Pokemon: The Gameboy Effect

Block was a simple but devastating move, one that prevented opposing Pokemon from being recalled to their Pokeballs. Similar moves like Mean Look, Spider Web, and Jaw Lock served the same purpose, as did abilities like Shadow Tag. John's opening gambit had been a calculated risk based on his analysis of Damon's battle patterns.

Despite his arrogant public persona, Damon's actual fighting style was methodical and cautious. When faced with type disadvantages, he typically switched Pokemon eight times out of ten. The bravado was just a mask, underneath lay a strategist who preferred calculated risks to reckless aggression.

John had gambled on this psychological profile, and it had paid off spectacularly.

Within seconds, Damon's battle-hardened composure returned, his eyes narrowing with newfound respect. He suspected John had not only predicted his first command but possibly even anticipated his opening Pokemon choice.

'What kind of mental fortitude does this kid have? Damon wondered. A newborn calf truly isn't afraid of tigers. To make such bold predictions when challenging an Elite Four member...'

He had to admit, if John hadn't used Block, Aggron would have been at a severe disadvantage against whatever Pokemon Damon switched in. The kid had turned a potentially disastrous opening into a commanding position with one perfectly timed move.

"Dragonite, Hurricane!" Damon commanded, his voice steady despite his internal surprise.

Dragonite's small wings beat furiously, generating powerful winds that swirled and twisted across the battlefield. The gusts curved back on themselves, building momentum until a massive tornado towered dozens of meters high, with Dragonite spinning at its center.

But John's keen eyes caught something crucial, a brief flash of silver light around Dragonite just before the hurricane engulfed it.

Dragon Dance, John realized with growing excitement. He's combining Hurricane with Dragon Dance... I suppose you could call that Hurricane Dragon Dance. Interesting technique.

He filed the combination away for future training with his own Pokemon.

"Aggron, Rock Slide!" John called out, snapping his fingers with theatrical flair.

"ROOOAAARRR!"

Aggron's deafening roar tore across the battlefield, and something extraordinary happened. Dark cracks appeared in the sky above like tears in reality itself, rapidly expanding into circular portals that connected to some otherworldly space.

Golden spikes began raining down from these dimensional rifts, not ordinary rocks, but gleaming projectiles that caught the arena lights like precious metal. This wasn't due to any held item or special ability. John's Shiny Aggron had begun to evolve its Rock-type into something approaching "Golden Stone", a phenomenon similar to how his Zeraora's electrical attacks had evolved beyond normal Thunder-type moves.

This transformation granted enhanced destructive power and created rocks that were both harder and heavier than normal. John theorized this evolution stemmed from the magical water he absorbed from the river they discovered at the Onix cemetery at the begginnig of his journey, though he couldn't be entirely certain why Aggron had achieved this transformation while his Tyranitar hadn't.

Each falling golden spike carried devastating force, and with Rock-type moves dealing double damage to Dragonite's Flying typing, the attack promised to be brutal.

Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air, not from the falling rocks, but from something moving at incredible speed across the battlefield.

Dragonite had burst from its hurricane, both fists glowing with brilliant energy as it streaked toward Aggron like a golden missile. The wind from its passage slapped against John's face before the dragon even arrived.

"Extreme Speed combined with Brick Break," John analyzed, his tactical awareness sharpening. "Classic Elite Four combination techniques."

This was what separated Elite trainers from the rest, their Pokemon excelled at multitasking, seamlessly blending two or three moves into devastating combinations. The Hurricane and Dragon Dance combo had boosted both offense and defense while concealing Dragonite's movements, making the already surprise-heavy Extreme Speed even more unpredictable. The speed boost would make the Fighting-type Brick Break hit with tremendous force.

And Brick Break was the perfect choice, a Fighting-type move that would deal quadruple damage to Aggron's Steel/Rock typing.

John calmly raised his hand in response.

"Aggron, Iron Defense."

Brilliant silver-white light enveloped Aggron as its defensive capabilities skyrocketed. But the metallic glow was just the beginning—it was quickly replaced by the rainbow radiance of something far more spectacular.

Iron Defense had been John's command to his Pokemon. But as the trainer himself, he was invoking the power of his Key Stone.

"Mega Evolution!" he called out. "Aggron!"

When the colorful evolutionary light faded, a transformed Aggron stood revealed. Sharper edges, thicker steel plating, increased mass and height, the golden mountain had become a golden fortress.

Mega Aggron's defensive capabilities were legendary, with defense stats that rivaled even some legendary Pokemon. Combined with the Iron Defense boost and the quadruple resistance to Fighting-type moves...

The collision was about to be spectacular.