"Charlotte and Bella… these two kids are really something..."
Hearing the host's words, Helen Brooks couldn't help but feel her face heat up a little.
Even though she knew her daughter could be a bit reckless, no one expected her to flirt with Bella Quinn on live television.
"Heh~ Old man Quinn is probably laughing his head off right now."
Charles Brooks shook his head with a grin, then sighed with a hint of regret.
Charlotte had lost to Bella and was now out of the tournament's top four. Meanwhile, Bella still had a shot at winning the championship. Charles didn't even have to think about it — his old friend Quinn was probably grinning from ear to ear.
"Honestly, Bella winning the championship wouldn't be so bad. The semi-finals are still an impressive achievement, and Charlotte's done great."
"You just don't get it," Charles chuckled lightly, his eyes flashing with thought.
He'd already received some news — something big was happening. Recently, a large number of transport planes had been departing from Magic City, flying to various parts of the country.
What did that mean?
"Yeah, yeah, I don't understand," Helen replied, rolling her eyes as she gently stroked the Togepi resting in her lap.
"Hey… honey?"
"What's up?" Helen asked, noticing Charles's hesitant expression.
"How about you take care of the company for a while… and I go do something else?"
Charles stroked his chin thoughtfully as he spoke. Helen had always been his capable wife — and the vice president of his company.
"What are you planning?" Helen's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Cough cough... Watching Charlotte compete looked kind of fun, so I was thinking… maybe I'll give this whole 'trainer' thing a try too."
Charles coughed awkwardly. Would he admit he was actually itching to become a trainer himself? Absolutely not.
After watching Charlotte's battles for so long, he couldn't deny it — he was tempted.
"Oh…"
"So, what do you think?" Charles grinned hopefully.
"Forget it!" Helen shot back without hesitation.
Throw the company work on me so you can go off and play trainer? Helen snorted to herself.
I've already got Togepi — why should you get to have all the fun?
Charles: "..."
The match between Charlotte and Bella was over. Charlotte regretted her loss, and Bella had advanced to the final.
News of the result spread across the internet in an instant — and chaos followed.
What had once been "Quinnie, save me!" had now become...
"Quinnie… you're so heartless!"
At Pokémon House…
The bell above the door jingled as Charlotte stormed into the store.
"Boss!!"
"Ah? Miss Charlotte… you're fast."
Rao Xiaofei stared in surprise. She hadn't even managed to say 'Welcome!' yet.
"Hmph! I'm going to change my fate! I'm going to take down Quinnie!"
Charlotte huffed angrily, sitting down across from Alex and speaking with fierce determination.
"Speak properly," Bella chimed in as she followed Charlotte inside, looking equally annoyed.
"Boss! I want to draw a Pokémon!"
Charlotte ignored Bella's teasing and spoke firmly to Alex.
As everyone knew — after losing a big match, it was mandatory to pull something amazing in the lottery.
Jason, Logan, and the others had all done the same — so Charlotte had rushed straight from the stadium to the shop, determined to get the final piece for her Dragon team.
Then I'll be unstoppable!
"Of course you can. Step right up, let's see how lucky you are."
Alex chuckled, handing Charlotte the store's Pokédex.
"Hoo~ Another powerful dragon! Come on, Deino! Deino!"
Charlotte took the Pokédex with both hands, her face full of determination.
She'd just lost, so clearly her luck had to balance things out with a jackpot draw, right?
Everyone who'd lost earlier pulled some amazing Pokémon — that's just how it worked!
Go!
Charlotte tapped the Pokédex screen with unwavering confidence.
Bella sat beside her, peeking over her shoulder with curiosity.
She couldn't wait to see what Charlotte — still fuming from her defeat — would end up drawing.
The shadows on the screen swirled... and slowly revealed a familiar green figure.
Charlotte's face froze.
"...Emmm... Catterpie. You should be familiar with this one," Alex said with an awkward smile.
"IMPOSSIBLE! Absolutely impossible!"
Charlotte gritted her teeth and slammed her finger back onto the screen.
There's no way.
Jason, Logan, and even McKenna had drawn amazing Pokémon after losing their matches — heck, some of them even got Shiny Pokémon!
Why should she be stuck with a Caterpie?!
"Again!"
The screen flickered once more... and another shadow appeared.
"That's... Scatterbug."
"NO WAY! I REFUSE!"
Charlotte's face twisted in disbelief.
Bugs… I beg you… please leave me alone!
"Again!!"
The screen flickered for a third time...
"Snom… yeah, that's a bug too."
"I CAN'T DO THIS!"
"One more!"
Charlotte's eyes were burning with frustration.
"Ledyba... yep, another bug."
Alex blinked at Charlotte's stunned face.
"...You okay?"
After just losing her match, she'd now drawn four Bug-types in a row.
Charlotte sat in silence, her face frozen in disbelief.
"You still have one more chance," Alex reminded her with a chuckle.
"Don't forget — last time, you ended up pulling a Dratini right at the end."
Charlotte's hand hovered over the Pokédex... her eyes narrowed.
This is it. This next one has to be my redemption.
No more bugs. No more bad luck. This is my comeback!
"Please… please... just no more bugs..."
She tapped the screen one final time.
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