Poffins and Battle

After lunch.

Baimu and Dawn went shopping together at Slateport City's many open-air markets. He figured Mawile could use a break; training and relaxation needed to go hand in hand.

Mawile was naturally delighted. Shopping was one of her few hobbies, especially when her Trainer had just earned money and was feeling generous enough to indulge her every whim.

Piplup, hopelessly in love, kept showering her with attention. Unfortunately, Mawile couldn't make sense of some of the little penguin's behavior. She grew increasingly convinced that, like Chansey, he must be unwell in some way, and began looking at him with pity.

But she soon threw herself into shopping. Slateport City's open-air markets were nothing like the department stores she had visited before.

The stalls had none of the flashy decorations, let alone sales assistants dressed in business attire.

Instead, there were smiling stall owners of every age and gender who pressed things into her hands whenever they saw how cute she was. All she had to do was linger for a moment.

Did she even need to shop?

Mawile tilted her head. The innocent, adorable sight made Piplup happily volunteer as her bag carrier.

Of course, Mawile thanked everyone who gave her something. Her sweet manners only delighted the stall owners more, so they gave her even more.

Eventually, Baimu had to help Piplup carry some of it.

"Honestly, you've never carried anything for me!" Dawn said. Seeing Piplup like this made her a little jealous for once, though she was only joking.

Despite their age difference, she and Baimu had plenty to talk about. They were both Coordinators who loved traveling and Pokémon.

And because Baimu already knew a fair bit about Dawn, their conversation flowed easily.

With a little deliberate steering from him, Dawn learned that Brock was