Boe followed Lenora down a narrow staircase that led to the basement of the museum. The walls were plain and unadorned, and the air felt slightly cooler as they descended. The battle arena was simple but well-lit, with bright overhead lights illuminating the polished stone floor. The arena was clearly designed for function, not flair—a space meant for serious battles without distractions. Lenora took her place at one end of the arena, a determined look on her face, while Boe positioned himself at the opposite side, excitement coursing through him.
Lenora smiled confidently and called out, "Welcome! The director of the Nacrene Museum and the Nacrene Gym's Leader is me! Lenora! Well then, challenger, I'm going to research how you battle with the Pokémon you've so lovingly raised!"
With a flourish, she sent out her first Pokémon—Herdier, who let out a fierce bark as it took its position in the arena.
Boe responded quickly, tossing a Poké Ball into the air. "Arick, let's go!" he shouted as his Krokorok emerged, its eyes gleaming with determination.
The battle began in earnest, with Arick kicking up a swirling Sandstorm, sending grains of sand flying through the arena. Herdier responded with a Work Up, boosting its attack and special attack as it stood firm against the stinging sand.
"Arick, Dig!" Boe commanded. Arick burrowed underground, disappearing from sight. Meanwhile, Herdier used another Work Up, powering itself up even further. As Arick popped up from beneath Herdier, delivering a powerful hit, Lenora observed keenly.
"Now, with that move, I'm beginning to see what kind of Trainer you are," she said with a hint of admiration in her voice.
Herdier retaliated with Crunch, biting down hard on Arick's tail. Arick winced in pain but managed to fling Herdier off and counter with a Crunch of his own, sinking his sharp teeth into Herdier's fur. Not backing down, Herdier charged forward with a full-force Take Down, slamming into Arick and dealing significant damage. Despite the impact, Arick stood strong, determined to keep fighting.
"Dig again!" Boe called out, and Arick vanished into the ground once more. The Sandstorm continued to wear down Herdier as it waited for Arick's attack. When Arick emerged, he struck Herdier from below, knocking it off balance. The battered Pokémon staggered for a moment before collapsing, unable to continue.
The Sandstorm began to subside as Lenora recalled Herdier. She sent out her next Pokémon, a Sawsbuck in its majestic winter form. The Pokémon's white fur gleamed, and it wasted no time, leaping forward with a powerful Jump Kick. Arick tried to Dig out of the way, but Sawsbuck managed to land a solid hit before he could burrow underground. Arick, dazed, attempted to strike back but missed his Dig attack, and Sawsbuck followed up with a devastating Horn Leech. The attack drained Arick's remaining strength, and Boe had no choice but to recall him.
Contemplating his next move, Boe decided on Cupid, his quirky Woobat. As soon as Cupid took to the air, Boe called for a Calm Mind, allowing Cupid to center itself and boost its special stats. Sawsbuck tried to counter with a Leech Seed, but the seeds missed their target.
"Now, Cupid, use Air Slash!" Boe commanded. Cupid flapped its wings, sending out a sharp gust of wind that struck Sawsbuck directly. Sawsbuck retaliated with another Horn Leech, but it wasn't very effective against Cupid. Flying clumsy around its opponent, Cupid followed up with another Air Slash. This time, Sawsbuck managed to land its Leech Seed, but the move came too late. With one final Air Slash, Cupid knocked Sawsbuck out.
Lenora smiled as she recalled her fainted Sawsbuck. "No matter how grim the situation, I'll use my research skills to find a winning strategy!" she declared. She then sent out her final Pokémon, a Watchog.
Boe felt confident and decided to keep Cupid in the battle. But before Cupid could make a move, Watchog's eyes gleamed as it used Hypnosis, putting Cupid to sleep instantly.
"Cupid, return!" Boe said quickly, recalling his sleeping Woobat. He reached for another Poké Ball. "Olive, you're up!" His trusty Servine emerged from the ball, ready to fight.
Watchog immediately went on the offensive with Hyper Fang, sinking its sharp teeth into Olive. Olive winced but quickly recovered, countering with a Leech Seed. Vines sprouted and wrapped around Watchog, slowly draining its energy.
Watchog tried to intimidate Olive with a Leer, but Boe stayed focused. "Leaf Blade, now!" Olive's tail glowed a light green, and he slashed at Watchog with precision. Watchog responded with another Hyper Fang, but Olive held his ground and retaliated with a powerful Slam, sending Watchog staggering back.
As Watchog tried to use Hypnosis again, Olive simply raised his nose defiantly, unaffected by the move. Watchog, growing desperate, lunged forward with another Hyper Fang, but Olive batted it away with another Leaf Blade. The Leech Seed continued to sap away at Watchog's energy, weakening it further. With one final Slam, Olive knocked Watchog out.
As the battle concluded, Olive began to glow, his form shifting and expanding as he evolved into a mighty Serperior. Boe, ecstatic, ran over to his newly evolved partner and gave him a big hug. Olive coiled his long, sleek body around Boe, a proud and serene look in his eyes.
Lenora approached them, clapping her hands together in approval. "My theory about you was correct. You're more than just talented... You're motivated! I salute you!"
Back upstairs, in her office, Lenora handed Boe the Basic Badge. "Your fighting style is so enchanting. It is charming. You are a Pokémon Trainer worthy of receiving this Basic Badge!" she said warmly.
As they walked over to her desk, she continued, "And as promised, I'll tell you about those relics you brought in."
Boe followed Lenora into her office, feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity. The room was cozy yet scholarly, filled with wooden shelves stacked with books, ancient tomes, and research papers. A few artifacts were displayed on small stands around the room, giving the space a museum-like quality. The desk at the center was large and cluttered, with maps, notes, and a small globe pushed to one side. On top of the desk, the two relics Boe had brought—the small statue and the ancient coin—sat waiting to be examined.
Behind the desk stood a tall, gentle-looking man with short, dark brown hair and glasses perched on his nose. He had a warm smile and a slightly nervous energy as he adjusted his glasses. Boe guessed this was Lenora's husband.
Lenora gestured toward him. "This is my husband, Hawes. He helps with the museum and knows quite a bit about artifacts."
Hawes nodded and stepped forward, greeting Boe politely before turning his attention to the relics. "Ah, let's take a look at what you've brought us," he said, his voice calm and deliberate. He carefully picked up the small statue first, examining it closely. "This is a Relic Statue, quite a rare find. Based on the design, it appears to depict one of the ancient heroes from Unova's old myths. It's either the Hero of Truth or the Hero of Ideals—legends say they played a crucial role in Unova's history."
He then picked up the coin, his eyes studying the worn surface. "And this… This is a Relic Coin. It seems to be currency from a time long ago, possibly from the same era as the heroes. Items like these are invaluable to historians, and their connection to Unova's past is fascinating."
Boe listened intently, intrigued by the history behind the relics. "Wow, so these items are pretty special, huh?"
Lenora nodded. "They certainly are. Relics like these can be found all over Unova, but many were discovered in the Abyssal Ruins, a mysterious place deep underwater. So while your finds are somewhat unique, they're also part of a larger history—one that spans the entire region."
Boe smiled, taking it all in. "Unique but not unique… I guess that makes sense."
Lenora chuckled softly. "Exactly. Now, you have a few options with these relics. There's a Ruin Maniac in Undella Town who would pay you a good price for them. You could also donate them to our museum, where they would be preserved and displayed for everyone to see. Or, of course, you could keep them for yourself. The choice is yours."
Boe thought about it for a moment, weighing his options. "I think I'll hold onto them for now. They're too interesting to part with just yet."
Lenora smiled approvingly. "That's a fine choice. If you ever change your mind, we'd be happy to accept the donation."
With that settled, Lenora leaned back in her chair and asked, "So, what's next for you, Boe?"
Boe explained his plan. "I'll be heading back to Mistralton City, then making my way north to Icirrus City."
Hawes, who had been quietly listening, chimed in. "While you're up in Icirrus, if you're interested in history, you should check out the Moor of Icirrus. It's said the Swords of Justice can be seen there, and some relics like yours have been found there."
Boe's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "That sounds awesome! I'll definitely check it out."
With that, Boe bid farewell to Lenora and Hawes, thanking them both for their help and hospitality. As he left the museum, he couldn't help but feel excited about the next steps in his journey, his mind buzzing with thoughts of history, battles, and the adventures yet to come.
