"Awesome!"
Ash immediately threw away the guilty feeling he had just moments ago and clapped his hands excitedly.
"Then it's settled!"
"Yeah, it's settled."
Theo nodded lightly in agreement.
May looked at Ash's eager expression and could not help laughing as she shook her head.
"Seriously, after not seeing you for so long, I didn't expect you to actually learn how to use tactics. That's honestly pretty surprising."
"Ash, the reason you want to challenge Theo's shiny Metagross probably isn't just because of Mr. Steven, right? It's more because of Tyson, isn't it?"
Brock grinned teasingly.
"You lost to him at last year's Ever Grande Conference. Ash, after you lost, you didn't hide under your blanket and secretly cry that night, did you?"
"Brock, what kind of nonsense are you talking about?!"
It was as though Brock had poked directly at his sore spot. Ash's face instantly turned bright red as he hurriedly defended himself.
"When I battled Tyson, I... I only lost because I had an upset stomach and wasn't feeling well! If I'd been in perfect condition, the winner definitely would've been me! I absolutely could've beaten Tyson!
Just wait and see, I'm definitely going to defeat Metagross!"
"Haha, then we'll be looking forward to it, Ash."
The group chatted and joked noisily with one another, their laughter drawing the attention of many Trainers nearby.
Over the next few days, the S.S. Flower continued sailing steadily across the sea.
Ever since May had seen the shiny Milotic, she had become completely captivated by it. Every single day she pestered Theo to let Milotic out.
Sometimes she would gently stroke its beautiful scales, while other times she would cling to Milotic's body as it swam beside the cruise ship for a while out on the ocean.
Meanwhile, Ash's Pikachu took on the role of the "big boss," leading the two little Vulpix, Larvitar, and Treecko around the ship causing chaos everywhere they went.
The two Vulpix quickly became the ship's mascots. No matter where they walked, people could not resist wanting to pet them.
The Ice-type Vulpix had a cold and aloof personality, often nimbly dodging approaching hands.
The Fire-type Vulpix, however, welcomed everyone enthusiastically. It spent all day surrounded by female Trainers teasing and petting it, enjoying itself so much that its tails practically curled into the sky.
Larvitar, on the other hand, somehow became a "toll collector."
Whenever someone wanted to pet the two Vulpix, Larvitar would immediately step forward to block the way, stretch out its tiny claw, and confidently demand berries and snacks as payment.
And so, amidst this lively and relaxed atmosphere, the days quietly slipped by.
One morning, Theo was awakened by a burst of cheers outside.
He walked to the window and pulled open the curtains. In the distance, beyond the sea's horizon, a lush green stretch of land had appeared. The harbor lighthouse gleamed beneath the morning sun, while crowds of people packed the shoreline waiting to welcome the cruise ship.
"We've arrived at Forina!"
Ash's voice came from outside the door, accompanied by hurried footsteps.
The next second, the door burst open, and Ash excitedly pointed outside the window.
"Theo, hurry and look! We're finally at Forina!"
...
The harbor at Forina looked like an overturned candy box.
Children dressed in colorful clothes ran everywhere, while parents carrying balloons followed closely behind.
The air was filled with the sweet aroma of popcorn mixed together with the salty scent of the sea breeze. Temporary stalls had already been set up all around the harbor, and the vendors' endless shouting created an incredibly lively atmosphere.
Freshly grilled squid strips sizzled on iron plates, golden and crispy. Newly caught deep-sea codfish was neatly displayed in rows, carrying the fresh scent of the ocean itself.
Even more eye-catching were the countless small souvenirs.
Smooth seashells had been polished into pendants and bracelets. Badges and tiny trinkets bearing the symbol of Forina Harbor glittered brightly beneath the sunlight, causing children to stop and stare constantly.
The festive atmosphere hit everyone the very moment they stepped onto land.
"Wow! There are so many people!"
Max excitedly stood on tiptoe while holding Treecko in his arms.
"Big sis, look! They're selling cotton candy over there!"
May smiled and nodded.
"Do you want some? If you do, let's go buy a few to try."
"Yeah! Let's go!"
Following the flow of people, Theo and the others headed toward the railway entrance. Along the way, every billboard they passed displayed posters of "Butler the Starry Night Magician."
The man in the poster wore a tall top hat. His cloak billowed dramatically in the night wind, while a brilliant starry sky stretched behind him. Beneath the image were the words:
"Seven Days of Fantasy. Witness the Impossible Miracle."
Butler was an extremely famous magician.
He specialized in visual illusion magic, making objects float out of thin air and creating dazzling explosions of light and shadow.
His performances were dreamlike and enchanting, often leaving audiences completely immersed within them. After watching one of his shows, people frequently felt as though they had just awakened from a gorgeous and colorful dream.
However, Butler had always been elusive.
He never followed a fixed schedule and performed entirely according to his mood. Occasionally, when passing through a certain town, if inspiration struck him, he would simply begin a tour on the spot without any prior notice.
Because of this, when he officially announced that he would hold a seven-day large-scale performance in the Forina region, combining magic shows with amusement attractions, children everywhere erupted with excitement.
Countless parents deliberately packed their belongings and brought their children all the way to Forina, unwilling to let their little ones miss such a grand event.
The amusement park itself was not located inside the harbor.
Instead, it was hidden within a quiet valley outside the port, gently embraced by rolling low mountains.
Every day at noon, a special train departed on schedule, heading directly to the dreamlike park.
By the time Theo and the others arrived at the railway station, there was still a full hour before departure.
The train itself had a nostalgic retro design, its body painted in bright rainbow colors. The edges of the windows were covered with all kinds of magical stickers: sparkling stars, flying playing cards, floating top hats. The decorations were intricate, whimsical, and full of childlike wonder.
Even before boarding, simply looking at it already wrapped people in a lively and fantastical atmosphere.
Before getting on the train, Theo and Ash finally carried out the promised battle between them.
Originally, Ash had intended to use Charizard to directly challenge Theo's shiny Metagross.
But during the past few days on the ship, Theo had casually provoked him a few times, instantly igniting Ash's competitive spirit.
The tactics he had painstakingly planned beforehand were immediately thrown out the window.
All Ash could think about now was reclaiming his title as the master of reverse-type matchups.
As a result, he directly changed Charizard's opponent and challenged Tyrantrum instead.
He even emphasized very seriously:
"Since Tyrantrum can't Mega Evolve, then my Charizard won't use Mega Evolution either!"
At that point, what else could Theo possibly say?
Naturally, he accepted happily.
Nearby, Brock, May, and Max watched the scene unfold and helplessly exchanged glances before sighing quietly.
"We thought after all this time Ash had finally learned how to calm down and use strategy properly."
"Turns out he's still exactly the same as ever. Not changed one bit."
The battle between Charizard and Tyrantrum had almost no suspense from the very beginning.
Tyrantrum's Rock-type attacks were four times effective against Fire and Flying-type Charizard, completely crushing it through type advantage alone.
The moment Tyrantrum entered the battlefield, it summoned a Sandstorm and once again used the same Sandstorm plus Stealth Rock tactic Theo had employed during the battle against Winona.
As soon as Charizard launched a close-range charge, it was immediately slashed by the invisible stones hidden around the field, taking damage before it could even properly attack.
What happened afterward hardly needed explaining.
Ash had always preferred straightforward frontal assaults and close-combat brawling, and his Charizard shared exactly the same fiery temperament, charging recklessly without hesitation.
But against Tyrantrum, that style simply offered no advantage whatsoever.
After only a few exchanges, Charizard had already fallen completely into a disadvantageous position.
Following the defeat, Ash looked thoroughly unconvinced. He clenched his fists tightly and kept complaining loudly that if Charizard had been allowed to Mega Evolve, there was no way it would have lost so badly.
(End of Chapter)