Bea had already earned her stripes as a Gym Leader. At her age, reaching a power level equivalent to a rising star trainer was impressive. But to her, it wasn't even close to enough.
She wanted more. More strength. More endurance. More power.
More than even Champion Leon. More than Lance of the Johto Elite Four. She wanted to surpass legends.
"Woo woo!" cried Kubfu beside her, the little bear Pokémon hopping in place, eager to follow Allen's every move.
Allen, arms crossed and expression unreadable, stood by the shore as the waves rolled in. After a long silence, he shook his head.
"I don't even have enough time to train myself. I'm nowhere near where I need to be. Taking on students would just slow me down."
He turned toward the ocean, cracking his neck with a pop. His back to the others, he spoke in a flat tone.
"You should head home. I can't teach you."
With that, Allen launched into the sea with a splash, slicing through the water like a torpedo.
Time for his daily goal. Five hundred laps around the island.
"Plop!"
Bea didn't even hesitate. She leapt into the water after him, freestyle strokes cutting through the waves as she shouted, "I won't give up! Let me train with you, Master!"
"Woooo-aaaah!" Kubfu followed, belly-flopping into the water with heroic enthusiasm.
Allen glanced back, half-laughing to himself. These two were absurd. But cute. Naive. Stubborn.
Let's see how long that fire lasts.
He kicked up his pace, water foaming behind him as he swam with practiced ease. Bea and Kubfu struggled to keep up.
After a lap and a half, Kubfu's small limbs finally gave out. The bear cub flailed, sinking fast.
Allen sighed, swam back, and scooped the exhausted Pokémon onto his back.
"Guess I'll carry you for now."
Bea, still keeping pace despite gritted teeth and burning muscles, watched in awe.
*He's swimming with a Pokémon on his back?! How is that even possible?*
What she didn't know was that Allen's weighted training vest currently clocked in at a soul-crushing 300 kilograms. Carrying a bear cub on top of that barely registered as extra effort.
Three full laps around the island later—each circuit easily the size of a city district—Bea was still pushing forward. Her breathing was ragged, her limbs trembling, but she refused to stop.
Then, on the fourth lap, her strength finally gave out.
"Ahem!"
Her vision blurred. Seawater rushed into her nose and mouth. Everything went blue and cold.
Then, a strong hand yanked her up and out of the depths.
Allen held her by the waist, hauling her limp body onto the sand like a soaked Magikarp.
"You're stubborn. And weak," he muttered, shaking his head.
Bea coughed, water sputtering from her mouth as she lay on the beach, soaked and shivering. She couldn't move a muscle.
Allen turned to Kubfu. "Watch her."
Then, without another word, he dove back into the sea and resumed his laps.
Bea groaned, trying to sit up. She couldn't. Her arms wouldn't listen. She could only lie there and watch Allen's distant silhouette move like a ghost through the surf.
Ten laps. Twenty. Thirty.
The sun began to set.
Despite herself, Bea was mesmerized. There were tales of trainers born with special gifts. The Ryū clan of Johto, able to bond with Dragon-types. The psychic strength of Caitlin from Unova. The mysterious Viridian aura from Kanto.
But what she saw here was something else entirely.
This wasn't gifted. This was terrifying.
Allen swam until the stars blinked awake overhead, then finally walked ashore again, soaked but unfazed. Bea lay motionless nearby, her expression somewhere between awe and mild horror.
"Gurgle\~"
Her stomach betrayed her.
Allen blinked, then burst into laughter. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a small bean. It didn't look like much. Honestly, it looked like a snack for a Bidoof.
"Here. Eat this."
Bea blinked. "Uh. Thanks?"
She took the bean and popped it in her mouth.
Instant warmth flooded her body. Hunger vanished. Soreness disappeared. Even her frizzy, salt-soaked hair felt oddly light. She sat upright in shock.
"What was that?!"
Allen was already lying back with his arms behind his head, using a piece of driftwood as a pillow.
"Energy bean. Don't worry about it. You'll be fine now. Go home."
Kubfu curled up beside Allen's leg and yawned.
Bea stared at the ceiling of stars above. Her hands clenched into fists.
*I'm not leaving until I become your disciple.*
She said nothing out loud, but her resolve radiated like heat.
Allen cracked one eye open, spotted her sitting cross-legged and determined three meters away, and sighed.
"She's really sleeping like that? No tent? No blanket? What is she, made of rock?"
Morning came quickly.
"Huff. Huff. Huff."
Bea's breathing was ragged. Her legs barely moved, her arms like lead, but she dragged herself after Allen once more. Her vision swam. Her muscles screamed. But she kept going.
Behind her, Allen was running at a steady pace—though now with a slightly more intense 500kg vest to slow himself down and let her trail behind.
Plop!
Her knees buckled. She hit the ground with a thud and collapsed.
If any other Gym Leader had seen this scene, they'd have been stunned.
Girl, weren't you supposed to train your Pokémon?
You've been training *yourself* this whole time!
…
Bea awoke to the crackle of a campfire.
Next to it sat a fish so large it looked like a scaled-down Wailord. Allen and Kubfu sat on the other side, munching hunks of grilled meat without ceremony.
"Still not going home?"
Allen asked mid-bite.
Bea sat up slowly, then gave a formal bow.
"Master. I want to become stronger."
Allen groaned. "You're like sticky candy. There's no shaking you off."
Before he could continue, a new voice cut through the quiet.
"Eh? Bea? What are you doing here?"
Allen and Bea both turned in surprise.
Someone was approaching through the trees.
***
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