Chapter 332: Chapter 14: Marissa
"I... I don't... It's not like that..." Little girl stammered, her pink hair tied into two braids that framed her round, tear-filled eyes.
She looked pitiful, yet undeniably cute, as the young man's words brought her to the verge of tears.
The young man remained unmoved. His ambitions left no room for sympathy. His own shop was too small, and the only way he could expand his business and increase profits was by annexing the neighboring store.
From his perspective, it was a mutually beneficial arrangement. The little girl's family hadn't displayed any noteworthy glassworks for some time. Their shop merely sold plain glasses—ordinary items that tourists could buy anywhere.
In his view, their business was failing. If he purchased the store, the owner would receive a lump sum of money to start anew. Surely, they would thank him in the long run.
"How can you say such cruel things to a child?" Misty exclaimed, stepping forward to shield Little girl behind her. She faced the young man with fearless determination.
"I'm just stating the truth," the young man replied coldly, indifferent to Misty's anger.
At that moment, Ash and Tracey arrived, standing firmly beside Misty.
"If things go on like this," the man continued with a sneer, "they won't even be able to afford food soon enough." Without sparing another glance at the group, he turned and walked back to his shop.
Ash and his friends frowned as they watched him leave. Turning back, they saw Little girl wiping her tears.
Though she was just a child, her understanding of her family's situation was painfully mature. She knew the man's words weren't entirely wrong.
"Are you okay, little one?" Misty asked softly, crouching down to meet Little girl's eyes. She held Togepi in one arm while gently patting the girl's head with her free hand.
"I'm fine," Little girl murmured, shaking her head. She used her small hands to wipe away her tears and forced a bright smile. Despite her red, puffy eyes, her adorable determination shone through.
"Are you running this shop all by yourself?" Misty asked, her heart aching at the sight of the brave little girl.
"No... My brother is the shopkeeper. I just help him out," Little girl replied honestly.
"My name is Misty," Misty said with a gentle smile. "This is Ash, and that's Tracey. Can you tell us your name?"
"My name is Marissa," she replied, grateful to her new friends for standing up for her.
"Marissa, where's your brother?" Misty asked, glancing into the small shop and noticing a door leading to the back.
"He's inside working on his latest piece," Marissa explained, pointing to the back room.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up with curiosity. "Are you all from outside the island?"
"Yes," Ash answered as they sat down in the shop. "We're challenging the Orange League and decided to visit the island after hearing about its famous glassworks."
Marissa's face brightened. "You're Trainers? Have you heard about the legend of the Crystal Onix?" she asked excitedly.
"The Crystal Onix?" Misty and Tracey echoed, intrigued. Ash feigned confusion, shaking his head.
"Oh..." Marissa's excitement faded, and she looked down in disappointment. It wasn't the first time she'd asked outsiders about the Crystal Onix, only to be met with blank stares or skepticism. Still, she held onto her belief that the legend was true.
"What's the legend of the Crystal Onix?" Tracey asked, his curiosity piqued. "It sounds like an Onix made of crystal—is that right?"
"I'm not sure," Marissa admitted. "But my brother has been searching for it for a long time. He believes it's real."
"Could we meet your brother?" Misty asked, stroking Marissa's hair. Togepi chirped softly in Misty's arms, as if greeting Marissa.
"Sure!" Marissa replied eagerly, but her attention was drawn to Togepi. She couldn't hide her admiration for the adorable Pokémon.
"Would you like to hold Togepi?" Misty asked with a kind smile, noticing Marissa's gaze.
"Really?" Marissa's eyes sparkled as Misty handed Togepi to her. She cradled the Pokémon gently, overjoyed when Togepi didn't resist her touch.
Ash and the others waited patiently, smiling at the sight of Marissa playing with Togepi.
A minute later, Marissa suddenly realized she'd kept them waiting. "Oh no! I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, hastily trying to return Togepi.
"It's okay," Misty assured her. "You can hold Togepi a little longer if you want."
"No, I should take you to my brother first," Marissa said, though she clearly wished to keep holding Togepi.
"Then why don't you hold Togepi while we walk?" Misty suggested, pretending her arms were tired from carrying the Pokémon all day.
"Really? Thank you!" Marissa's face lit up as she hugged Togepi close and led the group into the back of the shop.
Before leaving, she pressed a button to pull down the shop's shutters. "We don't get many customers anyway," she explained shyly.
The shop doubled as Marissa's home, where she lived with her brother. Passing through a narrow corridor, they entered a workshop radiating intense heat.
At the center of the room, a young man around seventeen or eighteen sat before a blazing furnace, deep in thought. He didn't notice the group's arrival until Marissa called out.
"Brother!"
The young man looked up in surprise. "What's wrong, Marissa?" he asked, only to pause as he saw the three strangers standing behind her.
"Who are you?" he asked cautiously, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
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