Gary had a headache.
The level of the Pokémon in his hand was far too high. Sending it out against a student felt like bullying. Although his Cetitan was strong, he didn't know much about Penny's true strength—and that uncertainty gnawed at him. What if he failed?
At that moment, Penny took a Poké Ball from her Eevee-themed bag.
Gary watched curiously. Penny's outfit, bag, and demeanor all screamed "Eevee fan," and that lined up perfectly with what he'd know—Penny adored Eevee, and most of her Pokémon were evolutions of it. If that held true, it meant he was about to face one of Eevee's many evolved forms.
"Well," Gary muttered to himself, "guess we'll find out which one she's got."
In mild desperation, he selected one Poké Ball from his belt—the right balance between challenge and fairness. The Pokémon inside was reliable but not overpowering.
Ms. Dendra, standing to the side as referee, straightened her posture and declared, "Battlers, release your Pokémon at the same time. Remember—no Terastallization this time. We'll keep it even."
"Got it!" both said in unison.
They threw their Poké Balls forward.
"Let's go!"
Two flashes of light erupted on the battlefield.
[Lv. 25 Sylveon / Elite]
[Lv. 30 Gholdengo / Champion]
"Whoa!" one of the watching students gasped. "Is that Gholdengo?"
All the nearby students were in shock. Most of them had only seen that golden, stringy, noodle-like ghost in league broadcasts. Gholdengo was a Pokémon made from one thousand Gimmighoul Coins, and its evolution was notoriously rare. Most Trainers would never witness one in their lifetime.
Penny's Sylveon, elegant and poised, landed gracefully, ribbons fluttering like silk in the wind. "Sylveon!" she sang sweetly, the sound melodic and proud.
Opposite her, Gholdengo materialized from a shimmer of light and jingling metal. "Ghoooool~den-go!" it crooned in a playful, sing-song voice, the coins that made up its body clinking brightly.
Gary smiled. "Alright, partner. Let's show them how a treasure Pokémon shines!"
Penny immediately snapped open her Rotom Pokédex, a newer model with a gleaming scarlet trim and a hovering digital eye. Gary blinked—he hadn't seen this design before.
"A Rotom Pokédex? Here in the Paldea region?" Gary murmured. "That's impressive. The technology must have spread faster than I thought."
Rotom's cheerful voice buzzed through the sleek casing:
"Gholdengo, the Treasure Pokémon. It's said to be born from a thousand Gimmighoul Coins. Loves attention, surfboards like nobody's business, and is friendly with everyone."
Penny frowned lightly, scanning its stats. "So it's Ghost and Steel-type? Great. Sylveon's Fairy moves won't have much effect…"
She sighed softly. "This is going to be tough." Still, she looked up with determined eyes.
Ms. Dendra raised her arm. "Battle begin!"
"Alright, Sylveon—use Disarming Voice!" Penny commanded decisively.
Sylveon opened her mouth and unleashed a shimmering pulse of energy. A sweet, melodic cry echoed across the field. "Veeooo—eon!" The pink waves sparkled as they rippled toward Gholdengo.
Gary narrowed his eyes. "Take it head-on, Gholdengo."
"Ghoool~de!"
The sound waves washed over Gholdengo harmlessly. The golden ghost laughed cheerily, body rattling like a stack of coins being shaken. It didn't so much as flinch.
Penny's eyes widened. "What?! That didn't do a thing!"
"Your turn," Gary said, smirking. "Gholdengo, use Astonish!"
The Gholdengo's body split apart—its head detaching and flying forward with eerie precision. The metallic grin glowed in spectral light as the head zoomed straight toward Sylveon, howling a mischievous, echoing "Wooooo-chi!"
Sylveon gasped and stumbled backward. "S-sylveon?!"
The students screamed. "Its head came off!"
Penny gritted her teeth. "Stay calm! Sylveon, brace yourself!"
Gholdengo's flying head phased through the air, reforming in front of Sylveon before suddenly snapping back to its body. The movement left a trail of glittering coins that fell like golden rain.
Ms. Dendra's expression didn't waver, though her tone betrayed admiration. "That move precision… impressive control over disassembly. Very few Trainers can manage that."
Gary pointed forward. "Follow up—Shadow Ball!"
"Ghoooool!"
Dark, ghostly energy gathered between Gholdengo's hands. With a mischievous laugh, it hurled the attack; the sphere burst forward like a comet. Sylveon flinched, but managed to throw up a defensive aura.
"Light Screen! Go, Sylveon!" Penny shouted.
Sylveon's ribbons glowed, weaving into a luminous barrier before her. The Shadow Ball struck, exploding in a flash of smoke and violet sparks.
When the haze cleared, Sylveon still stood—panting, but unharmed.
"You okay?" Penny asked quickly.
"Sylveon!" she responded firmly, her tail ribbon flicking the air as if saying, I'm fine.
Gary's grin didn't fade. "You're holding up well. But we're not done yet. Gholdengo—Thunder Punch!"
"Den-gooo!" It lunged forward, its right fist crackling with golden lightning.
"Shadow Ball again!" shouted Penny.
The second Shadow Ball was faster, flying like an arrow of darkness, but Gholdengo didn't dodge. At the last instant, its torso dissolved into glittering coins. The Shadow Ball passed through harmlessly.
The crowd gasped. "It can turn itself intangible at will!"
"Woo-chi!" Gholdengo's voice echoed gleefully as it reformed immediately in front of Sylveon, lightning still dancing across its metallic arm.
A deafening CRACK! resounded as Thunder Punch connected.
"SYLLL~VEEEON!!"
The Fairy-type was sent flying backward, tumbling three times before landing on the ground. She tried to rise, but her legs wobbled, and the spirals in her eyes made it clear she was fainted.
"Oh no… Sylveon!" Penny cried, rushing forward.
Ms. Dendra raised her hand sharply. "Battle over! Sylveon is unable to battle—Gholdengo wins!"
"Ghooolden~go!" the victorious Pokémon cheered, spinning gleefully. Coins scattered from its form like confetti, glinting beautifully in the sunlight.
The students applauded, though some whispered in disbelief. It wasn't every day they saw a rare evolution like Gholdengo in action.
Penny knelt to comfort her partner. "You did great, Sylveon. Rest now." She recalled the fainted Fairy-type, pressing the Poké Ball to her chest.
Ms. Dendra, hands on her hips, delivered her customary lecture. "Both of you did well, but remember—analysis matters as much as power! Training isn't just fighting; it's reflecting and improving! Write me a 500-word battle reflection this afternoon, both of you. Discuss command timing, adaptability, and emotional synchronization."
Gary looked utterly horrified. "Five hundred words? At my age?"
"Yes," Ms. Dendra said firmly. "The assignment stands for everyone. And don't think your good looks will get you out of it."
"Yes, Teacher," Penny said quickly, bowing politely.
Gary stayed silent, awkwardly tugging at his sleeve cuffs.
Ms. Dendra tapped her clipboard. "Why aren't you answering me? You're awfully quiet today!"
Gary scratched the back of his neck. "Uh, Teacher… are you sure I'm actually a student here?"
That made her pause. "What did you just say?"
"I'm… not enrolled. I'm, uh, just visiting the academy. Today was… kind of an accident."
"What?!"
Penny blinked. "You're not a student?!"
Ms. Dendra squinted. "Nice try. I've seen that excuse before—don't think you can skip your essay assignment just because you have a strong Pokémon, young man!"
Gary groaned. "It's true!"
"If you're just a visitor," Ms. Dendra shouted, her logic spiraling, "then why did you fight my student so hard?!"
Gary opened his mouth, then closed it. He looked at the Gholdengo beside him, then at the angry teacher, then at the confused girl with the Eevee bag.