The heavy adrenaline of the Hearthome Gym battle had finally begun to ebb, replaced by the warm, buzzing satisfaction of a hard-won victory. As I began to gather my things, Fantina glided over, her expression no longer that of a fierce opponent, but of a mentor who had just witnessed a stunning debut.
"Oh, I nearly forgot, Julian! There is one more thing you must know," she said, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "In exactly seven days, Hearthome City will host its seasonal Pokémon Contest. It is a grand affair, and I have been invited to serve as a special guest judge! I am truly, deeply looking forward to seeing your performance on that stage."
My eyes lit up. "A Contest in Hearthome? And you're judging? Talk about perfect timing. We'll definitely be there!"
"Excellent! I shall save a very special critique for you," she laughed. Then, seeing a flicker of hesitation on my face, she tilted her head. "But you look as though you have a question. Please, do not be shy~"
I scratched my cheek, feeling a bit awkward. "Well, it's about Sylveon. She's been trying to learn Shadow Sneak for a while now. The problem is, she's never really been exposed to the 'feeling' of Ghost-type energy. I don't have any Ghost Pokémon on my team to show her the ropes, so she just can't figure out how to condense the shadows. If it's not too much trouble..."
Fantina clapped her hands together, looking delighted. "A request for a masterclass! Of course, Julian! I would be honored to show your Sylveon how to reach into the darkness. I often teach the apprentices here at the gym, so I am quite practiced in explaining the spectral arts. Take today to rest. Starting tomorrow morning, come to the Hearthome Gym. We shall turn that lovely Sylveon into a true phantom of the stage!"
That night, the atmosphere in our room at the Pokémon Center was one of pure, unadulterated gluttony.
I sat on the edge of my bed, watching the three "heroes" of the day dive into their bowls of high-quality Pokémon food with terrifying intensity. Even Growlithe, who hadn't officially stepped onto the gym floor, was working his way through a massive steak-flavored kibble bowl.
"You guys were incredible today," I said, leaning back against the headboard. "Especially you, Sylveon. If you hadn't hung in there against that Mismagius and drained her stamina, I don't think we would have stood a chance in the final round."
"Sylveon-speech-sound~!" Sylveon paused her eating just long enough to puff out her chest and give a confident wag of her feelers. She looked like she was ready to go another five rounds right then and there.
"And Togepi, your Helping Hand was the unsung hero of the match," I added, looking at the little egg. "Without that boost to Sylveon's Calm Mind, we never would have survived the first few hits. And Floette... well, that last hit was just art."
"Togepi-priii!" Togepi let out a happy chirp, wiggling his tiny fingers.
Floette, however, didn't respond. In fact, she didn't even look up. She was currently hovering over her bowl, using her newly mastered Psychic to hold a slice of berry cake in mid-air while she finished her main course.
I watched as the cake drifted closer to her mouth, waiting its turn with eerie precision. I swear, I thought to myself, she didn't learn Psychic to fight. She learned it so she could multi-task during dinner. The determination of a foodie is truly a force of nature.
"Oh, by the way, Sylveon," I said, reaching over to pat her head. "Tomorrow, you're coming back to the Gym with me. Lady Fantina agreed to give you some private tutoring on Shadow Sneak."
Sylveon's ears perked up instantly. She gave an enthusiastic "Fly-ah!" and nodded. She'd been frustrated by that move for weeks; finally getting a pro's perspective was exactly what she needed.
"And Togepi, you and I need to start our special rehearsals. Since we're entering the Contest in a week, you're our lead performer this time! We've got to make sure your Metronome is as spectacular as it is unpredictable."
"Pri-pri-pri! (Lead performer! Yes!)" Togepi hopped in place, nearly knocking over his water bowl.
Finally, I looked over at Growlithe. He was curled up on a soft mat in the corner, looking quite content with a full stomach.
"The next stop is Veilstone City," I said, mostly to myself. "Maylene runs a Fighting-type gym there. It shouldn't be quite as... theatrical as Fantina's place, though I hear she's a powerhouse. Since Gym matches are 3v3 and we have four of you now—not counting the Exeggcute egg in the incubator—someone has to sit the next one out."
I looked at the group. "Growlithe hasn't had a chance to show what he can do in a real match yet. He's been training hard. I think it's time he got his debut. Who wants to give up their spot?"
"Togepi-pri-pri! (Mom, I'll give my spot to the Dog Brother!)" Togepi raised his hand immediately, looking very proud of himself.
Growlithe's eyes snapped open. He lifted his head, staring at Togepi with a look of utter confusion and slight offense. Dog Brother? Did this egg just call me Dog Brother? And he calls Julian 'Mom'? Does that make Julian my mom too?
The mental image of me in an apron, nursing a litter of Growlithe, must have crossed the fire-pup's mind because he suddenly shuddered, his orange fur standing on end like he'd been hit by a Thunderbolt.
I missed the "ruffled" look, busy looking at Togepi. "Are you sure, Togepi? You don't mind missing the Veilstone match?"
"Togepi-pri-pri! (Yeah! I have the Contest next week anyway. Let the Dog Brother have his fun!)"
"All right then," I announced, grabbing a notepad to finalize the lineup. "The order for Veilstone will be: Growlithe, Sylveon, and Floette. How does that sound to everyone?"
Sylveon nodded gracefully. Floette continued to eat her floating cake, which I took as a "yes."
But then, I noticed Growlithe shaking his head vigorously.
"What's wrong, Growlithe?" I asked, confused. "Don't you want to participate? I thought you were dying for a real fight."
"Woof!" Growlithe barked, standing up and shaking his fur back into place. He looked at me with a sharp, burning intensity.
Hmph! Even though you're a weirdo, I am a warrior! I haven't had a proper scrap since I joined this circus. There is no way I'm skipping my first Gym match. Also, I'm still planning to lead the police to your hideout eventually! Don't forget that!
He let out a determined growl, baring his teeth in what he probably thought was a menacing way, though to me, he just looked eager.
"So you're in?" I asked, smiling.
"Woof!" He nodded firmly.
"Great! Even though Fighting-types aren't your natural weakness, Maylene's team is fast and physical. But the new moves we practiced—the ones specifically for dealing with close-quarters combat—should give you a huge advantage."
I chuckled, already imagining the look on the Veilstone challengers' faces when they saw what a 'well-behaved' Growlithe could do.
After we finished cleaning up the dinner mess and the Pokémon were all tucked into their various spots—Sylveon on the foot of my bed, Togepi in his basket, and Floette perched on her flower—I headed to the bathroom to wash up.
When I came out, the room was silent, filled only with the rhythmic breathing of sleeping Pokémon. I tiptoed over to my desk, moving carefully to avoid waking anyone. I reached into my backpack and pulled out the photo Floette had taken earlier that day.
It was a perfect shot: Fantina, looking like a queen of the night, handing me the Relic Badge while Sylveon stood proudly at my side, glowing with the remnants of her Light Screen.
I flipped the photo over and picked up my pen, my handwriting neat and reflective.
Journal Entry: May 31st, 243rd Year of the Alliance Calendar Location: Hearthome City – Pokémon Center
Our fourth Gym Match is officially in the books. I honestly didn't expect the battle to escalate the way it did. My plan to suppress Ghost-type speed with 'Ability Swap' and 'Light Screen' worked a little too well—it piqued Fantina's interest so much that she stopped being a "judge" and started being a "rival." She told me afterward that she was using strength equivalent to a 7 or 8 badge level.
It makes me wonder... if a 7-badge Gym Leader is this terrifying, how can the winners of the Regional Championships sometimes struggle against the Elite Class? The gap in the Pokémon world is much wider than the TV shows make it look.
Regardless, we won. It was a thrilling, terrifying dance. Sylveon was the MVP for her endurance, and Floette's psychic tug-of-war was the perfect finale.
PS: Fantina is going to tutor Sylveon in 'Shadow Sneak' starting tomorrow! I hope she masters it soon; it would be the perfect addition to our Contest routine. Next stop: Veilstone!
— Julian
I set the pen down and looked at the sleeping Growlithe one last time. Tomorrow was the start of a new training arc. We had a week to prepare for the Contest and a lifetime to prepare for the League.
"Goodnight, guys," I whispered, clicking off the desk lamp.
The moonlight through the window caught the Relic Badge on the table, casting a purple glow across the room—a reminder that in Hearthome, even the shadows were full of light.