The afternoon sunlight in Celadon City was warm and mellow, carrying with it the sweet scent of berries drifting from the dessert shops along the street. It fell softly over Ren and the Shuppet in his arms. Nestled snugly against him, the little Pokémon's red eyes sparkled brightly, and from time to time its tiny claws would paw at the badge pouch hanging from his chest—inside rested the Rainbow Badge, the honor it had won with all its strength.
"Stop pawing at it. The badge is tucked away safely—it's not going anywhere," Ren said with a smile, gently pinching its round little cheek. Pale green Viridian Power flowed from his fingertips, quietly seeping into the little Pokémon's body and soothing the injuries left behind by the battle. Shuppet closed its eyes in bliss, letting out a soft, contented purr as it rubbed its head insistently against his palm, clingy as ever.
Then the scent of sweets drifted over again.
Shuppet's head shot up at once. Its tiny claw pointed toward a dessert shop not far away, and it made a string of excited little sounds, its round eyes brimming with longing. Ren had no way of resisting that expression.
"Alright, alright. We'll get our little warrior an extra treat, okay?"
The old lady at the dessert shop still remembered them. Smiling warmly, she handed over a cream cake made especially for Ghost-type Pokémon, topped with an extra sprinkle of shredded coconut—Shuppet's favorite. The little Pokémon held the cake in its tiny paws and nibbled away happily, so absorbed in eating that it didn't even notice the smear of white cream at the corner of its mouth.
After finishing the cake, the pair strolled leisurely back to the Pokémon Center. Ren first brought Shuppet to Nurse Joy for a full checkup. Only after confirming that its stamina and overall condition had completely recovered did he head to the Pokéblock crafting area.
According to his travel plan, after obtaining the Rainbow Badge, their next destination would be Fuchsia City—the city famous for its Poison-type Gym. Its leader, Koga, was a master of poison and ninja techniques, especially adept at wearing opponents down with toxic mist, paralysis, and hidden traps. They would need to prepare thoroughly in advance.
Ren took out the berries he had prepared ahead of time. Pecha Berries, Mago Berries, and Oran Berries were combined in exact proportions, then mixed with an energy essence specially suited for Ghost-type Pokémon. His fingertips guided the merging berry energy with Viridian Power, preventing any loss of nutrients.
Grinding, stirring, shaping—every step flowed smoothly.
Before long, a series of Pokéblocks with a faint violet sheen had been completed. They could quickly replenish stamina while also slightly improving resistance to poison—perfectly suited for the upcoming Poison-type battle.
Shuppet sat beside the crafting station, tiny claws gripping the edge as it stared without blinking at Ren's hands. Every now and then it would lean in and rub its little head against his wrist, making soft, muffled noises. It didn't understand the complexity of the recipes, but it knew this much—every Pokéblock Ren made was for its sake.
That unspoken trust softened Ren's heart.
[Mission Triggered]
[Mission Name: The Poison-Type Bond Trial of Fuchsia Gym]
[Mission Objective: Travel to Fuchsia City, formally challenge Koga, the Poison-type Gym Leader, and win the Soul Badge through coordinated tactics and your bond with your Pokémon]
[Mission Rewards: 1. Advanced Anti-Poison Pokéblock Recipe ×1; 2. Slight Enhancement to the Affinity Attribute of Viridian Power]
Ren looked at the glowing screen and smiled gently. This mission had already been part of his planned journey. It was also a necessary trial on the road of growth for both him and Shuppet.
He lifted a hand and rubbed the little Pokémon's head. "Look, the system just gave us another mission. Next, we're heading to Fuchsia City. We'll defeat the Poison-type Gym and claim our fourth badge, alright?"
Shuppet immediately stopped nibbling on the sample Pokéblock. It smacked Ren's hand firmly with a tiny claw and let out a crisp, determined cry, its red eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
From their first meeting in Viridian Forest, to fighting side by side in Pewter, Cerulean, and Celadon, it had long since gotten used to facing challenges together with Ren. As long as it was by his side, it was afraid of nothing.
Once all the supplies were packed away, Ren carefully slipped the Rainbow Badge into the inner layer of his badge pouch. Then he touched the Keystone tucked close to his chest—the treasure they had obtained in Lavender Town's Soul Tower. It lay quietly against his heart, faintly resonating with the Banette Mega Stone in his bag.
He had never forgotten that the power of Mega Evolution could only be unlocked through a deeper bond. And every Gym battle was the best opportunity for them to strengthen that bond.
Once everything was ready, Ren boarded the intercity bus to Fuchsia City with Shuppet in his arms.
The bus rumbled away from Celadon City, and the scenery beyond the window gradually shifted from bustling urban streets to endless tropical forest and broad grasslands. The wind blowing in through the window carried the bitter-green scent of plants. Trees by the roadside were heavy with ripe berries, and every so often a gust of wind would knock a few loose, only for passing Rattata to snatch them up and scurry back into the grass. Butterfree fluttered alongside the bus for quite a while, their colorful wings shining in the air before they finally settled reluctantly onto blooming trumpet flowers.
Shuppet pressed itself to the window, captivated. As the bus jostled along, it kept making little sounds at every wild Pokémon that flashed by outside, as if eagerly sharing all the new things it saw with Ren.
Leaning back in his seat, Ren watched the lively little Pokémon while mentally sorting through strategies for the Poison-type Gym.
Shuppet was a Ghost-type Pokémon, naturally possessing resistance to Poison-type moves. But Koga's tactics were dangerous because of how elusive and underhanded they were—toxic mist that blocked vision, paralysis powder that restricted movement, deadly poison that wore down stamina bit by bit. A single careless move could put them at a disadvantage.
He would need Shuppet to use Double Team and Trick effectively to disrupt the opponent, avoid traps, and then strike precisely with Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball. At the same time, his Viridian Power would have to remain on standby. The moment Shuppet came into contact with poison, he would need to ease its condition at once.
The bus stopped midway at a small forest town for a short break. Ren stepped off with Shuppet in his arms to get some air, where he happened to meet a few Trainers returning from Fuchsia City. When they heard he intended to challenge Koga's Gym, they couldn't help but warn him:
"Gym Leader Koga's ninja tactics are brutal. Once he releases toxic mist, you can't even tell where your opponent is. And there are all sorts of invisible Toxic Spikes traps too. You really need to be careful."
Ren carefully committed their advice to memory and lowered his gaze toward Shuppet in his arms. The little Pokémon seemed to understand every word. Its tiny claws tightened around one of Ren's fingers, its eyes filled with determination, as if promising that it would cooperate perfectly and never hold him back.
By evening, the bus finally entered Fuchsia City.
The sunset had dyed the sky a warm orange, and the entire city was wrapped in dense jungle. The air carried the mixed scent of herbs and unfamiliar spices, making it feel completely different from the cities they had visited before. Many of the shops lining the streets displayed signs reading Antidote Specialist and Anti-Poison Pokéblocks. Every so often, Trainers dressed in ninja garb could be seen practicing moves on the roadside with Koffing and Ariados.
The whole city radiated an air of mystery and hidden sharpness.
Ren first checked into the Pokémon Center nearest to Fuchsia Gym. The room was clean and tidy, the warm yellow lighting washing away the fatigue of the journey. He set Shuppet down on the soft bed, and the little Pokémon immediately rolled over once before pouncing back to grab at his pant leg, acting spoiled and insisting he play with it.
Ren laughed and sat down beside the bed. When he reached out to stroke the faint scratches still lingering on its body, his movements were especially gentle.
"Long ride today, huh? You must be exhausted," he coaxed softly. "Get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow we'll finish the mission, win the Gym battle, and claim the badge. Then I'll take you out for Fuchsia City's most famous berry cake—and I'll make you a whole box of special Pokéblocks too, okay?"
Shuppet rubbed against his palm, purring contentedly. Before long, it had curled up against his leg and fallen asleep, one tiny claw still gripping the edge of his clothing, unwilling to let go for even a moment.
Ren carefully tucked it beneath the blanket and covered it with a small quilt. Viridian Power flowed gently from his fingertips, soothing away the weariness of the journey.
Then he took out his notebook and wrote down the day's observations along with the strategy for tomorrow. He also checked his supply of Antidotes, Paralyze Heals, and anti-poison Pokéblocks once more, ensuring that everything was in perfect order.
Outside the window, the night deepened. Somewhere in the forest beyond, Fuchsia Gym lay hidden among the trees, with only a few faint lights visible in the distance.
Ren lowered his gaze to the sleeping Shuppet, and a gentle smile rose to his lips.
He knew tomorrow's Gym battle would not be easy. The danger of Poison-type moves and the cunning of ninja tactics would be no small trial. And yet, he felt no fear.
Because by his side was the partner he trusted most—the warm bond they shared, a connection that crossed the boundary between species.
The night breeze of Fuchsia City, carrying the scent of herbs, drifted softly across the windowsill.
The journey continued. A new trial lay just ahead.
And he and Shuppet were already fully prepared to face it together.