Author's Notes:
Thanks for the new reviews, glad to see people liking the story. I was originally going to have Butters use sleep powder to take out all of the Beedrill after Psycho dies heroically, but I like the Psyduck so I decided to keep him.
I'm actually surprised by how long it took to write out my little Viridian Forest story arc, but it's almost over. Very soon Jet shall arrive in Pewter City and begin a whole new bunch of adventures, but until then…
Thundershock
"Hey Jethro, I brought you guys some food!"
It has been three days since the contest was canceled and the Viridian Forest was now strangely empty. The Pokémon Center was no longer full of the bustle of Bug Catcher's. There were no more run ins with random trainers wearing signature green jackets in the forest either.
Jet and Natalie decided to stay at the Pokémon center for a few days to rest, but that didn't stop Jet from training his Pokémon. He got Butters and Hornet to master Bug Bite.
Bug Bite was an attack in which the user focuses its energy, (the kind specific to bug type Pokémon), into its fangs or pincers and bites its opponents. Jet didn't think it would be very difficult to teach this attack on his own, but was thankful for the free TM anyway.
Jet has been having his Pokémon do light training for the past three days. Mostly, he had them practice their basic techniques. Every now and then they would do an hour of strength training or some light sparring. The one Pokémon who Jet did not go easy on, however, was Spark.
Jet had him wear Thorn's old binding brace for strength training. The first day Spark started by moving rocks from a to b. After that Jet had Butters shoot webs everywhere and Jet had Spark run on them while wearing binding brace.
He was also tasked with climbing, running laps, jumping to and from branches, anything Jet could think of to get Spark to hone his agility.
The second day was much of the same, but this time he had Thorn and Pugsly show Spark the basics of close quarters combat. So on top of strength training, Spark had to spar for three hours and scratch tree trunks all night. On the third day he did the same thing, but the binding brace was tightened to add more resistance.
They trained close to the Pokémon Center the entire time so they wouldn't have to camp out anymore. Natalie would often bring them food from the center and watch the training.
"So, why all this basic training? Why aren't you teaching him any electric attacks?"
Jet watched as Spark exhaustedly scratched Jet's make-shift punching post and said, "Because he's still young. Pichu this young tend to shock themselves when experimenting with electric attacks. I want to drill the basics into him so he has something to fall back on if he's in a battle and his electric attacks don't work for him.
"After we leave the Pokémon Center to head for Pewter, though, I'll teach him some good attacks. This way I can fight him against wild Pokémon to get his power level up."
And so, two days later, Natalie and Jet checked out of the Pokémon Center. Once they found a good clearing, Jet sent out Spark. "You're not going to need this for now," Jet said as he took off the binding brace, "Today we are starting your advanced technique training. You're going to stay outside of your pokeball for a while, as well.
"Now, every Pokémon has a special kind of energy that they can command at will. You can utilize your power into attacks and defensive techniques specific to your type. It's hard to put into words how to do this; usually you figure it out through battle experience. However," Jet pulled out his Hidden Power TM, "I know a way to give you the knowledge in a more direct way."
Jet placed the TM on Spark's head, and watched it take effect. After the information was imprinted, Jet put the TM away and said, "You've already seen some of the other Pokémon use Hidden Power, and now it's your turn. Bring out your inner strength!"
Spark used Hidden Power. It was, as Jet suspected, electric type. Jet measured the power of the attack by scanning it with his pokedex and smiled, "Good, you have a nice special attack; as is your nature. Now here is what I want you to do. Use the same attack, but keep the energy flow going until I say stop."
Maintaining Hidden Power for even a short period of time is no easy task. Jet had the rest of his Pokémon go through the same difficult training. It tires them out both physically and mentally very fast, but it teaches them to maintain an outward flow of energy and steadily increases their special attack. Natalie had her Psycho do the same training with Spark, as she felt that it would be beneficial in the long run.
When they couldn't do it anymore, Jet would feed them a large quantity of Sitris berries and water and make them it again. After an hour of this, they set off again. They would hike for two hours, train for one, and follow that pattern for the entire day.
By the time they stopped to camp for the night, Spark was exhausted. He had, however, gotten the hang of using Hidden Power. All the Pokémon were let out of their pokeballs. Everyone went to gather supplies such as food, water, and fire wood while Natalie and Jet cleared the campsite.
When everyone got back, Jet told Thorn, "You're not going to be setting the fire today, Spark is."
Spark looked up at Jet, confused. Jet smiled and said, "I know you don't like to use Thundershock because it hurts you, but try to remember what we practiced today. Concentrate on projected your energy outward. In this case, direct your power to this dry wood."
Spark nodded and sucked in his cheeks while building up energy. His cheeks started to spark, but then the electricity went inward. Spark cried out, "Chaaa!" and fell back.
Jet knelt next to his Pokémon and said, "You're not giving up that easy are you? When we get knocked down, what do we do?"
Spark looked up and then stood on his feet. Staring hard at the pile of wood before him, he took a deep breath. Jet said, "Now use Thundershock!"
Spark let out a small bolt of electricity that set the wood ablaze, but also knocked him back about five feet. The other Pokémon cheered him on and Jet held out his hand, "Don't worry about that. If you can just fight through the pain then we are going to practice all day tomorrow."
And practice they did. For the next couple of days, Jet had Spark battle against one wild Pokémon after another. Soon, Spark got the hang of using Thundershock; but unfortunately there was always recoil.
Sometimes, Natalie would want to train her Pokémon against Spark to help them better defend themselves against electric attacks. In these cases, Spark always lost. Jet told him not to worry about it, because all of her Pokémon were at such a high level.
Against the wild Pokémon, Spark was fairing much better. Many times, he could defeat the bugs without even having to resort to electricity. Jet always tried to get at least one Thundershock in with every battle, though.
During the morning times, it was strength training and agility training. During the day time, they would travel and battle wild Pokémon. At night, the Pokémon would spar among each other and practiced their techniques.
Jet felt they had a good system going, but was still relieved when they past a sign on a dirt road saying 'You are now leaving the Viridian Forest.'
"Finally," said Natalie, "Now we just follow this road to Pewter City!"
Jet smiled, "That would be nice."
As they walked it started to drizzle. Natalie sighed, "Ah great, just when I was feeling good."
"Excuse me!"
Jet and Natalie turned around to see a man in a small carriage being pulled by a Tyrogue. "You two headed down to Pewter?"
Jet said, "Yeah."
The man said, "Well you kids shouldn't be on this road right now, it's supposed to flood tonight."
Natalie groaned, "Just my luck!"
The man laughed and said, "Me and my wife own a bed and breakfast just down the road! Tyrogue can give you a ride if you want!"
Natalie looked confused, "Isn't that too much weight?"
The man shook his head, "Nonsense! Tyrogue here taxi's people up and down this road all the time. Put's money in my pocket and keeps him happy because he gets to train!"
And so Jet and Natalie went to the bed and breakfast. The got a room and decided to stay there for the whole night so they could shower and do laundry. The next morning was the first time Jet had a real breakfast in weeks. They were eating with the owner's and a couple of newlyweds.
"So you two spent three weeks in that forest?"
"Yup," said Natalie, "Three long weeks of training, training, and more training. I never knew being a professional trainer took so much work!"
The owner, David, said, "Ah yes. My nephew gave me Tyrogue as a baby so he could protect this place and he is a handful, let me tell you. I have to go down to the city once every two weeks just so he can battle some Pokémon and be happy. He's always moving things around, I don't know where he gets the energy!"
Jet asked, "Could I battle him today? Would you mind?"
Natalie kicked Jet from under the table. David said, "If you'd like. I'd prefer not to wager any money on the match though; I make my income the old fashioned way."
Natalie rolled her eyes and said, "You can't go one day without a battle?"
The newlywed girl said, "Oh, I like watching battles! I haven't seen one live in ages!"
So after breakfast, they all gathered in the front yard where there was a bit of asphalt to battle on.
"Ok kid, I'm using Tyrogue. What are you using?"
Jet sent out Spark. Natalie asked, "Aren't you going to send out Pugsly? You know, like types and all?"
Jet shook his head and said, "There is a reason I want Spark to battle Tyrogue."
Natalie shrugged and said, "I'll ref, I guess."
She gave the rules of the match and said, "Begin!"
"Spark, use Growl!"
"Tyrogue, use Tackle!"
Spark used his growl, but Tyrogue covered his ears and ran in for a tackle. Jet said, "Jump to dodge!"
Spark jumped just in time, but Tyrogue jumped as well and kicked Spark to the ground. Spark let out a cry but got up quickly. Tyrogue went in and started punching and kicking in rapid succession. Spark dipped and dodged well as he was trained to do, but Tyrogue was just too good.
"Spark, get out of there!"
But it was too late, Spark was taking too many body shots. Tyrogue's style was in no way refined, but his natural talent for fighting was too much for Spark.
Jet yelled, "Use Hidden Power!"
Spark used the attack immediately and blasted Tyrogue back. Tyrogue got up quickly, but winced as his hands started shaking; Spark's static ability was taking effect.
"Listen to Spark," Jet said as Tyrogue began to circle Spark, waiting to get the feeling back in his fists to strike, "You aren't a match for him physically, so you can't beat him in close quarters! If he closes the distance, you use Hidden Power, got it?"
Without taking his eyes off of his opponent, Spark nodded. Jet said, "Good, now use Thundershock!"
Spark shot a bolt of electricity at Tyrogue, but Tyrogue dodged it. After dodging it tried to get close enough for a kick, but Spark knocked him back again using Hidden Power. Jet said, "Don't stop, show him your Thundershock!"
Spark kept shooting one Thundershock after another at Tyrogue, but it dodged each one.
"Oh," Natalie said under her breath, "He knew Spark wouldn't be able to fight this opponent head on, so he's using this match to get Spark to use his electric attacks under pressure! And it's working! Those Thundershocks are getting better and better!"
Tyrogue closed the distance again, but this time Spark didn't have enough time to use Hidden Power. Tyrogue kicked Spark into the air and ran after him. Jet yelled, "That's enough! I concede!"
Tyrogue stopped and Natalie said, "What? You lost?"
Jet picked up Spark and told Tyrogue, "You won this match, I'm very impressed with your skill."
Tyrogue looked pleased and walked away. Spark looked up at Jet with sad eyes, but Jet said, "Don't be upset! You did amazing. And those Thundershocks you were cranking out? Very impressive! Let's get you healed up."
An hour later Jet had Spark completely healed. They were all in the house again. Jet told Spark, "Go congratulate your opponent on his victory, and be sure to thank him for the lessons you learned during the fight."
Spark did as he was told, and five minutes later both Pokémon ended up playing together outside. Natalie walked over to Jet and said, "That was smart, having Spark face Tyrogue."
Jet smiled, "Sometimes a person needs a rival to bring out the best in them." Jet went to collect Spark fifteen minutes later and they left the bed and breakfast. Together with Natalie, Jet left the Viridian Forest behind him and set off on the muddy road to Pewter City.
Author's Notes:
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