Looking at the glowing Grassy Terrain before him, Grusha slowly reached for a Poké Ball at his waist. Pressing the button, the red-and-white sphere, initially the size of a marble, expanded to its full size.
With a sharp flick, he tossed it into the air. A beam of white light burst forth, revealing a massive, muscular Pokémon with a robust body. Its presence was imposing, and its icy aura filled the battlefield.
It was Cetitan, an Ice-type Pokémon that thrived in snowy mountains.
The battle began with Naoki and Grusha locking eyes, their Pokémon ready to clash.
"Cetitan, use Ice Spinner!" Grusha commanded, his voice calm yet assertive.
Cetitan's massive body began spinning rapidly, a thin layer of frost coating its skin as it charged forward. The spinning motion created a vortex of icy energy, which began to tear through the vibrant Grassy Terrain, leaving frozen patches in its wake.
Naoki observed Grusha's strategy and smirked. "Trying to destroy the terrain? Not so fast."
He raised his voice, issuing his command. "Gogoat, use Vine Whip!"
With a cry of determination, Gogoat launched two thick, serpentine vines from its body. The vines lashed out with incredible force, intercepting Cetitan mid-spin. The impact was so powerful that Cetitan stumbled, spinning uncontrollably in place like a top.
Grusha's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's… Vine Whip? No! How can it be so strong? And that thickness—those vines are enormous!"
But his shock deepened as he noticed another startling phenomenon. The Grassy Terrain, which had been partially destroyed by Ice Spinner, began to regenerate. The frozen patches melted away, and lush green grass sprouted anew, covering the battlefield once more.
"What's happening?!" Grusha exclaimed, his usually stoic demeanor faltering. "How is the terrain restoring itself so quickly?"
Meanwhile, Cetitan, still reeling from the Vine Whip, began to slow its erratic spinning. Its eyes swirled, mimicking a hypnotized state, before it collapsed onto the ground with a loud thud.
"Hang in there!" Grusha called out, his brows furrowed with concern. But something else caught his attention: Cetitan hadn't been healed by the Grassy Terrain, which should have restored some of its energy.
Before Grusha could voice his confusion, Naoki issued another command. "Gogoat, use your signature move!"
Gogoat braced itself, a fierce glint in its eyes. It leaned forward, green energy swirling and coalescing into a massive, glowing blade of grass that extended from its mouth like a sword. The energy crackled with raw power as Gogoat prepared to strike.
Grusha's pupils dilated as he processed the scene before him.
In a swift and elegant motion, Gogoat charged forward, its glowing blade slashing through the air. The attack struck Cetitan with pinpoint accuracy, hitting a vital spot. The Ice-type Pokémon let out a pained cry before falling silent, its large frame collapsing onto the battlefield.
Gogoat skidded to a stop a few feet away, its stance confident and poised. Its expression radiated strength and composure, as though it knew victory had been secured.
Cetitan lay unconscious, unable to continue the fight.
Grusha stood frozen in place, disbelief etched across his face. He had underestimated his opponent—and Gogoat's extraordinary abilities.
From the sidelines, Iono gasped, her hands covering her mouth. "Wow! That was incredible!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe.
Naoki stepped forward, his tone calm but firm. "Unfortunately, you failed the Green Grass Trial."
Grusha remained silent, his mind racing with unanswered questions. What kind of move had Gogoat just used? Why hadn't the Grassy Terrain healed Cetitan? And how had the terrain regenerated so quickly?
Elder Indeedee arrived with a bottle of goat milk, gently tending to Cetitan and helping it regain its strength. Slowly, Grusha began to recover from his daze, but the questions lingered.
Unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, he turned to Naoki. "What just happened? That move, the terrain… I don't understand."
Naoki smiled knowingly, folding his arms. "That attack was Leaf Blade, but a special version I developed. Its inspiration comes from a legendary Pokémon called Zacian."
"As for your last question," Naoki continued, "it's because Gogoat's mastery over Grass-type energy has reached a level far beyond what ordinary Pokémon can achieve."
"It can precisely control the Grass energy around it, making it beneficial only for itself. Similarly, Gogoat can release a steady stream of Grass energy to repair any damage to the Grassy Terrain caused by moves like Ice Spinner."
After all, Naoki thought to himself, these Gogoat were raised by the leaves of the World Tree. It wasn't surprising that they possessed such extraordinary abilities.
Grusha stared at the three Gogoat in a trance. At that moment, he finally understood why the Chief had sent gym leaders like him to this ranch for special training.
These three Gogoat were undoubtedly Champion-level Pokémon. Battling against Pokémon of this caliber could provide immense growth opportunities for gym leaders.
"Amazing!" Iono exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Naoki, how do you even train Pokémon to be this strong?"
"Train them?" Naoki repeated, looking at her with a smile. "I don't train them specifically. Life itself is their training."
"Life itself is training…" Grusha murmured, repeating the phrase as though it were a mantra.
Naoki nodded and elaborated, "I integrate their special training into everyday tasks. For instance, I have Dragonite use Rain Dance daily to water the plants. It may not seem like much at first, but after doing it thousands or even tens of thousands of times, its proficiency with Rain Dance reaches extraordinary levels. It can summon rain in an instant, turning battles in its favor."
He continued, "It's the same with my Gogoat. I let them channel Grass energy to cultivate crops in the fields. Not only does this help the crops grow, but it also hones their control over Grass energy."
Hearing this, Grusha closed his eyes and imagined the concept. He remained lost in thought, digesting the idea for a long time.
Just then, Koraidon ran over with Cyclizar and a group of Dragonairs following behind. One of the Dragonair seemed injured, limping slightly. Naoki quickly approached to assess the situation.
One of the Dragonair, it seemed, had been injured during a sparring match when another hadn't controlled its strength properly. Understanding the urgency, Naoki pulled out a bottle of goat milk and gently fed it to the injured Pokémon. Within moments, the Dragonair's injuries healed, and it slowly opened its eyes.
As soon as it saw Naoki, the Dragonair let out a soft purr and nuzzled against him affectionately.
Naoki glanced nervously at Dragonite, who was thankfully preoccupied on the other side of the ranch. He gently patted the Dragonair's head and whispered, "Alright, go take a break at Snorlax Park."
"Rooo~" the Dragonair chirped happily, flying off with its companions toward the park.
Iono, watching the interaction with wide-eyed wonder, was about to comment when she felt an intense gaze directed at her. Turning her head, she saw Koraidon squatting on the grass, staring at her with unmistakable affection.
She blinked, startled, before breaking into a cheerful greeting. "Long time no see, Koraidon! How've you been?"
"Raao!" Koraidon responded enthusiastically, nodding its head repeatedly.
Naoki, noticing the exchange, looked between Koraidon and Iono with curiosity. A thought crossed his mind—Koraidon seemed unusually fond of Iono.
Meanwhile, Iono turned her attention to Cyclizar, studying its streamlined body and mechanical resemblance. "Hey, Naoki," she said, her tone inquisitive, "don't Koraidon and Cyclizar look kind of… similar?"
Naoki chuckled and nodded. "Yes, there's actually speculation that Koraidon represents Cyclizar's ancient form. Whether it's true or not, no one knows for certain."
"There aren't any Pokémon like Koraidon naturally living in the Paldea region," Naoki explained. "It's a Pokémon discovered by Professor Sada in Area Zero. Despite its fierce appearance, it's actually very gentle!"
Hearing Naoki's praise, Koraidon let out an excited cry.
"Raao!"
Naoki smiled and reached out to pat its head affectionately.
Nearby, Cyclizar watched the interaction with a twinge of envy in its eyes. It wanted to be close to Naoki, too, just like Koraidon was.
Naoki, however, didn't notice Cyclizar's expression, but Iono did. She narrowed her eyes, feeling like she'd uncovered something significant.
Naoki had so many Pokémon, yet Cyclizar seemed to have been left out of the spotlight.
Cyclizar, sensing a gaze on it, turned its head and saw Iono looking right at it.
"Gao?" Cyclizar tilted its head curiously.
Iono waved cheerfully. "Hi, Cyclizar!"
The Pokémon blinked, then responded with a small, endearing chirp. "Gaa…"
At that moment, Grusha snapped out of his thoughts. His expression turned serious as he stepped forward to thank Naoki.
"Thank you, Mr. Naoki," Grusha said formally, bowing slightly. "I understand now why the Chief sent us here to train under you."
His use of honorifics took Naoki by surprise, and he waved his hands modestly. "There's no need to be so formal. Just call me Naoki, like Iono does."
But Grusha was insistent, his respect unwavering. Naoki couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
As noon approached, Naoki invited both Grusha and Iono to stay for lunch. The aroma of freshly preparing food wafted from the kitchen, and soon the Pokémon playing outside began trickling back into the house.
Seeing the variety of Pokémon gathered inside left Grusha and Iono speechless. Rare Pokémon of all kinds filled the ranch, including Calyrex accompanied by Polteageist and Sinistea.
Grusha found himself seated near Calyrex, an experience that left him feeling utterly bewildered. Sitting beside a legendary Pokémon was surreal enough, but watching Calyrex calmly watch television like a human was almost too much to process.
What unsettled him further was how Calyrex glanced at him with a kind and knowing look, almost as though it were smiling. Grusha was completely stunned. His respect for Naoki grew tenfold, convinced more than ever that Naoki was a Champion-level trainer with years of experience under his belt.
While Grusha was lost in his thoughts, Iono noticed something else entirely.
She observed how the Pokémon interacted with Naoki. Pokémon like Koraidon, Pawmot, Alcremie, and Dragonite eagerly approached Naoki, rubbing against him and basking in his attention. They all expressed their affection for him in clear, direct ways.
But one Pokémon stood apart from the rest: Cyclizar. It lingered near the edges of the group, watching the joyful interactions with a look of quiet longing.
"The poor Cyclizar's been left out," Iono muttered softly to herself.
She knew this wasn't uncommon for trainers with large teams. It was inevitable that some Pokémon wouldn't receive as much attention as others, especially when a trainer had so many companions. It was for this reason that most leagues encouraged trainers to limit themselves to carrying six Pokémon during their travels.
Feeling a pang of sympathy for Cyclizar, Iono decided to speak up. "Hey, Cyclizar!"
Cyclizar turned toward her, blinking in surprise.
"You should go to Naoki too!" she encouraged. "Just like Koraidon does! If you go to him, he'll definitely notice you."
"Gao?" Cyclizar hesitated, looking uncertain. Could it really approach Naoki the way Koraidon did?
Iono gave a determined nod. "Of course you can! Believe in yourself!"
Cyclizar shuffled awkwardly on its feet, clearly shy. But after a moment of deliberation, it seemed to gather its courage. With a small but determined cry, it turned and headed toward the kitchen.
Naoki, who was stirring a pot of soup, looked up in surprise when Cyclizar walked into the kitchen. "What's up?"
Cyclizar hesitated for a moment before mimicking Koraidon's actions, pressing itself close to Naoki.
Naoki blinked in mild surprise but then broke into a warm smile. Cyclizar was seeking his affection.
Naoki chuckled, reaching out to rub Cyclizar's head gently. "Good boy!"
"Gaa!" Cyclizar chirped happily, its eyes lighting up with delight. Emboldened by Naoki's warmth, it stuck out its tongue and gave Naoki's palm a playful lick.
Naoki froze, his hand now damp with saliva.
"…You and Koraidon must have been born on the same day," Naoki muttered, half in exasperation and half in amusement. "Why do you two always lick people like that?"
Cyclizar, sensing that Naoki wasn't actually upset, wagged its tail happily, its joy bubbling over.
"Alright, alright," Naoki said with a sigh, patting Cyclizar's head. "Go play in the living room. I need to finish cooking."
Cyclizar chirped again in agreement and trotted back to the living room. Once there, it locked eyes with Iono, who grinned and gave it an encouraging nod.
"See? I told you he'd notice you!" Iono whispered with a wink.
Cyclizar's confidence soared, and it glanced around the room with newfound happiness.
Grusha sat quietly, observing the exchange. Though he said nothing, his thoughtful gaze lingered on Cyclizar and Iono.
"Naoki is so kind to his Pokémon," Iono commented, her tone filled with admiration.
Grusha nodded subtly. In the short time he had spent at the ranch, he could already feel the warmth and care Naoki radiated.
His eyes drifted around the living room, taking in the lively scene of Pokémon chasing each other, playing, and resting contentedly. Each Pokémon seemed genuinely happy and at peace in Naoki's care.
Grusha couldn't help but compare the scene to his own life at the Glaseado Mountain Gym. Once upon a time, his personality had been as vibrant and enthusiastic as Iono's. But after the accident that ended his snowboarding career, he had become reserved, his demeanor growing as cold and distant as the Ice-types he trained.
His Pokémon—Frosmoth, Beartic, Cetitan, Weavile, and Altaria—had always been his closest companions. They used to laugh with him, racing and skiing together through the snow-covered mountains. But since his retirement, those joyful moments had faded, replaced by quiet companionship.
Grusha's thoughts darkened as he glanced at his right leg. The injury that had nearly shattered it still haunted him. Though he had recovered physically, he could no longer ski the way he once did. His leg, and his spirit, hadn't fully healed.
"What's on your mind?"
Naoki's voice cut through Grusha's thoughts. He had entered the living room, carrying dishes of steaming food.
Grusha looked up, startled out of his reverie. "It's nothing."
"Come on over for dinner!" Naoki said with a warm smile. Though he could guess the reason behind Grusha's quiet demeanor, he decided not to pry further. Instead, he turned to sister Indeedee, and asked her to escort the guests to wash their hands and prepare for the meal.
Grusha nodded silently and followed Indeedee out of the room.
That left Iono, who remained seated, glancing at Naoki with an expression of hesitation. She looked as if she wanted to say something but couldn't quite bring herself to speak.
Naoki raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's on your mind?"
Iono sighed before responding. "Grusha wasn't always like this. He used to be a phenomenal snowboarder—one of the best. But after that injury forced him to retire, his personality completely changed… No one's been able to help him."
She paused for a moment, her voice tinged with sadness. "I tried encouraging him before, telling him to move on and look toward the future, but nothing seemed to work. He just… shut himself away."
Naoki nodded thoughtfully, processing Iono's words. "A leg injury…" he murmured.
His gaze drifted to the kitchen counter as an idea began to form. Life Milk, the nourishing drink produced by his Gogoat, had incredible healing properties. But could it work on injuries as severe as Grusha's?
Naoki furrowed his brow. From the way Iono described the accident, it sounded like Grusha's bones had been seriously damaged. He wasn't sure if it could mend such extensive injuries.
Still, it was worth a try.
"I'll see what I can do after dinner," Naoki said, his tone resolute.
If the Life Milk doesn't work on its own, I'll enlist the help of some Pokémon.
He glanced at Indeedee, who had just returned, and his mind began to strategize. Between Indeedee's Lunar Dance, Calyrex's Life Dew and Heal Pulse, and the restorative properties of Life Milk, paired with some specially prepared dishes, there might be a way to help Grusha recover—both physically and emotionally.
...
Bonus Chapter @500PS