If there were an MBTI personality test in the Pokémon world, then Larvesta would definitely be classified as an E-type Pokémon, a true extroverted social butterfly.
The moment it saw someone holding up a camera to take photos, it would immediately bring the two little Vulpix over, rubbing its head against them while chirping excitedly, as if asking whether they wanted to take a picture together. Many people, seeing this rare Pokémon acting so enthusiastically, happily agreed to take photos with it.
The little Ice-type Vulpix and Fire-type Vulpix were also encouraged by Larvesta to perform. One would spit out sparkling little ice flowers, while the other would release warm little flames. This drew waves of cheers from the surrounding tourists, making the scene as lively as a celebrity fan meeting.
Theo even noticed Larvesta clinging to some of the prettier girls, chirping as if praising their accessories. Quite a few of them would take off extra bracelets or small necklaces and hang them onto Larvesta.
Larvesta would then immediately have the two little Vulpix run over to thank them and act cute, which left Theo completely dumbfounded.
"This little guy…"
Since it was a case of willing participants on both sides, Theo simply let Larvesta continue its antics.
Just like that, amid Theo's awkward inability to catch any fish and Larvesta's lively social activities, several days passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, Theo edited the fishing video he had recorded earlier. Using a montage technique, he placed clips of himself patiently waiting for a catch at the beginning, then abruptly cut to the scene of the Sharpedo being reeled in and its battle with Gyarados.
He titled the video: "Caught a Sharpedo!"
At first, the comment section was full of praise:
"Amazing, streamer!"
"That Sharpedo is insane!"
But before long, some sharp-eyed viewers noticed something was off:
"Wait, the person holding the fishing rod during the battle isn't the streamer!"
"Hahaha I'm dying, the streamer got exposed!"
So Theo simply started a live fishing stream on the ship, wanting to prove himself.
After an entire afternoon of effort, he finally got a bite. But when he reeled it in, it turned out to be a Magikarp.
The livestream chat instantly exploded:
"I can't stop laughing! Using such high-end gear to catch a Magikarp?"
"I feel bad for that fishing rod for three seconds, wasted on Magikarp hahaha!"
"Streamer, how did you even catch that shiny Feebas before? Did you use up all your lifetime luck?"
Looking at the comments on the screen, Theo could only laugh helplessly and accept the teasing from his viewers.
As the ship gradually approached Mossdeep City, the luxurious ferry began to slow down, its engine rumbling more softly as it reduced speed. Theo stood at the edge of the deck, all of his Pokémon partners gathered behind him.
Over the past few days on the ship, Theo had also experienced what it felt like to be a big-name streamer.
Thanks to Larvesta's "social networking," many people had come to know him. They learned that he was a rising star Coordinator who had made a name for himself in the Contest, and that he traveled with powerful Pokémon like a shiny Metagross and a shiny Milotic.
Metagross and Milotic were also occasionally dragged into photos by Larvesta, and every day there were plenty of people lining up to take pictures with them.
As for the newly captured Deino, Theo initially only introduced it simply:
"This is my new partner, a Dragon-type Pokémon from the Unova region."
People found it interesting, but did not think much of it.
That was until Theo casually added with a half-joking tone:
"It's on par with Kanto's Dragonite and Hoenn's Bagon, one of the strongest Dragon-types in Unova."
The moment those words came out, Deino's "value" skyrocketed instantly.
"No wonder it looks so spirited! That fringe is so stylish!"
"One of the strongest Dragon-types in Unova? Then when it evolves, it'll be amazing!"
"Little guy, can you let me see your eyes?"
The compliments poured in endlessly. Theo even picked out some comments from his viewers and read them aloud to Deino.
This tactic of flattering it worked extremely well. Deino was so pleased that its tail almost pointed to the sky. Every day, it would actively follow Larvesta onto the deck to "make appearances," enjoying the attention from everyone.
Some tourists even deliberately brought Pokémon food to tempt Deino, hoping to see the eyes hidden beneath its bangs.
Each time, Deino would pretend to hesitate at first. But the moment the food was handed over, it would snatch it in one bite and run off, never once lifting its fringe to reveal its eyes.
"Look, Mossdeep City is here!"
Following a shout from the crowd, Theo turned his gaze into the distance. A massive island city appeared on the horizon.
The island was surrounded by azure seas, and its architecture was unique. It combined modern skyscrapers with lush green spaces and gardens, blending technological aesthetics with natural beauty perfectly.
The most eye-catching structure was the giant white steel dome at the center of the island, beside which stood a towering rocket launch tower pointing straight into the sky.
"That must be Mossdeep's Space Center," Theo murmured, a hint of amazement in his eyes.
Before coming here, he had done some research and learned that Mossdeep City's origins were closely tied to the Devon Corporation.
Originally, it had only been a research base established by Devon to observe space and develop rockets.
Later, as its scale expanded, part of the observatory was converted into a science exhibition hall under the suggestion of the company's planning department, opening it to tourists.
Inside, visitors could observe galaxies and nebulae through giant telescopes, and there were also displays of cutting-edge technology.
There were floating experience zones, demonstrations of miniature rocket engines, and even personal flight packs for visitors to try.
In addition, the exhibition hall displayed all kinds of meteorites in different shapes.
Today, the Space Center was not only an important research facility but also the landmark attraction of Mossdeep City, drawing countless visitors interested in astronomy and technology.
As the ferry slowly docked at the harbor, Theo lined up with his Pokémon and disembarked.
The moment he stepped onto Mossdeep's ground, a refreshing sea breeze greeted him.
The harbor floor was made of special anti-slip material. The streetlights on both sides were shaped like simplified rockets, and the lamp posts were engraved with constellation patterns, giving off a strong sci-fi atmosphere.
Staff members in uniform blue outfits were efficiently guiding passengers to exit.
"First, we'll go to the hotel to drop off the luggage, then arrange the Gym challenge schedule."
Theo mentally planned his itinerary.
The streets of Mossdeep City were clean, and the architecture leaned toward a minimalist technological style. Many buildings had solar panels installed on their rooftops, and the streetlights were sensor-based, lighting up automatically when someone approached.
Occasionally, researchers in white lab coats could be seen hurrying past, holding blueprints or tablets, discussing things as they walked. Everywhere reflected the rigor and vitality of a technology-driven city.
After walking for about ten minutes, Theo arrived at the hotel. The security guard at the entrance immediately became respectful after seeing the Devon Corporation VIP card he presented.
"Mr. Theo, your room is ready. It's on the 28th floor, the top-level panoramic suite."
Taking the high-speed elevator straight up to the 28th floor, it truly lived up to being a hotel built by the Devon Corporation, wealthy and extravagant in every detail.
The room was even more spacious than the suite in Sootopolis. The massive floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the entire Mossdeep City. In the distance, the Space Center and the rocket launch tower could be seen clearly.
Theo walked up to the huge glass window, his attention immediately drawn to the exquisitely designed telescope placed by the window.
The telescope was clearly custom-made. Its body emitted a cold metallic sheen, and beside it was an electronic dial for adjusting focus, giving off a strong sense of advanced technology.
He picked up the telescope and adjusted it out of habit. Instantly, the view in the lens became crystal clear.
The entire city of Mossdeep unfolded before his eyes. Pedestrians on the streets, Pokémon playing in the parks, and ships docked along the coastline were all visible at a glance.
When he shifted the lens toward the plaza on the other side of the island, something special caught his attention.
It was a small, two-deck ship painted in blue and white. Although it was docked on land, it did not feel out of place at all. Instead, it looked like something straight out of a fairy tale.
Colorful string lights were hung along the sides of the ship, shimmering under the sunlight. It was decorated with various ocean-themed ornaments such as seashells, anchors, and wooden carvings shaped like Sealeo.
The most distinctive feature was the large transparent glass tank embedded in the middle of the ship. Inside, vibrant coral reefs were arranged, and several different Water-type Pokémon swam leisurely within, making it incredibly eye-catching.
"This should be the Marina Group's Blue Lagoon," Theo thought to himself.
When he had looked up information about the group earlier, he had read that the Marina Group owned a specially designed ship that served both as their mobile residence and performance stage, allowing them to set up shows wherever they went.
The name "Blue Lagoon" had appeared many times on promotional posters, and judging from its appearance, it matched the descriptions perfectly. It combined both performance and living functions, no wonder they could tour across different regions so smoothly.
Through the telescope, Theo could see a crowd gathered around the ship. Although the performance had not yet begun, the atmosphere was already lively.
Several troupe members dressed in sailor uniforms were handing out small gifts to children gathered nearby.
A performer wearing clown makeup crouched on the ground, holding a bag of Pokémon food and patiently feeding a group of Wooper gathered at his feet.
The Wooper squeezed together, making cheerful "wooper wooper" sounds, which caused bursts of laughter from the surrounding crowd.
"Looks like they are already warming up before the performance," Theo said softly.
He put down the telescope and took out his phone, opening the Marina Group's official website to check when ticket sales would begin.
The page showed that the Mossdeep City performances would start in five days and last for a full week, with different themed shows each day.
Tickets would officially go on sale at ten in the morning three days later. People could buy single-day passes or a full seven-day pass. Those who purchased the full pass would also gain access to special Pokémon interaction sessions.
"I need to set an alarm to grab tickets," Theo muttered as he set a reminder.
He was genuinely looking forward to this performance. Not only did he want to see Lizabeth's famous underwater waltz, but he also wanted to take the opportunity to get closer to this troupe descended from the People of the Sea. There might even be clues related to Manaphy.
After putting away his phone, Theo's gaze fell on Metagross nearby.
The steel giant was standing by the window, its red eyes fixed on the distant rocket launch tower, as if lost in thought.
"Metagross," Theo walked over and patted it, "let's shoot a teaser video later. We are about to challenge the Mossdeep Gym, so we should build some hype and get everyone excited."
The Gym challenge in Mossdeep was the main purpose of this trip. Especially Metagross's Mega Evolution, Theo planned to reveal it here for the first time. He needed to build anticipation in advance.
"Meta!"
Metagross nodded, a hint of anticipation flashing in its red eyes. It also wanted to show everyone how powerful it would be after Mega Evolution.
"Lar!"
Larvesta immediately fluttered over excitedly when it heard this, pointing at itself with its tiny claws, clearly wanting to be involved.
Theo raised an eyebrow. "What do you want to do?"
Larvesta gestured with its claws and pointed at the phone, its intention obvious. It wanted to be the cameraman.
Theo looked at it with hesitation. Let Larvesta handle the camera? Would the footage even be watchable?
He said nothing, but the doubt in his eyes was obvious. This silent distrust clearly hurt Larvesta's pride.
It instantly became anxious, chirping even louder as it rushed up to Theo, chattering excitedly while explaining its idea.
It wanted to take the camera to the seaside at night and film from a low angle, capturing Metagross performing its Mega Evolution in the darkness. The shot would only show a vague silhouette, paired with text that read:
"Metagross's new move is about to be revealed. Stay tuned for the Gym challenge."
This would definitely build suspense and hook the audience.
After listening to Metagross's telepathic "translation," Theo paused. The idea was simple, but it did carry a sense of mystery and fit the purpose of a teaser quite well.
He looked at Metagross, which nodded in agreement, its red eyes showing approval. Clearly, it did not think Larvesta's idea was bad.
"Alright," Theo said with a smile, rubbing Larvesta's head. "You can be the cameraman and director tonight. But if you mess it up, you won't get another chance."
"Lar!"
Larvesta immediately cheered, as if it could already see its future viral video.
It turned and rushed toward the two little Vulpix and Deino, starting to give orders.
One moment it told Fire Vulpix to fetch its "director's hat," which was actually a small hat gifted by a tourist. The next moment it had Ice Vulpix and Deino dump out its accessories, picking a few to string together as "props."
At the same time, Larvesta even gestured dramatically at the air, planning camera angles with great seriousness. It looked exactly like a newly appointed chief director.
The two little Vulpix were busy running around under its command, yet they seemed to be enjoying it, occasionally letting out soft, adorable cries as they cooperated with Larvesta's "production."
Deino had no choice. Knowing it could not win in a fight, it wisely chose not to resist. For now, it reluctantly acted as Larvesta's assistant, helping out with odd tasks despite its unwillingness.
Watching the lively scene in the room, Theo could only smile helplessly.
He walked back to the window, picked up the telescope again, and looked toward the distant Blue Lagoon.
Sunlight shone on the glass tank of the ship, refracting into dazzling rainbow colors. Several Wooper swam in circles inside, as if rehearsing for the upcoming performance.
"The show in five days, and the Gym challenge the day after tomorrow…" Theo's lips curled slightly into a smile. "Mossdeep City is getting more and more interesting."
(End of Chapter)