Pokemon: Skybound

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The woman appeared to be in her mid-twenties, with long auburn hair tied into three ponytails. She wore a black strap dress over a skirt, her style simple yet practical.

While not traditionally beautiful, her sun-kissed skin and confident demeanour made her seem like someone who had spent years by the sea a fiery and determined individual.

As she approached, her gaze landed on the boy still spinning mid-air. She sighed, exasperation clear in her expression, as though used to dealing with his antics.

"Senta, what have you done this time? Didn't I tell you to clean the house? Why are you out here causing trouble again?"

The boy, Senta, shouted in desperation, "Cissy! Help me! They're here to challenge the gym!"

Cissy?

So, this was Cissy, the Mikan Gym Leader.

Kai assumed she would immediately rush to her brother's aid, but instead, she gave him a brief glance, seemingly piecing together the situation.

Without further acknowledgement, she turned her attention to Kai and Sabrina.

"I'm sorry about my brother," she said, her voice calm yet apologetic. "I'm Cissy, the Mikan Gym Leader and one of the Orange League's Southern Cross stars."

Kai nodded, understanding her role. The Southern Cross referred to the unique group of gym leaders in the Orange Islands, named after the constellation that could only be seen from this part of the world. It was a symbol of pride for the region.

Seeing that Cissy made no move to shake hands, Kai remained where he stood. "I'm Kai, and I've come to challenge your gym. This is my companion, Sabrina."

"Kai?" Cissy frowned, her brow furrowing as she studied his face. After a moment of thought, her eyes lit up in recognition.

"Wait… Kai! I've heard of you. You're the undefeated Champion of this year's Indigo League, aren't you?"

Kai was surprised to be recognized in such a remote part of the Orange Islands. It seemed the Indigo League's influence extended further than he thought.

"That's me," Kai admitted, smiling modestly.

Cissy laughed. "Well, I'll be! I didn't expect someone like you to come all the way out here to challenge our little Orange League. I'm honoured."

"Don't mention it, Miss Cissy," Kai said, waving a hand. "Pokémon battles aren't about how big or famous a league is. If a challenge is worthwhile, I'll cross oceans to take it on."

Cissy clapped her hands, clearly impressed. "Spoken like a true Champion!"

Her tone softened as she glanced at her brother. "Now, about my troublemaking little brother… I truly apologize for his actions. I've scolded him so many times, but he just won't learn. Whatever he did to bother you, I sincerely apologize. Could you let him down as a favour to me?"

Though she sounded frustrated, a hint of affection could be heard in her voice. Kai nodded and gestured for Sabrina to lower Senta.

As Senta's feet touched the ground, his legs gave out, and he collapsed, dizzy and nauseated from all the spinning. He looked up at Sabrina with wide, terrified eyes.

'So scary… She's even scarier than my sister!'

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Cissy led Kai and Sabrina to the Mikan Gym, which stood by the sea. Inside, Kai observed the interior as plain and functional, just like the exterior. Compared to the extravagant gyms in Kanto, it felt almost barren.

Sabrina and Senta moved to the sidelines while Kai stepped into the arena. "Miss Cissy, could you explain the rules for this gym battle?"

"You've asked the right question," Cissy said with a grin. "The Orange League's gym battles are very different from what you're used to in Kanto. Many challengers come here expecting standard battles and don't understand our traditions. It's caused me plenty of headaches."

She pulled out a remote and pressed a button. A nearby panel slid open, revealing a row of empty cans.

Simultaneously, the floor beneath them shifted, splitting open to reveal a rectangular swimming pool.

With everything in place, Cissy released a Seadra into the pool with a toss of her Poké Ball.

"Alright, here's how it works," Cissy began. "Our battle will consist of three rounds, each with its own unique rules. For the first round, we'll each send out a Water-type Pokémon to use Water Gun and hit those cans. Whoever knocks down the most cans wins this round."

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Sabrina, watching from the sidelines, raised an eyebrow at the unusual rules. 'Is this a gym battle or a child's game?'

The Orange League's approach struck her as bizarre. It was no wonder the trainers here were considered weaker than those in other regions.

Kai, however, didn't seem bothered. He appreciated the creativity of the challenge. While it lacked the intensity of direct combat, this round required precision a skill that often went underappreciated.

"Sounds fair. My choice for this round is…" Kai said, releasing his Blastoise into the pool.

Among his water types, Blastoise and Gyarados were his best options. However, Gyarados's destructive tendencies made it unsuitable for such a delicate challenge. Blastoise, with its sturdy build and precise aim, was the perfect pick.

With the stage set, the first round of the Mikan Gym battle was about to begin.

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