I went to sleep being poked by an annoying Psychic Pokemon, I woke up to the sensation of being poked by the same annoying Psychic Pokemon.

  Fortunately I knew what to do in this situation.

  Leah let out an undignified noise as I pushed her off the bed and she landed with a thump.

  “Honestly,” I groaned as I sat up. “It’s like you’re suddenly a Kirlia again.”

  “Garrrde,” Leah complained, standing up and rubbing at her butt where she’d landed.

  “Don’t even bother pouting,” I said gruffly, rubbing my eyes. It wasn’t going to work on me for one second.

  I went to sit at the side of the bed.

  “What time is it anyway?” It felt far too early.

  I checked the clock. Then I looked back at my Pokemon.

  “Why would you do this to me?”

  ***

  Apparently being a Psychic type meant my Pokemon had a better idea of where she was in this Gym than I did. Or maybe she’d been chatting with other Psychics while I was asleep.

  Either way she led me through to the little cafeteria room the twins had shown us yesterday. It was manned by a Kadabra in a chef’s outfit.

  I didn’t question it, I didn’t have the energy right now. The food was good at least.

  While I was eating, Fritz, the Gym trainer I had met yesterday entered. He paused when he saw me and then decided to join me with a small plate of food.

  “Do you mind if I sit here?” He asked, looking between myself and the Gardevoir.

  “Go ahead,” I said.

  He joined me at the table and calmly took a bite of his breakfast.

  “I was under the impression you were going to leave today,” he said. “Is that still the case?”

  “I’m going to stay another day,” I said. “Tate and Liza invited me to watch their badge battle this afternoon.”

  Fritz nodded.

  “It should be an interesting match. The challenger has at least two strong Dark type Pokemon which will give her a major advantage.”

  “Will they be enough to let her win a badge?” I asked, curiously.

  “Not necessarily,” Fritz said. “At the fifth level trainers are required to have some understanding of strategy around their Pokemon. Simply using Dark types against our Psychic types isn’t enough to earn a badge at this point.”

  “I see,” I said. “So what do you look for at different levels of badge?” I asked curiously.

  “At Mossdeep we run a series of categories to judge Trainers on. First is of course a basic understanding of type advantages. Deliberately using Ghost, Bug or Dark type moves and Pokemon against us, that sort of thing.”

  I nodded. That was always the basics in the games. Knowing a Fighting, Steel, Grass or Water type move was more or less all you needed to beat the typical Rock type Gym Leaders at the start of a journey, likewise knowing a Fire, flying or Rock type move for the rest which were often Bug typed. The same logic would apply against a Psychic Gym.

  “Next we look for a general level of strength,” Fritz explained. “Second badge trainers should be at least stronger than a first badge trainer. It’s a bit harder to judge, but the Pokemon we use at that level are all fairly stagnant so their own levels of strength are well known to us at this point for comparison.

  “At the third badge it’s adapting to weaknesses in their Pokemon’s typing. For example learning certain moves to counter obvious counters to your Pokemon or having other Pokemon that can serve the same purposes. Fourth badge is another power measurement. The Pokemon we use will be much stronger than at the third badge tier.”

  “And I assume for the sixth and eighth badge it’s the same strength test?” I asked. Fritz nodded.

  “That’s all really fascinating,” I said, taking in the useful information. “I was thinking it worked something along those lines. I… always had my own ideas for how I would go about judging people for Badges if I had my own Gym.”

  Well, I’d been thinking about it for years anyway. Obviously I didn’t have much basis to judge if I was on the right track without talking to a Gym leader myself, but back then it had always just been idle thinking.

  “Our system works well enough for us,” Fritz said, shrugging. “I know the other Gyms prioritize other things at different degrees, but the former Gym Leader knew how she wanted things done and Tate and Liza have continued with her philosophy. Only with the introduction of double battles at the fourth badge tier too.”

  I nodded again. Obviously the twins would do double battles as part of their whole… theme. But earlier trainers might not be up for that.

  “What exactly are you looking for at the fifth level?” I asked. That was the battle they were having today.

  “After the fourth badge tier we more put up obstacles for them to overcome with more advanced strategies and such being used. A Dark typing will give her an advantage, but it won’t be enough to earn a badge on its own, especially if the challenger rely on just that…”

  He sounded a bit aggravated about Dark types, and a bit pleased to say that just having Dark type Pokemon wouldn’t be enough at this level, I thought.

  I couldn’t exactly sympathise myself, because my Fairy types did the same to Dragon types. I was more on the other side of the equation. It had to be very frustrating for your own typing to be completely no-sold by another one however.

  But at least Dragon types deserved it.

  “Even if they win?” I asked curiously. “What if they don’t demonstrate the right level of ability?”

  “It’s rare, but I know sometimes the older Liza did refuse to give a Gym Badge,” Fritz said. He shrugged. “Normally it was because someone borrowed Pokemon from someone else. They hadn’t trained them so they hadn’t earnt the badge properly.”

  I’d heard about Gym Leaders refusing to give badges before and I remembered maybe once or twice in the anime that had happened, but then it had been more due to pettiness than having an actual reason to do so. It was good to know if I did decide to do that for some reason that there was a precedent for it.

  This little talk was highly informative and I was glad to see the way Mossdeep did things was similar to my own ideas for how to judge worthiness for a Gym badge.

  I was about to thank Fritz for the information when the entrance to the room opened. A bleary eyed Samantha entered.

  When she saw me she froze in surprise before hurrying over to get her food. She didn’t join us, instead choosing to sit on her own.

  “Don’t mind her,” Fritz softly spoke, not having turned in his seat yet somehow knowing who was there. “She’s a bit uncomfortable after what happened yesterday.”

  “So am I,” I said honestly. Exactly what the woman had seen yesterday in my head hadn’t been pleasant for her and it just made me feel awkward. Fritz’s awkward smile showed he was of the same opinion.

  “That psychic defence of yours,” he enquired. “Do you have any control over it?”

  “I didn’t even know I had it before meeting Tate and Liza,” I told him honestly.

  Fritz nodded. He frowned slightly and then shook his head.

  “The Pokemon World is full of so many strange phenomena. It seems like things are always changing.”

  “You can say that again,” I said dryly. It seemed like I’d been learning new things or being reminded about things I’d forgotten every day lately.

  We both ate peacefully for a little while. Fritz finished eating first.

  “I’m taking on a first level Badge battle who will be arriving later this morning,” he said. “If you’d like, feel free to come and watch. It shouldn’t take too long. I assume the Gym Leaders showed you where our arenas are?”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  “Oh, they did, and yeah that sounds great, thanks,” I said gratefully. It’d be interesting to see another first level Gym battle. I’d seen the boy, Ben back at Mauville but I fancied that that hadn’t been a typical encounter.

  “They’re free to the public to come and watch,” Fritz told me. “Not many people do though, at least not for lower tier badges. There might be some people in the audience for the Gym Leaders’ battle this afternoon though.”

  With that bit of information imparted the man said goodbye and then left.

  It left me alone in the room with Samantha, who was still not looking at me. That was fine by me. With the room quiet and mostly empty, I decided to get some work done before heading down to watch this first badge challenge.

  ***

  He’d shown up as many of the newer ones did. That being unannounced, overconfident and raring for a battle.

  During the early part of the season they required people to make appointments and that occasionally led to a bit of trouble with kids not being willing to wait. But now nearer the end of the season it wasn’t really a problem.

  It was less annoying for him than it might have been. Being a psychic meant that you weren’t often surprised, provided you put the time and effort into divining the right questions. He had predicted Jeremy’s arrival, but Fritz still couldn’t help but feel a bit of resentment at having to deal with dunderheads like this one seemed to be.

  It did make Fritz better appreciate the idea of Roxanne’s Trainer School over in Rustboro. It was probably much more of a problem over at the “first Gym” and he absolutely didn’t want to go there because of that, ever.

  Jeremy had of course wanted and expected to battle the Gym Leaders. Except the Gym Leaders were busy taking care of the stronger Gym Pokemon in anticipation of their fifth badge match this afternoon. So this first badge challenge fell to Fritz to handle.

  After explaining that to the boy, Fritz escorted the challenger through to the first through third badge arena, a smaller one more suitable for smaller Pokemon and less powerful attacks.

  Jeremy was still very excited. Fritz could practically feel it wafting off the boy without even opening his psychic senses. Before Fritz had even reached his end of the arena the boy had already decided to start things off.

  “Go Tentacool!” Shouted the boy.

  Fritz took his place, looked at the challenger and repressed a sigh. It was either that, or not to raise an eyebrow as he stood opposite his opponent. He just couldn’t bring himself to do both.

  It wasn’t considered good manners to use your abilities to determine the outcome of battles ahead of time. There was also the possibility that you could hobble yourself by foreseeing a defeat and making it a self fulfilling prophecy, or getting too confident and losing because of that. Claiming a victory because you’d foreseen it was also considered the height of childishness.

  In this case however, Fritz was experienced enough that he could already predict which way things were going to go.

  “This will be a standard Gym battle,” Fritz explained calmly. “I shall use two Pokemon, beat them and you will have earnt the Mind Badge.”

  “What, two?” Jeremy asked incredulously.

  “Yes… First badge challenges in Mossdeep typically involve battling two Pokemon,” he said factually.

  “Oh,” Jeremy said awkwardly. “I-I knew that!”

  “There shall be a maximum of one substitution. The battle will start on my mark,” Fritz continued, choosing not to respond to that last comment. “You will have the first move.”

  “Yes!” Jeremy pumped his fist, like it was some great victory.

  It was… depressing. Fritz much preferred battles after the third badge tier. Trainers were generally a lot smarter and more mature at that point. Or maybe the wheat had just been separated from the chaff.

  “Go Baltoy,” Fritz said calmly.

  The small Baltoy appeared on the flat arena floor and spun around, taking in its surroundings. It was on the younger side. But then so was it’s opponent. Fritz had chosen it to be kind, or perhaps to make a point, depending on whether Baltoy’s opponent had any idea of what he was getting into this morning.

  Right now Fritz also had his audience of two to consider. The arena stands were currently empty except for Harry Hemming watching from a corner with his Gardevoir at his side. Sometimes the families of local badge challengers came to watch, but not today.

  Exactly what was going on with the strange Fairy type specialist, Fritz wasn’t sure, but it had something to do with the Gyms, he was certain. He wanted to pry, he really did but after Samantha’s two experiences psychically investigating the man he’d decided that discretion was the better part of valour.

  He’d almost assume the man was a League inspector of some sort, especially given his mental defences. But after speaking to him it wasn’t the impression Mr Hemming gave off whatsoever. The Gym Leaders, despite how young they were, would have also been far less friendly to him if that were the case.

  Regardless of the reality of what was going on, which he would be trying to figure out later during his meditations with Natu, he wanted to demonstrate his professionalism and competence before the other man.

  Meanwhile, all caught up in the excitement, Jeremy hadn’t noticed Harry’s presence yet. That was probably for the best. The boy seemed to be only ten or eleven years old and from experience the Psychic Gym trainer knew they rarely dealt well with an audience, especially for what he suspected was a first battle…

  The Tentacool looked awkward as it sat there in the arena. Fritz only hoped that the poor thing hadn’t been brought directly here from the beach and it’s new trainer had a vague idea of what he was doing.

  Fritz exhaled slowly. This wasn’t what he’d imagined doing when he’d signed up as a Gym trainer. But he’d learnt a lot before Liza passed away and he owed her a great deal even after her death for teaching him.

  It was time to get this thing going.

  “You may begin.” Fritz said.

  “Alright Tentacool, use Poison sting!” Jeremy shouted.

  Fritz sighed audibly. There went his remaining hopes for an entertaining lower level battle.

  The Tentacool leaned forward, pointing the red gem at its forehead forwards and a burst of toxic purple needles were shot towards the Baltoy.

  Unfortunately, the Baltoy was Ground type in addition to being a Psychic type and so the Poison type attack wasn’t very effective. Taking a quick look over the Pokemon Fritz saw it hadn’t been unlucky enough to be poisoned.

  “Use Rapid Spin,” he said in retaliation. Using a super effective Confusion would just be overkill at this point. Maybe Jeremy could salvage this.

  The Baltoy, looking slightly annoyed after being hit with Poison Sting, obeyed the instruction happily. It tilted itself to charge forwards and the Tentacool was taken by surprise, knocked back by the attack.

  Baltoy remained spinning however as it returned to Fritz’s side of the field. It was clearly an energetic one. He could sense a great deal of excitement from it.

  “Use Poison Sting again!” Jeremy ordered. “We can win if you poison it, just like we said!”

  Fritz sighed. The kid wasn’t even thinking about telling his Pokemon to dodge.

  “Try and dodge it, then Rapid Spin again, Baltoy.”

  Only one of the Poison Sting needles hit this time as the Baltoy raced out of the way and then the Tentacool was knocked into the air by the next hit.

  Okay, maybe he’d misjudged the Baltoy’s strength when he’d selected it’s ball, but this was… abysmal.

  Possibly sensing his frustration, Baltoy came back around and the Tentacool was knocked out in the next hit.

  “I-I lost…” Jeremy said, aghast as he looked at his knocked out Pokemon.

  Fritz calmly stepped forward across the arena.

  “You did,” he said. He crouched down in front of the Tentacool to look it over. Baltoy came to a stop next to him, the little clay Pokemon leaned forward slightly to observe it’s fallen opponent stoically before tilting on its point and looking back at him.

  Fritz patted the little Pokemon on its head. Baltoy gave off a sense of happiness at the faint praise.

  It was a clingy one too, apparently. But Fritz could worry about yet another clingy Psychic type later. Right now he needed to handle the boy.

  “Do you know why you lost?” Fritz asked Jeremy.

  “Y-your Pokemon was really strong. It beat my Tentacool in only three hits,” Jeremy said.

  “No,” Fritz shook his head. “Baltoy was about as strong as your Tentacool probably is, maybe a bit stronger but not by much.”

  Baltoy rocked side to side, it was disagreeing with Fritz’s assessment and Fritz silently sent an agreement to it telepathically. He could have spoken the truth but this conversation wasn’t about beating the boy down. It was about educating him.

  “You should return your Pokemon,” Fritz said gently, the boy was starting to tear up.

  There weren’t any signs of Whiting out at least. But these things could be hard to spot.

  Once the Tentacool was safely returned to its ball, it was time to provide the necessary advice.

  “Before you consider coming back, you should think of things like type advantages. Do you know what those are?”

  “Err, Fire is good against Grass and Grass is good against Water and Water puts out Fire,” Jeremy said.

  “That’s right,” Fritz said. Maybe the kid wasn’t a complete lost cause.

  “But there’s more to it, there are lots of other types. You should do some studying on types, like what types this Baltoy is and what moves are stronger against it. Do you know what type your Tentacool is?”

  “It’s a Water and Poison type,” Jeremy said, a bit more confidently now. Fritz nodded. He offered the kid a smile which seemed to buoy him a bit.

  “Do some studying up on type advantages and maybe spend some time with your Tentacool, get to know it better. If you can, then you should try and do some battling with some other kids who don’t have any badges before coming back. You could find someone with a bit more experience and ask them for some advice too.”

  That was all the advice the boy needed right now. Maybe in a few weeks he’d be actually prepared for a Gym battle, instead of rushing in with a freshly caught Pokemon.

  “C-could you give me some advice?” Jeremy asked, scuffing his foot on the floor.

  “We can,” Fritz said. “But if you want to train your Tentacool you’ll be far better off talking to a Water type specialist.”

  Jeremy was gently turned away and sent off to find the Pokemon Centre. The Tentacool would be absolutely fine after a bit of rest. Hopefully this whole thing would be a lesson for it’s trainer.

  “Not the finest example of a first badge challenge,” Fritz said, seeing Mr Hemming coming down the stands. “We usually get people who are more prepared than that.”

  “I should hope so,” Harry said firmly. “That… was painful to watch.”

  “Not every first badge challenge is like that,” Fritz said. He sighed. “We get a few kids coming in every now and then. League rules say we can’t refuse a challenge without good reason.”

  “Yeah, I saw a first badge challenge who won in Mauville,” Harry replied thoughtfully. “This was interesting to see the other end of things though. You looked after him too.”

  “It’s our job to teach as well as battle,” Fritz said. “I’ve only ever handled up to fifth badge challengers but that’s my limit personally.”

  “Interesting,” Harry replied as they both began to leave the arena, it was almost time for lunch.

  The Baltoy, which Fritz hadn’t seen the point in returning, followed him out of the room like a duckling following it’s mother and like how he’d acquired his other Pokemon, Fritz already knew that this one wasn’t going to leave him alone either.