Alex's POV
The sun hadn't fully risen, but Cinnabar Island was already alive with activity.
From my bedroom window, I could see scaffolds, trucks, and League engineers spread across the Gym grounds. The metallic clang of tools and the sharp whistles of Machoke echoed across the island. Even from up here, I could tell that the Gym was slowly being stitched back together—bone by bone, brick by brick.
Infernape sat cross-legged on the balcony beside me, flames flickering along his wrists and tail. He tilted his head and exhaled a small puff of smoke, as if asking if I was ready for the day ahead.
I rubbed my eyes and exhaled. "Yeah. Let's do it."
By the time I walked downstairs, breakfast had already been half-eaten. Lila sat at the table, Arcanine's head resting in her lap. Kai had a plate of pancakes balanced precariously in one hand and a Poké Ball in the other. Theo was nowhere to be seen—probably attempting another stunt he'd later claim was necessary.
Hana approached me, clipboard in hand. "Alex. First thing—your Gym staff meeting. We need to finalize training rotations for today."
I nodded, grabbing a mug of slightly-too-strong coffee. "Alright. Let's see what we're working with."
Gym Staff Meeting
The "conference room" was the Gym's partially restored office. It still smelled faintly of smoke and ash, but the new League-issued desks and equipment made it functional enough.
Rina sat at the head of the table, arms folded. Theo slouched in the corner with a pencil behind his ear. Mira scribbled furiously in a notebook while occasionally glancing at Infernape, who was sitting calmly beside me. Jax leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking like he was trying to appear stoic and cool. Hana hovered by the doorway, clipboard raised like a shield against chaos.
"Alright," I started. "We've cleared most of the debris, but there's still structural assessment to be done, safety checks, and—"
"—training rotations," Rina finished. She always did that—cut straight to the point.
"Yes," I said. "Training rotations. Lila will train with you, Rina, starting today. Theo will assist her and Kai with field exercises. Jax… you'll be paired with Mira for observation-based training. Hana, oversee scheduling and make sure nothing catches fire… literally."
Theo saluted. "Copy that! No fire accidents on my watch… maybe."
Rina shot him a sharp glare. "You're in charge of supervising field exercises, not causing them."
I glanced at Lila. She was sitting up straighter, eyes bright but nervous. She had her Arcanine on one side and the Poké Ball containing her starter Pokémon in her hand. I noticed the way she tapped her fingers against the smooth surface of the Ball—an almost subconscious rhythm of nerves and anticipation.
"You'll be fine," I said quietly. She glanced up at me, and I gave a small smile.
Her jaw tightened. "I hope so."
Lila's First Training Session
Rina led Lila to a cleared section of the Gym's arena. The sun streamed in through patched-up ceiling tiles, lighting up the dust motes in the air like tiny golden sparks.
"First lesson," Rina began. Her voice was low, precise. "Your Pokémon's ability to anticipate your actions is critical. Fire is powerful, yes—but it's also temperamental. Control comes before strength."
Lila nodded, breathing in deeply. "Understood."
Arcanine padded beside her. He lowered his head in acknowledgment, flames flickering gently along his mane. I noticed how he looked at Lila—not like a child, but like a commander assessing a promising new officer.
"Let's begin," Rina said.
The first exercise was simple: navigate a series of obstacles, keeping Arcanine in precise formation. Lila gave a small command, and Arcanine responded flawlessly.
Then came the first challenge: a series of fire- and electric-themed hazards set up by Theo, who had apparently been inspired by the chaos around him. One platform suddenly erupted with a small burst of controlled flames, startling Lila slightly.
"Don't panic," Rina instructed. "React, don't freeze. Predict, don't guess."
Lila nodded, exhaling sharply. Arcanine mirrored her movements perfectly, weaving through the fire and hopping over the moving platforms.
I watched from the edge of the arena, Infernape crouched beside me. "She's got potential," I muttered.
"She's got heart," Infernape rumbled.
I smiled faintly. "Yeah. And she's going to need it."
The Unexpected Surprise
By late morning, most of the Gym's external reconstruction had been completed. Hana's organizational prowess ensured that each League engineer was accounted for, each scaffolding properly inspected, and each Pokémon assigned a task.
Then came a knock on the Gym's temporary office.
I opened the door to find none other than Looker, leaning casually against the frame, trench coat slightly askew but eyes sharp as ever.
"Alex Hale," he said. "Long time no see. I heard you were back."
I raised an eyebrow. "Looker. You're not here to arrest anyone, are you?"
He smirked. "Not today. Though, if you keep leaving Theo unsupervised, I might make an exception."
I groaned. "You've met Theo?"
"Unfortunately," Looker said dryly. "I came with Lance, actually. He wanted to see how the Gym was progressing."
Before I could ask, a familiar shadow landed behind him. Lance, the Champion, now fully armored in the glow of afternoon sunlight, stepped into the office. His gaze swept across the partially restored Gym, and then, slowly, to me.
"Alex," he said, calm but commanding. "I trust you've settled in?"
I nodded. "For now."
Lance's eyes softened briefly as he glanced at Lila and Kai. "Good to see the kids are safe."
They waved sheepishly.
"I heard the League sent assistance," I said, gesturing to the staff behind me. "And they're… surprisingly competent."
Lance smirked faintly. "Competent enough. But they'll follow your lead, Alex. You know the Gym, the island… and your family better than anyone."
It was a weighty acknowledgment, heavier than anything I'd felt in my Interpol missions. But this wasn't just about solving a case. This was about legacy, protection, and teaching.
Minor Crisis
As if on cue, a loud crash came from the partially restored arena.
Theo had apparently tried to lift a support beam on his own, with Quagsire mimicking him in a very unhelpful way. A spark of fire erupted from a misfired tool, and smoke began to curl through the arena.
"THEO!" Rina barked.
I sprinted forward, Infernape blazing ahead of me. With a fluid, practiced motion, he swept the flames away from the structure using a controlled Fire Spin—enough to disperse the smoke but not harm the scaffolding.
Theo coughed. "It… it's fine… I… maybe…"
Rina shook her head so hard her ponytail whipped like a whip.
"Alex," she said, exhaling sharply. "If you ever let him touch a structural beam unsupervised again, I will personally haul you into the magma pit."
I muttered under my breath, "Point taken."
Mira stepped forward, jotting notes rapidly. "Fascinating—thermal conductivity in a controlled panic scenario. The way he manipulates Fire-type Pokémon under stress is… well, chaotic but effective."
I turned to Lila and Kai. "Lesson one: always respect your helpers."
Kai nodded furiously. "Got it."Lila rolled her eyes. "Lesson two: don't let Theo touch anything."
End-of-Day Reflection
By evening, the Gym was quieter. The sun had dipped low, painting the volcanic stone in shades of amber and rose. The staff gathered in the partially cleared arena, drinking water and eating whatever Theo had managed to cook without burning.
I stood at the center, Infernape by my side, watching the kids and trainers laugh, argue, and plan the next day's work.
Rina approached, quiet as always. "The Gym is stable. For now. You're taking the right approach—training your siblings, overseeing construction, integrating staff."
I nodded. "It's not easy."
"You have the same fire your parents did," she said softly. "But also… patience. That's new."
I smiled faintly. "Thanks. Means a lot coming from you."
Theo bumped into me again. "Alex! Tomorrow, I'm building a zipline!"
I groaned. "Why am I not surprised?"
Mira scribbled frantically in her notebook, probably charting Theo's chaos on some abstract scale.
Hana simply shook her head. "This Gym is going to be a handful."
I glanced at Lila and Kai, both of them smiling. Then at Infernape, Arcanine, and the rest of the staff.
And I realized something important: for the first time since returning home, the Gym felt like home again—not just a building, but a living, breathing place.
We still had mountains to climb. Flames to control. Fires to contain. But we were here. Together.
And that was enough… for now.