Night fell. Several Pokémon whose injuries had just healed held a little meeting beside Xu Mu's bed.
"Gren!"
[For tomorrow's Gym Challenge, we need to choose three of us to fight. Who wants in?]
As the eldest of the group, Greninja spoke first and set the tone for the meeting.
The question was—who would fight tomorrow?
Having once taken on all six Pokémon at the Magma Gym, Greninja knew a thing or two about Gym Challenges.
Besides, he was Xu Mu's Starter Pokémon. No one was better suited to lead this little meeting.
"Roar?... Roar, roar, roar, roar!"
Charizard waved his claws frantically.
[A Gym battle? Count me out. I just finished a fight, and I'm not back to full strength yet.]
In truth, his body had already recovered. But the overly cautious Charizard hated the spotlight. Standing out in the open and basking in cheers simply wasn't his style.
If he had his way, Charizard would become the strongest in the world first. Then he could do as he pleased, punishing the Dark type and upholding good.
Greninja had long since grown used to Charizard's personality. His decision to bow out was exactly what Greninja had expected.
"Hmm?"
[Don't look at me. We scholars don't fight!]
[Violence can't solve every problem!]
As a scholar, Dragonite firmly opposed such deplorable things as fighting.
Of course, if there was a good reason for it, that was another matter.
"Gren!"
[This isn't a fight. It's a Gym Challenge!]
[Don't you get it? Only after we beat fifteen more Gyms can Little Master become one of the Elite Four!]
[And then we'll be the Pokémon of an Elite Four member!]
Greninja looked utterly reverent, as though Xu Mu growing stronger was something sacred to him.
Dragonite was convinced.
"Hmm!"
[All right, you win.