Still...
Xia You glanced up at the ceiling. This battle did have something working in his favor.
Through the bright glass dome, he could clearly see the sun casting its gentle light.
Another clear day...
"Let's begin!" Seeing that both Pokémon were ready, Ayame gave her command before Sakura could speak. "Krabby, use Water Gun!"
A thick jet of water shot from Krabby's mouth, straight at Bulbasaur!
"Bulbasaur, dodge it and use Vine Whip!"
At the command, Bulbasaur leaped sideways to evade the attack. At the same time, two vines extended from the bulb on its back and lashed toward Krabby.
But a second later, Krabby dove underwater. The vines struck the surface, sending up nothing but splashes!
Neither side had gained an advantage in their first exchange.
Whether or not the three siblings devoted themselves to water ballet, they were no pushovers in battle!
Yet, seeing the stalemate, Ayame suddenly smiled.
"Well, with one in the water and the other on land, trading attacks like this won't get us anywhere. Looks like we need to try something else. Krabby, climb onto that floating platform!"
"Oh?" Xia You raised his eyebrows in mild surprise at her command. "Giving up your home-field advantage to fight Bulbasaur face-to-face? Are you sure that's a good idea?"
Ayame lifted her chin, brimming with confidence.
"Don't worry. Unlike Penny's Goldeen, my Krabby is strong even out of the water! Krabby, use Leer!"
Krabby paddled swiftly with its four legs, then scrambled sideways onto Bulbasaur's platform. Its vacant eyes suddenly glowed red as it fixed Bulbasaur with a fierce stare.
Was it trying to frighten Bulbasaur into becoming more vulnerable?
Xia You remained calm. "Bulbasaur, don't let it affect you. Use Growth!"
A faint green glow suddenly rose from Bulbasaur's body.
Growth was a move that increased the user's attack power. With the clear skies providing plenty of sunlight, using Growth now would give its power an additional boost!
Seeing an opening, Ayame's eyes lit up. She hurriedly called, "Krabby, quick, use Water Gun!"
Bulbasaur had no time to dodge, and Water Gun hit it directly. Although Leer had lowered its defense, Water-type attacks dealt only half damage against Grass types. Even with a direct hit, Bulbasaur did not suffer much damage.
"Bulbasaur, time to return the favor. Use Tackle!"
Knowing that Growth would make this attack exceptionally powerful, Ayame dared not take it lightly.
"Krabby, hurry and use Harden!"
At her command, a sheen flashed across Krabby's body before Bulbasaur reached it. Even from its appearance alone, it was clear that its shell had become tougher and smoother.
With a thud, Tackle struck Krabby squarely, forcing it back a step.
Fortunately, it did not seem badly hurt. It even had enough strength left to counterattack!
"Now, Krabby, use Vice Grip!"
At Ayame's command, Krabby thrust its large claw forward and clamped it tightly around Bulbasaur's neck.
Since Vice Grip was a Normal-type move, neither Bulbasaur's Grass nor Poison typing weakened it. Combined with Leer, it could inflict considerable damage, and Bulbasaur instinctively cried out in pain.
But Xia You certainly wasn't going to sit back and do nothing.
"Use Vine Whip!"
The vines rose high from the bulb, then lashed down hard. Every strike dealt tremendous damage to Krabby.
Smack, smack... smack, smack...
After taking several blows, Krabby could no longer bear the pain. Left with no choice, it retreated away from Bulbasaur.
Bulbasaur was free once more!
And now, their roles had reversed!
"Now it's our turn!"
Narrowing his eyes, Xia You commanded, "Use Leech Seed!"
A tiny seed shot from the bulb and stuck to Krabby at incredible speed. It immediately began to grow, sprouting several long vines in the blink of an eye and binding Krabby tightly!
This time, Krabby was the one unable to move!
Sensing trouble, Ayame tried one last desperate response. "Krabby, get back into the water!"
That was undoubtedly the best solution.
Only...
Thinking of running now?
Too late!
Xia You chuckled, then issued his final command.
"Bulbasaur, finish it with Vine Whip!"
The two vines swept in swiftly, striking Krabby hard before it could enter the water. Besides the double damage from its type disadvantage, the Leech Seed was also glowing faintly green, draining what little strength Krabby had left.
This time, Krabby finally gave out and collapsed on the platform.
Ayame froze for a moment, then sighed.
"I lost too..."
As she spoke, she took out her Poké Ball and recalled Krabby.
Xia You had won two battles in a row.
Now, only Sakura remained.
Seeing both her younger siblings defeated, Sakura's expression grew grave.
She slowly walked into the Pokémon Trainer's command area and studied Xia You carefully.
"You're strong, and you keep your cool. I can tell you're an excellent Pokémon Trainer, but we won't admit defeat that easily! Come out, my Pokémon, Seel!"
As her Poké Ball opened, a grayish-white Pokémon resembling a sea lion appeared in the pool.
It had a protrusion on top of its head, upward-pointing tusks on either side of its mouth, a tongue sticking out, and a split tail. It looked much like an ordinary sea lion from his previous life.
Since he did not know much about it, Xia You took out his Pokédex and scanned Seel.
The Pokédex soon responded.
"Beep. Seel, the Sea Lion Pokémon. Water type. They generally live among icebergs, using the sharp protrusions on their heads to break through ice and swim in the sea. Their skin is extremely thick, allowing them to move freely even at temperatures of minus forty degrees."
Unlike Goldeen and Krabby, this Seel combined agility with close-range attacks, making it even harder to deal with.
"Come back, Bulbasaur."
Xia You recalled Bulbasaur and sent out his final Pokémon, which was also his ace-Ralts.
"Ralts, it's up to you!"
Hearing its Pokémon Trainer's words, Ralts gave a soft cry and used Teleport to appear on the floating platform.
It watched Seel, a glimmer seemingly flickering in the eyes beneath its bangs. The surface of its body had also quietly begun to change.
"Is it called Ralts?" Sakura instantly fell in love with the adorable Pokémon and kept looking it over. "I noticed it earlier. It's so cute! Is it from another region?"
"That's right. Ralts isn't native to Kanto." Xia You nodded, then kindly warned her, "Please be careful, Miss Sakura. It's a Psychic and Fairy type, so it can be difficult to handle."
"What a gentle, handsome man." Sakura smiled, but added, "Still, I won't go easy on you because of that! Seel, use Aqua Jet!"
Aqua Jet cloaked the user's entire body in water before it charged at the opponent. It was a physical Water-type move more powerful than Water Gun, and Seel's ability to use it showed that its level was certainly not low.
But landing an attack like that on Ralts would still be difficult!
"Ralts, dodge it!"
Xia You spoke softly. A moment later, Ralts vanished from the spot and appeared on another floating platform.
It had evaded the attack with ease!
"Psychic-type Pokémon really are troublesome."
Sakura shook her head with a sigh, but soon smiled again. "In that case, let's restrict its abilities first. Seel, use Icy Wind!"
A fierce, freezing wind burst from Seel's mouth, engulfing Ralts and a large area around it. It was so powerful that the battlefield's temperature plunged below freezing, and even the water's surface froze into a thick sheet of ice!
Although Ralts used Teleport to escape this area attack as well, the surrounding conditions still inevitably slowed it down considerably.
Before you continue