"Rattata, you're up!"
Kai's arm snapped forward, the Poké Ball cutting through the morning air at the top of Sprout Tower before bursting open in a flash of white light, with Rattata hitting the swaying wooden platform already sprinting.
Sunlight poured through the open windows of the tower's top floor, casting long beams of gold across the ancient boards while wind rushed through the open structure hard enough to make the hanging bells chime softly overhead, and beneath it all, the entire tower swayed with its slow, constant rhythm.
"Quick Attack! Don't stop moving — and whatever you do, don't look into Noctowl's eyes!"
Rattata vanished into motion immediately.
He darted between the crooked wooden pillars in rapid bursts, claws scraping across the floorboards as he ricocheted off support beams and railings while loose papers and dust spiralled behind him, the speed of his movement making nearby lanterns swing wildly even in the daylight.
Across from him, Noctowl stood perched atop one of the tower's massive support beams, perfectly balanced despite the swaying structure beneath it, golden feathers rippling softly in the wind as its amber eyes followed Rattata with unnerving calm.
"Hoo..."
The low cry echoed through the tower, mixing with the sound of creaking wood and chiming bells.
The elder raised a hand.
"Confusion."
Starting his first attack against Kai's Rattata strong.
The air distorted instantly.
Psychic force burst outward in rippling waves that bent the sunlight itself, and Rattata's sprint shattered mid-stride as his body jerked violently sideways, paws skidding across the uneven floor before the invisible force hurled it spinning through the air.
CRASH.
Rattata smashed through a stack of wooden crates before slamming hard into one of the support pillars, the impact sending dust cascading from the rafters while the entire top floor groaned beneath the force.
"Khh—!"
"Rattata!"
For a moment, Rattata stayed down among the broken wood. With Kai fearing the worst.
Then slowly, trembling, Rattata pushed itself back onto its paws.
Still ready to fight.
Kai felt something tighten hard in his chest at the sight.
"THAT'S IT!" he shouted, adrenaline surging through him. "Hyper Fang — go for the wing!"
Rattata exploded forward again.
This time, it used the tower itself.
Rattata bounded off pillars, sprinted along the side railing for balance, then kicked off one of the slanted roof beams and launched itself upward in a spiralling arc toward Noctowl's blind side while sunlight flashed across its bared fangs.
Noctowl's eyes widened slightly.
But it was too late.
"RAAATTAAA—!!"
Hyper Fang ignited in a bright white flash around Rattata's jaws as he slammed into Noctowl's wing and bit down hard.
CRUNCH.
Feathers burst into the air and scattered through the sunlight as Noctowl recoiled violently, a sharp cry tearing from its throat while one massive wing jerked upward hard enough to shake dust loose from the ceiling beams above.
Kai's heart leapt.
He actually got it.
"YES! Hold on, Rattata, don't let—"
"Noctowl, shake it off and use Hypnosis."
The elder's voice cut through the chaos instantly.
Noctowl lowered its head slowly, amber eyes glowing brighter as they locked onto Rattata's from inches away, and suddenly everything seemed to slow — the swaying tower, the ringing bells, the rush of wind through the open windows.
Kai's expression dropped immediately.
"No, Rattata, look away—!"
However, it was too late.
Rattata's jaws loosened.
The tension drained from his body all at once as its limbs went limp, and it slowly slid down Noctowl's feathers before gravity finally pulled it free.
Rattata tumbled through the open air from the tower's upper floor, drifting into sleep before it even had a chance to react, the wooden boards rushing up to meet the small Pokémon.
"Rattata, return!"
Kai reacted on instinct, the Poké Ball snapping open in a burst of red light that caught Rattata inches above the floorboards before pulling him safely back inside.
Silence settled over the top of the tower.
Only the wind remained, flowing through the open windows while loose feathers drifted lazily through the sunlight around Noctowl's hovering form.
And Kai could only stand there breathing hard while he tried to think what to do next.
For a second, he didn't think. He just stood there with the Ball warm in his palm, the smell of damp wood and wet feathers in the air, Sandshrew's claws still tight in his shoulder, and the tower very, very quiet around him.
That's three...
That's three of my team, and I've only managed to land one hit.
He could feel his throat working. He didn't want to swallow because he was afraid the elder would see it.
The elder didn't say anything. He just inclined his head — not unkindly, not mockingly. The same small bow he'd given his Weepinbell.
Kai's hand moved, slowly, to clip Rattata's Ball back onto his belt.
It was over. He'd lost. He had Zubat in his pocket, but Zubat was already half-paralysed and hurt from the Weepinbell fight — he wasn't sending Zubat into that. He still had Mankey, after what had happened last time he tried to use it, he knew that wasn't an option.
That just left Sandshrew... And the Sentret he had only just caught...
He didn't even let himself think it. Sandshrew was a ground type. Noctowl was flying. Sandshrew had one move that could reach across this much open floor. And even if it could, Hypnosis would end the match as soon as it landed.
He'd lost.
His mouth opened, the words I forfeit halfway up his throat — when the elder spoke.
"You haven't lost yet, young man."
Kai blinked.
The elder hadn't moved. Hands still folded into his sleeves. Same quiet, considered expression.
"I — what?"
"I have one more. So do you. Unless I am very much mistaken about what's on your shoulder." He said, looking at Kai's Sandshrew.
Kai turned his head a fraction.
Sandshrew was already looking at him. Not up at him from the floor, the way it normally did at the start of a battle. At him. Eye to eye. Its small face perfectly still, claws still hooked into the fabric of his jacket.
It had been watching the whole match. Of course it had. It had watched Snubbull go down, and Totodile, and Rattata, and it hadn't made a sound. It hadn't shifted its weight. It had just stayed there on his shoulder, taking it all in.
And now it was looking at him, and the look was very, very clear.
Suddenly, Sandshrew jumped.
It didn't wait for him to set it down. It didn't wait for him to call it. It let go of his jacket with a small, decisive flick of its claws and dropped to the wooden boards in front of him in a low, controlled landing. All four feet square. Back to Kai, facing the Noctowl head-on and ready for a fight.
Its shoulders rolled once. The hard yellow plates across its back catching the sunlight.
"Shrew..."
Kai's throat closed up. Not in a bad way this time. In a way that felt like someone had reached in and put a small warm hand on his sternum.
Right. Right. Yeah. Okay...
The fog in his head pulled back a step. Then another.
Hypnosis needed the eyes. Even on Totodile — Totodile had been facing Noctowl, only just barely turned away. The rings had found enough of his face to land. But if there was no face to land on at all — if there was nothing to make eye contact with!
He looked at Noctowl. At the calm amber eyes. The way they were fixed on Sandshrew's small back, waiting for it to turn around.
Kai's heart pounded, not with fear, but with a rush of possibility and exhilaration. Every beat seemed to echo the thrilling thought that if he could pull this off, victory might be his for the taking.
He breathed in. Slow. The air tasted of wet wood and damp feathers.
"Sandshrew," he said. Quiet, so the elder wouldn't hear yet. "Hey, buddy. I think I've got an idea."
Sandshrew's ear flicked once toward him. It didn't turn its head, instead keeping its eyes on the Noctowl while Kai let Sandshrew in on the plan.
"Shrew."
Across the floor, Noctowl tilted its head a slow ten degrees and waited for its trainer's orders.
Kai smiled. Small and tight.
"Alright," he said, louder now, to the room. "Let's do this."
"It would seem you are ready; very well, let us begin." The elder also said, seeming amused.