Such almost delapitating training for Zubat who didn't back down to the challenge for the sake of itself and for the sake of its trainer continued for three months, Anthony now fully realized the realities of being a trainer as his heart felt like it was being torn apart repeatedly everytime Zubat slumps itself and passes out at the table in the first week of its training. Yet, he also knew that all of this was for Zubat... or maybe for himself too, and Zubat wanted to work hard for him, so he also didn't hold back. Besides the protein snack of Zubat that didn't increased in volume as its body can't handle it to facilitate muscle growth properly, Anthony also devised high fiber diet as suggested by his mother, Hana who, as usual just watched him read books and watch out for Zubat who, as expected, managed to regularly do the endurance and stamina training with 4 weighed slabs as well as the agility and flight control obstacle course training in the morning without faltering.
At first, Zubat was embarrassed when anyone other than Anthony watched it; however, soon, as the Pokémon's confidence grew, it let Mama and Papa Golbat, as well as Baby Kangaskhan and some Pidgeys who were interested in the obstacle course, watch it shift around with increasing agility and control while also decreasing incidents each week. The parents of Zubat just cheered with 'Gool!' and 'Bat' sound, very fitting if one asked Anthony.
The Pidgeys watched silently while making chirping sounds, though Baby Kangaskhan was inspired by the immense determination of its little friend and requested Mama Kangaskhan to start training it too, thus soon, Mama and Baby Kangaskhan became absent in the little crowd that's watching Zubat perform and started sparring in the more densely forested area, this made Zubat also want to begin training its skills, but Anthony adamantly rejected it, citing wrong timing and his principle of 'Don't start another if you didn't even mastered the former'. This made Zubat even more determined and greatly aided in its qualitative improvement.
Also, the fact that Glen and Treecko are also visiting or vice versa really mentally aided the determined Zubat to achieve the goal of its trainer because Treecko, like Anthony has said, is bred to be relatively easy to train and a guaranteed ace of a mediocre trainer and a reliable powerhouse of a talented one. The only problem with all this mental support is that Zubat doesn't want to have a rest day, making it quiet the headache for the two humans of the Dover household to make it stay put every Saturday as it always try to sneak in some training in the form of 'Zoomies' around the house.
In the first 2 months, Zubat has to stay in its Poké Ball just for it to stop training. But in any case, despite all the hardships of Zubat, it was now able to do both of its two training regimes in a short time and still have the time and energy to move around. And right now, a Sunday, after Zubat basked in the applause and cries of admiration from the little Pokemons that are watching it train, it still has the power to go on the obstacle course, with 4 weights in tow and not fail in any way.
_When it gained proper training, its zoomies became even more unbearable..._
Anthony sighed as he watched Zubat show off, making 'Zuubat!' cry every time its companions clapped. He can't really say anything as the obstacle course is already near maximum steepness while the weights on Zubat's body are at the maximum already; in short, Zubat earned all of these bragging rights fair and square.
"Zuu!? Zuu!?"
After showing off to its friends, Zubat immediately dashed towards Anthony, who was also clapping lightly, going to his front, and then dashing left and right, before soon circling its trainer with great speed. Zubat cried out repeatedly, as if wanting to inquire if its trainer is able to see its feat and is satisfied with it. Anthony can't help but let out another sigh. Really, with a workout comes very efficient usage of energy that will let someone have a lot of excess energy for them to use. Anthony knew this as he also had started stamina training at the 3rd month, so sometimes, he would have trouble stopping his studies, which caused Anthony's eyes to deteriorate.
Anthony doesn't mind, except for the fact that he dreads telling Hana, his mother, as she already berated him about the dangers of over-studying. Anthony can't just help it; all of the untold lore about Pokemons, one by one, is something he can't and will never resist.
"Yes, Zubat, I saw all of it, and I can see that you've been working hard."
As Anthony said that, he gave Zubat a star-shaped protein cookie that the Pokémon immediately gobbled up, and he then continued.
"Like I said, when you're able to use just the morning time for both your exercises without or with only minimal exhaustion, you will be starting skill-based training and targeted move learning."
Zubat cried out in happiness and finally settled in Anthony's head. Anthony chuckled at this before waving a temporary bye to the Pidgeys and Mama and Papa Golbat as they went towards the table set in the side of the mini farm. In the table is an extension cord that's quite long, several old-looking glasses, safety goggles, and a small chunk of 1-inch-thick plywood. Anthony actually didn't bother measuring the extension cord provided by his mother, but it can more or less reach from the nearest socket, about 3 meters away from the living room, so there's that.
"Zuu? Baat..."
As Anthony sat down on the chair, Zubat flew towards the extension cord, and while removing the weights in its body, it tilted its head and started to 'sing' its usual 'Zuu' 'Zuu' tune that's specifically used for inspection. Anthony stroked the head of the Pokémon before answering its curiosity.
"This is the extension cord that we will use to connect the giant fan we have to the electricity. As you know, the wind control training of yours will not be mastered immediately, so accidents are bound to happen if we're not in an open field."
Anthony paused before getting the training plan in his pocket.
"Speaking of which, let me continue my explanation earlier, you will have, like I said, skill-based training for your aerodynamics, of course alongside your ability to fly in general... if we started our Pokemon Trainer Journey, we might be able to have the chance to use the Hoenn Dessert's harsh sandstorms for your further improvement, but for now, a large fan should do."
Zubat listened attentively to its trainer's explanation, though it couldn't help but wonder where Hoenn was. Obviously, with its training, it was able to earn some maturity, though of course, it would take a long time before Zubat can truly become a grown-up in attitude and in evolution.
Anthony continued.
"Furthermore, like I said, the move learning and mastery will be a focus too. Of course, your endurance and agility training will not be neglected despite all of this."
Zubat nodded at this, and seeing that his Pokémon understood, Anthony continued.
"The training would also include specific targeting moves that you have to learn, or from what I can see, master. These are: Leech Life, Bite, Wing Attack, and Supersonic."
Anthony listed out his impromptu 4-move set for Zubat. Of course, in the world of Pokémon, a 4-move limit does not exist, as such a limitation is only for the sake of balance and to save game file space; instead, this is Anthony's way to organize all the moves that can synergize to form a certain set of specialties. As Alfred, Anthony is more on the instinctive side and only knows the annoyingness of the Confusion effect of Supersonic and the chance for Flinch of the Bite attack.
In this world, like in any other world, a bite can make someone flinch, especially in the world of Pokémon when it is assisted by dark-type energy. This move is basically meant for Zubat to spam confusion status debuff and have Bite for a chance of Flinch while Wing Attack is the main attack and Leech Life as a some kind of training, or 'Getting used to' stage to learn Absorb as the two have the same principle and only differs in terms of execution as Leech Life needs fangs to absorb energy while Absorb can do it using a green aurora-like light.
These moves will either be obsolete in the future or will be paired up with moves like Double Team, Toxic, and other moves, depending on the foundation that Anthony and Zubat will build. For now, these 4 moves are enough, as it was said earlier, Zubat is not trying to learn all moves, the goal is to set a foundation on how the entire move pool will be used by Zubat and Anthony. Learning more than 5, especially more potent ones like Toxic or more labor-intensive like Double Team, at this stage would be just detrimental to the goal of a foundational training.
Hearing that, finally, it will be able to train to master specific moves, Zubat jumped two times before nodding excitedly, making Anthony wonder if Zubat was already mature or if it was still childish. Anthony didn't think about such matters too much and continued.
"For this, you will have to train for two things: Targeted move training and practical usage. You already knew Leech Life and Supersonic. Leech Life can only be trained in practical battles, while for Supersonic, you're especially proficient in it, so you will focus on controlling the volume. So you will just have to increase the bite force of the Bite attack. "
In all of the skills of Zubat, its Supersonic voice that's used by the Pokemon to 'see' is the most improved, after all, all this while, Zubat have to 'sing' while flying around with weights and to dash towards a complex obstacle course, this made it so that the Pokemon is prone to being tired out because its throat will dry up easily. This occurrence prompted Zubat to adapt and use the almost inaudible whispers, its mouth almost not opening to see which resulted in the potency of the Supersonic move to undergo a qualitative change, where it can now confuse even with just a small volume and little bursts.
In short, Zubat was able to create a way to 'sneak' its innate Supersonic, and Anthony would naturally exploit it by making Zubat able to control the volume. As for Bite, well, it's self-explanatory. Anthony paused for a moment and picked up a glass.
"For your Supersonic move, we will focus on controlling the burst and the volume of the wave. So, I want you to train to break these glasses from the rim to the bottom, slowly. As I always say, take your time, as I have solicited in the neighborhood and the landfill area and procured a lot of unwanted porcelain and glassware."
Anthony reassured Zubat, who nodded with seriousness before picking up the chunk of plywood.
"For Bite, you will just have to train your bite force using increasingly harder materials. You will start with this plywood."
Zubat again nodded before Anthony moved on once more.
"Now, you will be doing these exercises after a 5-minute break after your stamina, endurance, and agility trainings, while the air currents reading... or, the giant fan training will be done at longer periods of 5 hours straight."
Anthony, this time didn't worry about Zubat being injured because of this routine, after all, its wings were already accustomed because of the combined efforts of the protein and the weight training. He instead wanted Zubat to leverage the results of its training for better and faster results in this aspect of its development. After all, what is a Flying-type without good current reading ability, right? That's like a human who can't light up fire.
Zubat again nodded at this, before suddenly starting to use the spines on its wings to count, unfurling the tips of them as if they were fingers. Zubat then pointed at Anthony as if asking something.
"Zuu, Zuu?"
Anthony smiled at this cute gesture, prompting him to stroke the head of Zubat again, who became confused.
"As for your combat training, it will be done every Sunday afternoon. We will rest you in your schedule for the afternoon every Sunday to fight someone except Baby Kangaskhan."
Zubat, who was anticipating the fight between it and its friend, suddenly got dejected. But Anthony made it so because Kangaskhan was able to see and feel the atmosphere of battle, and even though baby Kangaskhan and mama Kangaskhan are separated in battles and the baby technically is still inexperienced, having a mother who have a lot of experience will surely give it an edge on first time battlers like Anthony (who plans to start his commanding training too) and Zubat.
That's like Anthony having two experienced trainers as parents, giving him an edge in terms of upbringing and insights.
"Don't be sad, you know you will just get badly beaten by Baby Kangaskhan while Treecko is too far away to be disturbed."
Actually, Anthony, after this briefing, will just start finding a fellow Flying-type of Zubat to train against. He was just busy reviewing Breeder knowledge and taking care of Zubat.