The Pokémon Who Challenged a Gym Alone

Charmander was cautious to a fault. Holding back in battle? He would never dream of it.

If he could, Charmander would rather never battle at all. Maybe once he had grown strong enough to take on a Legendary Pokémon alone, he would finally show himself.

That evening, Xu Mu went out for dinner with Yu Hailong and bought some Pokéblocks for his two Pokémon.

When Xu Mu returned to his hotel room, he nearly died of shock.

Greninja and Charmander were training in the room?

Since when were you two so driven?

I'm your Trainer, for crying out loud. I haven't even made you a training plan, and you've already started without me?

Could you at least let me save face?

When Greninja saw Xu Mu open the door, he hurriedly got up from his one-finger handstand.

"Croak!"

[No need to praise me, Little Master. I have always been this diligent.]

Xu Mu stared at Greninja for a long moment, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to scold him.

Pokémon were individuals, after all. They had minds of their own.

Xu Mu couldn't force them to change just because they were with him.

Fine. If this is what you like, go ahead. As long as you don't go against your own wishes and become Trainers, I don't care what else you do.

"Ahem. You two sure work hard, huh? I bought you some Pokéblocks and Pokémon Food. See if you like them."

Xu Mu cleared his throat and spoke as calmly as he could.

When Greninja saw that Xu Mu had bought him food, he hurried over to take it, delighted.

[Little Master saw how hard I was training and felt sorry for me?]

[Don't worry. I'll get even stronger and help Little Master become the strongest Trainer.]

"Charmander, why don't you eat something first?"

"The training can wait."

Better yet, don't train at all!

Xu Mu tried to get Charmander to stop.

"Choo~ yoo-yoo~"

[Let him eat first. I'll come over when I'm done training.]

Charmander showed no sign of stopping. He kept training, sweat pouring down his face.

Xu Mu could only shake his head helplessly.

My Pokémon can even train on their own now. What am I supposed to do?

Xu Mu sat on the bed and started playing with his phone, while Greninja tucked into his food.

Charmander gave a slight sniff.

[Good. Xu Mu probably didn't fall for anything. The food should be safe.]

[Still, I'll wait and see if that frog is all right after eating it.]

[Xu Mu always looks so unreliable. From now on, I'll have to watch out for myself and look after my Trainer too. Being Charmander is hard!]

As he thought this, Charmander stole a glance at Greninja out of the corner of his eye.

He silently counted the time. If the frog was still fine half an hour later, then he would eat.

There was no helping it. The world was dangerous, and survival called for caution!

Xu Mu had no idea what either Pokémon was thinking. He was looking through Flame City's visitor guide.

"Flame City is best known for Active Volcano Lava River!"

"It's home to the famous Charizard Valley and the most beautiful hot springs in the world!"

"And the Magma Gym sits right at the foot of the volcano. If you come to Flame City without experiencing this volcanic spectacle, you've missed the whole point of the trip!"

Listening to the lovely voice of the woman in the guide video, Xu Mu felt an urge to go.

With a voice that beautiful, she must be gorgeous!

It's so hot near the volcano. She probably won't be wearing much, right?

Heh, it's settled. I'm going to the volcano tomorrow!

Xu Mu nearly drooled. He had made up his mind to go see the lightly dressed women tomorrow.

Greninja, busy eating beside him, noticed his expression.

[What's Little Master thinking about?]

[The Magma Gym? I think my lord mentioned that before.]

While Greninja pondered, Charmander came over.

Half an hour had passed. The frog was fine, so the food was safe.

Charmander took a can of Pokémon Food, opened it himself, and plopped down on the floor to eat.

"Croak~"

[Do you know about the Magma Gym?]

"Choo!"

[I do. I heard Trainers have to beat Gyms to prove their strength. Then they get Gym Badges and can enter higher-level leagues!]

Charmander was one of the director's Pokémon, after all. He knew the basics of being a Trainer inside out.

Well, he was afraid of dying, so he had studied like his life depended on it...

"Croak!"

[Look, Little Master seems really interested in that Gym!]

"Choo?"

[Now that you mention it, he does have a strange look on his face!]

"Croak!"

[I've been with Little Master for a while now, but I haven't done anything for him. How about we put in some extra training tonight?]

At the mention of extra training, Charmander was instantly fired up!

Getting stronger was great. The stronger he got, the longer he would live!

"Choo!"

[Frog, tell me what to do!]

"Croak!"

[I told you, don't call me frog. I'm a ninja!]

"Choo!"

[Got it, frog!]

"Croak!"

[Are you asking for it?]

Charmander had to admit it: he was scared.

"Choo."

[Okay, okay. Ninja.]

So what if you're stronger? Big deal. I haven't evolved yet. Once I do, you won't be able to push me around!

Still fuming inside, Charmander grew curious about the extra training that night.

"Choo?"

[So what exactly are we doing?]

Greninja gave a mysterious smile and wagged a finger.

"Croak. You'll find out tonight."

At eleven thirty that night, Xu Mu was fast asleep.

Two figures quietly slipped out of the room.

The Magma Gym.

"Close up. I don't think we'll get any more challengers today."

Chen Qi yawned as he gave his students their instructions.

"Master! Master! There's someone outside—no, two Pokémon!"

"They've beaten a bunch of us!"

Chen Qi frowned in confusion.

Wild Pokémon?

That couldn't be right...

"Come on. I'll take a look."

At the Gym's battle arena, Chen Qi watched in surprise as Greninja calmly defeated one of his students' Pokémon.

Beside Greninja stood an utterly ordinary-looking Charmander.

"Are you Wild Pokémon?"

Chen Qi stopped his students, who were still itching to pile into the fight, and stepped forward to ask.

"Croak!"

[No. We're here to challenge the Gym!]

Greninja shook his head as he explained.

With a pop, Chen Qi released Flareon from its Poké Ball.

"Vee~"

[They're here for a fight!]

Only after Flareon translated did Chen Qi understand: these two had come to challenge his Gym!

"Where's your Trainer?"

"Croak!"

[We don't need our Trainer to beat you. The two of us are enough!]