MunchMunch waved excitedly at the trainers. Gastly had just taught him how to do a “prank”, and it was so fun!

  But the ride didn’t stop.

  It kept going — right past the trainers.

  “Uh,” he looked at Mama Gastly, “What happened?”

  Gastly was still cackling — so MunchMunch knew the prank was really good! “Oh Sweetie,” she said, still chuckling, “that’s what you call winning a battle without even having to fight!”

  “Oh,” MunchMunch said.

  That didn’t sound very fun.

  “But what about the stuff that lets our Teddy buy more yummy food?” He gasped.

  “Well…we don’t get any this time,” Gastly said, her shadows rippling like a shrug.

  That…that sounded horrible! MunchMunch looked back and tried his best to see the trainers through the shadows, but they were already gone.

  MunchMunch wouldn’t tell Mama Gastly, but he thought she might be wrong. His tummy told him they had lost, and he agreed.

  Luckily, he had his favorite forever-snack! He happily took a munch and forgot all about it.

  “The Gym Leader is next,” Gastly whispered in his ear.

  MunchMunch gasped.

  His first Gym Leader!

  The giant Spinarak ride descended into a wide clearing underneath a Giant tree, with lights everywhere.

  But not bright lights.

  Soft glowy lights.

  MunchMunch thought they were really pretty.

  And in the clearing, standing in front of the tree, was Gym Leader Bugsy.

  ___

  “Gastly, Gastly!” MunchMunch whispered, “What color is his hair? It is really cool! I’ve never seen that color before!”

  “That is Lavender, MunchMunch,” Gastly said from his shadow.

  That made sense to MunchMunch. After all, if the bugs were really cool, shouldn’t the Gym Leader be really cool too?

  The Gym Leader said something to his Teddy, and Teddy nodded, motioning for him to go forward.

  MunchMunch gasped.

  Did that mean he got to fight the important fight?

  “MunchMunch!” He cried, MunchMunch-skipping forward.

  Then he froze — he almost forgot! He ran back, giving the Egg in Teddy’s hands a hug before going back out.

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  All of the Caterpie and Weedle and Spinarak from the gym were watching from the trees — even the flying Pokemon had come! And the trainers too! They were standing on the side watching!

  Suddenly, the wall behind the tree moved and lifted up, and there was a whole crowd of people sitting there, watching!

  MunchMunch spotted the Apricorn Man! And Nurse Joy — and Nurse Chansey, too! Even the waitress from the Restaurant Gym was there!

  MunchMunch laughed happily and waved to everyone!

  “MunchMunch!” he shouted, and lots of them shouted back!

  But then, Leader Bugsy threw a Pokeball, and it flashed brightly.

  It was time for MunchMunch to fight!

  ___

  The Pokemon on the field was another Pokemon MunchMunch had never seen before! He was really, really loving seeing all of the new things!

  Maybe, after the battle, his Teddy would take him to taste more new things, too!

  “Metapod!” The Pokemon screeched.

  “MunchMunch!” Munchlax shouted.

  The crowd cheered so loudly. It was really cool!

  Then the Metapod used Harden.

  MunchMunch looked back at his Teddy. He remembered how hard it was to win the Kakuna when it got to use Harden a lot. It took a long time to beat him!

  He wasn’t sure if he should try to Tackle the Metapod before it could use the move too many times, or if he should squeeze all his muscles too.

  “Munchlax, Defense Curl,” his Teddy shouted.

  MunchMunch happily obeyed — his Teddy would know best! Plus, he really liked Defense Curl — it made things not hurt, and MunchMunch didn’t like when things hurt.

  Metapod wasn’t as competitive as Kakuna had been. Instead, they just laughed and chatted while they both used their defense moves! Metapod told him about a berry called Sitrus berry, and that you could get it as a drink.

  MunchMunch had to try it!

  Then, they both got to fight, and it was really fun because it didn’t hurt! Plus, MunchMunch had his leftovers to keep his tummy happy, which Metapod said was unfair. MunchMunch giggled at that — he loved food the most, how could it be unfair if food loved him back!

  For some reason, his Teddy didn’t have him use his magic-paw. MunchMunch didn’t know why. Tackle was kind of boring. He wanted to fly!

  ———

  Gastly really appreciated this Gym Leader.

  Everyone had been so kind to Munchlax, and she knew he and his Pokemon had something to do with it. Gym Pokemon were often the strongest around, and unfortunately regularly had egos to match. Some of the Pokemon in the Violet City gym had been downright rude.

  Not that she had minded — she knew how to give as good as she got. Gastly smiled at the memory. Faulkner’s Pidgeotto had been furious losing to a Curse, Confuse Ray combo.

  Fortunately, Gastly would never add an extra taunt to her cackle just to annoy it.

  Nope, Never.

  Gastly cackled softly to herself, looking over the battle.

  This?

  This was good.

  It was right.

  Munchlax deserved to enjoy his time. There would be time enough later for…life.

  She thought about Proton. Something about him put her on edge. She didn’t know why, but she felt like they hadn’t seen the last of him or of Team Rocket.

  One thing she did know, she would need to be stronger the next time they met. The drive to get stronger was a constant itch, always on her mind. MunchMunch helped her remember there were other things important in life too, and for that she was oddly grateful.

  Regardless, Azalea didn’t have much left to offer her or her team. It was time to move on.

  The crowd cheered loudly and Gastly watched in amusement as the Gym Leader’s Kakuna poisoned Munchlax with Poison Sting. The resulting confusion on the baby’s face was priceless, as was the innocent gratitude that light up his face when their Trainer cured him with an Antidote. She couldn’t wait to tell him she was immune to poison—just to watch his mouth drop open.

  She laughed at the thought, then sighed.

  Yes, it was time for them to move on — but they had gained many wonderful things here too.