A Late Start

Back to school

We arrived at the trainer school at about 9 am, hard to believe we spent almost 3 hours out on the route. Ethan immediately went to the gym behind the school, Cheren wouldn't be taking challengers until about midday, but he wanted to fight as many practice battles as he could before then. I stayed in the school for a while, sitting down with a book on type matchups to make sure I remembered everything right. I had been through every book here at least twice by now, but it never hurts to refresh your memory. While I was reading one of the other trainers came up to me.
"H..hey, you're Alexis right?" The girl asked, timidly.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, that'd be me. How'd you know?"
"Everyone here knows about you, they like to say you're a super-smart trainer."
"That's at most. Halfway right, what's up?"
"Well... um, I was hoping you'd be able to give me a little help. Some tips maybe?"
"I guess I could, not like I'm doing much right now anyway. A friend of mine is battling in the gym right now, how about I introduce you two for a battle and I'll try to give you some advice from there?"
The girl just stared at me, before looking down at her feet.
"Okay, maybe not. We can just talk if you'd rather."
She nodded before pulling up a chair next to me.
"So uh, what did you need help with?" I asked, trying to break up the atmosphere. She simply placed one of her Pokeballs on the table, still not saying a word. Not entirely sure what she meant I carefully took my PokeDex out of my bag.
"Did you want me to scan it?" I asked quietly, another nod. I carefully took the capsule and slotted it into the back of my dex, which quickly lit up with all the information on the pokemon inside.
[Species: Caterpie, Classification: The worm Pokemon, Gender: Female, Age: <1 year, OT: Tessi, PL: 946, Moveset {Tackle, String shot, Bug bite.}]
"Hey, not bad, your Caterpie is pretty strong for how young it is." I saw her smile slightly "so, how can I be of assistance?"
"Um, well. We've never been able to win any battles with other trainers."
"That's.. understandable, Caterpie are naturally pretty weak pokemon, compared to a lot of others they can't really hold their own very well. However, your Caterpie has learned Bug bite, most trainers evolve theirs before they lean that move, so you could use it as an edge. For example, you could use string shot to make it easier for you to connect your attacks, and bug bite to deal pretty decent damage while they can't move. It's also a move that most other trainers with a caterpie or one of its evolutions won't have, so it can make it easier for you to win in a mirror matchup. You gotta play to your strengths you know?"
"So, what strengths do we have?"
"Well, for one, having a bug type attack means you'll have an easier time against dark, psychic and grass types. Stay away from birds, obviously. But as long as you play it right you should have a decent chance against most stage one pokemon. If you are willing to, evolution could also give you a pretty nice boost as well, bug types grow fast, and any fully evolved pokemon can pose a serious threat. For most cases, bug bite should be your go-to attack, unless you're up against a fighting, flying, ghost or fire type, then you have tackle for a backup. Until you get a more diverse moveset that's all I can really say though."
"Um, thanks. For all that. hopefully, we'll have some better luck in the future."
"Hey, good luck. As long as you don't give up and keep training you'll get there sooner or later." I gave her a soft smile as she got up, heading outside. I assumed it was to go and do some training. After that, I decided to head out back and see how Ethan was going.

As I walked out the back of the school to the gym I was able to immediately spot Ethan and Royce, turns out they'd drawn quite a crowd already. I decided not to announce my presence and slipped into the crowd on the side of the field where they were sparring. It was a pretty one-sided matchup, the trainer on the other side was battling with a pidove, it's hard to tell just by looking but it still seemed rather young, the way it carried itself was not the way of an experienced battler. Royce was at a massive advantage and the battle was over quickly. Through the dust, I noticed that the rock creature had some blue and white bands on its wrists. I'd never seen them before, had something happened? Did Royce get hurt during one of their battles? A glance over at Ethan told me otherwise, as he had a pair of matching bands on his wrists as well. Guess they were going for style points. I could hear them exchanging jeers and compliments as I slowly made my way toward Ethan's side of the field. They were already squaring up for the next fight. The trainer at the other end of the field looked to be quite a bit younger than both Ethan and I perhaps about 12 yet I could feel the confidence in his stare, younger perhaps, but he had all the makings of an at least somewhat experienced trainer, this could be interesting. The challenger threw their Pokeball through the air onto the field, red light pouring onto the field before taking shape. Twin tails, orange like the sunrise, blue sail-like formations on its arms and a yellow ring around the neck. Black marks on its face like paint, I'd never seen one of these Pokemon before, almost immediately I was fishing in my bag for my dex, I needed to scan this thing. I pulled the device out of my bag, sliding the top up as it powered on, I hit the scan button, but I struggled to focus it on the new pokemon as the battle was underway. Ethan had come out the gate in full attack. Through the dust it was impossible to get a scan, so I gave up and just watched the battle, maybe I can snatch my scan when they start to calm down. Royce was going hard, but the mystery pokemon either shrugged off or avoided almost every attack, something what wrong though. Why weren't they attacking? Something was wrong, Right as I was trying to work out their strategy the stranger called out
"Alright, NOW! Aqua jet, hit em hard as you can." Wait, aqua jet? A water type! That could be bad for Royce. The pokemon was standing tall over Royce. While he was standing there I was finally able to get my scan. the screen lit up as the information came into view [Species: Buizel, Classification: The sea weasel Pokemon, Gender: Male, Age: ~2 years, OT: Calem PL: 1715, Moveset {Sonic boom, Growl, Water Sport, Quick attack, Aqua Jet.} New data registered to compendium] Alright! some new data to study later. Looking back up at the battle I saw that both sides had recovered from the last attack. Royce Had taken that last hit pretty hard, I could tell he was drained. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that Ethan was worried. He was at a disadvantage and I could tell he was feeling the pressure. I tried to think of any way he could win but kept coming up dry, Royce was already too weak and at a massive disadvantage.
"Let's finish this, Sonic boom!" The challenger announced the creature in front of him coiled its tails around one another. If that attack hits. Royce is finished for sure.
"Quick Royce, Magnitude. Throw him off balance!" Ethan called out, Royce immediately dug his hands into the ground and I felt a familiar shake rumble through the arena. The challenger's Pokemon reared towards Royce for its attack, pale white energy radiating from its tails. cracks started to form in the ground below the Buisel's feet, giving way to a small crater, throwing off the creature's balance. Its attack went flying off course, sending arcs of white energy sailing off into the far wall of the arena.
"Magnitude 5," I said quietly to myself, smiling slightly to see Ethan use the strategy I suggested to him earlier to great effect. Royce had already prepared his next attack, hurling a rock towards his opponent, the attack connected without issue as the weasel was still recovering, knocking it over onto its back. The Rock creature immediately dug its hands back into the ground. This time, however, using its grip and the strength in its arms to propel itself forward into the recovering Pokemon, landing a successive, momentum fueled punch right to its cheek, sending his opponent reeling across the field before landing near its trainer's feet. its eyes had been replaced with those notorious battle ending spirals. The fight was over, Ethan and Royce had won it, despite their disadvantage. they both posed dramatically before quickly going slack but still standing. Clearly, the battle had taken its toll on them both.

I made my way over to where Ethan was standing, putting a hand on his shoulder as I quietly said "Nice battle, hotshot."
"Oh, Lexi. You saw that huh?"
"Yeah, seems like I picked the right time to come out."
"So you DO listen to me sometimes then huh?"
"Aw, cmon Lexi, 'course I listen. You've always had a knack for the whole, ideas thing."
"Maybe, you're the one winning the fights though, you did pretty well out there. You sure Royce is gonna be alright for your challenge later?"
"Oh. Yeah, we should probably stop off at the centre over in Floccesy and get 'em topped off before Midday."
"Oh... you're heading across to Floccesy then?"
"Yeah, don't worry though, I'll be back well in time for the challenge." His voice trailed off.
"Well, alright, have a nice trip. Guess I'll hang out by the lookout till you get back."
"Hey, sorry Lexi. I know you're not allowed to leave town, promise I won't be long."
"It's alright man, I know you gotta go, just make sure you come back before I get too bored."
"Haha, I will. Wait for me okay?" He cried out, already halfway out the door.
I smiled slightly, ever hot-headed when it comes to Pokemon. I readjusted my pack, slipping my dex back inside as I headed out the door, I recorded the whole fight, so I can study that new Pokemon's movements. Hopefully, that will keep me entertained until Ethan gets back.