Fragile Beauty

"Ariados, use String Shot!"

The black-striped Ariados threw back its head and spun out a torrent of silk. The white strands curled into rings across the sky, forming a tornado of silk.

Dian smiled faintly. It was an opening worthy of a Coordinator.

A deeper red seemed to glow within Beedrill's scarlet eyes. In an instant, it had completed its preparations with Focus Energy and Swords Dance.

Bzz!

Beedrill vanished. A blur streaked straight toward the heart of the white tornado.

"How foolish. No sense of beauty at all."

Harley's wary expression relaxed. Charging in without even waiting for a Trainer's command? How stupid.

"Ariados, show it what your String Shot can do."

He pointed forward. Once the silk caught and immobilized a Beedrill that relied on speed, his Ariados could do whatever it liked.

"Poor little Beedrill. Don't hold back, Ariados. Enjoy the meal that's come right to you. Oh-ho-ho!"

Harley clapped happily.

What he didn't know was that Dian felt exactly the same way. It would be a shame to pass up nourishment delivered to his doorstep.

Misdreavus only floated back then. She tilted her head at the Ariados, which made no attempt to dodge. This one must be stupid. It isn't even worth teasing.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Countless white strands formed a waterfall of silk before Ariados. As expected of a Pokémon trained by a Coordinator, it pursued beauty at every turn.

But a flash of purple tore through it. Every strand in Beedrill's path fell away without touching its body. It was wrapped in terrifying toxic venom; even metal wire might not have stopped it.

Besides, Beedrill's strength was frightening now. Even its fragile wings looked like metal.

The onlookers and Nurse Joy saw only a blur. Beedrill appeared before Ariados just as it finished spinning