The roar of Gyarados shook the lake.
Waves crashed against the shore, soaking the grass and kicking up mud as the massive Pokémon surged forward, eyes glowing with raw, frenzied rage.
Skylar didn't hesitate.
"Charmander—Flamethrower, aimed high! Gardevoir, prep a barrier!"
A blazing pillar of fire shot through the air—not to injure, but to distract. The flames made Gyarados rear back instinctively, long enough for Gardevoir to conjure a psychic wall between the water and the Trainers.
"Starmie, Swift—fan pattern!" Misty commanded, throwing her arm forward. Her Water-type Pokémon spun like a star, releasing a barrage of golden projectiles that struck Gyarados across its body.
It roared again, more in confusion than pain, twisting midair before slamming into the lake with a thunderous splash.
Skylar narrowed his eyes.
"It's strong, but... its attacks aren't focused."
Misty nodded grimly. "Something's off. This isn't normal aggression."
Gardevoir hovered closer to the waterline, eyes glowing.
"It's in pain," she said telepathically. "Its thoughts are erratic. Fragmented. Something's causing distress... deep in its body."
"Injury?" Skylar asked.
"Infection," Gardevoir confirmed. "Internal."
Gyarados emerged again, snapping its jaws toward Starmie, who flipped backward through the air to dodge.
Skylar clenched his fists.
"We can't keep hammering it. We'll hurt it worse."
"Then what do we do?" Misty shouted over the crash of water.
"We restrain it. Misty—can Starmie paralyze?"
"No… but she can freeze."
"Perfect. I'll hold it down. Gardevoir—Psychic grip on its jaw. Charmander—Smokescreen, then circle left."
Smoke burst across the battlefield as Gardevoir's power flared to life. The Gyarados howled as its jaws were forced open and locked in place.
From the left, Misty raised her hand.
"Starmie—Ice Beam!"
A concentrated blast of blue energy slammed into Gyarados' chest, forcing the massive Pokémon to fall backward with a cry.
Steam hissed from the lake as fire met ice.Then stillness.
The giant stirred… then slumped partially into the water, breathing heavily.
Skylar rushed forward.
"Gardevoir—can you locate the source of the pain?"
The Psychic-type floated over the Gyarados and focused. Her eyes narrowed.
"There's a poisoned metal shard lodged in its lower gill. Old. Rusted. Must have been embedded from an underwater trap or broken lure."
Misty winced. "It's probably been suffering for days."
Skylar looked at her.
"Can you get Starmie to sedate it?"
"Already on it."
She gave a hand signal. Starmie's core pulsed gently as calming waves passed over the wounded Pokémon.
Skylar approached slowly, pulling out a pair of gloves and a specialized healing syringe from his pack.
"Hold it still, Gardevoir."
The psychic energy held Gyarados' head in place while Skylar gently reached beneath the gill slit, locating the broken shard.
He took a breath.
"One… two…"
Snap.
The metal came free with a spray of blood. Gyarados roared weakly, but Starmie's calming field pulsed harder, and its body slowly relaxed.
Skylar immediately applied an antidote serum and pressed a patch over the wound.
They stepped back together as Gyarados lowered itself into the water again—calmer, weak, but alive.
The storm had passed.
Misty crossed her arms and whistled. "Well… that was intense."
Skylar nodded. "He's lucky we were here."
"We're lucky you were here," Misty corrected.
He looked over in surprise, but she quickly turned away.
"Guess I still have a ways to go before I catch up."
Skylar smiled gently. "I think we make a pretty good team."
Misty didn't answer, but the corner of her mouth curled slightly.
Gyarados slowly sank beneath the water, leaving only ripples behind.
The lake was quiet once more.
But something had shifted—between the Trainers, between the battle-worn Pokémon, and within Skylar himself.
The world wasn't always a test of strength.
Sometimes, it was about compassion, instinct, and understanding.