The wind never stopped blowing in Windfall City.
It whispered through the streets, howled between the towers, and circled endlessly around the massive structure at the city's heart—the Windfall Gym.
Elior stood at its entrance.
His cloak fluttered behind him. His eyes were steady.
Behind the tall glass doors, he could already feel it—the pressure. The presence. The test.
Voltiger stood at his right, sparks quietly dancing across its fur.
Pyrolyn sat at his left, its tail flame burning low but steady.
And Lunashade… remained in his shadow, silent as ever.
Elior took a slow breath.
"This is it," he whispered.
He pushed the doors open.
Inside, the Windfall Gym was vast.
The battlefield was circular, surrounded by open space. Above them, the ceiling was gone—replaced by the open sky itself. Clouds moved fast overhead, pulled by unseen currents.
Wind roared across the arena floor.
And at the far end… stood Cael.
Gym Leader Cael was tall and calm, his silver hair flowing freely in the wind. His long coat moved like it was alive.
His eyes locked onto Elior immediately.
"So," Cael said, his voice calm but powerful, "you are the boy I've heard about."
Elior stepped forward.
"I am Elior. I challenge you for the Windfall Badge."
The wind surged harder.
Cael studied him carefully.
"I can feel it," Cael said. "Your faith… and your burden."
Voltiger growled softly.
Pyrolyn's flame flickered brighter.
Cael smiled faintly.
"Very well. Show me the strength that carries you forward."
He raised his arm.
"This will be a three-on-three battle. Only the challenger may substitute freely."
A Gym attendant stepped forward.
"Battle between Challenger Elior and Gym Leader Cael will now begin!"
The wind screamed across the field.
Cael spoke first.
"Go. Skyrift."
A flash of light exploded into the sky.
A large avian Pokémon appeared, its wings wide and sharp like blades. The air itself bent around it.
Every flap of its wings created slicing currents.
Elior narrowed his eyes.
"It's fast…"
He reached for his belt.
"Voltiger. I choose you."
Voltiger leapt forward, landing firmly on the battlefield.
Electricity sparked wildly around it.
Skyrift immediately took flight higher into the sky.
Cael's voice was calm.
"Speed is the domain of the wind. Show him, Skyrift. Gale Cutter."
Skyrift vanished.
A second later—
SHHHHHK!
A blade of wind struck Voltiger directly, pushing it backward.
Voltiger growled, digging its paws into the ground.
Elior clenched his fist.
"It's faster than I thought."
Voltiger looked back at him.
Their eyes met.
Elior understood.
"Voltiger," Elior said calmly, "listen to the wind."
Voltiger blinked.
"The wind always moves," Elior continued. "But lightning… strikes in an instant."
Voltiger's sparks grew stronger.
Cael watched closely.
"Interesting," Cael murmured.
Elior raised his hand.
"Voltiger—Thunder Flash!"
Voltiger vanished in a burst of lightning.
Skyrift dove—
But Voltiger reappeared above it.
BOOM!
Lightning exploded across Skyrift's body.
Skyrift cried out and fell, barely stabilizing itself.
Cael's eyes sharpened.
Voltiger landed smoothly.
For the first time—
The wind hesitated.
Cael smiled.
"Yes… this is what I wanted to see."
He raised his hand again.
"Skyrift. Show him the true power of the sky. Tempest Dive."
The clouds above darkened.
Wind spiraled violently around Skyrift.
It became a living storm.
Then it descended.
Fast.
Too fast.
Elior's eyes widened.
"Voltiger—move!"
But the storm was already there.
BOOOOOOM!
Voltiger was struck directly, thrown across the battlefield.
It hit the ground hard.
Silence followed.
The wind slowed.
Voltiger struggled.
Tried to stand.
Fell.
The attendant raised a flag.
"Voltiger is unable to battle!"
Elior froze.
His first partner…
Defeated.
Cael spoke calmly.
"The wind does not hesitate."
Voltiger looked at Elior with frustration.
Elior walked forward and gently placed his hand on Voltiger's head.
"You did perfectly," he said softly.
Voltiger closed its eyes.
It returned to its Pokéball in a flash of light.
Elior stood again.
The wind blew harder now.
This was real.
This was war.
He reached for his next Pokéball.
His grip tightened.
"Pyrolyn," he said quietly.
He threw it.
"Let's burn through the storm."
Pyrolyn emerged in a burst of fire.
Its flame roared brighter than ever.
The wind and fire collided.
The true battle had just begun.
And the journey continues.....