Disclaimer: I don not own Pokémon but I do own my OCs.

Ninetales embraced every second of being pet on the head. Her right hind leg thumped against the ground every so often or a happy squeal came out of her mouth. A smile stayed on her face while she kept her eyes closed. She eventually hopped in front of me on the bed before lying down and resting her head on my lap.

Linoone took advantage of the situation to talk to her. He would say something then Ninetales would follow up with a much longer sequence of murmuring. They went at it for nearly an hour while I continued rubbing behind her ears. It got to a point where she nearly fell asleep mid-sentence. Opening her eyes followed by a slight head tilt was my original partner's signal to curl up next to her.

When she drifted into dreamland, Linoone shot me a confused look. Neither he nor I expected her to flip a switch so quickly. All I could do was shrug my shoulders. I didn't understand what their conversation was about, but it apparently helped clear the air about something. He fell asleep shortly after. I stopped petting to check my PokéNav.

Nothing came up when searching for anything about New Mauville being sold to Pokémon Services. Nobody had texted or called me which was a pleasant surprise. However, I felt the urge to follow up with Jack after the large purchase I made on behalf of Nurse Joy by calling the house.

"Hello Ryan. How are you doing?" It was Rebecca.

"Kind of tired. I just wanted to make sure one of you got a call about my community service."

"Yes, I did. Jack has been taking care of a trainer in one of the guest rooms." I heard her pick up a piece of paper. "You really spent 137,000P for the center?"

I was smiling from ear to ear. "Oh yeah."

"Any reason?"

"It doesn't have a welcoming atmosphere for trainers or anyone else passing through. The place desperately needed those upgrades."

She let out a quiet sigh. "Doctor Ellis put more faith in those who spent time volunteering over any amount of money donated. However, we are all grateful you did that in addition to everything else you did today."

Guess I couldn't buy my way out of community service if it came down to it. The man went into town to do free checkups or offer free medical advice. People even paid him in items. Donating money probably felt like an empty gesture to him at some point even though he seemed like the type of guy to do it as needed.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. As for the other thing, nothing new has come up."

I frowned. "Give it a few days. Jack should've told you. Not sure what's going to happen as a result to be honest."

"Do… do you think they would keep Latias at New Mauville?" she asked with a hint of concern.

"Maybe. That's a risky move because it's out in the open and easily accessible. On the flip side, nobody would expect it." I let out a silent yawn. "Anyway, my plan is to go to Mauville next to battle for the Dynamo Badge at the very least. I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't nervous about going back home."

Rebecca plopped down on a soft surface. "The league tournament doesn't start for a few months, no? Consider stopping in Slateport City first then walking the rest of the way. Give yourself some time to relax and take in what the region has to offer along the way."

"I'd rather get the last badge as soon as possible," I bluntly replied.

"Master Ryan how are you really feeling right now?" she asked with compassion in her voice.

The use of a formal title perked me up. I specifically told them to use titles for serious conversation topics only. I wasn't sure how to feel about her using it to ask about a trivial topic.

"Look, I don't mind trading in some stress now for relaxation later."

"Wouldn't it be better if you were well-rested going into your gym battle?"

I had a comeback ready but held my tongue. The last thing I wanted was a repeat of the time I took on Brawly and Norman in the same day. Beating Vivian in one try would put me in a better state of mind moving forward. The less time spent in Mauville, the better. Frustration swelled up in me after realizing I should've challenged the gym at an earlier date.

"Yes," I sighed. "Plus, I finally gained Ninetales' complete trust. No sense of throwing her into a high-pressure situation so soon."

A quiet gasp came on the other end. "Congratulations! I remember how nervous she was when you had her here."

Ninetales was still sleeping. "She's also up to a normal weight."

"Fantastic!" There was a small window of awkward silence. "You had a busy day. Anything else you want to talk about?"

I yawned. "Is there anything you or Jack want while I'm in Slateport?"

"Oh, you don't have to worry about anything." There was another brief period of silence. "Get some sleep. I'll tell Jack you called."

"Thanks."

"Call anytime if you need anything. Bye!"

Such a simple phrase reminded me those two weren't simply housekeepers, but like a second set of parents. My face became flushed when I thought about how supportive they've been of me despite the Latias incident. My bottom lip started to quiver; I stopped myself with a few deep breaths.

Ninetales' ears twitched and her eyes blinked open. She rubbed against my hand still half asleep. I got her to move so I could shut the light off and get comfortable. Linoone was always a heavy sleeper so I could move him without a problem. There was barely enough space for all of us with me being up against the wall, Ninetales on my other side, and Linoone near my ankles. I went back to petting the fire type's head.

"Aww! Look how far you've come," I whispered. She quietly whined then buried her nose in the sheets. "I'm so, so proud of you."

Even though the room was dark, I felt her looking up with hopeful eyes. She then raised her head enough to gently lick my cheek. I fell asleep the moment she covered my legs with her tails.

After the past few days of subpar sleep, I woke up without my eyes feeling heavy. Waking up at 10:30 helped with that. Having a few thick white clouds cover the sun every so often made the room feel more peaceful. It took a second to realize the bed had more room compared to when I went to sleep.

Ninetales and Linoone were sleeping on the floor using my backpack as a pillow. She was on her side while his head rested on her neck. I couldn't help but smile at the sight. Training a Pokémon was more than battling.

I pretended to still be asleep as they woke up. Linoone affectionally purred as he dug his head into her tuft. Ninetales draped a leg over him to pull him in closer. They stayed like that until she released him. The pitter patter of him walking across the floor stopped for a second before my bed shook. Poking my head got me to sit up.

"Okay, okay. I'm up," I playfully complained. "Did you two sleep well last night?" They nodded in unison. "Let me get ready for the day first. Breakfast will be in a couple minutes. Return."

Putting Ninetales back in her ball felt wrong after all the sudden burst of progress. I went to recall Linoone but stopped myself. He tilted his head as I held him in my lap.

"Be honest with me, buddy. Did anything else happen between you two last night?"

He adamantly shook his head while looking worried. I may have been too blunt with him. As much as he was a mischievous asshole, there were some things he took seriously. Not once did he try to force himself on a female Pokémon, wild or trained. Even if last night was consensual and I happened to sleep through it, he would've told me. I scratched behind his ear.

"Good boy! You helped Ninetales over the hump. Keep an eye on her if she starts to get too down again, okay?" I recalled him and cleaned up.

Nurse Joy was healing a merchant's group of Pokémon while I was scoping out a place to eat. The thought of Ninetales being around strangers was enough to make me wait on breakfast. I waited in line behind them to make things less awkward. No surprise that the place was empty after they left.

"Rush is finally over," she said while rubbing her eyes. "I was so excited about yesterday that I couldn't sleep. How may I help you?"

"Can my team eat in the lobby?"

"Sure."

I poured out the last of the food, but it was still enough for a solid meal. The aura surrounding the team was noticeably different with Ninetales opening up. She didn't mind being close to her teammates, talked to them between bites, looked them in the eye, and didn't expect a second helping. Her change in attitude surprised everybody.

Her interactions with Sealeo were still rough around the edges. That swooning tone he used against Milotic came out at first, only for it to stop after a lengthy conversation. Limiting his alpha-like behavior was more realistic than training it out of him completely. Sealeo reluctantly agreed with whatever she was saying then put his head down in shame. Linoone gave him a discrete side-eye the entire time; everyone else nodded in agreement. Surprisingly, Aggron wrapped an arm around the Ball Roll Pokémon in a show of support.

I gave them enough time to move around before telling them about visiting Slateport. Getting there via Sealeo was just asking for trouble. If I didn't lose my life, I'd probably lose my gear in the rough waters. Riding on Altaria was possible. However, I didn't feel like dealing with the mental strain of paying attention. Battling was still on the agenda if the opportunity presented itself. I arranged a for a private water taxi, called the league to sort out my money situation, then received a call immediately after.

"Hello Ryan. This is a representative from your bank located in Mauville City. Are you busy?"

"Um, no? Is something wrong?"

"I'm calling to confirm your purchase of 137,000P made mast night." Shuffling papers echoed through the speaker. "Two computers, four phones, twelve cots, and twelve bedding sets. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Give me one second." Loud keystrokes followed. "Our system initially registered it as a fraudulent purchase. Your order is still scheduled to arrive on time. Is there anything else I can do for you today?"

I couldn't get too mad at them for checking up on me. Heads would be rolling within the bank before I got a phone call if that transaction immediately went through. The types of transactions I had going on couldn't be matched by an average person.

"What is my account total after you take away 137,000P?" Again, more typing.

"Your official balance 1,153,000P."

Back up to millionaire status. "Appreciate the info. I think I'm all set."

"Have a nice day!"

I rounded my team up for good and carefully walked on the log bridge to stock up on Pokémon food at the mart. Part of me wanted to sell my last Dive Ball and five Net Balls because I didn't plan on raising another Pokémon. However, it was dumb to not have spare balls on hand.

Walking back to the Pokémon Center proved to be more stressful with a full backpack. I put it on Altaria's back for safe keeping. Her effortless hovering made my stumbling look worse; she snuck in a few laughs. My boat came up with a familiar face as captain.

"Vinny!?" The seasoned veteran of traversing Hoenn's seas gave me a firm handshake.

"Didn't think I'd see you here of all places, Ryan!"

"Same. I thought you were still working on the Mauville to New Mauville tourist route."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Had to stay here for a few days because of a personal matter. I still wanted to make some extra money. Your father told me about the badges and whatnot."

"Right! I can tell you more on the way to Slateport."

His personal boat was meant for safer long-term travel. No seats were on the bow and a sturdy retractable tarp covered the entire seating area. One could sit on the starboard side while the vessel was floating and the tarp still up.

Our trip was easygoing for the first half hour. Various small beaches and slabs of rock were scattered about route 132; they didn't pose a threat. Things changed as we got closer to route 133. Currents guided the boat on a path depending on where Vinny steered. It got to a point where he calmly shut off the boat and let nature take care of things.

"How many badges have you won since you left the city?" he asked while keeping his eyes on the water.

"Seven."

Vinny nodded. "And the last one?"

"Dynamo Badge."

He looked back at me in confusion. "Why didn't you challenge Wattson first? It's not like he would've used Magneton against you." I put my feet up on a small table.

"Do you remember that time I went to New Mauville but never took the ferry back or got picked up by security? It was months ago."

"I do. Not going to lie, you had me worried until you showed up the next day."

Flashbacks of that long day hit me like a ton of bricks. Hard to believe a normal day turned south in the span of less than a minute. My heart rate increased out of anger.

"Well, I was fired from the gym that day. One of my coworkers called my sister a bitch and slapped her after she rejected his offer for a date. Unfortunately, I grabbed a wet floor sign instead of something heavier. My fists didn't connect as well as I had hoped either."

Vinny guided the boat to an area not affected by the current. He turned around in his captain's chair.

"How was your talk with Wattson?"

"About what you'd expect. The good news was that I found out he said I left on good terms instead of mentioning the fight. Something about wanting to pursue other opportunities too."

He nodded. "I see. So, you wanted to battle later?"

"Kind of. I only had two Pokémon at the time. My plan was to wait until it was the last badge I needed. Not only would I have a full team, they'd be strong enough to crush whatever Wattson threw at me."

"That's an interesting reason. Are you still mad at him or did that sentiment go away?" Vinny casually replied.

I twiddled my thumbs. "Some things are hard to forget. I understand why Wattson did what he did; still sucks that it had to be that way. I also don't regret throwing those punches."

"Any chance that gets brought up when you walk through the gym doors?"

"Doubt it. Wattson is still in the hospital for all I know. Vivian, the replacement leader, didn't have a problem with me before or after that day. I sure as hell won't bring it up either."

Saying those words out loud helped reduce some internal anxiety. Vivian was the type of person to treat every challenger with respect from the start. I planned to do the same, but my mentality going into battle was different than any other leader.

"That said, I want to fucking destroy her," I said in a serious tone. "Winning 5-0 or pulling off a sweep is my goal."

"Just be respectful during the battle," Vinny sighed. "Ready to start up again? We should be in Slateport by late afternoon."

"Fine by me." He motioned me to the GPS and radar.

"Be alert. We've got a bumpy ride ahead."

Route 133 was like a minefield. Rock formations, cliffs, small patches where the boat could get beached, and an abundance of Pokémon swimming around us had me more focused than if I rode on Altaria. The current got faster with nowhere to safely stop.

A half dozen Tentacool didn't take too kindly to our presence. They moved out of the way only to follow us into an area with calmer waters. Unfortunately, Vinny rode up on a sandy shoreline while maneuvering away from Poison Sting attacks. We discovered that we were in a rectangular cove in the middle of the route. Calm water was a silver lining.

"Focus on dislodging the boat. I can take care of the Tentacool," I relayed while hopping off. "Sealeo, I choose you!"

He came out being confused as to what sand was. The constant flapping didn't change the fact those particles would be stuck on him unless he jumped into the water. Even the Tentacool were confused as to see a water type that had never dealt with sand. Deep down, it was hilarious.

"Think you can take out all six of them?" He nodded. "Surf!"

Jumping in the water allowed him to warp it into a large tidal wave. It crashed down on the group with significant force. None of them were truly fazed although the distance between them became wider. One rushed in then stopped to shoot a small purple blob.

"Dodge that Acid attack by going underwater! Follow up with another Surf!"

Two of the Tentacool went under with him to get a clear shot with Bubble Beam. I saw the bursts of light followed by another wave. One who hadn't had the chance to attack was tossed into the side of the cove for a knockout leaving five left. Sealeo turned to me with a smirk on his face.

"This is one of those times I don't have a problem with it. Use Swagger!"

Unlike his traditional method of rolling around, he merely yelled across the way. Whatever he said caused the one Tentacruel closest to him to get agitated. Not only did the annoying Pokémon attack itself, it turned on the group. Watching the other four attack it nonstop until it fainted was a little unsettling.

Another one stepped up to fire a Poison Sting attack. Needles got to Sealeo faster than I expected; most of them harmlessly bounced off his stomach.

"Frost Breath!"

He swam at them to deliver a close-range attack. Two of them were hit with the icy move and immediately fainted; guess they weren't all that strong. The onslaught for the remaining two continued with a lot of underwater fanfare. Once they resurfaced, I went for the finishing move.

"Brine!"

The powerful blast of water only took one out. Not willing to stick around for more, the last Tentacool scurried away. Sealeo clapped his flippers out of happiness then swam close to shore. He stared at the sand before giving me a blank stare. I sympathized with his disdain for sand.

"Nailed it! Return!" Vinny was still working on dislodging the boat with a Hariyama. "What's it looking like?"

"Close to getting it back in," he immediately replied.

"I have an Aggron that could give it a big push."

"Being gentle is better than just shoving it around. Appreciate the thought, though." They fiddled with it for a few minutes until it was completely in. "Our arrival time has been moved back to around dinner. Don't worry, there should be more than enough light."

Once we got out of the cove, the rest of route 133 was relatively smooth sailing. Choppy waters were easier to navigate with no visible obstacles in our way. Another beach was off in the distance on the port side while another cove-like area was far away on the starboard side.

Route 134 was designed by nature to give travelers a giant middle finger. Four distinct land masses were evenly spaced out, so Vinny had to be more careful at the start of the route. He weaved his way through the two middle masses then let the current do the work for a little bit. We talked about more mundane topics to pass the time. A tiny island eventually came on the horizon. Vinny called me over to the radar.

"Ryan, this part coming up is going to get rough. Instead of trying to maneuver around all these patches of land, I'm going to steer us southeast toward the rocks. After that, I'm going to accelerate east again then north into open waters."

Anyone good enough to make it on Stern's crew knew what they were doing. "Go for it."

Vinny kept making minor adjustments at the wheel as we drifted past the island. Approaching the large rocks was still nerve wracking despite the advanced warning. The waves crashing against them nearly masked the sound of the veteran sailor flooring the accelerator.

A quick turn of the wheel jerked me against the side of the tarp. The current was weaker than normal due to the land mass blocking some of the flow. However, it still had the capability to cause a shipwreck. Vinny gunned it again and we were back in the open. He was pumped; I still had my back glued to the seat.

"Now that's what I'm talking about! You good back there?"

"Yeah," I said while trying to catch my breath.

"Alright! Smooth sailing from here on out. Another half an hour before we dock in Slateport."

That time was spent shooting the shit. We stayed on the topic of New Mauville and how tourists viewed the place. It was viewed as the number one place to get away from the bustling city while still being close by. Battles were still taking place in the lower levels of the building right up until the place closed for the night. Hearing stories about long winning streaks made me want to go back. How easy would it be for me to rake in the cash with my team?

Slateport's skyline looked georgus as we pulled into the harbor. I started taking pictures as fast as my PokéNav would let me. I would've let my team out if I had enough room; Altaria and Sealeo couldn't be called out due to them possibly interfering with watercraft traffic. A dockhand guided us to an empty space.

"You folks have a good ride?"

"Sure did. Never a dull moment coming from Pacifidlog," Vinny happily replied. "She still handles like a charm."

"Looks like it! Wait here for a second while I go check this baby in."

The dockhand jogged to a nearby booth for a clipboard. Vinny nudged me as I was taking in the scenery.

"Want to keep going to Mauville? I have to get back and we have enough light to work with."

I shook my head. "No thanks. I'm planning on getting a little more training in before challenging the gym."

"Fair enough. I'll keep an eye out for your name on the challenger docket."

The dockhand came back with all the necessary paperwork. We all signed it ensuring everything was in order. I paid the docking fee and the refuel cost. Vinny was paid 3,500P for his service plus a 1,000P tip because there was no way I would make that trip by myself. All in all, it cost me 9,000P.

"Would you like me to check your vessel's equipment over before you head out again?"

"Go right ahead." Vinny leaned in closer to me as the employee did the inspection. "This might be the last time I'm going to Mauville for work."

I pulled my head away for a second. "Huh?"

"There's a rumor going around that the league is going to sell New Mauville. If that happens, I'm putting in my two weeks. You never know what's going to happen. New employees versus veteran ones, policy changes, pay changes, all that jazz. Nothing against the new owners or the league, but I don't feel like dealing with that kind of change at forty-five years old."

Part of me wanted to tell him to quit within the next five minutes. However, I didn't want to get into a long conversation as to why Pokémon Services owning the entire island was a bad thing. Leaving him in the dark was for the best.

"I haven't heard anything about that. You think other people would notice if ownership changed hands?"

"Depends on what they do. We'll find out at some point. Anyway, I don't want to hold you up while they get the boat ready. Can't wait to see you in Mauville!"

I shook his hand. "Thanks for the ride."

My first stop was the Pokémon Center on the north side. They didn't have any open rooms but had plenty of space to let my team eat. Sealeo got more praise for his effort back in the cove. He soaked it in like a sponge then turned to Ninetales and Altaria with a cheeky grin; they rolled their eyes. Linoone put a lot of effort into holding back a laugh.

Walking around the city after dinner was calming. The atmosphere of Slateport was friendlier than my hometown. Not once did I get the feeling that I was a target for pickpocketing. People didn't give me a weird look when I was walking through the market on the south side with my bulky gear either.

A craft booth closest to the beach caught my eye. They had some figurines of popular Pokémon made of glass or sturdy plastic. There was an order form for anything not on display. Rebecca and Jack didn't seem like the type to get out much and my parents hadn't taken a real vacation in years. I thought they would appreciate a souvenir.

"Can I help you find anything?" the owner asked.

"You have anything for Delcatty, Breloom, Pelipper, Torkoal, and Absol?" I asked after not seeing any of them on the large table.

"Just a moment." Fast hands dug through two crates and a ton of bubble wrap. "Hard plastic alright? If not, we can ship glass ones out in a week."

The price for a respectable plastic model was 2,500P while the glass variant ran 3,000 before any custom design choices. For everything those people did to help me, I figured it was a nice gift. It helped I had 15,000P readily available.

"Glass, please." I filled out the paperwork so they could be shipped to their appropriate locations.

With the sun down, I took the street parallel to the beach all the way to the lighthouse. Most people there were waiting on friends or were listening to the waves crash against the shore. I found a place away from everyone else to call home.

"Hello?" It was my mom.

"Hey mom, it's Ryan."

She let out an excited gasp. "Ryan!? How are you doing honey?"

"Keeping busy. Hanging out in Slateport City right now."

"Wonderful! I've been there a few times for work and it's a beautiful city. Go watch a contest of you get the chance."

I cracked a smile. "Can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because… I'm leaving for home tomorrow morning. Wattson's badge is the last one I need in order to enter the Hoenn League."

There was a long pause before she spoke again. "Stop it. You're really coming home?"

"Uh-huh. I'll be walking so it'll probably take two days."

"Do you want dad to get you? He can drive his security vehicle on Cycling Road."

"I'll pass on the offer but thanks for asking."

Sniffling came through the speaker followed by heavy footsteps. "Honey! Ryan's coming back!" she yelled upstairs.

"Does… picked up?" was all I could hear.

"No. He's walking from Slateport. You want to talk to him?"

The phone changed hands a few seconds after she asked. Dad was panting when he started talking.

"There he is! Do you have any idea around what time you'll arrive?"

"Late at night unless I put it in gear. I'll be quiet when I come in."

He shuffled around. "Go at your own pace. Call if plans change or if you just want to talk. I have to get going for an employee dinner. Let me put mom back on. Love you!"

She took the phone back. "We'll have some nice food ready for when you arrive. In the meantime, enjoy your trip up."

"Can't wait!" I yawned after looking up at the clear night sky. "I have to get going for now. See you guys soon."

"Alrighty then. Have a safe trip. We love you!"

"Love you too. Bye!"

I quietly wept as soon as I hung up. In theory, they should've been informed on what the current situation was. Would they freak out? Yes. Would they ask me hundreds of questions? Yes. Would they try to get involved? Yes, and that's what scared me the most. They've always supported me and how do I repay them? By being dishonest which is arguably worse than lying. No number of gifts could change that.

I left for route 110 after pulling myself together. Setting up camp underneath a tree right by the city limits was fine by me; didn't feel like spending any more money on a room. Cranking the flashlight every few seconds for power made me reconsider until I got the tent up.

My PokéNav beeped when I settled in. Sadie had sent me two text messages.

Had enough of that place. I quit. Hope you understand.

"Son of a bitch! You couldn't hold out for a bit longer!?" I yelled. Breathing through my nose helped me get level-headed. "Focus, Ryan. This was a long time coming. You knew she was on thin ice last time you talked to her." The second text was a link to an article posted online an hour ago with a headline I hoped not to see.

New Mauville acquired by Pokémon Services.

The article was light on the exact details, but the point was Wattson no longer had control of the island. A press conference was scheduled tomorrow to expand on what New Mauville would be used for. I carefully planned a response.

I can't blame you. That said, I'm going to be in Mauville in two days. Would you be willing to talk over lunch or dinner? I won't bother you after that.

I nearly fell asleep before she replied.

Need time to think about it. Text me when you get into town. Goodnight. Drowsiness eventually won out over frustration.

Plenty of battling opportunities presented themselves while going through route 110. Sealeo got the most field time because he needed it. Most of his opponents were against Pokémon with neutral type matchups. He took a few losses here and there but looked good overall. An Exploud under the guide of a trainer with six badges was his toughest challenge; Sealeo lost despite our best efforts. Hail was a move that he showed no interest in learning after his last victory.

Altaria was excited to get back to battling after taking a Horn Drill against Wallace's Seaking. She had extra pep when landing Fly attacks and her dodging looked effortless. Not once did she take a loss. A surprise Hidden Power Ice from a Manectric almost brought her down but it was too late in the battle.

Linoone did what he did best: be an asshole. Sand Attack got one trainer to storm off in frustration when her Kirlia couldn't focus enough for a Psychic attack. Although a Grimer had Sticky Hold for its ability, my partner tried to pry an Eviolite away from the poison type with Covet; he promptly took a direct hit from Sludge Wave resulting in a knockout. Aside from that, he did well.

Ninetales' confidence was through the roof during every match. Any hesitation when attacking was gone. She didn't feel bad about losing to an Ancient Power from a Kecleon which I was not prepared for. I experimented with her against fast opponents like Dodrio and Electrode to see how well her speed held up; endurance could be improved.

Aggron didn't need a lot of practice although I still put him in to keep him loose. Magneton started acting weird the further north we went. After every battle, Magneton would stare east out into the sea. It hovered that way in the middle of a battle which confused everyone.

I couldn't figure out what was wrong with my partner. It didn't seem ill in any way. Using healing items didn't work. Talking to Magneton got it out of its trance only to fall back in over time. Nobody used a psychic type or any move that warranted a status condition. I had to keep Magneton in its ball after it moved over the water toward New Mauville. We needed to have a conversation in a private setting.

Midnight neared on the second day when I arrived at the northern gate of Cycling Road. Since it was next to the docks, I had to be wary of Ardos' boat. His means of transportation sat idly in its nook. I carefully made my way to Mauville's southern entrance then froze upon seeing the well-lit main road. I closed my eyes, inhaled as much as I could, then slowly exhaled while taking my first step inside the city. No more delays or excuses.

There was a lot of unfinished business that needed to be taken care of.

I'm on the hype train for Pokémon Sword & Shield. Can't wait to see what the eighth generation has in store! Have a good day and I will see you next chapter :)

-W4f