AN: This chapter and the next one will showcase Ash's early training before we get to the next major part

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon

Dialogue Guide:

"This is normal speech"

This is a person thinking in their head

This is someone speaking telepathically or with Aura

("Pokemon Speak")

("Legendary Pokemon Speak")

It took two weeks for Ash to get out of the hospital finally. Way too long, in his opinion, but his mother insisted on making sure that everything was okay before he was finally allowed to leave. It also took time for Gary to finally go after making sure Ash would be alright and soon returned to his journey with his fueled-up car. He promised to keep in contact to ensure Ash was doing well with his training. Ash was worried it would take him a while to catch up on his journey, only to learn that Gary won his first badge at the Pewter City Gym two days later. That only made Ash want to start training immediately, but he still had to go through physical therapy before becoming super active again.

The weeks leading up to that were draining on him, mainly because it relied on him trying to find stuff to do while waiting to be well enough to move on his own. He no longer needed a wheelchair by the end of the month but had to stick to crutches as he slowly got his muscles working again. Thankfully, this was all thanks to the aid of a physical trainer from Johto, whom Professor Oak hired along with his Blaziken. Said Blaziken was also shocked to learn that Ash could understand him but promised to keep it a secret from his trainer. Other than this, Ash had to go through weekly therapy sessions with an expert in dealing with survivors of traumatic Pokemon attacks and her Gardevoir. They had to tell the therapist helping Ash about his ability, but the doctor and Gardeivor signed ironclad NDAs to ensure their silence.

Those had been hard, but with the aid of Azrael and Skye by his side, Ash was able to get through them. There were times he cried or ended the session early, and he still got nightmares from time to time, but those soon became less often, thanks to Cresselia. Mew called in a favor and got her to help, though Ash didn't remember seeing her in dreams, which was her intention. Mew said she was quite a shy Pokemon and didn't often like to be seen in dreams or out of them. Hence, she was so rare to find in the first place.

That being said, Ash wasn't lazing around doing nothing. Having official Pokemon that were formally Wild, Ash had to teach Azrael and Skye about civilization. Though Skye knew some things thanks to her father's tales, she still needed to learn the details, while Azrael was utterly clueless. However, both learned quickly, were house trained correctly, and were given full checkups with immunity shots. Both didn't like getting shots into their rumps, even if it did help them from getting sick. Skye even went so far as to peck the doctor until her father got her to sit down.

The two also started training under Sorrin, Mew, and Yoshi, who all pitched in to strengthen Ash's team. The first thing they started learning was moving and properly focusing, as battle could cause a Pokemon to get tunnel vision or panic at the wrong moment. Once that was done, they soon started getting used to listening to Ash's commands, and Ash learned to tell when his own Pokemon had an idea they wanted to go through with. While the trainer typically gave orders, sometimes the Pokemon could also devise a plan. It was about understanding and working together as Pokemon and trainers needed to know everything about each other by thinking as one. While Ash's ability to talk to Pokemon did help, practically everyone agreed to keep that secret silent and not rely on it as a crutch.

Speaking of his new ability, Ash used it as much as he could. Speaking to Pokemon was like a dream come true, and he couldn't get enough of it. He would often talk to other Pokemon to learn more about them. Not just as a species but individually as well. Many of the Wild Pokemon were amazed that a human could understand them and were more than happy to talk to him. Some shared information about what food they liked and what they did in their spare time and warned them about some dangerous Pokemon in the area or played around. It was becoming common to see Wild Pokemon hanging around the Ketchem residency. Even Mimey was happy to talk to Ash, but he mostly talked about how dirty Ash was always making the house.

The Wild Pokemon were also happy to spar with Azrael and Skye, helping them adjust to battling. None were interested in becoming Trainer-type Pokemon, except for those who were too little and excited at the thought. Ash wouldn't take them upon hearing their parent's request to keep their children, and he quickly promised never to force a Pokemon to join his team if they really didn't want to for one reason or another.

The lab Pokemon were just as excited to talk to Ash, especially those he knew since he started helping and learning about them as a kid. They were more than happy to share their experiences with their trainers, teaching some techniques they could understand and what to expect both at the Gyms and the League. Some of the ones whose Trainers were battling in other Regions also spread their knowledge. Naturally, since they were more battle-experienced than Ash and his team, they beat them often, but each battle was a lesson.

Ash also used his new ability to help Professor Oak with his research by translating various Pokemon to him and his assistants (who all vowed to keep the secret), which led to numerous discoveries about Pokemon that practically rewrote much of the Pokedex into new, updated versions.

"The Nidolines?" Ash asked as he addressed a trainer's Nidoqueen named Quinn, who sat across from him on the grass. Professor Oak recorded everything in his translation while Ash had a wireless computer. As they talked, Ash was typing it all while Professor Oak got the answers and typed questions for Ash to ask in return.

("Yes,") Quinn said with a proud voice. ("Much like how humans had ancient houses during their medieval era, we Nidos of Kanto once had a similar concept. For us Nidos of Kanto, we founded our Kingdom far northwest of Kanto to be safe from the wars going on at the time. The greatest of us made the Seven Greater Bloodlines, which housed seven of the highest and most potent of the Nido clans. The Lesser Bloodlines were clans that swore to one of the Greater Seven. I guess you can say we were very interested in how humans were at the time, and while I am not sure how it developed from that, it influenced us.")

"Was there ever a king or queen?" Ash asked.

("From what I remember from my mother's history lessons, the King or Queen was chosen by the seven coming together to choose one member of their house to fight in a seven-way death battle. The last one standing would be the ruler, who would choose one mate from each other's bloodline to bear their children or get them pregnant if they were a queen. Those children would then go to the respective mate's house to be raised by them. None of the heirs were to be raised by the King or Queen themselves.") Quinn explained.

"That seems a bit unfair," Ash muttered in disapproval.

("It was done to ensure strong blood flowed in each of the Seven Greater Bloodlines and prevent a dynasty from being made so that all the seven were equal. Not that it matters since there were occasionally clan conflicts, and some Bloodlines were rulers for generations. It wasn't a perfect system by any means.")

"What were the Seven Greater Bloodlines like?" Ash asked.

("First there was Bloodline Jirai. They were the most martial of the Bloodlines who mastered the Art of War. Because of this, they had more rulers than any other of the Great Bloodlines. Second was Bloodline Akaton, who were huge worshipers of the Legendaries. They maintained the great temple they made to worship them. Bloodline Neta and Bloodline Pi were rivals in the academic fields, and both were cutthroat in trying to prove who the superior bloodline was regarding intellectual achievement. At the time, Pokemon were trying to learn the so-called mystical art of "science" that humans were using at the time. Not that it worked out.") Quinn giggled before continuing, ("Bloodlines Lotus and Lumus, I don't know about save for the names, as they died out after the Kingdom fell from an invasion from one of the human forces from Sinnoh. And then there is the Bloodline I am a descendent of, Bloodline Kuto. The Kutos were said to be the ones who played a heavy role in protecting the borders of the Kingdom and were among the first to defend it from the humans of both Kanto and Sinnoh. Sadly, they failed, and when the Kingdom fell, the bloodlines were broken, and every Nido separated. But many of us still remember our heritage and our bloodlines.")

Quinn puffed out her chest. ("That is why, whenever we meet others, we introduce ourselves as our name and the Bloodline we are a part of. For instance, I am Quinn. Nidoqueen of the Greater Bloodline of Kuto.)

Naturally, Professor Oak took the credit since Ash wanted to keep his ability a secret. Ash tried to decline any income from the Professor for his merit. He was already getting enough as it was from him and the others, and he felt it would be too much. Eventually, he accepted the money, but only if it went to his mother instead, even though they were well off thanks to his father's insurance money and war pension.

It took two and half months for Ash to finally begin training properly himself, though he still had to go slow. He often took to heart the lesson from one of his favorite Elite Four, Bruno, in which training with your Pokemon in similar exercises helped grow the bond between you and them. Sure, Ash couldn't go to the extreme and was forced to be simple in his runs, pushes, stretches, and so forth, but the heart of it all mattered.

However, the early focus was on strategy, building a proper team, and knowing what kind of trainer you wanted to be.

"Today, Ash, we're going to focus on what kind of trainers are out there and what kind of training you should aspire to," Professor Oak said as he sat on a stump with Ash, Azrael, and Skye sitting across from him. Mew, who was in the area, did a few loop-de-loops while bouncing off pink energy bubbles while listening in.

"What do you mean, what kind of trainer?" Ash asked.

"Well, Pokemon Trainers vary in terms of their teams, training habits, battle strategy, and long-term focus. While I know what kind of Trainer would fit you best, it's important to have you know the others so you know how to deal with them in the future," Professor Oak said before firmly stating something that made Ash shiver. "Remember, Ash. Not all Pokemon Trainers are good people. Some are criminals, bullies, or worse. You must also be ready to deal with them, especially with the rise of criminal groups like Team Rocket."

"R-R-Right," Ash said with a nod. After all, Gary had managed to get involved with Team Rocket on the first day of his journey before returning to Pallet Town to check on Ash.

"And Mew is here because?" Ash nodded to the little cat Legendary.

I've been around for a long time, and I've seen tens of thousands of trainers in my lifetime, Mew said as she floated above Ash, Azrael, and Skye. I've seen everything from regular trainers to full-on Champions. So, I do have some things to point out that are useful.

"Yes, after I had a few corrections on some things that were a bit...immature," Professor Oak stated with a sigh as Mew just giggled. "Now, based on my personal experience, you can typically put all Pokemon Trainers into five categories. While I think you best fit one specific category, Ash, I will tell you these five so you can prepare yourself for what you might face and analyze your opponents so you know what to look for."

("Shouldn't we be physically training instead? Why do we have to learn this?") Skye asked in confusion.

Because knowledge of your opponents is the first step to the path of victory. The arrogant go into battle thinking they know it all or think their strength alone will make them win every time. Mew then gently bonked Skye's head, much to her annoyance. When you have mastered your brain, you can master the rest of your body with ease.

("That seems a bit wise coming from someone like you,") Azrael pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

Mew smirked. Just because I like to put cherry bombs in a toilet for explosive fun doesn't mean I don't know how to kick ass intelligently. Now, pay attention.

The three nodded and listened in closely.

"The first type of trainer is known as the Type Specialist," Professor Oak explained as he pulled out his Pokedex and activated the hologram feature. The various symbols of all eighteen known types appeared. "These trainers decide to focus on one specific type of Pokemon, such as Fire, Steel, Water, Grass, Dragon, Ghost, etc. These are some of the most common Trainers, especially in Kanto and Johto. Also, all the region's gyms have type specialists as their gym leaders so they can test trainers to deal with various types of Pokemon in numerous situations. While not every Gym Leader is a Type Specialist, ninety percent of the time, they are, especially in this day and age.

"That's true. Not to mention the Indigo Elite Four are all Type Specialists as well. Lance is even a Type Specialist with his Dragons," Ash recalled.

"Yes, the Blackthorn Clan has been famous for their dragon specialization for generations," Professor Oak said as he showed a picture of past Champions from the clan, including the current one, Lance Blackthorn. "The Blackthorn Clan of Johto has had more Indigo Champions than any other family. They're the closest thing to Trainer Royalty in Indigo."

No surprise there, Mew said with a nod. I was around during your region's Warring States period, and the Blackthorn Clan was among the toughest. Only the Indigo Emperor managed to defeat them in battle before they became his most loyal followers.

"Type Specialists focus on Pokemon using the specific type they wish to focus on. The easiest and most common ones are Bug, Water, Flying, Rock, and Grass. Harder ones to master are Fire, Dragon, Ghost, Fairy, Normal, and Psychic," Professor Oak continued. "Regardless, as a Type Specialist, you already know your strengths and weaknesses as a Pokemon team. Not to mention that Pokemon tend to get along better with those of similar types. Having a type-focused team lets you know who you can defeat easily and who you should avoid when you start. The strength of this type of trainer is that it's easier to train and focus on improving your team due to all types having similar training regardless of the Pokemon. For instance, Fighting types will focus on enhancing their muscles, speed, and reaction time with physical exercise and stamina boosting. In contrast, Rock types focus on hardening themselves, absorbing blows, and gathering energy before unleashing everything in a solid hit.

"But won't those trainers have problems against those who have Pokemon with that team's weakness?" Ash pointed out.

Yup, that's the first drawback of such a style. Chances are you'll get your butt kicked by trainers who have the weaknesses of your Pokemon as their strengths. It's why a lot of Type Specialist trainers go through intense training to get their Pokemon to resist their weakness, like training Grass types in the snowy weather to get them used to the cold or having Fire Types meditating under a waterfall to gain resistance, Mew explained before pointing out the next flaw. The second weakness is that most Pokemon have a secondary type. So, even if you can counter the weakness of your primary type, you still have to deal with the secondary type weaknesses as well, which will result in a lot more training.

"Becoming a Type Specialist will be a good focus point early on in your Training career, but as you advance, you'll face a lot of hardship," Professor Oak continued. "These trainers must train a lot to get their Pokemon in excellent tier shape against all weaknesses. Plus, if you are known to be a specialist in one type, your future opponents can plan around that regardless and develop teams designed against you."

("Well, we're not going to be a Type Specialist team since Azrael is a Dark Type and I'm a Flying/Normal Type,") Skye pointed out.

You also will not be able to be the second type of specialist, the Stat Specialist, Mew pointed out, which confused the others as they tried to figure out what that meant. Let me ask you a question. What is the similarity between a Ninjask, Electrode, Accelgor, Dragapult, Aerodactyl, and Jolteon?

Professor Oak showed all six Pokemon on his hologram, and the three of them pondered what made them so similar. They were different in terms of type, abilities, region, attacks, and even behavior. They continued to wonder until, finally, Ash realized it: "Their speed. They are considered some of the fastest Pokemon in the world."

You got it in one! Mew cheered with a flip in the air. They're all speed specialists! That's what a Stat Specialist focuses on. One specific stat of a Pokemon that they train to master. Defense, Speed, Attack, Range, Stamina, and so forth. A Stat Specialist will look for the defining physical or mental characteristic and use that as the focus point of their strategy. Speed-focused ones will go for the fastest Pokemon to dodge moves without their opponent hitting them once before hitting them with a blow they don't see coming. Strength-focused ones will hit hard and try to knock out the enemy Pokemon in one or two blows. Defense-focused will wear down the enemy into tiring out and then look for the right moment to end the fight.

("That would allow them to form strategies based on not just the Pokemon's specialty, but their type and moveset as well,") Azrael pointed out as he realized the strength of such a team. ("And since there are plenty of Pokemon in all the types that focus on one or two characteristics, you can find a perfectly balanced squad to avoid type weakness.")

True that. You can build your entire team to specialize in one field that will be prepared for a dozen other situations while not worrying about type focus and weakness.

"But there are a few catches. For one, you have to find the right Pokemon to fit in your team. Sometimes, the best at one stat will not be easily found, and you'll spend a long time properly gathering and training your team. Some of these trainers hold on to doing the Gym Challenge until they have a fully trained team," Processor Oak explained.

Also, every stat has a weakness against another stat, Mew explained. Speeders don't have the best attack or defense power depending on the Pokemon. Defense-focused Pokemon aren't going to hit for shit if they cannot attack fast enough or fall victim to range attacks. And if a Ranged attacking Pokemon has to face their opponent right in their face? That face will be hitting the pavement. Worse still, unlike Type Specialists who can train their Pokemon to resist their weaknesses, the Stat Specialist needs to constantly focus on one stat to improve it, while all others are secondary. Their only way to counterattack is to create strategies in battle based on certain situations.

"Again, that's not going to be possible for us. Skye is fast and accurate, but her defense is weak. Azrael has good power and average stats, but his weakness against Fighting Types will mean he will have to focus on improving his close range or learning ranged attacks in the future," Ash pointed out. "Their stats are too different to focus on."

This leaves you with three possible options—ones that are not specialist types but focus on the team itself as a whole, Mew explained.

"I prefer to focus on my team overall, if I'm honest. I can't see myself being that specialized in anything in particular," Ash admitted.

"As I said earlier, I think I know what would work best for you, but let me explain the other two," Professor Oak said, which made Ash nod. "The first is what I call the Dream Team Focus. You know those Pokemon Trainers who always say they have the perfect team in mind to go all the way? This is them. These trainers go after specific Pokemon to get what they think is the best team and nothing else. They won't even go into major battles until they have their little Dream Team."

("I don't suppose many of these consist of those seeking to add a Legendary to their list?") Azrael asked with amusement.

We get hundreds if not thousands of trainers thinking if they can capture us, they'll be invincible, Mew replied with a small laugh. They're all either over-enthusiastic idiots or morons who believe that they can just walk up and capture us. The nasty ones are the ones obsessed with us. Good thing most people think I'm dead. I'd hate to have some single-minded stalker on my tail.

"ACHOO!"

"Bless you, Goh."

"Thanks, Mom!"

"The strongest element of a Pokemon Trainer who uses a Dream Team Focus is that they are the best for long-term strategizing. They can predict and counter their opponents' moves at lightning speed and accuracy, with some able to even conclude battles in their heads before the match begins," Professor Oak explained before chuckling and pointing at himself. "I would have to say that I am one of those. I knew what kind of Pokemon Team I wanted when I started as a trainer, and I'm happy to say it all worked out for the most part. I became a Champion at age nineteen, even though it took me four tries in the League to get it. When you make a Dream Team, you know your strengths and weaknesses better than anyone and train yourself to respond to the various strategies you might encounter. But that's also the weakness."

"Huh? Shouldn't it be a main focus for all trainers if it worked for you?" Ash asked. After all, if it worked for Professor Oak, shouldn't it also work for him?

"Well, that's because I had to learn everything to prepare myself for such a strategy. And I mean everything I could about all types of Pokemon. I spent months and years studying every possible Pokemon I thought I could encounter, but I couldn't get everything right the first time, and some Pokemon I had never seen before were ones I encountered from other regions. Believe it or not, Ash, I lost a lot before I started to win, but I kept adjusting my strategy each and every time. You have to know a lot and study not just your Pokemon but all other Pokemon and trainers themselves before you can master it," Professor Oak pointed out before winking at Ash, "and based on your grades at school, I know you aren't much of a study bug."

"Yeah..." Ash muttered, which made Skye and Azrael snicker. "Plus, I don't think I can spend that much time studying so many Pokemon and trainers, especially since so many more foreign Pokemon are seen in Kanto these days."

"Yes. Also, there is another weakness. You can't plan for every battle, and sometimes you need to think on the fly to react to something unexpected that you didn't plan or is too chaotic for you to use your plans. I found myself in that kind of situation more than once, and it backfired horribly for me until I learned to do the same thing," Professor Oak explained. "Ash, you are a better battler thinking on the fly than long-term strategy. This isn't bad, but it's more suited for you."

("I agree,") Azrael seconded as he stared at Ash. ("In all our practice matches with the Pokemon at the lab, you were better at changing our moves and attacks during the match, which helped us win.")

("I don't think I can be a long-term planner either. I like just diving in and dealing with whatever comes as well. A lot faster and easier,") Skye replied.

"So what's the second type of team focus trainer? Is it the one I'm best at being?" Ash asked.

Actually, you would not fit this one because it would involve you favoring one Pokemon over all the others, Mew said as she shook her head. And I've been around long enough to know your personality wouldn't allow you to do such a thing.

"Favor one Pokemon over everyone else? That seems a bit mean," Ash pointed out disapprovingly.

Well, it's not exactly as it sounds. Yes, some trainers favor one Pokemon over all of them, but some are so smart about it that I call the T.O.P. Trainers, Mew explained.

("T.O.P.?") Azrael asked.

Stands for "That One Pokemon". Mew explained. That one specific Pokemon on the trainer's team so top-tier and outclasses everyone else that it's almost a one-person army.

"Mew is correct on it being a strategy that Pokemon Trainers use. More often than you think," Professor Oak explained as he typed in a few things on his Pokedex and showed a figure standing next to a Dragonite. "This is Drake. He's the Supreme Gym Leader of the Orange Island League."

"I didn't know the Orange Islands had a league," Ash replied with surprise.

"Well, it's not so much as a League as it is a series of challenges that Trainers take part in to test themselves. While the challenges vary from battles to activities to contests, the final part of the challenge is to battle Drake in a full-on six-on-six battle," Professor Oak explained. "While Drake has access to a number of Pokemon, there is a reason he's been undefeated in the Orange League for the past six years ever since becoming the Supreme Gym Leader."

"His Dragonite?" Ash asked, as it was apparent just by looking at it that it was super strong. He would even say it looked just as strong as Champion Lance's Dragonite, Tyrus.

"Exactly," Professor Oak explained as he showed clips of Drake's Dragonite easily beating dozens of Pokemon in different matches. Many included three or four of a single trainer's Pokemon each time. "Drake's strategy is to wear down his opponent's Pokemon with all five other Pokemon before Dragonite finishes everything. He's even taken down all six of a trainer's Pokemon in one match because all six were drained from the previous fights."

("I see,") Azrael whispered in awe before lowering his head to think further. ("It's about wearing your opponent down with all but your prime Pokemon and then using that said prime Pokemon to finish them off. A sound strategy.")

"Yes, you train a variety of Pokemon to the best of your ability, but your main focus is on your strongest prime Pokemon, who will finish the job and handle the toughest opponents. They are the team's main star and will be the strongest of them all," Professor Oak explained to Azrael thanks to Ash's translation.

Of course, that means favoring one Pokemon over all the others, which can cause some teamwork issues. Trainers who do this kind of strategy tend to ignore their other Pokemon at times, which could make them feel jealous or hurt due to the lack of care and attention they get from their trainer, Mew explained with disapproval in their tone.

"I'd never do that!" Ash reaffirmed himself as he scratched both heads of his partners. "I'll never favor one Pokemon over another. I'll make sure to care for them all equally."

"It's also sometimes a bad strategy against more experienced trainers and masters in the long run," Professor Oak explained with a shake of his head. "Ever heard the expression 'A Chain is As Strong As The Weakest Link'? In this case, the prime Pokemon of the Trainer will face hardship if his weaker Pokemon are knocked out by a well-powerful and organized team that can defeat them just as fast as the Prime Pokemon they are supposed to support. That said Pokemon will then have to face powerful, non-tired opponents who are more than a match for it. Of course, you need to try to spend as much time as you can to make sure your prime Pokemon still remains strong enough for the strategy to work, but that's less time you spend making sure your other teammates are strong enough to wear the opponents' other Pokemon down enough for the Prime to finish them off. It's all about perfect balance."

And speaking of balance, that's the last Trainer Type and the one we think you fit best! The Balanced Trainer! Aka, the Jake-of-All-Trades! Mew explained.

"Isn't it supposed to be Jack-of-All-Trades?" Ash asked.

Jake sounds cooler.

"This is one of the most common trainers, but it's well-used," Professor Oak explained. "The Balanced Trainer catches whatever Pokemon they want and trains them however they want. The main thing is that each team member works together to counter their weaknesses, and the Trainer makes sure they are prepared for situations on the fly whenever needed. Trainers like this are not experts in anything but teamwork and quick thinking. As for weaknesses, the big one is that they do not have any major specializations that they can counter others with if they are too strong for the Balanced Trainer. To avoid that, they train hard to work with each other and cover possible weaknesses. Perhaps the best example of a Balanced Trainer I can give is Cynthia. The Champion of Sinnoh and Reigning Monarch from the last Pokémon World Coronation."

Anyone who was anyone knew about Cynthia. She was said to be not just the greatest Pokemon Trainer, Master, and Champion in the world but also one of the best in history. The famous Queen of Sinnoh had been their longest-lasting champion for about ten years, having won it when she was twenty-five and had not lost a match since. She was also undefeated in the World Coronation. The biggest Pokemon Tournament was held every ten years to determine who was the strongest Trainer in the world. Cynthia had come up on top, and every trainer admired her for her skill, beauty, and genius in battle. Her team was said to be one of the best, well-rounded, and well-trained Pokemon teams, including her famous Garchomp, Hikari.

Of course, this means that you have huge flexibility in your arsenal, Mew explained cheerfully. Unlike the other two, which have a limit on which Pokemon you catch and train, you can catch and train whichever one you want and fix your strategy and battle tactics. You have versatility when it comes to planning and reacting to your opponents by using a well-oiled team that covers everyone and works together both short and long-term.

"This is all dependent on the trainer to make sure such a team can work together," Professor Oak warned who then stood up. "We'll be testing that teamwork by having you work together to avoid getting hit."

"By what?" Ash asked before noticing Mew was powering up a Water Gun in her mouth. "Oh cr-"

He was cut off by Mew lightly spraying the water in his mouth before attacking others who fled for the hills.