The first day of the new League season had finally arrived, and Gladion was more excited than he wanted to admit.
He stood inside his gym, looking toward the large entrance as the first group of challengers that lived in Moonwood Town itself began making their way inside.
The stands were not completely full since gym battles for the first badge were not that fun but there were enough people watching to make the atmosphere lively.
Gladion smiled as he looked at the challengers.
'Finally, I get to do what I actually became a Gym Leader for.'
He had spent weeks dealing with diplomacy, business, criminals, ancient Pokémon, Legendary Pokémon, and enough political problems to make him question whether being a Gym Leader had been a mistake.
Now, he could finally battle trainers.
A gym referee stepped onto the field and announced the rules. The first challenger was a young boy who looked extremely nervous. He stood on the opposite side of the battlefield while repeatedly checking the Poké Ball in his hand.
Gladion could almost see the boy's confidence disappearing.
"Relax," Gladion said with a grin. "You are here to challenge a Gym, not fight for your life."
The boy laughed nervously, and some of the spectators chuckled as well. "I am ready, Gym Leader Gladion!"
"That is what I like to hear. Let us see what you have."
The referee raised his flag, and the battle officially began.
The boy immediately threw his Poké Ball.
"Go, Geodude! Show him what we can do!"
The small Rock type landed heavily on the field.
Gladion reached toward his own belt. "I have something a little different for you to fight."
He tossed his Poké Ball into the air. A flash of light appeared, revealing a small blue Pokémon covered in a hard shell.
Several spectators immediately began whispering. The challenger stared at it in confusion.
"That is... Omanyte?"
Gladion smiled. "Correct. An ancient Pokémon brought back through fossil restoration. They are incredibly rare right now with only Vortex corporation selling them currently."
The challenger immediately became excited.
Gladion continue, "I thought using them would make the gym a little more interesting this season. Most new trainers have seen Geodude, Zubat, and the usual early route Pokémon. How many of you can say you have battled a rare fossil Pokemon like Omanyte?"
The spectators immediately became more interested. The challenger tightened his grip around his Poké Ball.
"Then I will defeat it and become the first person to beat one of your fossil Pokémon!"
Gladion laughed. "I like the confidence. Now show me whether you have the skill to support it."
The battle began.
"Geodude, use Rock Throw!" The Geodude immediately grabbed a nearby stone and hurled it toward Omanyte.
"Omanyte, dodge and use Water Gun."
Omanyte moved surprisingly quickly for its small body, avoiding the rock before releasing a powerful stream of water.
The attack struck Geodude directly and pushed it backward.
The challenger immediately shouted another command. "Geodude, use Defense Curl and then Rollout!"
Geodude curled into a ball and began spinning rapidly across the battlefield.
Gladion watched carefully.
'Not bad. He is actually thinking instead of throwing attacks randomly.'
"Omanyte, use Withdraw and wait for it to get close."
Omanyte pulled itself deeper into its shell. Geodude continued rolling toward it.
The moment it came close, Gladion gave his next command.
"Now use Mud Shot underneath it."
Omanyte fired the attack at the ground.
The mud struck Geodude's path and caused it to lose balance. The Rock type crashed onto the ground.
"Finish it with Water Pulse."
Omanyte released a spinning sphere of water. The attack struck Geodude and knocked it out.
The referee immediately raised his flag.
"Geodude is unable to battle. Omanyte wins!"
The boy recalled his Pokémon.
"That was amazing."
Gladion nodded. "You had a good strategy. Your biggest mistake was making Rollout predictable. Once your Pokémon began spinning, I knew exactly where it would move."
The boy looked disappointed for a moment before smiling. "I understand. I will train harder."
"Do that and come back stronger to challenge me again. A Gym battle is supposed to teach you something."
The boy bowed before leaving the battlefield. The next challenger stepped forward.
This time, Gladion sent out Kabuto.
The fossil Pokémon appeared on the battlefield and immediately began moving its legs.
The challenger stared.
"Another fossil Pokemon?"
Gladion chuckled.
The challenger threw out a Bellsprout and the battle began.
"Bellsprout, use Vine Whip!" Several vines shot toward Kabuto.
"Kabuto, use Sand Attack."
Kabuto kicked up a cloud of sand, making it difficult for Bellsprout to see.
The vines missed.
"Now use Scratch."
Kabuto rushed forward and struck Bellsprout repeatedly.
The challenger quickly changed tactics. "Bellsprout, use Sleep Powder!"
Gladion's eyes narrowed. "Kabuto, get underground with Dig."
Kabuto immediately dug into the ground. The Sleep Powder spread through the empty space where it had been standing.
The challenger looked around.
"Where did it go?"
Gladion smiled. "You should never lose track of your opponent."
The ground beneath Bellsprout suddenly cracked. Kabuto burst from underneath Bellsprout and launched it into the air.
"Now use Aqua Jet." Water surrounded Kabuto as it shot upward.
The attack struck Bellsprout before it could recover. Bellsprout crashed onto the battlefield.
The referee raised his flag. "Bellsprout is unable to battle!"
Gladion recalled Kabuto, as the little boy left with sadness. Some would say that he was going to hard for new trainers for their first gym battle.
But Gladion wanted them to train harder and become stronger before they start going outside Moonwood town to begin their journey as a trainer.
The outside world was full of dangers and if he felt that someone was not ready for it, he would rather not let them get a badge until they impress him enough.
Most of the challengers today did not get a badge bur a couple manage to impress him enough to win it.
And for the first time in a long while, Gladion spent an entire day doing exactly what he had always wanted to do.
He battled.
-----Author Notes------
Thankyou blanket blanket and toyo for supporting me!
Y'all can read 22 extra chapters on my pat*reon.
https://pat reon.com/mrmime24
[No Space in pat*reon]
Thankyou for your support!