Sensing impending danger, Gordie's first instinct was to escape, but the Pokémon of the Snowy Forest wouldn't allow it. Their competition wasn't over yet, and now he wanted to leave? The crowd of Ice-types quickly surrounded him, blocking all possible escape routes.
"Whoa, whoa—" Gordie adjusted his sunglasses, flashing a wry smile. "You guys are even more intense than my fans! Is my battling style really that charming?"
Hearing this, the Pokémon collectively rolled their eyes. They could practically see another familiar figure reflected on him. This guy would get along great with Corviknight.
"…But you know what?" Gordie took a deep breath, then placed two fingers to his forehead, smoothly extending them outward in a dramatic flourish. "In front of my adoring fans, I can't afford to back down! Let's finish this battle… Right after I deal with a certain troublesome mother."
The Pokémon fell silent for a moment. Since when did we become your fans? Oh well. As long as he wasn't running away, they could wait a little longer. The next King of the Snowy Forest was still up for grabs!
Meanwhile, Gordie began adjusting his outfit while his Coalossal used the brief moment to rest, fully aware that its trainer's "talk" with his mother would soon turn into a battle. That's just how things worked between them. Whenever they tried talking, it always turned into an argument, and when that happened, they might as well skip the argument and battle directly.
"…Alright, Mom. Consider this a pre-tournament match. This time, I won't lose."
Elsewhere, Summer sighed after sending his warning text, hoping Gordie was prepared. But before he could think too much about it, a sharp clap rang out as Melony clapped her hands together, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Hehe~ Summer, before we arrived, did another handsome young man happen to visit your forest?"
Summer hesitated. "…Well—"
Could he stall for time?
"No need for that, Mom—I'm right here!"
To Summer's surprise, Gordie stepped forward on his own. …Did he actually make peace with this?
Melony smiled sweetly. "It's been a while, my dear Gordie~ I believe the last time we met was at the tournament, wasn't it?"
Gordie's expression soured as he adjusted his sunglasses and crossed his arms. "I am Gordie, the Rock-type Gym Leader. We're on the same level now—stop calling me that."
"Oh?" Melony tilted her head, feigning innocence. "But in our last battle, you still lost to your mother~"
She pulled out a Poké Ball, her tone still gentle. "I know how much you've grown. Your accomplishments far exceed mine at your age."
"…So don't cling to your rebellious feelings when training Rock-types. If it's you, I know you could handle Ice-types too—"
"Maybe." Gordie cut her off, pushing his sunglasses up his nose. "Maybe I did start training Rock-types out of rebellion. But now? I genuinely love Rock Pokémon."
"I won't take over the Ice Gym." He took a step forward. "Instead—I'll show the whole world the true strength of Rock-types. Mom."
Melony fell silent, closing her eyes. She thought back to the pure conviction in his voice. "…I see." When she opened them again, her expression had softened.
"Alright then." She tossed her Poké Ball into the air. "Let's battle, Gordie. Like we've always done."
Gordie smirked. "I was hoping you'd say that." He threw his own Poké Ball, and with a flash of light, Coalossal emerged. The intense heat radiating from its body immediately warmed the frozen air. They had been through a lot together, and it all started with his mother's brutal training.
A Childhood Defined by Rebellion
Melony had always trained Gordie as her heir, intending for him to inherit the Ice Gym. His team was full of Ice-types, and his training grounds were nothing but frozen wastelands. But the biting cold was unbearable, and for the first time, he felt a spark of rebellion.
With nothing but sheer willpower and a silver tongue, he managed to escape the frozen wilderness and hitch a ride out of town. Eventually, he found himself at Galar Mine No.1, where the miners, seeing the pathetic, half-frozen kid, took pity on him and gave him a hot meal—a steaming plate of curry.
The rich aroma attracted an unexpected guest: a small Rolycoly.
Gordie already knew about Pokémon weaknesses. He'd been trained by Melony, after all. So when the miners explained that Rolycoly evolved into a Fire/Rock-type, the idea clicked immediately.
If he had a Coalossal—
He'd never have to feel cold again.
And he'd finally have a Pokémon strong enough to crush Ice-types.
That rebellious spark turned into a roaring flame.
Gordie caught the Rolycoly after an intense battle.
It was his first Pokémon.
His first step toward carving his own path.
The miners, seeing his potential, praised his efforts. But when they learned who he really was, they immediately called Melony.
Yet, to everyone's surprise, Melony's response was calm. She wasn't angry. Instead, she was proud. He had shown strong willpower, great communication skills, and most importantly—he had caught a Pokémon all on his own.
That was a sign of a true Gym Leader.
Of course, some miners just saw it as an investment opportunity. One even asked for his autograph, saying, "Kid, I can already tell—you're gonna be famous someday."
That miner never sold the autograph. Instead, he proudly showed it off, bragging about his great eye for talent.
Even now, Gordie still kept in touch with the miners. Whenever he visited, they'd mine together, then sit down to share a plate of curry—just like before.
Melony smiled, pulling out her own Poké Ball.
"Go, Lapras."
For the first time, they wouldn't be using Gigantamax forms. A true test of their abilities.
The bulky, armored sea Pokémon emerged with an elegant cry, its eyes calm and steady. This was Melony's ace.
"Whether it's Gigantamax or not—" she smiled.
"I'll still win."
Gordie adjusted his sunglasses once more. "With my Rock Pokémon."
Coalossal roared, its fiery coals glowing bright red in response. Lapras, in contrast, remained completely composed.
This was a family matter—and it wouldn't interfere. It would simply win.
The battle was about to begin.
Meanwhile, Summer and the Snowy Forest Pokémon sat back, munching on berries like an audience at a theater.
"…It's their family dispute. No point getting involved. Might as well enjoy the show."
"Let's end this quickly—Lapras, Hydro Pump!"
Melony swung her arm forward with confidence. If Gordie thought he could rely on type advantage to defeat her, then he was too naive. She had already prepared for this exact scenario—her Lapras was the answer. In fact, this was the very Pokémon she had originally planned for Gordie to train.
Both Lapras and Coalossal were bulky, slow-moving Pokémon, but when it came to raw speed, Coalossal was even slower. The powerful torrent of water gathered in Lapras' mouth, preparing to unleash destruction.
"My dear Gordie… without Gigantamax to bolster your endurance, how will you withstand a four-times effective Water-type attack?"
Gordie's eyes gleamed behind his sunglasses. "A weakness can also be a turning point. Show them our will, Coalossal—stand your ground!"
Coalossal's eyes burned red, its massive frame rooted firmly to the ground as it spread its arms wide. The roaring stream of water crashed against it, and the intense heat from its body instantly turned the attack into a massive cloud of steam. A deep, resonating hum echoed from within as Coalossal absorbed the steam's energy.
Summer, watching from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes as he analyzed the battle. "Ah… Steam Engine. Now Coalossal's speed has maxed out. Lapras is suddenly the slower one. So that's the turning point he was talking about."
Gordie grinned. "Our turn! Power Gem—shine bright!"
A cluster of gleaming gemstones materialized around Coalossal, shooting forth in a brilliant barrage toward Lapras. Despite being a super-effective Rock-type move, Lapras didn't even flinch, taking the hit head-on.
However, Coalossal wasn't stopping. No longer bound by its sluggish pace, it accelerated, dashing around Lapras in blinding circles, moving like a speeding locomotive.
Melony, seeing this, chuckled. "Are you that afraid? It seems your Pokémon is running out of stamina." She raised her hand. "But if you think speed alone will let you win, you're sorely mistaken. Lapras, set the stage—use Aurora Veil!"
With a melodic cry, Lapras sang softly, summoning thick clouds overhead. Heavy snowflakes began to fall, covering the battlefield in a wintry white sheet. The Ice-type Pokémon of the Snowy Forest perked up—this was starting to feel like home.
"Damn it…" Gordie muttered. He knew how well his mother trained her Ice-types. Her Aurora Veil strategy was obvious, yet unavoidable. Now, Blizzard would never miss.
He clenched his fist. "Mom, you always pull the same trick."
Melony smirked. "And you still fall for it every time. Lapras, Blizzard!"
A howling blizzard surged forward, aiming to swallow Coalossal whole.
But Gordie had no intention of conceding. His voice rang out. "Coalossal, Sandstorm!"
The battlefield shifted once again. A fierce sandstorm whipped up, clashing against the raging blizzard, cutting through its intensity. More importantly, it nullified Aurora Veil's effect.
Melony's eyes twitched—he was using her own weather-based strategy against her.
Now, the battle had become a game of endurance. The harsh weather wore down both Pokémon. But between Lapras and Coalossal, which would fall first?
Summer observed quietly. "Melony may have better defensive strategies, but the Sandstorm chipping away at Lapras' health will be a problem. If she keeps trading blows, she'll eventually lose."
Melony sensed the shift in momentum. Still, she wasn't backing down just yet.
"Lapras, Sing!" she commanded. "Gordie, do you remember this lullaby? It was your childhood cradle song."
Gordie grimaced. "I'm not a kid anymore—show some respect for my choices! Coalossal, Meteor Beam!"
Coalossal began to charge up cosmic energy, preparing to fire a devastating blast. But Lapras' gentle song filled the battlefield, a soft, lulling melody drifting through the sandstorm.
The song tugged at Coalossal's consciousness. Its massive frame swayed, and then—its eyes fluttered shut.
Melony smiled. "Looks like I've won this match."
Then, without warning—
A radiant beam of cosmic energy erupted from within the sandstorm, shooting directly at Lapras.
Lapras let out a pained cry, eyes widening in shock before collapsing unconscious.
Melony stared in disbelief. "…What?"
Gordie pushed his sunglasses up, smirking. "Zero Berries, Mom."
Melony's expression froze.
"You always rely on Sing when things get tricky," Gordie continued. "So I gave Coalossal a Zero Berry to hold. It cures sleep instantly." He dusted off his jacket. "You used to put me to sleep the same way when I cried as a kid, didn't you?"
Melony was silent for a moment, then chuckled softly. "You even predicted my strategy? Gordie… you really have grown up."
Gordie tilted his head. "You just figuring that out now?" He removed his sunglasses, looking her directly in the eyes. "Do you finally understand? I love Rock Pokémon."
Melony fell into deep thought.
Her strict training was something she had inherited from her father. She knew it was harsh, but she believed it was for Gordie's own good—just like it had been for her.
But she had failed to see what truly mattered.
She had raised five children. Over time, she had adjusted her parenting style, realizing that not every child needed the same method. Yet, Gordie had already suffered through the hardest version of her training.
And when he rejected her Ice-type teachings, she had taken it as a personal betrayal—when in reality, it was never about defiance.
He had simply found something he loved more.
Melony sighed, a soft smile forming on her lips. "…I understand now." She looked at him gently. "Gordie, can you forgive me for how I treated you?"
Gordie groaned, rubbing his forehead. "Ugh, you're so annoying." He exhaled, crossing his arms. "There's nothing to forgive. We're family. And besides… your insane training did help me get stronger."
Melony's eyes welled up slightly, but instead of crying, she suddenly lunged forward and ruffled Gordie's hair. "My baby boy is so big now!"
"UGH—MOM!" Gordie struggled, looking horrified. "There are other people watching!"
Coalossal and Lapras exchanged looks, then nodded in approval. For them, this was the perfect outcome.
Melony suddenly turned to Summer with a grateful smile. "Summer, thank you for giving us a chance to talk things out." She held up a finger playfully. "As thanks, I'll give you a special gift!"
Summer raised an eyebrow. "A gift?"
She grinned. "I'll send you my private photo collection!"
"…Of what?"
"My darling Gordie's photo books, of course~"
Gordie froze in horror. "MOM, NO!"
(Chapter End)