The heavy silence that followed the final explosion of Fairy energy was broken only by the sound of heavy breathing and the rustle of settling leaves. Roserade lay motionless on the grass, her elegant mask slightly askew, while Floette hovered a few inches off the ground, her tiny body trembling from the sheer exertion of the duel.
The referee's voice finally cut through the tension, clear and decisive. "Roserade is unable to battle! Floette wins!"
"Since all three of Gym Leader Gardenia's Pokémon have been defeated, the victory goes to Julian of Sandgem Town!"
The moment the words were official, the "cool, professional researcher" persona I'd been trying to maintain evaporated. I sprinted across the grassy field, sliding on my knees to get to Floette's level.
"We did it, Floette! You were amazing!" I scooped her up, mindful of her bruised petals. She looked exhausted, her eyes drooping, but the second she felt my hands, she let out a triumphant chirp.
"Floe~! Floette! (Jing, we won! That means... the feast?! You promised a feast!)"
I laughed, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. "Yes, yes. I'll make you the biggest, most delicious dinner you've ever had. You earned it."
Leave it to Floette to think about her stomach before she'd even stopped panting. I looked over and saw Gardenia kneeling by her Roserade, whispering soft words of comfort before recalling her into a Poké Ball. She stood up, brushed the dirt from her brown jeans, and walked toward me with a genuine, beaming smile.
"Julian, that was an incredible performance," she said, her voice full of admiration. "Your teamwork is something special. The way you used Ability Swap to turn the sun against me, and that trust you showed in Sylveon even when she was drained by Leech Seed... it's been a long time since a challenger surprised me like that."
She reached into a small pouch at her waist and pulled out a shimmering green ornament. It was shaped like three stylized trees, their deep emerald color catching the light from the skylight above.
"This is proof of your victory here. The Forest Badge. Carry it with pride."
As she handed it to me, I felt a familiar sensation—a slight tug on the air. A camera, which Floette had been subtly controlling with her Psychic powers from the sidelines, floated over to capture the moment. I had specifically trained her to do this; being a researcher was all about documentation, but being a traveler was about memories. Plus, I needed the perfect shot for my travel blog.
The flash went off, capturing the image of a slightly disheveled youth in blue, a tired but happy Floette on his shoulder, and the legendary Grass-type specialist Gardenia handing over the prize.
The Post-Battle Blues (and Berries)
The walk to the Pokémon Center felt like a victory lap, though my legs were still a bit shaky. After handing my team over to Nurse Joy for a full recovery, I didn't head to a restaurant. No, a promise was a promise, and my Pokémon preferred my cooking anyway.
I hit the local market like a whirlwind. I was replaying the battle in my head as I stuffed my basket with high-quality berries.
That was too close, I thought, picking up a bunch of plump Oran Berries.
Gardenia's Roserade was a monster. If Floette hadn't mastered Psychic recently, we would have been walled by that Sludge Bomb. And Togepi... the little guy was still so far behind. He'd barely been on the field for a minute before the Leech Seed started sapping him. If I wanted to keep this momentum, I couldn't just rely on Sylveon and Floette carrying the team.
"I need to get Togepi into a real training regimen," I muttered, moving to the spice aisle. "And Floette's stamina is a joke. She's like a glass cannon made of sugar."
I also had to consider my next move. Hearthome City was the logical next step for the Gym circuit, but Melissa, the Ghost-type specialist, was a nightmare for anyone unprepared. Maybe I should head to Veilstone first? Maylene's Fighting-types would be a good match for my Fairy-moves, but then Melissa would just be even stronger when I finally faced her.
"Argh! Why is Sinnoh so complicated?!" I scratched my head, accidentally knocking my hat askew.
Suddenly, the Pokémon Center's intercom chimed. "Julian of Sandgem Town, your Pokémon are fully restored. Please pick them up at the front desk."
"Coming!" I yelled, abandoning my internal debate and rushing back with two heavy bags of groceries.
A Feast Fit for Champions
Back at the hotel, the "kitchenette" was turned into a high-stakes culinary workshop. I wasn't just making food; I was making art.
For the main course, I prepared Berry Sandwiches—thick slices of artisanal bread toasted with a glaze of Oran and Sitrus juice, stuffed with sweet greens.
For Floette, I went all out on a Floral Fruit Medley. I carefully diced Mango and Rindo berries, mixing them with rare Dragonfire fruit I'd been saving for a special occasion. I drizzled the whole thing in a thick, golden nectar I'd bought back in Floaroma Town. It looked like a sunset in a bowl.
For Sylveon, I baked Mini-Berry Cakes. I used Fragrant and Persim berries for the base to keep her mind sharp, decorating them with Mikan berry slices that looked like tiny orange jewels.
And for Togepi, I mashed together Lemon and Pinap berries into a soft, easy-to-digest custard, sprinkling just a few crumbs of Roseli berry on top to help with his Fairy-type development.
"Dinner is served!"
The room was instantly filled with the sound of happy Pokémon. Floette didn't even wait for a fork (not that she used them). She dove face-first into her salad bowl, her little wings buzzing with excitement. Sylveon was much more refined, using her ribbons to pick up a cake and take delicate, appreciative bites. Togepi just wobbled over to his custard, his tiny hands covered in yellow goo within seconds.
I sat back, taking a bite of my own Oran-berry sandwich. "Delicious," I whispered. "I really am a genius."
Watching them eat brought a warm, fuzzy feeling to my chest. This was the best part of the journey—not the badges or the fame, but these quiet moments of shared happiness.
However, the "quiet" didn't last long.
Thump.
I looked over. Floette had finished her entire bowl, five extra poffins, and two of my sandwiches. She was now lying flat on her back on the dining table, her belly rounded like a tennis ball. She was covered in breadcrumbs and sticky nectar, looking like a very satisfied, very immobile plush toy.
My face went flat. "(ᇂ _ ᇂ|||)"
"Floette... no one was going to steal it. How does someone your size even fit that much food?" I poked her distended little stomach. It felt like a overripe peach.
"H~" Floette let out a tiny, muffled squeak. She tried to roll over, but her belly acted like an anchor, keeping her pinned to the wood.
"Don't even try to talk. You're going to give yourself a stomach ache," I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I'm going to have to give you a bath, but I'm genuinely terrified that if I move you too much, you'll explode."
Sylveon looked over from her cake, her blue eyes full of judgment. She let out a small, elegant huff, as if to say, 'I told you she had no self-control.'
Hours later, after the kitchen was clean and three very clean, very sleepy Pokémon were tucked into their respective beds, I sat at the small hotel desk. The only light came from a small lamp, illuminating the photos we'd taken today.
I picked up the photo of the badge ceremony. I looked younger than I felt. I took out my pen and flipped the photo over, the ink scratching softly against the paper.
Entry: May 19th, Year 243 – Eterna City.
Third Gym Match officially in the books. Gardenia is the real deal—even her Cherubi was a challenge. Note to self: Need to work on Floette's stamina and Togepi's base power. We can't keep relying on Sylveon's 'Calm Mind' sweeps.
P.S. We finally got our revenge on that Pinsir from the forest today. Watching him realize who we were before the battle started was almost as satisfying as the badge itself. (✧∇✧)
Next stop... well, I'll decide tomorrow. For now, the Forest Badge looks pretty good on the mantle.
I set the pen down and looked out the window at the silhouette of the Eterna statue. We were making progress. A year ago, I was lost in the woods. Today, I was a three-badge trainer with a team that could hold its own against an Elite-class Roserade.
I climbed into bed, the Forest Badge tucked safely into my bag, and for the first time in days, I fell into a dreamless, peaceful sleep.