After sharing dinner with Professor Fuji at the Pokémon Rescue Center, night fell and Logan's group finally took their leave.
When they arrived earlier, Logan and Cynthia carried nothing with them. But when they left, each held a delicate wooden box containing gemstones whose value was beyond doubt.
Walking through the streets of Lavender Town, the three of them felt the night air heavy with an unusual stillness. This town—famous for its towering Pokémon graveyard—had always carried a ghostly reputation. Yet compared to Logan's last visit, things were much improved.
Back then, Agatha's sinister schemes in the Pokémon Tower had driven the residents into hiding. Streets were abandoned, shops were shuttered, and the rows of tombstones had given the town an eerie, suffocating atmosphere.
Now, with that crisis resolved, life had returned. Families strolled together, children's laughter echoed in the alleys, and shops glowed warmly with business. Even with the cemetery looming nearby, Lavender Town no longer felt terrifying—it felt alive again.
The three walked slowly toward the Pokémon Center Hotel. Cynthia had already calmed from her earlier fluster. No longer blushing or shy, she was once again the graceful, gentle champion of Sinnoh. Clutching her wooden box tight, her eyes now brimmed with curiosity and scholarly wonder for the Mega Stones within.
"A week from now," Logan began, his Champion's cloak fluttering lightly as they walked, "Rainbow University in Celadon City will be holding its anniversary celebration. It's the most prestigious school in Kanto, so the festival will be grand. Even Professor Rowan from Sinnoh should be coming. As for the Elite Four… rushing won't help. Since we can't track them yet, better to live steadily, train, and wait for the right moment."
"You're right," Cynthia nodded thoughtfully. "We don't know their strongholds, and chasing shadows will only waste our strength. If their schemes are as elaborate as we suspect, they'll eventually act on their own. When they do, we'll be ready."
Her calm smile turned to Logan. "You know Kanto best. I'll leave the arrangements to you."
Logan inclined his head. "It's late already. Let's rest tonight. Tomorrow, I'll take you and Yellow around Lavender Town." His gaze drifted upward, toward the tall, restored tower dominating the skyline. "The Pokémon Tower has reopened for visitors. We'll explore it, enjoy the sights, then head into the mountains to resume training."
Cynthia understood. Leisure was just a veil; in truth, every moment was to be sharpened for the battles to come. Yellow especially needed training if she was to stand beside them against the Elite Four.
Logan crouched slightly, placing both hands gently on Yellow's small shoulders. His voice was soft, yet firm: "From tomorrow on, Yellow, you'll begin true training as a Trainer. It won't be easy. You'll suffer, but you must endure."
"I will!" Yellow clenched her fists, her bright eyes unwavering. "Right, Pikachu? You'll help me, too!"
"Pika!" Pikachu raised its paw proudly, sparks crackling, lending its trainer courage.
Logan smiled. "Good. When training's over, I'll take you to Celadon City. You've barely left Viridian Forest all your life, haven't you?"
Yellow's life flashed before him. No grand journeys, only fishing and sketching in the forest while her absent parents worked far away. Her uncle in Johto had his own duties; she'd raised herself from a young age. A child of eight had learned to live alone—cooking, cleaning, enduring. It wasn't the heart of a transmigrator like Logan's, but the courage of a real child.
Her eyes shone. "That would be amazing! The last time we went to Vermilion City, it was my first time seeing the ocean and such a huge port. And now Lavender Town… a place of rest for Pokémon spirits. But Celadon—it's the biggest city in Kanto! They say they make perfumes there!"
She beamed with childlike excitement. No matter how mature she tried to act, she was still only twelve. Her yearning for the world outside was boundless.
Logan and Cynthia exchanged smiles, infected by her pure joy. Yellow was like an uncut gem: plain at first glance, but once the light touched her, she shone with breathtaking brilliance.
"That's settled then. But sleep early tonight—you'll need all your energy." Logan quickened his pace, cheerful now.
Soon they reached the hotel. At the room doors, just before parting, Logan turned to Cynthia. "About the Mega Stones and Key Stones… they're a matched pair. Precious. Since the Key Stone must be worn, we need to make sure it's durable. Have you heard of Silph Steel? It's the strongest alloy ever made by Silph Co. I know some people who can acquire it. I'll have the Key Stones forged into rings—unbreakable, even in battle."
He spoke seriously, utterly oblivious to the implication.
Cynthia froze, swiping her card to open the door. Her voice was hurried, almost flustered: "Then… do as you see fit. Goodnight, Logan. See you tomorrow." She slipped inside quickly, her composure clearly shaken.
Logan's lips curled in a knowing smile. But as he thought about their next destination—Celadon City—that smile faded into a grim line.
One week later, within the grand estate of Erika, the Celadon Gym Leader and scion of one of the city's most prominent families, she welcomed none other than Professor Oak of Pallet Town as her guest.