"Brendan?"
Asher felt like he had heard that name somewhere before, but only in fragments. He couldn't remember anything clearly.
[Rotom... scanning information]
[Target: Brendan]
[Relationship: Kind passerby]
[Getting-Along Advice: Comfort him]
Seeing how old the other boy was, Asher asked,
"Brendan, are you also a pilgrim taking part in the Great Pilgrimage?"
Hearing that, Brendan answered a little awkwardly,
"Uh, yeah... but I've only gotten two badges so far. I'm still a long way off..."
The moment Asher heard that he already had two badges, he was instantly filled with admiration!
He himself had been wandering around Hoenn for a whole month and still had absolutely nothing to show for it.
A thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and he quickly asked,
"By the way, does that include the Stone Badge from the Rustboro Gym?"
Brendan dug through his bag and pulled out a brownish-yellow badge for Asher to see.
The moment Asher saw the Stone Badge, the same one Silver had shown him before, he hurriedly asked,
"That's incredible! You actually got that badge! Can you tell me how you won?"
Since Asher was asking so sincerely, Brendan generously told him.
"Uh, well... it really wasn't anything that special. I only got the badge because of Mumu's help."
As he spoke, Brendan rubbed a Poké Ball in his hand.
A pale blue Pokémon with fin-like limbs appeared in the room.
This was the famous future-predicting type of Pokémon, Marshtomp.
Asher quickly brought up BondUp and scanned it.
[Target: Marshtomp Mumu (male)]
[Level: 26]
[Type: Water/Ground]
[Element Affinity: Water 28, Earth 18]
[Profile: The Mud Fish Pokémon. The evolved form of Mudkip. To survive on land, its body is covered in a thin film of mucus. It plays in the mud on shores after the tide goes out, and can move through sludge faster than it can swim in water. Its hips and legs are well-developed, allowing it to walk on two legs.]
[Relationship: (●—●)]
[Getting-Along Advice: ...]
Looking at the information on the Pokédex, Asher blurted out,
"Wow, that looks really strong! Water and Ground... that completely wrecks Rock-types!"
Hearing Asher's reaction, Brendan said modestly,
"Not really, it just happens to be able to use both Water and Earth Element Affinity at the same time. That actually means training twice the elemental control of a normal Pokémon, so it's kind of a hassle too..."
Marshtomp's primary attribute was Water, but after evolving, it awakened Earth Element Affinity as well, gaining the Ground typing.
Although awakening Earth Element Affinity slowed the growth of its Water affinity, having two elemental affinities vastly broadened its attack coverage, causing its practical battle strength to shoot up!
Listening to that humblebrag, Asher could tell Brendan definitely didn't come from an ordinary household.
After all, Marshtomp was one of Hoenn's starter Pokémon. Regular people couldn't get their hands on a Pokémon of that quality!
"Guh..."
Flare gave the Pokémon a couple of disgusted looks. The energy coming off it was full of everything Flare disliked most.
Meanwhile, Marshtomp Mumu's calm, placid little bead-like eyes were fixed on Flare and Asher, as if it had already seen through everything...
Asher kept chatting with Brendan and praised him with a smile.
"You're way too humble. Getting two badges in just one month means you'll probably make it through the first half of the Great Pilgrimage before long!"
But Brendan sighed gloomily.
"Honestly... I don't really like these violent Pokémon battles. Every time I come to a Pokémon Center and see all those Pokémon rushed in for emergency treatment, it makes me feel awful..."
Asher deeply agreed.
"Yeah... but people just want to see blood on the floor. Maybe that's just the trend..."
Seeing that Asher didn't seem to like Pokémon battling much either, Brendan gathered his courage and said,
"There are better ways to show a Pokémon's charm than battling. Actually... actually, my dream is to become a Coordinator!"
That was definitely something new for Asher.
"A Coordinator? Uh... how's that different from a Pokémon Trainer?"
Seeing that Asher wasn't laughing at his dream and was instead asking seriously, Brendan immediately brightened and began explaining eagerly.
"Ah, well, it's like this! Trainers really fall into two categories. One is the Professional Trainer route, which focuses on rough, direct battles. The other is the Coordinator route, which focuses on elegant performances!"
"You need a trainer license to take part in the Great Pilgrimage, but Pokémon Contests don't require one. As long as you legally own a Pokémon, anyone can enter. If you collect five Ribbons at a given rank of Contest, you can become a Coordinator of that rank!"
After hearing the full explanation, Asher smiled.
"Oh! So you don't need a trainer license to join... got it. So basically it's like the difference between professionals and hobbyists!"
Hearing Asher's shallow summary, Brendan straightened up and said seriously,
"Don't underestimate Coordinators! It's a profession that perfectly combines skill and beauty! Those flashy performances people dismiss as style over substance actually require very advanced elemental mastery to support them! If you really get down to it, top Coordinators aren't necessarily weaker in battle than those Professional Trainers who go all-in on brute-force fighting!"
"It's just that if you don't go through high-intensity battles, then the Pokémon and Trainer need excellent chemistry and insight to push their Secret Arts higher. Most people can't meet those harsh requirements, so they assume Coordinators don't have much battle power..."
Now that he understood the logic behind it, Asher finally had a clearer idea of what a Coordinator was.
He couldn't help saying with real interest,
"That actually sounds great! You can get stronger and also reduce pointless fighting. Being a Coordinator sounds like a really good path! You're making me want to become a Coordinator too!"
Seeing Asher recognize Coordinators so openly made Brendan extremely happy.
He felt that Asher was one of the rare few people he could actually talk to.
[Rotom! Brendan has developed a favorable impression of you! Your relationship has risen to: a guy I really click with!]
After their relationship improved, Brendan said to Asher,
"Exactly. If you're interested, you should try a Pokémon Contest sometime! You'll definitely discover a whole new world! Sigh... but my father has raised me from childhood by the standards of a Professional Trainer. But I... sigh..."
Asher asked curiously,
"Then have you ever told your father about your dream?"
Brendan fidgeted awkwardly and tapped his fingers together.
"Uh, well... I... I don't dare say it! If I said something like that, Father would definitely be disappointed in me!"
Just then, Brendan got a phone call.
"Uh... D-Dad... you... huh?!! You're already in Rustboro?! I-I-I... wuwuwu... I understand..."
After hanging up, Brendan looked at Asher miserably with watery eyes.
"Asher, I'm really glad I met you, but I have to go now... wuwuwu... I don't know if I'll ever see you again. Goodbye!"
"Wait!"
Seeing Brendan like this, Asher couldn't just let it go. He called out loudly,
"Let me come meet your father with you. I think some things are better said face-to-face! A dream is something you can't hide! No matter what kind of dream it is, as long as you treat it sincerely, I'm sure your father will understand!"
Boom!
A tremor like a shock to the spirit ran through Brendan, and he froze.
No one had ever affirmed his dream so completely before. At that moment, it was as if he had found a kindred spirit and a guiding light. Asher's words strengthened his resolve and moved him deeply!
Brendan suddenly threw his arms around Asher and said emotionally,
"Waaah, Asher, meeting you was the best thing that could've happened! Thank you for respecting my dream. I'm going to go tell my father the truth right now!"
[Rotom! Brendan has been deeply moved by you!]
[Your relationship has risen to: kindred spirits by chance!]
Just as the two of them were hugging, a fit middle-aged man with short black hair rushed into the room.
"Brendan! Are you okay?! Dad's here... huh?!!"
"Uh... sir..."
"Dad! I..."
"Gah!!!"