"Chaah…"
"Ursah…"
"Aaaar…"
At the signal, every exhausted Pokémon on the field slumps to the ground. Within seconds, they're all asleep—many even snoring. That showed just how drained they were after days of relentless training.
Torterra's Grassy Terrain ignites its soothing, green aura, gently healing each Pokémon. Grass sprouts across the battered area as Tendrils of Life entwine every sleeper. The Life Infusion method begins, kickstarting senior-level growth training.
"Raaa…"
Torterra closes its eyes, entering a peaceful recovery phase. Silence blankets the Tree of Beginning. Scorched ground now sprouts fresh grass, with peaceful Pokémon sleeping soundly.
Paul returns, having found no trace of Deoxys in the Forbidden Sea, and sees this serene tableau first.
"Are they slacking off?" he muses, surveying the area. But upon noticing their deep sleep, he smiles—you can't overtrain a Pokémon without rest.
"Mewtwo? How did it go out there?" Paul asks telepathically.
"I caught a new Pokémon. It has potential." Mewtwo's voice echoes in his mind.
"Potential?" Paul prompts gently.
Mewtwo pauses. It's been steadily improving, but destiny's question lingers: Does it have something more?
"Compared with you guys, it's less naturally talented. We'll need your help to train it."
Paul's words are full of warmth and determination.
"Release them." Mewtwo says. Shimmering shields materialize, gently waking the trio:
Electivire ("Vireee");
Garchomp ("Gaaaar!");
and Chimchar ("Yah!").
Chimchar instinctively covers its mouth to avoid waking sleepers, but freezes in awe. Even Garchomp and Electivire tower over it, while Mewtwo's psychic aura hums faintly.
"This place…so different…"
Mewtwo's voice chimes in Mewtwo's telepathy: "That one—isn't very noticeable, right?"
Chimchar considers its modest abilities. Then Mewtwo continues:
"Some power hides deep inside DNA that eyes can't see."
Paul interjects: "You've existed for some time now, do you sense latent power?"
"I…don't feel it." Mewtwo replies, confused.
"Could I Mega Evolve?"
"You could, in theory. In some worlds, Mewtwo can—from having no stone, but innate ability."
He's referencing the movie Genesect and the Legend Awakened, where a parallel-world Mewtwo has Mega Evolution mastery. But that world is separate from the anime version, so there's no easy precedent here.
"If you could twin Mega Evolve," Paul murmurs, "your strength would skyrocket, but you don't feel that…so maybe you just lack activation."
"Unless—?" Mewtwo broods.
Paul nods: "Until you can trigger Mega Evolution on your own, you'd need a Mega Stone."
That thought weighs heavily: to traverse worlds and find a Mega Stone especially for a non-human, non-gameworld being was a massive undertaking.
"You focus on your research. I'll arrange for you to see Professor Rowan soon."
"Alright!" Mewtwo agrees.
Training and Mega Evolution requires time, energy, and planning.
Paul then instructs: "Rotom, upload tutorial vids on Dig, Flamethrower, and Fire Punch to Chimchar's mind."
"Mmm, got it, Roto~." Rotom zips off. With telepathy and psych tech, Rotom becomes a floating tutor, broadcasting move data directly to students.
Chimchar feels a surge as video data floods its mind—techniques flash before its eyes, teaching form and essence.
"Chimchar!" Paul encourages as Chimchar bounds off to practice. Confident, it attempts Flamethrower.
"Yaaah…" A timid blaze of sparks sputters into the wall, hardly enough to char the paint.
'Mind says I know it—body says otherwise,' it realizes.
Chimchar resets, focusing on concentrated flame, not chaotic bursts. After repeated attempts, until panting, a hot flame finally shoots out and scorches the ground.
"Phew! Pip!" Chimchar leaps in triumph.
Paul arrives: "Well done. How's the rest?"
Chimchar blushes, only to managed a smoky ember.
Paul reassures: "Take your time. Drop Dig and Flamethrower for now—focus on Ember, Fire Punch, and Fire Spin."
He places an Oran Berries nearby, offering nourishment and morale.
"Yah!" Chimchar pounces with renewed spirit.
Elsewhere, Ursaluna wakes first and gets hit by a stray Fire Spin!
CLANG!
Fire tears across its belly—but it shrugs it off, mystified.
Before it stands a small monkey—Chimchar, Paul approaches:
"New partner. You'll train together from now on."
"Ursaah?" Ursaluna grumbles.
"Why train my side…?"
Chimchar's hopeful gaze dissolves Ursaluna's doubts—and so it steps in, ready to train it.
And with that, the next wave of training begins.
Paul's team grows stronger—step by step, flame by flame.
(End of Chapter)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you want to access the advanced chapters, please visit: patreon.com / PMadz_23