Late Morning – Forest Clearing
Skylar sat near a small fire, calmly polishing Scizor's claws while Gardevoir levitated berries into a simmering pan. Lucario meditated nearby, his aura in perfect balance, while Gyarados basked lazily in a riverbend not far away. The morning was peaceful. The air was crisp. And everything—for once—felt still.
Then the trees trembled.
A twig snapped.
Followed by leaves rustling far more dramatically than they needed to.
Skylar raised an eyebrow.
Lucario opened one eye.
And Gardevoir stopped stirring the pot.
From the underbrush emerged a single, bold figure:
Cloak tattered.
Hair slightly wild.
Eyes burning with purpose.
Boots ruined but marching with dignity nonetheless.
Giselle.
Skylar blinked.
"…Do I know you?"
Giselle's eye twitched.
She flipped her hair with far more force than necessary and stepped forward like she was walking onto a stage.
"You will," she said with flawless projection.
"And soon, so will the League."
Skylar tilted his head. "Okay…?"
Giselle pointed a finger dramatically at him.
"I've been observing you. Your training. Your methods. Your so-called talent."
Skylar slowly stood up, dusting his hands.
Lucario stood behind him, posture alert.
Giselle narrowed her eyes.
"You fight like a savage."
Skylar's brow furrowed.
Giselle continued.
"You rely on emotion. Instinct. Improvisation. No structure. No discipline. It's a miracle you've made it this far."
Skylar blinked. "That's… not really how it works."
"Oh, but it is," she shot back. "You're a fluke. A charismatic field trainer with just enough luck and gifted Pokémon to keep scraping by."
She pulled out a clean, polished PokéBall from her hip.
"And now, I will expose you for what you really are—overrated."
Skylar crossed his arms, not angry—just curious.
"And you are?"
Giselle smirked. "Giselle. Royal Pokémon Academy graduate, top 3 percentile in four strategic categories, and niece of Lorelei—the woman who handed you your last badge out of mercy."
Skylar's eyebrows rose slightly. "Ah."
"Ah," she repeated mockingly. "That's all you have to say?"
Skylar shrugged. "I mean… yeah? If you want to battle, we can battle."
He turned to his Pokémon.
"What do you guys think?"
Gardevoir gave a small nod.
Scizor clicked his claws excitedly.
Lucario smiled faintly.
Skylar turned back.
"We're in."
Giselle grinned sharply.
"Two-on-two. Rotation style. No switches outside of defeat."
Skylar nodded. "Fair."
She stepped to the far side of the clearing, cleared some twigs with a flick of her boot, and pressed a button on her bracelet.
Her first PokéBall expanded in her hand.
Skylar gestured to Scizor, who stepped forward, his steel plating gleaming in the light.
Across from him, a white flash exploded into the field.
Giselle's first Pokémon—Espeon.
Sleek. Controlled. Precision embodied.
The contrast was immediate.
Espeon's stance was mathematical.
Scizor's was instinctive.
Calculated control vs reactive pressure.
Skylar exhaled.
"Guess we'll let them do the talking."
Giselle's eyes sparkled.
"Oh, believe me… they will."