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Luther's Pokémon seemed to possess an unwavering determination. Despite the setback, Ralts took only a brief moment to recover before standing up once again, signaling to Marill that she was ready to continue.
Luther pondered for a moment and decided to test whether Ralts could use Psychic to block Marill's Water Gun. While Ralts couldn't change her weight, the strength of Marill's Water Gun was something that could be adjusted.
Luther knew firsthand how powerful Marill's Water Gun could be. Even in her unevolved form, Marill had shown immense strength. Her raw power was impressive, almost like a dragon slayer in action.
However, to help her refine her skills, Luther instructed Marill to keep the force of her Water Gun at less than half its usual strength. This would serve as a form of training, helping Marill gain better control over her abilities.
Marill rubbed her belly, casting a conflicted glance at Ralts. Luther had described Ralts as still being relatively weak, and Marill worried about hurting her friend. She hesitated, unsure of how much force to apply.
"Whoosh!"
A stream of water shot through the air, racing toward Ralts. At the last moment, Ralts responded, channeling her Psychic power in an attempt to block the attack.
The Water Gun's trajectory twisted unnaturally, distorted by the Psychic energy. However, droplets of water still splashed through, showering Ralts. Her control was unstable, and the waves of Psychic energy pulsed awkwardly.
Just as Luther was about to offer guidance, Ralts' concentration wavered, and the Water Gun broke through her defenses. The blast hit her square in the face, sending her tumbling backward.
Jumpluff, who had been lounging nearby with a chocolate bar, stared with exasperation. A dark line formed across her forehead as she hastily stuffed the remaining chocolate into her mouth. Crumbs clung to her cheeks, but she paid them no mind. Leaping down from the snack bag, she stomped over to Marill and gave her a firm whack on the head.
Marill rubbed the sore spot, trying to explain herself to Jumpluff with a distressed expression. Despite her best efforts, she earned another playful thump, leaving her pouting and mumbling under her breath.
With a sigh of resignation, Marill backed away, allowing Jumpluff to take her place. Curiosity flickered in Luther's eyes. He wondered how Jumpluff planned to guide Ralts.
Ralts, fortunately, wasn't badly hurt. After Luther gently wiped the water from her face, she rushed back to the training field, only to find that her new sparring partner was now Jumpluff.
Jumpluff wasted no time. She barked an order at Marill, who scampered off and quickly returned with another chocolate bar. With a burst of agility, Jumpluff sprang into the air, twisting mid-leap before thumping the chocolate bar playfully against Luther's head multiple times.
Luther could only smile wryly. Jumpluff clearly disagreed with his training methods and had taken it upon herself to demonstrate a better approach.
After thoroughly scolding Luther with her chocolate bar antics, Jumpluff tore open the wrapper with her teeth. She eyed the chocolate thoughtfully before calling Marill over. In an unexpected twist, she presented the chocolate bar to Marill as a reward.
Marill accepted it eagerly, only to realize that the chocolate had crumbled into powder. Her expression shifted to one of disbelief as she stared at the mess in her paws. When she glanced back up, she saw Jumpluff munching on a fresh chocolate bar of her own, savoring every bite without a hint of remorse.
Jumpluff had no interest in eating food she found unappealing.
She said something to Ralts before suddenly tossing a bag of chips from the snack pile.
The chips soared high, tracing a wide arc in the air. Ralts stared at the flying snack, momentarily stunned, then quickly recalled Jumpluff's instructions. She focused her Psychic power, catching the chips in mid-air and carefully returning them to Jumpluff, as if she had just grasped the concept.
Without warning, another treat, a pack of fish jerky, was launched. It flew faster and at a trickier angle. Ralts waited until it was just about to hit the ground before summoning her Psychic energy to halt its descent.
Jumpluff shot a disapproving glance at Ralts, frowning in dissatisfaction. Ralts shivered, understanding that her performance was still lacking.
Next, a bag of cookies spiraled through the air. The moment it left her grasp, Jumpluff's expression shifted to regret, she really liked that particular flavor.
Marill, on the other hand, silently hoped the cookies would fall. After all, if Jumpluff refused them, Marill could enjoy more treats herself.
Ralts, however, had no choice but to focus. Determined not to fail, she found the correct angle, caught the cookies, and quickly returned them to Jumpluff, much to the latter's relief.
As the training progressed, Jumpluff chose sturdier snacks that wouldn't break upon impact. The throws grew trickier and higher, with unpredictable trajectories. Ralts' Psychic power defenses were tested repeatedly, while Marill, with a resigned expression, became the designated cleanup crew, collecting any fallen snacks.
When Ralts finally managed to catch three bags of snacks at once, Jumpluff nodded in satisfaction, signaling that the training session was over.
Luther had to admit that Jumpluff's method was effective. Marill, as Ralts' training partner, had relied on her powerful Water Gun without adjusting the force, leaving Ralts struggling to block the attack. Jumpluff's exercise allowed Ralts to build confidence and strengthen her precision under pressure.
While Luther couldn't help but think the whole process resembled teaching a Growlithe to fetch a frisbee, Ralts's improvement was undeniable.
Without waiting for any praise, Jumpluff gleefully tore into her well-earned cookies.
"Hello, do you accept trades?"
Luther turned to see a girl holding a Poké Ball, her gaze fixed on Jumpluff. It was clear that Jumpluff's performance in helping Ralts adapt had caught the attention of other Trainers.
Pokémon trading was a common practice. When Trainers found Pokémon they admired or had ones that didn't suit their battle style, they would often seek trades to build a stronger team. Many times, trades were beneficial, allowing both Trainers and Pokémon to find better matches.
However, Luther wasn't interested in trading. Even in the games, he'd only traded with friends to complete evolutions before returning the Pokémon.
He shook his head politely, declining the girl's offer. Scooping up the snack bag, he cradled Ralts in his arms, preparing to head back to the monitoring room. He still needed to check on the progress of Misdreavus's evaluation.
Jumpluff's training had given him valuable insights, and he was already planning how to further strengthen Ralts's abilities.
Before he could leave, however, a small crowd formed around him. Some Trainers were eager to trade for Bibarel, others for Delibird, and one particularly hopeful Trainer even offered a Caterpie in exchange for a Sunkern.
Oreburgh City was a frequent stop for Rookie Trainers aiming to challenge the Gym. Many had been drawn here by online discussions about the city's versatile lineups, eager to test their own teams against experienced opponents.
However, they overlooked the fact that even a flexible lineup is not a free pass. A skilled Gym Leader can easily defeat a group of novice Trainers, even with moderately trained Pokémon. Otherwise, the Pokémon League Conference would be flooded with challengers every year.
Some of those who failed at the Oreburgh Gym chose to remain in the area, hoping to catch Pokémon better suited for training and countering the Gym Leader's type. Others moved on to gyms that were reportedly easier for novices, based on reviews and word of mouth.
Among those who stayed, some were particularly eager to make trades.
From Luther's perspective, most of the Pokémon being offered for exchange were poorly trained. His Jumpluff, raised by Professor Rowan, was not only energetic but also had a vibrant, healthy gleam in her eyes.
In comparison, the Pokémon presented to him barely seemed half as well-cared-for.
The crowd around Luther parted slightly, and he recognized the person stepping forward, the Trainer who had recently won using Tangela.
It was clear that the earlier battle had earned this Trainer some recognition, as the surrounding Trainers instinctively backed off a bit.
"Let me introduce myself. My name's Minlong, but you can call me Alon."
Luther had often pondered how random names seemed in the Pokémon world. He was genuinely curious if Ash and Dawn had official surnames. Perhaps something like "Ketchum" or "Berlitz," but who knew?
Still, the name "Minlong" wasn't all that odd. At least it wasn't something too eccentric.
"Luther," He responded simply.
Luther wasn't sure if Alon was attempting to be friendly or if he was approaching with the intention of proposing a trade.
"I'll get straight to the point. I want to trade my Tangela for your Jumpluff."
Luther's gaze shifted to the Tangela at Alon's side. The Grass-type Pokémon showed no particular emotion, standing passively.
Jumpluff, however, had a much stronger reaction. She immediately jumped onto Luther's head, glaring at Alon with fierce determination.
Alon had no idea that Jumpluff had chosen to follow Luther after he passed an evaluation battle that mirrored a Champion-level match. She respected Luther's strength and tactical prowess.
Being loyal to him didn't mean she would tolerate the thought of following anyone else.
Luther understood her completely. He gently pulled Jumpluff down, preventing her from further bouncing on his head, and tucked her back into the snack bag.
"I'm not interested in trading," Luther said firmly.
Alon seemed unfazed, as if expecting the rejection. With an air of confidence, he pulled out another Poké Ball and released a Delcatty.
"Delcatty for Jumpluff."
It was almost amusing how oblivious Alon was to Luther's growing impatience. He truly believed it was a matter of bartering, assuming all Luther needed was a more enticing offer.
"Jumpluff was a key Pokémon in my debut battle. I have no intention of trading her. No matter what Pokémon you offer, I won't trade."
Luther found it ironic that the world's tradition of sending ten-year-olds on their Pokémon journeys gave some of them a false sense of maturity. Facing adults without fear could be admirable, but this overconfidence, paired with a lack of experience, was something else entirely.
Alon, however, didn't give up. He carefully studied Luther before making a new proposal.
"You're here to challenge Oreburgh City Gym, right? Let's collaborate. I'll temporarily trade my Delcatty for your Jumpluff. She can help me win the Gym Badge, and then we'll trade back."
Luther was astounded by the absurdity of the offer. Some of the surrounding Trainers even nodded as if it was a practical suggestion.
Using someone else's Pokémon to clear a Gym challenge? The audacity. Why not go all the way and ask Cynthia to lend a Garchomp for a clean sweep of the entire League?
Luther sighed, his expression darkening as he looked at Alon.
"I saw your battle earlier."
At the mention of his previous battle, Alon's face lit up with pride. He was clearly pleased with his own performance.
"To be honest, it wasn't impressive. You've probably failed at the Oreburgh Gym multiple times, and that's why you're so desperate to find a well-trained Pokémon that can counter the Gym Leader's type. But your losses have nothing to do with your Pokémon, the problem is you."
Luther's words cut sharply, his tone unwavering.
"If someone like you could beat the Gym, then the Gym Leader may as well step down."
(End of Chapter)