Facing another dive from the Rookidee, Sil understood her own condition better than anyone. If she took another direct hit, she might not have the strength or presence of mind left to fight back.
Marie's strategy wasn't wrong. If Hypnosis landed, the match would be in the bag. But after that first failed attempt, Sil didn't believe she could just suddenly change and steel herself to endure another hit while casting a move. She simply wasn't ready yet.
"Don't panic during battle. If you think my command isn't right, follow your own instincts."
Those words echoed in Sil's mind.
She decided to trust her own judgment. She couldn't afford to take this attack head-on.
"Ralts!"
Letting out what sounded like a meaningless cry, Sil summoned her modest psychic power. She didn't even fully gather it into a proper Confusion attack. She wasn't trying to harm the opponent. All she wanted was to disturb Rookidee's flight path just enough.
Whoosh thump!
Rookidee's dive was thrown off-course. Sil's half-formed psychic wave lacked power, but that wasn't the point. It nudged Rookidee off its trajectory, sending the little bird crashing headfirst into the ground.
"Caw…"
Its beak was buried in the dirt, and Rookidee looked momentarily dazed, flapping its wings in confusion.
The unexpected twist left both Trainers momentarily stunned, though for different reasons.
"Rookidee, are you alright? Get back in the air!" Hop called out, worried.
He assumed Marie had planned the move, maybe even faked a misfire earlier to trick him. But Marie knew the truth it hadn't been her strategy at all.
Sil had made that call on her own. She assessed the situation and chose a different path.
Marie felt a pang of regret. She had underestimated Sil's instincts, had forced her to endure a direct hit just moments ago. What kind of Trainer did that make her?
But this wasn't the time for self-reflection. The battle wasn't over, and Sil still needed her.
While Marie wrestled with her thoughts, Sil was already moving. Calm and deliberate, as though she had planned it all along, she seized the opportunity. Rookidee was still grounded, struggling to recover. Now was her chance.
Sil launched into a full Hypnosis, one far more focused than her last attempt.
"Ralts! (Time for a nap~)"
"Caw… (….)"
"…"
"Sil, use Draining Kiss!"
It wasn't the strongest move in her arsenal, but it could restore some of Sil's health. Marie knew this was the right call.
"Wake up, Rookidee!"
Sil clumsily formed the Fairy-type energy into a Draining Kiss. It wasn't a move she had practiced much barely at all, in fact. She had only just learned it. Using it outside of Hypnosis would've been impossible right now.
Hypnosis itself was a move that drew from psychic power and mental disruption. Its effectiveness depended not just on accuracy, but on the relative strength of the two Pokémon's minds.
If Sil had tried to put Eevee or Yamper to sleep, even if they didn't resist, the move probably wouldn't have worked. She might've only gotten a yawn or two out of them at best.
But Rookidee was on par with her in strength. They were evenly matched. And being a Flying-type, it wasn't likely to have stronger mental defenses than a Psychic-type like Sil.
So…
Even though Hop was yelling in desperation even though Rookidee took the Draining Kiss full-on it still didn't stir.
"Confusion!"
"Ralts! (Got it!)"
Neither Marie nor Sil hesitated. They weren't going to wait around for Rookidee to wake up.
This time, Sil fully focused. Her Confusion was crisp and sharp. Invisible psychic energy surged toward the grounded bird and sent it flying, rolling to a stop right in front of Hop's feet.
"Caw…"
Rookidee's eyes fluttered open, but its wings didn't move. It had no strength left to stand.
"Marie and Ralts are the winners!"
Yuri nervously announced the result.
"Rookidee! Are you okay?!"
"Caw… caw… (Sorry… I lost…)"
Hop ran over, gently cradling his chubby little Rookidee in both arms. He gave a reassuring smile.
"It's alright. You did great. Time to rest."
He tapped the Poké Ball gently to Rookidee's side, returning it in a flash of red light.
At that moment, Marie came over carrying Sil. She crouched down, letting the tired Ralts rest in her arms, and extended her other hand toward Hop.
"Want me to take Rookidee? I was planning to take both of them to Nurse Joy. Or should I wait until after your match with Yuri?"
"No, it's fine. I'll take him myself. Thanks, though."
"I'm alright too. Let's go to the Pokémon Center first," Yuri said.
"Alright then."
Marie nodded and carried Sil into the Pokémon Center nearby. After handing over their Pokémon to Nurse Joy, she and Hop sat down in the resting area.
"If you want, I can stay here and keep watch. You two can go battle."
Now that the tension had passed, Hop didn't refuse. Yuri, perhaps still fired up from yesterday's café battle, nodded in agreement, and the two of them left together.
"Haah…"
Marie leaned her head on her hand, watching the battlefield through the window. Hop really had guts… sending Scorbunny against Sobble like that.
Sure, as Pokémon grew and underwent proper training, it became possible to overcome type disadvantages through tactics or unique moves. But at this stage when they hadn't trained much or learned many techniques type matchups were everything.
"Not that I'm in any position to judge…"
She slumped a little in her seat, casting a glance toward Nurse Joy's counter where Sil and Rookidee were still being treated.
That misstep in strategy Marie knew it had been her fault. Her command had forced Sil to take a direct hit, completely avoidable if she'd just trusted her more. A real Trainer wouldn't let that happen.
"Miss Marie, your Pokémon is all healed up~"
Nurse Joy's voice brought her back to the present. Marie jumped up and jogged to the counter, where a bright-eyed Ralts was waiting for her.
"Ralts! (Marie!)"
"You did great."
She scooped Sil into her arms, gently patting her head before thanking Nurse Joy and heading back to the bench.
"…Sil."
"Ralts? (Hmm?)"
Marie looked at the little Ralts sitting on the table, happily nibbling on Poké Puffs. Her voice was serious.
"About the battle earlier… I'm sorry. That was my mistake. I gave you the wrong command."
"Ralts… (It was me… I didn't follow your orders. You said you'd be my Trainer, and I should've listened…)"
"No. Your decision in that moment was the right one. You did really well."
Marie reached over and brushed back Sil's long bangs, locking eyes with her. The gaze was direct and encouraging.
"Ralts? (Really?)"
"Yes. Remember what I said? If you think my command is wrong, go with your own judgment. You're the one in the fight. There are things I can't sense from out here."
"Ralts… (Okay…)"
Marie gently let her bangs fall back into place. Her thumb traced the spot where Rookidee's beak had struck earlier.
"That must've hurt. I'm sorry. Next time, I'll do better. Sil, will you become my Pokémon?"
"Ralts~ (Heehee~ That tickles. I'm fine now. It doesn't hurt anymore.)"
Sil reached out her tiny hands and hugged Marie's thumb, nudging it away. Then, looking up with utter sincerity, she said,
"Ralts! (I will!)"
____________________
NEXT CHAPTER : What Awaits on Route 3?
(Marie and Yuri prepare to leave Motostoke, catching up after training and discussing new Pokémon partners. While Yuri struggles in battle, she sets her sights on catching a third Pokémon maybe the cute Bounsweet Marie once promised. The two girls decide to head toward Turffield through Route 3, where wild encounters and unexpected surprises await. From mischievous Applin chases to a bold little Vulpix begging for snacks, their journey is already proving unpredictable. What other encounters lie ahead on this winding trail?)
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