The inside of the Battle Club thrummed with energy, the air filled with the clamor of Pokémon training and the sharp calls of trainers directing their teams. Caelan sat in the bleachers, his arms folded as he observed the various sparring partners and coaches working on their moves.
It was Monday, his first day at the Stardust Battle Club.
As it turned out, most of his job involved simply waiting for challengers to approach. Given that, it was no surprise that the workers spent their mornings either warming up or diving straight into training.
Across the room, a trainer's Charmeleon roared as it unleashed a ball of purple flames, its Dragon Rage lighting up the space. Nearby, a coach meticulously guided a small Machop through a series of flexibility exercises, each movement demonstrating a mindful precision. The energy in the room was varied, but the focus displayed by each Pokémon and trainer was impressive.
Caelan's gaze shifted to a corner where a pair of trainers were locked in a heated sparring match. Their Pokémon, a sleek Electabuzz and a robust Magmar, exchanged blows with practiced efficiency. While the trainers had rooms for private practice, the competitive atmosphere of the open training space seemed to keep them engaged.
All in all, it was a chaotic mess.
But it was a chaos that Caelan felt he could draw inspiration from while he waited.
"There's something that's been bothering me about your fight with Tyrogue," he muttered to Rattata, who was busy watching the displays with rapt attention. That was fine; he was mostly thinking out loud. "Even with a level advantage, your natural speed should've evened the odds."
Yet, that hadn't been the case. Throughout most of the battle, Rattata had been on the defensive.
The more he watched the other trainers and their Pokémon, the more the pieces began to fall into place. There was something fundamentally different about Rattata compared to the Pokémon around him, but he couldn't quite pinpoint it.
The higher-level Pokémon were of course faster and more powerful, but that didn't explain Rattata's struggle. In theory, she should have had an edge over them if they were in the same level bracket as Tyrogue. After all, none of the Pokémon he had seen used anything beyond basic attacks. They were tougher and stronger, but Rattata was quicker and sneakier.
Despite understanding this intellectually, Caelan's frustration grew. There was still something missing that made him doubt Rattata's ability to handle a single opponent he saw. A feeling that if he ignored some unknown fundamental aspect, they'd always be behind moving forward.
It was then, as he watched the Electabuzz stop a sprinting Magma dead in its tracks with a Screech to the face, it hit him.
Caelan almost jumped out of his seat, the answer suddenly clear. "It's your reaction time!"
With a renewed sense of purpose, he rose from the bleachers and turned to Rattata, who was watching him warily. "I've got an idea, Rattata," he said, his tone a bit too excited.
Rattata, recognizing that shift in demeanor, bounded up and leapt onto Caelan's shoulder with practiced agility. She settled comfortably, her tiny paws gripping his shoulder.
Caelan walked out of the door, guiding Rattata to a quiet corner of the battle club, a room far away from the bustling main area. His memory ever since the soul fusion was really good, so he'd already memorized the layout of the place after Nina gave him a tour at his request.
Finally finding the room he was looking for, walked up to the door before typing his name into a keypad. It was a system in place so Nina would always know where he was on her computer and could guide any challengers to the room he was using without any hassle.
Walking in, he bee-lined for the machine at the back of the room with a confident stride.
Rattata looked around curiously as Caelan adjusted the settings on the device. "From now on," he explained absentmindedly as he tinkered. "I think we'll do varying reaction time exercises in the morning. Strength training can come after our shift is over."
Her ears perked up as he spoke, the machine whirring to life with a push of a button. With a smile, he turned to her, eager to explain. "Rattata, despite how much weaker you were compared to Tyrogue, you actually have much higher natural speed. You shouldn't have been on the back foot during that battle. I've figured out that it's not your physical speed that's the issue, but your reaction time."
He paced in front of the machine, gesturing towards the three buttons on the ground and the three mechanical dummies arranged in a line. "When you're in the heat of battle, you tend to perform better, but you can't rely on adrenaline alone. If an opponent catches you off guard, you could be knocked out in the first second."
Caelan pointed to the buttons. "This machine will help us train your reaction time. Each button controls one of these mechanical dummies. When you step on a button, the corresponding dummy moves forward slowly. If you get off the button, it will slowly move back. Sometimes, the dummies will speed up randomly while you're still on the button. If a dummy reaches the end of the track, or if you get off the machine completely for more than a second, it's a loss."
Rattata's whiskers twitched as she processed the explanation. Her eyes flicked from the buttons to the dummies, and she nodded, determination setting in.
He looked down at Rattata, who was staring at the machine with a fire in her eyes. "As I said, this is just the first exercise. We need to make sure you're ready at all times, so you don't get complacent."
She winced at his words for some reason, before shaking her head and giving a determined nod. "Rrrraata."
"Let's get started, then." Caelan smiled as he activated the machine. "Don't worry about failing—we've got time."
Rattata took a deep breath, her paws flexing in preparation. With a determined nod, she stepped onto the middle button. The corresponding dummy began inching forward at a steady pace.
"Stay alert," Caelan urged gently, watching as her focus sharpened. Her ears twitched, picking up the faint hum of the machine as she braced herself.
With a quick hop, Rattata leaped to the left button. The first dummy froze and slid back, while the new dummy on her left began creeping forward. She shifted her weight, eyes darting between the moving targets, her muscles coiled and ready.
Then, without warning, the left dummy sped up.
Rattata's ears perked, and in a flash, she jumped back to the middle button. The left dummy halted, retreating as the middle one resumed its advance. Soon, she was darting between buttons, her movements growing more frantic as multiple dummies accelerated at random. Her paws barely touched one button before she leaped to the next, racing to keep them all in check.
Caelan observed in silence, noting how each jump became more reactive, her adrenaline hard at work. She was starting to anticipate, her body responding on instinct to the sound of the machine rather than waiting for the dummies to accelerate. Still, he saw the strain building in her legs, the quickening of her breath as the pressure mounted.
Another dummy surged forward. Rattata tried to keep up, but the instant she stepped off one button, another dummy advanced dangerously close to the end of its track.
"Keep going!" Caelan encouraged, his voice calm but firm. She was struggling, but that was the point—she needed to react faster, to make the right choices, even under pressure.
Rattata grimaced, her eyes flicking to the speeding dummy. It was closing in. She rushed to the left, landing just as it neared the end of the track.
But as she landed, the left dummy sped up, catching her off guard.
She hesitated—just for a split second—and in that moment, the left dummy reached the end of its track with a dull beep. She had boxed herself in between two advancing dummies. The correct choice had been to jump to the right, but panic had sent her back to where she'd started.
Rattata froze, her panting soft. She glared at the dummy that had bested her, frustration flickering in her eyes. Caelan knelt beside her, but before he could even offer her encouragement, the sharp sound of a door creaking open echoed in the room.
"So, you're the new punching bag, huh?" a sneering voice cut through the focused quiet.
Caelan paused, glancing up with a mix of curiosity and annoyance. His gaze landed on the source of the voice—possibly the most irritating sound he had ever heard in either of his lives.
It was a boy around his age, strutting into the room like he owned it. Hands shoved lazily into his jacket pockets; the kid smirked with an air of superiority. Tall and lanky, with a cocky swagger that only made his scrawniness more pronounced, he practically oozed smugness. At his side, a gleaming Galarian Meowth padded along, its claws gleaming as it flexed its paws in anticipation.
"I heard you've been playing trainer with that little rat," he taunted, his smirk widening. "Hope it's ready to be shredded—I could use a bit of cheering up."
Caelan's gaze flicked between the boy and his Galarian Meowth. For a moment, he said nothing, letting the words hang in the air. Then, with a faint sigh, one thought crossed his mind:
'Great, another clown.'
Internally dismissing the boy, his attention went back to Rattata, who was recovering quite quickly from the exercise. Her breaths were already steady, her eyes full of quiet frustration as she watched the play by play. He knew she was disappointed in herself, but he was once again interrupted from reassuring her when the clown suddenly spoke up.
"I'm talking to you," the boy sneered, stepping closer, his lanky frame casting a shadow across the room. "You deaf or just scared?"
Caelan's eyes flicked up, a wave of annoyance passing through him. Whatever the clown saw on his face caused him to flinch back before he quickly masked his fear. Instead of focusing on the boy, Caelan turned slightly as he saw another person walk into the room.
Standing at the entrance was someone he recognized as one of the referees for the club, trying to look busy but clearly uneasy.
"What's his deal?" Caelan asked flatly, directly addressing the man in uniform.
The referee walked over and leaned in close, his expression tight. "That's Liam Hunter," he said, his voice low. "He requested a spar with the new Rattata user—that means you. He's… notorious around here."
Caelan's gaze settled on the boy as the man explained, the clown standing tall with a cocky smirk.
He frowned as the man's words fully registered. "Notorious? For what?"
The referee's voice dropped even lower. "He's the reason the last Rattata trainer quit. Every day for the last year he's been trying to challenge Kioshi of the Fighting Dojo. And every time he loses, he comes and bullies anyone with Normal-type Pokémon to make himself feel better."
His eyebrows rose as he heard that, but mostly out of surprise the Rattata trainer before him hadn't found a solution in a whole year. The revelation was surprising, sure, but it didn't shake him. Caelan's gaze shifted back to the boy, sizing him up again. The Galarian Meowth at his side stretched lazily, its steel claws gleaming as it flexed its paws. Resistant to Normal-type moves. That was the trick, then.
"So that's it? Really?" Caelan blurted out, his expression barely shifting as he broke down the situation. Steel or not, the trainer before him gave up before trying to get around a single resistance.
The only reason he was even taking the boy seriously now was because of money. Since Liam already had a membership, he was paying every month just to spend time in the club. But if Caelan didn't win the sparring match, he was under no obligation to pay the commission fee. According to the club's logic, the fee was extra as the Liam's membership money was already partly in Caelan's normal salary.
As it turned out, the commission fee wasn't actually 25%. It was 25% of 25%, or in other words the fee was 6.25% of his salary. He'd read that wrong in his haste, but 250 was still quite a bit for a single battle.
What was the previous trainer even whining about? If he managed to make a strategy to beat Liam and the idiot insisted on coming back repeatedly, he'd be able to farm months' worth of money out of a single person.
He frowned, the situation suddenly feeling dull. 'How… unimpressive.'
The boy, noticing Caelan's lack of reaction, ramped up his taunting. "You really think that little rat of yours stands a chance? You're just the first one in line—another loser with a weak Pokémon."
Caelan rolled his eyes. "Are we battling or are you just here to run your mouth?" he cut in, his tone as dry as ever.
The boy faltered, if only for a second, before doubling down with a scoff. "Fine," he spat. "But don't come crying when your Rattata gets wrecked."
Caelan stood and Rattata leapt into place, positioning herself on the battlefield with a small puff of dust. She was still visibly frustrated, but her resolve was greater than her feelings. It was clear she was going to use the battle to let off some steam—the training lighting a fire under her.
Sensing the atmosphere change, the referee quickly scrambled into position, his hand raised. "This will be a one-on-one spar between Challenger Liam and Sparring Partner Caelan. Trainers ready?"
Caelan glanced toward Rattata. Her stance was low, muscles tense, waiting for the command. He nodded.
"Begin!"
Taking the initiative, Rattata was off like a rocket, a streak of silver shooting across the battlefield. Her Quick Attack sent her racing toward the Meowth with blinding speed. It was a clear imitation—the exact same rushing strategy Tyrogue used in their last battle. She was mere inches away when—
Clang!
A sharp metallic sound rang out as Meowth, with an almost lazy flick, swung its iron-tipped tail in front of its body. The hardened metal tip intercepted Rattata's Quick Attack with precision, halting her momentum in its tracks.
Caelan's eyes widened. Rattata rebounded off the impact, flipping back midair to land on her feet, glaring at Meowth. It hadn't budged an inch, the impact barely phasing it.
To add insult to injury, the Meowth was busy inspecting its claws, completely ignoring the battle around it.
"Really? That's it? A Quick Attack?" Liam laughed from the opposite side of the battlefield. "That tail's not just for show, y'know."
Caelan ignored the taunt, his gaze shifting to Rattata. His mind ticked through the details, already dissecting his opponent. Steel-type. Resistant to Normal-type attacks. Decent attack but low speed. Rattata's First Gear should be more than enough to keep her out of danger, at least for now.
"Rattata," Caelan called out calmly, "probe its defenses. First Gear."
At his command, Rattata darted forward with the sharp burst of speed characteristic of her Quick Attack. But unlike a straight assault, she veered sharply to the side just before reaching Meowth, using the momentum to circle around the larger Pokémon. Her paws barely touched the ground before she shot off in another direction, fluidly zigzagging in a rapid series of feints and dodges.
Meowth hissed as dust kicked up in its face, swiping at her in frustration, but each lazy slash met only empty air as Rattata slipped past with ease.
Caelan watched quietly, his mind steady. Rattata was controlling the battle for now, maintaining her First Gear—the constant repositioning keeping Meowth off-balance. But it was only a matter of time before Rattata ran out of energy. He had to be ready to escalate when the moment was right.
Liam clenched his fists. "Meowth, stop messing around and hit it already!"
Meowth suddenly lunged, its claws glowing with energy as it charged a Metal Claw attack. Rattata darted away again, but this time the attack came too fast. The gleaming claws grazed her side, sending her tumbling across the floor with a soft grunt.
'What?' Caelan's eyes widened at the sudden turn-around. 'That wasn't even a priority move. It shouldn't be faster than Rattata at all.'
"Hah! You surprised?" Liam mocked. "Didn't you learn anything in school? Felines have some of the fastest reaction times among mammals. Meowth's used to dealing with garbage like—"
"Yeah yeah, whatever," Caelan snapped. "Rattata, let's kick this into Second Gear."
Rattata's recovery was swift. She sprang to her feet, instantly darting into a triangular pattern, moving even faster than before. Each corner of the triangle sent her careening off in a different direction, and the momentum behind each movement made her almost impossible to follow.
Meowth's eyes darted around, clearly struggling to keep track of the flickering blur that Rattata had become. The boy's smirk faltered for the first time, and he barked a new command in desperation.
"Meowth, Metal Sound! Shut that shit down, now!"
The Galarian Meowth planted its feet and slowly began to drag its iron claws together, producing a sharp, scraping noise that filled the air. The sound was jarring, reverberating off the walls and disorienting Rattata. She hesitated mid-movement, her sensitive ears pinned back against her head as the sound assaulted her senses.
"Rattata, stay focused!" Caelan called out, but even he could tell that she was struggling to maintain her usual control. Her zigzagging pattern became erratic, her quick dodges slowing as her confidence wavered.
Meowth, sensing weakness, lunged forward again, its claws raised for another strike. Rattata barely managed to dodge in time, the Metal Claw grazing her once more.
"Use Metal Sound again, Meowth. It can't handle it!" Liam continued laughing from the other side. "Looks like your rat's about to crumble!"
Caelan clenched his fists, frustration growing. The Pokemon wasn't even fully made of metal, yet they were having this much trouble? How would they deal with something as basic as Aron in the future if they couldn't get around this?
'There has to be a way around this,' Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he zoned out the loud battlefield. 'I just have to think.'
However, while Caelan had a propensity for staying calm under pressure, Rattata did not. The constant scraping sound was starting to take its toll on her patience. Looking back, she saw her trainer closed eyes, visibly trying and succeeding to calm himself down.
Using Quick Attack to back up, followed his example, closing her eyes and attempting to focus through the disorienting noise.
Unfortunately, remaining calm was not exactly her strong suit.
As Liam's taunts continued to fill the air, Rattata's frustration finally boiled over. With a guttural growl, she lifted her head and unleashed a Screech that cut through the metal scraping with an almost deafening intensity. The sharp, piercing sound sliced through the battlefield, drowning out the Metal Sound and forcing everyone to cover their ears.
"RAAAAAAAH!"
The sheer force of Rattata's Screech sent shockwaves through the air, rattling Meowth and making it wince. The noise was so overpowering that it seemed to shake the very ground. Meowth staggered, its earlier confidence shattering under the assault. Caelan snapped out of his focused state as he could feel along their connection the sheer amount of Rage rolling off her in waves.
Liam's eyes widened in disbelief as he witnessed the effect of Rattata's Screech. "What the—?"
After letting out that war cry, Rattata abandoned her usual focused and obedient approach. She charged straight at Meowth, jaws bared, her anger and frustration fueling her attack. This time, it wasn't a standard Quick Attack. It was something far more primal.
She lunged, sinking her teeth deep into Meowth's flank with a Bite that reverberated through the battlefield. Meowth cried in pain, thrashing wildly as Rattata's jaws locked down with unrelenting force.
Caelan blinked, momentarily stunned by the sight. 'Bite? When did she learn that?'
Liam's face twisted in anger. "Get off of him! Now!"
But Rattata didn't let go. Meowth flailed and screeched, trying to shake her off, but her grip only tightened as she gnawed deeper into its steel-coated hide. The horrific scene left everyone frozen in place, the only sound left being Meowth's pained yowls echoing through the room.
"Enough!" the referee shouted, stepping forward and raising a hand. "Rattata wins!"
Caelan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He watched as Rattata finally released her grip, stepping back to stand beside him, panting heavily. The fire in her eyes hadn't dimmed.
The boy returned his Meowth with a scowl. "You…you freak! How dare you treat my Meowth like that!"
Caelan remained silent, his gaze fixed on Rattata. She had calmed down a little, her breathing heavy but steady. The raw intensity of her last attack was still palpable in the air.
Liam's face was a storm of rage. "This isn't over," he spat out, his words barely controlled. "I'll be back, and next time, I'll make sure you regret this."
Without another word, Liam stormed out of the room, leaving behind the echo of his angry footsteps. The atmosphere was thick with residual tension, but the immediate danger had passed.
The referee, still shaken, cleared his throat. "That was… uhm, intense," he said awkwardly, though his voice lacked the enthusiasm of his earlier announcements. "The reward for winning should be sent directly to your account. There's also a recording of the battle sent directly to your BattleNET account if you want. I, uh, have to go now."
"Right…" Caelan could barely reply as the man walked away in a hurry, almost slamming the door in his haste.
With Liam storming out and the referee's departure, the room settled into an uneasy calm. Caelan slowly turned his gaze to Rattata, who was slumped against the ground, her exhaustion evident. She looked up at him, her eyes reflecting a mix of fatigue and apprehension.
"Welp," He concluded lamely, side-stepping the elephant in the room. "That was a thing."
Caelan leaned back in his chair at the Pokémon Center's terminal, eyes fixed on the screen as he scrolled through the BattleNET forums. Rattata was still being tended to by Nurse Joy after a tough day of training, giving him a rare moment of alone time. He'd spent the last few minutes scanning the threads, trying to confirm what moves Rattata had somehow picked up.
Rattata had definitely used Bite. That one he was certain of. The attack had been unmistakable: the vicious clamp of her jaws, the power behind her strike—it didn't even feel like the same energy as Quick Attack or Tackle.
Rage, though?
"Doesn't feel right," he muttered, eyes scanning the screen. Back on Earth, the move Rage was an attack that fueled itself on damage and anger. The more a Pokémon was hurt, the stronger their attacks became.
But when Rattata had used it, it had been a sudden, explosive outburst of power—not a steady buildup. It didn't fit the internal description he had of rage at all.
He kept searching, pulling up an older thread from a trainer who specialized in Normal-types. The description caught his attention:
"Rage manifests differently depending on the Pokémon's nature. Some Pokémon, like Zangoose, are always angry. They store the anger within themselves like a reservoir, and the more they're pushed, the more violent they become. Others let it out in bursts—it brings less damage potential, but far more versatility. The former can theoretically increase infinitely, while the latter is limited but can be used to boost inoffensive moves like Leer."
"Edit: Combining Calm Mind with Rage made for some interesting effects. Will edit again later when I have more information."
Caelan scowled as he scoured the post only to find that the trainer not only never came back to elaborate but was currently online and purposely ignoring the messages on his profile. Annoying, but what else did he expect from the internet?
In any case, the description sounded like Rattata was a part of the latter group.
"Guess that settles it," he said to himself, his tone less enthusiastic than he had expected. He sort of wanted to get around the obstacle of Meowth without brute force, to create a strategy that would destroy their first real wall, but he couldn't quite complain. Progress was progress, even if it didn't feel earned.
A chime broke his concentration, and Nurse Joy's voice rang out over the PA system. "Trainer Caelan, please come to the desk. Your Rattata is ready."
He stood up, stretching his legs as he made his way over. As he approached, Nurse Joy smiled warmly, holding Rattata in her arms. She handed the small Pokémon over to him, and he could feel a shift in her—a subtle energy still simmering beneath the surface.
"She's doing well," Nurse Joy said kindly. "A little bit of stress from the battle, but that's normal. She'll be back to her usual self soon."
Caelan nodded, placing Rattata gently on his shoulder. "Thank you as always," he said before pausing, curiosity taking over. "During that last battle, Rattata seemed to pick up two new moves: Bite and Rage. I didn't realize Pokémon could just suddenly learn moves without some sort of specialized training. Is that… common?"
Nurse Joy nodded. "Absolutely. It's a lot more common than people think for Pokémon to learn new moves after a battle, especially if they've experienced strong emotions during it. It's part of their natural growth."
She must've noticed his confusion because she continued before he could ask further. "Contrary to popular belief, moves aren't tied to a Pokémon's class level or element quality. When a Pokémon grows emotionally, it reflects in their Aura. That shift in their Aura manifests as a new move. Rage, for example, comes from anger—so when your Rattata let out all that pent-up frustration, it unlocked that instinct within her."
Caelan blinked, processing the statement. "That makes sense. But what about Bite? I can see how biting would be an instinct for a rodent like Rattata, but it's a Dark-type move. Wouldn't her natural growth be to learn Hyper Fang or something?"
"That's true," Nurse Joy confirmed with a nod. "In a case like this, I'd guess she learned it before the battle at some point. The reward for her emotionally growing after her last battle, maybe?"
'Before, huh?' Caelan glanced at Rattata, wondering what mindset would have triggered her to learn Bite of all moves.
But rather than dwell on that, a thought occurred to him instead.
Caelan's brow furrowed, his thoughts drifting to move functionality. "So… does that mean moves taught by TMs don't follow this principle?"
"Well," Nurse Joy began thoughtfully, "TMs do bypass that emotional growth. They essentially force the Pokémon to know the move without experiencing the mindset or growth behind it. That's why moves learned naturally are often stronger—they're a reflection of who the Pokémon is becoming."
Caelan stood quietly for a moment, considering her words. He'd always seen battles as a method of pushing Rattata's limits, of strengthening her powers and skills. But he hadn't fully grasped until now how deeply tied her physical development was to her mental.
"That's why," Nurse Joy continued with a warm smile, "I always recommend newer trainers let Pokémon learn moves on their own when possible. It may take longer, but the connection they build with that move will be far more meaningful."
He nodded, still processing the information. "Thanks, Nurse Joy. I'll keep that in mind."
With a final nod, he turned to leave, Rattata hopping down and walking beside him with her head held high despite her earlier exhaustion.
Caelan stepped outside the Pokémon Center, the cool evening air offering a brief respite from the long day. As he walked down the quiet street, his Pokégear suddenly vibrated in his pocket. A bit confused, he pulled it out, the screen lighting up with a message from the Pokémon Center.
'Ah. I had almost forgotten I asked for this,' he thought, recognizing the message.
It was an update on Rattata's current status.
[Species: Rattata (Female)]
[Level Estimation: Upper-Class 0]
[Type: Normal (Innate), Dark (Hidden)]
[Elemental Quality: Normal (C-Grade), Dark (D-Grade)]
[Ability: Guts]
[Condition: Average]
It was a marginal improvement, but a noticeable one. Rattata had reached Upper-Class 0, meaning she was now on the cusp of Level 10. Her elemental quality had strengthened as well, each one going up a whole letter grade. Everything showed a clear indication of her progress, but Caelan couldn't help but feel they only told a part of the story.
Lowering the Pokégear, he glanced down at Rattata, who trotted along beside him with a quiet but confident gait. Her ears flicked, picking up the sounds around her, but her posture remained steady—alert, but not anxious. For a moment, Caelan marveled at how much she had changed in such a short time. It wasn't just about the stats on the page; those were just numbers, after all.
"Not everything has to do with numbers," he muttered to himself.
The realization settled in his mind as he pocketed the Pokégear and tucked it away. Rattata's progress couldn't be entirely captured in a series of stats. There was something deeper at play—something he needed to understand if they were going to keep moving forward together.
Caelan let out a small breath, his lips curving into the faintest of smiles as Rattata glanced back at him, her eyes bright and expectant.
She'd earned this. Maybe it didn't feel earned in the way he'd expected. But it was earned.
And that, for now, was enough.
Author's Note: And... done! That last part feels a bit... preachy(?). Like I'm trying to convince the audience her win wasn't just plot convenience. That wasn't my intention, if you got that feeling. I just like having more reflective scenes after fast-paced action ones. And I can't see Caelan reaching any other conclusion about her learning new moves outta nowhere besides acceptance.
If you hadn't noticed, he has a tendency to put his Pokémon before himself.
Nevertheless, I hope y'all enjoyed the chapter!