Kenji and Axel left Vermillion City at dawn, setting off north toward Saffron, their next stop before eventually reaching Celadon City. The sun cast long shadows as they walked along the dirt path, their Pokémon trotting beside them—Gengar floating playfully in the air and Mabosstiff marching steadily.

"Celadon, huh?" Axel began, glancing at Kenji. "You know, Erika specializes in Grass-type Pokémon. But it’s not just about type advantage. Her Gym is tricky... lots of status moves like Sleep Powder and Stun Spore. You’ve gotta stay sharp."

Kenji nodded, listening carefully. "I figured I’d use Pidgeotto for her, and maybe Raticate too. They’re both fast."

"Speed’s good, but don’t rely on just that. Grass-types have a way of turning things around if you’re not careful. And Erika's no pushover—she’s calm, but her tactics are brutal. I've heard stories about her Tangela’s infuriating vines, and that Vileplume can pack a punch."

Kenji frowned. "What would you do?"

Axel shrugged. "I'd go in with a diverse team—something that can hit hard but also handle long fights. You might want to think about status moves of your own. Gengar could be a game-changer with Hypnosis or something tricky."

Kenji glanced over at Gengar, who grinned mischievously and floated closer, as if he understood the pressure ahead. "I guess we’ll figure something out."

As they walked, they passed through a quiet meadow, the tall grass swaying gently in the breeze. The city of Saffron loomed in the distance, its towering buildings visible over the treetops. Kenji felt a strange excitement as they neared the bustling city, a major hub in Kanto.

Axel continued, "Saffron’s Gym is Psychic-type. That’s one you’ll deal with eventually, but trust me, Celadon’s your next step. Focus on that."

"Yeah," Kenji said, though a part of him already felt the weight of Erika's challenge pressing on him. He'd just come off his first major loss in the tournament, and the thought of facing another strong trainer made him uneasy.

As they entered the outskirts of Saffron, the atmosphere shifted. The streets were busier, the air more charged with energy.

Kenji took a deep breath. "I guess it’s one step at a time."

As Kenji and Axel wandered through Saffron’s bustling streets, they came across a strange man standing on a corner near a small house. He wore a long coat, and his eyes darted around nervously, as though he were trying to blend in, yet failing.

"Hey, you two trainers!" he called out, his voice low but insistent. "I can teach one of your Pokémon the move Psychic. Powerful stuff, you interested?"

Kenji and Axel exchanged a glance. There was something off about this guy. Axel crossed his arms, skeptical. "You’re teaching Psychic? Just like that?"

The man nodded quickly, rubbing his hands together. "Yeah, for a small fee, of course. It’s a rare move, you know? Makes your Pokémon unbeatable!"

Kenji frowned, feeling Gengar hovering a bit closer, sensing the unease. "This doesn’t feel right," Kenji muttered under his breath to Axel.

Axel, still wary, nodded. "Let’s be careful."

Kenji stepped forward. "Alright. How about this—we’ll try it out. But first, I want to see how good you really are at controlling Psychic energy."

The man blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, sure. What do you want me to do?"

Kenji’s expression darkened slightly as he signaled to Gengar. "Use Hypnosis, now!"

Before the man could react, Gengar’s eyes gleamed with a menacing glow, and swirling rings of energy pulsed out, enveloping the man. His eyelids grew heavy, and within seconds, he slumped to the ground, snoring lightly.

Axel whistled. "Nice move."

Kenji knelt down and rifled through the man’s pockets, pulling out a small key and a slip of paper that had the Team Rocket insignia on it. His stomach churned with anger.

"Team Rocket," Kenji said with disgust. "I knew something was off."

Axel’s eyes widened. "So, this guy was trying to steal our Pokémon by pretending to teach us Psychic?"

"Looks like it," Kenji replied, pocketing the key. "We need to get him to the police."

They dragged the unconscious man to the local police station. Once there, the officer in charge raised an eyebrow when they explained the situation. "So, you caught a Team Rocket grunt pretending to be a Psychic tutor?"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Yeah," Kenji said, handing over the paper with the insignia. "He mentioned something about teaching Psychic, but it didn’t sit right with us."

The officer nodded. "Good instincts. We’ve been getting reports of strange behavior in this area for a while now." She looked at the key Kenji handed over and frowned. "This must be for the house near where you found him."

They went with the police to the house, and when they unlocked the door with the key, they found the real Psychic tutor tied up in the corner, looking frazzled but unharmed.

"Thank you!" the man exclaimed as they freed him. "I was locked up for days. That crook impersonated me to steal Pokémon."

The police took the Team Rocket grunt into custody, and the tutor shook Kenji and Axel’s hands gratefully. "If you still want me to teach Psychic to one of your Pokémon, it’s on the house for saving me."

Kenji smiled. "Thanks, but I think we’ll pass for now. We’ve had enough excitement for one day. We’ll come back tomorrow."

With the matter settled, they headed toward the Pokémon Center, both of them feeling hungry after the eventful morning.

As they sat down at one of the tables in the Pokémon Center, Kenji ordered some rice with teriyaki sauce, and Axel went for a bowl of ramen. Gengar and Mabosstiff sat next to them, happily munching on some special Pokémon food.

"Can’t believe that guy was Team Rocket," Kenji said between bites. "You think there are more of them around here?"

Axel shrugged. "Probably. Team Rocket is everywhere, always scheming. You’ve got to be careful in cities like this. People are too trusting, and that’s where they thrive."

Kenji nodded thoughtfully. "At least we stopped him before he could do any real damage."

Mabosstiff nudged Gengar, who grinned and playfully phased through the table to spook him. The two Pokémon were quickly becoming friends, their contrasting natures complementing each other—Mabosstiff’s serious, protective demeanor and Gengar’s mischievous, ghostly antics.

Axel smiled as he watched the two. "Looks like Gengar and Mabosstiff are getting along well."

"Yeah," Kenji replied, watching them fondly. "They make a good team, just like us."

After finishing their meal, Kenji and Axel decided to head out back behind the Pokémon Center, where the battle area was bustling with activity. Trainers from all over Saffron City and beyond were practicing and showing off their skills. It wasn’t an official tournament, just casual battles where trainers could test their strategies, and the energy in the air was infectious.

As they approached, they found a spot near the fence where they could get a good view of the ongoing battles. A fierce match was underway—two trainers, one using a Blastoise and the other a Magmar, were locked in an intense exchange of water blasts and fiery attacks. The ground was steaming from the elemental clash, and the crowd was cheering loudly.

"Blastoise, Hydro Pump!" one of the trainers shouted, and the large, turtle-like Pokémon unleashed a torrent of water from its cannons, dousing Magmar in a heavy, pressurized blast.

Magmar’s trainer was quick to counter. "Magmar, Smokescreen, now!"

The arena filled with thick, black smoke, obscuring Blastoise’s vision, and within seconds, the match shifted as Magmar emerged with a flaming punch aimed right at Blastoise’s shell.

Axel leaned against the fence, watching the battle with interest. "That’s smart, using Smokescreen to throw off Blastoise’s aim like that."

Kenji nodded. "Yeah, but Hydro Pump takes a lot of energy. If it misses too many times, Blastoise might get worn out fast."

Axel smirked. "That’s why you’ve got to have backup moves. Never rely on just one attack to win a battle."

Kenji turned to him, curious. "So, what would you have done differently?"

Axel scratched his chin, watching the smoke dissipate as the battle continued. "With Blastoise? I’d probably focus on using its bulk. Have it take hits while setting up for something more strategic. Maybe Rain Dance, followed by a less demanding water-Type move. And always have a counter for something like Smokescreen. Maybe an attack that doesn't miss."

Kenji nodded, impressed. "Makes sense. What about with Mabosstiff? You’ve been using Thunder Fang a lot, but what would you do if you faced a Pokémon like Blastoise?"

Axel chuckled. "That’s where it gets tricky. Blastoise is a tank, so I’d need to get in some early damage with Thunder Fang, maybe Crunch to lower its defense. But in a drawn-out fight, I’d probably switch to Marowak or Fearow. Each battle’s different, so adapting is key."

Kenji leaned back, folding his arms as he watched Blastoise finally knock out Magmar with a well-placed Water Pulse. "I guess that’s where I need to improve. I tend to rely too much on Gengar’s offensive power. I should think more about strategy."

Axel nodded seriously. "Gengar’s a beast, no doubt, but you’ve got to use every angle. Type advantages, status moves, switching out when needed—it’s all about keeping your opponent guessing."

Kenji glanced at Gengar, who was floating beside him, watching the battle area with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You hear that, buddy? We’ve got to mix it up a bit more."

Gengar grinned and nodded, his ghostly form flickering.

They continued to watch the matches, exchanging thoughts on different tactics. At one point, they saw a battle between a Hitmonchan and a Jolteon, which was all about speed. Jolteon zipped around the battlefield, dodging punches, while Hitmonchan used its elemental punches to try and land a blow.

Axel pointed at Jolteon’s trainer. "That’s impressive—he’s using Double Team to make Jolteon almost impossible to hit. But it’s risky. One good punch from Hitmonchan, and Jolteon’s done."

Just as he said it, Hitmonchan managed to land an Ice Punch on Jolteon, freezing it in place.

Axel raised an eyebrow. "See? No matter how fast you are, there’s always a counter."

Kenji smiled. "You’re always thinking ahead, huh?"

Axel shrugged. "You have to. Being one step ahead can make the difference between winning and losing."

They stayed for a while longer, watching the battles unfold, each one offering new insights. The day was turning into one of those rare moments where they could learn, relax, and strategize at the same time.

Kenji leaned back against the fence, watching another match start between a Dragonair and a Pidgeot. "I’ve got to say, this has been a good way to unwind after everything. Learning from watching is as important as battling."

Axel smiled. "Exactly. You can’t just throw yourself into battle without knowing what works. Watching others helps you see moves and strategies you might not have thought of. That’s why you should be ready for whatever Celadon throws at you."

Kenji grinned. "I’ll be ready!"