Another day, another Trainer fic! This is my second attempt at such a story; my previous one started at the very beginning of the main character's journey and really got in the way of the story I actually wanted to tell. I finally convinced myself that there's nothing with starting the story where it gets interesting. This fic is about the experience of being a Pokémon Trainer—meeting new people, overcoming obstacles, going to new places, growing as a person. The comradery between Pokémon and Trainer is instrumental. I'm going for a "road trip" kind of vibe. What would it really be like to travel the Pokémon world?
Happy reading, Trainers! - Pug
(Pokémon was created by Satoshi Tajiri, Ken Sugimori, and Junichi Masuda. It is property of Game Freak Inc., Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company.)
#1: Eight Is the Magic Number
Golden hues from the setting sun bathe Penn's hotel room in a warm glow, casting long shadows that danced across the walls. Outside, Opelucid City's skyline—a striking mix of sleek futuristic buildings pierced by the spires of traditional architecture—offers a backdrop that ignites a cocktail of nostalgia and excitement within him. Penn's gaze drifts to the desk where his six Pokémon's Poké Balls lay clustered. A bittersweet smile plays on the blond-haired Trainer's lips as he settles into the plush chair and unlocks his phone, ready to relive some memories of his journey through the photo album.
The first image pops up as he opens the app. The photo is a selfie of a slightly younger Penn, blue eyes wide and gleaming, clutching a red and white Poké Ball in his hometown, Aspertia City. To think this was almost a year ago. His hopeful expression radiates pure excitement. He was free from his life of bussing tables, but still untouched by the trials that awaited him.
"Man, look at that guy," Penn chuckles to himself, shaking his head.
His thumb swipes left on the screen, moving to a selfie of him and Riolu, with the Fighting type leaping up in joy. Penn's heart warms at the memory of their first training session at Flocessy Ranch. He laughs inwardly again as he wonders about how naive he was back then.
He'd always jump around and try to impress me, he thinks.
The next selfie stars him, Riolu, his proud new Oshawott, and Professor Juniper. Penn feels a lump form in his throat as he remembers how she guided him through the basics of Pokémon training, her patience never waning as she demonstrated the ins and outs of caring for his Pokémon.
That moment when she handed me Oshawott's ball was unreal, Penn thinks, staring nostalgically at the image, where the professor beams at him instead of looking at the camera. I still remember how nervous I was.
The next photo features his rival, who sports his wild orange and red hair, grinning broadly after their heated battle on Route 2. He recalls the rush of adrenaline that came with his first serious battle, even though he lost. On that day, Penn felt a fire spark within him, a burning desire to grow stronger.
He really curbstomped me. But that just made me want to be better.
He swipes to the next bunch of images: his Gym victories. He pauses on a photo of himself with the Trio Badge gleaming in his palm against the backdrop of the lively Striaton Gym Cafe. Riolu and Oshawott are perched on his shoulders, grinning ear to ear.
"This feels like…a lifetime ago. Still can't believe we actually pulled it off," he says as he recalls the satisfaction of defeating his first Gym Leader, Cress.
Images from the Nacrene and Castelia victories flash on the screen. He documented each win with pride, showcasing first and foremost the bonds he built with his Pokémon. Luxio, in the selfie he took with the Insect Badge, doesn't even look weary from her long duel with Burgh's Whirlipede. Penn isn't smiling in his selfie with the Bolt Badge, because of how exhausting that battle with Elesa was—but the Golett he met in Relic Castle, as well as the winner, stands proudly at his side.
"To think of how tough they all are now," he mutters to himself, swiping through the memories, heart swelling with pride at the growth of his team. Even little Glaceon, who he found as a starving Eevee back in Driftveil, seems so confident now. She hasn't won a Gym battle since Skyla, but Penn keeps telling himself that'll change when he challenges Drayden.
He chuckles at a photo of a grumpy, almost hostile, expression of Druddigon. It's a picture Penn tried to take in secret, but the Dragon type spotted him at the very last second.
Lucario, Dewott, Luxray, Golurk, Glaceon, and Druddigon. The thought of his entire team prompts Penn to glance at the Poké Balls again. Even though all six are in the same type of ball-the red and white basic-he can tell who's inside which one. He turns his eyes to the window and marvels at the setting sun as it dips lower and lower. The sky shifts from hues of orange to purple as twilight reaches its end, but the glow from the vibrant city below still calls to him. Penn feels a pinch of trepidation; tomorrow will be when he faces Drayden, the Gym Leader of Opelucid City, and he knows this fight will be his toughest yet.
Anxiety settles in his stomach like a stone as he lets out a breath. Well. Tomorrow's the big day.
It's time to sleep. He pushes himself off the chair, the weight of the day—and the next—hanging onto him like heavy mud. With a final glance out the window, he stretches and prepares to call it a night. Tomorrow's battle will be the culmination of his journey from a simple busboy to a storied Pokémon Trainer.
The next morning, Penn steps out of the hotel, feeling the brisk morning air of Opelucid City fill his lungs. Tall buildings of glass and steel loom above him, their sleek architecture gleaming under the early-day sun. As Penn strolls through the streets, he marvels at the contrast between the futuristic skyline and the ancient statues lining the walkways.
"I can't believe we're finally here," he says, excitement bubbling within him.
Lucario walks beside him—a reassuring presence.
"Ready for this, Luke?"
Lucario nods. "Hrruff!"
"Let's show Drayden what we've got."
The Opelucid Gym lies ahead. Its pyramid silhouette stands tall against the azure sky. Penn steps closer, eyeing the intricate dragon sculptures flanking the entrance.
"That looks…imposing."
Lucario lets out a low, determined growl.
"Let's get this done."
With a firm push, Penn opens the heavy doors, stepping into the dimly lit interior. The scent of polished stone and faint incense fills the air. A front clerk, perched behind a sleek, glass counter, looks up from a tablet.
"Name?"
"Penn Truman. Here to challenge Drayden."
The clerk's fingers dance over the holographic keyboard. After a moment, she looks up, eyes widening with recognition.
"Ah, the rising star! Head through the doors to your— Oh! Hello, Leader."
Drayden strides into the lobby from the battlefield entrance. Every inch of him radiates authority and poise. His rugged features soften as he locks eyes with Penn. "You're here to earn your final badge, I take it?"
Penn's heart races as he steps forward. "Y-yes, sir."
"It's quite an accomplishment to make it this far, lad. I get a challenger only once every few moons. What is your name?"
"Penn. P-Penn Truman," the Trainer says.
"And from where did you start your journey?"
"Aspertia, sir—about a year ago."
Drayden's eyebrows rise with respect. "Impressive. Well then, Mr. Truman, I accept your challenge. With me, if you'd please."
Penn returns Lucario to his Poké Ball and follows Drayden through towering doors that swing open with a soft creak. Penn mouths a silent "whoa" as he sees the large arena with a stone floor that gleams under the overhead lights. Large statues of various Dragon-type Pokémon loom in the shadows and cast a watchful gaze over the arena.
"Ahhh, the Dragon type!" Drayden suddenly exclaims. "Pokémon are magnificent creatures, but Dragon types are even more so. Care to guess why, Penn?"
"W—"
"It's the beauty within the beast. Many of them may look ferocious, but they all possess a kind and gentle heart."
Penn thinks of Druddigon, who's anything but kind and gentle. "…Right," he replies, masking his unease.
Drayden nods approvingly, leading them closer to the battlefield. "Words cannot express how eager I am to see the strength that has gotten you this far. Good luck to you, challenger."
Penn draws a deep breath, grounding himself in the moment. "Okay. I think I'm ready."
They take their positions on opposite ends of the battlefield.
"This battle shall be three-vs.-three," says Drayden. "The first Trainer to knock out all three of his opponent's Pokémon shall be the winner. Now, Penn, let's see what you've learned." He tosses a blue and white Great Ball into the air, and out pops a majestic Flygon. Dust swirls around it as it touches down, its wings shimmering in the light.
Penn squares his body as he weighs the first Poké Ball in his hand. "Let's go, Glaceon!" He hurls the ball toward the battlefield. A flash of light reveals his Ice-type, who lands gracefully on the stone floor.
The two Trainers—and their Pokémon—lock eyes, anticipation filling the arena. Flygon flaps its wings, stirring the air as it prepares to strike.
Drayden's voice rings clear: "Use Rock Slide, Flygon!"
The Mystic Pokémon beats its powerful wings once, sending a volley of jagged stones tumbling through the air.
"Glaceon, Ice Beam!" Penn shouts.
Without hesitation, she leaps to the side with feline grace, her breath visible in the cold air as a brilliant beam of frosty energy erupts from her mouth. The shimmering blue light collides with the incoming rocks, freezing them mid-air before they shatter into harmless shards.
"Good—stay on your toes!" Penn says with waxing confidence.
Drayden's eyes narrow. "A peculiar technique. Sadly for you, I am not so brittle under the cold. Dragon Tail!"
Flygon charges forward, its tail glowing faintly green as it swings with ferocity. Glaceon barely dodges. The gust of air that trails the attack ruffles the sleek fur on her back.
"Quick Attack, now!" Penn commands.
Glaceon surges forward, white streaks trailing behind her swift movement as she tackles Flygon square in the chest. Flygon stumbles slightly but regains itself, flapping its wings defiantly.
"Enough of this," says Drayden. "Earth Power!"
Flygon stamps the ground with its foot, the stone beneath Glaceon trembling as energy builds within it. It'll erupt like a volcano in seconds, but Penn reacts fast.
"Mirror Coat!"
Glaceon surrounds herself in a prism of rainbow light just in time to absorb the infernal Earth Power. All of that energy gathers in front of Glaceon's nose, and she fires it back at the Ground/Dragon type with extreme force. The sound it makes is like the deafening blast of a giant laser cannon. Flygon crashes to the floor, defeated.
"Yes!" Penn pumps his fist in the air. "I knew you could do it, Glaceon!"
"Glaaay!" chimes the Ice type.
Drayden recalls Flygon, grinning underneath his beard. "Excellently done, you two. But let's see how you fare against this." He sends out Hydreigon, its three heads roaring in unison.
Glaceon is not deterred. She crouches low and waves her razor-thin tail in preparation.
"Hydreigon, use Dark Pulse!"
"Bwaarrr!" A black and crimson ripple of pure darkness spirals from Hydreigon's center head toward its opponent.
"Mirror Coat again!" Penn shouts desperately. The Dark/Dragon-type Pokémon is not to be taken lightly...
The rainbow shield materializes around Glaceon, but the sheer force of the attack shakes her and pushes her back several steps. She grits her teeth, holding her ground as the energy gathers and rebounds. Mirror Coat's blast barrels toward Hydreigon, but the Brutal Pokémon barely flinches upon impact.
Drayden calls, "Draco Meteor—now!"
Penn's eyes widen. "Hit it with Ice Beam while it charges! Hurry!"
But Hydreigon has its move prepared before the Trainer can even finish his command. A fiery-orange sphere of energy forms above its heads, pulsing with raw power.
"Move!"
The Fresh Snow Pokémon dashes, paws skidding as the ethereal meteors rain down from Hydreigon's mouths. The battlefield quakes. The air distorts with each impact. Glaceon leaps, narrowly avoiding an explosion to her left. The smoke blurs her vision, and she loses her composure for a split second. It's more than enough time for a meteor to crash right on top of her. Her body flings backwards, and her motionless form slides to his feet. She can't even lift her tail; her battle is over.
"N-no… Glaceon…" Penn falls to his knees. He was so certain that she could sweep Drayden's entire team. But it's not over—not by a longshot. "Great job, Glaceon," he says sincerely as he recalls her to her Poké Ball. Standing up straight, he grasps the ball of his next Pokémon. "All right. Your time to shine…" He flings out the ball with an expert flick of the wrist. "…Druddigon!"
Drayden's eyes widen as Penn's own Dragon type takes the field. "Truly?"
Druddigon lets out a guttural roar, pounding the ground with his fists as dust rises around him. Hydreigon snarls in return, flapping its wings.
"Tri Attack, Hydreigon!"
Three glowing orbs—fire, ice, and lightning—spin toward Druddigon, but Penn doesn't flinch.
"Rock Slide!"
Druddigon slams the ground with both fists. Massive boulders erupt from the floor, smashing through the Tri Attack mid-flight and soaring toward Hydreigon.
"Dragon Claw, now!" Penn yells.
Druddigon charges through the dust cloud, claws glowing with draconic power, and leaps from rock to rock. He slashes at Hydreigon with brutal precision. The opposing dragon lets out a cry before plummeting to the floor, knocked out.
Drayden can only blink. "…Oh." He clears his throat and collects himself, then recalls the Brutal Pokémon.
Penn's just as surprised as the Gym Leader. He knew Druddigon was strong, but not this…skilled. "Er, n-nice job, Druddigon! Let's keep it up!"
Druddigon doesn't respond.
"Lend me your strength, Haxorus!" Drayden yells as the gold-colored creature pops out of its Ultra Ball with a loud roar.
Haxorus flexes its massive tail as it locks eyes with Druddigon. Druddigon snarls and scrapes his sharp claws against the stone floor in anticipation. It stomps forward, a deep, rumbling growl vibrating through the arena.
"Dragon Dance!" Drayden calls.
Penn reacts instantly. "Don't let it! Dragon Claw!"
Druddigon barrels forward with claws ignited in blazing blue energy. He slashes across Haxorus's front, leaving a glowing trail. But Haxorus twists aside mid-Dragon Dance, its movements suddenly faster and sharper. Using Rock Slide, Druddigon summons a rain of boulders that crashes toward Haxorus, but the opposing dragon weaves through them with surprising agility.
"Now, Slash!" Drayden bellows.
Its claws gleam. It darts forward, raking them across Druddigon's chest with a brutal strike. Druddigon staggers but retaliates with a vicious Dragon Claw, slamming into Haxorus's side. The two clash repeatedly, fang and claw, evenly matched. Dust kicks up with each strike until a sudden Slash lands square on Druddigon's underbelly. The Cave Pokémon crumples up his body in pain. He doesn't rise again.
Penn realizes that he's been holding his breath the whole time. He finally takes a deep inhale as he recalls the blue Dragon type to his ball. "That was incredible battling, Druddigon. Great work."
"We each are down to our last Pokémon," Drayden says needlessly. "Who will face my mighty Haxorus next?"
Penn swallows hard. His hand quakes under the light weight of his next Pokémon's Poké Ball. Offense worked well enough; time for a little defense. He throws the ball backhanded. The object spins in a perfect horizontal movement. "It's up to you…Lucario!"
The ball bursts open as the Aura Pokémon emerges. He lands gracefully, eyes shining with palpible determination. He flexes his paws, channeling energy. "Hrrraaaah!"
Haxorus hisses, fierce and ready for the clash.
"Let's go! Use Meteor Mash! Strike hard!"
Lucario lunges forward, paw glowing with radiant energy. Haxorus arcs its massive tail, preparing to counter, but Lucario's punch lands first. The hit is so powerful that it sends a shockwave of star-shaped particles through the battlefield. Haxorus staggers back as Lucario lands in front of it, the ground beneath them cracked like an eggshell.
"Follow up with Flash Cannon!"
Lucario channels energy, then fires a metallic beam that cuts through the air and strikes Haxorus in its gut. The impact reverberates like thunder.
Drayden isn't sure what to do. Lucario's Steel typing really limits his options… He's used to fighting Fairy-, Ice-, and even other Dragon-type Pokémon. But lo and behold, here's a Trainer smart enough to bring a Steel type. Of course, Flygon could handle Lucario without issue, but he goaded Penn into bringing out his Glaceon first, and now he's paying for it.
He remains steady. "Dragon Tail!"
Haxorus pivots, swinging its tail like a hammer. Lucario springs away just as the massive appendage smashes into the ground. A sphere of energy forms in Lucario's paws. Aura Sphere. He hurls the glowing ball at the Axe Jaw Pokémon with deadly precision. The projectile hurtles across the battlefield, illuminating the arena like a shooting star. It slams into Haxorus with a resounding, thunderous crack. The Axe Jaw Pokémon stumbles, its claws skidding against the stone floor as it lets out a final, rasping roar. It collapses to its knees before falling onto its side, unconscious. Lucario stands firm, breathing heavily but radiating triumph.
Drayden nods, his voice calm yet firm: "Well done, challenger. Victory is yours."
Penn's knees nearly give out. A flood of emotions—happiness, disbelief, and an overwhelming sense of fulfillment—surges through him. He stays rooted, staring at Lucario, who meets his gaze with a delighted smile. "We… We actually did it," Penn breathes, a grin breaking across his face.
Later…
Penn's fingers tremble as he dials Professor Juniper's number. The Legend Badge gleams in his free hand, catching the late afternoon sun streaming through Opelucid's glass towers.
Her face appears on the screen, bright-eyed and smiling. "Penn! I was hoping you'd call today. How did it go?"
He grins as he holds up the Badge. "See for yourself."
"Oh, that's wonderful! I knew you could do it!" Her eyes sparkle pridefully. "You know, as it happens, I'm actually in Opelucid right now for a conference."
Penn straightens up. "R-really? Then we should celebrate together."
"I'd love that! There's this lovely place called The Dragon's Pearl. I hear tell that it has the best noodles in the city."
"Sounds perfect. Meet you there in thirty?"
The restaurant proves easy to find—its traditional curved roof stands out among the modern buildings. Inside, paper lanterns cast a warm glow over dark wood tables. Penn arrives first and sits somewhere she can spot him quickly.
Professor Juniper sweeps in moments later, pulling him into a tight hug.
"Whoa! H-hi, Professor," he musters as the air is squeezed out of him.
"Look at you! Eight badges already. Seems like just yesterday you were stumbling into my lab, barely able to throw a Poké Ball straight."
Penn scoffs as they settle into the booth. "Hey, I wasn't that bad."
"Oh really? Should I remind you about the time you tried to catch that Patrat and hit yourself in the knee instead?"
"The ball was stuck to my hand—my palm was really sweaty. …Okay, maybe I was that bad." He grins, picking up the menu. "But I had a good teacher."
"Remember when you first met Oshawott? He was so determined to impress you with his Water Gun, he ended up soaking my entire lab."
Penn chuckles. "Yep. I'm trying to teach him Hydro Pump, but it's just not clicking yet. But he could never admit that to the others, though; he acts like he's the coolest Pokémon around."
"They all have such distinct personalities." Juniper's expression softens. "You've done an amazing job bringing out the best in each of them."
"I just…try to understand them, y'know? Like you taught me."
"You've grown so much, Penn. Not just as a Trainer, but as a person."
"Oh, come on…"
"I'm serious. When you first started, you were so unsure of yourself. Now look at you—eight badges, a full team that adores you, and confidence that comes from real experience."
Penn ducks his head, face warming. "I wouldn't be here without your help, Professor. When I quit the restaurant, I had no idea what I was doing. You believed in me before I believed in myself."
"The potential was always there. You did all the hard work; I just pointed you in the right direction." She raises her glass. "To your journey—past, present, and future."
Their glasses clink, and Penn feels a tender warmth inside him. Here, sharing this moment with his mentor, he knows he's exactly where he's meant to be.