December 21st, Monday.
The weather was cold, but the fighting tournant radiated fiery passion.
Around the arena, vendors' shouts mixed with cheers from ongoing matches.
"And the winner is—Bea, the prodigy from Galar!"
Bea closed her eyes, showing no pride—only taking a deep breath.
When she reopened them, her gaze was razor-sharp.
Master... I will prove myself to you!
anwhile, on another battlefield...
"I won!" The blonde Korrina grinned triumphantly.
But her smile faltered as she glanced at the overhead screen.
"That girl... Why doesn't she look excited at all?"
This wasn't soone reveling in battle—
but soone treating it as a warrior's solemn duty.
Korrina shook her head softly. "Only when trainers enjoy battles can their Pokémon truly feel it too."
I'll battle her... and share this truth with her!
Clenching her fists, Korrina made her silent resolve.
...
"Mr. Brock, you're already done?"
Outside the arena, Natsu—with Sirfetch'd in tow—blinked at Brock erging from the competitor's tunnel.
"Yeah, it's over..."
Brock scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Pushing Geodude to the Top 32 was... optimistic."
"Sa here." Natsu sighed. "After a few more matches—win or lose—we'll head back together."
"Sure, I'll wait." Brock nodded.
Per the bracket, Natsu's next opponent was a professional boxer from Alola.
According to Jas' intel, his trading card was "R-tier."
"His ace is a Hakamo-o," Jas explained over the phone, flipping through a notebook. "If it were fully evolved, it'd be SR... but as a pseudo-legendary, it's at least 'R .'"
"What's Sirfetch'd's rating?" Natsu asked curiously.
"UR!" Jas answered instantly.
Natsu stared at his duck.
Damn.
"Who knew you were this strong?" he muttered.
"Sirfetch'd!" The duck spun its leek with practiced nonchalance.
My power needs no explanation!
Yet when Natsu stepped onto the battlefield—
Sirfetch'd facing the armored Hakamo-o—
"Sirfetch'd... (⊙ ⊙)" The Sirfetch'd faltered.
The bipedal, bone-plated dragon clanged its tallic scales together.
The Alolan boxer stayed grimly focused.
Spectators buzzed:
"That's a UR-tier card right there!"
"Well, it is Natsu-sensei's Pokémon."
"But it's a pseudo-legendary! One punch and that duck's done for!"
In the stands, Brock crossed his arms.
Bea arrived too, taking a seat nearby.
"I rember you," Brock frowned. "You're Natsu-sensei's..."
"I aim to beco his formal disciple," Bea said politely, clasping her fists. "An honor to et you, Gym Leader Brock."
Brock nodded absently. "Let's watch."
The referee's whistle blew.
"Hakamo-o, Swords Dance!" the boxer ordered.
The dragon roared, its scaly fists sharpening.
"Greedy opener, huh?" Natsu smirked. "Brick Break!"
Sirfetch'd's leek glead like a lance as it charged—
leaving Hakamo-o bewildered.
What even IS this weapon?!
"Dodge!" The boxer's shout saved it—barely.
"Now, Dragon Claw!"
Hakamo-o pivoted, slashing with erald energy—
SCRREECH!
Sirfetch'd blocked with its leek-leaf shield, the claw embedding deep.
The boxer's eye twitched.
Weapons AND a shield?! Ref, this isn't boxing anymore!
With a "V"-shaped glare, Sirfetch'd's eyes dinged with epiphany.
Counter ti!
"Brutal Swing!"
The leek hamred Hakamo-o's ribs—THUD!—sending it stumbling.
"A Dark-type move shouldn't hit that hard..." Bea muttered.
"True," Brock agreed. "Natsu-sensei likely prioritized accuracy over power."
He added, "That damage? A critical hit."
Bea noted Sirfetch'd's Scope Lens, thoughtful.
So martial artists sought overwhelming force.
Others favored relentless combos.
But Natsu-sensei... specialized in precision strikes?
"This... is what I must learn," she whispered.
On the field, another Brick Break landed—
making Natsu wince as imaginary "-999" damage numbers flashed.
Crits every ti?!
At this rate, I'll die young!
Luckily, the final Brick Break didn't crit—
but the accumulated damage still sent Hakamo-o crashing down.
"Winner: Natsu!"
The crowd erupted.
"Natsu-sensei's bullying again!"
"Whoever pulled his card—HODL that UR!"
"With those crits, you're not even Natsu-sensei!"
Post-match, Natsu t Brock in the stands.
"At this rate, you'll be here forever," Brock sighed.
"Just till the Top 8," Natsu laughed, then turned to Bea.
Before she could speak, he said, "Win your next match, and I'll consider apprenticeship."
He patted her stiff shoulder. "Go get 'em."
Perseverance was rare—and Natsu already had a strategy for her:
Substitute Focus Punch for her Machamp.
Or maybe No Guard Dynamic Punch...
Bea's eyes shone before she nodded firmly.
Per tradition...
She peeked at Natsu, cheeks puffing.
...I must prepare a master's gift!
"Only another dojo's secret technique would suffice..." she decided.
But first—victory!
"Who's my next opponent?" Natsu asked his ever-reliable companion.
No wonder they say "changing heroines, unchanging Brock"...
That innate dependability was just so Brock.
"Maylene from Sinnoh," Brock said. "Her father was a Fighting-type Gym Leader."
"Ah." Natsu vaguely recalled her from the Sinnoh ani—
back when Ash was still in Hoenn.
"Poor girl's probably still paying off her dad's gambling debts..."
Brock then turned to Bea.
"Your next match is against Korrina from Kalos."
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