After getting back from a very important conversation I headed out in the afternoon sun to do some more training.

I was fired up, and my pokemon reacted to it. Dragonite had rushed us back to our training area and we had gone at it.

“Full power!” I called out and Gyarados roared as he hit the waterfall.

He couldn’t swim up it. Chansey had the whole area blanketed with Gravity, it was too much, but that hadn’t stopped us before! He started swimming against the current trying to rise and failing, but it didn’t matter. Failure was growth. Failure was strength.

I turned to check over the rest of my team and nodded. Chansey was being absolutely brutal. I had explained what the plan was, and she had nodded along without a second thought.

We had spent twenty minutes going over the training plan we had been using before, and figuring out how much further we could push it.

It was why Dragonite wasn’t just working out or training like normal.

She was pushing a boulder around, back and forth under heavy Gravity.

Dragonites scales shimmered with her sweat as she worked hard.

But Chansey was there. Healing and working her up.

Chansey was also working out along side Dragonite. Literally doing pushups, or running circles around the boulder calling out support to the dragon.

Arcanine and Milotic had also pitted themselves against each other.

Milotic was fired up. More so than usual.

I had spent some time explaining to my team what had happened, and what it meant for us.

The fact that there were people in Johto pushing to take some of my friends away from me? That it meant we had to prove to everyone that trying to do something so stupid was foolish had fired my big fish up.

So much so that he was actually pushing Arcanine back.

Milotic was slinging Water Pulse, and Surf around pushing Arcanines fire right back as she ran around in circles nearly constantly moving while blasting him with flame.

The whole area was a steam filled hell as Arcanine held nothing back, but she was actually being pushed back from her type disadvantage.

Not something that usually happened, as Arcanine usually bullied Milotic.

Of course she wasn’t unhappy about this. It only seemed to fire her up even more.

Lucario, the final member of the heavy Gravity training, was more mobile than before. She was stomping around moving against the air itself and struggling, but she was getting stronger.

I nodded, checking the sky to see the sun dwindling. Arcanines fire gave us light but it was getting close to break time.

My team was growing.

—--

“That’s it!” I called out the next morning. Mimikyu cried out as he threw the swirling orb of energy and it flew a distance before smashing into the water, exploding outward.

“KukKuuku!” He cried out and I ran over and swept him up into a hug.

“That looked like Shadowball to me!” I cried out and he cried back. We spun around in circles much to Mimikyu’s delight as I laughed happily at his success!

My pokemon were growing so strong!

I stopped spinning feeling a little dizzy as I looked to the rest of my little guys.

Brave had picked up Dragon Pulse much faster than either of the boys. She had been a natural with it. Her natural Dragon Pulse was the orb type. Gathering energy infront of her and then shooting it off with a cute little cry.

Her learning it so fast had lit a fire in Dratini and Jangmo-o, both boys quick to work even harder to strengthen their attacks.

They were doing great learning to pressurize the attack. I would need to set them up for some actual battle training soon.

Glancing over I looked at Riolu who was working well under Lucario’s eyes.

Lucario’s tiredness had continued to shock the crap out of the little brat, and she had started giving Chansey actual fearful looks whenever the Goddess walked past her.

Heh.

I made sure to smile widely at the brat whenever she noticed me, while telling her she would get the same training soon.

She looked almost as eager at the idea as she was fearful. Heh, Fighting types.

“Take a break okay?” I told Mimikyu who chittered happily as I let him go and he hurried back to the house.

He had refused to let me see inside the closet, but I was looking forward to his project.

Then I looked at my most difficult pokemon.

Gible was currently watching the dragons work with blank eyes. Time to do more training.

“Gible! Jump up!” I called and she didn’t move, instead sort of turning to look at me.

“Gib.”

I slumped. Getting Gible to take orders had been ineffective so far. But we were still trying!.

“C’mon Gible. I know you can do it. Jump up!” I called jumping up myself to show her.

Slowly she blinked.

She stood up, and then just toddled over to me.

“Gib!” She called out and to my surprise didn’t bite instead reaching up for my hand and grabbing it.

I stared down at her, she stared up at me.

And then she looked back towards the Dragons training…

“Well this is okay too.” I admitted, as I sat down with her her hand in mine.

—--

“Dragon Pulse!” I called out, and Jangmo-o glowed as he launched the attack.

Mimikyu, who had come out of the house after lunch to get more training, was the Dragons sparring partner.

I smirked as Mimikyu tried to dodge and this time the attack hit, but instead of damaging him it just sort of splashed off Mimikyu.

“Jang!” Jangmo-o cheered at the hit, and Mimikyu sagged a bit before perking back up.

“Alright! Mimikyu! Next time, hit the Dragon Pulse with a Shadow Ball!” I called and Jangmo-o didn’t hesitate in charging up another Dragon Pulse.

Jangmo-o’s Dragon Pulse came out as a roaring Dragon. He was more of a beam user, and it tracked… Sorta, towards Mimikyu.

Mimikyu who was quick to charge up a Shadow Ball and throw it at the attack,

The two energies collided and I nodded, while Jangmo-o was able to slow the Shadow Ball it was obvious that right at the start. The Shadow Ball had more force behind it.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Yet as I watched it slowed down as Jangmo-o kept up the pressure and then it burst as the Dragon Pulse surged through…

But by then Mimikyu was already charging up another shot.

“Do it again!” I called out, wanting more information, and again the attacks clashed.

I understood that time.

Once Mimikyu launched the Shadow Ball that was it. The attack was completely free, giving Mimikyu a chance to move around and attack again.

But the beam like Dragon Pulse was able to be directed by Jangmo-o, and pumped in more power over time letting it keep up.

Both had benefits and negatives.

It was going to be up to me to train my team to use the right move, at the right time.

“Alright! Good job!”

—--

“Riolu! Rio rio rio!” Riolu laughed as I chased after her.

“Get back here you little brat!” I roared, chasing her down. I woke up today to the feeling of smashing my face full of whipped cream!

Who had shown Riolu that prank? Where had Riolu even gotten the Pidgey feather? No that doesn’t matter, because I was going to shove this can of whipped cream up Riolu’s As-

“Victoria.” Uncle Leo called out, and I stopped, letting Riolu laugh as she made her escape. I turned to him and pouted, but he did look pleased that I had stopped running.

“Yes?”

“Please do not run inside the Clan home.” He spoke and I sighed, and nodded. Probably a good idea. There was expensive stuff in the place I didn’t want to break.

“Oh look at you.” Auntie Melissa cooed, giggling as she walked over. Pulling out a napkin and without hesitating starting to wipe my face off.

“It’s Riolu’s fault.” I grumbled, and Auntie Melissa just tittered herself. “When I find out who gave her that idea…” I grumbled and Auntie Melissa quirked her lips trying to stem a smile.

“It was probably Elizabeth dear.”

“Wat.” I said flatly, looking quite annoyed.

“Elizabeth is rather fond of pranks, she’s grown out of doing them, but I remember when she got Leo with this one.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about dear.” Uncle Leo said firmly, and while normally I would have laughed at his really bad denial, I was still just irritated.

That little brat.

A few moments later my face was clean… Ish.

“Why don’t you go wash up. We will be having breakfast soon.”

“Yeah alright.” I grumbled, not wanting to take out my mood on Auntie Melissa, she wasn’t so bad.

I stomped off, swearing I would get Riolu for this later.

After a quick shower and a few minutes cleaning my bed of stray whipped cream. I headed to breakfast.

I was already back in training mode. We had been pushing hard, but that was because soon we were going to go for the top.

And to prove a point.

When I made it outside I was surprised to see some of my team already working hard.

Jangmo-o was standing besides Dratini, both of them blasting draconic power into the water.

I stayed back to watch for a while. Just to see what was happening. Slowly both boys each shot, one after another. Then I smiled as I realized. They were seeing who was strongest by comparing the sizes of the splash.

Their little cheers at ‘defeating’ the other was cute.

I walked over interrupting as I scooped both of them up.

“So proud of you two!” I cheered, rubbing a cheek against Dratini earning a happy squeal, even as Jangmo-o protested the attention, until I rubbed my cheek against his own and he went from protesting to sort of faux whining.

“Tini!” Dratini cheered and I laughed as he coiled around me and hugged me.

“You both are so cute! Starting training early. Just make sure you both don’t overdo it okay?” I reminded and got nods from both of the boys before I settled down and put them back on their feet.

Dratini was more than happy to cuddle, but Jangmo-o stalked off stiff legged for a minute until he finally turned back towards me, and huffed.

I just gave him a big bright smile.

“You’re both growing so much so fast. It’ll be time to go do some battles soon.” I told them, and both Dragons blinked.

“Tini?”

“Jang!?”

“Yep!” I assured them. “I figure, once both of you figure out all three ways we know of to use Dragon Pulse, I’ll take you to the pokemon center, and let you battle.”

Both boys blinked, and turned to each other. Firmly nodding. I smiled as the fire lit up in both of the dragons as they raced off to work on their move.

“All three ways?” A voice asked then.

“Three that I know of.” I answered back as I turned to see Grandpa Roy having followed me to the battle area.

“Hmm. That’s not something many trainers focus on. It tends to spread the pokemon a bit thin. Better to focus on one way of doing things so they are focused. Faster to release the move that is needed.”

“Hmm, maybe, probably true in most cases, but I think flexibility is important. Besides… I think there is something to teaching them how to adjust the moves as well.” Grandpa Roy shrugged and walked over to stand beside me, looking over my pokemon that now that I was here, were getting ready.

Although I noticed Riolu wasn’t around.

“Is she still hiding?” I grumbled as I looked around and didn’t see her. “Arcanine? Can you find Riolu and drag her out here? We have training to do!”

Arcanine had been staring at the training the whole time, eager to jump in, but knowing it wasn’t her turn. The few times she had flared up and tried to train with the little ones she had sent them scattering and disrupting their efforts.

“Arc!” She seemed to cheer as she jumped to her feet and started sniffing, then she was off.

I turned away from the boys towards where Dragonite was working with my difficult girl.

Gible was staring up at Dragonite as she spoke calmly to the little dragon. I wasn’t sure what they were talking about, but Dragonite was large and powerful enough Gible never really stopped paying attention to her when Dragonit was near.

Brave was there as well, and seemed to be part of Dragonites lesson, as Dragonite waved at Brave who was puffing up a bit as Gibles eyes focused on her.

“Gib.”

“Goom!” Goomy called out responding to whatever Gible had said… Or hadn’t said. She was cute, but real head empty still.

Then Gible moved, her mouth opened to attack, but Brave responded with a Dragon Pulse, the energy blasting out of her in the full blast attack, causing Gibles mouth to chomp onto the energy and then be forced away.

“Gib.” She spoke up a few moments later, blinking seemingly in surprise at her new position as if she didn’t know what happened to cause her to be so far away from where she was a moment before.

I approached, and settled next to Brave. Dragonite gave me a look and nodded but then focused on Gible.

“Drag. Dragonite, Dragon.” She said and Gib did a slow blink and didn’t seem to respond.

“Goo. Goomy goom.” Brave muttered under her breath, seemingly unhappy.

“Sorry about her.” I told Brave who looked at me a little grumpily. “Please forgive her, we are still trying to help her.” I offered and Brave grumbled a bit, but allowed me to pick her up and put her in my lap.

“Dragon.” Dragonite spoke, waving her hand at Gible and sighing a bit.

Yeah I didn’t think it would be simple.

“Gible. Come here.” I asked, waving at her, and after a few moments she did rise back up and approach. “Can I have your hand?” I asked, holding out my hand palm up as she approached, and she stilled as she stared at my fingers.

I could see the instinct in her, to attack, fighting against the confusion of the situation.

After all, by this point my hand had given her a lot of good things. Food, attention, and we had done the hand holding thing a lot by now.

So slowly she held out her little hand and placed it on mine. I smiled happily, making sure not to show my teeth as I tugged her a little closer.

“Gible, this is Brave our friend. She’s going to fight with us. To grow strong and protect all of us together.” I explained, and then I gently brought the hand onto Braves head. Even as she looked at me displeased.

But it settled. Gibles little claw touching the top of Goomy’s head.

“See? She isn’t going to hurt you, if you don’t hurt her. We’re all friends here. Friends don’t hurt. They help. They are nice.” I explained softly and I watched to see how Gible would respond.

First she squeezed Goomy, which she didn’t seem to like or dislike, and then Gible did it again, and again and then finally she took her hand away seemingly satisfied, and that was a perfect chance.

I pulled out a berry and offered it to Gible.

“That’s right. Good job.” I said calmly, and then Gible moved to stuff the food in her mouth, but with a bit of experience I pulled my hand away, but as she opened her mouth after realizing there was nothing inside, I dropped it into her mouth.

“Gib.” She exclaimed softly as she started chewing the berry chunk.

Then I offered one to Goomy, and Dragonite, then another to Gible as she had been watching the chunks disappear with hunger.

After her second chunk she was confused.

So I passed more to everyone ending once more with Gible.

“See? You don’t have to fight for food anymore. There will always be food for my Gible.” I told her, and reached out, this time not seeing any food she didn’t snap, and started scratching her behind her horns, a place her little hands couldn’t reach.

Soon I had a mouth open, head empty drooling Gible in my lap besides Brave who looked annoyed with having to share.

“Want to join in the training some more Brave? You did great on your Dragon Pulse before.”

“Goom!” She confirmed and woogled into a little leap off my lap and then off across the grass to join the boys.

Then I looked to Dragonite.

“Did that go well?” I asked, her and Dragonite chuckled out a trilling laugh as she reached down and patted my head.

I guess so.

Not long after Arcanine came trotting back. Riolu held by the scruff and dropped the pup in front of me, Arcanine’s tail wagging at doing a good job.

“Alright, Arcanine, why don’t you go do some flame training. I still want your fires hotter for the battles ahead.” I told her, and before I was finished she was off in a flash of heat that smacked me in the face.

Then I looked to Riolu who looked like she was going to bail.

“Don’t even think about it. It’s training time. If you want to do pranks, you can hide until training time, but you should be here even if you are trying to avoid trouble. Go on. You know what to do.” I told her pointing at the water and she looked a little surprised at how light I was being. She rose up, swiped the grass off her legs and then stalked over to the water to join in.

Of course she didn’t know I was going to push her into the river later. But that was after training. Pranks and training don’t go well together.

—--

“I’m home!” I called out, as I walked inside.

Afternoon training with my big team had been fun but it took a bit of juggling. Lucario had gotten another dose of Gravity and had already started handling it better. Walking around with a bit more ease even if she was still incapable of more than that.

I had been forced to leave Gible in her pokeball after lunch, giving her time to rest, and also so she wouldn’t terrorize the rest of my friends without ‘adult’ supervision.

The reason I was home instead of just camping out at the Clan house was due to the clan wanting to do some work with the Milotic enclosure.

There had been some slight damage to the sides of the stream with the Milotic rubbing against the mud, and so they needed to come in and reinforce the stream so the berry tree section wouldn’t get washed away when it rained.

So since they were doing that, I had headed home to give my team some home time.

I had released everyone outside, and as I walked in to tackle Papa in a hug, I noticed Lucario also wearily following in behind me.

“Trouble.” Papa whispered as he hugged me tightly, and then turned to Lucario and blinked. “Oh man. She sure put you through the wringer didn’t she? You look like you just went twelve rounds with a Primeape.” Papa told Lucario who slumped a bit.

“Oh! Look at you, come in.” Mama said waving Lucario in, and soon Pokemon and people were all resting on the couch. Lucario seemed flattered when Mama came back with a cup of juice that Lucario was sipping from seemingly quite enjoying it.

It was still kinda annoying how quickly she had settled in with my parents.

It wasn’t fair!

But she was happy, and that was the most important part.

“I ran Lucario through some more G-Training.” I told Papa in a whisper and he nodded.

“It’s been a while since we hit Arcany with that. Think we should give him another session?” Papa asked, and before I could respond, Arcany’s big head flopped over the back of the couch and just whined at the two of us.

Big pleading eyes just begging not to be put through another Chansey training session.

“I think Arcany, is plenty strong Papa.” I said and threw the big pup a wink, and he sent me a doggy grin in return.

“You really shouldn’t take his side Trouble.” Papa grumbled, but he reached over his shoulder and scratched Arcany’s muzzle.

“Not doing it for Riolu yet?” Papa asked and I shook my head.

“No. I made that mistake once before.” I said bluntly. “Arcanine has amazing battle instincts, but I think she would be even stronger right now, if I had given her more time as a Growlithe going to battles and really letting her learn how to beat a superior opponent.”

“Ah, that’s possible. I’ve seen her move. She’s practically unstoppable, but…”

“Exactly, but she won’t always be the strongest, and she has a big weak spot when handling that. I learned my lesson though. Eventually my team will gain that experience, but it’s a lot easier to gain the experience first, then power them up.”

“Heh. Only for you Trouble.” Papa said, hugging me tightly, and honestly?

That was fine. This was nice.