"Hey, what is that thing over there?"
The group was on their way to the Oldale Town Pokémon Center when Ash Ketchum, running ahead, noticed a peculiar array of rugged, jagged stones in the distance.
They looked quite bizarre, resembling the ruins of numerous ancient human structures.
Upon reaching the rock formation and looking around, the group was approached by a researcher named Meizi, who informed them that it was an ancient ruin.
After asking her for directions to the Pokémon Center, Meizi pointed the way. Looking toward the cliff face ahead of the rock piles, they could clearly see a Pokémon Center.
As evening approached, they finally arrived at the Pokémon Center, and May anxiously handed her Torchic over to Nurse Joy.
"Nurse Joy, please, I'm leaving my Torchic in your care."
"Alright, I'll take good care of it."
Nurse Joy reached out and took the Torchic's Poké Ball.
After a brief examination using the Pokémon medical equipment, she quickly determined Torchic's current health status.
"How is it doing?"
May asked.
"It's going to be fine. It just needs a good night's rest to recover."
Hearing Nurse Joy's gentle reply finally set May's mind at ease.
Once everyone confirmed that Torchic was all right, they asked Nurse Joy to register them for the Pokémon League. After inputting everyone's information into the system, May took back her Pokédex and said to Ash Ketchum, "Ash, Ash, this is my first time at a Pokémon Center. Why don't you show me around and introduce me to everything? Chén Nuò, Lillie, you guys want to come too?"
Lillie looked quite interested and nodded.
"I'll pass. I need to train my Pokémon."
Chén Nuò shook his head. He had already toured Pokémon Centers before—after all, the Alola region had its own Pokémon Centers—whereas Lillie had indeed never been to one.
"Oh, well, alright then. But even training can wait until after we've eaten."
Ash Ketchum hadn't expected Chén Nuò to decide to take his Pokémon training the moment they settled down; his enthusiasm for training was practically more diligent than his own.
"Don't worry, I'll just grab a quick bite."
Chén Nuò shook his head and left the Pokémon Center with his Poké Balls.
While the others took a tour around the Pokémon Center, Chén Nuò headed toward the outskirts of Oldale Town with his Pokémon.
Chén Nuò knew very well that despite having played many Pokémon games in the past, his actual experience with real Pokémon battles was still quite scarce.
Therefore, he needed to gain as much Pokémon battle experience as he possibly could, and the best way to gain experience was, naturally, through battling.
With Cottonee and Treecko, Chén Nuò arrived at the forest on the outskirts. He noticed that the forest here was home to a great many Flying-type and Bug-type Pokémon.
Both of these types had a type advantage over Cottonee and Treecko, but none of them were exceptionally strong, making them quite suitable opponents.
"You two need to coordinate with each other. Cottonee will provide support, and Treecko will be the main attacker!"
Chén Nuò's Cottonee had the Prankster ability, which made it top-tier when it came to support, and Treecko was also a remarkably good Special Attacker.
Chén Nuò believed that their teamwork would definitely achieve a result where one plus one is greater than two.
"Next up, let's use this!"
Chén Nuò took out his backpack, rummaged through it to find a small, transparent glass bottle, gently uncapped it, and then pulled out a fan.
He poured the powder from the bottle onto a tissue spread out on the ground, and then gently wafted it with the fan so that the powder drifted away with the wind.
The powder seemed to contain a rich, deeply alluring fragrance.
This was Sweet Scent powder.
Chén Nuò had specially gathered it from Grass-type Pokémon. Since neither his Cottonee nor his Treecko could use Sweet Scent, Chén Nuò had no choice but to resort to this method.
As the aroma drifted away, the previously very quiet jungle began to emit some rustling sounds. It seemed the creatures in the forest had all been stirred.
"Everyone, get ready!"
Leaning against a tree trunk, Chén Nuò kept his eyes fixed on his surroundings, watching intently to see where a Pokémon would appear, accompanied by the continuous rustling sounds.
"Bind!"
Two Taillow appeared directly in the jungle, landing right on the spot where the Sweet Scent had been used, searching around for the source of the aroma.
"It's two Taillow. Looks like they'll make good opponents. Treecko, Cottonee, I choose you!"
Chén Nuò immediately sent out his two little partners.
"Taillow, please have a Pokémon battle with us!"
Chén Nuò issued a battle challenge to the two Taillow.
The two Taillow evidently had tempers of their own. Facing the human who had lured them here with a trick, they didn't waste any words—their feathers bristled, murderous intent hidden within!
"Strike first! Cottonee, use Cotton Spore! Treecko, use Pound!"
"Miming-jiang!"
Cottonee moved with extreme speed. Following the command, its Cotton Spore quickly hit the target.
Seeing Cottonee make a move, the two Taillow immediately tried to take flight, but luck was not on their side. One hadn't even managed to take off before its ankles were ensnared by the Cotton Spore, and the other fared no better, its right wing plastered with a large amount of white Cotton Spore, making flight extremely difficult.
"Hacha!"
Treecko showed not a shred of hesitation. Usually so gentle, she now transformed into a fierce warrior, lashing out with her tail directly at the Taillow whose ankles were bound.
The blow sent that Taillow spinning and completely dazed. Clearly having no intention of holding back while the opponent was still recovering, Treecko followed up with another Pound.
Seeing this situation, the Taillow in the air immediately used Aerial Ace, trying to help its partner.
How could Chén Nuò possibly give it the chance?
"Cottonee, use Cotton Guard to block it!"
Chén Nuò decisively gave the command. Cottonee rushed forward and used Cotton Guard, instantly transforming the little ball of cotton into a giant ball of cotton.
The massive clusters of cotton effectively cushioned the opponent's impact, drastically weakening the damage from Aerial Ace. When it hit Cottonee, it didn't look like a super-effective move at all.
Meanwhile, thanks to this brief obstruction, Treecko had successfully defeated the first Taillow, claiming first blood.
After all, how hard is it to deal with a flightless bird?
Seeing this, the remaining Taillow not only refused to run away, but instead aggressively pressed the attack.
Another wing strike, unrelenting and persistent.
"Cottonee, intensify Cotton Guard! Treecko, find your opening and use Pound!"
Treecko and Cottonee cooperated seamlessly, one defending while the other attacked, complementing each other perfectly.
The Taillow's wing strikes had no effect, but Treecko's Pounds landed solidly.