With Saffron City—the location of the next Gym Badge—as their destination, Red and his group boarded a ferry and were about to arrive at Maiden's Peak. They planned to rest there for one night before taking the next ferry onward. During this time, it was only natural that everyone vented a little of their inner frustrations.
"Ah… even the indifferent sea breeze carries the scent of autumn. This year's summer was utterly unremarkable…" Brock sighed bitterly as he stood on deck, letting the wind brush past him.
"But I think a lot happened!" Ash replied in confusion. The trip, the giant Tentacruel incident—weren't those all unforgettable memories? How could Brock say it was so dull?!
"A child's summer is about beaches. An adult's summer is the season of romance! And I had none of it… Summer, swimsuits, beautiful women—the seaside season is officially over!" Brock collapsed to his knees, tearfully lamenting his hardships. When he turned his head, the scene before him struck his already wounded heart once again.
"Thank you, but I'm not planning to fall in love right now. I'm used to traveling alone."
Red, looking slightly embarrassed, politely declined the advances of three bikini-clad women in front of him. Seeing that Red showed not the slightest reaction to their figures, the three women left regretfully, glancing back at him with longing before departing—once again stabbing Brock's fragile heart.
"Why don't I have Red's luck with women…" Brock sniffled. In his heart, he believed his looks were roughly on par with Red's—so why were their treatments completely different?
"You're pretty confident, Brock…" Misty said speechlessly.
"Exactly! The one who actually looks like my brother is me!" Ash added urgently.
(Honestly, you're just as hopeless!)
Misty shot Ash an exasperated glance, wondering how the brothers' genes had been inherited so strangely.
"The ferry departing from Hutber Port has now arrived at Maiden's Peak. The Maiden's Peak area is currently preparing for its Summer Festival!"
Having successfully arrived, an announcement echoed through the harbor, informing travelers that they could enjoy the local summer festival.
"A festival!"
"Sounds fun! Let's go check it out!"
"A festival of romance… a late one…"
Brock, head lowered in despair, seemed to hear some kind of calling. When he looked toward the harbor, his eyes landed on a young maiden standing there. Captivated by her peerless beauty, he froze in place.
"So it's appeared after all… the Thousand-Year Gastly…" Red murmured. Seeing Brock's lovestruck expression, he immediately understood. A blue glow shimmered in Red's eyes as his immense psychic power effortlessly shattered the Thousand-Year Gastly's hypnosis, revealing the maiden's true form—a Gastly.
"Huh?! Was I seeing things?" Brock exclaimed, hurriedly rubbing his eyes. Wary of Red's psychic strength, the Thousand-Year Gastly chose to retreat.
(What a terrifying guy… I didn't expect him to break my hypnosis so easily!)
"Come on, cheer up! Let's go to the festival!"
"Yeah! Let's have fun at the festival!"
Ash and Misty dragged the dejected Brock along and headed to the festival grounds with Red.
Trailing behind them, Team Rocket's trio also learned of the festival. They figured such an event would attract a massive crowd, giving them the perfect chance to cleverly pick up any dropped money. Yet another promising money-making scheme!
Disliking overly lively scenes, Red chose to return alone to the Pokémon Center, temporarily parting ways with Ash's group. Coincidentally, Feebas's Beauty stat had reached its limit, making it the perfect time to use a Prism Scale and evolve it into Milotic.
Entering his private room, Red released the excited Feebas. It knew its evolution was near, and its burning gaze locked onto the Prism Scale in Red's hand, eagerly anticipating its transformation.
"Evolve, Feebas!"
Red handed over the Prism Scale. Feebas erupted in a brilliant evolution light that filled every corner of the room, its body undergoing astonishing changes.
A seven-meter-tall Pokémon resembling a sea serpent appeared before Red. Its red eyes were crowned with extended red "eyebrows." Red hair-like fins framed both sides of its head. Its tail was covered in blue and pink scales with black stripes, and four overlapping blue scales at the tip bore red spots, fanning out beautifully.
The newly evolved Milotic gazed at itself in the mirror in delight. Tears of joy slid from its eyes. Like a tearful girl, it draped itself over Red on the bed, occasionally extending its tongue to lick his cheek, clearly very fond of him.
"Alright, alright. My Milotic is already a beautiful young lady now—no more crying," Red said with a smile, gently stroking her face.
After Milotic's successful evolution, Red stacked new Abilities onto her.
...
Pokémon: Milotic
Type: Water
First Ability: Adaptability
Second Ability: Competitive (Whenever a stat is lowered by an opponent, its Special Attack rises by two stages per lowered stat.)
Moves: Hypnosis, Water Pulse, Aqua Ring, Disarming Voice, Aqua Tail, Surf, Icy Wind…
Personality: No longer timid, now confident, and deeply devoted to her Trainer Red
Description: Born in the seas between the Kanto Region and the Hoenn Region…
...
"What a troublesome child…" Red sighed helplessly at the personality section. No wonder she had been gazing at him so fervently—so that was what she felt.
Meanwhile, Ash and the others once again encountered trouble from the Thousand-Year Gastly during their festival outing.
"Sigh… why aren't any pretty girls coming to talk to me?" Brock muttered gloomily.
"Please wait!"
"Yes, yes! Miss, do you want my contact info?" Brock spun around excitedly—only to find a white-haired elderly woman before him. "D-Died goods!"
"Who are you calling dried goods, you rude brat!" The old woman waved a magnifying glass in front of Brock's face. "Listen carefully—you are destined for romantic misfortune. Beware of beautiful women, or you'll suffer bad luck!"
"Beautiful women?" Brock asked blankly.
"Oh, please~ As if I'd ever do anything bad to Brock~" Misty covered her face narcissistically, completely ignoring Ash and Pikachu sweating awkwardly beside her.
"I said beautiful women!" the old woman shot Misty a glance. "Not some half-grown little girl!"
"Little girl?!" Misty nearly exploded.
"Little girl… little girl…" Ash foolishly teased from the side, only to be knocked flat by a punch from Misty. Pikachu leapt off his shoulder in fright.
"What are you supposed to be then?"
Furious, Misty dragged away the unconscious Ash and the dejected Brock, leaving behind the elderly woman—no, the Thousand-Year Gastly—silently watching them leave with a sinister expression.
To ensure the legend of the Maiden's Ghost endured, the Thousand-Year Gastly caused mischief at the Maiden's Peak Summer Festival every year. Only by doing so could some travelers remember the tale of the ghostly maiden—albeit as a horror story.
Not long after Ash's group departed, the Thousand-Year Gastly set its sights on Team Rocket's trio, who were crouched quietly on the ground with magnifying glasses, searching for dropped coins.
"Nothing! Why hasn't anyone dropped any money?!" Jessie cried in frustration. She had hoped to secure tonight's meal, but after all that effort, they hadn't even found a single stone.
"Forget a hundred or even ten—we haven't found a single coin!" James said bitterly.
"This festival is way too shabby!" Meowth complained. "Keep looking! Otherwise we won't have dinner!"
By coincidence, a coin appeared before James. Overjoyed, he quickly picked it up—only to be stopped by the Thousand-Year Gastly disguised as the old woman behind him.
"You saw it?" James asked awkwardly, turning around.
"I often see unpleasant things. You should beware of women, or you'll suffer greatly!"
"It's not like that's new. I already get beaten up by women all the time!" James sighed helplessly—not referring to Jessie's violence, but to his fiancée…
Just as Team Rocket was about to leave, Officer Jenny, who had been patrolling nearby, approached them. Startled, James immediately handed over the hard-earned coin.
Truly, what a 'lucky' day.