The gym hummed with energy. Even from her position in the tunnel Fiona could tell that the crowd had grown. It wasn't a full house, those sorts of numbers were reserved for eight badge challenges, but there were as many filled seats as empty ones. People had turned out in droves to see Gardenia take on her first Ace challenger of the season. They expected a show. Fiona intended to give them one.

  Next to her, a woman fussed with Fiona’s collar, attaching a small microphone, while ahead she could see one of the cameras, set to record her battle and broadcast it around the world. Fiona had no idea how many people were watching, but she was willing to bet it was more than a few.

  The woman finished attaching the microphone and stepped back, giving a thumbs up to a man on Fiona's other side. He nodded, and spoke quietly into an earpiece. It was showtime.

  “Announcing our Challenger, hailing all the way from Galar, bearing a name that strikes fear in the most hardened of trainers, our first Ace challenger of the season, in her Gym Challenge debut. Fiona Abernathy!”

  Fiona was introduced in a far grander fashion than Troy or Eleanor, striding forward to a surge of polite applause. She could see Troy and Eleanor, in the spot where Fiona had been sitting earlier, enthusiastically waving pom poms.

  She strode with confidence, head held high. Fiona Abernathy was here, and she was about to send a fucking message.

  Fiona took her position, the Announcer waiting until the applause gave way to silent anticipation.

  “Announcing our Gym Leader. The woman herself, the undisputed queen of the Grass Types, the flower of Eterna, Gardenia!”

  Gardenia emerged to thunderous cheering. She was an extremely popular gym leader, and it showed here. Unlike before, when she had been professional and business-like, here, she worked the crowd. She waved, posed and winked at the crowd and cameras, before pointing dramatically at Fiona.

  “Welcome Trainer, to my Gym!” Gardenia said with a stage shout, “If you succeed here, you will earn yourself the Forest Badge. But it will not be an easy challenge!”

  Fiona rolled her eyes, Gardenia really was hamming it up. Fine, two can play at that game.

  “I think you should be thanking me,” Fiona said, with all the Abernathy Arrogance she could muster.

  Gardenia bit.

  “And why is that?” she said, tone questioning.

  “For letting you be the first trainer in Sinnoh to experience me first hand,” Fiona replied.

  A chorus of “ooohs,” erupted from the crowd, along with an audible “Hot Damn!” that could only have come from Troy. Even from here Fiona could see Gardenia’s eyes sparkle in delight.

  “In that case,” Gardenia replied, “Allow me to thank you for letting me be the first Gym Leader in Sinnoh to whoop your ass.”

  The crowd erupted, and Gardenia smirked directly into the camera. Fiona had to give it to her, the woman was definitely having fun.

  “Now that the battle of words has taken place, let's begin the Pokemon Battle!” the Announcer chimed in.

  “This will be a three on three battle, with only the Challenger being allowed a single substitution.”

  Fiona braced herself, making the mental shift from shit talking to shit kicking. It was go time.

  “The Gym Leader is to release first,” the Announcer concluded, “You may begin!”

  “Carnivine!” Gardenia called, sending out the tall grass type.

  Interesting, Fiona hadn't known that she had one in rotation this year. Not that it mattered.

  “Thistle, get to work,” Fiona said, tossing the Pokeball.

  “And we have Rufflet against Carnivine!” the Announcer called. Fiona pushed him to the back of her mind, she had a badge to win.

  “Stockpile,” Gardenia began.

  “Hone Claws,” Fiona snapped.

  Both Pokemon glowed as they buffed themselves. Unlike Carnivine however, Thistle could buff and move. He winged his way towards Carnivine, claws glowing with deadly intent.

  “Bullet Seed,” Gardenia ordered. Carnivine opened its mouth to spew a hail of glowing seeds at Thistle.

  “Aerial Ace.” Thistle swooped, becoming a blur as he dipped around the Bullet Seed. He pitched towards the ground, his wings snapping open at the last possible moment to catch him, and he streaked past Carnivine, striking it on his way past.

  Carnivine tumbled, but recovered quickly.

  “Magical Leaf.” Carnivine righted itself, sending a burst of glowing leaves at Thistle. The Rufflet had no room to maneuver, hemmed in by the small size of the arena.

  Except Fiona was prepared for this.

  “Use the wall, Acrobatics.” Thistle flew directly at the wall, twisting to touch it feet first. Then he sprang off, the Magical Leaf impacting behind him, narrowly missing.

  “Aerial Ace,” Fiona commanded, and Thistle began another swooping attack.

  “Ingrain, Leaf Tornado," Gardenia snapped.

  Instantly Carnivine was surrounded by a wall of razor sharp leaves, the Pokemon itself beginning to glow as it dug its roots into the grassy soil of the arena floor.

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  Fiona snorted, “Ignore it. Push through.”

  Thistle didn't hesitate, he continued his dive, cutting straight through the wall of leaves. The leaves cut into him, but he ignored it, slashing into Carnivine once more.

  “Grassy Knot!” Gardenia called. A cluster of grassy tendrils sprang from the ground, snaring Thistle as he reached the lowest point of his dive.

  “Now Mega Drain. Carnivine began to suck the energy out of Thistle.

  “Oh, and Carnivine has Rufflet trapped! What possible escape route is there for the challenger?” the Announcer said, as Thistle struggled.

  “This,” Fiona said dismissively, smirk on her face.

  “Heat Wave.”

  Gardenia’s eyes widened as Thistle opened his mouth and roared, spewing forth a blast of super heated air. Grass wilted and the air rippled as it raced towards Carnivine. It struck, sending the grass type reeling, forcing it to release Thistle. There was a moment of stunned silence.

  “Finish it,” Fiona ordered, and Thistle streaked forward, slamming into Carnivine who collapsed, fainted.

  “And Carnivine is unable to battle, after a surprise counter by Rufflet! How will Gardenia respond?”

  Gardenia’s eyes narrowed.

  “Your move,” Fiona thought, “But the best is yet to come.”

  Chloe watched, awestruck as Thistle unleashed the Heatwave. She had no idea that he knew that move! How long had Fiona been sitting on that?

  Her best friend was in her element, standing in the arena like she owned it. Chloe found herself trembling with excitement. She couldn't wait for her turn. It was just a shame that she was stuck in here, watching the battle on the small TV in the locker room, rather than out there, cheering with the others. She would just have to hug Fiona later to make up for it.

  On the screen Gardenia considered. The battle had taken a turn she didn't expect, the move putting a twist on things. But she wasn't the Gym Leader for nothing.

  Gardenia reached for her next Pokemon, and Chloe held her breath. This was the coolest thing she had ever seen.

  “Well Challenger,” Gardenia said, “Looks like you have the moxie to back up the talk. But it will take more than just one surprise to win. Lombre, go!”

  Gardenia finished by tossing out a Pokeball that spilled forth the Water Grass type in question.

  Fiona nodded in satisfaction. Gardenia was taking this very seriously. Still, the Gym Leader was still comfortable enough to play it up for the cameras. It was time that Fiona changed that. Thistle had done his job, now it was time for the message.

  “Thistle, back,” Fiona said, using her one substitution. It would be the only one she needed.

  “Gardenia sends out Lombre, and the Challenger recalls Rufflet, what will our brave leader face next?”

  “Tank, you’re up,” Fiona said, casually releasing the enormous Heracross.

  There was a collective intake of breath as he appeared, a truly monstrous specimen. Tank didn't showboat. He stood, placidly, waiting.

  Fiona milked the stunned silence. Tank deserved his moment. Let them appreciate him for a bit.

  “Tank,” Fiona said after a moment, “Do your thing.”

  Tank exploded into motion, launching himself at Lombre, horn glowing.

  “Dodge,” Gardenia ordered, Lombre leaping to the side as Tank thundered past, crashing into the side of the arena, sending shards of stone flying.

  “Leech seed!” Gardenia called, and Lombre launched a clump of seeds that wrapped themselves around Tank as he pulled himself free of the wall.

  “Ignore them,” Fiona said, “Kick its ass. Pin Missile.”

  Tank fired off five massive Pin Missiles which streaked at Lombre.

  “Protect!” Gardenia ordered, a shimmering wall of force popping up to catch the attacks.

  “Smash that shit,” Fiona ordered, and Tank lumbered into action with shocking speed for a Bug his size. He chopped, Feint smashing through the Protect like it was never there. He followed with a swing of his massive horn, slapping Lombre across the arena, the much smaller Pokemon hurled like a toy. The Leech Seeds continued to drain him, but the Heracross gave no signs that he noticed. He was Tank for a reason.

  “Keep your distance, Icy Wind!” Gardenia called, Lombre climbing to its feet, unsteady, but standing.

  Lombre unleashed a wave of icy air that began to crystallise and freeze Tank, slowing him down as he followed.

  “Bug Buzz,” Fiona called, and he stopped, dropping to all fours, his carapace opening.

  A blast of power from his wings scattered the icy crystals, sending Lombre reeling once more.

  “Finish it,” Fiona ordered. Tank rushed forward, Lombre recovering from the Bug Buzz just in time to receive a Megahorn to the face. He went down. Hard.

  “Lombre is unable to battle, falling to the hands of the Challenger’s Heracross? How will Gardenia deal with this monstrous Bug?”

  Fiona smirked. Gardenia wouldn't. Tank had taken some adjusting on her part, but now that she had worked him out? Fiona was willing to bet there wasn't a single first badge Pokemon in the region who could take him. He was her giant, placid secret weapon. She loved him already.

  Gardenia recalled Lombre.

  She didn't quip this time, instead she considered, staring at the Heracross before her.

  Fiona saw it, spotted it in her eyes when the Gym Leader realised what Fiona knew. This was over. Even if she managed to somehow, someway deal with Tank, there was no way Gardenia was reverse sweeping this. Still, the woman was a professional, and the people needed a show.

  “Sunflora!” Gardenia called, arriving at a decision. The Pokemon in question landed on the grass, staring at Tank.

  “And Gardenia resorts to Sunflora, can she pull off the comeback, or will the Challenger earn her badge right here?”

  Fiona grinned, making sure to look right into the camera as she did.

  “Tank, finish this.”

  “Growth, Sunny Day!” Gardenia ordered as Tank charged.

  The room was filled with sunlight, nearly blinding Fiona, and causing Tank to slow. He hesitated just enough that Sunflora managed to slide past him.

  “Weather Ball!” Sunflora put an orb of glowing energy right into Tank’s back as he moved past, the extra momentum sending him smashing into the arena wall.

  Tank shook the impact off, turning to face the Grass Type with his typical impassive stare.

  “Solar Beam.”

  Sunflora began to glow, the attack charging rapidly under the scorching rays of the Sunny Day.

  Gardenia was not fucking around. Unfortunately for her, neither was Fiona.

  “Charge the fucker. Megahorn.”

  Tank’s horn glowed, and he launched forward.

  Sunflora fired.

  A brilliant beam of light struck Tank, so bright most of the audience looked away. Fiona didn't. She watched as Tank took it head on, horn lowered.

  The crowd roared, and Tank advanced, the Solar Beam breaking on his horn, not even the incredible force of one of the strongest grass type moves able to check his advance. He pushed through, cutting right through the Solar Beam to burst out the other side, smashing into Sunflora. The Grass Type went flying.

  It hit the wall, and slumped. Fainted.

  Tank stood, impassive, victorious, and with not a single god damn scratch on him.

  Fiona stared straight into the camera.

  “That one was for you Dad,” she said, before she paused.

  “And so is this,” she added, giving the camera a single fingered salute.

  “Fiona is here fuckers, I hope you’re ready.”

  The cheers were explosive.

  “Sunflora is unable to battle, victory goes to the Challenger!”

  Fiona enjoyed the crowd for a while, letting Tank be appreciated before she recalled him. She met Gardenia halfway across the arena.

  The Gym Leader shook her head as they shook hands.

  “That was one hell of a debut,” Gardenia said, “Though you do realise they’ll censor your little message, right?”

  Fiona shrugged, “He'll get the point."

  “You’ve got potential, just don't let it become arrogance. And don’t get so caught up in the message that you forget the battle.”

  Fiona bit back a retort. Instead, she nodded herself.

  “I won't,” she promised, “There's no point if I don't win.”

  Gardenia smiled, “I look forward to watching it. Thanks for the battle, and congratulations on the badge. I think this one will be the highlight of my week.”

  Fiona snorted, “Unfortunately,” she said, “I have a feeling that I am about to get upstaged.”

  Gardenia’s eyebrow rose, “Oh?” she asked, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

  Fiona nodded seriously, “Good luck with Chloe,” she said, “You’ll need it.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Gardenia replied.

  They parted, Fiona waving at the crowd as she made her way back into the locker room.

  “Holy shit Fiona, that was awesome!”

  Fiona was ambushed the moment she entered the room, a sparkly blonde crashing into her with a huge hug.

  Fiona shrugged, trying to play it cool.

  “It was all Tank,” she said, doing her best to not sniff Chloe’s hair.

  “No,” Chloe said, holding Fiona out at arm’s length, “Tank is the best and I will be hugging him and Thistle till they explode, but you were awesome.

  “Thanks,” Fiona said.

  “Can't believe I have to follow that,” Chloe pouted, “You couldn't have been a little less awesome? Just a little? For me?”

  Fiona laughed, “Don't worry Princess, you’ll fucking smash it out there.”

  Fiona meant it. She was serious about what she told Gardenia. Fiona had no idea what Chloe was cooking, but the one thing she was certain of was that it was going to be as adorable as it was spectacular.

  Still, Fiona had done it. She had made a statement, Thistle had been amazing, and Tank had been exactly what he needed to be. She even got to swear on global television.

  Success all round.