"Ground and Normal dual-type?! Are you serious?!"
Yuko's eyes were wide with a mixture of disbelief and barely contained excitement. She'd grown up surrounded by Ground-type Pokémon—trained with them, studied them, battled with them since she was old enough to hold a Poké Ball. The idea that a common species like Ursaring had a hidden evolution that gained Ground typing was the kind of revelation that would reshape a Ground-type specialist's entire worldview.
And yet she couldn't bring herself to fully believe it. She'd never heard of Ursaluna. It wasn't in any reference book she'd read, any Pokédex entry she'd checked, any lesson her father had taught her.
"Of course it's true," Gary said, his tone carrying the easy confidence of someone stating established facts. "And Ursaluna has two distinct forms."
"Two forms?" Yuko repeated, her skepticism momentarily overridden by curiosity.
"The standard form walks on all fours," Gary explained. "It has a full moon pattern on its forehead—circular, golden, luminous. It's a powerful physical attacker with excellent bulk, and its Ground/Normal dual typing gives it unique coverage options."
He paused, letting that sink in, then continued.
"The second form is called Bloodmoon Ursaluna. It stands upright on its hind legs, and the full moon pattern on its forehead turns blood-red. It gains access to an exclusive move—Blood Moon—a Normal-type special attack with 140 base power. It can only be used once before the user has to switch to a different move, similar to how Hyper Beam requires a recharge turn."
Yuko stared at him. Every detail Gary provided—the forms, the typing, the exclusive move, the specific mechanical limitation—was delivered with the kind of granular precision that was nearly impossible to fabricate on the spot. You could make up a Pokémon's name, sure. But inventing an entire evolutionary line with dual forms, unique moves, and specific battle mechanics? That required either incredible imagination or genuine knowledge.
The scales tipped.
"Young man, you even know about Bloodmoon Ursaluna. That's quite impressive."
The voice came from behind Gary—deep, steady, and carrying a quiet authority that filled the lobby without being raised.
Both Gary and Yuko turned toward the entrance.
A middle-aged man stood in the doorway. He had short black hair, a plain face, and wore simple, practical clothing—the kind of person who would blend into a crowd without a second glance. But beneath that unremarkable exterior, there was a calmness to him—a groundedness that spoke of deep experience and quiet confidence. His posture was relaxed but centered, like a boulder that had been in the same place for so long it had become part of the landscape itself.
"Dad! You're back!" Yuko's face lit up. She immediately darted across the lobby and skidded to a stop in front of him.
"Dad, he's here to challenge the Gym!" she said, pointing at Gary with an urgency that suggested Gary might vanish if she didn't identify him quickly enough.
"I see."
The man stepped inside and approached Gary, studying him with a measured gaze. "Hello. My name is Terran—I'm the Gym Leader of the Silvercrown Gym." He nodded toward Yuko. "I overheard your conversation about Ursaring with my daughter. You seem to know a great deal about Ground-type Pokémon and their evolutions."
"I've done my research," Gary said simply. "Since you're back, Gym Leader Terran, can we start the Gym battle?"
"Hold on!"
Yuko inserted herself between them with the speed and determination of someone who was absolutely not going to be sidelined. "The bet between us isn't over yet! We agreed to a wager battle—you can't just skip it!"
Gary glanced at her. The wager battle was technically still standing—he'd accepted the terms before Terran arrived. But fighting Yuko directly would be over in seconds and wouldn't prove anything to either side.
Better to consolidate everything into the Gym battle, he thought. More efficient, and it gives Yuko the advantage of her father's strength backing her wager.
"How about this," Gary said, addressing both of them. "Let's fold the wager into the Gym battle itself. If Gym Leader Terran wins the official challenge, Yuko wins the bet and gets the Peat Block. If I win, I get both the Badge and the Scorching Sands TM. Two birds, one stone."
Yuko opened her mouth to protest—then closed it. Her competitive instinct warred briefly with her common sense, and common sense won. If her father fought in her place, the odds of winning were astronomically better than if she'd fought Gary herself. She might be the strongest young trainer in town, but her father was a League-certified Gym Leader with decades of experience.
"This… actually isn't a bad idea," she admitted.
Terran looked between his daughter and the challenger, a flicker of concern crossing his face. "Yuko, this is your wager. Are you sure you want to stake it on my battle instead of your own?"
"He's the one who suggested it," Yuko said firmly. "And besides, you're stronger than me. If we're going to bet the Scorching Sands TM, I'd rather have you fighting for it than me." She paused, then added with a shrewd look: "Oh, and Dad—can you verify the Peat Block? Can it really make Ursaring evolve?"
Terran's expression shifted subtly. His eyes moved to the rough brown block in Gary's hand, and something that looked very much like desire flickered across his normally impassive face.
"I've heard of Ursaluna," he said carefully. "The evolution itself is documented in certain old texts. But the specific method—the Peat Block—hasn't been widely discovered yet. What this young man described matches the information I've encountered." He paused. "It shouldn't be fake."
Gary noticed the way Terran's gaze lingered on the Peat Block. He wants it. A Ground-type specialist who knows Ursaluna exists but doesn't have the means to evolve one. And there are wild Ursaring in the forests outside Silvercrown Town—he could catch one tomorrow if he had the Peat Block.
Good. That means he'll fight seriously.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Yuko grabbed her father's arm and started pulling him toward the back of the Gym. "Let's go! Start the battle!"
"Alright, alright." Terran allowed himself to be dragged, though a small, fond smile broke through his stoic facade. He looked back at Gary. "Shall we?"
"After you," Gary said.
The three of them entered the Gym's battle arena.
The space was designed in the style of a small stadium—a regulation-sized field with packed-earth terrain, surrounded by tiered seating that could hold perhaps two or three hundred spectators. The seats were empty now, but the infrastructure made it clear that the Silvercrown Gym doubled as a public venue for the town's local tournaments and events. The walls were reinforced concrete, rated to withstand the seismic forces of Ground-type combat, and the ceiling was high enough to accommodate large Pokémon without restriction.
The earth floor was loose and sandy—natural terrain that favored Ground-types, allowing them to use Dig and Earthquake without the resistance that harder surfaces would impose.
Gary took his position on the challenger's platform. Terran walked to the Gym Leader's box at the opposite end, his earlier casual demeanor replaced by something sharper—the quiet focus of a man who took his role seriously, regardless of the circumstances.
Yuko stationed herself at the referee's position on the sideline, straightening her posture with exaggerated formality.
"The official Gym Challenge between the challenger Gary and Gym Leader Terran will now begin!" she announced, her voice echoing through the empty stadium with surprising authority. "This is a three-on-three battle! The match continues until all Pokémon on one side are unable to battle! Only the challenger has the right to substitute Pokémon! Additionally, the terms of the wager battle between the challenger and Yuko have been incorporated into this match!"
She took a breath, then looked at both trainers.
"Do both sides understand and accept these terms?"
Gary's system pinged:
[Ding! Mission Released:
Obtain the Silvercrown Gym Badge — Reward: Intermediate Rare Candy ×6, Drill Run TM (permanent), Premium Soft Sand ×1 Win using only Sinnoh Region Pokémon — Reward: Intermediate Rare Candy ×6, Ground-type TM (trainer's choice), Random Pokémon Item ×1]
Gary noted the reward tiers with mild interest. Six Intermediate Rare Candies as the base reward—that means all three of Terran's Pokémon are Level 40 or above. This Gym is a step above most of the smaller ones I've visited.
"Understood," Gary said, nodding at Yuko.
"Then Gym Leader Terran will send out his Pokémon first!" Yuko declared.
Terran's calm expression hardened into something more intense. The laid-back father who had walked through the door twenty minutes ago was gone. In his place stood a Gym Leader—a man who had earned his position through years of dedication to his craft and his Pokémon.
"Let's begin," he said, his voice carrying a resonance that hadn't been there before. He drew a Poké Ball from his belt and hurled it with a sharp, practiced motion. "Hippowdon—you're up!"
The ball burst open in a flash of white light, and a massive figure slammed onto the arena floor with a ground-shaking impact. Hippowdon—the Heavyweight Pokémon—materialized in its full, imposing glory. Its sandy-brown body was enormous, its cavernous jaws gaping wide enough to swallow a person whole. Dark markings ringed its eyes, and its thick, powerful legs anchored it to the earth like the foundations of a building.
[LV42 Hippowdon — Gym-tier]
The moment Hippowdon's feet touched the field, its Ability activated. Sand Stream.
"HIPPOW—!"
Hippowdon let out a deep, resonant bellow that vibrated through the arena floor. Sand erupted from the six port-holes lining its broad back in powerful geysers—thick streams of grit that swirled upward, caught the air currents within the enclosed stadium, and expanded rapidly into a full-fledged Sandstorm. Within seconds, the entire arena was engulfed. Visibility dropped sharply. The wind howled. Fine grit stung exposed skin and rattled against the reinforced walls like a thousand tiny drums.
Sand Stream, Gary noted, watching the weather shift with clinical interest. He's leading with Hippowdon to establish Sandstorm immediately. That means his other two Pokémon almost certainly have Abilities or strategies that synergize with sand—Sand Veil for evasion, Sand Rush for speed, or moves that benefit from the weather conditions. His entire team is built around this Sandstorm core.
It was a sound strategy for a Ground-type specialist. Hippowdon set the weather, and the rest of the team exploited it. Simple, effective, and difficult to counter for trainers who weren't prepared for weather-based tactics.
Unfortunately for Terran, Gary thought, my Pokémon doesn't just endure Sandstorm. It thrives in it.
He reached for his belt. Rhyperior's Poké Ball was warm in his hand—almost vibrating, as if the Pokémon inside could sense the battlefield conditions and was straining to be released.
A Ground-type Gym. Sandstorm already active. Loose earth terrain. This is the perfect stage to field-test EX Solid Rock.
He threw the ball.
"Rhyperior—let's go."
The Poké Ball cracked open, and Rhyperior materialized with a thunderous, earth-splitting impact that sent cracks radiating across the arena floor. The Drill Pokémon rose to its full, towering height—a mountain of gray armor plate, craggy stone hide, and raw physical power. Its drill-horn gleamed dully through the swirling sand. Its small, fierce eyes swept the field with the focused intensity of a predator that had been waiting for exactly this moment.
The Sandstorm whipped around Rhyperior's body—and rather than flinching from the biting grit, the massive Pokémon seemed to welcome it. As a Rock-type, Rhyperior received a passive 50% boost to its Special Defense in Sandstorm conditions. The weather wasn't a hindrance—it was armor.
[LV63 Rhyperior — Champion]
"Rhyperior?!"
Yuko's jaw dropped from the referee's box. Her eyes darted between the towering Drill Pokémon and Gary's utterly relaxed expression, disbelief written across her face.
Terran's eyebrows climbed his forehead. His composure held, but surprise was clearly visible in his eyes.
Both father and daughter arrived at the same conclusion simultaneously: Rhyperior is part Rock-type. Ground-type moves are super effective against Rock. He's deliberately bringing a type-disadvantaged Pokémon into a Ground-type Gym.
"Gary," Terran said, his voice measured but carrying a note of genuine concern, "are you certain you want to battle with Rhyperior? Its Rock typing means my Ground-type moves will have the advantage."
"Yes," Gary said.
"Earthquake alone would deal super-effective damage," Terran pressed. He wasn't being arrogant or condescending—just honest. A Gym Leader had no obligation to warn a challenger about type matchups, but Terran was the kind of man who valued fair competition above easy victories.
"I appreciate the concern, Gym Leader Terran," Gary replied, his expression calm and completely untroubled. "But I have my reasons for choosing Rhyperior. Please don't hold back on my account."
Terran studied him for a long moment. The boy's composure was absolute—no nervousness, no bravado, no uncertainty. Whatever his strategy was, he was fully committed to it. There was no bluff in those eyes. Only quiet, assured confidence.
He knows something I don't, Terran realized. He's not making a mistake—he's making a statement.
"Very well," the Gym Leader said, inclining his head. "Forgive me for overstepping."
He glanced at Yuko and nodded.
Yuko shook off her bewilderment, raised her hand high above her head, and brought it down with a sharp, decisive chop.
"Battle—begin!"