"Hey Rocky, is there some connection between Brycen from the Icirrus Gym and the All Star Fitness Club?"
Rex turned to ask curiously.
"Yeah, Brycen is one of Master Layton's students. His talent's way above mine—he became a martial artist much earlier than I did."
"But after reaching that level, he chose not to go any further down the path. Instead, he focused on being a trainer, eventually becoming the Icirrus Gym Leader—and, well, a famous actor."
Rocky spoke with a trace of wistfulness.
He didn't resent Brycen's decision. In his view, everyone had the right to walk their own path.
But for Master Layton, who had high hopes for Brycen, it was hard to accept. Layton wanted him to keep training, to strive for greater heights. But Brycen felt becoming a martial artist was enough—he didn't want to dedicate his entire life to the grind.
Naturally, this caused some friction. But Brycen still chose the road he believed in, and he excelled. In fact, his fame brought the All Star Fitness Club into the public eye, inspiring many across Unova to take interest in martial arts.
To this day, though, Layton hadn't fully forgiven him. Whenever Brycen visited, Layton always gave him the cold shoulder.
Not that Brycen ever let it bother him. Whenever he had time, he'd still swing by the Club to help train the students in All Star-style conditioning techniques.
And while Layton might act gruff about it, deep down, he was proud—he just didn't know how to say it out loud.
Seeing that Rex was interested in Brycen, Rocky went on to share more about him.
Brycen had been an orphan. Layton took him in when he was young, so in Brycen's heart, Layton was like a father.
Though they clashed in their ideals, the two still cared about each other deeply.
Brycen's shift in direction also had a lot to do with his first Pokémon, Cubchoo.
Back when he was still a teen training in the nearby snow-covered mountains, Brycen was caught in an avalanche. He thought he was going to die—until a playful Cubchoo noticed him buried beneath the snow and dug him out.
From that day on, the two were inseparable. As soon as he was allowed to capture Pokémon, Brycen made Cubchoo his first partner.
That moment marked the beginning of his love for Ice-type Pokémon. Over time, his team became almost exclusively Ice-types, culminating in his appointment as the Icirrus Gym Leader.
That Cubchoo, of course, had long since evolved into a powerful Beartic—Brycen's undisputed ace.
Beartic was massive, its thick white fur made for the coldest environments.
These fierce, carnivorous Pokémon were native to frigid northern regions and were excellent swimmers. They hunted in the icy seas, freezing their prey with a single breath and storing it for later.
Beartic could exhale icy breath to freeze the water beneath its feet, forming paths over the ocean—or create weapons like ice fangs and claws for battle. Its fangs were said to be harder than steel.
It was known in the north as the White Demon—a name earned through awe and fear.
Although it was a pure Ice-type, under Brycen's training, Beartic had mastered several Fighting-type techniques and could go toe-to-toe with powerful Fighting Pokémon.
With Beartic, Brycen had defeated many formidable opponents and became one of Unova's top trainers.
In his movies, Beartic was always by his side. Thanks to this, the Pokémon had built up a huge fanbase of its own.
At the moment, Brycen was out in the mountains training with Beartic, so Rex would have to wait a while if he wanted to meet him.
Meanwhile, as Rex continued training at the Club with Rocky, Brycen and Beartic were encountering unexpected trouble high in the snow-covered mountains.
"What the heck is going on?"
Brycen sat cross-legged atop a large rock, snow piling on his shoulders until he looked almost like a snowman.
Nearby, Beartic was fast asleep, snoring away with a snot bubble rising and falling with each breath.
Suddenly, the ground trembled—a growing rumble that snapped Brycen out of his meditation.
He shook the snow off and stood, peering toward the source of the disturbance.
From the mountain slopes above, a stampede of Pokémon came charging down—frantic, desperate, and trampling everything in their path.
"Beartic, wake up! We need to move!"
Realizing the danger, Brycen roused his partner and quickly steered clear of the stampede's route.
From the panic on the wild Pokémon's faces, Brycen could tell something serious had gone wrong at the summit—something terrifying enough to drive the mountain's residents into a frenzy.
Though he wanted to investigate, he held back.
His priority had shifted.
These fleeing Pokémon were headed straight for Icirrus City. If no action was taken, the city would be in serious danger.
Similar incidents had happened before—when the response was too slow, Icirrus suffered severe damage and casualties.
Now, as the Gym Leader, it was Brycen's duty to protect the people.
Mounting his Noivern, he soared toward the city as fast as he could.
He needed to organize defenses before the wild Pokémon reached the outskirts.
Luckily, because he had been nearby for training, he was able to respond immediately. That gave Icirrus City a crucial head start in preparing for what was to come.
As Noivern flew, Brycen worked quickly. He reported the incident to the Pokémon League, then reached out to every major force in the city, calling for backup.
The All Star Fitness Club was no exception. Once Layton received Brycen's message, he gathered everyone at the Club immediately.
With time running out, Layton only gave them a brief explanation of the situation.
He didn't force anyone to join the defense—he simply asked them to follow their hearts. Those who wished to help protect the city could step forward on their own.
(End of Chapter)