Pokemon: The Master Of Monsters

"Haha!" Sabrina laughed joyfully as she mastered riding her bike, the newfound skill bringing out a childlike innocence in her.

Gary stood by, watching her with a mix of amusement and surprise. Sabrina, the powerful Psychic Gym Leader, was riding a bike with the enthusiasm of someone experiencing the simple pleasure of childhood for the first time. Gary couldn't help but think about how lonely her childhood must have been. "Even city children know how to ride a bike," he thought, feeling a pang of sympathy for Sabrina's past.

"Sabrina, it's noon, time to rest," Gary called out. Sabrina had been riding for hours, and if Gary hadn't reminded her, she would have kept going.

"Okay," Sabrina responded, her smile still bright as she slowed to a stop. Though overjoyed, she was still quite rational.

Sabrina released Mr. Mime from its Poké Ball to begin preparing lunch, and Gary, now in his trainer mode, turned to her. "Sabrina, after we eat, rest for an hour. Then, let your Pokémon do some basic training for an hour, followed by a half-hour break before we set off again."

"Training in the wild again?" Sabrina asked skeptically, eyeing their surroundings. She was used to training in the gym, where everything was controlled. The idea of training in the wild was foreign to her.

"That's the way of travel," Gary explained. "Sometimes it takes days to reach a city. Training can't stop just because you're traveling. Even if you can't conduct full professional training on the road, some basic performance training is necessary to keep your Pokémon in top contest shape."

"Do I need it too?" Sabrina asked, looking at Gary with a hint of uncertainty.

"Of course," Gary replied. "Your Pokémon are too fragile. If you hadn't used Confusion to protect it in yesterday's battle, your Pokémon wouldn't have survived Scizor's Fury Cutter attack."

Sabrina felt a bit embarrassed. She hadn't realized that Gary had noticed her using Psychic to protect her Pokémon.

"Are you a Psychic user too?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I'm not," Gary answered. "But when you use Psychic powers, you emit blue energy waves, and anyone with a discerning eye can see it."

Sabrina, still feeling a little self-conscious, responded, "That was due to my ignorance. I won't rely on it like that in the future."

Gary nodded. "Then, let's train your Pokémon properly. Teach them to use Confusion for their own protection. Every Pokémon can tap into the energy within its body for defense, but your Pokémon is still weak at it. You've been using Psychic to help, but that's made them reliant on it."

Sabrina nodded, looking thoughtful. She wanted to learn and improve, and Gary's words struck a chord with her.

"Let's cook for your Pokémon together," Gary suggested, shifting the focus.

"Don't we have Mr. Mime?" Sabrina asked, a little puzzled. She'd never cooked for her Pokémon herself, as Mr. Mime usually handled everything in the past.

"Mr. Mime can assist us, but as a qualified Trainer, you need to understand your Pokémon's preferences and adjust their diet accordingly. Feeding them the right energy blocks is crucial to their performance," Gary explained. "You should at least find a complete feeding plan and let Mr. Mime help with the preparation."

Sabrina, surprised by the depth of Gary's advice, questioned further, "Isn't it the job of breeders to do this? Trainers just command Pokémon in battle, right?"

Gary chuckled softly. "Being a Trainer isn't that simple. Trainers need to understand how to properly care for their Pokémon. While you may not be a breeder, every strong Trainer knows their Pokémon inside and out. They may not be experts in breeding, but they know how to optimize their Pokémon's potential."

Sabrina was taken aback. She'd never considered that Trainers needed to be involved in every aspect of their Pokémon's care, not just the battles. "I didn't know Trainers had to do so much," she admitted. In her experience, Pokémon in the Saffron Gym were raised by breeders, and Najun would direct the care of the Pokémon. But she had never thought much about the specifics of the process.

Gary explained further, "The feeds and training methods are often designed by the Trainers themselves, not just the breeders. For example, the special formulas used at the breeding house are tailored to the Pokémon's needs by the Trainer, not just something the breeders come up with."

Sabrina, eager to learn, nodded. She began working with Gary to prepare the feed for her Pokémon. Pokémon feed preparation was straightforward but required understanding the nutritional needs of each Pokémon. A fixed amount of base feed, some tree fruits, and energy cubes formed the foundation. What made it unique was the knowledge of each Pokémon's taste preferences.

"Growlithe likes spicy food, while Abra prefers bitter foods," Gary explained as he added ingredients to the mix. "Wartortle and Scyther prefer fishy tastes, and Golbat loves a bloody flavor."

Sabrina looked at the ingredients with interest. "What kind of tree fruit is this?" she asked, noticing a new fruit Gary was adding to Abra's mix. It was different from the usual ingredients used in the Gym.

"This is a Lum Berry," Gary explained. "It helps Pokémon when they experience chaotic contest conditions. Psychic Pokémon, like Abra, need to calm their minds for long periods and build mental strength. The Lum Berry helps alleviate confusion and restore balance."

Sabrina nodded, absorbing the information. "I see."

Gary smiled. "Lum Berries aren't commonly used in Pokémon feeds, but they can be very helpful, especially for Psychic-types. It helps Abra stay focused and sharp during training."

Sabrina, clearly attentive, said, "I'll remember that." She was beginning to realize just how much there was to learn about being a Trainer. Not only was it about commanding Pokémon in battle, but it also involved understanding them on a deeper level—something she was now eager to master.

After preparing the lunch, Sabrina and Gary rested for an hour before beginning the training session. As they trained in the wild, the focus was on physical conditioning, something Sabrina wasn't used to. In the Gym, most of the training was technical and specialized, but here, it was about building strength, endurance, and resilience.

Gary focused on performance training, giving Sabrina a few tips on how to conduct these sessions. "Performance training helps build a Pokémon's stamina and adaptability in battle, but it also gives them the edge they need in contests," he explained. "And for Abra, while it doesn't need physical training right now, we can still improve its mental strength."

Gary handed Sabrina a Power Lens, an item that helped with training special stats. In the Pokémon games, the Power Lens would slow a Pokémon down in battle but increase their special attack effort. In the real world, it had a similar function. The Power Lens would allow Abra to focus on its psychic training without physical exertion, helping it build its mental strength.

Sabrina raised an eyebrow at the sight of Gary's Macho Brace, which he had put on his Brave, a sturdy Pokémon that was now running tirelessly around the area. "Why do you want Brave to do strength training?" she asked, concerned about her Pokémon's fatigue.

Gary, seeing her concern, replied, "Brave isn't Abra. Abra needs its rest, but Brave needs to build muscle and defense. It's important to have close-range defense for situations when it encounters strong, evil Pokémon."

Sabrina thought about it. "But my Xatu could learn Miracle Eye," she said, thinking of one of her other Pokémon.

Gary raised an eyebrow. "Can your Xatu use it yet?" he asked.

Sabrina shook her head. "Not yet. Xatu hasn't unlocked Miracle Eye."

Gary nodded. "Exactly. Training Pokémon like Brave, who need to develop their physical strength, is vital for their survival in tough battles."

Sabrina smiled, realizing how much she had to learn. "I'm glad I have you to guide me, Gary."

Gary simply smiled back, glad to see that Sabrina was learning. "You're doing great. Just keep it up, and soon, you'll be able to train your Pokémon like a pro."

As the day wore on, Sabrina and Gary continued their training, side by side, with Sabrina gaining new skills and understanding the complexities of Pokémon care and battle. It was clear that her journey as a Trainer had only just begun.

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