Adamo Amet
patreon
Chapter no.9 Good night
🕑 Added 2024-07-01 17:04:08 +0000 UTCAs Austin left the bank with 5,000 Pokédollars in his pocket and headed for the Poké Mart to stock up on essentials, he flipped open Pokémon Training for Dummies by Jane Peters. The first section outlined the core staples of training any Pokémon: Knowledge, Diet, and Rest. Curious, Austin skipped the part about diet for now—he was more interested in what the book described as training specific to each Pokémon.
The book detailed:
A Pokémon’s capabilities can be categorized into specific stats based on their physiology and the average abilities inherent to their species.
It listed several stats:
Health Points (HP) or Stamina: How much damage a Pokémon can take before fainting. Attack: Often referred to as Physical Attack, this determines the damage dealt by physical moves. Defense: Influences how much damage a Pokémon receives from physical moves. Special: Divided into Special Attack and Special Defense, which affect special moves’ impact and resistance. Speed: Determines a Pokémon’s ability to dodge, move, and attack quickly.
Austin continued reading, intrigued.
“Every Pokémon species has been scientifically shown to have an affinity towards one of these stats. For example, an average Pikachu will always be quicker than it is durable. Therefore, when training, exercises related to enhancing speed should be prioritized over those that increase stamina.”
The book included a table mapping each species to their stat affinities. Austin scanned the list, noting where Kanto Pokémon fell.
“So in the games, stats are actual numbers, but here they’re more about a Pokémon’s natural inclinations… I should model my training around these,” he realized, nodding. It was a fascinating new angle for working with Pikachu, Spearow, and Rattata.
“Pika!” Pikachu chirped, pulling Austin from the book. He looked up and blinked, adjusting to his surroundings.
A passerby caught his eye. On a whim, Austin asked, “Excuse me, is that the Poké Mart?”
The man pointed at the giant sign over a massive building. Austin muttered a quick thanks, feeling his cheeks flush with embarrassment.
The Poké Mart was huge—a Pokémon-world version of Costco. Inside, it was even grander, with high ceilings and endless rows of shelves packed with items for trainers: toys, treats, grooming kits, and specialized gear like fire-retardant pet beds. Near the front, behind checkout counters, a wide glass case showcased familiar staples—Pokéballs, potions, and… glowing metal cubes?
Austin raised an eyebrow. Definitely not in the anime.
Grabbing a cart, he headed to the first aisle labeled Electric, steering carefully. Pikachu hopped in with a delighted chirp, wide-eyed at the spectacle. Austin pulled out his shopping list.
It was simple: Pikachu’s special battery, high-quality food, and a grooming kit. He paused at a bag labeled League Recommended Omnivore Pokémon Food Blend. The back description was vague, promising “balanced nutrients” without specifics. He grimaced, shaking his head. Not good enough.
“Nah, I’ll just make the food myself,” he muttered. Pikachu perked up, ears twitching in approval.
Navigating through aisles, Austin grabbed essentials, avoiding gimmicks. At the bookshelf section, he picked up Under the Stars: A Modern Guide to Camping by Emma Clarkson. Feeling accomplished, he headed to checkout.
A teenage girl in a blue apron greeted him with a wide, practiced smile, quickly stashing away a magazine.
“Find everything okay?”
“Just fine, thanks,” Austin replied, eyeing the glowing cubes in the glass case. “What are those?”
“TMs,” she said, scanning his items.
Austin’s heart skipped. Teaching Pokémon new moves? Game-changer. “Can I buy one?”
She held up a card listing available TMs, but his excitement plummeted when he saw the price: the cheapest was 20,000 Pokédollars. He didn’t bother asking about the moves. Way out of my league right now.
“Which aisle is the Silph Co. Bag in?” he asked, eyeing an ad for the high-tech backpack that used Pokéball technology to expand its storage. Priced at 8,000 Pokédollars, it even had an installment option. Too good to be true?
“Wow, that’s some gift,” the girl said, impressed.
“Uh, it’s not a gift. Why’d you say that?”
“It’s weird to waste money on a Silph Co. Bag when you already have one,” she said casually.
Austin blinked. “Pardon?” He quickly pulled off his backpack, holding it up. “I already have one?”
“Oh, you didn’t turn it on.” She tapped a small grommet, and the weight he’d been carrying vanished. It felt like the bag wasn’t even there.
“How?” Austin stammered, his brain struggling to process.
“Same principle as Pokéballs—matter-to-energy, space-expanding tech,” she explained, sounding as unsure as he felt. “It’s bigger on the inside. Somehow.”
Physics be damned, Austin thought, his mind doing somersaults.
“Your total is 5,600 Pokédollars,” she announced, snapping him back to reality.
Austin grimaced. More than expected. “Is there, like, a first-time discount?” he asked, trying a hopeful smile.
Pikachu caught on immediately. The little Electric-type looked up at the cashier with wide, sparkling eyes, letting out a soft, heart-melting “Pikaaa!”
The girl hesitated, her practiced smile faltering. “Cute,” she said, before scanning the final item. “But no discounts, sorry.”
Austin sighed.
“Fucking taxes,” Austin muttered under his breath, stuffing the crumpled receipt into his pocket as he left the Poké Mart. An extra 30 Pokédollars gone, just like that. Taxes! In a world where ten-year-olds roamed forests filled with dangerous creatures, the government still managed to squeeze out a little extra. His wallet felt lighter, and his mood wasn’t far behind as he approached the Pokémon Center.
Stepping through the doors, he noticed a commotion near the entrance. A familiar voice, loud and heated, cut through the usual hum of trainers chatting and Pokémon calls. Curious, Austin glanced over and spotted Misty, her arms crossed, frustration radiating off her like steam from a kettle.
“I can’t believe this!” she practically yelled, her fiery orange hair bouncing as she threw her hands up. Heads turned, some trainers openly staring, others pretending not to notice.
Austin jogged over, his gut telling him this wasn’t his problem, but his curiosity getting the better of him. “Hey, are you okay?” he asked cautiously.
Misty whipped around, her glare fierce enough to make him momentarily regret his decision. “Team Rocket stole my bike!” she spat, practically shaking with outrage.
Austin had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing. “Uh… that sucks,” he said, keeping his voice steady. “But hey, I’m sure Officer Jenny will get it back.”
“Yeah, right,” Misty snapped. “You think I’m just going to sit around waiting for that? I need that bike! I was planning to ride straight through Viridian Forest—no stopping.”
Austin winced internally. Viridian Forest? On a bike? That sounded like a disaster waiting to happen. A forest full of bug Pokémon and a trainer with a bug phobia? No, thank you.
“Well,” he said, shrugging sympathetically, “good luck with that.” He offered an awkward smile and started backing away.
As he turned, a nagging thought tugged at his mind. Should I ask her to come with me? Traveling together could be helpful… but then he remembered the screaming. Oh, Arceus, the screaming. The mental image of Misty losing it at the sight of a Caterpie sent a shiver down his spine. Nope. He’d rather face a swarm of angry Beedrill alone.
“Good luck with the bike,” he called over his shoulder, quickening his pace before she could rope him into her chaos. His focus shifted back to his next steps—research to do and snacks to make.
Hours later, Austin sat in his room, surrounded by a pile of books about camping, Pokémon nutrition, and battle strategies. To his surprise, the books were more engaging than expected, each page packed with insights and tips that made his head spin.
Still, his body was calling it quits. His eyes grew heavy, the words on the page starting to blur. Rubbing his face, he muttered, “Just two more pages,” flipping his notebook open to jot down a few notes. ”Then I’ll call it a night.”
From the corner of the room came a soft rustle and a quiet squeak. Glancing down, he spotted Pikachu sitting on the floor, watching him with drooping eyes. Rattata was curled up on the couch, her chest rising and falling steadily. Even Spearow, perched near the windowsill, looked half-asleep, his feathers puffed out slightly.
Austin smiled. “Why don’t you all get some sleep?” he suggested, stifling a yawn. “I’m almost done here.”
Pikachu blinked up at him, his expression clearly saying, You should take your own advice. Spearow, however, acted first. With a sharp flutter of wings, he hopped onto the table and gave Austin’s notebook a pointed peck.
“Alright, alright!” Austin said, holding up his hands in surrender. “I get it. You’re my strict bedtime enforcer now?”
Spearow let out a quiet chirp, hopping back to the windowsill with a smug look.
With a sigh, Austin pushed back his chair and trudged to the cot. The thin mattress creaked as he flopped down, pulling the blanket over himself. Almost immediately, a soft weight landed on his chest. Cracking an eye open, he found Pikachu curled into a tiny ball of yellow fur, his warm body settling comfortably.
“Comfortable?” Austin asked with a soft chuckle. Pikachu’s ear flicked in response, but his eyes stayed shut.
Rattata stirred on the couch, letting out a sleepy squeak. After a moment’s hesitation, she scurried to the cot and curled up near his feet. She didn’t get too close, but it was enough to make Austin’s smile widen.
“Well, look at that,” he murmured, adjusting the blanket to cover her. His gaze shifted to Spearow, still perched by the window, scanning the world outside. The bird gave a quick glance back, as if to say, Don’t worry, I’ve got this.
Austin let out a quiet laugh. “This… this is what I’ve always dreamed of. Being a trainer. Having a team.”
Rattata’s ears twitched, and though she didn’t move closer, her dark eyes stayed on him, half-listening. Pikachu snored softly, his body rising and falling in time with Austin’s breathing. Spearow ruffled his feathers but kept his silent vigil.
“Thank you,” Austin whispered, his words meant for all of them. “For being my friends.”
Rattata squeaked faintly, curling tighter at his feet.
His eyelids grew heavy, and this time, he didn’t fight it. Warmth spread through him as he drifted into peaceful dreams, surrounded by the first true companions he’d ever had.
