Soon, Cole and Valerie arrived at the Coumarine Gym's battlefield. Cole said sheepishly, "There's no referee available, but we'll make it work."
Valerie waved her hand dismissively, "It's fine, it's fine."
"Shall we begin?" Cole asked.
"Let's begin."
Taking their positions on opposite sides of the field, Cole explained, "I'll keep this simple. As the substitute gym leader, I'll send out my Pokémon first, and you can choose yours based on what I send."
Having watched numerous gym battles here, Cole felt compelled to explain the rules to his novice opponent.
"Mm-hmm..." Valerie nodded attentively.
Cole sent out his first Pokémon — a Larvitar.
"Yow~~~"
The moment it appeared, Larvitar bounced excitedly, its tiny feet stomping the ground in anticipation of battle.
Despite its youth, this little one was clearly a battle enthusiast, having recently engaged in intense — quite literally intense — battles with Carbink.
"Wow, a Larvitar!" Valerie exclaimed, "I've never battled one before!"
But then something occurred to her.
"Wait... isn't this supposed to be a Grass-type gym?"
Cole nodded, "That's right, but I'm just a substitute gym leader."
"Oh, that makes sense." Valerie shrugged and pulled out her Poké Ball.
Her first Pokémon was an Eevee.
"Eev~ Eev~"
The tiny Eevee pranced adorably around the field, playfully winking at Larvitar.
Larvitar: (⊙▂⊙) What are you doing?
"The challenger attacks first!" Cole announced, "And you can switch Pokémon anytime during the battle."
"Then I won't hold back! Eevee, Quick Attack!" Valerie commanded, pointing at Larvitar.
"Eev!!!"
✲ Quick Attack ✲
Eevee dropped into a crouch, pushed off with its hind legs, and charged at Larvitar with its body wrapped in white light.
"Larvitar, Iron Head!"
"Yow~"
✲ Iron Head ✲
Following Cole's command, Larvitar's head gleamed with a metallic sheen as it charged toward the approaching Eevee.
BANG!!!
The two Pokémon collided — though similar in size, Larvitar's superior weight delivered far more crushing force.
"Eev~"
Eevee cried out in pain as it tumbled backward, its sleek fur instantly coated in dust.
"Yow~"
Larvitar stood triumphant, hands on its hips and chin held high as it taunted its adversary: Not so cocky now, are you? Think twice before trying that again.
Its first battle had brought its first victory — pride radiated from every inch of its small frame.
"Eevee, are you okay?" Valerie called out anxiously.
"Eev~ Eev~"
Eevee rose shakily, shook its head, then brushed the dust from its fur while glaring daggers at Larvitar.
Relief washed over Valerie's face, "Then let's try Swift!"
Since close combat had failed, they would switch to ranged attacks.
"Eev~"
✲ Swift ✲
With a determined nod, Eevee leaped skyward and unleashed a stream of golden stars from its tail.
"Larvitar, break them down one by one!"
"Yow..."
Larvitar nodded firmly, standing motionless with its small fists at its waist, feet planted firmly in a horse stance. As the golden stars flew in, it threw a punch, its fist glowing white, shattering each star into sparkling golden light.
"Eev~ Eev~ Eev~"
Eevee wasn't done — more Swift stars kept coming in an endless barrage.
Larvitar met each star with precise, flowing punches, its movements seamlessly connecting as it destroyed one after another.
Finally, Eevee grew winded and stopped its Swift attack, while Larvitar remained steady and calm in its stance.
The high-grade energy blocks and expensive Silver Stone had served their purpose — contributing to Larvitar's impressive growth, along with Cole's Special Ability. Its strength clearly surpassed Eevee's.
Seizing the moment, Larvitar prepared a ranged attack. Sharp rock spears materialized around its body, all aimed at Eevee.
✲ Stone Edge ✲
But just as Larvitar was about to launch the attack, the rock spears crumbled to dust and vanished.
Having only recently learned Stone Edge from Carbink with Cole's help, Larvitar hadn't yet mastered the move. Its attempt to show off had backfired.
"Larvitar, Rock Slide!" Cole directed.
Though Stone Edge was still beyond its grasp, Larvitar could rely on Rock Slide — another move learned from Carbink.
✲ Rock Slide ✲
Massive rocks, each larger than Eevee's body, materialized overhead, poised to crash down.
However, Larvitar's failed Stone Edge attempt had cost precious time. Just as the rocks began to fall, Eevee rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the Rock Slide.
Boom~ Boom~ Boom~
The rocks crashed down, missing Eevee but leaving the ground pockmarked with craters. Eevee shuddered at the close call.
Frustrated by the miss, Larvitar stamped its feet.
"Eevee, let's use Baby-Doll Eyes," Valerie called out.
✲ Baby-Doll Eyes ✲
The previously angry Eevee transformed into an adorable sight, batting its eyes and throwing flirtatious glances at Larvitar.
Though Larvitar remained straight-laced and ignored the cuteness, Baby-Doll Eyes still took effect — its attack power decreased.
Eevee smiled smugly while Larvitar stood confused, unaware of what had happened.
"Eevee, let's use Baby-Doll Eyes again!" Valerie called, aiming to lower Larvitar's attack further.
But Cole wouldn't let it happen twice, "Larvitar, use Rock Slide!"
Larvitar nodded confidently, but something felt off when it used the move. With its weakened attack power, the rocks materialized much smaller than before.
"Eev~ Eev~"
Eevee slapped the ground with its tiny paws, clearly mocking Larvitar.
"Yow~ Yow~ Yow~"
Larvitar: o(▼皿▼メ;)o
Burning with embarrassment, Larvitar abandoned Rock Slide and attempted the still-unmastered Stone Edge once more.
This time, the attack succeeded. Sharp stone spears sliced through the air, blocking all of Eevee's escape routes before the final spear struck it directly.
The stone spears dissolved into yellow light particles as Eevee collapsed, motionless.
"Eevee!" Valerie rushed to her Pokémon's side, sighing with relief when she saw it had only fainted. After returning Eevee to its Poké Ball, she turned to Cole and Larvitar with newfound respect, "You're pretty good! Now I'm going to get serious!"
Larvitar: (っ˘◡˘ς)
Basking in the praise, it stood proudly with hands on its hips and chin held high.
I'm just that awesome!
Valerie's second Pokémon was a Steel and Fairy-type Mawile.
The moment it appeared, Mawile cast a flirtatious glance at Larvitar, and a pink heart struck its target.
✲ Attract ✲
The previously smug Larvitar fell instantly head over heels. As Attract took effect, its pupils transformed into hearts, and it gazed at Mawile in complete infatuation.
"Mawi Mawi~~~" — Come here!
Mawile beckoned shyly, and Larvitar — to everyone's surprise — walked obediently forward.
"Larvitar!" Cole shouted, but his words fell on deaf ears as his love-struck Pokémon continued approaching Mawile in a daze.
"Mawi..."
Mawile embraced the approaching Larvitar, gently patting its back to lower its guard.
"Larvitar, Larvitar! Wake up!" Cole's desperate calls couldn't break through Larvitar's infatuation.
In an instant, the huge jaws on the back of Mawile's head gaped wide and swallowed Larvitar whole. Frost emanated from those jaws as Mawile unleashed Ice Fang, an ice-type move super effective against Larvitar.
When Mawile spat Larvitar out from its jaws, the little one had already fainted.
"Oh no~" Cole covered his forehead, "How embarrassing!"
Not so smug now!
After recalling Larvitar, Cole sent out Carbink.
"So big brother specializes in Rock-type Pokémon!" Valerie exclaimed in surprise.
Cole shook his head, "I don't specialize in any type—it's just a coincidence."
Realizing that Attract wouldn't work on a genderless Pokémon, Mawile opted for Fairy Wind instead.
With a wave of its small hand, a wind carrying pink light swept across the field, stirring up dust until Cole could barely see. Using the dust as cover, Mawile silently approached Carbink.
Behind its opponent, Mawile's body burst with pink energy as it charged fiercely — its expression now fierce and completely different from the gentle demeanor it had shown Larvitar. Mawile's natural talent for deception was now fully apparent.
With a loud crash, Carbink surrounded itself with a transparent barrier, and Mawile slammed into it instead of landing a direct hit.
When Mawile had kicked up the dust, Carbink had already anticipated its strategy. During sparring matches, before Larvitar learned Rock Slide and Stone Edge for ranged attacks, it would use Sandstorm to obscure its movements and get in close.
Carbink had developed the perfect counter-strategy.
As the dust rose, it used Iron Defense to boost its defense, then Rock Polish to increase its speed while Mawile approached, and had Reflect ready by the time it struck. It wasn't about to stand there waiting to be ambushed.
With its already exceptional defense bolstered by Iron Defense and Light Screen's protection, Carbink barely felt Mawile's attack.
When their eyes met, Mawile's showed a hint of bewilderment: How are you so tough?
"Carbink, Earth Power!" Cole called out.
✲ Earth Power ✲
Carbink smiled slightly as yellow light emerged from its rocky body and spread across the ground. The earth beneath their feet suddenly split open, causing Mawile to stumble and fall.
"Mawi Mawi..."
Ground-type moves were super effective against Mawile, and with its low special defense, Carbink's attack left it wincing in pain.
Fortunately for Mawile, Carbink wasn't particularly offensive-oriented — otherwise, that single hit would have knocked it out. This was close-range combat at its finest.
"Mawile, get away from Carbink!" Valerie called out.
But it was too late. Before Mawile could rise, Carbink used Stealth Rock, surrounding its space on all sides.
As Mawile struggled to its feet and stepped back, invisible rocks materialized and struck its body, drawing out a cry of pain. It whipped up a Fairy Wind to clear away the Stealth Rocks, but a stone spear suddenly descended from above, striking it directly.
Although Rock-type moves weren't very effective against it, Mawile was already at its limit. One Stone Edge was enough to make it faint.
Mawile's defeat finally erased the casual expression from Valerie's face.
As she recalled Mawile, she remarked, "I thought dealing with a substitute Gym Leader would be easy, but I really underestimated you."
She sent out her final Pokémon — naturally another Fairy-type, as that was her specialty.
A petite Aromatisse.
Carbink had already set up Stealth Rock on the field, so Aromatisse took damage the moment it appeared, causing Valerie's expression to darken.
"Aromatisse, Trick Room!" Valerie commanded after her Pokémon's painful cry.
✲ Trick Room ✲
A square transparent space expanded from Aromatisse's body, growing until it enveloped the entire battlefield.
Trick Room reversed the normal rules of speed — slower Pokémon became faster, while faster ones were held back. Though Carbink was naturally slow, Aromatisse was even slower, making this move perfect for it.
As the Trick Room settled into place, Carbink felt its body grow heavy, weighed down by an oppressive force.
✲✲✲
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