Pokémon: Trainer Paul

"Return, Staraptor. You've done well—you're the best partner I could ask for."

The match was over. Despite his defeat, Barry remained calm, a faint smile gracing his lips as he recalled his Staraptor. It seemed that the recent experiences had indeed brought him some personal growth.

"Well done. Rest up and let your body recover." Paul said, nodding at his Grotle before returning it to its Poké Ball.

The announcer stepped forward to deliver the verdict.

"Both Pokémon on Lucas and Barry's side are unable to battle. This round's victory goes to Paul and Conway!"

The announcer's voice boomed across the stadium:

"After three intense days, we finally have our champions for the Casual Tournament! With their exceptional strength, seamless teamwork, and brilliant strategies, Paul and Conway have emerged victorious. Let's give them a thunderous round of applause!"

"Yeah!"

"Woohoo!"

Clap clap clap…

The crowd erupted in cheers, creating a vibrant and celebratory atmosphere.

The awards ceremony followed shortly after. Paul and Conway stood atop the podium, each receiving a peculiar item resembling the core of an apple—a Leftovers.

"This tournament has taught me a lot." Conway remarked after receiving his prize. "If we meet at the League, don't expect me to hold back, Paul."

"Giving it your all is the ultimate sign of respect for your opponent." Paul replied curtly before turning to leave.

"What a proud and serious guy." Conway muttered, watching Paul walk away. His mind churned as he thought to himself, I've gathered plenty of useful intel during this tournament. When the League rolls around, I'll have the perfect strategy… I hope.

Meanwhile, Lucas and Barry exchanged brief goodbyes with Paul before parting ways, each resuming their respective journeys.

Evening: A Remote Clearing Outside Town

Paul released all his Pokémon from their Poké Balls.

"Ursaa!"

"Grrr~!"

"Vul~!"

"Cha-cha~!"

In flashes of white light, four Pokémon appeared: Ursaring, Grotle, Vulpix, and Dewott. They turned to check on one another and were surprised to see that Grotle had evolved.

"Ursaa!" Ursaring froze for a moment before its eyes lit up with joy.

"Feel free to interact and move around. Help Grotle adjust to its new body." Paul instructed as he sat down nearby, clearly not planning to start any formal training.

Excited, Vulpix immediately climbed onto the leafy canopy on Grotle's back, happily rubbing against the foliage before settling in. Its six tails swayed contentedly, clearly thrilled with the extra space Grotle's evolution provided.

"Cha~!" Dewott stood nearby, marveling at Grotle's size. If it's this big after just one evolution, what'll it be like after it becomes a Torterra?

Ursaring, sitting beside Grotle, patted its sturdy shell with a grin, pleased at the thought of having a heavyweight rival in the future. Meanwhile, Dewott stood in front of Grotle, its competitive spirit reignited. The days when it easily overpowered Grotle were clearly over.

The team spent their time bonding, training, and resting.

Days Later: Verdanturf Town

Paul's travels brought him to Green Town, a lush town nestled between Spontaneous Town and Veilstone City. This city was known for its vibrant greenery and peculiar winds.

This place may sound unfamiliar to some, but it is actually the green city with special gusts of wind where Paul conquered a Drapion in the animation. This city is conveniently located, and on the way home, Paul came here specifically to see if there was any Gligar to find.

Unfortunately, after being here for a day, Paul has not found any Gligar.

After investigation, Paul also found out that there was indeed a group of Gligar trapped in this city before.

But there is a huge gap between animation and reality, and the situation is completely different.

In the animation, the Gligar are unable to leave the city due to the influence of special gusts of the wind.

A local informed him that Lucian, a member of the Sinnoh Elite Four, had passed through recently. Using his Psychic Pokémon, he had freed the Gligar and transported them out of the city just two days prior. Paul had narrowly missed his chance.

Undeterred, Paul surmised that the Gligar wouldn't have traveled far. He decided to train nearby while keeping an eye out for the elusive swarm.

The Encounter

During a training session in a forest clearing, Paul focused on Grotle and Ursaring. Grotle's evolution had bolstered its strength and defense, though its speed and agility had suffered. Meanwhile, Ursaring donned a new training device designed to enhance its endurance and power.

Dewott and Vulpix sparred nearby, practicing close combat techniques against each other. Although Dewott had the upper hand in skill, Vulpix's superior speed and strength made their matches evenly matched.

Suddenly, a commotion in the treetops caught everyone's attention. A swarm of purple, bat-like Pokémon—Gligar—descended, led by a larger, grayish-purple Gliscor. The swarm landed on a nearby tree, eagerly feasting on its bright red berries.

Wasting no time, Paul issued commands:

"Grotle, use Power Whip!"

"Grrr!"

Grotle's vines erupted from the ground, lashing toward the Gligar swarm and targeting the Gliscor.

"Wahya!"

Startled, the Gligar scattered, many falling to the ground. Gliscor, however, dodged the attack and retaliated with a mocking glare before preparing to flee.

"Vulpix, Gravity!"

"Vul~!"

Vulpix created a gravity field, forcing the Gligar and Gliscor back to the ground.

"Grotle, Power Whip! Dewott, Psycho Cut! Ursaring, Hammer Arm!"

Paul's Pokémon executed their moves with precision. Grotle's vines immobilized the Gligar, while Dewott and Ursaring targeted Gliscor directly.

"Boom!"

Ursaring delivered a crushing Hammer Arm, knocking Gliscor out cold. With their leader down, the remaining Gligar quickly succumbed to Paul's team.

After the severe pain came, the Gligar's eyes went black and fell to the ground, unconscious.

As the battle ended, Paul observed his Pokémon with satisfaction. Each one had grown stronger through the encounter.

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