The battlefield at Mahogany Gym was actually a sheet of ice-a huge block formed by freezing the entire swimming pool.
Young Master Mao had changed into a long down coat, with luxurious white fox fur around the collar.
But before Gary could pull off his dashing young gentleman look, he encountered his lifelong nemesis: the neighborhood auntie...
"Oh my, so you're the boy from the Oak family! So handsome! These little cheeks look juicy enough to squeeze water out of~" A plump, endearingly bumbling yet surprisingly nimble older woman fussed all over Gary.
Gary went completely numb. "Um, please don't do that... mmph~"
Dressed in thin clothes and flip-flops, Pryce stood to one side and tried helplessly to intervene. "Xima, don't scare Gary. We're about to have a match here~"
"I know, I know~" Auntie Xima shot Pryce an impatient glance. "Look, Yukinari's grandson is already this grown-up, and you're still single as a dog..."
Pryce flushed. "Ahem... what are you talking about? Hurry over to the referee's stand!"
"All right." Auntie Xima turned and patted Gary on the shoulder. "Give this old fellow a good lesson."
Then, under Gary's horrified gaze, the auntie stripped off her outer coat, revealing a referee's uniform underneath.
Good grief, it was even a Head Referee's uniform exclusive to the Pokémon League Professional Referee Association!
"Then I hereby declare the Mahogany Town Gym Challenge underway! Each side may use three Pokémon! The match will end when all Pokémon on one side are unable to battle!"
At Auntie Xima's command, both sides immediately prepared to act.
"These are the three I'll be using!" Clearly, Pryce was very confident in his strength.
He showed his hand outright.
Three Poké Balls were thrown, and the Pokémon that appeared were Dewgong, Cloyster, and Lapras!
Pryce's ace Piloswine and