Giuls observed the city she had just entered. Cerulean was a big city, but it was also showing signs of abandonment. There were various palaces with broken windows even this close to the city entrance, something she had not seen in her time in Pewter or Viridian. She wondered why the city was in this condition, but walked quickly ahead.
Before the Gym, she was interested in looking up something else. If she was right, in three days there was supposed to be a certain event in the northern part of town. She walked following the river-side road, and reached a large bridge, a wooden construction large enough to have ten people walk on it side by side. And on the bridge were affixed various decorations. Giant signs all over it advertised the Nugget Bridge Tournament, coming in three days.
Giuls knew that at that time of year various Festivals and Tournaments sprouted all over the region. Celadon was finishing their own, as she had read, and Cinnabar held the Sea Run in a month or so. Viridian was the only city without one was Viridian, since the Pokémon League already attracted a monthly influx of tourists and Trainers even without additional events.
She walked up to a stand nearby, where a young man was sitting scratching his chin. "Hello, is this where we can subscribe to participate in the Tournament?"
"Sure is, miss." The man replied, "Know the rules?"
Giuls nodded. She had read the rules on a poster before "It's a tournament where you can take part with up to three Pokémon, although each fight is a one v one. There is also a special ring-out rule: getting thrown out of the arena, or flying beyond the boundaries, will count as a defeat. Although I must admit, I really don't get that one."
"Ah, the Nugget Bridge Festival celebrates a famous legend known as 'The Golden Ronin of Hanada'. He faced humans and Pokémon alike when they attempted to take the city from the north, winning by throwing many in the river." He said, pointing to an inscription near the bridge. "No one knows if it's historical or just an old folk tale, but we remember it by adding the ring-out rule."
Giuls nodded, then signed the form. "Uh, what's 'category'?"
"Oh right, we have actually three Tournaments, open to different participants depending on their number of badges. One to three, four to six, seven or more. All with the same rule and everything, but it wouldn't be fun for younger trainers if we just let them face an expert. Before we instated the rule, we had a lot of people lamenting match ups. A Bulbasaur could never beat a Charizard, even in the brightest of days."
Giuls nodded a third time. The man was surprisingly talkative. She wrote down her name and her Pokémon, followed by marking the beginner category, then handed it to the man. He took the paper and put it in a folder nearby "Good. See you in three days then."
"Thank you." She said, walking off. She probably wasn't going to run into another event for a while, so taking part in this one was going to be fun.
"No problem miss. And good luck to you." He said. She smiled and waved, leaving. 'Very well, three days of training, and then we will get to do both a tournament and the Gym Battle.' She looked at her clothes. They looked a bit too ruined. The travel that far was already taking a toll. 'But first, I should probably use some of my winnings to get some new clothes.' She thought opening the Poké Ball on her belt. Both Bulbasaur and Clefairy jumped out.
"We are going shopping." She announced. This proposal raised two very different reactions. Bulbasaur beamed with joy, almost jumping for the enthusiasm. More understandably, Clefairy seemed puzzled. Clearly, she had no idea what her trainer meant.
"Shopping is when we humans buy clothes and items. I might even buy some permitted held item for you two, what do you think?" She asked. Bulbasaur nodded enthusiastically, while Clefairy looked uncertain. Giuls took it as a maybe and begun to walk to the commercial district.
"So again, what is so interesting about this?" Clefairy asked, as the two walked behind Giuls.
"… Are you for real? You don't see the appeal at all?" Bulbasaur asked, without moving her eyes away from the stores.
"Well, no, not really. I mean, it's nice and all our Trainer gets clothes, but at best we can get, what did she call it, a held item?"
"Yes!" Bulbasaur said "And do you even know how GOOD held items are? Oh, I so wish to get my vines on a Miracle Seed! The feeling of sheer power one of those can give…"
"Isn't it Sheer Force?" Clefairy asked.
Bulbasaur stared at her for a moment "You know, I thought you were smarter."
"You know, I thought you were kinder."
"Don't lie now, you never thought that." Bulbasaur said with a cackle.
Clefairy laughed back "Fine, fine. Still, I think that…"
In that moment, she looked back, noticing a man walking towards them. He bent down to look at the Clefairy and smiled. "My, you are quite strong, aren't you? Especially for someone that was caught recently." He said, scratching Clefairy's head.
Giuls noticed immediately Bulbasaur stopping, and turned to see Clefairy scratched and rubbed by a man in his early forties. "Uh, can I help you?"
The man almost seemed startled, as he turned to her, letting the pink Pokémon go "Oh, I'm sorry, where are my manners? I just saw a good Pokémon and wanted to observe her." He said, standing up. He was quite tall, with short dark air and a rough beard. "Norman, from Olivine."
Giuls took the man's hand "Giuls, from Pallet Town."
"Ah, a young trainer early on in her journey. That's always nice to see." He said, looking at her Pokémon "One badge? I guess so, Viridian is still closed after all."
"Yeah, unfortunately. And you…"
"Oh, I'm actually on a training journey of sorts. Going around Kanto and Johto to take part in as many tournaments as possible before the exam." He explained "I was nearby when I heard of the Nugget Bridge Tournament, and of course I chose to come here."
Giuls smiled. Such an experienced trainer was rare to meet, outside of structures like the Battle Frontier or the League. "Uhm… So, what are you training for?"
"Well, it should be a secret, but there are a couple spots as Gym Leader that are going to be up for grabs soon. Apparently, some people are quitting without appointing a successor."
"Here in Kanto? Or in Johto?"
"Can't say that, sorry. It's considered confidential. But maybe you will get a hint soon, if you will be at the tournament." He winked "See you." And with that he left. Giuls observed him walk off, wondering what he meant. Then she shook her head.
"Alright girls. I guess we should continue on." She said. Still, as she looked at the stores she couldn't help but think there was something interesting in that man.
Clefairy puffed her chest, with a smug grin "Heard that? Strong."
"Oh I heard. I wouldn't trust the opinion of a random individual on the street." Bulbasaur replied, scoffing loudly. Clefairy grinned.
"Are you jealous because he didn't say anything about you?" She asked, moving closer to the reptilian Pokémon.
"Oh please, I know I am strong. I don't need someone telling me." Bulbasaur said, averting her eyes. The grin on Clefairy's face became larger.
"Oh, envy is such a terrible sin my dear friend."
"I'll show you what is a sin once I…" Bulbasaur replied, taking out a whip, then she paled. "Hide me." She said, jumping behind Clefairy.
"What, what is it?" The star-shaped Pokémon asked, looking around.
"Nothing, just, don't move from this position for a bit." Bulbasaur replied, though Clefairy noticed she was growing paler.
"Are you ok?" She asked.
"Just. Keep. Walking." The Grass-type hissed. Clefairy nodded, confused, and continued on, with Bulbasaur trying her best to hide behind her.
The Doduo and his trainer never noticed the two walking away.
"So tomorrow?" The Rocket Lieutenant asked "I hope so. Keeping the server here is a good idea, but now that Bill is searching for anomalies because of that Clefairy transfer it's becoming harder to hide it. I think the egghead over there is boiling."
"I can hear you!" A voice screamed.
"I know you can!" The Lieutenant replied, before returning his attention to the phone "Anyway, tomorrow we will send over the last few and then deactivate it until Bill is satisfied. What's the other order?"
"It's about the young trainers." Archer replied "The three that ruined our plans. They should arrive in the city tomorrow. I want a detailed report."
"Oh, the girl and the two boys, yeah. I saw the photo." The young trainer on the phone nodded "So, what's the plan? Ambush and steal?"
"Usually, I would say so. Unfortunately, a small problem has emerged about the two… boys, as you called them." He said "For now the objective is simple observation. Further orders will have to wait a few days. If they leave the city, you are allowed to pursue."
At this, the Lieutenant was surprised, raising an eyebrow "Pardon me, General Grey Houndoom, but is that true? It's… unusual. Are you sure I need to do it personally?"
"It's an order from Giovanni himself." Archer replied "He says one of our best Lieutenant needs to be deployed, of course referring to you. Your vice-Lieutenant will take over if you really have to leave."
"Yes sir." He said "What if they split sir?"
"Choose one of the two males, send a recruit or two after the other. Someone you can trust. Keep a close eye on him. We want detailed information." He said "Choose wisely, Orange Raichu. Am I clear?"
"Yes sir." The Lieutenant replied, noting the harsh tone of the General. Clearly he wasn't happy with how Domino's mission had ended, and a failure was not going to be taken lightly.
"Very well. Rocket out." Archer replied. The call ended.
Orange Raichu, as his codename went, could only stare at the phone for a moment. Then he turned "Petrel!" He shouted. The purple haired Rocket looked at him from the door of the base "I need some fake ID, pronto!"
The man nodded "Any name in particular sir?"
The Lieutenant thought about it for a moment. Then chuckled "I have a name in mind." As he explained, Petrel couldn't help but chuckle as well.