After the meal, it's time to aid digestion.
Before the temperature drops to a freezing level.
Baimu invited Lairon and Chansey for training in his backyard, and naturally extended the invitation to Mawile as well.
But it was very decisively refused.
"Alright then."
He considered that today was the first day, so he didn't push it.
Even trainers in Pyrite Town spend two to three days getting accustomed to a new Pokémon, it's not like he'd rush more than them.
Preparation phase—warming up.
Running laps, short-distance sprints, weight-bearing interval running...
After completing a whole set of basic fitness training, both Baimu and the two Pokémon were panting heavily.
He looked outside the field, expecting Mawile to find it boring and leave, but surprisingly it was still sitting on the chair he had brought over, staring in this direction for a long time.
But if you think it's interested, you'd be very wrong.
Those bronze-red eyes were indeed looking this way, but the pupils weren't focused, obviously lost in thought.
Pokémon's thoughts are hard to guess.
Baimu felt his heartbeat gradually calm down, turning to the two Pokémon and saying, "Let's continue!"
"Gudu!"
"Lucky!"
Both responded simultaneously.
Regarding attack and defense training, he discovered it can actually be combined with move training. That is, training a move while simultaneously enhancing a specific ability value.
For this, all that's needed are two targets.
Mainly, Chansey uses Telekinesis to maneuver the targets, sending them towards Lairon, while Lairon, controlling attribute energy output, uses Iron Head to hit the targets away.
Then manipulate them to fly back.
Repeating this process trains Chansey's resolve while allowing Lairon to practice attack and attribute energy control. However, targets tend to wear out, so we must be gentle.
Of course, moves like Rock Lock and Rock Burst shouldn't be used on targets; substitute with something less worrisome if broken.
As for Chansey's anti-strike defense training, Baimu custom-made four wooden stakes that can roll up and down; when Chansey goes in, it starts getting hit, the more it moves, the more it gets hit.
These wooden stakes also serve to train his punching reflexes, killing two birds with one stone.
Just that it will take some time before they arrive.
When it comes to learning new moves, this is quite mystic.
In the absence of special secrets, the only reliance is on Baimu's imagination and their understanding ability.
"Ground-type moves... In principle, they should be similar to Rock Lock, both involve stomping the ground."
He softly told Lairon, "But the difference is, Rock Lock channels energy underground through the feet, condensing rocks to make them fly. Ground-type moves vibrate the ground, spreading energy as widely as possible."
"Gudu..."
Lairon nodded in an understanding-yet-confused way, carefully lifting a forepaw and tapping the ground, causing a slight tremor due to its body weight.
It raised its head, "Gudu?"
Baimu: "I feel the motion and direction are correct."
Lairon happily went off to learn new moves.
It's Chansey's turn.
Though the moves to learn are clear, it's the same old problem—how to learn them is unknown.
How does a General Type Pokémon without poison glands learn the move [Severe Poison]? How to learn [Electromagnetic Wave] without generating organs? Rely on bioelectricity?
Not to mention [Invisible Rock] or anything like that.
"Defend."
Baimu decided to start with the "simpler" one, holding a punch target, he said to the bewildered Chansey, "The key to this move is the mindset of protecting oneself, the determination to block a move."
He gave Chansey's left belly a firm pat, "Does it hurt?"
"Lucky..."
Chansey nodded.
"Then, with the idea of resisting the pain, imagine an unbreakable light shield in front of you." Baimu patted again, "Feel pain and think of ways to resist!"
This method is the definition of simple and crude.
But it's certainly more normal than his previous whimsical idea to make Chansey ingest toxins to learn Poison Type moves.
During training breaks.
Baimu occasionally glanced at Mawile, wondering occasionally what on earth it was thinking about.
——
Mawile watched the bustling trio of trainer and two Pokémon, then looked at the grey sky.
Couldn't help but think.
How did I end up here?
Still remember yesterday afternoon, the breeder who always took care of it suddenly came over, saying they found a great trainer partner for it.
Partner?
It didn't need any partner.
Mawile instinctively wanted to refuse, but upon seeing the breeder's expression, it suddenly understood this wasn't something it could decide.
Sure enough, it was soon taken to a familiar infirmary for physical exams and vaccinations.
Through the brief exchange between the breeder and the doctor, it barely understood some things—
I was exchanged away.
A trainer chose me, used Pokémon to trade me away. Now I'm about to head to a completely unfamiliar place, facing totally unfamiliar people.
Even for Mawile, who was never timid, an unsettling panic set in.
Why? Was it because I was too headstrong that when someone proposed an exchange, they were all too eager to send me off?
I wasn't ready yet.
Even though I hadn't made any Pokémon friends in the Eco Park, I still needed some time to process this.
Having been absent for a long time, being inside the Pokeball didn't bring any comfort to Mawile, who started incessantly imagining all sorts of scenarios.
Then.
When the glaring sunlight hit my eyes again.
Mawile was completely bewildered.
I couldn't even make out what person or Pokémon was standing in front of me, only hearing someone greet me.
What should I do?
How should I respond?
Mawile lowered its head, and after its eyes finally adjusted to the blinding light, it began to observe its surroundings and the young human and Pokémon before it.
Indeed, I left that once familiar place.
Mawile sighed deeply, sensing the hot wind and murky air wafting towards it, and temporarily feeling out of place, it retreated as if fleeing into a small house.
Fortunately, the environment inside was quite nice, just that many things seemed old.
Mawile made a lap around, tried sitting on the sofa and found it not soft enough, so it opted to place a pillow under its seat.
At least it could be a little more satisfied.
And once settled, an inevitable thirst developed.
Is there a creek nearby?
Mawile remembered that when it felt thirsty inside the house before, the breeder would pour water for it, and so it called out, hoping the young human would do the same.
But he was so dense, could he not understand?
Luckily, the Chansey proved quite clever, easing its thirst crisis, though there were slightly too few ice cubes.
While Mawile drank the water, it overheard the young human speaking.
The contents provoked its discontent.
"What do you mean it can't be sent back? Do I need you to tell me that? I know it perfectly well myself!"
Seeing him speak with such an air of authority, Mawile suddenly became quite upset, deciding to use its little trick to give him a scare.
But after the scare, Mawile became anxious.
Isn't he the trainer supposed to take care of me? Would doing so make him really angry?
Would I get beaten? Scolded?
Mawile recalled the previous portrayals of trainers it heard from other Pokémon in the Eco Park, feeling quite at a loss.
But unexpectedly, the other party didn't get angry but instead gave it a cherished doll, talking about things like meals and accommodations.
And… a princess bed?
Mawile had heard of this from a Snubbull in the Eco Park, who spoke highly of the princess bed, always saying how particularly cute it was.
It had been longing for it for a long time.
Could it be that I can see a princess bed here?
Mawile was wholeheartedly immersed in anticipation, not even aware of what was said next, just returning to wait in the Pokeball.
And when taken out again.
Mawile found itself in a particularly dark place, following the human youth, observing along the way, and quickly spotting the long-coveted princess bed in the mall.
Truly, it's so cute.
It had always thought Snubbull exaggerated, only now seeing there was no exaggeration at all.
Excitedly, it wanted the trainer to buy it immediately, but not knowing how to persuade him, it had to imply that not buying it was also fine.
Yet it was really bought.
And it also got to have a hamburger and cola, something it had seen the breeder eating during check-ups, only to be denied whenever it wanted some.
"This stuff is unhealthy, it's better if you don't eat it."
The breeder indulged with such relish, it didn't seem like they were eating something unhealthy at all.
But after finally tasting it, Mawile found it not as delightful as imagined; however, the sweet fizz of the cola, jumping on its tongue, was interesting.
Up to this point.
There wasn't much anxiety anymore.
Seeing so many novel things, so many interesting items, fulfilling long-held desires.
Especially since the trainer really treated it well. Though behind this kindness was likely the wish for it to help in battles.
After dinner, having a cream cake it used to only be occasionally allowed to have under the guise of "health," Mawile watched the trainer and two Pokémon working hard in the distance.
Its heart filled with uncertainty.
Not due to a dislike or unwillingness to battle, but having not seriously fought anyone for so many years, Machamp for boulders, jaws for tree trunks, it felt it might have forgotten how to fight.
Was the trainer's kindness based on its ability to fight? If it turned out to be not as satisfactory...
Would the princess bed, cola, and cake all be gone?
Thinking this way.
Mawile grew even more anxious and didn't dare go join Lairon and Chansey in training.
Afraid of being exposed.