Eager to make progress on their journey, Natsui and Misty ended up missing the town where they had planned to stay. Once again, they were forced to set up camp out in the wilderness for the night.
Setting up the tent, gathering firewood, boiling water, cooking, and setting out the dishes—since they had done this so many times before, everything proceeded with practiced efficiency.
When dinner was finally ready, Natsui released his team: Gardevoir, Gengar, Dragonite, Scizor, Tyranitar, Eevee, Combusken, and Beldum.
Everyone gathered around the campfire to eat, drink, and chat, finishing their dinner in high spirits.
Only then did Natsui release Jigglypuff.
The balloon Pokémon was still defiant and fuming. It couldn't believe it had been caught just like that. As soon as it came out, its eyes darted around, and it immediately bolted to the side.
There was a reason Natsui had released it last.
His Pokémon were sitting in a circle surrounding it. Aside from Beldum, practically any of them could overpower it. Jigglypuff only ran a few steps before finding its path blocked.
Seeing this, Natsui spoke with a relaxed smile.
"Don't struggle. I've already caught you. Running is useless, so just accept it—you're part of the team now."
Jigglypuff changed direction to escape, but another Pokémon instantly blocked its path.
It tried several times in a row, darting back and forth. Finally realizing this wasn't going to work, it flopped down on the ground and sulked furiously.
This sight made Misty laugh.
They teased the new addition for a while, only leaving it be when they were sure it wouldn't try to make a run for it again.
However, Jigglypuff's sulking didn't last long.
While they were chatting, its eyes shifted slyly. It quietly crept over to their backpacks and began rummaging through them.
It was looking for its microphone.
But the microphone was missing. It turned Natsui and Misty's backpacks upside down, yet there was no sign of it.
Just as it was wondering where its treasure had gone, it suddenly sensed a shadow looming over it.
Startled, it looked up to see Gengar peering down with a wide, mischievous grin. And in Gengar's hand was the microphone!
"Jigglypuff!"
Jigglypuff's eyes lit up. It immediately reached out to grab it. However, just as its stubby arms were about to brush the microphone, Gengar raised its hand high—keeping it just out of reach.
Refusing to give up, Jigglypuff jumped. But the moment it jumped, Gengar floated up as well, keeping the prize tantalizingly close but unreachable.
"Jigglypuff!!"
It finally understood. It was being played!
It widened its eyes and glared up at Gengar. It found that the Ghost-type, much like its human trainer, had an incredibly annoying smirk on its face.
Two mornings later, they reached Mauville City—a lively place where old and new collided in neon lights and humming power lines. Besides the famous Mauville Gym, the city was packed with spots trainers loved: the Game Corner, Mauville Park, and the food court that never seemed to sleep.
After entering the city, the two didn't go anywhere else; they headed straight for the Gym.
The Mauville Gym was one of the official Gyms of the Hoenn region, led by Wattson, an expert in Electric-type Pokémon.
From a distance, the structure looked about five or six stories high, resembling a massive industrial building. The outer walls were painted a vibrant golden yellow, and several electrical towers protruded from the roof. With a huge lightning bolt symbol hanging on the exterior, it looked exactly like a power plant.
Unfortunately, when they arrived at the entrance, they found the Gym closed for the day. They had missed their chance to challenge it immediately.
Luckily, it would reopen tomorrow morning.
They exchanged a glance and decided to find a place to stay.
Following the street, they walked toward the Pokémon Center. Soon, they arrived at Mauville Park, located in the very center of the city.
A replica of Lumiose's Prism Tower stood outside the park, a monument to the friendship between Kalos and Hoenn. People said that if anything went wrong in New Mauville, the tower would blaze with light as a warning.
Since they had nothing else to do, they decided to change their plans and take a stroll in the park first.
Just as they entered, they spotted a young boy arguing with a middle-aged man.
At first, they simply glanced at the pair and intended to walk past. But as Natsui was passing them, the boy suddenly ran toward him.
"Excuse me! Please wait!"
Hearing the voice, Natsui and Misty stopped and turned around. Natsui raised an eyebrow.
"What is it? Is something wrong?" he asked.
The boy approached Natsui. First, he bowed politely, then he spoke in a pleading tone.
"Are you a trainer?" he asked.
"Of course," Natsui nodded.
As he spoke, he observed the boy. He was about ten years old, with thick, light green hair and a delicate appearance. Dressed modestly in long sleeves, he looked like a well-behaved, albeit shy, student.
"Um..." The boy hesitated, then gathered his courage. "Could you battle me?"
Natsui had never met such a polite opponent before. Even the challenge itself was courteous.
He glanced at the middle-aged man standing in the distance and didn't agree immediately.
"I can," Natsui replied. "But can I ask what was happening just now?"
Hearing Natsui agree, the boy visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
"I was arguing with my Uncle," the boy explained. "He thinks I don't have the ability to challenge the Mauville Gym yet. That is why I want to battle you in front of him. I want him to see my current level!"
That explained it.
But why did he come to Natsui for a battle?
How did he know he could beat Natsui? If he lost, wouldn't it be even harder to prove his strength?
Or did this boy think Natsui looked weak?
Natsui looked back and forth between the middle-aged man and the boy for a moment. Then, he nodded.
"Alright," Natsui said. "I accept your challenge."
Seeing Natsui agree, a look of pure joy washed over the boy's face. He pointed to the side.
"There is a battlefield right over there," the boy said eagerly. "Let's go!"
After saying that, he turned back to the man and whispered something.
Watching him leave, Natsui shook his head helplessly, and they walked toward the open-air battlefield.
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