Anthony looked at the blue-colored hunk of muscles Pokemon in front of him with 4 arms entangled against 4 different arms of 4 Machokes. It was a 1 Machamp vs 4 Machoke arm wrestling exhibition match that seemed to be a common spectacle in the mini-civilization of the fighting types in the Lab of Prof. Oak, as he, as well as Zubat and Miltank, saw how the Riolus, Lucarios, Torchicks, Combusken, as well as the classic Machops and Machokes were cheering. Also, it seems like the relationship between Psychic and Fighting types is not as bad as Anthony saw a bunch of Ralts sitting on the shoulders of a Machoke.
Zubat and Miltank are obviously interested; however, Zubat, as someone smaller and more naturally sociable than Miltank, was the first to approach the increasingly intensifying match of the Machamp and 4 Machokes. It even shot several 'Zuu' sounds in order to observe the fight properly. Anthony looked at his partner and couldn't help but be worried. He's sufficiently tall to be noticed, and one of the main protocols of being a field researcher is not to enter the den of a Pokémon uninvited.
In the morning, they are obviously invited as they are given check-ups; however, at other times, the interns are trained so that they will always ask for permission from the owners of the habitats. This is a form of respect to the unsung contract of the researchers and the Pokemons, and even though most Pokemons don't mind their presence with or without permission, the enforcement of work ethic for interns like Anthony leaves no stone unturned in terms of respecting boundaries.
_Sometimes, I forget that this Pokemon like to make friends._
Anthony sighed as he watched Zubat start to talk with a Machop who didn't mind its existence and even happily explained something that seemingly only Pokemons can understand as Zubat seriously nodded. Miltank also watched this and pointed at Zubat while looking at Anthony in puzzlement.
"Zueegh!"
Suddenly, Zubat's cry was heard as Anthony saw how his Pokémon was given a Body Slam by a Machoke, who got defeated and was flung away towards its direction. Anthony sighed at this sight while Miltank also cried out, worried about its senior.
_This is what you get..._
Anthony, who of course knew better than his Pokémon, knew that the impact was nothing serious, so he just shook his head and sighed. Soon, a Machop that was laughing at how the Machokes got defeated, noticed the human and Pokémon combo, and as a resident of the habitat, it was bound to respectfully inquire what the business of these two people was.
_Finally..._
Anthony, who was too embarrassed to even formulate a conversation, started to one of the Pokemons that were cheering as the Machokes got embarrassed, was relieved. He received the approaching Machop, who made a 'Ma?' sound of inquiry with a smile as he answered:
"I want to talk to that Machamp over there about the training of the intern's long-term project Pokémon tournament."
As Anthony said this, he looked at Zubat, who was yet to get out of the head of the Machoke's head that pressed it to the ground before continuing.
"Also, if you can, please pick up my Pokémon that became collateral in the arm wrestling crossfire."
The Machop, not minding the additional request and being generally having a polite nature, put a thumbs up, made another 'Ma' sound before going first to Zubat and picked it with two hands using the gentlest force it could use. After which, the Machop went towards the side of the Machamp (actually the one that is mandating the fighting types during Anthony's first time on the psychic-fighting habitat) that is flexing around its muscles.
_I still can't figure out if the Machamp is just doing flexes at that time or really doing something..._
Anthony and Miltank waved a little while Machop explained Anthony's request to the Machamp while also pointing at Zubat, that has been waving its wing to the Machamp since the Machoke picked it up. This gesture seem to also be a way to explain that Zubat is a Pokemon of Anthony, soon, Machamp made a contemplative look and even sat down and made the thinker pose as if to ponder if it has any time to entertain Anthony, which made Anthony's veins in the temples appear as he was starting to get pissed off by the shenanigans of the particular Machamp.
_What the fuck are you doing..._
Anthony, however, still patiently waited (primarily because he's picky and wanted the de facto leader to be the one training his Miltank) as he was the one who needed something from the Pokémon. In any case, Pokemons are seen as, well, not the same level as humans but as an intelligent species that lives on the same planet as humans, so they can't really do anything about their shenanigans.
_But still, besides being troublesome to get into the games, Machamps are quite impressive in terms of strength. Unfortunately, it was famous in the r34 community for that short doujin with Cynthia..._
Anthony sighed at this as he remembered the horrors of the world of Pokémon when it was still a mere fiction to him. While doing so, he was finally able to see the thumbs up of Machamp. Miltank's eyes lit up as it pointed at Machamp, emphasizing its agreement. It even slowly started to hop around like a boxer; obviously, it was raring for a fight.
Unlike before, however, when Miltank is yet to be trained and will charge at anything that it reckon can fight, the Pokemon is obviously more disciplined right now, other than its shining eyes that was caught by the Machamp and it continuously banging its fists against each other, it didn't do anything like jump over without notice or any other things like that. This made Anthony silently nod in satisfaction, as this means he has some success in his training of Miltank.
In the one big circle of interns, it is widely recognized that Anthony's Miltank is one of the most labor-intensive to train as a Pokémon, for even though by technicality the hardest to make strong are the first route bug types, Anthony's Miltank needed a borderline ethically grey amount of stamina and exhaustive training to discipline Miltank properly. And because of this, Anthony is quite proud of Miltank and of himself.
As Anthony was saying things like that, the Machop, still cradling Zubat, went back to the two, made Zubat fly towards Anthony's head, before making a similar thumbs-up gesture like the Machamp. It was obvious that the kid idolizes the strong Machamp.
Anthony tersely acknowledged the consent given by the Machamp as he, Zubat, and Miltank went towards the Machamp, which was sitting on the previously used stage of the 4v1 arm wrestling match, as if to make its height lower for the child. At this gesture, even though his placid and neutral face didn't say it, Anthony felt guilty as he imagined the horror of artistic freedom artists used Machamp for; he felt like such a considerate Pokémon should not be looked at with such eyes.
He, however, still remembered his goals; thus, when he was already in front of the Machamp, Anthony immediately said.
"Can you help me in analyzing and training the Bide ability of my Miltank? I think that you're very suitable for the training, it will only take 3 days at most since I need to let Miltank rest the day before the tournament."
Anthony, of course, already formulated a plan to make Miltank take a break the day before the tournament. Primarily, this is because Miltank will be training against Pokemons that are a fighting type, one of the weaknesses of the Normal type. There is also a reason to reiterate to his two Pokemons that rest is also a part of discipline; if one didn't rest, then they would just be walking down the path of self-destruction instead of truly improving themselves.
The Machamp, who was already given notice by the associate field researchers and its trainer that some kids may come to the fighting types' habitat, wasn't surprised by this request, and with another thumbs up, it agreed. Anthony was delighted at this, while the other fighting-type Pokémon also clapped their hands before dispersing so as not to disrupt the training session, except for the kids who hadn't evolved yet. The main ground for battle (presumably) became desolate and quiet.
Machamp lifted the (apparently) portable boulder that was just sitting there a moment ago before going to the right side of the now-empty field. Anthony tersely acknowledged that Machamp was saying 'ready when you are' as he made Miltank go to the side opposite of Machamp.
He then explained.
"In this training, Miltank will try a combination of moves: Defense Curl, Rollout, and Bide, with the main goal of knowing how strong the combo of the first two moves will be if combined with Bide and how many attacks Miltank can Bide before needing to use Milk Drink. You can attack Miltank while it attacks you, using Arm Thrust. Miltank will dodge when it can't take it anymore, it then will use the Milk Drink move, rest, and continue."
Anthony paused for a moment before remembering to add something.
"You can also drink its milk when you get hurt... though I doubt that, I can't afford to make your trainer lose one of their strongest, if not the strongest, Pokémon, can I?"
At the last lines of flattery, Machamp made a smug smile while rubbing its nose as it nodded to the simple terms of condition. Anthony went to the middle right side of the makeshift battlefield while emphasizing that he didn't curry favor with the Machamp for the training session to be longer and for it to forget to impose a time limit. He raised his hand as he looked at Miltank, who was already rearing to go and fight, while Machamp also lowered its stance.
Anthony then said, "Begin!"
Miltank, as if receiving an order of the highest degree of importance, immediately jumped high, stiffened all of its muscles while curling itself tightly like a ball through Defense Curl before dropping to the ground and starting to spin at moderate frequency, spewing sand and small rocks everywhere before moving towards Machamp. The opposition also has its four hands shining with the mysterious Pokémon energy, ready to counterattack.
As Miltank rolled towards Machamp, it suddenly burst with a red-colored aura and once more jumped upwards when it was already just 5 meters away from the Machamp and descended towards it like a bullet.
_It's really born to fight..._
Anthony remembered that Miltank taught itself to do such acrobatics when learning combining moves, as Machamp made a chopping motion to intercept the rolling Miltank. After a small burst of air was made due to the collision, Miltank stopped spinning in mid-air and dropped slowly to the ground.
"Cha..."
The Machamp, which was not given any bands on going on the offensive, smirked as it swiped its lower left arm sideways to the path of Miltank; however, in an unexpected move, Miltank's muscles tightened once more as it grew smaller while once again rolling downwards, now with greater speed than the previous.
"Cha!?"
The second Arm Thrust was dodged!
The 2nd Rollout is coming as Miltank bounced!
Machamp hurriedly circulated the mysterious energy in its 4 arms and chopped the incoming spinning ball!
This sequence happened in just half a second, yet Machamp's thrusts that was haphazardly formed, is a testament to how Miltank just surprised the strongest fighting type in the lab of Prof. Oak.
_Two..._
Anthony nodded in recognition at this while counting the times by which Bide was not released as Miltank again rolled out with more spin and acceleration, prompting Machamp to use Arm Thrust in advance faster than Miltank could dodge, causing the Pokémon to bounce like a ball toward its original position.
Miltank's Bide is still on effect, spewing brighter Red aura every time it absorbs energy from Machamp's attacks, that is, for the first time, feels like something interesting will happen to its boring daily life during the off-season of the Pokemon League challenge that it and its trainer have been constantly participating in.
Miltank advanced once more.
_That is the third..._
In theory, unlike in the game, Bide attack can make Pokemons endure at least 10s or 20s of hits before being forced by their body to eject the energy either through a ranged or contact attack. This is what Anthony wanted to know: the current limit of Miltank's newly acquired Bide attack.
Again, Arm Thrust and Rollout collided, making the red aura of Miltank waver before again glowing with more light, which made Anthony raise his eyebrow as he again nodded, counting the 4th hit and absorption of energy.
At this, besides the fact that Miltank is specifically gifted in frontal and direct confrontation, Anthony also can't help but praise it for being so resilient, as it didn't even once drink from its move Milk Drink in the fight, continuously taking hits that would've crushed normal Defense Curl and Rollouts to shred.
Of course, Anthony's Miltank is not normal. Besides the natural talent that comes from it being a battle-ready Miltank, the exhaustive training it continuously goes through without even a skip, as well as Anthony's nourishment, made it so that this particular Miltank will be more durable in absorbing attacks from the types it is weak against.
Though Anthony can still see that heaved breathing and the injuries from the skin exposed outside of the compacted ball of Miltank that once again rolled with increased acceleration towards Machamp, confirming that its limit is already within sight.
_Miltank's Bide is near being ejected..._
Anthony, while suppressing his worry that was being properly conveyed by Zubat, started to slap his forehead in nervousness, and gulped.