Trip (2)

"Gongping, let's have a battle."

Trip's unexpected challenge made Gongping pause. Trip flashed a brilliant smile. "It's been ages since we battled. After all these years, let me show you my powerful new partner."

Although Trip was Gongping's rival in the original games, in this living, breathing world, he was less a rival than a brother who had grown up alongside Gongping.

"Sure."

Gongping had no reason to refuse Trip's challenge. He slowly took out a Poké Ball. "Go, Delphox!"

The Poké Ball's light faded, revealing purple flames hovering above the ground. A Shiny purple Delphox appeared before Trip. With a gentle flick of the twig wand in her hand, the purple flames around her danced as though they had come alive.

It was said that when Delphox gazed at the flame burning at the tip of her twig and focused her mind, she could see what would happen in the future. In battle, she could use her psychic powers to control a Fire Spin burning at three thousand degrees Celsius, enveloping enemies in the vortex and reducing them to ashes.

As the magical melody danced on, Delphox gave an enchanting smile. The purple flames around her formed a pair of magnificent wings of purple fire. Gongping sighed at the sight.

I told you not to waste your abilities pointlessly. There's no need to be so flashy.

For a noble-lady Pokémon who loved beauty and dressing up, a magnificent entrance was essential. How else could she display her nobility?

But when Delphox saw her Trainer, Gongping, she blushed shyly. The flame burning on her wand gradually took the shape of a heart, revealing her feelings.

"Sorry for the trouble this time."

To Delphox, Gongping's voice was the most beautiful sound in the world. As though he had struck her weak spot, the fox Pokémon flushed crimson and sank into all sorts of strange fantasies like Gongping's biggest fangirl.

Gongping was a little speechless at the sight of his Pokémon. Although this Delphox was extremely powerful, this was precisely why he rarely sent her into battle. Not only did she enjoy pointless displays of splendor in combat, but she was also far too affectionate toward him.

"Hahaha! A specially colored Delphox-that's a Pokémon from the Kalos Region, right? Well, I won't back down either. Go, Blastoise!"

The moment Blastoise emerged and saw Delphox, his eyes turned into hearts. But Delphox, long accustomed to male Pokémon looking at her that way, faced Blastoise with cold arrogance, every inch a queen.

The colder and more disdainful she was, the more lovestruck Blastoise became. As though her peerless beauty had conquered him at first sight, he walked up to Delphox with utter devotion and tried his hardest to please her.

Delphox lightly tapped Blastoise's head with her twig, snorted, and turned away, ignoring the big oaf. This left Blastoise thoroughly dejected and unhappy.

"Blastoise..."

Not expecting his Pokémon to be so hopeless, Trip raised his Mechanical Arm. A uniquely shaped Key Stone appeared in its palm, and an intense light instantly shone onto Blastoise.

"Show your true strength to the one you like! Mega Evolve, Blastoise!"

In the light, the two water cannons on Blastoise's back became one enormous cannon. When he finally appeared on the field as Mega Blastoise, the ground rumbled beneath his powerful step. Holding her wand, Delphox sensed her opponent's increased strength and narrowed her eyes, staring fixedly at the big fellow opposite her.

Mega Blastoise's overwhelmingly powerful aura immediately vanished, and he returned to his earlier courtship display. The cannon on his back even shot out countless little rainbow-colored bubbles in an attempt to delight Delphox.

"Let's begin!"

Gongping coughed softly. The purple Delphox swept her twig wand, and countless purple flames appeared over the field. The densely packed little Embers hovered silently in place.

Eerie purple fire burned across the field. Once the battle began, Mega Blastoise also regained his composure. The cannon on his back thundered, firing a high-speed pulse of water straight at Delphox.

"Ally Switch."

In an instant, Delphox appeared on the other side of the field as though she had used Teleport, evading Mega Blastoise's attack outright.

"I see. Those flames were coordinates."

Trip was also an experienced battler and naturally recognized Delphox's method at a glance.

Those flames served as positional coordinates, and Delphox switched places with them. The clever maneuver brought an excited smile to Trip's face. "Gongping, you really do come up with fresh ideas. But Blastoise's Water Pulse isn't finished yet."

In an instant, Water Pulse became a mass of swirling water in midair. Jets shot out at high speed, forcibly dispersing large numbers of purple flames. But Delphox's figure flashed, and she switched places with the swirling water.

Facing Trip, Gongping was particularly talkative today. "When Mega Blastoise's Water Pulse first struck the Embers, Delphox marked its coordinates. Next, use Mystical Fire!"

As the sparks came at him, Mega Blastoise showed no fear of the flames. After a sweep of scorching heat, a distinctive purple flame mark struck his body, yet the big oaf blushed.

Was this a mark of love?

As though sensing Mega Blastoise's thoughts, Delphox's expression turned fierce, and the purple mark suddenly blazed with intense light.

Mega Blastoise's expression changed instantly as his Special Attack fell by one stage.

Compared with ordinary Psychic-type Pokémon, Delphox, who could briefly foresee the future through the flame on her twig, could instantly shift to the most advantageous coordinates and counterattack. Mystical Fire could also effectively limit the power of her opponent's special attacks.

The battle grew increasingly intense, but both Gongping and Trip were in excellent spirits. The battle between the Fire-type and Water-type Pokémon seemed to stir a trace of memory and emotion deep within them.

Those days when they had first set out on their journey...

"Incineroar, thanks for your hard work."

In an office in the Johto Region, after Incineroar had recorded the details of the great battle at the Seafoam Islands through a pinhole camera, the young man before him recalled the Pokémon used for reconnaissance.

Of the many Pokémon under the Yin-Yang-Faced Freak's control, only this Incineroar, who had withdrawn midway through the battle, did not actually belong to him.

Incineroar had another mission during the battle at the Seafoam Islands. After recording the fight between the Yin-Yang-Faced Freak and Gongping, he had slipped away amid the chaos.

During the battle between the armies, conditions within Sandstorm Purgatory had been terrible, while Mega Gardevoir had been focused on dealing with Gongping, who was directing Tyranitar to close in rapidly and attack with the Bayonet. As a result, neither side had noticed Incineroar's disappearance.

Toying with the Poké Ball in his hand, the young man smiled and tapped the desk. "A very promising newcomer. This Sandstorm King's strength exceeded my expectations. Wouldn't you agree, King Koga?"

At the young man's words, Poison-type King Koga, seated opposite him, looked deeply displeased. He stared fixedly at the seemingly harmless young man before him, forcibly suppressing his murderous intent. But Koga could only hold it in; this fellow's identity made him extremely wary.

"You bastard..."

"Choose to join us, or the scandal from your days in Fuchsia City will utterly ruin your reputation."

Ignoring Koga's gaze, the young man took out an identical Pikachu Mask and placed it on the desk, looking leisurely out the window.

The mission had to continue, and Poison-type King Koga was the best successor they had selected.

In addition, the Hunter Association would send three Commissioners to act alongside Koga as his assistants.