The storm of battle had ended, but the air still pulsed faintly with static. The faint scent of burnt dirt and dust lingered as the adults rushed toward the two figures standing in the clearing.
Leyn was breathing hard, his knees slightly shaking, his shirt torn and streaked with dirt and faint scratches. Beside him, Pikachu's fur was singed in a few places, its cheeks dimly sparking, chest rising and falling as it panted.
The Fearow lay on the ground some distance away, unconscious, its wings twitching faintly. The silence that followed was deafening.
Then —
"Leyn!"
"Pikachu!"
Rhea's voice cracked as she sprinted the last few meters. She dropped to her knees and pulled her son into a tight embrace, trembling, her voice half-sobbing, half-scolding. "What were you thinking!? Running off like that, fighting those things—!"
Leyn tried to speak, but her hug was too tight. "Mom, I—Pikachu and I, we had to—!"
Gerald caught up a few steps behind her, his breath ragged, but his face was calm, composed, though his eyes betrayed the same fear. He placed a firm hand on Leyn's shoulder, steady but not harsh. "You did good, son," he said quietly. "But don't think you're escaping a scolding."
That earned a startled blink from Leyn — and a faint, tired smile.
Gerald sighed and crouched, looking him straight in the eye. "You protected Leaf. That was the right thing to do. But you could've been seriously hurt. Pokémon battles aren't games, especially not against wild ones defending territory. Next time, think before you jump into danger."
Rhea nodded sharply, still hugging him as if letting go might make him vanish. "He's right, Leyn. I know you meant well, but don't ever do that again."
Pikachu, standing beside them, gave a soft "Pika…" lowering its ears guiltily. Rhea's expression softened as she reached out to pat its head gently. "You too, little one… thank you for protecting him."
Pikachu blinked up at her, then gave a small, proud smile, tail wagging weakly.
Nearby, Professor Oak had stopped several steps away. He didn't speak immediately. His gaze swept across the battlefield — the charred patches of dirt, the faint footprints, the marks where Fearow's talons had struck, and the scattered feathers crackling faintly with leftover static. His years of experience as a trainer, as a champion in his younger days, let him read the story written in the ground.
Thunder Wave first — clever.
Then he prioritized Leaf's safety before counterattacking. He read the situation clearly despite fear. Kept commands short, precise.
Oak's eyes softened, a quiet pride glinting behind them.
He has the instincts of a real trainer.
As he mused, a small voice broke through the moment.
"L-Leyn!"
Leaf had run back from where the others had stopped, her shoes scraping on the dirt as she threw herself toward them. Tears streamed freely down her face as she hugged Leyn tightly, sobbing against his shoulder. "I was so scared! You—you got hurt because of me!"
Leyn winced a little but smiled gently, patting her head. "Hey, it's okay. I told you to run, right? That's what matters. We're both safe now."
"But still—!" she cried, her grip tightening.
Gerald and Rhea exchanged looks — half amusement, half exasperation — while Oak chuckled softly behind them. For a moment, the tension lifted. Pikachu climbed onto Leyn's shoulder, chirping softly as if to comfort Leaf too.
Professor Oak finally stepped forward, his voice calm and firm. "Alright, that's enough for now. Both of you need medical attention. Especially you two," he added, glancing at Pikachu and Leyn. "Let's head back to the lab."
Rhea nodded, standing and guiding her son gently. "Come on, you two."
As they walked, Pikachu trudged alongside them, occasionally looking back at the unconscious Fearow. Oak paused for a second to glance at it too — and couldn't help but smile faintly. "You did good, little one," he said softly to Pikachu when they reached the lab. Pikachu's ears perked up, and it chirped proudly, "Pika!"
---
A while later, the lab was filled with the quiet hum of machines and the faint beeping of medical monitors. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic. Rhea sat beside Leyn as she carefully wrapped a bandage around his arm, her touch gentle but her expression firm. Pikachu was perched nearby, its cheek patched with a small pad after being treated by one of the aides.
Professor Oak stood by the counter, arms crossed, observing both of them. "You know, Leyn," he began after a moment, "there were better ways to handle what happened out there."
Leyn blinked, looking up. "Better ways?"
"Yes." Oak nodded slowly. "After you used Thunder Wave and paralyzed them, you could have grabbed Leaf and run toward the lab while Pikachu used Thunder Shock to repel them. Or even before that—you could've simply focused on escape instead of a fight. The odds were against you."
Leyn frowned slightly, caught off guard. "Wait—Professor Oak… how did you know? I didn't explain anything yet."
Oak chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling. "My dear boy, you forget—I was a trainer once, and a rather good one. I can read a battle like a story on the ground. The burn marks, the positions, the timing of the damage—it all speaks, if you know how to listen."
Leyn's eyes widened slightly, then lowered with a small, embarrassed smile. "Ah… right. I guess that makes sense."
Oak's expression softened. "Still, you did well for your first battle. You kept your head clear and gave concise commands. You protected your friend without panicking. That takes instinct."
Leyn looked down, his voice quiet. "It wasn't scary, you know."
Oak raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
The boy clenched his fist lightly, remembering the rush, the electricity, the sound of his heartbeat syncing with Pikachu's cries. "It was… exhilarating. My heart was pounding, and I could feel it—like Pikachu and I were one. Like we just knew what the other would do."
Oak's eyes glinted with approval, though he hid it behind a thoughtful hum. "That bond you felt—that's what it means to be a real trainer, Leyn. Just remember that strength isn't only about fighting. Sometimes, it's knowing when not to."
Rhea smiled softly at that, tightening the last bandage. "There. All done. You'll be sore tomorrow, but you'll live."
Gerald chuckled from the doorway. "And he's learned a lesson the hard way, it seems."
Leyn laughed weakly, scratching his cheek. "Yeah… maybe."
Before anyone could say more, the sound of an engine outside drew their attention. A car pulled up near the lab gates. Oak turned toward the window as two adults stepped out hurriedly — a man and woman who looked slightly travel-worn, but their eyes lit up the moment they saw the children standing by the door.
"Leaf!" the woman cried out, rushing forward.
"Mom! Dad!" Leaf gasped and ran to meet them. The three embraced tightly, her parents holding her close as though they hadn't seen her in years.
"What happened to you, sweetheart? Why are you all dirty?" her father asked, worry etched across his face.
Leaf hesitated, glancing toward Leyn, then explained everything in bits and pieces — the Fearow, the Spearow, Leyn and Pikachu saving her. Her parents listened quietly, expressions shifting from horror to relief and finally gratitude.
When she finished, her mother knelt to wipe the last of the dirt from her cheek, tears glimmering. "I'm so sorry, dear. We were late because of work. If we'd arrived earlier—"
Leaf shook her head quickly, managing a small smile. "It's okay, really. Everything turned out fine. Pikachu and Leyn… they protected me."
Her parents turned toward Leyn and his family. The father stepped forward first, bowing slightly. "Thank you, young man. Truly. You have our deepest gratitude."
Leyn rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, cheeks reddening a little. "Ah—no, really, it's fine. I just did what anyone would do."
Rhea smiled proudly, resting a hand on her son's shoulder. "He just can't stand seeing someone in danger."
Oak, standing quietly behind them, chuckled under his breath. He's got courage, that boy. But we'll have to temper it before it gets him hurt again.
As the adults talked and reassured each other, Pikachu climbed onto Leyn's lap, curling up there with a tired but satisfied sigh. Leyn smiled down at it, stroking its fur gently. "You did amazing out there, buddy."
"Pika…" it murmured, closing its eyes.
Outside the sun had already gone down now countless stars remained in the sky observing. The air had gone quiet again, but the faint scent of thunder still lingered — a reminder of the battle that had just changed everything.
And as Leyn sat there, exhausted but content, he couldn't help but think…
That was only the beginning.