"This is a KSL 5 news bulletin update. It has been three weeks since an underground cavern collapse in Snow Canyon State Park forced the closure of the lava tube exploration experience.
"Twenty-six-year-old Utah resident Ethan Dust, who was exploring the caves at the time of the collapse, is still missing. Washington County's Sheriff's Department states every effort is being made to stabilize the cave, and that the search and rescue operation will commence once it is safe to do so.
"In other news, school districts across Salt Lake and Utah Counties are still deciding how to reopen schools this fall to minimize the spread of—"
Mr. Dust shut off the television and slowly stood from his chair, his back aching from old injuries. His son's disappearance had been hard on him and his wife, not to mention the rest of their adult children.
They were still grateful that the rest of the group that had been with Ethan had escaped. Ethan's friend, TJ, told them that he couldn't exactly remember what happened. He and the group were making their way to catch up with Ethan, and the next thing they knew, the cave in front of them collapsed. He made the hard decision to leave Ethan behind to get the teens of the group and himself to safety.
"Anything?" asked a somber Mrs. Dust when her husband made it up the stairs.
"Not yet," Mr. Dust sighed. "They can't start searching until they make sure they can get search and rescue through safely."
Mrs. Dust nodded slowly and turned back to preparing dinner. She cried all her tears over the past few weeks and was emotionally spent. "I hope he's alright. I've prayed and prayed that he would be kept safe and alive…."
Mr. Dust hobbled over and held her in his arms, planting a kiss on top of her head. She returned the hug, a fresh wave of tears staining his 'Retired US Army Veteran' t-shirt.
It didn't matter to him how many times they had done this. When she couldn't be strong for herself, he would be strong for both of them.
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The sound of sobbing awoke Eevee, and she looked at her trainer with concern. Ever since they left Pallet Town, Ethan started crying in his sleep some nights, but he always seemed okay when he woke up.
Eevee crawled into his sleeping bag and slipped into his arms. It was a little cramped with both of them in there, but she didn't mind.
Ethan's breathing evened as Eevee snuggled against his chest. She licked the salty tears on his cheek as they fell, and after another few minutes, he was sleeping peacefully again.
Twilight began to brighten the sky. Ethan usually got up around this time to get ready for the day to make the most of traveling with the sun.
Ethan's watch began beeping, and he stirred. Eevee quickly put her head and ears down and closed her eyes.
He silenced the alarm and groaned as he came into consciousness. He felt the bundle of fluff against his chest and rubbed Eevee's back, smiling. "Time to get up, Eevee."
Eevee cracked open her eyes, made a show of yawning, and stepped out of the sleeping bag.
Ethan wormed his way out and slowly stood, reaching for the sky as he shivered in the cool morning air. He grabbed his camo thigh pouch from his satchel and strapped it on.
Daisy was still fast asleep near the remains of the dead fire. He grabbed Butterfree's Pokéball and quietly walked to the nearby river and out of sight of their campground with Eevee close behind him.
Ethan tapped the release on the Pokéball, and Butterfree materialized. "Morning, you two. Get some water and do whatever you need to do to wake up. Warm-up starts in five minutes."
Eevee and Butterfree cried an affirmation and began going through their morning routines. Ethan knelt over the river and splashed his face, chasing off any remaining drowsiness and sending a chill through his body. Nothing shocks you awake quite like freezing river water.
He and Daisy had left Pallet Town a week ago, and they were only a few hours away from Pewter City. With any luck, he would win his badge today and move on to Mount Moon without needing to stay the night. The full moon was only three days away, which Ethan predicted was when the wild clefairy would hold their ceremony around the giant Moon Stone.
Ethan and his Pokémon worked hard this past week. In the twilight hours, every morning and evening, they would train. Eevee became proficient in both Swift and Shadow Ball but hadn't yet mastered them. She seemed to pick up special attacks slower than physical attacks.
After they entered the Viridian Forest, Ethan started to have Eevee work on strengthening her tail in preparation for Iron Tail by tying on some rocks and walking with them while they traveled. As she became accustomed to the weight, he added a little more.
To make sure she wasn't too off-balance, he added some weight to her back to counter the weight on her tail. Surprisingly, she took to this style of training wholeheartedly. Ethan made a mental note to buy some weighted gear for him and his Pokémon.
Butterfree took most of the week to get used to her new body and train the moves she already knew. She was flying much faster, her gust was much more powerful, and she had learned Whirlwind. How she didn't blow herself back with the winds she created was a mystery that Ethan was sure had something to do with anime physics.
"Okay, girls, line up!" Ethan ordered as he stood. Eevee dashed and sat a few feet in front of Ethan, a serious look on her face. Butterfree landed and stood beside her. Both gave him their undivided attention.
"Today's the day we take on the Pewter City Gym! We've been training hard all week for this, and I have every confidence we can win, even with our type disadvantage."
He looked at his first Pokémon. "Eevee," he said, "no weights today. I need you in top condition." Eevee gave a mock salute like she had seen Ethan do before.
Ethan disguised a chuckle as a cough as he walked back to the campground and looked around. There were a few other trainers scattered around the clearing, either still asleep or just stirring. "Eevee and I will start with fifteen laps around the edge of the clearing. Butterfree, I want you to fly laps as fast as you can until Eevee and I finish ours. Let's go!"
At that, the three began their warm-up. Ethan decided, after leaving Viridian City earlier that week, that he should probably train, too. He theorized that if he were ever to make progress with his aura, he'd have to train both body and mind. The thought of what he might be able to do with aura was a big motivator. Gaining and keeping the respect of his Pokémon was another.
After twenty minutes, Ethan and Eevee stopped by the river to catch their breath before stretching their warmed-up limbs. When Ethan felt limber enough, he helped Eevee stretch in ways she couldn't easily manage on her own, like how someone would help a dog back in his world stretch their limbs.
"Okay. Time to get to training," Ethan said when they finished. "Eevee, your most effective moves for this gym will be Double Kick and Iron Tail. I want you to find a good tree and practice. I'll check on your progress soon."
"Eev vee!" Eevee nodded and padded to her chosen tree, staying within sight.
"Butterfree, we'll start with meditation." Ethan sat cross-legged, opened his camo pouch, pulled out Sir Aaron's gloves, and put them on. The crystals on the gloves pulsed with a barely perceptible glow before going dim again.
"Sit across from me, and we'll begin. Clear your mind and focus on feeling the different energies in your body. I want to see if we can teach you Energy Ball or Electroweb before we get to Cerulean City," he said. "Remember the energy you felt from Pikachu's electric shocks? See if you can find your dormant electric-type energy."
Ethan was guessing how energy worked, but it seemed to be producing results with his Pokémon so far. He had seen Avatar: The Last Airbender and noticed that energy here seemed to work similarly to Guru Pathik's explanation of chakras, where different pools of energy are located in different parts of the body.
Butterfree's compound eyes glazed over as if focusing on something unseen. Ethan closed his eyes, brought his fists together, and breathed slowly. Meditation was still new to him, and he was going off what little he knew about it and what Daisy told him about the subject.
"Clear your mind," he repeated. "Focus on your breathing. Once you have your rhythm, feel where the energies in your body are located. Identify each one until you find the energy you are looking for, then immerse yourself in it."
Once he got Butterfree started, he turned his focus inward. He had tried meditation a couple of times with Eevee, but she didn't have the patience for it, and she was doing well enough without it for now.
He settled into his rhythm and began to search for something, anything that felt different than expected. He remembered the intense heat he had felt before his transformation into a young adolescent and how it burned him from the inside. The burning feeling had been most intense in the center of his chest, either in or near his heart.
. . .
The sun's beams eventually penetrated the canopy of the trees from the east, and Ethan came out of his meditation. That went somewhat better than it usually did. He didn't find what he was looking for but at least felt he was getting better at meditation.
"Alright, Butterfree, I want you to go to the river and practice your Confusion attack by holding as much water in the air as you can in a sphere until you start to feel a strain, then hold it for as long as you can. We'll start working on Electroweb after this gym battle," Ethan promised. "I'll check on you when I finish checking on Eevee."
Butterfree nodded and took off for the river. Ethan grimaced as he stood, favoring one leg as he felt the pinpricks of the other having fallen asleep. He limped his way to Eevee, his walking returning to normal as his leg woke up.
As he approached, he was pleased to see the notable tail and paw-sized dents in the poor tree. Eevee was a short distance away, preparing for another go.
"Hey, Eevee," Ethan called as he approached, "how's your Iron Tail coming along? Are you able to keep your tail charged with the steel-type energy?"
Eevee glanced at Ethan before turning her focus to her tail. After a few seconds, her tail gleamed with a silvery, metallic sheen. She then dashed on all fours to her chosen tree victim. When she was within range, she pivoted on her front paws and let the momentum and added weight of her hardened tail spin her around, striking the tree with a loud thunk, causing wooden splinters to explode off the tree and some leaves to fall to the ground.
Ethan whistled appreciatively at the display. "That's pretty awesome! You'll have Iron Tail mastered in no time! With more practice, you won't even have to think about it. It'll all be muscle memory."
Eevee managed a smile through her labored breathing, glad that her friend thought so highly of her.
Ethan returned Eevee's smile and turned around as he beckoned her to follow. "I don't want to wear you out before the gym. Let's get you some water and keep Butterfree company while she practices confusion. I'm going to get a little more exercise before breakfast."
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After morning training and a meal, Ethan and Daisy packed and cleaned up camp, refilled their canteens, and continued to Pewter City.
"So, Ethan," Daisy said, "excited for your first gym battle?"
Ethan hummed in thought before returning his gaze forward. "Honestly, I'm kind of nervous. This will be my first official battle. All the battles I've had so far will probably be nothing compared to what I'm going to face. No offense."
"None taken. Gym leaders aren't your everyday trainers. You've been training pretty hard, so you should give yourself a little more credit," she encouraged. "You'll be fine! Gramps always said that if you're nervous, your Pokémon will feel the same way."
"I know, I know. I'm sure I'll be fine when we get there," Ethan said before changing the subject. "I'm going to stop by the Pokémon Center first to top off Eevee and Butterfree. After my win, I'll freshen up at the Center, restock our supplies, and then we'll move right on to Mount Moon."
"Yes! I'd love a hot shower!" Daisy said as she combed her fingers through her hair.
"River baths just don't cut it, do they?"
"Eevee eev!" Eevee chimed in her agreement.
Ethan reached up to his shoulder to scratch Eevee behind the ears. "I guess you'll be wanting a bath as well, huh? You're about due for one anyway."
Eevee nodded and leaned into his hand. Ethan gave her a warm bath in Rota before they left on their journey, and she found that she loved the pampering. She also started becoming somewhat vain about her appearance once she discovered mirrors.
Daisy giggled at the display of affection. "Most mammalian Pokémon should go around a month between baths unless they really start to stink or get dirty enough that some grooming can't clean it out. This allows their natural body oils to maintain a healthy coat and skin. Also, I just want to say that you two are just too cute together! It makes me want to get an eevee of my own."
"I think I read that in a book in Rota," Ethan commented. "And if you want an eevee, go for it! But you'll never find an eevee like mine."
The three laughed as they exited the forest and turned northeast towards Pewter City. It was great to be able to have a conversation with someone.
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After a trip to the Pokémon Center, Ethan stood in front of the Pewter City Gym. Eevee stood by his side, eagerly pawing the ground.
Daisy said she had some errands to run and would see them later. The chance to shower and freshen up was too tempting for her to put off, so she encouraged Ethan to go without her and challenge the gym.
Ethan exhaled slowly. "Now or never. Let's see if Brock's still here," he said, stepping towards the gym doors and pushing one open.
"Ethan? It's you!" a familiar squinty-eyed girl said as Ethan closed the door behind him.
"Hi, Yolanda. I'm finally challenging the gym! Is Brock around?" Ethan asked.
Yolanda shook her head as she came around the reception desk. "Brock left yesterday to join a trainer named Ash on a journey. We'll miss him, but he deserves to pursue his dream of becoming a Pokémon Breeder."
Ethan nodded. So he had barely missed his chance to battle Brock. Now he had no idea what kind of challenge he would be facing.
"Good for him. Brock's a great guy," he said. "Who's taking on challengers now?"
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Her face soured. "My father runs the gym now. It's his first day back as a gym leader. You better beat him!"
"Well, I don't have plans to lose. I need to win, then get back on the road," Ethan said, looking at the doors that separated the waiting room from the battlefield.
Ethan paused, then looked back at Yolanda. "Is your father in there already, or do we need to let him know I'm here?"
"I'll go get him. You can wait at the challenger's box inside," she replied, indicating the doors where Ethan was just looking.
Eevee was already at the door, grunting as she tried to push it open.
The two humans chuckled at her antics. "Better hurry," said Ethan. "As you can see, we're eager to get started."
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The large doors on the other side of the arena groaned as they opened. Ethan stood from his crouched position on the ground with Butterfree and Eevee and turned to face the approaching man.
The man was essentially a taller, older version of Brock. His hair was brown-gray, and the sleeves of his yellow t-shirt were rolled up to his shoulders, exposing the defined muscles of his tanned arms.
Flint's hardened gaze locked onto Ethan, and he slowly approached, his footsteps echoing loudly in the comparatively quiet gym. His nine children filed in through the door and moved upstairs to spectate the upcoming match.
Ethan's heartbeat became more and more audible as Flint closed the distance between them. He tensed in his mixed nervousness and excitement for the upcoming battle.
Flint came to a stop a few feet away, his expression of stone still boring into Ethan, who did his best to betray no emotion.
Flint then spoke. "Who are you, and what do you want with my daughter?" he demanded.
Ethan's face broke into a confused surprise, then laughed as he understood what Flint was asking.
"Daaad!" Yolanda yelled exasperatedly from the spectator area. "I told you, he's just a friend!"
"She's telling the truth, Mr. Harrison. I'm just here to challenge you for the Boulder Badge," Ethan explained. "Nothing more."
Flint studied Ethan for a moment more, then nodded.
"Very well. How many badges do you have?"
"None. This is my first gym battle."
"Then we will use two Pokémon each."
Flint hummed in thought, then looked up at the spectator area. "Forrest, did Brock train you how to judge matches?"
"Uhh, yeah, he did," Forrest replied.
"Then come take your place on the field."
Flint turned around, walked to a panel near the door he came in from, and pushed a button. The ground rumbled as unseen machinery opened the roll-up doors on either side of the gym, and the rocky battlefield moved into position.
After the battlefield was in place, Forrest took his place on a tall, flat rock on the side of the field.
Once Flint was in his box, he nodded to Forrest and enlarged the great ball he held in his hand.
"The Pewter City Gym battle between the gym leader, Flint Harrison, and the challenger, Ethan Dust, from Rota Town, is about to begin!" Forrest declared. "The format of this battle is one-on-one, and each side is permitted to use two Pokémon. The match will be decided when both of either sides' Pokémon are unable to battle, or one side forfeits. Only the challenger may substitute Pokémon. Are both trainers ready?"
Ethan took a deep breath as he and Flint nodded.
Forrest raised his arms. "Then let the battle begin!"
"Go, Rolycoly!" Flint yelled as he threw his great ball. The ball burst open, and a small, rubbly black and gray Pokémon with a single red-orange eye formed on the rocky field.
Ethan's eyes widened in surprise. "Where did you get a Rolycoly? That's a Galar Pokémon!"
"Oh? So you know what a Rolycoly is. So much for the element of surprise. Yes, I caught him in the Galar region a few months ago when I was trying to get endorsed for their gym challenge," Flint said.
Has to be a rock type. I barely touched gen 8, so I don't know what moves it can use. It only has one eye I can see, so it probably lacks depth perception, Ethan speculated as he scanned Rolycoly with his Pokédex and took a photo using its camera. He would submit Rolycoly's data to Professor Oak's database for review later.
Ethan looked to his right. "Butterfree, you're up first," he said. Butterfree trilled and flew into position over the field. Gasps and hushed whispers echoed from the spectator walkway above.
"Eeveeeev!" Eevee whined.
"None of that, Eevee. I'm saving you for his second Pokémon. Gym leaders always save their stronger Pokémon for later," Ethan assured her.
Eevee huffed and sat, appeased for the moment.
"Challenger, you may have the first move!" Flint called.
"Thanks! Butterfree, start with String Shot like we planned!" Ethan directed.
Butterfree nodded and spat the sticky string at her opponent, wrapping it up.
"Yes! Now fly over and use Stun Spore!"
"Rolycoly, raise your body temperature. Burn the string away!"
The coals on Rolycoly's back turned a cherry red as if a fire stoked under them, and the strings burned and shriveled away. A cloud of thick smoke grew and concealed it from view.
A coal Pokémon? So does that make it a fire type too? Ethan wondered.
Butterfree looked around, trying to locate her missing opponent.
"Butterfree, blow the smoke away with Gust, then prepare a confusion attack."
"Fwee!" Butterfree acknowledged as her wings buzzed to dispel the smoke.
"Now, Rolycoly, use Smack Down!"
"Deflect it with Confusion!" Ethan yelled.
Butterfree began to gather her psychic power but made the mistake of holding still. A rock flew from the smoke and smacked Butterfree, stunning and knocking her to the ground.
Verdammt! That was an extremely effective attack, and she can't take another hit like that. Having only one eye doesn't lower Rolycoly's accuracy at all! Ethan analyzed. Butterfree stood and shook her head.
"Rolycoly, Rapid Spin attack!"
"Butterfree, use a Gust and Stun Spore combination and aim it right under you!"
Rolycoly rapidly approached using its wheel-like underside and started to spin. Butterfree channeled the air in a current under her as she flapped her wings and propelled herself upward, saturating the air with the orange spores and scattering them across a short radius of the field.
Rolycoly spun right through Butterfree's previous spot and seized up, the Stun Spore taking effect.
"Now's your chance! Use Confusion and knock it out!"
"Smack Down!" Flint desperately yelled.
It was no use. Butterfree trapped Rolycoly in her psychic grip, lifted her opponent into the air, and hurled it into the ground repeatedly before releasing the unconscious rock-type. Her breathing was labored, and an ugly bruise formed where she was struck.
Forrest studied the outcome for a moment, then raised his left arm. "Rolycoly is unable to battle. Butterfree wins the first round!"
"Great job Butterfree! Take a break. Do you want to rest in your Pokéball or watch Eevee's fight?" Ethan asked.
Butterfree shook her head and landed next to Eevee. She trilled a few silent words to her, who nodded before taking a position on the field. Butterfree flew up to the spectator area to watch the match from a better point of view.
"Okay then," Ethan said as he shrunk her ball and pocketed it.
"Ethan has chosen to substitute in Eevee as his second Pokémon," Forrest announced.
Cheering echoed from above. "Go, Eevee! You can do it!"
Eevee looked up at the eight Harrison siblings and flashed a grin before refocusing on the upcoming round.
"Flint, send out your final Pokémon!"
Flint expanded the Pokéball in his hand. "This Pokémon is the kid of one of my toughest Pokémon. Go, Rhyhorn!"
The Spikes Pokémon formed from the white light of the Pokéball and stomped its foot, roaring for all to hear.
Eevee set her face in a determined frown. Ethan was right. Flint did save his stronger Pokémon for the last round.
Rhyhorn can't steer very well. We've got this, Ethan thought.
Forrest raised his arms, signaling the start of the round. "Begin!"
"Rhyhorn, Take Down attack!"
"Eevee, strafe and use Double Kick."
Eevee widened her stance to steady herself as the Rhyhorn charged, its steps shaking the earth each time its feet came down. She prepared her hind legs for the Double Kick attack, hopped to her right, and jumped off a boulder into the air. The Rhyhorn passed harmlessly under her and put on the brakes.
At the apex of her jump, she reoriented herself and performed a front flip, coming down feet first and kicking Rhyhorn in the back once, then twice before bouncing back and landing on the same boulder she jumped off.
Rhyhorn roared again, but this time in pain from the super-effective attack.
"You can take that, Rhyhorn. Use Earthquake!"
"Eevee, jump with Iron Tail!"
Eevee focused, trying to prepare the Iron Tail as fast as she could. Rhyhorn reared up on their hind legs and stomped the ground with their front feet, causing the earth to tremble. Eevee lost her footing and tumbled from the rock she stood on. Ethan caught himself, bending his knees to try and absorb the shockwaves of the attack.
The quaking slowly subsided, and Eevee shakily stood, blood trickling from her nose.
Damn, I guess we're not ready for that kind of thing yet. Glad I decided not to use Dig for this match, Ethan thought. "You okay, Eevee?"
Eevee snorted and spat a globule of blood to the side.
"Rhyhorn, let's finish this up. Fury Attack!"
"Eevee, Shadow Ball!"
Eevee opened her maw and gathered the energy needed for the attack. Some blood leaking from her nose turned into a dark, wispy substance and fed the forming attack. That didn't go unnoticed.
What the hell? Does blood fuel ghost-type moves? I better ask the professor next time I call, Ethan thought.
"Eevee, let 'er rip!"
Eevee fired the Shadow Ball directly at Rhyhorn. An explosion shook the battlefield as the attack hit the charging Pokémon, covering it in smoke.
Ethan closed his eyes and strained his ears, trying to find out if Rhyhorn was still moving. His eyes snapped open.
"Detect!"
Rhyhorn charged out of the haze of smoke, a little slower than before, and managed to hit Eevee once before she successfully activated the defensive move.
Eevee blurred right, down, right, then did a backflip to avoid the rest of the multi-hit move. Rhyhorn was breathing heavily, while Eevee was only doing a little better.
"Eevee, one more attack, and we win. Use another Double Kick!"
Ethan would have finished with an Iron Tail, but the charge time on it was still too long, and he didn't want to risk Rhyhorn recovering in time to counter.
Eevee ran around a rock to Rhyhorn's flank. She charged her hind legs with the fighting-type energy, then spun around and rammed them into her opponent's side at the same time, causing a decently sized crack in its armor.
"Rhyhorn, no!" Flint cried.
Rhyhorn's cry of pain faded into whimpers as the force of the double kick rolled it onto its side, and it fell limp.
Silence reigned for several moments before Forrest called the match. "Rhyhorn is unable to battle. Eevee wins, and the match goes to Ethan!"
Ethan fell to his knees and placed a hand over his hammering heart as Eevee's cheering section celebrated her victory. That was the most challenging battle he had had to date, and it felt… good.
He looked up to Butterfree, who was gliding back down, then to Eevee, who was also making her way to him. His heart swelled with pride, and he wiped away tears that were beginning to form.
When both of his Pokémon were close enough, he pulled them into his arms. "You girls did great. I'm proud of you both. Thanks for battling with me."
Eevee wriggled out of his arms, jumped onto his shoulder, and nuzzled his cheek, making herself comfortable. Butterfree trilled contentedly, then hovered by his other shoulder as Flint came into Ethan's field of vision.
Flint's gaze softened as he offered a hand to Ethan. Ethan accepted the hand and let Flint pull him to his feet.
"Good match, Ethan. Now I see why my children were so excited to see you."
Ethan chuckled. "I think they were here for Eevee. She was pretty popular when we stayed the night a few weeks ago."
"Come to think of it, they did talk more about the eevee than the trainer," Flint mused. "Regardless, you have beaten me."
Flint reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, polished gray octagon. "This is the Boulder Badge. It is proof of your victory at the Pewter City Gym. Take it."
Ethan accepted the badge and held it so Eevee and Butterfree could see what their hard work earned them.
"Thank you," Ethan said. "Check it out, girls. Just seven more to go, then we can enter the Indigo Conference."
Eevee leaned forward and sniffed the trinket in her trainer's hand. She smelled the coppery scent of blood and remembered that her nose was still bleeding.
Ethan pulled out a badge case from his satchel, pinned his new badge in the first slot, and stowed it away.
"Good luck on the rest of your journey," Flint said before walking away.
"I'll come back to challenge you at your full strength if I have time before the next league," Ethan said.
Flint waved an arm in response. "I look forward to it."
Ethan took in the condition of his Pokémon and winced. "Let's get you two to the Pokémon Center."
Ethan and his Pokémon said their goodbyes to the Harrison family and departed.
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After Ethan dropped his Pokémon off with Nurse Joy, he met up with Daisy, got a key to the room she rented, took a shower, and started a load of laundry. He then went to the nearby market and restocked on food and supplies.
He was surprised to find that he received a stipend from the league for his victory at the Gym. The extra cash would be nice. He decided to purchase a few weighted training harnesses for his Pokémon and a weighted vest for himself, purchasing them using the credits that Professor Oak deposited into his league account.
As part of Professor Oak's sponsorship, all his trainer and Pokémon-related expenses are covered, within reason. The professor would deposit a lump sum of credits to his trainer account each month, and all Ethan had to do was keep track of his expenses. Any spending beyond that allotment would come out of his reserves. Of course, Ethan wasn't too concerned about going beyond that allotment. If being jobless through a pandemic back home had taught him anything, it was how to be frugal.
He was now back in his room at the Pokémon Center, drying Eevee off after giving her the bath he promised. The hair dryer made her fur stand out in all directions.
Ethan laughed and wished he had his phone. "C'mon, Eevee. Let's see if we can tame that fur of yours."
Ethan carried her into the bedroom and set her on his lap, where she made herself comfortable. He pulled out a brush and began brushing down her fur like Daisy had taught him during their trek through the Viridian forest.
Butterfree was on a nearby bed, resting after her spot-cleaning courtesy of her trainer. Since she couldn't allow her wings to get wet for long periods, Ethan cleaned her by wiping her down with a warm, damp towel.
"You know, I really am proud of you two. You battled remarkably well," Ethan praised. "I feel like it's my fault you got hurt. I realized partway through the battle that our training was focused so much on offense and power that I completely spaced working on defense. I'm going to fix that before we get to the Cerulean Gym. I think I'll start mixing in defense and evasion training with what we're already doing."
Eevee nodded along with whatever Ethan just said. She was in such a state of euphoria that she couldn't be bothered to do anything other than purr.
A knock at the door broke the silence. "Ethan, you in there?"
"Door's unlocked."
The knob turned, and Daisy walked in carrying a sack. "Your clothes finished drying, so I brought them here for you."
"Oh, uh, thank you. Just put them on the bed there. I'll finish packing when I'm done with Eevee."
"You're doing a good job with that brush," Daisy praised as she set the sack down. "How soon do you want to leave?"
"I think we'll leave after I'm all packed and we have lunch. I'm glad that I got the badge on the first try."
"It's always a good feeling when you win. I remember getting my first contest ribbon. It felt like I was on top of the world, as cliché as that sounds."
"Very cliché," Ethan agreed. "Anything else you need to do while we're here?"
Daisy thought for a moment. "I don't think so."
Ethan nodded, inspected his handiwork, and nodded again. "Okay, Eevee. You're all pretty again! I just got to pack, and then I'll feed you."
"Eev, Eeveev!" Eevee licked his chin, then jumped onto the bed to rest near Butterfree.
Ethan kneeled over his things and began packing. "How about you wait in the lobby, Daisy? I'll be down in a few minutes."
"Sure! I'll call Gramps while I wait. He'll want to know that you earned your first badge." Daisy said as she left and closed the door behind her.
Ethan smiled and began humming the Pokémon theme song as he folded and stuffed his clothes into his bag. Today had been a great day.