Gary watched Breloom fire off a flurry of punches and activated the Eye of Insight.
[Pokémon: Breloom ♂ (Shiny)]
[Type: Grass / Fighting]
[Level: 23]
[Potential: Gym]
[Ability: EX Effect Spore – When hit by a contact move, there is a 60% chance to inflict Poison, Paralysis, or Sleep on the attacker.]
[Moves: Tackle · Absorb · Stun Spore · Leech Seed · Headbutt · Poison Powder · Mach Punch]
[TM/Tutor: Sludge Bomb · Sunny Day]
[Friendship: 255 / 255]
Evolution had unlocked Mach Punch—a handy priority move—and Breloom could now learn a host of powerful techniques.
Gary placed a hand on the Pokémon's shoulder and ran through several TMs he had prepared.
"Bre-loom!"
A flash of understanding lit Breloom's eyes as it mastered the new moves on the spot.
"Gary!"
Zinnia's voice echoed from the doorway.
She hurried in, followed by two people—a young woman of about eighteen and Riley, the tunnel worker Gary had rescued the previous day. Riley, wearing a hospital gown, sat in a wheelchair while the girl pushed him forward.
"Riley, what are you doing here?" Gary asked.
"I wanted to thank you properly. This is my fiancée," Riley said, gesturing to the girl.
"What?!"
Gary and Zinnia stared in disbelief.
The young woman smiled warmly. "Hello, I'm Wanda. Thank you for saving my fiancé's life."
Even after her confirmation, the pair were still stunned; they could not fathom how someone as plain-looking as Riley had won the heart of someone like Wanda.
"To show our gratitude, we'd love to have you both over for dinner tonight. Will you join us?" Wanda asked.
"Absolutely!" Zinnia replied before Gary could speak. Since leaving Meteor Village, she had eaten only Pokémon Center meals and trail rations. The idea of home cooking was irresistible.
Gary inclined his head. "Thank you—we'd be honoured."
"Great. I'll take Riley back to the ward for now; see you this evening," Wanda said, wheeling him away.
Even after they'd gone, Gary and Zinnia felt as though they were dreaming. How had Riley managed to win the heart of a girl who was not only beautiful but apparently wealthy?
"Oh—what Pokémon is that?"
Only then did Zinnia notice the orange-red creature beside Gary. Because Shroomish had been shiny, the evolved Breloom's colors were still unusual.
"This is Breloom—Shroomish's evolved form," Gary explained. "It evolved right after our last battle."
"Already?" Zinnia looked at Breloom with open envy. "I wish my Shelgon and Tyrunt would evolve as quickly."
"Keep training and they will," Gary assured her. "Shelgon just needs to build energy, and Tyrunt evolves into Tyrantrum at level 39 during the day. At your current pace, that's about two months."
Zinnia sighed, then brightened. "We should get ready for tonight."
"Exactly. Let's clean up, change into proper clothes, and pick up a small gift," Gary said.
"Why bother changing? And what gift?" she asked, baffled.
"In normal society, you dress neatly when you visit someone's home—and it's polite to bring a token present," Gary explained.
"So many rules," Zinnia grumbled. "Fine—when in Rome."
That evening, Wanda arrived in person to escort them. Her house was only a ten-minute walk from the Pokémon Center, but it turned out to be a three-storey villa—clear evidence of a well-to-do family.
Seeing Gary's glance, Wanda laughed. "This place belongs to my family. Riley and I bought a smaller house nearer the tunnel—it's still being renovated."
Gary blinked. He had assumed the villa belonged to Riley. Now he wondered what qualities the man possessed to land such a remarkable fiancée.
At the door, Wanda rang the bell. A green-haired boy about Zinnia's age opened it.
"Cousin, did you bring guests?" he asked.
"Wally?" Gary blurted, recognizing him instantly. In the games, Wally was the timid youngster who caught a Ralts outside Petalburg City and later became a formidable rival on Victory Road.
"It really is you—Gary Oak!" Wally's eyes sparkled. "I watched you win the Indigo Plateau and Silver Conferences!"
Wanda looked surprised. "Wally, you know Mr. Oak?"
"Of course! He's amazing!" Wally said, practically bouncing in excitement.
Dinner, it seemed, was going to be even more interesting than Gary had expected.