Bang!
BOOM!
"Ember, Flame Wheel!"
A blazing sphere of fire shot across the battlefield, crashing head-on into a powerful Gust. Flames and wind collided, filling Violet City's Gym with smoke.
The audience leaned forward.
At the opposite end of the battlefield, Franklin smiled.
Standing beside him was his final Pokémon.
A proud Pidgeotto.
"...Impressive," Franklin admitted. "Even with only four Pokémon, you pushed me all the way to my last partner."
Across from him, Kitsu grinned, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
Beside her, Ember the Flareon lowered her stance, flames dancing across her fur.
"Yeah," Kitsu said confidently.
"So let's finish this."
Meanwhile...
The spectators watched from the stands.
Ethan leaned against the railing with his arms folded.
"So it really came down to Ember."
Bugsy nodded.
"Torrent beat Chatot."
Whitney counted on her fingers.
"Godzilla defeated Doduo and Murkrow."
Lyra continued.
"Shimo took out Spearow."
Sabrina finished.
"And Ember defeated Swablum before reaching Pidgeotto."
Erika watched the battlefield quietly.
"...She's improved."
Franklin adjusted his glasses.
"I have to admit..."
"When you first challenged me, I thought this battle would end quickly."
He looked at Kitsu.
"You've learned how to command your Pokémon instead of simply ordering attacks."
Kitsu smiled.
"I had a good teacher."
She glanced toward Ethan.
He immediately pointed at himself.
"Me?"
Whitney laughed.
"She's talking about you."
Ethan scratched his cheek.
"...Huh."
Franklin raised a hand.
"Pidgeotto!"
"Pidge!"
"Wing Attack!"
Pidgeotto vanished into the smoke before diving at incredible speed.
"So fast!"
Lyra gasped.
"Ember!"
Kitsu shouted.
"Don't chase it!"
Ember stopped moving.
Instead of running...
She listened.
Her ears twitched.
She tracked the sound.
The beating of wings.
The movement of air.
Then—
"There!"
"Quick Attack!"
Ember exploded forward.
BANG!
Flareon and Pidgeotto collided in midair.
The impact scattered the remaining smoke.
The entire Gym erupted into cheers.
Franklin smiled wider.
"Excellent prediction."
"But..."
"Pidgeotto!"
"Twister!"
Wind spiraled around Pidgeotto before becoming a miniature tornado.
The vortex swallowed Ember whole.
"Kitsu!"
Whitney shouted.
"She's trapped!"
Kitsu narrowed her eyes.
"...No."
She smiled.
"Now."
"Flame Wheel!"
The tornado suddenly turned orange.
Then red.
Then—
BOOOOM!!
A wheel of fire burst straight through the Twister, completely shattering it.
Ember landed gracefully.
Completely unharmed.
Franklin blinked.
"...You used my own attack to feed Flash Fire."
Bugsy's eyes widened.
"Oh!"
Ethan grinned.
"There it is."
Lyra looked confused.
"What?"
Ethan pointed toward Ember.
"Flash Fire doesn't just make Fire attacks stronger."
"If she's hit by Fire..."
"Or gains enough heat..."
"She stores that energy."
"And Franklin accidentally gave her exactly what she wanted."
Franklin chuckled.
"I see."
"So that's the strategy."
He looked at Pidgeotto.
"One last exchange."
"Pidgeotto!"
"Steel Wing!"
Metallic light covered Pidgeotto's wings.
Kitsu pointed forward.
"Ember!"
"Fire Fang!"
Both Pokémon charged.
The distance closed.
Ten meters.
Five.
Three.
One—
CRASH!!
Fire met steel.
The entire battlefield shook.
For a second...
Neither Pokémon moved.
Then...
Pidgeotto stumbled backward.
Its wings trembled.
It tried to stay standing.
"...Pid..."
It collapsed.
THUD.
Silence filled the Gym.
The referee immediately raised a flag.
"Pidgeotto is unable to battle!"
"The winner is..."
"Kitsu!"
The crowd burst into applause.
Franklin recalled Pidgeotto with a proud smile.
"Excellent battle."
Kitsu let out a long breath before kneeling beside Ember.
"We did it."
Ember happily rubbed against her leg.
"Flaa~"
In the stands, Ethan smiled.
"'She really has changed.'"
She wasn't rushing anymore.
She wasn't throwing attacks at random.
She was thinking.
Learning.
Growing.
Exactly what a trainer should do.
Bugsy folded his arms proudly.
"My master's going to enjoy hearing about this."
Falkner smirked.
"My dad definitely isn't going easy on the next challenger either."
Whitney laughed.
"So... who's next?"
Every eye slowly turned...
Toward Ethan.
He sighed dramatically.
"...Why do I suddenly feel like I'm being volunteered?"
Sabrina looked at Ethan.
"Why are you worried? You already have your Badge."
Ethan blinked.
He looked down at the Zephyr Badge clipped inside his case.
"...Yeah."
He frowned.
"Question."
He looked around at everyone.
"Why is everyone staring at me?"
Falkner pointed behind him.
"No."
He smiled.
"Behind you."
Ethan turned around.
The moment he saw the boy standing near the Gym entrance, his eyes widened slightly.
'...Oh, crap.'
'So you were born early in this timeline too.'
Standing there with his hands in his pockets was a boy around Ethan's age.
Sharp crimson hair.
Cold silver eyes.
An expression that looked permanently annoyed at the world.
Silver.
He hadn't said a single word since arriving.
Bugsy glanced at the newcomer.
"...He hasn't spoken once."
Lyra suddenly pointed.
"Oh!"
"I remember you!"
Silver shifted his gaze toward her.
"...You're the girl from the Bug-Catching Contest."
"The one who ran away from a Heracross."
Lyra immediately looked away, her cheeks turning pink.
"...I still caught it."
Whitney covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
"You did."
Lyra folded her arms.
"And that's what matters."
Silver simply gave a small shrug.
"I suppose."
His attention returned to Ethan.
His eyes carefully studied him from head to toe.
"So."
"You're Ethan Harmonia?"
Ethan nodded once.
"That's right."
For several seconds...
Neither of them spoke.
The Gym suddenly felt much quieter.
Even Franklin watched with interest.
Finally—
Silver took a Poké Ball from his belt.
"I challenge you..."
"...to a Pokémon battle."
Silence.
Whitney looked between the two boys.
"...Well."
"That's direct."
Bugsy scratched his cheek.
"I kinda respect it."
Falkner folded his arms with a grin.
"I was wondering when this would happen."
Kitsu smirked.
"Took him long enough."
Ethan looked at Silver for a long moment.
'He's still rough around the edges.'
'No confidence in people.'
'No trust.'
'Just like the Silver I remember... before he changed.'
A small smile appeared on Ethan's face.
"Sure."
Silver raised an eyebrow.
"...Just like that?"
Ethan shrugged.
"You asked."
"I like battling."
"And..."
He clipped a Poké Ball onto his belt.
"I've been wanting to see how strong you are."
For the first time...
The corner of Silver's mouth lifted ever so slightly.
"...Good."
He turned toward the battlefield.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Franklin chuckled from the referee's platform.
"Well then."
"I wasn't expecting an exhibition match today..."
"...but I certainly won't complain."
The spectators quickly returned to their seats, excitement spreading through the Gym.
Lyra leaned toward Whitney.
"...Who do you think wins?"
Whitney smiled.
"I don't know."
"But..."
She looked toward Ethan and Silver, who were already taking their places on opposite sides of the battlefield.
"...This is going to be fun."
Franklin looked between the two young trainers before nodding.
"I'll allow this battle to take place on the Gym battlefield."
Falkner blinked.
"Are you sure, Dad?"
Franklin folded his arms.
"They're both serious."
He smiled.
"So they deserve a proper arena."
The referee quickly returned to his position as Ethan and Silver walked to opposite ends of the battlefield.
The spectators settled into their seats once more.
Silver met Ethan's gaze.
"One-on-one."
Ethan nodded.
"Works for me."
The referee raised both flags.
"This will be a one-on-one exhibition battle!"
"The battle will continue until one Pokémon is unable to battle!"
"Begin!"
Ethan reached for the Poké Ball on his belt.
He smiled.
"Let's do this properly."
He pulled out A Winderball.
The brass winding key glinted under the Gym lights.
Silver's eyes narrowed.
"So you're really using one..."
Ethan grinned.
"I started with these."
He turned the key four times.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
"Let's go, Marshtomp!"
He threw the Winderball.
The gears spun rapidly.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
The ball burst open in a flash of white light.
"Marsh!"
Marshtomp landed with a heavy splash of mud, crossing his arms confidently.
Silver remained expressionless.
Then...
He reached into his pocket.
Everyone watched as he pulled out...
Another Winderball.
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"...You're using one too?"
Silver simply nodded.
"They're reliable."
He wound the mechanism with practiced movements.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Click.
"I choose you."
He hurled the Winderball.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
A flash of light erupted across the battlefield.
"Grovyle!"
The Forest Pokémon landed lightly on one knee before springing to its feet, the leaf blades on its arms gleaming under the Gym lights.
Marshtomp narrowed his eyes.
"Grr..."
Ethan's expression sharpened.
'A Grovyle...'
'Fast... agile... and a Grass-type.'
'Not the matchup I wanted.'
Across the field, Silver rested a hand in his pocket.
"My strongest."
Ethan smiled.
"Good."
He lowered into his battle stance.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
The battle was about to begin.
Then Mud exploded across the battlefield.
Instead of firing in a straight line, Marshtomp slammed both hands into the ground.
"Marshtomp! Mud Shot—wide area!"
The arena floor rippled.
Thick mud burst outward in every direction, spreading like a wave over the stone tiles instead of aiming directly for Grovyle.
Silver's eyes narrowed.
"Grovyle, dodge! Use your momentum to avoid it, then Swords Dance!"
"Grovyle!"
The Grass-type sprang into motion, leaping from one dry patch to another with incredible agility. Every landing was light, every movement efficient.
For a moment...
It looked like it would avoid every bit of mud.
Then one paw landed just a little too close.
Splat.
Mud coated its foot.
Grovyle's next jump lost just enough speed for its rhythm to break.
It still flipped backward gracefully and finished the movement.
Twin crimson blades of energy circled its body.
Swords Dance completed.
Silver gave a small nod.
"Good."
Ethan smiled.
"'Got you.'"
Silver immediately noticed.
"...What?"
Ethan pointed toward the battlefield.
"Look down."
Only then did Silver realize what Marshtomp's attack had actually done.
The battlefield wasn't just muddy anymore.
It was uneven.
Small pools.
Sticky patches.
Loose clumps.
Every safe foothold had become a gamble.
Ethan wasn't trying to hit Grovyle.
He had changed the battlefield itself.
From the stands, Sabrina gave a small nod.
"...Battlefield control."
Erika smiled faintly.
"He wasn't attacking the Pokémon."
"He was attacking its options."
Bugsy folded his arms.
"...That's exactly how he fought in Union Cave."
Falkner chuckled.
"Dad always says the battlefield is another Pokémon."
Franklin crossed his arms proudly.
"Now he's starting to understand."
Silver looked down once more before returning his attention to Ethan.
"...Not bad."
Ethan shrugged.
"I don't like chasing fast Pokémon."
"So I make them slower."
Silver's lips curved upward into the faintest smile.
"...Interesting."
He pointed forward.
"Grovyle!"
The Grass-type vanished in a blur despite the muddy terrain.
"Quick Attack!"
The enhanced speed from the move compensated for the poor footing as Grovyle shot toward Marshtomp.
Ethan didn't panic.
"'He's using the move to ignore the terrain for a moment.'"
"Marshtomp."
Marshtomp stood firm.
"Wait..."
Silver frowned.
"Now!"
"Rock Slide!"
Marshtomp slammed both fists into the ground.
Instead of aiming at Grovyle...
The attack targeted the ceiling supports above the battlefield.
Chunks of rock broke loose all at once.
Silver's eyes widened.
"He predicted the approach!"
"Grovyle! Abort—"
Too late.
The falling rocks forced Grovyle to cancel Quick Attack and leap sideways.
The moment it landed—
Squish.
Its muddy footing gave way.
It slipped for the briefest instant.
Ethan's eyes flashed purple.
"'Now.'"
"Marshtomp!"
"Water Gun!"
Silver's eyes sharpened.
"Grovyle, jump!"
The instant Marshtomp opened its mouth—
Grovyle exploded upward, using its powerful legs to vault over the incoming Water Gun.
The jet of water blasted harmlessly beneath it, carving a trench through the muddy battlefield.
Silver didn't waste the opening.
"And use Giga Drain!"
Green energy burst from the leaves on Grovyle's arms.
Dozens of glowing vines shot downward, wrapping around Marshtomp before it could fully dodge.
"Marshtomp!"
The vines tightened.
Green light streamed from Marshtomp into Grovyle, restoring the damage it had taken from Rock Slide.
From the stands, Erika nodded.
"...A smart response."
Whitney tilted her head.
"He's healing?"
Erika smiled.
"Giga Drain doesn't just attack. It steals stamina."
Sabrina watched silently before adding,
"And because Marshtomp is Water/Ground..."
"It's four times effective."
Bugsy winced.
"...That's gonna hurt."
The green light intensified.
Marshtomp grit its teeth as its strength was siphoned away.
Silver finally allowed himself a small smile.
"You controlled the battlefield."
He pointed forward.
"So I'll control your Pokémon."
Ethan's purple eyes remained calm.
"'He committed to staying close.'"
He looked at Marshtomp.
"Don't pull away."
Silver blinked.
"...What?"
Ethan smiled.
"Marshtomp."
"Grab him."
Marshtomp ignored the draining vines entirely.
Instead, he lunged forward through the pain and wrapped both arms around Grovyle before the Grass-type could retreat.
Grovyle's eyes widened.
"...Gro?!"
Silver's expression changed instantly.
"Break free!"
Ethan grinned.
"Too late."
"Marshtomp..."
"Ice Punch."
The battlefield fell silent for a heartbeat.
Franklin's eyebrows shot up.
"...Ice Punch?"
Falkner stared.
"When did Marshtomp learn that?"
Silver's lips curled into a confident smirk.
"Leaf Blade."
Green energy exploded from the leaves on Grovyle's forearms, extending them into razor-sharp blades.
"Full power."
The air around the attack trembled.
"Point-blank!"
Ethan's eyes widened.
'Grovyle got caught too easily.'
The realization hit him a fraction too late.
'He wanted Marshtomp to grab him.'
Grovyle didn't struggle.
Instead, it twisted its body inside Marshtomp's grip, bringing both glowing Leaf Blades directly against Marshtomp's chest.
Silver's voice remained calm.
"Now."
SLASH!
Twin green arcs exploded outward.
The super-effective strike landed at point-blank range.
Marshtomp cried out.
"Marshhh!"
The force of the impact threw both Pokémon apart.
Marshtomp skidded backwards through the mud, carving two long trenches before finally stopping on one knee, breathing heavily.
Grovyle landed in a crouch a few meters away, one hand against the ground.
Both Pokémon were panting.
The arena fell silent.
Whitney blinked.
"...He let himself get grabbed."
Bugsy nodded slowly.
"He traded mobility for power."
Sabrina's eyes never left the battlefield.
"No."
"He traded position."
"He knew Ethan wanted close quarters."
"So he made close quarters favorable."
Franklin smiled from the referee's platform.
"Excellent."
"Both trainers are thinking ahead instead of reacting."
Falkner folded his arms.
"They're not battling Pokémon anymore."
"They're battling each other's plans."
Silver rolled one shoulder before looking at Ethan.
"You almost had me."
Ethan smiled despite Marshtomp's injuries.
"Yeah."
He met Silver's eyes.
"But 'almost' doesn't win battles."
Silver gave a small nod.
"I agree."
For the first time since the battle began...
Both boys smiled.
Neither intended to lose.
To be continue
Hope people like this Ch and Give me power stones and enjoy