Inside the Verdanturf Pokémon Center the Nurse Joy there was treating both Combee and Vulpix for major burns. Off to the side Jasper was on the computer trying to figure out more about the move that Vulpix had used the day before. He had never seen a fire type move like that before and wanted to know more about it.
"Ok," Jasper said to himself as he logged onto the computer. "Let's go online to the Pokémon data base." Jasper brought up the internet browser and went to the Pokémon World Data Base.
"Welcome," The computer said when the data base was brought up. "To the Pokémon World Data Base. This website contains a vast verity of Pokémon facts and data. Please help us help you by telling us what exactly is it you are searching for." Jasper clicked on the tab that said Pokémon Attacks. "Please type in the name of the Pokémon Attack you would like to know more about. If you do not know the name, click the link that reads Don't Know." Jasper clicked on the link. "Please provide us with a description of the attack and we will do our best to search for it."
Jasper typed into the text box:
A fire-type move where the user cloaks itself in fire and charges at the foe. The resulting attack creates an explosion of fire that burns the user and all surrounding Pokémon.
"Please wait while we process your search." A sprite of a Pidgey and a spinning circle appeared in the center of the screen to signify that the search was being processed. "We have come back with four results."
Jasper looked at the list of moves. Fire Blast, Flame Wheel, Flare Blitz, Overheat. He knew three out of the four results and the move that Vulpix used didn't look like any of them. But Jasper was not familiar with the move flare blitz. So he clicked on the link to that move.
The user creates flames around its body hot enough to melt ice and makes a head on collision with the target. The flames are so strong that they burn the user as well.
That sounded like the move that Vulpix used. Jasper played a video that was embedded into the page. A video of a Pokémon Stadium started playing. A Charizard roared to the sky and fired surrounded it. The fire dragon started flying head on towards its opponent, which was a Machamp. The flames around the Charizard exploded and scorched the Machamp. But there were burn marks on the Charizard as well.
This move seemed pretty powerful to Jasper. But that fact it hurt its user made him decide that he would never order Vulpix to use it. He was about to log off when he realized that he was on the internet. He could video call his mother. He closed the internet browser and clicked on the video call program. He typed in his home phone number. The call didn't go through though. Jasper tried again and got similar results.
"What gives?" Jasper said in annoyance.
"Our phone service hasn't been working lately." The Nurse Joy informed him. "You won't be able to make any calls from here.
Jasper sighed. "Just my luck," He muttered. Jasper logged off and walked outside to take a look around town. He had been staying at Verdanturf Town for two days now at the Pokémon Center. The forested setting of the town was beginning to be familiar to him. But Jasper knew that he had to find a way to get back home. With Lynwood gone and Team Moon Force split Jasper knew that he wouldn't be able to rely on them for a way to get back home. He would have to find a way back himself. Though the S.S. Anne was sunk, surely there had to be some other ship that sailed across the regions. Not even a luxury cruise ship, just something that would take him to Sinnoh.
While he was lost in thought something came rolling into town that caught Jasper's attention. A group of men came into Verdanturf Town with a large wagon pulled by two Tauros. It was pulled passed the Pokémon Center and to a corner of the town. The men unloaded the cart and started to set up a huge red tent.
Whatever this was had captured Jasper's interest. He had to know what this was. He went up to one of the town's citizens and asked him.
"Excuse me sir, what is that?" Jasper pointed to the tent being set up.
"Oh that?" The man said. "That's the Battle Tent. They come here twice a year and set up special Pokémon tournaments. The winner gets $50.
"Thank you sir." $50, it wasn't much, but it was a start. And Jasper was already really good at battling, so this should have been easy money for him. Jasper decided that he would compete in this Battle Tent and start earning money in order to get back home. He went to the men setting up the tent and asked about it.
"Well each tournament we give a special rule for the Pokémon battles." One of them said. "For this one each trainer's Pokémon must battle without their guidance."
"How does that work?" Jasper asked.
"Well you just have to have faith in your Pokémon."
Jasper thought about this. Both Vulpix and Combee were currently in the Pokémon Center being treated. So his only choice would be Absol. Did he have a strong bond with Absol? He looked at its Pokéball.
He had found Absol over a year ago when he rescued it from poachers. Absol hadn't run away into the wilds of Sinnoh like the other Pokémon Jasper had freed; it felt bound to the boy by a sense of honor. So it stayed around Jubilife City, waiting for him to return.
When Jasper had realized that Absol wasn't going to leave, he decided to train it. Then he could use it to go on a Pokémon journey of his very own and maybe one day beat Gil. Every day they trained together and improved Absols skills as a Pokémon. It learned moves that it never thought that it would learn on its own. It became lighter and more nimble on its feet. It became a hardened and tough Pokémon.
Jasper knew that he had developed a strong bond with his Absol. He felt confident he was ready to battle any trainer. He was going to sign up for the battle tent.