The Calligrapher left the professional wrestler Wake with the word
"Invincible" (天下第一).
Originally, she had planned to write something about the Great Marsh, but at his strong insistence, she changed it. After receiving the scroll, Wake couldn't help but praise her Smeargle for its unique style, noting that battling her was incredibly fun. The shirtless powerhouse loathed rigid, by-the-book fights; Smeargle's "painting combat" was right up his alley.
Feeling emboldened by the praise, Smeargle whipped up an oil painting of the Great Marsh on the spot and gifted it to him. Both sides were satisfied.
The journey continued. By now, the Calligrapher held seven badges; only one stood between her and the League.
[You have arrived in Sunyshore City, but you do not rush to the Gym. Instead, you head to your family villa.]
As a formerly excellent trainer, she had already relied on seventy to eighty percent of her old foundation to get this far, with Smeargle being the only standout improvement. Facing Volkner—the strongest Gym Leader in Sinnoh, rumored to be on par with the Elite Four—she knew she couldn't slack off. Even if he didn't use 100% of his power in a Gym match, she had to prepare.
This was where the [Wealthy Family] talent truly shone.
While characters like the Miniskirt Girl or the Chef were well-off, they still had to figure out their own training. The Calligrapher, however, simply used her family's connections. She summoned powerful trainers to her doorstep for sparring, hired move tutors for her Pokémon, and consulted tactical masters on optimal conditioning.
The [Never Give Up] talent ensured she didn't swap out her current team; she was committed to them until the end. With high-quality food, professional massage therapy, and top-tier logistics, Smeargle and the others were living in paradise. Their bonds reached an all-time high.
Ultimately, after a staggeringly expensive training regime, even a total novice would have been forged into a veteran, and the Calligrapher already had decent talent to begin with. Kashiwagi watched the screen as a rotating door of pro trainers sparred with her, his heart filled with envy.
It's good to have money.
Sure, a normal person could ask these trainers for a match, and they might not refuse. But is it the same to have them come to your villa for a private lesson versus trekking ten thousand miles to find them? Pokémon training truly is a profession that can either save you money or bankrupt you.
The frames flew by. The special training ended.
The Calligrapher entered the Sunyshore Gym. Volkner was a man who craved excitement and innovation in battle, Smeargle was the perfect answer. After a thrilling match, she claimed her eighth badge.
[You defeated the Sunyshore Gym Leader, Volkner, and received the Beacon Badge!]
Her Gym challenge was officially over. She gifted Volkner—who was indifferent to art but very interested in her skills - the word "Lightning" (狂雷) and left the port city. Her lasting impression of Sunyshore was its lighthouse, which seemed to illuminate all of Sinnoh at night.
-----
The scene shifted back to her castle-like home on the outskirts of Hearthome City.
She had to focus on her theme for the Winter Calligraphy Institute Exhibition. As the premier annual event in the art world, she wanted to showcase her growth over the past six months—both in her brushwork and her spirit.
At first, she tried to write her specialty: ancient hymns. This was why she had visited the three lakes. But as she wrote, she realized the lakes weren't her only deep memories. She thought of the wild plains, the unique cityscapes, the Gym Leaders, and the quiet moments camping with her Pokémon.
Simply writing about the lakes wasn't enough. After much deliberation, she set her drafts aside.
[You decide to record everything you saw and heard on your journey as your theme.]
[You name it: "Reflections on the Land of Sinnoh" (观神奥大地有感).]
Is she... creating her own style? Kashiwagi thought.
As she wrote, her strokes became firmer, her presence exuding a maturity that was completely different from before. She was truly stepping into the realm of a "Master". Smeargle, sensing its trainer's heart, began its own masterpiece on a massive canvas. Wherever she wrote, it painted. When both finally collapsed from exhaustion, the work was complete.
[You look at the result and realize that while the exhibition's ranking is important, it also doesn't matter anymore. It matters because you must show those who believed in you what you've achieved, it doesn't matter because you have already proven yourself.]
[You have climbed over the walls named "Boring" and "Mediocre."]
-----
The Lily of the Valley Conference opened on schedule.
Every participant knew that winning here was the only way to challenge the Sinnoh Champion League, the Elite Four, and that beautiful, formidable woman at the top. As an enthusiast of ancient lore, the Calligrapher was a huge fan of Cynthia and dreamed of facing her.
Despite the fierce competition this year, her goal remained the championship.
Qualifying Rounds: Hardly a challenge. She tore through the opposition. With her "Magic Brush" Smeargle, almost no one could stand against her.
Main Tournament:
Her other Pokémon showed their true worth: Mr. Mime, a structural genius who could build invisible houses while performing mime. Luxray, a tracker who saw through every trick and countered with thunder. Altaria, a vocalist with a divine gift for sound-based moves. Sudowoodo, the tree that hit back. And Bellossom, a spinning top of floral grace.
With Smeargle as the ace, Kashiwagi figured she was a lock for the Top 4 at least. As for the trophy... that was still up in the air.