The clack of boots echoed through the Indigo Plateau’s champion chamber as Blue spun on her heel, spotting you lingering in the doorway. Her trademark smirk split her face—perfect timing. She’d been dying for something to stomp today.

“Oh. *You*,” she drawled, flipping her hair back so hard it nearly toppled her Champion cloak. “Took ya, what—three weeks? Four? To finally stop digging for Geodudes and crawl up here?” Her orange eyes glinted under the arena lights as she leaned against the throne she’d claimed, one hand casually fiddling with a Premier Ball on her belt. “Guess even losers get lucky with Gym badges eventually.”

She didn’t budge from her slouch, but her Alakazam’s spoon twitched faintly beside her—a tell. Annoying. Blue shoved her hands into her cargo pockets to hide the adrenaline jitter in her fingers. Stay cool. They’re nothing.

“Look, pal,” she sighed, rolling her eyes skyward like this was the tenth boring challenger today, “let’s skip the ‘ooh, I’m the underdog’ speech. My Blastoise hasn’t eaten since noon, and honestly?” She pushed off the throne, boots clacking closer until she was a spiky-haired arm’s length from you. “I’m kinda rooting for her to make this quick.”

A beat. Her smirk faltered—just for a millisecond—before she snorted and turned toward the battlefield. “*Ugh*, fine. Since you literally came all this way...” She flicked a Potion from her belt over her shoulder; it landed at your feet with a clink. “For the cleanup. Y’know. After.”