Ken had always known that training with Pokémon was as much about creativity as it was about hard work. With his trusty Mankey, Koa, by his side, he spent countless hours perfecting moves and studying new techniques. But as summer turned into autumn, Ken found himself daydreaming of more innovative approaches to training. A long forgotten memory tugged at him: what if there was a way to tap into the untapped potential of Koa, beyond the conventional TMs and battle strategies?
He recalled sitting in front of a screen in his youth, staring at warriors firing beams of light at each other and gaining strength in a gravity chamber. He wondered if this would translate well to the world of Pokémon.
One afternoon, Ken decided to visit Professor Kukui, his mentor.
"Professor, do you think using the move Gravity could help Koa in his training?" Ken asked, excitement bubbling in his voice.
Kukui raised an eyebrow, a spark of curiosity lighting up his features. "That’s an interesting idea, Ken. Gravity is typically used in battle, and I’ve not heard of anyone using it for training purposes. However, it could create a unique environment for Koa to adapt and grow stronger."
Ken could hardly contain his enthusiasm. “Would you be able to help me test it out?”
“Let’s make sure it’s feasible. Come back next week; I’ll see if I can procure a Pokémon that knows the move Gravity,” Kukui replied, already jotting down notes.
A week passed, and Ken returned to the lab, his heart racing in anticipation. He followed Kukui down a dimly lit stairwell that opened into a wide basement, revealing a small training ground filled with all sorts of equipment. Ken’s eyes widened in awe; he had been in and out of the lab the past year and he had no idea this place existed.
“This is a new addition,” Kukui explained, smiling at Ken’s surprised expression. “A testing ground for more destructive training methodologies. Perfect for our experiment!”
Kukui reached into a Pokéball at his belt and released a Magneton, its metallic body glistening under fluorescent lights. The Professor began setting up monitoring devices around the area, carefully checking the calibrations of each.
“Alright, Ken, let’s see how Koa handles the gravitational field,” Kukui instructed, gesturing for Ken to let Koa out.
The Mankey hopped out energetically and looked around, a curious glint in its eye. But the moment Magneton activated the gravity field, things changed. Koa’s limbs felt heavier, and he struggled against the newfound pressure.
“Keep going, Koa! You can do this!” Ken cheered, his encouragement barely masking the concern he felt.
Koa continued his workout, though it was visibly strenuous. As the grueling session came to an end, Koa flopped to the ground, panting heavily.
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Kukui approached, a serious expression on his face. “The effects don’t seem too harmful, but there's a risk, this kind of training can wear Koa down faster than you realize. Regular food might not cut it, I’d advise starting with half an hour a day under altered gravity for now. It’s crucial that Koa’s body adapts gradually to the pressure. Come back in a week and I can see what I can do about the nutrition problem.”
Ken nodded appreciatively. He knew that with Kukui's assistance, this unconventional method had potential to become something much greater.
The following two days, Ken and Koa embraced this new training regimen. Each morning, Koa spent half an hour at the lab under the unique influence of the gravity field, gradually adjusting to the pressure.
On the third day, Professor Kukui called Ken upstairs before they could begin the training.
“This is a Poke-blender, it just came in last night. I got it express delivered via Skarmory from Hoenn. It's designed to create Pokéblocks for contests, but with some creativity, we can use it to concoct a nutrient-packed pre-training snack for Koa.”
Ken's eyes lit up at the prospect.
“What do we need?”
“Simple,” Kukui said, bringing out two fresh berries from a jar on the shelf and dropping them into the blender. “A Sitrus Berry for recovery and if I remember correctly, Koa's favorite flavor is the Liechi Berry. That should give him the extra push he needs.
After a few moments of buzzing, the blend of flavors created an orange mixture that solidified into blocky cubes, shimmering with an alluring sheen. The aroma wafted into the air, slightly stinging the eye and nose.
Professor Kukui brought the tray of Pokéblocks into the basement, the spicy aroma instantly catching Koa's attention and he scampered over, his eyes wide with eagerness.
“Go on Koa, take one before and one after your workout, that should give you enough of a boost. Here, take the Poke-blender Ken, you'll need it.”
“Thanks professor.” Ken gratefully stowed the blender into his backpack.
Koa, fully energized from his snack, dove into the Gravity Training with renewed vigor, clambering up the rocky veneer of the training hall and performing Break Breaks and Body Slams on the newly installed extra durable training dummies. On the side, Ken meticulously documented Koa’s progress, noting muscle growth and improved stamina, while also monitoring how the increased gravity impacted Koa’s existing moves. Kukui looked on fondly, before heading back upstairs.
After a full 3 weeks of training, Ken returned to Professor Kukui with the results, excitement bubbling in his chest. The professor greeted him with bright eyes and a contagious grin, the anticipation palpable in the air.
“I can barely contain my excitement, Ken! How did Koa do?” Kukui asked, practically bouncing on his feet.
Koa bounded out of his Pokéball, energy radiating from him. Ken couldn’t help but beam at his partner’s transformation. “He’s handling the gravity like a champ! His strength has increased by around 10%, and his stamina is noticeably better.”
Kukui reviewed Ken’s notes, his voice rising in enthusiasm. “This is amazing! We might have stumbled upon a very effective training alternative, especially for speed and strength development. We could even publish this method!”
Ken paused, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. The prospect of gaining recognition was tempting, but a flicker of hesitation crossed his mind.
“What do you think, Professor?” Ken asked, cautiously probing.
Kukui leaned back in thought. “Publishing could indeed bring you recognition in the research community, and you’d be contributing something valuable to the world of Pokémon training. On the flip side, this is a potent tool that could give you a significant advantage as a battler if kept private.”
Ken bit his lip, contemplating his next words. “I think I’d like to keep it relatively secret for now. I want to understand its potential fully before sharing it with the world. But who knows? Maybe I’ll consider publishing it in the future.”
Kukui smiled knowingly. “That’s a mature approach, Ken. Always remember that there are pros and cons to every decision, but not all decisions have to be made at that exact moment. Postponing the decision is also a valid choice.”