This fanfiction is inspired by the following stories:

  The New Normal

  When the Moon Rises

  Borne of Caution

  The Natural

  The Other Trainers of Pallet

  These Silver Eyes

  Chapter 3 : Gold and Amethyst

  The city was undeniably far larger than Pallet Town – though, to be fair, almost every city in Indigo was. Towering buildings stretched along the road, their reflective surfaces catching the sunlight as cars glided over the smooth, tar-paved streets. Yet, despite its size, it didn't quite measure up to the sprawling metropolises of Saffron, Celadon, Goldenrod, Blackthorn, or the newly declared Lavender City. Still, that didn't diminish the city's unique charm – or its notorious reputation.

  After all, Viridian City was home to Kanto's most formidable Gym Leader.

  Every region had that one Gym Leader who stood head and shoulders above the rest. The one who could easily rival an Elite Four member in skill and reputation. Johto had Pryce, Hoenn had Wallace, Sinnoh had Volkner, Unova had Drayden, Kalos had Wulfric…

  …and Kanto had Giovanni.

  The Master of Ground-type Pokemon and an Elite-class trainer. It was no wonder Professor Oak had advised Blue against challenging the Viridian City Gym. As the former Champion had said, Giovanni wasn't the type to waste his time on novice trainers or anyone who hadn't earned at least seven badges. He was a cut above, a final test for only the most seasoned challengers. Vera, of course, knew better than to make the same mistake. He wasn't about to walk into that gym unprepared. Not against someone like Giovanni.

  The Pokemon Center wasn't too far from the entrance to the city, Vera noted, easily spotting the large building with a shiny red roof that gleamed under the light of the setting sun. It was a welcome sight after the long walk from Pallet Town. The building was clean and modern, with large glass windows that let in plenty of natural light. Inside, the air was cool and refreshing as well and the lobby inside was massive, buzzing with activity. He could see countless trainers of all ages sitting in the lounge area, chatting with one another, tending to their Pokemon, or standing in front of the video monitors.

  Vera had to manoeuvre his way through the crowd as he made his way to the front desk, where the ever friendly Nurse Joy – he had been previously informed about her and her duplicates by Raina and Professor Oak – greeted him with a smile. Even though he hadn't seen the other Nurse Joys yet, it was jarring to think there existed so many duplicates of the same person. Not to mention the fact that they were natural duplicates. Someone had actually given birth to countless lookalike.

  Weird.

  "Welcome to the Viridian City Pokémon Center! How can I help you today?" She asked.

  "Hi, I'd like to register for the Indigo Conference." Vera said, pulling out his Pokedex. "And I'd also like to get my Pokémon checked out, if that's possible."

  "Of course!" The pink-haired nurse said with a warm smile as she took his Pokedex and slid it into a slot behind the counter. Almost instantly, Vera's information appeared on the monitor—his picture, full name, gender, age, registered Dex number, and details about his Pokémon. "Ah, I see you're one of Professor Oak's sponsored trainers," she noted. "You know, his grandson was here just a few hours ago to register for the Conference as well."

  Vera blinked. Just as he had expected, Blue had arrived ahead of him. "Do you know where he is now? He's a friend of mine, so I want to meet up with him."

  Nurse Joy offered an apologetic smile. "I'm afraid he left for Pewter City right after his Pokemon were healed. You might be able to catch up with him as soon as we are done here."

  Vera nodded but already knew he wouldn't be rushing after Blue. As curious as he was to see what new Pokemon his friend had added to his team, he preferred to travel at his own pace. Besides, after the long trek from Pallet, he could use some rest.

  Who knew, he may end up seeing him anyways in Pewter. Vera had heard that there was always a long wait for the Pewter City Gym at the start of every circuit as that was the one trainers tended to challenge first. It was sort of an unspoken rite of passage for those undertaking the Gym Challenge.

  He could already imagine the frustration on Blue's face. The thought brought a pleasant smile to his face.

  A soft chime quickly pulled him out of his thoughts, and he looked up to see that Nurse Joy had completed his registration for the Indigo Conference and was now holding his Pokedex out for him to take back, a kind smile on her face.

  "All set! You're officially registered for the Indigo Conference Gym Challenge. Good luck, Vera! Now, let's take a look at your Pokemon."

  Vera nodded in thanks as he attached his Pokedex back to his belt – it had a separate section for that – before unclipping Squirtle's Poke Ball and placing in in a tray held out by a Chansey – the common partners of Nurse Joys. Then, he snapped his fingers and from the darkened shadow that was attached to him like a leech, his impudent ghost rose with a cackle. Gastly's unconventional entrance caught Nurse Joy and a few of the nearby trainers by surprise.

  "Well, that's certainly an…interesting way to introduce a Pokemon," she said with a light chuckle, her eyes flicking to Gastly, who was now floating lazily in the air, his jagged grin wide and mischievous.

  Vera scratched the back of his head, a sheepish smile on his face. "Yeah…I just caught this Gastly a few hours ago. He doesn't really like staying in his Poke Ball much."

  Nurse Joy nodded with a hum. "That makes sense. Ghost Pokemon tend to enjoy their freedom to the fullest. Staying confined in a Poke Ball can almost seem like a prison to them. However…" Nurse Joy hesitated, her gaze flicking between Vera and the mischievous Gastly, who was now floating in lazy circles above the counter, his jagged grin widening as if he knew exactly what was coming. "I'm afraid we can't treat your Gastly unless he's in his Poke Ball," Nurse Joy explained gently, her tone apologetic. "The healing machines are designed to work with Pokemon inside their capsules. It's just…safer that way."

  Vera exhaled sharply, crossing his arms as he stared up at Gastly. The little ghost had stopped spinning, now hovering upside down with narrowed eyes and a glare that practically screamed defiance.

  "Alright, Gastly," Vera started. Time for some tough love. Of course, he would never force his Pokemon to do something they didn't want to but when it came to making sure they were healthy, he would have no compromise. Besides, as much as he would allow Gastly to act according to his nature, he needed to set down some ground rules so that things didn't get out of hand. ""You heard her. I need you to go back into your Poke Ball for a few minutes. Just long enough to get checked out and healed. Then you can come right back out, okay?"

  Gastly's swirling form crackled, his usual playful energy replaced with something more volatile. He let out a low, guttural hiss before shooting higher, as if daring Vera to try and stop him.

  Vera groaned, running a hand down his face. "Really? This is what we're doing?" He threw a glance at Nurse Joy, who offered him a sympathetic but amused smile. "Come on, don't be like this. Nobody's trying to lock you up forever."

  Gastly let out a sharp, almost menacing snarl. His gaseous body pulsed, a shadowy flicker of irritation, before he shot off in a chaotic zigzag through the lobby.

  Nearby trainers paused to watch. A few chuckled, entertained by the sight of a trainer struggling with his own Pokemon, while others looked unimpressed by the disruption.

  Vera threw up his hands. "Oh, fantastic. You're embarrassing me in public. That's great, thanks."

  Gastly whipped back around, his glare unwavering. His form crackled again before he released a sharp, mocking cackle and dove straight through the counter behind Nurse Joy, his shadowy form half-phasing through the surface.

  The nurse flinched slightly but quickly smoothed her expression, offering a patient chuckle. "Well, he's certainly got a strong personality."

  "That's a polite way of putting it." Vera muttered. He let out a slow breath, then pulled out Gastly's Poke Ball. "Alright, fun's over. Gastly, return!"

  A red beam shot toward the Ghost-type - but Gastly flickered out of reach, slipping right through the energy like mist. His grin widened, sharp and smug, as if to say, 'nice try.'

  Vera's jaw clenched. "Unbelievable."

  Gastly circled around him, his laughter now dripping with smug amusement. He wasn't just being stubborn and angry - now, he was enjoying his trainer's frustration as well.

  Vera inhaled deeply, forcing his voice into something softer, though the exhaustion was clear. "Look, I get it. You hate being confined. But I need to make sure you're strong and healthy. That's my job as your trainer and its what you agreed to when you joined me. You don't have to like it, but you have to trust me."

  Gastly paused mid-hover. His glare didn't disappear entirely, but something in his posture shifted. He floated there, watching Vera for a long, tense moment.

  Vera crossed his arms. "Just for a second, alright? You can haunt me later if it makes you feel better."

  Gastly grumbled something unintelligible, his form flickering with frustration. Then, with a dramatic, drawn-out sigh, he dipped lower and finally allowed the Poke Ball's beam to take hold, pulling him inside.

  Vera let out a long, exhausted breath, shrinking the Poke Ball before setting it on the tray alongside Squirtle's.

  Chansey chirped sweetly as she took the tray, waddling back over to Nurse Joy's side.

  Nurse Joy smiled knowingly. "That was impressive. Ghost-types - especially those in the Gengar line - can be incredibly stubborn. But I think he's already starting to trust you."

  Vera let out a short laugh. "If that's what trust looks like, I'm terrified to see full-blown affection. Let's just hope he doesn't make this a habit."

  The pink-haired nurse chuckled softly. "Don't worry. With time and patience, Gastly will come around. Ghost-types are just…unique. They like to test their trainers, but once they fully trust you, they're incredibly loyal. Now, why don't you go and wait in the lounge area for a bit. I'll call you when your Pokemon are all healed up."

  Vera bowed his head in thanks before turning around and making his way to the lounge area where a couple more trainers were seated. He found an empty spot on the couch where he could see the counter and with a sigh, plopped down tiredly. He allowed himself to take a few deep breaths, resting for a moment. He'd have to get used to travelling long distances like this. To be frank, the distance between Pallet and Viridian wasn't even much compared to others. The trek through Viridian Forest to get to Pewter would take him even longer – approximately a day or two if Raina's warnings were to be believed.

  He'd have to improve his own physical condition as well when training his Pokemon. Trainers were always supposed to be in top-shape – especially those who were travelling.

  After a couple more minutes of just relaxing, Vera decided to pull out his Pokedex and scour through it for a bit. Another nifty function of the device was that it could show all the moves a Pokemon was capable of learning, including TM moves.

  TM moves could be administered two ways – one was through watching the example videos that the Pokedex provided. The second way was by purchasing a TM disk and inserting the disk into a small slot above the button on a Poke Ball. All he had to do was hold the button and the slot would open up. Then he could insert the disk, transplant the memories of the attack directly into his Pokemon's brain and take the disk out. The best thing about TMs was that you could use them as many times as you wanted.

  Of course, they were also expensive which meant Vera had to save up quite a bit before purchasing them.

  In the meantime though, he studied the moves that his current Pokemon were capable of learning. Both of them already had a decent move pool but he wanted to expand on it even further.

  For Squirtle, Vera wanted him to focus on refining both the accuracy and power of his Water Gun while also becoming more comfortable with using Aura Sphere. However, beyond that, he knew expanding Squirtle's arsenal of Water-type moves would be the most beneficial right now - especially with the Pewter Gym battle ahead. The best moves for him to learn at this stage were Water Pulse, and Rain Dance. Water Pulse would provide extra firepower, while Rain Dance would boost his Water-type attacks across the board. Since he was a pure Water-type, mastering these moves should come as naturally to him as a sponge soaking up water.

  Of course, Vera also needed to devise a solid strategy for Squirtle's battles, but that would come later - after Squirtle had added these moves to his arsenal and mastered them to an efficient degree.

  Gastly, on the other hand, was a trickier case. Most of his current moves leaned toward status effects and sensory disruption, such as Haze, Confuse Ray, and Hypnosis. When it came to direct attacks, he had only Night Shade and Curse - but the latter significantly drained his own health as well, making it unreliable as his main offensive option. Unlike Squirtle, Gastly was never meant to be a frontline fighter, but Vera still wanted him to hit hard when needed.

  His vision for Gastly? An absolute menace on the battlefield. His ability to phase through solid objects, dip in and out of shadows, and strike before vanishing made him perfect for hit-and-run tactics. If Gastly incorporated his natural prankster tendencies into battle, he'd be able to frustrate opponents to no end. Add in his array of status-inflicting moves, and he could become an absolute nightmare to deal with. And once he evolved into a Gengar…

  Vera cackled to himself, drawing a few odd looks from the trainers nearby.

  With this plan in mind, Vera decided the best moves for Gastly to learn were Poison Gas, Shadow Ball, and Hex. Poison Gas was a natural choice—Gastly's Poison typing already made him adept at toxic attacks, and spreading a noxious cloud across the battlefield would force opponents into a bad position. If he combined it with Confuse Ray or Hypnosis, his foes would be completely at his mercy.

  Hex was another perfect fit. Given Gastly's numerous status-inflicting moves, Hex would allow him to take full advantage of a debilitated opponent and deal devastating damage. Finally, Shadow Ball was a must-have. Not only was it one of the most powerful Ghost-type moves, but it also had the added effect of lowering the opponent's Special Defense, making it an invaluable tool for Gastly's offensive arsenal.

  With that decided, Vera switched off his Pokedex and attached it to his waist, just in time for Nurse Joy to call out his name. Lifting himself up from the couch, he quickly approached her and Chansey who was holding the tray with Squirtle and Gastly's Poke Balls.

  "Your Pokemon are all in perfect health and ready to go." Nurse Joy exclaimed cheerfully, and he nodded with a grateful smile as he took his Poke Balls and attached them to their respective clips on his belt. "Are you planning on heading out immediately now?"

  Vera shook his head. "No, I think I'm going to stay in Viridian for at least one more day. I also want to get some rest."

  "If that's the case, then I can give you a room in the Center." Nurse Joy told him. She turned around and walked back to the counter, rummaging around in a drawer for a couple of seconds before pulling out a key with an orange tag attached to it. "Aside from camping out in the outskirts of the city, or booking a room at the Continental hotels, trainers can also stay at Pokemon Centers. Of course, we only have a vacancy of 50 maximum, but luckily for you, there are a few rooms empty. Staying here is also free of charge, so you can focus on resting or training up for Gym battles."

  Vera took the keys from her hands and nodded gratefully. He would be lying if he said he wasn't relieved. He had someplace to stay instead of camping out in the outskirts of Viridian. Not that he minded, of course. In the future, he would be doing that but when in cities or towns, he'd rather sleep in an actual bed.

  After another bow of gratitude, the violet-haired Dex Holder made his way to his assigned room. After climbing a single flight of stairs, he reached the place that would be his home till at least the day after tomorrow and unlocked the door.

  Inside, the room was simple but comfortable – a single bed, a small desk, a chair, and a window that let in plenty of natural light. There was also a door leading to a small bathroom with a shower. It wasn't luxurious, but it was more than enough for a weary traveller. Vera dropped his bag on the floor and sat on the edge of the bed, letting out a long sigh of relief. The walk from Pallet Town had taken more out of him than he'd realized.

  After a few minutes of rest, Vera decided to let his Pokemon out to stretch and relax. Besides, he had promised Gastly he'd let him out as soon as the healing was done with, and he intended to keep that promise. He unclipped Squirtle's Poke Ball and released the Water-type, who appeared with a cheerful cry. Gastly's Poke Ball was next, and his impudent ghost burst free from the capsule with his usual evil grin. But Vera managed to catch a hint of relief in his eyes.

  "See?" The violet-haired Dex Holder spoke up, grabbing Gastly's attention. "What did I say? I won't keep you confined in that battle if you don't want to. But for health check-ups, I'm gonna need you to meet me halfway. How's about it?"

  Gastly hovered in the air for a moment, his jagged grin softening just slightly as he considered Vera's words. The mischievous glint in his red eyes didn't disappear entirely, but there was a flicker of something else – something that might have been understanding, or at the very least, a begrudging acceptance. He let out a low, guttural hum, his gaseous form rippling as he bobbed up and down in what Vera could only interpret as a nod.

  "Good." Vera said, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'm glad we're on the same page. You're part of the team now, Gastly, and that means we look out for each other. Got it?"

  The impudent ghost cackled softly, his form shimmering as he floated closer to Vera. The Ghost/Poison-type's grin widened, and for a moment, it almost seemed like he was enjoying the camaraderie. Almost. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, he zipped around the room, phasing through the walls and furniture in a display of his ghostly abilities. Vera couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head as he watched the mischievous Pokemon.

  "Alright, alright, show-off." Vera said, leaning back against the bed. "Just don't break anything, or Nurse Joy might kick us out."

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Squirtle, who had been lounging on the bed, let out a soft snort of amusement. The Water-type seemed to be enjoying the spectacle, his bright blue eyes following Gastly's movements with a mix of curiosity and mild exasperation. Vera reached over and gave Squirtle a gentle pat on the head, earning a contented cry from the Tiny Turtle Pokemon.

  "You did great today, buddy." Vera said, his voice warm with pride. "All those Pokemon you battled, and then your victory against Gastly? You're turning into a real powerhouse."

  Squirtle puffed out his chest, clearly pleased with the praise. He thumped his tiny fists against his shell, letting out a determined cry that made Vera chuckle. Gastly, who had been floating near the ceiling, let out a mocking cackle, but there was no real malice in it. If anything, it seemed like the Ghost-type was starting to warm up to his new teammates.

  "Alright, you two." Vera said, leaning back against the headboard of the bed. "We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. I want to spend some time training and getting used to working together as a team. But for now, let's just relax and take it easy. We've earned it."

  Squirtle let out a contented sigh, stretching out on the bed as if he owned it. Gastly, however, seemed less inclined to settle down. The mischievous Ghost/Poison-type floated over to the window, his red eyes gleaming as he peered out at the city below. Vera could only imagine what was going through his mind.

  "Don't even think about it." Vera said, catching the glint in Gastly's eyes. "You're not going out there to cause trouble. We're staying in for the night."

  Gastly turned to him, his grin widening as if to say, Who, me? Trouble? Never. But he floated back toward the bed, his form rippling with faint purple hues as he settled down near the foot of the bed. Vera couldn't help but smile.

  The next day, Vera woke up quickly, and after a hearty breakfast at the Pokemon Center's cafeteria, he gathered his things and made his way to the outskirts of Viridian. On his way to the city, he had found a nice and empty grassy spot by a small lake and wanted to go there.

  Vera arrived at the grassy clearing by the small lake, taking a deep breath of the crisp morning air. The gentle ripples on the water's surface reflected the brightening sky, and the sound of rustling leaves in the light breeze created a peaceful ambiance. Just as he thought, it was a perfect spot to train, away from the hustle of the city yet close enough that he could return before nightfall.

  His Pokemon seemed to think it was neat as well. Squirtle let out an eager cry the second Vera released him, darting toward the water's edge. The little turtle peered into the lake, tilting his head as his own reflection wobbled in the ripples. Gastly, on the other hand, slipped out of his shadow and materialized just inches from Vera's face with an echoing cackle and a mocking grin. The violet-haired Dex Holder huffed and shot a narrowed glare at his ghost. He knew why Gastly seemed to be in such high spirits.

  Yesterday, when Vera had been trying to get Gastly to return to his Poke Ball, he had made a foolish deal with the impudent ghost.

  You can haunt me later if it makes you feel better.

  He had just said that to convince Gastly to allow himself to be recalled and then had forgotten about it. Much to his chagrin, however, Gastly had not forgotten. In fact, the Gas Pokemon had taken great pleasure in reminding him the second Vera's eyes had fluttered open that morning – materializing above his bed with a grotesque, stretched-out face, hollow eyes, and a tongue lolling like a deflated balloon.

  The resulting scream had been music to Gastly's ears, and he didn't even have ears.

  It was only later, after Vera had calmed down, did he find out that Gastly had actually learned Scary Face for the sole purpose of trying to give him a heart-attack. He truly was committed to the way of the prankster, it seemed.

  Huh. Go figure.

  "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up." Vera huffed like a child – he was a child, Arceus-dammit! But despite his irritation, a smirk tugged at his lips. Gastly's antics were exhausting, but they were also…kind of impressive. The Gas Pokemon had mastered Scary Face overnight, purely to scare him. Imagine what he could do with actual battle moves.

  Vera suddenly clapped his hands together: "Alright, rally up, guys!"

  Within seconds, his dutiful Squirtle scurried over to him and stood at attention like a soldier ready to serve their commander. Gastly took longer, drifting over to where Squirtle stood, and hovered in the air while staring at him curiously.

  "As I told you two yesterday, I've devised a training plan for us to follow. However, before we begin, we need to exercise. So Squirtle, you will be running laps around the lake for five minutes. I will be running with you as well." The Tiny Turtle Pokemon thumped his chest in understanding. Vera nodded in approval before turning to his ghost. "Gastly, I want you to come up with us as well, but instead of just flying around the lake, I want you to dip in and out of shadows while completing your run. Is that understood?"

  Gastly responded by puffing out his cheeks in an exaggerated pout, his form wobbling like a deflating balloon. Vera crossed his arms. "Don't give me that look. If we're going to battle as a team, you need stamina too. Ghost or not, you're not skipping cardio."

  With a dramatic sigh that sounded more like a deflating tire, Gastly dipped downwards, melding into the ground and becoming a patch of shifting darkness. Then, the shadow zipped towards the lake edge, the ghost popping out momentarily before becoming a shadow once more.

  "Cheater." Vera muttered, but he was already jogging after Squirtle, who had taken off with surprising speed for such stubby legs.

  For the next five minutes, the trio of human and Pokemon ran laps around the lake – or in Gastly's case, flew. Vera kept pace with Squirtle, his boots crunching against the damp grass as they circled the lake. He wasn't out of shape by any means, but he could already feel the burn in his legs. A reminder that if he wanted to be an effective and efficient Pokemon Trainer, he couldn't just rely on his team getting stronger – he had to keep up too.

  Gastly, meanwhile, was having way too much fun with his "training." Every so often, he'd pop out of the ground right in front of Vera or Squirtle, making exaggerated faces or cackling ominously before slipping back into the shadows. At one point, he emerged directly beside Vera and whispered something in a low, raspy voice that sounded suspiciously like, "You will never escape..."

  Vera nearly tripped over his own feet.

  "Knock it off, you menace!" He barked, shoving a hand through Gastly's incorporeal form, which only resulted in his fingers feeling cold and tingly. His mischievous ghost burst into laughter before sinking back into the ground like a satisfied trickster spirit.

  Squirtle, for his part, didn't even acknowledge Gastly's antics. He was too focused, his little legs pumping as he powered through the laps, determined to follow orders to the letter. Vera had to give him credit – his starter was nothing if not diligent.

  It also made him think about Squirtle's future role in the team. Since he was his first Pokemon, Vera wanted him to be the second-in-command – the one who kept the rest of his Pokemon in line. He had already shown a decent amount of discipline and listened to his orders without hesitation.

  Vera shook his head. He'd talk to Squirtle about it later. For now, he wanted to focus on running. By the time they finished, Vera was panting, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Squirtle was also a little winded but still standing strong. Gastly, of course, looked perfectly fine, floating lazily in the air as if he hadn't been exerting himself at all. He seemed to be able to slip in and out of shadows quite easily, but Vera would only be able to properly analyse how quickly he was able to do so during an actual battle.

  For now though, it was efficient.

  "Alright…" Vera exhaled, straightening up. "Good warm-up. Now, let's move on to actual training." With that said, he turned to his starter first. "Squirtle, you're going to focus on Water Gun and Aura Sphere. I want precision over power for now – hit exactly where I tell you to. That'll help with accuracy in battle."

  Squirtle gave an eager nod, already stepping forward in anticipation. Vera guided him towards a nearby try before pulling a marker from his bag – yes, he had markers, pens, papers, and a notebook – and drawing a large X on the bark. "We'll start with stationary targets, then move on to moving ones. I want you to fire your Water Gun and aim only for this spot right here. Understood?"

  Squirtle nodded before he inhaled deeply and launched a pressurized stream of water at the tree. Much to Vera's pleasure, the water-based attack struck the edge of the mark with a sharp thwack. The Tiny Turtle Pokemon ceased his attack and looked somewhat miffed, but Vera bent down and rubbed his smooth head reassuringly.

  "That was really good, Squirtle. You just need to adjust your aim a bit. Why don't you try again."

  Squirtle narrowed his eyes, recalibrated, and fired again. This time, the Water Gun struck the mark squarely in the middle, sending droplets flying.

  "Nice! Keep that up. Once everything is perfect with Water Gun, I'll have you practice with Aura Sphere."

  Squirtle nodded before going back to his task of refining his accuracy with Water Gun. Vera then turned his attention to Gastly. The ghost floated expectantly, a smug look in his gleaming red eyes.

  "Alright, trickster." Vera smirked. "Let's put those pranking skills to good use. We're going to work on Poison Gas and Hex."

  Gastly's grin widened at the mention of Hex. He already seemed excited about adding more sinister tricks to his arsenal.

  "For Poison Gas, the goal is control." Vera continued, pulling up a video of the move being used by a Weezing on his Pokedex. He showed the video to Gastly, and the Ghost/Poison-type watched intently. "I don't just want you spewing toxic fumes everywhere. I want you to be able to spread it in a focused area and disperse it at will. If you can fine-tune it, you can force your opponent to move exactly where you want them."

  Gastly let out a thoughtful hum before inhaling deeply. A faint purple mist began to form around him, swirling like an eerie fog. It was thin at first, barely noticeable, but then it thickened, darkening into a proper smog of toxins. Just as he had thought, because Gastly was partly Poison-type, the move came easily to him. The problem was – it spread too wide, dissipating in the breeze rather than staying concentrated.

  "Too unfocused." Vera pointed out, fanning a hand in front of his nose. "Try to keep it tighter."

  Gastly huffed but nodded. He tried again, this time attempting to condense the gas into a denser cloud. It still spread, but there was definite progress.

  "Better. Keep practicing that control. Once you get it right, we'll move on to practicing Hex." Gastly let out a mischievous giggle, clearly enjoying the idea of using his abilities to mess with opponents.

  For the next hour, Vera rotated between Squirtle and Gastly, ensuring they both made steady progress.

  Squirtle had successfully improved his accuracy on stationary targets with Water Gun, so he had him move on to Aura Sphere. The Fighting-type move was a bit harder for him to refine but by the thirty minute mark, he was able to fire a stable orb of bluish energy and hit the mark without fail.

  "Alright, well done, Squirtle." Vera praised and the Tiny Turtle Pokemon thumped his chest in response, a wide grin on his face. "Now, for the next step, I want you to increase the power for both the attacks while maintaining accuracy. Once that is done, I am going to have you learn a few new moves."

  Squirtle cried out in excitement before resuming his training, only this time, firing stronger Water Guns and Aura Spheres against the tree. Gastly, meanwhile, had managed to condense his Poison Gas into a thick, rolling cloud that lingered exactly where he wanted it – though he still occasionally let it expand just to watch Vera wave it away with a scowl. Training with Hex came to the ghost easily as well, though only in battle could he tell how effective it would be.

  By the time the hour was done, the tasks assigned to the two Pokemon had more or less been completed. The next step would be to have Squirtle practice hitting moving targets. To train him for that, Vera gathered a few small rocks from the lake with the intention of throwing them in the air for his starter to attempt to hit. As for Gastly, since he had learned Poison Gas and Hex quicker than expected, Vera planned on having him start learning Shadow Ball.

  For now though, it was break time.

  "Hey, I've been looking everywhere for you!"

  Vera had been happily lounging underneath the shade of a tree and eating a bagel he had snagged from the Center earlier in the morning when he heard the call. Gastly who eaten his fill of life energy from a nearby bush and Squirtle who had been munching away on a batch of berries – Vera learned that he liked wiki berries the most and made a reminder to purchase more of them before leaving Viridian – both looked up as well as a young boy around Vera's age approached them. He wasn't alone; trailing slightly behind him was a brown-haired girl the same age.

  Both looked to be trainers, if the Poke Balls hanging from their belts were any indication. Yet the thing that stood out most about them were their eye colours. They were unique and reminded him of the sea blue of Blue's and the verdant green of Katrina's. The girl had eyes the same shade as amethyst and the boy, his eyes were coloured a striking gold, sharp as sunlight on a coin.

  Vera blinked as the boy grinned at him, hands stuffed into the pockets of his red and black jacket. His unruly black hair stuck out from under his cap, giving him an effortlessly roguish look. The girl beside him, with soft brown hair tied into pigtails and warm amethyst eyes, smiled more politely, though there was an unmistakable spark of curiosity in her gaze.

  "You know me?" Vera asked, sitting up straighter. Squirtle immediately abandoned his berries and moved over to his side, trying his best to appear intimidating to the two strangers. Honestly, it would have been more effective if he didn't have berry juice smeared all over his face. The fact that he was naturally adorable didn't help matters either.

  "Well, not really." The boy admitted with a shrug, unperturbed by Squirtle's showing. "We actually saw you yesterday in the Center. You were arguing with your Gastly."

  Vera's cheeks burned slightly, and he threw a nasty glare at his impudent ghost who merely cackled, looking far too pleased with himself. "Oh…yeah, I apologize for the disturbance I may have caused. You see, Gastly really doesn't like to stay in his Poke Ball."

  The golden-eyed boy stepped closer, the morning light catching the unusual hue of his irises like doubloons at the bottom of a stream. "Disturbance?" The boy threw his head back with a laugh that startled a flock of Pidgey from the nearby trees. "That was the best entertainment we've had since hitting Viridian." He jerked a thumb at the girl beside him. "Lyra here thought you were gonna cry."

  The girl – Lyra – elbowed him sharply. "I did not."

  "You muttered it."

  "I said he looked frustrated."

  It was weird, Vera decided, to see two people holding a conversation about you when you were standing right in front of them. They seemed like a close pair and also nosy seeing as they decided to seek him out after seeing him struggle with Gastly.

  Speaking of Gastly, the little ghost was currently circling the two newcomers like a shark eyeing its prey. The Ghost/Poison-type drifted uncomfortably close to Gold, his grinning face beginning to ripple. Vera may not have been with him long, but he could tell when Gastly was planning something. Unfortunately, though he had caught it, he wasn't quick enough to stop the menace from carrying out his plot.

  "BLEGHHHH!" Gastly vanished and popped into existence right in front of the golden-eyed boy, making a terrifying face in an attempt to frighten the newcomer. Regular people who have screamed at the sudden fright, Vera knew he would and already had. Even Lyra jumped back with a start. But to the boy's credit, his grin just grew wider.

  "Tch. Cute." He flicked Gastly's forehead - or where a forehead would be - making the ghost recoil in mock outrage. "That your idea of a scare, spook? Not bad. But my mom's Misdreavus does this creepy lullaby thing that'll make your hair stand on end. You should trade notes."

  Vera groaned as Gastly's outrage evaporated and he erupted into delighted giggles, swirling around the boy. He then sharply snapped his fingers taking on a sterner look.

  "Enough Gastly." Gastly suddenly froze, gave his equivalent of a pout and then slunk back to hover behind Squirtle. Vera shook his head at him with exasperation before turning to the newcomers. "I'm sorry about him. He's a menace…but he's my menace. Now, what brings you two here? Stalking random trainers for fun?"

  The boy popped off a Poke Ball from his belt and began to spin it on his finger with practiced ease. "Scouting strong opponents. Name's Gold." He jerked his thumb at his companion. "And I've already introduced Lyra. Nurse Joy told us your name is Vera. She also told us you're one of Professor Oak's new sponsors. Is that true?"

  Vera narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "So what if it is?"

  "We don't mean anything by it." Lyra immediately spoke up, no doubt noticing how Squirtle had taken a threatening – it really wasn't – step forward, a growl rumbling from his chest. "We're sponsored trainers too. Gold and I received our starters from Professor Elm back in New Bark Town just a few days ago."

  Vera blinked, his suspicion melting away as surprise took its place. Sylvester Elm might not have been as renowned as Samuel Oak, but in the scientific community, his name carried significant weight – standing alongside luminaries like Albert Rowan, Bartholomew Birch, and Cedric Juniper. Vera had heard rumours that the other top regional professors, inspired by Oak's initiative, had begun offering sponsorships to young trainers. Still, he never expected to cross paths with them so soon.

  That also begged another question…

  "If you guys are from Johto, then what are you doing here?" Vera couldn't help but ask.

  "Oh, I just wanted to start my journey in Kanto, that's all." Gold remarked casually. "I've lived in Johto all my life and because of my parents' jobs, I've had to travel with throughout the region a lot. They're Rangers, you see, so they're stationed in a new place every two years."

  "I met him a year ago, when his parents were posted to New Bark Town." Lyra picked up where her friend left off. "And I decided to join him in Kanto, for no other reason than to look out for him."

  Gold rolled his eyes at Lyra's comment but didn't argue, which told Vera everything he needed to know about their dynamic – Lyra was the responsible one, and Gold was the troublemaker who somehow always needed supervision. It was oddly familiar, reminding him of his own dynamic with Blue and Ash. Katrina always steered clear of their fights, so he was left being the peacekeeper.

  He then glanced at Gastly, who was now mimicking Squirtle's growling face with exaggerated spookiness and sighed. It seemed his Pokemon could relate to the same dynamic as well.

  "So," Vera said, crossing his arms and turning back to look at Gold and Lyra. "You guys tracked me down just to chat about sponsorships?"

  "Nah." Gold grinned, finally stopping the spinning Poke Ball with a snap of his fingers. "Like I said, scouting strong opponents. If you're Oak's pick, you've gotta be decent, right? Let's battle."

  Squirtle perked up immediately, fists clenched in anticipation. Even Gastly paused his antics, floating closer with interest. Vera hesitated, but only for a second. A battle would be a good test of their morning training – and if these two were sponsored by Elm, they wouldn't be pushovers.

  "Fine." Vera agreed, standing and brushing grass off his pants. "But let's keep it one-on-one for now. I'll use Squirtle."

  Gold's grin turned razor-sharp. "Perfect. I'll go with Cyndaquil." He enlarged the Poke Ball he had been spinning and tossed it into the clearing. In a flash of light, a small, blue-gray creature with a beige underbelly materialized, its back already smoking with embers. A quick scan of his Pokedex told Vera that it was the Fire-type starter of Johto, Cyndaquil.

  The mousy little Pokemon let out a spirited cry, stomping its tiny feet as if ready to explode into action. Squirtle didn't back down though, choosing instead to step forward, meeting Cyndaquil's challenge with a determined glare.

  Lyra moved to the side, arms crossed. "I'll referee. No cheap shots, no interference – understood?"

  "Yeah, yeah." Gold said, waving a hand.

  Vera nodded. "Sounds fair."

  Gastly, meanwhile, had drifted over to Lyra, eyeing her with mischievous curiosity. The girl didn't flinch, though her amethyst eyes tracked him warily. "You're not planning any tricks, are you?" she asked.

  Gastly's grin widened. Who, me?

  Vera shot him a warning look before refocusing on the battle as Lyra bid it to begin. He had the type advantage here and though he knew not to rely on it entirely, it did help turn the tides in his favour. "Squirtle, start strong – Water Gun, full pressure!"

  Squirtle inhaled sharply, then unleashed a blistering torrent of water, the attack slicing through the air like a bullet. However, Gold's grin didn't waver in the face of the super-effective attack even though it looked to be a direct hit. Vera soon saw why he was so confident when he called out an order:

  "Dodge left, then Smokescreen!"

  Cyndaquil rolled with surprising agility, the Water Gun barely grazing its fur. Before Squirtle could react, the Fire-type exhaled a thick, choking smog, black as pitch, flooding the battlefield in seconds. Visibility dropped to zero.

  Vera clenched his teeth. He's trying to control the field and give himself an advantage. Smart.

  "Don't panic." The violet-haired Dex Holder called to Squirtle. "Withdraw and listen – try to track its movement!"

  Squirtle nodded and then tucked into his shell, cutting off his sight but sharpening his focus on hearing. The smoke swirled around his shell, muffling sound, but then, a faint scritch-scritch of claws on dirt was heard.

  Without even waiting for a command from Vera, the Tiny Turtle Pokemon still hidden in his shell, used Rapid Spin and tore through the smoke. Cyndaquil barely had time to react before the spinning shell clipped its side, sending it skidding back. The smog thinned just enough for Vera to see Gold's smirk flicker.

  "Not bad," Gold admitted. "But let's heat things up – Ember and make it burn!"

  Cyndaquil's back erupted in flames, and it spat a barrage of fireballs in the Water-type's direction. Squirtle twisted his body, trying to dodge the array of fiery projectiles but because they were so clumped together, he ended up being hit more than he evaded.

  "Again!" Gold barked.

  "Water Gun – widespread! Wash them away!" Vera commanded.

  Squirtle hissed in pain as burns covered his body but powered through it and spat out a jet of pressurized water before swinging his head to the side and arcing the Water Gun. His attack crashed midair with the Embers and detonated them in a burst of steam, obscuring the field once more.

  Gold's eyes gleamed. "Swift!"

  "Water Gun again!" Vera shouted.

  Star-shaped projectiles shot from the haze, homing in unerringly. Squirtle attempted to wash them away with Water Gun just as he had done with the Embers, but he was too slow and was instead, hit by the striking stars – each smashing into him one after the other.

  Damn. Swift never misses. Vera's mind raced as Squirtle slowly pushed himself back up. The injuries were piling up; he wouldn't be able to last long. He had to disrupt their rhythm and force an opening for themselves. Suddenly, an idea hit him, and he called out an order:

  "Bite the ground and then fling it!"

  Gold blinked, momentarily thrown by the odd command – but Squirtle didn't hesitate. Lunging forward, he clamped his jaws into the earth, tearing up a clump of dirt and grass before hurling it straight at Cyndaquil's face.

  "Quil – ?!" The Fire-type recoiled as the debris smacked into its eyes, blinding it momentarily.

  Vera seized the chance. "Now – Aura Sphere!"

  Squirtle cried as he formed a pulsing blue orb between his stubby arms before hurling it at the Fire-type. The Aura Sphere exploded on contact and sent the fiery mouse skidding back. But Vera wanted to pay it back for all the punishment it dished out on his starter.

  "Don't let up and use Tackle while it's still blinded!" Vera commanded quickly.

  "Cyndaquil use Ember!" Gold shouted.

  Squirtle surged forward, braving through the storm of wild fireballs before slamming shoulder-first into Cyndaquil, knocking it onto its back. Gold barked a laugh.

  "Alright, that was clever." He admitted. "But we're not done just yet! Use Flame Wheel!"

  Cyndaquil winced as it jumped to attention once more and curled into a ball, igniting in a whirling inferno before rocketing forward. Squirtle barely leapt aside, but the flames licked his shell, leaving a smouldering scorch mark as a brand.

  Cyndaquil's faster, but Squirtle's tougher. We need to end this before stamina runs out.

  "Rapid Spin – into Water Gun!" Vera commanded. "Aim for the flames!"

  This was a strategy that Vera had been planning on using against Brock. However, he hadn't practiced it with Squirtle first and there was a slight amount of fear that his partner wouldn't know how to carry out his command. It was a risk he was taking, that's for sure.

  Luckily though, Squirtle seemed to understand what was being asked of him and quickly tucked into his shell, spinning like a drill. Then he unleashed a spiralling jet of water mid-rotation. The dual-force and widespread attack struck Cyndaquil head-on, dousing its flames and throwing it back.

  Gold's grin sharpened. "Hang in there, Cyndaquil! Quick Attack – now!"

  Just as Squirtle popped out of its shell, Cyndaquil blurred forward, a streak of motion, and slammed into him. Both Pokemon skidded apart, breathing heavily.

  Silence.

  Then Cyndaquil wobbled, its legs buckling before it collapsed, unconscious.

  "Cyndaquil is unable to battle!" Lyra announced with no small amount of surprise. "Squirtle wins!"

  Squirtle pumped a fist in triumph – then promptly fell over as well, utterly spent.

  Chapter 3 is out and Gold and Lyra have been introduced! I hope you all like their characters and the battle between Vera and Gold! Also what did you think of the training scenes and Vera's critical thinking skills?

  Pokemon Trainer: Vera Arden

  Pokedex Number: KA-25072002

  Badges: 0

  Active Pokemon Team: 2

  Squirtle (Water Type, Male)

  Ability: Torrent

  Moves: Tackle, Water Gun, Withdraw, Rapid Spin, Aura Sphere, Bite

  Gastly (Ghost/Poison Type, Male)

  Ability: Levitate

  Moves: Night Shade, Lick, Confuse Ray, Hypnosis, Haze, Curse, Poison Gas, Hex