Mauville City was a major city in the central Hoenn Region. Game Corners and all sorts of entertainment facilities dotted its streets. With entrances and exits on all four sides, its transportation network was exceptionally well developed, allowing the bicycle industry to flourish here.
Yes, bicycles, not cars.
Although the Pokémon World had high-tech industries, from Poké Balls with various functions to ancient fossil revival technology, Pokédexes, and even spatial travel backpacks, all of that technological development revolved around Pokémon.
Pokémon could fulfill many of human society's needs, so while cars existed, there were very few of them, and they had never attracted much attention.
Clearly, Pokémon were the center of this world's development.
Here, the lightweight, environmentally friendly bicycle industry was far more advanced. Bikes even came with all sorts of features: Mach Bikes, Acro Bikes, bouncing bikes, and many more. Every region had plenty of cycling enthusiasts, too!
This had also led to the construction of dedicated express lanes for cyclists, making travel fast and convenient.
Mauville City had been the first city to establish bicycle lanes!
As one of the Hoenn Region's major cities, it had more than its extensive transportation network and citywide entertainment industry. Most importantly, it also housed a massive electricity-generating facility-the Power Plant-which supplied two-thirds of the entire region's electricity.
Some even claimed that a mysterious power-generating city, New Mauville, existed here! It was home to countless Electric-type Pokémon, and even Raikou!
Whether that was true or not, the rumors had attracted even more Trainers and adventurers, as well as activity from sinister organizations.
Wattson, the Gym Leader of Mauville Gym, specialized in Electric-type Pokémon and also served as Mauville City's Pokémon League administrator.
Under Wattson's redevelopment plan, which took inspiration from Lumiose City in the Kalos Region, Mauville City had become an indoor urban district. The entire city stood within a ring-shaped building, with enormous access passages on all four sides and a vast park at its center.
Standing before the western entrance to Mauville City, Yong stared in astonishment at the enormous city wall and its futuristic access passage. Pedestrians streamed in and out on automated moving walkways.
"This is unbelievable! What an incredible city."
Yong marveled.
"Can a place this fantastical really exist?"
Chengjie proudly lifted his head.
"Pretty amazing, right? Mauville City is known as the dazzling capital of fun! Nowhere else in the whole Hoenn Region feels more high-tech. And inside the city, there are all sorts of Game Corners. I've been playing at them since I was little!"
Yong nodded. It certainly felt futuristic. Rustboro City was also a major city, but it felt like a heavy industrial city and port. This place, on the other hand, looked exactly like the futuristic cities he had imagined in his previous life.
The bicycle lanes extending from the city walls in every direction caught his interest.
"I'm not that interested in Game Corners, but I think I should buy a bike. They're so practical!"
"Right? I think so, too! Riding a bike from place to place sounds so cool!"
Chengjie agreed happily.
The two walked up and presented their Pokédexes. After checking them, the staff waved them through. When they stepped onto the moving walkway, they felt a suction force beneath their feet. Their bodies were firmly locked in place without any control on their part, and the conveyor carried them automatically toward the city.
It gave Yong the illusion that he had been reborn into a future world.
The pedestrians around them all wore expressions of wonder and excitement.
Looks like I'm not the only country bumpkin here!
Slightly reassured, Yong concealed his little lapse in composure. Amid the shifting colors of the surrounding neon lights, he and Chengjie passed through the city wall, and a vast, brilliantly colored city came into view.
Even from a distance, they could see the city's orderly, square layout. Apart from the park at its center, the surrounding buildings were arranged neatly across the eastern, southern, western, and northern districts, their varying heights forming a pleasing pattern.
Crisscrossing greenbelts, arranged in layers, divided the city into four equal sections.
The eastern district faced the sea and had the most developed transportation network. Besides its dense network of bicycle lanes, it had numerous ports that could take people to destinations throughout Hoenn.
The western district lay in the direction of Verdanturf Town. Its beautiful surroundings blended nature perfectly with modern architecture, and the Pokémon Center was located here. The district was filled with Pokémon-related facilities, such as the Pokémon Day Care, Pokémon Contest hall, Poké Mart, and Coordinator training center.
The southern district led toward Slateport City and was also famous as an entertainment district. Game Corners and entertainment facilities were everywhere, along with a renowned food court that drew countless tourists.
The northern district led toward Lavaridge Town and the mysterious desert ruins. Mauville Gym and the Pokémon League buildings were located here, standing as a bastion guarding the city.
After leaving the walkway, Chengjie led Yong through the western district. They soon reached the Pokémon Center, where he stopped and turned around.
"Here we are. Work hard on your training!"
As he spoke, he pointed off to one side.
"My mom's place is in the southern district. I'll go check in with her first, then come find you! I'll contact you through your Pokédex!"
Seeing Chengjie's excitement, Yong agreed with a smile.
"Oh, and I'll take Machop home for treatment. My mom happens to have a Bellossom that knows Grassy Terrain. Combined with Machop's own healing ability, it should help him recover better!"
With that, Chengjie carried Machop into the crowd and disappeared.
Left on his own, Yong shook his head and walked toward the Pokémon Center.
"Mauville City is nothing like it was in the games or the anime!"
Recalling the images from his previous life, then looking at the various LED screens on the Pokémon Center's walls and the neon lights hanging everywhere, Yong couldn't help remarking,
"What a waste. That's no way to use electricity. They're all on in broad daylight-who's even looking at them?"
He strolled into the Pokémon Center's lobby. Thankfully, the interior wasn't quite so extravagant!
At the front desk, he took out his Poké Balls as usual and handed them to Nurse Joy, asking her to check his Pokémon. Then he went to a Video Phone Booth and called home. Before long, his parents appeared on the screen. This time, his father, Shiyan Toru, spoke first with a frown.
"Yong, where are you now? We heard a sinister organization attacked Rustboro City. Are you all right?"
Uh, has the news already spread?
He quickly jumped twice on the spot to show that he was in excellent shape, then smiled at his family.
"How could anything have happened to me? Look, I'm perfectly healthy! I've already reached Mauville City, so don't worry!"
Seeing that his son really did seem well, Shiyan Toru said no more. His mother spoke up instead.
"You must keep yourself safe. Don't go anywhere dangerous!"
"Don't worry, Mom! I'm fine!"
After reassuring his worried family and finally putting them at ease, Yong hurriedly moved on to the real reason for his call.
"Oh, right! Dad, Mom! I caught a new partner. An Aron!"
He announced it with a hint of pride.
"A mighty Rock-type warrior! Well? Pretty impressive, right?"
Only in front of his family did Yong act like a little child. Perhaps everyone-no, every living being-was the same, revealing their vulnerable, emotional side only before those closest to them!
"Oh! Really? My son is amazing!"
His mother was as enthusiastic as ever, while his father looked utterly unimpressed, wearing a smug expression.
Yong ignored him and got straight to the point.
"But raising Aron takes a lot of iron ore. I'm not sure whether the mine at home produces enough to support that."
"Hmph! I knew you were up to something!"
Shiyan Toru gave an exaggerated snort, then surrendered under his wife's stern gaze.
"Ahem! We recently opened another mine pit, and it's producing a lot of iron. There are plenty of rare ores, too. Even after supplying the Devon Corporation, we'll still have plenty left."
"Really?"
That's great news!
"Stay in Mauville City for a few more days. I'll send you 500 kg of iron ore first, along with some rare ores. That should keep Aron fed for quite a while!"
"Awesome! You're the best, Dad!"
Seeing his happy son, his father lifted his chin with a touch of smug pride. His mother nudged him in amusement, then launched into the usual round of reminders. Finally, amid Yong's repeated murmurs of agreement, the call came to an end.
Yong breathed a sigh of relief. Aron's enormous appetite had been his biggest worry. Its growth required vast quantities of iron and steel, but now that he had his family's support, he felt confident enough to begin intensive training without any lingering concerns!
He could train while waiting for the iron ore to arrive from home.
What? How would they transport 500 kg?
Come on, two large spatial travel backpacks would be enough! This was cutting-edge technology exclusive to the Pokémon World!