Moonwood Town was ablaze with festivity, its streets were filled with people. Garlands of vibrant flowers draped every lamppost, and strings of lanterns cast a warm glow over bustling crowds. Banners fluttered in the spring breeze, proudly and shalessly advertising Gladion's —Pokebook, Pokegram, and the Vortex Vault.
The centerpiece was a massive banner strung across the town square, proclaiming: "Gladion Vortex vs. Ace Trainer Roland: The Ace Challenge Showdown!" The gym, now a sprawling stadium, thrumd with anticipation, its stands packed to capacity with thousands of fans chanting "Vortex! Vortex!"
For those without tickets, giant screens outside broadcast the match, surrounded by stalls selling Magikarp skewers, Colly-Wolly plushies, and Zeus-Zappy shirts, boosting Moonwood's economy with every purchase. Well and boosting Gladion's pockets.
Inside the gym's control room, Gladion selected six Pokémon for the Ace Challenge against Roland, a Bug-type specialist, though he was certain three would suffice: Arsenal the Magmortar, Tengen the Scizor, and Hisoka.
Turning to Kai and Mira, his 12-year-old assistant trainers, he issued a warning, his voice low but sharp. "Keep in touch with the security team and stay vigilant. With this crowd, soone—Rocket, thieves, rivals—could target the Vortex Vault, the ranch with our exclusive gym Pokémon, or the social dia hub. There are valuable data to be stolen that is worth in billions. Don't worry about the Mt. Moon mine—Mom's on standby for ergencies, but the one I left there can handle most trouble."
His smirk hinted at a secret guardian, a force even Team Rocket would regret crossing. Kai and Mira saluted, their Kirlia at their sides, and dashed off, tablets buzzing with security feeds.
Gladion adjusted his necklace and strode toward the arena.
The stadium erupted as Gladion erged, the roar shaking the rafters. The announcer's voice bood, amplified across Moonwood Town, a crescendo that sent chills down spines.
"Ladies and gentlen, we are here to witness another marvelous match of elites! In one corner, we have the challenger, Roland 'The Swarm King' Vargas, a Bug-type specialist whose precision and strategy have crushed opponents for two decades! From Johto's Ecruteak to Hoenn's Rustboro, his Scizor, Heracross, and his other Pokemon have carved a legacy of unrelenting dominance! Give it up for Roland!"
The crowd cheered, Roland waving from his platform, a wiry man in his 40s with a weathered jacket and a wry smile.
The announcer's voice surged, the stadium quaking. "And in the other corner, Moonwood's own, the psychic prodigy, the undefeated titan who brought Champion Pryce to his knees—Gladion Vortex! At just 15, he's transford Moonwood's gym into Kanto's first General-type powerhouse, wielding a roster of legends like Colossus the Tyranitar and Zeus the Electivire. He's the son of Fire-type ace Erza and breeder genius Ben Vortex, brother to Elite Four hopeful Gwendolyn, and Kanto's unstoppable future! Let's hear it for GLADION!"
The crowd exploded, a tidal wave of screams and stomping feet, banners waving—"Vortex Forever!" "Moonwood's Pride!" Gladion raised a fist, a silent promise of victory that sent goosebumps rippling through the stands.
The referee, a stern woman stepped forward, her voice cutting through the din. "This Ace Challenge will utilize the stadium's field-switching system. After either trainer loses three Pokémon, the battlefield will shift to a random new terrain. The first field will be chosen now. Standard League rules apply— six Pokémon maximum, battle until one side is defeated."
On the massive overhead screen, images of fields—grass, rock, water—flashed, slowing until it settled on an ice field. The arena rumbled, its surface transforming into a slick expanse of ice, dotted with jagged ice blocks and spikes that glead under the lights. The crowd buzzed, trainers outside the stadium leaning closer to the screens.
The referee raised a flag. "Trainers, release your first Pokémon!" Gladion tossed a Poké Ball with a flourish. "Let's go, Tengen!" His Scizor, Tengen, materialized, its red exoskeleton shimring, claws snapping with lethal precision.
Roland, unfazed, released his own Scizor, its darker, battle-scarred plating a contrast to Tengen's sleek shine. The announcer's voice roared, riling the crowd. "Ohhh, would you look at that? Our hotown boy's brought a Scizor to face a Bug-type specialist! It's a clash of steel claws! Which Scizor will reign supre? Let's find out!"
The stands shook with cheers, kids waving Scizor-thed flags.
Roland's wry smile betrayed his thoughts. 'I know I can't win this,' he mused, gripping his Poké Ball. 'The kid beat Pryce with just two Pokémon—Pryce, a Champion! I'm nowhere near that level.'
He'd accepted the challenge for the exposure, knowing a match against Gladion would skyrocket his reputation. 'If he's holding back his heavy hitters like Tyranitar, I've got a shot to shine. Let's show the world what my team can do.' Determination burned in his eyes, his Scizor tensing, ready to prove its ttle.
---
anwhile, at Mt. Moon
Under the moonless night, a squad of Team Rocket grunts crept up the rocky slopes of Mt. Moon, their black uniforms blending with the shadows. Their Arbok and Weezing slithered and floated beside them, eyes glinting with malice.
The leader, a scarred grunt nad Vark, grinned, hefting a sack of sabotage gear—explosives, EMP devices, and tranquilizers. "This'll be fun," he muttered to his partner, a wiry woman with a Golbat. "
Vortex thinks he's untouchable, sittin' pretty with his mine. We'll wreck his little fortune—payback for our boys he blasted in Hoenn." The others snickered, imagining the chaos: destroyed equipnt, dead security guards, and Gladion's mining rights revoked by a humiliated League.
"Boss Petrel said make it ssy," the woman added, her Golbat flapping silently. "Kill a guard or two, pin it on Vortex's sloppy security. Boss will have that mine by next week." They laughed, their confidence bolstered by numbers—twelve grunts, each with three Pokémon, enough to overwhelm any mining crew. The cave entrance lood, unguarded, a perfect target while Moonwood was distracted by the Ace Challenge.
"Kid's probably strutting in his stadium," Vark sneered. "He won't see this coming."
Unbeknownst to them, a massive shadow stirred in the darkness behind, its presence silent but oppressive, eyes glowing faintly. The air grew heavy, the grunts' Pokémon pausing, sensing sothing primal. The shadow waited, poised, as Gladion's secret guardian prepared to unleash hell on the intruders.
---Author Notes------
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