The last rays of twilight painted the sky in hues of orange and purple as Gilgamesh and Misty finally stepped into the bustling streets of Saffron City. The metropolis was a stark contrast to the natural beauty they'd left behind, with towering buildings piercing the night sky, their windows glowing like countless stars. The air hummed with the energy of a city that never truly slept.
Their first priority was finding a place to rest. After a bit of searching, they located a modest but clean Pokémon Center. They checked in, ensuring their Pokémon were comfortable and ready for a good night's sleep after the day's rigorous training.
Once settled, their stomachs began to rumble. Despite the late hour, Saffron City offered a plethora of dining options. They chose a bustling diner, its neon sign casting a warm glow on the street. Over plates of hearty, late-night Kanto cuisine, they recounted the day's journey and Gilgamesh's intense training with Dreepy.
As they finished their meal, the city lights reflecting in his eyes, Gilgamesh turned to Misty, a determined glint in his gaze. "Alright, Misty," he said, his voice filled with renewed resolve. "Tomorrow. First thing in the morning, I'm challenging Sabrina. Get ready for a show."
Misty smiled, a hint of excitement returning to her expression. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, Gilgamesh. I'll be there to cheer you on."
With their plans set, they made their way back to the Pokémon Center, ready to face the powerful Psychic Gym Leader in the morning.
The first rays of Saffron City's morning sun streamed through the Pokémon Center window, gently rousing Gilgamesh. He stretched, feeling energized and ready. He then turned to gently rouse Misty.
"Hey, Misty, wake up," he whispered, a hint of excitement in his voice. "It's battle day! Time to get ready."
Misty groaned softly, pulling the blanket a little tighter, but after a moment, she stirred, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. " minutes."
After a quick preparation, fueled by a light breakfast, they made their way through the waking city. The streets were already bustling with early risers, but Gilgamesh's focus was solely on the imposing structure of the Saffron Gym.
As they approached the gym's grand entrance, however, they noticed something unexpected. Standing directly in front of the massive doors was a small girl, no older than perhaps seven or eight. She had dark hair and was clutching a doll tightly, her eyes fixed on the gym. She didn't seem to be waiting for anyone; she simply stood there, an unusual presence before the formidable Psychic Gym.
As Gilgamesh and Misty approached, the small girl turned her head, her gaze unsettlingly direct. "Are you here to challenge me?" she asked, her voice surprisingly clear and calm for her age.
Gilgamesh, a little taken aback by the directness from such a young child, nodded. "Yes, I am. It's just me battling; Misty is just watching us."
A faint, knowing smile played on the girl's lips. "If you lose," she stated, her grip tightening on her doll, "you lose your soul."
Gilgamesh's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of his usual bravado returning. "I'll beat you," he declared, undeterred by her chilling pronouncement.
The girl let out a short, eerie giggle, a sound that seemed to carry an ancient wisdom far beyond her years. With a swift motion, she tossed her doll into the air.
In a flash of light, it transformed, revealing a towering Hypno. Its pendulum swung rhythmically, its eyes glowing faintly with psychic energy.
"Go, Dreepy!" Gilgamesh commanded, sending out his newly trained Ghost/Dragon-type. The tiny Pokémon zipped into position, its transparent body shimmering, ready for its big debut against the powerful Psychic-type.
The air in the Saffron Gym's antechamber crackled with an unseen tension. The little girl, her eyes fixed on Gilgamesh, simply watched, her Hypno's pendulum swinging with a mesmerizing rhythm. Misty stood to the side, a look of concern mixed with fascination on her face.
"Battle begin!" a disembodied voice echoed from seemingly nowhere, signifying the start of the match.
"Hypno, start with Hypnosis!" the little girl commanded, her voice surprisingly strong.
The Hypno's pendulum began to swing faster, emitting faint, swirling rings of light that seemed to draw the very air into their vortex. It fixed its gaze on Dreepy, attempting to lull the little Dragon/Ghost-type into a deep slumber.
"Dreepy, use Astonish! Quick, surprise them!" Gilgamesh shouted, knowing that speed was their best defense against Psychic attacks.
Dreepy, remembering its intensive training, zipped forward with incredible speed. Its translucent form flickered, and it materialized directly in front of Hypno, letting out a sudden, piercing, ghostly shriek. The unexpectedness of the attack, combined with its ethereal nature, briefly jolted the massive Hypno, causing its pendulum to falter and the rings of light to disperse.
Hypno visibly flinched, its concentration broken for a crucial moment.
"Now, Dreepy, Ice Beam!" Gilgamesh pressed, capitalizing on the momentary disorientation.
Without hesitation, Dreepy gathered its chilling energy. A brilliant, focused beam of icy blue light shot from its mouth, streaking directly towards the startled Hypno. The Ice Beam struck the Psychic-type squarely, encasing its large body in a thin layer of frost. Hypno shuddered, clearly affected by the super-effective attack.
The little girl's serene expression remained, but her eyes held a new, intense focus. "Hypno, shake it off! And use Confusion!"
Hypno let out a grunt, its body trembling as it struggled against the icy grip. A wave of shimmering, disorienting psychic energy began to emanate from its head, aimed squarely at Dreepy.
"Dreepy, Fly! Get above it!" Gilgamesh countered, remembering their evasion training.
Dreepy zipped upwards, its spectral form darting rapidly through the air, attempting to escape the radius of Hypno's Confusion. The psychic waves distorted the air around it, but Dreepy's agility, honed by Gilgamesh, allowed it to barely avoid the worst of the attack, though it wobbled slightly from the residual mental pressure.