𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐄

[CH.4 SN.1]: Push forth team!

The afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Yami Kuroda walked out of the Turffield Gym with her shoulders slumped and her hands stuffed in her pockets. Kage and Indra both limped beside her, their pride clearly wounded, their heads lowered. The battle had ended so quickly, and Yami couldn't shake the feeling of failure that seemed to cling to her like a shadow.

As they made their way to the Pokémon Center, the weight of the loss felt heavier with every step. The Dynamax Eldegoss had obliterated both Indra and Kage in a way she hadn't expected. The gym battle, which she had thought she was ready for, had been a complete disaster. It wasn't just that they lost—it was how quickly it all happened. She had barely had time to react, let alone strategize.

Inside the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy greeted her with a smile, but Yami barely noticed, her mind too preoccupied with the weight of her defeat. She handed over her Pokéballs, and Nurse Joy's words of reassurance faded into the background. She didn't feel like hearing about how "it's just a part of the journey." She wanted to be better—and that meant winning.

After what felt like an eternity, Nurse Joy returned her Pokémon, both of them healed and ready to go—though their expressions mirrored their trainer's. They were clearly feeling just as down as she was.

Without a word, Yami took the two Pokémon outside. She needed to clear her head. The small patch of grass near the Pokémon Center became their temporary resting place. It was quiet, peaceful—almost too peaceful for Yami's restless mind.

She sat on a large rock near the edge of the clearing, arms crossed, staring off into the distance. Indra sat at her feet, his fur still slightly ruffled from the earlier battle. Kage, perched nearby on a low branch, stared off into the trees, his eyes distant. Both of them looked utterly defeated—like they had been knocked out not just physically, but emotionally.

Yami felt the frustration welling up inside her, that feeling of not being good enough. She wasn't even sure if she was cut out for this whole "Pokémon journey" thing. Her dad's legacy. The weight of it all.

"Ugh," she groaned, dragging her hands down her face in frustration. "I thought I could do this. I thought I could handle it. But... we got crushed so easily. What's wrong with me? What's wrong with us?"

The Pokémon didn't respond, but their downcast faces spoke volumes. It was like they were all thinking the same thing: We're not good enough.

But Yami wasn't ready to stay in this rut forever.

She stood up suddenly, her gaze fierce as she looked between Indra and Kage, her voice breaking the heavy silence.

"No," she said, her tone surprisingly sharp. "I'm done moping. You're done moping. We're a team, right? A team that's supposed to get stronger together. And I refuse to let some dumb loss keep us down."

She paced back and forth in front of her Pokémon, talking to them like she was having a conversation with herself. Her words were fast, a blur of thoughts she hadn't even realized were building up inside her.

"Alright, listen up, you two. I get it. We lost. It sucks. You've got every right to be upset about it." She pointed dramatically at Kage, who flapped his wings a little, as if agreeing. "But guess what? Losing doesn't mean the end of the road! Do you know how many times my dad lost when he was starting out? A hundred. A thousand. Maybe more! But he never gave up. And neither will we!"