A Strong Start, a Weak Finish

"Beautifully done, Stantler! I'm seeing you in a whole new light!"

After defeating Geodude, Bai Shi was overjoyed. He pumped his fist and praised Stantler without holding back.

After all, this was his first victory in a Gym battle. It was a moment worth remembering.

Stantler's performance today had come as a huge surprise to him.

As for Stantler's earlier laziness, Bai Shi figured he simply hadn't wanted to show off.

Only an important battle like this one was a stage worthy of his talents.

"Stan..."

Unlike the delighted Bai Shi, Stantler looked quite calm. He even acted as though he were panting for breath.

Perhaps using Confusion repeatedly had drained too much of his strength.

His job was basically done. It was time to quit while he was ahead.

He had already defeated one of his opponent's Pokémon. Even if Bai Shi lost the match now, nobody could blame him.

"Not bad! Onix, you're up!"

Roark recalled Geodude and sent out his next Pokémon.

A huge gray Pokémon appeared before Bai Shi. Its body was made of boulders, with a sharp horn atop its head, and it looked like a giant snake.

"Stan..."

At the sight of Onix's enormous body, Stantler's expression stiffened. His resolve only grew firmer.

The big guy that had just come out did not look easy to handle.

Even if Stantler could win, it would cost him dearly.

Better to leave him to that reckless Staravia and find a chance to slip away.

"Keep it up, Stantler! I'm counting on you!"

Bai Shi, of course, knew nothing of Stantler's thoughts.

Stantler's commanding performance had filled him with confidence.

For a moment, Bai Shi even thought he might win the Badge today.

So he left Stantler on the field without hesitation.

He hoped Stantler could keep up the momentum and defeat his opponent's second Pokémon.

"Stantler, use Confuse Ray!"

As the battle resumed, Bai Shi seized the initiative, his spirits soaring.

An eerie-colored orb of light appeared from nowhere and drifted toward Onix.

"Onix, use Dragon Breath!"

Roark gave the command without a trace of panic.

Onix opened his mouth and breathed out a powerful stream of green energy.

It swallowed the strange orb in an instant, then surged on toward Stantler.

"Stantler, get behind that rock!"

Bai Shi's face changed, and he shouted the warning.

Stantler sprang behind a huge boulder.

He used it as cover against Onix's breath.

"Not bad. You know how to use the terrain."

"Onix, use Rock Slide!"

Even as Roark praised him, he ordered Onix to keep attacking.

Several massive rocks formed in midair and crashed toward Stantler behind his cover like a landslide.

"Stantler, use Confusion!"

The attack was too fierce for Bai Shi to risk taking head-on.

He had Stantler use Confusion again to hold it off.

A sharp gleam flashed through Stantler's eyes, and the falling rocks stopped dead in midair.

"Stantler, throw them back!"

Bai Shi tried to repeat the tactic he had used against Geodude, turning his opponent's attack back on him with Confusion.

But then something unexpected happened.

Stantler's face twisted in pain, as though his strength had given out.

The rocks suspended in midair began to fall again.

Stantler looked "terrified." Unable to dodge in time, he was struck by one of them.

"Stan!" (My job here is done!)

With a pained cry, he toppled over and did not get up.

"Uh... Stantler is unable to battle. Onix wins!"

The referee paused and took another look at Stantler before announcing the result.

"..."

It had happened so fast that Bai Shi could not react at first.

Using Confusion had taken a fair bit out of Stantler.

But surely one hit should not have finished him off?

Had his earlier heroics been an illusion?

Stantler had always shirked and hated endurance training, so Bai Shi had come up with another approach.

He kept Stantler out of his Poké Ball to travel alongside him.

That would build his stamina while letting him protect Bai Shi along the way.

By Bai Shi's estimate, Stantler should have had enough strength left for another fight.

How had he run out so quickly?

Bai Shi was baffled and began to doubt his own judgment.

"Challenger Bai Shi, please replace your Pokémon that is unable to battle!"

"Otherwise, you'll be considered to have forfeited!"

The referee's reminder snapped Bai Shi out of his daze. The match was not over yet.

"Phew. Thanks for the effort, Stantler!"

Bai Shi set his doubts aside for now, let out a long breath, and recalled Stantler, who was still lying on the ground.

His battle against Onix might have ended with a whimper.

But defeating Geodude was still worthy of praise.

Possible "match-fixing" aside, Bai Shi was very pleased with Stantler.

"Go, Dunsparce!"

After collecting himself, Bai Shi sent out his second Pokémon.

As it happened, Dunsparce had recently learned a new move through training. Onix would make a good test for it.

Combined with the moves Dunsparce already knew, it might give him a chance against Onix.

"Dun..."

Dunsparce, on whom Bai Shi had pinned his hopes, did not seem to agree.

The moment he appeared, his opponent's sheer size intimidated him. His body would not stop trembling.

If Bai Shi had not told him how important this match was,

he might already have fled, just as he had in the past.

Since joining Bai Shi on his travels, Dunsparce had defeated quite a few Pokémon and built up some confidence.

But could he really take on the monster in front of him?

"Come on, Dunsparce! Believe in yourself!"

"He only looks scary. It's all for show!"

"You're strong enough to beat him now!"

Seeing Dunsparce's confidence falter, Bai Shi raised his voice and kept shouting encouragement.

At last, Dunsparce steadied himself and recovered some of his fighting spirit.

"I can't pretend I didn't hear that."

"Let's see how your Pokémon takes down an Onix who's 'all for show'!"

"Onix, use Dragon Breath!"

Roark clearly did not agree with Bai Shi's assessment.

He ordered Onix to give Dunsparce a rude awakening.

Onix opened his mouth and breathed out a stream of green energy.

"Dunsparce, use Dig!"

Bai Shi gave the command at once.

He had only just restored Dunsparce's fighting spirit. There was no way he would let Roark crush it again so easily.

"Dun!"

Hearing Bai Shi's command gave the bewildered Dunsparce something to focus on.

He quickly burrowed underground, avoiding Onix's attack.

"Dunsparce, get behind him and use Mud Shot!"

Following Bai Shi's command, Dunsparce suddenly popped up behind Onix.

He fired a barrage of brown clumps of mud at the unsuspecting Pokémon.

The move was, in a sense, an upgraded version of Mud-Slap.

The attack struck Onix's back and dealt him a fair bit of damage.

"Dun!"

Seeing that his move really could hurt Onix, Dunsparce's confidence soared. He was suddenly bursting with energy.

His earlier lack of fighting spirit vanished in an instant.