Chapter 44 Elite Four Aru (Youth Edition)
Training is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind.
In reality, levels can drop, individual attributes can reach six zeros... and even "effort values" might decrease due to neglect of training.
Perhaps in the distant future, when he and his Pokémon enter old age—no, middle age—even their so-called "primary attributes" will begin to decline with the passage of time.
Talents can be buried, battles can result in injuries, and high-intensity training will leave lifelong hidden wounds, like those of Olympic athletes.
Skill proficiency will decrease if not used frequently, and mastering many moves without specialization is meaningless.
Don't you see, even the once mighty King of Abundance, who galloped across Galar, lost his power with the passage of time and the loss of his faith.
Pokémon are, after all, living beings.
It took Link a while to accept this fact, but he didn't really care that much.
No matter how much his stats decreased, even to negative levels, he would raise the Pokémon he had chosen to the end, and wouldn't release them just because they lacked ability.
"Perhaps I should start paying attention to your health management from today."
In the Windrider's dining hall, Link found his second goal besides surpassing the champion—to become an excellent breeder, ensuring his Pokémon wouldn't leave him for any absurd reasons.
He didn't want to repeat Alder's mistakes.
Fuzai, who was feasting in the Pokémon buffet, suddenly shuddered. Sensing someone watching it, it turned around and found its trainer scrutinizing its belly and the food in front of it.
"Meow?"
What are you looking at?
"I'm checking how much you've eaten so I can plan your exercise later."
"..."
Litten suddenly questioned its existence. Shouldn't it be taking a comfortable nap after eating?
Training?
That's something you do before meals when fighting with other Pokémon for food!
The young Litten couldn't help but doubt the wisdom of its decision to travel across the ocean to the Hoenn region and become the subject of a strange human trainer.
"Don't look at me like that. There's an old saying: 'Eating without training is useless, training without eating is fake.' How will you get stronger if you don't train?"
"Meow~"
Training is fine, as long as it provides food.
Litten was simply unsure if Link had the ability to train it.
And in fact, the latter thought the same thing.
Battle experience could be gained through the Dream Battles at PDW, but how should the training method be designed?
He didn't think that simply running around to improve physical fitness and practicing moves to improve proficiency would suffice.
The manual provided by the Pokémon Center mentioned that training should be tailored to the individual Pokémon's personality.
Finally, he came up with a strategy that killed two birds with one stone—having Fennekin use the weaker "Swift" to attack Litten from all directions.
The former would use this to train its control over moves, while the latter would use this to train its physical agility and reflexes.
As for the water dolphins, they were released into the sea to swim with the boat; their constant movement is the secret to the firm texture of fish (although dolphins aren't fish).
Later, they could consider increasing the water pressure and swimming in rapids…
…
Time flew by, and three days later,
trainers from all over the world finally arrived in the Sinnoh region.
Snowpeak City, a winter city shimmering with ice flowers.
Trees and buildings were covered with a thick layer of snow, transforming the city into a silvery-white world.
The Gym was located in the very center of the city, with the Snowpeak Temple nestled deep within.
The warm, habitable, but rainy Hoenn and the colder Sinnoh had vastly different climates, and Snowpeak City, with its year-round snow cover, made many trainers from Hoenn, dressed only in light clothing, feel noticeably uncomfortable.
However, when they sailed to Fubuki Island the next day, the climate would turn into unbearably hot weather.
The Sinnoh region, located northeast of Hoenn, is mysterious and full of unique environments. The massive Coronet Mountains run through it from north to south, dividing the region's western and eastern parts into distinct ecosystems and climates.
As soon as they disembarked, the Fennekin nestled on Link's shoulder instinctively curled up, exhaling puffs of white breath with scattered sparks.
"If you're not comfortable, you can rest in your Poké Ball."
"fen...~"
The Fennekin shook its head; it loved to lie on its trainer's back.
Pokémon also have a "baby complex" in their early stages, regarding the first creature they see after birth as family and sticking close to it.
But Link felt that if this continued, things would get a little awkward when the Fennekin evolved into a long-tailed Fennekin…
He'd just have to wait and see.
Finneon and Litten, on the other hand, were quite used to staying in their Poké Balls when traveling.
Link had booked a ferry ticket to Fubuki Island, but the next flight wasn't until two days later, so he had to stay at the Snowpeak City Pokémon Center for the time being.
"Since I'm already here," he decided to apply for the Snowpeak Gym challenge tomorrow.
However, before that, he faced another daunting problem—poverty.
"We're out of money,"
Link announced regretfully, calling out to his Pokémon. "So, we'll have to earn our own money for the rest of our journey."
"Meow!?"
How come it's already broke after just arriving at the trainer's? Will it even be able to eat its fill?
The Fennekin seemed thoughtful; hadn't Officer Jenny (from Twilight Town) given them some money before?
"Well, there's no other way. The ferry tickets from Twilight Town to Rustboro City, from Rustboro City to Snowpeak City, from Snowpeak City to Fubuki Island, and the Battle Zone entrance fee add up to over 40,000."
In reality, beating a gym didn't give a reward, and with daily expenses, Link's funds were completely depleted.
"Don't worry, you'll have plenty of Starberries to make Poké Cubes, and the Pokémon Center offers free accommodation. Being short of money just means we won't get the tourist services we're entitled to in the Battle Zone."
Hearing that even without money, trainers could still survive, Litten and the other Pokémon were relieved.
But then again, being penniless meant they couldn't leave Fubuki Island…
Forced by circumstances, Link immediately went to the Pokémon Center to register, logging into their job search system – Poké Job (or casual work ).
Before long, he found a suitable job.
[Job: Battle Training]
[Initiator: A-Liu]
[Time: Anytime]
[Price: 6840 yuan/day]
[Requirements: Pokémon and trainers skilled in Fire-type moves]
[Content: Bug Pokémon are the best! However, I need them to adapt to moves of other types before the tournament, and I also need to better understand the characteristics of Fire-type moves. I request the assistance of Fire-type trainers in Snowpeak City for my training!] "
A-Liu... Bug type... Wait, could this person be A-Liu (the future Elite Four member)?!"
A-Liu:
19 years old. (Platinum era, currently 15-16)
He's proud to have spent more time with Bug Pokémon than anyone else.
He believes in the power and coolness of Bug Pokémon and wants to become like them.
A handsome man.
Read 10+ Chapters Advanced chapters ahead at Patreon.
[email protected]/Horizons685
(End of Chapter)