The sliding wooden doors opened, letting the light of the day pass through into the gym. Ellie had expected the lobby to be bustling on first entry. But, her initial impressions couldn't have been more wrong.

  She found two potted bamboo shoots standing on either side of the lobby as they walked in, neatly trimmed so as to not take up too much space, but to instead instil a calming aura in her surroundings. The interior looked mostly the same as the outside, with no deceiving differences between the interior and exterior like with the Pokémon Centre. It had the appearance of a dojo both in and out. Steely deep concentration, with planked wood and tiled rooves hanging above.

  "Hm, must be a quiet day," Lucas commented, glancing around the empty space, before his eyes settled on the only other person in the room, standing behind the reception desk. A bored expression sat engraved on his face, clicking away on what looked to be an ancient desktop PC. Lucas thought they only used those computers as props for movies, to date them well in the past. Yet, here one stood, the monitor very boxed and large like a TV, scuffs of age chipping away at its white paint. The receptionist glanced up at the sound of the doors shutting, eyes reinvigorating with sparks of life.

  "Oh, hello! Are you here for a Gym Battle?" he chippered an unusually cheerful tune. At least for someone looking so bored only a moment ago.

  "Yes, we are!" Lucas answered for Ellie, gently nudging her along, as she took note of the man's appearance. Light brown hair adorned his head, growing darker in shade the more it reached the tips of the slight curls that obscured small chunks of his face. His warm orange eyes stood out against his dark beige skin, appearing small even within the confines of his rimless glasses, yet still bright enough in colour to draw anyone's attention.

  For his outfit, it seemed modest, as expected of a Normal type gym. A simple grey blazer over a white shirt, cream trousers, with black suede shoes to finish it off. An average person, dressing what looked to be business casual, with the only thing really remarkable about him being the badge hanging on his jacket. Shaped like a barbell, with two circles hanging on either side. Presumably Ellie's prize, should she be successful in toppling the gym.

  "Excellent! I can offer you a gym battle right now, if you'd like!"

  "Right now?" Ellie asked. She shouldn't have been too surprised, with the lack of people around the area, nor could she hear the thunder of attacks in the back room. Ellie had anticipated a little more time. But, she'd rather get it over with, rather than let anxiety flutter in her chest any longer.

  "Of course, if you're up for it?"

  "Yes, we can do it now," Ellie answered.

  "Alright, sounds good!" the receptionist exclaimed, gesturing to follow him into the back room. His hands slid into his pockets, whistling as he made his way to the back door, throwing it open. "Come on in!"

  Doing just as they were told, the two stepped through the door. Her hand tightly gripped Mudkip's Pokeball as she entered, bracing herself for the hardest trainer battle she'd ever faced. The gym leader would be on the other side, challenging her to a battle. Ellie knew the gym was normal, but knew nothing of the Pokemon the leader used. A blind spot Ellie hadn't rectified with even the slightest bit of research. But, that didn't matter. Now, she had the opportunity to show off what she could do! Her strength, with Mudkip by her side.

  It was another empty room. Nothing seemed to be as Ellie expected today.

  Akin to a much larger version of the lobby, potted bamboo dotted the exterior of the room, with small wooden benches for spectating sitting at either side. Then, at the centre, sat a small battlefield, dug ever so slightly into the ground, with a high roof stretching far above the battlefield. Spotlessly clean to the naked eye too, without a scuff or scratch engraved on either the wooden floor, walls or roofing. A task that seemed impossible to Ellie, knowing the scale of the battles that occurred within the hall she stood in. Still, how on Earth could they keep it that way? Especially with challengers coming in with Fire-type Pokémon.

  "Sorry, how do you keep this place from burning down with Fire types if its all made of wood?" Ellie queried. The receptionist answered with a smile, flicking his finger and saying,

  "Well, this wood is some special wood that is immune to any temperature change, or most brute force, meaning that it can withstand a great beating! Despite its appearance, its toughness is closer to stone or concrete," the receptionist explained, pulling a remote out of his pocket. Pressing a couple of the buttons, a sudden flash of light appeared around the battlefield, like a protective barrier. Then, it disappeared shortly after. "Plus, we have a barrier to protect trainers from any Pokémon attacks that might fly outside the battlefield. So, no, the gym won't burn if there's a Fire-type."

  "Good to know." Lucas exchanged mischievous glances with his Torchic, resting upon his shoulder. An expression that couldn't help but attract a giggle from the receptionist.

  "Aren't you two cute?" he muttered, rubbing Torchic under the chin. "I'm assuming you'll be the one challenging me?"

  "Oh, no, not today!" Lucas glanced to Ellie, throwing out jazz hands to introduce her. Or, at least, the biggest jazz hands he could do with Zorua still rocked in his arms. "Meet Ellie!"

  "T-That's my name," she blushed with embarrassment, sheepishly looking away.

  "My apologies then." the receptionist bowed, then reared his head back up, glancing down at the challenger. "How many badges do you have thus far?"

  "This'll be my first."

  "Alright, no problem." the man gestured to either side of the battlefield with both hands. "Choose whichever side you would like."

  "I'll just take this one." Ellie pointed to the side closest to her, the receptionist nodding in understanding.

  "Can I just take a seat here?" Lucas pointed to a wooden bench as the receptionist continued walking further across the room.

  "Of course, make yourself comfy!" he insisted with a thumbs up. Lucas quickly settled down at confirmation of his allowance, setting Torchic down on the bench on Lucas' left side. Zorua jumped from his arms onto the bench, too, sitting on the on the right. Then, just as quickly, Zorua placed its weight down, its ears flopping in an attempt to rest. But, a rustling in Lucas' backpack pushed those thoughts of rest to the back of its mind, tail wagging in anticipation. Then, when Lucas let the pink box fly open, Zorua had to hold itself back not to tear the box to shreds and scoff all that remained inside.

  "Now, these are for if you promise to be quiet and watch the battle peacefully," Lucas bargained, placing the two Pokepuffs by his Pokemon. The blackberry creation for Zorua, and a Sitrus pastry for Torchic. "Deal?" he asked. The Pokemon responded by eagerly digging in.

  Zorua's claws hacked away, grabbing chunks of the pastry at a time, then licking its claws clean of crumbs and frosting. A messy way to eat, especially when the sugar rush only added to the manic hacking. Lucas ended up wincing at some points, seeing its ferocious claws tear apart the beautiful creation. Then, Torchic at the other side, savoring every bite. Reaching down with its beak, pecking out a small chunk, then throwing it up into the air and catching it in its beak again. It ate just like a bird. Adorable.

  "Mudkip, let's prove our worth!"

  Lucas' head finally turned to the battle at hand. Ellie stood stoic at one side, lobbing her Pokeball onto the battlefield. Against the ground the capsule exploded, bursting out with her Water starter. It proudly waddled onto the battlefield, its paws scraping against the wood, though never making a mark. Its eyes then glanced back to its trainer. Ellie smiled, separated by an invisible barrier, but still fighting as one. She took a steady breath, fingers wiggling through the air, glancing up to the opposite side. But, only upon her glancing up did she notice...

  Still, there stood no gym leader to fight. Despite this, the receptionist seemed to not have a single problem. Setting the remote down at the back wall, he snuck his hands into his pockets, strolling then standing opposite to Ellie. Routinely, he began to explain,

  "Alright, the rules should be 2v2 battles, where the gym leader cannot make substitutions but the challenger may. The battle ends when one party has no Pokemon left to battle. Understood?"

  "Understood, but...where's the gym leader?" she asked, looking around, expecting for him to perhaps appear from the backroom. But, no person ever came. The receptionist sighed, chuckling to himself. His eyes grazed against the roof, reflecting in silence. Ellie suddenly found the moment uncomfortable, without anything to say. But, the receptionist was more than happy to speak in her place.

  "A surprisingly common question, I suppose no trainers ever muses on the idea that a gym leader can work two jobs."

  With a flicker of his wrist, his glasses fell from his face, piercing orange eyes exploding with life. Fire erupted deep in the back of his iris, eyes expanding. His arm recoiled back. In a swift motion, his jacket left from his torso, drifting towards the clean floors. Then, in the other hand, he reached into his pocket, revealing a shrunken down Pokeball that danced through his fingers. With a smirk wide, he laughed, declaring,

  "I am Seijo, the Petalburg Gym Leader! And, I accept your challenge!"

  Lobbing the Pokeball through the barrier, it smashed open against the ground, revealing a small Taillow. Rather underwhelming given the grand entrance. Yet, the little guy squawked with some impressive guts. Holding out his arm, the Pokeball bounced its way back into Seijo's palm, as smooth as a block of ice. His face dropped for a moment, steeling himself with a deep breath.

  Then, his eyes flared up once more, smiling from ear to ear. Despite having said it so many times, and hearing his fellow gym leaders complain about their rehearsed lines, he never really grew tired of shouting it out each time. Maybe he'd grow tired of it, still in the honeymoon phase with the job. But, looking at Ellie's dumbfounded face, Seijo doubted he'd ever outgrow it.

  Ellie's arm went limp, her brain stopping function for a moment. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Lucas smirk. Snickering, holding back his laughs, yet keeping his gaze fixated on Ellie so she could see his mocking eyes. It seemed obvious to everyone else, yet she had remained oblivious. Rolling her eyes (albeit with her outer lip slightly upturned), she pushed all those thoughts to the back of her mind. Now was the time to focus on the battle.

  Lucas finally looked away from the trainer and more toward the gym leader, noting both Pokemon. He recognised the Taillow from exploring the Routes just outside his hometown, although he hadn't really given them much thought outside of them being the ordinary Pokémon you'd see on an everyday walk. Much less did he anticipate them being the first Pokémon Ellie would face in a gym battle.

  Taillow, the Tiny Swallow Pokémon.

  Taillow courageously stands its ground against foes, however strong they may be. This gutsy Pokémon will remain defiant even after a loss. On the other hand, it cries loudly if it becomes hungry.

  The Pokedex read out loud; loud enough that Ellie could hear its notes in the background. Looking at the Pokémon, it fit the description too. Small in stature, but ignorant of that fact, letting out a mighty cry as it took to the skies in anticipation of the battle. Ellie let the air flow through her lungs, taking a deep breath. Mudkip looked back at its trainer, both nodding to each other. Then, the Mud Fish Pokemon turned and growled at Taillow.

  "I take that to mean you are ready?" Seijo shouted. Ellie responded with a firm nod; the type of confidence he wanted to see. Even if inside, Ellie knew her confidence wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. "Alright, battle begin!"

  Just like that, the battle was off. But, not to the blazing start Seijo would've expected from a new challenger. After all, lots of trainers weren't experienced enough to know when to wait and look for an opening, instead throwing out a random attack in the hopes that it would hit. But, contrary to what he expected, Ellie bided her time and waited.

  Her gaze didn't move, concentrated on Mudkip, then Taillow, her eyes constantly shifting and glancing to keep note of what was going on. Taillow continued to antagonize Mudkip, crying and squawking, attempting to get them to make a move. Ellie remained steadfast in her game plan, however. She'd wait for Taillow to make the first move. Seijo smiled, beginning to see her plan in inaction. But, it only worked if she could succeed at keeping Taillow out. Time to see how she handled pressure.

  "No bite? Alright then, we'll strike first!" he cried, pointing to Taillow, "Taillow, use Quick Attack!"

  Taillow, finally getting an excuse to fight, quickly darted around the battlefield. In a flash, gone, only to reappear moments later, moving a great chunk of the battlefield with every disappearance. To make matters worse, it flew a good distance above the Water type too. Whatever attack Mudkip countered with, it'd take some time to reach its target. Still, Mudkip's head darted from side to side, trying to catch it blitzing through the air. The woosh its wings made alerted the Water type to its location, but Mudkip always seemed like it moved too slowly to properly catch Taillow moving. Taking a deep breath, Ellie cried,

  "Keep your eyes on Taillow, wait for an opening!"

  Truthfully, she spoke as much to herself as she did to Mudkip. Her eyes scanned for a pattern of attack in Taillow's flight, the Tiny Swallow watching intently for an opening. Finally, it bit, pouncing through the air with the speed of a rocket. Taillow rushed behind Mudkip's head, letting out a mighty flap of its wings. A woosh sounded from behind Mudkip's head. Instinctively, the Water type turned, a Water Gun brewing in its mouth. Yet, Mudkip's mouth dropped, letting water leak out, as no Pokemon appeared from that direction.

  Then, a sudden pain in the back, as Taillow drove a beak right into its back. Mudkip coughed, smacking against the floor, knocked a good distance away from Taillow. Water trailed the path it had fallen, spilling onto the wooden planks below.

  "Mudkip, are you okay?" Ellie cried, sucking the air through her teeth. Mudkip winnied ever so slightly, but showed no signs of major damage. Despite the speed of the blow, it didn't leave as much of an impression beyond a small pain in the Mud Fish's back. So, the biggest opposition to Mudkip standing proved only to be the water running against the floor. But, it got there, eventually. With new confidence too, now that Mudkip knew it could shrug off a couple more Quick Attacks without trouble. But, Seijo planned to throw out more than a couple, crossing his arms and yelling,

  "Keep on going!"

  If it ain't broke, don't fix it. A motto Seijo stuck by, and especially applied to battles. The challenger had to adapt to the strategies the gym leader used. Seijo wouldn't throw out another move, or switch up to a different strategy, simply to give the challenger an easier time. While the gyms were designed to be beaten, it wouldn't be without error and effort. They had to play around him, spot the gimmicks, mark the openings. That's why Taillow almost always came as Seijo's first Pokemon. After all, how do you fighting an opponent whom you can barely see?

  That became the question racking Ellie's mind. Once certain of Mudkip's stability, her eyes continued to follow Taillow's swift movements. Her mind attempted to make a pattern of how it moved through the air, knowing there had to be some degree of predictability to it. The altitude it flew at remained roughly the same, give or take a foot. It darted left, then to the right, then right again, then to the left. Over and over again.

  But, most of all, it moved with noisy flaps of its wings. The echo of gusts blew through the gym, only adding to the strain to the minds of both trainer and Pokemon. Then, the attack from before. Where Mudkip had turned in anticipation, only to be tricked when Taillow landed at the other side. It used sound to bait Mudkip. So, to ignore the sound and keep focus would be the key. The key to beating this bird.

  MUDKIP!

  Well, it would have to wait. Taillow had already swung another time, fooling Mudkip again, smacking right into its back. Ellie groaned, watching her Pokemon slide back, reeling from the Quick Attack. A move so obvious now she realized what was going on. But, she hadn't communicated it. Her partner suffered through it, taking extra damage for nothing. A blow to her chances of winning the battle, for sure.

  Still, she shook her head, refocusing on the battle. The past was unimportant. The only thing on her mind should be the dwellings of the future. What she'd do to defeat this Taillow, as it circled around the air above. Stowing herself, she continued to focus on Taillow's movements. It seemed it had switched up its pattern of movements. Much more sporadic and unfamiliar, compared to the rudimentary left right pattern she found previously. Then, it dived in. But, Ellie knew better.

  "Keep looking forwards and up!" she cried, watching Taillow swoop in without fear. Taillow's wings thrust forward, its wings beating against the back of Mudkip's ears. The Water type fought against every instinct, telling it to turn and attack. But, its resolve held, remaining glued to the spot. Then, Mudkip was rewarded for its steely resolve, as Taillow pivoted to the other direction for another sneak attack. But, it wouldn't get away this easily. For no sneak attack could be made when caught in the enemies' sights. Taillow made eye contact with Mudkip, hesitating. Seijo couldn't help but feel a small smile come across his face.

  "Water Gun, full power!" Ellie bellowed out, clenching her fist tightly. Digging its claws into the ground, a river of water flung from Mudkip's mouth, spewing straight towards Taillow. Blasted by the Water Gun, Taillow let out a hefty cry, flying back across the battlefield. Then, slowly descending to the battlefield floor, its wings drenched in Mudkip's water. Despite Taillow's attacking twicefold, it seemed the lone Water Gun had done enough damage to set them on an even footing.

  It wouldn't be enough to only go even, however. After all, another Pokemon lurked in Seijo's pockets, likely even stronger than Taillow. Every blow, no matter how small, was one that Ellie couldn't take against whatever he had planned next. She just...needed to stick to the gameplan. Keep her distance. Don't let the gutsy bird through.

  Seijo crossed his arms as his Pokémon rose back up again, shaking its wings clear of excess water, dripping onto the battlefield below. It rose into the air once more, its wings flapping and freeing any more moisture. The swallow's eyes narrowed, and it let out a fierce cry. Seijo looked to Taillow, then straight at Ellie, stomping the floor.

  "It'll take more than that to bring us down! Taillow, Peck!"

  With its beak shining and puffed outwards, firm and sharp like a sword, Taillow rushed through the air towards Mudkip. Even without the additional speed from its Quick Attack, it still burst across the battlefield at a breakneck pace. Ellie's eyes widened as the bird flew through the air, Mudkip digging its hind paws into the hardened wood floor.

  "Dodge it!" she yelled, as Mudkip barely scraped against Taillow's beak, throwing itself aside. Mudkip found itself knocked off balance, but without major harm from the blow. Only a minor scrape to the side. Taillow couldn't be content with that.

  Continuing to drive its momentum forward, Taillow soared into the air. Then, in an incredible show of athleticism, looped around to face Mudkip, while the Pokémon still lay on the floor. But, ruthless aggression didn't give much way for defence. Taillow rushed forward with reckless abandon. A weakness that Ellie would soon exploit.

  "Water Pulse!" she cried. Mudkip's eyes locked onto the incoming bird. It hadn't the time to paw its way back to its feet. But, Mudkip could make do with the position it found itself in. Water began to swish around its mouth, cheeks puffing up with the pressure of its attack. Then, a mighty heave, and a perfectly blue sphere of water surged from its mouth.

  Spinning in the air, the attack shot off like a missile through the air. Taillow's eyes widened, spotting the Water Pulse coming straight forward. Yet, Taillow's momentum fell too far forward to pull back now, even as Taillow flapped its wings back, attempting to propell its way out of the Water Pulse's path. The trap had already sprung, all Taillow could do was brace for it.

  "Cover yourself!" Seijo cried, assessing the situation in only a moment. Taillow hadn't the opportunity for a response other than in its action. Turtling behind its wings, the swallow shielded itself from the blast. But, a fragile guard of feathers stood no chance of blocking the blow. It only served to soften the explosion ever so slightly. Taillow's wings burst to the side, and the bird squawked in pain. It dropped like a rock to the ground, thudding against the battlefield floor.

  Seijo sucked the air in through his teeth, hearing every painful gasp Taillow took as it clawed its way to its feet. Turns out she could deal with pressure. Even in spite of his Pokemon's injuries, he couldn't help but smile.

  "Really thought I'd have got you there," he hummed, Ellie glancing up to meet his proud stare. Then, just as quickly, she dragged her attention back to the battle, where Taillow began to rise from the floor.

  "Water Gun!" Ellie thrust her arm forward, not giving Taillow the time to breathe and get its momentum back. Maybe a lucky hit would knock Taillow back to the ground. Then, she could finish the match from there. But, the lucky hit never came. Despite Taillow's injuries, the bird's guts showed in spades.

  "Dodge it!" Seijo cried from the sidelines. Taillow, without a moment of hesitation, soared into the air. Despite its injuries, and the water dripping from its feathers, it flew with finesse and grace, leaving Mudkip's Water Gun in the dust.

  "Keep Taillow in your sights!" Ellie commanded, watching as Mudkip steadied itself, throwing out another Water Gun. But, once more, Taillow seemed a step ahead, with the lead only growing as the bird continued to weave around the attack. Becoming satisfied with the lead, Seijo went in for the attack with confidence.

  "Alright, now Peck!"

  Streaming effortlessly by the Water Gun, Taillow's beak glowed a bright white as it bolted towards Mudkip. The Water type froze, the stream running dry, watching and waiting for Ellie's command.

  "Dodge it!"

  Mudkip's knees bent, throwing itself to the side. Once more, it barely skirted out of the way, the mark landing on the opposite of Mudkip's torso this time. And, just as before, Taillow looped back to hit Mudkip again. Ellie's head tilted slightly, feeling the deja vu of the battle creep up on her. But, the deja vu didn't keep her from repeating the events exactly as they played out before.

  "Water Pulse!"

  Seijo smirked, shaking his head. "Swerve!"

  Taillow, as it swooped in, used the momentum from its dive to suddenly jerk to Mudkip's side. The orb of water surged past Taillow, only managing to clip a couple feathers before disappearing into the barrier. Ellie's eyes widened, opening her mouth to let out a command. But, the command didn't come. For, Taillow had already driven its beak straight into Mudkip's chest.

  Mudkip tried to muffle its cry of pain, but as Taillow's beak sunk deeper in, it found itself unable to hold back the pain any longer. The mud fish went flying across the battlefield, its left side skidding against the battlefield before slamming into the invisible barrier.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  "MUDKIP!" Ellie's eyes shook, watching Mudkip slump to the ground. Mudkip's eyes initially closed, but slowly blinked open. Hanging behind the drowsy expression, too, lay a deep fire. A sign of things still to come. Seijo wore an amused expression, glancing over to Mudkip, watching the Mud Fish Pokemon rise to its feet. Then, Seijo's eyes snapped to Ellie, pointing a finger to her.

  "You can't expect the same thing to work twice against a gym leader! Adapt!" his words exploded with a fiery passion, echoing through the gym, shaking Ellie to the core.

  He was right. Ellie had let herself get carried away with ending the battle as soon as possible. Too stuck in the idea of ending it here and now, that she hadn't respected her opponent's intelligence. A Gym Leader's battle wits, for Arceus' sake! To suggest that it would work again was insanity when doing battle against a Gym Leader of all trainers.

  And, with every mistake, she felt the fight slip away from her more. That faint chance of victory fading. Especially with whatever lay up Seijo's sleeve. Even if Mudkip breathed, so did Taillow. Both even seemed even in their strength, panting heavily. As much as Ellie hated to hurry the fight once more, she needed to make Mudkip last. That meant finishing this in one blow.

  Luckily, a special ability might just help her through it.

  A blue aura began to surround the Mud Fish Pokémon, light flocking from its blue scales. Not quite the glow of evolution, but something different. An ability special to the starter Pokémon that Ellie had observed long before. Torrent. As much as it was a boost to Ellie's game plan, it let her know that Mudkip was indeed weakened enough that one critical hit could do it in. She needed to play this smart. S

  Seijo smirked, crying out, "Looks like you'll be fighting at full power now. So, don't hold anything back!"

  Ellie nodded, taking a deep breath. Her heart pounded in her chest, feeling the adrenaline course through her veins just the same as it did for Mudkip. The Water-type looked back at its trainer, crying out in an unintelligible language. But Ellie could understand regardless. It was itching to battle. Even when its limbs ached, it looked forward to the thrill of battle, especially knowing it was in service of the trainer it adored so much. So, when it let out a cry, determined to push forwards, Ellie would happily grant that request.

  "Run across the battlefield and use Water Gun!"

  Mudkip nodded, pouncing forward. A strategy Seijo hadn't expected from Ellie, given her remarkable patience for a trainer of her level. Or, she could've been flustered, knowing she had to end the battle soon. Or, maybe mixing it up. It was just a wonder whether that would work out when trying to fight closely with a Pokémon as fast as Taillow. Still, Mudkip's Water Gun did prove difficult to dodge, its increased power showing as it blasted through the air with great velocity. Taillow found itself forced into some tricky spots, pushing and weaving at odd angles to make its way safely around the attack. In contrast to last time, it appeared that Mudkip's Water Gun would be able to keep up in speed with Taillow's smooth flying. Seijo suddenly had to think of a solution. And, it lay in unpredictable movement.

  "Taillow, start flying around more sporadically!" he cried to his Pokémon, the Tiny Swallow Pokémon doing a small nod. Impulsiveness was the only way to describe Taillow's flying style after that command. Flying through the air like a kite being pulled by five different pairs of hands. For better or for worse, it was now impossible to track where Taillow was going next, and any pattern Ellie tried to find in its flying disappeared. Clenching her fists, she began looking for other ways to carve out her opening. Mudkip's Water Guns were going nowhere, the poor Mud Fish tiring itself out in an attempt to catch Taillow with a solid attack.

  "Mudkip, stop! Save your energy!" she cried. She knew Mudkip's capabilities. Knew that it wasn't trained to hold the Water Gun for long without burning lots of stamina. Best leave it for now, let it refuel. But, how could she hit it like that? It was becoming impossible to try and hit a target with movements so sporadic. But, looking at Mudkip panting, and Taillow still circling the air, she began to concoct a plan. It wasn't only Mudkip giving up energy in its attacks, but also Taillow with its sudden shift and changes in direction. Taillow had been airborne the entire fight, with scarcely even a second to land. With all of the small changes in movements and sudden increases in speed, could it stay moving like that for long? Ellie didn't know. She intended to find out.

  "Mudkip, fire off small bursts of Water Gun! Be unpredictable!" Ellie cried, Mudkip nodding and following her command to a T. Taillow's strategy didn't alter much despite the command, however. Mudkip sent out small concentrated shots of its Water Gun. Taillow would dodge around them. The same routine, the same song and dance, over and over again. But, the timing behind the attacks never remained the same. Firing to the beat of a song without a consistent tempo. The substance of the attack didn't matter, merely the timing.

  There would be a ten-second gap between two of them, but only a second for another. Taillow could never tell. And, if it ever stopped to slow its movements, it risked getting blasted by a shot of the Water Gun, and put into a worse position. Like it or not, Taillow was forced to stay flying, while Mudkip slowly regained its breath in between its attacks. Seijo wound up taking the deep breath this time. He could recognise what Ellie was playing at, trying to tire out Taillow. Seijo wouldn't allow it any longer.

  "Time to go all out! Taillow, Quick Attack, let's go!"

  Taillow, with the last ounce of energy left in its body, blitzed through the air. It disappeared and reappeared at intervals, Mudkip desperately trying to track it. But, with the speed it descended, Mudkip's drowsy eyes struggled to follow.

  "Dodge!" Ellie cried at the last second, Mudkip luckily anticipating the timing of Taillow's attack, swiftly moving to the side. Ellie took another deep breath, watching Taillow again circle back around.

  "Keep going!" Seijo cried, not satisfied until every last bit of Taillow's energy had been drained in the field of battle. And so, it attacked again. And again. Then once more. Each time, Taillow came so close to attacking Mudkip, to landing the deciding blow of the battle. But, each time, Mudkip would dodge out of the way, even with Taillow's incredible speed. Then, it was the moment that Taillow realised...

  It no longer had the strength in its wings to fly, and barely enough to float. A faint murmur left its beak as it felt its wings collapse upon themselves. A low groan as it fluttered to the ground, limp but not quite lifeless. Yet.

  Ellie knew that was her opportunity. Striking when it was weakest.

  "Water Pulse!" she bellowed out, watching Mudkip put everything it had into one final attack. The water built up throughout its entire system, charged for this very moment. Then, it rocketed from Mudkip's mouth. The supercharged sphere swirled through the air, before the spin eventually died down, casting itself in a straight line towards Taillow. The Bird Pokemon's eyes widened, then fell, as the Pokemon closed its eyes. It accepted the defeat inflicted upon itself.

  The next moment, Taillow smacked its head against the barrier, before dropping down to the wooden floor. No need to wait for a result, or think there remained any lingering hope of Taillow waking up. The battle was over for the scrappy bird. Yet, to both trainers, it only felt like the true battle was beginning. Grabbing Taillow's Pokeball, the Gym Leader returned the Flying type back to its ball.

  "Excellent work, me and Vigoroth will handle the rest."

  "Vigoroth?" Lucas questioned as he overheard Seijo talking to the Pokeball, both his and Torchic's eyes being fixated on the battle ahead. Despite his joy at Ellie taking down Taillow, his rational voice told him the truth of the matter, despite how it looked. Her lack of a second Pokemon would hold her back. She couldn't rely on anyone else to pick up the slack of any mistakes made in the fight. She'd have to play a near-perfect battle. Both her and Mudkip. But, judging from her expression, Ellie was just as puzzled to the Pokémon he described. Clearly, she held no experience against such a Pokemon. Another hurdle she'd have to jump over.

  Seijo slipped away the Pokeball, only for another Pokeball to replace it, more worn than the other. It adjusted to fit the size of his hand, holding it out for Ellie to see. His eyes glimmering, Seijo gripped the Pokeball, arching his arm back then letting the ball fly onto the battlefield.

  "Let's do this, Vigoroth!"

  Arching high in the air, then swooping down to the ground, the ball smashed open to reveal a creature much taller than Mudkip. In fact, it stood larger in every single way, its shadow stretching over Mudkip's. Long, grey claws swiped against the hardened wooden floor, a horrible grating noise echoing through the gym. Ellie's skin crawled in response, deep chills embedding into her pale skin.

  Its fur sat almost wholly white, with the only colour being two red spots on either one of its hands, the red tuft of hair that rested just above the rest of its face, and the brown marks around its mouth, eyes, and lining its back. Lucas reached for his Pokedex, Ellie too deep into the battle to take a break and study what type of Pokémon she had in front of her.

  Vigoroth, the Wild Monkey Pokémon.

  Vigoroth is always itching and agitated to go on a wild rampage. It simply can't tolerate sitting still for even a minute. This Pokémon's stress level rises if it can't be moving constantly.

  Lucas could see that just in the way that it moved. Its long limbs moved almost like rubber, flowing freely as it pranced in one spot. It moved backwards and forwards, panting heavily as its claws scratched against the floor. It didn't make a mark, but the noise was enough to instill fear into both trainer and Pokemon alike. Mudkip growled quietly at the sight of the beast, knowing that it would be a fierce battle. One that Ellie could overcome. Right?

  "We'll take the first move once more, Slash!" Seijo belted at the top of his lungs.

  Vigoroth snarled, its cry also akin to a snicker. It dived down to all fours, running like it still claimed the wild life it once had, letting out a snarl that echoed through the chamber of battle. Every movement flowed with incredible speed and agility. Ellie had hoped Taillow would be the faster of the two, and Vigoroth would be stronger. But, at first glance, it looked like Vigoroth clenched both categories in its grasp, with such a weight behind each of its limbs that it made the floor thunder.

  Ellie felt her heart pounding in her chest. She could only imagine what Mudkip was feeling like. Her eyes widened for a moment, glassy, unfocused. Suddenly, she noticed her environment, her mind drifting to everything other than the present battle. Lucas watching in the corner, Seijo's smile as he watched the battle, the plants swaying just at the side of the battlefield. But, no, she couldn't. No, no, not now! She had to fight!

  "D-Dodge!" she cried, Mudkip jumping at the high pitch of her command. A late command, Ellie knew that. But, Mudkip was alert enough to know what it needed to do without Ellie's sole command. Vigoroth leapt forward, its claws sharp and pointed, looking to skewer through Mudkip. Its torso thrown to the side, Mudkip barely scraped away from the attack, falling onto its side as it rolled away. Vigoroth wasn't content with its attack missing, however. Its eyes stared into Mudkip's, breathing fear into the little one's movements. The Water type's limbs staggered, as its eyes widened. Ellie could feel her partner's terror in every small tremble that shook its body. It ate away at her resolve, replacing her hope with a churn in her stomach that told her it was unwinnable. But...

  Not now, not now!

  "Stay in this, Water Pulse!" Ellie cried, keeping her head in the game. That last attack could've ended it right then and there if she had hesitated even a moment more. Only the top of her game would be satisfactory. Nothing else. That started with creating some space, or threat, letting Vigoroth know it couldn't just recklessly push into Mudkip's space. Keep it away as long as possible. Keep away those slashing claws of death.

  Mudkip swished the water around in its mouth, forming a sphere that pulverized through the air, spinning as it headed straight towards Vigoroth. The Normal type didn't look at it with fear, however. Nor confusion. Nor mockery. It only continued to look deep into Mudkip's eyes, even as the Water Pulse drew nearer and nearer.

  A snap echoed through the gym.

  Then, in the next moment, the Water Pulse disappeared. A quick slice through the air. That's all it took. The Water Pulse hadn't even the momentum to explode. It merely dribbled down to cold water, splashing against the floor. Sliced through like paper. Ellie froze, staring into the monkey's eyes. A cold smirk met her gaze. Not a scratch or a wince. Just a heavy breath.

  "Fury Swipes!"

  In only a second, Vigoroth dived on Mudkip, slashing through its skin twice with both of its arms. Ellie gave no command in time. So Mudkip acted on impulse. Its legs attempted to carry it all the way back to the edges of the battlefield. Running for the hills, to the edges of the battlefield. Wherever it wouldn't be hunted by Vigoroth. But, the Normal type continued to prowl. It chased after Mudkip on all fours, its sharp claws grinding against the floor. The Mud Fish made a momentary glance back. Then, its head smashed into the barrier. Ellie's eyes widened.

  Mudkip's helpless eyes began to water as it looked up to Ellie. The look on its trainers face told it everything.

  "I'm sorry."

  It hadn't the time to react before Mudkip felt claws rip into its body. Sharp and cold, grinding against its skin. Mudkip fell to the ground, its limbs beginning to betray its body. Vigoroth slashed again, and again, and again. Once to the face. Twice to its sides. Thrice to the legs. For everytime it tried to rise, Mudkip would be beckoned to fall once more. Cries of pain. Over. And over.

  Yet, it had to keep fighting. It must've have been the adrenaline, pushing no thoughts to the centre of Mudkip's mind other than survival. The Water type could still win this. It looked up to the great beast of the gym. A snarl left its mouth, before Mudkip came crashing down again. Then, again, it stood. Then, again, it crashed.

  Vigoroth's expression finally shifted to that of an amused glare down at Mudkip. It let its claws drop down to its side, limp in their movements as it gently bounced on its legs. Mudkip struggled so much to get back up. Its spirit could not be felled, despite how much its body wanted to give up. Seijo had expected Mudkip to give up. After all, it had done its part. But, the Water type refused to go down. Scratches be damned. An act of mercy would be to set the Pokemon down immediately. Vigoroth was just the Pokemon to do it.

  Seijo clicked his fingers.

  Vigoroth raised its arms high.

  Mudkip couldn't see the attack coming.

  "Finish thi-"

  "STOP!"

  The shout came out raspy and bare, as Ellie threw herself through the battlefield barrier. Then, she skidded in front of her Mudkip, with her back turned and her eyes closed. Her heart thundered in her chest. A slash could've sliced her in half. For her reckless abandon, throwing herself into the heat of battle. But, no attack ever came. Vigoroth's arms fell to its side, breathing heavily. Seijo watched from afar, his arms crossed and his eyebrows raised.

  "It's over..." Ellie muttered to her Pokemon, taking a momentary glance to make sure that Vigoroth had taken its distance. And, so it had, upon the calling of its trainer. A gentle coo sounded from Mudkip's lips, Ellie dragging her attention back to her fallen partner. Scooping the Water type in her arms, she placed her hand on its chest. She felt at Mudkip's heart. It beat just as fast as hers. Mudkip noticed so, feeling the pulse of her heart shake through her palms. Ellie's may have even been faster.

  Mudkip let out a cry, its lips twisting into a broken smile. Ellie's eyes widened, her hands shaking even more. Despite how it looked, her partner wanted to know everything was okay. Its trainer's hand crept up and down Mudkip's body, examining for any injuries. Her gentle fingertips felt at Mudkip's sides, and the Water type cringed. Vigoroth's claws had left their mark for sure. A nasty gash right in the side of the skin. Mudkip's eyes watered as she pressed on again. Only then did its emotions truly show. Tears flowed.

  Their eyes met each other, Mudkip breaking away first. But, its emotions couldn't hide. Not now. Ellie sighed. It broke her heart. Truthfully. All for what? An attempt at victory? That only got her partner hurt? Just try again later, she said. But, Ellie knew she was sending her partner into a fight it couldn't win. Even before the battle had begun. Try as she might've to believe they could make it through together, they simply weren't strong enough. Ellie knew that. She saw that.

  "Why didn't I do anything..." she muttered. Mudkip tilted its head, letting out a small cry of its own name. Ellie's eyes met its gaze for a final time. Her lips parted once more, quivering more intensely. She dragged her hand out of her bag, clenching Mudkip's Pokeball.

  "Return."

  The room went still. No one dared speak a word. One side sadness, one pity, and one confusion.

  Seijo stood there, tilting his head curiously. Ellie finally took to her feet once again, holding her Pokeball high and dropping the device into her bag. Wiping her face and taking a deep breath, she turned. She had expected Seijo to join her on the battlefield. But, everything other than the battle's result seemed to be just as she hadn't expected. Still, he stood at his side, awaiting another Pokemon. He reached for his glasses, lifting them to his face.

  "Where's your other Pokémon? This was meant to be a 2v2 battle, did I not make that clear?" Seijo asked, his hand finding his hip, standing at a slight angle. Ellie looked aside shamefully, not finding the words when it mattered most. Seijo's eyes widened with understanding. "Did you not have a second Pokémon?"

  "She tried to catch one yesterday, but things didn't go to plan." Lucas cut into the conversation, standing beside her and offering Seijo conversation when Ellie looked for anything but. Lucas would've wanted to do anything other than remind Ellie of her failure in two regards, so he said nothing more than was needed to. Lucas noted her expression shift ever so slightly as he recounted her failure. But, good intentions kept her silent. Seijo pouted at the news that the battle was over, returning Vigoroth to its Pokeball without even a word to it, his focus lying on the two trainers in front of him.

  "Well, it's a shame that the Pokemon wouldn't come to such a talented trainer like yourself," Seijo spoke with a smile, seeming to catch Ellie off guard. She looked up to him, meeting his gaze for the first time since the battle had ended. "I look forward to the rematch once that special second Pokemon does pick you. Then..." he readjusted the pin on his jacket, "I'd be more than happy to give you your badge."

  "T-Thank you..." Ellie muttered briefly. Lucas smiled, hoping to see Ellie's expression lighten up. High praise for a first battle. Especially considering she only had one Pokemon to work with and show off. The change never came to pass, however. Instead, she simply turned on her heel, muttered something about healing Mudkip, and left the room in a hurry. Lucas sighed, unable to help but let out a groan. Seijo walked to his side, asking,

  "Do you think she'll be alright?"

  "Eventually, but right now..." Lucas' eyes tracked Ellie as she left the room, not even having waited for him to follow after her. Torchic walked up to Lucas' side, pecking him gently on the back of the head, waking him from his thoughts. Zorua found a place nuzzling into his leg too, reminding Lucas of the Pokemon he had at his side. His resolve reignited deep in his heart. He turned, looking Seijo in the eyes.

  "I'll help her."

  "Good," Seijo responded with a smile, giving both Torchic and Zorua a ruffle on the head, "I hope to see you soon. With your friend."

  "It's a promise."

  The darkness crept over the sky, as light's soldiers lost the battle to the night sky's stars, holding the sky firmly. They gleamed with a passion that could be read simply with a look up towards the horizon. The passionate darkness snuffed out all the light non man-made below in Petalburg City. The only light which yet remained would be the faint illumination of candles lit on a window, waiting to be blown out by a solitary whisper. Then, the glow of the headlights. Faint enough to let travellers seeking refuge know their place, but not enough to disturb the slumber of those who most needed it. Peaceful was one way to describe it. No murmurings in the darkness, no secret forces lurking in the shadow.

  Well, perhaps one.

  Ellie walked out from the Pokémon Centre, brushing the tarp aside as her eyes set onto the steps leading up to the Pokémon Centre. Covered in sand, which Ellie brushed aside with a single flicker of her hand. Sitting down, she reached into her bag, scrounging around for something. The bits of sand still lingered in the air, burning her lungs ever so slightly as she breathed in. Coughing, she found an inhaler in her bag, placing it in her mouth and pressing on the button at the bottom. A small amount of medicine was dispensed into her lungs, and she felt her airways begin to part with a few puffs. Breathing normally again, she looked to the skies, letting her inhaler drop onto the ground. A calm night. A perfect time for reflection.

  It could've gone worse.

  That was her way of trying to justify whatever had happened.

  Despite the loss being a painstaking reminder that she stood nowhere near the strength that she wanted to be, Mudkip performed well. Taillow proved to be a stronger Pokémon than she had anticipated, too. Maybe she'd have to do some research on its strengths. Or, maybe its true strength lay in the trainer. After all, Seijo was a gym leader for a reason. He had to be strong on his own. Perhaps a mix of their strength, combined to make a tough challenge for any coming challengers.

  Ellie, in her infinite wisdom, however, decided to rush in there with one Pokémon. Not even a non-trained second Pokémon. Merely her Mudkip. Like a fool. No research, no planning. Just hoping for the best. Ellie'd at least have liked to say that she trained extra hard to make up for her weakness of not having an additional member to rely on. But, no. She'd done nothing. Now, Mudkip had been dragged to the Pokemon Centre, hurt. And, she was sat here. Staring at the stars. Not even wondering where she went wrong, because she knew. A dry chuckle coughed its way out of her lips.

  "Arceus, I'm an idiot."

  "Arceus wouldn't agree, you know?" Lucas interrupted her thoughts. Ellie ordinarily would've jumped at the sudden appearance. But, maybe the fatigue prevented her from such a thing. Rather, she let her head tilt further up to see Lucas standing above her, replacing the glimmer of the stars. She sighed, beginning to sit up from her arched position. Shifting along, she groaned. Then, she dug her face into the crevices of her hands. Awkwardly, the young boy sat alongside her, looking back up at the stars. Lying back, he looked to the side to find Ellie still with her head in her hands. Cringing, Lucas began to sit up again, asking,

  "If you would like to be left in peace, I could le-"

  "No, no, it's fine, don't go," Ellie stated, finally shaking her head and releasing it from the shackles of her hands. Taking a deep breath, she looked back up to the skies, without a single thing to comment on. She merely reflected on her thoughts.

  "Alright, I won't," Lucas muttered, doing much the same as Ellie, resting back and looking up. But his thoughts still raced, with no recourse, even as he attempted to put them to rest. Did she truly want to be left alone, or was she sparing Lucas' feelings? Should he comment on the battle, or leave her to dwell on it on her own? Lucas thought she did extremely well for her first time, but maybe that was simply his perception. Would she appreciate the compliment, or think of it as pity? Lucas didn't know.

  Waking from his thoughts, his eyes tracked a plane shooting across the night sky. Drifting gently through the night, before disappearing out of sight. Then, the young boy focused his attention on the backdrop. The shimmering stars, dancing through the night. His eyes had stared at the stars for a little too long. So long, that he forgot to look at them.

  They were beautiful.

  "The sky is gorgeous tonight," Lucas commented simply. It was the most fitting thing that he could think of to speak of in the moment, and it relieved the tension in the air. Ellie looked at Lucas for a second, although his eyes didn't glance to meet hers as she looked. They were too focused on the stars up above. Ellie let out a single chuckle, turning back to the stars and muttering,

  "Yes, I suppose the night sky is very nice."

  The smile soon faded from her face as she looked to the stars. As beautiful as they were, they also remained the perfect backdrop to lazily gaze at as she returned to her thoughts. Of her failure, of her stupidity that got Mudkip hurt for no reason. Of how she had failed to entice Ralts to come along, putting herself in this position in the first place. If only she had been a little bit better.

  But, she hadn't. She'd failed, and it felt terrible. She knew beating herself up about it wasn't the way forward. But, she couldn't help it. The thoughts would come regardless of whether she put up the walls that kept those thoughts at bay. After all, what use were putting up walls when the grass seemed greener on the other side?

  Sighing, she sat up again, a tear falling down her face. She stood up from the step in the Pokémon Centre, muttering to Lucas,

  "I'll be in my room. Goodnight."

  "W-Wait!" Lucas cried out just as she reached the curtain. Standing in the doorway, sniffling, she brushed away the tear. Then, she turned, feeling her emotions begin to build up. Then, they settled for a moment, taking a large breath in. She stared.

  "W-Would you like one?" Lucas held open a box, with two pastries arranged neatly inside. Ellie's eyes glanced down. One was strawberry flavoured, decorated with said fruit right on top, while the other had a deep blue colouring to it, with an Oran Berry placed gently on top.

  "Are these yours?" she asked simply.

  "Hm? Oh, no, I bought the red one for you!"

  "I thought I told you I didn't want one."

  "Well, you might not have wanted one but..." Lucas felt his heart drop into the pit of his stomach as she stepped further into the glimmer of a streetlight. Tears had begun to drop down her face. In buckets. The young boy set the box just beside him, staring at the pastries, not bearing to look at her while she cried any longer. "I-I figured that you might need one."

  Ellie groaned. It was really that obvious, wasn't it? She'd been letting everything get the better of her emotionally, and she didn't want to talk about any of it. Yet, it still came up. It was obvious to everyone what she was feeling. Even before her eyes leaked waterworks, her face showed off every detail. With a continued sniffle tickling her nose, she sat down beside Lucas again, swiping the red pastry from the box and taking a huge bite. A moment of silence followed as the girl slowly chewed on the food. She took the strawberry off the top, having been sliced into three thin strips that coated the top, dropping them into her mouth. She sighed once more.

  "It's really good," Ellie muttered, almost as if it were a complaint. Lucas chuckled, saying,

  "You say that like its a bad thing!"

  "It is! I'm in a big sulk, nearly crying, then you surprise me with an extremely thoughtful, delicious pastry that's also my favourite flavour!"

  "Well, I didn't know that, I just kinda picked off of the colour of your sweater," Lucas sheepishly admitted.

  Ellie stared at him, dumbfounded for a moment. Then, she could no longer hold it together. Her features first cracked into a small giggle, then into a full laugh at the ridiculousness of the answer. The tears that welled up continued to flow. But, she laughed in between the sniffles. It had tickled her in just the right way to let all her feelings out, and Lucas couldn't have asked for more. After all, what was more silly than him being able to decipher Ellie's favourite flavour of pastry simply based on the colour of her sweater? Not much.

  "So, are you feeling better?" Lucas managed to speak, looking up at Ellie as she continued to laugh. That laugh came to a stop, drying off the final bits of her tears. The weight in her chest felt much less heavy. She wasn't sure if it was the sugar high kicking her brain back into a mode of satisfaction, or if Lucas making her laugh had done the trick. Either way, she had him to thank for it.

  "Yes, I am," Ellie said, polishing off the rest of the red-coloured pastry in a couple of bites, licking her fingers clean of any frosting, and sighing in satisfaction as the last of the pastry went down her throat. Standing up, Ellie stuck out a hand for Lucas to grasp, which the young boy happily took. Then, just as quickly as he was helped to his feet, Lucas was hoisted into Ellie's warm embrace, resting her head on his shoulder and muttering into his ear, "Thanks. Sincerely. For everything."

  "Anytime!" Lucas chirped, taking his sweet time in her embrace, before slowly fading away from her grasp. Reaching down, he grabbed the box and inhaler, handing them both back to Ellie, "For you, and the pastry for your partner."

  "Thank you," she spoke softly, pushing aside the mess that lay in her duffel bag, making space for the box with a single baked good, and placing her inhaler in a separate compartment. Taking out her Rotom Phone, she made note of the time. She had stumbled out late. It was approaching 10pm, and fatigue had begun to settle in. Letting out a yawn, she turned to Lucas. "Well, it's late, should we get some sleep?"

  "Of course, you and Mudkip will both need it with the training I know you're planning."

  "Maybe..." Ellie replied in a playful tone, as to suggest her mind was already thinking about what to do next. But, that could wait until tomorrow. For now, she let Lucas take the lead. The boy walked ahead, his back brushing against the curtain, draping it wide open for Ellie to walk through. But, just as she began to step forward, she heard the moving of something metallic. Like a tin can. Then, that same metal sound rebounded as a small object stung against her head. Lucas' eyes widened, as Ellie dropped to the ground again.

  "Oh my gosh, are you okay?" Lucas rushed to her aid instantly, Ellie rubbing her head where the metal had struck her.

  "Ow, yeah, fine," she said, her eyes scanning her environment for whatever could've assaulted her. That was when another clank followed from just behind her. Then another, and another, till it seemed to stop. The device screeched against the floor, like nails against chalkboard. Ellie's eyes dragged to the ground, inspecting the floor. She found a Pokeball. Clear as day. The shape was obvious to anyone. One with scuffs and marks on it, seemingly having seen a lot of travel.

  It rolled on the spot, like an invisible track had run a ring around the Pokeball, forcing it straight into the centre. Every movement then stopped. A glow began to surround it. Fuzzy and powerful, holding it completely still. Ellie raised her fingers to touch the Pokeball, her hand gracing over the Pokeball, feeling the aura emanating from it. Her heart gave a pang as soon as she did. Familiarity settled in its touch.

  A shadow emerged behind the Pokeball, teleporting from the shadows. Ellie's jaw dropped.

  "R-Ralts?"