In his room, Yong lay on the bed, looking at the Larvesta nestled on his chest.
The little one had been unusually sleepy lately.
After absorbing the last Supreme Fire Stone a few days earlier, the normally lively little Pokémon had slipped into a drowsy haze.
The golden markings on its body, however, had become rather active, flowing across Larvesta like streams of golden flame. The red feelers around its head would also occasionally release wisps of red-gold fire...
Larvesta had been stuck at level 59 for a long time. It had finished storing up energy, leaving only the final step: finding the ideal place to evolve!
Yong had originally obtained Larvesta's Pokémon Egg in a lava cave on Mt. Chimney, so he hoped to take it back to the place where they had first met to complete its evolution.
Stroking Larvesta's soft, warm fuzz, Yong said softly,
"Not much longer, little one! Once I take you home, we'll witness your evolution together!"
"Lar... vesta~"
Half asleep, Larvesta murmured softly, nuzzling its little head affectionately against the boy's chest.
Yong smiled faintly. Carefully cradling Larvesta against him, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Some time later, a knock at the door woke Yong.
Looking at Larvesta sleeping soundly in his arms and feeling the warmth radiating from its body, he carefully took out its Pokémon Ball and recalled it.
When he opened the door, Qingcao stood outside.
"Is it time?"
Yong still felt groggy.
Qingcao smiled.
"It's about to start, Teacher Yong! Miss Cynthia and Miss Caitlin are already in the lobby!"
Yong smiled and patted Qingcao's shoulder.
"All right! Let's head down too!"
"Okay!"
It was the final match of the Champion Challenge.
Bertha Grandmother, the Ground-type member of the Sinnoh Region's Elite Four, was already