After Turtwig completed its intensive Bullet Seed training—with Ash's "personal guidance" still fresh in Dawn's blushing memory—the trio pressed on toward Eterna City. However, their path had detoured toward the rushing waters of the Baidai River.
An old traveler they'd passed recently had spoken of a particularly unruly and powerful Buizel haunting these banks. For a Trainer like Ash, a high-level "wild boss" was too good an opportunity to pass up.
As they walked, Brock was fussing over a Pokémon Egg nestled in a portable incubator. The egg's distinctive coloring was a perfect match for the one Ash was carrying.
"Brock, you're so lucky! I can't believe you won that Mimic Contest," Dawn said, watching Brock delicately polish the egg's shell.
"Hahaha! It was a team effort," Brock chuckled.
Ash smiled, knowing this was exactly how the "script" was supposed to go. Brock was destined to be a Pokémon Doctor, and a Chansey was the ultimate partner for that path.
"Our eggs should hatch in a few days," Ash noted. "It'll be a triple-hatcher party. Three little healers entering the world at once."
The Lure of the Past
They reached the riverbank, found a sturdy rock, and cast their lines. Dawn, ever observant, noticed the lure Ash had just attached to his rod. It was a miniature, stylized figure of a girl with bright orange hair tied in a side ponytail.
"Ash... that's a very... specific bait," Dawn said, her voice dropping into a slightly dangerous register. "Who is she? She's quite pretty."
"This? It was a gift from an old traveling companion," Ash explained, his voice nostalgic as he watched the lure bob on the water. "Misty, the Gym Leader of Cerulean City. We traveled through Kanto and Johto together. It's a symbol of our friendship."
"Oh!" Dawn nodded, but her eyes narrowed as she stared at the orange-haired figure. Friendship, huh? Between a half-ribbon and a custom-made lure, I'm starting to think 'companion' means something else to this guy.
Brock and Pikachu shared a silent, knowing look, both wearing identical "here we go again" smirks. Dawn caught the look and immediately turned back to her rod, her face heating up. She wondered if she'd ever be "commemorated" in Ash's tackle box one day.
A Familiar Face in the Forest
"Hey! Long time no see!"
A familiar, boyish voice startled them. They turned to see Zoey, the red-haired Coordinator who had bested Dawn back in Jubilife.
"Zoey! What are you doing out here?" Dawn asked, quickly tidying her hair to hide her earlier fluster.
"I'm just trying my luck with the Water-types here," Zoey said, but her eyes immediately landed on the three incubators. "Whoa, are you guys starting an egg-hatching convention? Why does everyone have an extra passenger?"
"It's a long story involving a legendary North Wind and some very grateful Nurse Joys," Ash replied vaguely, flashing a grin.
Dawn didn't miss the chance to show off her Floaroma Ribbon, and Zoey offered a sincere congratulations. "I saw the broadcast. Your Pachirisu combination was brilliant. But Ash... why didn't you enter? I was looking forward to a rematch."
"Ash is focusing on the Sinnoh League," Dawn interjected proudly, almost as if she were his official spokesperson. "He only entered Jubilife because Aipom wanted to. You should see him in a Gym—he's on a completely different level!"
Zoey raised an eyebrow, looking at the way Dawn was practically glowing while talking about Ash. The Jubilife loser is definitely in love, Zoey thought with a smirk.
The Challenger Appears
"Zoey! Your line!" Dawn shouted, pointing at Zoey's red fishing rod.
Zoey lunged, reeling in a powerful catch. With a spectacular splash, an orange-and-cream Pokémon leaped onto the shore. It had two split tails and a distinctive flotation sac around its neck.
"A Buizel!" Dawn cheered. "Is this the one the old man mentioned?"
The Buizel didn't wait for an introduction. It stood on its hind legs, beckoning toward Dawn with a "come-on" gesture, its face twisted into an expression of pure, unadulterated arrogance.
"With that attitude? Yeah, that's the one," Ash laughed.
Dawn, feeling confident after her recent win, sent out Piplup. "We can handle this!" she declared.
Two and a half minutes later, Piplup was face-down in the grass, exhausted. The Buizel let out a mocking "Hey-hey-hey~" and crossed its arms. Zoey stepped up next with Glameow, and while the battle was closer, the Buizel's twin-tail Sonic Boom was too fast, knocking the cat out of the sky.
After two consecutive victories, the Buizel's gaze shifted to Ash. The arrogance in its eyes faded, replaced by a sharp, predatory caution. It sensed the weight of the Pikachu on Ash's shoulder—a veteran's aura that demanded respect.
"It knows who the real boss is," Brock noted.
"In that case," Ash said, reaching for a Poké Ball. "Turtwig, let's see how that training paid off. Your turn!"