As Gary reached the entrance, the system chid:
[Ding! New Mission Released]
1. Earn the Dynamo Badge
Reward: 10 × Low-Grade Rare Candy, 1 × Permanent TM (any move), 1 × Top-Grade Magnet
Earn the Dynamo Badge using only Pokémon native to Hoenn
Reward: 10 × Low-Grade Rare Candy, 1 × Permanent Electric-type TM, 1 × Random Battle Item
After reading the prompt, Gary pressed the doorbell. The mont he did, the entire door dropped flat onto the floor.
Because he already knew about Wattson's little "welco ride," Gary had only applied the lightest touch and simply watched the door fall.
"Do I really want to step on that thing?"
He couldn't rember exactly where the roller coaster track ended, but he was certain Wattson controlled it from inside. Gary had no fear of thrill rides, but he wasn't about to let an old man prank him.
Glancing around, he got an idea and shouted,
"Hello? I think soone just stole sothing from your Gym!"
Inside the control room, Wattson was ready to spring his surprise greeting. But Gary's single sentence threw him off completely—robbery?!
This was the Mauville Gym! Who would dare? Caras covered every inch of the place.
Gary wondered where Wattson's confidence ca from. Team Rocket had barged in here more than once—if there had been nothing worth taking, they would've cleaned the place out long ago.
"No one? Then I'm calling the police," Gary called.
Wattson panicked, grabbed the microphone, and barked,
"Don't call the police! The Gym hasn't been robbed!"
Outside, Gary smirked.
"I don't believe you. Maybe you're the thief. I'm dialing right now."
"I'm not a thief! I'm Wattson, the Gym Leader!" the old man shouted.
The police couldn't actually shut down a League-sanctioned Gym, but they would file a report. The Pokémon Association would read it, and Wattson hated paperwork even more than he loved pranks.
"Thieves say that too." Gary pulled out his phone.
"Wait! I'm coming!"
Hurriedly, Wattson bolted through a service corridor and reached the entrance.
"Hold it, kid! The Gym's fine—no robbery," he wheezed.
Gary had never planned to call. He just wanted to see Wattson sweat. Noting the older man's receding hairline, Gary finally relented.
"Looks like you really are Wattson—and the Gym is intact."
"Of course!" Wattson bead.
"Then why did the entire door fall when I touched it?"
"The Gym's under renovation," Wattson said airily. "The new door isn't fitted yet. Anyway, you're here for a Gym battle, right? Co on in."
He clearly wanted to change the subject before Gary could start spreading rumors. Wattson led him straight to the battlefield, where a bespectacled middle-aged man stood—his referee and assistant, Walter.
"Hahaha! Walter, I've brought the challenger. Let the match begin!" Wattson laughed.
They didn't call him the Million-Volt Laugh for nothing—the man was a walking grin.
Gary respected his elders, but he also wanted to wipe that grin off—just once. Unfortunately, making Wattson frown ant defeating all of his Pokémon with a single Electric-type Pokémon, preferably a Pikachu. Ash had managed it. Gary doubted he'd be so lucky.
Both Trainers took their places.
Walter announced,
"The Mauville Gym battle will use three Pokémon each. All standard Gym rules apply. Gary, do you understand?"
"I do."
Gary's eyes went to Wattson, who had already released his team instead of keeping them in their Poké Balls:
[Lv. 22 Magnemite / Gym]
[Lv. 20 Voltorb / Gym]
[Lv. 28 Magneton / Gym]
All three were Electric-types, none above Level 30. Gary couldn't tell whether Wattson had chosen weaker partners for the challenger's sake, or if these were simply the ones he used nowadays. Age, injuries, and retirents took their toll even on Gym Pokémon.
"Leaving all your Pokémon on the field could be a disadvantage," Gary warned.
Confidence was fine—but overconfidence wasn't.
"Hahaha, I appreciate your concern, but this is how I do things," Wattson chuckled. "Let's see what you've got!"
Walter looked tired. He'd tried and failed many tis to break Wattson of this habit.
"Very well—go, Breloom!"
Gary tossed his Poké Ball. In a flash, an orange-banded shiny Breloom appeared.
Grass-types don't resist Electricity, but they aren't weak to it either—and Breloom's power and speed made it perfect for swarming Electric-types.
"Oho! A shiny Breloom!" Wattson's eyes sparkled. Shiny Pokémon always stole the spotlight.
"Voltorb, you're up!" Wattson called.
The spherical Pokémon rolled forward, crackling with static.
Seeing both Pokémon ready, Walter dropped his arm.
"Battle, begin!"
"Mach Punch!"
"Spark!"
Commands rang out together.
Breloom's priority move let it blur forward first. Before Voltorb's electric aura fully ford, Breloom's fist smashed into the ball, sending it skidding backward with a tallic clang.
Voltorb squealed, struggling to regain balance…
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