The walk on Route 111 was uneventful, and as they entered the city, Johnny took in the sight. Mauville had over gone some serious remodeling based off of some city in Kalos, and now it was simply amazing, to Johnny at least. Flannery didn't look quite as amazed, probably since she had come here more often than he to talk with Wattson and compare Leader notes. Speaking of whom…

Wattson walked up to the two and said, "Hey, Flannery! Haven't seen you recently. How you been?"

Flannery grinned. "I've been well, how about you? Still checking the electric circuits?"

He nodded, beaming. "My pride and joy! My wonderful circuitry!" He finally saw Johnny and said, "Ah, young Jonathan! How have you been?"

He nodded. "Good, Mr. Wattson, sir."

For being a teenager, Johnny could use a self-esteem boost. "Please, no mister or sir needed. Wattson's fine."

Johnny nodded, looking at the ground. Flannery looked at him and, turning back to Wattson, said, "We're actually hanging tonight, here in Mauville."

He nodded, still beaming. "That's a good plan! I know Lavaridge has its own attractions, but Mauville had more."

Flannery nodded. "That much is true. So, if you'll excuse us, we'll be off."

He nodded, and she and Johnny walked off, Johnny still staring at the ground. Wattson looked after them and sighed, muttering, "That boy needs more confidence. The fact that he beat me should've helped."

As Flannery and Johnny walked around Mauville, Johnny asked, "You hungry?"

She nodded, and he said, "Wanna head to the food court?"

She smiled. "Yeah, sounds great!"

They headed towards the Mauville Food Court, more better known as the Battle Court. Johnny walked up to the green counter along the right side of the court and said, "Two Village Sub Combos, please."

The cashier nodded. "That'll be 2,000 Poke." Johnny handed the money over and took the buzzer, and the cashier said, "You know the deal."

He nodded, and he and Flannery grabbed a pair of chairs at a nearby table. Soon, they were disturbed by a young boy who said, "Hey you! That seat's mine!"

Johnny sighed. "Hey, Cutler. How you doing?"

Cutler looked at him. "Oh, Johnny, it's you! Hey, good to see you. It's been some time."

"I know. Do we still have to battle?"

"You know the rules. Food'll be ready in five turns, and the only way to kill time around here is battle, which also protects your seat."

Johnny stood. "You sure you wanna fight?"

Cutler smirked. "I can whup you!" He threw a Poke Ball, summoning a Slugma.

Johnny chuckled. "Good luck, man. Let's go, Iusoru!"

He threw a Ball, and a Wailmer appeared. The two Pokémon stared each other down, and Cutler said, "You can have the first turn."

Johnny smirked. "You're gonna regret that! Iusoru, Water Pulse!"

Iusoru focused blue energy in an orb in front of it and launched it at the Slugma, who simply couldn't dodge it. It fainted, and Cutler sighed. "Why can't I catch a break?"

He walked away, and Flannery said, "Nice job!"

Johnny nodded. "Yeah, I know. But let's face it, it gets boring after a while."

Flannery nodded and asked, "Where'd you get that Wailmer?"

Johnny looked at the Poke Ball which currently held it. "Iusoru? Went out to Mossdeep once with family, and when I was walking on the beach, I saw a group of them swimming out in the ocean. They came close to the island, and one saw me and shot water in my face."

Flannery laughed, and Johnny continued, "Well, I couldn't let that end that way, so I went over to it and asked why it did that. It merely laughed and shot me again. Now drenched, I pulled out a Poke Ball and asked if it wanted to do that to me more. It looked at the other Wailmer and had a conversation, it seemed, and afterwards, it nodded and nudged itself against the Ball. End."

Flannery smiled. "That's a nice story."

Johnny grinned. "Yeah, I just did what felt natural. I learned that early, go with your gut if your brain's got nothing."

Flannery nodded. "Solid words."

A young girl came up to them and said to Johnny, "Hey, that's-"

"Hey, Nitzel."

She blinked. "Oh, Johnny! Hey, Cutler mentioned something…ready to go?"

Johnny smirked. "You know it! Go, Criuly!"

He threw a Ball, and a Swellow appeared, ready to face Nitzel's Oddish. "Criuly, Quick Attack!"

Criuly almost disappeared from view, and the Oddish looked around, trying to see it, but Criuly hot it from behind with the attack, catching the Oddish off balance and throwing its Razor Leaf off target. "Criuly, Aerial Ace!" Criuly's wings became coated in white on the edges and it charged at the Oddish, hitting it with its wings straight on, knocking it out. Nitzel pouted. "Man!" She walked off, and Flannery asked, "If your Criuly knew Aerial Ace-which I remember from our battles-why didn't you use it right away?"

Johnny said, "Simple. Racks up turns. Only got two left now."

A boy came up to them, and Johnny cut him off right away. "Ham, good to see you."

The boy didn't flinch. "Let's do this!" he cried, calling out a Tailow.

Johnny held up a Poke Ball. "Alright, then. Let's go, Qemors!"

He threw the Ball, summoning a Manectric. "Qemors, Rain Dance!"

The smell of ozone filled the air, and it started to rain in the court. Ham's Tailow attacked with a Wing Attack, which didn't exactly do much. Johnny smirked. "One turn. I feel like overkill today!"

He swung his wrist in front of his body and pressed the multi-colored stone in the bracelet on his wrist. Light started to emanate from Qemors, and within a few seconds, it had changed its look. It looked more like a lightning bolt now, and its cry had gotten deeper. "End this with Discharge!"

Qemors cried out, and instantly electricity was discharged from everywhere on its body, enveloping the Tailow and knocking it out. Ham called it back and ran out, headed straight for the Pokémon Center. Johnny called Qemors back, and Flannery gave him a look. "That's new."

He looked at her. "A friend of mine showed me these secrets. Not important, I'll go get the food."

He went up to the counter and picked up the combos, also taking from the cashier a pure gold nugget.

"Enjoy!"

He nodded and went back to the table, placing one of the combos in front of Flannery. "There you go."

She picked up the sandwich and took a bite of it. "Mm! Delicious!"

Johnny chuckled. "I would hope so. Perfect turn count." He sat, and they both ate, food too good to talk.