Chapter 10

Upon reaching the top of the bakery, we find the Gym Leader Katy engrossed in feeding cupcakes to a Vivillon. She coos, "Eat up, my cute little Vivillon!"

As Vivillon finishes the cupcake and flies away, Katy turns her attention to us. She expresses her gratitude, saying, "Oh? What a lovely Trainer you are. Thank you very much for your skillful olive rolling. It was quite impressive."

I reply, "No problem." Then I ask her directly, "So you must be Katy, the Gym Leader, right?"

Katy confirms, "Yes, and I am the owner here at Patisserie Soapberry. Oh? That's right, I'm not in my shop—I'm on duty as leader of the Cortondo Gym right now! Forgive me. Ahem. My name is Katy, and I am the Gym Leader here in Cortondo."

I can't help but find her introduction a bit odd, as we had already heard about her. Regardless, she continues with her explanation, "My main line of work is crafting sweets as a pastry chef. Little sweets that bring happiness with just one bite, Bug-type Pokémon hiding in foliage... Both are small and yet very powerful. Don't let your guard down unless you would like to find yourself knocked off your feet!"

As we stand on the sides of the battlefield, Katy announces, "My first Pokémon will be Nymble!"

I respond confidently, "I'll go with Flamigo!"

Flamigo takes its place on the battlefield as Katy's Nymble appears. The battle commences, and Katy warns, "Don't take my Bug-Type Pokémon lightly. You will be in a world of pain if you do! Now let's get started with Struggle Bug!"

I quickly command, "Dodge it, Flamigo!" Flamigo deftly evades Nymble's Struggle Bug attack.

With determination, I continue, "Now use Wing Attack!" Flamigo strengthens its wings and delivers a powerful blow, dealing some damage to Nymble.

However, Katy counters with a strategic move, shouting, "Now use Bounce!" Nymble leaps into the air, causing Flamigo's Wing Attack to miss, and then lands on Flamigo, dealing substantial damage and even causing it to become paralyzed.

"No, Flamigo!" I exclaim in concern.

Serena offers words of encouragement, saying, "Katy seems to be so strong... But Ash can do it."

"Time to finish it, Sucker Punch!" Katy commands Nymble to charge the attack, but I quickly respond, "Flamigo! Don't let it hit by using Roost!" Flamigo recovers some of its health, causing the Sucker Punch to fail.

"Now finish with Brave Bird!" I command, and Flamigo delivers a powerful blow that ultimately defeats Katy's Nymble.

With a sense of satisfaction, I declare, "Alright, that's the first win."

Katy recalls her Nymble and sends out Tarountula as her next Pokémon. I decide to switch to Pikachu for this battle, and Pikachu eagerly steps onto the battlefield, ready for the challenge.

I command, "Alright Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Pikachu charges up and releases a bolt of electricity at Tarountula. However, Tarountula swiftly dodges the attack and retaliates with Assurance, hitting Pikachu.

"Pikachu, I know you can do it. We have a lot of strategies to use," I encourage. "Now use Quick Attack and Double Team at the same time!"

Pikachu executes the maneuver skillfully, creating multiple duplicates of itself and moving rapidly, confusing both Katy and Tarountula. They struggle to identify the real Pikachu and are unable to use Bug Bite to target it.

I seize the opportunity, declaring, "Finish it off with Volt Tackle!" Pikachu and its duplicates converge on Tarountula, overwhelming it with their combined assault. The electric charge proves too much for Tarountula to handle, and it faints, securing another victory for our team.

Katy recalls her fainted Tarountula and acknowledges, "Thanks, Tarountula, take a nice rest. Huh, I'm impressed you managed to pull that off."

I respond confidently, determined to continue the battle, "Thanks, now it's time to beat your last Pokémon."

"Oh? You're quite good, aren't you. How should I roll things out from here?" Katy reveals her final Pokémon, a Teddiursa, which surprises both Serena and me since Teddiursa is not a Bug-type Pokémon. However, Katy has a special twist in store as she declares, "Now, my little Pokémon! Time to break free from your cocoon and come into your own!" She then terastallizes the Teddiursa, transforming it into a Bug-type with two Beautifly antennas on top of it.

Determined to face this new challenge, I instruct Pikachu, "Pikachu, you can do this. Use Floaty Fall!" I decide to use a Flying-type move against the terastallized Teddiursa. But just as the attack lands, Katy interjects, "Feast your eyes on my shining bug decoration! Though this one is not so sweet! Fury Cutter!"

To my surprise, Fury Cutter turns out to be a move that increases in power with each consecutive use. Teddiursa starts to unleash this move repeatedly, and after enduring three powerful Fury Cutter attacks, Pikachu succumbs to the relentless assault and is defeated.

My options are dwindling, and my remaining two Pokémon are limited. Golly and Lucine express their concerns, with Golly remarking, "Brother only has 2 Pokémon left..." Lucine adds, "And there is also a paralyzed Flamigo..."

With limited choices, I decide to send Flamigo back into the battle, hoping that its Wing Attack can deal some damage to Teddiursa. However, Teddiursa continues its relentless assault with Fury Cutter, and despite Flamigo's efforts, it is unable to dodge the repeated attacks. By the fifth Fury Cutter, Flamigo faints, leaving me with just one Pokémon.

Despite the odds stacked against us, I refuse to give up. I call upon Fuecoco, my last remaining Pokémon, and send it into the battle. Fuecoco's fiery determination matches my own as we face Katy's terastallized Teddiursa.

Katy grins confidently and commands, "Teddiursa, let's one-shot this with Fury Cutter!"

I take a deep breath and respond, "Fuecoco, we've come this far. Show them the power of your Ember!"

Fuecoco unleashes a scorching Ember attack, clashing with Teddiursa's Fury Cutter. The fiery attack engulfs Teddiursa, and it struggles to withstand the intense heat.

As the smoke clears, it becomes evident that Fuecoco's Ember has taken its toll. Teddiursa weakly attempts to launch another Fury Cutter but collapses before it can do so.

"We did it, Fuecoco!" I exclaim, overwhelmed with excitement and pride as I hug my victorious Pokémon tightly.

"All of my sweet little Pokémon dropped like flies!" Katy gracefully recalls her Teddiursa and congratulates us, "Your strength rose during our battle like a nice bread in the oven. I feel that I may need to work on my own strength as well! Congratulations! You passed! As proof of your victory against me—the Gym Leader—allow me to present you with this Gym Badge. I hope you'll enjoy it alongside a heaping serving of some of my deluxe handmade treats!"

Katy presents me with the Bug Badge, a symbol of our hard-fought victory. I accept it with gratitude, cherishing this important milestone in our journey.

As a delightful surprise, Rotom captures a memorable picture of Katy, us, and our Pokémon while she graciously treats us to cupcakes. The photo serves as a wonderful memento of this special moment.

"With 1 Gym Badge in your possession, Pokémon of up to Lv. 25 will be easier to catch and will listen to your commands as well. I wish you luck in your future adventures. May they be as sweet and lovely as a good dessert. Off you go, then. Until we meet again!"

I smile and reply, "Thank you, Katy."

After my battle, it's Serena's turn to face Katy and her challenging terastallized Teddiursa. Serena, determined to earn her Bug Badge, puts up a strong fight, but she faces some difficulties against the relentless Fury Cutter attacks.

However, Serena's Sylveon, showing its versatility and charm, manages to turn the tide in her favor. Using the move Attract, Sylveon captures Teddiursa's heart and infatuates it, making it unable to concentrate on its attacks. This advantage proves decisive, allowing Serena to secure a well-deserved victory.

Katy graciously acknowledges Serena's win, and just as with me, she presents Serena with the Bug Badge as a testament to her success.

After our successful Gym battles, Nemona gives us a call, "Hey hey, Ash and Serena! Just had to tell you—my Pokémon are learning some pretty cool new moves! Be ready! How'd it go at the Gym, by the way?"

"We passed them with ease," I reply, feeling proud of our achievements.

Nemona's cheerful response echoes with enthusiasm, "Yesss! Hah haaa! I mean, it was obvious you were gonna pass, but congrats! I'm so glad I encouraged you to take on the Gyms. Nice job, past me! I'm training hard too, by the way - day and night! Going all over the place to boot! Thank goodness we've got the map app. It helps a ton with figuring out where to go next - especially in a huge place like Paldea. After all, the path to getting stronger usually has some strange stops and detours!"

Nemona's observation about our unpredictable journeys holds true, and we agree with a knowing nod. As she shifts the conversation, "Hm. Speaking of going strange places, I wonder what Arven's up to... Anyway, catch you later! I hope you know I'm gonna want a battle if we run into each other!"

With curiosity about Arven's whereabouts lingering in our minds, we make the decision to journey back to Mesagoza. From there, we set our sights on the eastern path leading to South Province Area 3, eager to explore new territories and continue our adventures in the Paldea region.

(History Class)

In our history class, our professor goes by the name Raifort. She begins her introduction by saying, "Oho... I see we have some new students here with us today. My name is Raifort. I will be the one to impart knowledge of the past to your little minds."

Raifort's tone carries a touch of rudeness, making us wonder if it's simply a part of her personality. Nevertheless, she continues, "History is a wonderful thing. Truly splendid. The lives of our ancestors throughout history forged the path to the present in which we live! Today, you shall learn about the most mysterious location in all of Paldea—the Great Crater."

Professor Raifort continues her lecture, delving into the topic of the Great Crater in Paldea. She provides us with intriguing information, stating, "As you are all aware, a massive crater known as the Great Crater of Paldea exists in the heart of our region. The area inside this crater is called Area Zero, and research of its geological strata and material composition has shown that the crater is in fact over one million years old. It was long believed that a certain something rested at the bottom of this mysterious crater."

Suddenly, her gaze falls upon me, and she poses a question, "Aha. Perfect timing to make eye contact, young Florian. Answer me this... What exactly was believed to rest in the depths of the Great Crater—inside Area Zero?"

I respond, "A treasure?"

Her lips curl into a knowing smile, and she acknowledges, "Heh. That is correct! You are a surprisingly clever one, aren't you? I see you did your homework prior to coming to my class."

Professor Raifort proceeds with her lecture, "That's right! Some believed that a treasure more valuable than anything else in this world rested in the depths of the Great Crater! So much for dreams of treasure hunting, though, as a lab has been built in those very same depths."

I can't help but wonder about the lab, but she sternly reminds us, "Oh, and before I forget—you would all do well to remember that the Great Crater and Area Zero are both off-limits to all but those who have official business there. Do not dare entertain the foolish notion of gallivanting off to Area Zero in search of riches. It is no place for children dreaming of treasure and adventure! Besides, if it were at all possible to investigate the area, I would surely be the first to do so!"

As the class bell rings, she concludes, "Oho, is that the time already? I must've gotten swept up in filling your minds with knowledge. This ends today's lesson. We will unravel more of history's enigmas together next time."

In her office, we express our eagerness to learn more about history. She welcomes us with a hint of intrigue, saying, "You're... Ah, yes. Florian and Juliana from class 3-A. The way you conduct yourself in my class and the answers you give to my questions... I admit they pique my interest. You are quite the interesting pupils, I must say."

Serena politely acknowledges her words, and Professor Raifort inquires, "Tell me—given a choice, which do you prefer? Things of old? Or things that are new?"

I respond, "While newer things are fascinating to learn about, exploring the mysteries of the past is equally captivating."

Serena concurs with my sentiments, and Professor Raifort murmurs to herself, "Yes, this one may indeed be of good use to me someday..."

We exchange puzzled glances, and she quickly dismisses it, saying, "Ah, you can disregard that. I was simply thinking out loud. I enjoyed our little conversation today. You have my thanks, Florian and Juliana."

(Home EC)

Our Home Economics teacher, Professor Saguaro, certainly leaves an impression with his burly physique and distinctive mustache, though his attire carries a feminine touch. He introduces himself with a touch of formality, saying, "I see we have some energetic young ones in our class this time around. You may call me Mr. Saguaro. Your time here with me will be spent obtaining knowledge and skills indispensable for daily life."

He proceeds with the lesson, "Many of you have left the care of your parents to live here on your own in the academy dormitory. I pray that the knowledge I impart to you will improve the quality of your lives and the necessities thereof—food, clothing, and shelter. Of those three categories, I assume the most pressing and interesting for you all is food. When you eat sandwiches on your picnics, the HP of your party Pokémon will be restored. You will also gain something called Meal Powers, which can provide all manner of benefits. For example, these powers can make Pokémon easier to catch or increase the Exp. Points that your Pokémon receive. I think you will also find that the breadth of these effects can be expanded by crafting sandwiches of superb flavor. What's more, there is a certain something that is particularly important if we wish to receive Meal Powers with even more helpful effects."

Mr. Saguaro seems to take notice of Serena and decides to engage her directly. He asks, "Let me see... Master Juliana! Tell me—what must you keep in mind to receive even more helpful Meal Powers?"

Serena confidently responds, "Our selection of fillings and condiments."

The teacher commends her with approval, saying, "Perfectly correct, Master Juliana! Perhaps you were already aware of this fact from having helped your family with cooking at home?"

I can't help but smile at the thought, considering Serena's sister, Helen, is known for her culinary prowess. The professor continues his lecture, "Your choice of ingredients—including both fillings and condiments—is an important factor in gaining even more helpful Meal Powers. For example, using sweet ingredients in your sandwiches may help you gain Egg Power. Including numerous butter ingredients, on the other hand, can gain you Item Drop Power. Learning to aim for specific effects when crafting sandwiches will almost certainly make your culinary endeavors more enjoyable. Please be aware, however, that you can also receive Meal Powers by eating at restaurants."

As the class bell rings, he concludes, "I must say that I would feel the utmost joy if you all learned much here in my class and came to better understand home economics. Our time together has come to an end for today. I bid you all farewell."

After class, Professor Saguaro approaches us and says, "Welcome to the home economics classroom. I consider this to be my very own castle of sorts. Master Florian and Juliana from class 3-A... Rumors of your activities always seem to be bombarding me from all sides."

"Our activities? What do you mean?" I inquire.

"People from all over have been talking about how strong of battlers you are and the amazing Pokémon you take along with you. You are quite the object of everyone's interest—though I imagine that may be a bother for you," he explains.

He gives us a tour of the classroom and continues, "The home economics classroom is something of a place of rest for the academy's students, you see. Here, they delight in sharing the latest gossip and the like while enjoying a light snack. You come up quite often in those talks recently, Master Florian and Juliana. So much so that I find myself intrigued. If it is not a burden for you, I would very much enjoy having you come see me again sometime."

"Of course." Serena replies.

I'll end the chapter right here, you can see that the first gym is done and I also show two more classes, I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be the Titan.

Ash and Serena's Pokemon:

Charizard x2, Pikachu x2, Primeape, Lapras, Wooper (Paldean), Girafarig, Dunsparce, Steelix (Crystal), Sceptile, Gardevoir (Shiny), Garchomp, Lucario, Krookodile, Zoroark, Bisharp, Greninja, Sylveon, Noivern, Lycanroc (Dusk), Mimikyu (Shiny), Corviknight, Indeedee x2, Kleavor, Sneasler, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly, Lechonk x2, Spidops, Nymble, Pawmi, Fidough, Smoliv, Bellibolt, Shroodle, Tinkatink, Wiglett, Flamigo