The Gale Gym felt different in the morning.
The air hummed with power as wind cannons whispered along the walls. Platforms hovered at different heights, shifting slowly like floating islands. Above, banners snapped in the breeze, their wing emblems flashing in the sunlight pouring through the skylight.
Grant stood at the challenger gate, hands clenched around Oshawatt's Poké Ball.
His heart hammered.
First badge. Real battle. No second chances.
Sewaddle peeked from his hood, eyes wide.
Nyra stood beside him, arms crossed, calm but alert. Tepig snorted beside her. Venipede coiled low.
Skye Vale stood across the arena, her long coat rippling in the wind. Swanna rested proudly on her arm.
"Two challengers," she said. "Two battles. One badge each. One-on-one, just like the League."
Grant swallowed.
Nyra smirked. "After you, Champion."
He shot her a look. "Don't jinx it."
She nudged him. "Go."
Grant vs Skye — Oshawatt vs Emolga
Grant stepped onto the central platform. The wind pushed at his jacket.
Skye raised a hand. "Begin!"
She tossed her Poké Ball.
"Emolga, take flight!"
The small Flying-type leapt into the air, riding a rising current. Electricity crackled faintly around its cheeks.
Grant released Oshawatt.
"Oshawatt!"
Oshawatt landed in a ready stance, shell held tight.
Grant inhaled slowly.
"Focus Energy."
Oshawatt closed its eyes and centered itself. A faint glow shimmered around its body.
Emolga zipped sideways.
"Acrobatics!"
The tiny Pokémon dove like a dart.
"Shell block!" Grant shouted.
Oshawatt raised its shell just in time. The impact sent it sliding backward across the platform.
"Hold your ground!" Grant called.
Oshawatt dug in.
"Volt Switch!" Skye commanded.
Emolga struck in a flash of electricity and rebounded into the air.
Grant clenched his fists. "Water Gun!"
Oshawatt fired upward. The stream bent in the wind and clipped Emolga's wing.
Emolga wobbled.
"Tailwind," Skye said.
The arena sighed.
The currents doubled.
Grant felt it instantly. The wind pulled at his clothes, tugged at Oshawatt's footing.
Now or never.
"Aqua Jet—ride the wind!"
Oshawatt crouched and launched. A gust caught it mid-jump, turning its leap into a soaring strike.
Emolga tried to dodge.
Too slow.
The impact sent Emolga spinning down to the platform.
It struggled.
Then fell still.
The flag rose.
"Emolga is unable to battle. Victory goes to Grant."
Grant stood frozen.
Then it hit him.
He won.
Oshawatt ran to him, leaping into his arms.
"Osha-watt!"
Grant laughed breathlessly. "We did it."
Skye recalled Emolga and smiled. "Well flown."
Nyra pumped her fist. "That's my rival."
Grant turned, still shaking. "Your turn."
Nyra vs Skye — Tepig vs Unfezant
Nyra stepped onto the arena with steady confidence.
Skye released her second Pokémon.
"Unfezant, take the skies."
The sleek bird spread its wings and circled above.
Nyra released Tepig.
"Tepig!"
The Fire-type stomped, flame burning bright.
Skye raised her hand. "Begin!"
"Flame Charge!" Nyra snapped.
Tepig burst forward, flames trailing.
Unfezant dove.
"Air Slash!"
Blades of wind cut through the space Tepig had been.
"Jump and weave!" Nyra commanded.
Tepig zigzagged, skidding across the platform.
Nyra tracked the airflow. "Angle right—Ember!"
Tepig fired a burst of flame. The wind pushed it into a wide fan.
Unfezant banked sharply.
"Steel Wing!"
The strike slammed Tepig into the ground.
Nyra clenched her jaw. "Get up!"
Tepig pushed itself up, smoke curling from its shoulders.
Unfezant rose again.
"Air Cutter!"
Two crescent blades screamed toward Tepig.
"Flame Charge—head-on!"
Tepig roared and charged straight through them. The wind blades tore past, missing by inches.
Tepig slammed into Unfezant's chest.
The bird tumbled.
It tried to rise.
"Ember—finish it!"
Tepig fired.
The flames struck.
Unfezant fell.
The arena fell silent.
Then—
The flag rose.
"Unfezant is unable to battle. Victory to Nyra."
Nyra exhaled sharply.
Then grinned.
Tepig ran to her, snorting happily.
"You were perfect," she whispered.
Skye approached, smiling warmly. "Both of you fought with heart and discipline."
She opened a case and revealed two shining wing-shaped badges.
"The Gale Badge. You've earned it."
Grant took one.
Nyra took the other.
They stared at them like they might vanish.
They stepped out into the plaza, sunlight warm and real.
Grant laughed—half a sob, half disbelief. "We did it."
Nyra bumped his shoulder. "Close victory counts."
They found a noodle stand and bought far too much food. A street musician played a bright tune. Someone set off wind lanterns that drifted like stars.
Oshawatt danced.
Sewaddle spun a silk streamer.
Tepig snorted smoke rings.
Venipede tapped its tail to the rhythm.
Grant raised a paper cup. "To the first badge."
Nyra clinked hers. "To not falling off the platforms."
They ate, laughed, and retold every near-miss like legends already in the making.
When the crowd thinned, they wandered to the canal. Lantern light rippled across the water.
Grant leaned on the rail. "When Swanna came down on us, I thought—this is it."
Nyra stood beside him. "And then you made the wind your ally."
He glanced at her. "You were incredible."
She rolled her eyes. "So were you."
A breeze tugged at her jacket. He reached out on instinct and steadied her.
For a second, neither moved.
The world narrowed to lanterns and water and the hum of turbines.
Nyra met his eyes. "Careful, Champion-in-training."
He smiled, a little nervous. "Just making sure my rival doesn't fall in."
She smirked. "Worried about me?"
"Always," he said before he could stop himself.
Her expression softened.
Then she stepped back, playful edge returning. "Save the heroics for the next Gym."
They stood there, shoulders almost touching, watching the lanterns drift.
Grant exhaled. "Same time tomorrow? Training."
Nyra nodded. "At dawn."
He groaned. "Cruel."
She laughed. "Badge holders don't sleep in."
They headed back toward the Center, badges catching the light.
Behind them, the turbines turned, carrying their laughter into the night—and somewhere ahead, the road waited, ready to test them again.
Angelica , Watching from the Shadows
From the upper balcony, half-hidden behind a fluttering banner, Angelica Vale watched the challengers leave the arena.
Her Munna floated beside her, eyes glowing faintly.
"So," Angelica muttered, arms crossed. "The small-town nobody and the loud girl actually won."
She scoffed, but her gaze lingered on Grant's badge… then Nyra's confident stride.
"Tch. Don't get excited," she told Munna. "They're just warm-up."
Munna hummed thoughtfully.
Angelica turned away, coat snapping in the wind.
"But next time," she said quietly, a sharp smile cutting across her face,
"I won't be watching."