Hoenn, Littleroot Town.
A quiet town with crisp, fresh air.
Years ago, Gym Leader Norman moved here with his family.
He later became in-laws with his friend, Professor Birch—
Though Ruby and Sapphire weren't yet of legal marrying age,
their engagement was already set, and their honeymoon travels had only just concluded.
Plans for their next journey were already underway.
"It's snowing…"
Stepping out of the research institute, Sapphire looked up as delicate flakes drifted down like powdered sugar on ice cream.
Excited, she rushed home and pushed open the door.
"Ruby! I want ice cream!"
Ruby, wearing a headband, adjusted his glasses coolly.
"No. You're not having anything cold right now."
"Come on, you know how tough I am!"
Sapphire grinned carefreely—until her gaze landed on Ruby's hands.
Her face instantly flushed red.
"Wh-what are you doing?!"
"Mending your clothes."
"But that's my—underwear?!"
"It's not like I haven't seen it before."
"Ugh…" Steam practically rose from Sapphire's head as she fell silent.
Seriously, we could just buy new ones…
Then again… he's always been the one to sew them…
Ruby deftly worked the needle, nodding toward his phone on the coffee table.
"Come watch with me."
Sapphire slowly settled beside him, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"What is it?"
"Natsume-sensei's match today."
Ruby turned his head, his lips brushing hers as he spoke casually.
"He's facing Brawly from Dewford Town."
"Oh." Sapphire nodded blankly, feigning composure.
"What's the score?"
"2v2 singles. It hasn't started yet."
Ruby adjusted his glasses again.
"Not that it matters. The result's the same either way."
"...True."
Sapphire relaxed slightly.
"I just wonder if Natsume-sensei will use Squirtle…"
At that, both froze.
Technically, Pokémon like Blastoise, Feraligatr, and Swampert—despite not being Fighting-types—could still compete thanks to their close-combat prowess.
But sending out an unevolved Squirtle?
A second later, they both coughed awkwardly.
"Contestant Natsume has chosen… a Squirtle?!"
The commentator's voice crackled through the video, stiff with disbelief.
Even in the quarterfinals, this seemed like sheer self-sabotage.
Yet Ruby and Sapphire's expressions turned solemn.
They knew Natsume-sensei's Squirtle hadn't evolved.
But… it had been nearly half a year.
With Natsume-sensei's training intensity and breeding expertise—
Just how strong had this Squirtle become?
"Pokémon really do grow to resemble their Trainers," Ruby mused.
"Yeah. Just like Natsume-sensei, it hoards its strength…"
Silently, they mourned for Brawly.
...
December 24th, Thursday.
P1 Fighting Prix Quarterfinals.
The crowd roared as the big screen broadcasted the match.
Outside, Meowth hung a "Closed" sign and stared at the live feed.
"Finally, we'll see the Executive's true power, meow!"
"Hey, Jessie," James tilted his head.
"Why aren't you fawning over that surfer dude? He's pretty—"
"Idiot!" Jessie punched James' head. "After watching the Executive, my standards are sky-high now!"
"Then Jessie might never get married, meow…" Meowth muttered.
"WHAT WAS THAT, MEOWTH?!"
"L-Look! The match!"
Meowth pointed at the screen, hastily changing the subject.
"James, what's that Pokémon, meow?"
"Let me check."
James pulled out a stack of cards from his pocket, flipping through them.
"Found it!" He read aloud. "Mienshao. A Fighting type Pokémon. Its strongest move is High Jump Kick—"
"S-Stop!"
Meowth's voice trembled.
"Huh? Why?" James glanced up, confused.
"Because," Meowth forced a grin,
"this battle's already over, meow!"
James looked back at the screen—
Just as a devastating beam erupted from Squirtle's palms, shaking the entire arena.
His jaw dropped.
...
Three Minutes Earlier.
"Battle… BEGIN!"
The referee's flag dropped.
Brawly, poised and swift, hurled his Poké Ball.
A Reckless Mienshao—paired with its blinding speed and lethal High Jump Kick—was a one-hit nightmare!
Its long sleeves whipped through the air as it lunged, a ghostly white streak.
The sheer speed and precision made Bruno nod approvingly from the stands.
"Fluidity and precision. That's what sets Brawly apart from me."
Lorelei, red-haired and clad in a black jacket, adjusted her glasses.
"Keep watching."
The audience held their breath.
This was about to be brutal.
The match might end in one move.
As the distance between the Pokémon vanished—
Brawly's voice cut through the tension.
"Mienshao—High Jump Kick!"
"Mien!" With a sharp cry, Mienshao soared, sleeves flaring like wings.
Natsume's command followed instantly.
"Squirtle—Aura Sphere!"
A near-undodgeable move, once thought to be Lucario's signature!
Brawly frowned.
This Squirtle knows that too?
But in a direct clash, High Jump Kick would overpower it!
His decision was made.
"Go through it!"
Squirtle calmly looked up.
Dark energy—Dark Pulse—swirled around it like a sinister mist.
Mienshao's kick descended, a concentrated burst of white light.
There's no way it can block this!
Brawly's confidence wavered—
Then shattered.
What… is this?
His stomach dropped.
Killing intent?
His eyes locked onto Squirtle.
That palpable aura—it was the presence of a true martial artist.
Was this Dark Pulse? Aura Sphere?
He couldn't tell.
But one thing was clear:
Sending Mienshao in was a mistake.
As the High Jump Kick tore through the air—
Squirtle's palms glowed crimson.
Natsume's eye twitched.
Since when could Aura Sphere upgrade?!
In the stands:
Korrina blinked. "Isn't Aura Sphere supposed to be blue? Or white?"
Gurkinn, an aura master himself, watched grimly.
"Pulse techniques can fuse with any energy, creating variations—"
"Every martial artist interprets the Pulse differently."
His voice hardened.
"And that… is a Pulse forged from killing intent."
Brawly's pupils shrank.
A collective gasp rose as the wind from Squirtle's strike whipped his hair back.
Then—
Squirtle's fist shot forward.
A cataclysmic pillar of dark-red energy erupted—
First compressed, then exploding outward like a tidal wave.
BOOM!
Mienshao vanished into the raging light.
The arena trembled.
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