Fuchsia City was still wrapped in a thin layer of morning mist. The bitter freshness of the forest and the faint fragrance of herbs drifted in through the open window. Ren woke early, and the first thing he did was let a wisp of Viridian Power gather at his fingertips, gently brushing over the sleeping Shuppet beside his pillow. The little Pokémon was curled into a tiny ball, cheeks puffed as it slept soundly, even its sleepy murmurs soft and sweet.
"Time to get up, little one," Ren said softly, lightly touching one of its tiny ears.
Shuppet's eyes cracked open into a slit. The moment it saw Ren, it burrowed further into his arms, whining clingily without the slightest intention of getting up, like a sleepy little mochi refusing to leave bed.
Ren couldn't help laughing. He took out one of the anti-poison Pokéblocks he had prepared in advance and waved it in front of its nose.
The sweet berry fragrance instantly caught its attention.
Shuppet's eyes snapped open. It stared at the Pokéblock, suddenly wide awake.
After devouring it in a few quick bites, its fighting spirit surged back completely. It bounced twice on the table, striking a battle-ready pose, its red eyes burning with determination.
Smiling, Ren ruffled its head again before checking his waist pouch one last time: Antidotes, Paralyze Heals, spare Pokéblocks—all neatly packed and ready.
"If you're ready, then let's go."
Shuppet immediately jumped into his arms, looking utterly prepared for battle.
The streets were still quiet in the early morning, with only a few shops beginning to open. Fuchsia Gym was hidden deep within the woods, its wooden gate half-covered by creeping honeysuckle vines. Above it, the dark violet emblem of the Poison-type Gym gleamed with understated sharpness in the morning light.
When Ren pushed the gate open, he was met not by an open battlefield, but by a winding corridor. Vines hung down from the ceiling, and old-fashioned ninja mannequins stood on either side. A faint, harmless mist floated through the air—one of Koga's tests for challengers, meant to examine a Trainer's focus and their perception of their Pokémon.
Ren never broke stride. In his arms, Shuppet remained just as unbothered, its little head swiveling as it cautiously observed its surroundings, but it stayed pressed close to him without the slightest panic.
After passing through three separate corridors, the view suddenly opened up.
A circular battlefield stretched before them, covered with a deep brown mat designed for ninja combat. At the center stood Koga, already waiting.
He wore a dark violet ninja uniform. His long hair was tied into a high ponytail, and while his face was refined and calm, his eyes carried the sharpness unique to a true ninja. A round little Venonat perched on his shoulder, and the aura around him was steady and restrained—the presence of a Poison-type master who had seen countless battles.
Koga spoke first, his voice even and composed.
"Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center mentioned you last night. She said you travel with a Shuppet with whom you share an exceptionally deep bond."
Ren gave a slight respectful bow, then gently set Shuppet down at his side of the field.
"Hello, Mr. Koga. My name is Ren. I've come to challenge the Fuchsia Gym. My Shuppet and I will give it everything we have."
Shuppet planted itself firmly in place, its blue body drawn taut as it gave Koga a serious cry—a greeting, and a declaration of fighting spirit all at once.
Koga's hand moved to the Poké Ball at his waist, and the atmosphere around him instantly sharpened. It was the signal that a Gym Leader was about to fight at full strength.
"In that case, I won't hold back either. This will be a one-on-one battle. Each side may use only one Pokémon, and the battle ends when one loses the ability to fight. My ace is this one—go, Crobat!"
The Poké Ball flew out, bursting into brilliant white light.
A pair of huge wings spread wide, stirring up a sharp gust of wind. Crobat hovered high above the battlefield, four wings beating silently. Its crimson eyes were sharp as blades, instantly locking onto the Shuppet below.
This was Koga's absolute ace.
A perfect combination of Poison- and Flying-type, blindingly fast and dangerously cunning—the nightmare of countless challengers.
"The battle… begin!" one of the Gym apprentices shouted from the side.
"Crobat, Air Slash first!" Koga's command was direct and ruthless, perfectly fitting a ninja's style.
The order had barely left his lips before Crobat vanished from where it was hovering, so fast it seemed to leave afterimages behind. A razor-sharp Air Slash tore through the air toward Shuppet's face, giving it almost no time to react.
"Shuppet, Protect!" Ren's command came nearly at the same instant.
A pale green barrier sprang up around Shuppet.
The Air Slash slammed into it with a booming impact. The shield trembled violently, but in the end, it held.
Yet before Shuppet could recover, Crobat had already circled behind it. Its Poison Fang glowed with a dark violet-black light as it lunged down viciously.
"Quick, to the side—Double Team!"
Shuppet rolled to the side in a blur. Poison Fang scraped past its back, missing by a hair and leaving a blackened toxic mark on the floor. At the same time, Shuppet split into three identical images.
But Crobat was far too fast.
With a single beat of its wings, a supersonic pulse rang out. The illusions shattered instantly, and the real Shuppet was thrown into dizziness, its movements slowing for the briefest moment.
That tiny opening was all Crobat needed.
Poison Fang struck again—
and sank into Shuppet's wing.
"Shuppet!" Ren's heart clenched instantly. Viridian Power surged toward it without reserve, desperately suppressing the powerful poison flooding into its body.
Shuppet let out a muffled cry of pain, but there was no retreat in it. Instead, seizing the moment that Crobat had come close, it raised one claw and delivered a point-blank Shadow Claw straight into Crobat's side.
Crobat hissed in pain and darted backward, hovering in the air again, its eyes now carrying a flicker of surprise.
Meanwhile, a dark purple bite mark was already visible on Shuppet's wing. The toxic venom was spreading through its body. Even with Viridian Power suppressing it, its movements had visibly slowed.
"Hang in there, Shuppet!" Ren's voice held pain, but it remained steady.
He knew that if he panicked now, they would lose everything.
Through their bond, he could feel that Shuppet had not given up—not even for a second. Its heart was full of resolve, full of the desire to win this battle with him.
"Crobat, keep pressing—Air Slash barrage!" Koga's command came without hesitation. Holding nothing back was the greatest respect he could give a challenger.
Crobat blurred into motion again, launching one Air Slash after another, sealing off every route of escape.
Ren drew in a deep breath. Viridian Power and Shuppet's feelings connected completely. In that instant, Trainer and Pokémon were utterly synchronized.
"Shuppet, dive into the shadows—move to the far left of the field!"
Shuppet instantly melted into the shadows on the field. Several Air Slashes hit nothing but empty space.
At the exact moment Crobat dipped lower to search for its target, Ren's next command rang out:
"Now! Emerge from the shadow behind it—use Trick to disrupt it!"
Shuppet burst out from Crobat's shadow in an instant. Trick's strange psychic energy wrapped around Crobat, disrupting the rhythm of its wings and throwing off the buildup for its next attack.
Its movement stalled for half a second.
For Ren and Shuppet, who had fought side by side all this way—
that was enough.
"Shadow Ball—full power!"
Shuppet gathered all the Ghost-type energy in its body. A pitch-black Shadow Ball formed before it, then shot forward with a tearing howl.
Crobat couldn't evade in time.
The blast struck it head-on, sending it reeling several meters through the air.
But this was still Koga's ace.
It steadied itself quickly, screeching sharply, then beat its wings once and unleashed a spreading cloud of dense purple poison mist. In an instant, the entire battlefield was swallowed. Sight vanished completely.
The mist was not only highly toxic—it also interfered with a Pokémon's senses.
This was one of Koga's deadliest tactics.
"Don't panic, Shuppet. Hold your breath and follow my senses!" Ren closed his eyes briefly. Instead of trying to see through the mist, he spread Viridian Power to its fullest—continuing to suppress the poison in Shuppet's body while also locking onto Crobat's exact location within the haze.
And through their bond, he transmitted that location directly to Shuppet.
He trusted Shuppet completely—
just as Shuppet trusted his guidance completely.
"Crobat, use Sludge Bomb within the mist. Lock onto the target!" Koga's voice came through the haze, still calm as ever.
Dark Sludge Bombs came hurtling through the poison mist with deadly precision.
But the bond between Ren and Shuppet had already gone beyond the need for sight.
"Shuppet—Shadow Sneak, straight upward!"
Shuppet instantly merged with the shadows again. Using the cover of the poison mist, it didn't retreat—instead, it charged directly toward Crobat.
The Sludge Bombs struck empty air.
And Shuppet had already slipped silently beneath Crobat.
Ren could feel it clearly: the poison was still spreading through Shuppet's body, and its stamina was draining fast.
But its will was unwavering.
It wanted to win.
It wanted to win together with Ren.
It wanted to claim this Badge.
It wanted to keep traveling farther with him.
"Now! Gather every last bit of your strength—full-power Shadow Claw!"
The moment his command fell, Shuppet leapt upward.
Its violet-black Shadow Claw burst with a brilliance greater than ever before.
That strike held everything—
all the strength it had left,
the endless flow of Viridian Power Ren was pouring into it,
and all the bond they had built since their first meeting in Viridian Forest, through every battle and every moment they had faced together.
The claw tore through the air—
and struck Crobat's vital point.
Boom—!
With a single explosive sound, Crobat's wings went limp. It dropped straight from the air and crashed heavily onto the battlefield mat, its red eyes losing all will to fight.
It had completely lost the ability to battle.
At that same moment, the poison mist began to thin.
Shuppet swayed, all strength spent, and was about to collapse.
Ren sprinted forward and caught it securely in his arms before it could hit the ground.
"You worked so hard. You did so well—so, so well." His voice trembled faintly as Viridian Power poured into Shuppet at full force, desperately suppressing the remaining poison and healing its wounds.
Shuppet leaned weakly against him, rubbing its face against his palm. But its red eyes were full of happiness and pride.
It had won.
It had won with Ren, through nothing but trust in each other.
"The battle is over! Challenger Ren and Shuppet are victorious!" the apprentice announced loudly, his voice echoing through the now-quiet arena.
Koga recalled Crobat and gently tapped the Poké Ball with his fingers, murmuring a few calming words before walking slowly toward Ren.
He looked first at the exhausted Shuppet in Ren's arms, pride still shining in its eyes, and then at Ren himself, whose gaze was full of heartache and tenderness.
A genuine, unreserved smile appeared on Koga's face.
"Ren, you and your Shuppet have earned this victory beyond question."
From inside his robes, he took out a dark pink Badge, its shape a delicate Poison-type emblem polished smooth at the edges.
The Soul Badge.
He placed it solemnly into Ren's hand, his voice rich with admiration.
"Many people think the strength of Poison-type Pokémon lies in toxins that invade from all directions, in cunning tactics hidden in the dark. But they forget this: no move, no matter how powerful, can compare to the complete trust and bond between a Trainer and their Pokémon."
"In the direst situation—poison flooding the body, vision completely gone—you did not panic, and it did not retreat. You trusted each other completely. That is the strongest power of all, stronger than any tactic."
"You understand your partner, and your partner is willing to fight with everything it has for you. That bond is more precious than any move."
Ren gripped the pink Badge tightly.
Its warmth through his fingers, together with the warmth of Shuppet in his arms, made his eyes sting.
He lowered his head and smiled at the little Pokémon.
"Look—we got the fourth Badge. We did it."
Shuppet gave a soft little cry and reached out to touch the Badge with one claw, its eyes narrowing in satisfied contentment.
At that moment, a pale blue system screen unfolded quietly before Ren's eyes, gentle words appearing one by one:
[System Mission Complete]
[Mission Name: The Poison-Type Bond Trial of Fuchsia Gym]
[Rewards Granted:
Advanced Anti-Poison Pokéblock Recipe ×1, stored in system storage;Viridian Power · Affinity Attribute slightly enhanced. Perception, soothing, and energy-guiding abilities toward Pokémon have all further improved.]
Ren looked at the glowing screen, the smile at his lips deepening. Then he dismissed it with a thought.
All of his attention returned to the little Pokémon in his arms.
By the time he carried Shuppet out of Fuchsia Gym, the morning mist had fully dispersed. The noon sunlight poured warmly through the forest canopy, scattering fragments of gold across the ground.
In Ren's continued healing with Viridian Power, Shuppet had already recovered somewhat. Now it was nibbling at dried Mago Berry slices he fed it, chewing slowly to get rid of the lingering bitterness of poison in its mouth.
"I promised you," Ren said with a smile, rubbing its little head. "Once we won the Badge, I'd take you for the best berry cake in the city. First we'll go back to the Pokémon Center so Nurse Joy can give you another full checkup. After that, we'll buy cake, alright?"
Shuppet immediately cried out happily, its eyes full of anticipation.
Back at the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy gave Shuppet a careful examination. Once she confirmed that the poison had been completely cleared out by Viridian Power and that its wounds were healing rapidly, she laughed warmly.
"You two really are incredible. Challenging Mr. Koga's ace Crobat with a single Shuppet and actually winning… there aren't many challengers in all of Fuchsia City who could do that. Your bond is truly something to envy."
Ren thanked her with a smile, then carried the now-energetic Shuppet to Fuchsia City's most famous dessert shop. He bought a huge Chesto Berry cream cake—Shuppet's favorite—along with a bag full of fresh Mago Berries and Pecha Berries so he could make more tailored Pokéblocks later.
Shuppet sprawled atop the table, holding its cake and nibbling away happily, cream ringed around its mouth like a little thief caught after stealing sweets.
By evening, Ren carried the thoroughly fed, slightly sleepy Shuppet back to their room at the Pokémon Center.
He carefully placed the newly won Soul Badge into his Badge case, side by side with the Boulder Badge, Cascade Badge, and Rainbow Badge.
Four Badges lay there together—the clearest proof of the journey he and Shuppet had fought through side by side.
The Keystone on his person and the Banette Mega Stone in his bag resonated again, their faint glow stronger and clearer than ever before.
Ren could feel it plainly. After this desperate battle within the poison mist, the bond between him and Shuppet had deepened once more. The Ghost-type energy within the little Pokémon had also become denser and more refined after being pushed to its limit in battle. Quietly, silently, it was gathering—waiting for the day of transformation.
Sitting at the edge of the bed, Ren looked down at the sleeping Shuppet in his arms, his fingers lightly brushing across its soft body.
The Gym challenge across Kanto was nearly halfway complete.
Next, they would head to Saffron City and challenge the Psychic-type Gym there.
Many trials still lay ahead. Many adventures still waited in the unknown.
But he wasn't afraid at all.
Because by his side was the partner he trusted most, the one closest to his heart.
Outside the window, the night deepened. The breeze of Fuchsia City carried the scent of forest greenery as it drifted softly across the sill.
In his arms, Shuppet smacked its lips in sleep, burrowed deeper against him, and let out a tiny sleepy murmur.
Ren laughed quietly and lowered his forehead to touch its little head.
The journey was still going on.
And with every step they took side by side, their bond would only grow warmer—
and stronger.