(Grey's POV)

  I woke up early the next morning, the soft light filtering through the leaves of the trees surrounding our campsite. I gently nudged Axew awake, watching as he blinked sleepily, the sun rising behind him. I stood up, stretching my limbs to get the blood flowing, and Axew watched me intently, mimicking my movements with a few light stretches of his own. It was a small, quiet moment, but it felt like the first real step of our partnership.

  After the sun had fully risen and the morning chill had started to fade, I turned to Axew with a determined spark in my eyes. "We need to practice your moves today," I said. I noticed a slight flicker of surprise in his expression, as if he expected us to just start walking.

  As I began setting up our small training area, I thought about the difference between a "traveler" and a "trainer." Most kids just spent their time wandering into battles and hoping for the best. This was particularly evident with someone like Ash in the early days, who didn't bother with much structured training until much later in his journey. On the other hand, trainers like Paul—though his methods were harsh—dedicated extensive time to honing their Pokémon's skills before they ever stepped into a Gym. My reason for this was practical: I needed Axew to get used to his own power, perfecting his moves so he could use them effectively under pressure. I wanted him to learn in a structured manner, where every strike had a purpose.

  "Hey, do you want to evolve?" I asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear it from him. Axew nodded eagerly, his small frame tensing with ambition. It seemed rare for a dragon to choose not to evolve, which was a huge relief for me. I was glad he wouldn't face the identity issues that Pikachu or Piplup dealt with in the anime.

  I informed Axew that his final evolution, Haxorus, was known for being an excellent close-range attacker, using its immense physical power to dominate foes. Axew's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

  "Today, we'll work on a few moves," I said, pulling out the card I had received from the Trainer's Association. It detailed his current moveset: Scratch, Leer, Dragon Dance, Night Slash, and Dragon Rage. I assumed Night Slash was an Egg move from his lineage, while Dragon Dance had likely been taught to him by Lance himself.

  "Here's the plan," I explained. "We'll practice Scratch and Night Slash in intervals. We need to build up your familiarity with both Normal- and Dark-type energy. After that, we can work on your Dragon-type moves with Dragon Rage."

  Coming into this world, I had realized something the games and anime often glossed over: Pokémon could use more than four moves. It was more like how Ash's Snorlax or Drake's Dragonite operated in the higher-level matches. There was no "forgetting" a move just to learn a new one; it was all about memory and stamina. However, I wanted Axew to focus his mastery on a specific core set for now.

  Borrowing a bit of philosophy from Cobra Kai, I told him, "Strike First, Strike Hard, and Show Mercy." I emphasized the last part heavily. I didn't want to risk my license or my reputation by promoting a no-mercy approach that could lead to unnecessary deaths or cruelty. Strength was for winning, not for being a monster.

  "Alright, Axew, practice those moves on that tree over there."

  I pulled out my police training journal and began practicing some self-defense moves of my own. I figured that seeing me work and sweat might motivate him to push himself harder. It worked; he watched my footwork and mirrored the intensity.

  Once Axew got into a rhythm with Scratch, I told him to alternate with Night Slash. My goal was to use the dark energy of Night Slash as a foundation to eventually learn the move Slash. It would take time, but a Dragon should always have a versatile arsenal. I encouraged him to try both moves using his arms and his tusks, but I reminded him sternly not to overdo it with his tusks. I wanted them to be a secret weapon, a surprise for future battles. Besides, I remembered from the Pokédex that an Axew's tusks aren't fully durable until they evolve into Fraxure. I couldn't risk him chipping a tusk on a rock this early.

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  For almost two hours, we trained diligently. I was lucky that earlier that morning I had found a small cluster of Oran berries on a low-hanging branch near the camp—a small mercy from nature that saved me some money.

  Suddenly, a rustling sound from a nearby bush caught my attention. Out popped a Rattata, making a beeline for the food bag I had set aside. It was fast and looked desperate.

  Instinct kicked in. As it lunged, I didn't just stand there. I used one of the drills from the manual, throwing a sharp roundhouse kick to intercept its path. I didn't hit it full force—I didn't want a broken toe from its hard fur—but the impact sent it tumbling back.

  "Axew, now! Night Slash!"

  The Rattata barely had time to regain its footing before Axew struck. His claws glowed with a dark, malevolent purple energy. The hit was precise, knocking the wild Pokémon back into the dirt. The Rattata struggled, hissed at us with bared yellow teeth, but realized it was outmatched and darted back into the underbrush.

  As we continued our journey down Route 16 later that day, I spotted a trainer ahead. He was engaged in a battle with a wild Pokémon, commanding a Doduo. The way the two heads coordinated their attacks caught my interest. I approached slowly, curious to see a real-world battle.

  "Hey there!" I called out once he had finished. "What do you have there?"

  The trainer turned, sizing me up. "Just finishing up here. This is Doduo. You training too?"

  "Yeah! I'm looking to gain some experience for my Axew," I replied. The trainer's eyes widened when he saw my partner.

  "An Axew? Haven't seen one of those in a while. That's a hell of a starter for a rookie," he said, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

  I felt a rush of excitement. "Want to have a battle? I could use the practice!"

  "Sure, but just a heads-up—I've been doing this for a while. Luckily for you, this Doduo is a newer member of my team, so we're still working things out," he said confidently.

  "Bring it on," I replied.

  We took our positions. "Doduo, use Peck!"

  The bird Pokémon blurred forward, its twin heads striking like snakes. "Dodge it, Axew!" I shouted. Axew sidestepped, but the second head caught his shoulder, drawing a small hiss of pain. It was much faster than the wild Rattata.

  "Now, use Dragon Dance!" I commanded. Axew performed the rhythmic, empowering dance. I could see the faint dragon-shaped aura swirl around him, boosting his speed and strength.

  "Doduo, don't let him breathe! Quick Attack!"

  The Doduo slammed into Axew before he could fully recover from the dance. Axew rolled across the grass but scrambled back up, his eyes burning.

  "Now! Use Scratch, then follow up with Night Slash!"

  Axew executed the combo. The Scratch drew the Doduo's attention to the left, and the Night Slash caught it squarely on the chest from the right. The trainer's eyes widened. He hadn't expected a rookie to know how to chain moves like that.

  "Doduo, use Growl and then Peck again!"

  The harsh noise lowered Axew's confidence, and the following Peck landed hard. Axew was panting now. This was the difficulty of the "Dragon" path—even with a move like Dragon Dance, his durability at this level wasn't infinite.

  "Let's finish this, Axew! Use Dragon Rage!"

  Axew took a deep breath, and a sphere of intense, crackling blue energy formed in his mouth. He unleashed it, and the blast hit the Doduo dead-on. In the games, Dragon Rage is a fixed-damage move that usually ends early-game fights instantly. Here, it was a massive drain on Axew's stamina, but the power was undeniable. The Doduo was sent tumbling back, unable to continue.

  The trainer recalled his Pokémon, a mixture of respect and disbelief on his face. "Nice work! I didn't expect that kind of power from a kid just starting out," he admitted. He walked over and handed over some Pokédollars—the standard wager for a trainer battle. "You've got some serious potential."

  "Thanks!" I replied, grinning. The win felt amazing.

  "I'm Grey, by the way. What's your name?"

  "Jake," he replied, shaking my hand. "Do you want to exchange contact info? I can send you a friend request on PokeNet. It's always good to have a network."

  "Sure!" I pulled out my phone and we swapped IDs.

  After Jake left, I sat down with Axew. I pulled out the Oran berries I had found earlier and mashed them into a pulp for him. He gobbled them up, the healing properties of the berries slowly mending the bruises from the Doduo's Pecks.

  "Good job today, Axew," I said, patting his head. The sun began to dip lower, casting that familiar warm glow over the route. I sat there for a while, reflecting on the win and the connection I'd made.

  We were officially on our way, but I knew the road to Fuchsia City would only get tougher from here.