5
The journey out of Littleroot was no longer a walk; it was a production. With a ninja-lizard on my shoulder, a street-smart cat on my left, and a posh mouse on my right, we looked less like a trainer team and more like a traveling circus.
"Listen, Kage," I whispered, leaning toward the Treecko. "You want to be the shadow in the night? We need to work on the fundamentals. Think of Leafage not as a spray, but as a flick of the wrist. Like a shuriken."
Kage narrowed his eyes, chewing his twig thoughtfully. He hopped off my shoulder, performed a mid-air twist, and flicked a leaf. It didn't just flutter; it hissed through the air and embedded itself half an inch into a tree trunk.
"Zzzzt! 10/10 form! The slow-mo replay is going to go viral!" Lens buzzed.
Part 1: The Rivalry – Enter Brendan
We were nearly back to Route 101's clearing when we ran into a guy in a green headband and a white hat that everyone—including me—initially thought was hair. Brendan.
"May! I heard you were finally heading out!" Brendan called out, grinning. He looked at me, then at my weird trio of Pokémon. "And you must be Jake. The 'Streamer' everyone in town is talking about."
May puffed out her chest—an action that made Brendan's eyes do a quick, panicked lap—and crossed her arms. "He's my travel partner, Brendan! And he's gonna be way better than you!"
Brendan laughed. "With a Treecko that looks like it's mourning a clan? And... is that a Rattata in a tiny cravat?"
"I beg your pardon!" Jerry snapped, standing on his hind legs. "This 'cravat' is hand-stitched silk, you uncultured ruffian!"
Brendan jumped back. "It... it talked?! Okay, forget May. Jake, I challenge you! I want to see if that charisma works in a battle or if it's just for the cameras!"
[Chat Log]
IceCreamQueen_C: Battle! Battle! Battle!
Clone_02: Observe the 'ninja' tactics. I am curious.
SilentRed: [GIF: Michael Jackson eating popcorn]
The battle was short but legendary. Brendan sent out a Mudkip. I didn't give standard orders.
"Kage! Shadow Step to the flank! Use the 'Tanto' strike!"
Kage moved like a blur. Instead of a mindless Pound attack, he hardened the edge of his tail and delivered a precise, horizontal strike like a short-sword draw. The Mudkip didn't even see it coming.
"Tammy, Jerry! Commentary!" I shouted.
"Ooh! Did y'all see that?!" Tammy yelled at the camera. "He just took that kid's lunch money! Absolute robbery!"
"A surgical strike," Jerry added snootily. "Though the landing lacked a certain... je ne sais quoi."
Brendan was floored. "What kind of training is this?!"
Part 2: The Acapella Hike
After the win (and Brendan promising a rematch), we kept moving toward Oldale. The 'Goal Met' bar on my stream overlay hit 100%.
"Alright, Chat," I said, adjusting the mic. "A deal's a deal. Since we're walking and I'm currently riding a victory high, let's do it. Acapella style."
I started a rhythmic snap. Kage started tapping his tail against a rock in a perfect backbeat.
"I wanna be the very best..." I began. My Nat 20 Charisma took over. My voice didn't just carry; it had that perfect, soulful resonance that made even the wild Pidgeys stop mid-flight to listen.
"Like no one ever was! To catch them is my real test... to train them is my cauuuuse!"
May started humming along, her voice surprisingly sweet, while Tammy provided some beatboxing that sounded like it came straight from a Bronx alleyway. By the time I hit the chorus—"POKÉMON! GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL!"—a group of wild Zigzagoon were following us in a parade, swaying to the beat.
[Chat Log]
MusicFan_99: THE VIBES ARE IMMACULATE.
NurseJoy_044: I'm literally crying in the breakroom right now. So beautiful!
IceCreamQueen_C: You have a gift, Jake. Truly.
Part 3: The Harem Warning
We reached the Oldale Pokémon Center as the sun began to set. I was checking the donations when a specific notification caught my eye. It wasn't just a fan; it was a verified account with a golden crest.
Donation from BloomingBeauty_Erika: Such a lovely voice! If you ever pass through Celadon, I'd love to host a private concert in my gym. The flowers always bloom better for a handsome singer.
The chat went nuclear.
PervySage: LEADER ERIKA?! JAKE IS COLLECTING GYM LEADERS LIKE BADGES!
WaterFlower_Misty: Hey! Get in line, Erika!
I felt a sudden, sharp drop in the ambient temperature. I turned around. May was standing behind me, her face shadowed by her bandana. She was crushing a Poke Ball in her bare hand. Not opening it—crushing the metal casing.
"A 'private concert'?" May asked, her voice dropping an octave. "In a gym full of... flowers and perfume?"
"Uh, May? Your muscles are... twitching," I noted nervously.
"Jakey," she said, giving me a smile that didn't reach her eyes. It was the smile of a woman who regularly wrestled Hariyama. "I think we need to do some extra training tonight. Just the two of us. To make sure your... 'stamina' is up for those long concerts."
[Chat Log]
SilentRed: [GIF: Run.]
IceCreamQueen_C: Oh dear. The 'Rivalry' isn't just for Pokémon anymore, is it?
I looked at the camera, my soul leaving my body. "Chat... if I don't stream tomorrow... tell the world I died doing what I loved. Being terrified of beautiful women."