The orange glow of the setting sun stretched long shadows across the Solaceon grassland, painting the scene in hues of amber and violet.
"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Reggie, a Trainer from Veilstone City who's been traveling for two years. Please guide me."
The purple-haired Trainer with the high ponytail offered a polite, albeit slightly stiff, nod. His eyes were sharp, carrying a weight of experience that didn't quite match his youthful face.
"Ah, hello! I'm Julian, from Sandgem Town. I'm a New Trainer who just started traveling two months ago. Please guide me, senior~"
As Julian spoke, his pupils constricted slightly. He felt a jolt of recognition so strong it almost made him drop the Growlithe he was holding. With the same practiced composure he used when hiding his "petting addiction," he extended his right hand—the one that had been busy ruffling Growlithe's fur just a second ago—and shook Reggie's hand.
[He's actually Paul's older brother! No wonder he looked so familiar!] Julian thought, his mind racing. [Reggie's eyes right now are exactly like Paul's—sharp, cold, and intensely focused. It's a far cry from the gentle, relaxed Breeder I remember from the later parts of the story. Back then, I subconsciously ruled out Paul because of the age gap, but seeing Reggie now... they're definitely brothers. The family resemblance is terrifying.]
Shaking hands with a bit of a dazed expression, Julian inadvertently caught Reggie's gaze. However, Reggie wasn't looking at Julian's face. He was staring directly at Julian's chest—or rather, the Growlithe tucked firmly into Julian's embrace.
[Wait, was I just caught?!] Julian felt a cold sweat break out on his neck. [Did he see me sniffing the tail? No, no... that's impossible. I was too fast. He must just be judging my posture.]
"Um," Reggie spoke up, breaking the silence. "Your Growlithe looks incredibly well-cared for. Was he raised by a professional Nursery?"
"Ah? Oh! No, no," Julian stammered, breathing a massive sigh of relief. He shifted Growlithe slightly, who let out a small, confused 'woof' at being squeezed. "This little guy has been with me since the start. I only came to the Solaceon Nursery today because I had an egg that required some specialized high-pressure equipment to hatch."
"Oh?" Reggie's eyebrows shot up. He leaned in closer, examining the sheen on Growlithe's coat and the clear, bright spark in his eyes. "Then, Julian, your breeding skills are remarkable. My home isn't far from here, and I've visited this Nursery since I was a kid. To be honest, most of the masters here don't achieve that kind of coat density and muscle tone on a newborn-stage Pokémon. You don't look like a New Trainer at all."
Reggie then shifted his gaze to the "Senior Four" surrounding Julian—Floette, Sylveon, and Togetic were all watching him with varying levels of curiosity. He examined them up and down, his eyes analyzing every detail like a living Pokédex.
"Maybe it's just because I only have a small team," Julian said, waving a hand dismissively. "I have more time to be... meticulous. Anyway, it's impressive that you can tell their condition just by looking. Are you a Breeder yourself?"
"Not officially. Not yet," Reggie replied, his expression darkening slightly. "I'm learning about breeding primarily to become a better battler. My goal is to challenge the best Trainers from every region. I've already collected eight badges from Sinnoh and eight from Hoenn. I've competed in both the Lily of the Valley Conference and the Ever Grande Conference."
Julian's eyes widened. This was the "Glory Days" Reggie—the one who was still chasing the dream of being a champion before the crushing defeat by Brandon that would eventually change his life path.
"Wow, sixteen badges? That's incredible," Julian praised. "So, what's next on the list?"
Reggie clenched a fist, his eyes burning with a cold ambition. "This return to Sinnoh is just a pit stop. I need to organize what I learned in Hoenn. Once my team has rested, we're heading straight for the Johto Region's Silver Conference. And after that... the Indigo Plateau in Kanto."
"Johto and Kanto?" Julian rubbed his chin. "You should be careful, Reggie. I've heard the Kanto Gyms are in a league of their own. They can be... brutal."
Reggie shook his head, a look of mild disdain crossing his face. "Brutal? I met a Trainer from Kanto during my Hoenn travels. We battled, and honestly, he was barely entry-level. He claimed he had participated in the Indigo League, but he couldn't even handle a basic type-disadvantage. On the other hand, a friend of mine from Hoenn got stuck at the Goldenrod Gym in Johto for weeks before giving up. It seems the Kanto legends are a bit exaggerated these days."
Julian scratched the back of his head, offering a hollow laugh. [Oh, Reggie... you have no idea. You probably met a guy who got his badges from 'Gyms' that aren't even officially recognized, or someone who took the 'Safety Certification' route. Kanto has a 'Hell Mode' and a 'Tourist Mode,' and it sounds like you've only heard about the tourists.]
He thought back to Brandon of the Battle Frontier—the man who would eventually hand Reggie a 6-0 defeat and break his spirit. Brandon's trial wasn't just about strength; it was about the "Symbol of Bravery." He didn't just fight to win; he fought to test the very soul of the Trainer.
"Julian?" Reggie waved a hand in front of Julian's face, snapping him out of his internal monologue.
"Ah! Sorry! I was just thinking about a friend who told me about Kanto," Julian lied smoothly. "If you do go there, you should definitely check out the hot springs on Cinnabar Island. They're great for muscle recovery after a long trek."
"I'll keep that in mind," Reggie said. His gaze shifted back to the Pokémon behind Julian, his confusion returning. "More importantly... can I ask about the flower-like one on your head? And the pink one with the ribbons? My Pokédex has data from Sinnoh and Hoenn, but it's drawing a complete blank on them."
He held up his Pokédex, which was currently displaying an "Unknown Species" error.
"These two?" Julian smiled, reaching up to gently steady Floette on his hat. "This is Floette. Don't let the flower fool you—she isn't a Grass-type. She's a pure Fairy-type. Her family is native to the Kalos region, which is why your local Pokédex doesn't recognize her."
Reggie's eyes narrowed. "Kalos? That's halfway across the world."
"And this lovely lady is Sylveon," Julian continued, stroking the ribbons wrapped around his wrist. "She's the eighth evolution of Eevee. The Fairy-type was only recently classified by researchers, so she's still a very rare sight in Sinnoh."
"A new Eevee evolution? And a type I've only seen in academic journals?" Reggie's eyes weren't cold anymore—they were burning with the fire of a competitor who had just found a new challenge.
He stepped back, his hand going to a Poké Ball on his belt. The air around him suddenly felt sharper, more electric.
"Julian, you might be a New Trainer, but you're carrying Pokémon from a region I've never seen and a type I've never fought. As a Trainer, I can't let this opportunity pass."
Reggie's face split into a sharp, confident grin—the same grin Paul would one day use to intimidate his rivals. "If you're willing, I'd like to request a battle. I want to see for myself what this 'Fairy-type' can actually do!"
"Eh?" Julian blinked.