Not long after, the villagers of Agate Village began to return home.
They truly weren't suited for the grueling work of urban reconstruction, so they took their leave rather than staying behind to waste supplies. More importantly, they wanted to actively prepare for the future Orre League and Champion League. Even though the official plans were still up in the air, coming from Mt. Battle made them yearn for high-level competition.
Kashiwagi took the opportunity to spar with them, only to realize that these people were indeed among the top-tier Trainers in Orre. Despite having Pokémon around level 60, his win rate was depressingly low.
Being thoroughly humbled served as a reminder of how vast the world truly was. If even remote Orre held such hidden powerhouses, there would surely be even more formidable Trainers in the outside world—not just Gym Leaders, the Elite Four, and Champions, but former Conference winners and rising stars as well.
After the Agate villagers left, Wes and Rui also headed back to report to the International Police. Kashiwagi had met Rui a few times; her personality differed quite a bit from the games, perhaps due to her relationship with Wes or the nuances of this alternate reality.
Meanwhile, Frobo received instructions from the International Police regarding the treatment of former gang members and those who had committed crimes: Atonement through Labor.
Based on their verified crimes, they were assigned to reconstruction projects across Pyrite Town and the rest of Orre. Aside from the truly irredeemable criminals, the "small goal" for a large portion of them was to do re-forestation of the area surrounding Pyrite Town. Until the southern half of Orre was lush with vegetation, their punishment wouldn't end.
It was essentially a unique form of imprisonment.
However, there was no other choice. There were too many people in Pyrite and Phenac who had done "bad things" that didn't quite warrant the death penalty, and the International Police couldn't simply execute tens of thousands of people. Rehabilitating them through labor was the only logical path. The authorities worried about potential revolts, but with N and his army of Pokémon overseeing the process, the "re-education" promised to be much smoother.
The road to saving Orre remained long and arduous.
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With the Dragon Tamers gone, Takeshi finding his own lodging, Steven obsessed with mining in the caves, and N still out with his sisters, Kashiwagi's home finally became quiet.
Aggron and the others were incredibly relieved to have some peace.
Aggron, in particular, cherished this time. Because N had housed so many rescued Pokémon at their place, Aggron had been reduced to guarding its two most precious trees, while the rest of the greenery was constantly being trampled or over-grew.
Why "trampled or over-grow"? Because many of the rescued Grass-types possessed powers that could make plants grow instantly. They were often "bribed" by Kashiwagi with homemade snacks to help out.
Thus, in Aggron's eyes, outside Pokémon fell into two categories: "Good Pokémon" who made plants grow, and "Bad Pokémon" who ruined them. It desperately wanted more of the former and fewer of the latter in its territory.
On a lazy afternoon, Steelix glided comfortably through the sky, looking nothing like a Ground-type. During the fierce battle with Team Cipher, it had managed to master Magnet Rise just a step ahead of Aggron. Now, it was tirelessly practicing its new aerial maneuver. (Rayquaza is that you?)
Kashiwagi found it strange. Steelix hadn't actually spent much time in the air previously, and its moves were mostly ground-based. Why did it suddenly learn Magnet Rise?
N explained that during the battle, Steelix had a desperate desire to fly, wanting to maintain the high-ground aerial advantage it had used to bully Team Toxic. It had essentially "wished" the ability into existence.
It sounded almost like a joke, but such occurrences were common in the Pokémon world. Scholars often cited Bagon as the primary example—the only reason it evolved into Salamence was its sheer, unyielding yearning for the sky. After two evolutions, it successfully gained wings.
Professor Kukui had even sent a response to Kashiwagi's earlier questions about move learning:
"Learning a move is part long-term training and part a Pokémon's burning desire to change itself. Crisis and challenge can accelerate this realization. It's perfectly normal for progress to feel slow under peaceful conditions. Moves are more than just power; they are containers for a Pokémon's emotions."
The Professor even attached a video. In the clip, he was shirtless, taking a Braviary's Superpower directly to the chest. "Experiencing a Pokémon's moves personally allows you to feel their emotions! Though, I recommend wearing protection!" He was promptly sent flying by the collision.
What a madman, Kashiwagi thought.
By the floor-to-ceiling window, Mawile was sipping black tea and sunbathing. She had achieved her dream of becoming the "Big Sister" of the area; everyone in Team Rainbow's territory treated her with utmost respect. She had even amassed a following of Pokémon under N's care; one call from her, and a small army would respond. She was loving every second of it.
Chansey was still assisting Nurse Joy. Lately, she left in the morning and returned at night to share her day's experiences, sometimes even picking up a night shift. Kashiwagi had suggested she stay at the Pokémon Center to avoid the commute, but Chansey insisted on coming home every night and firmly rejected his offers to drop her off.
Parents picking their kids up from school?Not needed! Since she was so adamant, Kashiwagi could only compromise.
As for Deino... the little guy was as carefree as ever. If it wasn't curled up sunbathing, it was nibbling on Kashiwagi's hand. Its well-behaved nature had even earned Mawile's approval; the once-picky Mawile now allowed Deino to sleep near the edge of her "princess bed." That was a big step forward.
Kashiwagi combed Deino's fur, sighing contentedly. "So peaceful..."
It would have been better without the background noise, though.
"ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!"
"Fine, fine! I get it! Stop shouting!" Kashiwagi stood up helplessly, looking at an incredibly hyperactive Aggron.
Though Kashiwagi had never explicitly promised it, Aggron firmly believed that once Orre was liberated, it would be entitled to its own mountain. Home was quiet but too small, and Team Rainbow's territory was big but too crowded.
Aggron's dream territory was a place with lush mountains and clear water, where only the people it allowed could enter. Since Orre didn't naturally have such places, it would create one. There were plenty of abandoned mountains outside—why not just claim one?
Aggron thought it was a great idea, N agreed, Yamamino applauded the initiative, and Ryuka gave his official nod. Most of Orre was undeveloped wilderness; if Aggron wanted a mountain, Aggron could have a mountain.
And so, Kashiwagi was forced to leave Pyrite Town with Aggron to go mountain-hunting.