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"Thank you for your hard work. Return, Charizard," Eddie said after flying back to Pikachu Forest from Pallet Town. He recalled his Fire-type partner into its Pokeball before turning his attention to his next companion. "Come out and continue your training, Gardevoir."
Eddie released his Psychic/Fairy-type Pokemon once more, signaling that their training session would resume.
"Garde... Gardevoir?" the elegant Pokemon inquired telepathically, asking whether the Pikachu situation had been resolved so they could continue their journey.
Gardevoir's caring nature immediately showed as she checked on the outcome of their previous mission. However, upon noticing the Pikachu now comfortably perched on Eddie's shoulder, she quickly understood that the problem had been successfully resolved and they could proceed with their adventure.
"Pika pika! Pikachu!" the Electric-type called out warmly to Gardevoir several times, expressing sincere gratitude for her earlier mediation between the two parties.
If Gardevoir hadn't stepped forward to help resolve the misunderstanding between Eddie and the Pikachu clan, the situation could have ended in disaster for the Electric-types. Pikachu honestly didn't believe his species would have stood a chance in a real battle against such a powerful trainer.
"Garde, Gardevoir," she replied with a gentle smile and nod, graciously accepting the thanks while indicating it had been her pleasure to help.
"Alright, now that we've expressed our gratitude, let's put the unpleasantness behind us," Eddie said with satisfaction. "Time to move forward. I remember there's an interesting town up ahead where the townspeople might be waiting for me to arrive and solve their problems with overwhelming force."
The thought of the upcoming destination immediately brightened Eddie's mood. He set off southward with Gardevoir, Pikachu, and Eevee, ready for whatever challenges awaited them.
In the Kanto Region, there existed a settlement called Dark City. Despite its ominous name, the place was merely a small town in scale. However, the atmosphere here was particularly depressing, and this wasn't due to poverty among the townspeople.
"Damn it! Scyther, use Razor Wind!" one trainer shouted.
"Fight back! Thunder Punch!" another commanded in response.
A Scyther radiating Elite-level aura clashed violently with an equally powerful Electabuzz right in the middle of the street. Both Pokemon attacked with devastating force, showing complete disregard for their urban surroundings. Every move they executed was performed without restraint or consideration for collateral damage.
This wasn't an isolated incident either. While these two Pokemon represented the strongest combatants, battles raged throughout the streets. The participants were clearly divided into two distinct groups, identifiable by their different uniforms, and they fought with single-minded determination to defeat their opponents.
Pokemon attacks flew everywhere, with many buildings reduced to rubble by the ongoing conflict. Under such chaotic conditions, conducting business became impossible, and any tourists who arrived immediately fled upon witnessing the destruction. The entire town resembled a gang war battlefield, making its economic depression entirely understandable.
"Curse these trainers! When will this fighting finally end?" one resident complained bitterly.
"If this continues, our city will be completely destroyed!" another worried aloud.
"These idiots! Even Team Rocket would be better than this!" a third citizen declared in frustration.
Thanks to these two warring factions, the entire town's population had developed a deep hatred for Pokemon trainers. Since both groups consisted of trainers, the residents blamed all trainers for their predicament. After all, no matter how intense human conflicts might become, they couldn't match the destructive potential of Pokemon battles. Under these circumstances, their resentment was entirely justified.
"That's enough for today!" called out one group's leader. "Members of Yas Gym, we'll definitely defeat you next time! Everyone, retreat!"
"Ha! Anyone can talk big," the opposing leader sneered back. "Members of Kaz Gym, wash your necks and prepare for the next battle!"
These two factions represented candidate gyms in the Kanto Region. The prolonged closure of the original Gym had given them hope of earning official recognition as a legitimate Pokemon Gym. They fought directly for this coveted position, believing that defeating their rivals would automatically grant them formal gym status.
Whether the town suffered damage during their group battles was completely outside their consideration. After all, they were people who viewed gym leadership purely as a money-making opportunity. With such profit-driven motivations and selfish attitudes, expecting them to consider others' wellbeing was unrealistic.
Of course, this perspective also revealed their profound ignorance. People who sought gym leadership solely for financial gain while disregarding others in the process would be immediately blacklisted by the Pokemon League and classified as disruptive elements. Official recognition would be impossible under such circumstances.
After all, if someone would become a gym leader purely for money today, wouldn't they just as easily join an evil organization for profit tomorrow? This represented basic logic that any reasonable person could understand. However, those blinded by greed would never grasp such simple concepts.
Therefore, they were not only engaging in completely pointless daily activities but also hindering the town's development and severely disrupting residents' lives. Their behavior constituted illegal assembly, group fighting, public disturbance, obstruction of municipal development, and deliberate destruction of private property.
Given their actions, they could be immediately arrested and sentenced to several years in prison.
"So this is what happens when anime is written for children," Eddie observed, looking at the depression-filled town with slight disdain. "It's ridiculous that such clearly illegal and criminal behavior goes completely unpunished."
In the original anime, a so-called Pokemon Inspector named Nurse Joy eventually arrived at the scene and simply pointed out that gyms engaging in group battles could never become official. Then both groups supposedly reformed themselves and helped rebuild the town, magically making residents stop hating Pokemon trainers while restoring peace.
Even as a young child watching this episode, Eddie had been full of questions about the resolution. After these two gyms had caused such extensive damage and disruption, they faced absolutely no punishment—just an obligation to help rebuild what they had destroyed?
"So basically, if I just level this entire place and then rebuild the city, there would be no consequences? After all, I would have 'reformed' myself," Eddie joked darkly to himself, though he was the only one who found it amusing.
Pikachu, Eevee, and Gardevoir didn't quite understand what their trainer was talking about, but they sensed his sardonic mood.
"Erika, contact the League Inspection Office in Fuchsia City and request a team be dispatched to Dark City at coordinates XXX, XXX. There's a group of criminals operating here," Eddie said, activating his communication device.
"What about the local League Inspection Office?" came Erika's voice through the device.
"I suspect they've already abandoned their posts, otherwise they would never allow criminals to act so brazenly. Just call in a team to arrest these people and transport them to prison."
"Why not request more personnel?" she asked.
"Because I'm sufficient to handle them by myself," Eddie replied confidently. "I'm calling for backup solely to handle arrests and transportation afterward. I don't have time to escort them to jail one by one personally."
After concluding his discussion with Erika, Eddie disconnected the call and began walking toward one of the candidate gyms.
You might wonder why Eddie was being so helpful in this situation. The truth was, Eddie simply wanted to unleash his overwhelming power against some opponents while providing valuable battle experience for Gardevoir and his other Pokemon.
As substitute gym candidates, these two facilities might not possess gym leader-level strength, but their members were certainly Peak-level trainers. Eevee and Gengar were eager to break through to gym leader level, and his newly acquired Pikachu shared the same ambitious goal.
This situation presented the perfect opportunity for intensive training and advancement.