PTV: Early chapter 135 (Patreon)

“Alright! Let them have it Jangmo-o!” I roared, and already our training was showing. 

There was no need to call out the move, Jangmo-o charged in, claws scrambling on the battle square as he ran right up to the Charmeleon, and as the Fire type readied a Flamethrower, Jangmo-o’s Dragon Pulse finished, he opened his mouth revealing the charged energy, and the two attacks slammed into each other.

The explosion filled the arena with smoke, and I grinned as a familiar form came rolling out towards me.

Jangmo-o was such a smarty, while he couldn’t fully turn into a ball, he still had an armored back so he curled up and just rolled along until he opened back up, slowing himself and once more returning to his battle stance.

He was scratched up, the explosion and flames scorched him, but as the smoke cleared, Charmeleon was slumped on his back, his eyes swirling around.

“Nice! You did it Jangmo-o!” I called out, cheering as he looked back, his tail already starting to twitch into a wagging motion.

“Augh!” The trainer across from me groaned and fell to his knees as I defeated his last pokemon. The trainer was new, a year younger than me, and I’d run across him while coming to the Fuchsia battle area to give my babies some more battle experience. 

I walked over, and Jangmo-o, seeing the battle ended, scrabbled on the floor as he rushed me and leapt right into my arms as I spun him around a bit before settling him in his favorite spot.

“You fought really well. Charmeleon is pretty strong.”“Not strong enough. I can’t beat Koga. I can’t even  beat most of the casual trainers here… And your Victoria. You won the conference, but I couldn’t even…”“Hey hey, you did great!” I argued, walking over and flopping down next to him cross legged. “Charmeleon is your starter right? He’s definitely the strongest on your team.”“Yeah.”“Well let me be completely blunt… You’ve only known each other for a couple months.” I pointed in his face as Jangmo-o wiggled in my lap as I scritched his belly.“So? He’s my starter.” “Yeah and it’s ONLY been a couple months! I had Arcanine for years! Jangmo-o here defeated your Charmeleon-”“And your other crazy dragon types beat the rest of my team.”“Sure sure, but you aren’t listening. All of my pokemon? I’ve had them for a while. Jangmo-o is fairly new when compared to the team I took into the Conference, but I’ve still been training him for three times as long as you have ever been a trainer. All the stuff I’ve learned over my first year? That’s going into my little buddy here, and the others too.”“So… Just wait?”“What? Wait? Hell no!”  I argued, slapping a fist into my palm. “Waiting is the wrong thing! You still have lots of time before you should be at the level ready for the conference! But that also means you have all that time to keep training! Growing stronger and bonding with your friends!” I pointed at Charmeleon's ball on his hip. 

“I don’t… I don’t know what else to do!” He grumbled petulantly, the ten year old was obviously frustrated. Which was fair. I hated losing too.

“Okay so, what is your training like? Having any issues?”“We just…  Train I guess? We battle all the time.”“Okay… So how do you train.”“Battle?”“Right right. That’s… Not a bad thing, but only half the steps. Hmm, Okay! I’ll be the cool older mysterious Trainer that-”“Mysterious? I know who you are though?”“Teaches the annoying and very stupid younger trainer that shouldn’t argue with the kind senpai or else they might not get free advice.”“Ah-umm. Right! Sorry, Senpai.”“Good! Now, your Charmeleon? He’s slow. No wait, don't respond, let me be very clear, he’s very static, he doesn’t move much. When he fires his Flamethrower he sets himself in place, when he prepares attacks he sets his feet.”“So… He should move around more?”“Well yeah! A pokemon that stands still is an easy target. Okay quick training method for you? Get some rope, or string… Maybe wire, so it doesn’t burn actually, and hang some rocks, or sticks from the string on a tree. Then tell him to use scratch or Ember to keep hitting the stick. But make him move constantly. It’ll give him something to aim for, and practice moving.”“That’s… Are you su-”“Ataatata!” I interrupted his argument as I thrust a finger in his face. “No arguing.Take it or leave it… No better yet, take the idea and improve it for yourself! That’s how you need to think. It’s not one step. It’s constantly improving. Think of what your pokemon needs next, and come up with a training method before it becomes an issue.”I took a deep breath and nodded. Proud of myself for my advice as I rose up. “But that’s it for me, I’m heading to the pokemon Center.”“Wha? Wait! I need more advice!” The trainer called out as he scrambled to his feet and followed, but I shook my head. 

“Sorry! I really can’t stay, besides! Finding out your own training methods is part of being a Pokemon Trainer! You can do it!”“Wait Miss Ferrous!” Another voice called out, as some of the other trainers that had been watching approached. “I would like to request a battle as well!”“Me too! Me too!”“Hey stop pushing! I want to fight her!”I watched the sudden chaos and swallowed and then did the smart thing. I ran for the Pokemon Center!

The trainers sort of tried to follow but kept getting in each other's way as I made it in and ran to Nurse Joy. “Can you look over my team…And maybe let me out the back door?” I whispered, just in time for the four trainers to all follow me in quite loudly.

“Please remember this is a Pokemon Center.” Nurse Joy barked out, instantly cutting through the complaints as all four of them went silent. “Now… Please put your pokeballs here.” She told me and winked, and I relaxed. 

I handed them over, and watched as she ran them through the machine while the other trainers wandered off pouting. 

I’d escaped!

But also, I had another reason for coming to the pokemon center. I waited until she handed me back my pokeballs, to release one of them. Mimikyu hopped up onto my shoulder cheerfully, he’d done so well in his battle!

“Nurse Joy? I have a question. I have these posters you see? They were even made by Mimikyu! He’s my little artist.” I whispered to her, as he reached into my bag and pulled out one of the posters we’d made. 

Mimikyu and I had worked hard on it over a few days. Using pictures of different pokemon and getting the text just right. 

“Hmm. The Pokemon Center has some strict rules about what we allow to be put up.” Nurse Joy responded hesitantly and I nodded. 

“I know! But it’s going to be months before the next Pokedex update, and I wanted to share with all the kids that have an Eevee about the new Evolution method.” I explained, opening up the poster to show it off.

Along the top was Eeveelution Information and Research. Which had an Eevee resting on the letters.

Mimikyu was so good at painting! It did kinda look like a Mimikyu, but that just made it cuter. 

Below it had the three stone evolutions, Each of them resting since the knowledge was already gained.

Then below that was a confirmation on Leafeon. With the information about the Moss Rock being discovered in Alola.

“Is that true?”“I have a Leafeon at home, and it was reproduced by a researcher in Alola.” I confirmed at Nurse Joys surprised question. 

“Oh how delightful, has it been examined?” “It has, Cabbage, Mama’s Leafeon, was examined by Viridian City Nurse Joy.”

“Tsk, that’s why I didn’t hear about it. That girl always takes too long to upload new information.” She grumbled, and I had to hold back from laughing at the tone she spoke in. Uh-oh. Viridian Nurse Joy might be in troooouble!

Shaking that off, I continued. “So I want to post this at as many Pokemon Centers that I can that might have trainers, or just young Eevee owners entering. Cause the information is important if their friend wants to evolve a certain way.”“Hmm. And the rest of it?” She mentioned, looking further down.

The second half of the poster was… Well it was under ‘Currently being Researched.’

Espeon and Umbreon were properly pictured along with the fact no current proof of evolution method was there… But then below that was the reason I was doing this. 

“Current Theory, Night and Day evolution, along with strong friendship causes the differing evolutions. Espeon for day, and Umbreon for Night.” Nurse joy spoke, reading the blurb. “If any Eevee evolues into these pokemon using this theory's information please contact the Hotline number. A hotline?”“I’m working with Professor Cerise in Vermillion! It took like a week but we set up a research call in number. I’m trying to prove my theory about Eeveelutions!”“And the last one?” She glossed over the Glaceon update, but that was fine. Even if the Glaceon looked super cute from Mimikyu’s drawing.

There was a shadowy figure which I’d helped Mimikyu get as right as I could.

“Sylveon. The Fairy Type Eevee.” I confirmed. The explanation was simple, train a few specific moves that Eevee developed fairly easily. Baby Doll Eyes, Charm, focusing on those moves, to build up more Fairy Type energy so when they evolve naturally, it’s into Sylveon. 

Nurse Joy read through the poster for a minute look at the work I had put in. “You say you are working with Professor Cerise?”“Yep! It was his idea that I should create a study to prove my theories! I considered doing something else, but what better way to get data then to go to the one place everyone goes! Plus. I wanted to share with everyone how to get a Leafeon before the Pokedex comes out. Cause that’ll be forever.”“I suppose that’s true… Alright, I’ll allow you to put the poster up, but I’ll be making sure the Pokemon Center isn’t responsible for any complaints!”“That’s fine! The number is right on the poster.” I added tapping it.

“Alright, you can put it up over there.” She explained pointing at a section of the windows that was blank.

“Thank you Nurse Joy!” I called out and raced over. With some tape and Mimikyu’s help we had the post up, and looked at it.

I nodded, and then turned back to her… “Do you think other Pokemon Centers will mind? I have like ten posters. I was thinking of putting them up in the big cities.”She looked at me, face half shifted into judging look but she nodded. “I’ll make some calls.”“Thank you Nurse Joy you’re the best! Okay I’ll fly around on Dragonite bye!”“Good Bye Victoria.” She called after me. 

“KkKuUukK!”“Yeah I told you Nurse Joy was awesome. Everyone is tempted by new Pokemon knowledge, adding in the Leafeon facts was important to be allowed to post it I think.” I explained and Mimikyu nodded as I released Dragonite who stretched and looked at me.

“We need to go to Celedon next. Then all around Kanto, ready for a flight?”“Drag!” She agreed cheerfully. It had been a while since we just flew around after all.

Of course I was sure this would totally work and no trouble would ever come from it! I’m so smart!

—--

“Nope, nothing yet. Sorry Vicky.”“It’s okay Ren. It’ll just take some time. I guess.” It had been a few days and still no one had called the Hotline. I guess I shouldn’t just expect immediate evolutions across Kanto, but still.

After saying goodbye I moved away and back outside. It was nice to be home. The whole house smelled like the curry Mama was making for lunch, and I really just wanted to stay inside and inhale the smell.

But my pokemon were doing some training outside!

I grinned as I stepped out, and looked over my pokemon…

“Riolu! Don’t laze around!”“Rio!” She grumbled at me. Looking up from where she was sitting as Mama Lucario was doing some practice movements. 

While she hadn’t learned overly much from Luey, Riolu had been showing her some of the martial arts he had shown her. 

I’d left them to train, but now Riolu was lazing around!

I scoffed, knowing what button to press. “I guess Luey was wrong to offer you training then. Maybe I should call Kukui and have him tell Luey how little you care-”“Rio! Riolu Lu! She shouted jumping to her feet and charging up to me to growl in my face. 

“Oh look at all this energy, surely that means you have time for training!” I said smiling into her glaring face. 

“Lu-Lucario.” “Rioooo.” Riolu slumped as Lucario obviously berated her a bit. 

Heh. “Come on, Riolu, let’s do some flexible movement training! I want you jumping and throwing out Vacuum Waves while in the air from different positions! Let’s not lock our feet to the ground, you know?”“Rio…Riolu.” She nodded, and leapt in the air, arms gathering power, but she touched down again before she could fire.

“Gonna have to be faster! Let’s see… Run around! Charge it up as you run, and then when you are ready jump and shoot!”  “Rio!”

I relaxed as she picked it up quickly, and was even getting used to doing a faster charge in the air shot. I knew she could she’d done it before, but never as training.

Nodding I turned from her Lucario was still slowly going through some forms that Riolu had learned, and I nodded, no point in disrupting that.

Heading into the back I saw the rest of my adult team.

Even Blue Heart was out, surrounding Blissey as she did an entire exercise routine, as the rest of the team followed along as best they could.

The fact most of them were struggling was either a sign Blissey had gotten even better with Gravity, or they had been slacking.

Probably both.

“Alright!” I called out as I approached my team perked up and Blissey nodded showing she was done with their morning exercise…

The fact she had still been working on them despite already being finished with their exercise… Blissey, you are kinda sadistic you know?

“Okay everyone! We’ve got some special helpers today!” I called out and popped out a pokeball. 

Mimikyu popping out and greeting everyone as they all waved to greet him. Then another, and Ninetales appeared. He looked around in surprise at the new location.

I’d already told him what we were doing, why was he looking surprised?

Then Lucario walked up to join as well, waving at everyone.

“When we battle the Elite Four, these are the types we have to worry about.” I explained, pointing at my friends. “So we are going to do practice against Ice, Ghost, and Fighting type pokemon! The goal isn’t to just overwhelm them.”I said pointedly looking at Arcanine.

“Arc!” She barked cheerfully despite just being worked over by Blissey she looked excited for more.

“We’re going to have lots of one on ones, where they use moves and techniques that are common to their type, and you need to adjust to their abilities. Mimikyu is going to appear and vanish, Lucario is going to get in close and show you what a proper Fighting type can do, and Ninetales is going to show off Ice Type Attacks. Right?”“Nine?”“He says yes.” I said despite his head turning to the side looking confused. 

He was so dumb!

Now if only I knew who was going to be the final Elite Four. Lance had sort of been taking over the spot, as the final member kept joining and then… Well not really managing it. 

I’d heard of three in the last two years, all of them Ace Trainers that just hadn’t quite managed to keep up.

I kinda suspected a familiar face would be taking the place though. Koga.

I knew he was trying for the position, and when he did he would have it locked.

The only question was, if he would actually take it before I did my Elite Four run. I shook it off, even if he did, I had already battled his pokemon. His poison types were something my team had practiced against heavily, but this?

Ice, Ghost, and Fighting we weren’t as familiar with. I might actually need to go face the Fighting Gym in Saffron, I could see Sabrina again, instead of just phone calls, or random letters teleporting into my room.

The fact Sabrina often dropped them right in front of me with “Boo!” written on the envelope was just her sense of humor. 

—--

“See see? Lorelei opens with her Dewgong more often than not. She likes to set up the field.” I explained as we reviewed one of the last Elite Four matches. 

“Arc!” My girl barked tail wagging and I had to grab her to keep her from getting too excited. 

“Nuh-uh! You aren’t just going to bulldoze through thinking you will win. Watch!” I argued. Arcanine was completely confident she would win against the Elite Four and Lance right now. 

Which was good, but honestly she could come at it with a bit more of a prepared mindset.

“Arcf.” She barked again despite me grabbing her by her muzzle so she would look at the screen. 

“And what if she opens up with a surf and washes you away?”“Arcf” She barked confidently, sending me a look.

“No you won’t just win! You’re a fire type!” I reminded her, pressing down on her head and rubbing her wildly.

“Drag?”“Yeah Lorelei will be bad for you too.” I confirmed to Dragonite who nodded looking as Dewgong let loose a strong blizzard that defeated her opponents pokemon. “So we will probably use Blue Heart first.” I said looking over at my boy who was peering in through the window to watch. He rumbled a bit at the attention.

“Vicky!” I blinked at the yell. 

“Coming Mama!” I called back. “Just keep watching okay?”I told them as I hurried off. What was going on? I made it to the entrance to see Mama staring a bit in shock at a familiar face,

“Lance? Sup?” I greeted him as he was standing in my entrance way with a package in his hands, and his big ass cape.

Man, I wish I could wear a cape every day, it looks so cool, even when you are doing something lame like… Delivering a package?

“Victoria, nice to see you, I apologize for the interruption.” He started, but I just had to ask. 

“So did you get another job as a delivery guy? Does the Champion title not pay well enough? If so just blink twice quickly, and I’ll try to help.” I offered him faux sincerely.

“Victoria Ferrous!” Mama hissed at me, and I flushed a little as I realized I shouldn't sass the Champion of our region in front of my parents.

“Sorry.”“It’s fine.” Lance assured Mama, I noticed his lips twitching so it was good! I was safe if they laughed, that was the rule! “I can assure you Ms. Ferrous since you are in the running the Champion Title comes with plenty of monetary benefits. In this case, I simply decided to come myself when this came up. An international package caused a major stir in Kanto Customs.” 

The package was held out to me, and I noticed it had been opened already but…

“Aether Foundation? I didn’t order anything.” I muttered, noticing the boxes' branding on the side. I took the box from Lance and with a bit of work opened it up. There was a letter. Also opened, which I sent Lance a look at, but what was more interesting was under the packaging meant to keep it safe was… “TM's?”“Quite a few of them in fact.” Lance explained while I was still confused, Mama made a noise. 

“Oh, this was from Lusamine, wasn’t it?”“The President of the Aether Foundation was the sender, yes.”“Oh please, why don’t you come in?” Mama offered, instead of forcing him to stand in the doorway like a caped… Dragon? Eh, that euphemism was a bit of a stretch.

“Thank you.”We shuffled into the kitchen, and soon were sitting around so I asked the question.

“So why are you here, and why did the package sent to me get opened? And why did Lusamine send me a bunch of TM's?” I muttered, grabbing the letter that would probably answer the last question.

“Customs received a very strange package, and of course it sent off every alarm we had. If it was one or two TM's it might have been checked, but sent on, but there are nearly a hundred of them in that box.” Lance explained, but I didn’t get it?

“So?”“TM's while allowed by Trainers, if they have the proper Badges to be allowed to use certain ones, are also considered military equipment. You have an entire Military Brigades worth of equipment in your hands.”“Cool?”“Yes.” He offered a slight smirk on his face. “If you were a normal trainer they would never have been allowed, but since you are a Conference winner, it was decided that you should be allowed to keep them.”“So… Why is the Champion himself here to deliver them? This could have been explained in a small letter.”“Because, of course we examined the TM's delivered, and the Aether Foundation has sent you, not only some of their rare stock, but a new brand of TM entirely.”“New Brand?”“Yes, a fault was discovered in TM's recently, and the Aether Foundation did send a diplomatic update to Kanto regarding it, the-”“Oh that. Oh, so these are the new TM's Lusamine mentioned. Removing the Move Block, and everything.”I interrupted, right right, she had said she wanted to give me a gift for all of that.

“You know?”

“I helped discover it! Professor Kukui and I were working on Pokemon moves expressed differently by different pokemon, like how Dragon Pulse has a few different forms right?”“Ah, yes I’m aware. It’s an expression of a Dragon's primary emotion. It reveals the Dragons spirit in how they express their Draconic Energy.”“Huh… I just taught my friends all the types, so they would be more versatile.”“Indeed. A wise method, and a great tactical flexibility, if reducing the mastery of a single type.”“Eh. We practice a lot with all of them.”“So the TM's?” Mama interrupted, and Lance looked a little embarrassed. 

Hehe Dragon nerd got to nerd a little. 

“Anyway, with the information we’ve been working on updating our own TM creation process, and frankly… If what Lusamine’s letter says is true, I apologize for reading it, as I said there was a lot of issues with customs. Then the Association and many of the companies here in Kanto would like to examine them.”Why? I pulled open the letter to start reading…

“Eh!? You read this? It’s all a lie! I have nothing to do with Gladion, Lusamine is just trying to set us up!” I argued instantly as Lance simply took in my response with a slow blink, then he smirked.

“Of course. I understand.”“You don’t sound like you understand!” I felt like I was shrieking because Lance had totally just sounded like I was lying!

I hesitated after that, before calming down and fake coughing into my fist. Then I finished reading the letter and understood why the Champion of Indigo was at my home. 

“Ah, she made them reusable. These aren’t just one off TM's.” Lusamine did explain they were experimental, but the fact was, they could be used multiple times, like HM’s. “Correct. While Silph Co. Has been experimenting with multi use TM's the development is… Expensive. So to hear a foreign company has completed the work, cheaply enough to send them out of the country?”“I… I don’t know. It feels like I’d be betraying Lusamine, if I did that.” I whispered, before looking at Mama.

“We will consider it Champion, but for now, I believe we will be keeping it in the family.”“I understand. I was asked to hand this card over, it’s a Silph Co. Representative, if you do decide to share them.” 

With that the discussion was over and Lance rose up, flashing his cape, which was cool. And then heading for the door.

“Lance.”“Yes?”“I’m training hard. So, you better be ready.” I told him, and he half turned to give me a smug smirk. 

“I assure you I will be more than ready for your challenge Victoria.”“Cool… So who is the last Elite Four member, are you still subbing, or?”“I’m afraid I can’t confirm anything.”“Awww come on! It’s Koga isn’t it? I know he wants it! Lance! Hey! Don’t just walk off all cool like! You jerk!