The idea was perfect. The reality was a lot more complicated.
This was the kind of thing that tested the bond between a trainer and their Pokémon. If the Pokémon couldn't understand what its trainer was trying to communicate, it would be impossible for it to respond correctly. On top of that, it required a high level of precise energy control from the Pokémon itself.
Maybe combining other, more complex moves would be difficult. However, merging two basic moves, such as Stun Spore and Seed Bomb, should be relatively easy.
If Budew can't infuse the powder into the seed's core, Zane reasoned, then it can at least start by coating the surface.
He explained his idea, but Budew just looked back at him with a completely baffled expression.
Zane sighed. "..."
Okay. Time for the extended edition.
For the next five minutes, Zane broke it down in painstaking detail. He analyzed the pros and cons of each move, the strategic advantages of combining them, and his theories on exactly how Budew could pull it off, explaining it piece by piece.
After the initial confusion, Budew—to Zane's immense relief—finally got it. A bright light of understanding seemed to flash in its eyes. In that moment, it was as if a whole new world had opened up, a window in its mind revealing a path it had never even considered.
It could do that?!
"NINI!" Budew chirped, excited and eager to try.
Zane let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Alright, let's give it a shot?"
Budew nodded enthusiastically.
Zane stood back. Budew took its position in front of a large rock, its small face filled with fighting spirit.
"Try to merge them!" Zane commanded.
"NINI!"
Budew began to gather its energy. It was its first attempt, and its inexperience showed. Just as it was trying to inject the Stun Spore powder into the newly formed Seed Bomb, it lost control. The seed exploded prematurely.
A cloud of pale yellow powder instantly filled the air, carried by the shockwave. Zane frowned and opened his mouth to say something, but in that split second, he accidentally inhaled a lungful of Stun Spore.
His body immediately lost all feeling. It was like he'd been given general anesthesia from the neck down. His muscles twitched uncontrollably, and he collapsed face-first onto the ground.
Zane lay there, completely paralyzed. "..."
Budew looked on, its face a picture of shame. "Nini..."
"GAH?!" From the river, Cramorant jerked its head out of the water, a frantically flopping Magikarp still in its beak.
Gengar, who had been watching the whole spectacle, just floated there. ...I'm starting to think this human isn't very reliable.
Five minutes later, the paralysis slowly wore off.
Budew was incredibly embarrassed.
"It's okay," Zane reassured it. "Don't worry about it. Let's work hard and try again. You can do this."
At the very least, the accident had proven that his theory was viable.
On the second attempt, Budew had clearly learned its lesson. With careful control, it successfully created a seed with the Stun Spore powder hidden inside. The brand-new "Seed Bomb" was launched, and it exploded against the target rock.
The moment it hit, a massive cloud of powder burst outwards, spreading in every direction with incredible speed. The area of effect was a staggering eight meters.
Fortunately, Zane had been prepared this time and was standing well out of range.
"NINI!" Budew cried out, ecstatic.
Zane walked over and praised it. "You worked hard! That was amazing!" He was genuinely surprised. His Budew was incredibly talented. To succeed on only the second try... in a web novel, this was the part where someone would say, "This child's talent is terrifying!"
The "casting time" for the new move was still a bit long, almost the same as using Seed Bomb and Stun Spore back-to-back. But it was obvious that it was just due to a lack of practice. Once Budew got the hang of it, the time would surely be cut in half. There was still plenty of room for improvement.
Zane spent the rest of the afternoon helping Budew practice. While not every attempt was a success, the failure rate decreased with each try. Budew's mastery of the combo move grew more and more proficient. To make it easier to call out in battle, after a brief "discussion" with Budew, they decided to name the new move: "Stun Bomb."
When Zane checked Budew's information panel later, the moveset had, as expected, changed.
Species: Budew ♀
Type: Grass / Poison
Ability: Leaf Guard
Base Stats: 280 (HP: 40, Atk: 30, Def: 35, SpA: 50, SpD: 70, Spe: 55)
Moves: Absorb, Stun Spore, Seed Bomb, Stun Bomb (Stun Spore + Seed Bomb)
Current Mood: Excited
Status: Moderately Fatigued (mentally tired)
Friendship: 55 (Your bond is deepening day by day)
The friendship level had climbed to 55 without him even noticing, mostly from the small moments they spent together. He hadn't been paying much attention to it.
Evening came. Zane recalled the sleepy Budew to its Poké Ball to let it rest. Carrying the fish Cramorant had caught, he started the walk home.
He hadn't even reached his door when Tsuyoshi ran up and grabbed his arm.
"What's up?" Zane asked.
"Come with me somewhere!" Tsuyoshi said, his face alight with excitement.
"It's about to get dark," Zane pointed out.
"I know! This place only opens when it gets dark!"
"...What kind of place?"
"A place to delight the mind and body!"
Zane's heart skipped a beat. Opens at night... offers 'pleasure'... don't tell me he's taking me to a brothel? He was shocked. He never would have pegged the earnest, honest-looking Tsuyoshi for that kind of guy.
Tsuyoshi saw the look on his face and groaned. "What's with that expression? It's not what you're thinking! Just come with me and you'll see!"
Seeing how insistent he was, Zane had no choice but to follow. The two of them left the school grounds and hailed a taxi. Soon, they arrived in front of a shop with a sign that read "Sweet Sweet Café." The interior was cozy, decorated in a warm, pink color scheme that screamed "girly."
A female owner in a work uniform was wiping down the counter. On the sofas, a row of Eevee and Skitty sat, looking thoroughly bored. The moment they saw customers, their eyes lit up. With a chorus of happy "BUI!"s, they all came running over.
"Two Moomoo Milks, please!" Tsuyoshi, clearly a regular, called to the counter. He immediately scooped up an Eevee with a bow around its neck and buried his face in its fur, inhaling deeply. "My little baby," he mumbled, his voice muffled, "did you miss me?"
Zane physically recoiled. Ugh, what a total creep.
Just then, a Skitty came up to the new customer and started rubbing its fluffy body against his leg. Zane cautiously picked it up. When he looked up again, Tsuyoshi was already being mobbed from the left and right by adorable Pokémon.
Zane just stared. "..."
What the hell is this, an underground cat-petting den?!
The owner saw his expression and let out a laugh. "Don't worry, this is normal. For some of our guests, interacting with cute Pokémon is a very effective way to relax. That's the job of these Eevee and Skitty."
"Are they all your Pokémon?" Zane asked, stroking the Skitty's head.
The owner smiled and shook her head. "Not exactly. Some of them are abandoned, and some are just wild Pokémon who wandered in. They 'work' here, and in return, I give them a place to live and food to eat."
"Bui~" An Eevee sat down on the floor, looking up at Zane with wide, innocent eyes.
Zane, holding the Skitty in one arm, bent down and scooped up the Eevee with his other. Just then, Tsuyoshi surfaced from his sea of fluff. "Oh, right! I didn't just bring you here to pet Eevee! Boss!"
"What's the hurry? The match doesn't start for another half an hour." Despite her words, she turned on the large TV mounted on the wall.
Tsuyoshi, still covered in a pile of Eevee, came over. "It's the Hoenn League finals today!" he said excitedly. "We're about to witness the birth of a new Hoenn champion!"
Zane was surprised. He'd been so buried in the library and out in the woods that he hadn't been keeping up with the outside world. But thinking about it, the League Conference was indeed scheduled for around this time...
"The final match!" Tsuyoshi announced. "Steven versus Elod! Who do you think is going to win?"
Zane just looked at him. "..."
Is that even a question? Obviously Steven. Who the hell is 'Elod'? I've never even heard of the guy. He's just some nameless supporting character.
A realization dawned on him. So, I'm at the point in the timeline where Steven is about to become the League Conference Champion? From what he remembered, after winning the conference, a trainer earned the right to challenge the Elite Four. If they won that, they would become the true, undisputed Champion of the region.
<><><><><><>
Read 10+ advance chapters at patreon.com/MightyJahseh
Support this fanfic w/ your stones & reviews.