The crowd erupted in astonishment. Someone had actually defeated the instructor—an unbelievable feat! At least among the new students, no one had ever managed such a thing before.
Hayato felt the attention on him growing too intense. If he stayed any longer, he'd surely expose himself. He needed to leave—quickly. But before that, of course, he had to claim his reward.
"Teacher, excuse me—do you happen to have a Ponyta as a prize?"
Maiko Kura'i blinked, still recovering from shock. "Ponyta? No, I'm afraid not!"
"Then… what about a TM for the move Curse?"
Maiko shook her head again, then leaned closer to whisper in his ear. "You can check over there, where the prizes are displayed. Honestly, we weren't fully prepared today. And, hmm, young man—you look a little unfamiliar. Don't tell me you're—"
Before she could finish, Hayato's heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, he darted toward the prize table, snatched up a small bead, and turned to leave.
"Teacher, I'm just going to the restroom!"
Outside, the rain had stopped. The storm clouds broke apart, revealing a warm, gentle sunlight spilling across the earth.
At the gate, Hayato spotted the security guard chatting with someone.
"Sir, I've finished my tour. This place is great! I'll come back soon to complete my enrollment paperwork. I'll be off for now!"
The guard gave him a friendly warning. "Be careful on the mountain trail—the path's slippery after the rain!"
Back in the forest, Hayato finally exhaled in relief. He glanced curiously at the bead in his hand.
"Huh? This is a Leftovers! Perfect for Umbreon!"
Finding such a treasure filled Hayato with smug delight. It meant his Umbreon had just gained another tier of strength. Once its moveset was perfected, it would be an essential piece of his plan to win the Indigo League Championship.
Deep in the forest, a small round lake shimmered near a cozy wooden cabin. Pokémon played freely nearby, but one young woman wore a troubled expression.
"Oh no… what's going on lately? Every day more injured Pokémon show up, and their wounds are getting worse. Hang in there, Oddish, you can make it!"
Hayato happened to pass by and paused when he noticed the area teeming with Pokémon.
"This must be a strong Trainer's place… what a peaceful environment."
But when the woman appeared, Hayato realized he was mistaken.
"These are medicinal herbs… and that Oddish's burns are severe. Poor thing!"
He approached to help.
"Um, Miss, are these all your Pokémon?"
Midori smiled awkwardly. "Oh, no. These Pokémon aren't mine. They're rescues! I take care of them here, but they're free spirits—I never actually capture them."
After a short conversation, Hayato understood. This was essentially a Pokémon healing sanctuary. Any Pokémon seriously injured or abandoned by its Trainer would be brought here by Midori. She would treat their wounds, cure their poison, and soothe their hearts.
"Miss Midori, you're so kind."
"You're making me blush! This is just my passion. Look at them—they're all so adorable. But lately… something strange has been happening."
"Strange?" Hayato asked, intrigued. "Tell me. Maybe I can help."
If someone was behind this, his first thought went straight to Team Rocket. If those villains were bullying such a kind-hearted girl, there was no way he'd stand by and let it happen.
Midori sighed. "Here's the thing. Usually I help maybe ten Pokémon at a time—one or two new arrivals every month or so. But these past few days, something's been off. Every single day, new injured Pokémon show up. Look at this Oddish—so badly burned!"
Hayato frowned. "If that's the case, there must be a powerful Fire-type Pokémon nearby."
"Oh? Why do you say that?"
He pointed to Oddish. "These burns are clearly caused by flames. And most of the Pokémon you've treated are Grass-types. Whoever's attacking them isn't trying to capture them—so my guess is it's a wild Fire-type."
Midori gasped softly. "Now that you mention it, a traveler did tell me a few days ago about a fierce Ponyta in the area. They tried to capture it, but were completely defeated. They said it was extremely strong."
At the word Ponyta, Hayato's eyes lit up. "What? A Ponyta? I get it now. Miss Midori, leave this to me! I'll defend this forest and bring that wild Ponyta under control!"
"Really? That's wonderful! But be careful—it's said to be very wild."
"Don't worry! I can handle it."
After saying his goodbyes, Hayato hurried off. If he didn't move fast, someone else might capture the Ponyta first. And this—this was his chance to change his fate.
Somewhere deeper in the forest, by a sparkling stream, a horse wreathed in flames drank quietly from the water.
Suddenly, a Bulbasaur appeared nearby, catching Ponyta's attention—and instantly irritating it.
With an angry whinny, Ponyta let loose a burst of fire.
"Bulba! Bulba!" cried the startled Pokémon, trying to defend itself.
The flames struck true. Bulbasaur staggered, badly burned. Ponyta's eyes gleamed sharply—it was declaring this place its territory. The poor Grass-type had no choice but to flee.
The commotion didn't escape Hayato's sharp ears.
"That direction! There's a battle going on—Ponyta, I'm coming!"
Behind a large tree, he finally saw it: a breathtaking Pokémon, elegant and fierce, its mane blazing like a living inferno.
Ponyta, the Fire Horse Pokémon. Within an hour of its birth, its fiery mane and tail grow out, their flames shining beautifully as it runs.
"Go! Umbreon! Use Toxic!"
When Ponyta noticed Hayato, it showed only disdain. After all, it had already defeated at least five Trainers. Most had run away in humiliation.
As Umbreon launched its attack, Ponyta countered with Fire Spin, trying to block the incoming toxin.
"Umbreon, Quick Attack! Break through its move!"
In a flash, Umbreon became a streak of light, slamming into Ponyta. Though the burning flames scorched its fur, the impact disrupted Ponyta's concentration. The toxic mist spread—and Ponyta was poisoned.
"Heh. Unless someone cures you, that poison will finish you off. You can't cleanse it on your own."
Enraged, Ponyta thrashed wildly, attacking in a frenzy. All Hayato needed to do was stall for time—let the poison do its work.
After a few minutes of fierce struggle, the clearing lay in ruins. Ponyta finally collapsed, panting weakly.
"Looks like we've won! Go, Poké Ball!"
He tossed the ball confidently, expecting an easy capture—but it broke open. Ponyta refused to yield.
"So stubborn, huh? Then it's time for my ultimate technique—the Frying Pan Special! You're looking at a true horse-taming master!"
Ponyta snorted weakly, a faint spark flickering from its muzzle.
"Easy now… come on, get in the ball. I'll take you to the Pokémon Center."
With barely 1 HP left, resistance was futile. The Poké Ball clicked shut. Capture successful.
"Different gender from Spearow, huh? Perfect for fusion! Two more days until the next synthesis… heh, maybe I'll get a pseudo-legendary next time. Though it's odd—why hasn't Team Rocket shown up yet?"
Dozens of miles away, atop a hill, James was peering through binoculars at Ash and his friends.
"Meowth, there they are! Let's go after them!"
Indeed, Team Rocket's target was Pikachu. They had no time—or courage—to mess with Hayato. Besides, Jessie and James were wary of him. If Meowth ever ran off to join him, they'd be doomed! This guy was their super inventor, after all.
After informing Midori of his success, Hayato continued his journey toward Vermilion City.
(End of Chapter)