Orion's offer hangs in the air, a spark of excitement igniting in Harley's eyes, while Ivy's expression remains more cautious. "Pokémon battle?" Harley asks, tilting her head in confusion. "What's that supposed to be? Like, a Pokémon brawl? A rumble in the jungle, but with cuter combatants?"
Ivy raises an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "I'm not entirely sure I follow," she admits, glancing at Budew with a hint of concern. "Is it some sort of competition?"
Orion chuckles, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, in simple terms, a Pokémon battle is a friendly competition between two Trainers and their Pokémon," he explains, his tone patient and informative. "Trainers give commands to their Pokémon, who then use their unique abilities and moves to try and defeat their opponent."
He pauses, noticing the apprehensive look on Ivy's face. "Think of it as a strategic game," he adds, "a test of skill, strategy, and the bond between Trainer and Pokémon."
Harley's eyes widen. "So, like, we get to boss our Pokémon around and watch 'em duke it out?" she asks, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Sounds like my kind of party!"
Ivy, however, remains hesitant, her gaze softening as she looks at Budew. "I must admit, I'm somewhat concerned about Budew," she says, her voice laced with worry. "I don't want her to get hurt."
Harley nods in agreement, her enthusiasm momentarily dampened. "Yeah, I don't want Houndour getting all banged up either," she says, stroking Houndour's head affectionately. "Are you sure it's safe?"
Orion smiles reassuringly. "I understand your concerns," he says, his voice gentle and comforting. "But rest assured, Pokémon are surprisingly resilient creatures. They're much tougher than they look."
He points out that a lot of Pokémon battles happen, and serious injuries are rare. "Pokémon have a natural ability to withstand a great deal of punishment," he continues, "and they also possess a remarkable healing ability."
"But what if they get, like, seriously hurt?" Harley asks, her voice tinged with anxiety. "What if they get, I don't know, KO'd or something?"
Orion explains that when a Pokémon has taken enough damage to continue battling, they don't actually get hurt, they faint. "When a Pokémon can no longer battle, they 'faint'," he explains, "it's a biological failsafe designed to prevent them from sustaining any serious injuries. It's akin to a human passing out from exhaustion."
"Fainting, huh?" Harley repeats, her expression thoughtful. "So, it's not like they're, you know, actually dying or anything?"
"Absolutely not," Orion reassures her. "Fainting is simply a signal that they need to rest and recover. This facility can also nurse Pokémon back to full health. So you don't have to worry about them being injured."
Harley and Ivy exchange relieved glances, their worries beginning to subside. "Okay, I think I get it," Harley says, her voice regaining its usual enthusiasm.
Ivy nods in agreement. "Yes, I suppose it does sound rather intriguing," she admits, a hint of excitement creeping into her voice.
Just then, Houndour lets out a small bark and nudges Harley's leg with its head, its tail wagging eagerly. Budew, too, seems to express its eagerness, swaying gently from side to side and emitting a soft, sweet fragrance.
Harley looks down at Houndour, her eyes softening with affection. "Well, looks like you're itching for a fight, huh?" she says, scratching the Pokémon behind its ears. "Alright, alright, we'll give it a shot."
Ivy smiles at Budew, her heart swelling with warmth. "Very well, Budew," she says, her voice gentle and encouraging. "If you wish to battle, I shall support you."
She turns to Orion, her expression determined. "We're willing to give it a try," she announces. "Let's see what these Pokémon battles are all about."
Orion grins, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Excellent!" he exclaims, clapping his hands together. "I assure you, you won't be disappointed. Now, if you'll follow me, I'll take you to our Battle Arena."
He gestures towards a seemingly ordinary door at the back of the store. "Step right this way," he says, his voice filled with excitement.
Harley and Ivy exchange curious glances before following Orion towards the door, their Pokémon trotting eagerly by their sides. As they approach, the door slides open, revealing a space that seems far too large to be contained within the confines of Pokémon Home.
Before them lies a sprawling arena, bathed in soft, natural light filtering through a transparent dome overhead. A meticulously maintained battlefield occupies the center of the arena, its surface smooth and even, ready for Pokémon to clash. On either side of the battlefield are elevated platforms, clearly designated as Trainer areas, providing a clear view of the action.
But what truly sets the arena apart is its versatility. The entire battlefield can be transformed to suit different battle types, its surface shifting and morphing to create watery landscapes, sandy dunes, grassy plains, and more.
For now, however, the arena is set to its default configuration: a plain, empty stage, its surface a neutral shade of gray, ready to adapt to whatever challenges may come.
Harley and Ivy step into the arena, their mouths agape in astonishment, their eyes darting around, taking in the sheer scale of the space. "Holy moly!" Harley exclaims, her voice filled with awe. "This place is huge! How does this even fit in the store?"
Ivy's eyes widen, her expression a mixture of wonder and disbelief. "I can't believe this," she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's like an entirely different dimension."
"It's incredible!" Harley exclaims, spinning around in amazement. "I mean, one minute we're browsing for Pokémon, and the next we're stepping into this freakin' stadium! What kind of hocus pocus is this?"
Ivy shakes her head, her mind racing to comprehend the impossible. "It must be some sort of space-bending technology," she muses, her brow furrowed in thought. "A localized wormhole, perhaps? Or some kind of interdimensional pocket?"
Harley's eyes light up with excitement. "Ooh, I like that!" she exclaims, snapping her fingers. "Space-bending technology! That's so sci-fi, it's practically criminal!"
She turns to Orion, her expression curious. "So, Owner, what's the deal with this place?" she asks, gesturing around the arena with a sweep of her arm. "Is this some kind of top-secret Pokémon training facility or something?"
Orion chuckles, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Let's just say that Pokémon Home is full of surprises," he says, his voice mysterious and enigmatic. "We strive to provide our customers with the most immersive and engaging Pokémon experience possible."
He pauses, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "And besides," he adds, "what's a Pokémon battle without a proper arena?"
Before Harley and Ivy can respond, Orion claps his hands together, drawing their attention back to him. "Now then," he says, his voice filled with enthusiasm, "before we begin, I have a small request."
He pulls out his phone, its camera app already open and ready to record. "Would you ladies mind if I recorded your battle?" he asks, his tone polite and persuasive. "I'd love to use it for promotional material for Pokémon Home. It would be a great way to showcase the excitement and fun of Pokémon battles."
Harley's eyes widen, her expression ecstatic. "You mean, like, we'd be famous?" she asks, her voice filled with excitement. "Like, the stars of our own Pokémon battle video?"
Ivy's face lights up with a smile. "It would be an honor to contribute to the promotion of Pokémon," she says, her voice sincere and appreciative.
"Awesome!" Harley exclaims, throwing her arms around Ivy in a spontaneous hug. "We're gonna be Pokémon superstars!"
Orion chuckles, pleased with their enthusiastic response. "Excellent," he says, his voice filled with satisfaction. "I promise to make you both look like true Pokémon champions."
He raises his phone, framing the shot as Harley and Ivy take their places on opposite sides of the battlefield, their Pokémon standing proudly by their sides. "Alright, ladies," he says, his voice ringing with excitement, "are you ready to make Pokémon history?"
***
Give power stones to support this book.
Advance chapters in P@T0n Najicablitz.