Chapter 3: A Battle of Wills
As we stepped out of Professor Arbutus’ lab, the bright sun greeted us, warming the cool air of the afternoon. I was still holding Glameow’s Poké Ball, my fingers brushing over its smooth surface as if to calm my nerves. Ed walked beside me, his Treecko as lively as ever, running ahead of us and darting around the path like it couldn’t wait for something exciting to happen.
“So, what do you think?” Ed asked, turning to me with a grin. “How about a battle?”
I froze. A battle? Already? I wasn’t sure I was ready for that. Especially considering what had happened the last time I let Glameow out. The way she hissed at everyone back in the lab… I wasn’t even sure she liked me.
“I don’t know, Ed,” I said, feeling my voice waver. “I mean, Glameow doesn’t seem like the battling type. She’s more… aggressive than friendly.”
Ed chuckled. “That’s exactly why you should give it a try. Battling will help her trust you. Pokémon bond through battle—it’s how they learn to rely on their trainers.”
Professor Arbutus, who was walking just behind us, nodded in agreement. “Ed’s right, Francesca. Battling can be a great way for Glameow to gain experience and grow stronger. It may also help you two connect. Trust me, it’s worth trying.”
I bit my lip. Even though I still felt anxious, both Ed and the professor seemed convinced that this was the best way forward. And maybe they were right—maybe throwing Glameow into battle would help her trust me. After all, she had chosen me, hadn’t she?
“All right,” I agreed, though my heart was pounding. “Let’s do it.”
Professor Arbutus clapped his hands together, clearly excited. “Wonderful! Let’s head to the garden. I’ll act as the referee.”
We followed him through the lab and out to the back, where a spacious garden stretched out before us. It was the perfect spot for a Pokémon battle—wide, open, and surrounded by lush greenery. Ed and I took our places on opposite sides of the garden, with Professor Arbutus standing in the middle, ready to oversee the match.
Treecko, always outside of its Poké Ball, eagerly stepped forward, puffing out its chest as if trying to intimidate me. It gave a playful glare, its eyes glinting with excitement. I, on the other hand, could feel my palms sweating as I gripped Glameow’s Poké Ball tightly in my hands. My nerves were getting the best of me, but I had to do this. I couldn’t back down now.
“You ready?” Ed called, smiling confidently.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my hands as I held Glameow’s Poké Ball in the air. “Yeah… I’m ready.”
With a quick toss, the Poké Ball sailed through the air, releasing Glameow in a flash of red light. She landed gracefully on the ground, her sleek purple fur catching the sunlight as she stretched, then immediately shot a glare at Treecko. Her tail flicked in irritation, as if she was already annoyed by the idea of having to fight.
“Check her moves with your Pokédex,” Ed suggested. “It’ll help you figure out what she can do.”
I nodded and quickly pulled out the Pokédex, scanning Glameow.
“Glameow, the Catty Pokémon. Known for its graceful movements and elegant fur, Glameow is a cunning and independent Pokémon often found in urban settings. Its signature curled tail can be used to hypnotize foes, allowing it to strike with precision. Though it appears refined, Glameow has a capricious temperament and will scratch its trainer without hesitation if its demands for attention are not met.”
The device hummed for a second before listing her attacks: Fake Out and Shadow Claw. As I stared at the screen, I noticed a small glyph flash at the corner of the display, indicating Glameow’s gender—Female. That was the first time I realized I had been referring to her without knowing, but now I was sure. Glameow was a she. It felt… right, somehow.
But there were two more moves listed as unreadable—just a glitch, I guessed, and decided to ignore it for now. Before I could even call out an attack, Glameow dashed forward with blinding speed, her claws raised. She used Fake Out on Treecko, clapping her paws together to release a shockwave that left Treecko stumbling, hurt and unable to react.
“Whoa!” I gasped, eyes wide with shock.
Ed’s jaw dropped, and even Professor Arbutus looked surprised. “Incredible,” he murmured. “That’s quite the quick reaction.”
Glameow didn’t stop there. She followed up with another attack, her claws glowing with a ghostly energy as she slashed at Treecko with Shadow Claw. She moved so quickly, her attacks seemed relentless.
“Treecko, dodge it!” Ed called, snapping out of his shock.
Treecko was quick on its feet, leaping and darting around the garden, trying to avoid Glameow’s strikes. But she was faster. She landed a solid hit, her claws raking across Treecko’s side, making the little grass-type Pokémon yelp in pain.
I stood there, frozen, my hands trembling. I hadn’t even called for any of these moves. Glameow was acting on her own, attacking without any guidance from me. It felt like I wasn’t even in control of the battle, like I was just watching as it all unfolded.
“Francesca!” Ed’s voice snapped me out of my daze. “You need to give her commands!”
“I—I’m trying!” I stammered. But before I could call for anything, Ed ordered Treecko to use Leafage.
Treecko quickly recovered, summoning a flurry of sharp leaves that flew toward Glameow with impressive speed. I winced, expecting her to be hit, but Glameow remained calm. Her posture changed, and for a moment, she stood perfectly still, her eyes narrowing as if she was preparing for something big.
Then, without warning, Glameow unleashed an unexpected move—Blizzard.
A fierce gust of icy wind shot from her mouth, swirling with snowflakes and freezing cold air. The blast hit Treecko head-on, and before anyone could react, Treecko was frozen in place, covered in a layer of ice. The powerful Ice-type move had knocked it out completely.
The garden fell silent. All three of us—Ed, Professor Arbutus, and myself—stared in disbelief. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I knew Glameow was strong, but Blizzard? That was an Ice-type move. Glameow shouldn’t even know that!
“Impossible,” Professor Arbutus muttered, stepping forward to inspect the frozen Treecko. “A Glameow using Blizzard? I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s unheard of… Not even Purugly, Glameow’s evolved form, can learn such a move.”
I swallowed hard, feeling a mix of awe and fear. Glameow stood at the far end of the garden, her fur slightly ruffled, but otherwise calm. She gave a soft huff, as if satisfied with her performance, then turned to me, her gaze sharp and unreadable.
“I… I didn’t mean for that to happen,” I said quietly, looking over at Ed, who was kneeling beside his frozen Treecko.
Ed smiled, though it was a little shaky. “No worries, Cesca. It’s not like you knew Glameow could do that. Besides, that was an amazing battle.” He pulled out Treecko’s Poké Ball and returned the Pokémon in a flash of red light. “We’ll get ‘em next time, right, Treecko?”
I let out a shaky breath, still trying to process everything. Glameow… she had won the battle, but it didn’t feel like a victory. It felt more like… a mystery. Why did she know Blizzard? Where did she even learn it?
Professor Arbutus stood, still looking bewildered. “This is highly unusual. I’ve studied Pokémon for years, and I’ve never seen a Glameow with such an ability. It would take an immense amount of training to learn an Ice-type move like that, especially for a species that shouldn’t even be capable of using it.”
I nodded slowly, still staring at Glameow. What was going on with her? She wasn’t just a wild Pokémon who had accidentally caught herself in my Poké Ball. There was something more—something deeper that I didn’t understand yet.
“I’m sorry, Ed,” I said, feeling guilty for how the battle turned out.
Ed waved it off with a grin. “Don’t sweat it. I’ve battled stronger trainers before, but this was definitely one of the most interesting battles I’ve had.”
Professor Arbutus, still intrigued, gestured for us to head back inside the lab. “Come on, let’s discuss what we’ve just witnessed. Francesca, Glameow may be more special than you realize.”
I hesitated for a moment, glancing at Glameow, who was now grooming herself as if nothing strange had happened. With a sigh, I returned her to her Poké Ball and followed Ed and the professor back into the lab. My heart was still racing, and questions swirled in my mind.
Glameow’s true origin was a mystery, and somehow, I had the feeling that this was only the beginning.