Author's Note: Was quiet busy with work so didnt get time for this anyway here's the new chapter , this was more of a lighter planning chapter I had written before but hadnt uploaded next chapter onwards might have to think how to go about the ss anne.
Grey's POV
After securing the Vermilion Badge and picking up my team from Nurse Joy, I made sure to reward them with a generous serving of high-quality Pokéfood. It was the perfect time to officially introduce the team to Persian. Most of them were thrilled for him, though Axew seemed a bit taken aback by the sudden change in his rival's size. To mark the occasion, I treated myself to a great meal as well; I was riding high on the win and felt like celebrating.
Later, I headed out to find a few battles. I mostly used Shellder this time around, as he was noticeably grumpy about sitting out the Gym match. While I was out, a few trainers approached me. It seemed they had either watched my battle from the stands or had been waiting in the registration queue while I was inside. They were curious, even going so far as to do a background check on me. Once they realized I was a common trainer like them—and that most of my team consisted of species they could catch themselves—they started pestering me for tips on how I made my Pokémon so strong.
I didn't reveal my specific training methods, but I did give them some blunt advice: you can't beat Surge with type advantage alone. I told them they needed to research his roster for counter-strategies and commit to serious training. They took it well, though I could tell they were hoping for some "secret trick." Unfortunately for them, there wasn't one—just straight-up smart work and discipline.
Persian still has his Pickup ability, but he's too big to hitch a ride on my shoulder now. I've decided to keep him out of his Pokéball as we travel. He seems to have developed a bit of a mean streak—typical cat behavior—but luckily he hasn't developed an attitude with me. He might actually be the strongest member of the team now. We haven't tested it in a "royal rumble" style match yet, and while Axew has Rock Smash to hit him hard, Persian is much faster now and can easily maintain the distance needed to outlast him.
In fact, I want to lean into that speed. Once we reached a secluded spot to train in peace, I gathered everyone. I told Persian I was giving him the TM for Thunderbolt, which he was more than happy to learn. My goal for him is simple: any Flying or Water types in the S.S. Anne tournament are to be fried on sight. He purred in agreement. I've decided our schedule will be intense for the next few days, followed by a full day of rest before the tournament begins next week.
For Axew, I've started looking into how to teach him Dragon Claw. For now, however, he's training with Persian. The student has effectively become the teacher; Axew has to figure out how to land hits on a much faster opponent, while Persian's job is to dodge and fire off successful Thunderbolts to keep Axew at bay.
As for Exeggcute, I would have loved to teach him Growth, but his line doesn't learn it. I considered Calm Mind, but I'd need a TM for that. After deep-diving into some move-set websites, I came up with a gimmicky strategy: Nature Power. I'm not sure if Exeggcute can master it, or how I'll even begin coaching him through it, but the potential is too good to ignore. Since the tournament is on a ship, Nature Power would likely become Hydro Pump—a perfect way to punish any Fire-types that think Exeggcute is an easy target.
For Shellder, I'm focusing on Protect. His line should learn it naturally, and it will help him last much longer in high-stakes matches. I actually want the whole team to know Protect, but it's a difficult move to master without a TM unless the Pokémon is biologically predisposed to it. I'll be looking into that tonight. I instructed both Shellder and Exeggcute to continue refining their current moves while I scoured the Pokénet for better teaching methods.
While the team trained, I focused on the S.S. Anne Invitational. This is my first real tournament, and the competition is going to be fierce. I know for a fact that Blue will be there, which means Red is almost certainly participating as well. Then there's Ash. I'm not sure how I measure up to him; he pushed Surge to his final Pokémon despite a bad matchup, and his roster is solid. I feel like I'm stronger than him for now, but I can't discount "protagonist power-ups." I don't trust luck when it comes to guys like Red or Ash, so I have to push my team to the limit.
The forums are buzzing about the Champions—Alder, Diantha, and Steven are definitely coming, with Lance overseeing everything. I have mixed feelings about that. Regardless of whether it's a PR stunt, Lance is the one who gave me Axew. I found myself wondering if he'd approve of how I've raised him. I had to literally slap my own cheeks to snap out of that line of thinking. Of course he'd approve; Axew has gone from struggling in close combat to being an absolute monster in a brawl.
The rewards are another big topic. Speculation says the winners might get a rare Pokémon from the Champions' respective regions. I need to figure out which one to target once the options are confirmed.
Finally, I debated whether I should warn Officer Jenny about the S.S. Anne. In the anime and manga, the ship gets attacked, but how could I even convince her? If I say I had a "premonition," she'll dismiss me. I can't claim to be a Psychic since they have ways to verify that. Besides, is it even necessary? There will be four Champions and likely an elite security force on board. Would Team Rocket really be foolish enough to attack a ship with that much firepower? I doubt it. And even if they do, the Champions should be more than enough to handle it.
I called it a day and headed back to the Pokémon Center to relax and continue my research for Shellder, Exeggcute, and Axew.