Hard Enough

I would have loved to have sat down with Elm, his aides, and Stephen to pick their minds and and potentially set up excuses for future pokemon acquisitions. Sadly I couldn’t do that. I had to focus on getting some food in front of my family and going through the nightly routine. I instead had to leave them to their own devices. I’d planned for lunch, I hadn’t planned for dinner with an additional four adults.

By the time that I’d gotten through cooking dinner, feeding it to my siblings, cleaning up the kitchen, cleaning up my siblings and then reading some of them stories, I had no chance of catching up with the researchers at a reasonable hour to trade around ideas and pick their minds for ideas.

Heck, I still had to do some final gym sweeps having been rostered for this in the schedule. This entailed making sure everything was locked away. I finally got the chance to check in on the researchers only to find none of them in the communal area. The only person up was Rocko. Who was sitting in the communal space that the apartments shared playing on the Nintendo sixty-four. I’d been about to turn around when I’d spotted the game.

“Is that Mario Kart?” I said, unable to hide my interest.

Rocko turned and raised another controller. “Want in?” I grinned and leapt over the couch to sit next to Rocko. He had his Gloom out on the other side of him.

“Tomorrow off?” I asked as I selected Toad as my racer.

“Yah, you know it!” coughed Rocko as he lined up a race. I was crushing him on all of the maps until the end when we decided to do the rainbow road. There he seemingly leapt over the edge of the road only to land perfectly halfway along the course. I stared at him in slack-jawed awe.

“No way you pulled that off!” I shouted.

He grinned and we replayed the course only for him to repeat the feat from the first lap. I tossed the controller onto the couch in disgust. He chuckled.

“Don’t worry I can only do that one while I’m sober, haven’t had any hits with gloom.” Next to him, his Gloom gave a small groan of its name. I chuckled but Rocko grinned, “Gotta get my buzz on before I really break the game.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “How come you’re not?”

Rocko put down his controller. “I got to talking with the researchers when we were having takeout. Didn’t get the chance to,” he said while catching a speed boost in the game. “Nice work getting Bianca and Stephen to stick around, they seem like really smart people,” he said as an aside.

“Thanks,” I said. I was very pleased to hear that while I hadn’t been able to talk with them, Rocko had made conversation and gotten to know them.

Rocko rubbed his chin. “So anyway, we were all munching down on some pizza, and they mentioned they’d love to see some of your pokemon fight. The ancient pokemon have been moving around a lot and they thought that was good, but they’d love to get some information on how they fight.” He shrugged. “I said I’d mention it to you.”

He tilted his head and eyed me. “So? Need me to come in tomorrow?”

“No it’s fine, I’ll tap… Hmmm, might be good to get Forrest to fight against me. I’ve been meaning to give him some one-on-one training. Might double up on it.”

Rocko nodded. “Sounds good, so still a day off for me?”

“Yeah, no change there,” I said.

“Nice! So want to see me break this game?” he said lifting up his controller. I shrugged and gestured him to go right ahead. He grinned, sitting back and raising a hand towards his gloom that had been happily sitting next to him throughout.

“Ready bro?” Rocko said, rubbing Gloom’s head.

“Glooooom,” said his pokemon blearily.

I watched as Rocko relaxed even more, his pupils dilating in the sure sign of someone that was high. He cued up a race and proceeded to destroy almost every map. Some had simple shortcuts that I knew about while others saw him jumping his racer through walls or the ground only to be deposited right where he needed to, advancing his racer beyond anything you could compete against.

It was like watching a speedrunner from my first life. I whistled. “How’d you work this out? Pokenet?”

“Nah, just messing around.” He waved his hand at the screen. “All sorts of dumb thoughts come to me when I’m buzzed like this. I sometimes try them out. Turns out some of them aren’t so dumb.”

I chuckled at that and rose, clapping him on the shoulder. “Right, well later, enjoy tomorrow!”

“Night Brock, might come watch you in the morning if I’m up.”

“I’m just going to be playing around with Forrest,” I said over my shoulder.

“Yeah, that's where good ideas start. Plus it’s always nice watching you fight! You make it fun!”

I chuckled and walked out. Before bed I shot off some messages and knocked on Forrest’s door. I even held off barging right in.

“Come in!” Forrest said gruffly.

I opened the door. “Hey, Elm and crew want to see the ancient pokemon fight. I need you as a training partner tomorrow morning.”

“Aw! Bro!” He said with a whine “Can it be someone else? I’m going to go biking with the guys!”

I gave him a look. “No, it can be you. The guys can wait until later. It’ll barely take half an hour, if that, and then you can go. I haven’t had a pokemon fight with you in a while, time to see how strong you’ve gotten!” I shot him a wink, but his response of hunkering in on himself did not inspire confidence.

“You have been training, right?” I said, a tone of accusation dripping into my words.

“Just been… busy…” He said to his desk.

“Riiiight, you’ve been busy,” I said. He grimaced and I nodded. That was right, him talking about being busy to me was laughable. I sniffed. “Arena floor, you and me tomorrow. You can use your usual gym team.”

“...” He grumbled something that I didn’t care to hear.

I waved my hand at him. “Do some research, cause I’ll be throwing some curveballs at you, alright? See you in the morning. Night Forrest,” I said, deciding to give him some space.

When morning came around Forrest and I faced off on the gym’s arena floor, both of us standing in our own podiums. There was no referee for today’s match since I didn’t anticipate needing one. In the stands, Elm and his team were set up with cameras and notepads at the ready.

Oak had been content with me supplying him the playbacks through the gym’s own camera feeds, but he’d still set up to watch our battle in person. Around him his own research team was also set up, ready to catch every detail. Notably, Daisy was not here today. I chose not to read into that too much. She probably had other things to do.

With my own family and Rocko, —with what looked like a breakfast burger in hand— Forrest and I had a small audience for our match.

“So? You think to challenge me?” I said, sweeping my hand out like a bad-pokedrama actor.

Forrest groaned. “Brooooock! We’re not practising lines for you to say during the circuit! Let’s just fight!” He tossed a pokeball and an Onix took the field.

I sniffed. “Spoilsport.” I tossed out Omanyte and she appeared on the field on my side.

“Water pulse!” I announced to start things off. Omanyte fired off a ring of water in front of himself and Forrest was caught on the backfoot.

“Oh shoot! Onix dig!” Sadly his order came too slow and the water pulse hit before Onix could burrow down fully. Onix still tunnelled underground though so it wasn’t a knockout blow.

I rolled my shoulders and let myself relax. This was what I did day in and day out for most of the year. It was like riding a bike.

“Omanyte get ready to go on the defensive!” My pokemon nodded and called out his name. I watched the field while keeping aware of where Forrest was looking. He knew to flick his eyes around and not linger on any one spot. While he might not be as dedicated as some, he still had the skills needed to be a good trainer. Most of the lessons I gave to Jackson, and then Celia, had come from teaching him to be better during his matches.

Supposedly he had a streak going on with local challenges outside of the gym. Which couldn’t be true now as he’d lost the other day against that hiker, but then again…

Onix surged out and I opened my mouth to give the order only for Onix to suddenly launch itself to the side of the field instead of attacking.

Forrest and I both blinked at this strange turn of events.

“Onix?!” Shouted Forrest. I tilted my head, realising what had occurred.

Water Pulse wasn’t a super damaging move, but it did have the potential to cause confusion. Usually you needed to get a headshot to increase your chances, but sometimes the pokemon moves had that little extra oomph in how they were formed when a pokemon set up the move.

“Onix! Knock it off, he's over there!” shouted Forrest.

I mentally marked Forrest down for not realising what the issue was. I couldn’t expect him to recall all of the moves and their effects. Very few people could do that. I might have a chart in my office listing off possible moves and the impacts they had, but I only had even odds in recalling everything despite my constant exposure to moves and their effects.

Still, he should have been able to understand that this was a ‘confusion’ status playing out. That he was taking this long was a sign he hadn’t been battling or reviewing battles.

I wanted this fight to drag out for Forrest and the researchers, so instead of going for the kill I ordered, “Rain dance!”

From out of the water channels that were just within the marked-off rectangle for the field, the water rose up to form a series of interlinked clouds that began to drop water at an increasing rate. Onix roared in annoyance and charged forward.

“Yes! That’s more like it! Slam into them!” Forrest ordered.

“Omanyte use defence curl,” I said. Omanyte ducked into his shell while around him a small glow formed up making it even harder to damage him. In truth, this was almost a fusion move with ‘withdraw’ coming in but it didn’t take much training to combine them unlike with other moves such as I had created. Bertha’s impact driver alone had been a nightmare with endure, bide, and horn drill being worked together.

Onix came down on my pokemon and when it raised up I wasn’t at all surprised to see Omanyte coming out of his shell without any ill effects.

“Tch! Use Iron tail this time!”

“Brine,” I said to stop Onix in its tracks. Omanyte raised two tentacles and fluttered them causing water to splash out in a much less controlled manner than moves like watergun or hydropump. The splashes of water were no less damaging however and Onix toppled back from the empowered attack.

“Oooooon!” It cried. It slammed into the ground to rise back up with feverous twitches to assume a ready pose.

“Yes! Nice work Onix! Use Dig to escape its attacks!” He said. I clicked my tongue. Not liking that he was pushing Onix further. I could see that he was spent, and this wasn’t a fight where you needed to draw out everything to win.

This was a training match and I had the advantage along with an easy answer for when he tried to rise up. I settled in and Omanyte copied me, more than willing to follow my lead.

When the ground near him broke up I repeated the earlier defence curl and once more he took little to no damage. Onyx reeled back and I clicked my fingers. “Brine once more Omanyte.”

This time Omanyte took down the much larger pokemon. Onix had done well but it wasn’t able to handle the three weak water moves despite being a stronger pokemon in battle experience. It spoke of Onix’s strength that it had been able to take those even if one had been a glancing blow.

Forrest withdrew his pokemon and gave me a look of annoyance. I gave him a neutral look as I gestured to the open field. The next move was all his. A small round of applause greeted Omanyte’s win. When everyone else dropped away, a small pattering remained. Glancing up revealed the light applause to be coming from Chansey in the front row. She had a rather scary expression as she applauded. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why, but I felt like she was applauding Onix’s defeat rather than Omanyte’s victory.

Forrest chewed his lip. I watched him delay as he thought through his options. It seemed straightforward enough to me. With rain dance in effect, my pokemon would have an easier time with its moves and a lot of pokemon he had would have a tougher time of it. He needed to send out a pokemon that could deal with the field effect.

The longer he delayed the more water would pool around the field. It was both a pokemon effect and an environmental effect. Heavier pokemon would have a rougher time moving about due to the mud. I made sure to remember that and plan for it in future. If I used Bertha she would be less than pleased to be sent out into a mudpit where she’d struggle.

The water about the field would actually highly suit Sanchez however…

“Go Aron!” Forrest said, breaking through my introspection.

I bit my lip. I knew what I was about to do and I knew how Forrest would react to it.

“Omanyte! Use Attract!”

Forest twitched. “Brock! No! That’s cheating!”

I grinned as I formed a love heart with my fingers and thumbs of both hands. “Feel the love little brother!” He stomped his foot and I dropped the pose. It had gotten some giggles from my family. Forrest was less than impressed as the only girl on his team wagged her stumpy little tail and sidled up to Omanyte.

I felt a little bad as I ordered Omanyte to dispatch Aron with ‘Brine’. She was tossed back and Omanyte looked very sorrowful as Aron collapsed. Once more Chansey applauded with her little limbs as Forrest had to withdraw another pokemon.

Omanyte wilted however and I could see that he didn’t have the heart to fight anymore today. While using Attract was a valid technique it wasn’t something he liked using. Which was an extremely interesting development as I hadn’t taught it to him. I’d caught him and he’d already had it in his move pool. I would have to mention that to Oak and Elm later after the fight.

Omanyte gave me a sad look and I nodded. “Yeah sorry buddy,” I said, raising his pokeball to return him. He’d probably even go and apologise to Aron after the fight with how things played out.

Forrest sighed in relief. “Urgh, I hate when people use that move!”

I shrugged. “It’s perfectly valid. You just need to have methods of dealing with it in place for when it pops up. Either an order they will follow or a trick that lets you ignore it.” I gave him a look that if a teacher had given me, would let me know that this question would be on the exam later in the semester. I would use this on him in a few months, and he better have an answer of his own.

Forrest grumbled as he drew out another pokemon.

I plucked another and decided to test out a different pokemon. “Go Graveller,” I said, throwing out a graveller that was much like every other of his species, apart from the electric sparks atop his head.

It was therefore very interesting to see that Forrest had decided to match me with a Graveller of his own.

“Earthquake!” Forrest said, not letting me dictate the entire match.

“Stealth Rock,” I responded, more than content to let this play out.

My Graveller clenched his fist and rocks slowly formed up around him before drifting off.

Forrest’s Graveller stomped his foot only to have his weight cause his foot to slip underneath him. Instead of causing an earthquake there was a ripple in the mud before he face-planted. His pokemon quickly regathered itself, but had to take the time wipe the mud off his face.

“Mud shot,” I ordered my pokemon, more than happy to double down on the accuracy effect just as Omanyte’s rain clouds began to fade. If things had played out differently with Aron against this Graveler, I might have chanced a Thunder but I was well in control of this match.

I continued to test Forrest while displaying the various different pokemon that the researchers had come here for. I never threw out any of my Elite pokemon, but they got a good view into the electric-typed Golem line, Omanyte, Kabuto and eventually Shelly.

When it was done Forrest was frustrated, but also a bit embarrassed. When I approached him he sighed, his shoulders slumping forward and his gaze locked on the ground in front of him. He looked exhausted. “I did terribly didn’t I?”

I hummed before rubbing his head. “It wasn’t a good showing, but that is gonna happen when you let yourself sit back and relax. Okay? You need to be working with your pokemon team. I know you’re still waiting to assemble a pokemon team of your own, but you need to have some plans for things like stall tactics, confusion, debuff plays and even methods to shake up the field.” I gestured at the torn-up mud field that I would have to repair later on. “You need something to deal with the field effects.”

“What could I have done?” He said, sounding defeated.

I continued to rub his head, squatting down to put myself lower so I could peer up into his eyes. “Hey, you had options. It might not be seen as “cool”, but withdrawing your pokemon for a different match-up is perfectly valid. Did you know that every Onix can learn dragonsbreath?” He looked up with interest.

I gave him a smile. “Yeah, pretty cool huh? He could have come in later and dried out the arena for you if you teach him that move.” I tapped his head. “He’s more than a big rocky snake just like you’re more than a young kid. If you’re getting frazzled just take a moment and think alright? Sometimes you’re getting too flustered which is causing problems for you early which compounds your problems.”

He nodded, a smile emerging. “Right, thanks… I didn’t know Onix could do that? You’ve never used it before?”

“Haven’t had to. Onix are cooler than most people know, yeah?” I said talking up Onix who was obviously the pokemon Forrest was holding out on Flint giving him.

“Oh yeah, I really like using them with Sandstorm most of the time, and then hiding with a Dig during a match. People sweep the field and freak out when they can’t see the giant snake. Works like a charm!” I straightened up and led Forrest over to our waiting nurse who was bouncing back and forth at the doors to our medical bay. Some pokemon were probably about to learn of a very different type of care and gain a new appreciation of being ‘looked after’.

I let Forrest go spend time with his friend’s after that. It would help him decompress from the match. I turned my attention back to the researchers.

Oak happily greeted me after I swung past the security room for his recording of the match. “Thank you for doing that Brock,” he said, accepting the CD. “It was very informative to see not only how the pokemon moved in battle, but also how they interacted with you.”

“Oh, thanks, it wasn’t anything that impressive,” I said, waving the comment off. “Most of my pokemon are fairly relaxed with fighting. The ancient pokemon are no different. It might be because of their rock typing perhaps?” I shrugged. “That being said, Don’s also a rock typed pokemon and he’s easily the most temperamental pokemon I have.”

Oak rubbed his chin. “Indeed, I spoke with Lance and your Aerodactyl came up in our talks! He identified a lot of pointers that indicate that Aerodactyl as a species perhaps was a precursor for many Dragon typed pokemon.”

“You’ve been speaking with Lance?” I said, interested to hear that little tidbit.

“Oh yes! He and I met before he became Champion. He was a very engaging young man. He has some good ideas regarding security and policing he’s hoping to implement for Indigo, did you know?! But I digress! I was actually inspecting his Kingdra! It’s a fascinating pokemon. I’ve never seen an evolution for Seadra. Hadn’t thought it possible.” He chuckled. “Shows what you know!”

He looked energised now. “Our world truly is a wonderful place! Who knows what we’ll discover tomorrow!” He smiled widely at me. “Or even today!”

“Yeah,” I said, completely understanding what he meant.

Oak looked over me for a moment, not saying anything but also not stopping when it was obvious I was aware of his gaze. When I tilted my head in question, he shook his head with a fond smile. “You really are a wonderful gym leader to have as the first challenge that many of our young trainers will face. You handled young Forrest well.” He stood from the seat and clapped his hands together.

“Right! We shouldn’t dilly dally any longer! This was a wonderful point, but we need to get this boulder rolling…” He tilted his head. “That wouldn’t make a bad poem actually…” He fetched out a notepad and began scribbling.

“Rumbling tumble, …. Boulders crashing downhill, …. a mess certainly?” He tapped his chin, his eyes far off. I looked to Cerise who looked amused.

“The Professor likes to dabble with poetry… most people aren’t game to tell him he’s rather bad at it,” said Cerise. I nodded in understanding, deciding to wait for Oak to follow after his research team. If he lingered for much longer I’d be able to ask about Agatha.

Rocko wandered up however, and gave me a thumbs up. “Nice battle down there Boss. Looks like you kept it pretty casual.”

“Yeah, I’m not about to lay into Forrest with my best moves,” I said with a shrug, “Have a good night?”

“Yup, got a messenger Pidgeotto with the newly released game! Smash Bros! Played it after you left and unlocked Luigi. Game is dope,” he said.

The sound of a pencil snapping stopped me from casually asking if I could play with him. Oak gave Rocko a winning smile. “What’s this? Video games?”

“Oh yeah, the newest!” said Rocko. “I’m going to play it cause today’s my day off!” He grinned. “There’s a mode where you can play against other people if you want, so come on by if you’re interested?” he said casually. I assumed he was just being friendly.

Oak beamed. “I’d love to!” He put a hand under his chin. “You know I used to play video games when I was young…ger,” he said once again using that inflection that made me think it really wasn’t that long ago.

“I used to be known as flying finger Sam” he coughed and rubbed the back of his head. “At least at the arcades they did!” He glanced around. “Just don’t tell my grandchildren alright?”

Rocko and I chuckled along. “Nothing to worry about from us,” I said. I nodded to Rocko. “Expect to see us later then.”

“Yes!” Oak said, rising from his seat. “It is a challenge!”

Rocko grinned, “Cool, see you then Brock…” He tilted his head before shrugging and nodding his head, “Professor.” He ambled back to the living areas of the gym and I chuckled. He had known this was Professor Oak right? Yeah… he had to… surely.

I stood and began to walk Oak back towards the grotto before remembering the other topic I’d wanted to raise. “So, what do you know about aura?”

Oak stopped and looked me over. “Ah! I thought I saw you shrugging off rocks during your final match with Titan and Dragonite. I didn’t see any emissions but then again the camera never seems to capture aura radiated from humans…” He tapped his chin in thought. “I should have known you were one of the rare people able to tap into the energy source. What kind? Rock I assume?”

“Uhm,” I rubbed the back of my head. “Rock and dark actually.”

That made Oak blink, and then blink again. “A dual typing? My goodness, that is something I’ve never heard of!” He frowned in thought. “Your starter pokemon I assume? Tyranitar? You’ve been learning how to use energy as he does?”

“Yeah? What other ways are there?”

Oak crossed his arms. “It’s not widely noticed, and not something the pokemon League likes to advertise, but there are people born with a natural affinity to aura. I should imagine that you are one such individual. Having two energy types to draw on is a marvellous achievement at your age.”

He nodded and continued, “The other method is to train yourself exclusively with one type of pokemon. I should imagine that working with so many Rock types has enhanced your rock type energy making your dark type falter behind?”

“Uhmmm, nope?” I said.

Oak frowned. “Hmm interesting, do you use it more often?”

I shrugged. “Seems to come easily enough. Why would Rock typing en… it’s because of the pokeballs on my hips cycling my energy isn’t it?”

“Indeed, another part of yesterday’s discussion is that you need more pokemon to expose and open you up. People with one pokemon type typically become more receptive and aware of that type's energy and how to use it themselves.” He raised a hand. “It does come with ramifications however!”

He raised a hand like he was lecturing, “For example, a dragon type master will become extremely proud; Taking on more draconic traits that they need to curb and control lest they find much of their time spent reacting to slights great, small or even only imagined. The Blackthorn gym has known about this for years and you will often see them acting out on impulses. Sometimes they can have wild fluctuations in temperament depending on how their training is progressing or what stimulus they are exposed to. You might even attribute Lance’s recent showing where he disparaged you as an impulse he had lost control of. Your battle with him would have helped check his impulse but I don’t doubt that his clan elders would be intensifying his training.”

Oak rubbed his chin. “For all that I am highly familiar with them, and quite friendly, they won’t let me into their records. It would make for a fantastic research paper.”

“Huh so most people don’t gain aura because you need to be sensitive to it either through exposure or being born to it… Which is something pokeball creation has only allowed for in more recent years?”

“Yes. It is perhaps something we will see more of. The ancient tale of the ‘hero’ travelling and uniting Kanto features a boy capable of wielding aura. Some of the feats of strength and skill he performs… it could be implied that he had access to his aura and on some level controlled it. Aura itself is a rather recently created term. Only a hundred years or so… it is tough to judge as many of the old buildings and records were destroyed during the war either through man or pokemon.”

He stared away from me before adopting his more relaxed, thoughtful expression. “There’s not really a number for how many people possess it right now, but I have estimated it as less than one in a hundred thousand. After that, there is no way to accurately know. Machines as yet can’t measure it. Just as they can not emit it. It remains something intrinsic to man and pokemon. It’s why we are able to form bonds with pokemon and is perhaps at the heart of my study into the relationships of pokemon and humanity.”

That made a lot of sense with everything that I knew. “What about the people that can use it?” I said, turning to the other looming issue I was facing.

“The people that can use it are relatively rare, and usually have to be working with pokemon often.”

“How do you train it?”

“That is one of the issues that is not well understood. Most people need to be constantly using it.” He smiled. “It is another facet of our world that is so poorly understood, but open to so much.”

“Agatha noticed me using it,” I said, testing for a response.

Oak sighed, his head dropping slightly. “She would have, wouldn't she?” He ran a hand across his face. “Agatha… Agatha is someone that has let the world shape her… she and I grew up to the tensions and the harsh times. She saw the world how it was, and adapted to it. She’s not a bad woman, and if she has offered to help you then she will help but…”

He grimaced. “She’s very jaded. I’m not really able to talk with her much as she and I have a… history that makes communication rougher than it should.” He chewed his lip. “Brock, if you train with her, make sure you keep that in mind and be prepared to duck when she throws something unexpected at you. Her intentions are good, but her delivery…” He raised his notepad. “Well it needs some work that she doesn’t care to do.” He clapped me on the shoulder, “If you’re interested I’d like to talk more about this in the future. I’ll put together some research I have on the matter and send it over, if you’d like?”

I nodded at that. I had gotten a lot more than I bargained for and was slowly working through the information. Oak smiled “Well, I think that was a very interesting talk but I really should be getting back to my team lest they send someone after me.”

“Ah sure,” I said, leading him back to the cave system that housed my pokemon.

The rest of the morning and afternoon passed with the research team and myself in the cave system once more.

We eventually got to looking over the electric Golem line I had. Bianca had been extremely animated here as well as rather interested in how I’d used a generator to create an ‘faux natural faraday cave’ that the pokemon were encouraged to spend time in. The use of treats and small alcoves where the pokemon could avoid the zaps had helped make the habitat and minerals they absorbed slightly more charged than any other cave system on the property.

Sanchez woke up when Elm almost ran into the electrical field, and he stood posing in the middle of the cave while electricity arced around him. He played around with the shape of his moustache and beard.

Oak had been highly interested in that. “How is he doing that?”

Salvadore perked up. “The moustache isn’t hair but actually small iron shavings that he’s collected, he can reshape it into various styles of beard and moustache.” He looked to me hopefully and I waved a hand.

Salvadore grinned as he gave the order, “Sanchez! Muttonchops!” The shavings on his face rearranged onto his checkers with a chin peeking out. Salvadore made another command.

“The verdi!” The cheeks receded and the moustache twirled around under his nose.

“The handlebars!” “Winter beard!” The researchers were all watching and Salvadore’s grin was huge as he swept his hands out in a flourish one last time. “The gentleman!” I tilted my head. I hadn’t created a look for that.

The iron shavings shifted around until a circle that vaguely looked like a monocle encircled Sanchez’s left eye while his moustache twanged up and out. “Go-go-golem!” He said as he mimed drinking something with his smallest finger extended.

I laughed at that while the researchers applauded the show and took pictures.

Eventually, they returned to actually studying the habitat, which was of most interest to Elm’s team. Or more specifically Bianca.

“This is so interesting and is a proof of concept that it’s not just Eevee lines that can adapt quicker than expected to their environments. This is a literal energy adaptation evolution that links up with your work Professor Elm!” said Bianca. That had gotten a lot of interest from Elm. Apparently, my rather rudimentary set-up would work wonders in providing evidence to a number of theories they had postulated in the past.

When she’d begun suggesting other potential typings that might be possible due to a golem’s environment I had weighed in with Ice, grass, and fire. Not because I knew they existed, but I knew that I needed to lay some tracks now while obfuscating what my intentions were.

If I could get an Avalugg I’d have an ice-rock typing ready if I had everything set up. Growlithe should have been the easier achievement, but I needed ready access to a volcano. Which might have me talking with Blaine.

Bertha’s habitat near Titan saw us going much deeper into the cave system. With her being the only one of her species the research team were quick to make their observations and recordings. She was interesting as a case study and proof of concept, but none of them asked how I had evolved her. Not even Oak.

When I led them back out to the front of the gym, Elm and Oak were profuse with their praise in the habitats I had set up along with thanking me for letting them in.

“You’ve really helped advance a number of my research papers! I have evidence that supports so many of my theories now! There’s going to be a lot more support for proposed changes and potential experiments in future! So thank you! And thank you for agreeing to take Bianca on!” Elm said as he shook my hand.

Oak shook my own “Excellent work, I’d be interested in talking with you anytime you feel interested in doing so.” He tossed out his Alakazam and smiled. Then his whole team bar himself vanished in a teleport. Elm tilted his head.

“Uhmm professor you missed your teleport?” he said.

Oak grinned. “Oh no, I didn’t miss my teleport.” He turned to me. “So, where’s Rocko? I believe I made a promise with him?”

I nodded to Elm. ‘Later Professor!” I then led Oak and a highly confused Salvadore into the living quarters of the trainers. Rocko was slouched down on the couch and on the screen he had Starfox chasing after what looked like Samus with a hammer. He connected and she went flying off.

Oak took off his lab coat and sat next to Rocko. “Oh hey Professor, decided to come after all?”

“I never back down from a video game challenge!”

Rocko grinned and quit his game to set up a multiplayer game. He glanced back at me and Salvadore. “Want to join?”

I grinned as I took up the old to me, but new to them, controller. “Oh I think I could play around for a bit.”

When Salvadore accepted as well, Rocko straightened up and returned his gloom. I gave him a thankful nod.

Sadly when I got to the character select screen I learnt that because I was in the pokemon world they didn’t have Pikachu or even Jigglypuff. Must have been because the developers of this Nintendo didn’t want to make things too on the nose.

“Guess I’m playing as Kirby then,” I said.

“Who’s good?” said Salvadore. “I think I’ll try this space guy called Samus! He looks cool!”

I opened my mouth to correct him only for Oak to beat me to it.

“Actually, Samus is a girl! I was shocked when I reached the end of the game and it was revealed to me! Stunning bit of story! Never suspected it!” Oak bounced in his chair, “I’m trying Donkey Kong!” said Oak like a gleeful child.

The round started and I let them learn their moves before batting them off with a few well-placed hits. When Rocko came after me with Fox I showed him no mercy.

“Hey what’s this baseball bat for?” said Salvadore

I grinned and felt the darkness stirring within me. “Let me show you, little brother,” I said.

Within two rounds of the game Oak, Salvadore and Rocko were teaming up against me. Not that I expected any less. I’d grown up with this game and the best inevitably drew challengers. I dispatched them with ease before they demanded I play someone else. So I played as Mario and thumped them around. Then I had to play as Starfox.

I was just starting a new game as Samus when Daisy trotted in with Yolanda. I turned to address them only for Oakl to sneak attack me. “Yes! Yes! The hammer is mine! Prepare to be crushed!”

“Ah! Stay away!” screamed Salvadore as he tried to evade with Donkey Kong. I huffed in annoyance at Sam’s antics.

“Can I help you ladies?” I asked. Yolanda watched on in confusion while Daisy looked amused.

Daisy shook her head. “I can wait till you're done. Grandpa looks like he’s having fun.”

I looked back to see Oak half standing and leaning to the right. “Get him! Get him!”

I saw my own character go flying again and decided I’d given him enough of a handicap.

When the round was over and I was announced as the victor Daisy tapped her grandfather on the shoulder. “Come on Gramps time to go home.”

“Oh! Yes! Did you see me Daisy? I almost won that one!” He said before he remembered to bow towards us. “Until next time gentlemen.”

Yolanda hopped from foot to foot. “It’s dinner time.”

I stood at that and left Salvadore to enjoy fighting with Rocko. I hummed a little as I walked back to our home with Yolanda, she watched me with a giggle.

“What?” I said.

“Nothing, it’s just you looked like you enjoyed yourself.”

“Heh, yeah I was.” It might have been nostalgia speaking, but the game was as good as I remembered it being. I stretched and went about my chores for the evening.

I’d gotten a lot more out of letting Oak and Elm look over my pokemon than I had been expecting. Tomorrow I’d… I stopped what I was doing as I recalled what someone else had penned into my calendar.

I started making dinner and worked through my normal procedures. Talking with Oak about Agatha had relieved most of my worries. But I still wanted to batten down some of the hatches. So, before bed, I put Dennis on notice to be on guard around the gym, along with giving Yolanda and Forrest a heads up about tomorrow night.

I even went as far as to hand Quirrina over to Forrest. The Solrock would serve Forrest well if anyone came knocking that wasn’t meant to be here. I toyed with the idea of marching up to the swamp and recalling Shrek, but he was a hidden ace. It only looked like I didn’t own the swamp with how I’d built the wall around the back free-range area. From the swamp, he’d be able to spot anyone that didn’t belong and be in his element.

I reminded Yolanda and Forrest to feed him.

I flicked a message to Sabrina just in case I needed to bring a little more muscle beyond pokemon…

Then again, perhaps the destination was chosen with her in mind. Sabrina wouldn’t be at her strongest in Lavender town. Calling Sabrina into a place known for its ghost pokemon was going to be setting her on the back foot, so so it wasn’t going to be something I did without a damn good reason.

Having that option available did make me feel better though.