“Well I’m certainly glad I came!” Wattson said cheerfully as he, Moore and the twins joined us in the room off the arena where there was a healing station. “That was a great battle to watch. Thank you for the invite, Winona.”

  “Yeah we really liked seeing your Noctowl, Winona. We don’t have any Pokemon that know Dream Eater except our grandma’s old Hypno,” Liza said.

  “Yes, I think that Hypno was probably the one that taught Noctowl pretty much everything he knows,” Winona said. “But as you demonstrated against me there, having just one main strategy leaves you open to being countered.”

  I grimaced and nodded in agreement while looking at the three Pokeballs currently glowing faintly in the healing station. Exactly why the coloured metal balls were glowing I didn’t know and put it up to whatever not-magic clarktech these things worked off.

  “I could say the same thing about yourself,” I pointed out. “Once you knew what my strategies were, you moved to counter them.”

  Winona inclined her head in acknowledgement but then shrugged.

  “If it weren’t for Skarmory being a Steel type as well as a Flying type then I think you would have had me beaten,” she said frankly. “Your Whimsicott was tired near the end too. If we hadn’t allowed substitutions then you would have beaten my Swellow at the start and that would have been the end.”

  “I guess. We do struggle with Steel types,” I acknowledged with a sigh.

  The Steel typing was strong against Fairy types; My Pokemon also didn’t have many super effective moves that would help us counter them either, not like against Poison type moves, which I at least had Leah to counter with her Psychic type moves and Ielle’s own steel typing.

  In comparison, there weren’t many Fairy types that could learn strong moves of Fighting, Ground or Fire type naturally, at least to my knowledge. Kira knew Dig, but then we’d seen battling Flannery that that was a move that could be easily countered on its own.

  It was just another thing I would need to work on in the future, if I could. I was going to become a Gym Leader, of that I was determined. There were loads of things to learn but oddly I found myself looking forward to them. Battling strong trainers like the Gym Leaders I’d met so far had been fun. A far cry from the easy victories we had had the last couple of years on the road.

  “That’s the biggest problem with being a type specialist,” Moore said. “I’ve had the same problem with being a Fire type trainer. I taught a few of my Pokemon Solar Beam specifically as a counter to people trying to abuse a type advantage against me.”

  “I’ll bear that in mind,” I acknowledged the advice gratefully, even if I already knew .

  “But anyway where are you off to next?” Mossdeep I assume,” Winona said, she looked at the twins.

  “He could go to Mossdeep. Although he does already have the Mossdeep Gym Leaders right here to speak to,” Moore pointed out.

  “We’d love for you to come and visit,” Tate said.

  “Do you think you could tell us where you got your Gardevoir?” Liza blurted out quickly.

  “I’m afraid not,” I told them. The enclave Leah was from valued their privacy, that much I knew. Any contact would be on their terms, not from people seeking them out.

  “Darnit,” Tate said for her as Liza’s shoulder slumped. “We kind of expected you to say that.”

  The machine dinged, indicating our Pokemon were healed. I quickly reached for Bud, Ielle and Robin’s Pokeballs.

  “But you can still come visit! If you want,” Liza added on.

  “Of course,” I replied, not seeing a problem with that. “I’ve never been to Mossdeep before.”

  “Going via Teleport will be far faster than going through Lilycove and getting a boat across,” Moore agreed.

  “That would save a load of time,” I agreed immediately. I would probably also need help getting to Sootopolis. I didn’t actually know how people got in and out of that city. I assumed it was via flight, or maybe there were routes in for boats somewhere.

  I truly doubted people would be getting there regularly via diving in submarines like in the games.

  “Flying works too,” Winona interjected in defence of the thing she probably enjoyed doing most out of everything. “Why don’t we head back out to the arena and let our Pokemon mingle for a bit? I’ve not got long until I need to start getting ready to head out.”

  We collectively agreed and Winona led us back outside into the large arena.

  The Manetric and Typhlosion had remained in their spot in the stands, the two older Pokemon seeming to be talking conversationally. The Lunatone and Solrock belonging to Tate and Liza had floated out into the now empty arena and it seemed they were inspecting the terrain.

  “Come on out Altaria,” Winona said, letting her Pokemon back out.

  The Altaria reappeared in all its fluffy glory.

  “Al?” The Pokemon asked, looking around.

  “No, it's over, we won, barely,” Winona told her Pokemon which swelled up slightly, looking quite proud of itself despite not having taken part in the battle.

  “Altar altaria al,” the Altaria declared.

  “Garde,” Leah responded to the Pokemon evenly.

  For a moment I thought there was a chance the two Pokemon might actually come to blows. I didn’t think Leah would do that of course, but the smug look the Altaria gave my Gardevoir was certainly enough to provoke someone’s pride. My Gardevoir only seemed amused as they had a small back and forth between them.

  The Altaria’s expression became slightly unsure before it scoffed. The fluffy Flying Pokemon visibly dismissed my Gardevoir, taking off briefly to go fly over to Wattson and Moore’s Pokemon. Leah chuckled before gliding over to join the Lunatone and Solrock who were still standing around in the arena.

  Well, it seemed Leah hadn’t made a friend in Winona’s strongest Pokemon.

  “What are they doing?” I asked curiously, looking at the two floating Rock/Psychic types.

  “They’re trying to sense the Fairy type energy,” Tate said. “We’ve not exactly encountered much of it before. Solrock thinks that maybe figuring out how Fairy type energy works they’ll be able to sense Dark type Pokemon.”

  “You do have Miracle Eye for that, don’t you?” Winona asked, seemingly confused.

  “Lunatone and Solrock can’t learn that move,” Liza said. “We have our Xatu and Alakazam that know it, but only them.”

  “Well they’ve got Rock type moves to fall back on against Dark types, and Fire type moves too for Solrock,” I pointed out. “So they aren’t being completely countered.”

  “Not with Lunatone,” Liza said despondently. “We’re working on Earthquake, but that’s all right now. Learning extra moves is hard. Especially when they aren’t Psychic type ones.”

  “What about teaching it Moonblast?” I suggested to everyone’s apparent surprise.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  “Moonblast?” Asked Moore with interest.

  “It’s a Fairy type move so it’d be effective against Dark types,” I told them all. “None of my team know it despite my best efforts, but I imagine of any Pokemon that isn’t actually a Fairy type, that a Lunatone could learn it on its own.”

  You know, what with actually being a moon and all.

  Teaching moves to Pokemon was best done with another Pokemon that knew the move to help directly, or a trainer who understood it properly and how to teach the Pokemon in question. At least that was my experience. Moves like Dazzling Gleam or Fairy Wind I hadn’t struggled to teach my Pokemon but Moonblast had completely eluded me.

  As a move it was just… difficult. Moonblast was a more conceptual move that needed a personal or spiritual connection of some kind to the moon to learn and neither I or my Pokemon had that.

  All the stargazing I’d tried when we were younger hadn’t helped teach my starter the move. Leah eventually getting strong enough to learn it naturally was my only hope for figuring out a way to teach the others. That was if it was even possible for them to use it to begin with because obviously not every Pokemon could learn every move, regardless of typing.

  For example Mawile were generally solitary, darkness bound Pokemon found in caves and wouldn’t have any intrinsic links to moonlight like a Lunatone would. She couldn’t even learn Dazzling Gleam on account of it being highly light related in terms of its “theme.”

  It was a let down for me. Moonblast was supposed to be a stronger move in the games and Gardevoir definitely could learn it. I would just have to hope Leah would pick it up on her own.

  “That would be awesome,” Liza said with interest.

  While we were talking Leah had arrived to stand next to the sun and moon themed Pokemon. They seemed surprised at her joining them but settled down quickly and they engaged my starter in conversation, looking over the arena.

  “If you come to Mossdeep could you help try teaching Moonblast to Lunatone?” Liza asked. “We’ll promise to let you become a Gym Leader if you do!”

  Tate nodded in rapid agreement with his twin and I suddenly found myself feeling slightly under threat. I raised my hands up to ward the two eager kids off.

  “So mercenary of you both,” Winona teased. The Twins frowned in confusion at the use of the word. I decided smartly not to take part in the teasing. The kids didn’t seem like they meant it quite that way.

  “I can try helping but like I said I haven’t been able to teach my Pokemon and they’re actually Fairy types. I have some ideas for how to train it but it's not worked for me and Leah so it might not work for your Lunatone either. I'm not promising anything.”

  Despite that it still seemed to be enough for Liza though, because she practically beamed at me.

  “Lunatone, Harry’s going to teach you a new move when we get home!”

  “Nnnn?” Came a questioning hum from the Pokemon, who had been speaking to my Gardevoir and its partner Solrock.

  “I’m not guaranteeing anything,” I said again warningly. “Moves like this aren’t just something you teach without problems.”

  “I know, but as long as you try then that’s okay,” Liza said brightly.

  I resisted the urge to express my discomfort. I didn’t like the idea of committing myself to something I couldn’t follow through on. However, I could see the other adults in the room were highly amused by all this.

  I sighed and nodded.

  “Alright then. As long as we’re on the same page.”

  So it was agreed. Tate and Liza would take me to visit Mossdeep for a couple of days while I tried to help Liza’s Lunatone learn Moonblast. Then they’d help ferry me over to Sootopolis where I was going to meet Wallace, the eighth and final Gym Leader.

  Which was helpful, because I didn’t actually know how you were supposed to get to Sootopolis otherwise. I’d otherwise have to check any flights or boats across. I definitely wasn’t going to try deep sea diving like in the games.

  We chatted for a little while more and Winona offered us all dinner. Again our Pokemon remained out and socialised together, but it was only our starters for the guests. Winona did bring out some of her other Pokemon, like her Tropius and the Pelipper which seemed quite jovial as they socialised with the other Pokemon.

  I suspected there was some kind of etiquette about how many Pokemon we the guests were expected to have out as nobody else brought out a Pokemon other than their starters. I didn’t want to have to ask and make a fool of myself though, so I decided not to rock the boat and just leave it for the time being.

  After eating Winona explained that she would have to run her rounds around the local territory soon so she would have to say goodbye to us. It was obviously clear then that it was time to leave and she escorted us outside of the Gym.

  The wind was already picking up again when we left through the front door of the complex.

  Wattson brought out a Pokeball and from it appeared an Electrode. The very large red and white sphere Pokemon had a signature smirk on its face as it looked around.

  “Thank you for the invitation, Winona and I’ll be looking forward to seeing you again, Harry,” Moore said, offering a hand for her and then myself to shake which I accepted.

  “Definitely,” I said. I turned to Wattson and shook the jolly Electric type trainer’s hand too.

  “Absolutely, don’t be a stranger. And once you’re done with Wallace and know where you want to build a Gym come and speak to me. I have a guy who’d just love to meet you and discuss designs.”

  “Oh?” I asked. “Is he some kind of interior designer?” I knew next to nothing about that sort of thing so an expert would be greatly appreciated.

  “Oh no, he’s a trap expert!” Wattson told me jovially. “Trust me, no Gym is complete without a few traps hanging about!”

  “I-I’ll… Thanks for the suggestion, maybe I’ll take you up on that then,” I said evenly. The man let out a deep belly laugh.

  Moore looked highly amused from off to the side. He could probably guess what I was thinking.

  I’d seen the “traps” Wattson had set up around his Gym and I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted or needed “defences” like that.

  Although given how things had occurred before my arrival at Fortree, maybe I did, I thought slightly grimly.

  “Harry, I'm going to send you some old training documents you might want to read later,” Moore told me. “Take a look at them and call me if you want my advice about anything else.”

  “Thank you,” I said. I wasn’t sure what documents specifically he was referring to but I could guess that he was talking about the ninja kids. I made a mental note to take a look at whatever he sent asap.

  The duo of older trainers said a final goodbye to the twins too and then set their hands on Wattson’s Electrode. The Fire and Electric type trainers disappeared in a burst of purple light and then it was just the four of us.

  “It’s been great meeting you, Winona,” I said to our host as I shook her hand.

  “Likewise,” the Flying type trainer replied. “Be safe though. I don’t know exactly why those ninja kids attacked you but keep an eye out.”

  “I will,” I said more firmly, the additional reminder dampening my mood slightly.

  Pokemon battling was one thing, but an apparent assassination attempt was something entirely different. It was something I hadn’t been prepared for in the slightest.

  I felt a spike of fury well up inside me before pushing it down where it belonged. I would save those emotions for later, when the people that deserved my ire were present. Leah’s grip on my arm stiffened too and I could sense that she was of a very similar opinion to myself.

  “Thanks for letting us come, Winona!” Tate cheered and his sister was nodding in agreement.

  “You were more than welcome,” the woman said kindly to the twins. But I could see the way her eyes drifted upwards. She was thinking about how the weather was changing.

  Winona clearly needed to get back out to help run protection around the local wild areas and in preparation for that she had her Tropius still out. It was probably the Pokemon she would be riding again as she flew around Routes 119 and 120 looking for people in trouble.

  Liza produced a Pokeball from her belt and from it appeared an older looking Kadabra.

  “Time to go home, Kadabra.”

  The Kadabra nodded and held out its arms.

  “You just need to touch him somewhere,” Tate advised me, but then he looked at Leah and suddenly went embarrassed. “But you know how Teleport works already.”

  I only smiled and didn’t say anything else to potentially embarrass him further and reached out to put a hand on the Kadabra’s shoulder. Leah let go of me. She didn’t need the Kadabra to teleport herself. She was going to join us via her own Teleport, following along in my wake.

  “Bye!” The twins said jovially and Winona managed to raise her hand to wave before I felt the familiar energy of a Teleport activate and a few moments later we were inside another building that I immediately assumed was the Mossdeep Gym.

  “Welcome to Mossdeep!” Tate and Liza said brightly.

  I was about to reply but a moment later I was glomped as Leah teleported to my side and the brightly smiling Gardevoir practically leapt at me and hugged my side.

  And so I had arrived at Gym number seven, the home of psychics in Hoenn.

  “Come on let’s show him around,” Tate said brightly.

  “Yeah!” Liza said, just as enthusiastically and it was then that I noted the oddly anticipatory expressions on their faces. It looked like they were going to be pulling some kind of joke on someone, probably me.

  I found myself quickly ushered out of the room and into the Mossdeep Gym proper.