The Celadon Gym was less like an arena and more like a sanctuary. Columns of ivy crawled up the high glass walls, sunlight filtering down in beams of gold. The air was thick with perfume, sweet and heavy, as if every flower in the city had poured its scent into this single space. In the centre of the greenery was a plain battlefield.
Cyrus walked in quietly, his hand resting on Aron's Poké Ball at his belt, steady and ready. Noticing a girl in the back of the gym, playing with her Gloom on the grass, he called out:
"Hello Erika, my name is Cyrus Jo Christo. I'm here to challenge your gym."
Looking up at the new face, Erika rose from her cushion with slow grace. Her short blue hair framed her shoulders, her kimono patterned with leaves and blossoms that swayed as she moved. She regarded Cyrus with an expression that was calm, serene, almost disinterested.
"Well, it's my duty as a Gym Leader to accept all challengers. So, Cyrus, how about we have a three-on-three battle? As per League rules, only you will be allowed to switch Pokémon."
"Fine by me," Cyrus replied with a smirk.
Both trainers moved to opposite ends of the battlefield, Poké Balls ready in their hands.
"Let me show you the power of my Grass-type Pokémon. Tangela, I choose you!" With an elegant flair, Erika threw her Poké Ball, releasing a Pokémon covered in blue, seaweed-like vines that obscured its face. A small gap in the vines revealed its eyes, surrounded by a black space.
"Aron, the field is yours." Cyrus threw out his Poké Ball with calm confidence.
Erika looked surprised at the unfamiliar Pokémon, but her expression quickly shifted to determination as she called the first move of the battle.
"I must say, I've never seen that Pokémon before. But it doesn't matter, Tangela, pull him closer with your vines!"
Two vines shot out from Tangela's body, whipping toward Aron.
"Aron, use Metal Claw and pin them down, then follow up with Rock Tomb!"
Aron's front claws shone with a metallic luster. Just as the vines reached him, he snapped them down firmly. Tangela struggled to break free, but before Erika could react, Aron launched five large stones toward his opponent, crushing Tangela under their weight.
"Tangela, use energy ball and get out of there!"
From within the tomb of stone, a faint green glow pulsed before two of the rocks shattered, revealing the battered Grass-type. Seizing the chance, Cyrus called out:
"Aron, finish it, charge in with Head Smash!"
A brown aura enveloped Aron as he rushed forward, head lowered and the target locked onto Tangela.
"No, Tangela! Get out of the way!" Erika shouted in concern, but it was too late. Tangela, still surrounded by three remaining stones, had no strength left to move. Aron collided full force, sending Tangela crashing through the rocks and into a tree behind, clearly knocked out.
With a worried look, Erika recalled Tangela, thanking it softly for its efforts. She then sent out her next Pokémon: a yellow, bell-shaped creature with leaves for arms.
"I'll admit, Cyrus, you're a stronger trainer than I thought. But that's not enough to beat a great trainer like me. This should be easy. Weepinbell, let's teach him a lesson! Use Razor Leaf!"
'I forgot how arrogant she was in the anime. At least she's not wrong about this being easy,' Cyrus mused as Weepinbell spun, firing a barrage of sharp leaves.
"Aron, dodge with Dig, then use Iron Head to end it."
Cyrus could tell by Weepinbell's posture and size that it hadn't been trained to its full potential. Compared to the Weepinbell he had seen at Professor Oak's lab, this one lacked both power and presence.
Aron burrowed underground, the leaves slicing harmlessly above. Digging deep, he then coated himself in metallic energy and launched upward, erupting from the ground directly beneath Weepinbell. The blow sent Erika's second Pokémon flying backwards, defeated.
"Wow, Erika. You sure did teach me a lesson. I just wish it lasted a bit longer." Cyrus's voice dripped with sarcasm, mocking her earlier words. He wasn't usually one to talk trash, but Erika's boast about being a "great trainer" had irritated him.
Erika gritted her teeth but released her final Pokémon with fiery determination.
"Gloom, let's show them our strength!"
As the dark-blue Pokémon with red petals appeared, a foul stench filled the gym. Cyrus and Aron both winced but quickly refocused.
"Gloom, use Sludge Bomb!"
Gloom hurled blobs of purple liquid.
"Rock Polish!" Cyrus countered.
Aron's body gleamed as he darted forward, running straight through the attack. The poison slipped harmlessly off his steel-plated body, shocking Erika.
"Aron, let's get this over with. Flamethrower, I'd rather not stand in this smell much longer."
Unleashing the results of their special training, Aron roared as a stream of fire burst from his mouth, engulfing Gloom in flames. Erika gasped as the super-effective move scorched her Pokémon. When the flames cleared, a charred Gloom lay defeated.
Aron, proud of his performance, let out a roar of victory. Suddenly his body glowed white, light enveloping him as his silhouette grew larger. When the glow faded, a Lairon stood in his place, steel armor gleaming, eyes burning with pride. His roar echoed through the glass walls, reverberating like thunder.
LAIRON!
Cyrus smiled at his newly evolved partner. "Good work, Lairon" he said warmly, recalling him into his Poké Ball. 'Well, there goes our bike rides together,' he thought with a smirk.
Erika, still shaken, approached. "You're a good trainer, Cyrus. You caught me off guard, especially with a Pokémon I've never seen before. But that won't happen again. Next time we battle, I'll be the one on top."
Cyrus's eye twitched slightly at her words, but he stayed calm as Erika reached into her kimono sleeve and produced a badge shaped like a flower with rainbow-colored petals.
"As proof of your victory at the Celadon Gym, here is the Rainbow Badge."
Cyrus quietly nodded and accepted it, placing it next to his Boulder Badge in his case. Not wanting to linger, he left the gym and headed for the Pokémon Center to book a room.
Later, lying on his bed while Lairon rested beside him on the floor, Cyrus planned his next move.
'In the games, Celadon City was the location of the Team Rocket base. I should check it out, see if anything from the games applies here. Team Rocket may be dangerous, but Giovanni isn't dumb enough to try world domination. Even if Celadon is Rocket-free, I'll still have time to dismantle them eventually. Other than that, after buying supplies, I should be good to go.'
With one last sigh, Cyrus closed his eyes and drifted to sleep, ready for the next day.