being in the Pokemon world

The Emberhollow Gym was hotter on the inside than Alex expected. Not just warm—sweltering. The battlefield was sunken, its floor lined with cracked, scorched stone. Vents in the walls hissed with bursts of flame, casting shifting light across the gym's blackened walls. The air shimmered with heatwaves.

From a platform above, the Gym Leader watched him approach.

She was tall, in her thirties maybe, with coal-black hair tied into a high bun and soot marks streaked across her arms. Her jacket was fireproof leather, open at the front to reveal a crimson battle top underneath. Her name was Pyra, and her presence burned as fiercely as the flames that surrounded her.

"You're the one who beat Calem and that loudmouth?" she called down. "Hope you're not all talk."

"I came to fight," Alex said simply, stepping onto the platform opposite hers. Riolu and Charcadet stood beside him.

Pyra's smirk was small but genuine. "Good. I don't battle unless my challengers earn it. Let's see what heat you can take."

She leapt from her platform as the floor panels shifted to form a ring around the battlefield. Flames danced along the borders, a signal that the battle had begun.

the battle begins

She tossed out her first Poké Ball.

Magmar burst forth in a swirl of flame, its body radiating intense heat.

"Charcadet, take the lead!" Alex called.

Charcadet stepped forward, unfazed by the fire licking at its feet.

"Let's test your pressure. Magmar, Flame Charge!"

Magmar exploded forward like a meteor, flames cloaking its body.

"Dodge right! Counter with Night Slash!"

Charcadet rolled to the side, the Flame Charge missing by inches. He spun and struck Magmar across the shoulder with a glowing blade of dark energy. Magmar growled, but the attack had landed.

"Smokescreen!" Pyra shouted.

Magmar exhaled a black cloud, obscuring the arena.

Alex clenched his fist. "Don't chase! Listen for the movement, then use night slash!"

charcadet would move fluently using night slash against the magmar

"Nice shot," Pyra said, nodding. "But not enough. Use Confuse Ray!"

Magmar's eyes flared. A pulse of swirling energy spiraled toward Charcadet.

"Close your eyes!" then Alex would tell charcadet "Charge in with Fire Punch!"

Charcadet obeyed. He slammed his flaming fist into Magmar's gut, sending the fire-duck skidding back.

It collapsed. the night slash and fire punch making too much damage for magmar to continue fighting

Pyra returned it, still smiling.

"You've got tactics. I like that. But let's see how you deal with raw fire."

She sent out her next Pokémon.

Houndour.

It was fast. Eyes sharp. Ember sparked from its mouth with every breath.

"Charcadet, return! Riolu, you're up!"

Riolu stepped onto the field.

"Houndour, Howl then Bite!"

The dark hound let out a bone-chilling cry before sprinting forward.

"Let it come," Alex whispered. "Then Counter!"

Bite struck Riolu squarely—but Riolu's counterattack landed harder, sending Houndour tumbling with a yelp.

"Don't give it time! Quick Attack!"

Riolu blurred and struck again, keeping Houndour pinned.

But Pyra wasn't done. "Flamethrower!"

Houndour rose and unleashed a torrent of flame.

"Use the wall!" Alex shouted.

Riolu sprang sideways, kicking off the stone and flipping over the flames. He landed behind Houndour.

"Now—Force Palm!"

With a burst of aura, Riolu struck Houndour's back, sending it sprawling.

The dog struggled to stand—then dropped. Unconscious.

The battlefield went quiet. The flames lining the edge died down.

Alex let out a long breath. His heart thundered in his chest.

Pyra called back her Pokémon and crossed the field. "Not bad, kid. You've got instincts. You didn't just try to overpower my team—you out-thought them. Used your Pokémon's strengths. That's rare."

She pulled a badge from her pocket—shaped like a jagged flame curling inward.

"The Ember Badge," she said, placing it in Alex's hand. "First step to becoming someone who matters."

Alex looked at it for a long moment. It gleamed orange and red in the firelight.

Charcadet and Riolu both ran to his side, worn but proud. He knelt down and rested a hand on each of them.

"We did it," he whispered.

As the flames around the battlefield died completely, he turned toward the gym exit. Outside, Emberhollow was quiet, the evening cool starting to settle in.

But inside Alex burned brighter than ever.

One badge down.

Many more to go.

And the journey was just beginning.