Chapter 19: The Draknov Family (Part One)

Word Total: 2339

A few days have passed since Pupitar's evolution and this evening, Tyson and his Pokemon are continuing their training. To test Pupitar's strength and help it adjust to its new form, Tyson has been given two suggestions by Bertha. The first is daily exercise to become familiar with its new limbs. However, evolutions like Pupitar's, which result in the loss of limbs, are unique. Unlike other Pokémon such as Metapod, Kakuna, and Silcoon, which cannot move properly until their next evolutionary stage, Pupitar can move by expelling air through various vents on its body. 

This method of movement, while efficient, can initially be disorienting due to Pupitar's speed, which is significantly faster than its pre-evolved form. The second method which was recommended by Bertha was to engage in live battle to help it adjust to its new capabilities. To test this approach Tyson has directed Gligar to spar with Pupitar as a form of training. "Alright, Pupitar, I won't be commanding you in this battle, so attack in whatever way feels natural to you. And you, Gligar ensure you follow my commands," Tyson said, his gaze shifting between Pupitar and Gligar. The two nodded fixing their gazes on each other as Tyson spoke "Begin!". 

With a resounding boom, Pupitar expelled a powerful gust from its rear vents, propelling itself forward and covering more than half the distance to Gligar in an instant. Tyson, taken aback by the speed, thought, 'I knew it would be fast, but not this fast,' as he gave his first order to Gligar, "Intercept with Poison Tail!" Obeying Tyson's command, Gligar's tail started to shimmer with a vivid purple hue as it arced through the air towards the rapidly approaching Pupitar. As Gligar's tail collided with Pupitar, a resounding clang of steel echoed. Tyson, observing Pupitar, noticed a gleam on its armor. 'It's employing Iron Defense while advancing on Gligar. This tactic simulates the properties of the move Iron Head, enhancing its defense while providing a strong offense,' he realized. Gligar, reeling from the force, was sent tumbling back but swiftly regained composure and fixed its gaze back on Pupitar.

Observing Pupitar's agile moves, Tyson's smiled. 'It's this inventiveness that makes us a great team,' he reflected, then commanded, "Ascend, Gligar!" Obeying, Gligar concentrated energy into its wings and, with a vigorous push, soared upwards. Tyson had learned this flying technique during his training with Gliscor and Bertha. By amassing energy for the move Wing Attack and directing the force downwards, Gligar could generate a miniature gust of wind to propel itself upward. Now Gliding over twenty feet off the ground Gligar began positioning itself to intercept Pupitar's next move. 

As Gligar hovered in the air, Pupitar unleashed another compressed air blast, propelling it upward toward the soaring Gligar. 'It's maneuverability in the air is limited...what's your strategy, Pupitar?' Tyson wondered. As though in response to his question, Pupitar released another powerful gust of air, boosting its speed. 'It's using its vents to fly?!' Tyson marveled, watching intently. Despite considering this possibility during their preparations for Larvitar's evolution, he hadn't anticipated Pupitar would try it so quickly.

"Intercept with Knock Off!" Tyson ordered, and Gligar started to charge at the oncoming Pupitar, its right claw darkening and a purple aura enveloping it. With a bang the two collided and this time Gligar's Knock Off came out on top, as it pushed Pupitar down. 'That's strange...Pupitar has far more power than Gligar. Even in the air with the force it flew at Gligar the two would at worst be even with Gligar's advantage in its ability to fly,' Tyson thought. As Pupitar descended, it suddenly unleashed a powerful gust of air, far surpassing the earlier ones, propelling itself above Gligar. This move caught Tyson and Gligar off guard as Pupitar became shrouded in dark energy. "Oh shi—" Tyson thought, however before he could issue a command Pupitar released one final air blast, causing it to collide with the astonished Gligar and sending them both crashing to the ground with a resounding boom. The impact created a small dust cloud blocking Tyson's view. 

As the dust dissipated, Pupitar could be seen on top of Gligar, pinning her down with its weight. Tyson, observing this, cracked a wry smile and said, "Okay, that's enough, you win buddy." At his words, Pupitar rolled off Gligar, who, despite the heavy damage, was still ready to fight. Gligar shot Pupitar an irritated look as she approached Tyson. "I know you're upset about losing, but this wasn't a contest to see who was stronger; it was a test of Pupitar's agility in his new form," Tyson clarified, met with another annoyed snort from Gligar. Sighing, Tyson added, "I'll make your favorite snack, so cheer up, okay?" This promise made Gligar's mood brighten, and a smile appeared on her face.

Shaking his head, Tyson smiled, thinking, 'All it takes is food, and she's content, this glutton.' Just then, a voice called out, "It seems we didn't need to worry about Pupitar struggling with its evolution." Turning, Tyson saw Shane coming with a tray of cookies. Gligar, quick as lightning, dashed towards Shane, eyes fixed on the food. Noticing this, Shane flung a cookie towards her, which she deftly caught in her mouth. As Gligar settled on the ground Tyson spoke "We still have a lot of work to do," Tyson said as he observed Pupitar, who was practicing hovering using his vents. Tyson continued, "During the spar, I noticed a delay when Pupitar activated his vents. He had to select the right vent, direct the air, and then release. Pupitar's lower body has many vents that can be used for floating or moving. Although Pupitar seemed to have full control when Gligar struck him in the air, the hesitation and his choice of combat style suggest he's still not accustomed to this new way of moving. We must practice until Pupitar can move as effortlessly as it did with legs".

Shane smiled at his grandson's analysis. 'He noticed the delay in Pupitar's movement in the air, good,' he thought. "Moreover, since Pupitar hasn't mastered its movement, it couldn't battle effectively. Although using Iron Defense as an improvised Iron Head was clever, ultimately, it was no different from a reinforced charge. Had Gligar managed to dodge, Pupitar would have ended up in a vulnerable position. With the delay in its movement, all Gligar needed to do was turn around and strike at Pupitar's exposed back," Tyson elaborated. Thinking back on the battle he was a bit embarrassed that he hadn't thought of this action sooner. Shane nodded and said, "Good, it seems you already have a training plan in mind, right?" Tyson responded, "Yep, it's time to gain some battle experience. Trainers don't often pass through Celestic on their way to Eterna City but a few normal locals engage in battles daily. Starting tomorrow after school, we'll challenge others to battles at the local battlefield near the Pokémon Center. Using these battles, we'll hasten Pupitar's adaption to his new body".

"Just make sure you're not late coming home, remember you have additional lessons on maintaining your Pokémon's health and the sandstorm training with Bertha," Shane said. Tyson nodded, then approached Pupitar, who had finally mastered how to slowly move forward while hovering, and asked, "Still figuring it out, bud?" Pupitar replied with a "Tar, Tar" [Yes, it's quite challenging without legs]. "Don't worry, after a few battles, you'll adapt quickly. For now, let's get some rest. We'll stop by the battlefield after school tomorrow," Tyson said. Although Tyson couldn't understand Pupitar's words, he had become familiar enough with him over the past year to guess what he meant by his tone. With a nod from Pupitar, the two, along with Shane and Gligar, went back inside to rest for the evening.

The following day, after classes ended, Tyson, Sophia, and Eric all gathered at the school exit. "Finally, our punishment is over," Sophia said, only for Eric to interject, "Punishment? That ended in October," which left Sophia staring in confusion. Eric continued, "As class president, cleaning the classroom at the end of the day earns me extra credit." Upon hearing this, Sophia exclaimed, "So Tyson and I helped you get extra credit for nothing?" while glaring at Eric. Tyson chimed in, "Well, not exactly. Out of the three of us, Eric has the lowest test scores," teasing Eric, which made him flinch and Sophia burst into laughter. As they continued their conversation, the trio started their walk to the Pokémon Center. Tyson had shared his plans to visit the local battlefield after school during lunch. Among them, Eric was the most thrilled, as he was an avid fan of watching Pokémon battles online and confessed to being a regular spectator at the local battles near the Pokémon Center.

Upon reaching the Pokemon Center, Tyson and his companions observed a small crowd around the battlefield. A battle was in progress between two trainers: a young boy, who appeared to be about fourteen years old, and a young man who appeared to be a traveler. As Eric watched the battle, he muttered, "Ah, boy, it's Sayer again..." This caught Tyson's attention as Eric seemed excited. Looking to the side he also noticed that Sophia had a troubled look on her face. "Sayer? Who's that?" Tyson asked. Eric answered by simply pointing at the young boy. As Tyson turned his attention to the boy, he observed that he was clad in a school uniform consisting of a blue blazer and matching trousers. The blazer was adorned with a golden emblem in the form of a Dragonite. Eric continued his explanation "He belongs to the Draknov Family, a wealthy clan residing on the west side of town. They're renowned for their close kinship with the Blackthorn Family of Johto, a connection made apparent by the Dragonite emblem adorning their attire. Sayer serves as a valet to one of the young scions of the Draknov household, Thomas Draknov."

Upon hearing that name, a frown formed on Sophia's face, and even Trapinch appeared somewhat agitated. "I take it you're not fond of Thomas, Sophia?" Tyson inquired, turning to look at Sophia, who flinched at his abrupt question. "I... it's a long story. Thomas Draknov was Trapinch's previous owner," Sophia explained. A look of surprise could be seen on Tyson's face as he looked down towards the small ant. Sophia continued her explanation, "I'm not fully aware of the details, but it seems that three years ago, Thomas received Trapinch as a gift from his older brother Draven, the eldest of the Draknov family. An incident occurred that led Trapinch to leave Thomas and flee into the forest."

Hearing this Tyson thought 'So that's how Trapinch ended up in the forest. I had assumed it was abandoned, but to think it was the one who abandoned its trainer. It's not uncommon for Pokemon to abandon their trainers, as most do so when treated poorly or when their neglected. Still, that doesn't explain how it ended up at the academy'. "So that's the case," Eric remarked, having always been curious about Trapinch's appearance in Celestic Town. As the trio was about to resume their discussion, a resounding explosion erupted from the battlefield. Tyson, shifting his focus back to the field, observed that the battle had ended, with Sayer's adversary withdrawing his Pokémon. Beside Sayer stood a large, blue, dragon-like Pokémon with thistle-leaf-shaped wings. Its distinct red head was eye catching on the battlefield. 'A Druddigon, they are notorious for their ferocious nature and the challenge they present in training. It seems Eric's mention of the family's expertise in Dragon Types wasn't just talk,' he thought.

Surveying the crowd, Seyar declared, "That's eight, who'll be the ninth today? Come on, I know you can do better," provoking the crowd as many hurled insults back at him. "He's at it again," Eric said with a sigh, then added, "Every few weeks, Seyar visits the battlefield, challenging locals and travelers alike for a hefty sum. Many decline, because of his reputation, and when he wins, he boasts and mocks the defeated." Overhearing this, Tyson was taken aback, thinking to himself, 'He's like a second-rate villain from a manga.' "Occasionally, a visiting trainer thoroughly defeats him, and after that, he disappears for a few weeks before coming back with a new Pokemon," Eric continued. "A new Pokemon?" Tyson inquired. "Yes, that Druddigon isn't his; it likely belongs to Thomas. Among the two, Thomas is known for the diverse Pokemon his brother has given him over the years. To date, Sayer has used this Druddigon, a Noivern, and a Charmeleon," Eric explained.

"Two powerful Dragon Type Pokémon and a regional starter? That's quite rare, especially the Charmeleon," Tyson remarked, his attention shifting back to the boastful Sayer. "He'll be as formidable an opponent as any," Tyson declared, advancing forward to the surprise of Eric and Sophia. "Hey! You're not saying you're going to challenge him, are you?!" Eric exclaimed. Without breaking stride, Tyson responded, "We came here to train against strong opponents who could push Pupitar to adapt to its vents swiftly. What better adversary than a Dragon Type trainer?" Reaching the challenger's box, Tyson announced, "I'll take you on," drawing many eyes towards him. Observing the newcomer, Sayer retorted, "And who might you be, kid? I'm here to challenge trainers, not novice town people." Tyson, grinning, produced Pupitar's Poké Ball and hurled it forward. With a burst of light, Pupitar materialized before the onlookers as Tyson declared, "Don't worry, we're no novices when it comes to a Pokémon battle."

Pokémon Team:

Team Rank: 2

Pupitar

Gender: Male

Type: Rock/Ground

Abilities: Shed Skin

Held Item: None

Moves: Rock Throw, Bite, Payback, Leer, Scary Face, Dragon Dance [Inherited], Ancient Power [Inherited], Stomping Tantrum, Sandstorm, Iron Defense, Outrage

Gligar

Gender: Female

Type: Ground/Flying

Abilities: Hyper Cutter, Sand Veil, Immunity [Undeveloped]

Held Items: None

Moves: Thief, Knock Off, Poison Tail, Quick Attack, Wing Attack [Inherited]

Moves Learnt: Toxic