For victor, his father's concerns about the future of the CRIMSON Alliance felt distant and premature.
Perhaps, with CARBINK destined to evolve into Diancie, VICTOR might one day lead the alliance through its transition and back to the pinnacle of the Pokémon world. However, for now, he was just a high school senior who had only been a trainer for three months and possessed three elite-level Pokémon.
---
As he left the SEAWINDCOVE Arena, the dusk sky faded into the deep hues of night, and the clock struck 8 PM.
Back at the hotel, VICTOR released his Pokémon from their luxury balls:
CARBINK
INCINEROAR
Milotic
---
The moment CARBINK emerged, she eagerly bounced over to VICTOR.
"[VICTOR, VICTOR, hurry up! Give me your phone!]"
CARBINK had been enamored with cartoons and comics ever since VICTOR showed her the movie "Princess Pikachu and Her Knight GALLADE." Now, she couldn't get enough of them.
During her downtime, she indulged in a rigorous binge-watching and reading routine. Today was the update day for her favorite series, " GreNinja Pineapple Head," which had two new episodes following last week's cliffhanger. No wonder she was so excited!
---
Meanwhile, the other Pokémon focused on their own routines:
The INCINEROAR performed intense fitness exercises, grunting as it struck challenging poses to build strength.
Milotic, on the other hand, floated serenely near the ceiling, using its psychic powers to meditate and practice in quiet concentration.
---
Over the past few weeks, VICTOR had come to understand the unique personalities of his team:
1. CARBINK: A lively and optimistic spirit with an innocent charm. Her favorite pastime was indulging in comics and animations. Interestingly, her imaginative mind often led her to use her moves in innovative and unexpected ways during battles.
2. INCINEROAR : A disciplined and determined Pokémon, focused on physical strength and fitness. It thrived on challenging itself.
3. Milotic: A calm and introspective Pokémon, devoted to enhancing its psychic abilities through meditation.
Together, they were a team brimming with potential, each bringing something unique to the table.
========{
The Downside of Little Diamond's Innocence
One quirk of CARBINK was her habit of shouting out the names of anime moves in a childish way through the team channel VICTOR had set up.
VICTOR couldn't help but wonder—would CARBINK, after evolving into Diancie, look back on this phase of her life as an embarrassing "dark history"? The thought made him smile mischievously.
---
As a future Mythical Pokémon, CARBINK had a unique talent: her strength grew even with minimal effort. This meant that despite training for only half the time that INCINEROAR did, she was still stronger.
After finishing her required training, CARBINK typically avoided extra work. Instead, she preferred to grab VICTOR's phone and dive into her favorite anime.
In the past, CARBINK struggled with her psychic abilities. Clicking on the next episode often required great effort, and when she couldn't manage, she'd call VICTOR for help.
VICTOR remembered how CARBINK once told him that she felt an instinctive need to grow stronger quickly. But now, her playful distractions had made her less focused. Even so, VICTOR didn't mind. As long as she had hobbies and avoided becoming too addicted to the internet, he was happy to indulge her whims.
---
INCINEROAR: The Hard-Working UNDERDOG
INCINEROAR, on the other hand, was the most hardworking member of the team. Lacking any special identity or natural advantages, he constantly trained to close the gap with CARBINK.
Whenever he had free time, he pushed himself through additional exercises. VICTOR remembered how carefree INCINEROAR had been as a Litten and Torracat, often napping whenever he could. But now, his ambition drove him relentlessly.
---
Milotic: Grace and Determination
Then there was Milotic, who had shown remarkable determination during their week at the outdoor special training camp. VICTOR could clearly see her deep desire to become stronger.
Milotic was blessed with exceptional lineage, being connected to Latios and Latias. Despite this, she was humble and dedicated, constantly improving her skills.
VICTOR couldn't shake the feeling that INCINEROAR might soon lose his spot as the second-strongest Pokémon on the team.
---
A Sudden Outburst
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, VICTOR took out a thin laptop from his bag to plan his next destination. With everything in SEAWINDCOVE City wrapped up, it was time to head to the second gym. However, he had yet to decide which one.
Just as he powered on his laptop, a sudden cry erupted.
"Naaaaa——!"
---
VICTOR's face instantly shifted to a mix of confusion, shock, curiosity, and more confusion as he jumped out of his chair.
"What's going on?" he asked, slipping on his slippers and hurrying toward CARBINK.
She lay on the hotel bed, reading comics on his phone with her psychic powers.INCINEROAR and Milotic, alarmed by the scream, rushed over as well.
"Na na na!"
"[VICTOR, why is Pineapple Head being abandoned by all his friends!?]"
CARBINK's voice quivered with emotion. She felt everything deeply, often imagining herself as the protagonist of whatever she was watching or reading. When the hero triumphed, she would practice their moves with enthusiasm; when they suffered, she shared their pain.
VICTOR sighed, seeing CARBINK's teary pink eyes staring up at him. He gently patted her head and reassured her:
"It's okay, it's okay. Things might turn around later. Just wait and see."
===={{{
Now that Litten had evolved into INCINEROAR , its personality had matured significantly, as had Milotic's.
In contrast, CARBINK remained as innocent and carefree as ever. Though she should be the "big sister" of the group, her behavior made her seem more like the youngest sibling to INCINEROAR and Milotic.
---
"[Really... really?]"
CARBINK'S pink eyes were slightly red as she stared at VICTOR, filled with hope and vulnerability.
VICTOR sighed inwardly. He couldn't bear to tell her the truth—that the story she was so invested in clearly set up Pineapple Head as a wandering rebel ninja from the very beginning.
At that moment, VICTOR suddenly felt like he wasn't just training Pokémon, but raising three children with vastly different personalities.
He had to worry about their "academics" (training), take care of their daily needs (like cooking for them), and ensure their emotional well-being.
"How am I supposed to have time for friends or dating?" he mused to himself.
Still, deep down, VICTOR didn't mind. Spending time with CARBINK and the others filled his heart with joy. Who needs a romantic relationship? An object would only slow down his progress as a trainer!
---
After finally soothing CARBINK , VICTOR decided to play a movie called "Magical Girl CHERISH," a "healing" anime recommended by ROMAN. It seemed like the perfect distraction for her.
As CARBINK happily continued watching, INCINEROAR and Milotic, who had been startled earlier by her outburst, returned to their intense training routines.
---
With the team settled, VICTOR finally had a moment to himself. He opened his laptop to research and plan his next gym challenge. SeawindCove City was behind him now, and it was time to decide where to go next.