CH5: Training Begins

The morning light filtered through the small, dusty window of Alex's room in the inn, casting a soft glow over the modest space. Alex sat up in bed, stretching his arms and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His mind was still racing from the events of the day before—the battle with the wild Pokémon, the arrival in the new world, and the sense of adventure that now thrummed in his veins.

Beside the bed, Sparkyx was curled up on the floor, its small body occasionally twitching as electric sparks danced along its yellow scales. Ironux stood silently near the door, its ever-watchful red eyes gleaming faintly in the morning light. The metallic Pokémon had remained in its vigilant stance throughout the night, as if guarding both Alex and Sparkyx while they slept.

Alex couldn't help but smile at the sight of his two partners. They had already proven themselves in their first battle, but he knew there was still so much room for growth. They were strong, yes, but they lacked the control and precision that would be crucial in future battles. If he was going to become the kind of trainer he aspired to be, they needed to improve.

And that meant training.

Alex stood up and stretched again, feeling the stiffness in his muscles from the long trek the day before. As he gathered his things and prepared to head out, his mind was already forming a plan for the day. He wanted to find a quiet spot outside the village where they could train without interruption. Sparkyx's electric abilities were powerful, but the little Pokémon needed to refine its control. Ironux's strength was undeniable, but Alex knew that with some practice, it could become an even more formidable force in battle.

"Time to get to work," Alex said, his voice quiet but filled with determination. Sparkyx's ears twitched, and the little Pokémon stirred from its sleep, blinking its bright, curious eyes up at Alex.

"Come on, Sparkyx. We've got some training to do," Alex said, giving the Pokémon a gentle pat on the head. Sparkyx chirped happily, its tail flicking with excitement as it bounded to its feet. Ironux, ever silent and composed, gave a slow nod as it moved to follow Alex out the door.

As they made their way through the village, Alex couldn't help but notice the curious glances from the villagers. Most of them had likely never seen Pokémon like Sparkyx or Ironux before, and their presence was clearly drawing some attention. But Alex didn't mind. He had more important things to focus on.

After asking a few locals for directions, Alex found a small clearing just beyond the village—a quiet, grassy area surrounded by tall trees and a shallow creek running through the middle. It was the perfect spot for some focused training. The air was fresh, and the morning sunlight filtered through the trees, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

"All right," Alex said, turning to face his two partners. "This is the perfect place for us to work on your moves. We've got plenty of space, and we won't be disturbed."

Sparkyx chirped eagerly, bouncing on its feet, while Ironux remained stoic, its metallic fists clenching as if preparing for battle.

"We've got a lot to work on," Alex continued, pacing in front of them as he thought through his plan. "Sparkyx, you've got raw power, but we need to focus on control. That Spark attack you used yesterday was good, but I think you can make it even stronger. And Ironux, your Iron Punch is solid, but we need to work on your speed. You're strong, but I want you to be able to move faster when we're in the middle of a battle."

Sparkyx's tail sparked with excitement at the mention of its electric abilities, while Ironux gave a slow, deliberate nod. Alex felt a surge of pride. These two were eager to learn, and he was just as eager to see them grow stronger.

"Let's start with you, Sparkyx," Alex said, crouching down to meet the little electric Pokémon's eyes. "We're going to work on your Spark attack. I want you to focus on building up as much electricity as you can and releasing it in a single, controlled burst. Think of it like gathering all your energy in one place, and then letting it explode outward."

Sparkyx chirped in understanding, its tail already sparking with small bursts of electricity.

"Let's see what you've got," Alex said, stepping back to give Sparkyx some space.

Sparkyx lowered its body, its bright blue markings glowing faintly as it concentrated. The air around it began to hum with energy, and small sparks danced along its tail and legs. Alex watched carefully, studying the way the energy gathered around Sparkyx's body. It was clear that the little Pokémon had a lot of raw power, but it needed to focus that power if it was going to improve.

"Good, Sparkyx," Alex encouraged. "Now focus. Gather all that energy in one place—right at the tip of your tail. When you feel it building up, let it go."

Sparkyx's eyes narrowed in concentration, and the sparks around its body grew more intense. The energy crackled loudly, and for a moment, it seemed like Sparkyx was about to release it in a powerful burst. But then, just as the electricity reached its peak, Sparkyx lost focus. The energy exploded outward in an uncontrolled flash, sending a wave of sparks in every direction.

Alex shielded his eyes as the bright light filled the clearing. When the sparks finally faded, he looked down to see Sparkyx panting slightly, its body still buzzing with leftover energy.

"That's okay, Sparkyx," Alex said, kneeling down beside the little Pokémon. "You've got the power—you just need to work on controlling it. Let's try again. This time, I want you to really focus on keeping all that energy in one spot. Don't let it explode too early."

Sparkyx nodded, determination shining in its eyes. It crouched down again, its tail sparking as it prepared for another attempt.

Alex smiled to himself as he stood up. He knew it would take time, but Sparkyx had the potential to be something truly incredible. With enough practice, it would master its electric abilities and become a force to be reckoned with.

As Sparkyx continued its training, Alex turned his attention to Ironux.

"All right, Ironux, it's your turn," Alex said, walking over to the metallic Pokémon. "We're going to work on your speed and reaction time. You've got the strength, but I need you to be faster in battle. We can't let opponents outmaneuver us."

Ironux gave a slow, determined nod, its metallic fists clenching in anticipation.

"Let's start with some basic drills," Alex said, thinking back to the physical training he used to do himself. "I'm going to throw a few punches your way, and I want you to dodge them. Focus on quick movements—don't overthink it, just react."

Ironux took a stance, its body tensing in preparation.

Alex raised his fists, though he knew there was no way he could actually hurt Ironux with a punch. This was about reaction time, about teaching the Steel-type Pokémon to move more quickly when an opponent attacked.

He threw a slow punch at Ironux's side, watching as the Pokémon stepped to the side, easily dodging the attack. Ironux's movements were deliberate, almost mechanical, but there was a grace to the way it moved.

"Good," Alex said. "Now let's speed it up a bit."

He threw another punch, this time faster, aiming for Ironux's shoulder. Once again, Ironux dodged with ease, shifting its body to the side just in time to avoid the hit.

"Faster," Alex said, picking up the pace as he threw a series of rapid punches at different angles.

Ironux dodged each one with surprising agility, its red eyes glowing with concentration. Despite its bulky, metallic body, it moved with precision, its feet shifting and pivoting with each punch Alex threw.

Alex smiled as he watched Ironux's progress. The Pokémon was already showing improvement, its movements becoming quicker and more fluid with each passing moment. But he knew this was only the beginning.

"Let's add some attacks now," Alex said, stepping back to give Ironux more space. "I want you to dodge my punches, but this time, I want you to follow up with an Iron Punch. Aim for the tree over there."

Ironux glanced at the large tree a few feet away, then nodded in understanding.

Alex threw another punch, and Ironux dodged to the side, its metallic fist glowing as it prepared its attack. In one swift motion, it turned and delivered a powerful Iron Punch to the tree, the impact sending a loud crack through the air. The tree shook under the force of the blow, and a deep dent was left in its bark.

"Perfect," Alex said, grinning. "That's exactly what I want to see."

Ironux straightened up, its red eyes glowing with pride. Sparkyx, having finished another attempt at controlling its Spark attack, bounded over to Alex's side, chirping excitedly as if asking for more training.

"All right, Sparkyx, let's try something different now," Alex said, turning his attention back to the little electric Pokémon. "We've been working on your Spark, but I want to see how you handle a Quick Attack. Speed is your strength, so let's see if you can use that to your advantage."

Sparkyx's eyes lit up at the mention of speed. It was clear that the little Pokémon was thrilled at the idea of moving fast. Its body was built for agility, and Alex could see that Sparkyx was eager to test its limits.

"Okay, here's what we're going to do," Alex explained, pointing to a series of trees scattered throughout the clearing. "I want you to use Quick Attack to move between those trees as fast as you can. Don't just run in a straight line—zigzag, make sharp turns, and push yourself to get faster each time. The goal here is to increase your speed and your ability to change direction quickly."

Sparkyx let out an excited chirp, its tail sparking as it crouched down, ready to spring into action. Alex stepped back, giving the little electric Pokémon room to move.

"Ready? Go!"

In an instant, Sparkyx shot forward, a blur of yellow and blue as it raced across the clearing. Its body moved with incredible speed, darting between the trees with impressive agility. It zigzagged through the forest, its small frame allowing it to weave in and out of tight spaces with ease.

Alex watched closely, impressed by how naturally Sparkyx seemed to take to the task. It was fast—faster than Alex had expected—but he could tell there was still room for improvement. Sparkyx's turns were sharp, but they lacked the fluidity that would make the difference in a high-pressure battle.

"Good, Sparkyx!" Alex called out as the little Pokémon zipped past him, its body still a blur of motion. "Now focus on your turns—try to make them smoother. Don't lose momentum when you change direction."

Sparkyx's ears twitched in response, and it immediately adjusted its movements. The next time it made a turn, Alex noticed a slight improvement. The turn was cleaner, faster, and Sparkyx was able to maintain more of its speed as it pivoted around the tree.

"That's it! Keep going!" Alex encouraged, feeling a surge of pride as he watched his partner improve with each pass.

Sparkyx continued the drill, darting between the trees with increasing speed and precision. Each time it completed a circuit, it seemed to grow more confident, more in control of its movements. The sparks of electricity that danced along its tail flickered brighter with each burst of speed, a sign that Sparkyx was pushing itself to its limits.

Alex couldn't help but smile. This was exactly what he had hoped for—his Pokémon were growing stronger, faster, and more capable with each passing moment. The thrill of training, of seeing real progress, filled him with a sense of purpose he hadn't felt in years.

But he knew there was still work to be done.

"All right, Sparkyx, take a break," Alex called out after a few more circuits. Sparkyx skidded to a stop, panting slightly but still buzzing with excitement. It bounded over to Alex, its eyes wide with enthusiasm as if asking for more.

"You did great," Alex said, kneeling down to give Sparkyx a pat on the head. "But remember, it's important to pace yourself. We'll do more speed drills later."

Sparkyx chirped happily, clearly satisfied with its progress, before flopping down in the grass to rest. Alex chuckled, watching as the little Pokémon rolled onto its back, its tail sparking faintly as it basked in the sunlight.

Turning back to Ironux, Alex motioned for the steel-type Pokémon to approach. "Now, let's focus on you, Ironux. We've worked on your speed and dodging, but I want to see more power in your attacks. That Iron Punch was good, but I think you've got more strength in you."

Ironux's red eyes gleamed, and it stepped forward with a sense of quiet determination. It raised its gauntlet-like fists, ready for whatever challenge Alex had in store.

"Here's the plan," Alex said, scanning the area for an appropriate target. His eyes landed on a large boulder a few feet away, its surface worn smooth by time and weather. It was a solid, immovable object—the perfect test for Ironux's strength.

"I want you to hit that boulder with everything you've got," Alex instructed, pointing to the rock. "Focus all your power into your Iron Punch and see if you can crack it. Don't hold back."

Ironux's gaze shifted to the boulder, its body tensing in preparation. It took a step forward, its fists glowing faintly as it summoned the energy needed for the attack. The air around it seemed to hum with anticipation.

Alex stepped back, giving Ironux plenty of space. He could feel the intensity in the air, the buildup of power in his steel-type partner as it readied itself for the strike.

"Go for it, Ironux!" Alex called out.

In one swift motion, Ironux raised its massive fist and brought it crashing down on the boulder. The impact echoed through the clearing like a thunderclap, and the ground shook beneath Alex's feet. A cloud of dust rose into the air, momentarily obscuring the boulder from view.

When the dust cleared, Alex's eyes widened in surprise. A deep crack ran through the center of the boulder, splitting it nearly in half. The force of Ironux's punch had been enough to break through solid rock—a testament to its incredible strength.

Ironux straightened up, its red eyes glowing with satisfaction as it surveyed the damage. Alex let out a low whistle, clearly impressed.

"That was amazing," Alex said, walking over to inspect the cracked boulder. He ran his hand along the jagged edges of the rock, marveling at the power Ironux had unleashed. "You're a lot stronger than I thought."

Ironux gave a small nod, its fists still clenched as it stood at attention, waiting for further instructions.

"We're making real progress here," Alex said, turning to face both of his partners. "But there's still a long way to go. We need to keep pushing ourselves if we're going to get stronger. Sparkyx, you're getting faster and more agile, but I want you to work on maintaining control at high speeds. And Ironux, your power is incredible, but we need to focus on precision. You're strong, but we can make you even stronger with more targeted attacks."

Sparkyx chirped in agreement, its body buzzing with leftover energy, while Ironux gave a slow nod, its red eyes focused and determined.

Alex felt a surge of pride as he looked at his partners. They had already come so far in such a short amount of time, and he knew that with enough training, they would become an unstoppable team. But there was something more than just strength and skill that mattered. It was the bond they were forming, the trust and camaraderie that would carry them through the challenges ahead.

"Let's take a break for now," Alex said, sitting down on a patch of soft grass. "You two earned it."

Sparkyx immediately plopped down beside Alex, rolling onto its back and basking in the sunlight. Ironux remained standing, ever-vigilant, but its posture relaxed slightly as it settled into a more comfortable stance.

As Alex rested, his mind wandered to the future. The battle with the wild Pokémon the day before had been just the beginning. He knew that more challenges awaited them—stronger opponents, tougher battles, and mysteries he had yet to uncover. But for the first time in his life, he wasn't afraid of what lay ahead. He felt ready, prepared to face whatever this new world had in store for him.

The adventure was only beginning.

And with Sparkyx and Ironux by his side, Alex knew he was ready to take on anything.

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