Chapter 148 — Lusamine's Near Social Death

Half an hour later, at the villa entrance.

"It's been so long since we had this team together."

Looking at Marnie and Serena all geared up and ready to go, Sun Wuming said cheerfully.

"Mhm!"

Serena nodded adorably.

It felt just like when they used to travel together in the Kalos region - she loved traveling with Sun Wuming and Marnie the most.

"You seem to be in a good mood."

Marnie observed Sun Wuming's expression and suddenly remarked.

"Huh? Not really, I'm always like this."

Sun Wuming played dumb while knowing full well, then gave the two girls a gentle push on their backs, "Come on, enough chatting, let's get going."

"First we need to head to Pewter City."

That's Brock's territory, right? If all the female protagonists Ash meets in each new region are distinctly unique and charming in their own ways,

Then no other supporting male character can match Brock's status.

He's truly Ash's lifelong best friend.

Too bad Sun Wuming wasn't very interested in Brock, since he already had Serena as his cook.

"Mr. Wuming! Serena! Marnie! Once Mom gets better, I'll come travel with everyone!"

At the villa entrance, Lillie kept waving to the group of three.

"We'll be waiting for you, Lillie 'Seven-Seven-Three'!"

"Do your best~"

Serena and Marnie also half-turned to wave back.

Until the three figures shrank to the size of a sesame seed in the distance.

Only then did Lillie pat her own cheeks with her small hands, making two crisp "pat pat" sounds before clenching her fists and muttering to herself:

"Alright, I need to stay strong and take good care of Mother."

However, as soon as she returned to the villa, Lillie found Lusamine standing alone at the sink, repeatedly rinsing her mouth.

She was brushing with such force that it seemed like she was trying to scrub her teeth right off.

"Mother, why did you come downstairs by yourself? Didn't I tell you to call me if you needed anything?"

Seeing this, Lillie was startled and quickly went to support Lusamine's arm.

"Lillie, I'm not that fragile..."

Lusamine forced a smile with her mouth full of bubbles.

The amount of foam was incredible - who knows how much toothpaste she had used.

"Mother, why are you rinsing your mouth in the middle of the day?"

Lillie asked again with a puzzled expression.

It's all because of that jerk!?

Of course, Lusamine couldn't reveal the real reason, so she could only put on a casual expression and say:

"Maybe, maybe the sausage from lunch was expired, it had a strange taste..."

As she said this, Lusamine exhaled and muttered to herself:

"The smell should be gone now, right?"

Seeing this, Lillie stood on her tiptoes trying to smell.

This action startled Lusamine so much she stumbled backward, nearly falling.

If Lillie smelled that scent, how could she face her daughter ever again?

"Mother, what's wrong?"

Lillie asked with complete confusion.

Mother was acting so strange today.

"Nothing, nothing, let's go back to the room and watch TV."

Lusamine felt like crying from embarrassment.

...

...

Several days later.

Rota Street, also called Rota Town, lies between Pewter City and Mt. Moon.

Though it's just a small town no bigger than Pallet Town, it boasts a magnificent castle in its center.

Sun Wuming, Marnie, and Serena walked through this small but once-prosperous town.

Serena suddenly asked:

"Teacher, I heard Mew has a personality like a mischievous child and likes to wander all over the world. Even if the Tree of Beginning is its home, will it really stay there obediently?"

Over these past few days, Sun Wuming had told them both about his objective.

When they learned that Sun Wuming's target was Mew, Marnie and Serena were shocked.

Well... not really that shocked.

After all, Sun Wuming already had ultra-rare legendaries like Zekrom and unsealed Hoopa, so getting another Mew didn't seem that unreasonable.

But even knowing the Tree of Beginning was Mew's home,

Mew wasn't a homebody like Zekrom or Kyurem.

It was a troublemaker who couldn't stay still for a moment.

Who knows how many days it actually spends at home?

Sun Wuming pointed ahead.

Marnie and Serena looked up to see Cameron Palace coming into view.

Sun Wuming continued:

"The town's annual battle festival is coming up. The winner will receive the title of 'Aura Guardian' and be invited by the Queen to attend the royal ball inside."

After a brief pause, Sun Wuming added:

"Mew likes joining in on festivities, so it should return home around this time. Plus, the Queen knows the exact location of the Tree of Beginning, so we can ask her at the ball."

Though called a Queen, she's really just nobility from the Kanto region.

And the so-called royal ball can't attract any real VIPs.

Probably just nouveau riche.

Though Sun Wuming had initially considered bringing Ash along.

After all, that guy had a legendary Pokémon attraction aura - wherever he went, legendary Pokémon would appear.

But on second thought, he decided against it.

Sun Wuming felt he wasn't comfortable having a guy around.

"I see, as expected of Teacher."

Serena nodded admiringly.

"Oh, we're here."

During their chat, Sun Wuming looked up and realized they had unconsciously arrived at their destination -

The battle arena next to Cameron Palace.

Of course, its scale couldn't compare to the Galar Stadium or Indigo Plateau.

"Would you like to register for the battle festival?"

The staff member at the entrance asked.

"Yes."

Sun Wuming nodded, then turned to the two girls behind him:

"Who wants to participate? Or do you both want to?"

"Hmm... let Serena do it, didn't you say earlier you wanted a chance for some real battle experience?"

After thinking for a moment, Marnie gave the opportunity to Serena.

Actually, Marnie had glanced at the other participants and thought their level was too low.

If Marnie competed, not knowing how to hold back, she'd probably half-kill these people.

In comparison, the gentle-natured Serena would be much safer.

"Alright then."

Serena didn't decline and wrote her name on the registration form.

The staff member explained further:

"Participants can change into their preferred attire in the changing rooms to compete. This is also part of our town's annual battle festival tradition."

...

...

About half an hour later.

Sun Wuming and Marnie sat in the upper spectator stands.

"First, let us welcome the ruler of this city, the master of this castle, Queen Ilene!"

A referee dressed as a priest announced loudly.

Amidst the cheers of the many spectators in the stands, in the private viewing box at the center,

A woman wearing an elegant pink gown with waterfall-like wavy golden hair reaching her waist and an elegant, noble bearing, walked gracefully to the balcony and waved to the audience.

Beside her was a Mime Jr.

Then, Ilene raised both hands in a praise-the-sun gesture and said in a gentle voice:

"Let the Pokémon Battle Festival, held in honor of Sir Aaron, the Aura Guardian who saved the world, now begin!"

Among the audience's cheers, Marnie turned to Sun Wuming and asked:

"Saved the world?"

"That's an exaggeration, at most he saved this city."

Sun Wuming said unmoved.

Like how they describe Wailord as being able to swallow the world when its waves surge up.

Forget swallowing the world, even Rayquaza of Hoenn wouldn't allow that.

These legends tend to be exaggerated.

As the referee officially announced the start of the competition, Serena ran out from the right contestant tunnel wearing a crimson princess gown.

With her delicate features, if Ilene was the Queen, then Serena was undoubtedly a princess.

Her opponent, dressed as a general, wore heavy armor.

"I'm counting on you, Greninja!"

Seeing Serena send out Greninja, Sun Wuming was slightly surprised.

He had thought that against these weaklings, Serena would use her not-yet-mature Yamper or newly caught Honedge to gain experience.

"Maybe because only the winner can attend the royal ball, Serena doesn't want to risk messing everything up by being careless."

Girls are more thoughtful - Marnie immediately saw through Serena's thinking.

"That girl is still as considerate as ever."

Sun Wuming couldn't help but remark.

"Perhaps she's only considerate towards a certain someone."

Marnie gave Sun Wuming a side-eye, and received a flick to the forehead in return.

The armored opponent sent out an Aggron.

Then, it was defeated by Serena's Greninja in one move.

Marnie commented again:

"1.6 I knew this kind of competition would have no challenge at all."

Sun Wuming also smiled, "At least it gives the citizens of this tiny town something to witness."

When they saw Serena's one-hit victory, the thousands of spectators including Queen Ilene were dumbfounded.

It took a full five or six seconds before thunderous applause erupted.

Serena recalled Greninja, waved towards Sun Wuming and Marnie's direction, and quickly returned to the contestants' room.

Next, the second round's trainers entered.

One was a young man dressed as a priest, wearing glasses.

The other was a tall woman, her soft armor revealing an incredibly shapely figure.

However, she wore a helmet that covered her entire face, hiding her features.

All that could be seen was a waterfall of golden hair flowing almost to her heels behind the helmet.

"I'm counting on you! Tropius!"

The bespectacled man called out his Pokémon.

While the mysteriously dressed female knight remained silent, her ball-throwing motion was gallant and majestic.

She called out... a Lucario!?

"That woman's ball-throwing motion seems oddly familiar."

Sun Wuming muttered to himself.