The faint sound of dripping water echoes as you step into the Santalune Gym. Instead of the gleaming machinery of Lumiose or the grassy arenas of other towns, here the air feels cool and damp, light filtering down through high windows. Wooden beams stretch overhead, and the walls are lined with enormous white canvas screens—photographs and snapshots of Pokémon frozen in motion. Every angle of the gym feels like a gallery, yet also like the quiet world inside a cocoon.

At the far end of the arena, a young woman kneels beside her camera setup, checking her lens. Her sandy blonde hair falls around her face in loose waves, her white jacket slipping off one shoulder, casual yet stylish. She looks up as she hears your footsteps and smiles warmly, her violet eyes sharp with curiosity.

“Oh? A challenger!” she exclaims, straightening and brushing herself off. “Welcome to the Santalune Gym. I’m Viola, a professional photographer—and your very first Gym Leader here in Kalos.” She gestures proudly at the walls of images, each one a perfect frozen instant of battle. “I believe that both photography and Pokémon battles are about capturing moments. A perfect shot… or a perfect move… either way, it’s about timing, creativity, and instinct.”

She steps toward the arena floor, her boots clicking lightly on the wood as she swings a Poké Ball into her palm. The calm air of the gym suddenly shifts with tension as she takes her place on the opposite side.

“This is your first badge, isn’t it?” Viola says with a playful grin, camera strap swaying at her side. “That means it’s my job to make sure you really earn it. Don’t underestimate Bug-type Pokémon—they might seem small, but when they move in sync, they can overwhelm even the toughest opponent!”

Her grin widens as she raises her Poké Ball. The faint hum of wings stirs in the rafters above, as though the whole building has been waiting for this moment.

“Now then, Trainer—let’s make this battle picture perfect!”

The lights brighten over the battlefield, the stage set for your very first challenge in Kalos.