Noah sat cross-legged on the rocky coastline, staring at the ocean. The sun had set completely, and the only illumination came from the moonlight reflecting off the waves. His team rested around him, exhausted from their training.
Grimm lay flat on his back, arms sprawled out. His legs twitched occasionally, the strain from repeated Low Kicks catching up to him. Aeris sat perched on a boulder, preening her feathers with quiet determination. Sage, as usual, remained still, his glowing eyes unblinking. And Tide…
Tide was still chewing on rocks.
Noah sighed. "At least someone's relaxed."
His stomach rumbled.
He reached into his bag and pulled out one of his remaining rations. It wasn't much—just a simple protein bar—but he wasn't about to spend more money when he had to worry about his Pokémon's food supply.As he chewed, he went over his plan for tomorrow's Gym battle.
Brawly's Makuhita had evolved into a Hariyama. That alone changed the entire battle.
Noah had seen it before—a fully evolved Fighting-type like that was no joke. Hariyama could take hits like a tank, and if Noah wasn't careful, it could turn the entire battle around with a single counterattack.
He needed to stay in control. That's why he focused on Grimm.
Grimm's Low Kick wasn't just for show. If it landed, Hariyama's massive weight would work against it.
Noah turned to Aeris. She would have mobility and aerial advantage, but a single misstep, and she'd be wide open for a devastating hit.
Sage had the type advantage, but Noah wasn't naïve. Brawly wasn't an easy opponent. He'd have counters prepared.
He clenched his jaw. He couldn't afford to hesitate.
His hand absently reached out, scratching behind Aeris's head. She cooed softly in response, nudging against his touch.
"Tomorrow's going to be tough," he muttered.
Aeris let out a determined chirp.
Grimm, still lying down, grinned and gave a lazy thumbs-up.
Sage remained silent but blinked once, as if acknowledging the statement.
Tide didn't even look up.
Noah sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I know you don't care."
Despite himself, he chuckled.
Just as he was about to turn in for the night, he heard footsteps approaching. Noah tensed, but when he turned, he recognized the familiar silhouette of Brock.
The former Pewter City Gym Leader had his arms crossed, a knowing smirk on his face. "I figured I'd find you here."
Noah raised an eyebrow. "You spying on me or something?"
Brock laughed. "Nah, just figured you'd be training late. You remind me of someone I know."
Noah didn't need to ask who.
Brock sat down next to him, watching the ocean. "You've got a solid team."
"Still not enough," Noah muttered.
Brock glanced at him. "Doubt is natural, but don't let it stop you. You put in the effort. Now, trust your Pokémon."
Noah sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I do trust them. I just…"
He paused.
Brock waited patiently.
"…I don't want to lose."
Brock hummed in understanding. "You've been preparing so much that you're afraid all that work might not be enough."
Noah didn't answer, but that was exactly it.
He'd put everything into this, but Brawly had been a Gym Leader for years. Experience was on his side.
"Losing isn't the worst thing," Brock said, stretching. "Not learning from it is."
Noah let out a breath. "I know. But I don't plan on losing."
Brock grinned. "Good"
For a moment, they simply sat in silence, listening to the waves.
Then, Brock chuckled. "By the way, I noticed something earlier."
Noah raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Your Pidgey." Aeris immediately puffed up her feathers, glaring at Brock.
Brock chuckled again. "Still mad at me, huh?"
Noah sighed, shaking his head. "She hates being called big."
"Well," Brock smirked, "that's because she is big."
Aeris let out a sharp chirp, wings twitching.
Noah quickly reached out and petted her before she could start pecking Brock's face off.
Brock, still amused, continued, "I don't think it's just random. Aeris might be an Alpha Pokémon."
Noah frowned. "You mentioned that before. What does that even mean?"
Brock scratched his chin. "It's rare, but sometimes, wild Pokémon are born bigger, stronger, and more dominant than the rest of their species. They usually lead groups in the wild."
Noah glanced at Aeris. "So you're saying she's some kind of leader-type?"
Brock nodded. "It's possible. Though it could also just be a growth spurt. Hard to tell without comparing her to another Pidgey."
Noah grimaced. If Aeris really was an Alpha Pokémon, that meant she'd keep growing… and eating even more food.
Aeris, still glaring at Brock, finally settled down when Noah scratched behind her head again.
May's voice from the previous day echoed in his mind:
"She calmed down as soon as you petted her. She's cute."
Noah snorted. Cute was not the word he'd use.
Brock finally stood up, stretching. "Anyway, just wanted to check in before your big match. Get some rest. You'll need it."
Noah gave a short nod. "Thanks."
Brock grinned before heading back toward the Pokémon Center.
Noah sat for a while longer, watching the waves.
Tomorrow, everything would be decided.
Noah eventually returned to the Pokémon Center.
He had just finished feeding his team, ensuring they all had the nutrients they needed for recovery.
Even Tide, for once, seemed satisfied.
Grimm was already curled up in his bed, arms behind his head, looking completely at ease. Aeris perched near the window, her eyes half-lidded as she listened to the faint rustling of the wind outside.
Sage remained motionless, standing in the corner of the room, as still as a statue.
Noah sat on his bed, staring at his Poké Balls.
Grimm. Aeris. Sage. Tide.
Each of them had trained relentlessly. Each of them had fought for him, alongside him.
This wasn't just his battle—it was theirs.
He wasn't just fighting for a Gym Badge.
He was fighting to prove that all their hard work meant something.
Taking a deep breath, he finally lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
His mind raced with strategies, with possibilities of how the battle could play out.
Would Grimm's Low Kick be strong enough? Would Aeris dodge in time? Would Sage's tactics work against Brawly's strategies?
He clenched his fists.
No. No more doubts.
They had trained. They had pushed themselves. They were ready.
Tomorrow, they would win.
With that final thought, Noah closed his eyes.