The sun was directly overhead now, beating through the glass dome of the Eterna Gym like a giant magnifying glass. The arena felt more like a tropical rainforest than a battlefield, the humidity rising as the plants breathed.
Gardenia didn't look discouraged by the loss of her Cherubi. In fact, she looked even more thrilled. To her, a battle wasn't just a contest of strength; it was a way to see how Pokémon and humans interacted under pressure.
"You've got a sharp mind, Julian! But my next partner is the definition of 'steady wins the race.' Let's get straight to it! Turtwig, the stage is yours!"
With a flash of light, the iconic Sinnoh starter appeared. It was a small, sturdy turtle with a rich brown shell and a vibrant green sprout poking out from its head. It looked calm, almost serene, as it planted its feet firmly in the dirt. I knew this species well—they were known for their incredible endurance and the ability to photosynthesize under intense light, making them more dangerous the longer the sun stayed out.
"Don't give it a chance to settle in! Sylveon, Mystical Fire!"
"Fly-ah! (Take this!)" Sylveon cried, her ribbons snapping forward.
A swirling vortex of crimson and gold flames spiraled across the grass, turning the humidity into steam. Most people expected a Turtwig to be slow and bulky, but Gardenia's was a different breed.
"Straight to the point, Turtwig! Dodge and use Leech Seed!"
"Turt!"
The little turtle tucked its head and rolled to the side with surprising agility, the fire whistling past its shell and scorching the turf behind it. Before Sylveon could reposition, the sprout on Turtwig's head quivered, and a large, prickly brown seed shot out like a cannonball.
"We were ready for that! Sylveon, Fairy Wind!"
Sylveon didn't even move her feet. She flicked her feelers with the grace of a ribbon dancer, summoning a localized pink gale. The wind caught the seed mid-air, spinning it backward. Not only did the seeds fail to sprout on Sylveon, but the sharp, magical wind sliced into Turtwig, leaving visible scuff marks on its shell.
"Incredible," Gardenia praised, her eyes wide. "Most challengers have to lose a Pokémon to the 'drain' before they figure out how to deflect it. You're playing two steps ahead!"
"We've spent a lot of time in the woods, Gardenia," I replied, keeping my eyes locked on the field. "You learn to watch for the seeds."
"Maybe so, but we're just getting started! Turtwig, Razor Leaf!"
Turtwig shook its head violently, and a barrage of glowing, emerald-green leaves—sharp enough to cut through wood—flew toward Sylveon.
"Counter it with Swift!"
Sylveon spun in a circle, her ribbons glowing. A shower of golden, homing stars erupted from her body. The golden stars and the green leaves collided in the air with a series of metallic clinks. Thanks to Sylveon's earlier Calm Mind and her overall level advantage, her stars were much more dense. One golden star would shatter three or four leaves before continuing its flight.
Turtwig was pelted by the remaining stars, sliding backward across the grass.
"Don't let up! Mystical Fire again!"
"Turtwig, hang in there! Dodge and try one more Leech Seed!"
The turtle was panting now, its shell scuffed and smoking from the near-misses. It managed to scramble out of the way of the main fire blast, but the explosion of embers created a thick screen of smoke.
"Now!" Gardenia shouted.
Through the haze, a second seed flew. I saw it a second too late. "Sylveon, look out! Behind the smoke!"
Sylveon tried to skip back, but her earlier exertion had slowed her just enough. The seed hit her flank and immediately erupted into glowing green vines that wrapped around her legs and torso.
"Sylveon! (Gah! Get these off me! They're itchy!)" She tried to use her ribbons to tear them away, but the vines were like leeches—the more she struggled, the tighter they pulled, glowing with a rhythmic green pulse as they started siphoning her energy back to the wounded Turtwig.
"Darn it," I hissed. "I got careless. We can't afford to sit here and let him heal. Sylveon, don't worry about the vines—full power! Continuous Fairy Wind! Turn the whole arena into a storm!"
Sylveon's eyes glowed with pink energy. She ignored the draining sensation of the seeds and began to dance. A massive, howling pink cyclone started to form around her, picking up loose grass and dirt, hurtling toward the center of the field.
Gardenia realized the end was near for her Turtwig. "You're going for the finish, huh? Then we'll meet you halfway! Turtwig, use everything you've got! Leaf Storm!"
The turtle let out a defiant roar. A massive spiral of sharp, glowing leaves erupted from its sprout, spinning in the opposite direction of Sylveon's wind. The two high-tier moves collided with a deafening BOOM that shook the glass ceiling of the Gym. A massive cloud of dust and shredded leaves filled the arena, obscuring everything.
When the dust finally settled, the result was clear. Turtwig was on its back, little eyes swirling in circles. It had given everything for that final move, but the accumulated damage was too much.
However, Sylveon was in rough shape. She was still standing, but the Leech Seed vines were still glowing, and she was panting heavily, her legs trembling slightly.
"Turtwig is unable to battle! Sylveon wins!" the referee declared.
Gardenia sighed, a look of pride on her face as she recalled her starter. "You were wonderful, Turtwig. Rest up." She looked at me. "You're really something, Julian. Two of my team down, and you're still standing with your first Pokémon. But... that Sylveon looks like she's about to collapse."
I reached for my Poké Ball. "You're right. Sylveon, come back. You've done more than enough."
But as the red light began to project, Sylveon stepped to the side, dodging the recall beam. She looked back at me, her ribbons tattered but her eyes burning with a fierce, competitive fire.
"Fly-ah! Sylveon-speech-sound! (No, Jing! Not yet! I can still go! I want to see this through!)"
I hesitated. "Sylveon, the Leech Seed is still active. Your stamina is low. Floette is rested and ready to handle the anchor."
She shook her head stubbornly, planting her paws firmly in the grass. She didn't want to be "saved." She wanted to finish the job.
I looked at her for a long moment, then slowly lowered the Poké Ball. "I understand. I shouldn't have doubted you. We'll finish this together. Just... don't push yourself past the breaking point, okay?"
Sylveon gave me a determined nod and turned back to face the opponent's side of the field.
Gardenia tilted her head, a smile touching her lips. "Respecting the Pokémon's will even when it's tactically 'wrong'... I like that. You're a true Trainer, not just a Doctor."
She reached for her final Poké Ball—the one she kept on a special clip at her belt. "In that case, let's see if your bond can withstand the master of this forest. This is my partner, my shadow, and my strongest friend!"