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Austin raised an eyebrow as he read the passage in the camping guidebook. It wasn't the usual stuff about setting up a tent or cooking over a fire—it was something he hadn't thought much about: clothing. The book emphasized how easily overlooked the right attire could be for trainers, especially those who traveled through different regions to sharpen their skills.
But what really caught his eye was the part about the gym circuit. It hit hard.
Approximately 80% of novice trainers fail against the first gym leader.
Austin paused, letting the weight of that statistic sink in. Eighty percent. That wasn't just a number; it was reality. And he'd felt it firsthand when he faced Brock. Brock wasn't the pushover you saw in the anime. No, the real Brock was tough—like, break-you-twice tough. And the idea that most trainers didn't even get past him made sense now.
He shuddered at the memory of that battle. Without all the prep and scouting he'd done beforehand, he would've been just another rookie crushed by Brock's Onix.
Just as Austin was lost in his thoughts, a familiar sound cut through the quiet.
"Eevee! Vee!"
Austin glanced down and saw his Eevee, gnawing at its paw, looking totally annoyed. What now? He set the book aside and knelt down to check on his partner. Eevee's little paw was raised, showing off his cute little toe beans, but the fur around them was too long, clearly irritating the pads.
"Ah, I see what's going on," Austin muttered, inspecting the paw closer. The fur had grown out too much, and it was bothering him. He reached into his grooming kit, the one he'd painstakingly organized—because, let's face it, he had a thing for being prepared—and pulled out a small trimmer.
Vee's eyes followed Austin's movements, his gaze shifting between the trimmer and his trainer, and Austin could see the nervousness creeping in. Don't worry, buddy, I got you. He gave Eevee a reassuring smile.
"This'll be quick and easy, Vee," Austin promised, turning on the trimmer. The soft buzz filled the air as he carefully took Eevee's paw in his hand, spreading his tiny toes apart. Let's get this done.
With precise movements, Austin guided the trimmer around the sensitive spots, clipping away the extra fur. To his surprise, Vee stayed still, trusting him completely. Eevee glanced up at Austin every now and then, like he was checking to make sure everything was going okay, and Austin would just nod, reassuring him without words.
A few minutes later, Austin turned off the trimmer and checked Eevee's paw. Perfect. No more stray hairs, no more irritation. He brushed off the clippings and gave Vee a soft pat on the head.
"All done, how's that feel?"
Vee let out an excited "Eve! Eve!" and stretched his paw, then playfully batted at Austin's hand.
Austin chuckled, feeling pretty good about himself. But then he glanced back at his grooming kit, and his mind shifted gears. Hmm... while we're at it… He looked over at Vee, who instantly seemed to sense what was coming next.
"That fur's looking awfully fluffy," Austin remarked with a grin.
Vee took a step back, his ears twitching as he eyed the kit and his trainer.
"Vee!"
Austin gave him a deadpan look, trying to play it cool. "No, I'm totally not making excuses to test out the rest of this grooming gear on you."
Vee's eyes narrowed, giving Austin a look that said, Really?
Austin sighed, shaking his head. "Come on, there's even a hot bubble bath in it for you afterward."
That, apparently, was the breaking point. Vee darted toward what he thought was an escape route, only to find the door shut. He turned back, eyes wide with betrayal, like Austin had just ruined whatever trust they had.
Austin couldn't help but laugh. He picked up the brush and the fur conditioner, flashing them in Vee's direction. "Let me make you pretty!"
Vee took several exaggerated steps backward until his back hit the door. He stood on his hind legs, shaking his head wildly, his expression straight out of a cartoon.
"Vee! Vee! Vee!" he cried, either pleading for mercy or calling on some higher power to save him. Austin couldn't be sure which.
Austin let out his best imitation of a villainous laugh—"Zehahahaha!"—fully embracing the moment. Man, he was enjoying this way too much.
Vee's eyes darted around, searching for an escape that wasn't there. Sorry, buddy. No running away from this one.
"Don't worry," Austin said, holding the brush like it was some kind of sacred weapon. "This is happening."
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Austin strolled through the busy streets of Pewter City, trying hard not to laugh as Vee trotted alongside him, wearing his hat like a little celebrity. People smiled as they passed them, but the tension between Austin and Vee was… well, let's just say it wasn't exactly a bonding moment. Vee kept shooting Austin these heated glares, and he had to bite his lip to keep from bursting out laughing again.
Okay, maybe I went a little overboard with the grooming.
He glanced down at Vee—yeah, he had definitely gone overboard. The poor guy looked like a middle-aged uncle who'd just lost half his hair in a messy divorce. The top of his head was so bare, Austin could practically see his reflection in it. He had clipped way too much off. Why did I think that was a good idea?
Out of nowhere, Vee's tail whipped up, smacking Austin lightly across the leg.
"Come on, it's not that bad," Austin teased, barely holding back the laughter that was bubbling up again. "I mean, your fur will settle down to at least 50% of its original volume, right?"
That did it. Austin couldn't hold it in anymore, and he cracked up, laughing so hard that he almost doubled over. But when he finally looked at Vee, the laughter died in his throat. Vee's ears drooped, and he was staring down at the ground, clearly upset. Austin's heart sank a little.
Damn, I'm an idiot.
He knelt beside Vee, feeling the weight of the guilt hit him. "Look, buddy, I'm really sorry about the haircut. I didn't mean to… you know, turn you into a comedy act. How about this: after we're done with everything today, we'll visit a real Pokémon groomer, okay? A professional. They can fix this up, and I'll ask for some tips on how not to make you look like… this next time."
Vee nodded, his ears perking up a bit, and Austin scooped him up to give him a proper hug. Man, I owe him big time, he thought.
Just as things seemed to be settling, a gust of wind blew by, and—great, just Austin's luck—the hat flew off Vee's head, exposing his shiny bald spot to the world. The cold breeze made Vee shiver, and before Austin could even think, he stuffed Vee into his backpack, trying to shield him from the embarrassment.
"Bald!"
Austin froze.
Turning slowly, he saw a six-year-old kid standing a few feet away, pointing directly at them. Oh, for the love of...
"No, no, no, no bald here!" Austin stammered, trying desperately to play it off. Nothing to see here, folks!
"Bald!" the kid repeated, his little finger still aimed squarely at them like he was calling out the biggest scandal in Pewter City.
Great. Just great, Austin thought.
He retrieved the hat as fast as he could and was about to make his escape when the kid's voice rang out again, louder this time. "Bald!"
Okay, that's it. Austin couldn't take it anymore. He turned around and marched over to the kid, getting down to his level. Alright, little dude, you wanna play this game? Austin thought.
"Listen up," Austin said, trying to sound serious but feeling ridiculous as the words left his mouth. "Make a note of this: you're bald, your mama's bald, your teddy bear's probably bald—"
Austin stopped mid-rant, his brain finally catching up to the insanity of what he was saying. The kid's eyes started welling up with tears, and he instantly regretted every word. Oh no. Oh crap, Austin thought.
And then, of course, the kid started crying. Big, loud sobs. Everyone around them was staring now, and all Austin could think was: I'm so screwed.
So, he did the only logical thing he could think of. He turned and ran. Fast.
Yeah, definitely handled that perfectly, Austin thought.
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Austin stepped into the small tailor shop, tucked away on one of the quieter streets in Pewter City. It was cozy, warm even, the kind of place you'd easily miss if you weren't looking for it. The air was filled with the soft hum of an old sewing machine, and he couldn't help but glance at the Caterpie perched nearby, diligently spinning silk like it was part of the staff. The shelves were lined with rolls of fabric in all kinds of textures and colors—it felt like he had just walked into the kind of place that paid attention to detail.
A man hunched over the sewing machine looked up as Austin entered, his hands never stopping their work. "Yes?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as the Caterpie handed him another thread of silk. This place has charm, Austin thought.
"I'm looking to have some clothes made... from unconventional material," Austin said, a little smirk tugging at his lips.
The tailor paused, one eyebrow lifting in curiosity. "Unconventional material?" he repeated, his voice trailing with interest.
Austin nodded, pulling out a pile of fabric from his bag. He had gone through a pretty meticulous process—taking apart the garments he'd "borrowed" from those Team Rocket grunts he knocked out on Mt. Moon. He was careful not to leave a trace of its original ownership, removing the seams, pulling off the insignia. You wouldn't know this came from Rocket gear unless I told you, he thought.
The tailor's fingers brushed over the fabric, and Austin watched the skepticism on the man's face melt into surprise. "This is high-grade stuff," the tailor muttered, his voice now tinged with respect. "Waterproof, fireproof, scratch-resistant, tear-resistant, UV-protected, mold-resistant, and antimicrobial." He lifted a piece closer to his face, studying it with newfound interest. "This could take a hit from a Rhydon and keep the human alive."
Austin blinked, a little surprised himself. Team Rocket sure doesn't cheap out on their uniforms, he thought. "Really didn't expect that."
The tailor's eyes flicked up to meet Austin's, sharp now. "Where did you get this?"
Austin shrugged, leaning into the casual air he was aiming for. "If I get a good deal, maybe I'll share the story."
The tailor paused, mulling over the offer, then nodded. "Alright, 30% off."
Austin grinned. Easy enough. "Make it 40%, and you've got a deal," he countered smoothly.
"Let's settle at 35%," the tailor said, extending his hand for a shake. Austin took it, sealing the deal.
"Deal," Austin said. He wasn't going to tell the real story, so he whipped up something that sounded halfway decent. "Found it in an old WWII crate, sealed up like it was ready for a time capsule."
The tailor chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, what are you thinking of making with it?"
Austin looked at the fabric again, feeling the weight of it in his hands. "Some T-shirts, long and short sleeves, and a couple of windbreakers."
The tailor nodded, doing the mental math. "I can do three T-shirts and two windbreakers for 3,000 Pokédollars."
"And some pants and gloves? I've got six that need resizing," Austin added, gesturing to the rest of the gear.
The tailor thought for a moment, then nodded. "Same price."
"How long will it all take?" he asked, feeling the itch to get going. He didn't have a lot of time.
"One week," the tailor said, as if it was already set in stone.
"Any chance you could rush it? I'm in a bit of a hurry."
"For a rush job, I'd need to charge an extra 2,000 Pokédollars," the tailor explained, watching Austin's reaction closely.
"That works for me," he said, handing over the Pokédollars. He glanced around the shop, then remembered another thing on his list. "Oh, and one more thing—know where I can find a good Pokémon grooming salon?"
The tailor nodded, scribbling down an address for Austin without missing a beat. The guy was thorough, Austin would give him that.
"There's a place not too far from here. They do excellent work," the tailor said, handing Austin the address.
Austin took the slip of paper, pocketing it with a nod. Perfect. Vee's going to get the royal treatment, and he would be walking out of Pewter with some upgraded gear. Not a bad day's work, he thought, satisfied with how things were coming together.
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[ Author Note: I hope you all like the more slice of life, less tension filled chapters for a while. ]