"Axew, use [Scratch]."
Hearing Aeron's command, Axew ran toward the opponent and used his draconic claws to attack.
"[Night Slash]."
As soon as Axew was finished, Aeron commanded the next move, which Axew followed without hesitation. He jumped in the air and started spinning as its tusks started glowing in not so visible purple colour.
The sound of Axew's strong tusk and the metal colliding rang out within the empty training grounds.
Seeing how he left a small dent in the metal dummy, Axew walked toward Aeron with a proud face while huffing through his nostrils.
Aeron chuckled at the antics of his partner. He bent down and picked up the dragon that was now a month old, still too young in draconic age.
Axew extended his hand with pleading eyes, and Aeron shook his head while taking out Axew's favourite berry. Instead of one, there were two, which made Axew happy.
"It's a reward for finally learning and controlling your [Night Slash]." Aeron had a gleeful look that could not hide his happiness.
The duo had been working on learning the move [Night Slash] for about a month now, but the progress could have been faster. It was not because Axew was untalented since he was the most talented Pokémon Aeron had seen. Every other Pokémon he saw in the Pokémon Centre for the last month could not compare to his starter.
After all, technically, Axew had learnt [Night Slash] in just a week. Even among the talented Dark-type Pokémon who had an easier time learning the move, Axew learnt it a week earlier.
The only reason it 'took a month' was because of Axew's unique circumstances. His tusks.
Aeron forgot the number of times the tusks had fallen off, and they had to pause their training till they grew back. The time taken for the tusks to grow increased each time they fell and kept increasing ever so slightly. Now his tusks were five centimetres long and as sharp as an iron blade, able to cut through normal iron and trees.
The growth of tusks was quick, but it was just too annoying to pause their training midway just when they were getting the hang of it. Therefore, Aeron made Axew learn [Scratch], a Normal-type move, after the first few times.
Axew would train [Scratch] with his tusks, and when they fell off, he would train it with his claws till they grew back. This way, they did not waste time learning a new move until the tusks were strong enough to perform [Night Slash] a few times without breaking.
Over the last month, Axew devoted everything to learning [Scratch] and [Night Slash] while getting better at the other moves he already knew.
While Axew was eating his berries on Aeron's shoulder, the trainer scanned his Pokémon again.
-0-
[Axew
Gender: Male
Type: Dragon
Ability: Mold Breaker
Innate Moves: Night Slash (B), Iron Tail, Sword Dance, Dragon Dance
Moves: Scratch (B)
TMs: Protect (B)]
-0-
Aeron nodded his head at the changes in Axew's status screen. Not only had they learnt two new moves, but they could also bring them and two already existing moves to the Beginner-stage.
Moves had different stages, representing how proficiently a Pokémon could perform the said move. A rise in proficiency also meant increased power or effect of the said move.
The three levels of move proficiency were: [Beginner] – [Advanced] – [Master].
He had been taking on different missions and had earned a lot of money. However, it was not enough for someone like him, who had a voracious dragon as his Pokémon. The berries Axew loved so much were 50 pokedollars each, and watching him munch on 250 pokedollars in one go was heartbreaking for Aeron.
'At least other kinds of Dragon-type food are free.' He could not help but shiver as he imagined the money he would need to feed Axew without the League's sponsorship. 'Just where does he put all that food? I should also ensure the Pokeball has enough food, just in case.'
Shaking his head, Aeron made his way toward the room. Axew jumped off his shoulder to his bed while Aeron went into the washroom to clean himself.
-0-
Within the cafeteria of Pokémon Centre, Aeron carried two large bowls of Pokémon food as he made his way toward the table Axew was sitting on. By now, it was common for people to see Aeron carry large bowls of Pokémon food one after other for his gluttonous Pokémon.
"Axew!"
With an excited smile, Axew started eating as soon as the bowls were placed on the table. Axew consumed Pokémon food to feed ten normal Pokémon in just one meal.
'Is it a Snorlax in disguise?' People could not help but wonder.
While Axew enjoyed his meal, Aeron focused on his. The trainer and his Pokémon enjoyed their peace until someone decided to disturb it.
"If it isn't the famous ranker, Aeron Duskborn."
By now, everyone knew Aeron was this year's ranker. At first, everyone looked at him with respect, jealousy and slight fear. But lately, it had changed.
"How about a Pokémon battle?"
It was because he would walk away whenever he was challenged to a Pokémon battle.
"Ah, I forgot. Your Pokémon is a wuss who can't even look straight at another Pokémon."
Laughter rang out in the cafeteria as a trainer mocked Aeron and Axew. Seeing everyone's eyes focused on them, Axew stopped eating and hid behind Aeron.
"Axew…"
"Don't listen to them, buddy. Just eat your food, and we will soon be out of here." Aeron patted his partner's head and gave him a reassuring smile. Axew calmed after getting a few pats on his head and resumed eating, but he still looked warily at all the trainers, especially the one who would mock him and Aeron every day for the past two weeks.
"I can't believe the Pokémon League sponsored someone like you." The same trainer scoffed, and his glare scared Axew once again. "I bet you used a backdoor to get the sponsorship while all of us worked hard, day and night, for that exam."
Aeron clenched the spoon tightly and closed his eyes as the trainer mocked his years of hard work.
"Max is right." Some other trainers joined the red-haired trainer, Max. "How could he even get in the top 100?"
"Axew, can you hurry up today." He did not want to stay here for a second longer and unintentionally raised his voice at the young dragon.
Axew gave a weak nod before finishing the food as fast as possible. As soon as he was done, Aeron picked up the empty containers and dropped them off in the cleaning room before he walked out of the cafeteria under the mocking gaze of every trainer.
Aeron did not stop and left the Pokémon Centre and starter running as soon as he was out. He ran where his mind led him, and soon, he was standing outside the Pewter City gate at the road that separated into two. One led to the Digglet Cave, while the other to Viridian Forest. Unconsciously, he ran toward the forest until he was at the entrance.
He stopped by a tree and punched it with all his strength as he huffed for breath.
"Dammit."
"Axew." The Dragon tugged on his pants with tears in his eyes.
Aeron looked at Axew before sighing and picked him in his arms. "I am sorry, Axe."
He hated that he could not protect his partner from getting bullied alongside him.
"Axew."
The Dragon looked at his trainer's sad face, shook his head, and nuzzled into Aeron's chest. Aeron felt the emotions the Dragon was conveying and hugged his starter tightly. The duo stayed like that for a few minutes until a loud bang was heard from within the forest.
"Huh?"
"Axew?"
Aeron narrowed his eyes as he tried to look into the dark forest. He could hear the sounds of a fight, and they were getting closer and closer with each passing second.
He could have stayed, but he decided otherwise when he saw a man with an 'R' on his back fighting another trainer.
Without wasting his time, Aeron pulled out the necklace.
"Stay inside till I call you back."
"Axe…" Before the Pokémon could protest, Aeron pressed the button, and the black light sucked the Dragon inside. Even though he was in a hurry, Aeron hid Axew's Pokeball in a hidden pocket. He had had his mother make one on every jacket.
He used everything he had to run while cursing inside his mind.
'Why would I run toward Viridian Forest?' Now that he looked at it, he had run quite some distance without even realizing it.
"Would you look at that?"
Aeron suddenly heard a woman's voice from behind and doubled his speed, but it was too late.
"Butterfree, [Sleep Powder]."
And Aeron lost consciousness.
-------------------------End of Chapter-------------------------
Author's Note:
- I decided to drop more than 1 chapter every day till we catch up to the previous story. Which is till chapter 20. After that, I will make a proper schedule.
- Drop some Power Stones to support the book. I hope you like it so far.
- Peace!
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