So her opponent was that martial artist from Kalos?
Bea recalled the roller-skating girl's bright smile.
"Then," she clasped her fists in salute, "I shall take my leave to prepare!"
Natsu nodded.
Brock squinted at Bea's retreating figure.
"Quite the serious young lady."
"Too serious, and she'll beco rigid."
Natsu chuckled. "Wouldn't hurt for her to make new friends during this tournant."
"You an... Miss Korrina?"
Brock stroked his chin. "True. That cheerful personality might balance Bea nicely."
"One thing I've always wondered..."
Natsu blinked. "Mr. Brock, how'd you get so good at reading people?"
"Won, specifically."
The burly, dark-skinned man crossed his arms solemnly.
"Gotta find the right sister-in-law for my siblings back ho."
Natsu froze.
So Brock preferred mature won... because of his parental responsibilities?
Yet sohow, this heartfelt sentint sounded utterly ridiculous.
"Let's head back to the hotel."
Natsu coughed. "I should research my next opponent too."
"Need a strategist?"
Brock's eyes glead behind narrowed lids. "Pre-battle analysis happens to be my specialty!"
"No need." Natsu smiled. "I can probably guess her team comp."
Brock paused—then rembered.
When it ca to tactics, few surpassed Natsu-sensei.
After all, this was Professor Oak's personally appointed "Strategist."
"Understood." Brock grinned.
"Then I'll await your victory from the stands."
...
The Top 32 to Top 16 matches began tomorrow.
Natsu-sensei would face Sinnoh's Maylene.
But first—a day of preparation.
At dawn...
Gengar eagerly dragged Natsu to the hotel restaurant.
"Gengar!" It wiped drool away.
All-you-can-eat buffet!
There, Natsu spotted a familiar figure.
Bea shot up, hastily swiping chocolate frosting from her lips.
"M-Master!"
"Morning." Natsu eyed the table piled with desserts. "That much sugar before training... Really?"
Bea's face burned as she shook her head frantically.
"Relax, I'm not scolding you."
Natsu laughed. "Join later. I've decided what to teach you."
Bea stood frozen before bellowing: "YES, MASTER!"
Post-breakfast, at the training grounds...
Natsu outlined the Substitute Focus Punch combo.
"Move sets win battles too."
He explained, "Focus Punch is hard to land... but Substitute avoids counters without being passive like Protect."
"How you use it... that's up to you."
Bea scribbled notes, nodding intently.
"But..." She hesitated. "Using Substitute in a fighting tournant... Isn't that unsportsmanlike?"
"Says who?" Natsu scoffed. I almost entered Gengar as a boxer...
The lesson lasted all morning.
Now Bea understood Natsu-sensei's mastery.
Despite not formally accepting her, he taught without reservation.
Such generosity demanded repaynt.
As a martial arts heir, she pondered deeply...
...
Afternoon.
Togepi and Gengar stayed behind playing Pokémon Trading Card Ga.
Seems lazy... but they're learning type matchups...?
Natsu sighed.
Whatever. I'm used to this.
Next, he visited the bustling vendor area.
A massive crowd choked the owth-branded stall.
"...They don't need at all."
Sending them after Pikachu might be Giovanni's worst mistake.
Nearby...
Green—lovely in a black dress—swung her legs listlessly from her stall.
Spotting Natsu, she propped her chin up. "Welco..."
"Business that bad?" he remarked obliviously.
"Yep."
She sighed. "Zero custors since morning."
"Guess I won't last till your endorsent." Her voice dripped lancholy.
Natsu coughed. "What're you selling?"
"dicine and leftover TMs."
Green tapped her cheek. "With the tournant's dical team... tough competition."
Just as Natsu considered suggesting Silver as a buyer—
The crowd suddenly surged toward the arena.
"Group A matches are starting."
Green glanced over. "When's yours, Natsu-sensei?"
"Tomorrow morning—Group B." He smacked his forehead.
Wait—isn't Bea vs. Korrina today?
"Gotta go! Hang in there, Green!"
"It's Sister Green!"
She puffed her cheeks, then whimpered: "Really won't buy anything?"
"Next ti!"
...
"Ladies and gentlen! Group A Top 16 matches begin NOW!"
Korrina and Bea entered the arena.
Both martial arts heirs striving for greatness—
yet their approaches clashed starkly.
One battled with Ash-like passion.
The other pursued victory through ascetic discipline.
Watching them, Natsu thought: True rivals.
anwhile, at the guest panel...
Gurkinn and Chuck observed the duel.
"This is a clash of ideologies," Chuck declared.
"Oh?"
"Different styles ignite unique sparks."
Chuck bood, "A martial artist forges their path by shattering others' convictions!"
Gurkinn smiled. "Yet sotis... broken convictions return stronger."
"Go, Lucario!"
Korrina's yellow ponytail whipped as she threw her Poké Ball.
Bea raised a leg, hurling hers with resolve: "Machamp, fight!"
Lucario's aura flared upon arrival.
Simultaneously, in the stands—
Light burst from Natsu's Poké Ball.
"Squirtle!" It cautiously erected a Protect barrier.
"Just observing." Natsu patted its head. "Thoughts on that Lucario?"
"Squirtle?" It scratched its head, baffled.
It's obviously ten tis stronger than —what's to analyze?
Gurkinn's eyes narrowed at Squirtle's appearance.
"Hm?" Chuck glanced over.
"Nothing."
Gurkinn looked away. "Just surprised to sense another aura wielder here."
Back in the arena...
Lucario's fists collided with Machamp's—
THUD! THUD! THUD!
A storm of punches erupted.
Machamp's four arms wove an impenetrable onslaught.
Lucario blocked deftly, countering with aura-guided precision.
CRACK!
A punch dented Machamp's face—
only for Machamp to hamr Lucario's gut.
"Close Combat!"
"Dynamic Punch!"
Both girls shouted simultaneously.
Korrina's eyes burned with competitive fire.
Bea—unusually—found herself enjoying the thrill.
Differing philosophies clashed... then understood.
The deciding blows landed!
Both Pokémon skidded back—
before charging again, snarling.
"Lucario!"
"Machamp!"
Fists beca blurs.
After a breathless exchange—
THOOM!
Both collapsed to their knees.
"A draw?!"
"Who wins?!"
Amid the chaos...
Bea and Korrina locked eyes, exhaling as one.
The stoic Bea did sothing rare—she smiled.
"Not bad!" Korrina grinned fiercely.
Bea nodded... then suddenly clenched her fist.
Sorry.
This battle... I will win.
"Machamp, Substitute!"
The near-fainted Machamp分身出a decoy—
before hamring Lucario with a final piledriver!
BOOM!
Dust cleared to reveal a downed Lucario.
"Winner: Bea!"
The referee's flag dropped.
Bea's hands trembled...
Then steadied as she approached Korrina, extending a hand.
"I'm... Bea."
She awkwardly scratched her cheek.
"N-next ti... let's battle again..."
Korrina ignored the hand—
pulling Bea into a crushing hug instead.
"Knew you were aweso!" she cheered.
"H-Hey! Everyone's watching—mmph?!"
In the stands, Brock nodded. "True martial artists transcend gender."
Natsu agreed: "Nothing beats a good catfight."
Brock: ?
...
"That wasn't her father's style."
Chuck recalled the abrupt Substitute.
"Not brute force... but cunning?"
"Her master's influence, perhaps?" Gurkinn suggested.
Chuck followed his gaze—
to where Bea stood beside a striking young man.
Sothing about him felt familiar...
"Ah..." Chuck murmured.
Blue Oak's "Natsu-sensei"?
That explained Bea's performance.
"That trainer possesses imnse aura power,"
Gurkinn said gravely. "Strange that soone of his caliber would compete here..."
Chuck's eye twitched.
That's just Natsu-sensei being Natsu-sensei!
"Is he an aura wielder?" Chuck asked.
"Uncertain... but that aura..."
Gurkinn frowned. "Rivals even legendary aura guardians."
Chuck absorbed this.
So apprenticing under Natsu-sensei is acceptable?
Gurkinn added softly: "I look forward to seeing that Pokémon battle..."
...
As the match concluded...
Cheers erupted through the arena.
"Sirfetch'd~"
The Sirfetch'd basked in the applause, unusually exhilarated.
Natsu smiled. "Don't compare yourself to others. Just be your best."
Sirfetch'd nodded solemnly.
Since joining the team, its mindset had shifted.
Not just from the team's camaraderie—
but the trainer's unwavering trust.
Slacking off would sha even the Holy Light...
"Sirfetch'd!" It gripped its leek, newly determined.
This tournant...
I'll give it my all!
Bea returned through the tunnel, suppressing a smile.
"I won..."
"Saw it."
"So then..." She looked up hopefully.
"I'll teach what I can, but effort's on you." Natsu smiled.
"Understood!" Bea thumped her chest. "I won't disappoint you!"
Natsu nodded.
A master opens the door—the student must walk through.
Guidance alone wasn't enough.
Bea fidgeted before mumbling: "Master... I prepared a gift..."
"Huh?"
Natsu tensed.
"There's a tradition?!"
Brock explained: "Martial arts values ceremony. Gifts formalize master-disciple bonds."
"Even Touran has its apprenticeship rites," he added.
Bea: "I brought... my family's Close Combat manual..."
Natsu paled.
Mistake!
Sirfetch'd AND Arcanine can learn this!
If that little demon starts "ORA ORA"-ing our house—
Before he could protest—
"Sirfetch'd!" The Sirfetch'd's eyes sparkled.
Study materials delivered right when I need them!
To Bea's astonishnt, Sirfetch'd gently took the USB drive...
then flashed a thumbs-up, eyes dinging with inspiration.
"Sirfetch'd!"
Close Combat—GET ☆DAZE!
"It seems... pleased," Bea noted.
Natsu stared heavenward.
Fine. Let Sirfetch'd have its mont...
Close Combat's rapid punches DO look cool.
Suddenly, he froze.
Wait—how would Sirfetch'd even use this move?
His gaze drifted to the massive leek—
"Five... Lightning Leek Strikes?!"
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