The break room at the Trainer School had all the essentials. A well worn couched, plastic chairs around a small table, a microwave, a fridge, and a small army of chipped mugs. Zigzagoon lay in a beam of sunlight that came through the room's open window, the echoes of rowdy school children free from their classes for the last time carried in with the breeze.
Opposite Basil, nursing a coffee dark as the rings under her eyes, was his Boss/Mentor/Friend Roxanne Breccia. The lead up to the start of the new league season, only days away now, had not been kind to her or her schedule. It had gotten bad enough that Basil had been entrusted running a few classes on his own when the pre-season crunch had been at its worst. The classes probably weren’t supposed to become movies on an old CRT TV in retrospect. (Timegate Traveller and The Dusknoir’s Curse had been Basil’s favorite.)
Before the season officially kicked off, there were always a few things that happened. An exhibition match featuring the reigning champion, an increase in demand for outdoors gear and the local schools, trainer or otherwise, would finish their semesters.
So here Basil was having one last meeting before his employment officially ended.
“Well then, I suppose this is it for us.” Roxanne begins, pausing to take a long sip “Your last pay should be sent through automatically this evening, with a little bit extra as a thank you for your work.”
“Oh! Thank you.” Basil starts “I - We - Zigzagoon and I appreciate it. Really, I should be thanking you for the opportunity”
“Well you’re quite welcome,” Roxanne replies with a tired smile “It was nice to have an extra set of hands with the students in the lead up to the season starting. Speaking of which, I assume your plans haven’t changed?”
“Nope, I’ll be heading out after the season starts properly” Basil says, mentally going over his plan “Zigzagoon and I agreed that it would be best if we split our time between the Gym Challenge and doing what odd jobs we can to support ourselves in the meantime.”
At this Roxanne simply hums. They had gone over Basil’s plan for the season together, in one of the lunch breaks they had together before Roxanne became busy with Gym Leader duties. A regular Gym Challenge would see trainers trying to get as many badges as they could during their journey. While only a fraction would earn all 8 and go onto qualify for the tournament, the Ever Grande Conference, nearly every trainer pursuing the Gym Challenge would try their hand at each Gym they came across during their journey.
This is where Basil’s secret weapon comes into play: His low self-expectations.
Basil had decided pretty early on in his planning that he only really wanted maybe half of the badges. 4 badges would be enough to start opening doors and job offers, it would prove that Basil had the skills necessary to handle Pokémon as well as most average trainers. By focusing on fewer gyms, not only could he pick his battles but he would have more time to prepare for each.
“I hope your journey is productive” Roxanne offers into the quiet conversation. “But more than that, I hope it gives you some sense of peace.”
“Hmm?” Basil replies, with some confusion “I didn’t realize I was in need of peace.”
Roxanne gives one last small smile, standing from the table “You do a good job of hiding it, but I’ve dealt with my fair share of lying students.”
“I -” Basil starts, heart suddenly racing, before Roxanne cuts him off.
“You don’t need to tell me, your privacy is your own. I just wanted you to give it some thought while you’re out in the world”
“Give… give what some thought?” Basil stutters out, suddenly feeling very off balance.
“The same thing I ask all my students” Roxanne is halfway out the door, but turns back to look Basil in the eye. “What do you want to do? Not what you’re going to do, or what you need to do. What do you want?”
As the Gym Leader leaves, part of Basil realizes he’s never been so unsettled by career counseling.
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Checking his banking balance at the nearest ATM, Basil was pleased to see he had a cool 500,000 Poké. He had been saving up in preparation for departing on for the Gym Challenge, starting from nothing as he was there was a lot of gear he needed to buy.
Pulling out a handwritten list, Basil considered what he needed to buy. A tent, A bag and camp kitchen gear were the main items on his list.
The tent would be easy enough, a single person sized one wouldn’t eat too much into his budget 50,000 Poké or so, and it would be worth getting a good quality one as well, no matter how much it hurt his budget. The camp kitchen, the pots, pans and portable stove would run him a similar amount.
The big ticket item would be the bag. Specifically, a Silph Co. Travel Bag.
Coming in a range of styles and sizes, Silph Co bags were considered a must have item by many veteran trainers. What set them apart from the standard bags was their innovative, and patented, use of space compression technology, essentially making them able to store magnitudes more in volume, at only a fraction of the weight.
New clothes? A working phone? A map not made of paper, liable to blow away in the wind? All of these, Basil had chosen to forsake on the altar of financial planning. All for the sake of the One True Bag.
After collecting his purchases, and desperately trying not to look at the price tags as he did. Basil was the proud owner of a Silph Co messenger-styled bag, crammed with camping equipment and what few possessions Basil had accumulated at the Pokécenter.
The style had been chosen in memory of the bag he had collected/scavenged when he first arrived. The strap had given out a week ago and the holes had finally reached critical mass the other day, leaving Basil with little choice but to retire it.
With the little remaining funds they had, Basil swung by the Pokémart. Stocking up on the essentials, long life food supplies for both him and Zigzagoon, an array of healing items from burn heals to potions and a coil of escape rope, was quick work leaving Basil to carefully count the last of his spending money as he stood staring at the shelves of Pokéballs.
A set of 10 Pokéballs, with a freebie Premier Ball, would run about 1,000 Poké, about the same cost as any of the many, many specialty balls they had on offer. As much as Basil wanted to pile as many Quick and Ultra Balls as he could manage into his arms he knew he had to be restrained. Already he was starting to dip into the travel fund that was supposed to last till the first few trainer jobs on his journey.
With a heavy heart, Basil grabbed a pre-made pack of 10 Pokéballs and, in a moment of weakness, grabbed a single Quick Ball off the shelf before he could talk himself out of it.
After paying at the counter, and receiving the promised Premier Ball, Basil left the Pokémart. Absently he released Zigzagoon to walk alongside him as he shoved the still packaged equipment and medicine into the new bag. His feet found him following Zigzagoon back to the Pokémon Center for their last night in the trainer lodgings.
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Basil sat on the couch in the lobby of the Pokécenter that had been home for the last few weeks. By his feet lay Zigzagoon, lightly panting in a content manner as Basil did one last check through his bag, stuffed full with gear and supplies. Finishing his checks Basil’s eyes roamed over the busy lobby, as busy as he had ever seen it.
It was still early in the morning, yet all of the trainers were alert, practically vibrating with excitement. Across the room nearly every set of eyes, human and Pokémon alike, were glued to the large screen that sat in the corner of the room. It really wasn’t surprising, given that the season was starting today.
Technically, the season had started at midnight as the date ticked over, and a handful of trainers would already be gunning towards their nearest gym or challenging each other on the routes of the region. For the majority of them however, it was a strongly held tradition to watch the opening ceremony for the League season. Though to be honest, most trainers only stuck around to watch one part. The exhibition match.
The more dry bits of the ceremony had already come and gone. The League chairman, some balding man in an expensive suit, had said a few words. There was some singing of the national anthem and a lot of applauding, before the announcement of the start of the exhibition match came through.
The camera feed for the ceremony flicked over with a flashy transition to a match field. The lines of the field were drawn in a white paint on dry earthy terrain, creating the perimeters for the following battle. Distantly, too far to make out in detail, two figures stood at either end of the battlefield. Several Psychic type Pokémon began to arrange themselves along the edges of the field, raising Reflects and Light Screens to protect the stands as the referee stated the rules.
“This fight is a three-on-three single battle, following standard league rules. Both trainers are allowed two substitutions any further substitutions will count as the Pokémon being removed from battle. Trainers, are you ready?”
“We are ready!” Shouted one of the trainers, the camera’s zooming in to provide a close up “Allow your Champion to show you a brilliant performance!”
Standing proudly,with a beaming smile and an arm outstretched, stood Champion Wallace. Dressed in a signature white and teal ensemble, that showed off quite a bit of skin Basil realized with a blush, the champion reveled in the attention from the cheering crowds.
“R-Ready!” From the opposite end of the court came the confirmation from the challenger.
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With a bright green mop of hair and an oversized cardigan, the competitor stood tall despite their clear nerves. One hand gripped tightly around a Pokéball, clutching it close to their chest.
“Both trainers are ready.” The referee stated, pulling away from the field and onto their stand, the roar of the crowd building to a crescendo. “Then begin!”
“Magnezone!”
“Put on a show, Ludicolo!”
In a burst of light the two Pokémon take the field. On Wallace’s side, the odd fusion of a pineapple and a duck takes stage already in motion as it twirls and hops. Opposite, a large metallic UFO forms with a deep whirring sound, its three eyes locking onto the dancing target.
“Opening Act, Ludicolo!”
“Lock-On then Thunder Wave!”
Ludicolo takes off towards Magnezone, even as it builds up a tangible electric field around its spinning magnets. As it approaches it stumbles into a wobbling, erratic movement,moving almost drunkenly across the field. Magnezone’s focus never wavers as Ludicolo enters its range, and it rears back intent on unleashing the electrical energy before suddenly -
CLAP!
With a deceptive speed and strength Ludicolo lunges forward out of its dance, almost slapping Magnezone in its central eye. Reeling backwards, Magnezone loses control of the Thunder Wave, as it fizzles out harmlessly.
“Now, press the offensive! Turn up the heat with Scald!”
“Brace yourself Magnezone, get ready to Discharge”
A bubbling heat builds up in Ludicolo’s maw which rockets and the dazed Magnezone. It impacts with a rattling thud, the superheated water turning Magnezone’s metallic surface red with heat.
“Now! Discharge!”
“Disengage, Ludicolo!”
The command comes too late, as the electrical charge crackles and sparks back down the stream of the Scald, colliding with Ludicolo and leaving wincing with pain as its muscles seize.
“Magnet Rise, then a Tri-Barrage!”
Rising into the air, Magnezone lets loose a continuous volley of shots, Tri-Attacks Basil realizes from the distinct tri-coloured missiles, which pepper the field and harrass Ludicolo who ducks and twirls through the assault.
“Return Ludicolo.” Wallace speaks, already reaching for his second Pokéball, his beaming smile never leaving his face. “Make an impact, Whiscash!”
Crashing into the field with a boom, the catfish Pokémon gives a roar on its entry, easily dismissing what few Tri-Attacks do make contact.
“Set up the stage for us Handsome!”
The field erupts into an earthquake, breaking into smaller, jagged pieces of earth. Above the field, Magnezone is unharmed and continues its barrage. This doesn’t seem to re-assure its trainer, who furrows his brow.
“We’ve gotta stop them! Magnezone, Heavy Slam!”
Like a switch has been flicked Magnezone plummets like a rock, gaining speed on its collision course with Whiscash.
“Rise to the challenge, Handsome!”
In response to the approaching metal meteor, Whiscash unleashes a pulse of Muddy Water flooding the ruined field. Not stopping there, Whiscash shudders and rises, the water following the blue Pokémon pushing it forward and shielding it in equal measure.
As the two Pokémon collide, there is a horrible crash and explosion of water, followed by a second pair of splashes as they fall back to the field. As the dust and water settles, Whiscash pants and heaves as Magnezone lies unresponsive in the muddy terrain.
“Magnezone is unable to battle!” The ref calls. “Trainer Wally, please send out your next Pokémon.”
The trainer, Wally, hesitates, their hand hovering over the balls on their belt as they recall Magnezone. Their eyes snap forward and bore into Wallace across the field, who only seems to smile wider in response. Snatching a ball of their belt, Wally whips it out over the field.
“-Serade!”
Landing on a relatively flat and dry section of the field, Roserade stands tall and seems to brandish the roses on its hands in challenge.
“Marvelous! Whiscash anti-grass maneuvers!”
“Don’t give them the chance, Roserade! Get in close!”
Roserade takes off, hopping and leaping across the isolated islands of intact terrain. Their approach is hampered by the thin lances of Ice Beams that Whiscash fires at the approaching enemy. But where Whiscash is beginning to tire, Roserade is still fresh in the fight, dipping and diving around the attacks in its unrelenting approach.
“Whiscash, into the wings!”
Diving down into the muddy water, Whiscash disappears down into the depth, right as Roserade lunges through where it was. Righting themselves on the unstable ground, Roserade whips around searching for their opponent.
“Roserade, charge up an Energy Ball! On my mark!”
Obediently, Roserade stops its futile search, stopping to focus on growing the ball of Grass Typed power between its bouquet hands. The Energy Ball rapidly reaches full size, and pulses with power as Roserade puts full concentration into holding onto it.
A rumble shake the arena, growing in intensity until -
“BELOW YOU! NOW!”
Erupting from the ground underneath, Roserade is knocked up into the air as Wiscash begins to pool Ice Type energy, intent on a point blank Ice Beam. But where Whiscash begins to charge power, Roserade has already released theirs, driving the quad effective energy ball into Whiscash.
The effect is visceral and immediate, Whiscash falls back into the crater unconscious, Ice Beam fizzling out uselessly.
Wallace takes this loss in stride, withdrawing Whiscash as the Ref calls the knockout and returning Ludicolo to the field.
“Don’t let up! Poison Jab!”
“Zen Headbutt, Ludicolo!”
The two grass types collide in a flurry of blows. Roserade’s speed allows it to dodge and deflect the worst of Ludicolo’s heavy attacks, while wearing it down with poison attacks.
Disengaging suddenly the two Pokémon leap away from each other, and take a moment to collect their breaths. The poison wracking Ludicolo’s system forces the Pokémon down onto one knee, though Roserade is in little better shape.
“I’m withdrawing Ludicolo from this battle.”
Wallace’s voice rings loudly over the battlefield, as he recalls Ludicolo back to his Pokéball.
Roserade remains on the field, standing on shaky legs.
“Marvelous! What an excellent battle!” Wallace beams as he shouts “Now allow me to repay the favor! Come forth! Milotic!”
A hushed whisper sweeps the crowd, as Wallace’s ace takes the field. A beautiful sea serpent takes form, scales shining iridescently in the morning sunlight. Wallace sweeps his arm forward, no words are needed between the Champion and his closest Pokémon, and Milotic surges forward.
The air around Milotic turns frigid with a Blizzard, freezing the muddy water left on the field and crashing into Roserade, who is knocked back with a scream.
Distantly the referee calls for Roserade’s elimination from the match, but it is almost drowned out by the roaring crowd.
Wally’s face is drawn into a frown as he recalls Roserade and reaches for his last Pokéball of the match.
“It’s up to you now. Gallade!”
The roar of the crowd only grows louder, and even through the tv speakers Basil is concerned for his ears. The crowd in the Pokécenter itself may not be roaring, a sharp glare from Chansey stopped that in its tracks, but the whole room seems to hold its breath as the two aces size each other up.
The trainers and their partners lock gazes for only a moment, before the battle resumes in earnest.
Gallade rushes forward, slicing and driving its blades in a furious maelstrom, all sharp edges and striking blows. Milotic never stops moving, ducking and twisting, swimming through and weathering the onslaught of blows. Waiting for an opening.
"Dual Blades!"
Gallade rushes in, the blade on its arms wreathed with a green and pink energy on either arm.
"Dodge the Leaf Blade, Take a knee for Psycho Cut!"
The green wreathed blade slices viciously, only narrowly avoided by Milotics dance. As the second blade, a Psycho Cut, comes sweeping into Milotic's guard, who makes no effort to dodge instead taking the blow fully and almost doubling over Gallade's driving arm.
Milotic lets out a low and pained crooning noise, but is interrupted as Wallace shouts.
"Wrap it up! Then Coil!"
Quick as a flash Milotic stops its pitiful crooning, eyes glinting with glee. Already folded over the blow as she is, Milotic quickly wraps around Gallade’s torso, pinning its arms, before it begins to squeeze down and crush the Pokémon below her.
"Teleport, into Leaf Blade!"
"Showstopper, Milotic!"
In a flash of light Milotics' target appears several feet above in the area, falling blade-first towards the serpent. It is a testament to Wallace and Milotic's skill as a trainer, and proof of their championship, that Milotic hardly seems phased by this escape act. From their stance coiled on the ground, Milotic raises their head, and unleashes a veritable torrent of energy, a Dragon Pulse.
So strong is the attack that it suspends the falling Gallade in the air for several long moments before it subsides. Gallade lands in front of Milotic, no energy on its blades, the two combatants staring each other down one final time, before collapsing in an undignified sprawl at Milotic's fins.
"Champion Wallace wins the match two to three!" The referee calls, as the crowd perform an Uproar.
The trainers withdraw their Pokémon and meet in the center of the field. Hands are shaken and words are exchanged, too far away for the rest of the world to hear, before the pair wave to the crowd and depart together. All the while Wallace beams with pride.
Basil finds himself in his skin again as a trainer blocks the view of the television in their haste to get out the door. With the battle over and the season officially started the audience in the Pokécenter grows restless and eager to start their own seasons.
Some run out the door, others walk. Some are already challenging each other to a battle and others are taking the opportunity to do one last inventory check. Trainers of every age and experience level, from Youngsters to Aces, seem to pick up on the infectious energy in the air. Younger trainers start to shout or run through the doors, while their older equivalents are quieter; the sharp smiles and palmed Pokéballs betray their shared excitement.
Standing and brushing the (non-existent) dirt from his knees, Basil follows their example. Hefting his bag onto one shoulder, and with a final wave to Martha and Chansey, Basil and Zigzagoon exit the Pokécenter. The bright morning sun blinding him, as he follows newly familiar streets out of the city and away from what little they know.
Standing at the edge of Rustboro staring at the route ahead, already bustling with trainers and Pokémon alike, the two share a nervous glance.
"After you then, Boss. We're burning daylight."
"Zig zag!"
"Hey I just hold the map, you remember I'm useless with directions!"
The burgeoning team set off, bickering light-heartedly, down the well worn trails of Route 116.