After the meal, Caitlin leaned against a massive tree, patting her stomach with a look of pure satisfaction.
"It's been so long since I've eaten this much or felt this free. I didn't have to worry about etiquette or high-society standards," she confessed to Feng Che. "I just ate what I wanted, how I wanted. It was wonderful."
"Rules are made by people," Feng Che replied concisely. "When you are powerful enough, those rules can no longer bind you."
Caitlin nodded, though she only half-understood. She looked at the young man before her, sensing an indomitable aura of confidence radiating from him.
Feng Che pulled a sleeping bag from his bracer and moved the dying embers of the fire to the side. "The temperature on the island drops significantly at night. You sleep here; I'll replace sleep with meditation."
Caitlin opened her mouth to protest, but Feng Che had already leaped onto a sturdy branch above and closed his eyes.
"You're suffering from psychic backlash," she whispered up at him. "Forcing yourself to meditate will only strain your mind. You should really rest on the ground." Receiving no answer, she snuggled into the warmth of the sleeping bag and fell into a deep sleep within minutes.
The Next Morning
At the first light of dawn, the forest hummed with life. Beedrill and Butterfree were busy gathering nectar, while Pidgey darted through the leaves.
Feng Che was already deep into his daily routine. His Pokémon were paired off, engaged in intense sparring sessions. Ditto (as a Yanmega) clashed with Corvisquire; Frogadier and Torracat traded high-speed strikes; Ivysaur and the Red Gyarados worked on endurance; while the two Vulpixes practiced their elemental control, fire and ice neutralizing each other in mid-air.
Aerodactyl and Scyther were locked in a dance of speed, the prehistoric predator summoning jagged rocks while Scyther sliced them into dust with its razor-sharp scythes.
The Galarian Farfetch'd watched them, gripping its leek tightly.
"Farfetch'd, show me your move set. All of it," Feng Che commanded.
After watching the bird perform, Feng Che noted that while its mastery of Swords Dance was exceptional, its execution of other moves was mediocre at best.
If not for its unique 'Drunken Master' talent, I wouldn't bother training this one as a main ace, Feng Che thought. He looked the bird in the eye. "Your fundamentals are shaky. From now on, you'll perform ten thousand swings a day. If your talent is lacking, you'll compensate with hard work. Additionally, you'll fly five kilometers daily for endurance."
The Farfetch'd's face went pale with despair.
"Complete your training, and I'll reward you with a portion of fine wine every evening," Feng Che added. He had calculated the bird's tolerance; a light buzz wouldn't trigger the aggressive second personality.
At the mention of "fine wine," the bird's spirit reignited. It began swinging its leek with a newfound, frantic energy.
Caitlin, watching from the foot of the tree, approached. "Sorry, did the training wake you?" Feng Che asked.
"No, I woke up on my own. My headache is much better," she said, letting down her hair. Her golden locks flowed down her back like sunbeams, levitated slightly by Duosion's psychic power to keep them from touching the damp ground.
"Let's explore the island after breakfast. I need to find rare berries to help Zeraora recover," Feng Che said.
As they trekked through the dense forest, Yanmega (Ditto) and Farfetch'd cleared a path using Slash and Air Cutter. The rustle of fallen leaves accompanied their steady pace.
Caitlin looked around with wide-eyed wonder, taking in the sights she could never experience within the walls of her family's castle. They watched Caterpie evolve into Metapod in mere hours—a survival mechanism on an island teeming with bird Pokémon.
"The natural law here is simple," Feng Che explained to a fascinated Caitlin. "Evolve quickly or be eaten. It's the cycle of the island." He realized that while Caitlin was an expert on Psychics, her knowledge of general ecology was surprisingly limited.
"I see... you know so much, Mr. Feng Che," she praised, a faint dimple appearing as she smiled.
The Caitlin Family Castle
"What do we do? We haven't heard from the Young Lady since yesterday!" Darach the butler was pacing like an ant on a hot griddle.
Tianshen (Caitlin's brother) sat nearby, looking far more composed. "Darach, you've been muttering for twenty-four hours. Calm down."
"If something happens to her, how can I face the Master?"
"Team Plasma knows who she is. They won't harm her; they'd just ask for a ransom," Tianshen said calmly. "The fact that they haven't contacted us means they haven't caught her. Besides, my internal sources say a mysterious figure rescued her. My twin link tells me she's perfectly fine."
Darach finally exhaled. "If you say so, Master Tianshen. Your link has never been wrong."
"She's actually blocked me out lately," Tianshen mused. "It's like she's hiding something... Anyway, I'm here to reclaim my team and start the Family Trials. I've reached the High-tier psychic level; it's time."
Maplewood Island
Farfetch'd eventually led Feng Che to a cluster of rare fruit. "Excellent. Starf Berries and even Thunder Bananas."
The Thunder Bananas grew on a scorched cliffside—a fruit that boosted the potential of Electric-types. "This is perfect for Zeraora's recovery."
He stepped into a clearing and released the Mythical.
[Zeraora: Human... CURSED HUMAN! I AM FREE!]
The Poké Ball shattered. Zeraora's silver fur stood on end as lightning from the sky lashed down onto her, turning the clearing into a sea of electricity.
[Zeraora: DIE, HUMAN!]
She pointed a claw at Feng Che, and a jagged golden arc of lightning tore through the air toward him.