After several days of travel, the journey quietly came to an end amidst the laughter and cheerful chatter of the little ones.
As Milotic's sleek figure cut through the rolling waves, the outline of Pacifidlog Town finally appeared before Theo's eyes.
It was a small island town nestled along the coastline, looking from afar like a pearl polished smooth by the sea.
The scenery here was completely different from Dewford Town. Instead, it reminded Theo of the tropical resort of Sanya that he had once visited in his previous life.
Rows of traditional wooden houses stood scattered across the sea, connected by wooden walkways that stretched like veins over the water.
When the sea breeze blew past, the wind chimes and shell ornaments hanging from the corners of the houses rang out with crisp, tinkling sounds, blending with the rhythm of the waves into a natural melody.
Tall coconut trees dotted the island, their thick trunks rising straight into the sky, heavy clusters of coconuts hanging from the branches as if they might drop into the sea at any moment.
The shoreline was lively and bustling. Tourists in brightly colored bikinis lounged on beach chairs under the sun, while children chased Pokémon along the water's edge, their laughter rising and falling in waves.
As Milotic carried Theo closer to shore, quite a few people had already noticed him.
"Is that… a Milotic?"
Someone recognized Theo immediately and pulled out their phone to take pictures.
"Theo is here in Pacifidlog Town!"
"And that Larvesta, plus those two Vulpix, one ice type and one fire type! They're so cute!"
Theo smiled and waved at the crowd. Once Metagross landed steadily on the shore, he brought his companions onto the island.
As soon as they stepped onto land, several familiar fans approached, holding autograph books and cameras, asking softly if they could take photos together.
Theo agreed one by one. Watching Larvesta strike that proud, general-like pose again, he could not help but shake his head with a smile.
According to his plan, Theo headed to the hotel he had reserved.
This was no ordinary concrete building, but a seaside wooden villa-style guesthouse.
Led by a staff member, Theo walked along a winding wooden boardwalk over the sea until they arrived at a two-story standalone wooden house standing above the water.
The walls were made of natural wood planks, the roof covered in thatch, and a string of colorful shell wind chimes hung by the door, clattering softly in the breeze.
"This is your reserved sea-view room. The second floor has an open-air balcony with a great view," the staff member said with a smile as they pushed the door open. "If you need anything, you can contact us using the room phone."
The moment the door opened, Larvesta darted inside with the two little Vulpix.
Six tiny legs and four little paws scampered across the wooden floor as they ran around excitedly, exploring every corner.
They crawled under the sofa in the living room, then climbed up the staircase railing, curiously inspecting everything in sight.
The furniture in the house was all made of wood, giving off a faint scent of pine. The windows faced the sea, and standing by them offered a full view of the shimmering ocean.
Theo carried his luggage upstairs. On the open-air balcony sat a wicker table and chairs. From here, the entire beach and coastline could be seen at a glance.
On the wooden walkways below, people strolled leisurely, and occasionally Pokémon ran past.
Farther away on the beach, someone was training their Pokémon under a coconut tree, and faintly, a voice could be heard shouting, "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
Looking even farther into the distance, a massive semi-open structure came into view.
That was the Pacifidlog Contest Hall.
Its design resembled an ancient Roman coliseum from his past life, its white walls gleaming under the sunlight.
"Pretty impressive," Theo murmured.
He picked up the telescope on the balcony and carefully observed the structure of the contest hall, anticipation for the upcoming competition growing in his heart.
Taking out his phone, he sent a message to Steven.
"I've arrived in Pacifidlog Town. Make sure to watch the contest in a couple of days. This will be Metagross's debut."
Within seconds, Steven replied.
"Don't worry, I've already set a reminder. After all the hype you've given me, if Metagross doesn't perform well, I'll hold you accountable when you get back."
Theo chuckled and shook his head. Just as he was about to reply, he felt a gentle tug at his pant leg.
Looking down, he saw Larvesta staring up at him, its little paw pointing out the window.
It had spotted people on the streets wearing straw hats and shell necklaces, its eyes filled with envy.
"Want to go buy accessories?" Theo raised an eyebrow.
Larvesta nodded vigorously, its antennae nearly poking his face as it chirped excitedly, clearly urging him to hurry.
"Alright, alright, we'll go in a bit."
Theo could only agree helplessly. This little fellow's obsession with dressing up was practically stronger than its desire to battle.
The moment it heard this, Larvesta immediately dragged the two Vulpix downstairs.
Standing on the balcony, Theo listened to the jingling of bells and Larvesta's chirping commands coming from below.
He did not even need to look to know that the three little ones were rummaging around for accessories again.
By the time he went downstairs, Larvesta had already put on its sunglasses and wool hat from Dewford.
Fire Vulpix had a red bow tied around its neck, while Ice Vulpix had added two more small bells to its tails, forcing it to hold those tails slightly raised as it walked to keep the bells from falling off.
Meanwhile, Metagross and Milotic tactfully refused Larvesta's attempts to decorate them.
"Alright, Larvesta, let's go. Time to head out."
Theo finally spoke up to rescue them, opening the door.
The accessory shops in Pacifidlog Town were nothing short of paradise for Larvesta.
The store was filled with all kinds of island-style trinkets. Headbands made of colorful feathers, necklaces strung with seashells, straw hats printed with coconut trees, and bracelets decorated with tiny sun-shaped charms.
Larvesta's eyes sparkled as it darted from item to item, trying everything on.
In the end, it clutched a straw hat adorned with small seashells, a shell necklace, and a tiny coconut-shell backpack, refusing to let go.
The two little Vulpix also picked out their favorites.
Ice Vulpix chose a pearl anklet. When worn, it made a soft rustling sound with each step.
Fire Vulpix selected a small badge made from red coral fragments, pinning it at the center of its forehead, making it look especially spirited.
After finishing their shopping, Larvesta eagerly pulled everyone under a large coconut tree, pointing at the dappled shadows on the ground, signaling that it wanted to take photos.
It posed under the tree, then arranged the two Vulpix beside it, striking a protective stance like a guardian, looking extremely proud.
Milotic and Metagross showed little interest in Larvesta's enthusiasm for posing and taking photos, simply standing nearby and watching over the two Vulpix.
After a while, the two Vulpix grew a bit bored and started to misbehave, deliberately refusing to cooperate with Larvesta's poses at the exact moment the photos were taken.
Larvesta looked at the finished photos and, as expected, immediately began to criticize the two little Vulpix for not making proper expressions. Without hesitation, it spat out silk, wrapped them up, and handed them over to Milotic to look after.
The two little Vulpix, now freed from Larvesta's "strict supervision," immediately ran over to Metagross, tugging at it and asking to climb the coconut tree to play with the coconuts. Metagross naturally agreed, using its psychic power to carefully support and protect them.
After getting rid of the two "troublemakers," Larvesta quickly set its sights on a photographer not far away.
The photographer was holding a camera, taking pictures of a beautiful woman in a floral dress and the Marill in her arms. Marill stood on the woman's shoulder, making a cheerful "peace" sign with its little hand. The image on the camera screen looked bright and lively, so appealing that Larvesta's eyes practically sparkled.
It ran behind the photographer, tiptoeing on its six little legs to peek at the screen. The Marill in the photo looked clean, chubby, and ten times cuter than usual.
Larvesta was instantly excited. It dashed back to Theo in a flash, tugging at his pant leg and pulling him toward the photographer, pointing at the camera and then at itself, chirping nonstop.
Its meaning could not have been clearer.
It wanted this professional photographer to take pictures of it. No more relying on Theo's "terrible" photography skills.
"Alright, alright, I'll find you a professional," Theo said helplessly after being thoroughly rejected.
He waited until the photographer finished shooting for the woman, then walked over and greeted him with a smile.
"Hello, could you help take a set of photos for my Larvesta? It really liked the photos you just took."
The photographer had just finished packing up his equipment. Hearing this, he glanced at the eager Larvesta beside Theo and could not help but smile.
"This little guy has good taste. No problem, but I still have two more clients after this, so you'll need to wait a bit."
"No rush at all, we'll just line up," Theo replied quickly, thanking him.
The moment Larvesta heard there was a chance, it spun around in place, adjusting its newly bought seashell straw hat and straightening its shell necklace. It even turned to Metagross to ask if it looked good, clearly full of vanity.
After about half an hour of waiting, it was finally Larvesta's turn.
The photographer set up professional lighting equipment and reflectors, gesturing as he guided Larvesta.
"Alright little one, stand over here. Yes, with your back to the coconut tree. Lower your head slightly… good, that pose is perfect!"
A professional really made a difference.
He positioned Larvesta right at the boundary between shade and sunlight beneath the coconut tree.
At one moment, he had Larvesta stand tall and proud while he shot from a low angle, creating an imposing, heroic aura.
The next moment, he asked it to lie on the sand, curl up its six legs, tilt its head to one side, and show off its round belly for an adorable style.
He even found a large banana leaf and had Larvesta hold it above its head, revealing only its bright eyes, creating a mysterious jungle exploration vibe.
Larvesta had never experienced anything like this. Its usual poses were nothing more than lifting its head proudly, puffing out its chest, or letting its antennae spit flames.
But it learned quickly. Whatever the photographer instructed, it followed immediately, looking incredibly focused and serious.
They shot for over half an hour, using up two rolls of film before the photographer finally smiled and said,
"Alright, little guy, the results will definitely be stunning."
Larvesta eagerly rushed to the camera screen, looking at the photos of itself. Some looked majestic, some playful, some lively. Every single one was a hundred times clearer and better than the photos Theo had taken with his phone.
It chirped excitedly, tapping at the screen with its tiny claws, then looked up at the photographer with eyes full of anticipation, clearly asking when the photos would be ready.
Theo rubbed its head and reassured it.
"I've already arranged with the photographer for expedited processing. We paid extra, so it will be printed and bound into an album very soon. Happy now?"
Larvesta nodded vigorously, its eyes curving into crescents. It circled around the photographer twice and gently touched his hand with its antennae, as if expressing its thanks.
For the next two days, the first thing Larvesta did every morning was lie by the window, waiting for the photo album.
Finally, by noon on the second day, a delivery person brought a gold-embossed album to the wooden house, and Larvesta's wish was fulfilled.
The photos inside were printed in vivid colors, each page decorated with exquisite borders.
Larvesta flipped through the album, nodding at one picture, grinning foolishly at another. It spent the entire afternoon looking at them without getting bored.
…
Soon, the day of the Contest arrived.
Early in the morning, Theo stood on the second-floor balcony and could already see crowds streaming along the wooden walkways toward the Contest Hall.
Some people held support signs, others waved flags, and some carried their Pokémon while excitedly discussing the upcoming performances.
Even the sea breeze seemed filled with a festive atmosphere.
Fire Vulpix and Ice Vulpix lay obediently in Theo's arms, their heads close together as they peered toward the distant venue. Their small paws occasionally bumped into each other, as if encouraging one another.
"Nervous?" Theo asked, looking down at them.
Fire Vulpix let out a soft cry, its eyes wide as it nodded, then quickly shook its head again, showing that it was not afraid.
Ice Vulpix rubbed its head against Theo's palm, also shaking its head, echoing its sister's sentiment.
At that moment, a series of clinking sounds came from downstairs. Larvesta was dressing itself up again.
It knew it would not be competing today, but instead of feeling disappointed, it seemed even more excited.
When Theo went downstairs, he saw that Larvesta had piled all its new accessories onto itself.
A seashell straw hat sat on its head, three layers of shell necklaces hung around its neck, a coconut-shell backpack rested on its back, and even its six little legs were decorated with different string ornaments.
It looked like a walking display rack.
"Are you going to a fashion show?" Theo teased with a laugh.
Larvesta chirped proudly as if to say of course, then spun in front of the mirror to check that none of its accessories were crooked before happily bouncing over to Theo.
At nine in the morning, Theo turned on his livestream. The moment the camera focused on Larvesta, the viewer count skyrocketed.
"Here we go! Finally, the Contest is here!"
"Larvesta's outfit today… did it just wear the entire accessory shop?"
"Where are the Fire and Ice Vulpix? Let me see the contestants!"
Larvesta waved its antennae at the camera as if greeting the audience, then nudged the two little Vulpix forward with its paws.
The two of them tilted their heads at the screen, instantly triggering a flood of comments about how overwhelmingly cute they were.
"Alright, it's time for us to head to the venue," Theo said.
He carried the two Vulpix in his arms, with Metagross and Milotic following behind, while Larvesta marched proudly at the front like a trailblazer.
Together, they made their way along the wooden walkways toward the Contest Hall.
…
(End of Chapter)