Pokemon: A New Path

Haxorus had fallen. The crowd of Pokémon watching from the sidelines let out collective gasps. 

Leon stared at the defeated Pokémon, then back at Gogoat, his expression a mix of astonishment and excitement. 

"Did it lose just from a few moves?" Leon muttered under his breath. The strength of Gogoat's Vine Whip and the precision of its Leaf Blade were on a completely different level. 

"That's no ordinary Gogoat," Leon said aloud, his grin widening. His blood was pumping now, the thrill of facing such a strong opponent igniting his competitive spirit. 

Without hesitation, Leon retrieved Haxorus' Poké Ball and called it back. "You did great, Haxorus. Rest now." 

Then, with practiced ease, he plucked another Poké Ball from his belt and tossed it forward. "The battle's far from over! Dragapult, let's show them our fire!" 

A flash of white light erupted, revealing a sleek, dragon-shaped Pokémon hovering mid-air. Dragapult's triangular head gleamed under the sunlight, its missile-like horns extending outwards. 

"Dragapult, huh?" Naoki mused as he examined Leon's choice. "I was expecting Charizard." 

Leon laughed. "Charizard's my ace, and it deserves to come out last. Let's see if you can get that far!" 

Naoki gave a small nod. It was typical for trainers to hold their trump card for the finale. "Well then," he said, "let's get this round started." 

The whistle blew again, signaling the start of the second match. 

Leon wasted no time. "Dragapult, Dragon Darts, followed by Phantom Force!" 

"Draaah!"

Dragapult cried, narrowing its eyes as it locked onto Gogoat. With a sudden burst of energy, it fired its signature Dragon Darts—the two Dreepy living in its head were launched like missiles, streaking through the air with a sharp whistling sound.

The Dreepy zigzagged unpredictably, slamming into Gogoat from two different angles. A faint burn mark appeared on its fur where the darts had struck. 

Before Naoki could respond, Dragapult vanished into the shadows, blending seamlessly into its surroundings with Phantom Force. 

Naoki observed silently, his calm demeanor masking the gears turning in his head. Gogoat stood firm, unshaken by the hit, its sharp gaze scanning the battlefield. The scars left by Dragon Darts glowed faintly, already healing as the energy from the Grassy Terrain poured over it like a soothing wave. 

Leon blinked in disbelief. "It's healing again? That fast?!" 

Naoki allowed himself a slight smile. "Grassy Terrain restores their vitality every moment it's active. You'll have to do better than that to keep them down." 

Dragapult remained hidden in the shadows, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Its invisibility lent it a distinct advantage, but Gogoat was no stranger to such tactics. 

Naoki gave his next command with quiet authority. "Gogoat, use Vine Whip—sweep the field!" 

"Meaaaah!" 

Two thick vines shot out from Gogoat's sides with a crackling sound. With remarkable speed, Gogoat began spinning in place, the extended Vine Whip turning into a deadly green blur. It swept across the battlefield like a rotating fan, slashing through every shadow and corner. 

One second, two seconds, three seconds... 

As Naoki silently counted in his mind, the tense energy of the battlefield crackled in the air. 

By the time he reached seven, Gogoat's Vine Whip finally lashed out, striking Dragapult's ethereal form as it emerged from the shadows. 

"Drraahh!"

Dragapult cried in pain. It struggled to steady itself mid-air, but another vine was already coiling toward it with unrelenting force. 

"Fly, Dragapult!" Leon commanded, his voice sharp. 

With a deep intake of breath, Dragapult shot skyward like a fighter jet, its sleek body cutting through the air. The two vine whips followed closely behind, reaching toward the dragon's retreating form. 

Naoki watched the aerial chase with calm detachment. His sharp eyes remained locked on Dragapult, observing every movement. 

Meanwhile, Leon's mind raced. 

"We can't drag this out," he thought, his eyes narrowing. "That Gogoat's healing from the Grassy Terrain is absurd… but wait..." 

His thoughts shifted to the earlier battle with Haxorus. For some reason, the Grassy Terrain hadn't seemed to affect his Pokémon. The realization hung in his mind for a fleeting second before he shook it away. 

"Focus, Leon. There's no time to think about that now." 

Above the battlefield, Dragapult reached the apex of its ascent, the vines chasing it stretching to their full length before falling away, unable to follow further. Dragapult exhaled in relief, circling back to assess the situation. 

On the ground, Leon's mind clicked into gear. 

"The healing from the terrain isn't instantaneous," he mused. "There's a window—a three-second delay before it starts taking effect. That's my chance." 

Leon clenched his fist. "If I can land a powerful, fast attack, I can end this before Gogoat recovers!" 

Leon's voice rang out, clear and determined: "Dragapult, Dragon Darts!" 

"Drraah!"

Dragapult dove sharply, launching two glowing purple Dragon Darts from the Dreepy resting in its horns. The projectiles streaked through the air with a sharp whistle, splitting apart to strike Gogoat from different angles. 

Naoki's eyes flicked upward. Leon was up to something. 

"Gogoat, Razor Leaf!" 

"Meaaah!" 

Gogoat's body shimmered with green energy, releasing a barrage of sharp-edged leaves that spiraled upward like a glowing green snowstorm. The flurry of Razor Leaf clashed with the incoming Dragon Darts, creating bursts of energy as some of the leaves were shredded, while others continued their ascent toward Dragapult. 

The Dragon Darts, though slowed by the leaves, broke through the defense and slammed into Gogoat. The impact sent it skidding backward, leaving visible marks on its fur. 

Naoki's lips tightened, but he remained calm. The regenerative power of the Grassy Terrain had already begun to work, the green glow surrounding Gogoat as its injuries began to heal. 

Leon's eyes lit up. "Now! Flamethrower, Dragapult!" 

"Draaah!"

Dragapult opened its mouth wide, flames swirling inside before erupting into a roaring inferno. The sea of fire consumed the incoming Razor Leaf, turning the sharp-edged projectiles into harmless ash. 

As the flames roared, burning embers rained down from the sky like a fiery storm. 

Dragapult increased its speed, diving sharply through the firestorm it had created. Its sleek body cut through the air, the flames trailing behind it adding a dramatic flare. The Flamethrower, combined with the Dragon Darts it had launched earlier, landed a devastating combo on Gogoat. 

The flames engulfed Gogoat entirely. 

Naoki watched as Gogoat's figure disappeared in the fiery blaze. The Pokémon gritted its teeth against the onslaught, enduring the pain but unable to counterattack. 

Leon stood on the edge, watching intently. His mind was calculating every second. 

"Three…" 

"Two.."

"One.." 

"Now!" Leon shouted. "Dragapult, finish it! U-Turn*" 

"Draahh!"

Dragapult stopped its Flamethrower and instantly cloaked itself in shimmering light. With blinding speed, it turned into a glowing missile, charging straight at Gogoat. 

The green glow of the Grassy Terrain flickered but couldn't keep up with the rapid succession of hits. The force of Dragapult's attack caused Gogoat to crumple to the ground. 

Dragapult hovered above the battlefield, its chest heaving as it caught its breath. After landing the decisive hit, its body glimmered and returned to Leon in a safe retreat, allowing the dragon Pokémon a brief moment of respite. 

Leon breathed a sigh of relief. "One down, two to go…" 

But before he could fully relax, the battlefield shimmered with a brilliant green light. 

"What the—?!" Leon's voice cut off as his eyes widened. 

From the fallen Gogoat, an even stronger wave of grass energy surged forth. The light enveloped the fainted Pokémon, and its wounds began to heal at a miraculous speed. 

Gogoat, which had been rendered unconscious just moments before, slowly opened its eyes and stood back up, looking as if it hadn't taken any damage at all. 

Leon: "..."?

Dragapult: Drahh??" 

"What?! How?!" Leon exclaimed, his jaw practically hitting the ground. 

Even Dragapult hovered in stunned silence, its usual cool demeanor momentarily replaced by pure shock. 

Naoki blinked, momentarily caught off guard himself. His eyes turned toward the World Tree in the distance, whose luminous leaves glowed brighter than ever. Realization dawned on him. 

"So that's what happened…" he murmured under his breath. 

Naoki smiled, recalling Gogoat back. "That's enough for now. You've done well." 

He turned to Leon, gesturing toward the battlefield. "This round is yours. You're the winner." 

Leon blinked, still processing what had just transpired. "Wait, really? But I—what just happened?" 

Naoki chuckled, sensing Leon's curiosity. "It's the Grassy Terrain," he explained. "It's not an ordinary version of the move. The field created by Gogoat is unique—its effect lasts longer, and Gogoat can draw directly from its energy reserves to heal even faster than usual." 

Leon's confusion gave way to amazement. "So that's how it stood back up so quickly… Its control over grass-type energy is incredible!" 

Naoki shrugged modestly, his smile warm. "Maybe they're just naturally gifted. Blessed by nature, you could say." 

"Let's continue!" 

As the whistle blew, signaling the start of the match, Leon gave his first command without hesitation.

"Fly high, Dragapult!" he called, setting his Pokémon into motion.

Dragapult launched itself skyward, using its speed and agility to gain the advantage of height.

Naoki, watching closely, wasn't about to let the same tactic succeed twice.

"Gogoat, Energy Ball!" he instructed, pointing to the sky.

"Mehhh!"

Gogoat responded with determination. It locked its gaze onto Dragapult and began to gather a brilliant sphere of green energy in front of it. With a swift motion, it fired the Energy Ball, sending it hurtling toward the airborne Dragapult.

Leon smirked, his voice calm yet confident.

"Dodge it, Dragapult!"

Dragapult gracefully veered to the side, the Energy Ball flying harmlessly past. Naoki, however, wasn't deterred.

"Again!" he called.

Another Energy Ball formed and launched toward Dragapult, only for it to dodge once more.

"Keep going!" Naoki shouted.

Gogoat continued its relentless assault, one Energy Ball after another streaking toward the evasive Dragapult. The green orbs streaked across the sky like a meteor shower, lighting up the battlefield with their brilliance.

By now, Leon's expression had shifted. He hadn't anticipated this level of sustained pressure. "Continuous Energy Balls? Impressive…" he muttered. He glanced at Dragapult, noticing its movements becoming slightly less fluid. The prolonged dodging was taking its toll.

Recognizing the danger, Leon made a quick adjustment. "Dragapult, Phantom Force! Get behind it!"

Dragapult vanished into the shadows, disappearing from view. Naoki narrowed his eyes, anticipating the move. "Gogoat, Razor Leaf!" he commanded sharply.

"Mehhh!" Gogoat's horns glowed with green energy as it whipped its head, releasing a flurry of sharp leaves in every direction. The leaves spun and scattered across the battlefield, creating a defensive perimeter.

"Be ready for the next move," Naoki added.

"Solar Beam!"

Leon's expression grew tense. The battlefield was scattered with Gogoat's razor-sharp Razor Leaves, and its charged Solar Beam loomed below, ready to strike. If Dragapult made any misstep, it would fall into a precarious trap.

He clenched his fist, deep in thought. 'How do I counter this setup?'

Meanwhile, Gogoat stood steady in the grassy terrain, its body glowing faintly as it absorbed sunlight. Its sharp eyes scanned the battlefield, watching for any sign of Dragapult. 

Suddenly, something odd happened. A cluster of Razor Leaves in the northeast corner of the field seemed to collide with an invisible force, falling harmlessly to the ground.

"There!" Naoki called.

Gogoat shifted its weight, gathering all the sunlight it had absorbed. With precision, it unleashed a blazing Solar Beam directly at the spot.

The radiant beam tore across the battlefield, revealing Dragapult, whose cloaking technique had been disrupted. The impact sent the Pokémon crashing to the ground.

"Dragapult, Dodge!" Leon shouted urgently. 

But Gogoat was already prepared. It lowered its head slightly, focusing its energy. A massive Solar Beam formed, glowing with an intense light as it moved toward Dragapult. 

The strike hit its mark. Dragapult, unable to recover in time, fell with a heavy thud onto the grassy field, unconscious.

Leon recalled Dragapult into its Poké Ball, his expression shifting from surprise to admiration. "That's incredible! The connection between you and your Pokémon is truly something special."

Naoki nodded but remained focused. "You've been a strong opponent too."

Leon's lips curved into a determined grin as he reached for another Poké Ball. "But this battle isn't over yet. Now, it's time to show you the bond between me and my strongest partner. Let's go, Charizard!"

A flash of white light revealed Leon's ace Pokémon: a powerful Charizard. Its flame-red body radiated strength, and the fire on its tail blazed fiercely, reflecting its fiery spirit. The sharp glint in its eyes revealed its confidence and readiness for battle.

The surrounding Pokémon watching from the sidelines murmured excitedly at Charizard's dramatic entrance.

Naoki studied his opponent carefully, recalling all he knew about Leon's Charizard. It was no ordinary Pokémon. With an arsenal of powerful moves like Fire Blast, Hurricane, Flamethrower, and Air Slash, coupled with its Blaze ability that powered up Fire-type moves when its health was low, this Charizard was a force to be reckoned with.

Naoki's heart sank slightly as he realized the disadvantage. Gogoat, being a Grass-type, was heavily countered by Charizard's dual Fire/Flying typing. Charizard's resistance to Grass moves would make Gogoat's attacks almost negligible.

Even so, Gogoat didn't flinch. Its eyes locked onto Charizard with unwavering determination. 

Naoki took a deep breath, steeling himself. "If Gogoat isn't giving up, then neither am I."