The spectacular battle between Golduck and Gyarados drew the eager attention of countless spectators. Many sighed regretfully at Golduck's narrow defeat—after all, compared to the fierce-looking Gyarados, the cool and powerful Golduck clearly had a larger fanbase.
Standing atop a marble statue of a legendary water deity—his small stature left him little choice—Ray Chu crossed one paw over his chest and cupped his chin thoughtfully with the other.
A Gyarados is Water and Flying type, effectively making it an amphibious all-terrain mount. Its massive size would also make it a decent ride… Maybe I should catch one sometime.
Dapple stood silently at Ray Chu's side, releasing a disappointed sigh. Apparently, as a fellow duck, it'd also hoped for Golduck's victory.
Instead of leaving immediately after winning, the middle-aged Trainer of the victorious Gyarados pulled out a stack of flyers, booming loudly, "Gyarados Aquarium, offering high-quality Magikarp and Feebas—fulfill your dreams of power and beauty!"
With the "friendly" Gyarados personally delivering flyers with its terrifying jaws, few dared refuse. Accepting them quickly became a matter of self-preservation.
Still, the sight of the fierce Gyarados and stunning Milotic printed on the flyers stirred excitement in many hearts. Who wouldn't desire a Pokémon as powerful or beautiful as these? Whether motivated by battles or aesthetics, there was an appeal for everyone.
It was especially intriguing how this aquarium had managed to import Feebas—a species native to the distant Hoenn region. Naturally, prices reflected their rarity, yet many out-of-town Trainers flocked over eagerly, hoping to buy a Magikarp or Feebas. After all, what if it actually evolved?
On the other side, despite losing, the young Trainer had gathered his own crowd thanks to Golduck's stylish performance. He too handed out leaflets enthusiastically, joined by several assistants. "Golduck Surfing School! Learn the Surf technique with your beloved Pokémon! Exciting surfing competitions await!"
His promotional approach might have lacked the blunt aggression of the Gyarados vendor, but who could resist the allure of learning Surf by the seaside? The offer quickly attracted a bustling crowd of its own.
Cerulean City truly deserves its reputation as a commercial hub.
Suddenly intrigued, Ray Chu leapt down from his statue perch, only to collide unexpectedly with a cloaked figure. With a startled "Puff!", the figure fell backward, revealing a small, round pink body beneath the hood.
A Pokémon? Unless it was a human child, no adult could be this tiny. Seeing Pokémon wandering alone was hardly uncommon here, though.
Although the figure had bumped into him first, Ray Chu, ever the gentleman, immediately stepped forward to help. Yet, the moment he recognized the Pokémon's face beneath the hood, he froze mid-step.
"Pika…?"
Before he could say another word, the Pokémon grabbed his paw and urgently pulled him along into a quiet alley, gasping for breath. Moments later, Dapple sauntered over casually, leek resting comfortably on its shoulder.
After finally catching its breath, the Pokémon pulled off its cloak entirely, revealing its round, adorable body.
A Jigglypuff?
No, not just any Jigglypuff. It was Cerulean City's very own Pink Diva!
Ray Chu immediately recognized the double-moon hairpin perched neatly atop its head, a distinctive trademark.
"Puff! Puff!" spoke the Jigglypuff, its voice soft and pleasant. It confessed that it had sneaked out secretly to play, and now begged Ray Chu and Dapple not to reveal its location. If the paparazzi or media discovered that it had left before tonight's performance, there'd be trouble.
Ray Chu nodded readily. It felt bizarre that a Pokémon would have such human celebrity worries—but he hardly cared.
Meanwhile, Dapple gravely patted its chest, giving a knightly assurance that the lady's secret was safe with it.
Hey, careful with those promises! Ray Chu thought inwardly.
What was with this "knight swearing to defend a noble lady's secret" scenario anyway? Aren't you a female too?
Yet the diva Pokémon—who introduced herself as Lala—appeared deeply moved, her large, bright eyes shimmering gratefully. Seizing the moment, she shyly asked if she could join Ray Chu and Dapple to explore the city before her performance began.
Naturally, Dapple, upholding the chivalrous code, raised no objections.
Thus, the trio wandered through Cerulean City, soaking in its vibrant atmosphere. The bustling streets overflowed with energetic crowds and diverse Pokémon from both Kanto and distant regions, prompting frequent delighted exclamations of "Puff!" from the Pink Diva.
Ray Chu rented a Dodrio specifically intended for tourists. Though it felt rather peculiar for a Pikachu to rent a Pokémon, the stall owner waved off any confusion, cheerfully asserting that as long as the customer paid, it didn't matter whether they were human or Pokémon.
Seated comfortably on Dodrio's three heads, the trio slowly ambled along the coastline. Waves gently crashed against the seawall below, and warm sea breezes gently tousled their fur and feathers, bringing along the moist, salty scent of the ocean.
"Puff…" Lala breathed contentedly into the wind, eyes gently closed, and began softly humming a tune.
"Puff puff-o puff puff puff-o… puff puff-o puff puff puff-o…"
Although simple, the melody's gentle sweetness, matched with Lala's soft, dreamy voice, transported everyone listening into a beautiful, dreamlike world. Her singing drifted on the sea breeze, wrapping the short seaside trail in a magical spell. Even Dodrio's typically irritable and sorrowful heads began to show signs of serene joy.
Ray Chu and Dapple thus found themselves enjoying a private concert, exclusively performed by the Pink Diva herself.
Unlike typical Jigglypuff songs that induced drowsiness, Lala's melody felt like floating blissfully upon waves of a serene dream sea, carrying no hint of sleepy heaviness. Even the stoic Ray Chu had to admit: Lala possessed something special, something rare among Jigglypuff, capable of weaving such pure, ethereal music.
At the end of the coastal path, Lala gracefully hopped off Dodrio, turning back to offer Ray Chu and Dapple two tickets to her upcoming concert. Smiling joyfully against the setting sun, she warmly invited them to attend her show.
After exchanging a glance, Ray Chu and Dapple gladly accepted the invitation. But then Lala giggled mischievously and chirped another "Puff Puff!," proposing one final request.
As Cerulean's Pink Diva, she wanted to test herself against her newfound friends—in a Pokémon battle.
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T/N: woah pink diva