"Mr. Blaine, you've arrived," Feng Che said respectfully.
"What on earth happened here?" Blaine asked, looking at the field of defeated Salandit and the battling Pokémon. He had sensed the disturbance from the gym and rushed over on his Charizard, but he was completely in the dark about the details.
By now, the Salazzle's momentum had withered significantly. Seeing Blaine's arrival, the Ninetales and the other elite Fire-types paused their assault and approached. Feng Che explained the entire situation to the veteran Gym Leader.
"I see. I was wondering why these rascals were making such an earth-shaking commotion," Blaine laughed, glancing at the wounded Ninetales. "This outsider Salazzle was quite impressive to nearly trick you lot. Haha, Ninetales, aren't you usually the smart one? How did you fall for such a clumsy lure?"
Ninetales walked away in shame, returning to finish off the remaining Salandit.
"I have plenty of Fire Lotus seeds at the gym. If you're interested, I'll give them to you," Blaine said to Feng Che, his tone carrying a subtle hint. He was essentially telling Feng Che not to capture the four elite Fire-types now that they were weakened. "These Pokémon are old friends of mine. Thank you for saving them."
"Then I thank you, Mr. Blaine," Feng Che replied politely. He had no intention of catching them anyway; as wild veterans, their potential for further growth was limited.
The battle reached its finale. Under the combined pressure, the Salazzle finally collapsed. Just as Houndoom lunged to deliver a lethal bite, Feng Che threw a Poké Ball, snagging the Salazzle first.
Houndoom let out an aggrieved roar and smashed a nearby rock in frustration before turning to leave. A high-level Salazzle with unique pheromones will fetch a fortune on the black market, Feng Che thought.
Ninetales approached Blaine, using its psychic powers to communicate. "I see. Very well," Blaine chuckled. "Feng Che, come to the gym later and pick three treasures from my personal collection. My hoard is much better than what these wild ones have, anyway."
"Thank you, Mr. Blaine. Actually, I was hoping to consult you on training my Litten," Feng Che said, as the kitten hopped onto his shoulder. "This battle was a massive inspiration for it."
Blaine stared at the Litten. He recognized it immediately as the problematic one Giovanni had brought to him months ago. Back then, even Blaine thought evolution was the only cure for its unstable energy. How is it perfectly fine now? He looked at Feng Che with newfound curiosity. "I would be delighted to discuss Fire-type cultivation with you."
Suddenly, Blaine's communicator buzzed. "What? Team Rocket has hijacked a liner off Cinnabar? I'm on my way!" He gave Feng Che a quick nod and soared off on Charizard, his expression grave.
"They don't know the most valuable part of a Fire Lotus isn't the petals or the seeds, but the root," Feng Che whispered once he was alone. "Litten, dive back into the lava. Find me the Fire Crystal and the Lotus roots."
Litten dove into the magma with a splash. Meanwhile, Froakie was busy practicing with a water whip, its eyes fixed on where Salazzle had stood. [Froakie: That fire whip was incredible. I need to master water-shaping to that degree.]
Litten emerged soon after, carrying a palm-sized lotus root that shimmered like translucent red jade. Attached to the end were two crimson crystals pulsing with internal flames. Fire Crystals.
"The mission is a success. Now, for the special training," Feng Che told his team. He planned to use the next three months to push his core team to the Elite rank.
Cinnabar Gym — Night
Feng Che stayed at the gym as Blaine's guest. He placed his two eggs in a specialized nutrient solution. The eggs were glowing white, and he could hear the rhythmic thump-thump of the creatures inside.
"Come on, little ones. You have to break the shell yourselves to keep your potential high," he encouraged.
With the Fire and Ice Crystals radiating energy nearby, the shells finally cracked. Feng Che carefully cleaned the newborns.
The first was a Vulpix, with its six orange curled tails and amber eyes. The second was an Alolan Vulpix, snowy white with a fluffy tail and deep blue eyes. They immediately began munching on their own eggshells—their first source of concentrated nutrients—before falling into a deep sleep on the soft bedding Feng Che provided.
"Goodnight, Vulpix. Goodnight, Alolan Vulpix."
Three Months Later
"Vulpix, Flamethrower!"
The young fox inhaled deeply and unleashed a pillar of fire that split into nine separate strands, striking nine different targets with perfect accuracy.
"Bravo!" Blaine clapped as he walked into the training hall. Over the last three months, he and Feng Che had exchanged countless insights. He had watched Feng Che's team grow at a staggering rate. "Your Vulpix is nearly at the Elite level already. Remarkable."
"It's thanks to your guidance, Mr. Blaine," Feng Che smiled.
"Right, here are the three treasures I promised," Blaine said, handing over a box. Inside was a Moltres Feather (a high-grade training tool), a Flame Fruit (to boost potential), and a Flame Orb. "Don't be a stranger. Treat this gym like your home."
As Blaine left, Feng Che's communicator chimed. It was a message from Team Rocket HQ. His report on the Grand Canyon fossils had earned him an S-Rank rating.
To Elite Member Feng Che: Proceed to Lavender Town. Locate Executive Koga and follow his directives. Deadline: Arrive within ten days.
Lavender Town? Why send an undercover mole to meet Koga? Feng Che wondered. Something feels off. Either they're short-staffed, or there's a deeper scheme afoot.
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