Pokemon : Rewind

"Hitmontop, use Rapid Spin!" Chigusa's eyes lit up with determination. As long as her Pokémon could still fight, the battle wasn't over. She believed she and Hitmontop still had a chance to turn things around.

"Montop!" Hitmontop shouted as it balanced on its head, using the horn to support its spinning body. 

A surge of Normal-Type energy enveloped it, spinning it rapidly like a top. The air around it shimmered with heat as its speed increased, boosting its agility.

"Keep the spin going and use Triple Kick!" Chigusa commanded, her movements mirroring her instructions as she threw three rapid punches in sync with Hitmontop's rotations.

"Montop!" Hitmontop cried again as it spun closer to Pikachu. The first kick lashed out with impressive precision, aimed at Pikachu's forehead.

"Dodge it!" Ash called, his voice steady. Pikachu leapt backward effortlessly, evading the blow with a quick movement.

"You dodged it?!" Chigusa's confidence wavered for a moment, but she clenched her fists. "It doesn't matter—there are still two more hits!"

Hitmontop adjusted its spin, reversing direction in a counterclockwise motion to aim its second kick. The move was fluid, but Pikachu sidestepped it even more easily than before.

"Impossible!" Chigusa gasped, her confidence beginning to crack. "There's still one more chance! Hitmontop, go!"

Hitmontop stopped again, this time spinning clockwise to unleash the third kick. But the attack, though fast, was riddled with flaws. Pikachu dodged yet again, barely needing to exert effort.

"It's too slow," Ash observed, shaking his head. "The moves are flashy but lack efficiency. There are too many unnecessary movements—it's more like a dance routine than a real attack."

Chigusa froze, stunned by Ash's critique. Rapid Spin and Triple Kick were supposed to be powerful moves, but in her execution, they were slow and disjointed, giving her opponent ample time to react.

"Pikachu, end this with Iron Tail," Ash instructed calmly.

"Pika!" Pikachu's eyes focused, and its tail gleamed with a metallic sheen. Lowering its body, it spun around, striking the base of Hitmontop's spin with a precise sweep.

The impact threw Hitmontop off balance, interrupting its Rapid Spin. Before Hitmontop could recover, Pikachu swung its tail again, hitting it squarely and sending it flying across the battlefield.

Hitmontop tumbled over ten meters before finally coming to a stop. Its strength was completely drained.

"Hitmontop is unable to battle! Pikachu wins!" Brock announced, his tone calm and unsurprised. Pikachu had dominated the battle without breaking a sweat.

"Why...?" Chigusa whispered, staring at the fallen Hitmontop. Her frustration wasn't just about losing—it was the realization that her cherished techniques had been utterly ineffective.

"I warned you, Chigusa," Mr. Kenzo said, stepping closer. His voice was firm but not unkind. 

"Your battle dance is too focused on appearances. Against novices, it might catch them off guard. But against a true Trainer, your moves are riddled with vulnerabilities."

"Is that really true...?" Chigusa turned to Ash, seeking confirmation from the one who had defeated her so decisively.

Ash nodded, though his voice carried a hint of empathy. "Your moves are creative, but they're not practical. You're prioritizing flashiness over effectiveness. If you keep going down this path, you'll only make things harder for yourself."

"But what's wrong with pursuing elegance and style in battle?" Chigusa protested, her voice trembling with desperation.

"There's nothing wrong with it," Mr. Kenzo interrupted, surprising Chigusa. Her grandfather, who had always criticized her, now seemed to validate her ideals.

"But," he continued, "true elegance in battle comes from disguising your weaknesses, not exposing them. Your rhythm and movements only make it easier for opponents to predict your actions."

Chigusa took a step back, shocked. She had assumed her grandfather didn't understand her fighting style, but now she realized he had seen through her flaws all along.

"Contest-style battling, where beauty meets strength, does exist," Ash added. "In the Hoenn region, Coordinators combine dazzling moves with real battle strategies. Jerry, the Hoenn League Champion, is a perfect example. He's both a top Coordinator and a powerful Trainer."

Chigusa's eyes widened. "Jerry... the Champion?"

Ash nodded. "He started out as a Coordinator and faced a lot of criticism early on. But through hard work and training, he refined his style, proving that Contest moves can be effective in actual combat. Now, he's respected as one of the strongest Trainers."

"Exactly," Kenzo agreed. "Even Jerry had to build a solid foundation before finding his unique style. Meanwhile, you've ignored the basics, hoping to jump straight into advanced techniques. You can't run a race before you've learned how to walk."

Chigusa lowered her head, her hands clenching at her sides. She wanted to argue but couldn't deny the truth of their words.

"Reflect on this," Kenzo said gently, though his tone was firm. "If you truly want to succeed, you'll need to start over and build your skills from the ground up. Only then can you create the fighting style you dream of."

Chigusa remained silent, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. She looked at Hitmontop, her loyal partner, and vowed silently to do better—for both their sakes.

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