The battlefield fell silent.
Both Pokémon were breathing hard.
Mud dripped from Grovyle's legs.
Marshtomp's chest rose and fell after taking the full force of Leaf Blade.
Silver broke the silence first.
"...You're tougher than I expected."
Ethan smiled.
"So are you."
For a brief moment...
Neither trainer gave an order.
Both were thinking.
'He's noticed it,' Ethan thought.
'Marshtomp isn't built for duels.'
His team had been trained around switching, positioning and controlling the battlefield.
This wasn't that kind of fight.
Silver's Grovyle, meanwhile, was a textbook duelist.
Fast.
Precise.
Built to overwhelm a single opponent.
Silver pointed forward.
"Grovyle!"
"Quick Attack!"
The Grass-type became a green blur, zigzagging over the muddy terrain before closing the distance.
Ethan didn't counter immediately.
He watched.
"...Closer."
Silver frowned.
"Grovyle, don't stop!"
The instant Grovyle entered striking range—
"Mud Shot."
Marshtomp didn't fire at Grovyle.
He fired at the ground between them.
SPLASH!
A wall of thick mud erupted upward.
Quick Attack punched straight through it—
—but Grovyle emerged covered in wet clay.
Its speed dropped noticeably.
Silver clicked his tongue.
"So that's your plan."
"Slow me down."
Ethan nodded.
"Exactly."
"Marshtomp!"
"Ice Punch!"
Marshtomp lunged.
Its fist became coated in freezing energy.
Silver remained calm.
"Giga Drain."
Green vines burst from Grovyle's body.
Instead of attacking Marshtomp—
They wrapped around a nearby boulder.
The vines yanked Grovyle sideways.
Ice Punch crashed through empty air.
Franklin's eyebrows rose.
"...Using Giga Drain for movement."
Falkner laughed.
"I've never seen that before."
Sabrina nodded.
"He sacrificed damage to improve positioning."
"An efficient adaptation."
The vines released.
Grovyle landed lightly behind Marshtomp.
"Leaf Blade!"
Twin emerald blades flashed.
Ethan reacted instantly.
"Rock Slide!"
Marshtomp slammed both fists into the ground.
Instead of aiming overhead...
The rocks erupted directly behind him.
The boulders intercepted Grovyle's charge.
BOOM!
Stone shattered.
Leaf Blade carved through two rocks before the third clipped Grovyle's shoulder.
The Grass-type was knocked backward, sliding across the muddy battlefield.
Bugsy leaned forward.
"That wasn't an attack."
Erika nodded.
"It was a wall."
Ethan was using Rock Slide less like a damaging move...
...and more like terrain construction.
Silver smiled.
"I understand now."
"You don't command moves."
"You command space."
Ethan grinned.
"And you don't command power."
"You command tempo."
The two trainers stared at one another.
Silver had the faster Pokémon.
Ethan had the battlefield.
Franklin folded his arms, unable to hide his smile.
"...Now this is what a trainer battle should look like."
Silver didn't hesitate.
"Grovyle!"
"Swords Dance!"
Grovyle planted both feet firmly on the ground.
Its Leaf Blades glowed as it began a precise series of slashes through the air.
Each movement was clean.
Disciplined.
Its aura surged higher with every swing.
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"Don't let him boost!"
"Marshtomp, Water Gun!"
Marshtomp fired immediately.
A concentrated stream of water shot across the battlefield.
Silver remained calm.
"Keep going."
Grovyle ignored the incoming attack.
The Water Gun slammed into its shoulder, forcing it back half a step.
But the dance never stopped.
One slash.
Two.
Three.
The emerald aura exploded outward.
Swords Dance complete.
Grovyle opened its eyes.
They were sharper than before.
Its Leaf Blades hummed with frightening power.
Silver smiled.
"Worth it."
Ethan clicked his tongue.
"...Damn."
Whitney blinked.
"He just... took the hit?"
Sabrina nodded.
"Swords Dance is a high-risk setup move."
"If your opponent cannot interrupt it completely, the reward is enormous."
Bugsy folded his arms.
"And now every physical attack Grovyle uses is going to hurt."
Franklin watched with interest.
"Excellent judgment."
"He recognized Ethan couldn't knock Grovyle out before the technique finished."
Silver pointed forward.
"Grovyle."
A confident smile spread across his face.
"Now..."
"Show him why I wanted that boost."
Across the battlefield, Ethan took a slow breath.
He looked at Marshtomp.
Then at the muddy terrain covering almost the entire arena.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"He's stronger now," he thought.
"But he's also committed to fighting on my battlefield."
Silver didn't miss a beat.
"Grovyle."
"Medium power."
"Giga Drain."
"Change the field."
Grovyle drove one glowing hand into the muddy battlefield.
Green energy surged underground.
Instead of aiming at Marshtomp...
Roots burst from beneath the arena.
One.
Five.
Ten.
Dozens.
They spread through the mud Ethan had created, weaving across the battlefield like living veins.
The soggy terrain began to dry as the roots absorbed moisture, leaving behind a tangled network of thick vines and roots that gave Grovyle stable footing.
Silver smiled.
"If you're going to make the battlefield..."
"I'll just make a better one."
The spectators watched in surprise.
Falkner blinked.
"...Is that allowed?"
Franklin sighed.
"...Yes."
He rubbed his forehead.
"The League rulebook only prohibits intentionally destroying the stadium."
He looked at the battlefield that now resembled a miniature forest growing through a swamp.
"...Creating terrain isn't against the rules."
Another root split the arena floor.
Franklin's eye twitched.
"...The repair bill, however..."
"...is going to be awful."
Whitney looked between the battlefield and Franklin.
"So you're just... okay with this?"
Franklin shrugged.
"League regulations."
"If a move naturally alters the battlefield during combat, it stands."
He let out another tired sigh.
"The maintenance crew is going to hate these two."
Bugsy slowly looked at the arena.
"So Ethan made a swamp..."
"...and Silver planted a forest."
Lyra tilted her head.
"This doesn't look like a Pokémon battle anymore."
Sabrina's eyes narrowed as she analyzed the field.
"It is."
"They're simply fighting over environmental control."
"Silver is removing Marshtomp's advantage while creating one for Grovyle."
On the battlefield, Ethan looked around at the roots spreading through the mud.
Then he smiled.
Silver noticed.
"...What's so funny?"
Ethan met his gaze.
"You just rooted yourself."
Silver frowned for the first time.
"...What?"
Ethan raised his hand.
"Marshtomp."
The Water/Ground-type grinned.
"Ice Punch."
Blue-white frost instantly coated Marshtomp's right fist.
The temperature around it dropped.
Ethan pointed at the ground.
"Freeze the roots."
Marshtomp slammed its icy fist into the battlefield.
BOOM!
A wave of freezing energy raced through the wet earth.
The moisture trapped inside Silver's roots crystallized in an instant.
Crack.
Crack!
CRAAACK!
The frozen roots became brittle, splintering apart across the arena.
Silver's confident expression disappeared.
"...Clever."
Ethan smiled.
"You changed the terrain."
"So did I."
Cracks raced across the battlefield.
The frozen roots shattered into countless pieces, scattering across the arena like broken glass.
Marshtomp stepped back, shaking the frost from its fist.
Silver stared at the ruined terrain for a brief second.
Then...
He smiled.
"So that's your answer."
Ethan nodded.
"You adapt."
"So do I."
The two trainers had completely abandoned simple type matchups.
Every move now was changing the battlefield itself.
Franklin couldn't help but chuckle.
"...They're treating the Gym like a chessboard."
Bugsy laughed nervously.
"I don't think I've ever seen a Marshtomp and Grovyle fight like this."
Sabrina folded her arms.
"They're not relying on raw power."
"They're attacking each other's strategy."
Lyra looked between the two trainers.
"...They're thirteen."
Whitney sighed.
"And somehow they're making me feel behind."
Silver pointed forward.
"Grovyle."
"Quick Attack."
"Close the distance."
Grovyle vanished.
It shot across the battlefield in a green blur, weaving around broken rocks and shattered roots.
Ethan's eyes tracked every movement.
'Much slower than before.'
'Mud Shot did its job.'
Even after destroying the roots, the lingering mud still clung to Grovyle's feet.
Not enough to stop it.
Enough to make it predictable.
Ethan smiled.
"Marshtomp."
"Intercept."
Marshtomp didn't retreat.
Instead, he charged straight toward the incoming Grovyle.
Silver's eyes narrowed.
"Now!"
"Leaf Blade!"
Emerald light erupted from Grovyle's arms.
Ethan answered instantly.
"Ice Punch!"
The two Pokémon met head-on.
CLANG!
Leaf Blade collided against Ice Punch.
A shockwave burst across the arena.
Frost spread over Grovyle's glowing blade.
The Leaf Blade sliced through most of the ice—
—but not all of it.
The remaining frost crawled onto Grovyle's forearm.
Silver immediately understood.
"He wasn't trying to overpower it..."
"He just wanted contact."
Grovyle jumped backward, shaking its arm.
A thin layer of ice clung to the leaves, making them noticeably heavier.
Ethan grinned.
"Exactly."
Franklin folded his arms.
"...Excellent."
"He keeps trading damage..."
"...for control."
Silver looked at Grovyle's slowing arm.
Then back at Ethan.
"...You're annoying to battle."
Ethan laughed.
"I've heard that before."
Silver smirked.
"I believe it."
For the first time since the battle began...
Both trainers realized the same thing.
This match wasn't going to be decided by whoever hit harder.
It would be decided by whoever ran out of ideas first.
Ethan took a slow breath.
He met Marshtomp's eyes.
"Let's end this, Marshtomp."
"Marsh!"
Marshtomp lowered his center of gravity, fists tightening as freezing energy gathered around his right hand.
Across the battlefield, Silver gave a single nod.
"Let's finish this, Grovyle."
"Grovyle!"
The Grass-type raised its glowing Leaf Blade, emerald energy pouring into the attack until the blade hummed violently.
Ethan pointed forward.
"Ice Punch!"
"Max power!"
Silver answered at the same instant.
"Leaf Blade!"
"Max power!"
The two Pokémon exploded into motion.
Marshtomp charged across the broken battlefield, every step sending shards of ice flying behind him.
Grovyle became a streak of green, the reinforced Leaf Blade slicing through the air.
Neither dodged.
Neither slowed.
They committed completely.
The distance closed.
Ten meters.
Five.
Three.
One.
CRAAASH!!
Ice and emerald light collided.
A shockwave erupted from the point of impact, blasting loose stones and shattered roots across the arena.
The spectators instinctively shielded their eyes.
Wind roared through the Gym.
Then...
Silence.
The dust slowly settled.
Two silhouettes stood motionless.
Everyone held their breath.
Whitney whispered,
"...Who won?"
The silence stretched.
Then—
"Marsh..."
Marshtomp's knees buckled.
He smiled weakly toward Ethan...
Before collapsing onto the battlefield.
Thud.
A collective gasp echoed through the Gym.
Across from him...
Grovyle remained standing.
Barely.
It had dropped to one knee, its breathing ragged, one arm hanging limp after taking the full force of Ice Punch.
The glowing Leaf Blade faded from its arm.
Silver clenched his fist but didn't celebrate.
He knew how close it had been.
Franklin raised the referee's flag.
"Marshtomp is unable to battle."
"The winner..."
He looked toward the exhausted Grass-type.
"...Grovyle."
For a heartbeat, the Gym was silent.
Then polite applause broke out from the spectators.
Ethan recalled Marshtomp with a small smile.
"You did great."
The Poké Ball flashed once as Marshtomp returned inside.
Silver walked over to Grovyle and knelt beside it.
"You fought well."
Grovyle gave a tired nod before leaning against its trainer.
Ethan met Silver halfway across the battlefield.
Silver extended his hand.
"...Good battle."
Ethan smiled and shook it.
"Yeah."
His eyes drifted to Grovyle.
"The Swords Dance made the difference."
Silver nodded.
"Without that boost..."
"My Leaf Blade wouldn't have had enough power to finish your Marshtomp."
Ethan chuckled.
"And if Ice Punch had landed just a little cleaner..."
"Grovyle would've gone down first."
For the first time, both trainers understood something about the other.
Silver wasn't just aggressive.
He planned ahead.
And Ethan wasn't just tactical.
He built his entire battling style around controlling the flow of combat.
Neither had fought a weak opponent that day.
A little while later...
The group arrived at the Azalea Town Pokémon Center.
The familiar chime rang out as the automatic doors slid open.
Nurse Joy smiled warmly.
"Welcome to the Pokémon Center."
One by one, everyone handed over their Poké Balls.
"Thank you."
Joy placed them onto the healing machine.
The familiar lights began to flash as the system started restoring each Pokémon.
The waiting area was unusually quiet.
Kitsu was talking with Whitney about Franklin's battle.
Bugsy was proudly showing Falkner how much Bayleef had grown.
Erika was gently brushing Delta Bulbasaur, who—this time—actually sat still.
Sabrina quietly read a book she'd borrowed from the Center's small library.
Ethan sat by himself, watching Marshtomp's Poké Ball resting inside the healing machine.
'Good battle.'
He smiled faintly.
'You almost had him.'
His thoughts drifted back to Silver.
'Still...'
'Why does he have a Grovyle?'
In his previous life...
Silver had started with a Johto Pokémon.
Not Hoenn.
He leaned back in his chair.
'Then again...'
'The League Starter Registry hasn't been created yet.'
Right now, regional starter Pokémon were... well...
Regional only by tradition.
If someone had enough money...
Enough connections...
Or knew the right Professor...
They could legally receive a starter from another region.
There wasn't a centralized distribution system yet.
That wouldn't exist for another few years.
Ethan remembered when the League finally announced it.
A global registry.
Every officially recognized starter Pokémon would be logged.
New trainers would normally receive one from their home region unless special permission was granted.
The stated goal had been simple.
Fairness.
Conservation.
Preventing starter species from disappearing into private collections.
He chuckled to himself.
'People thought the League had completely lost its mind.'
There had been protests.
Professors arguing with League officials.
Collectors complaining.
Parents insisting their children should be allowed to choose any starter.
He remembered watching the news.
He'd been...
'Five years old.'
His smile faded.
'...Back then.'
Now...
He was thirteen again.
Living years before that decision had ever been made.
History hadn't happened yet.
Which meant Silver owning a Grovyle wasn't strange at all.
It was perfectly normal.
"...Still weird seeing it," Ethan muttered.
Sabrina looked up from her book.
"What is?"
Ethan smiled.
"Nothing."
"Just realizing how different the world used to be."
Sabrina studied him for a moment before returning to her book.
"...You say strange things sometimes."
Ethan laughed.
"I've been told that before."
Just then, Nurse Joy emerged from the back room carrying a tray of Poké Balls.
"Your Pokémon are fully healed!"
Marshtomp's Poké Ball gave a cheerful chime as Ethan picked it up.
"Welcome back," he said with a smile.
The ball rocked once in response.
Ethan clipped it back onto his belt.
"Alright."
He looked at his friends.
"So..."
"Who's hungry?"
To be continue
Hope people like this Ch and give me power stones