Pokémon : The Perfect Path

Kanto region

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Cerulean City - Cerulean Gym

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Gordon recalled his fainted Kingdra with a brief flash of red light, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, with a small breath, he looked at Velkris and offered a slow nod, a smile creeping onto his lips. "I must admit, I didn't expect that outcome," he said, his voice carrying an unmistakable note of admiration. "Sleep Talk and Rest... That's not an easy combination to pull off, especially not mid-battle. Sleep Talk is unpredictable by nature—you can't exactly choose which move comes out. I've seen seasoned trainers mess it up in pressure-filled moments. So tell me, how did you make it work so well?"

Velkris opened his mouth to answer, but Gordon quickly raised a hand. "Ah, never mind. Every trainer has their secrets, and I'm no one to pry. Even a gym leader has to respect that. Each of us finds our own path, our own rhythm with our Pokémon. That's part of what makes battling so fascinating."

He paused, his eyes briefly flicking to Kirlia. "What impresses me most isn't just that the strategy worked... it's that this was clearly the first time you and your Kirlia ever attempted it. I could see it in the way your Kirlia hesitated at first. This wasn't rehearsed. These were new moves. First time using Rest. First time using Sleep Talk. And yet, you two made it flow like second nature." He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "That's something else. That's not just training—that's trust. But..."

Gordon's eyes narrowed just slightly, the warm tone in his voice giving way to something colder, more focused. "I don't think you'll be able to do the same with my next partner."

Misty leaned forward slightly, noticing the subtle shift in her father's demeanor. Gone was the flicker of tension he'd shown earlier in the Kingdra fight. He looked calm now—focused, steady, and completely serious.

Misty's mother, who had been quietly observing from the side, spoke in a soft, knowing voice. "I think I know which Pokémon he's going to send out next," she said, her eyes following Gordon's hand as it reached for another Poké Ball. "It's one of his main team members. Velkris is about to face a real test."

Gordon tossed the ball with a smooth motion. "Let's show him what real pressure feels like, Crawdaunt."

With a crack of energy and a burst of white light, Crawdaunt emerged, claws snapping open and shut, its shell gleaming under the lights. Its presence was immediately intimidating—taller than Kirlia, broader, and exuding raw power. The Water/Dark-type Pokémon let out a deep, guttural growl and planted itself like a boulder in the arena.

Velkris didn't hesitate. He pulled out his Pokédex and aimed it toward Crawdaunt. The screen lit up as the scan began:

Pokémon: Crawdaunt

Type: Water / Dark

Ability: Adaptability

Known Moves: Aqua Jet, Knock Off, Crabhammer, Swords Dance...

But before the rest could load, a blinking message appeared:

Notice: Some data unavailable. Trainer Rank or Badge Level insufficient to display full move list.

Velkris frowned. He hadn't seen that before—not even with Gordon's Kingdra. It wasn't that Crawdaunt was hiding its moves… it was that the Pokédex literally wouldn't reveal them to him. Not unless he proved himself more. His eyes scanned the alert again, taking in every word. The Pokédex operated on a tiered access system, he now realized. To view the full data of Pokémon of this level—especially ones trained by high-ranking trainers or Gym Leaders—he needed more gym badges. More credibility. More experience.

He lowered the Pokédex, his grip tightening just slightly. "So this is what a main team member looks like…" he murmured.

Gordon gave a slight, knowing smile. "Not everything can be learned from a screen, Velkris. Some things you'll have to figure out the hard way."

Velkris took a breath, steadying himself. He quickly ran through his options. Crawdaunt's typing posed a real problem. Kirlia, being Psychic and Fairy, had some counterplay, but Dark-type moves were a serious threat. One wrong hit could end the battle. Briefly, his thoughts drifted to Gabite. It was strong, and durable—but it was also part Ground-type, which made it vulnerable to Crawdaunt's Water attacks. That risk was too great.

Nidoran was another option, but Velkris pushed that thought aside as well. Nidoran simply wasn't ready for this level of combat. And while he had faith in all of his Pokémon, now was not the time for experimentation.

He looked at Kirlia, who turned slightly to meet his gaze. Calm. Focused. Waiting.

He gave a short nod. "We'll keep going," he whispered.

From the sidelines, Misty clenched her fists. "He's staying with Kirlia…"

Her mother gave a small, approving hum. "He's taking a risk. But sometimes, that's what real trainers do."

And with that, the next round of the battle began—Crawdaunt's shadow looming large over the battlefield, and Velkris ready to face it head-on.

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Velkris narrowed his eyes as he continued with Kirlia. He didn't hesitate—he couldn't afford to. But his mind was already calculating. Crawdaunt. Water/Dark. That means… Psychic moves are a no-go. Confusion's worthless here,

As for it's Stats...Physical attacker. High offensive stats, but not the fastest. Still, in this water-based terrain….

His thoughts raced faster than the current below. Possible moves? Aqua Jet, Knock Off, Night Slash, Crabhammer, Crunch… maybe even Swords Dance. The list went on. Crawdaunt could be unpredictable—especially in the hands of someone like Gordon.

Still… Kirlia's got Fairy-type moves. If we hit fast and hard, we can end this quickly. But I need to be careful. This thing's built for war.

He knew this wasn't just another battle. The way Gordon looked at Crawdaunt, how their body language was synced—it screamed history. Experience. Countless Victory's.

He clenched his jaw and looked at Kirlia, who floated quietly above the ground, her dress-like body lightly swaying. She sensed his unease.

He's not going to play around. This is his ace.

Kirlia looked up at him, nodding subtly. Velkris whispered to her, "We're continuing, Kirlia. I trust you."

Then, Crawdaunt moved.

It lumbered forward at first, slow and deliberate, barely kicking up water as it advanced. Velkris waited, expecting an all-out rush. Crawdaunt kept its head low, eyes locked on Kirlia—and Velkris readied himself for a telegraphed Night Slash or Crabhammer.

Gordon smirked. "Don't think you're the only one with a few tricks, Velkris. Crawdaunt, Aqua Jet—burst movement."

The command echoed—With a deep, guttural growl, Crawdaunt exploded forward, a torrent of water surging behind it. But it wasn't a single Aqua Jet—it was a series of microbursts, each propelling it short distances in quick succession. It was fast—blazingly fast for something so bulky. The water terrain enhanced its movement, allowing Crawdaunt to skate and dash across the surface like a torpedo.

Velkris was stunned. That's not just Aqua Jet—that's refined movement. Continuous bursts. Just like how flying specialists train their Pokémon to sustain Tailwind or how I trained Kirlia to stay in Rest.

But he had no time to admire the strategy.

With a flash, Kirlia vanished just as Crawdaunt's massive claw crashed down in a brutal Crabhammer, splashing water high into the air. Kirlia reappeared a few meters away, breathing heavily. Velkris grit his teeth.

We can't give Crawdaunt space to play. If he's going to force us into close combat, then we need to make the battlefield work for us.

"Disarming Voice!" Velkris shouted.

Kirlia released the fairy-powered soundwave from midair. It rang through the battlefield, striking Crawdaunt with an echo of melody. But Crawdaunt pushed through it, absorbing the damage and continuing its momentum like a boulder downhill.

"Let's up the pace, Crawdaunt," Gordon said, his tone rising with anticipation. "Swords Dance!"

Crawdaunt halted mid-skid, slammed its claws together, and the water around it churned as its aura surged. Its power spiked—and its movement got even sharper. Kirlia dodged again, barely escaping a deadly Crabhammer strike that shattered part of the arena's edge.

Velkris's heart pounded. Too fast. Too strong. I can't risk offense yet… time to stall.

"Kirlia, use Rest—Sleep Talk and Double Team."

Kirlia closed her eyes, glowing softly as the soothing energy of Rest took over. Then, still unconscious, she moved. Illusions flickered into place across the battlefield like ghosts, dozens of Kirlia flickering and shifting in sync.

Gordon's voice cut through the raging battle. "I already told you. That won't work again. Crawdaunt—Aqua Jet, sweep the field!"

Once again, Crawdaunt surged forward in a burst of motion, launching itself from one double to the next. Each illusion shattered like light through glass as Crawdaunt tore through them. In seconds, the entire field was cleared, and the original Kirlia—still in Rest—stood alone, glowing faintly. But even Crawdaunt had to stop. It panted, water rolling off its back.

Velkris saw the opportunity. "Kirlia, move in—close."

One of the illusions moved forward—too naturally. It got close, quietly circling Crawdaunt.

But Gordon wasn't fooled. "Vice Grip."

Crawdaunt lunged—but grasped nothing. The clone popped like a soap bubble.

Under the surface, where the water had turned cloudy from the movement, a flash of light pulsed.

"Now, Dazzling Gleam!"

From beneath the surface, Kirlia emerged, her body glowing with radiant fairy energy. The beam exploded upward, striking Crawdaunt dead-on, knocking it back into a pillar. Water splashed high into the air.

Crawdaunt slammed into the base of the rock. It was dazed. Even Gordon's eyes widened.

"You alright, partner?"

The Crawdaunt struggled—but stood. Its breathing was heavy, body bruised—but it roared, defiant.

Gordon nodded with pride. "You always were the stubborn one. Let's remind them why we've fought side by side this long."

Velkris clenched his fists. That hit should've ended it. But… it's still standing? This is bad.

He didn't wait. "Kirlia—Rest. Sleep Talk. Double Team Again."

Kirlia drifted back into her calm state. Illusions returned, flooding the misty waters. The battlefield was soon a field of flickering figures, impossible to track.

But Gordon was relentless.

"Whirlpool!"

Crawdaunt raised its claws. The water spun, rising into a violent vortex that swallowed up the arena. The force was immense—lower floating doubles were ripped apart instantly.

"Ride the whirlpool! Aqua Jet!"

Crawdaunt spun along the vortex's edge, launched upward like a bullet, and slammed into Kirlia with a brutal Crabhammer.

The impact echoed. Kirlia was flung through the air like a ragdoll.

Velkris's heart stopped. That hit… it wasn't normal. It was devastating. Like a truck.Then it hit him. Of course. Adaptability. Its ability—boosting the power of its same-type moves.

Velkris tensed. Rest recovers health, not stamina. She's getting fatigued… I need to end this.

Kirlia floated limply, then settled again as Rest activated, giving her a breath—but Velkris knew it was a shallow one.

No more playing around.

"Kirlia—Misty Terrain and Double Team."

As she obeyed, the field turned pink with glowing mist, concealing her clones behind swirling fog.

Gordon frowned. "Water Pulse. Clear the field."

Crawdaunt slammed its claws down, sending out a massive ripple across the surface. The mist dispersed—revealing Kirlia, charging up a Dazzling Gleam, mere feet from Crawdaunt.

Velkris smiled.

Gordon smirked.

The man let out a slow laugh. "You finally sprang the trap."

Velkris's eyes widened. Wait. No…

"Kirlia, get out—NOW!"

But Gordon's command had already been shouted.

"Taunt."

A wave of malevolent psychic energy radiated from Crawdaunt's eyes, crashing into Kirlia's mind. Her face twisted in confusion, her concentration breaking. The Rest she had entered vanished from her mind. The teleport—gone. The ability to Double Team—disabled. She stood vulnerable.

Velkris's mind screamed. She can't use Rest. Can't use Double Team. Can't teleport. It's all shut down!

Velkris screamed, "Kirlia, dodge! MOVE!"

But the paralysis of Taunt left her exposed, stunned from the mental backlash of being forcefully ripped from the tranquil Rest state. Her legs trembled.

Then Crawdaunt rushed forward.

Velkris's breath caught. No—no, I miscalculated. Everything's falling apart.

"Grab her!"

Kirlia tried to move—too slow.

Vice Grip.

The claws closed around her waist. She struggled, panicked—but her energy was drained. She was trapped.

Then…

"Hydro Pump."

The water around Crawdaunt shifted. A massive blast of pressure built in its claws, charging with deadly intent.

Gordon's voice dropped to a murmur only Velkris could hear.

"You should've struck when you had the chance. Instead… you flinched when faced with the abyss. And now, it devours you."

Velkris's fists shook.

Rage burned through him.

All this time… Gordon had been baiting him. Teasing counters. Never using Taunt until it truly mattered. Waiting until the moment Velkris depended on the strategy the most.

His Eyes slowly lost their light.

Then Velkris's thoughts Darkened.

He didn't shout.

He didn't hesitate.

His voice came low. Cold.

"Destiny Bond."

Everyone froze.

Even Gordon's wife gasped. Friends in the crowd went silent.

Though she sensed something was wrong, Kirlia's eyes glowed—dark, ghostly chains rising around her.

The Hydro Pump blasted her backward—she flew, smashed into the Gym's walls, Still Conscious.

Silence.

Then—Crawdaunt jerked.

Its body spasmed. The ghostly chains coiled around it. It dropped to one knee, roared in defiance—

—and then collapsed.

Dead silence.

Kirlia lay unconscious after Crawdaunt fainted, her limp body cradled in the center of the arena as Crawdaunt slumped forward, the last echo of its guttural cry swallowed by the ominous shimmer of ghostly chains before it, collapsed.

No cheers followed.

Velkris silently withdrew Kirlia into her Poké Ball, his eyes distant, unreadable. His stance was still, but the cold edge that lingered in his expression sent an undeniable shiver through those who watched.

Click.

Then, he looked at the referee.

"Well?" he said, his voice flat. "You gonna do your job?"

The referee, clearly shaken, glanced between Crawdaunt and Kirlia, visibly trying to process what had just happened. He stepped forward slowly, raising his trembling arm.

"B-B-Battle result..." he began, voice cracking under the weight of the moment.

He took a deep breath, forced the words out.

"C-Crawdaunt is... unable to battle. Kirlia... f-fainted after the effect took place. S-So... the winner of the second round is... V-Velkris!"

Gordon's fists tightened as he stepped forward, eyes locked on Velkris.

"I didn't think you'd go that far," he said, his voice unsteady. "Destiny Bond? You were willing to lose Kirlia… just to make a point?" He wasn't angry—he was unsettled. Behind his gruffness, there was genuine confusion, maybe even concern. "That was a cold-hearted move, Velkris."

From the stands, Misty's mother leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with unease. She didn't address Velkris directly. Instead, she turned to Misty.

"Is your friend alright?" she asked softly, almost as if afraid Velkris might hear her anyway. "Is he… normally like this?"

Misty swallowed, watching Velkris' back as he stared down at the battlefield in silence.

"No," she said quietly. "He's not. He wouldn't use something like that so casually. He always fights smart, but never like this. Not…" she hesitated, "…not like he's angry."

Ash looked between Misty and Velkris, brows furrowed.

"I—I don't get it," he said, clearly confused. "What just happened? They both fainted one after another, but how? What did Kirlia do?"

Brock folded his arms and exhaled, gaze sharp.

"She used Destiny Bond," he explained. "It's a risky, final-resort move. The user basically says, 'If I go down, you're going down with me.' It only works when the bond between trainer and Pokémon is strong enough—and when both are willing to take the hit together."

Ash's eyes widened as the realization hit him.

"What?! That's—!" His fists clenched. "That's not battling—that's just… it's like giving up!" His voice rose, raw with emotion. "How could Velkris do that?! He didn't even flinch! Like it was just another move!"

Misty placed a hand on Ash's shoulder, trying to steady him. "He didn't give up, Ash," she said. "He calculated it and won. That's what makes it so scary."

Even Brock, level-headed as he usually was, couldn't hide the unease in his voice.

"He was cornered. That Crawdaunt had Adaptability, had already used Taunt to break the Rest setup, and Kirlia couldn't evade anymore. It was the only move left… but still…"

He looked back at Velkris, whose fists were clenched at his sides, his face a mask of calm… too calm.

"It wasn't just strategy. That wasn't calm judgment. That was something else."

Silence returned as Gordon slowly stepped back, looking more rattled than disappointed. He let out a dry chuckle and shook his head.

"I thought I'd test your growth, Velkris. And you showed me something alright. But…" His voice lowered. "You stared into the abyss, and instead of flinching… you dragged it down with you."

Velkris turned slightly at that, just enough to meet Gordon's eyes. There was no satisfaction in his gaze. Only a hollow quiet.

"I didn't flinch," he said, voice low. "Because I had already accepted what I needed to do. And if Crawdaunt was going to end it… I made sure it ended for both of us."

His words were calm, too calm. And that, more than anything, unsettled them all.

From the stands, an air of tension lingered like a heavy fog. Even his friends watching didn't cheer or whisper. They just watched, unsure of what they had just witnessed.

The victor had been declared. But no one felt like a winner.

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