Hau'oli City, Horizon Gym.
After teaching Turtonator Sunny Day, Kiawe once again stood in the challenger's spot.
Unlike last time, his eyes held more than a blazing fire. There was a thoughtful gleam in them now.
"Welcome back, Kiawe."
Kahili smiled. "It looks like you and Turtonator have made another breakthrough?"
"Yes, Miss Kahili!"
Wela Volcano erupted behind Kiawe.
"This time, we'll break through Pelipper's rain!"
"Turtonator, get ready to battle!"
Turtonator stepped steadily onto the field, heat faintly shimmering from the holes in its shell.
Seeing the change in Turtonator,
Kahili raised an eyebrow, one hand on her hip.
Sure enough, she could see the difference.
Turtonator's level had increased.
As Kiawe had hoped,
Kahili sent out Pelipper again.
Pelipper spread its wings and soared.
The moment it appeared, its Ability, [Drizzle], activated. Dark clouds instantly gathered above the arena, and fat raindrops began to fall.
The corners of Kahili's lips lifted. "Let's see how you're going to win this."
Kahili wouldn't attack first this time. She wanted to see how much Kiawe had grown.
That was a Gym Leader's duty.
She could lose this match,
but she had to see Kiawe's growth.
Only then would a Gym Leader's role have meaning.
Just before the rain completely engulfed the field,
Kiawe pointed one hand at the sky and called out:
"We won't let you have your way! Turtonator, let our sun light up the sky-Sunny Day!"
"Tur-ban!!!"
Turtonator let out an earthshaking roar, putting the results of the past few days of special training on full display!
A searing pillar of light shot skyward from its body, forcibly dispersing the rain clouds that had only just formed.
The dark clouds scattered, and blazing sunlight instantly flooded the field, completely overriding the rain.
"What?!"
For the first time, genuine surprise