Hey, John! Over here!"
Chad's cheerful voice rang out over the lively bustle of the harbor as John stepped onto the crowded pier. The scene was chaotic but charged with excitement—students chattered eagerly, their anticipation for the day's adventure palpable.
Off to one side, Daisy was corralling the chaos with her ever-present clipboard, methodically organizing students into groups. She caught sight of John and waved him over.
"John, second boat for you," she said, checking his name off. "The first's already full, so go grab a seat before this one fills up too."
John nodded, weaving his way through the crowd. Onboard, Chad was enthusiastically saving a spot in the middle row, waving like a human beacon.
"Finally! Thought you'd miss it," Chad teased as John took the seat beside him.
"Not a chance," John replied with a smirk.
The boat lurched forward, slicing through the waves as the journey to Trial Island began. The salty breeze tangled in their hair, and the rhythmic splash of the water served as a soundtrack to their chatter.
Chad leaned in, his eyes alight with curiosity. "So… I heard you and Professor Daisy visited Dragon's Island. Don't hold out on me—catch anything good? A dragon-type, maybe?"
The mere mention of dragons quieted the boat as heads turned, eager ears hanging on John's next words.
"Just a Gible," John said nonchalantly, shrugging.
A collective groan rippled through the group. The excitement ebbed, though a few envious stares lingered.
"Just a Gible?" one classmate burst out. "Dude, if that evolves into a Garchomp, you'll wreck all of us in battles! You better let me see it later."
"Maybe," John replied, grinning. Then he turned back to Chad. "You didn't bring any snacks, did you?"
Chad blinked. "Snacks? No… Did you skip breakfast or something? I could ask around."
John chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, don't worry about it."
Truth be told, he wasn't the one hungry. His new Gible had an appetite that rivaled a Snorlax's, and snacks—specifically Pokeblocks—were the key to taming its bottomless pit of a stomach.
The shoreline of Trial Island unfolded like a postcard come to life. Designed to mimic a pristine wilderness, the island was lush with greenery and dotted with vibrant fruit trees, their branches heavy with colorful berries. The university had gone all out, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem teeming with Pokemon and flora.
John leapt off the boat, landing on the sandy shore. Chad jogged to catch up.
"Hey, want to team up?" Chad asked, his tone hopeful.
John shook his head. "Different goals today. You go ahead."
The assignment was straightforward: identify specific berries, document their taste, and note their effects. John's mission? Locate and analyze Iapapa Berries and Lum Berries.
The Iapapa Berry was easy enough to find. Clusters of trees stood near the harbor, their towering branches heavy with fruits that resembled coconuts from afar.
"Combusken, you're up," John said, releasing his Pokemon.
With practiced grace, Combusken scaled the tree, plucking a ripe Iapapa Berry and landing with ease. John sliced it open, revealing pale, juicy flesh beneath the smooth skin.
He hesitated, then took a bite.
The sourness hit like a thunderbolt.
"Ugh, that's intense!" John spat, his face twisting in agony.
Combusken tilted its head, chirping curiously.
"No offense, buddy, but I wouldn't wish this on you," John said as he hurriedly scribbled notes in his journal: Overwhelmingly sour. Almost unbearable. Mission accomplished: Iapapa Berry.
Next up, the Lum Berry. It was said to grow at higher elevations, so John ventured into the dense forest, Combusken clearing a path through the underbrush.
The terrain grew tougher, and the encounters wilder—a Pinsir nearly bowled him over before retreating into the shadows. For the first time, John regretted turning down Chad's offer to team up.
By mid-afternoon, he reached a hilltop and spotted a tree with berries hanging like tiny cyan jewels.
"Bingo," John muttered.
As Combusken reached for the berries, a vine shot out from the undergrowth, snapping like a whip. Without hesitation, Combusken countered with Cut, slicing the vine and sending it recoiling.
"Careful!" a voice called out.
A red-haired girl emerged from the shadows, her Venusaur lumbering beside her. "That's a Tanga Berry tree. Rare as they come, but not what you're after."
John pulled up his Fruit Dex. Sure enough, the Tanga Berry closely resembled the Lum Berry, except for its larger size and vine-like stem.
"Thanks for the heads-up," he said, embarrassed.
"No problem," she replied. "If you're after Lum Berries, try near the east waterfall. Just a warning: they're usually guarded by tough Pokemon."
As she disappeared into the trees, John opened his Trainer Association app. The market prices of rare berries left him stunned:
Tanga Berry: 200,000 Pokedollars
Payapa Berry: 270,000 Pokedollars
Haban Berry: 330,000 Pokedollars
"Are these things made of gold?!" he exclaimed.
As he read further, it all made sense. These berries weren't just rare; they were practical powerhouses in battle. The Tanga Berry, for example, halved damage from Bug-type moves and provided long-term resistance when consumed regularly.
A grin spread across his face as a new idea took root.
"Forget being a trainer. I should've been a berry farmer."