As a human being, Aron—one of the Elite Four and someone who had survived more near-death Pokémon battles than most people had hot meals—knew exactly what David was trying to pull.
Still, he sighed, rubbed his temples like he had a migraine creeping in, and gave the inevitable nod of approval.
"Alright, alright," Aron grunted. "I'll send someone to deliver a few secret treasures later. Something to help you build your strength. You'll need it."
After all, subduing a Larvitar that had been juiced up by ancient Mystery Zone energy wasn't exactly something you could do with enthusiasm and a Poké Puff.
David's face instantly lit up like a kid who had just won a year's supply of Poké Beans. His grin stretched from ear to ear, eyes sparkling with glee as he nodded like a bobblehead on turbo mode.
Yes! Jackpot!
Because David already knew something Aron didn't.
He didn't actually need those secret treasures at all.
The system panel in David's head had long confirmed that Larvitar had completely mastered the mysterious power it had been "blessed" with. It wasn't berserk. It wasn't unstable. It wasn't even confused. It was as chill as a Snorlax on vacation.
But would David refuse free loot from a top-tier Elite Four member?
Absolutely not.
If anything, he'd squeeze every last item out of Aron's generosity like a Chansey squeezing an Oran Berry.
He even silently muttered to himself, If this guy dares to send me anything below ultra-rare, I'm sending that stuff straight to the daycare as chew toys.
But then, Aron's eyes suddenly narrowed.
His gaze shifted to Larvitar, who at that moment was happily gnawing on what looked like a very fancy rock. Not just any rock—this thing shimmered like a freshly-polished gemstone. It radiated Ground-type energy so pure, it made even Earthquake seem polite.
"Wait a second," Aron said, his voice low and suspicious. "Did I just see Larvitar eating a… top-grade Smooth Rock?"
David froze.
Oh no.
Aron leaned forward slightly, squinting, and added, "Did you give it that?"
There it was—the stare. Aron's trained Elite Four vision immediately identified the mineral makeup of the item, the rarity of the stone, and even where it might've been mined. He didn't just see a rock—he saw inventory data, logistical scarcity, and retail price tags flashing before his eyes.
David felt his scalp go numb.
Because yeah. He totally gave it to Larvitar.
That beautiful, priceless, highly-limited-edition Smooth Rock? The kind of item even the Alliance stored under lock, key, and several layers of elite security?
Yeah, Larvitar had just… eaten it.
It was chewing on it like it was a regular midday snack. Like a particularly crunchy cookie.
And David had handed it over without a second thought.
Aron's eyes swept over David slowly, like he was trying to detect how many screws had come loose in this kid's head.
He couldn't believe it. No wonder Giovanni lost to David. The guy was bribing Pokémon with high-level treasure items like they were Halloween candy. Smooth Rock? Pfft. Might as well have been a Poké Puff with glitter.
"No wonder that Larvitar's so loyal," Aron muttered bitterly. "You've got it addicted to treasure-tier minerals. Of course Giovanni had no chance…"
David, meanwhile, scratched his head awkwardly and gave a sheepish grin.
"That? Oh! I uh… I just found it lying on the ground. It looked like nobody wanted it…"
Aron: "..."
[Received from Aron: Negative Emotional Value +2000]
Found it on the ground? Unwanted?
Was this guy for real?
Even the lowest-quality Smooth Rock could start bidding wars among trainers. And this brat made it sound like he found it in a trash can next to a half-eaten rice ball!
Aron's eyelid twitched. He had lived for over 35 years, climbed through dozens of Mystery Zones, faced titanic Pokémon, and somehow, this smug, lucky punk had a Larvitar munching on treasure like a Totodile with bubblegum.
"I'm done," Aron muttered. "I'm not talking to you anymore. You're exhausting."
David ignored him completely.
He spun around and immediately threw himself at his loyal teammates.
"Pikachu! Ralts! Come here, my precious angels!"
He scooped them both into a warm bear hug, his face glowing with pure joy.
"Pikachu! Give me back my bank card!"
Pikachu: [[Shocked.jpg]]
Wait, what?
You hugged me just for that!?
David gently rubbed Pikachu's head, returned the little hat he had stolen earlier, and chuckled softly.
"Thank you guys," he whispered, ruffling both Pikachu's and Ralts's heads with affection.
They might not have been able to help in a battle like this, but their presence had meant everything. His little squad, his emotional support Pokémon. Even if they just watched, they were his.
Meanwhile, Aron was now staring at Larvitar again.
Specifically, he was staring at the energy cube in Larvitar's hands.
There was something… weird about it.
It didn't just smell good. It smelled delicious. Like a perfectly roasted marshmallow dipped in caramel and dreams.
Aron felt his stomach growl.
Am I really considering eating Pokémon food? he thought, appalled at himself.
Larvitar, however, noticed the gaze. And it did not approve.
The little dinosaur's eyes narrowed. Its chubby arms clutched the cube tighter, and it gave Aron the meanest, most intimidating toddler-glare it could muster. Its small face scrunched into a look that said: "Back off, old man. This is mine."
Aron blinked, raising his hands slightly in surrender. "Whoa, calm down there, champ…"
He turned to David, scratching his cheek awkwardly.
"Uh… hey kid. Think I could try a nibble of that energy cube?"
David's smile turned positively angelic.
"Sure, Aron! No problem!" he said cheerfully, handing over the special "jet" cube without hesitation.
After all, watching Aron's emotional state wobble was practically its own reward.
And then David waited… and waited… and once Aron took a big satisfied bite…
He smiled again. "Oh yeah, one more thing… I probably should've mentioned—this energy cube may have some… side effects."
Aron paused mid-chew.
His eyes slowly widened.
Suddenly, all the clues clicked into place: the weird looks Pikachu and Ralts gave that cube, the suspiciously guilty expression on David's face earlier, the offhand comment about "laxatives" during the last battle…
"You—you—you…!"
Aron jabbed a trembling finger at David, words failing him as his stomach suddenly let out a monstrous gurgle.
"Ulp—Tropius! Let's go! NOW!"
Clutching his gut, he jumped on his Tropius and shot off toward the forest like a man possessed, leaving behind a trail of wind, confusion, and faint tropical fruit scent.
David grinned.
Elite rank trainer. Thousands of negative emotional points in one go. If I didn't milk this opportunity, I might as well write my last name backwards.
The system chimed in his mind, numbers rising like fireworks.
David gave Larvitar a thumbs-up and whispered, "Worth it."
*****
Back in the garrison camp, the dust was finally settling.
With Giovanni retreating alongside his monstrous super-ancient Pokémon, a wave of relief washed over the entire camp. Trainers who had been moments away from being crushed under ancient fury now clung to each other like long-lost siblings, sobbing uncontrollably as the adrenaline wore off. Even the Machoke from the med bay was crying into a towel.
Overhead, Commander Grant, along with Luna and Tom, were soaring through the air on their Pidgeot, racing toward the battlefield. They could see the devastation below, the scorched earth, the deep craters, and — miraculously — David, still standing in one piece.
Meanwhile, the Ursaring horde and Gyarados school that had previously besieged the camp began to feel Tyranitar's imposing aura radiating from the battlefield like an angry drumbeat. Instinctively, they turned toward it, drawn to the power like moths to a flamethrower.
David, however, was in his own world — or perhaps more accurately, in a scheme.
He stood with his arms crossed, watching Larvitar happily munch away at an energy cube like a kid with an ice cream cone. A devious little smirk crept up the corner of his mouth.
"Larvitar," he said sweetly, "wanna eat more energy cubes?"
Larvitar perked up like a balloon inflating. The second it heard "energy cubes," its little eyes gleamed like diamonds under a spotlight. It nodded frantically, sending crumbs flying.
"Well then," David said, crouching beside him and putting an arm around the little monster's spiky shoulders, "you're gonna have to help me with a tiny performance."
He looked left and right, then began whispering.
"Here's what we're gonna do. First, you pretend to go a little berserk—just a little, nothing too dramatic. Then I try to 'calm you down' with my wrench. It obviously fails."
Larvitar blinked slowly.
"Then Pikachu rushes in, does a few sparkly moves, calms you down—BAM! Everyone claps, Aron cries tears of joy, and next thing you know, the Alliance hands me a whole truckload of secret treasures."
He rubbed his hands together like a cartoon villain. "It's not a scam," he added quickly. "It's a performance-based grant."
Tyranitar, who had been standing quietly nearby, slowly stepped forward and tapped David on the shoulder.
"Rah?"
David turned and saw Tyranitar staring at him blankly, one claw raised as if to say: I'm still here, you know. The look on Tyranitar's face clearly said: "Are you seriously planning to blackmail my Trainer right in front of me?"
David grinned and patted Tyranitar's stone-plated arm. "Oh hey, I was just about to talk to you. See, about the Rejuvenation Elixir I gave you—plus Larvitar's milk formula, daycare fees, psychological trauma compensation, and, of course, wedding gift money for the Garbodors next door…"
He began ticking imaginary receipts off his fingers.
Tyranitar's eyes widened with absolute horror.
[[Shocked.jpg]]
"You're… charging me?" Tyranitar took a slow step back, then turned to face a tree, closed its eyes, and pretended none of this was happening.
David beamed. "Yup. A true champion knows how to dodge responsibility. I respect that."
With Tyranitar subdued by financial anxiety, David turned back to Larvitar and resumed rehearsing the fake emergency. Ralts stood nearby holding a worn copy of The Self-Cultivation of a Villain, nodding like a diligent assistant. Pikachu, arms crossed, sighed heavily and facepalmed. Morality had officially exited the group chat.
Then, in the distance—flapping wings!
Three majestic silhouettes approached fast from the sky.
"DAVID!" two voices yelled at once.
Tom and Luna leapt off their Pidgeot mid-air like action movie stars and landed beside David, hugging him like he'd just risen from the grave.
"Brother David!" Tom said with tears in his eyes.
"You're okay!" Luna cried, smacking his shoulder repeatedly.
David stood there with the calm expression of someone who had clearly expected applause. "You're late," he said coolly, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder. "The bad guy's already been beaten up by yours truly."
Pidgeot landed behind them with a gust of wind. Commander Grant stepped forward and saluted Tyranitar solemnly. "Tyranitar," he said, his voice firm but respectful, "on behalf of the West Lake Mystery Zone Defense Force, we thank you."
Tyranitar nodded and gave a polite fist bump. "Rah."
David, not one to miss an opportunity, cleared his throat. "Sooo... does your Defense Force give out reward money for saving Mystery Zones?"
A vein bulged on Grant's forehead.
"It's for Tyranitar," he snapped. "What does that have to do with you?!"
David pointed both thumbs at himself with dramatic flair. "Excuse me, I saved Tyranitar's life! Tell 'em, big guy!"
Tyranitar nodded awkwardly, like a student being forced to confirm the class clown's story. Technically, it wasn't a lie.
Grant looked David up and down, squinting like he was staring at a creature from another planet.
"You don't even have a Pokémon at Gym-level strength," he said flatly. "You expect me to believe you saved a near-Champion-rank Pokémon? Please. At least make your nonsense believable."
David opened his mouth but was immediately interrupted.
"Is David hurt anywhere?" Luna asked, checking his arms.
Tom stared at David's head and squinted. "Is your brain injury serious, bro? Should I get the urn ready?"
He pulled out an ornate little box like he'd been waiting all day to use it.
Grant's mouth twitched. "...Which mental hospital did you pick this one up from?" he muttered to Ling Qi.
Ling Qi just looked like he wanted to dissolve into the ground. "You think I know?! I've been asking myself the same question since day one!"
And somewhere in the background, Tyranitar quietly turned away and pretended not to know anyone. Again.
*****
Grant squinted at the clearing, scanning the faces of the returning trainers, then peered suspiciously toward the horizon. Something didn't sit right with him. He turned to David, who was lazily tightening the bolts on his absurdly oversized Poké wrench like a mechanic who'd just finished repairing an aircraft carrier.
"Hey," Grant asked, raising an eyebrow, "where's Elite Aron?"
David didn't even flinch. Without looking up, he casually jerked his thumb toward the forest and replied, "Oh, him? He ate something that didn't agree with his digestive system. Terrible stomachache. Poor guy's been crouching like a Paras in the grass for a while now."
Grant blinked.
A stomachache?
"Elite Aron has a bad stomach?" he asked again, this time with that low, slow, and very dangerous tone reserved for either interrogating a criminal or a waiter who dared serve him cold soup. "What exactly did he eat?"
Now, normally, Grant could tolerate David's nonsense. The guy was always spouting random gibberish, talking about "energy cube patents" and "secret move-reversal strategies" and "emotional damage farming." But joking about Aron?
That was where he drew the line.
If it weren't for Aron launching that perfectly timed Hyper Beam during the battle in the Mystery Zone, half of them would've been trampled, vaporized, or stuck in a pit of angry, territorial Ursaring. Aron had saved their backsides. Period.
And David—this loose cannon of a trainer—dared to joke about the guy having the runs?
Grant's eyes narrowed like a Luxray using Intimidate.
David gulped. He could feel the invisible pressure of Grant's disapproval weighing down on him like a Snorlax in full belly flop. Seriously? Again with the disbelief? First, no one believed him about the spontaneous explosion earlier. And now they thought he was lying about Aron's intestinal disaster?
He slapped a hand to his chest and declared solemnly, "I swear on my wrench! If you don't believe me, I'll take you to him right now!"
Immediately, Tom, Luna, and Ling Qi all jerked to attention like guilty students caught cheating on a test. Their heads bobbed so fast, it looked like someone had replaced their necks with springs.
"No need! We believe you!" they shouted in unison, their faces pale with dread.
Because if David had claimed Aron was battling a rogue Dragonite or even trying to fix a dimensional rift with duct tape, they'd all roll their eyes. But Aron having a stomach problem?
Absolutely believable.
Especially when the entire western side of the Mystery Zone still reeked like someone had mixed Grimer stew with rotten berries and left it under the sun for three weeks.
And whose fault was that stench?
David's.
So Aron's digestive misery? Yeah, that tracked.
But David wasn't about to let them off that easily. Oh no.
"I must defend my honor!" he declared, holding up his metal wrench like a sword Excalibur-style. "I, David, am a man of truth and decency! I never lie! Well—" He paused. "Not today, anyway."
With a deadly serious expression, he gave the wrench a flourish that screamed 'anyone who refuses will get a bonk on the head.'
Tom instantly backed up two steps. "Alright, alright, we'll come! Just put the wrench down, man!"
David whistled, and his Pidgeot swooped in like a majestic bird Uber. He hopped onto its back, and the others followed, with Tyranitar rumbling behind them on the ground like a living tank jogging through the undergrowth.
Meanwhile, deeper in the jungle...
Aron was suffering.
Clutching his stomach and groaning dramatically, he trudged through the underbrush like a soldier looking for a toilet in the middle of a war zone.
"Why me…" he muttered, sweat dripping from his forehead. "Why today…"
He pushed through another cluster of leaves and instantly recoiled. What should've been a tranquil, fresh forest full of blooming flowers and chirping Pidgey was now a post-apocalyptic swamp. The air was thick, humid, and smelled like fermented Muk juice mixed with spoiled curry.
Patches of half-digested berries and other… unidentified semi-viscous substances were smeared across tree trunks. It looked like a Snorlax had sneezed lunch all over the woods.
Aron gagged.
What kind of monster did this? he thought bitterly. His nose burned, his eyes watered, and his soul filled with vengeance.
"Whoever polluted this place... I will find you… and you will show me why the flowers are so red."
[Negative emotion value from Aron +3000…]
Eventually, Aron found a tiny corner of the forest that hadn't been violated by nature's worst mistakes. With immense relief, he crouched down, undid his belt, and prepared for gastrointestinal exorcism.
And then…
He felt it.
A chill.
A disturbance.
The feeling of being watched.
His eyes narrowed. He slowly turned toward a patch of tall grass nearby.
Something—or someone—was there.
Carefully, he parted the grass…
…only to lock eyes with David, Tom, Luna, and Ling Qi, all squatting in the bushes like a group of teenagers spying on a neighbor's hot tub.
Everyone froze.
The moment stretched into eternity.
David scratched the back of his head, looking like a man who'd just walked into the ladies' bathroom by accident. He offered Aron the most awkward smile in the history of facial expressions.
"Yo… Elite Aron," he said, voice cracking slightly. "Are you… uh… here to take a shit?"
Tom went pale.
Luna spun around, her cheeks burning, and covered her mouth, trying—and failing—not to burst into laughter.
Aron's eye twitched violently.
[Rage.jpg]
Everyone else: [Shocked.jpg]
David, sensing the tension exploding like a self-destructing Electrode, immediately pointed at Tyranitar. "It was her! She led us here!"
Tyranitar, who had been quietly giggling to herself at the scene, suddenly looked betrayed.
"EH???" she exclaimed, paws shooting up in disbelief.
[[Shocked.jpg]]
Tyranitar flailed dramatically, waving her hands and shaking her head. She made it crystal clear—this entire disaster had nothing to do with her.
And right on cue, the familiar voice of David's system chimed sweetly in his mind:
[Gained +5000 negative emotion points from Aron…]
[Gained +5000 negative emotion points from Tyranitar…]
[Gained +500 negative emotion points from Ling Qi…]
David had to physically choke back a laugh. His grin stretched ear to ear like a Gengar who just stole a truckload of Rare Candy.
Beautiful.
It was truly a profitable day in the land of chaos.
****
Just as David was trying to explain away yet another one of his "completely harmless" accidents, an ominous rustling came from the trees nearby.
Boom.
A massive Gyarados burst from the sky like an aquatic missile. Its scales glinted with rage. From the opposite direction, the earth trembled as a battalion of furious Ursarings stomped through the underbrush, surrounding the area like they were part of some primal mafia enforcement squad.
And all of them… every single pair of beady, wrathful eyes… were locked on one unfortunate man: Aron, the Elite trainer, who just so happened to be squatting helplessly in the tall grass with his pants halfway down, clutching his stomach like his insides were auditioning for a horror movie.
The leader Ursaring let out a low, judgmental growl.
Some of the other Ursarings glanced at the awkward scene, and one quickly covered the eyes of a nearby Teddiursa, as if to say, "You're too young for this kind of trauma."
If Aron could rewind time, he would've never stepped foot in this cursed Mystery Zone. Heck, he would've stayed home, binge-watching old league highlights while sipping hot tea and avoiding digestive disasters entirely.
David's head popped out of the brush nearby, eyes wide at the sight of the angry mob and Aron's compromising position.
"Oh wow. You guys came too?" David blinked innocently. "What a coincidence! Here to witness Aron Elite's... um… connection with nature?"
Aron's expression twisted into pure death-glare mode. His face turned crimson, both from embarrassment and furious indigestion.
David raised both hands, smiling sheepishly. "I mean, it's kind of a spiritual moment. The rawness of it all. You know? Man versus wild."
Unfortunately for David, the Gyarados didn't appreciate his commentary. Neither did the Ursarings. Upon seeing David's face, their expressions instantly twisted from confused to oh-no-he-did-NOT levels of rage.
Crackles of energy began to charge up across their bodies—Hydro Pumps, Hyper Beams, and a whole list of Pokémon moves that usually ended in disaster for anyone standing too close.
"ROAR!" Tyranitar suddenly stepped forward with a deep bellow, planting herself protectively between David and the angry mobs.
Her massive arms spread wide as she shouted something in Pokémon-speak that roughly translated to, "Hold it! That idiot's my saviour!"
David peeked out from behind Tyranitar, giving a weak wave. "See? She vouches for me. We're cool."
Grant squinted, stepping closer. He didn't like this one bit. "David… these Pokémon… they look really mad at you. Did you… did you give them something you shouldn't have?"
David gasped in mock offense. "Excuse me?! I'm an honest man! Upright! Noble! I never lie!" He slammed a hand against his chest so dramatically it sounded like a drum.
Grant arched a brow. "You're saying these mobs of furious, possibly-laxative-inflicted Pokémon appearing right after eating your 'snacks' are just a coincidence?"
David laughed nervously. "Come on! Would I do that?"
The entire group behind him turned and nodded slowly in unison.
Then, from his little sad corner of tall grass, Aron turned his head with a death glare that could've incinerated mountains. He didn't say anything—he didn't need to. His eyes said it all.
You absolute lunatic.
David wiped a drop of sweat off his temple. "Uh-oh. I've been spotted…"
From the side, Luna hissed, "Seriously, who puts laxatives in energy cubes?! What kind of maniac…"
Tom, ever the opportunist, suddenly shoved a strange urn into David's arms. "Here, use this! I KNEW bringing this would come in handy! It's filled with emergency smoke powder and… a few other surprises."
David stared at the urn like it was a live grenade. "You carry this… for what situation, exactly?"
"Stuff like this," Tom said proudly. "You're welcome."
Meanwhile, the Ursarings had begun growling again, clearly retelling the tale of how David had stolen something very precious from their stash.
Tyranitar turned, blinking at David, then pointed at the Ursarings with a very clear "Hand it over" motion.
David blinked back. "Wait, what? What treasures?"
Tyranitar pointed again. Harder this time.
David scratched his head awkwardly, then reached down and scooped up Larvitar. "Ohhh, you mean those treasures. Yeah... about that."
He lifted Larvitar toward the Ursarings. "Sorry, folks! Your Smooth Rocks got devoured by this little vacuum cleaner. Whether you want to braise him, grill him, or stuff him in dumplings, that's up to you!"
Larvitar, innocent as ever, wagged his stubby arms and tilted its head, eyes gleaming as it remembered the delicious taste of Smooth Rock. It chirped excitedly at the Ursarings, like it was asking, "Got any more?"
Tyranitar: [[SHOCKED.jpg]]
I may not be human, but you are a real dog!
The Ursarings, after exchanging a few glances and growls, reluctantly backed off. At the end of the day, the rocks weremeant for Tyranitar's evolution anyway. If her kid scarfed them down a little early… well, it wasn't ideal, but not the worst thing.
The Gyarados, however, were still floating ominously above like serpentine missiles. And their leader had its sights set squarely on Tom.
Before the earlier chaos, Tom delivered a thunderous kick to its face that made it evolve. And Gyarados didn't forget. Or forgive.
With an earth-shaking roar, it descended from the sky with glowing fangs and the full force of Rage in its eyes.
David, grinning like a devil, quickly shoved the urn back into Tom's hands. "Bro, I take back what I said. What you brought really isn't useless!"
Tom: [[PANIC.jpg]]
Luna: "Can someone PLEASE tell me why I hang out with you guys?!"
David: "Character development, obviously."
And in the distance, Aron, still stuck in his squat, silently vowed to retire from Trainer life the moment he got home.
[+3000 Negative Emotion Value from Aron…]
[+5000 Negative Emotion Value from Tyranitar…]
[+2000 Negative Emotion Value from Tom…]
[+400 Negative Emotion Value from Luna…]
David: "Ah… music to my ears."