While Luke sat alone in the empty apartment, Cynthia was putting the two Pokémon through a genuinely rigorous training session.
Bull Coliseum was technically closed for the day. That didn't stop Haunter, who produced a length of wire from somewhere and picked the lock with practiced ease.
Cynthia blinked. "You're certain this is fine?"
"Kojie!" Haunter thumped its chest and waved its coaching certificate, insisting it had every right to be here.
Cynthia smiled. "Somehow I'm not surprised. You really do take after Teacher Luke."
Her own training methods were genuinely elite. A single afternoon under her guidance could leave a lasting mark on both Pokémon, and honestly, this was as much a way of thanking Luke as anything else.
She watched Haunter's enthusiasm and nodded. "Let's start with what's actually within reach."
Spiritomb flashed with a faint red light, a chilling aura radiating off it that sent a shiver straight down Haunter's spine.
Pokémon could teach each other moves directly, and Cynthia had decided Haunter would pick up Shadow Ball from Spiritomb. A full afternoon obviously wasn't enough to master it outright — realistically that took at least six months, along with a steady supply of resources suited to Ghost-type training. What Cynthia could offer instead was the method itself, enough to get Haunter through the fundamentals. The rest would depend on continued resources and Haunter's own persistence going forward.
"Training Shadow Ball properly runs somewhere around three or four million," Cynthia said, nodding to herself. "I'll just let him know when the time comes. Should be fine."
A burst of red light accompanied Spiritomb's fan opening wide, a cold aura drifting outward. Haunter couldn't help but shudder. In its eyes this menacing Spiritomb looked genuinely terrifying up close.
But thinking of Luke's determination and everything he'd already put into this partnership, Haunter took a steadying breath, resolve hardening in its eyes.
"Kojie!"I will master this move.
______________________________
Meanwhile Eevee was learning Return under Glaceon's direct guidance, which meant she'd be able to pick up future TMs far more efficiently going forward. Return, fundamentally, drew its power from emotional connection — and in that particular category Luke's Pokémon carried a genuine natural edge.
Eevee tore around the training field, fur soaked through with sweat, eyes never losing their focus. Luke gave me an entirely new life.The least I can do is help make him the strongest Trainer there is, whether he asks for it or not.
"Vee!"
White light flared as the move connected, sending Eevee crashing into the practice target with a force that clearly caught even Glaceon off guard — well beyond a standard Take Down's usual output.
Once wasn't enough, apparently. Under Glaceon's visibly startled watch, Eevee dragged herself back up, grinning through obvious exhaustion, and started the drill again.
______________________________
On the sidelines Cynthia crossed her arms, watching both Pokémon train with fierce dedication, a soft smile settling on her face. Whether a Trainer deserved respect showed clearly enough in how they treated their Pokémon. Some Trainers reduced their partners to little more than income tools. Others treated them as genuine friends, comrades, family.
Cynthia had always believed the real key to strength was simply loving Pokémon without reservation, consistently, without exception. That belief had carried her step by step to the top of the Sinnoh League. Whether people wanted to call that talent or luck hardly mattered to her.
She tucked her hair back, smiling faintly. At least on this particular philosophy, Teacher Luke and I see eye to eye.
______________________________
As the sun dipped lower, flocks of Pidgey passed overhead. Luke sat with his chin propped on one hand, letting out a genuinely mournful sigh.
"It's almost dinnertime. Where are they."
Only two months had passed since the world shifted around him, and already Luke found it hard to imagine daily life without his two Pokémon. Haunter and Eevee had become genuine family at this point.
And, admittedly, I miss Cynthia a little too.
Right as he muttered to himself a ghostly claw reached in through the crack of the door, fumbling for the knob. A second later Haunter pushed the door open and floated in.
"Clang clang clang!" — the great one has returned!
Luke blinked, mid-complaint, then just shook his head with a tired smile. "Good, you're back. Let me heat up dinner."
Eevee, having clearly trained herself into exhaustion, wobbled onto the couch and was softly snoring within seconds. Luke draped a scarf over her and nudged the AC down a few degrees.
"Training again, I take it?" Luke asked.
"Kojie!" Haunter answered eagerly before Cynthia could even open her mouth.
Luke let out a tired sigh. I genuinely thought watching a real Master League match would put them off training for a while.Instead they came back MORE motivated?
Well. At least the apartment's still standing this time.
Right as he started to relax, believing he'd escaped this particular ordeal cleanly, Cynthia spoke up. "I trained Haunter on Shadow Ball. I think it'll end up genuinely useful."
Luke's expression shifted. So THAT'S why they still had the energy to sneak off after everything today.There was a mole in the house the whole time.
"I'll send over the full training method by email," Cynthia said, smiling. "We'll also need a modest budget to actually support Haunter's Shadow Ball practice."
Luke blinked. "...How modest, exactly?"
"Not too bad." Cynthia thought it over. "Bulk Dusk Stones, higher-grade ghost-aligned gems, tally it all up..."
"Just a little over $430,000," she finished, smiling.
Luke froze completely. Just.Four hundred thirty thousand dollars is enough to buy an actual apartment in Metro City.Is this genuinely what raising a Trainer's Pokémon costs at this level?
Then again, thinking it through — Shadow Ball training personally guided by the actual Sinnoh Champion was, by any reasonable measure, an insane deal at that price. Champion-tier mentorship plus a complete training method for under half a million? Objectively a bargain.
Except Luke didn't want to be a Trainer, and here he was staring down a $430,000 bill for exactly that anyway.
A cold sweat broke across his forehead. He could practically picture some imaginary mansion sprouting wings and flying away in his mind's eye. His breathing quickened.
This is an actual financial catastrophe.
Calm down. Calm down.What if Haunter genuinely doesn't want to train Shadow Ball after all this?The training's already brutal enough as it is. Even under Cynthia's method Haunter might not hold up.
His head was spinning. He turned and found Haunter staring back at him, visibly hopeful.
"We really should start soon," Cynthia added, thoughtful. "Otherwise today's foundational work might fade before it fully sets."
Luke's expression faltered further, and Haunter's own face slowly fell too, drooping against the wall and tracing idle circles on the floor, dejected.
"I could front the cost for now," Cynthia offered, blinking. "You could pay it back gradually."
Luke paused, then glanced once more at Haunter's crestfallen expression. Teacher Luke simply couldn't bring himself to disappoint his own Pokémon. With Cynthia's offer already on the table there wasn't really room left to say no.
Luke gritted his teeth, voice trembling.
"...I'll buy it."