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8:00 a.m., outside the Pokémon Center
After breakfast, Kai and Misty stood on one side, while Ash and the others stood on the other, exchanging farewells once again.
Compared to the calm goodbyes Kai, Ash, and Brock were already used to, the parting between Misty and May was far more emotional.
The two girls clung to each other holding hands, hugging tightly as if they were being separated forever.
In the end, Ash couldn't take it anymore and blurted out, "You'll see each other again soon. Probably in just a few days. Do you really have to make it this dramatic?"
"What do you know?!"
Misty wiped the corner of her eye and shot him a glare. "A love-dead idiot like you wouldn't understand the bond between women."
"Women?"
Brock looked the two of them up and down, shaking his head. "Isn't it a little early for you to call yourselves that? Maybe wait another ten years or so—"
He didn't get to finish.
Thud.
Misty's backpack flew straight into his face, knocking him flat onto the ground.
Max pushed up his glasses, completely unfazed, and sighed at May. "Since you're this reluctant to part, why don't you just travel together?"
Travel together?
Misty and May both paused, exchanged a glance, and then sighed at the same time.
How could they not have thought about it?
But while Kai and Ash were friends, they were also rivals. Running into each other occasionally was fine but traveling together long-term was out of the question.
And switching teams wasn't realistic either.
Misty couldn't leave Kai.
May couldn't abandon Max.
Both had their own reasons, and neither could simply choose freely.
…Looks like they'd have to wait for another opportunity.
Still, after this exchange, the sadness faded somewhat, and the mood finally lightened.
Seeing that, Ash let out a sigh of relief and waved enthusiastically. "Kai, see you next time!"
Kai nodded, his gaze sweeping over the group as he smiled. "Yeah. See you around."
With that, the two parties turned in opposite directions, one heading west, the other east, and soon disappeared from each other's sight outside the Pokémon Center.
Just as Kai had planned, his next destination was an island far from mainland Hoenn—
Dewford Island.
Located in the southwestern corner of the Hoenn region, Dewford Island was relatively small. A modest mountain range ran through its center, with three or four connected peaks. Because the island was rich in rare stones, many collectors came daily to climb its mountains.
At the foot of the mountains lay Dewford Town, lively and bustling.
Arriving at Slateport Harbor, Kai and Misty quickly found a small passenger ship bound for Dewford.
They bought tickets, boarded, and spent the voyage quietly. After half a day at sea, they arrived in Dewford Town at 3:00 p.m.
With daylight still to spare, Kai immediately led Misty toward their destination the Dewford Gym.
Misty didn't even have time to take in how Dewford differed from other Hoenn towns. She hurried after Kai, cutting straight through the town center.
The Dewford Gym was built atop a seaside cliff just outside town.
Leaving the streets behind, the two walked along a palm-lined path and soon arrived before a strikingly unique gate.
The gym's signboard was gilded in gold, gleaming in the sunlight. At the very top was a relief carving of a Machamp and a Machoke running side by side, shoulders pressed together, both wearing radiant smiles.
No matter how you looked at it—
It was… extremely intimate.
A little too intimate.
Still, odd as it was, anyone could tell at a glance that this was a Fighting-type Gym.
Which was exactly why Kai found it memorable.
At least the weirdness made sense.
Beyond the gate stood the Dewford Gym itself.
The building was a square, two-story structure. Plain at first glance—until you looked at the roof.
Three vertical ridges rose from the top, forming a shape eerily similar to Machamp's head.
"…That's certainly a bold aesthetic," Misty muttered. "The Gym Leader here wouldn't happen to be another strange old man like Chuck from Johto, would he?"
Kai fell silent for a moment.
"Careful," he said with a grin. "Chuck might visit you in a dream and punch you."
Then he added, "The Dewford Gym Leader is Brawly. He's not just a Gym Leaderhe's also a professional surfer. A real trendsetter. He believes in direct, physical combat, like crashing waves, which is why people call him the Fighting Wave."
"The Fighting Wave?" Misty blinked.
"That's actually a pretty cool nickname… I just can't picture a surfer alongside muscle-bound Pokémon."
As they spoke, they reached the gym entrance.
Kai was about to knock when he noticed the door was slightly ajar.
From inside, the sounds of battle echoed clearly.
Oh?
Someone else was challenging the Gym today?
Curious, Kai pushed the door open and stepped inside with Misty.
Beyond the entrance lay the battlefield.
Two women were in the middle of a match.
The one on the left looked around twenty. She wore a red athletic swimsuit, her lake-blue hair tied into a high ponytail. Her figure was toned and athletic—clearly the result of long-term training.
Judging by her position, she was probably part of the Gym staff. Maybe even the acting Gym Leader.
Then Kai looked at her opponent—
And froze.
It was Bea.
The same Bea that he and Misty had briefly encountered at the Verdanturf Pokémon Center.
She still wore her racer-like Fighting uniform, her black headband tied like rabbit ears. Her expression was as focused and serious as ever—almost devoid of emotion.
So that's how it was.
This was a Fighting-type Gym.
And Bea was a Fighting-type specialist who traveled the world.
Of course, she'd come here.
Still… running into her again so soon was unexpected.
On the field—
The Gym trainer was using Meditite, a Fighting/Psychic-type Pokémon.
Across from it stood Pangoro.
Massive. Intimidating. A bamboo stalk clenched between its teeth like a cigar.
Pangoro radiated raw, streetwise menace.
The two Pokémon were locked in close combat, exchanging blows at point-blank range.
Type-wise, neither side held a clear advantage.
Meditite's Psychic attacks were useless against Pangoro's Dark typing but its Fighting moves were super effective.
Meanwhile, Pangoro's Dark-type moves threatened Medititebut its Fighting attacks were resisted.
Yet Bea had no intention of relying on Dark-type moves.
And her opponent seemed to share the same philosophy.
No tricks.
No shortcuts.
Just fists.
The battle lacked flashy effects—but every strike carried weight.
Thud—! Thud—!
Each of Pangoro's punches cut through the air like shockwaves.
Meditite, smaller and lighter, relied on footwork and positioning to stay in the fight.
But eventually, the difference in raw power showed.
After a flurry of exchanges—Palm Strikes, Pushes, Elbow Blows, Throws, Knee Kicks—
Meditite collapsed.
The Gym trainer sighed and recalled her Pokémon.
"Alright. You win. You're qualified to challenge Brawly."
She paused, then added,
"But as I said, he's out surfing right now. If you want to challenge him, come back tomorrow morning."
Bea frowned slightly but said nothing. She recalled Pangoro and headed straight for the exit.
Turning the corner—
She came face-to-face with Kai and Misty.
She paused, clearly recognizing them, though only faintly. Then she gave a polite nod and walked past them without a word.
Leaving behind a clean, confident silhouette.
…Yeah.
That was undeniably cool.
Once Bea left, the Gym trainer finally noticed Kai and Misty.
"Who are you two?"
"My apologies," Kai said with a smile.
"I'm Kai—a traveling Trainer. I came here to—"
"No need to explain," she interrupted.
"You're here to challenge the Gym, right?"
Kai nodded.
She shrugged.
"Same rules as before. The Gym Leader's unavailable today. Beat me first, and you'll earn the right to challenge him tomorrow."
"No problem at all," Kai replied calmly.
"But first—may I ask who you are?"
"Oh, right." She puffed out her chest proudly.
"I'm Ninja, Brawly's top student—and his girlfriend. I'm also the acting Gym Leader when he's away."
"I see. Then please excuse any discourtesy," Kai said politely.
"Shall we begin?"
Though he said the words, Ninja couldn't sense much reverence in his tone.
Honestly—
First that woman with the Pangoro.
Now this guy.
Didn't they realize how famous Brawly was in Dewford Town?
He was a superstar surfer and a Gym Leader.
Almost every girl on the island dreamed of being his partner.
And yet—
When she introduced herself as his top disciple and girlfriend, no one even batted an eye.
…Unbelievable.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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