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On New Year's Eve, Whitewind Gym welcomed its last challenger.
He was a somewhat weary-looking, middle-aged man. His hometown was near Whitewind Town, and when he passed through, he decided to stop by for a Gym challenge.
However, the festive New Year's spirit didn't earn him any bonus points toward a badge. After the battle, Hakuya evaluated his performance and declined to award him one.
By six in the evening, night had fallen completely, and icy winds howled outside.
Since no more challengers came to the gates, Hakuya handed the Gym staff the small gifts he had prepared, wished them an early New Year, and then closed the Gym doors with Luther.
As soon as the gates clanged shut, the Pokémon gathered around Luther and Hakuya let out excited cheers as they scattered through the gym, running wild in celebration.
Chansey and Chikorita helped Mai portion out the Pokémon food carefully. Then, Chansey picked up the whistle that Mai had given her, blew a sharp note, and the reveling Pokémon came dashing to her side at the sound.
The New Year's feast was overwhelming. Each Pokémon's feeding bowl was stacked with food, forming little mountains.
Kangaskhan and Tauros stared wide-eyed--not because they were overreacting, but because the sight itself was shocking.
This, of course, was Marill's doing. Luther had told her that she could eat as much as she wanted tonight. Marill wasted no time making her demands known.
Chansey and Chikorita had no choice but to follow her plan and pile food and berries around her in a circle, creating the illusion that Marill was buried in food.
Now, standing in the middle of a mound taller than she was, Marill nibbled from one side to the other. She was so delighted that she could hardly cover her face.
Surprisingly, Hakuya's Slaking had the smallest appetite. After watching him for a while, Luther realized that he might actually be eating less than Dunsparce.
"Since he hardly moves, he uses little energy, so he eats less most of the time," Hakuya explained. "But if he's just been through a major battle, you'll see how terrifying his appetite really is."
That made sense to Luther. Between Slaking and Snorlax, one was all they could afford, and with their current finances, even that was a stretch.
The four of them had taken turns in the kitchen, and the resulting New Year's dinner was as bountiful as it was tempting. Everyone was itching to dig in.
Just before they started eating, Luther went back into the kitchen and brought out two steaming pots of lamb stew that he had been preparing since morning.
Junna had tried several times to take it off the heat earlier, but Luther stopped her. At noon, he adjusted the flame and transferred the pots to charcoal embers, letting them slowly simmer so the lamb and radishes could soak up the flavors and become melt-in-your-mouth tender.
The meat had turned a rich reddish-brown, and the broth was fragrant. The stew barely hit the table before spoons started clashing as everyone dug in. Thankfully, Luther had anticipated this, and two pots were more than enough to fill all four of them up.
Kirlia and Espurr drooled openly. They always liked sticking by Luther to eat together. Seeing the humans enjoy themselves, they couldn't resist.
Using their psychic powers, they floated one of the pots to the floor, fetched a bowl, and began secretly serving themselves spoonfuls under the table.
Halfway through the meal, Luther heard rustling beneath him and finally caught the culprits.
Since they had small appetites anyway, he just nudged Espurr lightly with his foot and went back to eating.
This world had New Year's variety shows, too. On the surface, they weren't so different from the ones he'd seen before, but here, Pokémon participation was the highlight.
After flipping through several channels, Hakuya finally found the official Pokémon League broadcast.
Cynthia and Sinnoh's four Elite Four appeared on screen.
The Sinnoh Pokémon League's official event host gave the usual New Year's greetings. Knowing he was just a side character, he kept it brief and quickly handed the microphone to the Elite Four.
Every year, this was the routine: each of the four would take turns offering their wishes to Pokémon Trainers. Finally, the Champion would speak about his hopes for the new year, followed by a massive fireworks display.
Holding a fish cake made of mashed potato and fish, Junna mused curiously: "I wonder if something interesting will happen this year."
Luther blinked in surprise.
Hakuya explained, "Every year during the Champion and Elite Four greetings, something unexpected happens. Last year, for example, the League held a raffle, and the winner got to battle Cynthia."
Junna picked up the thread: "The year before that, the League invited two Trainers from the official forums who had argued for hours about whether Metapod or Kakuna was better."
Luther was stunned. Dozens of pages? Don't these people have anything better to do?
It turns out that keyboard warriors exist everywhere.
But why on earth would the League invite them? A real-life showdown to settle the score?
Junna, assuming Luther had never watched a New Year's show, patiently explained: "So, in battle, Aaron and Gardenia each commanded a Kakuna and a Metapod."
The League certainly knew how to entertain; this was comedy gold.
"In the end, Aaron won." At first, they both just kept spamming Harden. But since Kakuna can use Poison Sting, Aaron whittled Gardenia down with poison damage. You really missed out. I suggest finding the recording; it's absolute top-tier entertainment."
"I remember the year before that," Mai recalled. "The League invited a guy from the forums who claimed he could one-shot Cynthia. They had him face her in a full six-on-six battle with no move restrictions."
Good content-- respect!
Mai hadn't said who won yet, but Luther already knew. A clean 0–6. Honestly, even he could have managed that.
Every year, countless jokers and clowns on the Sinnoh League's official forums competed for the chance to be selected for the "mystery segment" of the New Year's show.
That segment had become the most anticipated part of the show. Even Hakuya admitted that he was curious to see what stunt the League would pull this time.
Aaron and Gardenia offered their blessings and advice in warm, friendly tones. Just as the screen cut to Lucian and Bertha, who were whispering quietly together, a staff member in a black uniform stepped onto the stage, holding a booklet.
Junna and Hakuya immediately fell silent, and Mai nudged Luther-- this was the moment!
Everyone on stage turned their attention to the staff member. This was the unpredictable but expected part of the program.
Smiling, the staffer picked up the microphone and said simply, "With the help of our friends on the forums, the show's organizers have come up with a brand-new twist this year."
"Now, Champion Cynthia, please step forward."
Cynthia, seated next to Bertha, rose and walked to center stage.
"Now, please join her, the Elite Four."
Once everyone was in place, the staffer opened his booklet and read aloud:
"This year's mystery program is called 'Mix and Match!'"
"All four of the Elite Four and the Champion will put their Poké Balls into the box on my left. Each will then draw randomly and battle with whichever Pokémon they pull out. If they draw their own Pokémon, they must redraw."
Incredible! The Sinnoh Pokémon League was definitely number one when it came to stirring things up!
(End of chapter.)