April 30 was the day of Johto's traditional holiday, the Ho-Oh Festival.
Really, it was just an excuse for everyone to eat, drink, and skip work in Ho-Oh's name.
Up bright and early, Young Master Mao put on a red baseball jacket and a white baseball cap, picked up Eevee, and headed out.
Violet City's Grand Theater was especially packed today, with everyone waiting for the Eevee Five Sisters' dance performance.
These five were as popular in Johto as the Cerulean Sisters were in Kanto!
Everyone along the way wore a smile. They all seemed to love the festive atmosphere.
Stalls selling all kinds of food and souvenirs lined the main street in an unbroken stream.
Rage Candy Bar-check!
Violet City Specialty, Wing Pancake-check!
Charcoal-grilled octopus-check!
Meatball soup-check!
Candied dried fruit-check!
Gary carried Eevee, and Eevee carried the snack bag. The two cuties ate their way into matching puffed-cheek expressions.
Young Master Mao: ('~`)~
Eevee-chan: ー(￣~￣)￣
"Huh? Isn't that Gary?" Suddenly, a pleasantly surprised voice rang out.
Gary turned around. "Oh, hey, Tyson! What are you doing here?"
Holding an enormous meat bun, Tyson grinned and gave it a wave. "Checking out the food, of course."
"Since you're here, why not enter the Johto League?" Gary casually accepted the bun Tyson offered and handed him two squid skewers in return.
"Nom~" Tyson shook his head. "I met Mr. Steven a while back. He thought I had a lot of potential, so he gave me a Beldum.
"I'm planning to train hard, then head back to compete in the Ever Grande Conference."
Gary understood now. So Steven had given Tyson his Metagross!
What kind of money did you have to have to hand out Pseudo-Legendaries like that?
Still, Steven really did have a keen eye. Without Gary, Tyson should have been