Ash and his friends encountered an extraordinarily lucky Emperor of Luck, who was terrible at battling. Just by having lunch, they could stumble upon a second-stage Kanto Elite Three Pokémon, accidentally fall into a river and catch a Golden Magikarp—an alternate-colored Pokémon, and then trade with a passerby for another second-stage Kanto Elite Three Pokémon.
Adding that person's own second-stage Three Families Pokémon, they managed to complete the set.
It was truly hard to hold back laughter.
"Want to go shopping?"
Baimu invited the shopping expert Blissey and asked around. He only got responses from the Dreepy siblings and Hydreigon. Milotic seemed interested too but realized it wasn't convenient for a sea serpent to move on land, so it had to give up unwillingly.
Short-distance movement on land was fine, but long-term movement might damage the fine scales, which wouldn't look good.
Milotic knew it probably needed to participate in the Gorgeous Competition in a couple of days, so it had to ensure that every scale was in perfect condition.
On the other hand.
The Dragapult Baimu most anticipated chose to avoid his gaze, not meeting his eyes.
Why?
He was puzzled, thinking it couldn't be because it was afraid to go out! Social anxiety?
Unbeknownst to him, Baimu's words turned out to be prophetic. He shook his head and sternly refused to allow Hydreigon to follow, saying, "I told you before to develop independent thoughts, and you agreed. You can't back out now!"
Who agreed!
Hydreigon widened his eyes, feeling utterly wronged. It never agreed to develop any independent thinking! It was always forced upon by the Trainer!
Too much!
It watched helplessly as Baimu left with the Dreepy siblings and Blissey, feeling an overwhelming sense of grievance. It rushed into the bedroom to bite a pillow in frustration but ended up biting the sleeping Corsola next to it instead.
"Sa-sa..."
Hydreigon broke into a cold sweat in an instant.
Corsola had a tendency to tattletale! It was going to get scolded again!
It spat it out and nervously watched the Corsola, which had been polished smooth by the Trainer. A sudden thought crossed its mind—
After so many days without biting, it felt like the texture was much better?
No, no!
It needed to discuss with Corsola not to tattletale!
Hydreigon lifted its two smaller heads, bit its cheeks slightly, imitating the Trainer's act of refreshing himself when staying up late, and put on three comical flattering expressions.
"Sa-sa~"
No response.
It was just like before.
Hydreigon dejectedly lowered its head, looked around, and decided to find Aggron, hoping that this authoritative figure could speak on its behalf when Corsola tattled.
After it left, Corsola weakly extended its smoke-like tentacles and crimson eyes.
As expected, it couldn't resist any longer!
Not even a month!
What a creature!
But why did my heart suddenly feel at ease? Hmm? So strange.
With these strange thoughts surfacing in its mind, Corsola's already depressed mood grew even more so.
The invisible Dragapult hiding in the shadows witnessed everything and found it all very amusing.
Wondering what it would be like if I participated?
Dragapult with social anxiety slowly fantasized, much like a teenager in a classroom daydreaming instead of paying attention to the lesson, imagining being a hidden talented expert obliterating all in their path.
On the other side.
Old father Baimu was picking various fresh Tree Fruits at the market, not only preparing dinner but also for making a new batch of Energy Blocks.
The other day on Route 120, to appease those Wild Pokémon, he gave out countless Energy Blocks, tapping even his stash of old stock.
He needed to replenish quickly, so when they wandered into a ruin where it was inconvenient to cook, the Energy Blocks could be used instead of meals.
However.
He hadn't expected that his fame in the Gorgeous Competition realm had grown to such an exaggerated extent that even wearing a large mask, he could be recognized.
Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted "Baimu," and his instinctive head-turn triggered a wave of excited screams.
"Baimu? Where's Baimu?"
"Baimu came to Shuijing City?"
"Aaaah—!!"
The last one was someone who spotted him.
Then Baimu found himself stuck amid a crowd, unable to move.
"Happy..."
Blissey struggled to support bags and bags of Tree Fruits, stymied by the crowd. The Dreepy siblings were so startled that one turned invisible while the other burrowed into his arms.
Baimu protected Blissey, looking at the fervent faces, realizing the latter might have caused it.
Blissey was already a rare sight outside the Pokémon Center, and a male Trainer of his stature with a Blissey was even rarer.
Not to mention the suspicious look of trying to blend in while wearing a mask.
Of course, this also had something to do with Shuijing City's excellent development of the Gorgeous Competition, being one of the earliest pilot cities for the competition. The Shuijing Conference's prestige exceeded that of smaller town-level competitions.
In the game's Emerald version, numerous Gorgeous Competition venues were integrated into Shuijing City.
Thankfully, Officer Jenny wasn't slacking off. She came up to help disperse the crowd when she saw it getting congested during her patrol. However, like her cousin in Fallarbor Town, she was also one of his fans, so she asked for his autograph.
Does this count as exploiting authority for personal gain?
Baimu thought to himself.
After getting off Miss Jun Sha's sidecar motorcycle in a secluded park, he patted the Growlithe squeezed in with Blissey in the sidecar, "Good boy~"
Poor thing, squeezed with the plump Blissey in such a small space.
"Woof woof!"
Growlithe barked happily, panting with its tongue out, indicating how much it enjoyed the petting.
Blissey awkwardly climbed out of the sidecar. Its short legs made it particularly awkward with high steps, having to either hop or, like an old man getting off a train, back out and tentatively stretch a small leg to find the ground.
"Happy..."
"For safety reasons going forward, you'll have to put up with it a little." Baimu patted Blissey's delicate face, explaining his idea.
But calling it out only to return it to its ball halfway through was somewhat unethical.
However, Blissey, ever understanding, agreed, only worrying if the Trainer could handle so much stuff.
It looked at the Dreepy siblings, studying their form closely, and gave up.
They didn't look like they could hold anything up.
Baimu, seeing how considerate it was, felt even more ashamed.
But there's nothing I can do.
Maybe I should buy a wig?
Baimu pondered silently, noticing the cheerful Dreepy siblings on his head. The sensation of riding a speeding motorcycle triggered their genes for swift movement.
For Dreepy, feeling the wind and charging forward was an irresistible temptation, just like boys rewarding themselves.
Especially Sister Dragapult, who, unlike Brother Dragapult, rarely had such opportunities to experience speed since its inception.
The sudden rush felt like unlocking a gene sequence, making it feel utterly different.
"Hee ya..."
Dreepy pondered quietly if it should also try getting launched from Dragapult's slot like its brother did, especially since the latter often encouraged it to try.
But that Dragapult was the scoundrel who took its brother away!
It climbed onto Baimu's head, contemplating with deep frustration. The more it thought, the more irritable it felt. Seeing its brother's carefree frolicsome look, an overwhelming fury surged inside.
"Hee ya!"
Pop!
In a flash of light, it suddenly smacked Brother Dragapult on the head.
Quiet down~!
"Hee ya..."
Brother Dragapult clutched its head, whimpered, and fearfully looked at Sister Dragapult, quickly clamping its little mouth shut.
Baimu sighed, cradling Brother Dragapult in his arms, saying to Sister Dragapult, "Don't be so violent. Look, this little one might get beaten silly by you. We should talk it out..."
Even though the oldest sister is like a mother, that doesn't mean you can treat your brother as a punching bag!
"Hee ya."
Sister Dragapult glanced at the Trainer, the fury dissipating, and bashfully nodded, promising it wouldn't happen next time.
Whether or not it would actually keep its promise was another story.
After all, people are people, and Pokémon are Pokémon.