Two days.
Natsuhiko finished his rest in Suiyi Town.
During this period, Joy Rhombus, who was stationed at the Poke Center, often came to chat with him, casually asking about his experiences during his travels and discussing some topics related to Pokémon battles.
Natsuhiko figured it out.
Joy Rhombus seemed like a professional Miss Joy on the surface, but actually had the heart of a Trainer.
In fact, although members of the Joy Race officially serve as Miss Joy at the Poke Centers, almost all vital medical facilities within the league are managed by this family, making them pivotal to the league. However, not all members are Miss Joys.
Some Joys have aspirations beyond healing people or Pokémon, aiming instead to become Trainers or Breeders.
Natsuhiko remembered vividly that there is one Joy in the Joy Race who is not only incredibly powerful but also possesses an Articuno, a Pokémon many dream of owning, making her one of the prominent members of the Joy Race.
Clearly, Joy Rhombus wasn't content with just being a Miss Joy; she had obtained an "Advanced Breeder" certification and never ceased training her Pokémon.
Her Chansey has Elite Level strength, which is the best evidence.
But these things don't have much to do with Natsuhiko; to Joy Rhombus, he's at most a passerby who tells her a bit about the travel and battle lifestyle she longs for.
After saying goodbye to Joy Rhombus, Natsuhiko continued his journey towards Snow Peak City, the northernmost city in the Sinnoh Region.
However, the Mist Region that shrouds the north of Suiyi Town became his current greatest obstacle.
Fortunately, his conversation with Joy Rhombus bore some fruit.
She taught Natsuhiko a method to minimize the effect of the mist, something she heard from some traveling Trainers.
This saved Natsuhiko a lot of trouble.
After some exploration and battles with wild Pokémon in the mist, Natsuhiko successfully left the Mist Area.
He could have detoured to Hilona's hometown, Shenhe Town, for a rest.
But ultimately, he decided against it, traveling north while his Pokémon were in good condition to reach Snow Peak City in one go.
Since Shenhe Town is located in the Celestial Crown Mountain Range, getting there requires a lot of time.
Shenhe Town is the smallest town in the Sinnoh Region, with fewer than thirty residents, most of whom are Hilona's relatives. Visiting without Hilona there felt a bit awkward.
Despite being the smallest town, Shenhe Town is also the oldest and best-preserved in terms of Sinnoh's history and ancient lifestyle.
It houses historical documents related to the creation myth of Sinnoh Region, including statues and murals of the Lake Gods, Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf.
Moreover, don't underestimate this tiny town; it's produced quite a few famous individuals.
Currently, the most famous is Hilona's grandmother, Dr. Jiezilan, followed by Hilona, who will eventually become the Sinnoh Champion, and Drasna, who left Sinnoh to become a Dragon-type Elite in the Kalos Region.
A town with less than thirty people cultivating a doctor, a champion, and an elite, shows just how impressive it is.
...
...
Seven days later.
Without entering Shenhe Town, Natsuhiko followed the Celestial Crown Mountain Range north and finally exited the area covered by the mountain range, entering a world completely shrouded in ice and snow.
Currently one of the known farthest northern regions in the Pokémon Realm, the Snow Peak City area.
Located at the northern end of the Sinnoh Region, and being the northernmost Snow Peak City during winter, combined with snowflakes drifting from Celestial Crown Mountain, it could be imagined how low the temperature would be.
The landscape was wrapped in silver and ice bound for miles.
Previously, as a true Southern Country native, Natsuhiko was witnessing such a scene for the first time.
If not for awakening his Telekinesis ability, which allowed him to maintain warmth to some extent, he guessed after entering Snow Peak City's area, he'd be shivering like a dog.
Stepping on the white snow, every step producing a "crunching" sound, felt somewhat novel.
Natsuhiko was not the only one experiencing this for the first time.
Beedrill, Yujira, Togetic, and Honedge were also first-timers.
This is the beauty of travel; it allows you to continually see unique aspects of the world, experience more new things, gain knowledge, and appreciate diverse beauties this world offers.
Just like now.
Wham!
A rounded snowball smashed into Natsuhiko, scattering into fragments upon impact and finally falling to the ground.
"Chako-eek!"
Togetic chuckled, covering its mouth tightly, but the crisp laughter escaped uncontrollably from its mouth.
The snowball was indeed thrown by Togetic.
Natsuhiko turned around in surprise and saw Togetic had already molded another snowball, which it aimed directly at his face.
Wham!
Natsuhiko couldn't dodge, taking a hit right to his face.
The scattered snowflakes clung to his face, hair, and clothes, leaving him somewhat disheveled.
"Chako-eek—"
Seeing Natsuhiko's appearance, Togetic bent over and burst into laughter, tears squeezing from the corners of its eyes.
"You think this is fun?" Natsuhiko's expression darkened.
"Chako-eek?" Togetic's expression froze.
'Is he angry?'
Then, Togetic saw Natsuhiko's stern face break after just a few seconds; his hands spread out as snowballs slowly rose from the ground, surrounding him.
Realizing Natsuhiko was merely pretending to be angry, Togetic found it too late to hide.
Snowballs came flying toward it one by one, soon covering its whole body with sparkling ice crystals.
"Chako-eek!" Togetic protested.
'Can't handle it?! Using Telekinesis!'
Immediately launching a counterattack.
Yet evidently, Togetic's hand-molding speed was no match for Natsuhiko using Telekinesis.
Using Telekinesis for a snowball fight?
He might just be the first.
Nonetheless, Togetic lacked the means but other Pokémon didn't.
Quickly, Togetic's eyes swiveled and roped in Yujira.
The only thing that could oppose Telekinesis was Telekinesis!
With Yujira joining in, the "battlefield" immediately changed.
Natsuhiko had to recruit Beedrill and Honedge into the team.
Beedrill's hands were long needles, and Honedge didn't even have hands, ultimately no match against the combined forces of Togetic and Yujira.
Moreover, they resorted to sly tactics; even using Psychic Arena during the snow fight, enabling Togetic's Secret Power to transform into Telekinesis.
Thus, the opposition became two Telekinesis-using Pokémon.
With no choice, Natsuhiko continuously threw Pokeballs to summon Sharpedo, Shuckle, Ditto, and Pidgeotto.
Suddenly, they had an absolutely numerical advantage.
The other Pokémon managed, but Sharpedo genuinely seemed miserable.
Living in the warm southern seas, it was now thrust into this icy terrain for a snowball fight.
In Sharpedo's view, it might not be a person, but Natsuhiko certainly acted like a dog.
Curled up in the snow, "enjoying" the snowball bombardments, enduring pain a Sharpedo shouldn't have to bear.
But once Telekinesis became involved, a few Pokémon couldn't bridge the gap.
Natsuhiko's side remained at a disadvantage.
Reluctantly, Natsuhiko deployed his "trump card," summoning Snorlax as a genuine "meat shield."
In response, Snorlax expressed...
You all have your fun; I'll keep sleeping.
With its body gradually regained, the thick fatty layer rendered the snowballs powerless.
At last, the sides reached a stalemate.
During their playful antics, their joyful noise attracted a Pokémon.