The Pantheon

Building Fundamentals

Training under Blaine was nothing like Ashley had expected. It wasn't just hard—it was brutal. The lab inside the volcano wasn't just a place for battling; it was a full-on training facility designed to push Fire-types and their trainers to their limits. Every corner was optimized for controlled intensity: lava channels lined the edges of the cavernous room, radiating heat that made every move feel like a workout. Metal training dummies, heat-resistant targets, and even a ring of fire for agility drills dotted the space.

From the moment Ashley stepped in with Mars and Vulcan, Blaine wasted no time throwing them into the deep end.

"Alright," Blaine barked, his arms crossed as he surveyed the trio. "If we're going to make something of you three in two weeks, there's no time to waste. We'll start with Vulcan. He's got potential, but he's got a lot of catching up to do if he's going to keep up with that Charmander of yours."

Ashley glanced at Vulcan, who stood at attention beside her. His tail wagged slightly, but his eyes were focused and determined.

"Let's do it," she said, adjusting her hat and kneeling down to ruffle Vulcan's fur. "You ready to level up, buddy?"

Vulcan barked sharply, his tail flicking with excitement.

Blaine strode back and forth in front of Ashley and Vulcan, his hands clasped behind his back like a drill sergeant sizing up his recruits. The lab's heat lent an extra edge to his words, the faint smell of molten rock in the air making every moment feel intense.

"Most trainers," Blaine began, his voice sharp and deliberate, "think that throwing a TM at a Pokémon is enough. They slap the disc on, watch the little light show, and then—boom—they expect perfection." He stopped pacing, turning to fix Ashley with a piercing stare. "You know what that gets you?"

Ashley paused mid-scribble, glancing up from her notebook. "Uh... a half-baked move?"

Blaine smirked. "Exactly. A Pokémon that can perform the move but doesn't own it. And if your Pokémon doesn't understand the move—really understand it—how can you expect them to use it effectively when it matters most?"

Ashley nodded furiously, her pencil scratching against the paper as she tried to keep up. "Okay, so how do we make Vulcan own it?"

"Intent," Blaine said, his tone firm as he crossed his arms. "Your Pokémon needs to know what it's creating and why. Substitute isn't just some flashy trick—it's survival. It's about leaving something behind that's convincing enough to take the heat, giving you the time you need to regroup or counterattack. If Vulcan's just going through the motions, the decoy's going to be weak, short-lived, and, frankly, useless."

Vulcan tilted his head, his ears flicking as he listened closely.

Blaine crouched down to meet Growlithe's gaze, pointing toward a large, metal training dummy in the center of the gym. "Alright, Growlithe. Picture this: that thing over there? It's coming for you. Fast and hard."

Vulcan's hackles rose slightly, and he let out a low growl, his amber eyes narrowing as he locked onto the dummy.

"Good," Blaine said, his tone low but encouraging. "Now here's the catch—you're not dodging. You're not running. You're leaving something behind to take the hit for you. That's what Substitute is. It's your escape route. Your shield. You've got to believe you're making something strong enough to stand in for you."

Ashley stepped back, watching as Blaine guided Vulcan through the mental steps. She'd never thought about TMs this way before—like they were tools, not shortcuts. It was as if Blaine was peeling back the layers of the move, showing her and Vulcan how it worked from the inside out.