AN: I just wanted to address something a guest reviewer pointed out in the last chapter. I did make a mistake with Nidorina getting poison. In current games Poison Types can't get poisoned, the same way Electric Types can't get paralyzed or Fire Types can't get burned. The solo exception being certain Abilities. While writing it I was thinking about first generation games because it is set in Kanto. Also trying to combine the games and anime into a story will lead to mistakes here and there. I'm not going to fix it, because I would have to rewrite the battle. I just try not to make the same mistake again.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything, I make no money or profit from this.
Chapter 27: Wonder Trading and New Team Members
[Route 6]
It had been a couple of days since the trio of trainers left Saffron City, and they were currently sitting around a campfire eating dinner. All 3 were happy to be moving again, being in Saffron was nice, but they had gotten used to camping out and almost constantly walking. Clyde and Ronnie Anne continue to train their Pokemon, as well as learn about their new Tyrogues. Both were friendly and listened to their new trainers, but they were more serious than their other Pokemon. It didn't help that Ronnie Anne's Tyrogue and Poochyena would occasionally get into fights. About what? They weren't completely sure. Lynn stepped in and helped them whenever they needed it, but her students noticed there was something off with her.
"Hey Lynn, I need to ask something" Ronnie Anne started, after finishing her meal. Lynn, who was still eating, nodded to her telling her to go ahead. "Is everything alright?" She asked, getting a raised eyebrow from the older girl. "I mean, lately you just seemed to be acting off and weird for the last couple of days."
"I've noticed this as well," Clyde said, joining the conversation. "I also noticed that it seems to have something to do with our Tyrogues." All 3 trainers looked towards their Pokemon, seeing Lycanroc distracting the younger trainers' Pokemon. "Ever since we got them you've been acting differently," he said, getting the attention back on him.
Lynn stopped eating and let out a sigh. "I guess I didn't hide it well" her tone was slightly annoyed with a hint of frustration. "Do you really want to know?" Both nodded with a serious expression, causing her to let out a huff of frustration before speaking again. "Alright, well you obviously know Lincoln broke his tooth participating in underground fights, but did he tell you exactly who did it?" Both younger trainers shook their negativity. "It was a Hitmonchan that did it" she clenched her teeth and balled her fists as she finished. Both her students were taken aback by this sudden information. "The Pokemon acted on its own without a command from its trainer. Both of them were punished and Linc has since moved on from the incident, but a part of me can't let it go. Every time I see that Pokemon or hear its name, I can't help but think about the one that hurt my brother. I know it's wrong and not fair to other Hitmonchans, but it's something I can't control and I become on guard for any Pokemon tied to that family line. That's why I don't have any of the Tyrogue family line in my party or with Professor Juniper."
Both younger teens didn't know what to say after what they just heard. Yes Lincoln told them how his tooth broke, but never said who. Now it made sense to them why Lynn had been acting so differently lately. She had been battling an internal conflict within herself, and their new Pokemon was the cause. Both trainers were unsure about their new Pokemon, simply because it was a Pokemon they had no intention or thought of catching in the first place. However since they were a prize, they felt it was wrong and rude to reject them. Ronnie Anne was the one to break the silence. "Why did you take us there then?" She asked, confused. "Didn't you know the prize?"
"All I knew was the prize was a Fighting Type Pokemon" Lynn replied, after calming down. "The trainer I heard it from just said it was a Fighting Type, but didn't say which one. I thought it might've been a Manky or something, I didn't think it was a Tyrogue. Anyways don't worry about it, just keep training them and I do what I can to get over my issues with them." She went back to finishing her meal while her students looked at her worryingly.
"Lynn I don't want you to feel uncomfortable around my Pokemon" Clyde started expressing his concern. "You've done so much for both of us, I want you to enjoy our journey as well. I don't want to be the reason you are uncomfortable."
"I feel the same way Clyde, but what can we do?" Ronnie Anne asked her male companion. "It's not fair to Tyrogue if we release them into the wild just because Lynn is uncomfortable around them. Plus they were a gift from the Dojo, letting them go is kinda like us insulting Goro. Even though my Tyrogue isn't something I would've caught, he still is a hard worker and another member of my team."
Hearing this, Lynn started to think about this situation. She didn't want them to get rid of one of their team members, however she didn't know how to handle her distrust around their Tyrogues, let alone if one of them evolved into a Hitmonchan. "Well if you both feel that way, why don't you trade them?" Lynn asked, grabbing their attention.
"You mean the next time we see a trainer, just ask them if they want to trade something for a Tyrogue?" Clyde asked, slightly confused.
"Well yeah you could do that…" the older trainer started to reply. "...But I was thinking more about Wonder Trading." Seeing her students lost and confused expressions she started explaining. "Wonder Trading, or Surprise Trading as some call it, is something people can do at any pokecenter. It's a Trade Machine where trainers put a Pokemon they want to trade in it, and it will trade with someone else somewhere else in the world. You don't know who the other person is and what Pokemon you'll be trading for. Linc and I used the machine a couple of times, but not that often."
"So we would just put a Pokemon into it and trade it with someone else?" The younger female asked for clarification. Seeing her nodding in confirmation, both trainers started to ponder the idea. "Well, that sounds better than just releasing them. Why haven't you told us about this sooner?"
"Because I believed one or both of you would catch whatever Pokemon you see just to do this" the Loud girl replied. "Besides there is a huge risk with this, you could get a Pokemon that won't listen to you like Poochyena."
The younger trainers looked at each other with nervous expression, now reconsidering this idea. "What are the odds of that happening?" Clyde asked, looking at her for advice.
"Honestly it's a fifty-fifty chance," the older replied, finishing her meal. "Like I said, you have no idea what you are going to get in return. Thus the reason people call it Surprise Trading. This would be the best way if you're absolutely sure you want to get rid of your Tyrogue."
Again both younger teens looked at each other before Ronnie Anne spoke up. "Well I'm willing to give it a shot."
"I'm still not sure if I want to" Clyde's response, concern laced his voice.
Lynn then uses the map on her poketch. "Well there is a pokecenter not too far away" she told them without looking at them. "We could get there early tomorrow evening. We could rest there tomorrow night and Ronnie Anne could do the trade in the morning before we leave." Both of her students agreed with her plan, although one was unsure of what he wanted to do. They then started to clean things up so they could get ready for bed.
[Pokecenter]
The group had just woken up and gotten ready to head out after their stay at the pokecenter. Just like Lynn said, they reached it early yesterday evening and got a room for the night. Ronnie Anne and Lynn were currently in the room of the Trade Machines waiting for their solo male companion. "So where was Clyde last night?" Ronnie Anne asked, getting bored of waiting for him. Yesterday after getting the room, Ronnie Anne and Lynn went straight to the room while Clyde told them he had something to do. Both didn't think much about it thinking he was just going to the bathroom, going to take a shower, or going to wash his clothes.
"I saw him on the video phones when I went to see if we could still get dinner," Lynn replied, looking at the map on her poketch. "I figured he was calling his dads and didn't want to interrupt him." As if being summoned, said boy in question walked into the room.
"Hey guys, sorry for taking longer," Clyde said with a small smile. "I got lost in thought and I'm going to Wonder Trade my Tyrogue as well."
Both girls looked at him with surprise with Lynn raising an eyebrow. "What changed your mind, McBride?" She asked with curiosity and suspicion. He had shown hesitation when they talked about this, so they wondered what made him suddenly change his mind. Clyde knew they were going to ask, and with a big sigh, he started to tell why he came to his decision.
[Flashback, Yesterday Evening]
While Ronnie Anne and Lynn headed for their rented room, Clyde made his way to the video phones. He then made a call and explained his situation with his Tyrogue, how he was feeling, and what his worries were. "At least this time you called me with something I can help with," said the person he called. It was the Cerulean City Gym Leader Misty.
"Thanks for telling me Lynn and Ronnie Anne were behind me last time" Clyde sarcastically grumbled to the orange hair girl.
"That was payback for calling me with a dumb reason last time" she told the male trainer, while giggling at his response. "Anyways, I get you're worried about getting a Pokemon that might not listen to you through Wonder Trading, but there's just an equal chance you'll get one that will listen to you. I have tried Wonder Trading a few times and got some of my best Pokemon from it. Sometimes you gotta just take the risk and don't overthink things." Clyde nodded understanding what she was getting at. "Now as for feeling bad or wrong for trading a Pokemon you received at a prize or gift…" she started again, carefully picking her words. "...I'm sure this Goro person wanted everyone who he gave a Tyrogue to would care for them, regardless of whether the trainers use them or not. He probably hoped the trainers would use them, but also knew some or many trainers wouldn't. You have to care for every Pokemon you get since you're not sponsored, so if you feel like you won't use Tyrogue, it might be best to trade it for something you might use. I know this might sound heartless or cruel, but sometimes you have to make hard decisions as a trainer. Besides, the person who gets him might be thrilled and use him all the time."
Clyde silently pondered everything and thought it over. He still wasn't completely happy about the idea of trading his new Pokemon, but the girl he asked for advice from made several good points. "I'll think about it, but you did help settle some of my worries," he said with a grateful smile. "Thanks for talking with me, even though it's starting to get late. I have Ronnie Anne's and Lynn's thoughts about this, I guess I just wanted a third person opinion on this."
"I'm just glad I was able to help anyway I could" Misty replied, a smile on her face. "Don't be afraid to call me for help again, or just to talk to learn more about each other" she told him with a flirty smile. "So don't hesitate to call me and try to make time to come back to Cerulean." She then hung up, leaving a red faced Clyde staring at the screen.
[End Flashback]
"So after thinking about it last night, I decided to trade Tyrogue as well," Clyde said, finishing his story with slight embarrassment. Now he was trying to ignore the teasing smirks that were on his 2 companions' faces. "That's why I'm now willing to trade him away."
"Okay, now I see," Lynn replied, the smirk never leaving her face.
"So which one of these machines do we use?" Clyde asked in a rushed voice, in an attempt to stop any possible teasing. Both girls went along with it, knowing they can continue this later on.
Lynn then led them to the correct machine. "This is the Wonder Trading Machine" she told them proudly. "This machine has only one place for a pokeball, unlike the other machine in here. The other ones are Trading Machines, but they are for in person trading between two people. Now how it works is pretty simple. You just put the pokeball of the Pokemon you wish to trade in the proper spot, hit the button, and just wait. Once you push the button, the machine will then teleport your pokeball, send it to someone else, and bring their pokeball here in a matter of seconds. Now that you know what to do, who's going first?"
"I'll go first" Ronnie Anne volunteered. She placed Tyrogue's pokeball into the machine, pressed the button and watched the machine do its job. The trio watched Ronnie Anne's pokeball glow brightly before disappearing, a few seconds later a Dusk Pokeball took its place.
"There you go, that's your new Pokemon" Lynn told her female student. Ronnie Anne grabbed the dusk ball and started to examine it. "Your turn McBride" she then told her other student. Clyde then put his Tyrogue's pokeball and activated the machine. Just like last time, they saw it disappear and a Heal Ball replaced it. "Alright, grab your new Pokemon McBride and let's go, unless you're planning to also trade your Poochyena to Santiago?"
She stopped looking at her new Pokemon and started to think if she should. "I think I'll still try for now," she told her mentor. "Poochyena is the first Pokemon I've caught, I want to believe I can get her to listen to me."
"Alright then" Lynn nodded to her answer. "Well let's step outside the pokecenter to see what you got." All 3 trainers made their way outside, with some hesitation Clyde volunteered to go first in seeing their new Pokemon. He tossed the Heal Ball and out came an oval pink and white Pokemon holding an egg. "Okay, that's a surprise" the athletic Loud said, voice filled with shock and surprise. "You got a Blissey for your Tyrogue."
Clyde was speechless as he looked at the Happiness Pokemon, Blissey looked around at the trainers. Sensing the Pokemon's silent question, Lynn pointed towards Clyde to tell her that he was her new trainer. She walked towards him, looking at him with curiosity. "Oh, hi there" he started coming to his senses. "I'm your new trainer Clyde McBride" he said nervously. Blissey smiled widely and hugged her new trainer.
"Say McBride, why don't you see what moves she knows?" Lynn asked. "Maybe that will explain why someone traded her."
Clyde nodded in agreement and used his poketch to see Blissey's moves. Everything was looking normal until he got lower on the list. "Holy Moly!" Clyde cried out, catching the others' attention. "While she has the typical moves a Blissey would have like Heal Pulse, Double-Edge, and Soft-Boiled. She also knows Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Drain Punch, Shadow Ball, Thief, Water Pulse, and Bulldoze." This caused his female companions to stare at him with slack jaw expressions, but caused Blissey to shiver with discomfort.
"Why would someone trade her with a list of moves like that?" Ronnie Anne asked, completely lost about the situation.
Lynn was about to ask something similar, but then noticed Blissey's discomfort. "I think she wasn't performing the way the trainer hoped," she said, drawing their attention. "It seems like her previous trainer tried to make her a jack-of-all-trade Pokemon. Think about every move she has. Fire Type, Electric Type, Ice Type, Fighting Type, Ghost Type, Dark Type, Water Type, Ground Type. With Blissey naturally learning Normal Type, Fairy Type, and a few Psychic Type moves. They were trying to make her be able to fight any Pokemon she goes up against, so no matter who she faces she would have a move that would be super effective against it." The younger trainers were having a hard time processing everything, they couldn't believe someone would do that to their Pokemon. "However, Pokemon like that never work out the way the trainer thinks. Sure it's good to have a move or two that people wouldn't expect, but a single Pokemon isn't supposed to be a battle tank. That's why every trainer has a team of Pokemon, to switch out and take some of the weight of battles."
Clyde then looked sadly at Blissey before looking her in the eyes. "You don't have to worry anymore, Blissey" he said softly, having her look at him. "I don't know what your previous trainer was like, but I'm not going to have you fight every battle or expect you to win every battle. I want you to have fun on this journey and enjoy being on my team." Blissey then smiled and started to dance and cry out in happiness.
Ronnie Anne and Lynn smiled at them, before the older one looked at the younger one. "Well it's your turn Santiago" Lynn told her. The girl nodded in agreement and tossed her Dusk Ball in the air. What came out was a large black reptile with a purple belly and pink markings standing on its hind legs. "This is another surprise," Lynn said after seeing the Pokemon. It was a shock, but not as shocking as the Blissey. "You got a Salazzle for your Tyrogue."
Ronnie Anne got closer to greet her new Pokemon, but stopped seeing her turn to look at her. Salazzle stared at the younger girl before running to her. She then started to examine everything about Ronnie Anne. Looking at her hands, arms, legs, torso, climbed on her to do the same for head, shoulders, head, and face. Ronnie Anne meanwhile didn't know what to say or do and just let the Toxic Lizard Pokemon do what she wanted. When she finished examining her new trainer, she started to try digging through her bag. "Hey, stay out of there!" The female trainer shouted, grabbing her and putting her back on the ground. Salazzle didn't fight or squirm, she just let herself be handled and be put on the ground and looked up at her new trainer.
"I think I see why she was traded," Lynn said with a chuckle. Both of her students looked at her confused, while Salazzle used the distraction to go back to try to look through the bag. "That Salazzle has a very curious personality, she seemed to want to look at everything and anything. Her previous trainer probably couldn't handle her personality, so she traded her to get rid of her. You should see what moves she has Santiago, after you get her out of your bag of course."
Ronnie Anne looked back to her bag to see Salazzle digging through it and looking at a bottle of Antidote. She quickly took it away from her and moved her back in front of her. "Okay, no more digging through my bag, got it?" She told Salazzle sternly, to which the Pokemon tilted her head to the side acting like she didn't understand. "Now I'm Ronnie Anne, your new trainer. I hope we can work well together." She then extended a fist out for a fist bump, but she just examined her fist. She eventually grabbed her fist with both her hands and shook it. Taking that as a good sign she then used her poketch to see her moves. "She seems to have okay moves, nothing like Blissey." The other 2 went over to see her poketch and saw she was right. She had moves any normal Salazzle would know like Poison Fang, Nasty Plot, Venoshock, Flamethrower, Dragon Pulse, and Toxic. She didn't seem to know any Egg Moves or TMs.
"Well she is still a good Pokemon to have" Lynn commented. "So are you guys okay with your new Pokemon?" She asked, to which she got 2 voices of agreement. "Alright then, return them to their pokeball and let's get moving. We still have a ways to go before we reach Vermilion." They called back their Pokemon and they continued their journey to Vermilion City.