Violet City appeared to be one of the nicest cities I'd visited in the Pokémon world. Granted, I'd only seen a few others, but it still was.

It was situated on a large hill, and was decently expansive, with several houses, and even a couple of towers. While Violet City greatly resembled Blackthorn City in size, in wasn't remotely as similar in the layout and structure of its buildings.

Violet City had prettier, less traditionally Japanese buildings in favor of more modern style towers and houses. Running directly through the center of the town and out to the rest of the Johto region, was a large glass tube that housed the high speed monorail, or bullet train connecting all major cities together.

"We should've taken the train." Violet winced, despite being a Pokémon trainer for so many years, she wasn't used to hikes like the one Inoru and I went on.

I smiled.

Technically I wasn't used to these hikes either, the difference was, the physical side of my training in Takujimi temple greatly enhanced my endurance, particularly in my legs and arms.

"The train detracts from the beauty of Johto." muttered Inoru in his ever calm tone.

"Yeah." she scoffed. "Tell that to my feet. So Nico, where to first?"

"Sprout Tower." I said instantly. "Although um."

"What?"

Ino and I looked at each other.

"Nothing."

It wasn't unheard of for women and girls to visit Sprout Tower. But staying there?

This would certainly be awkward.

…

The same Initiate who officiated Muchmoney's wedding greeted us at the front door of the beautiful Sprout Tower. Flanking the tower were several great ponds that resembled lakes, and a single curved wooden bridge over them. It was a multifloored pagoda that was almost eerie in how it waved from side to side. In that, you couldn't really tell it was moving until you were almost close enough to walk inside of it.

"Welcome brothers." he smiled and shook our hands.

"Initiate Mino." I shook his hand. "Thank you for letting us stay."

"Anything for students of Elder Toji. Elder Li will see you shortly, this way."

His Bellsprout cooed quietly when helping him open the massive wooden doors to the entrance of the temple.

The first floor had a few sages chatting and a few even praying in the corner to a statue of Mew behind a glass case.

Everything was largely silent, except for the swaying pillar dead in the middle of the tower. It was odd, it almost felt alive.

I couldn't stop staring at it.

It almost looked like, a Bellsprout.

"This way this way." Mino smiled when leading us towards a hall out of the central corridor.

…

Elder Li had long white hair and a deep blue robe. He welcomed us in the Sprout Tower mess hall, significantly smaller than the one I had back home in Takujimi.

A Novice passed him some tea on a wooden tray before he sipped from it.

"Elder Toji sent us a letter from the Great Mountain just last week. He wished for a report on the progress of your journey."

"Well." I cleared my throat. "I've managed to qualify to actually compete in the Pokémon league."

"So we've heard. You weren't wearing your uniform as a member of the Order when doing so."

He casually drank his tea as Inoru and I looked at each other nervously.

"Um, I didn't think I had to." I said. "Elder Toji said the journey would reveal itself as I took it. The rules for doing so the same."

"I have to admit. When I received his letter and heard the news, I was very surprised to hear one of the best sages I've ever seen would allow a pair of Novices to travel alone through Johto. Not only to compete, but with such a degree of freedom."

Inoru looked right at him. "Do you disagree with his decision?"

"He's the Elder of the most important temple in the entire world." said Li. "He can decide what he wishes. However, I think it's high time you told me the exact nature of your training."

I nodded a little. "Ino-. Inoru and I wake up around sunrise everyday, and we go over our kata. Occasionally we spar a bit, then he reviews all the calligraphy I need to know."

"We meditate two hours a day with our Pokémon, we still have a vegetarian diet." Inoru added. "Then Nico trains his Pokémon's combat abilities until around two in the afternoon."

"And the Pokémon Elder Toji chose for you was a Slakoth, correct?"

"Yes." I said calmly.

Li put his tea cup down slowly, raising a very bushy and white eyebrow while rubbing the top of his bald head.

"All of this isn't exactly breaking Order tradition. But it's extremely odd. The quickness behind the assignment of your pilgrimage, choosing Pokémon outside the two we must all specialize in."

Li crossed his arms. "I will permit you both to stay here until after your challenge with the local gym. I may not be your teacher, but I will be far more in line with our ways than Toji has been with either of you."

"Yes Master Li."

"We haven't had overnight visitors here since- Well." he shrugged. "Since I was a child. We have a Sage in training here also named Nico, did you know that?"

I did. That's why I chose his name, I thought it was appropriate.

"No, Elder Li."

He looked between us. "For as long as you stay here, you wear your robes. You work with your studies twice as much. Johto has its eyes upon you."

Li looked over at Violet, who he hadn't remotely acknowledged until now. "Mino told me you're Nico's coach for battling Pokémon."

"Yes."

"You can visit this shrine whenever you please. Just know, we don't permit members who aren't of the Order of Sages to stay with us."

Violet nodded. "I completely understand."

"I'd like to speak to Nico alone now please."

Violet and Inoru bowed, and left. The only sound in the entire mess hall was that of a few nearby Sages practicing archery in a courtyard right next to us.

Li looked at me. "I've known Toji since we were barely Novices. Tell me, how exactly did you become his student?"

"I was an orphan."

"At thirteen? Or fourteen? You ascended all thirty thousand steps to ask for his help?"

I didn't know how else to explain this. "Elder Toji found me in trouble on the mountain. After he saved my life, and gave me a home. I decided to repay that debt, by trying to one day become Pokémon League World champion."

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

"In my opinion, Toji should've sent you on a pilgrimage specifically to learn each different Shrine's style. Even if there are only a few around the globe, I implore you. Do not consider anyone's opinion but Initiate Inoru's during your journey."

"Well, why not?"

"He's the only person Toji instructed to watch over you during your journey. He chooses people to do things for a reason, chooses Pokémon to be raised for a reason. And he assigns pilgrimages for a reason."

"What is that reason?"

Li nodded to me. "That reason will reveal itself when you yourself master the ways of our order. I want you sparring with Mino for the next three days. Only then, may you be permitted to learn anything else from our temple."

He dismissed me with a look to the door.

…

"What did Elder Li say?"

I glanced around the courtyard right outside the mess hall where everyone was just done with kyudo.

"Violet left didn't she?"

Ino nodded.

"Well, he said there was a reason why Master Toji assigned me on this pilgrimage. Referenced it being a great honor. I asked what that reason was."

"It is a great honor." Inoru said. "That's why you don't question it."

"What?"

"You should know this by now. You don't question the Elders, you don't question the reason for anything the Order does."

"But, because I did. Isn't that why Elder Toji let me leave so soon, with my own Pokémon?"

Inoru really didn't have an answer. Which coincided perfectly with Mino arriving with his Hoothoot on his shoulder.

"Novice Nico, this way please."

…

We stood in the center of another courtyard, this time one behind the Sprout Tower in a large sparring circle.

I didn't know what to do exactly. He was my instructor for the next few days, I only did as he said.

"Well, let's see who you've been raising."

I nodded, tapping both Pokéballs with me to expand their size and releasing Teddiursa and Slakoth.

"Interesting." Mino merely said.

The Bellsprout with Mino took to his side, meanwhile his Hoothoot went out.

"Slakoth, stay with me. Teddiursa, get ready to spar."

The bear growled and lowered into his stance, his front paw on the ground, the other in the air behind him.

"You ready?" asked Mino.

I nodded quietly from the other end of the sparring ring.

Then, it truly surprised me again why sages didn't get into competitive battling before me.

This Hoothoot was the best trained of its kind I'd ever seen. It wasn't particularly fast, but it was absurdly precise. It seemed to have very great positioning and its decision making throughout the entire spar was amazing.

Mino's Hoothoot seemed to only attack when needed, defend when needed, and was otherwise completely out of range of Teddiursa's claws the entire match.

Now, Hoothoot was also unable to land anything very significant on Teddiursa either, but during each combination, Hoothoot came out slightly on top.

Its Peck was pretty decent, but the speed and power in which Teddiursa could time Fury Swipes or especially Scratch put it at a decent distance away.

Even though Hoothoot was a flying type Pokémon, I had trained Teddiursa well enough on the road between here and Blackthorn City, that it could decently limit Hoothoot's mobility. It was able to predict Hoothoot's flutters and attacks well enough to pin it against the edge of the ring.

Teddiursa actually began to land cleanly with both of its claws, very powerfully, and I saw Mino give the first real order of the match.

"Reflect!"

A strong screen of light appeared in front of Hoothoot, protecting it from Teddiursa's strikes for a moment.

Very nice. I hadn't seen Reflects that well developed yet at all really.

Hoothoot and Teddiursa again returned to barely missing combinations on each other, until Teddiursa got hit so hard he was almost knocked out of the ring.

Hoothoot hit Teddiursa flush with Take Down. And it looked like it hurt significantly.

After almost ten minutes of fighting, it was the cleanest significant strike either Pokémon landed, I decided to call the match there.

"Great job." I admitted, to both Mino and my Pokémon.

I recalled Teddiursa as Mino spoke. "For such a young Pokémon, your Teddiursa appeared to be quite strong."

"Yeah, I knew that." I smiled. "But thank you Mino."

"No but, not just that. It's timing and especially its speed were quite advanced. How long have you been working with it?"

"Under a month."

"Impressive. Can I see your Slakoth in action? I've wanted to practice with him since I heard of your win in Blackthorn City."

I looked at my starter calmly. "You want to let Teddiursa rest for a bit?"

"La!" he said proudly.

"Okay then."

Mino switched out Bellsprout for Hoothoot as well, and the fight began.

Even though I could tell Mino had trained with Bellsprout for years, and clearly knew exactly how to draw out the greatest amount of precision, speed, and power out of moves like Vine Whip, Stun Spore, and Acid. It didn't matter.

Slakoth bashed Bellsprout to pieces.

It wasn't even close.

Every second Bellsprout was trying to attack, it got hit with Counter or Slash. If Slakoth was trying to take the initiative and strike first, Bellsprout barely had a chance to react or return any sort of aggression.

More than anything, Slakoth was ridiculously quicker, which I could tell Mino was surprised by because most Slakoth weren't known to be that fast.

Before his Bellsprout could get knocked out after taking a very hard Slash right to the midsection of the Grass type, Mino called out.

"Enough. Bellsprout, come here."

The Pokémon sadly waddled back over to the sage.

Mino seemed to be thinking for a moment. I could tell Hoothoot was his main, but I was pretty sure he was wondering if Slakoth wouldn't be able to beat it on his first try.

I had nearly outmatched both his Pokémon's experience advantage with sheer speed and physical strength. I think Mino's next move was appropriate.

"I want to spar you personally. I can tell how much your karate has influenced your Pokémon's fighting style."

I obliged him, and took Slakoth's place in the middle of the sparring circle.

Our match was actually very competitive, I didn't realize how much sparring on the road with Inoru every day and then training in karate alongside Slakoth and Teddiursa had helped me.

Mino mainly used his kicks, but he had a very strong reverse punch too. I mainly stuck with the jab, side kick, and especially my own reverse punch too.

Mino had better timing than me, but I mainly kept him moving back constantly with some powerful combinations.

He landed a solid round kick and a reverse punch to the jaw, and I managed to score two side kicks to the midsection, as well as a jab acting as a counter when I saw Mino begin to attempt a leg sweep.

Mino staggered back after that, covering up.

The proceeding few minutes were inconclusive, we were both unable to connect with anything on each other.

Panting, Mino spoke. "You good?"

I waved my hand from side to side. "I'm good for today yeah."

Mino agreed, taking the small cloth pads he wore on his hands as gloves.

I did the same, and we sat down next to each other. Mino drew a pouch of water from his robes and offered it to me.

I shook my head. "No thanks."

Mino then drank from it and mumbled. "I see now why from, at least a physical perspective, Elder Toji let you start your journey so young."

"I wasn't nearly this good when I started competing."

"Oh, I can imagine. But you seem to realize which weaknesses you naturally might have and attempt to fix them. Your youth gives you and your team a great degree of speed, so you try to make up for it by adding physical strength."

I nodded. "Thank you Mino."

"What I'm curious about, is how the sages at Takujimi let you leave so young from a spiritual perspective."

I was quiet for a moment.

Mino looked at me. "Can you tell me why though?"

"Just a moment."

Mino sipped from his water pouch again with a small nod.

I released Teddiursa from his ball. "You good to go again?"

Teddiursa completely shrugged off the Take Down from earlier and nodded.

"Slakoth, work on grappling with him."

The two then happily began to wrestle with each other in the sparring circle behind us. I just wanted them to cool down together. It would help build trust between them and start trying to have a bit of fun after training.

I turned to Mino. "The spiritual aspect of my pilgrimage is mostly private."

"I talked to Inoru. You seem to have a decent grasp of all the scripts and histories, you meditate, and I see Elder Toji trusted you with something very special." Mino nodded to the pendant of Mew I wore around my shoulers. "What I mean to say is."

He sighed.

"I can tell Elder Toji made the right choice with you."

"Well. Your own Elder doesn't seem to agree."

Mino chuckled. "Elder Li never approves of very much. But I can tell he's at least willing to give you a chance."

He looked around the trees surrounding the courtyard and then back at me. "You're probably going to win this next tournament. And then it's extremely likely you're going to win your first gym badge."

I was waiting for him to get to his point.

"None of that matters or will start to matter until you discover your purpose. The Order teaches us, that all Pokémon and mankind were created in harmony with each other, their purpose, was peace. The swaying of Sprout Tower is a symbol of that, regardless of everything moving at the same time always, in spirit and body, it is also at rest with each other."

I'd read too many scripts saying this to count, but he was right.

Mino pretended to be holding a small seed, holding his hand out. "From birth, the great spirits have a plan for every one of us. What we'll do, how we'll interact with Pokémon, and what we'll become. In an ideal world, you'd remain fully dedicated to the Order of Sages, bring peace upon the mountain. And then the world can go back to worshipping Mew by visiting Takujimi."

He moved his hand away.

Mino kept explaining. "Elder Li tells me when he was a boy, everyone in Violet City, and around the entire world, would journey to Mount Takujimi at least once in their life. Pray to Mew, thanking Mew for saving the world, and leave."

"You think my destiny is to bring that back?"

"Not just that. But while in theory every sage, or, person in a way, must find Mew. Maybe your actual destiny is to find Mew, by finding Mew."

"Is that even possible?"

Mino sighed. "Some say Red found Mew, which is why he never returned."

I could probably tell Mino and everyone I knew exactly where he was. Again, I didn't.

"Some Pokémon are so strange and powerful they're myths. Ask yourself if you perhaps can go and find them."

Mino stood up and I spoke calmly to him. "No one's really seen the Pokémon you're talking about. They might as well not even exist."

"If someone had told me a fourteen year old Novice with practically no training could place in the Pokémon League within his first few months of competition. I wouldn't have believed them. And yet here you are, the only sage in the entire world allowed to have hair on their scalp."

I realized his point, rubbing the top of my head when I remembered.

"I'll teach you everything I can. Your Teddiursa can learn Counter, as well as Take Down believe it or not. Faint Attack, Thrash, Slash. If your Pokémon can maximize proficiency in these moves within the next few weeks before you compete again, you won't just win. You'll dominate."

I liked the sound of that.

"Domination is an odd thing to the Order." said Mino. "Technically, you're the exception. You're supposed to show your strength, while any sage isn't allowed to."

"Is there some sort of lesson in that I'm not getting?"

"Probably. Let's go get some dinner, you can think on that later."