Thanks for the support of the first chapter! I hope I can either inspire someone to do a similar premise or satisfy anyone reading.
Edit: Major errors and formatting.
Route 202 is the beginner route for the Sinnoh region, but that isn't to say it doesn't have any good Pokémon. My opponent right here will show you that.
"Shi shinx!" it growled while charging toward my Elekid.
"Dodge." Elekid obeys, jumping to the side, avoiding Shinx's fanged attack. Some mist can be seen escaping the Shinx's mouth. Ah, ice fang is it? A solid egg move to have. It makes me all the more want you as my Pokémon. "Elekid, Brick Break." Elekid charges its arm to swipe at the Shinx.
"Shi!" The Shinx attempts a Leer at Elekid.
"Push forward Elekid! Don't let up!" Elekid's Brick Break connects, sending the Shinx into the ground.
"Sh- shinx." The Shinx utters weakly. It's a fighter. That's just my type of Pokémon.
"Pokeball." I call while throwing one at the Shinx. It twitches a few times, but it accepts in the end. Hmm looks like it didn't have much strength left. "Good work Elekid. Let's set up camp soon and then we'll meet our new companion."
Traveling through routes is an easy feat if you have the right preparation. If you don't know where you're going and you don't have the equipment to help you, trekking through routes is very difficult. Rookie trainers tend to mess up the basics of what trainers need to know.
Pokémon training seems like a fun job and it is, but there are some things to consider before becoming one. 1. Have a plan. It's the most basic of basic things to know. Sure, the age to start a journey is supposedly 10 and the world of Pokémon is relatively safe. That doesn't mean though that you can't either get hurt or burn out from training.
The gym challenge is tough for trainers with no plan. Hitting a wall that stops you from continuing the gym challenge is devastating to a trainer's ego. The obvious way to overcome that wall is to plan your battles and have some skills while battling to overcome any problems that arise.
Even Ash, despite being the moron that he is, has the flexibility in battle to overcome the gym challenge. He usually has an idea of how he's going to go about battling the gym leader. Usually.
Moving past the inconsistencies of Ash's intelligence, another basic thing to consider is training. You would think trainers would understand this, right? It's in the title "Pokémon Trainer" after all. A Pokémon Trainer, as the term has been used over time, is such an encompassing term that a large percentage of self-proclaimed Pokémon trainers are actually kids playing games with their Pokémon.
To be a real "Trainer" there are some paths that can be taken. Some train their Pokémon primarily by themselves. Others challenge a multitude of trainers while on their journey to gain experience in battle. The best method I can see to make a successful Pokémon team is to do both. Slacking in one of those aspects means you're missing out on the benefits of the other. Either way, it's extremely important to keep on training. A trainer is only about as good as their Pokémon, after all.
The final thing to consider for becoming a worthwhile Pokémon Trainer is to learn as much about Pokémon as you can. I don't say this lightly. Pokémon types matter. They matter when forming a balanced team, when training for a particular move, and especially during a battle. No matter how hard you try, a steel type will not take any damage from a poison type move. Instead use a fire type to deal with a steel type.
Now that your daily Pokémon lesson is over, I should probably get back tending to my own team. "Come out, Chimchar, Starling, Ninjask and Shinx." All four materialize before me. "Eat." I hand out their food into 2 bowls. I may not have Pokémon food tailored to each type like a Pokémon breeder would have, but what I do have is enough for my Pokémon. "Shinx, before you eat, come here."
"Shinx?" It questions my intent.
I get out one of several potions I have. "You're still hurt, right? This'll heal you."
I kneel down to spray the potion on it. Shinx recoils a back in how much the potion is stinging it. "Deal with it. It's good for you. You're a fighter, right?" Shinx, in response, walks off the potion and goes back to eating. Good. He'll have the attitude to go far in battling.
I took the chance to scan Shinx. Hmm, Tackle, Leer, Charge, Bite, and Ice Fang. A solid move pool for now. Improving it to a competitive level shouldn't be too hard, especially when it gets ready to evolve into a Luxio. Oh, a female Shinx, I guess it'll leave me with some flexibility in case I encounter any trainer that has a Pokémon with Attract.
I take out a premade sandwich. It's not much, but it's lunch for me. Cooking is not my specialty. Maybe it'd be something to get better at. Eating up the last bits of my meal, I resolve to tell my Pokémon of my new plan.
"Ehem." I try to get my team's attention. "I will be adding some of my older Pokémon to the party. Not only will they help you all with your training, but they will be working to improve themselves as well. This goes without saying but be prepared for some serious training. I expect the best out of all of you."
Wide-eyed faces are my response from them, except for Elekid who just nodded confidently and Ninjask who just buzzed. "Return Starly, Shinx, Ninjask." I say holding their pokeballs out. "Chimchar, be prepared for battle. If we encounter any trainers who want to fight along the way, you'll be on deck to fight. Got it?"
"Char!" Chimchar responds with a confident, mischievous grin.
"Good. Return for now," I said, taking him back into his ball. Looking to my other rising star, I gave him his mission. "Elekid, you've been a competent fighter for now. It'll be your duty training Shinx on her electric moves. You think you can do that?"
"Kid." It nods and crosses its arms.
"Good, return for now." I'll be at Jubilife city before the night is out.
(-)
"I challenge you to a battle!"
"Very well, I accept your challenge. Chimchar, stand by for battle!"
"Kricketune, battle time! This'll be a one on one battle with no substitutions."
"Fine."
"You can have the first move."
"You'll regret that. Chimchar, use Ember!" Chimchar released a barrage of fire onto the Kricketune.
"Kricketune, fly out of there!" Kricketune quickly started up its wings and dodged the fiery barrage of ember.
Heh, he's in for it now. "Flame Wheel now!" Chimchar turned into a spiral of fire as it advanced towards the airborne Kricketune.
"Tch, try to dodge it, Kricketune." Kricketune started flying to the side, away from its previous spot. It's useless! Chimchar is in position.
"Chimchar jump now!" The fiery flame wheel unleashed its wrath upon Kricketune, burning it.
"Quick, Kricketune, use Sing!" The weird buzzing sound blasted directly into Chimchar's face, leaving Chimchar asleep. Damn it. Sing from that range is smart.
"Kricketune, now that Chimchar is asleep don't let up the Fury Cutters!" The bug type swipe attack began hitting Chimchar over and over again. Chimchar… maybe you'll be able to use it. "Kricketune, don't let up the Fury Cutter!" Over and over, Chimchar got hit. Maybe, he'll get knocked out before he'd be able to use it. Damn it.
"Chimchar, wake up," I yelled in my frustration. Suddenly, a blast of fire pushed back the Kricketune. Well isn't this interesting. The Blaze ability I would try to force out of Chimchar has naturally appeared now. With this, he can pull off this win! "Good Chimchar, now unleash your fired-up Ember, one more time!" Chimchar with a fire in his eye, opened his mouth to release a ray of ember similar to Flamethrower.
"Kricketune do-," the other trainer tried to say but was interrupted by the ember already hitting. A knocked out Kricketune signaled our victory.
"Good work Chimchar. You're finally getting ahold of your ability. I hope you keep up the progress."
"Chim, char?" he questioned my praise.
"Just keep on getting stronger. Return for now." I say raising his pokeball to him.
"I have to say, that Chimchar of yours is impressive," The other trainer says while cradling his Kricketune in his arms.
"Hm, he's improving. Your Kricketune's sing attack almost made him lose the match. That won't happen again."
"Ahahaha, I'm sure," he laughs in a good-mannered way, "the names Justin. What about you?"
"Paul. Are you attempting the gym challenge?"
"Ah, I've been debating it. I like battling, but I don't know if Kricketune can handle it," he said looking down at his Pokémon.
"I'd ask your Pokémon before reaching that conclusion. As for what you want to do, well that's your prerogative."
Justin shrugged his shoulders, "I haven't given it much thought I guess. It looks like it's around that time to decide though!"
Nodding in understanding, I walked on and said, "Good luck on that then. Later."
"U-uh see ya. I'll take that up with my Kricketune later, I guess. I hope we battle again in the future."
I said nothing back and just waved away, Jubilife was in sight.
(-)
"So, can you send them over Reggie?"
"Will do. I'm interested in what you'll do with them. You usually don't like using your past Pokémon until the league."
Reggie definitely knows me, however, things are going to be different this time. "While that would be usually the case, I don't want any of my Pokémon to slack off from their training. And the only way to know for sure if they're keeping up their training at your place is to see for myself."
"Ah, that makes sense. Just make sure to give your Pokémon a break sometimes, Paul. They aren't machines that can do everything perfectly."
Yeah, yeah, I know that. Even I wasn't that bad. "I'll make sure they can do everything I tell them to do. Whether that be through training or by seeing their capabilities for myself. Take care of Ninjask for me. I might need your help with my Starly learning Brave Bird from your Staraptor."
"Sure, call me up anytime you need me. Just be careful, ok?"
"Sure, later."
"Later." I hung up the phone at the Pokémon center. 1 pokeball disappears from the machine on the side of the phone and in its place, 2 pokeballs. Perfect. I checked in earlier with Nurse Joy and all that was left was to tuck in for the day
Already so much has happened since a certain change. While there are a few… concerns when it comes to what I know, overall, the road from here on out is simple. Whatever challenges come my way I won't let halt my climb to be the best.