"That's right. When I was traveling just after becoming an advanced Trainer, I encountered a peculiar Steelix. Its hard outer body had completely crystallized, allowing it to withstand most Fighting-type moves. Blaziken's right leg was injured while saving me, and it never fully healed." The old man's face darkened as he spoke. That was a day he would never forget.
"Blaz!"
Beside him, Blaziken merely shook its head, unbothered. Even if it had another chance to do things over, it would still risk its life to protect its Trainer.
"Enough about ancient history. You'll be able to return your Rillaboom to its Poké Ball in a little while. Avoid any intense training for now, and don't give it any high-end recovery medicine, either. The body's natural healing process has plenty of benefits of its own."
"My name is Liu Zhenghao. Your senior and I have been rivals in title competitions for years, but there's no bad blood between us. Feel free to bring Rillaboom to the gym for sparring."
"It's thanks to Rillaboom's visit that I discovered its species seems even better suited to our Jingwu Gym's springing kick techniques... Wait, what?!"
Before the old man could finish, he saw Ye Lan crouching beside Blaziken's right leg. Beneath the bandages, a gruesome scar was healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. As Ye Lan kneaded the leg, Blaziken's expression shifted from pain to pleasure.
"Blaz!"
Its right leg felt light, as though an enormous weight had been lifted from it. Excitement flashed in Blaziken's eyes. It raised the leg, stretching it out before smoothly launching a Blaze Kick to the side.
After executing the move with perfect fluidity, Blaziken looked briefly disbelieving. Then its eyes reddened, and it seized Ye Lan's hands, shaking them vigorously.
"Blaz, Blaz!"
*A