Sinnoh, Sunyshore City.
"Is Gym Leader Volkner renovating the Gym again?"
"This ti, it feels even more intense than before..."
"Maybe he's working on so new tech? Feels like it's about to explode—let's get out of here!"
"..."
Outside the Gym, Volkner listened to the constant rumbling from inside and the passing pedestrians' chatter.
For a mont, he didn't know what to say.
"Today is... the third day?" Volkner muttered.
Suddenly, he felt impressed—both with himself and with the Gym he had built.
It had managed to last three days under Johan's training.
That's actually... incredible!
Flint patted him on the shoulder in consolation.
"It's fine. Out with the old, in with the new—just take it as completely shedding your past, lazy self."
Volkner gave him a look.
Easy for you to say.
It's not your Gym.
Not that he really cared about the damages.
He hadn't done any Gym battles for so long that all the League's allocated maintenance funds had just been sitting there untouched.
He had plenty to burn.
But he was curious—
What kind of training could cause this much destruction?
So... when Johan battled him, was he holding back?
"By the way, I heard that restaurant is holding another event. Want to check it out?" Flint suggested.
"Seven Stars Restaurant?"
Volkner imdiately knew which one he ant.
Seven Stars Restaurant was the most upscale eatery in all of Sinnoh.
Many of the region's wealthiest people dined there.
It was also a famous battle restaurant—but unlike others, it specialized in Double Battles.
Every so often, Seven Stars Restaurant would hold a special event:
Win a Double Battle, and you could eat there for free.
Back before Flint left Sunyshore and Volkner beca a Gym Leader, they used to frequent the place for free als.
It was also where they had first shared their dreams and aspirations.
Flint figured—Volkner needed to reaffirm those aspirations.
And conveniently, the event was happening again.
"What about Johan?"
Volkner glanced toward the Gym as Johan erged with his Pokémon, seemingly finishing up training for the day.
"He'll co too."
Flint grinned.
"Johan loves food—whether he's cooking it himself or tasting soone else's."
At the sa ti—
Johan was speaking to Dragonite.
"...That's the gist of it. Next ti there's an Earthquake, feel the earth's flow first..."
Giovanni's book The Secrets of the Earth was finally proving useful after Dragonair's evolution.
Dragonite had beco the only Pokémon on Johan's team capable of using multiple Ground-type moves.
It was a huge boost to his team's overall coverage.
Plus—
Volkner had built specialized training machines to help his Electric Pokémon resist Ground-type moves.
Perfect for Dragonite's training.
Gotta admit, Volkner's traps and gadgets were very useful for practice.
"Draaa~~"
Dragonite nodded earnestly.
During training, it had already gotten its tail stuck in Volkner's machines five tis.
"Johan, want to grab a al?" Flint called out.
"Ka-kaah!"
At the ntion of food, the Pokémon instantly perked up.
"Sure."
Johan had no reason to refuse.
Who turns down food?
But—
"I an... it's just a al. Do we really have to bike this far?"
The sun was setting.
Johan, on a bicycle, sighed.
When Flint and Volkner took him along on their bikes, he had felt that sothing was off.
Why were they leaving the city just for food?
By the ti they had been pedaling since noon until dusk, he knew—
He had been scamd.
Besides—
"If the restaurant is that far, why not drive?"
"Cycling is good for your health!" Flint bead, flashing a thumbs-up.
"Back then, Volkner and I rode our bikes to Seven Stars. We're just reliving our childhood!"
You two are reliving mories—so why am I being dragged along?!
At that mont—
Johan swore to get himself a Rotom Bike.
"Where's Buck?" Johan asked, noticing he wasn't with them.
"Oh, Buck took a car earlier to reserve a table," Volkner said, smiling innocently.
Johan: "..."
You had a car all along?!
Don't think that just because you're smiling like a proper Sinnoh Champion I'll let this go!
Flint, you're on my list.
"We're here!"
Flint pointed at a grand, luxurious building—
Seven Stars Restaurant.
"Exquisite flavors beyond your imagination!"
That was their slogan.
Located by Lake Valor, Seven Stars Restaurant was part of a complex known as Lakefront Hotels.
Unlike Snowpoint's frozen Lake Acuity, Lake Valor had warm, resort-style buildings.
Every year, travelers and Sinnoh locals flocked to dine there.
Especially trainers—
Because a win in a Double Battle ant—
Free food.
Unlike buffets, which still aid to make a profit, this restaurant's dishes were normally expensive.
But only during special events did battles determine whether you could eat for free.
It was simply the owner's personal hobby.
That ant—
Johan had no moral guilt about unleashing his Pokémon here.
When they arrived, long tables lined the restaurant's outdoor corridors, covered in food.
And—
It looked like a buffet.
Flint explained,
"These are just appetizers. The restaurant owner prepares them so every participating trainer and Pokémon can be in top condition before their battles."
Pure luxury.
"Ka-kaah~~"
Upon hearing this, a plump, shadowy hand extended from Johan's own shadow—
And swiped an entire table's worth of desserts, plates included.
The only thing left behind was a neatly stacked tower of empty plates.
"Ka-kaah~~"
Ca the sound of Gengar munching.
Johan casually picked up a piece of cake and took a bite.
"Leave so for the others, Gengar."
"Ka-kaah~~"
Gengar's voice echoed from the shadow—it had already saved portions for the rest.
"Amie?"
Volkner suddenly spotted soone at a corner table—
With a mountain of empty plates in front of her.
Long chestnut hair tied into twin braids, a light blue dress—
A girl who looked extrely gentle and elegant.
Olivine Gym Leader Amie.
Her signature Pokémon were an Ampharos nad "Lumi" and a massive Steelix.
People called her "The Girl of Impenetrable Defense."
"V-Volkner?"
Amie turned pink, hastily explaining,
"T-These were left by the last diner!"
She mumbled at the pile of plates.
Despite her delicate appearance—
Amie was a legendary big eater.
She was just too shy to admit it.
Johan glanced at her table, then at Gengar's stash.
Hmm.
Probably only Gengar could out-eat her.
Johan did rember her, though—
From the days of HeartGold & SoulSilver, when he spent ages looking for dicine for her Ampharos.
Sailing endlessly.
Battling dozens of Swimrs.
Volkner chuckled and introduced her.
"This is Flint. And this is Johan."
"Johan?"
Amie's eyes sparkled.
"It's an honor to et you, Johan!"
She wasn't unfamiliar with him.
Partially because of battle livestreams—
But mostly because her best friend Erika constantly talked about him over the phone.
Flint jabbed a thumb at himself.
And ?
"Nice to et you, Amie," Johan greeted her.
"Amie is the Olivine Gym Leader. She visits Sunyshore often," Volkner added.
"B-Because the lighthouse here reminds of Olivine's..." Amie quickly emphasized.
Not because of Seven Stars' "Battle-to-Eat-Free" promotion.
If even Amie had co from Johto for this event—
It really showed how famous the restaurant was.
Just as Johan had this thought—
A voice called out from behind him.
"Johan?!"
Turning around, he saw a pink-haired girl in a blue tank top, white pants, barefoot, with a bandage on her nose.
"Maylene?"
Johan recognized her imdiately.
Veilstone Gym's Fighting-type Leader—
Another human Machamp.
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Powerstones?
For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates
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