Yokoto Town, a peaceful and unassuming place, lay ahead. After traveling through the dense jungle, Aoki and Kamizre arrived in town, intending to restock their supplies.
As soon as they stepped into the town, Aoki noticed a lively atmosphere—trainers were actively training their Flying-type Pokémon. With curiosity piqued, he inquired about the situation.
After a brief conversation with the townspeople, he learned that Yokoto Town was hosting a Pokémon Ring Tournament, a prestigious local event where trainers competed using Flying Pokémon. The winner would receive honorary citizenship in the town.
Kamizre, always eager for excitement, turned to Aoki with enthusiasm.
"Aoki, look! So many trainers are joining in! Do you want to participate too?" she asked with a cheerful glint in her eyes.
Aoki sighed inwardly. Kamizre's excitement was sometimes difficult to handle.
"If you like it that much, why don't you participate?" he suggested with a smirk.
Kamizre immediately pouted. "But I don't have a Flying-type Pokémon… How could I—?" She stopped mid-sentence as realization dawned on her.
Aoki's Pokémon roster had formidable powerhouses, but the only Flying-type Pokémon he owned was Gyarados. While technically part Flying-type, Gyarados couldn't truly fly—it only hovered above the ground.
"…Yeah, never mind," Kamizre muttered, crossing her arms. "No way Gyarados can enter."
Aoki chuckled. "Exactly. So instead of competing, let's just watch the matches, rest up, and move on."
Their days of rigorous training in the forest had been exhausting, and some downtime wouldn't hurt.
"First, let's head to the Pokémon Center, grab some food, and then we'll decide what's next," Aoki said.
"Sounds good!" Kamizre replied.
As they made their way through town, Aoki suddenly paused. His sharp eyes caught a Skarmory soaring gracefully through the sky. But it wasn't just Skarmory that caught his attention—it was the trainer riding on its back.
Clad in elegant yet practical armor, she exuded the aura of an ancient warrior. Aoki recognized her immediately.
Winona, the Fortree City Gym Leader.
Seeing her here was an unexpected stroke of luck.
Winona had a well-earned reputation. Not only was she known as the Sky Trainer Commander, but she also had ties to Wallace, the revered Water-type specialist and Sootopolis Gym Leader. Though they weren't officially in a relationship, the two were certainly well-acquainted.
Aoki admired Winona's battle prowess, but he couldn't deny she was also quite stunning. Her graceful yet commanding presence made her one of the most respected Gym Leaders in Hoenn.
Kamizre immediately noticed Aoki's lingering gaze and felt an annoying twinge of jealousy.
"Aoki," she said in a teasing but sharp tone, "do you find her attractive?"
Aoki inwardly groaned. Kamizre could be way too perceptive at times.
"No, no," he said quickly, feigning indifference. "I just know who she is. She's a Gym Leader, so it's surprising to see her here."
Kamizre let out a relieved breath. "Oh, okay."
As Winona and Skarmory descended, she landed gracefully near Aoki.
"Excuse me, is this Yokoto Town?" she asked, her voice smooth yet firm.
Even her tone was refined, much like her battle strategies.
"Yes," Aoki responded. "The Flying Pokémon Ring Tournament is being held here. Registration is today, and the matches begin tomorrow."
Winona's face lit up with interest. "Perfect. I'll sign up immediately. Thank you."
With a nod of gratitude, she recalled Skarmory and walked toward the registration area.
As Aoki watched her go, Kamizre narrowed her eyes at him.
"…You're staring again," she grumbled.
Aoki coughed awkwardly. This was Kamizre's fault! If she had confessed her feelings earlier, he wouldn't be getting so distracted.
Determined to move on, he changed the subject.
"Come on, let's head to the Pokémon Center," he said, quickening his pace.
Kamizre followed, still side-eyeing him.
When they arrived, Winona had already successfully registered and booked a room.
"Sir, are you here to sign up as well?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
Aoki waved dismissively. "I'd like to, but I don't have a proper Flying Pokémon. The only one I own is Gyarados… and, well, let's just say Gyarados flying in a tournament would be a disaster."
Winona blinked before chuckling softly. The mental image of a Gyarados trying to compete in a Flying Pokémon ring contest was hilarious.
"I see," she said with a smile, "then I suppose I won't be facing you in the competition."
Just then, Nurse Joy approached them.
"Welcome to the Pokémon Center! Are you here to stay the night?" she asked politely.
"Yes, we'd like a large room," Aoki confirmed.
Nurse Joy's face brightened. "Oh! You're Mr. Aoki! There's no charge for you."
Kamizre raised an eyebrow in confusion, but Winona's surprise was even more evident.
It wasn't easy to earn such privileges from the Joy family. Even as a Gym Leader, Winona would typically get a discount, not a full exemption.
Aoki simply smiled. "Thank you, Nurse Joy. Also, all Nurse Joys are always so kind."
With that, he grabbed his belongings and led Kamizre to their room.
Inside, he immediately got to work preparing food for his Pokémon.
Unlike before, where he used generic Energy Cubes, he now customized them for each Pokémon's specific needs. This ensured optimal growth.
Kamizre helped with ingredient preparation, though Aoki handled the actual crafting of the cubes.
As he worked, he couldn't help but smirk. His journey was progressing well, and the upcoming battles at the Ever Grande Conference would be interesting.
Still, Winona's unexpected appearance had certainly added an intriguing twist to his plans.
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