Skylar Johnson: The trainer

Disclaimer: I do not own this CYOA or Pokemon.

Looking at my map under the dim orange glow of the setting sun, I realised that Cerulean City was still a fair distance away. The winding route, thick clusters of trees, and uneven terrain meant it would probably take us another full day to reach the city gates.

I sighed and closed my Pokégear. "I really need a flying-type Pokémon," I muttered under my breath. "Travelling on foot like this is too damn slow."

With daylight fading fast, I decided to set up camp before it got completely dark. Dratini helped gather fallen branches with her tail, Ivysaur carried heavy rocks to form a fire ring with his vines, and Zubat hung upside down from a nearby tree branch, watching everything with his usual silent vigilance.

Once the tent was pitched and the fire was crackling, I pulled out some Pokémon food and set out four bowls. As always, Ivysaur tucked in immediately, munching contentedly, and Dratini slithered around my shoulders before curling up near her food. Zubat hovered down to sip his liquid-based meal from his special bowl.

Jigglypuff, however, sat away from the group, just beyond the glow of the campfire. Her tiny arms were crossed, cheeks puffed out, eyes narrowed in a glare as she turned her back to me dramatically. Her microphone lay on her lap, catching the flickering orange light.

I watched her for a while, a small smile tugging at my lips despite my exhaustion. She was still sulking about earlier, clearly upset that I had interrupted her singing before she could even start.

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed her bowl of food and walked over, settling down on the grass beside her. She flicked her ear at me but didn't turn around.

"Hey, girl," I said softly, placing the bowl down near her. The fragrant smell of berry-infused Pokémon food wafted up, but she resolutely ignored it, her pout deepening.

"I know you're angry with me for stopping your song earlier," I began, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly. "And… I get it. Singing is your thing, your pride, your power. But… I wasn't trying to be mean."

She blinked at me from the corner of her eye but still didn't say anything.

"I caught you because I need your help," I continued gently. "You see, I have this training plan for my team. I want to make them stronger… stronger than any normal training could make them. And your Gravity move is the key to all of that."

Her little ears twitched at the mention of her move, and she finally turned slightly to look at me, her blue eyes curious despite herself.

"Your Gravity can help increase the intensity of training for Dratini, Ivysaur, Zubat, and for yourself too. It'll make their bodies stronger, their moves deadlier, their stamina unbreakable," I explained, my voice calm but firm. "With your help, I can push them beyond their limits safely."

Jigglypuff's frown lessened, and she glanced down at her microphone before meeting my gaze again.

"And," I added with a smile, reaching out to gently pat her soft head, "I promise I'll let you sing your heart out when it's safe to do so. I'll even get you your favourite treats afterwards."

She blinked, eyes wide, and her puffed-up cheeks finally deflated. Slowly, she picked up her bowl of food and started to eat, though she made a show of turning slightly away from me as if to say, I'm still mad at you, but I'll forgive you… for now.

I chuckled softly, standing up and brushing dirt off my pants. "Thank you, Jigglypuff," I whispered before heading back to the fire where Dratini was curled up, already half asleep, Ivysaur was snoring lightly, and Zubat continued his silent watch.

As I sat there, feeling the warmth of the flames on my face, I glanced at my team with quiet determination.

"This is only the beginning," I whispered into the quiet night, as the stars shimmered against the velvety black sky. The campfire crackled softly, illuminating the faces of my resting Pokémon. For a moment, everything felt still… peaceful… perfect.

But dawn came quickly.

The golden rays of morning sun filtered through the trees, casting a soft glow over our small camp. I stretched my arms, feeling the stiffness in my back from sleeping on hard earth, and glanced at my team as they woke up one by one.

Originally, I had planned to start the gravity training today. The idea of pushing my Pokémon to their physical limits excited me. But as I packed up camp, I realised something important – we were still in the wild, without access to immediate healing or medical support, and my Pokémon didn't yet have any self-healing moves.

It would be reckless to exhaust them here.

Sighing, I made a mental note to save the intense training for when we reached Cerulean City and its Pokémon Centre. "Let's move out," I said to my team as we set off along the dirt path, the morning breeze cool against my face.

Our journey was quiet for the first hour, birds chirping in the trees and the smell of fresh earth in the air. But as we moved along a narrow trail bordered by thick woods, I spotted movement above.

A group of Mankey lounged in the tall branches, grooming themselves and lazily swinging their tails. Their pale fur glowed faintly gold under the sun, and a few of them were picking fruit to munch on.

My lips curved into a small smirk. A fighting-type Pokémon… that would be a solid addition to my team. Their agility, strength, and fierce nature made them perfect for frontline combat.

"Let's see…" I muttered, eyeing the group. I walked forward confidently, my boots crunching against fallen twigs, and called out Zubat from his Pokéball. He hovered silently by my side, his wings beating the air in anticipation.

"Hey!" I shouted up at them, crossing my arms. "Any of you dumb apes wanna become my Pokémon?"

Instantly, the group of Mankey stiffened. Their eyes narrowed, their tails lashed in irritation, and sharp grunts filled the treetops. A few of them jumped up and down, baring their fangs and glaring down at me.

Then, with a powerful screech, one Mankey leapt from the highest branch. It landed on the ground with a heavy thump, the dirt cracking beneath its strong feet. Compared to the others, it was visibly larger, its muscles rippling under its cream fur, and its eyes glinted with furious intelligence.

It beat its chest and let out a loud, guttural growl that echoed through the clearing.

"So, you're the leader of this troop," I said, a small grin spreading across my face. "Makes sense… you're the strongest, aren't you?"

"Maaaaannn-key!" it screeched back, slamming its fists together and lowering itself into an attack stance. The other Mankey watched from above, their tails twitching in excitement at the impending fight.

"Here's the deal," I said calmly, rolling my shoulders as Zubat drifted forward, his wings outstretched. "If I beat you… you'll become my Pokémon. No complaints, no running away."

"Let's go, Zubat," I said sharply, feeling my adrenaline spike as the battle began.

The Mankey roared, slamming its fists into the dirt as it lunged forward with shocking speed, claws flashing in the morning light.

"Zubat, up!" I barked.

Zubat shot high into the air, his wings slicing through the crisp breeze. Mankey skidded to a stop, glaring up, its eyes narrowing in annoyance.

"Supersonic, now!"

Zubat opened his mouth and released a high-pitched pulse that vibrated through the clearing. Mankey clutched its head, shaking violently as the waves of disorienting sound hit it. It stumbled, growling in frustration, its eyes unfocused and wild.

"Poison Fang, dive in!"

Zubat swooped down like a silent shadow. His fangs glowed a faint purple as he sank them into Mankey's forearm. Mankey howled in rage and pain, swinging its clawed hand to bat Zubat away, but Zubat flitted back into the air before it could make contact.

Mankey panted heavily, its breathing ragged as the venom seeped into its system. But its confusion cleared for a moment, and it let out a furious shriek, eyes blazing with murderous intent.

"Focus energy!" it snarled to itself, muscles flexing as its aura sharpened, rage channelling into violent precision.

"Zubat, keep moving!" I commanded.

Mankey lunged again, faster this time, its claws glowing as it slashed forward with Fury Swipes. Zubat tried to dodge but caught one strike across his wing membrane, letting out a screech of pain as he faltered in the air.

"Hold on, Zubat! Astonish!"

As Mankey reared back for another swipe, Zubat's eyes glowed red and his body blurred forward with unnatural speed. He phased through Mankey momentarily before releasing a ghostly screech in its ear. Mankey stumbled backwards, shivering as fear pulsed through its chest.

"Good, now Absorb, quick!"

Green energy shimmered between Zubat's fangs and Mankey's chest, siphoning its vitality into Zubat. The bat Pokémon's ragged breathing steadied as his injuries knitted slightly.

But Mankey roared, its eyes bloodshot with fury, and it charged again. This time its entire leg glowed with vicious power as it launched into a Low Kick, sweeping at Zubat with brutal strength.

"Dodge!"

Zubat darted sideways, narrowly avoiding the glowing foot that smashed into a rock behind him, shattering it into gravel. Dust exploded around them, filling the air with grit.

"Poison Fang, finish it off!" I shouted.

Through the haze, Zubat darted in one final time, his fangs glowing purple as he sank them deep into Mankey's shoulder. Mankey let out a choked screech, stumbled, and collapsed to one knee, its body trembling from poison coursing through its veins.

It tried to rise again, claws digging into the dirt, its eyes still burning with defiance.

"Damn… what a stubborn ape." I pulled an empty Pokéball from my belt. "But that's exactly what I need."

I tossed the ball.

The red beam enveloped Mankey, sucking it inside. The ball hit the ground, shaking violently once… twice… three times… Ping.

Silence filled the forest. Zubat hovered down, exhausted but triumphant.

I picked up the Pokéball and gave it a small smile. "Welcome to the team, Mankey."

Looking up at Zubat, I said softly, "Good job, partner. You really carried that fight."

Zubat screeched tiredly in response, fluttering to my shoulder to rest.

Mankey, The monkey Pokemon, Fighting type, It is extremely ill-tempered. Groups of them will attack any handy target for no reason. It's unsafe to approach if it gets violently enraged for no reason and can't distinguish friends from foes. 

Gender: male

Height: 2'00"

Ability: Vital Spirit

Moves: Scratch, leer, furry swipes, focus energy

Other mankey looked like they wanted to fight to but seeing their leader defeat were hesitant and not angering them anymore.

I turned towards the path leading to Cerulean City, gripping Mankey's ball tightly. My team's growing stronger… one step at a time.

Oooo

By the time we finally reached Cerulean City, the sun had long set beyond the horizon, leaving the sky bathed in inky darkness. Streetlights flickered to life along the stone pathways, illuminating the quaint blue-roofed houses and bustling late-night shops with a gentle glow.

I was exhausted and my Pokémon looked even more so. Without wasting a second, I headed straight to the Pokémon Center, my boots scuffing against the pavement with every weary step. Nurse Joy greeted me with her usual gentle smile as I handed over my Pokéballs.

"They'll be just fine after a night's rest," she assured me.

Unfortunately, luck wasn't entirely on my side. "I'm sorry," she added with an apologetic tilt of her head, "all our rooms are currently occupied. We're at full capacity."

I sighed. Of course Misty's gym would be popular. With no other choice, I left my team to be healed overnight and went to rent a small room at an inn nearby. It wasn't much—just a futon, a wooden table, and a ceiling fan that creaked slightly as it spun—but it felt like heaven after days of forest camping.

The next morning, after a long, refreshing sleep, I picked up my Pokémon from the Center. They looked bright-eyed and revitalised, ready for whatever came next. I gave each of them a pat or scratch behind the ears as I clipped their balls back to my belt.

My first destination was Cerulean Gym to register my challenge. The receptionist greeted me warmly and, after checking their schedule, offered me a date for my match: exactly one week from now.

"That works perfectly," I replied. A week would give me enough time to ensure my team was in peak condition.

As I turned to leave, I noticed the framed photos along the lobby wall—pictures of Misty with her Gym Pokémon, trophies lined along shelves behind glass. So Misty is the current Gym Leader, I mused. Not her sisters. I wondered for a fleeting moment whether Ash Ketchum or Red existed in this world too. And if Ash is present then who is he travelling with. Doesn't matter, I thought with a small smirk. Because I'll surpass every single trainer who ever lived.

With that resolve burning in my chest, I left the gym and made my way north to Route 24. After an hour of trekking through forested paths, I found it—a wide clearing surrounded by towering trees, the sun filtering through the leaves to cast dappled light upon the earth.

"This place is perfect," I murmured to myself.

I unclipped each Pokéball from my belt and released my team. Dratini slithered out gracefully, her scales gleaming like polished sapphire. Ivysaur stretched his limbs and let out a sleepy rumble. Zubat fluttered above my head, squeaking cheerfully, while Mankey perched on a rock, eyes flicking around with restless energy. Finally, Jigglypuff emerged with her usual dramatic pout, arms crossed as she puffed up indignantly.

"Alright, everyone, listen up," I called out, my voice echoing slightly in the quiet clearing.

They gathered before me, eyes focused and eager—except Jigglypuff, who continued to look away, pretending to be absorbed in a flower by her feet.

"We have a week before our Gym battle against Misty. And we're going to use this time to get stronger than ever before."

I paused, letting the words sink in as each of them straightened with determination.

"We're starting a new training regime today. With Jigglypuff's help," I said, turning to her with a pointed look. She huffed and glanced away again but didn't protest, "we're going to train under enhanced gravity. Jigglypuff will use her Gravity move to increase the force on our bodies three times the normal amount."

Zubat squeaked curiously. Dratini tilted her head, eyes wide with awe. Ivysaur grunted confidently, stomping his foot in agreement. Even Mankey seemed intrigued, cracking his knuckles with anticipation.

"This training will push us to our limits. We'll move, dodge, attack, and practice our forms under this gravity until it feels natural. Then we'll increase it further. It'll make us faster, stronger, and sharper. And," I added with a grin, "I'll be training right alongside you. No one's slacking off—not even me."

Finally, I crouched down in front of Jigglypuff, meeting her eyes softly. "I know it won't be easy for you either. But you're a part of this team now, and I need your help."

Jigglypuff pouted for a moment longer before sighing dramatically. She raised her little mic, her eyes glowing as she nodded.

"Alright team," I said, standing tall and clenching my fists as adrenaline thrummed through my veins. "Let's begin."

And with that, a shimmering aura spread from Jigglypuff, pulling the weight of the world down upon us as we braced ourselves for the grueling week ahead.

Oooo

The week flew by in an unforgiving blur.

Every single day was dedicated to gravity training in the forest clearing. With Jigglypuff's Gravity move as the cornerstone, we pushed ourselves far beyond our natural limits. At first, the enhanced gravity was merely three times normal, but by the end of the week, we had increased it to a crushing five times.

My Pokémon adapted far better than I did. Dratini coiled and uncoiled her serpentine body under the strain until her scales gleamed like tempered steel. Ivysaur rooted himself to the ground, building power in his hind legs with each leap and lunge. Zubat's wings strained against the dense air, becoming stronger and sharper with every beat, while Mankey grunted and punched against the force, muscles bulging with raw power. Even Jigglypuff improved her control over the move, maintaining Gravity longer each day before collapsing into a dramatic nap.

But for me… it was agony.

The increased pressure felt like an invisible mountain pressing down upon every bone and muscle. My breathing was ragged after each session. My knees felt like they would buckle from the weight. Each night, as we returned to Cerulean City, I would limp my way to the Pokémon Center, drenched in sweat, exhaustion gnawing at my bones like a feral Rattata.

One night, as I waited for Nurse Joy to finish healing my team, I slumped against a bench, clutching my aching ribs. A Chansey waddled by, humming softly as she carried medical trays. Desperation flickered in my mind.

"Hey, Chansey," I croaked out, forcing a smile despite the pain. "Could you… use Heal Pulse on me?"

The gentle Pokémon blinked at me with her big, watery eyes before smiling warmly. She placed her tiny stubby hands on my shoulders, and a soothing pink glow enveloped me. Warmth radiated through my body, knitting torn muscles and easing the deep strain in my joints. The relief was instantaneous, and for the first time in days, I managed to stand up straight without wincing.

"Thank you," I whispered, bowing deeply. She merely chirped and waddled away, humming once more.

Another interesting event broke the monotony of training that week. One afternoon, as I was picking up my team from the Center, a sleek, blue car with pulled back hood pulled up outside with a screech of tyres. The door swung open and out stepped none other than Gary Oak, flanked by two giggling girls clinging to his arms as if he were a movie star.

He strode inside with a cocky swagger, chin held high and eyes half-lidded with arrogance. His hair was perfectly styled, and he was wearing designer sneakers that probably cost more than my entire camping gear.

Word spread quickly that he had challenged the Gym earlier that day and walked out victorious, his badge pinned ostentatiously to his chest.

A few local trainers, fed up with his attitude, challenged him right there in the lobby. I leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, curious to see how he would fare. And let me tell you—he wiped the floor with them.

His Wartortle moved like liquid steel, dodging attacks with fluid grace and retaliating with crushing force. One Growlithe tried using flamethrower to gain a type advantage, but Wartortle shrugged off the flames like they were harmless sparks before slamming it unconscious with a single Hydro Pump.

Gary smirked down at his fallen opponents, then glanced around at the silent crowd. His eyes swept past me without a flicker of recognition, but I caught his parting words as he exited:

"Tell loser Ash that Gary freakin' Oak was here."

The name sent a ripple through the trainers nearby. So Ash exists here too… I thought, feeling something tighten within me. That means he must've started his journey only a few days after I arrived.

I clenched my fists. This world was a seamless blend of anime, games, and manga—where legends like Ash and Gary existed alongside me. That only meant one thing:

I needed to get stronger. Faster. Smarter.

Nothing else of note happened after that encounter. Our training continued relentlessly until finally, the day of my Gym challenge arrived.

Now I was sitting quietly in the audience gallery, my eyes focused on the battlefield below as the current match played out. Misty stood confidently on her side of the arena, her orange hair tied back as she commanded her Starmie with quick, decisive orders.

Across from her, a trainer gritted his teeth, his Pidgeotto flapping desperately to dodge Starmie's spinning Water Pulse attacks. But the outcome was clear. With a final burst of energy, Starmie struck Pidgeotto dead centre, sending it crashing into the water with a defeated screech.

"Battle over!" the referee declared. "Victory goes to Gym Leader Misty!"

As the trainer slumped in defeat and returned his Pokémon, Misty stood tall, offering him a polite bow before turning away.

I stood from my seat, heart hammering against my ribs. It's my turn now.

I descended the stone steps towards the arena floor, my Pokéballs clinking against my belt as determination surged through me like electricity.

Let's show them what real strength looks like.

Name- Skylar Johnson

Age- 14

Home- Kanto

Pokedollars- 78,485

Pokemon owned- 5

Badges- Boulder Badge

Zubat – The Bat Pokémon

Type: Poison/Flying

Gender: Male

Height: 2'08"

Ability: Inner Focus

Known Moves: Supersonic, Absorb, Astonish, Mean Look, Poison Fang

Dratini – The Dragon Pokémon

Gender: Female

Height: 5'3"

Ability: Shed Skin

Known Moves: Dragon Breath, Wrap, Twister, Leer, thunder wave

Ivysaur- the seed pokemon

Gender: Male

Height: 3'4"

Ability: Overgrow

Moves: Tackle, Vine Whip, Growth, Leech Seed, Razor Leaf, seed bomb

Jigglypuff- the balloon Pokemon

Gender: Female

Height: 1'8"

Ability: Cute charm

Moves: Sing, Gravity, Disarming voice, Echoed voice, Charm, Disable

Mankey- The monkey Pokemon,

Gender: male

Height: 2'00"

Ability: Vital Spirit

Moves: Scratch, leer, furry swipes, focus energy