Chapter 9: The First Badge, the Blue Badge!

“Ralts, use Telekinesis!”

Hearing the command, Ralts was about to use telekinesis when it suddenly saw the small sea lion dart swiftly into the water.

The thick ice surface made it impossible to see the sea lion’s exact position. Ralts scanned left and right, but just in its blind spot, the sea lion suddenly burst through the ice, ramming its head hard against Ralts.

However, having spent months with Xia You and seasoned by many battles, Ralts quickly recovered from the surprise and, using teleportation, dodged away instantly.

“Seel, use Ice Shard attack!”

The sea lion opened its mouth wide again, gathering numerous ice shards and shooting them toward the newly appeared Ralts.

The fierce explosion sent ice fragments and debris flying, enveloping Ralts. But as the dust settled, Sakura and the others were surprised to see that although struck by the ice shards, Ralts not only withstood the attack but showed no significant injury from the ice shards!

“Huh? Strange!” Sakura exclaimed, “In terms of types, Ralts, with Psychic and Fairy attributes, shouldn’t have a disadvantage against the Water-type Seel. Moreover, Ice Shard is an Ice-type move — why is the damage so minimal?”

“Sakura,” Xia You smiled, “I believe your Seel’s ability must be Thick Fat.”

The Thick Fat ability means that a Pokémon with this trait takes only half damage from Ice- or Fire-type moves.

Sakura nodded, “That’s right, but so what?”

Xia You explained, “My Ralts’s ability is Trace, so it can fully copy Seel’s Thick Fat ability. That’s why your Ice-type moves pose no real threat.”

“I see now,” Sakura said, enlightened. “So it copied Seel’s ability right at the start of the battle?”

Seeing Xia You’s admission, Sakura sighed, “I have to say, that’s a rare ability. It really caught me off guard. But I won’t give up just yet!”

“Seel, use Water Pulse!”

“At the same time, Ralts, use Magical Leaf!”

Countless glowing leaves appeared out of thin air in front of Ralts. They spun, compressed, and then flew relentlessly toward Seel, colliding with the incoming water stream and causing a fierce explosion.

When the thick fog cleared, the Magical Leaf had not only neutralized the Water Pulse but also injured the Seel inside!

The attacked Seel was forced to fall onto the ice sheet.

Grass beats Water—effective indeed!

“Ralts, use Telekinesis!”

“Seel, get back into the water quickly!”

But remembering the earlier lesson, this time Ralts didn’t let Seel have its way. Concentrating intently, Ralts acted first, wrapping Seel in telekinesis before it could move, lifting it into the air.

Seel howled in pain from the telekinetic attack, struggling in vain, unable to break free.

When Ralts raised it high enough, it swung its arm down sharply, smashing Seel onto the rocks at great speed.

Boom!

With a loud crash, Seel lost consciousness, incapacitated in battle.

“We lost!”

Sakura and the others retrieved the fainted Seel into its Poké Ball and approached Xia You.

Before Xia You could recall Ralts, a radiant light suddenly enveloped it. Seconds later, the original Ralts vanished, replaced by a new form—Kirlia!

Ayame covered her mouth in surprise, “Huh? It actually evolved!?”

Kirlia’s form resembled a white-clad dancer in a ballet tutu. Its legs were slender, its hair no longer obscuring its eyes but parted with bangs, revealing red eyes. Even its two red horns had shifted, looking like hairpins.

It was as if a young girl had blossomed into a graceful young lady.

Pokédex entry: “Kirlia, the Emotion Pokémon. The horns on its head create illusions in the surrounding space when amplifying psychic powers. It can sensitively detect its trainer’s emotions and begins to dance when happy. The trainer’s cheerful mood is its source of spiritual strength.”

Kirlia was still adjusting to its new form, spinning a few times before returning to Xia You’s side.

“Kirlia, your new look is beautiful.”

Kirlia glanced shyly at Xia You and only rubbed its cheek affectionately against his hand after he gently stroked its head.

At that moment, Sakura approached Xia You holding a blue badge.

The badge was shaped like a sky-blue water drop, gleaming like a jewel under the sunlight.

“Congratulations, Trainer. This is the reward for defeating us.”

Xia You politely accepted the blue badge and placed it in his badge case.

Looking at the solitary blue badge inside, Ayame pouted and sighed, “To think we were the first gym leaders to be defeated. It’s really frustrating!”

Xia You smiled quietly, saying nothing.

These three, more focused on water ballet than gym defense, had neglected training their Pokémon. Among many gyms, their strength was arguably the weakest.

But everyone has their aspirations. Hopefully, Misty will take over here soon.

Waving goodbye, Xia You left with his three Pokémon. After he disappeared beyond the gym, an orange-haired girl with a side ponytail entered the battlefield.

“Sis, I’ve been looking everywhere for you. So you were here all along? Huh? Why do you all look so down?”

Ayame dramatically said, “Misty, we were deeply hurt by a man just now!”

“Hurt!?” Misty was stunned at first, but after hearing the full story from Sakura, she huffed, “Hurt? You just lost at gym defense. I thought someone dumped you!”

Sakura considered this, then said, “Now that you mention it, he was gentle and strong—he’d be a good boyfriend choice.”

“You’re impossible,” Misty pouted. “If I had been there, there’s no way he would have taken our blue badge! Losing three straight—what a disgrace!”

Hearing this, Peony wagged a finger, “Don’t be so cocky. That guy with Kirlia was truly strong. Even with your skills, you definitely couldn’t have beaten him.”

“Don’t underestimate me!” Misty bristled like a prickly hedgehog. “Hmph, I’ve decided—I’m leaving early the day after tomorrow. I won’t come back until I become a great trainer!”