The next morning, the unfinished Lavender Town Gym was already alive with activity. Trainers who had woken early lined up in the open lot, waiting for Ethan Carter's instructions.
He crouched in front of a nervous boy whose Squirtle clung tightly to his leg. "Fili, your Squirtle is nearly there with its defensive stance. About forty-five more solid practices should see it mastered. After that, you can move on to Rapid Spin and Water Pulse. You'll need one hundred twenty-one repetitions for the first, one hundred thirty-four for the second. At the moment, both moves lack proficiency. You've noticed it in battle, haven't you? The output just doesn't match your opponent's."
The boy nodded eagerly. "That's right, Gym Leader. Last night, when I fought another Water-type, my Squirtle's techniques felt sloppy. I couldn't keep up."
"Then practice as I've told you," Ethan said warmly, ruffling the Squirtle's head. "And don't forget—praise it often. Confidence is as important as technique. It's no weaker than anyone else's partner."
Encouraged, the boy thanked him and hurried off, Squirtle now a little braver. Another student stepped forward with a Pikachu, and Ethan offered more precise advice. For nearly an hour he worked through the line, tailoring guidance to each trainer until he finally stole a brief moment of rest.
He turned toward a patch of open ground where Charmeleon practiced Fire Fang, flames sparking along his jaws with each snap, while Munchlax clumsily attempted Metronome. Both stopped immediately when they spotted Ethan. Charmeleon bolted into his arms, tail flame flickering happily, while Munchlax lingered shyly a few steps behind.
"You're remarkable, Charmeleon," Ethan said, stroking his partner's head. "Just thirteen more tries and Fire Fang will be yours." He then tugged Munchlax forward and patted his round belly. "And you too. You worked hard today. That made me proud. After lunch at the Pokémon House, I'll give you a treat."
Munchlax beamed at the praise, eyes crinkling with silly joy. A system prompt shimmered before Ethan's eyes:
Munchlax's intimacy increases. Current Intimacy: 8 (-21 → 8).
Ethan smirked. The number was crawling upward, exactly as he wanted. He knew the best time to capture Munchlax would be when intimacy reached nine—once the Poké Ball added its automatic thirty points, the total would unlock the system's first trust reward. Catching him now would only make Ethan fully responsible for the mountain of food the Pokémon consumed. Better to wait, take advantage while he could.
Mr. Fuji, seated beneath a tree nearby, had been watching quietly. "Ethan, perhaps it's time you just captured Munchlax," he said gently. "He follows you everywhere. That's proof enough of his acceptance."
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "I will—but not yet. I'm not exactly flush with money right now."
The old man sighed knowingly, understanding the unspoken truth.
Ethan then pulled out the ancient dictionary Mr. Fuji had given him and the two resumed their study of old scripts together.
At the same time, far away on Route 10, a blonde girl with sharp, commanding eyes approached Lavender Town. At her side walked a towering Garchomp, its finned body cutting a fierce silhouette against the morning light.
"This must be Lavender Town… the place they call the Pokémon Graveyard," she murmured, her gaze lingering on the looming Pokémon Tower. "It wasn't easy, but I finally made it." She patted Garchomp's head. "We'll be staying for a while. Ready?"
"Gaaarch!"
Guided by passersby, the girl arrived at the Pokémon House—but her attention was captured by the bustling construction site opposite, where Ethan's Gym was rising. Dozens of trainers sparred with their Pokémon under the supervision of assistants. The air rang with battle cries and encouragement.
"So much discipline and energy in one place," she said with quiet admiration. "Garchomp, I think I'm going to enjoy studying here." Her lips curled into a smile. "But first, how about a warm-up battle or two?"
With Garchomp at her side, she strode into the Gym grounds. Trainers, caught off guard by her beauty and confidence, leapt at the chance to battle. None lasted more than four turns. Garchomp tore through six opponents in a row, overwhelming them with raw power.
"Isn't there anyone stronger?" she finally demanded in frustration. "I expected more, but your strength is… disappointing."
Her words stung. One of the students, Hao, bristled. "Don't be so arrogant! Our Director is far stronger than us. You won't be so confident once you face him."
The others quickly chimed in, voices rising. "That's right! He's the one who trained a Charmeleon to master Sunny Day. Just wait till you fight him."
The girl's eyes brightened with interest. "A Charmeleon that can use Sunny Day? Then bring me to him at once."
Hao sprinted off, returning moments later with Ethan, who had just finished his lesson with Mr. Fuji.
"Director," Hao panted, "someone's here to smash our Gym!"
Ethan arched an eyebrow. "Smash the place? Really? Where?"
Hao pointed, and Ethan followed the gesture to a tall girl with golden hair and commanding poise. She seemed strangely familiar.
Her eyes lit up when she saw Mr. Fuji. She hurried forward, bowing her head politely. "You must be Mr. Fuji. My grandmother spoke highly of you."
Recognition dawned on the old man's face. His smile spread. "And you must be Cynthia, the granddaughter of my dear friend. She said you would come."
Cynthia inclined her head. "Yes. My grandmother entrusted me to you. She said you possess deep knowledge of ancient texts and asked that I study under you."
Mr. Fuji chuckled warmly. "Indeed, she told me all about you. I thought you would take a few more days to arrive, but here you are already."
"I was too eager to wait," Cynthia admitted with a shy scratch of her head.
Turning to Ethan, Mr. Fuji gestured. "This is the young Gym Leader I mentioned. You two will study ancient writing together."
Ethan extended his hand. "Ethan Carter."
"Cynthia," she replied, shaking it firmly.
Her eyes, however, gleamed with unhidden determination. "They say you've trained a Charmeleon to command Sunny Day. Show me. Battle me."
Ethan met her gaze, his pulse quickening at the challenge. For the first time in days, he felt the thrill of true anticipation.