"The Gym Challenge begins now! The challenger is Nozomi, a rookie trainer from Fuchsia City, and the defending Gym Trainer is Daisy from Cerulean Gym. The battle will follow the standard 3-on-3 Gym battle rules."
Lily took her place as the referee, poised and elegant, overseeing the battle.
Daisy, as always, radiated her confident and graceful demeanor, ready for the fight.
Nozomi, knowing Daisy's true strength, wasn't intimidated.
Since Cerulean Gym specialized entirely in Water-type Pokémon, Nozomi didn't need to worry about type disadvantages. He immediately sent out his Poké Ball containing Bulbasaur.
"Bulbasaur, the first battle is yours!"
This was a rare opportunity for Bulbasaur to gain experience. Aside from the weak wild Pokémon or bug-catching boys in shorts, there were hardly any trainers weak enough to face him.
"Saur!"
Bulbasaur bristled with determination.
Having spent days inside his Poké Ball watching Leafeon, Onix, and Metagross easily defeat opponents outside, Bulbasaur's longing for battle and victory had grown steadily.
"Seaking, come out!"
With a flourish, Daisy sent out Seaking, which radiated more aggression and power than the Goldeen she had used before.
"Seaking? I thought you only had Goldeen before. Did it evolve?" Nozomi asked.
"That's right! After yesterday's battle, my Goldeen evolved. I'm no longer the weakling I used to be. If you want to take my Gym Badge, it won't be that easy!"
Seaking's evolution gave Daisy a lot of confidence. Although she and her sisters preferred water ballet over Pokémon battles, as Gym Leaders, they had often been mocked as the weakest in Kanto. Repeated losses were frustrating.
Before, Daisy had been lazy with training, so challengers easily defeated her.
Now, with Goldeen evolved into Seaking, she felt this might be her chance to redeem her reputation as the Cerulean Gym Leader.
Nozomi smiled slightly upon hearing her words.
Thinking one Seaking could defeat him? How naive.
Even if Bulbasaur couldn't match it, had she asked his Leafeon or Metagross?
Daisy, unaware of Nozomi's thoughts, raised her hand and shouted boldly, full of momentum:
"We'll attack first! Seaking, use Water Pulse!"
Unlike Goldeen, which only knew Water Gun, Seaking had learned several powerful moves upon evolution.
Water Pulse used vibrations in the water to strike opponents and could even confuse them.
Seaking unleashed Water Pulse, a thick stream of water shooting directly at Bulbasaur.
Seeing this, Nozomi couldn't help but comment: "Seriously, using a Water-type move against a Grass-type like Bulbasaur… trying to water him?"
Attacking Bulbasaur with Water Pulse was both ineffective and a tactical mistake—it exposed Seaking's position unnecessarily.
If it were him, he'd use the terrain to approach Bulbasaur from underwater and strike with Seaking's unbreakable horn instead. That would be far more effective than a direct Water Pulse.
Without waiting for his command, Bulbasaur planted his four legs on the floating platforms and leapt from one to another with his bulb bouncing on his back.
At the same time, his vines shot out, curling around the Water Pulse and reaching underwater toward Seaking.
Daisy hadn't anticipated this and, unprepared and lacking specialized battle training, hurriedly shouted: "Seaking, dodge!"
Perhaps it was a flash of inspiration—or sheer luck—but at the critical moment, Seaking swished its tail, using the water's push to leap high above the surface, evading Bulbasaur's vines.
Even as Goldeen, its speed had been impressive. According to the Pokédex, its well-developed dorsal and pectoral fins allowed it to swim upstream at 5 knots.
Now as Seaking, it was even faster.
"It dodged!" Daisy cheered.
But before she could celebrate further, Bulbasaur crouched on the floating platform.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Like bullets being fired, a rapid stream of seeds shot from Bulbasaur's bulb.
Pat-pat-pat-pat!
Seaking, caught mid-air, was hit directly by the seed barrage, tumbling off balance and ruining its graceful dive.
Splash!
Water sprayed several meters high, drenching Daisy, whose joyful expression froze mid-gesture, turning her into a soggy mess.
Her expression of elation was instantly replaced by frustration—a rollercoaster of emotions in seconds.
But the battle wasn't over. Nozomi, observing carefully, knew that Bulbasaur's seed barrage alone couldn't defeat a Seaking.
Even though the trainer was weak, Seaking itself was powerful—its horn could easily pierce rock.
"Now! Bulbasaur, bind it with Vine Whip!"
Bulbasaur immediately obeyed. His vines, like two dark green serpents, shot underwater and wrapped around Seaking.
Then, taking advantage of Seaking's disorientation from the seed barrage, Bulbasaur tied it up tightly.
"Seaking!"
Under Daisy's shout, Bulbasaur dragged Seaking out of the water, lifting it into the air. No matter how Seaking struggled, it couldn't break free.
"Leech Seed!"
Bulbasaur spat out a seed from its bulb, attaching it to Seaking.
"The outcome is decided!"
Seaking, a Water-type Pokémon, had almost no combat capability out of water. The victory was clear.
Soon, Seaking, bound by vines, started bubbling in the air.
"I lost…"
Daisy slumped, her expression utterly defeated. The brief hope had been mercilessly extinguished.
"I feel a little guilty," Nozomi said, stroking his chin as he watched Daisy's despondent figure.