The Pantheon

Toxic

Ashley stood at the edge of the Fuchsia City Gym's training grounds, the cool morning air tingling against her skin as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the treetops. She shifted on her feet, the faint rustle of fabric catching her attention. She still couldn't get over how awesome the ninja outfit felt—sleek, flexible, and surprisingly comfortable. The deep purple fabric clung snugly without restricting her movements, and the dark sash tied at her waist made her feel like she belonged in one of those old martial arts movies.

She tugged at the fingerless gloves Koga had handed her earlier, flexing her fingers to test the grip. Not bad. The soft fabric moved with her, perfect for scaling walls or—hopefully not—throwing kunai. She grinned at the thought.

Proserpina stood beside her, swaying slightly as if mirroring the motion of the grass around her. The Gloom tilted her head up at Ashley, despite her usual droopy appearance, Proserpina looked alert, her petals twitching as she caught faint scents carried by the breeze.

"Look at you," Ashley teased, crouching down to give Proserpina a light pat on the head. "Already getting into the ninja mindset. You're gonna rock this."

Koga's voice cut through the morning calm, sharp but calm. "Compliments won't get her far. Training will."

Ashley flinched and shot upright, turning to see Koga approaching with his arms folded behind his back. He was already dressed in full ninja garb—his outfit blending perfectly with the shadows cast by the Gym's high walls and surrounding trees. His movements were nearly soundless, and Ashley briefly wondered if he'd just materialized out of nowhere.

"Right," she said, straightening her back and giving a mock salute. "Ready when you are, sensei."

Koga arched an eyebrow but smirked faintly. "We'll see how ready you are soon enough." He stepped closer, inspecting Proserpina with a critical eye before gesturing for Ashley to follow him toward the center of the training ground.

Ashley exchanged a quick glance with Proserpina and followed her steps quietly against the packed dirt. She couldn't help but notice how the training area had transformed since yesterday. Bamboo poles lined one side, a rope net hung from another, and several large logs sat stacked in a corner. On the far end, a shallow pit filled with sand and stones suggested some kind of agility course—or a very unpleasant obstacle course.

"So," Ashley said, looking around. "We're... not just focusing on Pokémon moves?"

Koga turned slightly, his sharp eyes glinting in the morning light. "Training a Poison-type Pokémon requires more than brute strength. You need precision. Control. Adaptability." He stopped in front of the rope net and tapped the edge with his foot. "This training will sharpen both your mind and your body. Proserpina must learn to harness the subtlety of toxins, and you must learn to think like a Poison-type trainer—patient, calculating, and resourceful."

Ashley nodded, her grin widening despite the weight of his words. "Got it. Stealth, strategy, and poison. Like a ninja."

Koga's smirk returned. "Exactly." He motioned toward a small rack of weighted training kunai. "You'll also need to understand timing. We'll start there."

Ashley's eyes lit up, but Proserpina let out a low hum, clearly less thrilled by the idea of weapon practice. Ashley knelt down and scratched behind Proserpina's leaves.

"Don't worry," she whispered. "You're the star here. I'm just your backup."

The Gloom let out a soft chirp, her petals puffing slightly as she straightened.

Koga observed the interaction but said nothing. Instead, he held out a kunai to Ashley, his expression sharp. "Catch."

Ashley's hand shot out instinctively, and she snatched the kunai by the handle before blinking at it in surprise. "Oh. Hey, not bad."