People in line, including Lucas, turned to see a steep slope where a blonde girl on roller skates was speeding down, clutching a cake box.
"Lucario! Lucario! At least save the chocolate cream cake!" she cried.
Lucario hesitated, torn between rescuing his trainer or the cake. Loyalty versus cake—his canine heart faced a crossroads.
Chocolate cream cake? Lucas's sharp eyes locked onto the box in the girl's hands. It had the dessert shop's logo.
As the girl lost balance, Lucas shouted, "Oranguru!"
But Oranguru was faster, waving its fan and using psychic power to catch both the girl and the flying cake box.
The crowd applauded Oranguru's skill. The girl, floating in the air, stared blankly at Lucario below.
Outside the shop, a few tables were open. Alcremie, held back by Lucas, drooled at the cake.
Lucas asked the girl, "Are you alright? Why rush down a hill in roller skates?"
The girl scratched her helmet sheepishly. "Oops, forgot there was a slope."
Lucario facepalmed, embarrassed that his trainer could be so absent-minded.
Quickly, the roller girl set the cake down and bowed. "Thank you for saving both me and the biggest chocolate cream cake!"
"I'm Korrina from Shalour City, and this is my partner Lucario. We're on a tough training journey."
"Tough training?" Lucas and Oranguru eyed the massive cake, skeptical.
Korrina blushed. "W-well, you can't train hard without taking breaks!"
Lucas hid his amusement. Wasn't Korrina the future Shalour Gym Leader? Fate was messing with him today.
Alcremie struggled more fiercely for the cake, but Lucas held it back, warning it to wait until tomorrow.
Alcremie pouted—it could smell the rich chocolate and sweet cream, so close yet so far.
Oranguru got Lucas's signal; time to leave.
But Korrina spoke up, "Your Pokémon seems interested in my cake?"
Lucas quickly explained, "Don't worry, we're not expecting anything as thanks. We'll just get in line tomorrow."
"You can have some cake even if you refuse my request," Korrina said, standing up with determination. "Please have a Pokémon battle with my Lucario! I'm on a quest to defeat a hundred trainers, and you're the first I want to challenge!"
As a battle-loving girl, Korrina didn't know how else to ask, so she bowed awkwardly.
Lucas was puzzled by her insistence, but accepted—the perfect chance for a friendly match.
With Oranguru's agreement via telepathy, Lucas nodded. "Alright. If we win, we'll take a share of your cake. Deal?"
Korrina and Lucario exchanged a happy glance. "Deal!"
They chose a wide street for the match, far enough from traffic and the dessert shop.
Lucas was a little guilty to be Korrina's first 100-win target, but he wouldn't throw the match.
"I'll use Lucario. Please send out Oranguru!" Korrina called, exhilarated.
Lucas glanced at Alcremie, hoping it wouldn't be tempted to steal the cake.
He and Oranguru agreed to go easy—not to wipe Lucario out instantly, but to stretch out the fight.
Korrina, still green as a trainer, was no match for Oranguru, who could even beat real Gym Leaders.
"You go first," Lucas said.
Korrina, focused, called out, "Swords Dance!"
Lucario tried to boost its attack. But Oranguru, smirking, used "Taunt," blocking Lucario's stat boosts.
Fired up, Lucario abandoned Swords Dance and charged straight at Oranguru.
Korrina called out, "Bone Rush!"
Lucario summoned two bone clubs and swung at Oranguru.
Oranguru calmly waved its fan—"Quash!"—slowing Lucario just enough to dodge the attack.
Lucas was impressed; no wonder Oranguru could beat Gym Leaders. It wasn't just strong—it used dirty tactics like Taunt and Quash to control the opponent, making Lucario dance to its tune.
Oranguru kept dodging and controlling Lucario, making it look almost silly. Even Korrina was thrown off by such unconventional moves.
Lucas finally had enough. "Use Psychic."
Oranguru sent out a wave of psychic energy, pinning Lucario in place—no matter how hard Lucario struggled, it couldn't break free.
Korrina, realizing they were outmatched, bowed her head. "We lost…"