A rookie Trainer from New Bark Town

At the edge of the forest lay a broad stretch of grass.

A purple-skinned rodent Pokémon with red eyes, large ears, and long whiskers stood on guard.

Another Pokémon facing it was provoking it.

"Cyndaquil, use Tackle!"

An arrogant boy in blue sportswear shouted the command.

The long-snouted blue Pokémon answered with a spirited cry. Flames immediately erupted from its back, and it charged toward the nearby Rattata.

"Ratta!"

Rattata pushed off with all four legs and rushed to meet it at an even greater speed.

Bang!

They were evenly matched.

Although Cyndaquil weighed roughly twice as much as Rattata, Rattata's Quick Attack intercepted it before it could unleash the full force of its Tackle.

"Don't worry about it, Cyndaquil! Use Leer, then Smokescreen!"

Tomoya thrust out his right hand and swept it through the air with an imposing flourish.

The flames on Cyndaquil's back burned even brighter. It fixed Rattata with a fierce stare, then released thick black smoke that blocked Rattata's vision.

"Ratta!"

Rattata was visibly frightened. It wanted to escape the smoke, but feared an attack from Cyndaquil within it, leaving it caught between advancing and retreating.

"Hmph. It's only a Rattata, after all."

Tomoya flicked the cap on his head. "Cyndaquil, finish it off! Use Tackle at full power!"

The black smoke churned, then a bang rang out. Rattata flew out of it and collapsed, unable to battle.

As the smoke cleared, it revealed a Cyndaquil brimming with fighting spirit.

Clap, clap, clap.

"Beautifully done!"

A stern-looking young man stepped out of the nearby woods. It was Dian.

He took a Poké Ball from his belt. "My name is Dian. I've just started my journey. Let's have a good match."

"A Pokémon battle!"

Tomoya was a little surprised, but no stranger to this. Battles were part of a Trainer's everyday life; he simply hadn't expected one so soon.

"You can catch Rattata first."

Dian stepped back and gestured toward it.

"No need."

Tomoya paid no attention to the Rattata beside him. Such a low-grade Pokémon was entirely beneath his status.

Without hesitation, he pointed at Cyndaquil, still fired up from its recent victory. "This is my Pokémon."

"All right."

Dian nodded, a glint flashing through his eyes.

He looked at the Poké Ball in his hand. "Don't let me down."

"And this is mine."

A flash of blue light revealed an unusual-looking Kakuna. Compared with others of its kind, it was both larger and more vividly colored.

Anyone could tell it had been carefully tended, but no amount of care could change the fact that it was still just a Kakuna.

"Are you serious?"

Tomoya looked at his Cyndaquil, then at the Kakuna on the field, which was even less capable than a Rattata. He was at a loss for words.

An evolved Beedrill might have posed a challenge to Cyndaquil at its current level, but a Kakuna? Frankly, if he couldn't win this, he might as well bash his head against a wall.

His eyes shifted. "How about a thousand League Dollars?"

"A thousand."

Dian smiled. "A thousand is too little. Do you dare make it ten thousand?"

"Ten thousand..."

Tomoya hesitated. Even for him, that wasn't a small sum.

But he glanced at the Kakuna on the field. "Fine! Ten thousand it is!"

Dian nodded, indicating that they could begin whenever he was ready.

"Cyndaquil! Attack head-on! It's nothing but a stationary target!"

Tomoya gave the order without a second thought.

"Kakuna, keep using Harden, and fire Poison Sting at Cyndaquil!"

After quickly delivering his instructions, Dian thought silently, I've picked the perfect opponent for you.

Battle is the best catalyst. Rise from the flames, Beedrill!

Whoosh!

The flames on Cyndaquil's back blazed fiercely as it charged at Kakuna with ferocious momentum.

Kakuna watched it calmly, light flashing over its body again and again as it sent poisoned needles flying toward Cyndaquil.

"Cyndaquil, don't be afraid! Dodge them and keep charging!"

Tomoya spoke calmly.

Cyndaquil kept its sharp gaze fixed ahead, nimbly dodging one poisoned needle after another. It soon closed in on Kakuna.

"Kakuna!"

Kakuna silently continued using Harden, calmly watching its opponent approach.

Almost!

Three meters! Two meters! One meter!

It could already see the delight in Cyndaquil's eyes and feel the heat of its flames.

"Poison Sting!"

Just as Cyndaquil was about to make contact, a sharper, brighter poisoned needle shot out at tremendous speed.

Bang!

Kakuna was knocked backward, while Cyndaquil's legs buckled as well, leaving it unable to follow up.

"How is that possible?!"

Tomoya cried out in disbelief. Cyndaquil had been struck by Poison Sting. Though it had luckily avoided being poisoned, it was still injured, while the opposing Kakuna looked completely unscathed.

He frowned and prepared to repeat his earlier tactic. If Kakuna couldn't see which direction the attack was coming from, surely it would struggle to fire Poison Sting in time.

"Cyndaquil, use Smokescreen, then wait for a chance to use Tackle!"

"Cynda!"

Cyndaquil rallied and released smoke that shrouded the battlefield.

Dian glanced at Tomoya across from him and found that the boy really did have some skill.

"Kakuna, don't panic. Remember your training. Stay calm!"

"Kakuna!"

Kakuna answered with a low cry, continuing to use Harden while holding Poison Sting ready for an opening.

Tomoya watched the black smoke nervously. Sweat had begun to bead on his palms, but he didn't notice, utterly absorbed in the battle.

Dian also set aside the slight disdain he had felt. His opponent's earnestness showed respect for him and Kakuna, and he had to return that respect.

Cyndaquil stared intently at Kakuna across from it, tensing its legs to launch a fierce attack at any moment. Yet it feared being struck by Poison Sting again. After circling behind its opponent, it silently made up its mind.

"Cynda!!"

Cyndaquil hurled itself at Kakuna, cleverly lowering its head slightly so the flames on its back could reach forward, turning a simple Tackle into a flaming charge.

Just as it was about to hit Kakuna, a poisoned needle that had long been held ready appeared in its path.

Bang!

Kakuna was knocked out of the black smoke, still seemingly unmarked. A flicker of pain crossed Cyndaquil's eyes. It had been poisoned.

Tomoya's heart sank. He knew he had lost.

But!

He pulled down the brim of his cap and shouted in a low voice, "Cyndaquil! Are you willing to lose like this?!"

Cyndaquil fell silent for a moment. Then, looking at Kakuna a short distance away, fire blazed in its eyes. "Cynda!!!"

The flames on its back did not weaken because of its injuries. Instead, they burned brighter than ever.

"Blaze!"

Dian raised an eyebrow. "So it boosts the power of Fire-type moves in a crisis..."