13 Journey To Lavaridge Town

As Floette reveled in her evolution, Yuga decided to increase her afternoon training to help her adjust to her new body. Floette couldn't help but think of her previous little master who used to pamper and play with her every day. However, she couldn't find him anymore.

If Floette knew what Yuga was thinking, she would only regretfully learn that he was no longer alive, continuing to supervise her grueling training.

After evolving, Floette skills became more powerful. Her Vine Whip was no longer limp, and her Fairy Wind had gained some force, making it a viable attack. The most important change was her new skill, Magical Leaf.

While Pokémon in this world could learn more than four moves, it wasn't a simple process. Wild Pokémon often possessed only one or two moves, making those with four moves exceptional. Skill acquisition wasn't solely determined by level or determination but was heavily influenced by aptitude.

For instance, Pokémon with red or orange aptitudes might never learn more than four moves in their lifetime. This emphasized the significance of aptitude in a trainer eyes.

Comparatively, Floette quick acquisition of Magical Leaf, thanks to her green aptitude, was impressive. Moreover, the move power surpassed that of Fairy Wind and Vine Whip, making it her go-to attack for the foreseeable future.

However, Floette struggled to use Magical Leaf fluently due to its recent acquisition.

The next day, Yuga decided to head to the Day Care Center in Lavaridge Town to claim the promised compensation. Before departing, he visited Aunt Hisako and informed her and his uncle, about his plans. Since he might not return the same day, he wanted them to know his whereabouts.

Initially, his uncle insisted on accompanying Yuga, but Yuga preferred to go alone. He wanted to explore along the way and train Floette, who was inexperienced in battles. Having his uncle with him would hinder his plans.

That morning, Yuga closed his shop, carried an extra-dimensional backpack, and set off toward the direction of Rusturf Tunnel. He chose to walk instead of using transportation to make the most of his journey.

The path was relatively safe, populated by low-level and non-aggressive Pokémon. Yuga adventure could be described as more of an exploration. Before long, Yuga and Floette left the boundaries of Verdanturf Town and ventured into the wilderness.

Yuga was curious about the world beyond Verdanturf Town, having never ventured this far before. The narrow path was flanked by lush wild grass and nameless wildflowers in full bloom.

Occasionally, the sound of rustling emanated from the bushes, signaling the presence of some Pokémon, likely harmless due to their low levels and lack of aggression.

Taillows occasionally darted across the sky, landing on nearby trees. Small clusters of trees formed miniature forests, with Shroomishs frolicking within, Zigzagoon foraging for food, and Beautifly collecting nectar, creating a lively scene.

As Yuga walked, he observed the surroundings. Upon spotting a struggling Wurmple, he exclaimed, "Floette, come here! Your opponent has appeared."

Hearing Yuga voice, Floette, who had been lost in admiration of the flowers, flew over to his side.

"Floette!"

Floette let out a soft cry, seemingly asking Yuga what was happening.

Pointing at the slowly crawling Wurmple in the grass, Yuga remarked, "Look, this is the opponent I've chosen for you. It's weak, and if you can't win against it, it would truly waste the effort I've put into training you these past few days."

The Wurmple, which had been focused on crawling, suddenly grew dissatisfied upon hearing Yuga call it weak. Although it was indeed weak, it wasn't something just anyone could criticize—did it have no dignity? Angrily, it shot a string shot toward Yuga.

Unaware of the imminent threat, Yuga was caught off guard as the string shot bound him, and the Wurmple attempted to charge at him.

Seeing the situation, Floette extended two vines, entwined the Wurmple, and swiftly flung it away.

After being flung to the side, the Wurmple rolled over and, a bit dazed, charged back toward Floette.

"Floette, use Fairy Wind!"

Floette, who had been a bit dazed herself, quickly snapped to attention.

A gentle breeze tinted with pink emerged from Floette side and blew toward the Wurmple.

Although the Fairy Wind didn't deal significant damage, it successfully deflected the Wurmple charge.

Shaken from the gust, the Wurmple shook its head, feeling a bit dizzy.

Seeing this opportunity, Yuga seized the moment. "Floette, use Vine Whip now, bind it and then throw it."

Upon Yuga command, Floette promptly entwined the still-dizzy Wurmple with her vines, lifted it up, swung it around vigorously, and then hurled it to the ground.

The poor Wurmple probably felt like it had been thrown around like last night leftovers. Its final thought was, "Who on earth did I offend?"

Seeing the Wurmple incapacitated, Yuga let out a relieved sigh.

"Floette, Floette."

Floette excitedly flew over to Yuga, a proud look on her face, as if saying, "Look how amazing I am!"

Yuga let out a slightly exasperated sigh. "Can you please let me go first before you show off?"

Only now did Floette realize that Yuga was still entangled in the Wurmple string shot.

She sheepishly smiled and awkwardly helped Yuga remove the silk strands from his body.

For the rest of the journey, Floette was in high spirits, humming a tune all along the way. Although Yuga couldn't understand a word of it, her triumphant expression made her look quite insufferable.

Finally, Yuga couldn't hold back any longer. "Floette, seriously? You defeated a Wurmple, and now you're acting so smug?"

"It's level 12, and you're level 19. You have a 7-level advantage. If I weren't here guiding you, you might have actually lost. So, what's with all the bragging?"

Upon hearing Yuga words, Floette looked as if she had been struck by lightning on a clear day, leaving her completely dumbfounded.

Little did she know, Yuga had intentionally chosen a lower-level Pokémon for her to face, fearing that a defeat might shatter her confidence. However, it seemed that her victory had only inflated her ego instead.