Pokémon: Farm Story

After several rounds of elimination matches that weren’t particularly intense or nerve-wracking, the final 16 spots had finally been decided.

According to the tournament schedule, all the matches would conclude by tonight.

Though it might not be the most polite way to put it, the kind of exhilarating battles seen on TV were unlikely to happen here.

Whether it was rookies clumsily pecking at each other or one-sided stomps, most matches would wrap up quickly.

In the waiting room for competitors, Mei was flipping through the documents in her hands.

Even though this wasn’t a large-scale tournament and the participant list hadn’t been released beforehand, she had still taken the time to gather information on some of the competitors.

Gathering intel on opponents and formulating sound strategies was, after all, an essential part of being a Trainer.

It’s said that some battle masters can predict their opponent’s lineup and battle order before the match even begins, simply by analyzing both teams’ Pokémon.

Mei wasn’t quite at that level yet, but she at least understood the basic logic.

Simply put, it involved anticipating the opponent’s coverage options—predicting what Pokémon they might bring to counter weaknesses in their team composition.

For a trainer, the battle begins the moment they step onto the battlefield.

"So far, nothing too concerning."

"As expected, Natsume is completely overqualified for this kind of tournament."

Strictly speaking, Mei herself was also a top contender in this small-scale competition.

Barring any unexpected circumstances, winning the championship wouldn’t be too difficult.

But—there just had to be Natsume in this tournament.

Which meant…

"Alright, everyone, let’s have fun competing for second place!"

Honestly, Mei had only signed up because of Natsume.

If not for him, she’d probably be preparing to challenge a Gym Leader she had previously lost to, working on a rematch strategy.

Her team had grown much stronger.

She was confident that none of them would be fazed by some simple trash talk anymore.

Compared to Corviknight’s brutal verbal assaults, regular battle taunts were nothing.

By the end of a match, Corviknight didn’t just use trash talk—it went straight for personal attacks that cut deep.

"…The trainer has won and advanced to the quarterfinals."

"Looks like it’s almost Natsume’s turn."

Turning off her tablet screen, Mei stretched her neck to relieve the stiffness.

Now that they had reached the main tournament, the organizers had assigned individual waiting rooms for the Top 16 trainers.

Compared to the earlier, cramped spaces, the biggest improvement was the TV screen in front of her, broadcasting the matches.

Sitting beside Mei, Chingling, along with a few of Natsume’s Pokémon, were watching the screen with great interest.

Natsume had left the waiting room earlier, but before heading out, he had casually dropped off his "spectators" and "cheer squad" in Mei’s care.

The "spectators" were Togepi and Zorua—pure troublemakers.

The "cheer squad" consisted of Gardevoir and Ogerpon.

The latter two had barely interacted with anyone since arriving.

Ogerpon was curious about everything in the city, but no matter how much it wanted to explore, it had to wait until after Natsume’s match.

As for Gardevoir…

It had zero interest in the city.

If anything, it would rather just take a nap.

Speaking of the cheer squad…

Mei’s gaze unconsciously drifted toward Gardevoir, who was sitting quietly nearby.

She couldn’t help but wonder—

What would Gardevoir look like in a cheerleader outfit?

Sure, it wasn’t human…

But it probably wouldn’t look bad.

After all, Gardevoir had consistently ranked No.1 in "Top Pokémon People Want to Marry" polls.

There were even actual trainers overseas who had married Gardevoir.

Well—

Not surprising.

This was just another case of humanity’s unique tastes at play.

"And now, let’s give a warm round of applause for the fourth match of the Top 16!"

"Natsume!"

"Tei Akira!"

The host’s voice rang out from the TV.

To be honest, Mei didn’t like this host very much.

They felt more like a streamer who had been randomly recruited for the event.

Their phrasing was awkward, their ability to control the flow of the match was weak, and sometimes, they seemed too focused on drawing attention to themselves.

As a host, they weren’t very professional.

But surprisingly, during Natsume’s match, they didn’t say anything unnecessary.

Guess someone told them to shut up.

The thought passed through Mei’s mind as she fixed her gaze on the person emerging from the hallway.

Soft lights from either side of the tunnel illuminated the path forward.

Tei Akira, 31 years old, walked out in silence.

In the audience seats, the spectators’ eyes burned with curiosity and excitement.

The commentators chattered nonstop, analyzing both trainers’ lineups and potential battle strategies.

As Tei Akira stepped onto the battlefield, bursts of confetti cannons fired from the sides, and distant celebratory sounds echoed.

The cheers in the arena swelled, hyping up the crowd.

Yet, none of it was for him.

His gaze lifted, looking at the person standing across from him.

Still young, with a faint hint of inexperience in his features.

If he had to put it into words—youthful energy.

His steps were steady.

His bright eyes held no trace of nervousness or anxiety.

Only calm confidence.

As if this match wasn’t even something he needed to worry about.

"Must be nice."

Tei Akira, who had graduated years ago, found himself lost in thought.

He should be strategizing and preparing for battle.

And yet…

His mind wandered to his university days.

Back then, he was neither exceptional nor special.

But he had been young, driven, and full of enthusiasm.

Surrounded by friends, free from politics and power struggles.

They had simply enjoyed each other’s company.

Eating, drinking, slacking off—

Back then, everything had been so easy.

Even after graduation, he had stayed on the path of a Pokémon Trainer.

But after all these years… nothing had really changed.

Maybe… he just wasn’t that talented after all.

"Hah…"

Exhaling softly, Tei Akira stepped onto the battlefield, pressing his foot down firmly—

Almost like he was trying to vent his emotions.

Maybe being suppressed by veterans and surpassed by the younger generation…

Was just his fate as an average middle-aged trainer.

He didn’t expect to win.

He knew exactly who he was up against.

Someone who had defeated Legendary Pokémon—even if Natsume only brought one main team member, Tei Akira still wouldn’t stand a chance.

If nothing else, at least he had self-awareness.

"Guess I’m just a stepping stone, huh?"

Yeah, probably.

"Now, let the fourth match of the Top 16 begin!"

"The battle format is 3v3. The battlefield is a standard arena. The match ends when one side’s three Pokémon are all unable to battle!"

The referee’s voice snapped Tei Akira back to reality.

His fingers instinctively reached for a slightly worn Pokéball.

"Now, let the battle begin!"

"Pinsir!"

"Come out and stretch a little, Shiny Furret."

A flash of white light—

And standing in the arena was a pink, fluffy Pokémon.

Adorable vs. Terrifying.

The contrast couldn’t be more extreme.

"Furr!"

Standing tall, Shiny Furret flexed, trying to look intimidating—

But in reality, it was still nothing but pure cuteness.

Even with all its muscles, it remained a fluffy pink marshmallow.

And the moment it appeared—

The crowd went wild.

"SO CUTE! It looks like a giant plushie!"

"Right?! It looks so soft! Imagine sleeping with it!"

"God, I wanna sit on it."

"…Uh."

"Compared to that, Pinsir suddenly feels kinda…"

"…Like the unwanted side character?"

"Pinsir."

Standing at the edge of the battlefield, Tei Akira called out softly.

"Ke?"

Pinsir tilted its head slightly, looking at Tei Akira with a hint of confusion.

"Do your best."

Tei Akira opened his mouth but, in the end, said nothing more.

What was there to say?

Should he talk about the bond he had built with Pinsir over the years?

Should he confess how desperately he wanted to win?

Or should he admit that, after this battle, he planned to quit being a full-time trainer?

That he had finally recognized the gap between dreams and reality?

None of it mattered.

"Ke..."

Pinsir watched Akira closely, sensing something in his demeanor.

They had been partners for thirteen years—ever since Tei Akira was eighteen.

By now, even without words, Pinsir could understand what he was thinking.

Turning back toward its opponent, Pinsir didn't say anything sentimental.

Right now, there was only one thing to do—

Battle.

The enemy before it was strong—there was no time for distractions.

The tension in the air was palpable.

Shiny Furret’s long tail swayed rhythmically, as if preparing for an attack.

Not to be outdone, Pinsir's massive horns clicked together, producing a sharp, metallic sound—

A display meant to intimidate weaker-willed opponents.

And then, in an instant—

Shiny Furret moved.

Its body, wrapped in a brilliant white aura, exploded forward like a streak of lightning.

Pinsir barely had time to react.

From above, Furret looked like a falling star, cutting through the air with streaks of faint embers trailing behind.

"Furr!"

By the time Pinsir got a clear look—

Furret was already in front of it.

And its fists were wreathed in flames.

Fire Punch!

Like a meteor shower, the burning fists came crashing down.

The intense heat warped Pinsir’s exoskeleton, wisps of smoke rising from its shell.

"Ke!"

Pinsir instinctively raised its arms, shielding its face from the flames, while trying to observe Furret’s movements through the gaps in its guard.

Then—

An opening.

As Furret pulled back its fist, Pinsir lunged forward, its massive horns snapping shut—

A move meant to seize victory in an instant.

"Got you!"

Pinsir’s heart pounded.

It had already planned its next sequence:

First, lock down Furret with its grip.

Then, immediately follow up with Seismic Toss to break its offense.

With its strength, one powerful slam should be enough to end this fight.

However—

Just before Pinsir's horns could clamp shut, Furret vanished from its grasp.

The flames around its fists dissipated—

Replaced by frost.

A chilling cold spread rapidly, covering Furret’s arms in a layer of icy mist.

"BAM! BAM! BAM!"

A rapid series of Ice Punches shattered Pinsir’s defenses.

The frigid cold seeped into its exoskeleton, making its movements sluggish.

The repeated shock of extreme heat and freezing cold caused small cracks to appear along its shell.

Pinsir had no chance to counterattack.

Furret swiftly retreated, putting distance between them.

Then—

It started running.

Circling rapidly around Pinsir.

"Ke..."

The only good news was that Pinsir had a moment to breathe.

The battle had just begun, yet it felt like an eternity had passed.

The crowd finally snapped out of their shock.

That series of attacks had not only shattered Pinsir’s defenses—

It had also shattered their previous perception of Furret.

Within moments, the arena erupted into a chaotic storm of excited discussions.

Pinsir’s head throbbed from the noise.

"What the hell is up with this Furret?"

This was not normal.

Pinsir had seen many Furret in the wild before—

But none were this fast or this strong.

This was completely absurd.

"Pinsir, don’t panic."

"Stay calm."

Akira’s voice cut through the noise, grounding Pinsir's thoughts.

Yet, no matter how calm it tried to be—

It simply couldn’t keep up with Furret’s speed.

That meant—

It could only take the hits.

"Ignore it. Stick to our plan."

"Yes, it’s fast—but our offense is stronger."

"If we land just one solid attack, we win."

Perhaps because Tei Akira had already anticipated Natsume’s overwhelming strength,

He was actually much calmer than before.

His words helped stabilize Pinsir’s mindset.

"Ke."

Lowering its stance, Pinsir focused all its attention on tracking Furret’s movements.

Akira had already prepared a counter-strategy for situations like this.

Though, at the time, the example he had used was for fighting a Persian.

But in this case—it was close enough.

Step one—Buff.

"Ke!"

A set of spectral swords materialized around Pinsir.

Without hesitation, it activated Swords Dance.

At the same time, Pinsir kept a sharp eye on its surroundings.

No competent Pokémon would sit still and allow an opponent to freely use a buffing move.

If they did, they were either extremely confident—

Or just plain stupid.

And there was no way Furret was stupid.

"Furr!"

Sure enough—

As Swords Dance reached its peak, Furret rushed in from a blind spot—

A devastating impact ready to crash into Pinsir.

"Ke!"

Despite the incoming attack, Pinsir remained calm.

Just a little more... almost there...

Then, just before Furret’s attack landed—

Pinsir abruptly canceled Swords Dance.

A green glow erupted around its body—

A protective barrier formed instantly.

Protect.

A move that could block most attacks.

Though its effectiveness weakened with repeated use, it was still an invaluable skill.

Almost every serious trainer made sure their Pokémon knew it.

"Ke!"

This is it!

Pinsir’s eyes gleamed with triumph.

At this close range, Furret had no way to change course.

All it could do was crash into the barrier—

And once it bounced off, Pinsir would seize its chance.

However—

Once again, something unexpected happened.

Just before colliding with the barrier—

Furret kicked off the ground.

Its sleek body arced gracefully through the air, clearing the Protect barrier entirely.

"Ke...?"

Pinsir could only watch helplessly as its Protect faded away.

The moment Furret landed—

It charged again.

This time—

There was no Protect left to block it.

"BOOM!"

The collision sent Pinsir flying like it had been hit by a speeding truck.

It had zero chance to resist.

"Pinsir is unable to battle! Furret wins!"

The referee raised his flag, signaling the end of the match.

The referee didn’t really expect Pinsir to remain standing after taking such a relentless beating.

But it was always best to double-check—just in case.

Any oversight in handling injuries could affect their future career.

"Come back, Pinsir."

Tei Akira calmly recalled Pinsir into its Pokéball.

He didn’t feel disappointed.

Instead, his mind remained steady as he tossed out his second Pokéball.

"Get ready for battle—Cubone."

"Cubo!"

Gripping its bone club, Cubone adjusted the skull on its head, eyes locked onto its opponent with unwavering focus.

Even while inside a Pokéball, Pokémon could still sense their surroundings to some extent.

And it was clear—

The enemy before it was incredibly strong.

There was no holding back.

Cubone raised its bone club, fully prepared to fight.

However—

"Come back, Shiny Furret."

"You're up, Marshtomp."

Withdrawing Furret, Natsume sent out Marshtomp.

Before the match, he had already decided that each of his Pokémon would fight one battle each.

Switching to Marshtomp now was a strategic choice.

After such a dominating first battle, the opponent's mentality had undoubtedly been shaken.

Sending in Marshtomp at this moment would test its resolve—a good chance for it to gain experience.

If he left it until the last round, though…

Natsume doubted that any opponent—after being steamrolled by both Furret and Corviknight—would have any fighting spirit left.

That wouldn’t help Marshtomp improve.

Better to save Corviknight for last.

Besides, that arrogant bird always enjoyed crushing weaker opponents anyway.

"Marsh."

Marshtomp appeared on the battlefield, its face expressionless—

Wearing the same blank stare as a Magikarp.

It was the look of someone who had seen everything,

A gaze that held everything and nothing at the same time.