The days of training slipped away quietly in a fulfilling rhythm; nearly a month had passed in the blink of an eye.
Even the winds of Steel Canyon seemed to be tinged with the meaning of parting.
Lionel gazed at the giant Steelix before him, and its flock of followers surrounding it, their eyes filled with reluctance.
A pang of sadness welled up within him.
"Thank you all so much for your help these past few days," Lionel said, waving to the Steelix with genuine sincerity.
Metang, Tyrantrum, Larvesta, and Milotic also stepped forward, bidding farewell to their friends in the canyon in their own ways.
Having said goodbye to the Steelix and its companions, Lionel led his Pokémon on their journey to Fallarbor Town. Passing through the rugged rocks of Steel Canyon, the surrounding scenery gradually changed:
The bare rocks were replaced by lush vegetation.
Although the leaves of the trees were covered with a thin layer of volcanic ash, it couldn't conceal the vibrant life.
Occasionally, a few Pokémon could be seen darting through the grass by the roadside, and flocks of Pidgey and other bird-like Pokémon flew across the distant sky.
Everything exuded a vibrant energy, completely different from the canyon.
As evening approached, the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the earth, and Lionel finally arrived at Fallarbor Town, enveloped in its warm glow.
Looking down from above, the architectural style of Fallarbor Town was remarkably unique.
It nestled in a wide basin, surrounded by several beautiful lakes, their waters shimmering in the setting sun.
The suspended driveway, mentioned by the forest ranger, stretched like a silver ribbon across one of the lakes.
Connecting the swaying forest to Fallarbor Town, its design was exquisite, casting moving dappled shadows of passing vehicles on the lake's surface.
The rooftops of most of the town's high-rise buildings were a bright orange, somewhat similar in color to those of the houses in Lavaridge Town near Chimmey Mountain.
In this environment filled with volcanic ash, it stood out strikingly, creating a vivid yet harmonious color contrast, like a meticulously painted oil painting.
Lionel walked along, observing the town.
Although called a "town," it was surprisingly large.
Wide streets lined with shops, bustling with pedestrians; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it "Fallarbor City."
The town didn't have a gym, but it did have a Pokémon Contest venue and battle arenas to meet the needs of visiting trainers.
Especially the Pokémon Contest venue, its grandeur was remarkable.
The white dome shimmered in the setting sun, and its area was no smaller than the venue in Kanaz City.
"No wonder it's so lively."
Lionel looked at the trainers and tourists moving about the streets and immediately understood.
It had been mentioned on the forums before that the Pokémon Contest in Fallarbor Town had high entry requirements.
Most tournaments held here required participants to possess at least one Ribbon Badge to participate.
The town's proximity to the mysterious Meteor Falls naturally attracts many visitors.
Even more special is its fame, stemming from frequent meteorite falls.
Visitors, if lucky, can easily witness small meteors falling, and the town even has numerous shops selling meteorite souvenirs.
The town also houses a space center, actually Dr. Cosmo's research institute.
It's not only an excellent location for meteor observation but also an important site for meteorite research.
From afar, the white building, filled with telescopes, exudes a futuristic feel, standing out among the orange-roofed buildings.
Due to the upcoming Grand Festival, almost all the hotels in town are fully booked.
Fortunately, Lionel had booked a room well in advance; otherwise, he might actually be camping in the wilderness right now. He hurried to the hotel in the center of town, a towering building whose glass curtain walls reflected the glow of the setting sun.
After checking in, he took his room key and went up to the 21st floor.
Pushing open the room door, the view from the window instantly brightened Lionel's eyes!
Through the clean glass window, he could clearly see the lake surrounding the town. The afterglow of the setting sun shimmered on the lake's surface, like scattered diamonds.
In the distance, the headlights of cars on the elevated road formed a flowing ribbon of light, a breathtaking sight.
"I'll take Milotic and the others to get something to eat later, then we'll get a good rest for the night, and explore at our leisure tomorrow."
Lionel stretched, the fatigue of the journey dissipating considerably in the beautiful scenery.
The Metang and Larvesta, launched from their Poké Balls, also followed his example, perching by the window, curiously watching the scenery outside, their eyes full of wonder.
Breakfast.
The next morning, Lionel went to the hotel restaurant for breakfast.
The restaurant was bustling with activity, many trainers were gathered around the tables discussing the upcoming Pokémon Contest.
Lionel had just sat down by the window and ordered a sandwich and hot milk when a familiar voice called out:
"Lionel? Is that really you?"
Lionel looked up and saw an elegant and serene older sister standing beside him, a surprised smile on her face.
It was Grace, whom he had met during his Pokémon Contest debut.
This Coordinator who used Medicham had left a deep impression on Lionel:
Her Medicham used Ice Punch and Season of Fire in combination with Psychic to unleash a lifelike Fire Lotus combination move, her skill control was extremely delicate.
Grace greeted Lionel with a bright smile.
Lionel remembered that when he first met her, she wore a long purple dress, making her look like a blooming violet.
But today, Grace wore a light blue long dress, the hem embroidered with delicate white flowers, which further accentuated her elegant figure, and her smile was exceptionally gentle.
A truly elegant aristocratic young lady. "Miss Grace, long time no see."
Lionel smiled and stood up to greet her:
"I didn't expect you to participate in this competition."
Grace sat down opposite him, ordered a fruit salad, and a hint of admiration flashed in her eyes:
"Of course I had to come. The Fallarbor Town Contest is quite prestigious.
I saw you at the Mauville City Contest, when your Feebas evolved into Milotic. It was truly amazing, and I still remember it vividly.
Could you release Milotic later so I can have a good look?"
"No problem!"
Lionel readily agreed:
"I was also thinking of exploring the town. I heard the scenery by the lake is quite beautiful. How about we go for a walk together?"
Lionel smiled and invited the elegant Grace to join him.
After agreeing on their plans, they left the hotel together after breakfast and headed towards the lake.
On the way, Grace brought up the Fallarbor Town Pokémon Contest:
"This contest is a bit different from the ones you've participated in before. It requires two Pokémon to perform together. Do you have any experience in this area?"
Lionel shook his head:
"First time trying, still in the learning phase."
"Then you'll have to be very careful."
Grace said seriously:
"The coordination of the two Pokémon's skills is crucial. If the teamwork isn't good enough, it's easy to make mistakes."