Fuchsia Gym was not like the others.
There were no open glass domes, no warm welcomes or idle trainers waiting for a turn.
It was quiet.
Ancient.
Half-buried into the landscape like it had grown from the marsh itself.
The doors were carved dark wood, flanked by statues of serpentine Pokémon wrapped in mist. As Skylar and Misty approached, a flicker of movement passed behind the paper-thin windows—silent. Watching.
Skylar adjusted his badge case.
"I don't expect a straight fight," he said.
Misty smirked. "Fuchsia never gives you one."
The moment they stepped inside, the lights dimmed.
A chime rang out—low, metallic.
Then a voice, calm and measured, echoed through unseen speakers.
"Welcome to the Fuchsia Gym, challenger. My name is Aya—successor of Koga and guardian of the Marsh Badge. You will not reach me easily."
The hallway ahead split into three paths.
Fog filled each corridor.
Skylar glanced at Misty.
"You can't come with me."
She shrugged. "I'll be watching from the judge's box."
He took a breath and stepped forward.
The fog swallowed him whole.
The Gym was a test before the battle.
A maze filled with shifting walls, tripwires, and pressure plates. Skylar moved carefully, recalling Oak's teachings, his aura training, and the lessons learned surviving corrupted caverns.
A dart hissed from a hidden panel—he ducked.
A springboard tried to launch him backwards—he rolled.
At one point, a hidden chamber released a Koffing to try and wear him down with smog.
Skylar sent out Scyther, who cut through it with a single Air Slash.
Ten minutes later, he passed the final illusion.
The fog peeled back.
And the true battlefield was revealed.
A large circular arena stood at the heart of the Gym, surrounded by shallow pools and suspended platforms. Above, dim violet lanterns hung like stars in mist.
Across from him stood Aya.
Dressed in a dark, modernized ninja uniform with subtle purple accents, her hair tied back in a single sharp braid, she bowed without flourish.
"You're Skylar. You carry weight behind your name."
Skylar nodded once. "And I intend to earn yours."
Aya's eyes narrowed. "Then step forward."
Misty stood above in the judging box, arms folded, watching silently.
Red was there too, sitting cross-legged behind the glass, unreadable.
Skylar took his place on the platform.
Aya mirrored him.
Misty raised her hand.
"Three Pokémon each. No substitutions."
Aya's voice rang out, calm and confident.
"Let the test begin."
Aya led with Toxicroak.
Leering. Balanced. Dangerous.
Skylar released his first.
Scyther.
"Let's go."
Toxicroak lunged with Sucker Punch—Scyther parried with Double Team, illusions exploding outward like shards.
Scyther countered with X-Scissor, striking through a feint and landing across Toxicroak's shoulder.
Aya didn't flinch.
"Poison Jab—side angle."
Toxicroak twisted unnaturally and jabbed through an afterimage.
Scyther reeled.
Skylar's heart skipped—poisoned.
"Air Slash—now!"
Scyther released a concussive wave, blasting Toxicroak backward.
But Scyther staggered.
Skylar narrowed his eyes.
"One more. Aerial Ace!"
Scyther blurred, hit, and landed hard.
Toxicroak dropped.
Misty raised her hand. "Toxicroak is unable to battle."
Skylar returned Scyther quickly—he wouldn't last another round.
Aya's second Pokémon emerged:
Salazzle.
Graceful.
Deadly.
Toxic mist curled around her with every step.
Skylar reached for his second Poké Ball.
"Arcanine."
The fire-type landed with a growl, eyes locked on the serpent-like foe.
Salazzle launched a Venoshock, but Arcanine met it with Flare Blitz, cutting the line of attack in half and plowing forward with force.
They clashed—fire and toxin hissing across the battlefield.
Salazzle danced around him with nimble movements, landing a Toxic, then fading into the shadows to kite.
Aya called, "Now—Corrosion Mode."
Salazzle's toxic field thickened, and the floor turned slick with venom.
Arcanine's movement slowed.
Skylar clenched his fist. "Don't give her the pace. Extreme Speed—circle pattern!"
Arcanine blurred again, zigzagging through the marsh gas before erupting upward with a Fire Fang.
The hit landed.
Salazzle hissed and collapsed.
Misty raised her hand. "Salazzle is unable to battle."
Aya narrowed her eyes.
Then tossed her final Poké Ball.
Drapion.
Massive.
Armored.
Fangs gleaming.
It roared across the field, shaking the stones.
Skylar returned Arcanine.
It was time.
His ace.
"Charizard—let's finish it."
Charizard emerged, wings stretching wide, fire rising from his throat.
Drapion charged with Cross Poison.
Skylar's voice was calm.
"Take the sky. Flamethrower. Spiral down."
Charizard lifted off, spun, and unleashed a firestorm in a downward spiral.
Drapion tanked the damage and leapt—claws scraping the platform where Charizard had just been.
"Tail Sweep!" Aya shouted.
Charizard was clipped mid-hover.
Staggered.
But not grounded.
Skylar's hand trembled.
No mega evolution today.
No aura boost.
Just them.
"Fire Blast. Now. Center mass."
Charizard roared.
The five-pointed flame carved through the fog and hit Drapion square in the chest.
The scorpion Pokémon shrieked, then collapsed in a hiss of steam.
Silence.
Then Misty raised her hand.
"Drapion is unable to battle. The match goes to Skylar!"
Aya stepped forward as the lights brightened.
She didn't smile.
But she bowed.
"You understood my Gym. You adapted. That is rare."
Skylar returned Charizard, exhausted but proud.
"You fought well."
Aya held out the Marsh Badge—a coiled silver serpent surrounded by misted glass.
"You've earned it."
Skylar took the badge and nodded.
Another step forward.
Another weight lifted.
Outside, Misty walked beside him as the morning sun cut through the fog.
Red waited near the exit, silent.
He didn't say anything.
But he gave a single nod.
Acknowledging Skylar's victory.
Skylar didn't speak either.
He just looked at the badge in his hand.