defenses and speed, easily resisted Dazzling Gleam. Eventually, Espeon conceded defeat.
Clair sent out Slowbro next. Carl commanded Steelix to target it with Iron Head, but Clair anticipated this. Slowbro abandoned psychic moves, countering with water-type attacks. The battle intensified. Under the barrage of water moves, Steelix's agility increased, leading to a simultaneous knockout.
Though Carl had the upper hand, he aimed to widen his lead, bringing out Blaziken, while Clair chose Exeggutor. Confident, Carl was caught off guard by Clair's near-champion psychic prowess.
"This is unfair!" Carl protested. "Trainers aren't supposed to attack directly!"
Blaziken, after rigorous training, boasted impressive defenses and formidable fire abilities. It launched moves like Blaze Kick and Flare Blitz, enveloping itself in flames and charging at the opponent. Exeggutor was quickly engulfed in fire.
As victory seemed certain, Clair's psychic ability turned the tide. Her skills neared champion level, while Carl's psychic and aura abilities were only advanced. Although his Sky Power rivaled elite flying Pokémon attacks, it was too late.
In Clair's gym, Carl couldn't harness the World Tree's power. While he could call on Hoopa for an escape, it was undignified. Ultimately, he begrudgingly accepted defeat.
Blaziken, even without Carl's guidance, fought fiercely on instinct, countering with Flare Blitz. This powerful move inflicted self-damage, rapidly depleting its energy.
Fortunately, it knew some flying moves. Bounce allowed it to launch high attacks, repeatedly wounding Exeggutor. Sand Attack, though less powerful, was disruptive, covering Exeggutor in sand. Occasionally, it gathered energy for a headlong charge, breaking through barriers.
Clair, connected with Exeggutor, unconsciously retracted her psychic powers, giving Carl a slight reprieve. But with the aid of Origin Tea, Clair could heal injuries and restore stamina through her psychic abilities.