Compared to the audience, Valerie had completely shifted her focus to Froakie in the arena.
She wasn't entirely sure how he was doing it, but Valerie felt as though Ron's will had completely rged with Froakie's. Whether it was through telepathy or direct commands, she had never seen anything like it. Under a Trainer's direction, a Pokémon could so easily and effortlessly dodge every incoming attack, instantly pinpoint the opponent's location, and deliver a critical hit.
"Mawile is unable to battle!"
"It's up to you, Sylveon." Saying this, Valerie threw her second Poké Ball. She glanced at Ron, who still looked perfectly calm, and at Froakie, who was panting but wearing a triumphant expression, and couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Ron slowly opened his eyes, saw the battle wasn't over, took another look at Froakie, and closed his eyes again.
Seeing Ron's behavior, Valerie couldn't help but murmur, "Could it be that by closing his eyes, he's sensing Froakie's position?"
Froakie, who was closest to Valerie at that mont, looked at her in confusion and cried out, "Froakie?"
What does that have to do with Ron? Isn't it just because I, Froakie, am amazing?
"Sylveon, use Dazzling Gleam!"
The next instant, light erupted from Sylveon and shot toward Froakie.
However, thanks to years spent in the Mines learning to dodge explosives to collect ore, Froakie had long since honed top-tier evasion skills. With a few swift dodges, it easily avoided Sylveon's attack.
The battle on the field remained intense.
Not far away, only Bonnie was still sweating bullets for Froakie. Serena and Haley had already started prepping for tomorrow's fashion show.
Abigail, on the other hand, was bored out of her mind, idly playing with the Frog in her arms.
Unlike other Pokémon, this frog always had an aloof, transcendent vibe. Its eyes lacked any ripple of emotion, and even its tone of voice never fluctuated.
But Abigail actually found this incredibly cute. She couldn't quite put it into words, but it gave off an aura of absolute disdain for the world. Paired with its overwhelming combat power, she couldn't help but be completely enchanted by it.
"That's the frog, right?"
Not far away, two Team Rocket grunts were resting on the rafters.
The two exchanged a glance. One of them pointed at Abigail's backpack and said, "The Poké Balls should be right inside. While their attention is on the Gym battle, we sneak over carefully."
"Got it."
The two held their breath and carefully crept toward where the group was sitting.
"Rember, that thing's Poké Balls look different from normal ones. Don't grab the wrong ones."
"Right, got it."
"Are you taking that rod too?" Serena asked, taking the Ice Rod from Haley.
"Might as well, it really matches my dress," Haley said, taking out her dress to show Serena. "Look, it matches perfectly with the purple crystal on it."
Serena pondered it for a mont and nodded.
The fashion show included a Pokémon Contest-style battle as a warm-up, and both girls were planning to participate.
Just then, a blue light suddenly shot out from the stave in Serena's hand toward the distance.
"Ah, what was that?" Serena quickly looked in the direction of the light.
"I don't know." Haley looked up but didn't see anything. "Could it be that you have a hidden talent and subconsciously used magic?"
"Really?" Serena excitedly waved the stave. "Does that an I'll beco a legendary magical girl?"
"A magical girl?"
Serena laughed, then handed the stave back to Haley.
anwhile, up on the rafters.
"Why aren't you saying anything? Later, you provide cover—" The grunt was enthusiastically explaining the theft plan. He turned his head, only to see his teammate frozen solid, covered in a layer of frost.
"What's wrong with you?" He leaned in to ask.
The teammate's eyeballs twitched.
Before he could figure out what was happening, another flash of cold light streaked by. Instantly, extre cold spread through his body, freezing him in place.
"Wow, I think I used magic too!" Haley said. "That's weird. Ron clearly said this thing only activates when there are enemies around."
But the beam of ice had clearly shot toward the rafters, where there was absolutely nothing.
Just as the two were frozen in confusion, the battle in the arena finally concluded.
"Sylveon is unable to battle! Froakie wins—the victor is Ron from Pelican Town!"
Froakie stood in the center of the field, panting, waiting for everyone to praise it and throw flowers at it, just like they did for the Frog from the Frog Egg.
Just as Froakie closed its eyes, waiting for its rightful applause and bouquets, Valerie walked right past it and went straight to Ron.
"Congratulations." Valerie said, extending her hand to Ron. "You really taught a lesson. You're incredible."
"Froakie?"
"Wow, I knew you could do it, Ron!"
"Froakie?"
Froakie opened its eyes and saw Ron being surrounded by the crowd.
"Froakie?!!!"
Froakie jumped up in anger and leaped onto the rafters. Just as it was looking for a corner to sulk in, it landed right on top of the two ice sculptures.
"Froakie—"
So cold. Why are there ice sculptures on the rafters in the middle of sumr?
With this thought, Froakie lowered its head and t two pairs of darting eyes.
Thud.
The sound of heavy objects hitting the ground imdiately drew the crowd's attention, rescuing Ron from the crush of people. Everyone gathered around the two frozen figures.
"Who is this?"
"R—Team Rocket?"
"Team Rocket? What's that?" Valerie asked.
"It's an evil organization," Serena said. She imdiately called the police, then looked up at the rafters at the visibly shaken Froakie. "Did you subdue them?"
"Froakie?"
Froakie looked around. Confirming that Serena was indeed talking about it, it pointed a paw at its own face.
"Wow, Froakie is so amazing!" Bonnie praised. "To still have the energy to subdue bad guys right after a Gym battle—"
"Froakie?"
The delayed praise instantly hit its mark. It jumped down from the rafters, landed on Ron's shoulder, and basked in the late applause and admiration.
Even though it had absolutely no idea what had just happened.
Still, it hadn't wasted its efforts today!
With this thought, it used a paw to scratch its head and lowered it amid the cheers.
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