Manaka didn't mind fighting dirty, either. In fact, when the battle came, she was more concerned with sowing confusion than participating in any one-on-one scuffle. And, of course, the Pokémon at her side had been chosen for exactly that strategy.

Which was to say that while Ash was preoccupied with tackling one of the other grunts, a Mismagius practically materialized out of the shadows behind him and his Pokémon, letting out a sparkling pulse of light with a toss of its head.