Rainbow Gym

"All right! It's decided. Charizard, Riolu, and Umbreon will battle this time. I heard this Gym uses a three-on-three format. This will be Riolu's first battle, too. Let's give it our best!" Ho-Oh and Arceus were training Xiao Yan's Pokémon together. Xiao Yan never trained his Pokémon himself.

By then, Xiao Lan had finished making lunch. Xiao Yan brought the Pokémon over after their training, ready to eat. That was when he noticed something was off about Xiao Lan. She hadn't said a word for a long time, as though something was weighing on her mind.

"Your cooking is sooo good! Have you considered applying to MiXX to be their head chef?" Xiao Yan tried to find something to chat about with Xiao Lan, but she simply ate in silence, ignoring him.

After lunch, the two continued their journey without speaking a word along the way.

"We're finally here-the Rainbow Gym." Suddenly, throwing darts shot toward Xiao Yan. His Pikachu promptly used Iron Tail to knock them down.

"Who's there?" Xiao Yan warily scanned his surroundings.

"Looks like this challenger has some decent moves. I'm this Gym Leader's senior disciple, the female ninja Ayako." A ninja dressed in pink jumped out with a Venonat.

"Who throws darts at people without warning? That's dangerous!" Xiao Yan complained.

"If you beat me, I might consider apologizing. Go, Venonat!"

Just then, a smoke bomb was thrown down from above. Smoke filled the air, obscuring everyone's vision.

"Ayame, you're far too immature." When the smoke cleared, a middle-aged man stood in the center of the field.

"Master." The moment the female ninja saw her master, she became as meek as a kitten.

"My apologies, challenger. I am Aji, the renowned Gym Leader of the Fuchsia Gym."

"Let's battle now!" Xiao Yan challenged the Gym Leader first.

"If you can beat me, the Pink Badge will be yours."

"All right, let's battle."

"This will be a three-on-three battle. The Gym Leader cannot switch Pokémon during the battle; only the challenger may do so. Let the match begin!" The Gym Leader's disciples served as referees here, saving him the expense of hiring one.

"Go, Venomoth!"

"Go, Charizard!" Fire-types had the advantage over Bug-types, so he would try to end this battle quickly.

"Charizard, finish it in one hit!" Charizard unleashed Flamethrower from its mouth, striking Venomoth squarely. Burn, Venomoth!

"Venomoth is unable to battle. Gym Leader, please send out your next Pokémon."

Aji recalled Venomoth, but the corners of his mouth suddenly lifted slightly.

"Go, Voltorb!" Honestly, Voltorb looked like an ordinary Pokémon Ball with two eyes drawn on it, only bigger.

Xiao Yan recalled Charizard, took out a new Poké Ball, and sent out a different Pokémon.

"Voltorb, Charge Beam!"

"Riolu, go straight for Earthquake!" A yellowish-brown light flashed in Riolu's eyes. The next second, the ground shook relentlessly, sending dust flying. Arceus had taught Riolu Earthquake. The dust knocked down Charge Beam, and since Ground was strong against Electric, Voltorb took double damage, rapidly accumulating injuries.

"Quick Attack!" Riolu followed up with another move before Voltorb could react.

"Voltorb is unable to battle. Gym Leader, please send out your final Pokémon."

Koga's expression twisted a little.

"Scyther, let's break the record again."

Just as before, Xiao Yan recalled his Riolu and sent out Umbreon.

"Let's see whose Pokémon is faster. For a ninja, speed is everything. Scyther, Double Team!" For a moment, Xiao Yan felt as though he were watching a Pokémon version of the Shadow Clone Technique.

"Umbreon, close your eyes." Umbreon shut its eyes, relying on hearing and touch to sense the air currents. Black Ghost-type energy immediately began gathering in its mouth. The sphere of black energy grew larger and larger until it was about the size of a basketball. Then Shadow Ball shot out, striking Scyther just as it was about to attack Umbreon from the front.

"You and Scyther were both so confident in your speed that you ignored what your hearts could sense," Xiao Yan said coldly, looking at the fallen Scyther.

"Ah... I have lost..."

"Scyther is unable to battle. The winner is Xiao Yan from Pallet Town," the referee announced.

"You have shown me a truly splendid battle. This Pink Badge is proof of your victory over the Rainbow Gym. Please accept it!"

"Thank you!"

Xiao Yan accepted the Pink Badge and left the Gym with Xiao Lan.

"What the heart can sense, huh... It seems a child really has taught me something this time," Koga said as he watched Xiao Yan walk away.

"Xiao Yan..."

"What is it?" Xiao Yan asked.

"My tenth birthday is in a few days. I want to go to Professor Oak in Pallet Town to get my Pokédex and Starter Pokémon, so we'll have to say goodbye. Thank you for taking care of me this past year." Tears shimmered in Xiao Lan's eyes. With a blink, they spilled out, slid down her cheeks, and finally dripped onto the ground.

Xiao Yan suddenly turned his back to Xiao Lan and raised his head to look at the sky.

"Xiao Lan, every teardrop is a pearl. Don't let those sparkling pearls fall to the ground and get covered in dust. They'll become cheap and worthless. So lift your head."

"Mm..." A choked sob came from behind Xiao Yan.

"Honestly... You're so grown-up now, yet you still cause so much trouble..."