Teddy watched in quiet anticipation as a woman so bent with age she barely reached his chest, shuffled out of the shadows.

  “Trainer,” she nodded. “I am Ghost Specialist Georgina. You have come to challenge this Gym?”

  It sounded more a statement than a question.

  Teddy bowed.

  “My name is Teddy, and no, not yet,” he shook his head. “I came to ask for training and pointers on Ghosts.”

  Georgina eyed him silently.

  “An odd request. I suspect my granddaughter behind you was a part of this?”

  Teddy spun to face Lani, mouthing granddaughter?!

  Lani just grinned and shrugged.

  “Uhm, she mentioned I might learn,” he admitted, turning back to face Georgina. “And my original purpose in coming to Ecruteak was to learn how properly to train my Gastly.”

  The Gym Trainer’s eyes drifted over to Shadow.

  “Come here, little one,” she gestured.

  Shadow drifted forward, a bemused smile on her face.

  “Curious. How curious,” Georgina muttered. “Your Gastly is remarkably beautiful. Where did you find her?”

  “She found me in the forest near my home,” Teddy admitted, inwardly beaming in pride at the compliment his Shadow had received.

  “I see,” she replied after a moment, her eyes moving over Munchlax and Togepi.

  “And did these find you as well?”

  “You could say that,” Teddy grinned.

  Georgina huffed and stared at him.

  “Normally I would deny such a request, seeing as you are not a ghost type specialist,” she began, holding up a finger to forestall Teddy’s response. “I, however, do find myself intrigued on several accounts, one being how you have managed to have a Fairy and a Ghost on your team without constant discord-“

  “That’s what I said!” Lani exclaimed.

  Georgina stared her down sternly.

  “Uhm, sorry,” she whispered.

  Her Shuppet giggled behind her, causing Lani’s blush to deepen.

  Georgina smiled and nodded. “I was young once, too.”

  Lani smiled gratefully.

  “As I was saying, your team dynamic is intriguing. As such, I will make an exception. I will, however, only teach you in battle, which shall also count as your First Trial for the Gym. Are these terms acceptable?”

  Teddy nodded, his mouth too dry to speak.

  Georgina’s eyes twinkled as she rolled a Poké Ball in her hand.

  “And so the contract is made. Let the First Trial commence,” she exclaimed, her voice far stronger than her feeble body would have led him to believe.

  ____

  Shadow drifted forward, surprised at her own eagerness to battle.

  She was careful to keep it contained. Before ghosts, it was important she present a strong face for her Team.

  The enemy trainer sent out her Gastly. She looked over her Team once, eyed MunchMunch and Togepi, and cackled in derision.

  Shadow’s eyes narrowed. A quick glance to her Trainer and he nodded, an unspoken agreement between them.

  Even if he didn’t know why, he understood she wanted to dictate this first battle.

  She smiled in gratitude, turning back to face the enemy. Behind her MunchMunch and Happy both cheered.

  Somewhere in the Gym, a faint chime rang through the darkness, signaling the beginning of the battle.

  Shadow dipped into the gloom, appearing before the enemy Gastly barely a second later, causing her to widen her eyes in surprise.

  Shadow smirked. There was fast, and then there was her.

  And she was the one in charge of this battle.

  Without hesitation, she activated Confuse Ray, the surprised Gastly’s eyes too wide to close in time.

  Shadow smirked in satisfaction as the move took hold. The enemy managed to use Spite anyway, which was poetic, she supposed.

  Shadow shrugged the move off in irritation.

  She settled back onto her side of the field, a predator watching its prey.

  The enemy glanced around in confusion.

  Now, she could finish this quickly, but where would the fun in that be?

  ____

  Georgina leaned comfortably on her cane and sent out her first Gastly.

  She chose this one deliberately. She had witnessed the young man’s Gastly speaking with the Elder’s Shuppet, and Whisper was a sharp little thing.

  Georgina had no doubt she would have done something to rile up the Gastly.

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  As such, she sent out her feistiest member. Her first lesson for the trainer would be to keep his Pokémon calm and under control.

  Ghosts were prone to pride, and pride led to blindness.

  Her Gastly performed as expected, mocking the young man’s Gastly the moment she hit the battle floor.

  Georgina smirked when the challenging Pokémon glanced at her Trainer. She gripped her cane tightly at the ensuing silent communication.

  Such a thing should be impossible in one so young. Interesting.

  She settled back into her smirk as the challenger blitzed forward.

  Exactly as she expected, hasty. She would counter with Spite.

  She gasped as the enemy used Confuse Ray instead, before drifting back to her side of the field, smirking confidently.

  Georgina narrowed her eyes.

  The battle that ensued was brutal, the enemy calmly dismantling her Gastly with a series of licks, each one more disrespectful than the last.

  She stood there quietly as her Gastly fainted, unable to use a single move. She had intended to teach a lesson, and her Gastly had been schooled instead, the challenging Pokémon remaining both cool and collected throughout.

  Perhaps there was more to this Trainer than she first anticipated?

  She tossed out her next Gastly.

  No matter. Her next lesson would be to teach the boy the importance of commanding their Pokémon, not allowing them to dictate the battle.

  Georgina paled in shock as the challenger blinked to her Trainer, settling back onto the field and awaiting her orders.

  The boy was calmly petting his Togepi, the Munchlax sitting next to him and snacking on berries in glee.

  “Shadow, Hypnosis.”

  “Flutter, Confuse Ray,” Georgina ordered.

  Contrary to her expectations, her Pokémon was slower than the challenger, falling asleep before he could do anything.

  Georgina eyed her Granddaughter speculatively.

  Who exactly was this boy?

  “Shadow, Lick.”

  The challenger turned to smirk at her Trainer before bursting into a cackle, swooping forward. Shadows coalesced around her, causing the air to shimmer and distort.

  Georgina dropped her cane in surprise.

  She paid it no mind.

  How could that Gastly possibly know Dream Eater?!

  Flutter understandably fainted instantly.

  Georgina narrowed her eyes.

  “Ok, boy,” she demanded. “How does your Gastly know Dream Eater?”

  Was he here to mock her? What tips was he looking to learn?

  His Ghost was a monster.

  She should have chosen a stronger team for this battle. Her hubris had caused her to use a team fit for a second badge trainer.

  This boy was no second-badge trainer.

  With a flick of her wrist, she sent out her next Gastly.

  ____

  Teddy paused. What on earth was that move?

  His Partner did something, wisps of… he had no idea, drifting from the enemy Gastly.

  It fainted instantly and Shadow fell into a semi-delirious cackle, zooming back to orbit him.

  Togepi cooed gleefully while MunchMunch gasped in star-struck awe.

  “Boy!” Georgina called.

  Teddy looked up gratefully. He was learning so much!

  “How does your Gastly know Dream Eater?”

  Teddy gasped. He had read about that move when he was studying the Gastly line as a child, in preparation and hope of one day catching her.

  So that’s what it was?

  Maybe… maybe he should let his Gastly and MunchMunch be on their own more often? First Body Slam, now this?

  Georgina flicked another Gastly on the field and Teddy sent Shadow forward once more, excitement bubbling in his chest.

  His Team was getting stronger!

  He blinked when the next Pokémon fainted almost instantly, a Sucker Punch, Hypnosis, Dream Eater combo catching him by surprise.

  Shadow grinned proudly at him, her cackles filling the Gym.

  “Enough!” Georgina barked. “Send out your Munchlax. I would see him perform.”

  ____

  MunchMunch was having a wonderful time.

  He had never seen ghosts battle before! And watching Mama Shadow battle was amazing.

  It just showed she was better than all the other Gastlys! Plus, watching her had given him an idea he wanted to try-

  “Unch?” he blinked, looking up at his Teddy who had just pat his head.

  He was offering him a berry and gesturing forward. It was his turn! And he was getting a snack?!

  “UnchunchunchunchUnch. Munch!”

  His Teddy pointed to his cheek and MunchMunch understood, eagerly taking the berry and putting it in his cheek for safe-keeping.

  He really, really wanted to eat it, but he took a bite of his forever-snack instead.

  He giggled happily. He loved his forever-snack so much.

  The battle started immediately, and MunchMunch skipped forward eagerly. He loved tasting new things and was really excited to try his new idea!

  “Hi!” he called. The enemy Gastly cackled and immediately started flashing its eyes.

  “Oh-“

  ____

  Teddy watched as his enthusiastic food gremlin immediately fell for Georgina’s Gastly’s Hypnosis, falling face down in the middle of the field with an audible plop.

  He blinked but couldn’t help shaking his head.

  His MunchMunch knew how to avoid Hypnosis — he had seen him do it before.

  Part of the problem with not battling enough, he supposed. His MunchMunch was a little rusty, but that was ok. As his Trainer, it was his job to plan ahead.

  Across from him, Georgina chuckled, bouncing her Pokéball in her palm.

  “Planning ahead is important. Now, when I use Curse, there will be little-“ she began, but MunchMunch was already skipping forward, giving a huge lick to her Gastly, who fell to the ground in paralysis.

  Teddy blinked. When had he learned Lick? And why did he look so pleased to use it?

  What exactly were Shadow and MunchMunch up to when they were separated from him?!

  Today, it seemed, was one for many surprises.

  “Ah, clever. Chesto,” Georgina groused.

  Teddy nodded, still shocked as his MunchMunch proceeded to dance happily, clearly enjoying the taste of the Chesto berry Teddy had sent him into the battle holding.

  He had never had him hold a berry before, and wasn’t sure if he would know how to use it.

  He shook his head. As if his Munchlax wouldn’t know how to eat food.

  Happy bounced excitedly in his arms, her eyes glued to the battlefield.

  Teddy had a sneaky suspicion she might be even more of a battle junkie than her other two team members, if such a thing were possible.

  “Uh, MunchMunch… Lick?” Teddy called.

  MunchMunch immediately stopped his dance and barreled for Georgina’s Gastly, tongue out, his Gengar-cackles exploding through the Gym.

  He saw several pairs of onlooking eyes widen in surprise at the sound, Georgina’s included. Next to him, Shadow joined the noise in glee.

  The small Gastly watched from the ground in terror, but Georgina clicked her tongue.

  “That’s enough. Gastly, Return,” Georgina called, flashing her Poké Ball. “You won that one fair and square. You and your Gastly seem to have taught each other some tricks. I am pleased,” she nodded. “I will say your Munchlax is somewhat unusual, sounding like that. I presume it was her as well?” she stated, gesturing towards Shadow.

  Teddy grinned and nodded in affirmation, his MunchMunch and Shadow cackling in delight.

  In his arms, Happy was cooing to the rhythm of their cackles.

  He sighed in defeat. “You too?” he murmured.

  ”Pii~!”

  Georgina bent down to pick up her cane and MunchMunch barreled back to him, slamming into his leg with a giant hug.

  “Good job, Buddy,” he whispered, reaching down to pat his head. The sound of Georgina’s cane rapping the ground caught his attention.

  “You have passed your First Trial,” she stated, pulling out a small silver candle-snuffer and extinguishing a flame next to her. “Dream Eater was unexpected. That is no easy move to teach a Gastly. Well done.”

  Teddy bowed once more, still surprised himself that Shadow knew the move.

  “Thank you. I learned so much,” he said earnestly. “I will return to challenge the Gym properly, but first I need to take time to work with my team.”

  He looked up to see Georgina blink, smile and nod slowly in acknowledgement, before she turned to walk slowly into the shadows behind her.

  ____

  “That was a good fight!” Lani enthused, skipping next to Teddy. He chuckled in response, giving his Togepi a pat while MunchMunch rolled next to them.

  The day was moving towards late afternoon, and the group was making their way back to the Poké Center.

  “Yeah, I was in for a few surprises with that one,” he admitted. From somewhere in the lengthening shadows, his Partner cackled.

  “Does he roll often?” Lani asked suddenly, eyebrow raised as she watched MunchMunch roll through a puddle of mud.

  “Mmm, more and more lately,” Teddy responded. “Though I suspect right now it is more because he is hoping I will brush him later.”

  Shadow immediately cackled and swooped down to translate for MunchMunch, who stopped and glanced up at Teddy with a sheepish grin.

  “Busted!” Lani burst out laughing, the entire group joining in.

  “Hey everyone, want to grab some food?”

  ”UNCH!”