Pokemon: I'll Exchange Everything

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Liam finally reached Cerulean City, the location of his fourth gym challenge, after several days of travel.

On his way, Liam swept through the road leading to Cerulean City, defeating countless challengers and Pokémon alike. 

His victories left numerous young rookie trainers with a newfound understanding of the harsh realities of Pokémon battles.

During his journey, Liam even unlocked a hidden achievement:

[Ten Consecutive Victories!]

[Defeat ten consecutive trainers. Reward: 200 exchange points, item: Poison Barb fragment x1.]

He was now on the verge of completing the next milestone:

[Hundred Consecutive Victories!]

[Defeat one hundred consecutive trainers. Progress: 100/99. Reward upon completion: 1000 exchange points, item: Metal Coat x1.]

Only one more battle was needed to achieve this milestone, and Liam had already decided that the Cerulean Gym would be the stage for his final fight.

Liam first visited the Pokémon Center to restore his Pokémon's stamina. Afterward, without further ado, he asked Nurse Joy for directions to the Cerulean Gym and then left the center.

Following her guidance, Liam spent some time exploring Cerulean City before finally spotting an ornate blue building bustling with visitors. Above its entrance, a sign read:

[Cerulean City Aquarium]

-Also the Cerulean City Gym.

Liam couldn't help but feel exasperated. This gym's quirky nature must be a family tradition!

From Nurse Joy, Liam had learned that the Cerulean Gym Leader was a young man named Florian Waterflower, a trainer passionate about Water- and Ice-type Pokémon. 

So much so, in fact, that he had transformed the gym into a massive aquarium. The aquarium had become a major tourist attraction in Cerulean City, drawing countless visitors daily.

Recently, Florian's joy had reached new heights when his wife gave birth to triplet daughters. Overjoyed, he declared a promotional event: free aquarium entry for an entire month. 

This offer had drawn so many visitors that the gym's threshold was practically worn out.

Sweating slightly, Liam joined the long line of visitors outside the gym. Since it's free, I might as well enjoy myself a bit before the challenge, he thought. 

The aquarium was said to house a vast collection of Water- and Ice-type Pokémon—a perfect opportunity to expand his Pokédex and earn some exchange points.

So far, Liam's Pokédex progress had been minimal, as most trainers he encountered used common Pokémon like Rattata, Butterfree, or Pidgeotto—nothing new. His achievements only added about 100 exchange points. 

However, the promise of rare Pokémon here made the wait worthwhile.

After nearly an hour in line, Liam finally entered the gym, now teeming with people. The pathways were crowded with visitors marveling at the Water- and Ice-type Pokémon displayed behind transparent glass.

Liam squeezed his way to the glass and pressed his face against it. A playful Seel swam over and mimicked his actions, placing its face against the glass too. 

The sight amused everyone around, filling the space with laughter.

"Gotcha! Time for some reconnaissance!" Liam activated his viewing skill, scanning the Seel. 

A virtual panel appeared in his mind, and a notification of 110 exchange points added to his account brought a smile to his face.

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Pokemon: Dewgong

Type: Water/Ice

Species: Sea Lion Pokemon

Ability: Ice Body

Nature: Bold

Gender: Male

Moves: Headbutt, Growl, Signal Beam, Icy Wind, Encore, Ice Shard, Rest, Aurora Beam, Sheer Cold.

Egg Move: Water Pulse.

Base Stats: 470/475

HP: 90

Attack: 70

Defense: 75/80

Special Attack: 70

Special Defense: 95

Speed: 70

Evaluation: Good. With proper training, this Seel shows considerable combat potential and is worth cultivating.

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Liam's eyes lit up. A promising Pokémon right off the bat!

He felt a pang of pity seeing such potential reduced to a display piece but quickly moved on, focusing on earning more rewards.

After another hour of scanning Pokémon throughout the aquarium, Liam's exchange points had increased by 1,300. What a goldmine this place is!

With his task complete, Liam headed to what was rumored to be the gym leader's office.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

A tense voice called out from inside, "Who is it? Didn't I say no visitors?!"

The door opened, revealing a blue-haired young man who initially frowned but quickly recognized the visitor. 

Smiling apologetically, he said, "Oh, sorry! I thought it was my assistant. May I ask who you are?"

Liam replied with a sheepish smile, "My name is Liam, from Pallet Town. I'm challenging gyms in preparation for the Kanto League. These are the badges I've earned so far, and I'm here to challenge the Cerulean Gym for the Cascade Badge."

He opened his jacket slightly, revealing his badge case to the gym leader.

"Ah, a challenger!" Florian exclaimed, shaking Liam's hand warmly. 

"Welcome! I see you've already earned two badges—impressive! It's been ages since anyone's challenged me. For some reason, challengers seem to avoid this place. I'm thrilled to accept your challenge!"

Florian added cheerfully, "I'll prepare the battlefield immediately. Oh, by the way, do you mind if we have an audience for our match?"

Liam silently groaned. No challengers? Of course not! Who would want to deal with those crowds? Out loud, he simply said, "I don't mind at all."

Relieved, Florian rushed off to prepare the arena. Liam followed closely, then hesitated before asking, "By the way, earlier you sounded... stressed. Is something wrong?"

Florian scratched his head awkwardly. "Haha, it's nothing serious, just a personal matter. Last week, my wife gave birth to triplets—three adorable daughters! But when she asked me to name them, I couldn't think of anything good. Getting upset, she kicked me out and told me not to come back until I'd decided on suitable names. I've been wracking my brain here ever since..."

Liam's expression softened. "If they're girls, and since your name is also flower-based, why not use flower-themed names? How about Daisy for the eldest, Violet for the second, and Lily for the youngest?"

Florian's eyes lit up. With a grateful grin, he dashed back to his office, calling out, "Honey! I've got the names!"