The air was heavy with a scent I couldn't ignore—the tang of smoke, of heat, of something unnatural. Even from the Gym balcony, I could see a flicker of fire along the northern ridge of Cinnabar's forest.
"Infernape," I said, releasing him immediately. Flames curled along his wrists as he readied himself, alert and coiled like a spring. "Something's wrong."
Lila appeared behind Arcanine, her eyes wide but steady. "The forest again?"
"Yes," I said. "But this isn't just a wildfire. Something is causing it—something intelligent."
Kai bounced forward, Electivire crackling lightly. "Can I help?"
"Yes," I said, gesturing for him to stay close to me. "But follow instructions precisely."
Arcanine growled low, muscles tensed. Garchomp and Hydreigon were released in tandem, patrolling the edges of the Gym grounds, ready to intercept anything approaching the forest or the island. Even Roserade emerged, her vines gently swaying, sensing the distress in the recovering flora.
As we approached the forest, the scale of the chaos became clear. A massive Entei had appeared, roaring across the ridge. Its flames were enormous, too powerful for any ordinary containment. Nearby, wild Pokémon panicked, fleeing in every direction. This wasn't a natural fire—it was a direct result of a legendary Pokémon's agitation.
"Everyone, positions!" I shouted, surveying the battlefield. "Hydreigon, patrol the skies. Garchomp, flank from the left. Infernape and Ceruledge, intercept the front. Lila, Arcanine, focus on guiding the wild Pokémon away from the danger zones."
The siblings nodded, fear mingling with determination. Kai's Electivire sparked in anticipation, ready for precision strikes.
Entei roared again, flames bursting dangerously close to the forest floor. The ground trembled under its power. I released Talonflame from his Poké Ball, wings slicing the air, and together with Infernape and Ceruledge, we created controlled firebreaks, isolating areas and preventing the flames from spreading uncontrollably.
"This is serious," Mira shouted from a distance, taking notes as she monitored the Entei's movement patterns. Hana called out updates about wild Pokémon being redirected. Theo—finally taking instructions seriously—used Quagsire to block debris from endangering others.
The battle escalated quickly. Entei charged at Infernape, flames erupting in every direction. I countered with Ceruledge, cutting a precise path that deflected the attack, while Hydreigon and Garchomp circled above, scanning for weak points and monitoring the forest's vulnerable areas.
"Arcanine!" Lila shouted, stepping forward. Her voice was steady now, commanding. Arcanine surged, barking to redirect a panicked Growlithe away from the path of destruction. "Good," I muttered. "Keep moving them, don't let them panic."
Kai directed Electivire with precision, striking the ground to create temporary shock barriers that blocked fire from reaching critical areas. The teamwork was flawless—synchronized chaos, orchestrated perfectly.
Entei, sensing resistance, summoned another burst of fire, this one aimed at the Gym itself. I didn't hesitate. "Hydreigon, block the sky! Garchomp, flank left!" The two dragons responded instantly, creating pressure and pushing the legendary Pokémon back while maintaining a safe distance.
"Now, Infernape, Ceruledge, coordinated strike!" I yelled. Infernape darted in, Blaze Kick timed perfectly with Ceruledge's sword energy. The two attacks together forced Entei to retreat slightly, giving the siblings room to continue guiding wild Pokémon to safety.
Lila's confidence was radiant now. She moved with authority, directing Arcanine to shield vulnerable Pokémon, even positioning him between Entei and a group of fleeing Oddish. Kai's Electivire pulsed along the ground, blocking stray flames.
For the first time, the forest wasn't just chaos—it was controlled chaos. Every Pokémon, every sibling, every trainer worked as one.
Hours passed. The sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in fiery orange and crimson. Entei, exhausted and frustrated, finally retreated to the ridges beyond the forest. Hydreigon and Garchomp kept watch as Infernape and Ceruledge landed beside me, flames and energy settling.
I exhaled deeply. The Gym team, siblings, and supporting League Pokémon were safe. Wild Pokémon had been protected, and the fire's destruction had been limited. Lila hugged Arcanine tightly, tears in her eyes, and Kai's grin was wide despite exhaustion.
"You… did amazing today," I told Lila, kneeling to her level. "You led, you guided, you controlled. That's what being a trainer is about."
She smiled through her tears. "We… did it together."
Infernape nudged me, flames curling gently along his wrists. "We're ready for anything," he seemed to say.
From the Gym balcony, I surveyed the island. The damage was visible, but the team had proven something far more important than rebuilding or controlling fire. They had proven they could work together, they could trust each other, and they could survive even a legendary-level threat.
The Gym was no longer just a relic of my parents' legacy. It was alive, thriving, and ready for whatever came next.