Chapter 298: Poffins and Battle

After finishing lunch.

With the idea of letting Munchlax relax a bit, balancing work and rest.

All Baimu and Hikari went together to one of the many open-air markets in Cianwood City to stroll and shop.

Munchlax was naturally delighted by this — shopping counted as one of its few hobbies, and especially when its Trainer had earned money, shopping would always generously satisfy its every need.

The love-struck Piplup still circled around it, madly currying favor, but unfortunately Munchlax couldn't understand some of the little penguin's gestures at all; Munchlax even increasingly felt this kid was probably like Chansey — psychologically ill — and for a moment looked at the former with full pity.

But soon, it threw itself wholeheartedly into shopping, because Cianwood City's open-air market was very different from the department stores it had visited before.

The shops here didn't have too many flashy decorations, nor were there any sales ladies in professional attire.

There were only some stall owners with smiles all over their faces, who would actively shove things over when they saw how cute it was — men, women, old, young, all kinds — as long as it lingered a little longer, they'd actively shove things its way.

Did it even need to "shop" anymore?

Munchlax tilted its head, its innocent and cute appearance making Piplup willingly degrade itself into its bag-carrying lackey,

Of course, when people gave it things, Munchlax would definitely say thank you, and its well-behaved, polite manner made those stall owners even happier, so they shoved even more things over.

Eventually, All Baimu had to help Piplup share some of the burden.

"Honestly, you've never even carried anything for me!" Hikari saw Piplup in this state and was, for once, a little jealous — but it was only a joke.

Although she and All Baimu differed quite a bit in age, since both were Coordinator Trainers and especially loved traveling, they and Pokémon shared plenty of common topics.

And because the latter had a fairly good understanding of the former, the conversation between them was quite pleasant.

And under All Baimu's deliberate guidance, Hikari successfully learned that Brock was also in the Hoenn region, currently in Rustboro Town doing his Pokémon Doctor training.

This made her quite pleasantly surprised.

"I didn't expect you to know Brock too!"

"I actually met him through Max. You know Max?"

"I know, I know! May's little brother! I often run into her at Contest venues!"

"They traveled with Ash, and you traveled with Ash too. Although I never traveled with Ash, I've heard so much about him that I know him too."

"Hee hee hee…"

Using a certain male protagonist currently traveling far away in Kalos as the core connection point, All Baimu and Hikari's friendliness rapidly rose.

Meanwhile.

After buying raw materials for incense at the market, he took Munchlax to a Pokémon Salon.

After all that fuss, it was nearly four or five in the afternoon.

He once again invited her to dinner together.

Hikari originally wanted to refuse, but seeing that Piplup had already very naturally followed All Baimu into his room, she could only say "sorry to intrude" and brazenly walk in.

However, although her cooking might not be great, she was very talented at making Poffins.

Poffins are somewhat similar to Pokéblocks, except these things mainly improve the luster of a Pokémon's appearance, helping them become shinier and more dazzling, more eye-catching.

Hikari had once used Poffins to lure in a Mamoswine.

To repay the kindness of two meals today, she decided to show off her skills.

"Leave the kitchen to me for now!"

Hikari announced with great momentum that she was about to take charge of the kitchen.

"Are you okay alone?" All Baimu certainly knew her cooking level was much higher than Pokéblock-killer May's, yet he still had a tiny bit of worry.

"No problem, no problem — just wait to eat!"

She closed the kitchen door with righteous severity.

Not long after.

Hikari successfully came out carrying a plate of multicolored Poffins; these things weren't big — even Piplup could eat one in a single bite — and different colors represented different flavors.

"Sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, astringent! All here! Everyone come eat!"

She proudly invited the Pokémon to taste them.

All Baimu also picked up a pink one and took a bite — he remembered this one was sweet-flavored.

One bite confirmed it.

Only these things were actually soft; he had always assumed they'd be crispy like waffles. "So that's the texture."

"How is it?" Hikari looked at him expectantly.

"Not bad, really great and delicious."

All Baimu nodded, and the continuous praise made Hikari even prouder.

"I told you there'd be no problem!"

"I underestimated you."

——

After dinner.

After a short rest, All Baimu once again came to the seaside.

He didn't only have the one job of Coordinator Trainer — being a Trainer was also very important.

Hikari had nothing to do, so she volunteered to let her Pokémon serve as sparring partners.

"Don't underestimate me! Coordinator Trainers' battle strength is also very strong!"

"Pip-pip!"

Piplup puffed out its chest, striking a pose that said it was very strong.

With sparring partners, All Baimu was naturally happy — after all, what lets Pokémon improve fastest is always real combat. Of course, that doesn't mean daily accumulation isn't important, it's just that real combat can accumulate more experience that daily training can't obtain.

Moreover.

Contest performance battles counted as his weak point, so letting Munchlax fight more and gain real combat experience was also very important.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

All Baimu nodded. "But let's keep it friendly — no need to get too worked up."

"Okay!"

Xiaoguang cheerfully agreed.

The first Pokémon she sent out was, without question, her ace — Piplup.

"Pip!"

Piplup strutted forward full of spirit, but the moment it caught a glimpse of the goddess Mawile about to emerge, its momentum visibly faltered. Only when it saw that the actual opponent was Druddigon did it start to puff itself up again.

"Mo nao!"

Druddigon sniffed the unfamiliar scent nearby, committing it firmly to memory so that once the battle began it wouldn't lose track of where its foe was.

Still, Piplup's scent was fairly easy to pick out — a clean fragrance laced with a hint of food, along with an overbearing briny tang and… huh?

What is this smell?

That last complex whiff left Druddigon completely baffled; young as it was, how could it possibly know this was the legendary "hormones" — the scent of love.

It only felt that the smell was utterly intoxicating, even more heady than the mud clinging to Aggron's claws.

Target locked!

Druddigon lowered its body.

"Dragon Pulse!"

"Mo nao!" Hearing its trainer's command, it let out a fierce cry, rapidly gathering azure-blue flames in its mouth before blasting them toward the direction the scent pointed!

Hooong!

The fierce flames left its jaws and swiftly evolved into a clawing, snarling energy dragon!

But before the energy dragon had flown halfway, it was met by an icy-blue bolt of lightning shot from Piplup's beak — Xiaoguang's voice arrived "belatedly."

"Ice Beam!"

Dong!

The azure dragon flames and the icy-blue lightning clashed, actually locking in a stalemate for a brief moment. Then, guided by Piplup's output, the energy dragon and the lightning together flew up into the sky!

Peng!

The two moves exploded one after another, forming a rather dazzling shower of fireworks that scattered down across the night.

All Baimu watched the scene with considerable surprise. To be able to forcibly turn the smoke of an energy explosion into fireworks — that level of control over the technique meant Piplup's grade must be quite high!