Chapter 18 Trainer basic
The Pokémon Center cafeteria was bustling with activity.
Trainers filled most of the tables, discussing battles, Gym challenges, and future plans while their Pokémon happily enjoyed breakfast beside them. The occasional cry of a Pokémon mixed with the clatter of dishes, creating a lively atmosphere that was common in every Pokémon Center.
At a table near the window sat Ash and his companions.
It was currently 10:50 A.M.
Serena and Misty had already finished their breakfast and were now waiting for their Pokémon to finish eating before they continued their journey.
Misty leaned back in her chair, her gaze wandering between her two traveling companions.
Almost immediately, she found herself focusing on Serena.
The blonde girl was completely absorbed in her work.
A notebook lay open before her while her Pokédex rested beside it. Every few seconds, she would glance at one of the Pokémon nearby before writing something down.
Misty could make out one of the headings from where she sat.
Kantonian Pokémon
Under that heading were detailed notes regarding her own Pokémon.
Staryu
Starmie
Goldeen
Each Pokémon had several paragraphs dedicated to it. Serena had carefully documented their appearances, known habitats, battle styles, and observed behaviors during the journey.
It honestly looked more like a research journal than a travel notebook.
hehh Guess she wouldn't be a assistant of professor if she didn't do that
However, what truly caught Misty's attention was another section.
A section dedicated entirely to a single Pokémon.
Froakie
Misty blinked.
Then blinked again.
Compared to the notes written under Kantonian Pokémon, the amount of information recorded under Froakie's name was ridiculous.
There were pages dedicated solely to him.
Height measurements.
Weight fluctuations.
Physical condition.
Training progress.
Battle observations.
Reaction speed.
Move mastery.
Behavioral patterns.
Even small details that most trainers would never think to record had been carefully noted down.
Misty was fairly certain Serena had written more about Froakie than she had about all three of her Pokémon combined.
The blonde girl continued writing with complete focus, occasionally glancing toward Froakie before adding another line to the growing mountain of notes.
Misty slowly looked away.
Some questions were better left unasked.
Her attention soon shifted toward Ash.
Unlike Serena, he wasn't writing anything.
Instead, he was studying his Pokédex.
A thoughtful expression rested on his face as he pointed the device toward Froakie.
The familiar mechanical voice sounded.
"Froakie, the Bubble Frog Pokémon.
Froakie protects itself by secreting flexible bubbles from its chest and back. Despite its carefree appearance, it is constantly alert to its surroundings. It can leap over three-story buildings and possesses exceptional agility."
Ash silently read the additional information displayed on the screen.
This wasn't the first time he had scanned Froakie.
In fact, since receiving him from Professor Oak, Ash had scanned his partner more times than he could remember.
Yet every time, he found himself checking again.
A few moments later, he lowered the Pokédex before turning it toward Serena's Pokémon.
"Fennekin, the Fox Pokémon.
Fennekin expels hot air reaching temperatures of over 390 degrees Fahrenheit from its ears. By chewing on twigs, it can calm itself and recover from stress. It possesses a curious and intelligent nature, making it quick to learn from its surroundings."
Ash nodded thoughtfully as he studied the information.
The small fox Pokémon looked absolutely adorable.
Her fluffy yellow fur, oversized ears, and bright crimson eyes gave her a charm that was difficult to ignore. Every movement she made seemed graceful, from the way she nibbled on her food to the way her ears twitched whenever she heard an unfamiliar sound.
Misty found herself smiling unconsciously.
She could easily understand why Serena was so attached to her.
In fact, if Fennekin had been a Water-type Pokémon, Misty was fairly certain she would have gone on a region-wide hunt just to find one for herself.
The thought made her chuckle.
Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—
Fennekin wasn't a Water-type.
And Misty couldn't even imagine betraying the dream she had dedicated her life to.
Ever since she was a little girl, she had wanted only one thing.
To become a Water Pokémon Master.
It wasn't merely a goal anymore; it was a part of who she was.
Nearby, Fennekin noticed the attention and proudly puffed out her chest.
"Fenne!"
The small fox seemed pleased that she was being acknowledged.
A faint smile appeared on Ash's face before he lowered the Pokédex once more.
Across the table, Serena remained focused on her notes.
Misty continued observing the strange pair.
One was documenting every detail she could find about Froakie.
The other couldn't seem to stop analyzing Pokémon through his Pokédex.
For a brief moment, Misty wondered if she was the only normal person at the table.
Then she looked at Staryu, who was currently spinning in circles for absolutely no reason.
Maybe normal wasn't a word that belonged anywhere near their group.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Whatever the case, life had certainly become more interesting since she started traveling with them.
Ash had scanned Misty's and Serena's Pokémon out of simple curiosity before turning his attention back to Froakie.
Over the course of their grand journey of only two days , he had scanned his partner countless times. However, unlike before, this time he wasn't looking at Froakie's basic information.
Instead, he was thinking about strategies.
Froakie's current moves.
Possible battle combinations.
Future move development.
And most importantly, the new moves he could potentially teach him.
Ash's thoughts naturally drifted toward TMs.
A moment later, he paused.
"Wait..."
His brows furrowed slightly.
"Are there even TMs in this Pokémon world?"
The question caught him off guard.
Now that he thought about it, he had never actually seen anyone use one in the anime.
At least, not directly.
Yet there were several examples that suggested they existed.
Take Alain's Charizard, for example.
It knew Thunder Punch.
As far as Ash could remember, Charizard couldn't naturally learn that move through leveling up.
The move had to come from somewhere.
Which meant TMs, move tutors, or some alternative method most likely existed in this world.
Realizing he was getting nowhere by simply thinking about it, Ash quickly stopped speculating.
He opened his Pokédex and navigated to an application called Trainer Basics.
It was a free app he had discovered earlier that morning while browsing the PokéStore.
Without thinking much about it at the time, he had downloaded it along with several other beginner trainer applications.