The ride to Stow-On-Side didn't take too long. The rocks and tunnels weren't as interesting as my student's antics. At one point, she had surprised Puño by picking him up by the arms and spinning around with him like he was a Teddiursa plush. The scowl on his face couldn't hide that he was fine letting her have fun. Little Sally got this funny scolding from her mother about how she could hurt Puño if something went wrong. Nothing can hurt him. I recall this one time his mother had literally launched him over the entire town for sneezing onto her food. He'd come back as if it never happened and be launched again. I imagine him being practically indestructible at this point.
Regardless, They were having fun. I wasn't going to interrupt that. We have another half hour on the train anyways. I considered for a moment on what to do with myself in the meantime. Ellie hovers lazily out of my pocket and hovers in front of me. My mom had texted me asking if I made it in time. I reply back with a simple yes as I think about how Dad must've passed out again, ending their call.
Making up my mind, I grab Ellie and begin looking for videos and more information on Paldea. She doesn't bother to float anymore as she rests in my hands. Mom has been busy the past 2 years to ever fill me in and my sister was focused on her career so I never got anything concrete.
I find a high rated video titled "Discover Paldea: Landscapes, Pokemon, and Terastalizing magic!"
The video opens with wide pans of the region and its many areas. Each bit was accompanied with text stating where this was and if it had a notable town in them. Four distinct provinces based on the center crater. North, South, East and West respectively. The single image of the HUGE crater in the center of the region was quickly glossed over by the narrator as they go on to describe the Pokémon. I wasn't too interested since I already anticipate discovering them myself. What really drew my attention was when Terastalizing was brought up.
"What even the fu- heck is even that?" I say aloud. Puño had finally gotten free of Sally as he fakes being tired to make the girl laugh. He makes his way back to his seat before I rip him out of it and set him next to me. He was about to berate me before I shoved Ellie in his face so he could see. He settles down next to me as I continue playing the video for the both of us.
"Terastalizing is a unique phenomena to the Paldea region, revolutionizing Pokémon battles and training. This process allows a Pokémon to transform into a crystalline form, intensifying its inherent abilities or granting it an entirely new typing. In essence this is similar to how Galarian Pokémon draw on power spots to 'Dynamax'
When a Pokémon Terastalizes, its body takes on a radiant, gemstone-like appearance, refracting light in stunning patterns. Atop its head forms a Tera Crown, a symbolic representation of its Tera Type—ranging from blazing flames for Fire-types to flowing water for Water-types.
The effects of Terastalizing extend beyond aesthetics. A Pokémon's Tera Type, which can differ from its natural typing, provides strategic opportunities in battle. For instance, a Dragonite with an Electric Tera Type gains immunity to Electric-type moves and can bolster its offensive versatility.
To activate this phenomenon, trainers use a Tera Orb, a specialized device infused with energy harvested from Paldea's crystals. Tera Orbs require recharging at Pokémon Centers or from specific crystals found in the wild. This limitation ensures that the power of Terastalizing is employed thoughtfully and tactically.
Terastalizing has already sparked immense interest among researchers and trainers worldwide. It represents not only a breakthrough in Pokémon evolution and behavior but also a deeper connection between Pokémon and the unique energy of the Paldea region. In this dynamic and ever-evolving world, Terastalizing truly adds a new layer of brilliance to the art of Pokémon training."
After the video finished, Ellie woke up and flew back into my pocket. Barring me from looking for more information.
I turn to Puño to see we share the same confused look. "That's some weird stuff, huh?" Puño vocalizes some growls before laughing as he points to his head. "Yeah little buddy. The crowns look kinda goofy. Think that has something to do with that tera orb tech?"
Puño shrugs before pointing at his head and then crossing his arms in an X. I get it buddy, it looks goofy. I respect if his wish if he never wants to use it. He never wanted to use Dynamax either so maybe it's something to do with personal pride?
Time passes as I stare out the train window. Puño is laying in his seat pretending to be asleep so Sally won't mess with him more. I can finally see the town as we round this cliffside. I use this time to stand and get the last of the fatigue out of my sister as I use some hand rail for some stretching.
After we finally got to the town and left the station, I had put Puño on my shoulders to sell the idea to Sally that he really was asleep. Puño tried to fake some snoring but it sounded too strong. A bit like a Snorlax.
This town was hot, but that cool wind that somehow always got here from Route 10 was what made it quite enjoyable. Street vendors and people going about their day, always something happening in plain view. I thought maybe one day I'd settle here, sure the rain wouldn't come as often as I'd like, but it was cozy and right next to my job. A small breeze carrying some sand made me sneeze, ending my reverie. It's not in the deck of cards for me right now. A golden opportunity in a land unknown to me has shown itself. The farewells will suck though. 'Not too far from the gym now' was all I could focus my thoughts to before something sent a chill down my spine.
On pure instinct, I spun around tossing Puño like a frisbee. I had grabbed my little buddy by the legs and tossed him as hard as I could at this presence of pure danger. I had entered a readied stance prepared for a fight but it was for nothing. Auntie Bea was looking at me from an alleyway with a smirk as a bear rocketed at her. Puño, to his credit, was already in a double footed drop kick. It was of no use as he was gently grabbed out of the air and hung upside down by the foot. The little bear launched his fist at her before stopping and realizing it was her- and began thrashing with more effort to get a hit in. I suppose that's why Mom sent me a message. Dad was now sending out messages to close family. I should be on guard...
"I'm glad to know that you're both still improving. It feels as though just yesterday you were sniveling little brats that couldn't see the world around them if it wasn't on their fathers' backs." She said with a placid face
I could only blink "That was a compliment, right?"
"... Yes…"
"That took too long."
Bea's face scrunched up and like a dam breaking, she cried "Nu'uh, you Golvands are moving away. I didn't think my adoptive little brother would start a family! Would have a kid! And up and move before I find a husband!" Bea pulled Puño into a hug and wept dramatically, her eyes clenched shut trying to hold back what could be a stream of tears. I stood there for a few moments trying to recover from the sudden change in mood. I was prepared to spar with her if she was angry that we were moving. I couldn't think of anything to say so I just stayed quiet, the soft sniffles and occasional blow of the wind filling the silence. Puño was surprised too, but being the older brother here, he signaled to me to do what I have to. I hugged her while making sure to squish Puño between us.
I… am not sure I am ready to face the rest of the family here if this is how they all will react. I cannot let myself be persuaded to stay.
It took her some time to calm down but that was alright. Work isn't going to start for another half hour.
The three of us walked in silence for a bit, the sound of Puño's paws patting against the cobblestones filling the gaps where words should've been. Bea seemed lost in thought, her arms crossed as we neared the gym. I stole a glance at her, wondering how to broach the topic hanging between us, but she beat me to it.
"I get why you're going," she said, her tone subdued. "Paldea's a good opportunity. A chance to grow. But it still feels... sudden, you know?"
"I know," I said, exhaling slowly. "It's not that I don't love it here. Or the people. It's just... I need this, Auntie."
She shot me a sharp look, curiosity flickering across her face. "Why? You've got everything here. A solid job, respect, a good reputation. What are you trying to find over there?"
I hesitated, not because I didn't know the answer, but because saying it out loud made it feel real. "A fresh start," I said finally. "Somewhere I'm not 'the son of the world champion' first and myself second. Don't get me wrong, I love Dad. I respect what he's done and I aspire to be something great too. But it's exhausting having every conversation start with, 'Oh, you're Renart's kid.'"
Bea's pace slowed, and she turned to look at me fully. "So, you're running from his legacy?"
"Not running," I corrected gently. "Just... stepping out of the shadow for a bit to chase my own ambition. In Paldea, no one knows me. No one's expecting me to follow in his footsteps or live up to a name I didn't ask for. I can build something for myself, something real. Make my OWN name…"
She tilted her head, studying me like she was trying to figure out if I was serious. "And you think you'll find that there? What, some grand romance with a girl who doesn't care who your dad is? The entire world knows about your father, odds are they know about you too."
I chuckled, scratching the back of my head. "Something like that. I just want to meet people who see me for me. Friends, maybe someone special. It's hard to tell if people here are genuinely interested in me or just the fame attached to my name. I have this hunch that simply because we don't live there, news won't spread so fast that I am his son. Just slow enough for me to break out if that makes sense."
Bea was quiet for a moment, her expression softening. "I hadn't thought of it that way," she admitted. "I always figured you were fine with it. The attention, the respect. You seemed like you fit in so well here."
"It's easy to look like you fit when you've been raised to, but that just means I look like it. Not that I feel that way." I said. "Paldea's new. No expectations, no baggage. Just a chance to figure out who I am without all the noise."
Her gaze lingered on me for a second longer, then she sighed, shaking her head with a wry smile. "You're too much like your dad, you know that? Always chasing something. But I get it now. And as much as I want to drag you back to the gym and make you stay, I won't."
"That's surprisingly mature of you," I teased.
"Don't push it," she shot back, her smirk returning. "I'm still mad about it, but I'm not going to stand in your way. Just... promise me you'll keep in touch. I want updates. And not just the 'everything's fine' kind. I mean real updates."
"I promise," I said.
"And if you find that 'something real,' you'd better introduce me," she added, jabbing a finger at my chest.
"Deal," I said, smiling.
She nodded, satisfied, and we started walking again. The gym loomed ahead, its doors open to the morning crowd. For a moment, I felt a pang of regret, knowing I'd be leaving all of this behind. But as the thought passed, it was replaced by something lighter. Hope, maybe.
Bea nudged my shoulder as we reached the entrance. "You're not off the hook yet. You've still got a few days of work, and I'm going to make sure they count."
"Aww, and here I thought I could avoid my next paycheck!" I said, grinning with sarcasm.
The excitement in Bea's voice didn't escape me, but there was a deeper current, a small part of me realizing just how much I was leaving behind. Sure, Paldea was a fresh start, the perfect chance to step out of Dad's shadow, to explore a world that didn't care if my surname was Golvand. But there was also something else pulling me—something about meeting my mom's family. I never knew them the way I always imagined I would. Her side had always been distant, scattered across Paldea. They weren't just family to me; they were strangers.
I'd never really asked her much about them. I didn't want to make her sad or nostalgic about the parts of her life she left behind when she chose Galar. But Paldea? That's where her roots ran deeper than I thought. Maybe meeting them, seeing the other half of my family, would give me something new to hold on to. Maybe, in doing that, I'd finally understand a piece of her that never quite clicked with me before. That, too, felt like it was waiting for me over there. Though, she was with them for the past 2 years since she started working at Uva, but hey. It just means she is square enough with them again for her to introduce me instead of me popping up at their doorstep.
"Alright," Bea finally said, her voice returning to the commanding tone she used as Gym Leader. "Enough mushy family talk. Let's see if you've been keeping those skills sharp. We've got a schedule to keep."
"Yes, ma'am," I replied, mock-saluting her as Puño scrambled off of me as he started jogging at a pace to stay with us.
The transition from nostalgia to routine was easy. Too easy, honestly. The rhythm of working at the Gym was second nature to me. Teaching the students their warm-ups, helping with techniques, and making sure no one overdid it—it was all familiar. Even as the hours slipped by, I couldn't shake the thought that I wouldn't be here much longer.
The kids were all a bundle of energy that would make even the fittest Machamp jealous. Some carried sparring gloves slung over their shoulders, others were already stretching, a few trying—and failing—to mimic Bea's warm-up routine on their own.
I called out to a small group struggling with some footwork drills. "Hey, your feet are supposed to be moving, not glued to the floor!"
The youngest of the bunch, Lani, stopped mid-shuffle and threw her hands on her hips. "It's harder than you make it look, Mr. Golvand!"
Her words made a few of the older kids snicker, and I couldn't help but laugh along with them. "That's because you're thinking about it too much. Watch Puño—he doesn't stop moving."
Sure enough, Puño had taken it upon himself to demonstrate, shuffling side to side with quick, practiced precision. A few kids gasped, some clapped, and one of the older students immediately started trying to copy him.
I didn't realize how much I'd miss this. Not just the gym itself, but the people, the connections. These kids weren't just students—they'd grown under my watch. Some of them might even outshine me one day, given the time.
"Mr. Golvand," one of the older boys asked, breaking into my thoughts. He had recently been tossed by a smaller student so he was a bit disheveled, his expression unusually serious. "It's true you're leaving, right? For Paldea?"
All the chatter around us seemed to quiet. Kids who were once absorbed in their drills now looked up at me, waiting for confirmation.
"Yeah," I said after a moment. "Just a few more days here, and then I'm heading out. Wait, where did you hear about that?"
A collective groan echoed through the room. Some pulled out their phones to show me an article of Uncle Hop dashing to our home to find my dad. The kids simply made a good guess… It's a bit odd that there was an article theorizing about such a ubiquitous act being something grander. Surely we wouldn't have this kind of paparazzi in Paldea?
"But why?" Lani piped up, her voice tinged with a bit of betrayal. "You're so good at teaching! Why do you have to go?"
I knelt down so I could meet her eye. "Because it's time for me to try something new," I said gently. "And besides, you don't need me to get better. You've got everything you need to succeed already—you just have to keep working at it."
It didn't seem to console her much, and she crossed her arms stubbornly. "It's still not fair."
"She's right, you know," Bea called out, cutting through the somber mood like a blade. "We'll manage without him, but don't think I won't remind him every day of what he's missing."
That earned a few chuckles, and I took the chance to refocus everyone back on their drills. Some were clearly struggling to stay focused despite the news. But deep down, I knew it wasn't just the kids who'd have a hard time saying goodbye.
Time passes by as we focus on the kids' school work. Marking down pushups and such on paperwork for their schools. After the last kid gets their stuff marked, it is almost time for the Gym to open for Pokemon trainers to issue their challenges.
I stared at my reflection in the gym's break room mirror, tugging at the small lavender-dyed knot in my brown hair. My teal eyes, sharp yet tired, stared back, and the freckles scattered across my nose and cheeks softened what little edge my face had. I wasn't shredded like some trainers, but years of sparring and training gave me a lean, functional build. My face, though, was a mix of laid-back and serious, like I couldn't decide between a lopsided grin or just letting the small shadow of facial hair do the talking. I straightened up, wiping some sweat from my brow and adjusting the clothes I had on. Everyone says I look just like my dad, but sometimes I saw just enough of Mom in the details to remind me why I kept that knot in my hair.
I glanced over at my locker to see that Ellie was still napping. A blessing that she is slothful when I work. Can't have her derailing the kids. Puño could be seen in a corner of the room working out without breaking a sweat. What a demon.
I left the break room and started wiping down some equipment when Bea approached me again, her usual no-nonsense demeanor softened just a little.
"You handled that well," she said, nodding toward the kids as they filtered out of the gym. "They're going to miss you."
I shrugged, though her words lingered. "I'll miss them too. It's hard not to, after spending so much time with them."
She leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. "You're not just leaving them behind, you know. You're leaving a legacy here. That's nothing to take lightly."
The weight of her words settled over me, and I found myself nodding. "I'm sorry, Auntie, but you can't convince me to stay.."
"Yeah…" Bea said firmly. "You've got too much of your dad in you to listen."
"Is that a compliment?"
"... Yes…"
"That took too long."