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Chapter 11 - Chapter 11 - Lieutenant Surge!

Lana left the place mounting Luxray as quickly as she arrived, leaving Horthy alone and deep in thought. He never would have expected Eevee to win to that fast Sneasel, but in the end, it´s discipline problem gave him the victory, plus the courage of Eevee to defend herself in the last moments.

He momentarily pushed these thoughts away and quickly headed back to the Pokemon Center, where both Scott and him avoided each other gazes and prescence. 

Joy scolded Horthy for risking Eevee´s life like that, and recomended him to always have someone appropiate to supervise his pokemon battles, of prefference, someone that studied or enough experience to know when is enought to stop a combat, that means a referee.

Horthy accepted the scold and looked down at Eevee, sleeping peacefully on the stretcher, wounds not visible... good thing, as he would head to the Gym not in so much time. Pokemon are magic creatures and have lots of vital energy, different from that of humans, so they heal fairly quick.

...

The day finally came, he would for first time step inside a pokemon Gym, he didn´t really think in his whole life that he would ever be a pokemon trainer, but he now had the oportunity, he would make it worth it.

The road to the Pokemon Gym was a short and pleasant one, perfect weather over Horthy´s head and a cool breeze in the air. It was no more than a brisk 10-minute stroll from the Pokemon Center to the Gym, especially at the early hour of 8:00 AM when the city was just waking up. The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, casting a warm glow on everything.

Horthy and Eevee were both very anxious and excited for what was to come. Mainly Eevee, who had watched with wide, concerned eyes as the injured pokemon were hurried to be healed at the Pokémon Center several times, most of them coming from the city´s Pokemon Gym. 

Horthy calmed her down a bit with the usual phrase of comfort, a soothing murmur of reassurance, or the typical caress of her little head, a gentle scratch behind the ears that always seemed to do the trick. But even those familiar gestures couldn't completely stop Eevee from feeling apprehensive, she knew how important this mission would be, she would show her belowed trainer she was worth it!

Both reached the entrance and Horthy pushed open the large, heavy glass doors, the first thing he encountered was a large reception area, bright and airy. A muscular young man was busy with paperwork behind a polished desk, stacks of forms and files neatly organized around him. He looked up, alerted by the sound of the doors closing.

"Good morning," he said with welcoming voice. "What could I help you with? Are you here for the gym challenge, looking to receive your starter pokemon, or perhaps interested in an opportunity to train here?" 

In all pokemon gyms without exception, these are indispensable services, even giving a starter pokémon! They are usually pokemon with good potential and with parents with good genetics and potential... but much more expensive than getting a regular one in nature. Gyms often partnered with local breeders to ensure strong bloodlines.

In general, these pokemon are given according to the type of gym. For example, Surge gives Electric-type Pokemon, Rock-type Brock, Earth-type Giovanni, and so on respectively. These are called "starter pokemon", but in reality, they cost money, a lot of them. It would be easier to just catch a random caterpie and just wait a few days until it evolved to Buterfree, and then catch other type of pokemon sin Buterfree is a pokemon that lives too little.

With a careful tone, Horthy answered his intention.

"I'm here for the opportunity to be trained by Surge himself," he announced. "I believe I meet all the necessary requirements to be included in the program... I think I do." He trailed off, doubting a little bit if he is doing the right thing, *Am I really ready for this?* He thought for himself.

The receptionist started methodically looking through several stacks of papers, the sound of rustling paper filling the silence. After what felt like an eternity, he finally found what he was looking for, extracting a single sheet. He handed it to Horthy, along with a cheap plastic pen.

"Well, this is a contract that states that for the next month, you will be under the direct tutelage of Surge, being trained and guided by him personally. Please enter all the relevant data on the number of Pokemon you currently own, including detailed information about their health statuses and any specific conditions they may have. Then, proceed to do the same with your own personal data."

Horthy grabbed the pen offered by the man, his fingers moved quickly as he filled the paper with he requested data. The form was incredibly detailed. The first section was dedicated to his Pokemon. He began to fill it in. Number of Pokemon: 1. Which: Eevee. Approximate Age: 1 year. Any specific condition: A lost eye. He paused, a wave of affection washing over him as he thought of his loyal companion.

He continued to fill in the data, moving through sections on his battling style and preferred training methods, until he arrived at a question that gave him pause. He looked up, confused.

"Why is it asking here if I have any medical conditions of some kind, things like asthma or scoliosis?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. The question seemed out of place in a Pokemon training contract.

The receptionist chuckled quietly, a brief, almost apologetic sound. He replied respectfully, "Nothing to worry about, really. It's just a standard precaution. As long as you are generally healthy and don't have any serious debilitating conditions, you will be completely fit for the program. It's mostly for liability reasons, you understand."

Horthy hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. Why would they need his physical data too, he was here for his pokemon. He finally filled in all his data, including the previously mentioned medical questions, and also carefully wrote down his trainer ID and some other personal information.

After handing the completed contract back to the receptionist, the man gave it a thorough once-over, scrutinizing each answer. Then the muscled man asked Horthy for the money to be in the program, and so he payed with virtual pokedollars with the pokedex.

Finally, he nodded his head in approval, and saved the contract with a small smile. He then gestured towards a long, dimly lit hallway, giving him a little guide where he would be trained.

Without much further delay, Horthy began to walk down the long, sterile hallway, just as the receptionist had politely instructed him. For every step he took, he got more and more deep in thought. They say Surge is brutal, it sure is true, he is a Lieutenant after all... Eevee should be ready, since he saw with his own eyes how much tought se became since he bought her.

After a short walk that seemed to stretch on forever, Horthy finally came to giant automatic steel doors. These weren't ordinary doors; they were massive and imposing. The doors hummed quietly, then slid open smoothly with the permission of the receptionist given from afar.

When Horthy walked cautiously into the training room, his jaw nearly dropped. He simply couldn't believe the sight before him. A tremendous variety of electric-type Pokémon and some not electric ones, were being actively trained in different ways across the expansive space. Some were engaged in intense sparring matches, crackling with electric energy as they clashed. Others were focused on speed training, darting through obstacle courses with incredible agility. Still more were undergoing strength training, lifting weighted objects that seemed impossible for creatures of their size. Some were even participating in electric charging exercises, hooked up to a variety of tools that monitored and enhanced their electrical output. The air itself crackled with energy, and had a dense feeling of professionalism. The place looked even bigger than that of an arena where regular gym challenges are made.

Eevee, overwhelmed with excitement, couldn't help but jump and wiggle on Horthy's arm.

"Vee! Vee! Eevee!"

Horthy laughed warmly and gently stroked his partner's little head, understanding perfectly Eevee's enthusiastic reaction to the electrifying scene. "I see them, buddy," he whispered, "and we're going to be a part of this, too."

Horthy walked several meters at the border of the arena where the pokemon trained, some people guiding it, and other people sitting on the stands and reading books, what confused Horthy. 

Eventually, he found the Man that was the boss of it all, imposing, muscular and intimidating. He was overseeing an Ampharos charging with all of it´s might a huge battery. When it finished, the pokemon sighed in exhaustion and received a prise from the man as it was called back to its pokeball by Surge.

As if sensing Horthy´s prescense, The Lieutenant then turned around and saw the boy with Eevee on his shoulder, looking up at him curiously. 

"Who are you boy? Why are you here?" He asked as he crossed his arms and looked down at Horthy without much interest. 

Horthy cleared his throat and answered as confident as he could, back straight. "I am here for the training, sir. I want to train Eevee and become stronger..." 

Surge raised an eyebrow and spoke with disdain. "That Eevee? He looks weak and scrawny, just as it´s trainer..." He scoffed and then turned around and simply gestured Horthy to follow him without much dilation. "I have just the training for you." 

Horthy´s eye twitched, he was often insulted as scrawny back in the orphanage by the cruel caretakers and the other kids, but just this time, he wouldn´t pay it atention, and just followed the man to whatever room he motioned him to follow. 

Both walked for a little bit without a single word in the middle, and no words were spoken either when both reached a room, what was a simple and little battle arena, one that was empty. 

Surge took out two pokeballs and from them, a Jolteon and a Lanturn. He finally turned around and looked down at Horthy and Eevee, and spoke with comanding tone. "You both will work and will try to catch Jolteon." 

Without expecting an order, Lanturn shot a powerful hydro pump, leaving everything completly muddy inside the arena. Then, Jolteon used Magnet Rise and as if running in the air, but being lifted by a magnetic charge, ran to the inside of the arena, challenging Eevee with it´s gaze. 

Eevee´s eyes shined, she could one day evolve into that cool pokemon! 

Finally, Surge took out his pokedex, and from it, a pair of weights materialized as if a pokemon came out from a pokeball. This was the special use of just very few pokedexes, only the most elite and righ trainers got the privilege to use them!

Horthy was given the weights and opened his eyes wide as Surge handed them to him, the weight was too much! At least... what, 20 kilograms/44 pounds on each one? He bit his lower lip and frowned, how would Eevee ever be cappable of catching such a fast pokemon, and one that even floated? This sounded stupid...

"Is that realistic?" He asked in disbelief as he gave the fierce Jolteon an eye sided glance. 

Surge just scoffed once again and crossed his arms yet again, and spoke with disdain. "If you are too scared, you can return from where you came from, just as the other bunch of rats that even dared to challenge me." 

Without another word, he called back Lanturn and left the room, the automatic doors closed and made a powerful echo in the room. 

"Jol! Jol!" Its cry sounded as a bark, a deep one. 

Horthy kneeled and Eevee left his shoulder, to carefully put the weights on her little back legs "Let´s do this Eevee." Evee nodded and eagerly ran towards the mud, getting inside it with determined face, staring at her electric evolution with what she thought would be an intimidating one, failing miserably. 

"Good, now quick attack to reach that Jolteon!" 

"Vee!" Without thinking it twice, Eevee lunged forward and gave chase to Jolteon...

Pokemon: Jolteon

Age: 6 years

Level: Elite

Gender: Male

State: Healthy

Moves: Extreme speed, Thunder, thunderbolt, Thunder wave, Charge, Electro ball, magnet rise, Charge beam, Agility, Protect, Dig, Swift. Posible moves: Rising Voltage, Electric terrain, Pin misile, Hyper voice, Shadow Ball.

...

Hi again, hope you like this one! Training arc begins. 

 

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