6
The "stamina training" turned out to be less of a workout and more of a survival horror game. May didn't just want me to run; she wanted me to run while she chased me, occasionally throwing small boulders to "keep my reflexes sharp."
"Pain is just weakness leaving the body, Jakey!" May yelled, hoisting a rock over her head like it was a beach ball.
"MY WEAKNESS IS VERY COMFORTABLE WHERE IT IS, THANKS!" I screamed, sprinting for my life.
Eventually, we transitioned into actual Pokémon training. I set up the ring lights around a moonlit clearing, the soft glow reflecting off the dew. "Alright, Chat. We're live for the 'Late Night Grind.' No singing, no jokes. Just blood, sweat, and leaves."
[Chat Log]
GymBro_Chuck: YES! CRUSH THE WEAKNESS!
DragonTamer_Lance: Focus on the breathing, Jake. A trainer's rhythm dictates the Pokémon's flow.
IceCreamQueen_C: This is the most important part. Show us their spirit.
The Grind: Kage, Jerry, and Tammy
Training wasn't like the games. There was no "Level Up" jingle. It was messy, frustrating, and involved a lot of failing.
Kage was struggling with the "Solar Tanto." I wanted him to coat his tail in Solar energy—not for a full Solar Beam, but for a sharpened, glowing edge. Every time he tried, the energy would fizzle out, or worse, explode, sending him face-first into the dirt. He'd stand up, spit out his twig, and hiss at the moon, his "ninja pride" taking a massive dent.
"Again, Kage," I said, my voice firm but encouraging. "Don't try to hold the sun. Just borrow its heat."
Across the clearing, Jerry was a blur—or trying to be. He was practicing a high-speed Quick Attack chain, aiming to bite three different training posts in a single second. "Confound it!" Jerry squeaked, tumbling into a bush. "My center of gravity is skewed! This grass is far too unkempt for precision maneuvers!"
Tammy was having the hardest time with Assist. She was trying to tap into Kage's energy to mimic a move, but she kept accidentally triggering a Sand Attack that blinded herself. "Ugh, this is garbage!" she hissed, wiping dirt from her eyes. "How am I supposed to look 'fabulous and dangerous' if I'm eating sand? Yo, Pips! Move your tail, you're in my lane!"
"I am 'zoning,' you harlot!" Jerry barked back.
[Chat Log]
Clone_02: Their coordination is abysmal. They lack a unifying Will.
SilentRed: [GIF: Keep Going]
Breeder_Brock: Check Tammy's paw placement! She's over-extending on the Fury Swipes.
I looked at the camera, sweat dripping down my face. "You see this, Chat? This is the reality. It's not just 'use Move X.' It's physics. It's ego. It's Kage being too cool to admit he's tired, and Jerry being too posh to get his paws dirty."
I walked over to the center of the clearing. "Alright, everyone. Break time. May, stop bench-pressing that tree trunk and come here."
May dropped the log—THUD—and wiped her brow, her sports bra practically soaked. The chat went wild, but I ignored it, focusing on my team.
"We're a mess," I said plainly. "Kage, you're over-thinking. Jerry, you're worrying about your fur. Tammy, you're looking for the easy way out." I flashed the Nat 20 smile, but this time it was grounded and heavy. "But that's why we're here. We do it until we get it right. Because when the stream is off and we're in a real fight, all we have is each other."
Kage looked at me, the twig in his mouth stilled. He gave a sharp, determined nod. Tammy puffed out her chest, and Jerry adjusted his imaginary tie.
"Lens," I whispered. "Close the stream. We're going to be here a while."
"Zzzzt! Ending broadcast! Support the Patreon for the 'Uncut Training' VODs, darlings!"