The morning sun in Eterna City felt different than the gentle warmth of Floaroma. It was sharper, more intense—the kind of light that Grass-type Pokémon craved. Inside our hotel room, the atmosphere was thick with a mix of pre-battle jitters and the smell of freshly brewed Berry tea.
I'd spent the last forty-eight hours in a bit of a daze, mostly because Sylveon had discovered that if she gave me a certain "sad" look with her big blue eyes, I'd spend hours brushing her fur or giving her ear massages. It was a vicious cycle of cuteness and bribery, but today, the pampering had to end.
I rolled out of bed, my joints popping. "Alright, team. Today's the day. No more lounging around like Snorlax."
Breakfast was a focused affair. I prepped the usual favorites, but I was extra careful with Floette. I practically detailed her like a vintage car, wiping every speck of pollen and nectar from her body to make sure she was as aerodynamic—and crumb-free—as possible.
Clap! Clap!
The sharp sound of my palms meeting made all three Pokémon snap to attention. Floette hovered mid-air, Sylveon stood tall with her ribbons poised, and Togepi did his best to look intimidating despite being, well, a Togepi.
"We've spent the last few days drilling the anti-Grass tactics," I said, my voice dropping into my serious 'Trainer' register. "Gardenia isn't going to go easy on us just because we're new. You've eaten your fill, you've had your rest. Let's go get that Forest Badge."
"Floe~!" "Fly-ah!" "Bu-wing!"
The chorus of determination was all I needed to hear. I recalled them to their Poké Balls, tightened my hat—which was finally, thankfully, clean—and marched toward the Eterna Gym.
The Gym was a massive, dome-like structure that looked more like a giant greenhouse than a battlefield. Vines climbed the stone walls, and the scent of wild cedar hung heavy in the air.
"Hello. I'm Julian of Sandgem Town," I told the receptionist. "I have a ten o'clock reservation."
The staff member tapped a few keys, checked my ID, and nodded. "Confirmed. Please wait in the Challenger's Wing. The Gym Leader is finishing a morning inspection of the indoor garden."
I didn't have to wait long. Within ten minutes, I was being led through a tunnel that opened up into a massive, grassy arena. The ceiling was made of reinforced glass, allowing the sun to bake the field in a brilliant, natural glow.
Standing at the other end was a woman who looked like she'd been born in a forest. Gardenia wore her signature green-and-brown attire, her hair a messy, dark-brown jellyfish cut that somehow worked for her. She was currently whispering to a nearby patch of ferns, but she looked up the moment I stepped onto the grass.
"So, the 'Fairy Doctor' finally arrives!" she called out, her eyes shining with genuine curiosity. "I've been looking forward to this, Julian."
I rubbed my forehead. "I had a feeling you'd be waiting for me. I guess my reputation as a researcher precedes me?"
"More than you know!" Gardenia laughed, stepping to her side of the field. "The discovery of the Fairy-type has sent the League into a frenzy. Even Cynthia says she's still figuring out the best way to utilize her Togekiss's new typing in high-level play. Everyone is looking at you to see how a specialist actually handles them in a real fight."
She stuck her tongue out playfully. "So, don't you dare hold back! I want to see everything those little sprites can do!"
"I wouldn't dream of it," I replied, my competitive spark finally igniting.
The referee stepped onto the central platform. "The match between Gym Leader Gardenia and the challenger Julian is about to begin! It will be a three-on-three battle. Only the challenger may sub Pokémon. The battle is over when either side is out of usable partners. Let the match begin!"
"Go, straight to the point! Cherubi!" Gardenia shouted, tossing her ball.
A small, cherry-like Pokémon with a secondary, smaller head appeared. It looked adorable, but I knew better than to underestimate Gardenia's 'cute' starters.
"Cherubi, huh? Alright, big start for the little guy. Togepi, the stage is yours!"
Togepi popped out, looking a bit dwarfed by the massive arena, but he wobbled forward bravely.
"Cherubi, let's set the pace! Leech Seed!"
"Togepi, give them a Yawn!"
The exchange happened almost simultaneously. A volley of seeds shot from Cherubi's smaller head, sticking to Togepi's shell and sprouting into glowing vines that began to sap his energy. At the same time, Togepi released a huge, shimmering bubble of sleepiness that popped right in Cherubi's face.
"Good job, Togepi. Return!"
I didn't let the Leech Seed drain him for a second longer than necessary. I recalled him instantly, knowing his job was done.
"Now, the main event! Sylveon, let's go!"
Sylveon materialized with a graceful flourish. Before Gardenia could even issue a command, Sylveon sat down and closed her eyes, a calm, blue aura surrounding her.
"Calm Mind already?" Gardenia noted, her brow furrowing. "A classic setup. But don't think I'm going to let you sleep through this!"
I was counting on the Yawn to keep Cherubi out for a while, but the sun beating down through the glass roof was doing wonders for Grass-types. Cherubi shook off the drowsiness much faster than I expected, snapping awake just as Sylveon finished her first boost.
"Cherubi, they're setting up for a sweep! Don't let them! Solar Beam!"
"Sylveon, Ability Swap! Then move!" I commanded.
"What?!" Gardenia blinked.
Sylveon's ribbons flared with pink light. A pulse of energy shot out, connecting her to the Cherubi. For a heartbeat, the two Pokémon were linked by a glowing thread of DNA-like strands.
Then, Sylveon blurred.
The massive pillar of white-hot light from the Solar Beam tore through the spot where Sylveon had been standing a millisecond prior, scorching the grass. But Sylveon was already five meters to the left, her ribbons trailing behind her like a jet's wake.
"Did... did she just get faster?" Gardenia asked, her eyes wide.
"You like the sun, Gardenia, but now Sylveon likes it too," I explained. "She just traded her Pixilate for Cherubi's Chlorophyll. In this sunlight, her speed is doubled."
"Using Ability Swap to hijack the weather advantage... that's clever," Gardenia admitted, her grin returning. "Truly a researcher's move!"
"It's just the beginning. Sylveon, Mystical Fire!"
With the speed boost and the Calm Mind buff, Sylveon was a powerhouse. She exhaled a swirling vortex of purple and gold flames. Cherubi, now lacking its Chlorophyll speed, stood no chance of dodging.
"Counter it with Solar Beam!" Gardenia yelled.
The two beams met in the center of the field, but it wasn't even close. The Mystical Fire, empowered by the sun and the Calm Mind, swallowed the Solar Beam whole. It slammed into Cherubi, engulfed the little cherry Pokémon in a spectacular floral explosion, and left it fainting on the grass.
"Cherubi is unable to battle! Sylveon wins!" the referee called.
Gardenia recalled her Pokémon, looking at the ball with a soft expression. "That was a clean hit. You've clearly put a lot of thought into countering our type's natural habitat."
"I've had a lot of time to think in the woods," I replied. "Grass-types are masters of the sun. If I can't take the sun away from you, I'll just make it mine too."
"A fair point!" Gardenia said, her hand reaching for her second Poké Ball. Her playful demeanor shifted into something a bit sharper, a bit more intense. "But the sun can be a harsh mistress. Let's see how you handle some real thorns! Be careful with my next partner!"