After dealing with Team Rocket's trio, Gary sat in the lab leisurely sipping red tea.
Eevee lay on Gary's lap, nudging Togepi, who was trying to climb into Gary's arms.
The two little cuties shared a leg, neither fighting nor competing for space.
Eevee had its principles; it wouldn't argue with the weak or sick.
If Arcanine tried to climb onto Gary's lap, Eevee would have already given it a couple of punches to knock it out...
Gengar held a bottle, carefully watching over Togepi, afraid it might bump into something.
"Professor Oak, I'm back!" A familiar voice called out as Gary leaned back with his legs crossed, looking towards the door.
"Oh~ isn't this someone who placed fourth?" Gary chuckled.
"Ash…?ò?ó!" Ash immediately glared at him, teeth clenched.
"Don't forget you owe me a meal, buddy." Gary raised an eyebrow as a reminder.
Ash's mouth twitched, and his confidence deflated instantly. There was no way around it; he had eaten a lot...
"Damn it! A favor is a favor; Gary, you…"
"Call me 'Young Master Gary~'" Gary smirked while cradling Togepi.
Eevee moved to Gary's shoulder, staring down at Pikachu defiantly.
Pikachu? `~′? Pika Pika! I remember losing to this guy before!
Eevee o′｀o What's up? Not satisfied?
"Gary, let me tell you, even though you're richer than me, better looking, and smarter… when it comes to Pokémon, I won't back down!" Ash declared loudly with his hands on his hips.
Misty covered her face with a bitter smile. I think you've already lost thoroughly...
"Well~ looks like you have a clear understanding. So tell me, what brings you to my house?" Gary shrugged.
"Of course, I'm here to have the professor check my Pokédex!" Ash replied matter-of-factly.
"You really are taking it easy. Have you trained your Pokémon? Have their levels increased? Any evolutions completed?" Gary shook his head helplessly. "Since you're my rival, please at least put in some effort!"
"Ah!! So frustrating! Gary, let's duel! I'll show you how strong I am right now!" Ash yelled angrily, flailing his arms.
Gary calmly shrugged and shouted towards the backyard, "Come on, someone wants to battle."
Boom! Nido couple, Rhydon, Venusaur, Charizard—Gary's Pokémon instantly surrounded him outside the window.
"Gulp~ Ash, why don't you reconsider?" Brock swallowed hard. "From my observation, these Pokémon seem quite well-developed; their levels are definitely not low…"
"Am I scared?!" Ash protested immediately as he readied his Poké Balls. Brock and Misty each grabbed one of his arms and pulled him aside.
"Oh dear, Gary! You really enjoy teasing Ash every time," Professor Oak said with a helpless smile from the side.
He knew his grandson well.
The bond between Gary and Ash was very deep; after all, they had grown up playing together.
"I can't help it; this guy never seems to grow up. It'll be a disadvantage for him. So I want to be the target he chases," Gary said calmly. "As long as he has a target to pursue, he won't stop moving forward!"
"Are you not afraid of Ash surpassing you?" Professor Oak asked with a smile.
"Him?" Gary confidently lifted his head. "To surpass me? He's got another twenty thousand years to go!"
"Ah!! Gary, you're too much! I'm going to fight you! I'll show you who's superior… Pfft!" Pressed down on the sofa by Brock, Ash was left flailing with just his legs kicking in the air.
"Alright alright! Stop messing around." Handing the Pokédex back to Ash, Professor Oak praised him. "Ash has collected a lot of data and performed quite well. However, as the only two seed players from Pallet Town, you need to train hard before the Indigo League."
"Only two?" Ash popped his head out from behind the sofa and asked.
Gary shrugged. "Literally speaking; it means that in this year's Indigo League, only me and you from Pallet Town have qualified."
Professor Oak sighed along with him. "Although things started smoothly for you two, Leaf and Shawn ended up in tough battles later on. So you and Gary are the hope of Pallet Town."
"Alright! I got it!" Ash instantly became fired up. "Then I'll participate in the Indigo League right now! Pikachu, let's go!"
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu nodded in response.
"Do you know where the competition venue is? What about registration times?" Gary asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Uh… I forgot;￣д￣..." Ash said awkwardly.
"That's why I said…" Gary shook his head helplessly. "The location is on Indigo Plateau, and it's probably about a month away. Before that, make sure your Pokémon level up properly; regional competitions can't be won just by relying on base forms."
"Tch! You're so naggy~" Ash pouted. "Well then professor, we're off for special training; just wait for our performance!"
After saying goodbye to Professor Oak, Ash left with Brock and Misty.
Who knows where they will go for training...
Gary packed his things and set off with Eevee, Charizard, Arcanine, Electivire, Venusaur, Nido couple, Squirtle, and Rhydon.
At Viridian City port, he met up with Lorelei as they boarded the ferry heading towards Seven Islands—Iceland.
...
Seven Islands is located in the southern part of the Orange Archipelago; it has a subtropical climate where warm ocean currents bring about a rainy and humid tropical atmosphere.
Lorelei and Gary disembarked at Island Three, taking Lorelei's Lapras towards Island Four.
The cool sea breeze blew through Lorelei's red hair against the backdrop of the azure sea.
Gary sat on Lapras's back while curiously watching Lorelei's profile.
"When we get to Island Three since it's been developed into a tourist spot so no passes are needed; however Island Four is inhabited by natives so passes are required for boat travel," Lorelei explained as she continued onward.
"Uh… are you listening?" Lorelei couldn't help but giggle while covering her mouth.
Gary shook his head nonchalantly. "Nope... just enjoying the scenery."
"Well~ is it beautiful?" Lorelei asked charmingly.
"Ahem…" Gary awkwardly nodded. "Yeah... it's beautiful…"
"You~" Lorelei raised her slender finger like green onions and poked Gary's forehead. "There's plenty of time to look around; focus on listening."
Gary smiled and nodded. "Got it~"
"Wahh~" Lapras called out cheerfully as Lorelei looked up and brushed her hair aside. "We've arrived at Island Four."
Unlike what one might expect from being home to the Ice-type Elite Four member—Island Four was not a desolate land of extreme cold at all.
Instead, it was lush with tropical greenery; there were lakes, forests, hills scattered across various villas throughout the island.
"Ice Island is just another name for Island Four; actually this is a subtropical island." As they reached the shore, Lorelei jumped off Lapras while explaining further.
"I see." Gary nodded in understanding—no wonder Lorelei usually dressed so... lightly~
"And this time I'm recommending a training location for you: The Icefall Cave! The entrance is located in the northeastern part of the island; it's perpetually below zero inside—a natural ice cave that serves as an ideal habitat for Ice-type Pokémon." Lorelei pointed towards the northeast of the island.
"A cave that remains frozen year-round on a tropical island~" Gary stroked his chin thoughtfully; there must be some amazing encounters waiting here!
"Well then! Are you planning to train first or look for an Ice-type evolution core first—or maybe eat first?" Lorelei tilted her head cutely while asking.
"Well then... let's head back to your house first," Gary scratched his head thoughtfully.
"Alright! Let me take you to see my place." With her hands behind her back walking ahead of him confidently was mature Lorelei taking light steps like a young girl filled with excitement.
...
To be honest, Lorelei's villa was quite modest: white marble walls with two stories—a spacious flat layout—aside from that huge swimming pool behind the villa; everything else fell within what Gary had expected.
However—what was this muscular guy wearing just a leather jacket standing there bare-chested?
"Miss Lorelei! You're back! I've been waiting here for you especially; here are 999 roses prepared just for you! Please go out with me!" The muscular man knelt on one knee dramatically—wow~ so passionately heartfelt!
"Drake-san! Please don't come again next time; also I don't like roses…" Covering her nose slightly crinkled her brows as Lorelei responded distastefully.
"Please don't say that! Miss Lorelei! Just accept my sincere feelings!" Drake took two steps forward holding out roses again toward her eagerly.
Lorelei instinctively turned around and hid behind Gary without thinking twice.
Gary raised an eyebrow—oh great! Here we go!
"Hey kid! Who are you?!" Drake looked down at him disdainfully with wide eyes like saucers filled with contempt.
Gary casually wrapped one arm around Lorelei's slim waist while spreading out his other hand. "Isn't this obvious enough?"
Yuji's eyes turned red from anger. "You punk! Who do you think you are to win Miss Lorelei's favor?!"
Gary pointed at his own face. "I'm handsome~"
"Pfft Σ???」∠!" Drake nearly spat blood in disbelief. "I don't believe it; Miss Lorelei isn't that shallow!"
At this moment Lorelei added another jab. "No—when it comes to looks—I can be quite shallow…"
"Ah!! I want to duel with you! Come on—the winner gets Miss Lorelei!" Drake shouted angrily in confusion now unable to articulate properly!
Gary shook his head helplessly. "First off—I can duel with you but not for Miss Lorelei because she isn't an object but has her own right to choose happiness!
Secondly—please move aside; we need to go rest now—and if we duel please arrange another time!
Lastly—don't be upset about this but if you're really into someone yet haven't even researched their preferences—what kind of melodrama are you trying to perform?"
The three consecutive questions left Drake stunned speechless as Gary took hold of Lorelei's hand leading them past him into the villa's entrance.
"Oh right! Just a reminder: Miss Lorelei is allergic to pollen," after saying this sentence both entered inside leaving Drake standing there bewildered in confusion...