Alyssa ran across the orchard, wind whipping through her loose hair, her breath steady, her gaze sharp. She moved with the surety of someone who knew the rhythm of battle — like a maestro taking her place before the storm. Above her, Noir tore through the sky — a black arrow streaking toward the thunderhead.
The Alpha Corviknight hovered in the air like an omen. A hulking shadow of iron and fury, its wings stretched wide like the sails of a ghost ship. Its eyes burned with crimson fire, and its cry sounded like rusted armor grinding under its own weight.
Alyssa didn't flinch.
— "Noir, accelerate! Spiral attack!"
Noir dove like a thunderbolt, the air screaming around his wings. The first impact was thunderous: steel clashing against steel, wing against claw. A shockwave tore through the orchard, shaking trees and hurling leaves into the sky.
The Alpha recoiled but did not retreat. It had seen enough in that first collision to know Noir was strong — but it had its own brutal strength. It screamed in defiance and summoned its kin.
They came.
Three Corvisquire burst from the treetops, loyal wingmen to their tyrant. One darted in from the left, beak stabbing like a dagger. Noir twisted, dodging midair, but the second swooped in low, claws raking his chest. Blood flecked the wind. Alyssa's heart seized, but her voice was firm.
— "Noir! Hyper Voice, now!"
Noir's scream erupted in a rippling wave of sonic force. The two attackers were flung back, one crashing through branches with a painful shriek. But the third used the moment of distraction to strike — slamming into Noir's flank. The dragon-bat lost altitude, staggering in the sky.
On the ground, Edward and his Houndour watched silently. The young man's fists were clenched.
— "He's... getting wrecked," Edward muttered, his voice caught between awe and worry.
But Alyssa didn't stop moving. She weaved through the trees, never losing sight of the sky — orchestrating the battle like a general, like a storm in motion.
— "Noir, climb! We're ending this from above!"
Wounded but unwavering, Noir rose. His wings beat heavy and hard, each flap fueled by sheer will. He shot upward, cutting through the flock like smoke. One enemy bit into his wing, another clawed at his leg — but he powered through.
Alyssa closed her eyes for one heartbeat. She listened: the rush of wind, the shivering leaves, the chaos above.
Then, a whisper:
— "Dragon Pulse."
Noir roared.
From his jaws burst a swirling, violet-blue spiral of energy — a comet of rage and fury. It ripped through the Corvisquire like a lance, striking two midair before slamming into the Alpha. The sky lit up with blue fire as the mighty bird was hurled backwards, crashing into his own allies.
And yet... he remained airborne. Furious.
The Alpha lunged, closing the distance fast. What followed was carnage — a clash of wings, fangs, and steel. Noir evaded by instinct, but he was slowing. Bleeding. Each wingbeat heavier than the last.
The Alpha struck with metal claws. Noir dropped again, barely catching himself.
Edward took a step forward.
— "He's going to fall…"
But Alyssa didn't flinch. Her eyes remained locked on the sky, sharp as daggers.
— "Come on, Noir… don't let that overgrown chicken act like he owns the skies."
Noir's eyes flashed.
Broken, bruised, but still flying.
Then the Alpha was engulfed in blue light. It surged forward like a missile — a Brave Bird. Alyssa's eyes widened. A dangerous move. Lethal if it landed. But also...
An opportunity.
She watched as the sky shimmered with the image of an azure eagle hurtling toward Noir. Her voice dropped to a breath.
— "Wait… wait…"
Noir trusted her. He didn't move.
The Alpha came closer. Closer.
Then—
— "Acrobatics! NOW!"
Noir vanished from view for a second — a blur in the sky — then reappeared, skimming beneath the Alpha's wing. In a dizzying flip, he struck from below, claws spread wide. The blow hit clean — like lightning splitting an ancient tree.
The Alpha Corviknight spiraled down. Alyssa's triumphant smile barely had time to form.
Her eyes sharpened.
— "Now, Noir — Dragon Rush!"
The skies ignited.
Noir was consumed in a roaring, radiant aura shaped like a massive dragon. He dove, trailing fire and fury, a comet of raw power descending upon the Alpha.
The wounded Corviknight tried to stop its fall just above the ground — wings flaring — but it was too late.
Noir struck like a meteor.
An explosion of energy engulfed the orchard, shaking the earth.
Silence.
The battlefield held its breath.
As the dust and smoke cleared, a crater came into view. At its center stood Noir, one claw on the Alpha's neck, the other pinning its wing to the dirt.
The Alpha was unconscious — beaten, broken, conquered. Noir roared, a thunderclap across the trembling sky.
Alyssa stepped forward slowly, pulling a black Pokéball with twin yellow stripes from her belt. She tossed it.
It clicked on contact. Rocked once. Twice. A third time.
Click.
Captured.
She walked to the ball, picking it up with quiet reverence, and slipped it into her coat. Then, with a soft laugh, she pressed her forehead to Noir's.
He nuzzled her gently, smearing blood across her cheek.
High above, the remaining Corvisquire faltered. They hovered, lost, and then scattered like smoke.
Alyssa smiled, watching the sky return to peace.
— "You were perfect, my friend. A thunderclap in the starlit night."
She wrapped her arms around her battered Noivern, uncaring of the blood.
Edward stood frozen.
— "That was…" He struggled for words — "Incredible."