It was a pain being an early rout gym leader. It didn't matter that I used steel types. All someone needed was a fire type to beat me. I took it up with the pokemon league and made a proposition.

I asked if I could hold an event. I wouldn't use a specific type. A memorable experience for expert and novice trainers alike. I'd use a team of my favorite pokemon and battle anyone that challenged me regardless of badge count.

Luckily for me, Geeta of Paldea was a lax champion. She was okay with me doing it. When I got back to town, I got to work setting up the perfect team from my early years when I did the gym challenge.

When my gym's doors opened, I was greeted by a sea of trainers, all wanting to see what team I had set up for this affair.

I stood smiling as the first trainer approached, her dark completion complimenting her black ponytail with strains of green hair falling over her eye. She had a fire in her eye as she challenged me, "Gym leader Saber, I challenge you to a battle!"

"Of course, to who do I owe the honor?"

"I'm Nemona, a champion rank trainer!"

'This should be interesting.' The battle started with her sending out a Lycanroc with me sending out Tantrum, my Great tusk, as a counter. Tantrum's brick break beat it down effortlessly, but they did get a good Accelerock in before it did.

Nemona's next pokemon was a Goodra. I switched Tantrum for Slush, my Baxcailibur. I hoped an Ice beam would end it quick, but a Thunderbolt pushed Slush within an inch of her life. I wasn't expecting the electric-type move, but it wouldn't keep us down.

Her next mon was a Pawmot. Spark, my Rotom fan, soon stood in Slush's place. I could hear the roar of the crowd as we battled. It reminded me of Ryme's gym and how she let the crowd's cheers empower our pokemon. Nemona had Pawmot use close combat, but Spark was out of the way faster than you could blink. One air slash later, and Pawmot was down.

Orthworm was next on the chopping block. Shadow flare, my Houndoom, ended it with a flamethrower, simple as that. Her Dundunsparse was next. My Tinkaton, Sweety, squashed the overgrown worm with a Gigaton Hammer.

It was as easy as that. She was down to her last pokemon, and I hadn't lost one. All I could do was smile. By Arceus, it felt good to be a trainer again.