Geodude, Tyrunt, Scyther and Swinub were all checked into the Pokémon centre, Stlix went to take advantage of the Pokémon centre's training area to get some more training into Corsola. He planned upon using her in the Cerulean Gym battle along with either Geodude or Tyrunt.

Corsola was only damaged normally by water type moves and had Ice beam, which she was gradually becoming more proficient in, to give her an edge in damage. Corsola were not a Pokémon often used in battling and on the rare occasion they were their bodies were suited towards tanking hits rather than hitting hard.

It was a characteristic that rock types, steel types and ground types shared, their damage output was far outstripped by dragon, fire, electric and fighting types. But no other type really shared their capability for the damage they could sustain and keep going with. They were all resilient and tough to a stupid degree.

So, Stlix's plan to offset was to try and teach them moves which would strike at another Pokémon's weakness, constant debilitating attacks and the ability to outlast and endure the other Pokémon's attacks. It was a very basic plan to form the baseline for all the specialised plans he would think up for each of his Pokémon. However, most steel or rock type trainers tended to rely upon their Pokémon's toughness along with their bulk and strength.

Beda was also on her own training plan, slightly harder without Floaty to help guide her but she was also toughening up. Her armour was thickening, and she was eating more in preparation for evolution to pupitar. Unable to eat within that form whilst her muscles and armour developed to hold the massive strength of a tyranitar. She would produce pressurized to move about in quick bursts well suited to help her tackle opponents, it was however advised not to battle as much with a pupitar as excessive battling can harm their development.

Merry simply focused upon her healing abilities, she had no power to defend herself as a happiny so any training to make her stronger would wait until she evolved into a chansey. The Nurse Joy's he checked remarked upon her own energy and happiness levels and commended him upon his care, Stlix felt confused upon that and simply accepted Merry was a remarkably happy happiny.

Buddy simply absorbed the energy that flowed from Stlix and ate rare materials currently, he was very close to a champion level of strength and would require far more intense battles to spur his own development. He was an absurd specimen amongst the steelix species, far too long and far stronger without his moves empowering his strikes.

Ash and Misty had gone to the Gym for Ash to sign up for a battle and Misty to see her sisters. Meanwhile Brock had sat in upon Stlix's training session, Corsola knowing Ice beam had confused before realisation dawned and he nodded. A large amount of the session he looked appraisingly at Buddy before talking to Stlix as he finished up.

"He really is growing larger still and his body proportions are not as reminiscent of a normal steelix. People while either try to buy or steal him from you."

"I realised." Stlix said back. "Most will learn, my cousin said Buddy is around a normal champion's Pokémon level of strength. He had a great fight with Metagross." Brock gave a nod at that before smiling wryly.

"People will cry at unfairness and you will be under heavy scrutiny. Most people don't have a fully trained Pokémon as their 'starter' and most will believe he was given to you by Steven."

"He raised me." Stlix said after a moment to Brocks shock. "My parents were out in the wild and died when a tyranitar and ursaring went head-to-head. Buddy looked after me since." He smiled at that, as much as he loved his family the wild held far more of a pull for him. "Floaty was from the nearby metagross hive, only when the Rockets attacked them did the league find out about me and from there my family did too."

"That's extremely rare. Not many can claim to have survived growing up in the wild." Brock said after a moment. "Hey, let's go and eat and I will tell you more about training rock types." Stlix gave a large smile at that before following with his team hanging upon his belt.

The next day came and Stlix wandered around the city for a while he waited for his time to battle come. Cerulean city was sat next to two sizeable rivers that flowed into the sea barely a mile or two away. It was nestled up against the sea and two flowing bodies of water and was blessed with a substantial number of water type Pokémon.

After having lunch and restocking several of his supplies he headed towards the Gym with a readiness to battle. He may see the trio within too unless Ash was training and preparing for his own battle.

When he entered and registered the fact, he was present he was directed to the battlefield within another doorway. Walking within he saw a massive pool of water with several floating blocks for terrestrial Pokémon to stand upon. Within the opposing trainers stand he saw Daisy, Lily and Violet with a pokeball each, it caused his eyes to narrow. Usually, Cerulean Gym had a two-on-two battle regardless of the badge level.

"Hey Stlix." Daisy called across the field. "Sorry for not saying but we all wanted to battle today, you have three Pokémon on you?" He gave a nod before pulling out his first pokeball, he could see Ash, Misty and Brock all sat in the stands and he resolved to put on an excellent showing.

"Go Seel." Shouted Violet, throwing out a pokeball. Stlix silently responded by sending out Corsola. "Oh, a Corsola, is that the one you got the mareanie from?" Asked Violet, he gave nod before calling for Corsola to use Harden before hitting the seel with Tackle.

Seel didn't dodge the hit, slightly dismissive of the pink Pokémon until the large spike caught it within its stomach. The tough rock shell hit the chest hard, the spines gouging away at seel's blubber and the weight of a Hardened Corsola likely cracking ribs and causing large bruises.

"Seel, Aqua ring then Brine." Violet ordered, her eyes reflecting Stlix's own seriousness. Several rings of water hovered around Seel before it let out a great jet of salty water. The salt content so dense it could hit like a pressurized hose of water with chips of rock also shot out.

Corsola dodged on instinct and the Brine only clipped one of her spines as she moved.

"Corsola, respond with a Tackle then Ice beam when you are close enough." Without the thicker blubber a dewgong sported Ice type attacks did far more damage. Violet let out an order to dodge but Corsola had already jetted half the distance and as Seel moved out of her way stopped the Tackle and hit with Ice beam.

The powerful beam of cold energy hit the already bruised area and created a large spike of ice from where it had travelled underwater. It hit Seel and slammed it into the wall of the pool and simultaneously froe up the small Pokémon. The hit knocked the Pokémon out and Violet recalled it before giving way for Lily to take the place.

"You beat Violet but now its my turn, go Chinchou." She shouted out.