Just A Nobody (Pokemon SI)
...
CH5: Friendships, Rivalries, and Battles
…
-Justin POV-
-Celestic Trainer Academy-
-March, Year 350 AD-
Quiet whispers followed me as I searched for my class with my bag on my back.
After my… stunt in the gymnasium, I was let off with nary but a pat on the back from the Principal for my "battle-spirit" and a small glare from the brown-haired student council girl.
Apparently she (like many others) didn't appreciate the challenge despite being trainers.
The Two God's Festival. I ponder to myself. It's an ancient annual festival of Celestic Town in worship of Dialga and Palikia that happens every harvest season (October). But what is interesting is that after the prayer ceremony and the cultural activities are done, there is a "coming-of-age" ceremony for the "warriors" of the town.
Looking up I could see the sign by the door "1-A". Yep, that's me.
Anyways in simpler terms, it's basically a mini tournament for the kids who are under 15 and haven't gone on their journey. The reward isn't anything, just the bragging rights… but for any soon to be Trainer it is enough.
I slid open the door and instantly all conversation stopped as my new classmates looked at me. Looking around I slightly perked up as I saw that the 'Protagonist Seat™' was still free.
Winning it was a big deal, at least locally. As it meant that you were more than qualified enough to go on a journey… Though that didn't mean anything legally. You still had to start your journey at 15. Those pricks!
Just as I sat back down the whispers started anew.
Man if this is how it's going to go for my next five years here then I should've just stuck with the basic version of the speech. I shook my head.
What made the Two God's Festival interesting was that you couldn't use your own Pokemon. You had to literally choose a random pokeball out of a bag full of them and then you couldn't swap it out. You could of course use Potions or any type Status healers but only in between matches as using consumables wasn't allowed.
I looked out of the window as a light breeze passed by, the sky was blue and everything was calm.
So, in summary, only your skills mattered. And nothing else.
BAM! A loud noise attracted my attention as an upperclassman with long black hair, and a shiny silver analogue watch strolled into the classroom and my classmates parted wordlessly in his way as he headed towards me.
I was wondering when someone was gonna come. I quirked up my eyebrow. "You're late." I said nonchalantly.
He scrunched up his face in confusion. "What?"
"I thought someone would've come sooner. But what can you expect from a bunch of Shuckles?" I huffed. "So what do you want?" I said as I crossed my arms behind my head and relaxed.
His eyes twitched in irritation and anger. "I didn't like your speech and I don't like you. I think you're an overconfident and arrogant ass that's never seen hardship and only knows how to bark."
"So…?" I faux-yawned and leaned back in my chair.
"So I challenge you bastard!" And the volcano erupts.
"And what will I get in return?" I open one eye and stare him down.
He flinches. But his long black hair hides it from everyone behind him.
I faux-yawn once again. "If you can't even bet something worth my time then you're clearly not worth battling me."
"W-who said I wasn't betting something! Don't go just assuming things you bastard!" I look at him in a deadpan and he grits his teeth.
"Alright." I say straightening my posture. "So how about this? If I win I'll get that cool watch that you're wearing."
Watching his face go red from anger almost made me chuckle. He grits his teeth but smirks. "Fine! And if I win you'll run a 100 laps around the academy in your underwear!"
What a childish bet, does he think I'm ashamed of my hard earned physique?
I shrugged and nodded. "Sure." I then forward my hand in a classic show of hand-shake. "When will this challenge happen?"
He blows off my gesture and smiles a predatory smile at me. "Lunch, Battleground 5. And don't even think about running away."
"Sure. Sure." I waved off it nonchalantly, just the way I know will make him grit his teeth.
Not even 5 minutes and I already know how to push his buttons. So stereotypical.
"Grrr!" He growled, growled! This time I couldn't even hide my chuckles.
"Are you a Houndour or something?" I said in between my chuckles.
His face becomes red, from embarrassment or rage I don't know, and he lets out. "I'll enjoy crushing you!" And he briskly exits the room.
I smirked. Maybe I was overconfident. Or arrogant. But I didn't care. Sometimes you had to take some risks if you wanted to make it big.
Sure, I may not even have my own Pokemon, but I know that the Academy provided Pokemons for classes and challenges like this in case the student didn't have his own.
Besides, this was inevitable after what I had done today. Sooner or later somebody would've challenged me to know if I was all talk or not.
A few more battles with nobodies after this one and everyone would get the idea that I was NOT all just talk. Hopefully, I will have some peace then. At least until the Festival…
Now I just needed to know what kind of Trainer he was and choose the right Pokemon accordingly.
"Did you know who that was!?" Asked a squeaky voice to my right as my head turned to look at him.
Short height with eyes popping out of his sockets and a flabbergasted expression on his face, with circle black-rimmed glasses on his face, braces in his mouth, freckles on his cheeks and neatly sideways gelled brown hair.
Yep! He's a nerd. The perfect source of information. I nodded while tilting my head. "No? Should I have?"
He looked at me with pity. "Yeah. He's the strongest guy in 2nd Year. His name is Flash Stompson. He specializes in Fire-type Pokemon."
"Eh." I shrugged. "He's just a punk."
"No! You don't understand!" His body shakes as if imagining if he was in my position. "If you lose your whole life will be over! You'll lose any reputation you have or hope to have!"
Is it really that serious? My eyebrows quirked up. Who is this kid anyways? "And why should that matter to you?"
He stops. "I-" He shakes his head. "Guys like him. The bullies. They would take a foot if you give them an inch. Don't become overconfident, just put your head down and eventually they'll get bored of you." He said as if he already knew that I was gonna lose.
"Hmmm…" I faux-thought and shook my head. "Nah."
"Nah?" He seemed flabbergasted.
"Yeah. Nah. I'll win!" I smiled confidently as if it was already a fact.
"Did you not listen to a word I said!?" He yells.
I stick out my tongue comedically. "Yeah." I nodded and stood up. "But… I would die rather than be someone that I'm not. He challenged me, so I must reciprocate."
I smiled at him. "And I said, didn't I? I'll win!"
He shook his head in dismay but I could see a small quirk of his lips. "Either you are the bravest person I've ever met or you're the dumbest one."
I smirked back at him. "That mean you know! What if you hurt my feelings?!" I faux-gasped and we started laughing.
"Justin Autumn! Nice to meet you!" I said with a smirk and brought forward my hand.
"Yeah, I know." He shook his head. "Peter Rogers." He said, shaking my hand.
And that was how I met my best friend.
…
-Gardens, Celestic Trainer Academy-
"You're sure you wanna go with that Pokemon?" Peter asks me in trepidation as we walk back from the administrator building where they hold school Pokemon.
"Yeah." I nod. "If your information is true then this fight would be a breeze."
He dubiously looks at me. "You could have chosen a Meditite, you know? Why did you choose a-" But his question was interrupted by a familiar shout from behind us.
"Bro!" Yelled Brendan as he collides into my back and crushes me in a hug. "I heard you were challenged bro!"
Brendan, was the only kid in my group of friends that was the same age as me to enter the Academy this year. But even though we were the same age he was much more… built.
Like seriously he was a giant. A good head above me in height, and a bulky physique like a bear.
But even though he looked intimidating (to a kid) he was a real dumbo and softie at heart.
Unfortunately, he wasn't in 1-A but 1-C so we were only able to meet in lunch period unless we joined the same club.
"Oof!" I let out as I endured the punishment to my ribs. "Yeah, Brendan. It's just some kid. Don't worry-" I blink as I look back at him.
Why is he looking at me with that expression? Why are there literal stars in his eyes?
"So cool!" He squeals, squeals! "My brother is just so cool! It's the first day and you're already picking up fights! I know you'll win the battle big brother! My whole gang will wholeheartedly support you!"
"W-what?" I was confused but also slightly bashful. Getting praised from strangers didn't phase me much, but the same thing from someone close to me was just… embarrassing. And I enjoyed that feeling.
-Wait! "What gang?" I tilted my head.
But it seems he was in his own world, as he ran away muttering about "preparations".
And I just shrugged. Eh. It's probably nothing.
Finally after walking a few minutes we arrived at our destination.
The Battlegrounds were an area that the Academy was particularly known for. It was a place with 10 tennis-court sized areas made and maintained just for battles between Students.
It was placed in such a way that half of the classrooms, the cafeteria, and the principal's office could look over it. It was maintained by a team of League-Assigned Pokemons and their Trainers. But most of the battles weren't damaging enough for them to do much work.
There were also stands for people to watch the match. And they were in a position where the audience could see the Trainers and their Pokemon from the side rather than their backs.
The stands were also noticeably filled. Not enough to say housefull but enough that you can notice it.
I also noticed that a sizable chunk (at least 15 people) were waving flags and banners with my name. And who do I see leading these people?
"Woohoo! Bro! Destroy this guy!" Cheers Brendan while waving the flags in his hand.
I face palm, and sigh. Well at least it seems like he's already made some friends.
As for the others here…
Wonder why they're here? I thought dryly.
"Yo!" I said as I walked up to the black haired kid. Peter had gone off to sit in the stands, so there were just the two of us on the grounds. I could even see Brendan handing him a banner and a flag to wave around, much to Peter's bewilderment.
"You didn't run? Good." He wears a sadistic smile. "This'll be fun."
"Eh." I shrugged. "It's gonna be easy, why would I run?" Again, it was amusing to see his face go red with rage.
Maybe I shouldn't taunt him so much.
But…
Eh. It's not like it's going to change anything now. And also, it's just too fun. I smirked.
Am I a bully? I shook my head. Nah.
Soon, we walked into our positions (a small standing area with short steel bars on three sides) and a student council member volunteered to referee. We both looked at each other from across the field. Him with a sadistic expression that promised pain, and me with a confident demeanor as if this was gonna be a piece of cake.
"On the count of three both Trainers will release their Pokemon!" We nodded to him. "Okay! One! Two! Three! Release!"
"Go Ponytail!" He yelled as in a bright flash of light materialized the Fire Pony Pokemon. It was just as I had seen in a carnival one time but clearly this one was trained as I could see the well defined muscles of its legs.
"Neigh!" The Pokemon stomped on the ground as it was released.
At the same time, on my half of the field, my Pokemon also materialized in a bright flash of light. Soon revealing her bulky and polished rocky body with her most beautiful big red nose.
"Nose! Nosepass!" She lets out as she waddles while waving her "hands".
-Judging from the slight smirk on my opponent's face, he was clearly underestimating my choice of Pokemon.
But we'll show him. I did have a strategy meeting with her before coming to this battle after all.
I looked towards the referee as he raised the two flags. One red and one green coloured. "This match is a one on one! With no consumable or holding items allowed! Withdrawing your Pokemon, instantly means forfeit!" He said waving the flags in our direction, and we nod.
"The match will begin in-" Both our eyes locked in challenge at each other.
"3-!" The Ponyta neighed and stomped on the ground in challenge. It's fiery mane flaring in emotion.
"2-!" My Nosepass tensed her body in preparation. Her arms locked in a boxer stance.
"1-!" My eyes sharpened, all distractions escaped my mind and I focused.
And so both the Pokemon and Trainers entered the cultural phenomenon of a Battle.
"-GO!" Announced the referee as both of us started shouting orders.
"Ponyta Stomp that Nosepass into the ground!" He yelled pointing at my Nosepass in obvious glee.
"Whip it up Nosepass." I ordered loudly but calmly, even if I was breathing heavily from the excitement and I had a gigantic smile on my face.
STOMP!
"Nose!" Nosepass lets out in pain as she is unable to dodge or block the attack but-
WHOOSH! A huge sandstorm is whipped up! Concealing everything from view. And judging from the sounds after that one hit, Ponyta wasn't able to find her.
"Agility Ponyta! Try to find it!" He orders, quite recklessly. I stay silent.
But it seems he realizes that something is wrong as uses his brain and tsks. "Something's wrong! Be wary Ponyta!"
Finally, I ordered. "Rock Throw."
BOOM! A neigh of pain is heard as Ponyta is hot with a boulder sized rock from somewhere.
Finally he remembers the basics, it seems. "Tch. Fire Spin!" He clicks his tongue and orders but I stay silent.
Fire Spin was a AoE time move, similar to Sandstorm in a way that it would consistently deliver small amounts of damage to enemy. But the interesting thing about it was that when two Pokemon executed an AoE move at the same time, both of them would cancel each other out.
A bright flash of fire comes through the sandstorm and the sandstorm visibly weakens.
That is, unless both were the same level.
In doing so it reveals my Nosepass. Standing a few feet away from where she was previously with a few scuffs of dents showing that Ponyta had indeed succeeded in the first Stomp, and red energy of Fire Spin.
But if one were to look closely they could see it, the slight metallic white sheen clinging to Nosepass's body.
Harden
Some would call it a useless move, and I would agree with you. But here in the real world, it's a very useful trick.
Before the battle my orders were simple.
"We'll begin the battle with a Sandstorm." I nodded to the paper in my hand that listed all the moves that this Nosepass knew.
"Nose! Nose!" She nodded? At least her eyes nodded.
"During the slight period of where nobody is able to see you. Keep moving and stacking Harden. Okay?" I say.
"Nose! Nosepass!" Looks like she approves.
That was just Plan A. Next it was time to execute Plan B.
"Rock Throw again!" I order, and scan the plain battlefield.
Unfortunately, there are no obstacles. We'll have to make some then.
"Shit!" It seems he noticed the Harden stacking, he is much more observant than I gave him credit for. "Run circles while stacking up Agility!"
Like I'm gonna let you do that! I smirk. That was the problem with Buffing yourself during a battle as the opponent will obviously try to stop you.
That's why the Sandstorm strategy worked so well.
"Rock Slide Nosepass! Don't let him!" I order just as I see the slight purple glow of Agility.
CRACK! BOOM!
Nosepass gathers the brownish rock-type energy in her legs and stomps on the ground, breaking the ground into a bunch of equally sized big rocks and she begins to hurl them at the Ponyta.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Of course, most of them miss. Ponyta is just too fast. It does mean that it has obstacles in its path now and so it comes a little closer to the Nosepass.
"Thunder Wave!" And so it all comes together. The reason I selected Nosepass.
A wave of paralyzing electricity is released from the rock Pokemon and Hits the Ponyta dead center. I could see its muscles spasm in pain but it held on.
Thunder Wave in the games is a unblockable and unmissable attack but when translated to real life it is much more weaker… As while the sure-hit effect is still there, it is restricted by the range of how much closer the target is to the user.
In Nosepass's case the target Pokemon needs to be within 10 feet of her for the status effect to hit.
"No Ponyta! Flame Wheel!" He yells in desperation.
"Again!" I ordered seriously. This was going to either make it or break it.
The Ponyta stopped to charge the attack, but even though the wave of electricity hit it again, it held on and released.
Sizzle! BLAST! "Dodge it Nosepass!" I yelled out in a little worry.
"Nose!" She cries out in pain as her rocky body is burned. But because of her typing and that she was tilted slightly to the left the damage wasn't as intensive.
"Thunder Wave again!" I yelled out breathing heavily.
"Don't let them Ponyta! Stomp!" He yells out as he grips the handles.
"Endure it! Keep up the Thunder Wave!" I yelled back.
"Neigh!" Yells out the Ponyta as it runs in a straight direction towards my Nosepass.
The rock Pokemon grunts in obvious effort. "Nosepass!" As another wave of electricity exits her.
Please work. Please work. Please work! I Chant internally.
"-Neigh!" The Ponyta's muscles spasm in agony. Stopping it from its charge as it tumbles and crashes because of the rocks surrounding Nosepass.
Crash!
"No! Ponyta!" Yells out my opponent in worry.
Now's the moment! "Rock Slide Nosepass! Full speed!" I shout in excitement.
As if sensing the victory, she lets out a roar. "Nosepass!" And stomps on the ground with a much bigger blast of rock-type energy sending chunks of rock flying everywhere. Grabbing the biggest boulders she hurls them at the prone and paralyzed Ponyta.
-But before they could hit, a red beam hits Ponyta and it vanishes back into its Pokeball. "I forfeit!" Announces my oppon- former opponent as he look down at his pokeball in sadness.
I sigh. Even though I would have liked to fight till the end. I understand that he doesn't want his Pokemon to get needlessly hurt. He is a good trainer at the very least.
I look back towards where Nosepass is standing and I smile brightly at her. "You did a great job, Nosepass! You definitely stole the show!" I walk towards her and pat her head while kneeling down beside her.
"Here take your reward!" I smile as I take out a bag of oran berries from my pocket. She likes those, it was also written on the paper with her moveset.
The Nosepass smiles. As she begins to chomp down on them. Also visibly healing her wounds. "Nose! Nosepass!"
I honestly don't know how berries and potions worked. I mean I understand how they could regenerate flesh or plants in grass-type's case. But regrowing rocks? Or steel? Or even ice?
How does that work!?
I should honestly be used to this kind of stuff by now. I shook my head in amazement. But it still amazes me till now.
A shadow covers me and l look up at my former opponent, Flash Stompson standing above me with an indescribable expression on his face.
I stand back up and meet his eyes and both of us just nod in understanding. "Good match." I said.
"You too." He says. "I honestly thought you were just hot shit but your Nosepass is pretty skilled. And your strategies worked perfectly."
I chuckle slightly. "Thanks, but she isn't mine. I borrowed her from the school for this match." I say patting the Nosepass who was focused on eating her treats.
His eyes widened. "Really?" I nod. "Then you're a much better strategist than I thought."
"Well, it was just a combination of STAB moves and some basic tricks. Your Ponyta was pretty powerful to be honest. I was almost afraid I was gonna lose." I state humbly.
He smirks. "Well, be ready for a rematch. I'll be sure to cheer for you during the Festival. See ya! " He turns away to leave but stops.
"Here, take this. You won it fair and square." He hands me his watch and walks back to the school building.
"Huh." I blink as I finger my new shiny silver watch. It was just a normal steel analogue watch with a steel band. It looked sturdy and new. "He's not that bad of a guy."
The peaceful moment is ruined when a blurring missile hits my chest and I am suddenly flying through the air as people congratulate me.
"You did it bro!" Yells the familiar voice of Brendan.
"Yeah you were so cool!"
"You did it!"
They cheered. "I appreciate your support guys, but put me down now." I laugh along.
I stood up as Peter approached me with an even more flabbergasted expression. "You really did it." He said breathlessly.
"Didn't I tell you? I'd win!" I smirked.
"B-but how? You were a first year student. Heck! It's your first day!" He yells in confusion. "You should've lost! It doesn't make sense!"
"Of course it does." I look at him seriously and say. "In a battle it doesn't matter if your opponent is older. The only thing that matters is skill and power. I was simply more skillful than him, and Nosepass was more powerful than his Ponyta, so I won." I shrugged and started walking back to the school building, as Brendan and his friends followed me.
"W-where are you going?" He says catching up to me.
"It's lunch break isn't it?" I said looking down at my watch. "If we dally anymore, I would have to get through the day on an empty stomach! And that would be a real travesty."
…
-Unknown POV-
"So he won, huh." She mutters to herself and starts walking back to the classroom.
He was sloppy in some areas. She thinks to herself. And his inexperience showed.
But…
She stops as she looks into a mirror. At her long blonde hair and her bright red blushing face. His smile… His confidence… His strategy… And the trust in his Pokemon.
She breaths heavily as she clutches her skirt. It was just so beautiful.
But she controls herself. It would not do for someone to come upon her in this state after all. Still, my time here might be more interesting than I thought.
She breaths. Justin Autumn, huh?
Serena Shirona was not a young woman whose attention is easily attracted to just anybody.
In her relatively short life, there has never been anybody that has interested her much…
Because she was a true scholarly lady and only the most exceptional and beautiful were worthy of her attention!
A smile of love, and madness adorns her face as she giggles. "Show me more!"
-Justin POV-
"Man! Blisseys make the best food!" I moan out as I bite into my sandwich.
"Um Hmm." Brendan nods, his face fully stuffed with the sandwich he tried to eat in one bite.
-then suddenly I shivered.
"What happened?" Peter asks also eating the pasta his Mom made for him.
"It's just I had an ominous feeling that someone was thinking about me in a weird way." I say scratching my head in confusion. I didn't even think about a legendary's name then why did that happen?
"Yeah, sometimes my bro shivers for no reason!" Brendan nods after finishing his sandwich.
I looked at his annoyed. Don't make me sound like a weirdo Brendan!
RING!
"Hey! It seems that lunch break is over!" Brendan stands up. "I'll have to go guys. My classroom is the farthest from here."
"No problem dude. See you back at home!" I wave back at him also standing up but in a more relaxed way.
Peter waves back too, and start walking back towards the classroom in peaceful silence.
"Hey Justin?" He asks and I nod for him to continue. "What type of Trainer do you want to be?"
"Hmm… I'm going to be a Generalist." I said nonchalantly.
His head whips back to meet me. "What?!" Man, he does that a lot. "Don't you know that it's a failed area?"
"Man, have some confidence in me!" I wave at him. "Don't you think I know about the bad reputation surrounding it?"
Yeah, that was a problem here. I had long figured out that I was in the past when even the red and white themed Pokeball wasn't at an affordable price. Instead we had Capricorn Balls, in that same color scheme.
Not to mention the missing Pokedex and other technologies. The biggest clue was that Prof. Rowan was still young.
If my guess is right then, I was currently 50 years before the events of the Platinum game (give or take).
Which meant basically that there was nobody who had succeeded in a Generalist path yet. Not Samuel Oak. Not Cynthia. Not anybody.
Not to mention that even in the future it probably won't be easy to raise a Generalist team. As every Pokemon would require their own Training plan, diet, and care. Not to mention how expensive it all would be.
It's not a game where you don't need to worry about those things. Trainers were just basically glorified sport coaches and just ask how much trouble it is to manage a single type of athlete rather than ten different ones.
While Ash made it look easy. He did have help when he was just starting. With a professional breeder level chef, Brock and the sponsorship from Prof. Oak he didn't have the money troubles that a average Trainer had.
It was even harder here, as there was no "Poke-Chow" and no "Poke-Puffs". You had either hunt in the wild or make the food yourself if you wanted your Pokemon to have good nutrition for ideal growth.
So basically, the Generalist route had gotten a bad reputation in Pro Battling and almost nobody followed it. Right now.
That's not to mean that they didn't have Pokemon of other type. They did, but they mainly focused on just one type of Pokemon.
Most people who had a Generalist build were either Coordinators who didn't care how strong their Pokemon are, or below average Trainers that gave this a bad name in the first place!
"So why?" He asks desperately.
"Because it's the best option. A team that covers each other's weakness and that has been trained strong can be unbeatable if their Trainer gives his all." I tell him, not annoyed by his questioning.
I take care of infants in my past time, my patience is bigger than anyone might realise.
"If it were that easy, don't you think other people would've tried that?" He frowns.
I nodded. "They would've. And I never said that it will be easy. It will take a full time dedication by the Trainer and his team to make it successful."
"What makes you think that you'll succeed where everyone failed?" He asks but his eyes are hazy as if remembering something.
Because of my meta-knowledge. Because I know how to train Pokemon. Because I've dedicated my whole life to Pokemon. But I didn't say this. I smiled confidently at him, and said. "Because I have a dream! A dream to be the Strongest!"
He looked at me with complex eyes. As if he didn't know what to make of me. And then looked down. I heard him mumble. "... Maybe then…"
The rest of our walk was spent in silence as we reached the classroom and classes started anew.
…
4920 Words.
Well, a lot happened in this chapter didnt it? How did you like the first battle? And for those that are still confused Nosepass (despite being a wonderful Pokemon) is not his starter. I've got another pokemon in mind for that.
And we also learn that MC is at least 50 years before the start of any kind of canon. Of course this isnt pinpoint accurate but just a guess by the MC as Rowan is still young and not the regional Professor yet. I had lightly foreshadowed this before as unlike canon the regions still aren't open for travel, there was no pokedex, nobody knew about the fairy type, etc.
We also meet a mysterious young girl with a interesting last name. Wonder who she could be~? At least Justin has acquired a Yandere stalker waifu (even if he doesn't know that yet) so I'm sure he wouldn't have anything to complain about...
The next chapter is bit of a timeskip as we start with the Two God's Festival.