Chapter 41

"Magby is unable to battle. The challenger wins." With that announcement from the referee, the psychic barrier was lifted off.

This was Caleb's first pokemon battle against a trainer, even though it is just a friendly mock battle, It is a battle nonetheless.

He was still shaken from the intensity and excitement he felt earlier on of the fight, and from how easy and leisure Nicolas and his Mime Jr. was as he was up against them, Caleb could easily point out the fact that the rookie trainer had been going easy on them.

But, the battle didn't feel any sort of embarrassment for both Caleb and Magby.

Although, he was still disappointed of himself. The harshness of defeat still filling his hear as he registered the loss.

However, he quickly snapped out of it as he heard Nicolas's voice, the white-haired boy approaching him, flanked by his tiny Mime Jr. and Delibird.

"Oh yeah? Don't you think our battle was a bit of a mismatch?" Caleb responded with teasing hate.

"I knew my Mime Jr. is much more advanced in level, proficiency and with our battling experience. To be honest, for the past few days that we had been accomodating ourselves here in Lumiose, my team hadn't gotten the chance to properly put to show of what we really got. So don't take your loss from me too deeply." The white boy admitted out loud, looking Caleb in the eye. "I was surprised though, by how high leveled your pokemon is as soon as I scanned Magby with the Pokedex. Clearly you had been training it with care since you gotten it, but haven't been battling it as much as you trained the pokemon. Don't even mention the pokemon battling against your classmates, those aren't even considered mock battles, much less gaining experience from it."

Nodding, Caleb tried to hide his astonishment. From his deduction on hearing the white boy's sentence, Nicolas clearly haven't showcased his all yet, even against his fellow rookies.

"Thank you for helping me and Magby on our training here for the first time in the avenue, Nicolas." Caleb was sincerely grateful towards Nicolas, who he had just met today. If he had not met him, then he would have been left with no choice but to turn around and get himself some money before coming back, which would take time. Caleb though of something, "If you don't mind me asking, what was the level my Magby displayed when your Pokedex scanned him?"

"Well..." Said Nicolas, taking out his Pokedex and pressing some buttons on the device. "You can see for yourself since it had already been saved in the database the moment I scanned your Magby."

Recieving the device with his hand, Caleb couldn't help but marvel it. This was a device from the franchise which was famously known in every series, so he was stoked seeing it in person. Then he saw the screen, which had the picture of Magby displayed. He clicked on it, then a voice suddenly came out of the device that startled Caleb a little.

"Magby, the Live Coal Pokémon. Magby has a magma-like substance in its body, and it emits super-fiery breath."

The Pokedex Dexter, the one that was on Caleb's hand, went on.

"This Magby is Male and knows the moves; Leer, Ember, Smoke Screen, Clear Smog, Fire Punch, Scary Face, Flamethrower, Low Kick, Rock Smash and finally, Flame Wheel. It has the unlocked egg move of Thunder Punch. The pokemon has reached the level - Intermediate of Advanced Stage (Lvl.30). It's abilities are, 'Flame Body' and the hidden ability 'Vital Spirit."

"Woah! Magby had learn Thunder Punch?" Caleb gasped as he heard that.

"Convenient little thing isn't it? We should thank the renowned Professor Oak. I got a national Pokedex thanks to my sister's help" Nicolas smiled pridefully.

The Pokedex really was a convenient device.

The Pokedex is a valuable resourceful tool for Pokémon Trainers. It provided travelling trainers information on all pokemons in the world that are in its database, though it differs in how it acquires and presents information across various media and additionally, it also have more functions that further made a trainers journey much more convenient, like contacts and it can also act as an ID. They are, however, only given to a few Trainers at a time for the moment, usually to those who are thought to have possessed qualified exceptional potential and skill.

There are different kinds of pokedexes that contained the same database but not the same widened information within, like the:

Regional Pokedexes, as it contain information on pokemons native to a specific region, whereas the National Pokedex contains information on all known Pokemon in the entirety of all known regions. While the concept of a Pokedex has been around for a long time now, Professor Oak's digital version is a more recent invention.

In order to accomplish Professor Oak's goal of a complete Pokemon database, the Pokedex is designed to find and record data on each Pokémon the Trainer meets. Pokemon are added to the Pokedex simply by encountering them in battle or, sometimes, by seeing a picture of the pokemon. However, detailed entries are not recorded until the player obtains the pokemon, such as through catching, evolving, breeding, gifts, or trades. Which was why, Professor Oak only handed his invention's structure: hardware, it's construction and etc. to a selective few individuals, like the Pokemon Professor of a Region, or towards the Legendary Duo of Kanto, Red and Blue, who was his student and son, respectively.

Let's talk about those two some other time, anyways, because of this, pokedexes are a trainer's must have resource to have. Unfortunately, only those that scored within the top ten of a regional examination can receive this device through their regional professor. Which made it more valuable and coveted.

"How did your sister manage to help you get a National Pokedex? Did you placed within the top 10 of your region's examination or something?" Caleb asked curiously. He now began to wonder what kind of household Nicolas came from. He had so much wonderful things with him that even Caleb was a bit envious on.

Nicolas smiled, then he confessed. "My sister's best friend is the granddaughter of Professor Magnolia and my sister was conveniently close enough to the old woman. She helped me, if not because of her, I wouldn't have been able to get even a National Pokedex much less a Regional one since I only placed 12th on the exam."

"Lucky for you."

"Well, it only happened because of a little bit of begging and convincing on my part... Hahaha." Nicolas sheepishly grinned.

Caleb wasn't expecting for Nicolas to answer so thoroughly, however, he appreciates the honesty and straightforwardness of Nicolas.

The other party also felt the same, he was surprised he could converse with someone younger than him this well.

"Anyways, it was fun meeting you, Caleb." Nicolas stretched his hand for a handshake. Like when they had just first met earlier.

Caleb smiled and returned the gesture. "Likewise, Nicolas. Maybe we can battle tomorrow if you're up for it."

"Well, that would likely not happen." Nicolas shrugged, then explained. "My family are going to travel to Snowbelle City. Our stay here is gonna halt for now since we are going to visit my grand uncle there, then afterwards we would mostly likely then return to Galar."

Caleb was a little sad hearing that. It really was unfortunately, but he showed a smile. "Safe travels then, if Cresselia allows it, maybe we will meet someday. By then, I'll guarantee I'll win against you."

"I'll look forward to it." Nicolas laughed.

They looked at each other in the eye, as sparks of rivalry passion was emanating from the two.

This meeting represent a memory that the two rivals would often laugh and reminisced on. Which later would be known by countless trainers that admired their journey.

...

"Hey, Caleb dear!"

Caleb had just got home from having Magby checked at the Pokemon Center. He had used the intercom to face time his grandfather and vent for a moment before asking for money for the center's services. Which the old man could only comply since he really was at fault.

Caleb was tired and wanted to rest. When he heard a call from his mother.

Caleb looked up from the door as he entered, to see his mother approaching. Next to her, was a little girl with an eye patch on located on her left eye, the girl looked slightly nervous meeting Caleb.

Seeing the girl, Caleb's hear tightened. But he hid his mood as he revealed a delightful smile on his face. "Oh look who came to visit, Nana how have you been? Is Bunnelby with you?"

*Who can guess the identity of the girl?*