Clearing the fiery slopes of Mt. Chimney marked the end of John's immediate troubles. His next goal was set: challenge Norman, at the Petalburg Gym. Victory there would earn him the coveted Balance Badge, and with it, the ability to use Surf to explore Hoenn's waterways and reach the next city.
Determined to be prepared, John spent several days rigorously training his Garchomp and Blaziken, raising them both to LV 50. When he finally arrived in Petalburg City, his first stop was the Pokemon Center to heal his team and save his progress. A part of him felt a rush of anticipation. This wasn't just another gym—it was his father's. The stakes felt personal.
John stepped into the gym, where he was greeted by the familiar setup of two doors. One read "Power," the other "Speed." He knew the drill—each room represented a different challenge, with trainers specializing in strategies based on the door's theme. Their Pokemon ranged from LV 30 to LV 40, but John was confident in his preparations.
Opting for a full sweep, John cleared all seven rooms in the gym, even though it wasn't strictly necessary. After all, three victories would have sufficed to reach Norman. But John was thorough, determined to maximize his Pokemon's experience and ensure they were in peak condition for the final showdown.
Eventually, John stood before the last door, behind which his Norman waited. Just as he was about to enter, he placed his Gameboy down and stretched. The sound of playful bickering floated up from the living room below.
He made his way downstairs, where Togepi and Wobbuffet were deeply engrossed in a battle game. Ever since he had bought the console, they had turned into avid gamers. Somehow, their gaming sessions even seemed to improve their battle skills, though John hadn't quite figured out why.
"Toge-pi-pi!" Togepi chirped victoriously as Wobbuffet sighed in defeat. With a grin, Togepi grabbed a marker from the table and added another line to the elaborate doodles already decorating Wobbuffet's face.
Wobbuffet protested half-heartedly but didn't resist. By now, his face resembled a chaotic canvas of marker strokes. Togepi, on the other hand, sported only a single faint mark—a testament to his overwhelming winning streak.
John chuckled and shook his head. "Alright, alright, let's take a snack break," he said, scooping up Togepi. From his pocket, he pulled out a custom-made Pokeblock and handed it to the little Pokemon. Togepi devoured it eagerly, chirping with delight.
A fiery gaze caught John's attention. Wobbuffet was staring at him, eyes wide and pleading.
"Fine," John relented, pulling out another Pokeblock. Wobbuffet's expression brightened immediately as he accepted the treat.
The commotion didn't end there. One by one, the rest of John's Pokemon began to emerge from their Pokeballs, each pretending to act casual but clearly lining up for their share of snacks. At the front of the line was Garchomp, his most food-motivated companion.
Even Steelix, who was too large to stay in the dormitory and spent most of his time in his Pokeball, jostled for attention. And Tyranitar—who was notoriously unruly—nudged his Pokeball insistently.
"All right, all right," John sighed, pulling out a box of Pokeblocks. He handed the box to Gardevoir, who used Confusion to distribute them evenly among the team. The only exception was Steelix and Tyranitar, who received theirs directly from John.
As he fed the last two Pokemon, John muttered under his breath, "There's got to be a time when Slaking finally gets tired."
He wasn't looking forward to facing Norman's Slaking. In the games, its Truant ability made it attack only every other turn. In real life, however, Slaking's laziness was even more unpredictable. Sometimes it would nap through an entire battle; other times, it would wake up and dominate the battlefield. Its raw power was comparable to legendary Pokemon, and John was well aware that a high-level Slaking could be an uphill battle.
Returning to his room, John picked up the Gameboy again. He guided his in-game character through the final door. To his surprise, instead of the usual dialogue and teleportation to the battlefield, the screen immediately shifted to the gym's arena. Norman was already waiting.
"Son?" boomed Norman's voice from the screen.
John winced. Even though he knew the game's script, it still felt awkward. "Why does the game insist on calling me 'son' like I've somehow gained a second father?" he muttered.
He focused on the scene. Beside Norman stood a brown-haired girl around John's age. She wore a white dress with a red bow, exuding a kind and gentle demeanor—like the quintessential girl-next-door.
"Come here," Norman's character beckoned.
Following the prompt, John guided his in-game avatar forward.
The girl smiled warmly and waved. "Hi, John."
Startled by the use of his actual name, John glanced at the Gameboy in confusion. Wait did they always used my name while talking to me before?
Norman continued, "John, this is Jasmine. She'll be accompanying you today. Take her around town, show her Hoenn's customs, and maybe grab a bite to eat. After all, she's your fiancee. It's good for her to get familiar with the region."
"Fiancee?!" John exclaimed aloud, nearly dropping the Gameboy.
His jaw dropped as the girl on-screen blushed and offered a shy smile. Norman's expression remained stoic, as if this was the most natural thing in the world