It had been a day since Ethan earned the Hive Badge.
The group was relaxing outside the Pokécenter while their Pokémon trained nearby.
Marshtomp was helping Godzilla practice balance drills near a stream.
Flaaffy was trying to teach Embers how to control electric timing with footwork.
Rocky rested in the sunlight while Sentret slept curled on top of him.
And above them—
A large shiny Noivern glided through the sky before landing beside Ethan with a heavy flap of her wings.
She had grown a lot.
Not just stronger.
Bigger.
Sharper.
Confident.
Ethan looked at her quietly.
His oldest partner.
The first Pokémon he truly bonded with after his regression.
Noivern tilted her head slightly.
"Noi?"
Kitsu noticed immediately.
"What is it, brother?"
Ethan rested a hand against Noivern's neck.
"…I normally don't nickname my Pokémon."
Kitsu blinked.
That was true.
Unlike her, Ethan always used species names.
Not because he didn't care.
But because he treated names seriously.
Like promises.
Ethan continued softly:
"But she's been my partner for so long."
Noivern looked at him curiously now.
Kitsu suddenly grinned.
"Vesta."
Ethan blinked.
"…Vesta?"
Kitsu nodded proudly.
"Goddess of the Hearth."
She pointed at Noivern.
"She's always the one flying back to you."
"Always near home."
"Always guarding everyone."
Noivern puffed up slightly at the attention.
Whitney gasped dramatically.
"Oh my god that's actually adorable."
Lyra nodded rapidly.
"It fits her!"
Sabrina adjusted her glasses.
"Symbolically appropriate."
Bugsy whispered to Falkner:
"They talk about naming Pokémon like naming ancient weapons."
Falkner whispered back:
"I think that's just how rich families work."
Erika walked beside Ethan and smiled softly.
"It's a good name."
Ethan looked back at Noivern.
She looked at him quietly.
Waiting.
Trusting.
He let out a small breath.
"…Vesta."
Noivern's ears twitched instantly.
Then her eyes widened slightly.
"…Noi?"
Ethan smiled faintly.
"Yes."
That was enough.
Noivern immediately leaned forward and wrapped her wings around him.
Whitney nearly exploded on the spot.
"AAAAAAAA HE NAMED HER!"
Kitsu looked victorious.
"I am amazing at names."
Sabrina deadpanned:
"You named your Aron 'Godzilla.'"
"That name is peak."
Meanwhile, Noivern—now Vesta—made a soft happy trill as Ethan scratched under her chin.
And Ethan realized something.
Maybe names weren't just labels.
Maybe they were acknowledgment.
A way of saying:
"You matter to me as more than strength."
Vesta let out another happy cry and took back to the air.
Flying higher than before.
Like the name itself made her lighter.
Erika looked up at Vesta flying overhead.
"Still, compared to how she evolved, the name was much more graceful."
Everyone blinked.
Then immediately had the same flashback.
Right after Ethan and Kurt finished their:
"Take it."
"I won't."
argument.
Ethan had released his Pokémon so Nurse Joy could examine them properly.
At the same time, another Nurse wheeled out a secured glass container.
Inside it—
Rare Candies.
Not normal candy.
They were compressed crystals of purified type energy, carefully stabilized into edible form.
Expensive.
Very expensive.
Even one cost more than what most beginner trainers carried.
Bugsy remembered staring at the jar like it contained legendary treasure.
Whitney remembered Lyra trying to count how much money was sitting in that one tray before giving up halfway.
And then—
Noibat came out of her Poké Ball.
The shiny dragon blinked once.
Then froze.
Everyone in the room felt it immediately.
Something activated inside her.
Her pupils shrank.
The world slowed.
Noibat slowly turned toward the Rare Candy jar.
"…Noi."
Ethan noticed instantly.
"…Noibat?"
Noibat's wings spread.
Sabrina's eyes widened slightly.
"…That is predatory fixation."
And then—
Noibat moved.
A sonic boom exploded through the Pokécenter lobby.
Whitney screamed.
Bugsy almost fell over.
The Nurse carrying the Rare Candies shrieked in terror.
Noibat became a purple blur.
She slammed face-first into the glass container—
CRACK.
Grabbed an entire handful of Rare Candies—
And swallowed them whole.
Everyone stared in horror.
Ethan's eyes widened.
"…Noibat."
Noibat looked back at him.
Chewing.
Then—
Light exploded from her body.
Lyra pointed in panic.
"SHE'S EVOLVING?!"
The evolution light expanded violently.
Wings stretched larger.
Her body lengthened.
Sound waves blasted papers off nearby desks.
The entire Pokécenter shook slightly.
Nurse Joy screamed: "WHY WOULD YOU LET HER EAT THAT MANY?!"
Ethan immediately answered: "I DIDN'T THINK SHE COULD MOVE THAT FAST!"
The light finally burst outward.
And standing there—
Was a massive shiny Noivern.
Everyone stared.
Noivern looked down at herself.
Then at the empty Rare Candy container.
Then—
She slowly reached toward it again.
Ethan grabbed her immediately.
"No."
"Noivern…"
"No."
"She's trying again!" Whitney yelled.
Noivern made the most offended sound possible.
Meanwhile Kurt stood there silently watching the newly evolved dragon.
Then looked at Ethan.
"…Your family's Pokémon are all insane."
Back in the present—
Whitney wiped tears from her eyes from laughing too hard.
"She evolved through grand theft."
Kitsu proudly crossed her arms.
"And now her name is elegant."
Sabrina adjusted her glasses.
"To be fair, gluttony-fueled ascension is historically common among dragons."
Falkner looked at Ethan.
"So, where now?"
Ethan and Kitsu looked at each other—
Then both shrugged at the same time.
Ethan answered first.
"Goldenrod City. That's the nearest Gym."
Lyra blinked.
"But that's also your hometown, right?"
Kitsu nodded.
"Yep."
Then she pointed at herself and Ethan.
"Another reason we need to return is because our family is hosting an event, so we both need to be there."
Whitney tilted her head.
"What kind of event?"
The twins went oddly quiet for a second.
Then Ethan answered casually:
"…A corporate anniversary gala."
Everyone stared.
Bugsy blinked.
"…That sounds rich."
Falkner nodded slowly.
"That sounds very rich."
Kitsu sighed dramatically.
"You have no idea."
Ethan rubbed his forehead.
"There's gonna be politicians."
"Business people."
"Gym Leaders."
"Investors."
"Probably at least one Champion."
Whitney looked horrified.
"That sounds awful."
"It is awful," Ethan answered immediately.
Sabrina looked mildly curious.
"How large is the event?"
Kitsu answered:
"Last year around three thousand guests attended."
Lyra choked on air.
"THREE THOUSAND?!"
Bugsy looked at Ethan carefully.
"…How rich are you people?"
Ethan thought for a second.
Then answered honestly:
"I genuinely don't know anymore."
That somehow sounded worse.
Erika laughed softly behind her hand.
Whitney pointed accusingly at Ethan.
"You act way too normal for someone who casually says things like 'probably at least one Champion.'"
Ethan blinked.
"…That is normal?"
Everyone yelled together:
"NO!"
Even Vesta looked down from the sky like she agreed.
Kitsu stretched her arms behind her head.
"Anyway, the Gala means fancy clothes, annoying adults, fake smiles, and dad pretending he isn't terrifying."
Falkner paused.
"…Pretending?"
Ethan and Kitsu answered together.
"Yes."
Sabrina adjusted her glasses.
"I am now curious about your father."
The twins immediately looked away.
That reaction alone worried everyone.
Whitney narrowed her eyes.
"…How bad is it?"
Kitsu pointed at Ethan.
"He made Ethan cry once."
Everyone gasped.
Ethan immediately defended himself.
"I was six!"
"That's not the point!"
Bugsy slowly whispered to Falkner:
"I think their family might secretly be final bosses."
Falkner whispered back:
"I thought that after the fourth casual mention of Elite Four connections."
Bugsy looked up at Vesta circling overhead.
"You know, ignoring the very rich Gala thing…"
He pointed upward.
"I'm surprised Vesta still trusts you after evolving that fast."
Everyone remembered the Rare Candy incident.
Especially the attempted second robbery.
Ethan looked up at Vesta and smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
"We've known each other since I was eight."
"So we already had a strong bond."
Kitsu and Whitney both softened immediately at the memory.
Lyra looked between them.
"…Wait, how did you two meet?"
Whitney answered first.
"Ethan found her injured in a park."
Bugsy blinked.
"A Noibat?"
Ethan nodded.
"She was tiny back then."
Whitney smiled softly.
"He carried her to the Pokecenter under his jacket the whole way."
Kitsu nodded.
"And dad thought Ethan got attacked because his clothes were covered in blood."
Lyra looked horrified.
"…Wait the Noibat was bleeding that much?"
Ethan nodded.
"Broken wing. Poison exposure too."
Bugsy looked up at Vesta again.
"…And now she's a Noivern."
As if hearing that, Vesta swooped down and landed beside Ethan.
She lowered her massive head beside him.
Immediately.
No hesitation.
Ethan scratched under her chin automatically.
Vesta rumbled happily.
Sabrina observed quietly.
"Imprinting through long-term trust formation."
Whitney pointed dramatically.
"Or."
She pointed at Ethan.
"He adopted a dragon."
"…That too," Falkner admitted.
Kitsu smirked.
"The funny part?"
Everyone looked at her.
"She still sleeps in Ethan's room sometimes."
Ethan immediately looked betrayed.
"Kitsu."
Whitney exploded laughing.
Lyra stared at Vesta.
"The giant dragon?"
Kitsu nodded proudly.
"On the bed too."
Vesta looked completely unapologetic about this information.
After everyone finished packing, they headed outside toward the Harmonia family vehicle waiting near the road.
Bugsy stopped walking for a second.
"…That is not a car."
It was massive.
Sleek black metal, tinted windows, reinforced frame.
The thing looked halfway between a luxury vehicle and something an Elite Four member escaped assassination attempts in.
Kitsu casually opened the door.
"It's just the travel car."
Falkner stared.
"There are multiple?"
Ethan answered without thinking.
"Yes."
Everyone looked at him.
Ethan slowly realized that answer was not helping.
"…Normal rich family thing?"
"No," everyone answered together.
A few minutes later, everyone was seated as the vehicle smoothly began driving toward Goldenrod City.
Rain tapped softly against the windows.
Falkner looked toward Ethan.
"So, do you know who the Goldenrod Gym Leader is?"
Ethan and Kitsu immediately looked at each other.
Then both slowly turned toward Whitney.
Whitney blinked.
"…What?"
Kitsu tilted her head.
"I mean… isn't it obvious?"
Whitney looked more confused somehow.
"Your mom's the Gym Leader."
Whitney nearly choked.
"N-No! My mom's just a housewife!"
Ethan blinked.
"…Then your dad?"
"No! He's a farmer!"
Whitney threw her hands up.
"Why are you two so fixed on my family being Gym Leaders?!"
Ethan froze.
For the first time since his regression—
His future memories completely betrayed him.
'Wait.'
'What?'
Then who was the Goldenrod Gym Leader before Whitney inherited it—
His brain rapidly tried to recover.
'Ok.'
'Make excuse.'
'Fast.'
Preferably one that makes her blush and gives you a kiss.
Ethan immediately straightened slightly.
"Well…"
Whitney narrowed her eyes.
"That tone means you're making something up."
Ethan ignored that.
"You just have Gym Leader energy."
Silence.
Whitney blinked.
"…Gym Leader energy?"
Ethan nodded calmly like that was a real thing.
"Strong personality."
"Competitive."
"Good with Normal types."
"Natural battlefield charisma."
Kitsu immediately caught on and joined in.
"Also dramatic."
Whitney's face started turning red.
"I-I am not dramatic!"
Everyone stared at her.
Whitney pointed aggressively at all of them.
"That doesn't count!"
Lyra whispered to Sabrina:
"…Is he flirting his way out of misinformation?"
Sabrina adjusted her glasses.
"Efficiently."
Whitney looked away, flustered.
"T-That still doesn't explain why you assumed my family ran a Gym!"
Ethan leaned back smoothly.
"Honestly?"
Whitney looked at him suspiciously.
"You just feel important."
Critical hit.
Whitney's face turned completely red.
"Kitsu kick him out of the car."
Kitsu nodded seriously.
"Understandable."
But Whitney still leaned over and kissed Ethan anyway.
Falkner looked exhausted already.
"We're not even in Goldenrod yet."
Whitney looked at Ethan, still red from embarrassment.
"So… I'm important in your eyes?"
Ethan answered immediately.
"You're very important to me."
Whitney's blush somehow deepened even more.
Then—
Cough.
Cough.
The temperature in the car suddenly changed.
A faint pulse of psychic energy spread through the seats.
At the same time, aura pressure pushed lightly against the windows.
Everyone slowly turned.
Sabrina sat there adjusting her glasses with terrifying calm.
Beside her, Erika smiled gently.
Which was somehow worse.
Psychic energy flickered around Sabrina's fingers.
Aura rolled off Erika in soft waves.
Ethan immediately realized the danger.
He looked at his fiancée first.
"So are you two."
The pressure didn't stop.
Ethan raised both hands instantly.
"I swear I'm not playing favorites!"
Bugsy quietly whispered to Falkner:
"We are witnessing a man fight for survival."
Falkner nodded.
"And he's losing."
Whitney crossed her arms proudly.
"Well obviously I'm important."
Sabrina spoke flatly.
"Clarify ranking."
Ethan froze.
"…What?"
Erika smiled sweetly.
"Who's first?"
Kitsu immediately turned toward the window.
"Nope. Not getting involved."
Lyra looked horrified.
"There are rankings?!"
Whitney pointed dramatically.
"YES THERE ARE!"
Ethan looked like he wanted to jump out of the moving car.
Vesta, sensing danger, quietly moved farther away from the argument.
Smart dragon.
Sabrina adjusted her glasses.
"We are waiting."
Ethan's survival instincts activated at maximum speed.
Then—
He made the only correct choice.
"You're all equally important."
Dead silence.
Bugsy whispered:
"…That sounded like a trap answer."
Falkner nodded slowly.
"It absolutely was."
Whitney narrowed her eyes.
"Too fast."
Erika leaned closer.
"That sounded rehearsed."
Sabrina's psychic pressure increased slightly.
"Suspicious."
Ethan looked genuinely betrayed.
"How was there no winning answer there?!"
Kitsu finally burst out laughing.
"There wasn't!"
Even the driver was trying not to laugh now.
Whitney eventually huffed and leaned against Ethan anyway.
"…Fine."
Erika followed a second later.
Sabrina sighed softly and closed her eyes.
"Tolerable resolution."
Bugsy stared at the scene.
"…How are you alive?"
Ethan looked out the window tiredly.
"Training."
After one very stressful ride back to Goldenrod.
Everyone got out of the car, they were not near the Hermonia Family estate.
The moment everyone stepped out of the car—
Bugsy was already staring toward the massive forest area nearby with sparkling eyes.
Huge signs were placed everywhere:
> AZALEA-GOLDENROD REGIONAL BUG CATCHING COMPETITION
Falkner blinked.
"Oh right, this was today."
Bugsy turned instantly.
"I am participating."
Nobody was surprised.
Kitsu stretched her arms.
"You would physically explode if you missed this."
Bugsy nodded seriously.
"Yes."
Whitney looked toward Ethan.
"You too?"
Ethan nodded.
"Evolution stones are part of the prize pool."
That got everyone's attention.
Lyra blinked.
"Wait really?"
Falkner nodded.
"Sun Stone, Moon Stone, Fire Stone, Thunder Stone…"
Sabrina added calmly:
"Occasionally Shiny Stones depending on sponsor contribution."
Kitsu immediately pointed at Ethan.
"He's entering."
Ethan nodded again.
"Absolutely."
Whitney crossed her arms.
"You are unbelievably easy to bribe with evolution items."
Ethan looked at her like she said something unreasonable.
"Those things are expensive."
"…Fair."
Meanwhile Vesta lowered herself beside Ethan.
"Noivern."
Ethan patted her side.
"You're too big for the competition."
Vesta looked offended immediately.
Kitsu laughed.
"She looks like you just told her she's banned from existence."
Bugsy was already reading the rules board intensely.
"Only one Pokémon allowed…"
Falkner smirked.
"That actually hurts your chances more than helps them."
Bugsy looked betrayed.
"My entire life is bug types."
Ethan looked thoughtful.
"One Pokémon…"
Immediately his brain started analyzing options.
Marshtomp? Strong but not ideal terrain.
Flaaffy? Good utility but weak endurance for forest tracking.
Rocky? Absolutely not.
Sentret? Fast scouting.
Gengar? Technically terrifying.
Kitsu looked at him.
"You're overthinking a bug-catching event."
Ethan looked at her calmly.
"There are evolution stones."
"…Right, continue."
Whitney looked around at the crowded event grounds.
Kids running everywhere.
Bug trainers showing off.
Food stalls.
Officials registering trainers.
Honestly?
It felt nice.
Normal.
No Gym battles.
No secret tests.
Just trainers having fun.
Then Ethan spotted the first place prize display.
His eyes sharpened instantly.
A Dusk Stone.
Everyone watching him collectively sighed.
Falkner pointed.
"There it is."
Lyra blinked.
"What?"
Sabrina adjusted her glasses.
"Target acquisition."
Ethan was already walking toward the registration desk.
Whitney grabbed his sleeve.
"You're acting like you just found a legendary artifact."
Ethan looked at her completely serious.
"For Ghost types, it basically is."
To be continue
Hope people like this Ch and Give me power stones and enjoy