A Master's "Sharp" Review

Streamers fluttered above the venue.

The audience and judges rose from their seats, giving the two Coordinators onstage thunderous applause in thanks for their spectacular performances.

"Nicely done."

Baimu patted Aggron's powerful arm.

"Roar!"

Aggron let out an excited growl, delighted that its Trainer had entrusted it with the decisive opportunity.

But after this battle, it had completely realized that Pokémon Contests were not for it.

It could not roar to its heart's content, could not unleash its moves to their fullest, and had to consider all sorts of tricks and techniques that looked pretty enough...

Take that Metal Burst just now, for example.

It had endured a combination of two Fire-type moves, yet to create silver fireworks, it had painfully guided the flames into the ball of light. In the end, it had only used thirty percent of its power to make it work.

In a proper battle, it could have fired Metal Burst straight back and followed up with five Rock Blasts. Even Flareon with three lives would have gone down. Why bother racking its brains over move counters and score exchanges?

Baimu knew Aggron had not gotten to fight to its satisfaction, so he stroked its horn in comfort before recalling it into its Poké Ball.

Yet before he could look for Ursula, Ursula came over on her own.

"Congratulations."

"Thanks. Your Flareon was amazing in its performance. It left me in awe." Baimu shook her hand.

His praise for Flareon was sincere. Its combat strength might have been a little lacking, but in terms of performance technique, it had surpassed Aggron by far.

What was more, as far as he knew, Flareon and the Vaporeon that had previously performed the Dragon Gate Leap were a doubles pair. Ursula also had a Plusle and Minun pair.

In