David stared anxiously at the field. If he hadn't been able to sense through his Aura that Shelgon was still conscious, he would have called the battle already.
Torterra had given everything to unleash Frenzy Plant and was now running on fumes. It came down to endurance. If Shelgon could survive the last of the assault, the win was within reach.
"Hang in there, Shelgon!"
This was the deepest David had ever been pushed in a battle. All he could do now was trust his partner.
Across the field, Gianna was quietly impressed. She knew David's parents well, and she knew exactly when the Dragon Festival had taken place. For a Pokémon captured so recently to push her Torterra this far — she hadn't expected that.
In a real sense, she had already lost this exchange. At the same level, she wasn't sure she could have fielded a Pokémon capable of outlasting Shelgon.
When Frenzy Plant finally subsided and the dust began to settle, Torterra stood nearby, breathing in heavy, ragged gasps, clearly spent. Its legs were shaking. It had nothing left.
Shelgon, on the other hand — battered, its shell scored with deep marks from the roots — was still standing. Barely, but standing.
"You did it, Shelgon! One last Headbutt — finish it!"
A smile broke across David's face as he gave the command.
At Shelgon's current state, there was no point asking for anything elaborate. A straightforward Headbutt was all it needed.
Shelgon gathered what little it had left. A faint white light formed at its forehead as it lowered its head and charged forward in a straight line, each step slow but deliberate. Torterra was right there. Victory was a few steps away.
Then Gianna spoke.
"Let me give you a piece of advice, young man." Her voice was calm and unhurried. "Until your opponent has completely lost the ability to battle — never drop your guard. Especially when they look like they're about to fall."
"Torterra — Stomping Tantrum."
David's stomach dropped.
"Torterra!"
The Torterra that had been slumped on the ground, barely able to lift its head, suddenly had a fierce red light flare in its eyes. Sheer will dragged its exhausted body upright. It raised one massive foreleg — and brought it crashing down directly onto the charging Shelgon.
Shelgon's Headbutt connected at the same moment, launching Torterra off its feet. Torterra's body sailed back and struck through several of the decorative trees lining the arena wall before crashing to the ground, unable to battle.
Shelgon staggered under the weight of the stomp. It swayed — once — and then it too collapsed, unable to battle.
In a one-on-one match, Shelgon had fallen a fraction of a second later. That might have counted for something. But in a three-on-three Gym challenge, it was simply a trade — one Pokémon for one Pokémon.
David was quiet for a moment before recalling Shelgon.
"You did well, Shelgon. That's on me."
Losing this exchange was his own mistake, and he knew it. In those final moments, when he still wasn't certain of Torterra's condition, he could have kept Shelgon at range and worn it down with Ember — slow, not particularly exciting, but guaranteed. A clean win.
But too many easy victories had made him impatient with that kind of approach. He had gone for the quick finish, and Torterra's last stand had turned a certain win into a draw.
One lesson was enough.
"Shall we continue?"
"Of course."
David didn't hesitate.
"Then — Roserade, take the field!"
"Lucario, let's go!"
Neither of them waited for the other. Both Poké Balls were released at the same time.
Name: Roserade
Type: Poison / Grass
Gender: ♀
Energy Level: 45 — Superior Stage One
Ability: Poison Point
Aptitude: Deep Purple
Held Item: Miracle Seed
Moves: Poison Sting, Toxic, Leech Seed, Mega Drain, Synthesis, Ingrain, Sweet Scent, Aromatherapy, Magical Leaf, Petal Blizzard, Grassy Terrain, Venom Drench, Pin Missile, Substitute, Petal Dance, Attract, Energy Ball, Leaf Storm, Venoshock, Sleep Powder, Cotton Spore, Dazzling Gleam, Extrasensory, Grassy Glide…
"I thought so."
David's expression settled into something knowing. He had done his research before the challenge. The Hundred Flowers Gym drew its identity from Grass-type Pokémon with connections to flowers — and Roserade, the evolved form of Roselia, was one of the most well-known among them.
Sending Lucario had been a calculated bet, and it had paid off. Against a Steel-type, a Grass- and Poison-type like Roserade lost a significant portion of its offensive effectiveness.
"Lucario, is it." Gianna studied the field. "The type matchup is very rough for me. Looks like this round might slip away too…"
She said it plainly, with no particular alarm in her voice.
That was telling. A Gym Leader who specialized in Grass-types had certainly dealt with unfavorable matchups before — many times over. She wasn't rattled by it.
And besides, Lucario had only just reached Superior at level 33. The level gap between it and Roserade was significant. The outcome was far from decided.
"Lucario — Bulk Up!"
The moment both Pokémon landed on the field, David moved first without ceremony. He had no illusions about the gap in experience between himself and Gianna. Playing coy would only cost him.
"Roserade — Grassy Terrain."
Gianna had anticipated the stat boost and responded with something that needed more time to set up — the terrain move.
Dense Grass-type energy spread across the battlefield. A light, clean scent of grass drifted through the arena, and David noticed it almost immediately — faintly energizing. Under Grassy Terrain, Roserade would recover HP gradually over time, and the power behind its Grass-type moves would rise considerably.
"Lucario — Agility, then Blaze Kick. Close the distance!"
One Bulk Up in, Lucario exploded forward with the speed boost of Agility, accelerating into a streak of blue as it cut across the field toward Roserade.
"Not so fast. Roserade — Sleep Powder."
Roserade pivoted gracefully on its stem and scattered a wide cloud of glittering powder directly into Lucario's path.
The Sleep Powder spread across the ground between them like a barrier — stepping through it would mean risking being put to sleep.
Lucario pulled up short.
"Lucario — Vacuum Wave! Clear it!"
Lucario drew its arms back, then released a sharp burst of force from its fists — a focused Vacuum Wave that cut through the Sleep Powder and dispersed it entirely.
"Now — Blaze Kick, go!"
"Luca~"
Lucario surged forward again, the fire at its heel already igniting as it closed the gap.