Because of the incident with Team Rocket, Natsui and Erika were in no mood to challenge the gym.
Besides, it was already noon, and his Pokémon had used up some of their energy in the recent battle. So, Natsui decided to take a day off and challenge Whitney the next morning.
For the rest of the day, Natsui fulfilled his earlier promise and accompanied Erika on another tour of Goldenrod City. They visited almost all the major attractions recommended in her travel guide.
They went shopping, ate dessert, and had a fun afternoon.
In the evening, they found a hotel near the gym and stayed the night. The next morning, after breakfast, they once again stepped through the doors of the Goldenrod Gym.
Unlike their first visit, Whitney was in the gym this time.
Led by a staff member, Natsui arrived at the gym's battlefield and saw the cheerful girl with red pigtails.
Just like the Pokémon type Whitney specialized in, the battlefield was very standard. It was surrounded by tiered spectator seats, and the ground was hard-packed earth with various lines drawn in white. Everything about it perfectly fit the 'Normal' type.
"Welcome to the Goldenrod Gym. I'm the gym leader, Whitney."
Seeing the two of them, Whitney was the first to speak. Natsui immediately took a closer look at her.
Whitney was about sixteen or seventeen, in the prime of her youth. She was very beautiful and cute, wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, denim shorts, and green and black striped socks. Just looking at her, you could feel her youthful energy.
Natsui got straight to the point. "Hello, Miss Whitney. I'm here to challenge the gym."
"I know who you are," Whitney said with a smile. "I saw your matches in the Indigo Conference, and I've heard other gym leaders talk about you. they all say you're a very strong trainer. It's nice to finally meet you!"
Then, her tone changed slightly. "Oh, and thank you for defeating Team Rocket yesterday and saving all those hostages."
Natsui was surprised. "Huh? You know about the incident at the TV station?"
"Of course," Whitney smiled. "In a gym city, nothing can be hidden from the gym leader! Actually, I should have gone to help yesterday, but I happened to be out. By the time I heard the news, you had already resolved everything perfectly."
It seemed that unlike Chuck and Bugsy, this was another gym leader who knew a bit about him. In that case, he would have to use his second challenge method for today's battle.
"It was nothing. I just happened to be nearby and stepped in," Natsui said with a light laugh, then stated his intention. "If possible, I'd like you to use your strongest Pokémon to battle me."
"Of course, no problem!" Whitney nodded. "I was thinking the same thing. I'd really like to have a real match with a champion like you!"
Then, she turned her gaze to Erika and smiled. "You must be Miss Erika, right? You're very pretty. I heard you're a gym leader too, is that correct?"
"You're too kind, Miss Whitney. You're very beautiful as well," Erika replied with a slight curtsy. Since this girl knew Natsui well, she wasn't too surprised that she also knew about her. "I am indeed a gym leader, and I'm currently traveling with Natsui."
It was their first time meeting, so their words were the usual compliments women exchange. But Whitney noticed that when Erika said the word 'accompanying,' she glanced softly at Natsui.
She wasn't some naive little girl. She could tell their relationship was not ordinary.
Are they a couple?
Just then, seeing that their conversation was over, a stylishly dressed female staff member walked to the center of the field to act as the referee.
"I will now explain the rules. Each side will use three Pokémon. The battle is over when all of one side's Pokémon are defeated!"
Natsui nodded to show he understood. At that moment, Erika quietly wished him luck and then walked over to a seat on the sidelines to watch.
As he and Whitney took their positions on their respective sides of the field, Whitney, as the gym leader, was the first to send out her Pokémon.
She threw her Poké Ball, and with a flash of blue light, a pink, cow-like Pokémon appeared before Natsui.
"This is my most trusted partner, Miltank!"
Miltank looked basically the same as a cow, only pinker and cuter. This species is exclusively female, and its male counterpart is Tauros.
As a Pokémon that can produce 20 liters of nutritious milk a day, Miltank's milk, much like on Earth, has become a staple in countless households, with huge daily demand.
But speaking of milk...
Natsui discreetly glanced at Whitney's chest. He wondered if it was because she grew up drinking Miltank's milk, but the girl was surprisingly well-endowed.
Although Miltank were common on ranches everywhere, Natsui had never seen a trainer use one in battle.
Since he was unfamiliar with it, he took out his Pokédex and aimed it at the Miltank.
Pokédex:"Beep. Miltank, the Milk Cow Pokémon. A Normal-type. It has a gentle personality and dislikes fighting. It is said that children who grow up drinking Miltank's milk become healthy and strong adults. Because Miltank are strong and sturdy, they are occasionally used in battle by trainers."
See, even the Pokédex mostly described Miltank's role as a milk cow, barely touching on its fighting ability.
Disappointed, Natsui put away the Pokédex and considered what to use against this Miltank.
He still clearly remembered how in the anime, Whitney's Miltank had swept all three of Ash's Pokémon, a clean victory that showed its true power.
And for her to use such an ace Pokémon in the first round, he wondered what other Pokémon she had waiting for him. He definitely couldn't underestimate her.
But this also showed that Whitney was, as she said, using her strongest lineup and wanted to give him her best fight.
After a moment of thought, Natsui decided to send out his Tyranitar.
A power-type Pokémon should be met with another power-type Pokémon.
Besides, in the battle yesterday, his Tyranitar had lost to Archer's Tyranitar, which showed it still had a lot of room to grow. Now was a good time to hone its strength.
As soon as Tyranitar appeared, it showed its domineering side, throwing its head back and letting out a long roar towards the high ceiling.
"So it's a Tyranitar. It has quite an presence."
Whitney instinctively covered her ears. She naturally recognized the power of such a Pokémon.
On the side, seeing that both Pokémon were ready, the referee waved her flag.
"The Goldenrod Gym badge match between the challenger, Natsui, and the Gym Leader, Whitney, will now officially begin!"
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