Requirements for Advancing to Gym Level

Time flew by in focused training.

Before long, night had fallen over Lavaridge Town. The lanterns and streetlights of the hot spring inns lining the streets lit up one after another, their warm glow driving away the chill of the mountains.

After enjoying a hearty dinner at the Lavaridge Gym, Xinhai recalled his somewhat tired partners after their training into their Poké Balls. Holding the now-spirited Eevee, he first went to the town's department store and carefully picked out a full set of daily necessities for Charmander.

—A soft little nest printed with cute Ember patterns, a small food bowl and water basin suited to its size, a specially made claw-sharpening board, and training targets.

Back in their familiar room at the Pokémon Center, Xinhai released all his partners.

He carefully laid the brand-new nest, printed with a cluster of leaping Embers, in a warm, dry corner beside the bed. Then he crouched down and gently said to the curiously peering Charmander, "Charmander, this will be your sleeping nest from now on! Do you like it?"

"Charr!" Charmander trotted over, carefully touched the nest's soft lining with its claws, then sniffed the fresh scent of sunlight lingering on it.

It raised its head, its orange eyes sparkling brightly, and nodded hard with a cheerful little rumble. It was clearly very satisfied with its own little nest.

Seeing Charmander's delight, Xinhai wore a warm smile as well.

He stood up, took out a target board with a simple flame pattern that he had bought along the way that afternoon, and firmly secured it to a blank wall in the room with special adhesive.

"Charmander," Xinhai said, pointing at the target with a serious yet gentle tone, "remember, try not to casually use moves like Smog, Ember, or Flamethrower inside the room.