The Unknown Trainer

Chapter 3

Training and Battling

As Connor walked out of his house, Braixen was trailing right behind. Even though she was officially a Pokemon, it felt wrong to stuff her inside a pokeball. So instead he would have her walk with him during their journeys. Connor had two main goals today: figure out the basics of being a trainer and make some money. While Connor felt like he had a good understanding of being a trainer, there were a lot of small details he never knew before he looked them up. For example, most trainers start with a pokedex to help look at things like their pokemons levels and different moves. This was something Connor did not have, so he had no idea what moves Braixen knew. So he wanted to interact with some wild Pokemon and see moves and how much power Braixen had. The other concern came with money, he didn't have a lot of remaining money, probably enough to survive 3 months. But that was before the capturing incident, now he needed to get food for his pokemon. So if he won some battles today, he could earn enough to get food for Braixen.

As they made their way down the trail, they finally had their first interaction with a Pokemon, a rattata. "Okay Braixen, let's see what you got!" Braixen was happy to finally show what type of power she had "Yes master, let's beat this rattata!" While shooting a quick amount of fire at the target, the rattata would get hit directly by the fire. The impact caused the rattata to fly into the air, once it landed on the ground, it was obvious it had been knocked out. Connor stood there shocked by what he just watched, he knew this path had some strong Pokemon. And yet Braixen destroyed it with one move like it was nothing. "Braixen, that was incredible, you knocked it out with one move!" Braixen, while happy for praise, felt embarrassed. "Thanks master, I didn't think that would happen, especially since I used my weakest move." Connor couldn't even believe it anymore, his new Pokemon just used her weakest move and knocked it out. "Okay, maybe it wasn't as strong as some of the others, let's find another." This would go on for almost half an hour, they would find a Pokemon, Braixen would use her weakest move, and knock it out on the first move. Connor now felt stupid "Okay maybe this place isn't as tough as I remember it being when I was younger." Braixen heard her master degrading himself and defended him "Don't say that master, maybe this place has gotten weaker over the years. And don't call yourself stupid, you're the greatest person in the world." As Braixen said this, the two got closer, getting ready to smother each other in love. But that was before they heard someone yelling at them.

May has not felt any excitement this stretch of the journey. Warnings from some of the townspeople in the last town said that this place was known as one of the most dangerous trails in the region. And yet, both the wild Pokemon and trainers in the area were nowhere close to competing with her Pokemon. Just when she was about to be disappointed, she saw a trainer coming up with a Braixen. This means that there's a chance this trainer is not from here and can actually put up a fight "Hey you there!"

Connor and Braixen quickly pull away from each other in embarrassment, hoping the person didn't see what was happening. As the girl reaches them she finally says "Quick question but are you local to the area?" Connor looks at the girl in confusion at the question "Yeah I live in the town right behind me why are you asking?" The random girl doesn't look happy at the response "Ugh, I thought I would face an actual tough opponent, but you'll be just as weak as the other trainers I've fought." It took Connor a second to process what she was saying before he responded "Oh you think of one of those trainers that spend their entire time in the forest? No, I'm an actual trainer." This caused the girl's eyes to widen in excitement as her hope bubbled up again. "So you have a bunch of strong Pokemon to fight with?!" The girl's face was now right next to Connor's, their lips just a few inches apart. Braixen began to feel jealous from what she saw and began to growl in protection. Connor, who was flustered, recovered from Braixen's noise. "Sorry but Braixen is my only Pokemon, I've had her since I was a baby and she was a Fennekin." As Braixen was about to speak up to discredit his statement, Connor uses his hand to keep her mouth shut. The girl smiles at the story "Awww, what a cute story, would she be down fo Pokemon battle?" Now it was Connor's turn to smile, knowing this was a chance to win some money. "You're on! By the way, my name's Connor." The girl extended her arm to shake Connor's hand. "Nice to meet you Connor, I'm May."

As the two separated to prepare for the battle, Connor finally let go of Braixen's mouth, allowing her to finally talk. "Master, why can't I speak in front of her? And why did you lie to her about our history?" Connor, trying to keep his voice low so May can't hear them, responds "First of all, most pokemon don't just openly talk, so we don't want to freak her out. Plus how do you think she would trust us if I told her 'Yeah she's actually a human being that got trapped in a pokeball and turned into a Braixen?'" Braixen didn't really have a valid response to Connor's comments, both points were fair and they needed the money so they needed her to accept a battle. "But what happens if we lose master? We don't have a lot of money and she seems really confident with her skills." Connor gave his Pokemon a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, based on what I've seen out of you, we have a good chance of earning some cash." May had been standing there for a minute trying to understand what was taking Connor so long. "Hey Connor, I'm ready wherever you are." This brought the pair back to reality, Braixen quickly stood in front of Connor, ready for whatever May sent out. A lot of things were running through May's mind, most Braixen's aren't the strongest pokemon to use, so this should be an easy win. But something about this Braixen felt off, her aura felt wrong, almost like this Pokemon was swapped into the body of a Braixen. Still, May had confidence that she could use one of her weaker Pokemon and win, so she sent out her Shroomish . Connor immediately saw the type advantage and was now confused why she did this, was she so strong that it wasn't going to matter. "Okay Braixen, show off your fire move!"

With one quick move, Shroomish was sent back to its pokeball, May had gotten cocky and was embarrassed. "Okay, maybe that wasn't the smartest move, but it's only because I underestimated you. Double or nothing with one of my other Pokemon." Connor pondered this idea, while it would be nice to just take the original amount because of a mistake, he was now the one feeling cocky. He trusted that Braixen could do it again, plus he couldn't lose money now if he lost. "Okay May, send out your next Pokemon." May wasn't going to make the same mistake, this time neither Pokemon would have the advantage "It's go time Numel!" Connor expected something like this, Braixen wouldn't be able to overpower with fire, he didn't know what to do. Braixen however, had a plan already set out if she were to face a fire type, she didn't wait for her master's command to send a psychic attack at the Numel. Numel was sent flying just like Shroomish, and once the dust cleared, Numel was in the same state as well. Both May and Connor were left in shock at what just happened, it was one thing to knock out a Pokemon with a type advantage in one hit. But to do it to a pokemon with the same type was crazy. May was now getting enraged, this trainer acted innocent only to be hiding a super strong Pokemon. And once May starts to get angry, she gets desperate to prevail. "Alright, one more fight with my strongest Pokemon!" Connor couldn't say no after what he just watched Braixen do "Sure thing May, as long as you pay me a heap if I win." May scoffed at this comment "Yeah right, I'm not going easy on you anymore, be ready to face my ace!"

Once the Pokeball hit the ground, out came May's first and best Pokemon, Swampert. Now this was going to be a challenge, it was now May's turn to have the type advantage. It didn't help that May wasn't going to wait around this time "Swampert let's show our might with a Hydro Pump!" Swampert opened its mouth and released a giant stream of water heading directly at Braixen. Connor was concerned that it would destroy his Pokemon "Braixen dodge it quickly!" But the speed was too fast to do anything, making direct contact. Connor turned away to avoid any water from hitting his face. Once the stream began to stop, May expected to see an unconscious Braixen, but once everything settled she saw the unthinkable. Connor turned back around, taking out her pokeball, but to his surprise, Braixen was standing in the same spot, looking unbothered by the attack. The only evidence that she had been hit was her wet fur and water dripping off of her. "That's not possible, she has the type disadvantage, how is she still standing?!" Braixen only smiled while shaking to dry herself off, she then sent another psychic attack at Swampert, who was knocked out right away. May couldn't believe this had happened, this single Pokemon that isn't even fully evolved had taken out her entire team. Still she understood that she had to pay for losing the battle. While handing over the money, May gave Connor his credit "I don't know how you did it but you've raised a really powerful Pokemon there Connor." Connor couldn't help but blush at the compliment, and the fact that he didn't do a single thing to help Braixen. May continued "So I'm guessing you're challenging the gym leaders to try and become the champion right?" Connor just nodded his head, he hadn't thought that high, but maybe it would be something that would become his true goal.

As May made her way back to the town to heal her Pokemon and the pair of Connor and Braixne went back home, a group that had been watching the entire interaction from a bush finally revealed themselves. A man with blue hair was the first to talk. "Holy shit! Did you see that Braixen? She can really pack a punch" Another person made their way out, this being a female with red hair "I know, I can't believe we were wasting our time with that pathetic little girl, our new target is that Braixen." Another voice came from the bush "Ya! She's going to go for a lot of money, especially since she can talk." The first two eyes darted back to the bush "What do you mean she can talk!? How could you know?" The figure finally revealed themselves, but it wasn't a human, it was actually a Meowth. "I could just tell from the conversation with her human. That wasn't Pokemon talk, that was human language coming out of her mouth. We need to tell the boss right away."

Looks like Connor has alerted the attention of some unwanted guest. How will he be able to thwart their plans and will this be the last time we meet May. Tune in next time for the next chapter.