In preparation for the thank-you gift for Natsume-sensei, Blue Oak pondered for a long time before deciding to visit an old mansion in Viridian City.
Although she disliked Professor Samuel Oak, Grandma Agatha still lived in Viridian City, not far from Pallet Town.
Moreover, Agatha had a good personal relationship with Blue Oak.
When Blue Oak was away, she had served as the acting Leader of Viridian City.
Blue Oak's feelings toward Grandma Agatha were quite complex.
On one hand, she was a member of the Kanto League's Elite Four, and her strength was undeniable.
On the other hand, she was also an old friend of his grandfather.
Although they had gone their separate ways now, Blue Oak still hoped, deep down, that the two could meet again.
Even if it ended in a bitter parting, it would be better than the current state of hostility.
Strangely enough, the nearly perfect Professor Samuel Oak seemed to get nervous whenever Agatha was mentioned...
Blue Oak fell into thought as he slowly approached the mansion's gate.
The old mansion exuded an eerie atmosphere.
Before he could even reach out, the gate creaked open on its own.
Thick fog surrounded him, and the darkness was so dense he couldn't see his own hand.
"Alakazam, use Miracle Eye," Blue Oak said.
The surroundings immediately became clear. A gloomy-looking woman sat at a table, leaning on a cane, her trembling hands pouring tea for Blue Oak.
"Sit," Agatha said coldly.
"Grandpa also likes this kind of tea," Blue Oak said.
Clatter!
Agatha threw the teapot to the ground without even looking at it. "Gengar, don't buy this kind next time."
Gengar emerged from the shadows, poking its fingers together dejectedly.
"So, what brings you here?" Agatha asked.
"I owe someone a favor, and he also has a Gengar," Blue Oak said. "So, I wanted to ask for your advice on training Gengar."
"You've got some nerve," Agatha sneered. "You're just like your grandfather in that regard."
Blue Oak shrugged indifferently. "I learned that from Red."
"Red..."
Agatha sat on a bench, leaning on her cane, and sneered. "Like Red, that old man used to be a powerful Trainer... But now, there's not even a trace of that left!"
Agatha angrily tapped her cane on the ground, then started coughing.
Blue Oak sat down, ready to listen attentively.
Agatha glanced at him and, perhaps because she had been alone for so long, began to ramble. "If he hadn't become a Researcher, the Kanto Champion would have been that old man..."
"But his research has helped many people," Blue Oak said.
"Research? Ha! How can that compare to Pokémon battles?!"
Agatha glared at Blue Oak angrily. "Do you know what he promised me back then?"
"That he would always stay ahead of me, so I could never catch up to him."
"Ha! Research! I certainly can't catch up to him now, because he's no longer a Trainer!"
Blue Oak remained silent.
"It's useless to talk about this now."
Agatha let out a strange laugh. "But in you and Red, I see a bit of that old man's shadow."
"I hope you two don't end up like him when you're old!"
Agatha tapped her cane and said coldly, "Gengar, see him out!"
It seemed impossible to get training manuals for Natsume now.
But after a moment of thought, Blue Oak said calmly, "I can deliver a letter to Grandpa for you."
Agatha's hunched figure trembled slightly.
"Whether it's your anger, your resentment, or your curses," Blue Oak said.
"I'll deliver them all to Grandpa... If you can't think of enough words to curse him, I can help you come up with some."
Agatha looked up at Blue Oak with her cloudy eyes.
I also want to give Grandpa a good scolding on Grandma's behalf, Blue Oak thought, then continued, "I'm sure being cursed at like that would ruin his mood."
Blue Oak added, "Making him miserable is what you want most, isn't it?"
The room fell silent.
Agatha opened her mouth, her eyes filled with venom, hatred, and even... a hint of expect.
"You win, kid."
After a long pause, Agatha said, "You're just as much of a scoundrel as your grandfather."
"My pleasure."
Blue Oak smiled. "No matter how long the letter is, I'll deliver it to Grandpa. Take your time writing it."
Blue Oak walked toward the door and waved.
"I won't peek, so you don't need to have Gengar hiding in the shadows watching me."
With a creak, the door closed again.
The room was plunged into darkness.
Grandma Agatha, a lifelong spinster, hunched over and leaning on her cane, sat in silence for a long time before finally lighting a dim oil lamp.
Holding a quill pen, a flood of venomous words rushed to her mind. Agatha clenched the pen tightly.
Finally, she began to write: "It's been a long time since we last met. How have you been..."
A long time passed, and the last leaf on the tree outside the window had fallen.
Agatha stopped writing and said, "Autumn has arrived, and I send you my regards."
...
Blue Oak flipped through the training manuscript provided by Agatha.
It was the culmination of Agatha's years of experience, especially in training and battling with Gengar.
The key point was to use Double Team while simultaneously launching Shadow Ball.
A normal Double Team could only serve as a distraction.
But according to Agatha's method, it could achieve the effect of "all clones being real."
Additionally, Agatha provided a training method for "Dream Eater," one of her ace moves.
For any Ghost-type Trainer, this was a treasure worth fighting over.
Although the cost would increase exponentially...
Compared to the boost in strength, it was a small price to pay.
"With Grandma Agatha's manuscript," Blue Oak nodded.
"Natsume-sensei should be satisfied!"
Carrying Agatha's letter, Blue Oak returned to Professor Samuel Oak's research institute.
The white-haired old man was in the backyard, shouting, "Ah! Blue Oak, you're back just in time! Ash Ketchum's Muk is too heavy!"
Blue Oak's expression turned odd.
After rescuing Professor Samuel Oak from under Muk, Blue Oak coughed lightly. "Go take a shower first... I have something to discuss with you later."
Ten minutes later.
Professor Samuel Oak, humming a tune and now wearing his usual lab coat, said in surprise, "Oh, it's Blue Oak!"
Don't act like what just happened didn't occur!
Blue Oak facepalmed. "Ahem... Stop joking around. I have a letter from Grandma Agatha for you."
Samuel Oak was stunned. "A letter... from Agatha?"
Blue Oak tossed the letter onto the table, leaned forward, and warned, "If it's just a normal letter, fine... But if you have any other intentions, I'll curse you at Grandma's grave!"
"What do you mean?" Professor Samuel Oak looked confused.
"Never mind... Take your time reading it. I won't disturb you."
Blue Oak waved and left the room.
"Agatha actually wrote a letter..."
Professor Samuel Oak muttered as he unfolded the lengthy letter.
A long time passed.
The dusk light outside spilled into the room, and the Pidgey chirped as they returned home.
Professor Samuel Oak rested his chin on his hand, a cigarette he had quit years ago dangling from his lips.
He put down the letter and let out a long sigh.
The gray-haired old man took out a yellowed old photo from the books on his right.
Staring at the young boy and girl in the photo, he fell into deep thought.
...
"Grandma Agatha's training methods?!"
Natsume's expression changed.
They're strong, but...
How much will this cost?!
"No need to thank me."
Blue Oak smiled. "Just follow Grandma Agatha's manuscript step by step."
Natsume's expression was complex.
Come to think of it, Gengar's current setup includes Koga's Toxic, Cynthia's Shadow Ball, and Sabrina's Psychic...
If we add Agatha's training methods on top of that...
Natsume looked up at the sky.
His eyes were slightly moist.
"Gengar, you're too strong!"
"Gengar?! Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"
Gengar, who had been lounging on the couch eating chips, was so startled that it dropped the bag of chips.
Trainer's obviously being sarcastic...
I can't afford to slack off. I need to train every second...
Gengar clenched its tiny fists, flames seemingly burning in its eyes.
Keep working hard, Gengar!
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