Two Days After the Battle
The road wound through tall trees and soft golden grass.
Giselle walked a half-step behind Skylar, backpack slung over her shoulder, Gallade walking silently at her side.
They hadn't spoken much since the battle.
Not because they were angry.
But because silence was… easier now.
More honest.
Skylar whistled a soft tune, using a stick to push fallen branches off the trail. Gardevoir floated nearby, occasionally offering Giselle a small smile.
At first, Giselle stiffened every time.
But by the second morning, she had begun to nod back.
It felt strange.
It also felt… good.
Their first training session was awkward.
Skylar demonstrated a breathing routine he did with Lucario, explaining how it helped sync aura and motion.
Giselle tried.
Failed.
Fell over.
Swore under her breath.
But she didn't quit.
Later, they cooked lunch over a modest fire.
Skylar handed her a pan and a pile of berries.
Giselle frowned.
"This is not a proper nutritional spread."
Skylar just smiled. "Try it anyway."
She did.
It was… lumpy.
But sweet.
And when Gardevoir nodded in approval, Giselle couldn't help but grin.
Just a little.
That night, as the stars blinked to life above the canopy, Skylar sat sharpening a stick beside the fire.
Giselle sat across from him, arms folded, eyes distant.
Gallade meditated beside her, eyes closed — more relaxed than she'd seen him in months.
After a while, she broke the silence.
"I… never knew Pokémon could fight like that. The way she moved. The way she saw him."
Skylar didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "You trained Gallade to win."
She nodded slowly.
"I trained Gardevoir to understand."
Giselle was quiet for a long moment.
Then:
"I didn't trust him."
Skylar looked up.
Her voice cracked. "I told him what to do. But I never… gave him space to be more than a sword."
Skylar nodded.
"They're not meant to be tools."
He looked across the fire.
"They're meant to be partners."
A breeze passed through the trees.
The fire crackled gently.
"I used to think emotion was a weakness," Giselle said softly. "That attachment got in the way of performance."
She looked down at her hands.
"But now I think… maybe emotion is what keeps you fighting."
Skylar smiled.
"You're starting to get it."
She gave him a half-smile back.
"You're not that bad a teacher."
He raised an eyebrow. "Only 'not that bad'?"
She rolled her eyes. "Don't get smug."
They both laughed — genuine, light.
It felt strange.
And freeing.
Later that night, as they set out their sleeping rolls, Giselle glanced at him.
"Can I stay with you until the League?"
Skylar looked at her.
Measured her question.
Then nodded.
"I'd like that."
Giselle smiled softly to herself as she laid down under the stars.
For the first time in a long time—
She wasn't chasing someone to beat them.
She was walking beside someone to grow.