The two wings of the Skarmory spread out like sharp silver blades, effortlessly slicing through the final veil of thin clouds.
The scenery below shifted at a speed visible to the naked eye—rolling hills gradually faded away, replaced by the sprawling outline of a city woven together by steel, concrete, and vibrant colors.
As Skarmory continued its steady descent, the unique appearance of Mauville City unfolded more and more clearly beneath them.
The entire city seemed to be gently encircled by a massive ring-shaped complex of buildings. At its very heart lay a lush, emerald-green park, like a jewel carefully embedded into the bustling veins of the metropolis.
Several modern-styled high-rises rose at varying heights, their glass walls reflecting the sunlight. Among them, the most striking structure of all was the lightning-rod tower that pierced straight into the sky.
Its base was constructed from dense alloy steel, the tower narrowing section by section as it climbed upward. At the very top, the lightning rod glimmered with a sharp, metallic chill. Even from hundreds of meters in the air, one could faintly sense the current flowing around it, as if the thunderous power of the entire city was being drawn in and stored by this colossal device.
"We're almost there."
Steven gently patted Skarmory's neck, his fingers tapping lightly against its metal-hard feathers. Skarmory answered with a crisp cry, the beat of its wings gradually slowing. Despite its large frame, its descent was graceful, like a drifting cloud, as it glided toward the open field at the edge of the city.
When it finally landed, the breeze stirred by its wings lifted several stray blades of grass. Theo hopped off before the wind settled, his feet sinking slightly into the soft soil. Instinctively, he lowered his gaze to the wooden signpost in front of him.
The letters were clean and neatly carved:
"Route 110 -> 5 km to Mauville City"
Below it, smaller handwriting added a friendly reminder:
"Welcome to Mauville City! Many wild Electric-type Pokémon live along the route. These little helpers contribute greatly to the city's power grid, please do not harm them~"
A lake not far away shimmered with dancing ripples. The afternoon sunlight scattered across its surface like fragments of golden foil. At the lake's center, a black building surrounded by a blue fence could vaguely be seen. Occasionally, faint blue arcs flickered along the lightning rod mounted on top.
That building was the heart of Mauville City—its power plant, supplying electricity to the entire urban network.
Steven dismounted from Skarmory as well, brushing the bits of grass from its wings. He then pointed ahead and said:
"I'll only be sending you this far. If you follow the path straight forward, you'll reach Mauville City very soon."
Theo hurriedly nodded and expressed his gratitude.
"This really saves me a lot of time, Mr. Steven. The trip from Rustboro to Mauville would've taken me at least a few days."
"It's nothing."
Steven waved his hand dismissively before pulling a silver, palm-sized PokéNav from his bag. He pressed it into Theo's hands.
"Take this. The signal in the desert is unstable, and regular devices could disconnect easily. This one is a Devon Corporation custom PokéNav—it links directly to the satellite channel and can contact me anywhere."
He paused, his tone becoming noticeably more serious.
"And if you really run into the Mirage Tower, don't you dare go in alone. Contact me immediately and wait for me to get there. Understood?"
"I understand. Safety first."
Theo accepted the PokéNav with both hands. He pressed the side button; a soft blue glow lit the screen. After skimming the operation instructions a few times, he carefully placed it into the inner compartment of his backpack.
Steven suddenly paused mid-step, as though remembering something crucial. He turned back once more:
"Right, about Beldum—since it strengthens its body by consuming metallic minerals, I'll prepare a document detailing which ores are suitable, along with the feeding frequency. Make sure you keep an eye on your PokéNav and don't miss it."
"Of course. I'll remember it."
Theo nodded earnestly. Those materials would be vital for Beldum's growth, he dared not take it lightly.
Satisfied at last, Steven turned around and leapt back onto Skarmory's steel back. Patting its neck, he said:
"I need to head to Mossdeep now. The tides around the shallow caves have been strange lately. If I don't go now, I may miss the chance and have to wait for the next cycle.
As for you, focus on preparing for the Contest and the Gym battle here in Mauville. Do your best. I'll watch your matches if I have the chance."
"You can count on me, I'll do my best."
Theo raised his head, his eyes steady and determined.
Skarmory let out a long, echoing cry and swung its wings downward with force, stirring a strong gust of wind as it shot into the air.
The silver figure traced a clean arc beneath the sunlight and soon adjusted its direction, flying southeast toward Mossdeep. In only a few moments, it shrank into a silver speck and vanished beyond the horizon.
Theo watched until the last glint of silver faded, then finally turned away.
He followed Route 110 into the city limits, and the atmosphere instantly shifted—completely different from Rustboro.
The rooftops along both sides of the street were uniformly painted a cheerful lavender. Colorful wind chimes hung from nearly every window. Whenever the breeze passed through, their crisp "ding-ling-ling" melodies blended lightly with the distant laughter echoing across the city, making his mood feel unexpectedly light.
Squeals and cheers rang out from the direction of the game arcade—not surprising, since Mauville City boasted the largest arcade in the entire Hoenn region.
But Theo wasn't planning to head there yet. Games could be played anytime. What mattered now was buying some delicious food, checking into a hotel, and letting his three Pokémon enjoy a good meal together—and to let them officially meet each other.
Following the signs along the road, he headed toward the food district.
With each step, the noise grew louder. The air was rich with the smoky aroma of roasted corn and the tangy sweetness of berry syrups, teasing his appetite the further he went.
He strolled along the colorful brick path, taking in the city that was both familiar from his memories and yet wonderfully fresh to experience firsthand.
As the home of the Electric-type Gym, Mauville City incorporated electric motifs everywhere—even in store signs. Many signs were shaped like lightning bolts, and at the entrances, giant mascots of Electric-type Pokémon like Electrike, Manectric, Plusle, and Minun stood proudly.
The electrode pads on their bellies even lit up intermittently, attracting crowds of children who eagerly reached out to touch them, giggling with delight.
Along the way, Theo passed many local trainers as well—and their Pokémon were unmistakably characteristic of Mauville.
A Shinx trotted beside its trainer, its star-shaped tail swaying with energetic rhythm. Little sparks crackled behind it with each step.
Near a street corner, several pairs of Plusle and Minun circled around pedestrians with their tails perked high, begging for snacks.
Whenever someone offered them food, these little creatures lit up their cheek pouches and would guide the person to touch them. Theo watched someone give it a try—and instantly, their hair stood upright while they laughed uncontrollably, half startled and half delighted.
(End of Chapter)