The Poké Ball on Nessa's belt shook, then stopped.
"Emergency Exit?" Allen raised an eyebrow.
Bea quickly explained, "It's the Ability. If an opponent's HP drops below half, it automatically switches out."
"Clever trick," Allen muttered with a grin.
A second Poké Ball snapped open. A strange star-shaped Pokémon emerged. Its body shimmered like a sea creature crossed with coral.
"This one's...?" Allen asked.
"Pex, from the Alola region. Water and Poison type. Pretty tough." Bea answered.
Allen said nothing. Instead, he walked onto the battlefield, picked up his Pokémon, and gently dusted off its fur.
"You're not quite ready to use that move yet," he said calmly. "You've done well. Let's stop here."
Apprentice Bear grunted, still itching for more, but obeyed.
"I'm calling it here," Allen said to Nessa. "First battle went better than expected."
Nessa gave a slow nod. She had barely managed to keep up with the kid's reflexes. A first-time battler, and yet...
She looked at Allen's calm face and frowned.
You've got to be kidding me.
Later, in a private dining room in a bustling eatery in Stow-on-Side.
Bea leaned back in her chair, hands on her stomach, eyes glazed with bliss. A small tower of plates stood in front of her.
"Man, that was the best meal after training I've ever had!"
Allen's side of the table looked like a mountain range. Nearly six meters of stacked dishes loomed like a second wall behind him.
Nessa sipped her tea. "She didn't use to eat like this."
Allen pointed his chopsticks at Bea and deadpanned, "She needs fuel."
Nessa glanced between the two. Despite the absurd amount of food they had devoured, both Bea and Allen had their abs still perfectly defined.
Where did it all go?
"Aaah!"
Apprentice Bear bounced in his seat, waving a tiny paw as he pointed toward Bea and Nessa.
"He wants to fight again," Allen translated, chewing on a dumpling.
Nessa raised an eyebrow. "With who?"
Allen gestured toward her. "You."
"Me?" Nessa blinked. "Are you sure?"
"He's not ready to fight Bea. You're just the right level."
Nessa nearly spat her tea.
Was that supposed to be a compliment?
Back at the gym field, tension lingered in the air like the scent of fresh sweat and adrenaline.
Bea sat on the sidelines, eyes shining. "Master's Pokémon is finally going to fight!"
"Go, Golisopod!" Nessa released a fearsome insectoid Pokémon. Its shell gleamed like living armor, and its arms ended in scythe-like blades.
"Another new one..." Allen muttered. "Okay, little guy. Your first official challenge."
Apprentice Bear stepped up, punching the air.
"Golisopod, Liquidation!"
The large Pokémon surged forward, arms glowing blue with swirling water energy.
Allen didn't flinch. "Go."
Just as the blade descended, Apprentice Bear ducked low, sliding between Golisopod's legs like a soccer tackle. He turned and swept the creature's legs with a spinning kick.
The larger Pokémon crashed to the ground.
"He's learning." Allen smiled faintly.
Nessa growled. "Cross Poison!"
Golisopod leapt up and slashed with its glowing claws.
Apprentice Bear dodged left. Then right. Then jumped. Every move was tight, sharp, and reactive. No wasted motion.
"He's not using Observation Haki?" Nessa asked.
"Nope. Just raw training." Allen crossed his arms.
"Brick Break!"
Apprentice Bear slammed a paw into Golisopod's chest. The creature hissed and staggered.
"Emergency Exit—again." Allen sighed.
Sure enough, red light surrounded Golisopod and it vanished back into the Poké Ball. Another was launched immediately, revealing a Toxapex.
Allen walked to his Pokémon, scooping it up mid-hop.
"Time to rest."
Apprentice Bear huffed, but snuggled into Allen's chest.
"I'll stop here. Not bad for a first real match."
Nessa clenched her fists, then slowly released them.
"Thanks... for the fight."
That evening, back at the gym's lounge, the trio sat around a table.
Allen's plates towered once again. Bea burped, then giggled.
"Hey!" Allen slapped her head lightly. "No manners."
"You do it!"
"I'm not a pretty girl."
Bea flushed. "Wait... you think I'm pretty?"
Allen didn't skip a beat. "Of course."
Bea sat straighter, cheeks turning crimson. "Then I won't burp again."
Nessa rolled her eyes. "If you two keep this up, it's going to end badly."
Then, more seriously, she added, "Bea... do you really train like that every day?"
Bea nodded, recalling her training sessions, the hits, the exhaustion, and the strange beans that healed her wounds.
"It's tough," she said. "But worth it."
Nessa went quiet, then clenched her fists.
"Allen. Train me too.".
Bea's eyes narrowed.
Are you trying to steal my master?
Allen didn't hesitate.
"No."
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Throw your stones & Comment down your thoughts if you've made it this far (or have waited this long for its update ;))