Holy Arceus...
What just happened?
Donphan stared at Aggron, who was now completely enveloped in a swirling, brownish-yellow aura of raw energy. The ground-type Pokémon was, frankly, a little panicked.
There's no way he learned that just by watching once, right? Is that even possible? Did this guy already know the move and he's just out here pranking me and my Trainer?
Tyson, watching from the sidelines, was equally stunned.
"Kashiwagi, your Aggron—"
"Shhh!"
Kashiwagi pressed a finger to his lips, his eyes wide with pleasant shock. He watched as the Rock-type energy surged, completely drowning out Aggron's metallic frame. Aggron didn't know a single physical, contact-based Rock-type move before this.
So there was no mistake. This was Head Smash.
Go!
Charge, you big guy!
Kashiwagi's eyes burned with anticipation. Ever since the day they successfully Mega Evolved, their bond had reached a point where words were barely necessary. Even standing there in silence, Aggron could feel his presence—his excitement, his will, and his tactical intent.
Then...
"A-G-G-R-O-N-N-N!!"
Like a massive, glowing meteor, Aggron lunged forward!
He was wrapped in a visible, violent torrent of air, charging with a momentum so terrifying it looked like it could uproot a house and toss it into the sea.
The sandy floor of the battlefield was torn open, leaving a deep, jagged trench in its wake.
The wind roared, mixing with dust and grit to create a howling gale that nearly knocked the two human onlookers off their feet!
The very air trembled, emitting a bone-rattling boom!
"What terrifying power!"
Tyson's expression shifted to one of pure alarm.
Meowth had already scrambled over to huddle behind Donphan, who had instinctively crouched low. The wind was so strong that Meowth's thin little body felt like it was about to be carried away like a stray leaf.
That would be way too embarrassing for a veteran Pokémon.
"Meow-outh!"
"Donnn... phan!"
The two "brothers in arms" let out muffled cries that were instantly swallowed by the roar of the impact. This kind of typhoon-level energy storm was something they had only ever felt when battling the Elite Four.
Is this guy secretly an Elite Four member from another region? they wondered, shooting a wary look at the cheering Kashiwagi.
.....
In the center of the field, the brilliant "meteor" streaked across nearly the entire length of the arena. It wasn't until it reached the very edge that the energy shattered into a million sparkling particles, revealing the steam-covered Aggron within.
"Beautifully done! You nailed it on the first try, Aggron!"
Kashiwagi rushed forward immediately. The silver-armored beast was panting heavily, but a massive, triumphant grin stretched across his iron face.
Suddenly...
"Agg... ron..."
Aggron took one step forward, then his massive frame buckled. He dropped to one knee, his breathing turning into ragged, heavy gasps.
Kashiwagi's heart plummeted. He stopped his celebratory dive and knelt by Aggron's side, carefully checking his vitals.
"Where does it hurt? What's wrong?"
Head Smash was a high-recoil move, sure, but it shouldn't have left Aggron this exhausted—neither in terms of elemental energy nor physical stamina.
Something wasn't right. This "instant mastery" after seeing the move just once... something hidden was happening under the surface.
Or is it lingering fatigue from the Mega Evolution earlier? Kashiwagi wondered. Was I too reckless pushing him to learn such a high-power move right after a battle? No... I checked his condition before we started. He should have been fine.
"Ag-gron."
Aggron lifted a heavy claw and shook his head slowly. He wasn't in pain; he just felt an overwhelming, sudden wave of exhaustion wash over him.
Donphan watched him panting and felt a chill go down its spine.
Is learning moves always this exhausting?
Okay, sure, training is hard work, but being drained to the point of collapse after one go? What is going on with this guy?!
Donphan's limited brain capacity was reaching its limit trying to process Aggron's weirdness.
Meowth was equally puzzled. At first, Aggron seemed terrifying; now, he wondered if the big guy was just a "glass cannon" that looked tough but had no substance.
The expressions and emotions of both Pokémon were extremely complicated.
.....
Tyson, being a practical Trainer, didn't overthink the mechanics. He spoke up with genuine concern: "We should get him to the Pokémon Center for a check-up. Just to be safe!"
"...Right! Let's go!" Kashiwagi agreed.
Guessing wasn't going to solve anything.
He couldn't help but think this anomaly was tied to the Mirror Herb. Is the correct way to use it NOT by eating it? Was Professor Kukui's research paper wrong?
No, that didn't make sense either. In Kukui's papers, Pokémon never learned a move instantly like this; it usually took several days of gradual practice.
Kashiwagi's mind was a whirlwind of theories. He spoke some soft words of comfort to Aggron before recalling him into his Poké Ball.
Suddenly, a beep-beep sound came from beside him.
He turned to see Tyson sitting atop an electric tricycle—the kind usually seen in the countryside for hauling vegetables to the city market.
Meowth was already perched regally in the passenger seat. Donphan had presumably been returned to its ball.
"Hop in!" Tyson called out.
"Oh! Coming!"
Kashiwagi jumped into the back of the cart, figuring this was probably the vehicle Tyson's family used for their business deliveries.
A short ride later, they arrived at the local Pokémon Center.
Kashiwagi handed Aggron's ball over to a smiling Nurse Joy, then sat down across from Tyson, his brow still furrowed in worry.
"Don't put too much pressure on yourself," Tyson reassured him.
"Aggron is tough. He'll be just fine."
"Huh? Oh... yeah. I hope so."
Kashiwagi nodded in response to Tyson's concern.
"It could be lingering exhaustion from the Gym battle, but I suspect the Mirror Herb played a part. Normally, there's no way my Aggron would pick up a move like Head Smash that easily."
If it were Hydreigon, he might believe it—but he knew his own team better than anyone.
Aggron was the type of Pokémon whose "learning stats" were... well, a bit rocky. He had a habit of learning things sideways.
He'd try to learn Rock Slide and end up with Rock Tomb. He'd aim for Earthquake and somehow master Stomping Tantrum. He'd even tried Heavy Slam once and came out swinging with High Horsepower.
The only time a move had ever gone smoothly was Dragon Rush, and that was only because he was fueled by pure, petty sibling rivalry with Deino.
"Mirror Herb, huh..." Tyson mused.
He was the kind of Trainer who didn't usually believe in "external boosts," but he wasn't about to lecture a peer unless they were doing something dangerous.
Kashiwagi pulled out his Pokédex to dive back into the research on Mirror Herbs, while simultaneously having Porygon2 draft an urgent email to Professor Kukui regarding Aggron's sudden collapse.
However, no matter how much he searched, he couldn't find a single recorded case of a Mirror Herb allowing a Pokémon to master a move instantly after just one look.
Is it... a 'singularity'?
The word floated through Kashiwagi's mind. In the Pokémon world, "singularities" were the ultimate wildcards—moments where a Pokémon defied common sense and game mechanics.
He thought of Ash Ketchum's track record: the "Golden Swellow" born from enduring a Thunderbolt, the Infernape that basically broke the laws of physics when Blaze triggered, and Ash's Pikachu, who seemed to reset his power level and then explode into godhood whenever the plot demanded it. All of them were definitions of specific, unique potential.
Even Kashiwagi himself, a transmigrator, was a walking singularity.
"Happy~! Happy-l!"
A Blissey nurse came trotting over, pushing a medical cart. On it lay a health report and Aggron's Poké Ball. She gestured for Kashiwagi to head to the front desk to speak with Nurse Joy.
"Thanks, Blissey."
Kashiwagi grabbed the report, his heart thumping as he walked to the counter.
Behind him, Tyson sat nervously, gulping down water. As a fellow Trainer, he felt the secondhand anxiety—there was nothing worse than seeing your partner fall ill.
....
A few minutes later, Kashiwagi returned. The rigid tension in his shoulders had melted away, replaced by a relieved sigh.
"...False alarm. Nurse Joy said he just experienced a massive, instantaneous drain of stamina and elemental energy. It hit him all at once, which caused the sudden collapse. She recommends two days of rest."
"That's a relief!"
Tyson slumped back in his chair, taking a long victory-sip of his water.
"But wait—a massive drain? He didn't even land the hit, right? And your Aggron has the Rock Head ability to prevent recoil anyway, doesn't he?"
"Exactly. It must be a side effect of the Mirror Herb," Kashiwagi replied with a wry smile.
Feeding the herb directly to a Pokémon to learn an Egg Move was probably an "off-label" use.
Professor Kukui's paper explained what the herb did, but it didn't exactly come with a 'How-To' guide for dummies.
I was too impatient, Kashiwagi thought. I should have followed the herbalist's lead and checked with a Day Care breeder first.
Still, Aggron had mastered the move. This "one-shot learning" was likely a rare spark of hidden potential.
And Mauville City was a high-tech metropolis; if their medical equipment said he was okay, he was okay.
I'll get a second opinion later, he decided. Doesn't LaRousse City have a massive medical research center? Once we travel there, I'll give the whole team a full diagnostic check-up.
....
Back at the backyard of Tyson's house, Kashiwagi released Aggron.
"Agg... ron!" The big guy stomped onto the grass, looking at his Trainer with a slightly sheepish, comforting expression.
See? Told you I was fine.
"If 'I'm fine' was a magic spell that actually worked, hospitals wouldn't exist," Kashiwagi joked, gently rubbing the scarred iron plating on Aggron's head.
"Get some rest. Your throne as the team's heavy hitter is more secure than ever now."
"Agg-ron-n!" the beast let out a happy, low-frequency rumble.
He checked his Pokédex—Head Smash was officially registered in the move set. Before learning it, Aggron thought it was just another tackle. Now that he knew the mechanics, he realized...
Whoa. This move is freaking busted!
It was a top-tier Rock-type move. While his High Horsepower was great for dealing with those annoying Electric-types like Manectric, if he'd had Head Smash during the Gym battle, he probably could have ended the fight in one hit!
With this new weapon in their arsenal, Kashiwagi felt ready to head to the next city... or perhaps head back to Meteor Falls to scout the Dragon's Den for a new teammate.
He recalled Aggron to let him sleep.
"Since we've got some time before dinner..." Tyson stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with competitive fire.
"How about a battle? Let's see what your other Pokémon can do!"
"Meow-TH! That's right!" Meowth added, sparks practically flying from his eyes as he stood ready to scrap.
Kashiwagi, however, shook his head.
"Mmm... as much as I'd love to take you up on that, let's hold off. I really need to give my brain a rest, plus I've got to head out tomorrow."
Between dealing with Unit Zero, the Gym challenge, and the sudden drama of Aggron's move-learning, he was running on fumes.
He hadn't slept well the night before, and the fact that he was still standing was a minor miracle of human endurance.
"Ah, I get it..." Tyson looked a bit disappointed but didn't push. He gestured toward the house.
"Go on in and find a seat. I'll go brew us some tea."
Meowth, on the other hand, stood there with his eyes bugged out, his face practically screaming: YOU KIDDING ME?!
Are you scared, punk?! You're totally chicken!
"Hmm? Something wrong?"
Kashiwagi noticed the intense stare. Not quite translating the feline's silent insults, he reached out curiously and gave the charm on Meowth's hat a little pat.
"Nice hat. Looking sharp."
DON'T TOUCH THE MERCH!
Meowth's eyes widened even further. In the old days, he would have shredded Kashiwagi's hand into ribbons by now. But after a couple of years of getting scolded by Tyson's younger sister for "clawing the customers," he'd learned some restraint.
...But surely he could scratch this guy? Just a little bit?
Meowth watched Kashiwagi's retreating back, slowly unsheathing a single claw. He decided to go for a "warning swipe"—just enough to startle him without drawing blood.
Target locked. Commencing—
He lunged forward, claw raised, only for his vision to suddenly blur.
"Po-ree!"
A blue-and-pink digital duck, slightly taller than Meowth, materialized out of thin air, blocking his path like a neon roadblock.
"MEOW!?"
Meowth skidded to a halt, stunned. Where did this toy bird come from?! A Poké Ball? I didn't even hear the 'ping'!
Kashiwagi turned around at the sound.
"Huh? Why are you out? Oh! Substitute! Right, I totally forgot I promised we'd work on that..."
"Po-ree~" Porygon2 shook its head gently. It's fine. We can learn it tomorrow.
The virtual Pokémon could see the hidden exhaustion etched into its Trainer's face.
It wasn't about to demand a training session now; it wasn't like the move would disappear if they didn't practice today.
Kashiwagi smiled and patted Porygon2's smooth, digital head.
"Thanks for being so understanding."
"Po-ree~"
"MEOWWW!"
Stop ignoring me like I'm a piece of furniture!
The impulsive Meowth was fuming now. If he couldn't scratch the human, scratching the digital duck was fair game!
He swung a ferocious Fury Swipes—only to see the duck's eyes flash. A strange, eerie black mist surged around Porygon2's body, and Meowth's claws passed right through it as if he were swiping at smoke.
"Meow-huh?"
Meowth stared at his paws, then at the Porygon2 standing inches away.
"Wait... did Conversion 2 just change?"
Kashiwagi watched in awe. Porygon2 had transformed into a shadowy, deep-purple specter draped in wisps of dark energy.
Back in its Porygon stage, Conversion 2 usually just changed its color. But this... this looked like its very molecular structure had shifted to the Ghost-type!
"Po-ree!"
Porygon2 stared Meowth down, full of fighting spirit. Its energy wasn't at 100%, but it figured it had more than enough juice to handle this fancy-hat cat.
Meowth felt the sting of the digital duck's disdain. His eyes sharpened—alright, time to get serious—
"Meowth, STOP! How many times have I told you?! No attacking people for no reason!"
A sharp, youthful voice rang out from the side.
The three of them—man, cat, and duck—all turned in unison. A young girl stood there clutching her backpack. She looked about ten years old and bore a striking resemblance to Tyson.
"Meow..."
Cold sweat broke out on Meowth's forehead the moment he saw her.
Tyson happened to walk out of the house just then. "Why aren't you guys in—oh! Yuko, you're home from school? Welcome back! This is—"
"LORD KASHIWAGI!"
The girl, Yuko, sprinted forward. Her face was a mix of explosive excitement and a desperate attempt to stay "composed".
She looked at Kashiwagi with eyes full of pure, unadulterated worship. She suddenly smoothed her skirt and did a dramatic, overly formal bow.
"My name is Yuko... I am your most devoted, number-one fan!~"
"Uh."
Kashiwagi's skin crawled slightly. He caught Tyson's helpless, apologetic look and managed a weak smile.
"Just 'Kashiwagi' or Brother Kashiwagi is fine... I'm friends with your brother here. No need for the 'Lord' stuff."
"Understood! Kashiwagi-Big-Brother-Lord!"