Erika elegantly stroked the Poké Ball returned by Bellossom.
"You worked hard. Your dance was beautiful."
She then walked slowly toward Ash, a smile of heartfelt appreciation on her face.
"Well done, Ash." Erika's voice clearly spread throughout the battlefield.
"Whether it was Pidgeotto's aerial suppression or Misdreavus's final fire tornado, both displayed the deep bond between you and your outstanding adaptability."
Erika spoke these polite words.
At some point, a badge had appeared in her hand.
It was a badge with a silvery-white center surrounded by eight hexagons of different colors.
"This Rainbow Badge is the recognition you deserve."
Erika solemnly placed the badge into Ash's open palm.
"I look forward to your performance at the Indigo League."
Erika felt that Ash would definitely be able to make it to the Indigo League.
Just as the badge touched his palm, a semi-transparent System interface quietly emerged in Ash's peripheral vision:
[Celadon Gym: Rainbow Badge]
[Effect: Trainer's Grass-type affinity slightly increased (Energy Perception/Resistance), basic physical fitness slightly enhanced.]
An indescribable sense of freshness quietly integrated into his body, as if he could more clearly feel the vitality contained in the grass beneath his feet. The fatigue from days of travel also seemed to alleviate slightly.
Ash gripped the badge tightly. "Thank you, Miss Erika! I will definitely work even harder!"
In the spectator seats, discussions ensued.
"He really won! That Misdreavus's control ability is so strong!"
A girl wearing a wide-brimmed sun hat, accompanied by a spirited Piplup—Verity from Twinleaf Town—spoke with excitement in her tone.
"Using the storm created by the opponent to enhance her own fire to form a Fire Spin... leveraging the opponent's strength... that's not something an ordinary Misdreavus can do!"
Beside her was a composed youth with his arms crossed.
Sorrel from Veilstone City nodded slightly.
The Lucario beside him had a sharp gaze.
"The tactics were clear."
"Flying-type and Fire-type are indeed very suitable for challenging a Grass-type Gym."
"Especially since the Flying-type can control air superiority, and it just so happens that the Celadon Gym's field is also a very large type."
"He must have done a detailed investigation before coming."
"Although that Misdreavus isn't a Fire-type, she is quite skilled at Fire-type moves... her fire control ability is abnormally strong."
His analysis was spot on.
Ash's tactics were easy to understand.
And in fact, that was the case.
Celadon Gym's Grass attribute... was really the easiest attribute to target, at least before Erika brought out her main force.
Just like Lt. Surge's Raichu.
Due to early-stage training issues, it wasn't yet time to compensate for shortcomings.
Most Gym challenges before the 7th or 8th badge had obvious weaknesses that could be exploited.
What, you ask what to do if there are no weaknesses?
Are you deliberately trying to stop rookies from passing?
Ridiculous.
Gym challenges are meant to train rookies.
If you use a hexagon warrior Pokémon to block a rookie... how could a rookie who just started traveling possibly brute-force their way through a Gym with training levels?
The Pokémon a rookie can bring out cannot possibly be stronger than the Pokémon a Gym Leader can bring out.
On the other side.
A youth wearing a T-shirt and jacket—Cross—curled his lip.
The Lycanroc at his feet also yawned.
"The type advantage was too obvious. If I switched in my Charmander, the result wouldn't be bad either."
"However... for Mystical Fire to achieve the level of Fire Spin... what exactly is that Misdreavus's strength?"
His tone carried a bit of defiance, but he also acknowledged Ash's strength.
A win is a win, a loss is a loss.
He just felt that this Misdreavus's training level was a bit too high.
Why hasn't it evolved into Mismagius yet?
Erika, hearing the faint discussions, smiled and issued an invitation to Ash:
"By the way, Ash, and everyone, are you interested in visiting the Gym's greenhouse garden?"
"There are some rare herbal Pokémon there that are hard to see outside."
After personally weighing Ash's level.
Erika felt she could appropriately further the relationship between both parties.
Well.
Erika felt that both parties belonged to the same faction anyway, so there was no need to be so distant; she could host Ash for a tour in Celadon City for a while.
Professor Oak was the leader of the Celadon University faction.
And Erika was a visiting professor at Celadon University, a rising star in the academic world, and could also be considered Professor Oak's student.
In fact, a large portion of the entire academic world consisted of Samuel Oak's disciples and grand-disciples.
Laugh.
The noise on the battlefield gradually faded.
The audience left one after another, still discussing the battle with unsatisfied interest.
Erika extended an invitation to Ash's trio:
"Ash, Brock, Misty."
"Are you interested in following me to see the Gym's greenhouse garden?"
"There are some rare herbal Pokémon being nurtured there that are hard to see in the outside world."
"Of course I'm interested!" Ash responded immediately.
He was full of curiosity about all kinds of Pokémon.
Misty and Brock also nodded happily. Being able to visit Celadon Gym's core breeding area at close range was undoubtedly a rare opportunity.
Erika handed the Poké Balls containing Bellossom, Victreebel, and Tangrowth to an assistant waiting nearby, instructing them to be sent to the Pokémon Center for detailed inspection and recovery.
Then, she personally led the three through several quiet corridors, heading toward the depths of the Gym.
Some places inside the Gym were open to the public, and some were not.
The path was lush with greenery, and the air was filled with a fresh scent mixed with earth and a hundred flowers, making one feel relaxed and happy.
As they walked, the topic naturally turned to their previous encounter.
"Speaking of which, I have to thank Miss Erika again for her magnanimity," Brock said sincerely. "We caused trouble by accidentally entering the Parasect's living area."
Hearing this, Erika covered her mouth and chuckled softly, a trace of understanding and playfulness flashing in her calm eyes. "Hehe, that timid fellow probably didn't tell you the whole story, right?"
She paused, then explained:
"The area where you encountered it is actually part of the 'Pokémon Adaptation Zone' established by Celadon University."
"Living there are some Pokémon that migrated from other regions, or were brought here by Trainers and left behind for various reasons."
"It is an important project for our observation of Pokémon ecology in the wild."
Strictly speaking, this was also Erika's research project.
"Pokémon from other regions?" Misty blinked, a look of confusion on her face. "Don't different Pokémon have their own most suitable living environments? Wouldn't they be unadapted if moved here like this? And... why go out of the way to conduct this kind of research?"
Brock took over the conversation to explain: "Misty, with the establishment of the Pokémon League and the increasingly frequent exchanges between regions, it has become more and more common for Trainers to travel across regions with Pokémon."
"Inevitably, some... accidents occur, such as Trainers giving up on their adventure midway, or being unable to continue raising them, leading to non-native Pokémon being abandoned in strange environments."
"If these Pokémon reproduce naturally in the local area, they will likely cause unknown impacts on the original ecological balance."
He looked at Erika, seeking confirmation:
"So, the core of this 'Adaptation Zone' research is a frontier subject in Pokémon ecology, aiming to observe and evaluate the chain reactions that this flow of cross-regional species might bring, so that the League can formulate response strategies in advance, right, Miss Erika?"
Strictly speaking, Brock was also a member of the academic world.
Laugh.
Pokémon studies is a huge discipline, subdivided into Pokémon Ecology, Pokémon Sociology, Pokémon Material Science, Pokémon Battle Science, Pokémon Breeding Science... and so on.
Erika nodded approvingly. "Mr. Brock put it very thoroughly."
"Just as Ash pointed out keenly earlier." Her gaze turned to Ash.
"That area can indeed be seen as an 'ecological testing ground'."
"Through controlled introduction and observation, we simulate scenarios that might appear on a large scale in the future, researching how Pokémon with different attributes and habits integrate into new environments, and what kind of interactions they will generate with local species—whether it be competition, symbiosis, or other relationships."
She sighed softly, her tone carrying a hint of gravity:
"The circulation of Pokémon between various regions is a trend that will be hard to stop in the future. The League must prepare for a rainy day."
"Moreover, besides the normal flow of Trainers, there are organizations like Team Rocket and poacher gangs that illegally capture and traffic rare Pokémon from other regions for profit, further exacerbating the possibility of this chaos."
"Our research is also to better cope with these future situations."
This kind of thing was predictable and bound to happen.
And for something that is inevitably going to happen, one must certainly make preparations early.
During the conversation, the four had arrived in front of a massive glass door.
Erika reached out and pushed it open. A richer, warm, and moist fragrance of mixed flowers pounced on their faces.
The view suddenly opened up. A gigantic greenhouse garden presented itself before their eyes. Sunlight poured down through the glass dome. Various exotic flowers and rare herbs competed in beauty, and quite a few Grass-type Pokémon of various shapes were living and playing there leisurely and contentedly.
"This is the 'heart' of Celadon Gym," Erika opened her arms, smiling as she displayed this vibrant world to her three young guests.
"Welcome to my garden."
____
New Story: Frieren: Capturing Aura at the Start
✅ Read 40 chapters ahead on all series.
✅ Get exclusive content and updates.
Help us hit our targets:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 free chapter for all
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 bonus chapters (all stories)!
👻 P - Walnutchan