"Looks like you put quite a lot of thought into developing this strategy based on your own Beedrill's traits. Lansat Berry isn't exactly a common berry, you know."
Turning his gaze toward Troy, Terrance showed an expression of approval. However, inside, Troy's heart was already surging like a stormy sea.
Lansat Berry, Bug Bite, Focus Energy, Pin Missile, Sniper—he had painstakingly developed this strategy after poring over countless resources based on his Beedrill's condition. Yet Terrance had seen through it all in just a single round. Even the type of berry he had first fed to Beedrill was known to him. This realization left Troy feeling a little defeated.
Even the effect of the Lansat Berry was known to his opponent?
Troy was shocked. He had only learned of the Lansat Berry's effect through a lucky coincidence. This kind of knowledge was completely inaccessible at his current level; it was his "small stroke of luck." Without this "small stroke of luck," he could never have devised this training method. Yet, Terrance saw through a technique that was such a rare find for him, with just a single glance...
"Senior Terrance…" Troy lowered his head.
"Don't be discouraged. Your talent goes far beyond this, it's only your background that limits your growth." Terrance walked up to him, patted his head, and smiled. "Now, as the Fallarbor Gym Leader, I officially invite you to join Fallarbor Gym. Would you like to?"
"There's no need to answer right away. Think it over carefully."
"Fallarbor Gym specializes in Bug-type Pokémon. It was established not long ago and is located in the Hoenn region. If you're willing to become an apprentice at Fallarbor Gym, once your training is complete, you'll be able to obtain official Trainer identity through the Gym's channel. What do you say?"
"A Bug-type Gym, huh?" A strange light flickered in Troy's eyes. After a long moment of thought, he glanced at his Beedrill and said firmly, "I'm willing."
"Excellent." Terrance nodded. The young man hadn't answered impulsively, nor had he hesitated too long. His decisiveness pleased Terrance. Moreover, Troy's battle philosophy—built upon breeding knowledge—was strikingly similar to Terrance's own style. From these points alone, Troy was indeed a fitting choice to become a Fallarbor Gym apprentice.
With Troy joining, Fallarbor Gym could finally be considered to have officially started. It now had its very first Gym apprentice.
"Senior Terrance, when should I head to Fallarbor Gym? I still haven't settled things with my job…" Troy asked at that moment.
"Your job? Quit it," Terrance said casually. "There's no rush to go to the Gym just yet. Another Gym Leader is managing things there for now. You'll stay with me for a while, and when the time comes, I'll arrange for you to head to the Gym."
"And also, don't call me 'Senior Terrance' anymore."
"I understand, Mr. Gym Leader," Troy replied.
"Gym Leader, huh? Well, fine."
...
...
A day later, after settling his affairs, Troy found Terrance again. Soon, the two of them arrived outside Viridian City.
At noon, they stopped beside a large boulder to rest.
"I'll take care of gathering firewood."
As noon arrived, Troy wanted to take the initiative to prepare lunch, but Terrance waved him off.
"No need for all that trouble."
Noticing that Troy had brought a complete set of cooking tools, Terrance smiled faintly. "Let's just make do with the curry in your backpack. As for water and fire…"
He tossed out a Poké Ball, calling out Castform. In an instant, a mass of water condensed out of the air, and then the surrounding temperature spiked. The entire mass of water began boiling rapidly.
Watching the small Castform control both water and fire so effortlessly, Troy couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. Such a convenient ability. It was practically a must-have Pokémon for any traveler.
"I'll prepare lunch!" Troy said quickly.
Lunch passed by in no time, and Troy asked, "Mr. Gym Leader, where are we going next?"
"The mountaintop," Terrance said, pointing into the distance. "According to the forecast, there will be a full moon tomorrow night. The time when moonlight's power is at its strongest. We'll head to the top of a mountain to wait for it."
"Wait for the full moon?" Troy was puzzled, but he didn't ask further. Instead, he obediently followed alongside Terrance.
When Terrance stopped, Troy trained his Beedrill. When Terrance moved, he followed along the road beside him.
Just like that, this routine continued for another day. The next morning, while Terrance was still in meditation, Troy had already risen early to begin training with Beedrill.
"How diligent…" Terrance, while meditating, sensed what was happening around him. Noticing Troy's effort, he was momentarily surprised.
Indeed, if Troy didn't work this hard, it wouldn't have been easy to train his Beedrill to reach the threshold level of regional league within two months.
"Beedrill, use Pin Missile!!"
Standing outside, Troy commanded Beedrill as it attacked the rocks. Beedrill's various moves were being practiced again and again.
This kind of training could only help a Pokémon become familiar with its moves, but true mastery was difficult, unless one trained for years.
In Terrance's view, this method was rather inefficient. However, considering Troy's limited foundation, he could understand.
"Giant pitcher plant, castor bean, water hemlock, white snakeroot, monkshood, bladderwort, Venus flytrap, black hornweed, oleander…"
While training, Troy suddenly heard these words drift into his ears. Startled, he turned around.
"Mr. Gym Leader, you're awake."
"Mm. Did you get that down?" Terrance looked at Troy after reciting the names of thirteen plants.
"Ah…" Troy froze for a moment, then showed a troubled expression. "No, I didn't."
"Then I'll repeat them." Terrance smiled and went through the list again, this time speaking more slowly. As it turned out, Troy's memory was quite good; he quickly memorized the names and hurriedly wrote them down.
"These are the most basic ingredients for preparing 'Toxic.' You'll need to gather the materials yourself. Once you've collected them all, come to me for the mixing method."
"Collect the materials… here on this mountain?" Troy was taken aback.
"You'd be lucky to find even one or two of them on this mountain. Gathering the full set on your own is impossible. I don't care how you manage to get them, I just want to see results." Terrance waved a hand dismissively. "Come on, we're heading to the summit. I'll be staying there all day. The rest of the time is yours, whether you choose to train or search for ingredients is up to you."
Silently following behind Terrance, Troy kept reciting the names of the plants in his mind.
After two hours of climbing, they reached the mountaintop. Terrance asked, "Have you decided what you'll do?"
"Yes. I plan to look for the materials," Troy said.
"In that case, here, this is the Rotom Pokédex. Use it to understand the characteristics of each plant carefully." As Terrance spoke, the Rotom Pokédex floated out of his backpack, adopting the air of a senior as it looked at Troy.
"You may call me Teacher Rotom, Roto!!" the Rotom Pokédex declared pompously.
Seeing the Rotom Pokédex fly out and start talking, Troy's eyes went wide. He jumped back in shock and pointed at it, stammering.
"It really can serve as your teacher. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask it," Terrance said with a smile. The Rotom Pokédex was, in a sense, another version of Terrance himself.
"Y-yes, yes!" Troy nodded and bowed respectfully. "Hello, Teacher Rotom!"
Leaving Troy in Rotom's care, Terrance began planning for Vulpix's evolution under the full moon.
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