In the end, Drednaw couldn't withstand the final Max Move. After trading one last blow with Ethan, Marnie's second Gym Challenge ended in a massive explosion that marked her victory.
Both sides recalled their Pokémon. Nessa once again propped a hand on her slender waist and strode gracefully toward Marnie. Her elegant yet untamed charisma only seemed more radiant now that the battle had ended.
"Whew\\... After battling you two, I get it now. Marnie, you and your Pokémon have incredible fighting spirit."
She seemed to have recovered emotionally rather quickly. Just a moment ago, when Drednaw fell, Marnie had caught a glimpse of frustration on Nessa's face. But by the time she walked over, she had already regained the poise of a true Gym Leader.
"Thank you, Leader Nessa, for going easy on us."
Although she had technically won the battle, Marnie didn't feel like she had truly surpassed the Gym Leaders. Official League matches were conducted in a 6v6 format, allowing for intricate team strategies. Not every Pokémon was built to be a one-on-one powerhouse. Winning a solo match didn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. Marnie wasn't proud.
"Have a little more confidence!"
Nessa frowned, clearly dissatisfied with Marnie's attitude.
"You just beat two Gym Leaders in head-to-head battles, and now you're standing here acting like it's no big deal. Are you trying to insult the people you defeated?"
Her words were sharp. Marnie hadn't expected a scolding and was slightly taken aback. Clearly, Nessa cared more about this battle than she let on...
"...Sorry."
Marnie had never been good at handling situations like this. When unsure of what to say, the best she could do was apologize sincerely.
Thankfully, Nessa didn't press the issue. She simply pressed her lips together and changed the subject.
"Your Pokémon still have a long way to go, but I believe in your potential. I'll be waiting for the day we meet again on the tournament stage."
She smiled and handed over the Water Badge she had prepared in advance.
Marnie accepted the badge and shook Nessa's right hand. Though a bit awkward, she offered a small smile in return.
"I'll do my best."
...
Walking out of the stadium hallway, Marnie handed her Pokémon over to Nurse Joy stationed at the battle facility, then made her way toward the locker room.
"Mmm... haa..."
Stretching her arms above her head, she let out a light yawn. Though the actual battles hadn't taken long less than thirty minutes in total she still felt tired. Nessa's presence had brought far more pressure than Milo's.
"Cha\\~ (You okay, Marnie\\~?)"
Momo had already popped out of her Poké Ball and was gently patting Marnie's waist with her tiny paw.
"Yeah, I'm fine\\~ Thanks."
Marnie gave Momo's soft little head a pat, then removed her right glove and tugged at the collar of her uniform. She reminded herself to send it out for cleaning later.
"Marnie-chan! Congrats\\~"
Just as Marnie had removed her T-shirt and shorts and stood in her undergarments, Yuri suddenly barged into the locker room.
"Thanks. You're changing now too?"
"Yup! My match is up next, after all."
Yuri stood beside her, beaming as she pulled her own uniform out of her backpack.
Marnie ignored the way Yuri kept glancing at her and calmly got dressed, then shouldered her bag and scooped up Momo.
"You haven't worn your leather outfit lately, huh, Marnie-chan?"
It was hard to tell if Yuri preferred the old look or the current one, but Marnie just sat beside her, watching her change as she replied:
"Maybe I'll bring it back later. Switching styles now and then isn't so bad."
"Hehehe\\~ Then how about trying on that Gym Leader replica outfit the staff gave you?"
Yuri snickered while wriggling into her uniform, her voice full of mischief.
"...You wear it if you're so interested."
Nessa's outfit was... well, revealing. Tight-fitting, minimalist, and utterly unsuitable for Marnie's comfort zone. She'd be mortified to wear something like that in public.
Though... maybe, if she were alone in a hotel room, trying it on just for herself... that she could handle.
Once both were dressed, the two girls left the locker room and ran into a smiling staff member waiting outside the lobby.
"Marnie, congratulations on clearing the Water Gym challenge! As a reward, please accept these two items."
The staff member handed her a pre-packaged TM and a folded outfit.
"This is the Whirlpool TM, and this is a replica of Nessa's competition outfit."
"Thanks."
Marnie took the items. She could imagine herself wearing Milo's Grass-type outfit in a pinch. But this one... wasn't it basically a swimsuit?
After saying goodbye to the staff, Marnie and Yuri found a seat near Nurse Joy.
"Can I take a look at that outfit?"
Marnie shrugged and handed it over. Yuri eagerly tore open the packaging and held the thin, stretchy fabric in her hands.
"Whoa\\~ This is bold\\~"
She tugged at the material, impressed by its elasticity. Even as a replica, it was likely as form-fitting as the original clinging tightly and accentuating every curve.
"Marnie-chan\\~"
"Don't even start. I'm not wearing it. Let it go."
Marnie pulled out some berries from her bag for Momo, effectively shutting Yuri down before she could finish.
"Ehh Come on, just try it! It's super cute! Look, all the other girls are wearing theirs."
Yuri pointed toward several cute staff members walking past in the lobby, drawing plenty of admiring glances from the male visitors.
"...Then wear it after your match. Don't worry, I'll make sure Ethan helps out."
Marnie grabbed the outfit back and stuffed it into her bag, giving Yuri a sideways glance.
"Ahem... Well, if you're not gonna wear it, fine... Hehehe... No need to drag Ethan into this, she's had a long day. Let her rest, alright? Jeez!"
Yuri coughed awkwardly and rubbed her hands together, nudging Marnie with her shoulder in a mock pout, clearly conceding defeat.
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