Pokémon: This Is Definitely Pokémon!

When it came to training his Dratini, Gabriel still felt utterly clueless. Most of his knowledge about Pokémon stemmed from game data, and real-life Pokémon training was a completely different ball game. Even compared to someone like Ash Ketchum, Gabriel found himself outmatched in practical experience.

However, Gabriel had one clear advantage over Ash: he knew exactly who to seek out for help when it came to honing his Pokémon's abilities.

Unlike Ash, who often neglected Professor Oak's resources and simply used his lab as a glorified storage system, Gabriel wasted no time. By the next day, he had already brought Dartini and Elle to Jindu Gym.

Though the Gym Leader, Everette, didn't seem all that reliable at first glance, he was still a Gym Leader, after all. Even the weakest Gym Leader was still among the top trainers in the nation. You couldn't become a roadblock for Elite Four challengers without some serious strength.

Everette undoubtedly had his share of tricks up his sleeve. Since he had agreed to help Gabriel train his Pokémon, it would be foolish not to take full advantage of such a skilled mentor.

Inside the Jindu Gym, Vespiquen was savoring a small Pokéblock that Everette had given her.

"Bzzz..." (Mmm, delicious! It's been ages since I've eaten something this good. This is the life!)

As the Gym Leader's ace Pokémon, Vespiquen possessed incredible strength. Even in the wild, she would rarely find herself in danger. Yet, life under Everette's care had been far from luxurious. The Gym's primary income sources were selling Gym Badges and Vespiquen's honey. Meals were often scarce, and indulgences like this Pokéblock were rare.

Vespiquen licked the cube but refrained from eating it outright. Instead, she spat it out and addressed the nearby Combee with a commanding presence befitting a queen.

"Bzz, bzz-bzz, bzz-bzz-bzz!"

(Alright, listen up! Everyone gets a sniff—just one sniff! Later, we'll ask Everette to dissolve the cube in water so we can all share. Today's a feast day!)

Watching this play out, Gabriel suddenly realized that understanding Pokémon language wasn't always a blessing. His faith in Jindu Gym wavered once more. Is this guy really a Gym Leader?

When Vespiquen noticed Gabriel standing nearby, her heart skipped a beat. How long had he been there? Had he seen everything?

Gabriel sighed, shaking his head with a mix of pity and amusement. His expression clearly answered her question: Yes, I saw it all.

Mortified, Vespiquen wished she could disappear on the spot. Gabriel, understanding her embarrassment, decided to leave her be, figuring that ignoring her was the kindest thing he could do.

As he approached Vespiquen again, he crouched down and placed three Pokéblock in front of her.

"Eat as many as you like. If you want more, just ask. These things aren't expensive."

With that, he left, taking Elle and Dratini with him.

Vespiquen clutched the three Pokéblocks tightly, her eyes misty with gratitude.

"Bzz-bzz!" (What a kind soul!)

As they walked away, Dratini peeked out from Gabriel's arms, curious.

"Mu?" (Are they starving?)

Faced with Dratini's innocent question, Gabriel was momentarily at a loss. He patted her head gently and said in a solemn tone, "This world is complicated. You'll understand when you're older."

Eventually, they found Everette in his usual spot, reclining in a rocking chair and fanning himself lazily.

"Well, if it isn't Young Master Gab! Ready for your lesson today?"

Upon spotting Gabriel, Everette immediately sprang to his feet, adopting a sycophantic grin.

Gabriel wasted no time. He pulled Dratini out from behind him and presented her.

"Take a look at him. What's the best way to train Dratini right now?"

"A Dratini, huh? Quite a rare one. Let me see..."

Everette examined Dratini meticulously, his hands roaming over her scales. If not for Gabriel's prior assurances, Dratini might have already knocked the old man flying with a Dragon Tail.

At last, Everette released her. Dratini darted back into Gabriel's arms, glaring warily at the strange old man.

"He's a bit timid, isn't he?"

"Are there any bold Dratini out there? Just tell me what you've found," Gabriel said impatiently.

Everette stroked his chin thoughtfully. "How should I put this? Your Dratini has been raised exceptionally well. She's outstanding in every respect. However, her current potential has reached its limit, and no amount of training will change that."

"What do you mean?" Gabriel asked, puzzled.

"It's simple. Your Dratini is only a few months old, correct?"

Gabriel nodded. Dratini was indeed still very young.

"That explains it. While he's been trained well, Dragon-type Pokémon are unique. They require a lot of time to grow. At her age, her body simply hasn't developed enough to reach higher levels of power. You'll need to wait for her to mature before she can get significantly stronger."

But I can't afford to wait!

Gabriel clenched his fists in frustration. He had already heard this explanation from Elle, but in two months, an Arcanine was set to participate in the Monster Trainer Exam. If he missed this opportunity, who knew how long he'd have to wait for another chance?

He had promised to make Dratini the strongest Pokémon. Losing to an Arcanine would be unacceptable!

"I already know all of that," Gabriel said coldly. "I came here to learn something new. If you can't help, there's no reason for me to waste my time at this Gym."

That struck a nerve with Everette. If Gabriel left, where would he get more Pokéblocks?

Gritting his teeth, Everette decided to pull out his trump card.

"There is a way, but it's not easy."

"What is it?"

Everette fixed Gabrile with a serious look before revealing his answer.

"Mastery of moves! If a Pokémon can learn powerful techniques, they can surpass the limits of their physical development."

Gabriel narrowed his eyes. Was Everette about to hand him a TM (Technical Machine)?

Instead, Everette pulled out a small scale from his pocket.

"This scale came from an Elite-tier Dragonite's Outrage attack. It still contains residual Dragon-type energy. With it, your Dratini can improve him control over Dragon energy. It's the perfect training tool for him. This is one of my most prized possessions!"

---------------------------------

Join my Patreon for more advance chapter: patreon.com / Enelym