Rustboro City was a major city in western Hoenn, home to the headquarters of Devon, one of the Ten Houses. It was now the following morning, and Liu Qing and Liu Yuan, who had traveled there on foot, stood outside the Rustboro Gym.
"This Gym looks completely different from the Petalburg Gym!" Liu Yuan said in surprise.
"Yeah. It makes sense for a Rock-type Gym to have a rocky exterior. Isn't the Gym in Pewter City like this too?" As Liu Qing spoke, he and Liu Yuan pushed open the Gym's doors and walked inside.
A huge Rock Field greeted them. Several people who appeared to be Gym staff were carefully cleaning the battlefield.
"This battlefield was designed entirely for Rock-type Pokémon," Liu Yuan remarked.
"Gym Trainers are here to test challengers, so of course they'll choose a battlefield that favors them." Liu Qing walked to the edge of the field and asked, "Excuse me, is the Gym Trainer here?"
"Oh, are you here to challenge the Gym?" One of the workers turned around at Liu Qing's question. "I'm very sorry, but our teacher isn't here right now. She's teaching the children at school, though she should be back soon. You can wait here for a bit."
"Do Gym Trainers work other jobs too?" Liu Yuan asked.
"Yes. When no one's challenging the Gym, our teacher usually goes to the school to teach the children and show them recordings of Gym Challenges," the man explained.
"Oh, do we have challengers?" Just then, a girl walked in and asked.
"Yes, teacher!" the man answered promptly.
"Hello, I'm Liu Qing from Saffron City in Kanto. I'm here to challenge the Gym," Liu Qing quickly introduced himself, realizing that she was the person he had come to see.
"Hello, my name is Roxanne,