Gladion was scrolling through reels on Pokegram. He was bored since no one has come to challenge him just yet.
He expected a quiet morning, but a sudden ripple in the air snapped his focus.
A flash of psychic energy materialized beside him, and Sabrina appeared, her long purple hair swaying, her expression cool as ever.
"Yo! What you doing?" she said, voice nonchalant, leaning against a console like she owned the place.
Gladion grimaced, ."I'm busy, Sabrina. The League starts today. Don't you have anything better to do than trouble me?" He gestured at the screens, feeds showing his gym's security—Guy the Machamp flexing at the gate in his "YOUTH!" shirt, scaring off a stray Pidgey.
Sabrina's stoic mask cracked, a sad smile flickering. "But I wanted to talk to my friend!" Her voice held a rare vulnerability, but before Gladion could respond, a black blur leapt from his belt.
Nyx, his Umbreon, materialized on her own accord, red eyes glinting with mischief.
[Aw, you came to talk to me, little Princess? How thoughtful!] Nyx purred, her tone dripping with dark sarcasm, tail swishing like a taunt.
Sabrina's eyes narrowed, her psychic aura flaring. "I didn't come for you, you evil witch!" Sparks crackled between them, their rivalry igniting.
Nyx smirked, circling Sabrina. [Oh, Princess, still mad I outshone your Pokemon, the last time we fought?]
The two kept on bickering for another 15 minutes and Gladion was pretty irritated by that.
Salvation came in the form of Milo and Lila, Gladion's 12-year-old twin siblings, bursting in with boundless energy.
"Sabrina-nee-san!" they squealed, tackling her legs.
"Play with us, pleeeease!" Milo tugged her sleeve, Lila flashing puppy eyes. Sabrina, the stoic queen of Saffron, froze, her psychic defenses useless against the twins' charm. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel✦fire.net
"I… uh…" she stammered, her cool facade crumbling. Lila hugged her tighter. "You're so fun, Sabrina-nee-san! Let's play Psychic Tag!" Milo added, "Yeah, you can levitate us!" Sabrina sighed, relenting, her sad smile softening. "Fine, but only one game."
The twins cheered, dragging her out, Sabrina casting a mock-glare at Nyx, who stuck out her tongue.
Just as the door closed, a young voice echoed from the arena entrance. "Gym Leader Gladion, I, Haru, challenge you!"
A boy, no older than 10, stood there, his spiky brown hair and starry eyes screaming enthusiasm. His backpack was patched, his sneakers scuffed, but his grin was pure idol-worship.
"Very well," Gladion said, stepping onto the platform.
The referee announced the rules. "This is a first-badge challenge, 2v2 match. Only the challenger may switch Pokémon. The field will be randomly selected. Standard League rules apply."
The overhead screen flashed—rock, water, ice—stopping on a forest field. The arena rumbled, transforming into a lush forest, synthetic trees and vines sprawling across the stadium floor.
Gladion tossed his first Poké Ball. "Go, Meowth!"
His Meowth landed, claws gleaming, tail flickingering with a sly grin. Haru, bouncing with excitement, threw his Poké Ball. "Nidoran, let's do this!"
A male Nidoran appeared, its purple hide glinting, horn sparking with poison. The referee raised her flag, and the match began.
"Nidoran, Poison Sting!" Haru shouted, his voice cracking with nerves. Nidoran fired a volley of toxic barbs, grazing Meowth's flank.
Meowth hissed, poisoned, but Gladion stayed calm. "Feint!" Meowth darted, a blur of speed, dodging Nidoran's lunge and raking its side with Scratch, drawing a yelp.
"Nidoran, keep dodging!" Haru called, but Gladion smirked. "Taunt!" Meowth jeered, flicking its tail and sticking out its tongue, goading Nidoran.
Infuriated, Nidoran charged, abandoning evasion. "Scratch!" Gladion ordered. Meowth's claws raked Nidoran's face, the hit landing clean.
Haru grit his teeth. "Double Kick!" Nidoran spun, hooves slamming into Meowth's chest, sending it skidding.
Poison had already sapped Meowth's strength, and it collapsed, eyes dimming.
Gladion recalled Meowth, his expression neutral. "Not bad, kid." He tossed another Poké Ball. "Ekans, you're up!"
Ekans slithered onto the forest floor, its yellow eyes glinting.
Haru, undaunted, shouted, "Nidoran, Horn Attack!" Nidoran charged, horn lowered, but Gladion was ready.
"Acid Spray on the grass!" Ekans spat a corrosive spray at the ground, melting grass and turning the forest floor into a slippery, burning mire.
Nidoran's legs slid, its momentum carrying it headfirst into a tree, the impact knocking it out cold.
Haru recalled Nidoran, his face set with determination, and threw his second Poké Ball.
"Poliwag, go!" A Poliwag hopped out, its spiral belly swirling. "Bubble Beam!" Haru called. Poliwag fired a stream of bubbles, but Ekans slithered behind a tree, dodging. "Wrap!" Gladion ordered. Ekans coiled around Poliwag, squeezing tight, tail constricting.
"Bite!" Ekans's fangs gleamed, ready to strike, but Haru stayed cool. "Water Gun!" Poliwag shot a high-pressure stream into Ekans's open mouth and eyes, the force stinging.
Ekans recoiled, its grip loosening, and Poliwag wriggled free. "Bubble Beam, now!" Haru shouted. Poliwag's bubbles slammed Ekans, the barrage overwhelming, and Ekans slumped, fainted.
The referee raised a flag. "Gym Leader Gladion is out of Pokémon. Haru wins!" Gladion stepped forward, holding a shimmering Moon Badge, crescent-shaped with a star inlay.
"Congratulations, Haru," he said, handing it over. "You fought smart. That Water Gun to break Ekans's Wrap? Genius. Keep thinking on your feet—adapt, improvise. The League's tough, but you've got potential. Good luck." Haru's eyes sparkled, clutching the badge like a treasure.
"Thank you, Gym Leader Gladion! You're my idol!" He hesitated, then blurted, "Can… can we take a selfie for PokéGram?"
Gladion raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Fine, but make it quick." Haru fumbled his PokéPhone, nearly dropping it, snapping a shaky selfie with Gladion's cool pose and his own goofy grin.
"This is going viral!" Haru squealed, tripping over a vine as he backed away, prompting laughs from the stands. Gladion shook his head, amused.
---Author Notes------
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