That night.

All was silent.

Four hours had passed since Teacher Lu captured Larvitar.

The Rotom alarm clock on the bedside table displayed the red digits ‘01:15’.

Lu Ye lay asleep on the bed, drifting into a dream of “endless cream feasts from Frostmilk Fairy”—

“This really is a sweet dream,” the Teacher Lu in the dream wondered, “What was that flying-away mine just now?”

Suddenly realizing he had just caught Larvitar, he immediately understood it was a dream.

Lu Ye opened his eyes.

In the empty room, his trainer belt containing Poké Balls had vanished without a trace, including the Dark Ball that caught Larvitar...

...

Time rewound one hour earlier.

Larvitar, who had just eaten and was hungry again, opened its eyes pitifully and helplessly, surveying the dark room.

“Gengarrr?” Haunter hanging from the ceiling was the first to notice Larvitar’s abnormality and asked aloud.

“Yoji~” Larvitar waved its small hands, poked its red-scaled belly, then shyly lowered its head.

“Gengarrr!” Haunter laughed loudly and snapped its fingers imitating Teacher Lu.

Of course, there was no snapping sound.

Haunter puffed its cheeks in complaint: “Gengarrr! (o｀ε´o)”

The little ones all woke up, all turning their eyes toward the new little brother.

In the darkness, Sylveon, Arcanine, and Blastoise formed a pressuring line, their eyes gleaming faintly in the night.

“Yoji~ (｡í_ì｡)” Larvitar took a step back under such intense pressure.

Blocking its way was a brave white knight and Togepi, feeling like the protective big sister.

“Gah~” Sirfetch’d extended its leek, pointed outside, eyes sharp.

It intended to help Larvitar integrate faster through training—the fatherly kindness behind this was clear~!

“Qiajidu yi~” Togepi placed its small hand on Larvitar’s shoulder.

Offering treasured cucumber-flavored chips, Togepi gave a sweet smile.

I, Togepi, have got your back~!

“Yoji…” Larvitar’s eyes flickered slightly, then cautiously accepted the chips.

Following Togepi’s demonstration, Larvitar tore open the packaging, puffed its cheeks, and ‘ah-woo ah-woo’ chewed the chips.

The quiet room echoed with crunching sounds as everyone watched Larvitar attentively.

“Yoji~ (๑´∀`๑)”

Larvitar swallowed the chips, happiness bubbling on its face.

In that instant, the little ones all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

“Gengarrr?” Haunter asked if Larvitar was still hungry. After a positive answer, it discussed a plan with the little ones.

Finally, under Rotom’s planning, tonight’s operation was decided—

Titled: “Operation Feed Larvitar Until Full! Genius Rotom’s Plan, Remember to Give Five-Star Reviews to Roto!”

If Teacher Lu were here, he would surely slam the table in anger.

There was absolutely no need to add the suffix, come on!

Under cover of darkness, Togepi took Larvitar’s hand and ‘pia’ step ‘pia’ step walked out the door.

To ensure Teacher Lu slept soundly, Sylveon yawned softly while lying on the bed.

Then, the little ones lined up and went out to the vast countryside fields.

They split up, leaving Togepi to watch over Larvitar, planning to regroup after finding food.

“Yoji?”

Larvitar looked at Togepi and tilted its head slightly.

“Qiajidu yi!”

Togepi confidently waved a finger, imitating Teacher Lu’s signature ‘pointing to the sky’.

Although it was borrowed from Dan Emperor... it was undeniably flashy.

“Yoji!” Larvitar’s eyes sparkled.

The two little cuties sat side by side on the country ridge, their feet dangling toward the lowlands, gazing up at the starry sky.

Togepi was half a head shorter but tapped its eggshell with a look that said—

‘You truly are amazing, Togepi.’

A brilliant meteor streaked across the night sky, and Larvitar’s eyes widened.

“Awoo~!”

From the silent wilderness came Arcanine’s howl.

Its large figure appeared in the distance, wagging its tail, carrying a huge Pomelo fruit in its mouth, placing it before Larvitar.

“Yoji?” Larvitar pointed at the Pomelo, asking.

“Awoo!” Arcanine smiled crookedly and nodded affirmatively.

With the confirmation that it was edible, Larvitar grabbed the Pomelo and ‘ah-woo’ stuffed the whole thing into its mouth.

“Yoji… (￣～￣)”

Arcanine’s eyes widened. No need to chew? That was incredible!

Larvitar was obviously not full yet, but the scattered little ones gradually returned.

Blastoise brought back a Light Stone, which could reduce weight to facilitate escape.

Its “Light Metal” ability even reduced damage from “Grass Knot”... Blastoise was excessively stable!

Larvitar: (￣～￣)

Haunter returned carrying snacks, ‘found’ at the station’s vending machine.

These included toast bread, bagged vegetables, selected apples, and so on. All common rural foods, even usable as curry ingredients.

Under everyone’s gaze, Larvitar bit into apples and vegetables one after another.

Every time it finished a food item, everyone exclaimed “ohhhhh.”

This made Larvitar very embarrassed, blushing as it scratched its blunt horns.

Sylveon was the last to return.

Elegant, beautiful, pure white Sylveon held an unknown Protective Coin in its mouth and casually dropped it in front of Larvitar.

“Bui~ (▼皿▼#)”

“Yo, yoji?!” Larvitar shrank back half a step in fear.

Sylveon gave Larvitar a sidelong glance and turned its head slightly.

It had just dealt with a gang of wild cat bosses and helped find food on the side.

According to the victim—the leader of the rural Meowth gang—later recollections:

“Meow!!! (;

´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)”

Clang.

The crisp sound of the coin dropping echoed through the silent wilderness.

The little ones looked at each other and finally burst into laughter together.

Larvitar chewed the Protective Coin like chocolate, crunching away, looking at Haunter blankly.

“Gengarrr! (￣▽￣)／”

Haunter grinned, pulling out a treasured manual from its pocket.

“Essence of Earth”

Giovanni’s ultimate Ground-type technique, known as “If you stand on the earth, you will never lose.”

Larvitar, barely full, blinked and tilted its head: “Yoji?”

What is this?

“Gengarrr!” Haunter smiled broadly, holding up the manual.

If you want to be full, training starts today—

This is also to fulfill the master’s dream, Gengarrr!

Hearing that it could be full, Larvitar nodded without hesitation:

“Yoji! (✪ω✪)”

Coach, I want to learn “Essence of Earth”!

Under the brilliant starry sky, the little ones began today’s training routine.

Rumble rumble—

In the empty room, Teacher Lu sat on the bed, looking out the window as muffled noises sounded in the distance.

He wiped cold sweat, lay back down, pulled up the blanket.

“I still have to discuss with Steven tomorrow... better get some sleep.”

It was only the first night.

It shouldn’t be a problem... probably.

Sleepiness surged like a tide, and Sylveon’s delayed yawn finally took effect.

Teacher Lu’s physique was gradually becoming inhuman. Drowsy and distracted, he mused:

“The Chesto Berry can cure sleep... so if I keep eating Chesto Berries, I won’t need to sleep at all?”

In a daze, Lu Ye felt he had uncovered the secret behind Steven’s legendary “22 days of continuous play.”

Maybe it was using “Seed of Troubles” to change his trait to “insomnia”…

A dreamless night.

The next morning.

Sunlight poured into the room, and Lu Ye stretched lazily, feeling refreshed.

Looking around the room, Teacher Lu was stunned.

“Not back all night?”

Rumble rumble!!

The intense shaking made Lu Ye look up at the ceiling with falling debris, swallowing hard.

“E-earthquake?”

Not an earthquake, it’s my Larvitar!

A surge of crisis rushed to his heart. Teacher Lu jumped out of bed and went to the balcony outside the bedroom to look out.

The sun shone brightly, and on the neatly trimmed lawn, a raised mound of earth stood out conspicuously.

“Ah-woo ah-woo ah-woo… (￣～￣)”

Larvitar faced forward with its blunt horns, swimming posture, mouth wide open.

“Ah-woo ah-woo…”

Swallowing the dug-up dirt whole, Larvitar was digging a tunnel by “eating dirt.”

“Gengarrr!” Haunter was amazed.

Learning to dig holes overnight... it might be cheating, but it was quite excellent.

Back then, Arcanine took a whole day.

“Awoo~ (O_o)??” Arcanine tilted its head questioningly.

I suspect you look down on my cleverness, but I have no proof.

Standing on the balcony, Lu Ye was lost in thought for a long time, then couldn’t help commenting:

“This hole was dug quite skillfully…”

“Truly worthy of Giovanni’s ‘Essence of Earth’…”

Larvitar eating dirt: (￣～￣)

Rumble rumble, the foundation shook.

Teacher Lu shouted aloud, mixed with three parts melancholy, three parts regret, two parts anger, and two parts admiration (?)

“Stop it already, come on!!”

“Don’t eat anymore, or the foundation will collapse—oh, it’s already collapsed, never mind.”

Standing in the dusty courtyard, Teacher Lu watched the villa rumbling and gradually sinking into the trench (like a warship sinking into the sea), lost in thought.

“How am I going to explain this to Mengmengda later...”

“Yoji~~~”

Larvitar held its round belly, slumped on the ground, letting out a long burp.

Full now~!

In an instant, the little Larvitar’s eyes burned with fire, as if it had found the meaning of life.

Master Haunter was right after all.

As long as you train hard, you can be full!

Come on, Larvitar, you can definitely do it! (✪ω✪)

A gentle breeze blew as the little ones looked toward the slightly thin figure of Teacher Lu.

Lu Ye stroked his chin, deep in thought.

Larvitar couldn’t have any bad intentions.

Look at how hungry the kid was, now it was even eating dirt...

“In a few days, we’re going to the Canalave City Gym, right?”

Lu Ye looked up at the sky, murmuring:

“If pain is shared, it won’t be so painful...”

“Yoji? |･ω･`)” Larvitar looked confused.

Did I do something wrong?

But the seniors all wore calm, world-weary expressions.

“Gengarrr~” Haunter put its hands on its hips, grinning.

Arcanine howled proudly, Sylveon lifted its head arrogantly, Blastoise pushed up sunglasses, Sirfetch’d stared sharply...

Togepi held the Rotom phone: “Qiajidu yi! ヾ(◍°∇°◍)ﾉﾞ”

All villains.jpg.

In an instant, as if misunderstanding something, Larvitar also put its hands on its hips and let out a hungry dragon roar.

“Yo, yojila si!!”

Teacher Lu glanced sideways at the little one, then checked the phone balance calmly and dialed the number.

“Are you there?”

“On my way!”

...