Gible's resolve

With just over a month left before the Indigo League tournament began, Xiao Yan and his Pokémon trained as hard as they could in the forest.

"Everyone did well today. Let's eat!"

Xiao Yan divided five large bags of Pokémon food evenly among their bowls. As for Snorlax... he served the food in an enormous bowl. While everyone ate, Xiao Yan leaned against a tree and ate the rations he had bought at a shop. A breeze gently brushed his face as he watched Gible, who always finished eating first, run around excitedly nearby.

"The weather's lovely today."

Just then, Gible missed a step while running and tumbled down a small slope.

"Roar!" Gible let out a young dragon's anguished cry.

"Gible!" Xiao Yan hurried down the slope to check on him.

An angry Arcanine was now looking to attack Xiao Yan's Gible. He approached step by step, while Gible kept backing away in fear. Suddenly, Arcanine lunged forward to bite Gible.

"Oh no!" Seeing this, Xiao Yan immediately stepped in front of Gible and took the attack for him.

That hurts so much...

Blood streamed down Xiao Yan's right arm.

"Xiao Yan!" His Pokémon rushed down the slope and glared fiercely at Arcanine.

Seeing so many Pokémon ready to fight him, Arcanine fled at once.

"Xiao Yan, your arm!" Suicune and the other Pokémon watched anxiously as blood dripped steadily from Xiao Yan's right arm onto the ground, staining the lush green grass red.

"I'm fine. It's not a big wound. I just need to stop the bleeding." After treating the wound, Xiao Yan tied a towel around his right arm.

"Look! It's taken care of. Go back to training. Every second before the tournament begins is precious."

Only after everyone saw that his arm had stopped bleeding did they listen to Xiao Yan and return to training.

(Author's setting: ordinarily, Growlithe needs to carry a Fire Stone to evolve. Otherwise, they can only accumulate a vast amount of energy over time to transform and evolve, but this takes anywhere from six months to three years. That is why wild Arcanine are uncommon.)

Yet here, they had encountered whole packs of Arcanine...

All of Xiao Yan's Pokémon had returned to training, but Gible was still standing there.

"Gible, aren't you going back?"

Xiao Yan's Gible looked at him guiltily.

"It wasn't your fault. Just be careful next time, and don't fall again."

Only then did Gible return to training.

After that incident, Gible trained exceptionally hard over the next few days.

"Today is our last day training here. Tomorrow, we'll set off for the Indigo League tournament grounds. Give it your all, everyone!"

Every one of Xiao Yan's Pokémon was fired up, training without daring to slack off.

Just then, several Arcanine appeared before Xiao Yan. At their head stood the Arcanine who had tried to attack Gible a few days earlier.

"You again?"

Seeing them, Xiao Yan's Pokémon all returned to his side to protect him.

"Woof!" The Arcanine at the front gave a loud bark, and the others began fighting Xiao Yan's Pokémon. Their leader went straight for Gible. Gible let out a young dragon's cry, and the two Pokémon collided as battle erupted.

By the time Xiao Yan's Pokémon had knocked the other Arcanine to the ground, Gible was still fighting his opponent and beginning to lose ground.

Seeing Gible covered in wounds, Xiao Yan was about to have his other Pokémon help.

Just then, Gible suddenly said a string of words Xiao Yan couldn't understand.

"Suicune, what did Gible say?"

Xiao Yan asked Suicune, who could speak human language.

"He told us not to interfere. This is a battle between him and Arcanine."

"Gible... let's fight together!"

Xiao Yan stood behind Gible, ready to give him commands.

"Use Sandstorm!"

The clear weather gave way to a sandstorm. Sand whirling through the air battered Arcanine, leaving several more wounds across his body.

But Arcanine showed no fear and fired Swift straight at Gible.

"Gible!"

Gible, who had already been struggling to stand, took another hit from Swift and no longer had any strength left to get up.

"That's enough... Gible, come back..."

Xiao Yan didn't want Gible to suffer any more. He had only just raised a Pokémon Ball and recalled him when Gible came back out on his own, still desperately trying to stand.

"All right! Let's keep fighting!"

My Pokémon won't admit defeat. Even after falling, he still wants to get back up. As his Trainer, I have to fight beside him to the very end!

Unwilling to give in, Gible roared angrily at the sky. The sandstorm suddenly grew fiercer and fiercer, and then a burst of light enveloped him.

"Is he evolving?"

When the light faded, Gible had evolved into Gabite.

A terrifying aura radiated from Gabite as he charged at Arcanine, who rushed toward him in turn.

The two Pokémon clashed and passed each other in the sandstorm. Arcanine was the first to fall.

"Great job, Gabite!"

Gabite happily pounced on Xiao Yan, knocking him over.

After sharing an affectionate moment with Gabite, Xiao Yan walked over to the Arcanine who had just lost to Garchomp.

Xiao Yan gave him a small smile, but Arcanine stubbornly turned his head away.

"Come with us, Arcanine! I need your strength."

Arcanine gave no response, only sneaking a glance at Xiao Yan out of the corner of his eye.

"Then I'll let you choose!"

Xiao Yan gently touched Arcanine with an ordinary Pokémon Ball. The ball shook violently for a long time before finally going still.

"So you did want to come with us after all. Haha!"

Xiao Yan released his newly caught Arcanine.

"We're partners from now on. I'm looking forward to working with you!"

Xiao Yan held out his hand to Arcanine, who raised a forepaw and shook it.

"What about your companions? Do they want to come with us too?"

Xiao Yan turned to look at the other Arcanine.

Arcanine walked up to one of them and placed a forepaw on his head.

That Arcanine then led the others away.

"Did you let him take your place as their leader?"

Xiao Yan's Arcanine nodded.

"Then let's go! Off to the Indigo League tournament grounds."