Catching Your Eye (Pokemon OCs x kpop F! idol)

V - Garden of Gasoline

The chatter of the audience in Turffield Stadium droned monotonously as ever. There wasn't much excitement to be heard in their collective chatter, and why would there be? Not only was this the first Gym in the Gym Challenge, this match was a rematch of the so-called "easiest Gym in Galar" to boot. Being a rematch, there wasn't even at least the pre-battle Challenge Room to keep them entertained. Not to mention, this Challenger was a letdown from the start, hyped up as the son of a Kalos Gym Leader, yet being wiped out by Key's Eldegoss without so much as a hitch.

So when Dantin Barre walked onto the field for the second time that week, he was met with a very different vibe from the crowd. Replacing the cheers was an almost-murmur. It all but turned his legs into jelly as he approached the centre field where the Gym Leader who had served him his previous defeat waited.

If he lost here, would that disqualify him? Was that how the system worked? Even if it wasn't, he didn't think he'd be able to show his face in a Galar Stadium ever again if he lost this time, seeing how the audience's reaction today made him feel.

As he came face-to-face with his repeat opponent, the gardener offered a smile of comfort.

"Nice to see ya back so soon, Challenger. Don't worry about the people, a tough crowd's somethin' to get used to in our field, ya know?"

"I guess..." Dantin's heart raced with adrenaline; he had been playing this battle in his head ever since he got back from the Wild Area, thinking of every way it could go wrong.

Or how it could go right.

Key tipped his hat to his repeat Challenger, before making his way to his side of the field. Dantin followed suit, his hand fidgeting with the new third Pokeball on his belt.

Once they were at their respective spots, Key yelled, loud enough for the audience to hear, as he sent out his first Pokemon. "Time to bury ya once again! Go, Gossifleur!"

Already having a new strategy in mind, contrary to his first Pokemon in the first battle, Dantin sent out his Galarian starter. "Go, Cody!"

A few "oohs" and "ahhs" sounded from the audience, mirroring the Gym Leader's surprised expression.

"So you managed to evolve your partner since we last met, eh? Not bad."

~~

It was after the meal that Dantin and his team had shared with Andrew and his team, at the latter's campsite in the Wild Area. The two Trainers had been sitting on a blanket, sharing with each other more about their backgrounds and where they came from. It was a mildly-amusing detail that both of them were related to prolific individuals within the international Pokemon community, even more so that Andrew's sister had apparently trained under Dantin's mother.

As the two chatted the evening away, their attentions were snatched by rising commotion somewhere behind the tent. Pokemon cries, and familiar ones at that.

"Guys?" Andrew called out, rushing towards the source of the noise, "What's going on here?"

"Eevee!" The Hoennian's shiny partner Pokemon hopped towards its trainer, a cute frown on its face, as though it were reprimanding him. "Vee vee!"

Dantin, who had caught up, looked at the scene unfolding before them. "It looks like... they're training him?"

The two trainers' Pokemon were all gathered in a clear spot behind the test. Cody, Dantin's Sobble, and Green, Andrew's Grovyle, faced each other in what looked like a battle, with Fanta, Chanel the Ralts, and Snor the Snorlax egging them on from the sidelines.