"It's got to be around here somewhere," Kenya said.

The two of us had wandered out of Mistralton City. We had a trail out into the forest. The trail ended a while ago.

Kenya was using her 'Directional Instinct' to lead us to the Mistralton Cave.

A part of me was considering a new pokemon. It'd be a while before I had a chance to battle Skyla.

"Hey look," Kenya said. She pointed out two people further into the woods.

A man and a woman.

"How much do you want to bet they're going to the cave too?"

"Somehow, I doubt it," I said. "They're probably looking for privacy."

The pair spotted us and split up, running off in opposite directions.

Kenya and I shared a look.

"Do you want to chase them?" Kenya asked.

"I'm good."

"Come on, then." She led me further along into the woods. "It cant be much further."

I watched Kenya as she marched ahead. She glanced over her shoulder at me.

"Are you staring at me? You really do have a crush on me!" She laughed.

"Keep telling yourself that," I remarked. I noticed a flash of blue in the distance. Kenya noticed as well, snapping to attention.

Up ahead was a blue pokemon. It slipped between the trees, limping.

"Cobalion," Kenya said. She took a step forward. Cobalion froze.

"Never heard of it," I scratched my head. Kenya groaned.

"Somethings wrong with it," she said.

"It's limping."

"That's what I mean."

We watched it limp along, struggling with each movement.

"You think we can help it?" I asked. Kenya tapped her chin.

"If my mom found out I caught Cobalion, imagine how jealous she'd be?" A grin formed on her face.

I gave her a long look.

"That's exactly why I don't have a crush on you."

Kenya gasped.

"W-what's that supposed to mean?"

"You're almost as bad as Bianca," I said. Kenya huffed. She started for Cobalion.

"Well, that's why I don't have a crush on you either."

I blinked.

"Okay then."

.

.

.

"What?" Cheren turned to Mary. He'd only now started paying her any mind.

Bianca was feeding Larvesta.

The two of them had just returned from Chargestone cave. Bianca had caught herself an Eelektrik.

"Fennel is the new gym leader," Mary repeated. "There was a vote and everything!"

"What about Skyla?"

"I don't know, I wasn't there when it happened." Mary folded her arms. "That Cerea girl says Skyla ran off to Celestial tower."

"I didn't know the gym leader could just change like that," Bianca said. "Is that even legal?" Mary shrugged.

Cheren considered this information.

"Is she accepting challenges?" He asked. Mary nodded.

"A bunch of people have been challenging her but no one's winning."

Cheren cocked his head and shared a look with Bianca. A smile formed on Bianca's face.

"I'm going to the Pokemon center."

The three of them headed to the pokemon center. Cheren sat down as Bianca had her pokemon healed.

"Do you know what kind of pokemon she's using?" He asked Mary. Mary shook her head.

"I haven't had a chance to challenge her yet."

"Don't you want to?"

"Yeah, but something seems off." Mary turned to Bianca at the counter.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know how to explain it," Mary said.

Cheren shared her feeling. How could someone just take over a gym? Wasn't there a process for things like that?

"I'm ready!" Bianca walked over to the two of them. "Let's do this."

There wasn't a line at the gym.

A guy was battling Fennel inside.

"Payback!" The guy ordered.

His Mandibuzz slammed into Fennel's Gothitelle. Gothitelle was pushed back but otherwise unharmed. Mandibuzz backed off, landing a few feet away.

"Let's finish this, Gothitelle," Fennel said.

"W-what? How did it take that hit?" The guy stammered.

Cheren, Bianca, and Mary walked alongside the battlefield, observing.

"Thunderbolt!"

A bolt of lightning struck Mandibuzz, knocking it out.

The guy stared at Mandibuzz, stunned. He returned it.

"Looks like I win," Fennel said. She returned Gothitelle. "Better luck next time."

"How is that possible?" The guy asked. "That Gothitelle took way too many hits!"

"Maybe your pokemon simply weren't as powerful as you thought they were," Fennel said.

The guy hesitated. He glared daggers at Fennel for a moment before leaving the gym.

Fennel glanced at the new arrivals.

"Three new challengers?"

"Two," Cheren said. "I've already beaten this gym."

"One," Mary said quietly. Cheren blinked, turning to her.

Bianca stepped forward.

"I don't recall battling you," Fennel said, healing her pokemon.

"I battled Skyla," Cheren said. Fennel frowned.

"I see."

Bianca walked onto the battlefield, Fennel's eyes followed her.

Cheren elbowed Mary.

"What's with you," He whispered urgently. "You don't want to battle her?"

Mary leaned over to him, matching his tone.

"Somethings really wrong here. I just know it!"

Cheren sighed. He hadn't seen much of the previous battle.

Had the Gothitelle taken the Mandibuzz out in a single attack? Probably not. Mandibuzz are very durable.

He recalled the trainer's words. Just how strong was the Gothitelle?

"You use psychic pokemon?" Bianca asked as Fennel took her place on the battlefield.

"That's right," Fennel said "There's a single rule for my gym. I have a single pokemon. This will be a one versus one match. You can use a single pokemon."

Bianca nodded.

"Do you understand?"

"Yeah, I get it," Bianca said. Fennel held up a Pokeball.

"Are you ready?"

Bianca sent out her Servine.

Fennel sent out Gothitelle.

"Make your move," Fennel said. Bianca nodded.

"Servine, leech seed!"

Servine spat several seeds at Gothitelle, they latched onto its body.

Gothitelle twitched, inspecting the seeds.

"You've gotta be kidding" Fennel scowled. "Toxic."

Gothitelle generated a purple blob in its hand and hurled it at Servine.

"Duck!"

Servine dodged, the blob grazing its back. It was enough. Servine cringed, stumbling around.

The seeds on Gothitelle glowed. Servine righted itself, chirping proudly.

"Those seeds will sap your Gothitelle's strength!" Bianca pointed out. "And it'll heal Servine! That basically cancels out your toxic."

"I know how leech seed works," Fennel remarked. "Cancels out?" She scoffed. "You do realize the damage Servine receives from toxic will increase over time?"

Bianca frowned.

"I guess we just have to beat you before then," Bianca shot back. "Servine, use growth!"

Green energy generated around Servine. Its body seemed to vibrate.

"Psyshock!" Fennel ordered.

Gothitelle fired a violet beam at Servine, knocking it back.

Servine recovered fast.

"Energy ball, hurry!" Bianca shouted.

Servine winced, hesitating for a moment. The toxic was slowing it down. It launched a green sphere at Gothitelle.

Gothitelle swatted the sphere aside and fired another Psyshock.

Servine was blown off its feet.

The seeds on Gothitelle glowed, healing Servine.

"Are you alright?" Bianca asked. Servine slowly got up. It chirped. "Leaf tornado!"

Servine whipped up a tornado around Gothitelle. Gothitelle immediately started pushing through, hardly fazed.

"Finish it quick!" Cheren shouted from the sideline. Bianca took a breath and nodded.

"Energy Ball!"

"Gothitelle, psychic!" The arena split under Gothitelle. The floor came apart, rising into several chunks in front of Gothitelle. The projectiles cut through the tornado, slowing it down. The energy ball slammed into one of them.

"Woah," Bianca took a step back.

Servine winced, stiffening.

"Finish it!"

Gothitelle groaned, clenching its fists.

The wall of stone and floor projectiles slowly moved forward.

Bianca inhaled.

"Servine, can you keep going?"

Servine righted itself and started to glow. Its body stretched and thickened, growing into a long snake.

Servine had evolved into Serperior. Serperior screeched defiantly at the approaching wall as it quickly advanced.

"Use leaf tornado!"

Serperior didn't use leaf tornado.

Serperior used leaf storm.

An explosion went off on the battlefield, leaves scattered like bullets, slicing the wall into rubble.

"That was crazy!" Bianca clapped her hands.

Serperior winced but shrugged it off.

Gothitelle emerged, charging.

"Psychic, again!" Fennel ordered.

Serperior was pushed back by a telekinetic force. It tucked its head, struggling to maintain itself.

"Hang in there!" Bianca encouraged. She spotted the seeds on Gothitelle, they were glowing. Gothitelle faltered.

It couldn't be much longer. It was taking effect. That's why Fennel was so desperate.

"Serperior, use leaf storm again!" Bianca called out.

"Finish it, now!" Fennel shouted.

Gothitelle propelled itself forward, firing a Psyshock.

The beam narrowly missed Serperior.

Serperior let loose a whirlwind of grass blades. It was weaker than before, but enough to blow Gothitelle back.

Gothitelle landed on its face.

Bianca cheered.

Gothitelle started to get up. The seeds were glowing. It faltered again, struggling to stand.

Fennel's desperate eyes met Bianca's. Bianca frowned.

Serperior collapsed all at once.

It took a moment for it to register. She approached Serperior quietly.

The seeds on Gothitelle dissolved. Gothitelle straightened up.

"You did great Serperior." Bianca returned Serperior.

"L-looks like I win," Fennel said. "I remain undefeated."

"Is that so?" Cheren marched onto the battlefield. He nodded at Bianca. Bianca turned to Fennel. "What do you think, Bianca?"

"I think you cheated," Bianca said.

Fennel laughed.

"Are you joking?" She returned Gothitelle.

"I don't know how you did it," Cheren admitted. "But something isn't right here."

Fennel shook her head. She walked away to heal her pokemon.

"I'll challenge you next," Mary spoke up. "We'll get to the bottom of this."