"Anthian City's food is the best!" 

The next morning, we went straight to El Ludicolo Loco. Tess pondered whether it was okay to eat something considered lunch or dinner for breakfast, and Gerald explained that if the Kanto and Galar region can do it, then so can Roria.

Jake was in absolute awe of the menu and the dishes in the restaurant and couldn't help digging into his food when it arrived.

Gerald laughed. "Well, we are in the capital of Roria, it goes without saying that the food is at least delicious for the tourists." 

Zinx snagged some lettuce from Jake, who didn't notice until he looked down again. I looked the other way and Tess chuckled as Jake tried to take the lettuce back with his fork. Raboot, Pikachu, Umbreon, Eevee, and Amaura all shared one huge bowl of food. Umbreon had shared more with Eevee separately. 

"So, you and Zinx are going to challenge the gym here, right?" Gerald asked. I nodded in confirmation. "I see. As you already probably know, Anthian's Gym is Flying-type. Gym Leader Stephen is no pushover, but I think you can handle it."

"Yeah, they can!" Tess exclaimed while Jake and Zinx fight over their food in the background. "Nadia's confronted Team Eclipse Admins twice. I'm not sure about Zinx, but he supposedly defeated three gyms in a day and a half so that means something." 

"Well, good luck to both of you, then." Gerald returned to his meal while writing stuff down in a journal. 

"Oh, by the way," Tess started, "can I stay with you for the time being, Gerald? I want to know if there's information immediately if that's alright."

Jake hears this and exclaims that he wants to stay behind with Tess. I facepalm under the table and Gerald smiles. 

"Yes, of course, you're welcome to stay with me. Once Nadia and Zinx return from their gym battles, I'll update them as well." 

Jake and Tess cheer and we all finish our meals. 

Zinx and I went straight to the Battle District after parting from the others and headed to the giant stadium of a gym. Zinx decided to head in first, so I explored the district in fuller detail. There was construction happening, with plans for a future Battle Frontier. Other than that, there wasn't anything else.

When Zinx returned from the battle, he mumbled something about having to help assemble a jet before battling as he rushed to the Pokemon Center. I went into the gym and saw that it was just a plane hangar. 

A man in a top hat was tinkering with a jet's wings when I walked in. He turned around and spotted me, waved hello, and said he'll take on my challenge once I finish helping him fix the jet. So my gym mission is literally to just find stuff for him so he can fix his jet. 

Once done, most of my Pokemon got buffed, especially Amaura and Pikachu, due to the marshalls in the gym. Gym Leader Stephen gladly accepted my challenge after I helped him and we went out to what looks like a helicopter base/battlefield.

"Since my Pokemon are Flying-types, I very much rather give them as much air superiority as possible," he explained. "As a result, this challenge is outside. My Pokemon are ready to fight, so let's battle!"

He starts with Staraptor and I begin with Raboot. Raboot kicked up a nearby pebble, setting it on fire. 

"Use Agility to start, and then use Take Down!" Stephen commanded. Staraptor flew in different directions, getting faster and faster before aiming straight at Raboot.

"Use Flame Charge!" 

Raboot rolled into a wheel and careened straight at Staraptor using a nearby ramp. The attacks connect, only Staraptor sustains more damage due to recoil. 

"Staraptor, use Aerial Ace!" 

Staraptor circled and flew straight at Raboot.

"Raboot-" Just as I started, Raboot jumped and punched Staraptor. The Flying-type spiraled towards the ground from the impact. 

"Wait, was that Counter-" I checked my phone, which displayed Raboot's moveset. Sure enough, Counter.

Raboot then kicked up a pebble and set it on fire. The flame grew and grew until it looked like a mini-Fireball. Raboot kicked the pebble at Staraptor, soccer-style. Upon doing that, Raboot shimmered blue and grew taller. 

Oh god, it's evolving. 

Raboot evolved into Cinderace, with another new move: Pyro Ball. I saw that Staraptor got hit by the first Pyro Ball and that it sustained more damage. 

"Whirlwind!"

Staraptor flapped his wings, creating a strong whirlwind heading straight at Cinderace. Cinderace got hit, but it only pushed her to the back wall of the gym. 

"Flame Charge!"

Cinderace didn't curl up this time; instead, she quite literally ran at Staraptor with flames on her heels.

"Couple it with Double Kick!"

Cinderace used her feet do deal extra damage with Flame Charge's fire as well. Staraptor gets knocked out, but Stephen sends out another Staraptor to avenge the first. That battle went just as fast, and Staraptor number 2 gets knocked out as well. Cinderace sustains some damage, but could still go on since her health is still in the yellow. 

This time, Stephen sends out a Skarmory. 

"Skarmory, use Steel Wing!"

Skarmory's wings turn full metal as it swoops down and hits Cinderace's torso with one of its wings.

"Climb up, and use Double Kick!"

Double Kick does less because of Skarmory's Flying-type coverage, but it's still enough to render one of its wings useless. Skarmory touches down on the ground and Cinderace jumps off.

"Use Spikes!" 

Skarmory unleashes spikes at Cinderace and the spikes float in the air. Stephen then commands Skarmory to use Slash.

"Cinderace, use Pyro Ball!" 

Cinderace kicks up another flaming pebble and chucks it at Skarmory, who goes up in flames and faints. Stephen then sends out Aerodactyl, and I return Cinderace for Umbreon. Umbreon got buffed a little too, having learned Moonlight and Dark Pulse. 

Umbreon gets hit with the spikes but is otherwise alright. I commanded him to use Dark Pulse. The beam of darkness aimed straight for Aerodactyl, but the latter manages to dodge and hit Umbreon with an Aerial-Ace-Thunder-Fang combo.

"Umbreon, use Moonlight, then Dark Pulse again!"

Umbreon summoned forth a light that healed him, then readied another beam of darkness. He shot the beam at Aerodactyl, who couldn't dodge this time. 

"Now use Snarl!"

Umbreon's Snarl resonated across the base, damaging Aerodactyl again and raising his Sp. Attack. 

"Now use Dark Pulse again!" 

Umbreon uses the move again, but Aerodactyl dodged it. Stephen adjusted his sunglasses and commanded Aerodactyl to use Earthquake. The ground shook violently, causing Umbreon to lose balance and take a lot of damage. 

"Finish it with Snarl!"

Umbreon snarled again, inflicting damage on Aerodactyl. The Pokemon spiraled backward but then regains its balance. Once it did, it saw that Umbreon showered himself with Moonlight again, healing him. I commanded Umbreon to use Dark Pulse again. The attack does more if it connects due to the previous Snarl attacks. It does connect, and Aerodactyl is on its last health point. 

"Use Swift!"

Umbreon shot shooting stars from his tail, and the attack connects, knocking Aerodactyl out. Stephen returns Aerodactyl and sends out Braviary. 

"Braviary, use Crush Claw!" Stephen immediately shouts. Braviary dives at Umbreon and slashed the Pokemon with its claws, inflicting a lot of damage. Umbreon finished up by using one last Dark Pulse before Braviary hits him with Superpower, inflicting massive damage due to Umbreon having a Fighting-type weakness. 

"Umbreon, return! Pikachu, let's go!" Pikachu jumped out of his Pokeball and I told him to use Quick Attack as a distraction. 

"Not so fast! Braviary, use Aerial Ace!"

Braviary circled the base and dove right at Pikachu when it pinpointed the Electric-type. The impact was enough to throw dust in the air. 

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" I yelled as soon as I spotted that Braviary held Pikachu in its claw. Yep, the training back inside the gym caused Discharge to turn into Thunderbolt. Pikachu mustered all his electricity into the attack, shocking Braviary badly, but not enough to down it. The Flying-type flew upwards, as per Stephen's command, and combines Crush Claw with something similar to Seismic Toss. 

"Braviary, use Zen Headbutt now!" Stephen commanded, and Braviary swooped up, its hair glowing brightly. The Psychic-type move clashed with a last-minute Quick Attack I got in. The moves cancel out and both Pokemon jump back from the impact. 

"Use Aerial Ace again!" 

"Counter it with a Feint attack!"

Braviary swooped down at Pikachu again, who got ready to counter it. The attacks connect, and Pikachu managed to turn around, making Braviary's back face the back wall.

"Now use Thunderbolt!"

"Block it with your wings!"

Braviary shields itself with its wings just as Pikachu unleashes a bolt of electricity. The impact pushes Braviary to the back wall, with its claws digging into the gravel in an attempt to stop itself. When Braviary hits the wall, it spread out its wings with force, dissipating the electricity.

"Quick Attack!" 

While Braviary recovered from its defensive position, Pikachu came barreling in, crashing straight into Braviary's body. The air completely goes out of Braviary's lungs.

It's about to get worse.

"Thunderbolt! One more time!" 

Pikachu electrocutes Braviary completely, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough. Braviary survives with just barely any health left. Stephen commands it to use its remaining strength to use Crush Claw, but the damage it had sustained caused it to move much slower, giving Pikachu the upper hand. 

Or would it be paw?

Whatever. I ordered Pikachu to use Quick Attack and the attack hits. Braviary goes down and Stephen loses the match.

"Good job." He said, before whooping. "Dang, that was fun! You've come a long way, huh?"

"Well, I did go through a lot..." I scratch my head. 

...Not to mention that I've played the core series games before...

"Mm. Experienced or not, you've done well to train your Pokemon. I feel winded after that fight, and I don't know whether it was from the jet or this battle, heh. There just isn't enough words to describe the feeling of freedom soaring through the sky or on the battlefield. Well," He placed his hands in his pant pockets, "that was certainly worth it. Here's my badge, it'll allow you to use Fly outside of battle. You know, for fast travel between towns and cities."

"Oh, thanks. That'll be helpful." I accepted the badge, which was an orb with three small white beams protruding out of it, resembling wings. 

"And!" He exclaimed, temporarily startling me, "My signature move, Aerial Ace." He handed over the TM. "It'll NEVER miss. Keep it in mind."

"Alright."

"You've done great so far. Keep reaching for new horizons and remember to fly freely, aight?" He grinned and raced back into the gym to finish fixing his jet. I take my leave, but just as I do, there was a loud engine in the distance, causing the ground to shake violently. I look to my left and spot a large airship crash nearby. 

"What the heck was that?!"