Chapter no.20 The Blueprint of Battles

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Night had descended upon Pewter City, cloaking the world in a serene hush, broken only by the faint hum of streetlights and the occasional Pokémon call in the distance. Inside the Pokémon Center, the communication room glowed dimly, a soft blue light illuminating Austin's face as he waited for the call to connect. He tapped his fingers idly on the desk, sipping the remnants of his earlier coffee, now lukewarm and bitter.

The screen flickered to life, revealing a haggard-looking Professor Oak, who blinked blearily at the camera. His silver hair was disheveled, and his white lab coat looked slightly wrinkled, as if he'd been wearing it for far too long without a break.

"Hello?" Oak asked, rubbing his eyes and squinting at the screen. "Who is it?"

"Professor, you look like you haven't slept in days. Do I need to remind you to take a break?"

"Oh, it's nothing, my boy. Just reviewing a dissertation for one of my students—Professor Elm's doctoral approval, actually. Quite the ambitious thesis. I'm almost done, though."

"Let me guess," Austin said, smirking, "It's something about Pokémon eggs?"

"How did you know?" Oak asked, genuinely surprised.

"Lucky guess," Austin replied with a laugh, shaking his head.

"Don't go burning through all your luck at once, my boy," Oak chuckled faintly. "But I doubt you called just to check in on me at this late hour. What's on your mind? Need something?"

"Yeah," Austin said. "I was wondering if you could help me figure out how to teach my Pokémon Iron Tail and Steel Wing."

Oak's eyebrows lifted slightly, the faintest spark of interest lighting up his weary expression. "Ambitious, I see. You're not aiming for beginner techniques, are you? I like that."

"I figured they'd give me an edge. But... I'm not sure how to go about it."

Oak stroked his chin thoughtfully, leaning back in his chair. "Ah, a simple simulation exercise should do the trick."

"Simulation exercise? What's that supposed to mean?"

Oak leaned forward again, his tone turning slightly more animated, as if the topic energized him. "Do you know what instinctive moves are?"

"Yeah, I've read about them... sort of."

"Good. Then you'll know they're moves that Pokémon unlock in high-stress situations, usually as a natural response to a challenge. Think of it like a human's fight-or-flight reflex," Oak explained. His hands moved animatedly as he spoke, despite his earlier fatigue. "For Pokémon, that response often manifests as an ideal move for the scenario."

Austin's mind flashed to the moment Spearow unlocked Assurance in his battle against Jimmy. The pieces clicked into place, and his eyes widened slightly in realization. "So... you're saying if I create a scenario where Iron Tail or Steel Wing is the ideal response, my Pokémon will unlock them?"

"Precisely!" Oak said, snapping his fingers and pointing at Austin through the screen. "Smart lad. You catch on quickly."

"So... how do I set up these scenarios?"

"Ah, I'll send you some notes," Oak replied, standing up and stepping out of view for a moment. Austin heard the faint shuffling of papers and the clatter of objects being moved. A minute later, Oak returned, tapping something on his keyboard. "I'll transfer them directly to the teleporter system in the communication room. You should see it activating now."

Austin glanced to his left as the machine beside the computer began to hum softly. A faint glow signaled its activity, and moments later, two neatly printed pages appeared in the tray. Austin picked them up and scanned the title: Unlocking Moves: Johto Edition.

"These pages detail specific ways to unlock Steel Wing and Iron Tail," Oak explained, gesturing at the pages through the screen.

Austin frowned slightly. "Why only a few pages? Is this some kind of teaser?"

Oak chuckled. "It's all you'll need for now. These pages are sold separately in specialized PokéMarts, but they're not cheap, mind you. Consider this my gift to you."

"Figures," Austin muttered, flipping through the pages. "Nothing in this world comes easy, does it?"

Oak chuckled, the corners of his tired eyes crinkling. "Welcome to the life of a trainer, my boy. Everything worth having comes with a price—be it effort, time, or money."

Austin set the pages aside and leaned forward. "Thanks, Professor. This is really going to help."

"Nonsense. It's my job to support young trainers like you. Speaking of which, how's life as a trainer treating you so far?"

Austin hesitated, swirling the remnants of his coffee in his cup. "It's... harder than I expected. But honestly? It's kind of fun. I think I'm starting to enjoy it."

"That's the spirit," Oak said, his smile genuine. "Any plans for the immediate future?"

"I'm training for Brock. Waiting on my League ID to arrive too," Austin replied.

"Good, good. And what about Pokémon? Caught anything new?" Oak asked, leaning forward slightly, his curiosity piqued. "You know, Gary's already caught twenty so far."

Austin rolled his eyes. "Let me guess—he dumped most of them into the ranch without even trying to bond with them."

Oak's smile turned slightly sheepish. "Well... you're not entirely wrong."

"I don't get it," Austin said, shaking his head. "How do you take a Pokémon from its home and not even try to form a connection? It feels... wrong."

Oak studied the boy for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "You've changed," he said finally, his voice soft.

"H-How so?"

"Do you remember the bet you made with Gary? About catching the most Pokémon?"

Austin nodded slowly.

"Back then, it was all about numbers for you two. A competition. But now..." Oak's gaze softened. "It seems like you're starting to understand the responsibility that comes with being a trainer. Pokémon aren't just tools for battles. They're companions. Partners. And you're treating them that way."

"I guess... having a team depending on me kind of forced me to grow up a bit."

Oak chuckled warmly. "It's a good change. One I think your mother would be proud of."

Austin's smile faltered slightly, and his gaze shifted to the side. "Yeah... I should probably call her soon."

"You should," Oak said, his tone encouraging. "She'd love to hear about your adventures. You might not realize it, but just hearing your voice would mean the world to her."

"I'll try," Austin said, his voice quiet but sincere.

Oak nodded, his expression satisfied. "Well, I still have a pile of papers waiting for me, so I'll let you go. But remember this—you're doing great, my boy. Keep it up."

The screen went dark, leaving Austin alone in the quiet room.

"Call my mom, huh?"

The suggestion was harmless on the surface, but each word felt like a subtle tug, pulling at a string of guilt buried deep in Austin's chest. Talking to Delia wasn't just difficult—it was strange. It felt like he was slipping into someone else's role, playing the part of a son he wasn't. Every interaction with her left him feeling both exposed and disconnected, a peculiar discomfort that gnawed at the edges of his thoughts.

He leaned forward, propping his elbows on the desk and resting his face in his hands. His fingers dug into his temples as he let out a slow, heavy sigh.

I don't want to feel this way.

The idea of cutting off communication entirely crossed his mind—a clean break, no more awkward calls, no more pretending. But the thought left a sour taste in his mouth. Excommunication wasn't the answer. It felt too cold, too final, and far too selfish for someone like Delia, who had no idea what was truly going on.

She deserves better.

He sat up straighter, brushing his hands over his face as though trying to wipe away the uncertainty clinging to him.

I'll try to be better. I'll try to be a better son than Ash ever was. At the very least, I owe her that.

The words felt like a quiet promise, one that wasn't entirely selfless. Deep down, Austin knew the truth—he was lonely. In this strange world, where he was expected to lead his Pokémon and forge ahead, he lacked a human connection that grounded him. And maybe, just maybe, he hoped that Delia could fill that role. Not just for her sake, but for his own.

For the first time since arriving in this world, Austin let himself imagine what it might be like to have someone to lean on. Someone who cared, unconditionally. And for the first time, he felt a flicker of hope that maybe, with time, he could build that.

He wasn't ready to call Delia yet—not tonight. But soon. Soon enough, he would try.

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Austin sipped his coffee sluggishly as he sat in the park, the sky still cloaked in pre-dawn darkness.

Around him, Pikachu, Rattata, and Vee were half-asleep, barely aware of the morning chill. Only Spearow was fully awake, perched alertly on a nearby branch.

They were up at the ungodly hour of 5 AM for a specific reason: to unlock the moves Iron Tail and Steel Wing for his Pokémon. The method, however, was daunting.

First, the Pokémon had to exhaust all their moves. Then, they had to brace their muscles while the trainer hit their tail or wing with a steel rod several times. After that, they would engage in battle with a weight attached to the tail, which supposedly would help unlock the desired move.

"Spearow, wake them up, please, so that I don't get an abuse case because of this," Austin mumbled, his eyelids drooping.

Obliging, Spearow let out a call loud as a rooster's crow, startling the trio awake. "Good," Austin said, his head bobbing as he fought the urge to sleep.

"Spearow!" the bird chirped again, a bit too enthusiastically.

"I'm awake, I'm awake," Austin grumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"Spearow!"

"Okay, now you're doing this on purpose, mister," Austin said with a pointed look, though Spearow seemed quite proud of its antics.

Turning to the now slightly annoyed trio, Austin asked, "Who wants to go first?"

Rattata jumped forward eagerly as Austin pulled out his Pokédex to check her moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Focus Energy, Quick Attack, and Bite. "Do them one by one until you can't," he instructed.

Rattata nodded and began her routine, quickly exhausting her moveset.

This was because Pokémon moves relied on a special type of energy within their bodies called Pokemon Power but abbreviated as PP.

Austin had facepalmed when he had read that.

Picking up the metal rod, Austin looked at his exhausted little Rattata.

He couldn't bring himself to strike her tail. "Pikachu, you be the abusive drunk."

"Pika?"

Pikachu was clearly confused by the odd request but complied, slamming the rod against Rattata's purple tail.

Austin winced as her tail flickered with a glow.

"Okay, next step," Austin said quickly, his resolve firming. He grabbed a stone and wrapped it around Rattata's tail, his stomach churning slightly. "If it hurts..."

"Rattata," the purple Pokémon called out, pointing a claw at Pikachu and then motioning through her neck.

Pikachu nervously giggled.

"Well, you two have fun."

Austin sat on the park bench; his posture relaxed yet his mind racing with thoughts for the next few days.

The cool morning air brushed against his face, carrying the fresh scent of dew-laden grass, providing a calm backdrop to his intense thoughts. He leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees, gazing absently at the battle between the two.

We have four days to prepare.

Back on Earth, Austin was a competitive Pokémon battler, having clinched victories in local tournaments. His experience had taught him the importance of adopting a specific battle style. Unlike Ash Ketchum's aggressive and unpredictable approach, Austin favored a more balanced style.

Now, free from the confines of the games, Austin realized the vast possibilities that lay ahead. He could weave more complex strategies into his battle plans, an aspect he had always wished was more prevalent in the anime—combo moves.

He vividly remembered Ash's battle against Maylene in Sinnoh, where Buizel had impressively combined Water Pulse and Aqua Jet— a strategy that had left a significant impression on him. The potential of using such combinations excited him, stirring ideas of inventive battle strategies in his mind.

Lost in thought, Austin was suddenly jolted back to the present as Pikachu zipped over his head, a blur of yellow energy.

"Pika!"

Turning his attention to the field, Austin's eyes widened in delight. Rattata stood proudly, her tail glistening with a metallic sheen—she had successfully unlocked Iron Tail.

Nice, now let's create our first combo move.