"If we're going to do this, let's do it properly," Roxanne suggested, gesturing toward the sliding glass doors. "To the battle court in the backyard."
We moved outside to the school's training grounds—a grassy field dotted with a few obstacles and a small decorative pond. The open space felt much better than the cramped classroom.
Eric stood at the far end, the afternoon sun glinting off his confident smirk. "Field or classroom, the result won't change. Come out, Bagon!"
The white light formed into the small, blue dragon. Bagon roared, stomping its feet, ready to crush whatever stood in its way.
"Impressive," I nodded. "But raw power isn't everything. Let's go, Lotad!"
My Dive Ball released Lotad near the edge of the small pond. It landed with a soft plop, its six legs shuffling on the grass, the lily pad on its head bobbing rhythmically.
The class, now lined up on the sidelines, broke into hushed giggles. "A Lotad?" one student whispered. "Against a Dragon-type? Dragons resist Grass and Water. This is going to be a massacre."
Eric heard them and grinned. "You hear that? The type match-up is terrible for you. Bagon, Headbutt, full force!"
Bagon lowered its hard, rock-like skull and charged like a cannonball, tearing up the grass.
"Lotad, stand your ground. Use Growl!"
Just as Bagon closed the distance, Lotad opened its beak and emitted a low, vibrating chortle. The sound wasn't loud, but it was disorienting. Bagon flinched mid-charge, its aggression momentarily dampened by the lowering of its Attack stat. It stumbled, its Headbutt losing momentum.
"Now, Water Gun to create distance!"
Lotad fired a pressurized stream of water at Bagon's feet. It didn't do much damage, but the muddy splash made Bagon slip, sliding past Lotad and crashing into a wooden post.
"Get up!" Eric yelled, looking annoyed. "Stop playing around. Burn it with Ember!"
Bagon spun around, unleashing a volley of fireballs.
"Intercept with Razor Leaf!" I commanded.
Lotad shook its body, launching sharp, glowing leaves from the pad on its head. The leaves sliced through the air, colliding with the fireballs and dissipating them in puffs of smoke. A few leaves broke through, scratching Bagon's tough hide.
"It barely scratched him!" Eric laughed. "Dragon skin is tough! Bagon, finish it with Dragon Breath!"
A wave of green, draconic energy surged toward Lotad. It was too wide to dodge completely.
"Take the hit, Lotad! Then use Mega Drain!"
The Dragon Breath washed over Lotad. My Pokémon cried out, sliding back, looking bruised. The students gasped—it looked like it was over. But as Bagon panted from the exertion, a green aura enveloped Lotad.
Tendrils of green energy shot out, latching onto Bagon. The dragon roared in surprise as its vitality was siphoned away. The energy flowed back into Lotad, healing its bruises instantly.
"What?" Eric panicked. "He's healing?"
"You focused only on damage," I called out. "You didn't account for sustainability. Lotad, finish this! Razor Leaf, rapid fire!"
Revitalized, Lotad unleashed a storm of leaves. Bagon, weakened by the drain and tired from the heavy attacks, couldn't dodge. The leaves struck again and again, overwhelming the dragon. Bagon swayed, its heavy head dropping, and then it collapsed.
Winner: Lotad.
The backyard was dead silent. The wind rustled the leaves of the trees, accentuating the shock on the students' faces. A common, unevolved Water/Grass type had just taken down a pseudo-legendary Dragon, despite the type disadvantage.
I walked over to Lotad, crouching down to pet its lily pad. "Great work, buddy."
I stood up and turned to Eric, who was recalling his Bagon with a shaking hand. "Do you understand what happened?"
"But..." Eric looked at his Poké Ball. "Dragon resists Grass and Water. My Bagon is a higher level. Theoretically, I shouldn't lose."
"Theoretically," I agreed. "But battles aren't played on paper. The level difference between trainers can turn over the table, regardless of the Pokémon's species."
I addressed the group. "You all prioritize Evolution. You think a Pokémon is only 'good' once it reaches its final form. And yes, Evolution is important. It grants power, new typings, and higher stats. But it isn't a magic fix."
I paced slightly, making eye contact with them. "Look at Ash Ketchum, the current World Champion. His Ace is a Pikachu. It never evolved. It's a base stage Pokémon."
"By your logic, Ash should have forced it to become a Raichu years ago," I continued. "But he didn't. He honed his skills as a trainer. He bridged the gap with strategy, speed, and an unbreakable bond. He proved that a Pikachu, in the hands of a Master, can defeat Champions."
I pointed to the spot where Bagon fell. "Eric, you relied on Bagon's species to win the fight for you. I used Lotad's moves—Growl to lower your power, Water Gun to control movement, Mega Drain to survive your hits. That is the Trainer Gap."
"A skilled trainer with a Lotad will beat a novice with a Salamence," I said firmly. "Don't rush to evolve. Master the Pokémon you have now. Learn their limits. If you can win with the 'weak' forms, imagine how strong you'll be when they finally do evolve."
Eric took a deep breath, nodding slowly. The arrogance was gone. "I... I think I underestimated how much I need to improve," he admitted quietly. "I blamed the Pokémon, but it was me."
"Realizing that is the first step to becoming a Gym Leader," I said, offering him a handshake. He took it firmly.
Roxanne clapped her hands, breaking the tension. "Alright class, that concludes our special guest lecture! Back to the books, we have move-theory to discuss."
As the students filed back inside, chattering excitedly about the battle, Roxanne walked me to the side gate of the school yard.
"You have a knack for teaching, Stephen," she smiled. "Using Mega Drain to tank the hit was a risky move, but it made your point perfectly."
"Calculated risk," I smiled back. "Thanks for the opportunity, Roxanne."
"You're heading to Mauville next?" she asked.
"Yes. Through Verdanturf."
"Then you'll need to head east to Route 116," she pointed down the road. "That leads to the Rusturf Tunnel. Be careful there. The construction has stopped, but the tunnel is still the only way through the mountains. And Stephen?"
"Yeah?"
"Good luck with that Key Stone. I have a feeling you're going to need it."
I adjusted my backpack, feeling the weight of the stone in my pocket. "I'll be ready."
I stepped out of the school grounds and onto the pavement. The sun was beginning to set, painting the Rustboro skyline in shades of orange and purple. To the east, the jagged silhouette of the mountains waited.