Training pokémon.
Since it's in the name of my occupation as a Pokémon Trainer it should be pretty explanatory. You receive a pokémon and you have them do battle against other pokémon to increase their strength and experience. Simple and easy except when that was just the bare minimum. In this life, you had to actually do more than use moves and keep battling until your partner can learn a new more or evolve. You had to be proactive when setting a training schedule, think outside the box when ordering a move to avoid being predictable, and innovate new and unorthodox ways to expedite teaching new moves.
That last one was crucial since battling won't always give you the move that you want, and TMs were crippling to your travel expenses. I can only imagine the stress un-sponsored trainers have to go through to know that they had to use their one time use TMs sparingly because they don't have a pokédex to record it permanently for future usage.
Well, the pokédex can only save up to 50 TM slots at a time for permanent reusage. If I reach the limit and want to add a new TM, I'd have to delete an old one to have free space. Thankfully, I'm only up to 19 used slots.
Still, it's the duty of all trainers to make their pokémon the best that they can possibly be and even though I've grown leaps and bounds in my last circuit, I still have to say that I still have a ways to go before I can truly perfect my craft. Even with my foreknowledge of this world through the games, there were still secrets and mechanics that would never cross my mind.
With one poignant lesson being that pokémon possessed the capability of using more than the one Ability that they were born with.
Cal opened my eyes to this neat trick as he helped me with setting up a good space in Prof. Elm's small reserve at the back of his lab.
It wasn't as massive as Prof. Oak's, but it still had enough room for both my pokémon and his to have the leg room needed. I say his pokémon loosely because after revealing what I wanted to work on today, he found that he only needed four of his eleven pokémon to act as coaches for my newer pokémon.
Aurion and Yogi were struggling to land a hit on Cal's hulking Machamp. The session was more about testing their ingenuity in combat than actually beating their target. Asch had always been a solid obstacle to spar with, but Machamp was an even better challenge—able to parry Brick Breaks and Fury Swipes with all four arms while giving real-time coaching on form and technique.
Aurion took to the mentoring naturally, nodding and absorbing every correction Machamp gave. I was pleasantly surprised to see the Riolu being more proactive, attempting (and failing) to mimic a Low Sweep Machamp had used earlier to send him flying into Yogi. Moments like that reminded me how much Fighting types thrive in the heat of battle.
Yogi, meanwhile, was a work in progress. His attempts at using Status Moves were easily countered by Machamp with a flick to the head, sending him crashing into trees, fenceposts, or the massive boulders Fafnir was zipping around. While frustrating for the little cub, it was a lesson best learned early — Status moves like Baby-Doll Eyes or Charm are free actions, but if you're too obvious with your tells, an experienced opponent will shut you down before you can blink.
I made a mental note to work with him on that, the same way I once did with Sylvie. Unlike Sylvie, though, who could naturally weaponize her cuteness, Yogi's evolving into an Ursaring might toss all of this out the window.
Still, the real point of putting the two together against Machamp was to build cohesion. They weren't as bad as Macaque and Thor, but they clashed often — like Meowths and Growlithes. The goal wasn't instant friendship, just to get them used to cooperating. A bond could come later.
Speaking of Fafnir, he was currently in the middle of a rigorous obstacle course made entirely of shifting boulders. While I was away at the Battle Club, he had been training under the supervision of Cal's Pokémon and Professor Elm's lab aide, Holley. He still wasn't ready for battle, but that didn't mean he was unfit for training.
The boulders were set up by Cal's Donphan, and their occasional movement was controlled by Cal's Xatu. Faffy's first shedding was nearly upon us — his skin had become noticeably more sensitive in certain areas, especially where his scales were turning opaque, and his baths had started flaking along those spots.
Hopefully, he will finish shedding before we have to leave New Bark. Still, I had to admit his condition had definitely improved. He no longer tired out as quickly and could handle short bursts of Extreme Speed more effectively, rather than using it continuously. His reaction time was better too, and he had finally started mastering sharp turns—greatly reducing the number of times he slammed into stationary obstacles.
*SPLAT!*
…Well, mostly.
Now he faced the added challenge of anticipating moving obstacles and staying physically aware of his surroundings—lest he Extreme Speed right into a boulder that had shifted into his path. Cal's Xatu watched his latest failure with what I swore was an amused glint in their eye before subtly raising the difficulty of the course.
Yeah…I'd need to ask Cal if they could have Xatu dial it back a little. I wanted Faffy to be challenged, not turned into a chew toy for one possibly sadistic psychic bird.
As for Custard, he was busy getting clobbered by Donphan. He'd already proven himself capable against a gauntlet of skilled Youngster trainers, so having a veteran Ground-type push him to his limits was the next logical step. Cal's Donphan really surprised me—it outdug Gible using the sheer momentum of Rollout to tunnel underground and slam Custard from below.
Despite getting his tail fin handed to him, Custard actually seemed to enjoy the challenge. He kept trying to counter Donphan's relentless Rollouts, though with minimal success. He couldn't roast Donphan with Dragon Breath, couldn't dig fast enough to escape getting intercepted, and failed to land a single Bite or Rock Smash—always getting trampled when Donphan used Rock Tomb boulders to ricochet and redirect his attacks.
This training format wouldn't last past tonight and tomorrow, but the lessons learned would carry forward for the rest of our journey.
And it wasn't just my newer Pokémon giving it their all—my two seasoned battlers were also putting in serious work. Especially after Cal revealed the existence of secondary (hidden) Abilities, I had to test it out for myself and see the truth firsthand.
Unfortunately, Cal had only managed to unlock one hidden Ability in his team, and since it belonged to his Starter, I couldn't help but respond in kind—using my own to face off against a Pokémon trained by an Ace.
"Dive!"
"Waterfall!"
The battlefield shook as Asch and Cal's Feraligatr collided midair, steam erupting from the clash between Flare Blitz and Waterfall. When the haze cleared, both Pokémon were locked claw-to-claw in the air. I was briefly surprised—Asch had been pushed back, if only for a split second.
That Waterfall had some serious oomph behind it.
Luckily, Feraligatr's momentum faded quickly. He now hung suspended midair, caught in the grip of my airborne Charizard. The Water-type gaped at Asch's looming silhouette, backlit by the artificial sun from our earlier Sunny Day setup.
"Solar Be—!"
"Aqua Jet into Headbutt!"
I clicked my tongue—Cal beat me to the punch. Feraligatr surged forward with Aqua Jet, his jagged red spines leading the way, and slammed his skull into Asch's chin. The blow snapped Asch's head back violently, giving Feraligatr the opening to reach for his wings.
I gritted my teeth. If that Headbutt caused a Flinch, we were in trouble.
"Lock and Shock!" I shouted. It was originally a command for Thor, but Asch knew my signals well enough. Still gripping Feraligatr with one claw, Asch charged Thunder Punch and sent a vicious jolt through the Big Jaw Pokémon.
"Hydro Pump!" Cal ordered.
"Shut its trap!" I snapped back.
Almost comically, Asch used his free claw to slam a Thunder Punch straight into Feraligatr's open mouth, clamping it shut mid-attack. The electric blow landed hard, forcing pressurized jets of water to spray out through his snout. Asch didn't let go—he kept both the grip and the Thunder Punch going.
"Now hit an OTS Seismic Toss!"
Already airborne, Asch spun midair, building momentum before slamming the spasming Feraligatr into the battlefield with crushing force.
Hovering in place, Asch stayed on standby. I gave no command, so he waited—watching. Feraligatr didn't get up. I narrowed my eyes at Cal. His face was unreadable, no tells at all. Asch might've done serious damage, but I couldn't say for sure that Feraligatr was finished.
I glanced up—Sunny Day was beginning to fizzle out.
So, trying to stall, huh?
I raised my hand. Asch took it as his cue.
Waste not, want not…
"Solar Be—!"
"Gatr!"
Feraligatr abruptly sat up and held out a hand, chuckling dryly. Cal raised his own with a sheepish smile and said, "We're done! That's it—no need to go postal on us, Luke!"
I blinked, then turned to Asch, who looked just as confused.
We reconvened at the center of the field. I shook Cal's hand, and our Starters did the same—exchanging friendly grunts and smiles.
Leonardo waddled over with towels and water bottles that Miss Holley had thoughtfully provided. The little turtle offered them congratulations and walked the two powerhouses off the field to cool down, giving Cal and me a moment to talk through everything I had noticed during the match.
"You sure gave me a surprise there, kid. I thought you'd hesitate to attack Feraligatr while he was down and defenseless," Cal said.
I shrugged. "If it were a regular trainer, maybe. But you're an Ace Trainer. You were either baiting us into attacking or trying to stall out Sunny Day."
"Oh? You picked up on that?" Cal smirked, the sly bastard.
"You caught us off guard with that sudden Take Down at the start, so I wasn't about to fall for another surprise. I didn't think a Feraligatr could hustle that fast on land, but you've got a knack for the unexpected. We barely got off Sunny Day before he slammed Asch down to keep him grounded."
"Quite the cautious one, aren't you?"
I crossed my arms. "A little healthy paranoia never hurts—especially when you train off-route. I like being thorough. Helps me sleep at night."
"True. Still, I wouldn't recommend that approach to any of the kids at the Battle Club, at least not so early in their journeys," Cal said, frowning slightly.
"It's not without its risks, but the payoff's worth it." I smiled. "...If you're careful enough."
"Is that how your Charizard managed to outwrestle my Feraligatr?" he asked. "I'll admit we're a little rusty from not battling much lately, but I trained him to be a strong grappler—with a bit of help from Chuck."
I shrugged. "Who knows?"
In truth, I'd had Angel use Gravity to increase Asch's physical resistance for strength training, while also stacking on opposite-typing resistance drills. But I wasn't about to share that. Not even Ash knows—I'll wait until he's old enough to train Pokémon. He's too much of a blabbermouth.
I doubt I was the first to use Gravity this way, but considering the lack of information about its training utility online or in scientific journals, it clearly wasn't common knowledge. Luckily, I'd stumbled into a solid regimen, refining it carefully to avoid long-term damage to my team.
"Heh, keeping your secrets close, huh?" Cal chuckled. "If you ever went down the Ace Trainer route, you'd do well."
"Thanks, but no thanks." I shook my head. "I'd rather climb through the Conferences, thank you very much."
Cal glanced over at our Pokémon, now chatting on a nearby bench. Feraligatr and Asch were animatedly swapping stories while Leonardo sat between them, wide-eyed and soaking it all in.
"You notice it?" he asked.
"Yeah…" My eyes lingered on Feraligatr. "He's got Sheer Force, doesn't he?" Asch not flinching from that Headbutt was the giveaway. Sheer Force trades off secondary effects—like flinching, burns, or paralysis—for raw power. That Waterfall definitely hit harder than it should've against a Flare Blitz that was enhanced by Sunny Day.
"Correct," Cal grinned. "It's rare for the Totodile line to have Sheer Force naturally, so I had to do some serious research. I studied Pokémon that do possess the ability, then designed a training method around it."
"How long did it take?"
"About three years."
"Whoa," I said, impressed.
"Even if Pokémon share Abilities, how they manifest can vary. Take Torrent, for example—your Squirtle and my Feraligatr both have it. The power boost when they're near fainting applies to both, but since Feraligatr are more predatory, their Torrent tends to trigger a more feral response."
"Ah." I could relate. Asch has Blaze, and while he's a predator too, he's never gone feral from it.
Cal nodded. "It is not enough to just know an Ability. You have to understand how it links to your Pokémon's biology and temperament. Research helps, but it can feel like a wild goose chase unless you find someone else who unlocked the same Ability in the same species."
"So, it's possible to shorten the time... but it'll still take a while?"
"I'm no expert," Cal admitted. "I only managed it with Feraligatr. If I had tried to spread my focus across the whole team, it would've taken even longer. But if you are efficient, maybe a year. Maybe eight or nine months."
"I see." It would be a long-term project—but I didn't mind. Now that I knew about it, I'd have time to work on it in the circuits to come. "Thanks for teaching this to me, Cal. I don't think this would have ever crossed my mind unless by dumb luck."
Cal waved me off with a laugh. "It's my job to teach those younger than me—just a habit at this point."
"Still…" Then something clicked. "Wait a minute—if you'd taken that Solar Beam, and Feraligatr didn't faint, you'd have a Torrent-boosted Feraligatr with Sheer Force coming after my Charizard."
And that's not even considering that Sunny Day was about to expire.
"..." Cal's smile didn't waver, but I caught the twinkle in his eye. "Let's check on your other Pokémon."
I watched him walk past me and chuckled to myself. "Good to know I've still got a lot to learn."
We supervised the rest of the team. I made sure everyone got a post-workout meal, briefed them on their progress, and let them rest.
Yogi was passed out in a big bowl of berries I'd promised him for all the battles he won.
Aurion was still running laps to burn off his feast.
Custard sat in a self-made divot, silently gazing into space.
Fafnir, dead asleep from a food coma, lay curled on my lap while I gently massaged him to ease any aches or cramps.
Cal and I sat on a nearby bench, our Starters resting close by. Neither was asleep. Feraligatr, like the species often does, kept one eye open. Asch had his eyes closed, but the occasional twitch of his eyelids told me he was still alert.
Breezing past us in a Quick Attack-enhanced blur, Aurion executed a front flip midair, ending in a wobbly Low Sweep kick—for the seventh time, if I was counting right.
He stumbled on the landing but turned to me with a huge smile, both paws raised high. "Olu!"
"Another perfect 10 out of 10," I praised. "Mind showing me again?"
He immediately dashed off to build momentum. His loyalty could be exhausting sometimes, but watching him light up from praise was enough to lift my mood. He was just like a puppy soaking in attention… or maybe it was aura-sensitivity or something.
"Someone's easy to impress." Cal chuckled.
"Me or Riolu?" I smiled.
"Riolu," he said, pointing to the little guy trying—and failing—to land a backflip. Aurion promptly faceplanted.
"Be car—!" I started, but Aurion had already brushed off the grass and dirt, resuming his run. "Be careful…" Yeah, it was a good idea to let him burn off all that energy before bed.
"Honestly, I think he's just trying to impress me," I sighed.
"That's natural," Cal said. "Riolu's a baby Pokémon—like Magby, Togepi, or Elekid. They crave affection and attention. The fact that yours seeks you out and listens so closely? I'd say he's imprinted on you."
I frowned. I'd been imprinted on before—Jubilee had imprinted on me after I cared for her egg and watched her hatch. Aurion, though, was already hatched and semi-conditioned when he was gifted to me...by whoever that bastard mysteriously referred to.
And speaking of things related to that bas-no, just the Journal.
…
…
"Say Cal, what's your relationship like with your dad?"
"Whoa, what kind of question is that after talking about baby Pokémon?" he asked, raising a brow and chuckling, a bit caught off guard.
Right. Should've eased into it. Oh well—too late now.
"It's just... I noticed how hands-on you are with Professor Elm. Always keeping him in check. Got me curious," I admitted with a nervous laugh.
"Just curious?" Cal raised an eyebrow, giving me a pointed look. I turned away. Damn, working with kids must've made him scarily perceptive.
"Well... if you really want to know..." he said, exhaling. "The professor's scatterbrained. Brilliant, sure—but he does everything important to him at the same time. His research, his marriage, raising his kid... all happening at once. He's rumored to be the second coming of Professor Oak, but—" Cal groaned. "Don't ever tell him I said that. He'll trap us in a one-hour rant trying to disprove it."
"Cross my heart," I swore.
"So yeah, he accomplishes a lot—but sometimes screws things up spectacularly. When it works, it's amazing. When it doesn't... bad things happen. Like my mom leaving."
"Oh."
"And the custody battle that followed."
"O-Oh..."
"They still love each other," Cal said, leaning back and letting his hat fall behind the bench. "But my mom couldn't deal with being the top priority one day and a total afterthought the next—because some scientific discovery took precedence over their anniversary or whatever."
He sighed. "I understood her side, even if I hated it back then. As for my dad... well, I was born already used to his quirks. But yeah, I blamed him too for screwing it all up."
He looked up at the darkening sky and exhaled deeply. "Dear Mew, what a mess everything was back then."
"So… why'd you stay?" I asked. He clearly still cared for Professor Elm, so something must've kept him around.
"I grew up around his quirks. Watching him deal with the divorce by burying himself in work and neglecting his health… it made me feel for him. So I stayed. I figured if I was here, he'd have something else to focus on besides just research." Cal shrugged. "I still visit my mom in Ecruteak City whenever I can—especially to watch one of her shows."
"Her shows?"
He gave me a wink. "If you ever go to the Dance Theater, tell them Cal Elm sent you."
Sitting back up, Cal laced his fingers together and leaned forward on the bench. "Anyway, I stuck around. Started making his meals, reminding him to bathe, and worked my ass off during my journey so he could be proud of something—get out of his funk. Eventually, I wore him down enough to convince him to hire a Lab Aide so he wouldn't be stuck in isolation."
"And that's how Ms. Holley started working here?"
Cal smiled. "Yup. And she's the best, isn't she?"
"Yup." I smiled back.
"Yeah… she really is the best…" he sighed dreamily.
…Was that affection I heard? You know what—nope, not my business.
"So, your dad...?" I gently tried steering the conversation back.
"Oh, right. Well, our relationship isn't exactly typical, but... is any relationship really 'normal'? I love my parents, and I want them to be happy. Just like they want me to be. That answer good enough for you?"
…Not really.
I don't know what I expected, but I should've known my own family mess wouldn't be unraveled in a random heart-to-heart with a guy I met yesterday. Still, even if what Mom did was reckless, she cared about Dad's wishes. But that came with terrifying me… and letting Giovanni into our home.
And that was Dad's wish?
No. He wouldn't intentionally put us in danger. But for him to even consider a monster like that as his brother…
...
Dammit.
I still have a long way to go before I figure any of this out.
"Yep, it sure did," I lied smoothly, flashing a practiced smile. "Thanks for helping clear things up, Cal."
Only people like Mom and a few close friends could tell how strained that smile really was. Cal couldn't.
"No problem. I hope whatever made you ask that clears up soon."
You and me both. "Don't worry, I think I finally know what to do now." I didn't. But I owed the guy something after he opened up like that. Honestly, people like Cal—who go out of their way to help strangers unburden—deserve nothing but the best.
Still, I needed a topic change. And a certain redhead came to mind.
"But I do have one more question."
"If you're looking for more dirt on my dad, I can call him over—though I wouldn't recommend it unless you want a lecture that never ends," Cal groaned, reaching under the bench for his hat. Feraligatr gave a small huff and nudged the hat toward him with its tail.
"Thanks, pal."
"No, not about the professor. It's about one of the Youngsters at the Battle Club. My... number one fan?" I said slowly.
"Oh…" Cal blinked, then lit up. "Oh! You met Silver, huh? What did he say—no, what did he do? I was too busy with the other kids to watch, but I really hoped he'd open up more to someone besides his Cyndaquil or his sketchbooks."
"Well, Lyra took me around and introduced me…"
"Uh-huh?"
"And when she did, Silver's jaw dropped…"
"Uh-huh!"
"Then he ran away."
"Ah."
"Yep."
...
...
...
"Well, I can't really be disappointed. Only because I'm not surprised," Cal sighed.
"So… is there a story behind him?" I asked.
"Why should there be a story just because a kid's your fan?"
"Not that. I mean how you and Lyra both mentioned he keeps to himself. Doesn't he have the same status as Ethan and Lyra, having a Starter?"
Cal inhaled sharply and scratched the back of his neck. "That's... a little complicated. Silver's not originally from Johto. He moved here with his mom from somewhere in Kanto a few years ago."
"So the other kids avoid him because—?"
"Nope. Nothing like that. Despite what little I've heard about his mom's past," Cal shook his head.
"Past?"
"That's not for me to share. But from what I've picked up from the professor... she's got old scars. Faded wounds. Signs of someone who lived through the world before the League brought this stretch of peace."
A war veteran.
"New Bark Town, like many places in Indigo, wants peace between Kanto and Johto. Tensions are still high, but no one wants another conflict—especially with our generation being the ones who'd be drafted."
He paused. "Anyway, Silver's issues are... normal. He's a kid still adjusting to a move."
"I see..." I muttered, scratching my cheek.
"He's smart, but kind of a loner. Doesn't connect well with most of the other kids. Some more than others."
"Ethan?" I guessed.
"Ethan," Cal confirmed. "They both passed the professor's test and got Starters, but Ethan beat Silver in their first and only battle at the Club."
"Ouch. That had to crush his confidence."
"It did. He's withdrawn ever since... until the last conference."
Cal chuckled. "I don't know what drew him to you at first, but after you made it to the Finals as a rookie? That cemented it. Now he won't shut up about you. Only exception is when someone talks smack about you."
"...Ethan?" I guessed again.
"Ethan," Cal said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Beating the guy who beat him must've been cathartic. So if you see him tomorrow, talk to him. It might really make his day."
"Oh, there's no doubt I'll talk to him—and answer anything he asks. Can't promise he won't run away though." I shrugged.
"I'll lock every door in the Club to keep him in." Cal said it so seriously, I actually laughed.
"Hah, good one…"
"I didn't stutter."
Oh wow—he was serious. He really cared about these kids.
A wide smile tugged at my lips. "You're a good person, Cal."
"Oh… thanks."
"I really hope things work out between you and Miss Holley."
I snickered as Cal turned red and sputtered.
"W-What? No! There's nothing going on betwe—!"
"Luke!"
And speak of the devil. Miss Holley ran out, visibly distressed—and sweaty.
"What's up, Miss Holley?"
"T-The professor... there is a guest asking for you! He's waiting in the kitchen!"
"Hm?" I blinked. "A guest for me? In Johto?"
Odd.
I recalled Fafnir and jumped off the bench, calling over my shoulder, "While I'm gone, Miss Holley, feel free to act like you normally do around Cal in private!"
"W-WHAT!?"
Her face turned just as red as Cal's.
Ah, teasing adults—a rare and delightful pleasure. I really ought to do more when the opportunity ari—
*THUD!*
"Ri-Riolu!"
Aurion launched himself onto my back and joined me on the sprint to the lab. As soon as we stepped inside, the heat hit us like a wall. Sweat beaded on my brow as I followed the rising temperature toward the kitchen.
When I arrived, I was greeted by two sights:
"MMMMPH-MMMMMMPH!"
One: Professor Elm tied up in ropes, gagged with a duct-taped Bitter Berry.
The other was…
"I burn with fury, yet I teach with flame,
You tossed him in—yet forgot his name.
He's lost in thoughts, his mind a blaze,
So tell me, child: in how many ways
Can chaos bloom when sparks fly blind?
What's the cost of leaving forethought behind?"
Ah.
Mr. Blaine was here.
And he looked pissed.