After receiving the Dynamo Badge and the incredible gift from Professor Birch, I left the Pokémon Center with renewed purpose. My next stop was Lavaridge Town, which meant traversing the extensive, arid expanse of Route 111 and the vast desert. Preparation was paramount.
"More water than you think you need," Wattson's voice echoed in my head.
I headed for the nearest general goods shop in Mauville City. The store was bustling, crammed with every item a trainer could need: specialized gear, vitamins, accessories, and a dazzling variety of Poké Balls.
As I browsed the shelving dedicated to hydration packs and Berries, my attention was drawn to a nearby aisle by the sound of a familiar, high-pitched argument.
"Marill, no! That's absurdly expensive! We're saving for the next Gym!"
A light blue Pokémon with large ears, a Marill, was frantically pointing its nose at a display of elaborate shell decorations. Its trainer, looking absolutely exasperated, was shaking her head.
I moved toward the noise, and a wave of nostalgia hit me. I placed a hand on the trainer's shoulder.
"Clara? Still having philosophical debates with your partner?"
The trainer nearly jumped out of her shoes. She spun around, her eyes wide with shock. "Stephen! Oh my Arceus, I thought you were halfway to the coast!"
It was Clara, the fellow trainer I had met and challenged the Dewford Gym with. We had promised to meet up in Mauville, but the timing was always vague.
"I just finished up with Wattson," I explained, laughing at her shocked expression. "Your timing is perfect. I need to stock up for the desert."
While Clara and I exchanged quick updates on our gym progress, Mawile suddenly emerged from its Poké Ball, sensing my relaxed state. It wandered off, its single eye skimming the accessories display. It stopped abruptly at a rack featuring decorative clips and pins.
It pointed its jaws at a small, intricately carved skull head clip—a surprisingly macabre choice given the shop's general cheerfulness.
"Mawile, are you sure?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Clara giggled, watching the Steel/Fairy Pokémon. "It definitely suits those back-jaws of hers. Very intimidating!"
"At least I know it's safe," I joked, reaching for the item. "If she wears that, no Pokémon will poison her. Steel types are immune, despite the scary appearance. I can understand the preference." I decided to buy the clip; Mawile's happiness was invaluable.
Clara, however, was still staring longingly at the expensive shell decoration that Marill wanted.
"Clara, if Marill wants the shell, just get it," I prompted. "It's just a decoration."
Her face clouded over. She sighed, tucking her hands into her pockets. "I wish I could. I'm almost spent out, Stephen. I didn't realize how expensive everything was."
"Expensive?" I frowned, looking at the price tags. "I mean, Potions add up, but a decoration shouldn't break the bank."
"It's the Poké Balls," she confessed, her voice dropping to a mortified whisper. "I thought the secret to a strong team was diversity. I bought several dozen Great Balls and Ultra Balls, planning to catch a dozen strong wild Pokémon on my way through the routes."
She slumped dramatically. "I've spent nearly all my savings. And the result? I caught almost nothing. Only one or two Pokémon followed me voluntarily. The rest always resist capture or refuse to obey. Now, I have all these empty, expensive Poké Balls, and my wallet is flat."
Her admission reminded me of my own needs. I needed to replenish my supply, especially with the treacherous desert ahead. I headed to the Poké Ball counter.
"Well, first, we'll fix the budget," I said, picking up a few standard Poké Balls myself. "Maybe we should focus on quality over quantity for a bit and save those expensive balls for something truly special. But before the desert, let's at least get some proper gear."
"I... I think I need to reconsider my entire training philosophy," Clara admitted, looking dejected.
"You've got the heart for it," I assured her. "You just need a better strategy."
I quickly bought my necessary desert supplies—water, energy bars, and a few standard Poké Balls. I found Clara waiting near the exit, adjusting her backpack with a look of seasoned determination.
"Lavaridge Town is my next stop," I told her, checking the mysterious metallic blue-green Egg deep in my bag.
"Lavaridge? Perfect!" Clara exclaimed. "I'm heading there too for my fourth badge. We can tackle the desert together."
"It's settled then," I agreed. Traveling the vast Hoenn desert alone was risky. "By the way, how did your challenge go here?"
Clara grinned and pulled out her badge case. Inside, three badges glinted—Stone, Knuckle, and the Dynamo Badge.
"Just finished it this morning," she said, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Wattson's gym is insane! The electric traps and that Magneton gave me a huge headache. But I see you survived it too." She pointed to the badge pinned to my jacket.
"Barely," I laughed.
"I'm not surprised," Clara said, her tone respectful rather than shocked. "I knew you'd figure out a way around his tactics. Your strategy is always solid. So, we're tied at three badges now, Stephen. The race to the League is officially on."
We left the metropolitan area, the paved roads rapidly giving way to dusty trails. We were at the edge of Route 111, the Gateway to the Desert.
The landscape was vast and shimmering, defined by endless sand dunes and relentless heat.
"The sheer scale is intimidating," I admitted, taking a drink of water. "We have to be vigilant. Sandstorms can appear instantly."
"Why is it so hard to get a strong wild Pokémon to join your team?" Clara suddenly asked, looking at her bag of empty, expensive Poké Balls. "I have the badges, but I still struggle to catch the ones I want."
"It's not a numbers game, Clara," I explained. "It's about respect. A strong wild Pokémon won't join a trainer who sees them as just a statistic. They join those who show potential as a partner."
Clara nodded slowly, absorbing the advice. "Quality it is. Lead the way, Rival!"
With that, we began our trek into the shimmering heat of Route 111.