Fiancee? Jasmine? Wait, does the protagonist have a backstory? Oh, right—he does!
John suddenly recalled that the protagonist in the Emerald game is named "Brendan," and his hometown is New Bark Town in the Johto Region. Because of his father Norman's work, he moved to Littleroot Town to begin his journey as a trainer.
That's about as much as John could remember, and even that was pieced together by chance. However, he decided that after dealing with the Petalburg Gym, he'd head back to the second floor of his Littleroot Town home and rummage through his diary for more details.
As for Jasmine, John's mind immediately went to Jasmine, the Steel Gym Leader from Johto. The girl standing in front of him bore a striking resemblance to her. But wasn't the Steel Gym Leader supposed to stay in her city? What was she doing here?
Which city was Jasmine from again? Oh, right—Olive City, where the Glitter Lighthouse is located. Ethan's hometown and Jasmine's gym were in the same region, but this situation felt... off.
Fiancee, though? That was new.
"Okay," John agreed, albeit hesitantly. This was nowhere in the game, and he had no idea how the plot would unfold.
"No, no," Jasmine said quickly, waving her hands. "I'm just here for the Contest Festival in Hoenn and stopped by Petalburg City to visit my uncle and aunt. I'll be heading back to Johto soon—I can't stay away from the lighthouse for too long."
Her words confirmed John's suspicions. This Jasmine really was the Gym Leader from Olive City. As its protector, she was responsible for the Glitter Lighthouse and Ampharos, the light source for the city's ships.
"I understand." Norman nodded. "A Gym Leader's duty is a heavy burden. When you and John get married, he can head to Johto to help you out."
Jasmine's cheeks turned pink as she nodded silently. John, on the other hand, was reeling from the implications. Marriage plotline? Really?
Norman broke the silence with a sharp tone. "What brings you back today, John?"
Finally, they were getting to the point.
John quickly produced his four Gym Badges. "I've beaten four gyms and came to challenge the Petalburg Gym."
Norman's stern expression softened slightly. "Not bad. But don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're my kid. On the contrary, I'll push you to your limits to make sure you don't embarrass me at the Evergrande Conference."
John smirked inwardly. It didn't matter whether Norman held back or not. His Slaking's infamous laziness would give him the edge.
"I'll be the referee!" Jasmine offered, her enthusiasm piqued by the idea of a battle between father and son.
"Fine by me," Norman said, taking his position on the battlefield. John mirrored his stance as Jasmine took up the referee's flag.
"The Petalburg Gym Challenge begins now!" Jasmine announced. "Trainer John will face Gym Leader Norman. Each side may use three Pokemon. No substitutions. The battle ends when one trainer's Pokemon are all unable to battle. The Gym Leader sends out their Pokemon first."
Norman tossed his Pokeball into the air. It opened with a flash, releasing a Kangaskhan onto the field. Its LV48 marker was prominently displayed, a clear sign of its strength.
John considered his options and chose his own Pokeball. Out came Blaziken, his reliable partner.
The choice was strategic. As a Fighting-type, Blaziken had an advantage over Kangaskhan's Normal typing. Additionally, its Speed Boost ability would allow it to grow faster with each turn, giving John the upper hand even if Norman brought out his dreaded Slaking later.
"The battle begins!" Jasmine declared, waving the flag.
"Blaziken, Bulk Up!" John commanded.
"Kangaskhan, Mind Reader!" Norman countered.
Both trainers started with setup moves. Blaziken's muscles tensed as its attack and defense stats rose. Thanks to its ability, its speed increased as well, giving it a triple advantage.
Meanwhile, Kangaskhan closed its eyes, placing its hands together in concentration. Even the baby in its pouch mimicked the gesture. When Kangaskhan opened its eyes again, they gleamed with sharp focus, as though it could predict Blaziken's every move.
Mind Reader wasn't just about increasing accuracy. It enhanced a Pokemon's ability to perceive movements on a deeper level, making evasive maneuvers like smoke screens or double teams ineffective.
John seized the moment. "Blaziken, Double Kick!"
Blaziken dashed forward, a blur of red and gold in the sunlit arena. It closed the distance in an instant, pivoting on one foot to deliver a powerful kick aimed at Kangaskhan's head.
Kangaskhan reacted swiftly, raising a thick arm to block. The force of the kick still pushed it back several steps, but it held its ground.
Blaziken didn't stop. Using the momentum from the first kick, it spun around to deliver a second strike. This time, Kangaskhan crossed its arms and activated Protect, absorbing the impact without taking damage.
Norman chuckled. "Using Force Palm combos? Did you pick that up from Brawly?"
Raising his hand, he gave his next command. "Kangaskhan, Outrage!"
Kangaskhan roared, its eyes glowing with an intense light. It charged at Blaziken with ferocious energy, each step reverberating through the battlefield.
Blaziken braced itself, and John grinned. The battle was just getting started.