As the sun dipped below the horizon, Team Rocket's stall remained packed.
Even after Natsu completed a full circuit of the arena, crowds still mobbed the blind box draw station.
Entry thods included:
Food/drink purchases
Bottle cap collections
Battle tournant advancents
And increasingly creative alternatives...
Sipping boba tea, Natsu glanced at Green's Jigglypuff-branded stall and sighed.
Losing comrcially to the trio... nothing shaful about that!
While playing with Sylveon on a bench, a mountain-like silhouette passed through his peripheral vision.
Natsu did a double take. "...Bruno's here?"
The Kanto Elite Four mber's stern expression and traditional queue made custors instinctively part ways.
owth wiped sweat while bowing. "H-how can we serve you, ow?"
"All your Rage Candy Bars." Bruno rumbled. "Every last one."
"R-right away, sir!"
After sampling one, Bruno's eyes lit up. "Your online store... hasn't shipped in weeks."
"The custor service rep ntioned Lily of the Valley Island." He hefted the candy mountain. "I calculated the odds."
"W-we're deeply honored!" The trio bowed repeatedly.
With a nod, Bruno departed - one arm cradling confectionery Everest, the other munching stead buns.
Spectators exchanged nervous whispers:
"Why would a Kanto Elite co watch?"
"Must be exceptional competitors this year!"
"Wait... he didn't even draw a blind box!"
"Ah! The classic 'buying the box but returning the pearls' parable!"
This reminded Natsu of Hearthstone's "1 dust bonus per pack" marketing...
Shaking his head, he ssaged the group chat:
Anyone else at Lily Valley?
Ash: "Arriving tonight! Wanna doubles battle later?"
Natsu: Prior engagent.
Gold: "@Ash You got this, kiddo!"
Gold has been muted for 24h by Admin Lance
Lance: "Lorelei's off-grid at Sevii Islands. Soone's got to keep Gold in check."
Wattson: "BAHAHAHA—"
Wattson muted 2h by Owner Natsu
Payback for those cheat codes...
Natsu added: "Saw Bruno here earlier."
Lance: "Challenging Sinnoh's Elite Four?"
Flint mid-eting: "Bring it on!"
Natsu pondered.
Pretty sure he just ca for the candy...
...
Night fell as contestants arrived one after another at Lily of the Valley Island.
Among them were the stern-faced Paul, the long-haired Tobias, and the fiery Ash…
Another spectator joined the invitation—Riley, the aura wielder.
Wearing a gentleman's hat with Lucario by his side, Riley pressed a hand to his chest and said, "Natsu-sensei, it's been a while."
"Long ti no see." Natsu smiled, then glanced at Ash. "How did you two et?"
"Mr. Riley was coming to Lily of the Valley Island to watch the matches, and we ran into each other on the way," Ash explained.
Natsu nodded, but Riley was genuinely surprised.
Upon reuniting, Riley sensed not just aura within Natsu-sensei, but also an unfathomable strength he couldn't quite grasp.
This ant that aside from w, Natsu-sensei might have also ford bonds with other Legendary Pokémon…
A trace of reverence flickered in Riley's eyes as he asked, "Will you be competing tomorrow?"
"I won't be joining the preliminaries," Natsu replied.
Thanks to Professor Rowan's recomndation and his status as the Indigo Plateau Conference Champion, he had the privilege of advancing straight to the Top 64.
Still, Natsu was tempted to experience the preliminaries—just to witness the vast differences in skill across the world…
"I'll be competing tomorrow!"
Ash scratched his head, then clenched his fists with burning determination. "And I'm in the sa group as that guy, Paul!"
"Natsu-sensei, I'll prove my ideals by defeating him!"
A battle between destined rivals?
Though Ash had clearly learned much from Paul's strategies and experience.
Natsu smiled faintly and nodded. "Give it your all, Ash!"
After parting ways with Ash, Natsu strolled along the outskirts of the venue, the guardrails beside him reflecting shimring lights on the ocean's surface.
Gengar perched atop a streetlamp, as if paying homage to so unknown figure. "Gengar~"
A Magikarp leaped from the water, silhouetted against a massive full moon, while Natsu walked along the moonlit path.
Returning to the Moe-Moe! room.
The spacious interior resembled a 60-70 square ter studio apartnt, with a bookshelf beside the desk and a sofa, coffee table, TV stand, and flat-screen TV arranged on the carpet.
Natsu's gaze fell on the large bed.
Bathed in the warm glow of the bedside lamp, Cynthia leaned against the pillows in a blue blouse and wide-leg pants, her golden hair cascading around her face, which held a faint radiance.
Hearing the noise, she lifted her eyes and said plainly, "There's only one bed."
"I'll take the sofa."
"What I ant was… this bed is pretty big." She lowered her eyes back to her book, slender fingers turning the page.
Natsu, seizing the opportunity, pressed further. "I just checked—the bathroom here is pretty spacious too."
Cynthia set down her book, shot him a look, then smirked. "You can share it with Gengar."
"Gengar~" Gengar and Natsu exchanged a mutually disgusted glance.
Five minutes later.
Natsu was in the bath with Sirfetch'd and Blastoise.
The reason? Sylveon was too shy… and Natsu wasn't ready to die yet.
"Blastoise… ヾ(■_■)"
Blastoise sat mostly subrged in the tub, wearing sunglasses, its bald head exposed with a Squirtle toy resting on top like a little yellow duck.
The sheer yakuza-boss aura made Natsu's eye twitch.
Ever since its second evolution, Blastoise had only grown more intimidating!
"Sirfetch'd~ ( -'`-)"
Sirfetch'd lounged blissfully in a wooden bucket filled with hot water.
So comfy~
Natsu: "…"
I can practically sll the seasoning at this point!
Are you sure this isn't just self-made duck stew?!
Exhausted from the day, Natsu changed into a fresh white T-shirt and settled in to play gas with his wealthy patron.
"Are you sure we shouldn't sleep early?" Natsu asked skeptically.
Tomorrow was the Lily of the Valley Conference's opening ceremony—a major event Cynthia had to attend.
Her profile elegant, Cynthia grinned. "Just one round!"
"Really?" Natsu wasn't convinced.
"Relax, I know my limits~" she said cheerfully.
Ten minutes later.
Cynthia: "One more round!"
Natsu-sensei: "…"
Won the ga, lost the war.
...
The next day, the Lily of the Valley Conference opening ceremony comnced.
In a silver brazier, Ho-Oh's flas blazed fiercely, the towering fire igniting the passion of the entire audience!
"Gengar~" Gengar glanced at the fire basin and pouted.
"True," Natsu said with a yawn. "Not as impressive as the Rainbow Wing hanging from Arcanine."
The host's voice bood: "Now, let us welco the chairman of the Pokémon League, Mr. Charles Goodshow!!"
"Why does he show up everywhere?" Natsu grumbled.
"If anything," Bruno said, standing beside Natsu with his arms crossed like an immovable fortress, "you've attended every major League Tournant in recent years..."
Natsu blinked.
…He had a point.
Ash cheered excitedly: "Look! Elite Four Lucian, Elite Four Flint—they're making their entrance!"
The thrones of the Elite Four symbolized a peak many could never reach in their lifeti.
Paul's gaze swept over the composed Lucian, the casually waving Flint, and the ever-animated Aaron, his cowlick bouncing…
"I will beco Champion," Paul vowed silently, stealing a glance at Ash's determined profile in the crowd.
The cheers grew deafening, applause surging like tidal waves.
Tobias elegantly swept back his hair, parting the sea of contestants as he strode toward the unmistakable figure of Natsu-sensei.
"Natsu-sensei," Tobias introduced himself, extending a hand. "Tobias. We've t before—long ti no see."
Natsu stared at his hairstyle, barely stopping himself from blurting out "Tobias-boy." Instead, he shook his hand and said:
"Ahem. Good luck in the matches!"
"Naturally," Tobias replied, eyes burning with intensity. "Natsu-sensei, I look forward to facing you in battle!"
Bruno studied Tobias with crossed arms.
The young man showed not a shred of hesitation or fear in his presence.
Bruno narrowed his eyes, thinking: "A Trainer worth watching."
"Holy—Natsu-sensei is actually competing?!"
Perhaps Tobias's voice carried too far—nearby Trainers imdiately perked up.
"This is my best chance to take down Natsu-sensei!"
"Ten-year fan, reporting for duty!"
Natsu looked skyward.
As everyone knew—League Tournant = Fan Tournant!
Suddenly, the cheers crescendoed, the ceremony's excitent reaching a fever pitch.
"And now, let us welco the Champion of the Sinnoh League—Cynthia!!"
"I'll always love Cynthia!!"
"Cabbage Lady!!!"
The screams included plenty of female audience mbers, reminding Natsu once again of Moe-Moe!'s terrifying popularity.
Clad in a black trench coat, Cynthia stepped up to the microphone, one hand resting on her hip, golden hair cascading like a waterfall.
"I declare—"
The mont she spoke, her aura shifted—sharp gray eyes sweeping over the contestants before lingering on one spot, a radiant smile blooming.
"The Lily of the Valley Conference—begins!"
In an instant, dazzling fireworks lit the sky, igniting the contestants' fighting spirit and the audience's fervor alike.
The Sinnoh League's Lily of the Valley Conference had officially begun!
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