Pokemon: A New Path
Doubles Battle [675]

Eco Dome – Coastal Biome

The artificial sky projected across the dome's interior shone brightly with a simulated sun, and every so often, a salty, humid breeze blew through the space, another clever detail created by the Eco Dome's environmental systems.

The temperature in the coastal zone was slightly warm, but it was nothing compared to the buzzing energy of the students gathered there.

By the time Naoki arrived, the boys and girls had already let their Pokémon out of their Poké Balls and were eagerly chatting, training, and playing with their partners.

As soon as they saw Naoki approach, their eyes lit up with excitement.

Naoki gave them a friendly nod and said with a smile, "Looks like everyone's ready. Let's begin today's class."

This session was a Double Battle practical. Since Blueberry Academy emphasized the importance of double battles, Naoki didn't need to go into detail about the basics. These students had already been learning the strategies and rules for some time.

Without further ado, he reached into his bag and pulled out a Poké Ball.

With a burst of white light, Flutter Mane appeared, floating beside him like a spectral wisp.

Koraidon stood to his left, Flutter Mane to his right, two powerful Pokémon now calmly awaiting his command.

Looking at the eager faces in front of him, Naoki continued, "Now then, is there a student who would like to assist me in a demonstration battle?"

A battle? With a champion-tier trainer?

The students' eyes widened. That was an opportunity they couldn't pass up.

In an instant, every hand shot into the air.

"Me! Pick me!"

"Mr. Naoki, I want to battle!"

"Over here, teacher!"

In the crowd, Carmine was practically hopping in place, waving her arms with enthusiasm.

Beside her, Kieran stood quietly. He clearly wanted a turn too, but his shy nature held him back from speaking up.

Naoki scanned the sea of raised hands and finally pointed toward the center of the group.

"In that case, I'd like to ask the student in the middle there to join me," he said with a warm smile.

Everyone turned their heads to see who he'd chosen.

It was Kieran.

The boy froze, wide-eyed. 'Mr. Naoki had… picked him?'

Carmine cheered immediately. "Let's go, Kieran! You've got this!"

Pulled out of his daze by his sister's encouragement, Kieran hurried forward, doing his best not to stumble over his own feet.

Naoki greeted him with a soft nod. "Long time no see, Kieran."

Kieran's heart was pounding. He had so much he wanted to say, so many questions to ask, but with all these people watching, he didn't know how to start.

Sensing the nerves, Naoki smoothly guided the conversation back on track.

"Alright then. Would you mind calling out your two Pokémon for the demonstration?"

Kieran gave a sharp nod. "Yes, sir!"

He pulled two Poké Balls from his pocket and tossed them into the air.

With twin flashes of light, Sprigatito and Tadbulb appeared on the field, landing opposite Koraidon and Flutter Mane.

"Sprii...!"

"Bulb!"

Koraidon and Flutter Mane both looked at the opposing Pokémon with tilted heads.

They seemed a little… underwhelming.

Kieran's confidence wavered slightly. He knew just how powerful Koraidon was, he'd seen it before. And Flutter Mane? That Pokémon was mysterious. His own partners, a Sprigatito and a Tadbulb, were still very young. There was no way they could win against something like that.

Naoki, of course, sensed this hesitation immediately.

"Don't worry. This isn't a real battle," he said reassuringly. "This is just a demonstration, an example of how two Pokémon can cooperate and support each other in a double battle."

Hearing that, Kieran let out a quiet sigh of relief. 

"Then, let's begin!"

Under the watchful gaze of the students, the demonstration battle officially started.

Koraidon seemed to understand Naoki's intent immediately. Crimson energy surged across its armored scales like ancient power awakening.

Suddenly, as if resonating with the artificial sky above, the already bright sunlight intensified, the Harsh Sunlight effect from Koraidon's Orichalcum Pulse had activated.

At the same time, a change swept over Flutter Mane.

A glowing aura pulsed around its spectral body, energy radiating like a rising tide.

Several students leaned forward, eyes wide.

"Wait a second…"

"That's Protosynthesis, isn't it?"

"Their Abilities are synergizing!"

In that moment, the class witnessed firsthand what Naoki had taught earlier: the strategic link between Pokémon Abilities and environmental effects.

Sensing the surge of power radiating from Koraidon and Flutter Mane, Sprigatito and Tadbulb, Kieran's Pokémon, shuffled nervously on the grass. The pressure from the battlefield was palpable.

"Go ahead. Try attacking us," Naoki encouraged with a calm voice.

"Okay!" Kieran took a breath, then gave his command. "Sprigatito, use Helping Hand! Tadbulb, use Discharge!"

Sprigatito dashed behind Tadbulb and pressed its front paws to the ground, channeling a glowing pulse of support into its teammate. Boosted by the energy, Tadbulb's yellow body lit up with crackling sparks. Electricity surged in every direction as the little Pokémon let loose a charged blast.

But before it could hit Koraidon, Flutter Mane suddenly glided forward and took the attack head-on.

The class gasped.

Tadbulb's lightning danced wildly over Flutter Mane's ghostly form, but the Pokémon didn't even flinch. The attack split around it like waves breaking on a cliff.

"Whoa! Flutter Mane just blocked it!"

"And it's not even hurt?!"

"Must be because it's part Ghost-type… or maybe Fairy? Electric moves don't hit that hard!"

The battle wasn't over. Just as the shock wore off, Koraidon lunged into the air behind Flutter Mane, curling its claw into a massive fist.

The moment was cinematic.

A thunderous pressure filled the air, and Tadbulb froze as if a primordial predator had just locked onto it. If it had fur, it would've been standing on end.

Instinctively, Tadbulb squeezed its eyes shut.

But the impact never came.

When Tadbulb peeked open, it found a giant claw just inches from its face, completely still.

"Alright, that's enough," Naoki called out warmly.

Koraidon let out a low growl, lowered its arm, and calmly stepped back beside Naoki.

The demonstration was over.

Naoki turned to the students, who were still wide-eyed after the demonstration. "So," he asked with a smile, "did anyone notice anything important?"

"I did!" a boy near the front shouted. "In a doubles battle, it's not just about attacking your opponents! Pokémon with different types can defend each other too, depending on their type matchups!"

Naoki nodded approvingly. "Exactly. But even that is just the beginning of doubles strategy."

He stood as he addressed them. "A Pokémon's Ability, type, moveset, even the item it holds, these things may seem small on their own, but when combined with a partner, they can create powerful synergies."

"That's why, in doubles battles, the most important thing is understanding your team. Know your Pokémon, how they move, what they can do, and what they struggle with. That's how you build strong tactics as a trainer."

The students listened intently, some scribbling notes, others deep in thought.

Naoki smiled warmly. "Alright! For the rest of the session, you're free to explore. Practice your doubles strategy, talk to your partners, or come ask me questions if anything's unclear."

"Yes, sir!" the students chorused, dispersing across the field.

Naoki sat back on the soft grass, watching them run and laugh as they experimented with their Pokémon. Koraidon and Flutter Mane sat beside him, quietly enjoying the sunlight.

As he watched the scene, a gentle thought crossed his mind.

'If I had been born in this world… I probably would've chosen to become a Pokémon trainer too. Travel the world, meet new Pokémon, challenge gyms, enter tournaments… chase the title of Pokémon Master.'

'But then again… if I'd done that, I might never have met Cyclizar and Koraidon.'

He smiled.

'This life is better.'

A peaceful ranch, a team of adorable Pokémon, no deadlines, no late-night overtime. A beautiful, loving wife. A child. A future he truly looked forward to.

Around him, the artificial sun shone warmly over the Eco Dome's Coastal Area. The wind carried a hint of salt, carefully simulated by the dome's environment system.

Naoki watched the local Pokémon ecology with curiosity.

Although this was a man-made environment, the Pokémon here behaved naturally, as if it were their true home.

Tall Alolan Exeggutor stood like towering coconut trees, several Exeggcute hopping joyfully around their roots.

Nearby, Zangoose and Seviper circled their respective territories, each eyeing the other warily. If one crossed into the other's zone, a fight would surely break out.

These two species had been enemies for generations. Their hatred was so ingrained it might as well have been etched into their DNA. No one truly knew the cause, only that even the greatest Pokémon researchers had never unraveled the mystery.

In the flowerbeds, Comfey drifted like flower rings, weaving through the breeze, while Oricorio spun and fluttered in dance among the lush grass. These Pokémon had clearly become accustomed to the students. They didn't panic even when approached closely.

Naoki found himself fascinated by the small interactions, the balance of nature, even here in a synthetic dome.

Just then, two students ran over from the crowd.

"Mr. Naoki!" Carmine called out, waving.

Naoki turned with a smile. "Carmine? Is something wrong?"

"Nope!" she said cheerfully, glancing at her little brother. "But he has something he wants to ask you."

Kieran hesitated, then stepped forward with determination.

"Mr. Naoki… is Ogerpon doing okay?"

Naoki blinked, then smiled with realization. "Ah, I see."

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a Poké Ball.