In one of the Overseas Archipelago's islands, at a hidden Dark Guild gathering place.
Within a cramped room, dimly lit, two men dressed in tight-fitting uniforms were engaged in conversation.
"I heard Botoman was captured in the Sebas region."
The deep voice resonated with suppressed fury, akin to an impending volcanic eruption, sending chills down anyone who listened.
"Yes, that's correct."
"Hmph, unable to handle even a little girl? He deserved to be caught. However, we must retrieve the Z-Power Band from him. It was originally intended for the Guild Master, and if it gets lost, neither of us can withstand his wrath!"
"What if the Sebas Alliance obtains the Z-Power Band?"
"No need to worry; the band fell into the hands of that young girl. Just find her and recover it."
"Understood."
"Go now! The Z-Power Band is crucial. Don't concern yourself with anything else; use all means necessary to reclaim it—we cannot afford to lose it!"
***
Meanwhile, Kalia was already on her way to Rhine City.
Ruby City and Rhine City were not far apart, separated only by a large river. Crossing the bridge led directly to the other side, followed by a short distance to reach Rhine City.
Rhine City was renowned for its lush flora, being home to the Grass-type gym, it boasted diverse vegetation with every household cultivating beautiful flowers, plants, and various tree fruits.
Kalia learned to make energy cubes while in Rhine City due to its abundance of berries; many cities sourced their berries from here.
Legend has it that Celebi, the Legendary Pokemon, once visited Rhine City, leaving behind vibrant and flourishing plant life wherever it flew. Although just a tale, Kalia firmly believed it to be true.
Undoubtedly, Rhine City is a stunning place, where vibrant flowers and plants greet you along the streets, filling the air with their delightful fragrances.
As Kalia returned to this familiar city once more, she felt deeply moved - it happened too quickly. Initially expecting it would take at least half a year or even a full year, she found herself back here in less than three months.
As Kalia entered Rhine City's vicinity, she gazed at this fragrant city with a smile on her face. No longer was she the Grass-type Gym Leader; instead, she had returned as a beginner Trainer.
Suddenly, Kalia spotted her good friend Lewis from afar, and her expression brightened.
Lewis, once a student of her father, grew up alongside Kalia but was significantly older than her. With his powerful Pokémon, he could have easily challenged gyms, yet he chose to remain at the gym, assisting Kalia with training.
In this world, not everyone follows the path of challenging gyms. Lewis exemplified a Trainer with notable skills who preferred staying within one city—though, technically, it might be more accurate to call him something other than a Trainer.
Currently, Lewis is the youngest major berry farmer in Rhine City, specializing in cultivating various berries and beautiful flora.
Many of Kalia's berries were supplied by Lewis, enabling her to create numerous energy cubes. She even obtained her small Pokéblock Blender from him.
Lewis often wore a friendly smile, being around three or four years older than Kalia. However, Kalia found such constant smiling disingenuous, especially since, as someone involved in business, he maintained this demeanor with everyone—a facade that felt too artificial.
Kalia approached slowly, looking at Lewis dressed formally, and said, "Can you stop smiling? It's too insincere. When will you finally change?"
"I've developed this habit; it's hard to alter now," Lewis responded with a somewhat helpless smile, his eyes revealing surprise as Kalia had returned earlier than expected.
With keen observation, Lewis noticed four badges gleaming on Kalia's shoulder, displaying shock in his expression. After just three months, she already earned four badges.
"I'm back," Kalia stated matter-of-factly.
"Welcome home."
Pop.
A Poké Ball opened spontaneously, releasing Lian onto the ground. He glanced around, taking in the surroundings filled with lush flora.
"This is my Charmeleon," Kalia introduced.
"So you have a Fire-type Pokémon," Lewis remarked, observing the Charmeleon. Initially, he assumed Kalia would focus on Grass-type Pokémon, not expecting her to also train a Fire-type.
"It's not just one," Kalia replied with a faint smile. Although not intentionally cultivated by her, she currently had two Fire-type Pokémon and one Grass-type Pokémon.
"You're planning to specialize in Fire-type Pokémon?" Lewis asked, puzzled. Despite not being a professional Trainer, he knew that ideally, a team should not exceed two Pokémon of the same type due to potential vulnerability against counters.
Of course, Gym Leaders were different; they needed to specialize in a specific attribute, and using Pokémons of other types was generally not permitted. Kalia clearly had no intention of continuing as a Gym Leader.
"Not exactly. While Fire-type Pokémon will be my core focus, I'll still include others with varying attributes." Kalia shook her head; her team would revolve around Ninetales and Charmeleon. With Ninetales' support, Charmeleon's Fire-type moves could reach an incredibly terrifying level. Consequently, it was likely that her future lineup would predominantly feature Fire-type Pokémon.
During her visit to the Pokémon Academy, Kalia gained a deep understanding of the benefits of diverse Pokémon combinations. By complementing each other, weaknesses could be mitigated, creating a nearly flawless team composition.
"I can see you've grown significantly," Lewis observed. Initially, he expected Kalia to focus on Grass-type Pokémon, given her first Pokémon was Treecko. To his surprise, she chose Fire-types instead.
Upon reflection, it made sense - Fire-type Pokémon have an advantage over Grass-types, making them ideal for defeating Tamagawa Naoki.
"Indeed, I've progressed a lot. Staying confined in Rhine City limited me; now, I realize how fascinating the outside world truly is."
After arriving in Rhine City, Lewis arranged accommodation for Kalia, where she settled down comfortably.
At an orchard in Rhine City.
This place was filled with numerous trees bearing various types of berries. Dedicated staff members were busy watering and fertilizing them.
"What's your plan next? Are you going to challenge Tamagawa Naoki immediately?" Lewis asked within the orchard.
Kalia observed the surrounding fruit trees, already laden with ripe berries. She picked one, took a bite, and said, "I think I'll stay for a few days. There's no rush. It's been quite some time since I've been back; I definitely want to enjoy myself here for a bit. Challenging the grass-type gym is not a daunting task anymore."
It wasn't that Kalia had become overly arrogant, but through her experiences, she now had a clear understanding of her own capabilities. With type advantages on her side, defeating Tamagawa Naoki's three Grass-type Pokémon wouldn't be difficult.
Previously, she couldn't wait to rapidly enhance her strength, return to Rhine City, defeat Tamagawa Naoki, and prove herself. Now, however, she felt less urgency.
"Very confident, aren't we?" Lewis smiled. The old Kalia lacked such self-assurance, which brought him immense satisfaction. Choosing this new path undoubtedly proved to be the right decision. The current Kalia seemed transformed compared to before.