Clearing the fiery slopes of Mt. Chimney marked the end of John's immediate troubles. His next goal was set: challenge Norman, at the Petalburg Gym. Victory there would earn him the coveted Balance Badge, and with it, the ability to use Surf to explore Hoenn's waterways and reach the next city.
Determined to be prepared, John spent several days rigorously training his Garchomp and Blaziken, raising them both to LV 50. When he finally arrived in Petalburg City, his first stop was the Pokemon Center to heal his team and save his progress. A part of him felt a rush of anticipation. This wasn't just another gym—it was his father's. The stakes felt personal.
John stepped into the gym, where he was greeted by the familiar setup of two doors. One read "Power," the other "Speed." He knew the drill—each room represented a different challenge, with trainers specializing in strategies based on the door's theme. Their Pokemon ranged from LV 30 to LV 40, but John was confident in his preparations.
Opting for a full sweep, John cleared all seven rooms in the gym, even though it wasn't strictly necessary. After all, three victories would have sufficed to reach Norman. But John was thorough, determined to maximize his Pokemon's experience and ensure they were in peak condition for the final showdown.
Eventually, John stood before the last door, behind which his Norman waited. Just as he was about to enter, he placed his Gameboy down and stretched. The sound of playful bickering floated up from the living room below.
He made his way downstairs, where Togepi and Wobbuffet were deeply engrossed in a battle game. Ever since he had bought the console, they had turned into avid gamers. Somehow, their gaming sessions even seemed to improve their battle skills, though John hadn't quite figured out why.
"Toge-pi-pi!" Togepi chirped victoriously as Wobbuffet sighed in defeat. With a grin, Togepi grabbed a marker from the table and added another line to the elaborate doodles already decorating Wobbuffet's face.
Wobbuffet protested half-heartedly but didn't resist. By now, his face resembled a chaotic canvas of marker strokes. Togepi, on the other hand, sported only a single faint mark—a testament to his overwhelming winning streak.
John chuckled and shook his head. "Alright, alright, let's take a snack break," he said, scooping up Togepi. From his pocket, he pulled out a custom-made Pokeblock and handed it to the little Pokemon. Togepi devoured it eagerly, chirping with delight.
A fiery gaze caught John's attention. Wobbuffet was staring at him, eyes wide and pleading.
"Fine," John relented, pulling out another Pokeblock. Wobbuffet's expression brightened immediately as he accepted the treat.
The commotion didn't end there. One by one, the rest of John's Pokemon began to emerge from their Pokeballs, each pretending to act casual but clearly lining up for their share of snacks. At the front of the line was Garchomp, his most food-motivated companion.
Even Steelix, who was too large to stay in the dormitory and spent most of his time in his Pokeball, jostled for attention. And Tyranitar—who was notoriously unruly—nudged his Pokeball insistently.
"All right, all right," John sighed, pulling out a box of Pokeblocks. He handed the box to Gardevoir, who used Confusion to distribute them evenly among the team. The only exception was Steelix and Tyranitar, who received theirs directly from John.
As he fed the last two Pokemon, John muttered under his breath, "There's got to be a time when Slaking finally gets tired."
He wasn't looking forward to facing Norman's Slaking. In the games, its Truant ability made it attack only every other turn. In real life, however, Slaking's laziness was even more unpredictable. Sometimes it would nap through an entire battle; other times, it would wake up and dominate the battlefield. Its raw power was comparable to legendary Pokemon, and John was well aware that a high-level Slaking could be an uphill battle.
Returning to his room, John picked up the Gameboy again. He guided his in-game character through the final door. To his surprise, instead of the usual dialogue and teleportation to the battlefield, the screen immediately shifted to the gym's arena. Norman was already waiting.
"Son?" boomed Norman's voice from the screen.
John winced. Even though he knew the game's script, it still felt awkward. "Why does the game insist on calling me 'son' like I've somehow gained a second father?" he muttered.
He focused on the scene. Beside Norman stood a brown-haired girl around John's age. She wore a white dress with a red bow, exuding a kind and gentle demeanor—like the quintessential girl-next-door.
"Come here," Norman's character beckoned.
Following the prompt, John guided his in-game avatar forward.
The girl smiled warmly and waved. "Hi, John."
Startled by the use of his actual name, John glanced at the Gameboy in confusion. Wait did they always used my name while talking to me before?
Norman continued, "John, this is Jasmine. She'll be accompanying you today. Take her around town, show her Hoenn's customs, and maybe grab a bite to eat. After all, she's your fiancee. It's good for her to get familiar with the region."
"Fiancee?!" John exclaimed aloud, nearly dropping the Gameboy.
His jaw dropped as the girl on-screen blushed and offered a shy smile. Norman's expression remained stoic, as if this was the most natural thing in the world
Fiancee? Jasmine? Wait, does the protagonist have a backstory? Oh, right—he does!
John suddenly recalled that the protagonist in the Emerald game is named "Brendan," and his hometown is New Bark Town in the Johto Region. Because of his father Norman's work, he moved to Littleroot Town to begin his journey as a trainer.
That's about as much as John could remember, and even that was pieced together by chance. However, he decided that after dealing with the Petalburg Gym, he'd head back to the second floor of his Littleroot Town home and rummage through his diary for more details.
As for Jasmine, John's mind immediately went to Jasmine, the Steel Gym Leader from Johto. The girl standing in front of him bore a striking resemblance to her. But wasn't the Steel Gym Leader supposed to stay in her city? What was she doing here?
Which city was Jasmine from again? Oh, right—Olive City, where the Glitter Lighthouse is located. Ethan's hometown and Jasmine's gym were in the same region, but this situation felt… off.
Fiancee, though? That was new.
"Okay," John agreed, albeit hesitantly. This was nowhere in the game, and he had no idea how the plot would unfold.
"No, no," Jasmine said quickly, waving her hands. "I'm just here for the Contest Festival in Hoenn and stopped by Petalburg City to visit my uncle and aunt. I'll be heading back to Johto soon—I can't stay away from the lighthouse for too long."
Her words confirmed John's suspicions. This Jasmine really was the Gym Leader from Olive City. As its protector, she was responsible for the Glitter Lighthouse and Ampharos, the light source for the city's ships.
"I understand." Norman nodded. "A Gym Leader's duty is a heavy burden. When you and John get married, he can head to Johto to help you out."
Jasmine's cheeks turned pink as she nodded silently. John, on the other hand, was reeling from the implications. Marriage plotline? Really?
Norman broke the silence with a sharp tone. "What brings you back today, John?"
Finally, they were getting to the point.
John quickly produced his four Gym Badges. "I've beaten four gyms and came to challenge the Petalburg Gym."
Norman's stern expression softened slightly. "Not bad. But don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're my kid. On the contrary, I'll push you to your limits to make sure you don't embarrass me at the Evergrande Conference."
John smirked inwardly. It didn't matter whether Norman held back or not. His Slaking's infamous laziness would give him the edge.
"I'll be the referee!" Jasmine offered, her enthusiasm piqued by the idea of a battle between father and son.
"Fine by me," Norman said, taking his position on the battlefield. John mirrored his stance as Jasmine took up the referee's flag.
"The Petalburg Gym Challenge begins now!" Jasmine announced. "Trainer John will face Gym Leader Norman. Each side may use three Pokemon. No substitutions. The battle ends when one trainer's Pokemon are all unable to battle. The Gym Leader sends out their Pokemon first."
Norman tossed his Pokeball into the air. It opened with a flash, releasing a Kangaskhan onto the field. Its LV48 marker was prominently displayed, a clear sign of its strength.
John considered his options and chose his own Pokeball. Out came Blaziken, his reliable partner.
The choice was strategic. As a Fighting-type, Blaziken had an advantage over Kangaskhan's Normal typing. Additionally, its Speed Boost ability would allow it to grow faster with each turn, giving John the upper hand even if Norman brought out his dreaded Slaking later.
"The battle begins!" Jasmine declared, waving the flag.
"Blaziken, Bulk Up!" John commanded.
"Kangaskhan, Mind Reader!" Norman countered.
Both trainers started with setup moves. Blaziken's muscles tensed as its attack and defense stats rose. Thanks to its ability, its speed increased as well, giving it a triple advantage.
Meanwhile, Kangaskhan closed its eyes, placing its hands together in concentration. Even the baby in its pouch mimicked the gesture. When Kangaskhan opened its eyes again, they gleamed with sharp focus, as though it could predict Blaziken's every move.
Mind Reader wasn't just about increasing accuracy. It enhanced a Pokemon's ability to perceive movements on a deeper level, making evasive maneuvers like smoke screens or double teams ineffective.
John seized the moment. "Blaziken, Double Kick!"
Blaziken dashed forward, a blur of red and gold in the sunlit arena. It closed the distance in an instant, pivoting on one foot to deliver a powerful kick aimed at Kangaskhan's head.
Kangaskhan reacted swiftly, raising a thick arm to block. The force of the kick still pushed it back several steps, but it held its ground.
Blaziken didn't stop. Using the momentum from the first kick, it spun around to deliver a second strike. This time, Kangaskhan crossed its arms and activated Protect, absorbing the impact without taking damage.
Norman chuckled. "Using Force Palm combos? Did you pick that up from Brawly?"
Raising his hand, he gave his next command. "Kangaskhan, Outrage!"
Kangaskhan roared, its eyes glowing with an intense light. It charged at Blaziken with ferocious energy, each step reverberating through the battlefield.
Blaziken braced itself, and John grinned. The battle was just getting started.
Hope you’re all enjoying the story!
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