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"Let me tell you guys, when Dawn was in kindergarten, she..."
The atmosphere outside the Floaroma Pokémon Center was thick with the scent of flowers and the awkward tension of a childhood friend's reunion. Kenny, seemingly oblivious to the dark clouds gathering on Dawn's face, was on a roll. He recounted every embarrassing milestone, from the "Dee Dee" nickname origin to the infamous diamond-dust incident that left her hair a mess for a week.
Brock and Pikachu were in stitches, leaning on each other as they wheezed with laughter. Even Ash had to bite his lip, his "Narrative Architect" mind noting that while this was excellent character lore, it was tactically dangerous to be the one laughing right now. He shot a glance at Dawn, whose face had transitioned from a light pink to a stormy violet. He wisely chose the path of silence, offering her a supportive, pitying look instead.
"Anyway," Brock said, wiping a tear from his eye as he tried to save the mood. "Are you here for the Wallace Cup too, Kenny?"
"Of course! I'm here to snag my first ribbon," Kenny bragged, flashing a grin. "I bet Dawn is thinking the same, even if she's just mimicking my choice of partner!"
"Mimicking?" Dawn snapped back, her annoyance finally breaking through. "With a one-in-three chance for a starter, choosing Piplup isn't exactly copying you, Kenny!"
"Pip-lup!" Dawn's Piplup crossed its flippers, glaring at Kenny's evolved Prinplup. Both penguins were naturally arrogant, but Dawn's Piplup was particularly sensitive about its dignity.
Kenny continued to boast, describing a "legendary" coordinator he had almost defeated. When he revealed it was Zoey—the same one who had knocked Dawn out of the Jubilife Contest—Dawn's expression shifted from anger to a smug, knowing smile.
"Well, if you think Zoey is that powerful," Dawn said, grabbing Ash's arm and pulling him forward, "then you should meet the guy who actually beat her! Ash won the Jubilife Ribbon!"
Kenny's jaw dropped. He hadn't bothered to watch the finals after Dawn's loss. His gaze flickered between Ash and the way Dawn was clutching the boy's arm. An inexplicable surge of irritation rose in his chest. All his boasting about Zoey had accidentally elevated Ash to a pedestal far above himself.
"You're in the Wallace Cup too, then?" Kenny challenged, clenching his fist.
"Actually, no," Ash replied calmly. "I'm focusing on Gym battles. I only entered the last one for Aipom's sake."
"He's being modest!" Dawn interjected excitedly. "You don't know how strong Ash is. His Pidgeot took down an ancient Aerodactyl, and his Scizor can use super—" She cut herself off, covering her mouth to keep the Mega Evolution a secret. "In short, Ash is amazing!"
Kenny's face darkened. Watching his childhood friend act as the primary hype-man for a newcomer was more than his pride could take.
"Battle me, Ash! I challenge your Pikachu with my Prinplup!"
"Pika?" Pikachu pointed a paw at itself, looking thoroughly confused. Why am I the one getting dragged into this drama?
Dawn stepped into the role of referee, her expression a mix of "I told you so" and genuine pity for her childhood friend.
"Kenny, are you sure?" Ash asked, his tone genuinely helpful. "Pikachu is in peak form right now. If you want a more balanced match, I could use Turtwig..."
"No! I want the Pikachu that beat Zoey!" Kenny shouted.
Brock stood by the sidelines, shaking his head. "Tsk tsk. Wanting to show off in front of the girl is a noble goal, but he's bringing a knife to a nuke fight. And it's a Water-type knife against an Electric nuke."
"Your move, Kenny," Ash said.
"Bubble Beam!"
A torrent of bubbles swept toward Pikachu. The mouse didn't even wait for a command; he executed a casual side-step, the bubbles popping harmlessly against the pavement.
"So fast? Prinplup, use Metal Claw! Show them your real strength!"
Dawn closed her eyes. She remembered the Behemoth Blade that had caved in a Tyranitar's skull. Using a physical Steel-type move against Ash's Pikachu was less of a strategy and more of a plea for an early exit.
"Iron Tail," Ash said softly.
Pikachu's tail glowed with a crisp white light. He didn't use the massive energy cleaver—that would have been a war crime—but even at normal length, the force was staggering. The Iron Tail met the Metal Claw with a metallic clack, and the sheer displacement of power sent Prinplup spinning backward.
The penguin dived head-first into the flowerbed, its flippers twitching in the air.
"Prinplup is unable to battle! The winner is Ash!" Dawn announced, her voice flat.
"I lost... and he didn't even use a Thunderbolt," Kenny muttered, staring at his fallen partner.
"Oh no, Pikachu, did you push too hard?" Ash asked.
"Pika-pika!" Pikachu waved his paws frantically. He had held back so much he was practically yawning. If anyone was to blame, it was the "Master of Type Disadvantage" standing across the field.
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