"Your an awful lot of attention to your notebook out on this sunny day Evan'."
"Sorry grandpa, its just that I'm super excited to see Striker again."
He chuckled at that. "And not your mother?"
"Well, of course I'm excited to see mom again since it's been a month since we met face to face but Striker's different type of excited."
Something in his eyes shifted and he nodded. Could someone's smile be sad?
"I get it. I admit, I also want to meet Striker really badly."
I then decided to put the notebook down and enjoy the sun.
My dentist appointment was unfortunately at the same time as Elian's gym battle. Which was at 11 with no hopes of rescheduling for either of us for any reservations today and tomorrow.
I was bummed out because I wouldn't be able to watch as a friend of his but other than that it didn't really affect anything since this specific gym never actually sent out its recorded matches so trainers would only be able to believe word of mouth from other trainers and the few they deem to allow to watch the match.
I decided to do a little training by myself before grandpa and I set up stuff for our picnic while we would wait for mom. Leaf was finally able to turn on fire but she had to stop, drop, and roll as Pearl sprayed her with water since the fire actually began burning her; once we manage to get past this hiccup then every single ice type will shudder in fear of my Leafeon.
Because of our arrangement, we planned that he would first challenge himself against the ninja academy today while I spent time with my mom and grandpa, while afterwards I'd battle the academy the day after tomorrow while mom was still around because today was a Friday so school would be off for the next two days.
She arrived via Bouffalant, who was more than happy to stretch his legs on a long trek, and Drifblim, who was actually really fast once she used Tailwind.
Though because she arrived at like 3:35ish pm Elian had already went off to get himself a potential TM, more battling experience against poison types, and some prize money. I, meanwhile, had spent the time introducing grandpa to Ralts and Tabitha who were taking a short break from their future gym battle so they could afford to wait around a little with me and meet another member of my family.
The three of them hit it off swimmingly with Tabitha being really excited to meet another person related to me while Ralts was more intrigued by the concept of a grandpa which tells me that she never had nor met a grandpa before. Gramps was happy at how happy my Pokemon were and then told me he was really proud that I kept Tabitha and asked for permission about keeping Ralts.
It felt really nice.
He also kept on saying about how good it was that I spent most of my time traveling helping others but I waved that off since it was only natural to do that stuff. Plus it gave the team even more opportunities with doing stuff like mediating fights between others or learning how to fight large numbers when others gang up on them.
Dad was a ranger and that stuff was apparently second natural for him.
When mom came to town and found us, she saw grandpa and I over at the nearest park with most of my team playing or hanging out a little ways away- I wasn't gonna let them out of my sight after that whole thing with Dee-Dee- and whoever wasn't over there was getting their fur or stingers a good and nice clean.
Dee-Dee was being protective over the egg, 'and for good reason' everyone on the team probably thought, but even she was enjoyed having her fur cleaned smoothed over while she talked with Beedrill; I think the only person who doesn't is Lupa but he loves a good scritch.
She quickly sent out her team and Striker, who was much more energetic than the last time I'd seen him, before sitting down with us
"Hello everyone"
"Hi mom/Indee/Bzzz/Great to see you one last time Elizabeth"
Mom just rolled her eyes at that last part "You always say that Albert and someday its gonna happen and I'm gonna think its an elaborate prank and then everyones gonna think that I never really cared about being your daughter-in-law."
Grandpa flashed a smile at that "I already put it in my will that if that ever happens you get everything I own, including my vinyl records."
"Eh, I'd probably sell all that junk for Evandros' college funds. You told me yourself that there were only a few Pre-war musicians and most of their records are borderline depressing."
There was a whole host of questions that I had but the only one I spoke was "College funds?"
"Yeah sweetie, in case you decide to drop being a trainer then you kind of have to do advanced studying to get some of the cooler jobs like being an engineer or doctor or even a police officer." She then ruffled my hair and giggled "Well, anything you guys have planned? Mew knows that I'd love to spend some time relaxing."
We all then proceeded to have a really nice picnic with some homemade sandwiches that grandpa and I made together with Chardon and Dee-Dee, and when I realized that the fire type actually liked being depended upon whenever I cook while the psychic type liked to prepare stuff like the tomatoes and lettuce while holding the knife in her hand as she holds the fruits and veggies using her psychic abilities. These are some mean sandwiches since they're stuffed with corn, rye, chicken, lettuce, olives, mayo, and finally tomatoes; grandpa tried making me put onions and all I have to say is never again.
After finishing up with polishing Beedrill's stingers I got up and retrieved Pearl. Pearl understood the assignment and the four enjoying the sun had to run away quickly from a flash rain. Fingers and stingers and paws were all pointing at the two of us but we knew it was actually Leaf who did it, the little minx had a playful side that even scared her usually unflappable brother. I was just getting Pearl to Starmie so that the water and psychic type could help her with both Brine and Confuse Ray since they knew the two moves.
We all went to grandpa's afterwards and helped mom with the luggage she brought. I kinda wasn't allowed to help since almost all the bags were too heavy for me so they were carried by Grandpa and the three psychics- that sounds like a book name- and mom got situated at one of the guest bedrooms.
I then told about my plan to stay for a little under a week here before going to Vermillion again and challenging the electric type gym.
"-and I know that I could use Beedrill but I think its better for him to have more time practicing moves and getting down that trick we're trying to stop his wings from weakening before he battles the Cerulean gym. I was thinking of teaching him something like Toxic Spikes since most of his species are used to setting them up to force the opponent on a timer."
Grandpa's also here listening in but he said he only wants to hear my reasoning.
Mom then looks at the team hmm's mysteriously before answering.
"Well I can understand Beedrill and I know that Chardon will be the star against Misty while Lupa and Woody are sort of self-explanatory but why not use Leaf? I mean, it's not like her typing is super effective and she's only resistant against electric types. I'm pretty sure you're allowed to use a defensive eeveelution the way they were meant to be used like an Espeon walling off status conditions or a Vaporeon setting up a cushion for its teammates."
I was shaking my head before her sentence was finished "Its because Leaf has a resistance to electric types due to her grass typing; its why I'm not going to use her and haven't used here against Erika. I already promised her a fight against Sabrina, Janine, and Blaine and only for my eighth badge will I use a type resistant Pokemon and that'll be Chardon."
The fire type in question was not here, as well as Woody, so the two were on a video call listening to mom and I speak. He did this weird squawk/roar thing when his name was said so I moved on to explain to him.
"Chardon, you might be a starter but you're also my partner Pokemon. The last gym battle is always gonna be the hardest, so of course I'm gonna use my heaviest hitter and it just so happens that almost I'll be using almost all Pokemon had on Route 1, so why not give 'em a show right? Plus Blaine is known to use the Rhyhorn line and is more of a Pokemon living in volcano's specialist than a fire type specialist." It wasn't even a debate and I made sure to explain that in my tone before I addressed mom again. "Anyway, I'm just saying that if the egg hatches or if I catch a poison or a dark or any typing that's neutral or weak to electric then I'm gonna use them and not anybody I have right now. Heck, I might just use Dee-Dee and her only role would be to set up Calm Mind and Wish before using Baton Pass if I can get her to learn those moves in time."
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Mom made a 'go on' motion with her hand so I explain.
"Dee-Dee hates fighting and that's pretty obvious once you spend a couple minutes with her so the only reason I'd ever send her out to battle is to set up stuff likes screens, healing moves like Aromatherapy, and buffing herself up before shifting the buffs over to Pearl who I wouldn't have to worry as much about since she could use Iron Defense and go from -1 defense up to +1 and a +2 special defense down to +1 so she'd still be tanky enough to handle most of what Surge has on his team; even if you ignore the +3 special attack and her Rapid Spin that she could use to further increase speed without drawback. Though I should have Ralts learn Aromatherapy as well since it would work really well with her whole disruptor thing."
"Seems to me you really don't want to learn the strongest moves around and you're focusing more on tactical ones."
"Well duh," my team looks at me in confusion, both around and through the video call set up "look guys, its not like I don't want to eventually teach you all stuff like Flare Blitz or Hyper Beam but those moves are usually big on the stamina drain and stuff like that and right now I want to make sure you guys have the skills and technique so that moves like those shouldn't be our finishing strategy and more like our pop 'em off whenever nothing else can do the trick strategy. That's why the three with the strongest moves are Woody, Chardon, and Leaf who know Hammer Arm, Iron Tail, Leaf Blade, and Flamethrower; and Hammer Arm was more due to evolution luck than anything else. I'll eventually get around to teaching all of you stuff like Hydro Pump or Draco Meteor but right now you should focus on the moves that I say we should focus on."
Aside from some unhappy frowns from Beedrill and Lupa, the entire team nodded in understanding. Dee-Dee meanwhile was perusing my pokedex and the screen was on the move section- oh she's looking up what Aromatherapy does- and then nods while purposefully clenching her fist in front of me for a fist bump.
I bump her back, don't really know why we did it though.
"Well, any plans on what to do with Ralts? You've already established about Pearl and Tabitha but last I remember there isn't really anything other than 'improve Thunder Punch into Thunder Wave' and I don't think those two moves are gonna be good picks in the gym."
"Honestly, she's meant to use Psychic to restrain whoever's out against her and send out a Life Dew and hang it above herself before finally using Ally Switch into Tabs or Pearl if they get too tired or hurt depending on who I say would really profit off the scenario. Confuse Ray's also gonna go really big so I have her practicing those four moves alongside trying to learn Thunder Wave. If the others fall then she'll Confuse Ray and finish off any Pokemon using Psychic since I'm pretty sure not many electric types know dark moves."
She nodded along to my reasoning before raising her hands in defeat. Then we all decided to watch a movie but Professor Oak came into the video call and explained that he needed Tabs again so I've gotta head back to the Pokemon Center to hand her over; and Ralts as well so both my Pokemon can train.
Sure I'd like to do some one-on-one training with all three chosen for Surge but sometimes other stuff happens.
Today's still a pretty great day.
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As the cheers of the stands reached a crescendo and the referee of the match raised her right hand into the sky it had become increasingly clear.
Mirielle had done it.
She'd gotten her second badge.
The beginning part of the exhausting battle had started with the rookie trainer sending out Rookidee against Misty and forcing her to reveal her all three of her Pokemon with Whirlwind and then using dodging tactics with the flying type to think up of some basic plans of who she would send out.
The next part was about systemically using Pikachu against her Staryu and Mankey against her Krabby. Both of whom would be paralyzed by Pikachu's Thunder Wave.
There were some kinks in the plan, cracks forming with each and every second. Like how Misty's Krabby was just as adept at using Iron Defence and Metal Claw as any of its water moves. The most dangerous one was when the water type specialist switched her Staryu into the Goldeen which somehow knew how to use Drill Run to nullify the charge of Pikachu's electric attacks
The young trainer then had to swap again into the tired Rookidee and force the flying type to battle the fish Pokemon through a hastily placed Mean Look. It was a two vs two and only one of Mirielle's Pokemon was fresh while one of Misty's was paralyzed.
Or so she thought.
It turned out that Staryu had the ability Natural Cure so the status ailment was solved as soon as the water type had left the field.
It was a stroke of luck alongside absolutely perfect timing that Rookidee had evolved into Corvisquire, the secondary stage of the mono-flying type, and had used a combination of Gust and Whirlwind to make a powerful rotation on the pool which turned the water into a whirlpool that smashed the Goldeen into the side of the pool before a Quick Attack had finally knocked out the persistent fish; but at that point the flying type was too exhausted to battle.
It was down to a final one vs one confrontation
She had to wipe her forehead with her hand to halt her sweat and the spray from the pool from obscuring her view more than once.
And through a monumental effort on both trainer and Pokemon's part, and despite the best efforts Misty to prevent it, the victor had been decided.
After all, what water type could match well against an electric type without having some tools to combat paralysis and a whole bunch of Thunder Shocks.
As she clutched the the small badge in her hand and the adrenaline from having such an intense battle began leaving her body, Mirielle shakily walked back to through to the hallway she had come from while having the sense of mind to send out Vivillon to keep herself steady on the thin walkway she had traversed to challenge the water type gym leader in the first place.
"Thank you Vivillon." Her words caused a light blush on the bug types face as she curled her antenna over her face. The yellow and orange winged Pokemon then chittered in her undecipherable language, but one didn't need to know the language to understand the intent, and Mirielle knew that her Pokemon was saying that this act was nothing important.
"Thank you anyway." And with that, the bright red-faced Pokemon could do nothing but sigh and accept her defeat.
Slowly, Mirielle got her legs to stop shaking like a leaf as she then transitioned into walking with Vivillon on her shoulder.
A smile tugged her cheeks upwards, she had won.
By the time she had really and truly realized that, she had already left the blue tinted double doors of the gym and was embracing her two traveling companions out on the sidewalk with utter joy as all three had received their badges and they could begin heading along to Vermillion.
She might even meet Evandros.
'Will he be any more stranger than last time' she idly wondered.
Only time would tell.
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Today's kind of become a crummy day.
Apparently Professor Oak forgot that he needed to do some check ups on my team so he kept Chardon and Woody even as I sent over Ralts and Tabs to his lab.
Now I've only got three Pokemon to use in battles, four in total with Dee-Dee. My entire plan for the ninja academy rests on the shoulders of who I've currently got. Now I'll have to refill my bag with ethers when previously all I needed was potions.
Plus there's that examination thing for Dee-Dee coming up before I leave the city so I won't even be able to catch anyone that wants to join the team, I'd even take a Rattata or a Magikarp.
Thankfully, there's a guy near the Center who's a move tutor and his Growlithe and Houndour are willing to help Lupa learn the basics of Thunder Fang; but man. If only I could have either Woody or Chardon because right now it seems like I'm grasping at straws here.
Well whatever, better trainers have done more with less and all that lovely jazz.
I began walking back to grandpa's house to find that Elian's already inside.
"Think fast!"
I may have yelped as I caught the TM he threw it at me; I can admit that.
I take a breath just so I can do a dramatic sigh before I can read it and-
"Pretty cool huh?"
"They gave you Curse?!"
He caught the TM as I threw it back to him "Yeah, oddly enough its gonna be majorly useful since none of the team is even that fast and the extra physical defense 'll go a long way for Abra since he doesn't know Calm Mind yet but thanks to Ralts he's managed to get the basics of Thunder Punch. But Paras 'll definitely appreciate the extra boost in his physical capabilities especially since he's got Fury Cutter. I've heard about this move called Trick Room where the slowest is the fastest and the fastest is the slowest and using Curse might make us unstoppable if I can get anyone on the team to learn that move."
"Man, now I'm probably gonna get something crummy like Sand Attack."
"Pfft, I don't think they even make a TM for Sand Attack."
"Well, they're probably heading over to a TM making machine thingamabob just to make a TM for Sand Attack if my lucks anything to go by."
"You know, there was an old saying that Celadon has, um, I think it goes like 'The seeds of success must always be watered by love, compassion, and effort for one to expect a bountiful harvest'. I don't really get why we say that but we say it a lot when someone we know gets a job or a diploma or gets married."
Mom then decides to butt in on the conversation. "Well, in ancient Kanto back when the towns were merely tribes and we had these major kerfuffles of one tribe trying to take over all the rest, it was actually the tribe that lived in Celadon that initiated talks of peace and managed to get the help of tribes from Pewter down to Vermillion. Their attempts with Viridian were rebuffed for a bit until they got five whole tribes to back them up. That quote was taken directly from the head of the Celadon's tribe leader who would later become the second recorded Elite Four member in Kanto history. It basically means that any success you achieve would be through your own efforts because you cared enough to want to succeed." Of course, she says all this major history stuff while eating popcorn on grandpa's couch in the living room.
"Where's grandpa?"
"Taking his midday nap, the joys of becoming older."
I couldn't help but snort at that "Yeah right, then you miss doing the cool stuff that happens during the day like those midday buffet things that some restaurants do."
"Mmm, good point; but naps are better." She then looked down at her popcorn bag before standing up "And with that, I think that I'd like a nap too. Kinda woke up early because of school." She's probably one of the few adults that could genuinely say that as a reason to nap. I don't know if that's cool or lame.
Well, there's really nothing I can do today since I already told everyone on the team about the issue and gave them the rest of the day off.
"Okay mom, I'm going over to the closest arcade. Does anybody wanna come with?"
Course, everybody's team was either in the room or out on the small backyard grandpa has so I quickly got a gaggle of Pokemon and Elian following along to go check if there even is an arcade in the traditional city which probably should be categorised as a town. I managed to spoil Bouffalant and Striker with some ice cream and cotton candy, none for me since I've got my dental appointment tomorrow.
The rest of the Pokemon got to try out naps.
I think the Pokemon with me agree that my plan was much better than what the others wanted to do. Plus I confirmed that Striker has both Wing Attack and Steel Wing so I politely asked him if he could move the artificial wings he makes using the move and he can.
By tomorrow I'll get him ready to fly again.