That was Lin Yu's first thought.
Fighting an unbeatable opponent too early could easily leave a Pokémon with a deep sense of inadequacy.
And Charizard cared more than anyone about what Lin Yu thought of it.
It made sense. Back when it was just a Charmander, it had been abandoned by its original Trainer, leaving it deeply sensitive to feelings of failure.
Sensing this through his Wave Guiding Aura, Lin Yu's heart ached.
"Charizard, come down here."
He called up to the two battling Pokémon. They broke off their fight and glided down to his side.
"I've switched today's Energy Cubes to stamina-recovery ones. Let me know if you like them."
"Roar! Roar!"
Charizard scarfed its cube down in a few bites and immediately tugged at Greninja, ready to spar again.
Greninja stared at its own water-blue cube, looking hesitant.
"Wait, Charizard — hold on."
Lin Yu called it over.
Even with the Hard Work Pays Off Entry equipped, this kind of relentless training wasn't healthy. Its heart was in turmoil.
"Roar?"
Charizard landed beside Lin Yu, head bowed, its leathery wings folded tight.
Lin Yu asked directly, "Is something bothering you?"
Holding things in only made them worse.
"Roar…?"
"C'mon, Charizard. You've been with me from the very start. You can tell me anything, can't you?"
He could see its emotions flickering, making the flame on its tail dance unsteadily.
At the same time, he channeled his Green Aura to calm it.
"Roar…" (I'm sorry…)
Lin Yu pressed gently, "Sorry for what?"
"Roar!"
The tallest, most imposing Pokémon on the team now looked like a lost, helpless child.
"Roar…" (I'm not strong enough. I couldn't protect you again…)
Just as Lin Yu had guessed.
Both Charizard and Gardevoir had been feeling low.
Failing to protect him twice over felt like a failure of duty to them.
"Since we're on this topic, let's all talk about it."
He gathered all his Pokémon around him — even the newly joined Larvitar.
He spread his Green Aura outward.
"Charizard, I don't think you're weak at all.
Think about everything we've been through: the rookie training in Shuimu City, the high school tournament, the Torterra and Pidgeot we fought in the Secret Realm — were any of them weak?"
He paused.
"Or Tyranitar? The provincial tournament? Could we have beaten any of them when we first started?"
"Gekkouga?"
Greninja thought back to that Pidgeot.
It had stood no chance back then. But now? It could take it down in one hit.
That was how much they'd grown.
"Gardev…"
The intelligent Gardevoir already understood what Lin Yu was trying to say.
Charizard, though, still didn't.
"There will always be stronger enemies ahead. Until you become the strongest in the world, there will always be a taller mountain to climb.
That Arbok… someday, far in the future, it'll just be another Pidgeot to us. Maybe even less."
"Are you already scared?"
"I expect so much more from you, Charizard."
Lin Yu's tone softened as he watched Charizard sink into thought.
Then he glanced at Latias.
He had no idea how powerful she'd once been.
But the Heart Stone that controlled all the water currents across the Eon Islands… Latias and Latios, who had poured their energy into it, must have been extraordinary.
Latias met his gaze and smiled.
"Roar!"
"But you let one Arbok shake your spirit. You didn't even look at Kyogre, the one who defeated it easily.
That kind of power — isn't that what you should be striving for?"
Lin Yu continued.
"Roar…" (You're right, Lin Yu.)
Charizard lowered its head in shame.
Lin Yu knew it was time for the second part of his talk.
"You don't have to blame yourself so much, though. None of you do — not you, Charizard, not Gardevoir, not Lucario.
Haven't you all stood in front of me every single time we've gone into a dangerous Secret Realm?
When we faced Tyranitar, you were the main fighter, Charizard. And Gardevoir — how many attacks have you blocked for me with Protect?"
"Gardev…"
"Roar…"
Gardevoir's white skirt spread out around her as she sat, pure and gentle as a lily.
Lin Yu smiled and brushed a hand over the soft fabric.
Every Pokémon except Larvitar fell into quiet reflection.
The air grew still.
Larvitar looked from one to another, then puffed out its chest proudly.
"Larvi! Larvi!" (I'll protect everyone from now on! I'll take all the hits!)
The heavy silence broke at once.
Lin Yu laughed and patted Larvitar's head.
"Then we'll be counting on you. Grow big and strong like your parents soon, and shield us all!"
"Roar!"
Confidence reignited in Charizard's eyes.
The talk was drawing to a close.
Lin Yu stood and ruffled Charizard's head.
"Sit down and finish your food. After that, we're trying Mega Evolution again."
"Roar." (Okay, Lin Yu.)
"Phew…"
Lin Yu breathed a sigh of relief as Charizard ate quietly.
Pokémon had feelings.
They weren't just tools for battle.
He understood why Charizard felt this way.
Even Ash's Charizard in the anime had grown arrogant after evolving, thinking it was stronger than everyone — only to realize there were still Trainers and Pokémon that could beat it.
And Ash had eventually reached out to it, mending their bond.
Speaking of which, Lin Yu's curiosity about Latias's true strength flared again.
Just how powerful had she been in her prime?
"Latias."
"Hm? What is it, Lin Yu?"
"That day… with Arbok. If you were at your full strength, could you beat it?"
Latias picked up a Psychic-type Energy Cube. "I… think so?"
A tiger fallen from its heights is mocked by dogs.
Back in her prime?
She thought for a moment.
She probably could've crushed it with two simple Psychic attacks.
"Stronger than Elite Four level?" Lin Yu asked suddenly.
"If I make you even higher-grade Energy Cubes, would you recover faster?"
"Mhm! These help me a lot already." Latias chirped happily.
Lin Yu smiled.
He got the message.