At the break of dawn the next morning, when the sky was still only faintly lit and Mauville City's streets remained shrouded in morning mist, Theo had already stepped out of the hotel with his backpack.
The soles of his shoes tapped lightly against the damp stone pavement, producing a crisp tak-tak sound.
Following the checklist he prepared the previous day, Theo headed straight for the outdoor supply shop in the city center.
The shop owner was a burly uncle with a thick beard. The moment he saw Theo carrying a full backpack, he instantly guessed his destination:
"Heading toward the Zabe Desert at the end of Route 110, right? Plenty of trainers have been going that way lately."
Theo nodded and pointed to the first item on his list.
"I'll need a tent that can withstand sandstorms. Something lightweight but still sturdy enough to withstand wind and sand."
The owner took down a khaki-colored tent bag from the shelf and patting it twice with a firm thump-thump.
"You can't go wrong with this one! It's designed specifically for desert travel. Even the wind cords are reinforced. As long as you don't go straight into the very heart of a sandstorm, this tent will shield you tight and secure."
Theo also selected goggles from the same brand—outer lenses made of reinforced glass to block sand, inner layers coated with UV protection.
The owner had him try them on.
Not bad. Under sunlight, they didn't sting his eyes at all, and his vision remained clear, almost like he wasn't wearing anything.
Afterward, Theo headed to the shop district to purchase potions and antidotes, as well as a special salve meant for desert bug bites.
He left nothing out—packing everything neatly into the side pockets of his backpack.
As for food, Theo didn't bring too much.
After chatting with the outdoor shop owner, he learned that ever since news of the Mirage Tower spread, the desert outskirts had already sprouted several temporary rest stations, offering all kinds of supplies—lodging, meals, fresh water—everything a traveler might need.
Theo couldn't help but sigh at how sharp these business owners' instincts were.
The moment something became a hot topic, they immediately seized the opportunity. Truly impressive commercial intuition.
Once his preparations were complete, Theo didn't linger any longer. Carrying his backpack, he walked straight toward the northern exit of Mauville City.
…
Not long after leaving the city, the scenery on both sides of the road began transforming at a pace visible to the naked eye.
The once-lush green grass looked as if an invisible hand had drained its vitality—its color fading gradually into withered earth-yellow.
Tall trees disappeared completely, replaced by clusters of low-growing shrubs and cacti bristling with thorns.
Under the blazing sun, the plants' leaves shone with a glossy, wax-like layer, locking in precious moisture.
Electric-type Pokémon that were common earlier became fewer and fewer.
Instead, Theo often spotted Geodude sprawled across sunlit rocks or Sandshrew diving into the soil.
In the blink of an eye, a Sandshrew's yellowish-brown figure flashed across the ground and disappeared underground, leaving behind only a small, round hole.
The farther he walked, the harsher the sunlight became.
Like a massive fireball, the sun hung overhead, pouring an endless torrent of heat onto the earth.
The air grew increasingly dry and scorching. Even the wind that blew past felt blisteringly hot—scraping across the skin like rough sandpaper.
Sweat beaded on Theo's forehead, only to be dried instantly by the heat, leaving behind a thin trace of salt.
At first, Beldum still floated beside him, its metallic body reflecting sunlight and its red crystal eye swiveling curiously as it observed the sandy dunes and sparse vegetation along the way.
But later, he had no choice but to return it to its Poké Ball.
Only Tyrunt remained beside him—energetic as ever—trotting happily at his heel.
Its red scales gleamed under the sunlight, bright enough to make one squint, like embedded rubies.
Not only did it show no discomfort from the heat, it actually seemed perfectly adapted to the dry surroundings. From time to time, it would claw playfully at the sand, letting out excited little growls.
"Hahh…"
Theo wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. He was just thinking of finding some shade to rest when he suddenly froze.
Up ahead, not far across the sandy path, stood several small houses.
White walls, red roofs, neatly arranged, standing out vividly in the barren landscape.
The land around the houses had been cultivated into tidy rows of farmland, planted with various kinds of berry trees. Their green leaves spread wide under the blazing sun, radiating life.
Beside the fields was a melon trellis, thick vines hanging heavy with plump watermelons. Their dark green rinds streaked with deep stripes looked refreshing just at a glance.
What surprised him even more was the crystal-clear river flowing beside the houses.
The water trickled peacefully, reflecting the greenery along the bank.
A little girl wearing a pale-blue dress was crouched by the riverbank, gently swishing a tree branch in the water.
Beside her, a Marill wagged its ball-shaped tail, occasionally leaping into the water and bouncing back out again—shooting lines of Bubble Beam that burst like tiny crystal fireworks in the air.
Theo quickened his pace, planning to ask whether he could buy a watermelon to cool off.
Tyrunt noticed the presence of someone ahead and immediately let out a cheerful "Tyrrr!"
Then it dashed forward on its short legs, clearly wanting to greet the girl.
"Mar!"
Startled by the sudden approach of Tyrunt, the Marill jumped back in fright. Its tail stiffened as it reflexively fired a rapid stream of Bubble Beam at Tyrunt.
The white bubbles pelted Tyrunt's body, popping one after another with soft pop-pop sounds.
Tyrunt froze for a moment, then shook itself, scattering droplets of water everywhere.
It wasn't fond of water, but luckily this Marill wasn't strong. The attack was more of a tickle than anything else.
"So sorry! Really sorry!"
Theo hurried forward, pulling Tyrunt to his side while bowing apologetically to the girl.
"It didn't mean to scare you. It just gets overly excited sometimes."
The little girl stood up and gently patted Marill's head to calm it. She looked up at Theo with bright eyes, not the slightest bit angry, only curious.
"It's okay! This Pokémon looks so cool! I've never seen it before. What kind of Pokémon is it?"
"It's called Tyrunt," Theo replied with a relieved smile.
"My name is Theo. I was passing by and saw your house, so I came over to take a look."
"I'm Vivi!"
The girl grinned brightly, her short hair swaying as she spoke.
Pointing proudly toward the houses, she said:
"This is my home! We're from the Winstrate family. We grow berries and watermelons here. Lots of trainers passing through stop here to rest!"
Then she looked down and checked Tyrunt again, her tone softening worriedly:
"It's really okay, right? Marill's Bubble Beam didn't hurt it?"
"It's fine. It's sturdy."
Theo rubbed Tyrunt's head.
The little one gave a playful roar, as if saying, "I'm totally fine!"
Only then did Vivi relax. She cheerfully tugged Theo's sleeve.
"Big Brother Theo, you're a trainer, right? Are you heading to the desert to look for the Mirage Tower? Or going to Mt. Chimney?"
"You should rest at our house for a bit! Have a drink of water! We have watermelon, it's super sweet! Lots of trainers stop here to take a break."
(End of Chapter)