Dance of the Haze

From a distance, Dian watched Tomoya accept the Phantom Badge from the blond Morty, and something stirred inside him.

Perhaps, at the coming Silver Conference, he would be just another contestant, one of the stones at the base of the Champion's pyramid.

But next time would be different. Next time, he would claim the highest honor.

"Who's the next challenger?"

Morty nodded, then calmly returned to his position. For him, this seemed to be routine.

"I am. My name is Haya, and I'm from Violet City."

Haya still wore the same white dress she had worn when Dian first met her, but her expression had changed completely. She looked utterly serious now.

Dian wasn't the only one who had grown on their journey. The others had grown too, and even that little Cyndaquil had evolved into a Quilava.

She bowed to Morty and then to the referee. "I look forward to our match."

Then Haya threw her Poké Ball. "I'm counting on you, Murkrow!"

"Caw!"

A black, crowlike Pokémon with what looked like a wizard's hat took to the air and began circling overhead.

"What's that?"

Yue Wu asked curiously, "A Flying-type Pokémon?"

"Half right. It's both Flying-type and Dark-type."

An expectant smile touched Dian's lips. Dark-type moves were strong against Ghost-types, and as a Flying-type, Murkrow was no slower than Haunter.

Morty, for his part, had sent out only a Haunter against Haya's Murkrow.

"A Dark-type Pokémon? Hmm, it does look kind of sinister."

Yue Wu tapped her lips as she studied it. "It's just a little ugly."

Well, it was a little ugly. Still, it ranked fairly high among Dark-type Pokémon.

Then again... Dian rubbed his chin and nodded in agreement. She had a point. It was a little ugly.

He suddenly felt that he and little Yue