Returning to Crown Academy

"Is it someone who knows me?"

Seeing the Trainer in shorts enthusiastically coming over to greet him, Terrance nodded.

"Yes, I'm Terrance."

Upon seeing Terrance, the boy immediately calmed down, realizing his lapse in composure, and apologized, "I watched the broadcast of the Grand Festival. I really liked Beautifly's final battle."

I see… Terrance smiled in response. It seemed that he had gained a little fame now.

Although being a Top Coordinator wasn't a big deal, it had only been less than three months since the Grand Festival ended, so it was natural that people who had watched it remembered him somewhat.

The boy, who happened to bump into Terrance, was surprised himself, but he had only approached to confirm. He wasn't particularly interested in Pokémon Contests, so the two didn't talk much. However, Terrance did learn the boy's name: it was Kota.

In the end, Kota suddenly realized he was still in the middle of training his Pokémon, apologized, and then returned to where his Gallade and Meditite were.

"Definitely a rookie Trainer..." During the conversation, Terrance had noticed the Pokédex on Kota's waist. It seemed to be the latest version from Hoenn, and from his demeanor and age, Terrance concluded as much.

Apart from exchanging a few pleasantries, they didn't talk much. The only thing that caught Terrance's attention was that Gallade, which reminded him of his own Gallade that had evolved from Ralts, along with a promise they had made.

Before leaving Kanto, Terrance had sent his Gallade, still a Kirlia at the time, away with the promise that they would have a battle when he returned to Crown Academy, to assess its growth.

Terrance hadn't forgotten that promise. From the information he has received, besides Teleport, Gallade should have now learned Slash move.

Although Slash was just a basic Normal-type move, it was undoubtedly a huge leap for Gallade.

Seeing Kota's Gallade brought back memories of his promise with Gallade.

"I'm going to return to the academy soon… I wonder just how much it's grown by now," Terrance thought, excitement welling up within him. He had witnessed Gallade's growth every step of the way.

From Ralts that could only use Teleport, struggling to evolve even with the help of countless experts and professors, to its evolution via Sabrina's psychic power, and then evolving again with a Dawn Stone into Gallade—its growth trajectory had been largely shaped by Terrance himself.

Remembering the little guy who practiced the Teleport move day after day without developing any combat skills, Terrance's desire for a battle grew even stronger.

Just then, a vast island came into view, faintly emerging in Terrance's sight. It was Crystal Island, the landmark at the border between Hoenn and Sinnoh.

It wouldn't be long before they arrived on the Sinnoh Region's mainland.

…

…

Canalave City.

Full of distinct, exotic charm, this port city was built along the canals.

Inside the Pokémon Center, a travel-worn boy handed five Poké Balls to Nurse Joy, then sat down on a sofa in the lobby to rest.

That boy was none other than Terrance.

After seeing Crystal Island, it hadn't taken long for the cruise ship to reach the port of Canalave City.

After arriving at the destination, the passengers disembarked from the ship. Terrance immediately rushed to the Pokémon Center. After all, he had been training his Pokémon onboard, and before returning to the academy, both he and his Pokémon needed to recover.

"Hello, your Pokémon have fully recovered."

After resting for a while, Nurse Joy called out to Terrance, and he promptly took his Poké Balls, expressing his thanks as well.

"Thank you, Nurse Joy."

"It's no trouble at all; it's what I'm here for," Nurse Joy replied with a smile.

It was still early, and Terrance planned to depart today, hoping to reach Crown Academy as soon as possible. There wasn't much in Canalave City to make him linger—neither the Sinnoh's largest library, the Canalave Library, nor the Steel-type Gym piqued his interest.

Terrance hitched a ride in a private car headed in the same direction, carpooling with two other Trainers who were also traveling towards Mt. Coronet. As Terrance saw it, it was a cheap, practical, and comfortable option.

There was actually a faster way—riding on Altaria. But after just getting off the cruise ship, Terrance didn't feel like flying through the skies for several hours.

Flying at high speeds with the wind whipping against your body was uncomfortable, and flying at slower speeds would defeat the purpose of riding Altaria in the first place. So, with a long sigh, Terrance opted for carpooling instead.

Although he wasn't short on money these days, after considering it slightly, Terrance decided not to splurge. He couldn't help but praise himself for being so frugal.

"Hey, everyone! We're almost there!"

The ride had been bumpy, and the closer they got to Mt. Coronet, the fewer flat roads there were. But the performance of the cars in this world was quite impressive.

None of the passengers felt uncomfortable—in fact, the ride was so smooth they all dozed off without realizing it, Terrance included.

Though there was snow outside and the weather looked harsh, the car was warm thanks to the heater. Driving for several hours in such an environment made Terrance drowsy.

"I'm almost there," Terrance muttered, looking out the window as they neared the outskirts of Mt. Coronet.

The two Trainers who were traveling with him also woke up, yawning and staring groggily out the window.

After another ten minutes, the driver stopped at a fork in the road. They had arrived.The three of them each gave the driver a certain amount of "fare." Terrance then looked towards Mt. Coronet and took out his phone.

"Hey, Akon? I'll be at the academy in about two hours. Have you cleaned my dorm room?"

"What?! It hasn't been cleaned in six months? Where am I supposed to sleep? Hurry and help me out, I'd really appreciate it."

Terrance sighed and shook his head before setting off alone into Mt. Coronet.

Mt. Coronet was considered one of the most dangerous Lost Zones in Sinnoh, with the level of danger increasing the deeper you ventured into it.

The scenery around Mt. Coronet was stunning, with beautiful snowy landscapes and unique sights not found anywhere else. Despite its beauty, it hadn't been designated as a tourist area. Even Crown Academy wasn't located deep within the mountain range, but rather on the outskirts. That alone hinted at the unknown dangers lurking within.

Terrance called out to Mismagius, who had been quietly following him. Together, they began heading towards the academy.

As for encountering any danger, it's basically impossible on the outskirts. Pokémon typically had strong territorial instincts and rarely ventured into areas frequented by humans. Besides, Terrance had managed to escape from Regirock at least twice, so he has gained quite a bit of "expertise" in running away and isn't worried about such things anymore.

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