Ogerpon hesitated, glancing at the persistent young trainer blocking their way. They hadn't come to town to battle, but it seemed there was no other way to proceed. Ogerpon exchanged a look with Dragonite and Gholdengo, both of whom seemed equally perplexed by the situation.
"Pon…" (Let's just get this over with…) Ogerpon muttered to itself. It reached up to adjust the Eevee mask and mimicked the nod of a human trainer agreeing to a battle.
Seeing the masked trainer's acknowledgment, the boy's face lit up with excitement. Without hesitation, he pulled a Poké Ball from his pocket and raised it high.
"Thank you! Please, let's have a good match!" he said, the enthusiasm clear in his voice.
Ogerpon, trying to act the part, extended its hand forward awkwardly, as if issuing a challenge. Dragonite stood beside it, confused for a moment, until Ogerpon's gaze shifted to it expectantly. Realizing what was happening, Dragonite let out a determined roar and stepped forward, taking its place on the battlefield.
"Aoow!" (I'm ready!) Dragonite roared, stomping its foot for emphasis.
The boy hesitated for a moment, a puzzled look crossing his face. Something about the masked trainer seemed off. Was it their silence? Their oddly hesitant movements? He couldn't help but ask, "Um… can you not talk?"
Ogerpon froze, unsure how to respond. After a brief pause, it simply shook its head.
The boy's eyes widened. "Oh! I'm so sorry—I didn't mean to be rude!" he apologized, bowing his head quickly. "I didn't know."
Ogerpon waved its hands dismissively, signaling that it wasn't offended and urging him to start the battle. The boy straightened, still somewhat unsure but eager to proceed.
"Alright then! Let's have a great match!" he said, leading them to a nearby battle square in the center of the bustling town.
Trainer culture thrived in this world, and public battlefields were a common feature in towns and cities to accommodate passing trainers. The square they arrived at was already surrounded by a handful of onlookers curious about the masked trainer and their imposing Dragonite.
Standing at one end of the battlefield, Ogerpon tried to mimic Naoki's stance as best as it could, while Dragonite took its position on the field, flexing its wings confidently. Across from them, the boy held his Poké Ball high, brimming with excitement.
"Alright, let's get started!" he called out. "Go, my friend! Dance through the waves with elegance!"
With a brilliant flash of light, the Poké Ball released a Pokémon onto the battlefield. An elegant, blue-bodied Pokémon with flowing feathers and a graceful stance emerged—it was a Quaxwell, its feathers glistening as it struck a poised dancer's pose.
"Your move!" the boy declared, graciously giving the first turn to the masked trainer. He watched closely, curious about how the silent trainer would command their Dragonite.
However, to his surprise, Dragonite didn't wait for a command.
Dragonite flapped its massive wings, summoning a powerful storm that barreled across the battlefield. The fierce winds engulfed Quaxwell, striking with such intensity that it was knocked out instantly.
"Huh? Wh-what just happened?" The boy stood frozen in shock, unable to process the overwhelming strength of the move.
That was Hurricane! And it was unbelievably powerful!
Seeing their victory, Ogerpon let out an excited cheer. Without wasting another moment, the trio—Ogerpon, Dragonite, and Gholdengo—turned and left the battlefield, eager to resume their quest to find the perfect gift for Naoki.
Meanwhile, the boy remained rooted in place, his mind spinning. What had just happened? That battle was over in mere seconds, and he still couldn't fully grasp what he'd witnessed.
Back on the bustling streets, the three Pokémon strolled through the town, pausing every so often to peer into shop windows at the dazzling array of goods on display. With no further interruptions, their shopping progressed much more smoothly.
Before long, Ogerpon spotted something that caught its eye—an elegant bouquet of vibrant flowers displayed in the window of a quaint flower shop.
Curious, the trio entered the shop, where they were greeted by a kind woman wearing a plaid apron. She smiled warmly at Ogerpon, who was still wearing its Eevee mask, and gestured to the bouquet.
"This is the famous Gracidea flower," she said, her voice gentle.
"Pon?" Ogerpon tilted its head, murmuring in curiosity.
The florist hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied the masked "trainer." A flicker of realization crossed her face. "Wait a moment… Are you a Pokémon?" she asked, her tone a mix of surprise and amusement.
Ogerpon froze, its eyes wide. Realizing it had been exposed, it hastily raised its hands to cover its mouth, unsure of what to do next.
The florist chuckled, her laughter soft and reassuring. "Don't worry," she said kindly. "I don't know why you're dressed as a human, but I'm guessing you're buying these flowers for someone important to you, aren't you?"
Seeing no hostility in her words, Ogerpon relaxed and nodded enthusiastically. "Pon! Pon!" (That's right!)
Dragonite and Gholdengo chimed in with their own cheerful noises, showing their agreement.
The woman's gaze softened as she looked at the trio. "You must have a wonderful trainer," she said. "It's clear that you're all so well cared for."
Her gentle smile grew as she turned her attention back to the bouquet. "These flowers, Gracidea, are quite special. They come all the way from the Sinnoh region, which is far from here. In Sinnoh, people give Gracidea flowers to express gratitude or celebrate meaningful occasions, like birthdays or anniversaries."
The Pokémon listened attentively, their expressions thoughtful. Dragonite, who had initially been skeptical about Ogerpon's choice of flowers, reconsidered after hearing the florist's explanation. While there were plenty of flowers on the ranch, none carried the same significance as these.
'Awo' 'This is perfect for Naoki!' Dragonite thought, nodding firmly.
Beside it, Gholdengo shared the same sentiment, its golden body gleaming brightly in approval.
Gholdengo, with its love for golden treasures, had initially planned to pick a gift of that hue for Naoki as a token of gratitude for the gold coins that enabled its evolution. But as it stared at the vibrant Gracidea flowers, a thought clicked.
'This flower… it's perfect!' Gholdengo decided, setting aside its usual preference.
With their choice made, it was time to pay for the bouquet.
Ogerpon rummaged through its small pouch, pulling out the bundle of gold coins carefully packed by Indeedee earlier. It handed the bundle to the flower shop owner.
The woman accepted the bundle, assuming it might contain berries or other trinkets. However, as soon as she opened it, the golden brilliance inside nearly blinded her.
Her eyes widened in astonishment. "What… what are these?"
Ogerpon, Dragonite, and Gholdengo exchanged uncertain glances. Sensing hesitation, Gholdengo stepped forward, thinking the amount might be insufficient. With a swift gesture, it channeled its Steel-type energy and conjured a dozen more shimmering gold coins on the spot.
The woman gasped, her face pale with shock. "Oh my goodness! Did… did that Pokémon just create gold coins out of thin air?!"
Her hands trembled as she quickly tied up the bundle and handed it back. "No, no, these are far too valuable! I can't possibly accept this."
The trio tilted their heads in confusion. Wasn't money supposed to be used to buy things? Gholdengo jingled slightly, its golden body gleaming with perplexity.
The florist noticed their confusion and softened her tone. "It's not about the money. These coins are incredibly valuable. You should keep them. Consider the bouquet my gift to you—it's clear you're buying it for someone very special."
Relieved, Ogerpon nodded in understanding. Gholdengo jingled excitedly, and even Dragonite gave a low rumble of approval. The three Pokémon exchanged happy glances before leaving the coins Gholdengo had just created on the counter.
With the flowers in tow, they turned and darted out of the shop. The florist quickly called after them, but by the time she reached the door, the trio had already mounted Dragonite, who took to the skies with a powerful flap of its wings.
...
Next Bonus Chapter @1500PS