Rustboro City—one of the great western hubs of the Hoenn League.
This was where Devon Corporation's headquarters stood. And Devon… was none other than the company owned by Steven Stone's father—the former Hoenn Champion's family business.
More importantly—
Rustboro City was home to Aiden's second Gym challenge: the Rustboro Gym.
Its Gym Leader was Roxanne—a young girl, only sixteen, yet already an outstanding instructor at Rustboro's Pokémon Trainer School.
Roxanne specialized in Rock-types, which meant Rustboro Gym was, naturally, a Rock Gym.
As for Aiden's current team—Grovyle, Pidgeotto, and Milotic—both Grovyle and Milotic held a natural advantage against Rock-types.
So this time, there was no need to call on Rayquaza.
Really… letting Rayquaza handle every problem would be ridiculous. Even he had his pride.
After arriving in Rustboro City, Aiden headed straight for the Pokémon Center. He handed over all three Poké Balls to Nurse Joy for recovery, and while he waited, she looked at him with a smile that was far too familiar.
"So you're Aiden—the one Nurse Joy in Petalburg City was talking about," she said, eyes bright. "That Feebas has already evolved into Milotic, hasn't it? That's amazing!"
Aiden's first reaction was pure confusion.
For a second, he genuinely thought Petalburg's Nurse Joy had followed him all the way here.
But… realistically, he couldn't tell the difference between Petalburg Joy and Rustboro Joy at all. In that sense, Brock really did have some terrifying talent.
Once Rustboro Joy finished restoring his team, Aiden took out Milotic's Luxury Ball and called Petalburg Pokémon Center.
Very soon, the screen lit up, and Petalburg Joy appeared.
Aiden smiled. "Nurse Joy, I didn't let you down. Feebas has already evolved into Milotic. Do you want to say hello to her?"
Petalburg Joy froze, then her face lit up so brightly it was almost dazzling.
"Really? Aiden—already?! It hasn't even been a week!"
Instead of explaining, Aiden opened the Luxury Ball right there.
A long, graceful body shimmered into view—snow-white and elegant, a faintly enchanting aura flowing from her like a living dream.
Only after seeing Milotic with her own eyes did Petalburg Joy truly believe it.
"Ding! Nurse Joy's favorability has increased. Current favorability: 80."
Aiden: "???"
He stared at the system prompt like it had personally offended him.
"…Wait. I'm trying to raise Milotic's intimacy. Why is Nurse Joy's favorability going up instead?"
And worse—
Wasn't she the first person whose favorability had crossed eighty?
After chatting a little more, Aiden ended the call. He contacted Professor Birch briefly as well, then finally turned his attention to what mattered most.
Rustboro Gym.
Compared to Petalburg Gym, this place was the real "first station" for rookie Trainers.
Roxanne was talented, sure—but she wasn't Norman. She wasn't the kind of monster who carried the title of "strongest under the Elite Four."
And Rock-type Gyms had plenty of natural counters, which was why so many Trainers challenged Rustboro Gym—and why so many actually managed to earn the Badge.
When Aiden arrived and registered his challenge, a Gym staff member guided him into the waiting line.
He waited nearly an hour before it was finally his turn.
Inside the battle room, Aiden placed his Pokédex on the scanner.
The moment Roxanne saw the report, she paused.
A Trainer who had been on the road less than a month.
One Badge.
And that Badge was—
The Balance Badge. Petalburg Gym. Defeated Gym Leader Norman.
Roxanne's eyes widened. "New Trainers these days are unbelievable… you just started, and you've already beaten Norman? Then I can't take this lightly."
Aiden stepped onto the challenger's side of the field and smiled back.
"Gym Leader Roxanne—then come at me with everything you've got."
The referee raised his flag.
"This is a Gym battle between Challenger Aiden Flint and Rustboro Gym Leader Roxanne!"
"Each side may use two Pokémon!"
"Only the challenger may switch Pokémon!"
"When either side's two Pokémon are unable to battle, the match will end!"
"Battle—begin!"
Roxanne moved first.
A Poké Ball flashed, and a heavy, rocky figure slammed onto the battlefield.
Pokémon: Graveler
Level: 28
Ability: Rock Head
Type: Ground / Rock
Potential: Blue
Moves: Earthquake, Rollout, Rock Throw, Stealth Rock, Stomping Tantrum, Rock Polish, Defense Curl…
Seeing Roxanne send out Graveler instead of Geodude didn't surprise Aiden at all.
Gym Leaders were qualified Trainers. Even Roxanne, at sixteen, was easily elite-tier at minimum.
And Gym battles weren't random—Gym Leaders adjusted their lineups according to the challenger's strength.
Norman had done the same: his first two Pokémon scaled with the opponent, but his third—Slaking—was never under the thirty-plus range.
That was why earning the Balance Badge meant something.
If Aiden hadn't had Rayquaza back then, he wouldn't have cleared Petalburg Gym at all. And he definitely wouldn't have crushed Norman's ace in a single hit and pushed the man toward breaking through his own ceiling.
Roxanne clearly understood that too.
So she responded with seriousness.
"A Graveler, huh… then this round is yours, Grovyle."
The Luxury Ball flashed.
Grovyle landed cleanly on the battlefield, posture sharp, eyes calm.
"A Grass-type—good choice," Roxanne said. "Graveler! Defense Curl, then Rollout!"
Graveler tucked in, hardening its body, then began spinning like a living boulder—charging straight for Grovyle.
Aiden's eyes narrowed. "Grovyle—break its momentum. Use Grass Knot!"
Grass Knot punished weight.
And Graveler was heavy enough to make the move cruel.
The moment Grass Knot snapped into place, Graveler's Rollout shattered. Its spinning body lost balance and slammed hard into the side wall with a booming crash.
Aiden didn't waste the opening. "Nice. Now—Leaf Blade!"
Roxanne reacted immediately. "Graveler, dodge!"
But Grovyle was fast—too fast.
A green blur cut across the battlefield. Twin blades of light flashed from Grovyle's arms, carving cleanly into Graveler.
The damage was brutal.
Between Grovyle's power, its speed, and the overwhelming type advantage, Graveler crumpled almost instantly.
It hit the ground and didn't get back up.
"Ding! Grovyle defeated Graveler. Gained 285 EXP. Level up! Current level: 30!"
Grovyle's level finally caught up with Milotic.
"Graveler is unable to battle! Grovyle wins!" the referee announced. "Gym Leader Roxanne—please send out your next Pokémon!"
Roxanne stared, visibly stunned.
…Then her expression sharpened.
"Come on out. Probopass—I'm counting on you!"
A red flash.
A Pokémon with a massive nose and heavy magnetic presence appeared.
Pokémon: Probopass
Level: 32
Ability: Sturdy
Type: Rock
Potential: Purple
Moves: Harden, Rest, Rock Slide, Power Gem, Rock Blast, Discharge, Sandstorm…
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