Chapter 26: Arrival at Azalea Town! New Rivals Emerge!
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The sun had just begun to dip into the horizon when Alex, Daniel, and Cynthia finally exited Union Cave, stepping into the fresh air of southern Johto.
Ahead of them, nestled between forests of towering apricorn trees, lay Azalea Town—a charming village famous for its traditional Pokéball craftsmanship and its Gym Leader, Bugsy.
But today, something was different.
There was a buzz in the air, a feeling of excitement, as trainers of all ages crowded the streets, chattering about upcoming battles and a mysterious announcement.
"Looks like we picked the perfect time," Daniel said, cracking his knuckles.
"Let's check it out."
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Azalea Town Festival: Celebration of Heroes
The center of town had been transformed.
Banners flapped in the wind, food stalls lined the streets, and a temporary battlefield had been constructed near the Pokéball Workshop.
At the heart of the crowd stood the Gym Leader himself—Bugsy.
Slim, confident, and sharp-eyed, Bugsy wore his usual bug-catcher outfit, but today he was accompanied by two other figures.
Two boys, about Alex and Daniel's age, stood proudly at his side.
Bugsy raised a microphone, addressing the gathering trainers.
"Today we celebrate the future of Johto's heroes! I'm proud to introduce two rising stars—my younger brother, Brandon, and my apprentice, Troy!"
The two boys stepped forward.
Brandon had short messy brown hair and wore a custom black-and-green uniform, decorated with insect-like patterns. His expression was calm, almost lazy—but his eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence.
Troy was taller, with spiky silver hair and an eager smirk. He wore a sleeveless jacket and gloves, radiating raw, unfiltered energy.
Bugsy continued,
"Both of them will be challenging you visiting trainers before you can earn the Azalea Badge. Think of it as a warm-up!"
Daniel elbowed Alex, grinning.
"Looks like things just got a lot more interesting."
Alex smiled, excitement tingling through his veins.
He could already feel the potential battles ahead—and he welcomed them.
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Registration and Challenge
The festival organizers had created a simple rule:
"To challenge Bugsy, you must first defeat either Brandon or Troy in an official match."
Alex, Daniel, and Cynthia lined up, along with dozens of other trainers eager for a shot.
When Alex stepped forward to register, an official scanned his Pokédex and grinned.
"Alex Ketchum, huh? Word is spreading fast about you and Daniel Oak. People are curious to see if the legends about the older brothers are true!"
Alex shrugged, casual.
"They'll see soon enough."
Daniel, registering behind him, laughed.
"Better get your cameras ready."
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First Meeting: Brandon and Troy
After the registration, Brandon and Troy approached Alex and Daniel personally.
Brandon spoke first, voice low and relaxed.
"You two... I heard you're strong. Good. I hate easy battles."
Troy grinned.
"Heh. You'll need more than reputations to beat us. We've been training under Bugsy since we were kids. We're not pushovers."
Alex met their eyes, his usual confident smirk appearing.
**"