The air inside Cylge Gym was cooler today—morning breeze rolling down from the cliffs above and through the high vents of the training complex. Sunlight streaked through angled skylights, casting sharp shadows across the rocky arena.

  In the challenger’s box stood Benoit LaFontaine, dressed in his usual slightly-too-big hoodie, fists balled at his sides. He was bouncing slightly—nerves and excitement mixed into one chaotic dance.

  On the far end of the battlefield, Grant adjusted a harness strap on his climbing belt and clipped a Poké Ball from his side.

  “Name?” he asked formally.

  “Benoit!” he said. Then added, more seriously, “Benoit LaFontaine. League ID 7412-KALOS. I’d like to request a standard one-on-one Gym match for badge eligibility.”

  Grant gave a single nod. “Accepted. You’ll face one of my team’s lead strikers. Let’s see what you’ve built.”

  Up in the observation seats, Rhea, Lucas, and Liliane leaned forward over the rail.

  “I didn’t think Benoit was the type to challenge second Gyms so quickly,” Lucas said.

  Rhea crossed her arms. “He’s not rushing. He’s just ready.”

  Liliane had her notebook open and two pencils in her hand. “I’m going to record Zigzagoon’s foot positioning during dodges and measure for battle tension via fur posture. You know. Science.”

  Rhea smirked slightly. “Let him get past turn one first.”

  Gym Battle – Benoit vs. Grant (One-on-One)Grant released his Pokémon: a lean, fast Binacle—Rock/Water-type, both tricky and sturdy.

  Benoit pulled out his Poké Ball.

  “Zigzagoon, let’s go!”

  In a fsh, his striped partner hit the field, growling eagerly, tail flicking with kinetic energy.

  “Battle start!” the ref called.

  Grant gave the first command. “Binacle, Water Gun, center line.”

  The dual-cwed Pokémon raised its arms and bsted a jet of water across the arena.

  “Zigzagoon, spin dodge! Go wide!” Benoit shouted.

  Zigzagoon twisted, using the curve of the terrain to roll up and around the spray—barely avoiding the stream.

  “Now Tail Whip, then Tackle!”

  Zigzagoon flicked its tail, disorienting Binacle just as it prepared to fire again—then smmed into its side with surprising speed.

  Lucas raised an eyebrow. “Not bad.”

  “Benoit’s always had good instinct,” Rhea said. “Now he’s finally pairing it with experience.”

  Grant didn’t flinch. “Shell Smash, Binacle.”

  The Pokémon hunched low—glowing with a red aura as cracks formed in its shell. Its defense dropped, but its attack and speed shot upward.

  “Oh no,” Liliane whispered. “He’s about to go turbo.”

  “Yup,” Rhea muttered.

  “Fury Cutter!” Grant called.

  Binacle lunged with one cw.

  “Roll escape, then double back!” Benoit called.

  Zigzagoon zipped under the strike, then looped behind Binacle with momentum—but this time the return hit was slower.

  Binacle struck again.

  Zigzagoon cried out, tumbling across the rocky terrain.

  “Zigzagoon!” Benoit shouted, taking one step forward.

  The little Pokémon growled, forcing itself to its feet.

  And then—something shifted.

  The growl deepened.

  The fur shimmered. Limbs stretched, spine elongated. Power surged outward like a burst of instinct finally given form.

  A light fred from Zigzagoon’s body—

  Liliane dropped both pencils. “Is this—?”

  Zigzagoon stood taller now. Sleeker. Dark fur twisted into a stripe across its face. Its eyes burned with focus.

  Rhea leaned forward. “He evolved.”

  “Mid-battle!” Lucas added. “Into a Linoone!”

  Benoit’s eyes widened. “...Okay, buddy. Let’s go.”

  Linoone Joins the BattleGrant hesitated. “Didn’t expect that. You might have a shot.”

  “Damn right I do!” Benoit shouted. “Linoone, Headbutt, now!”

  The evolved Pokémon blurred forward—so fast that Binacle barely had time to raise an arm before the impact smashed into its chest and sent it tumbling back.

  Grant’s eyes narrowed. “Rock Tomb! Close counter!”

  Stones rose around Binacle—but Linoone ducked low, zigzagging between the pilrs like a thread through a needle.

  “Tackle! Final hit!”

  With a sudden lunge, Linoone struck from the blind side—

  Binacle hit the ground.

  The ref raised his hand.

  “Binacle is unable to battle. Victory to Benoit LaFontaine!”

  AftermathBenoit stood frozen for a moment.

  Then he pumped both fists in the air. “YEAH! Did you see that?! HE EVOLVED AND WENT SUPERSONIC!”

  He ran to Linoone, hugging him around the neck.

  Up in the stands, Liliane had already drawn a new sketch of Linoone’s evolved form, beling its tail arc and paw structure.

  Lucas turned to Rhea. “You were right. He’s ready.”

  Rhea smiled quietly.

  Badge CeremonyGrant approached calmly, a slight smirk on his normally-stoic face.

  “You earned that,” he said. “Your Linoone didn’t evolve by accident. He evolved because you kept showing up for him—even when you were outmatched.”

  He handed Benoit the Cliff Badge—jagged, bck-silver, identical to Rhea’s.

  “You’re stronger than your battles. That’s what makes you dangerous.”

  Benoit grinned. “Thanks! That sounded kinda scary but also awesome!”

  Later – Pokémon CenterWith their Pokémon resting in the recovery unit and the city’s golden evening light pouring through the Center windows, the group gathered around a corner table—food trays half-finished, tea cooling.

  Rhea sat across from Lucas and Liliane. Her fingers tapped the edge of her Pokégear. She watched as Frogadier quietly adjusted his scarf-like foam, watching the screen dispy Linoone’s evolving stats.

  Then she looked up.

  “Hey,” she said to them. “I’ve been thinking.”

  Lucas raised an eyebrow. “That’s dangerous.”

  Rhea ignored him. “You two are deep into research—tracking Trainers, analyzing Gym Leaders, field testing data.”

  Liliane nodded slowly. “And?”

  “What if you traveled with us?”

  They both blinked.

  “I’m serious,” Rhea said. “You’ll have access to live Gym battles, League-registered Pokémon, and firsthand observation of type matchups and behavior patterns. You’ll get more usable data on the road with us than sitting in one city downloading footage.”

  Lucas leaned back. “You want us to join your journey?”

  Benoit leaned over the table. “We’ve got snacks, good campfire stories, and trauma bonding with apex cult freaks.”

  “Tempting,” Lucas said dryly.

  Liliane was already flipping her notebook open. “So I’d get to see Frogadier and Linoone train every day?”

  “Plus whatever we catch next,” Rhea added.

  Liliane looked at her brother.

  He sighed. “We’ll need to route-check with our parents. But…”

  He smiled faintly.

  “We’re in.”