What Nemona was thinking, Lucas had no idea. He led the two to an open patch of land on the farm and asked with a smile, "Have you ever heard of double battles?"
Nemona immediately snapped out of her guilt, raising her hand proudly. "I don't know!"
Arven looked at her in disbelief. "You're almost obsessed with being a trainer, but you don't know what a double battle is?"
Nemona stood with hands on hips, righteously insisting, "It's because I don't know that I need to learn and train!"
Unable to argue, Arven just looked at Lucas.
Under Nemona's curious gaze, Lucas explained, "A double battle is when a trainer sends out two Pokémon and commands them together, or when two trainers team up against another pair."
"Double battles really test a trainer's judgment, their ability to command, and how well they know their Pokémon. By combining Pokémon and their moves, you can achieve a synergy where 1 + 1 > 2."
"Do you know the rapper Ryme?"
Nemona perked up immediately. "The world-famous legendary rapper Ryme?"
Arven slapped his thigh in realization. "The one who's great at rapping?"
Lucas nodded. "That's right. Besides being a rapper, she's an expert at double battles. After I challenged the Ice Gym Leader Grusha, I had a double battle with her in front of Gym Leader Tyme."
"She's a Ghost-type expert. In double battles, her tactics are really tricky—even I had a hard time beating her."
Lucas recalled Ryme's strange army of Ghost moves. It was a tough fight, but he prevailed by having Serperior sweep the team.
Nemona and Arven stared in amazement. They hadn't expected that world-famous rapper to be such a strong trainer, and even Lucas called her tough.
Lucas clapped his hands, ending the topic. "Let's not delay. You two are going to have a double battle. Only after experiencing it for yourselves will you truly understand."
Nemona raised her hand, asking, "Teacher Lucas, does Arven have a second Pokémon? I've only ever seen Mabosstiff with him."
Lucas was prepared. "No worries. I have plenty of Pokémon on the farm. Poliwag, Mudbray, Comfey, or Eldegoss—Arven can borrow one to command."
"That won't be necessary," Arven interrupted, pulling out two Poké Balls. "Besides Mabosstiff, I caught a second Pokémon a few days ago. Come out, Skwovet!"
With a flash, Mabosstiff and a cute little gray squirrel appeared.
Mabosstiff, now familiar with everyone, came over to sniff at Lucas and Nemona's pant legs, no longer showing the fierce attitude from their first meeting.
Skwovet immediately climbed onto Arven's right shoulder, cheeks stuffed with food as it curiously observed its surroundings, clearly a bit wary in a new place.
Arven stroked its fur and explained, "I found Skwovet on my way home—it fainted from hunger by the roadside. Mabosstiff and I took it home and fed it, and then it refused to leave, so I caught it."
While Lucas was surprised at Arven's luck, Nemona's focus was odd. She stared at Arven, asking seriously, "How long ago did you catch it?"
Arven found Nemona's question strange. "Four days ago."
At his answer, Nemona seemed to wilt. "I can't believe I lost…"
Putting Nemona's inexplicable competitiveness aside, with both parties now having two Pokémon, all requirements for a double battle were met.
The battle began under Lucas's watchful eye, though both the process and result were a bit… messy.
In terms of raw talent as a trainer, Nemona was clearly stronger. Her Pawmo, raised with care and her well-off family's resources, was already catching up in strength. Teddiursa, a wild Pokémon, was no slouch either.
And perhaps because Nemona's family was so wealthy, even though Teddiursa glared at Lucas after leaving its Poké Ball, it still obeyed Nemona's commands.
Sigh, another member lost to the Teddiursa tribe.
Money really is the root of all evil.
Nemona's talent was undeniable. Even though this was her first double battle, she didn't panic like most beginners. At least she could command Pawmo and Teddiursa to fight independently.
Arven, on the other hand, was a bit of a mess. Lucas knew his command skills were weak, and in double battles, this weakness was even more obvious. Not wanting to hurt Arven's confidence, Lucas held back.
If not for Mabosstiff's solid strength and Skwovet's unexpectedly good combat ability, Arven wouldn't have lasted so long before Nemona picked off his Pokémon one by one.
In Lucas's mind, the students in the battle class could be divided into three tiers.
The first tier was upperclassmen like Eri and Giacomo—their Pokémon had been with them for ages and were stronger than Nemona's.
Nemona was in the second tier, but with her talent, she'd soon surpass the first tier. Arven, thanks to Mabosstiff's level, could beat newbies like Aliquis, but as their Pokémon caught up, the difference in command ability would show.
After analyzing their double battle problems, Lucas frowned and called over Comfey and Eldegoss. Once they'd restored the Pokémon's strength, he said, "Now you two team up and battle me in a double battle. I'll show you what a real double battle looks like."
"Comfey and Eldegoss are farm Pokémon, not my main team. Their strength isn't much higher than yours—don't worry."
Nemona and Arven exchanged glances, each seeing a flash of determination and ambition in the other's eyes.
Maybe—their ace Pokémon, Pawmo and Mabosstiff, could beat Lucas's ordinary farm Pokémon!