Kalos region, Coumarine City.
This was a small city located in the northwestern part of the Kalos region, yet it also had a reputation as a leisure resort destination.
Ocean, mountains, and forests all coexisted here, plus the rich natural cultural atmosphere made this small city filled with a tranquil, comfortable feeling everywhere.
Spring grass and flying orioles.
On Coumarine City's vast grasslands, gentle breezes passed by, immediately stirring up green waves. Hoppip floated with the wind, eventually colliding with Cottonee in mid-air.
"How do you have time to come to Coumarine City?"
A short, elderly man wearing dark green work clothes with large shears at his waist, around fifty or sixty years old, looked cheerfully at this "big customer" before him.
While speaking, he was also trimming excess branches from a nearby Trevenant.
This person was precisely the Gym Leader of Coumarine City in the Kalos region, known as "an old tree that still blooms," Ramos!
And sitting on the grass in front of him resting was naturally Johan, along with Flint who had come along for the journey.
"Recently caught a Grass-type Pokémon." Johan smiled as he threw out a Poké Ball, summoning Snivy.
"Sni!"
As soon as Snivy appeared, it crossed its arms, glanced sideways at the smiling Johan, pursed its lips, then...
Climbed onto Johan's head.
Seeing Snivy, Ramos's eyes brightened slightly as he couldn't help but praise:
"What an excellently raised Snivy..."
Before Johan could speak, Snivy wrinkled its nose and called out to Ramos.
"Sni~!"
Even if you praise me, I won't be happy!
Then it jumped down on its own and ran to the side to photosynthesize, but seeing its body gently swaying with the grass, it was obviously in quite a good mood.
"The photosynthesis is also quite good." Ramos's smile remained unchanged.
For Grass-type Pokémon, mastering photosynthesis was very important.
"Ramos, please continue with your work. I'll ask for your guidance after you're finished." Johan said while passing his hand over his waist, summoning all the little ones.
"Ka-kaah!"
Gengar floated out from Johan's shadow, seeing the group of Sunflora not far away, its mouth corners immediately couldn't help drooling.
Slurp—
The Sunflora, who had originally been enjoying the sun contentedly, suddenly felt a chill, cold air rising from their feet to their heads.
Who?!
Which scoundrel wants to harm us?
"Garruu—"
Coach Urshifu took a deep breath, his expression becoming somewhat intoxicated.
Ah—great nature, this is the scent of bounty—
"Goka!"
Ceruledge suddenly raised the blade in its hand, pointing at two Victreebel and Vileplume arguing over a berry not far away.
Hey! Release that berry, let me handle this!
Whoosh—
Ceruledge moved extremely fast, its form becoming a streak of ghostly blue flame, flashing between the Victreebel and Vileplume.
Crack!
The plump, juicy Sitrus Berry was immediately split in half, falling into the hands of Victreebel and Vileplume respectively.
The two Pokémon stared blankly at the berries in their hands. After brief bewilderment, they became delighted.
This division was very fair!
However, before they could enjoy the berries...
Clang!
Ceruledge, with its back to them, slowly placed its blade at its waist, head tilted forty-five degrees skyward as the blade went into its sheath!
Sizzle—
A small path constructed of ghostly blue flames slowly appeared on the ground.
Seeing this scene.
Vileplume and Victreebel almost simultaneously swallowed, cold sweat slowly trickling down their foreheads.
Then...
Vileplume and Victreebel very tacitly split their respective berries in half again, sheepishly offering half to Ceruledge, "thanking" it for its "assistance."
Ceruledge politely declined briefly, then accepted this half berry, couldn't help closing its eyes and taking a deep breath.
"Goka..."
Such a familiar feeling of having face...
Of course, while his own Pokémon were "messing with" the Pokémon on Ramos's farm, naturally some Pokémon from Ramos's farm were also eyeing the Old Johan Family's, such as...
A Chesnaught that seemed to have considerable "prestige" on the farm.
After hesitating in the distance for a long time, it seemed to gather courage and walked to Tyranitar's side, who was sitting on the ground single-mindedly wolfing down food.
Shyly...
"Ches..."
Chesnaught blushed as it offered Tyranitar a pink, tender flower, with a friendly gesture.
This action.
Not only attracted the originally farm-dwelling Pokémon, but also made the Old Johan Family's little ones unable to help but look sideways.
A Pokémon actually took a liking to Tyranitar?
Johan was also quite surprised.
On one hand, he was surprised that his own Tyranitar, having evolved not long ago, seemed to have some appeal.
On the other hand, he was surprised this was actually a female Chesnaught.
After all, as the final evolution of the Kalos region grass starter Chesnaught, the ratio of male to female was... seven to one, a typical "bachelor-type" Pokémon.
Female Chesnaught were quite rare.
"Bangi?"
Tyranitar, who was stuffing meteorites in its mouth, twitched its nose, seemingly smelling the flower fragrance, and looked up at Chesnaught in confusion.
Chesnaught's expression immediately became even more shy, the blush on its face more obvious, but it didn't lower the hand holding the flower at all.
Seeing this, Tyranitar understood.
It scratched the back of its head and grinned.
"Bangi~"
Thanks~
Then "chomp" in one bite.
It ate the flower Chesnaught was holding, along with part of the stem.
Tyranitar thought: The Pokémon on this farm are really nice, knowing I was getting tired of just eating meteorites, even bringing little snacks. Mm, tastes pretty good~
Chesnaught looked at the bare stem in its hand, completely petrified.
Ate, ate it?!
Similarly witnessing the entire process, quite a few Pokémon directly stumbled, nearly falling over.
Johan also couldn't help but facepalm.
This time he didn't blame Uxie.
After all, Uxie was the "God of Knowledge," and Uxie's Claw... while making Tyranitar's intelligence points go "askew," this obviously should be the fault of Mesprit, the God of Emotion.
But looking at this situation, Tyranitar finding a partner in the future would probably...
"Come, have some tea, all grown by myself."
Ramos, having finished trimming Trevenant's branches, sat with Johan on the field ridge.
"Ka-kaah?"
Tea?
Hearing about tea, Gengar, who had been searching for something in the grass nearby, immediately raised its head and floated over first.
"Ka-kaah, Ka-kaah?"
It pointed to its own mouth with both hands.
Could you, give me some too?
"You want some too?"
So Ramos happily poured Gengar a cup as well.
Then they watched.
Ramos, Johan, and Gengar—two people and one Pokémon—sitting on the field ridge, enjoying sunshine, warm breeze, wave-like grasslands, and mellow green tea...
Peaceful times.
"How is it?" Ramos suddenly asked.
"Pretty good."
Johan liked coffee, but he wasn't completely averse to tea. If it was particularly mellow and sweet tea, he was still quite willing to try it.
"Ka-kaah..."
However, Gengar smacked its lips, shaking its head with a "no good, no good" expression.
Seeing this, Ramos wasn't angry, just smiled and asked:
"Don't like it?"
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar waved its hand, then...
Pulled out its exclusive "tea canister" from its mouth, pinched out some, added hot water, and handed it to Ramos.
"Ka-kaah!"
Come! Try mine! This has flavor!
"Ramos..." Johan's mouth twitched as he was about to warn him, but Ramos looked quite expectant as he... blew on it and took a sip.
The next second.
Johan could clearly see Ramos's complexion change from its original healthy color to red...
"Cough." The red-faced Ramos quickly coughed twice, "Mm... good tea..."
This is way too bitter!
"Ka-kaah! (▼O▼)"
Gengar put its hands on its hips, nodding with satisfaction.
This old man... understands tea. Not bad.
"Cough cough, well, Johan, after watching for so long, do you have any feelings?" Ramos quickly changed the subject.
Johan nodded thoughtfully.
"I learned some things."
He had indeed learned some things.
For example.
While Grass-type Pokémon were called Grass-type, they actually had some branches.
Such as directly promoting plant growth, like Gogoat and Vileplume.
There were also those that assisted ecological digestion to indirectly promote plant growth, such as Trevenant, Victreebel, and Gloom—these accelerated the conversion of decaying vegetation into nutrients in the soil.
And there were Grass-type Pokémon that could produce some fruits themselves, like Sunflora, Gogoat, Tropius, etc.
These different types of Grass-type Pokémon had very different effects on farms.
Ramos smiled with squinted eyes, stroking the white goatee on both sides of his chin, nodding with satisfaction.
"I heard you have a large collection of books?" Johan asked.
"Mostly books about various farm matters, plus some of my experiences and insights..." Ramos waved his hand dismissively.
However, for Johan, this held great appeal.
"Could I... borrow some to read?"
"Of course." Ramos smiled in agreement.
After a brief pause, he added: "But before that... Johan, would you like to try a battle?"
"A battle?"
Johan was stunned.
Seeing Ramos looking healthy and rejuvenated, even becoming somewhat excited, Johan couldn't help but look at Gengar questioningly:
Did you put stimulants in your Revival Herb tea?
Gengar shrugged.
No way.
It was pure Revival Herb tea, just made by grinding Revival Herb into powder. One sip refreshes the mind, two sips never tire, three sips grants immortality! Yeah!
Johan: "..."
"Don't you also want to ask about some insights regarding Grass-type Pokémon, or Snivy specifically?"
Ramos said.
"In Pokémon raising, or Pokémon battling, and hard power, this old man definitely can't compare to you..."
"But honestly, when it comes to just Grass-type Pokémon, this old man thinks he has some insights."
That was true...
Ramos's age... was probably similar to Professor Oak and Elite Four Agatha.
While his strength might not be particularly outstanding, but... having conscientiously served as Coumarine Gym Leader for decades, managing such a large farm, saying he had no skills would be impossible.
Moreover.
Collecting others' experiences in Pokémon raising was definitely not wrong.
"Pokémon battles are always the best way to test everything."
As Ramos stood up, a Gogoat had already quite tacitly run to his side.
"An elder's invitation—naturally I wouldn't dare refuse." Johan also stood up, calling: "Snivy."
"Sni!"
Snivy immediately came to Johan's side, looking at Ramos across from them and the robust Gogoat beside him, its little eyes slightly brightening.
This was a formidable opponent!
Since it was just sparring and sharing experiences, there weren't any particularly strict rules—just a simple one-on-one.
Flint served as temporary referee.
Gogoat VS Snivy.
"Since that's the case, let this old man attack first." After Ramos finished speaking, he immediately gave commands.
"Old buddy, Grassy Terrain!"
Bang!!
Ramos's Gogoat raised its front hooves high, then landed lightly.
Buzz—
A emerald green energy immediately spread outward from Gogoat as the center. The already green grass seemed covered with a layer of emerald fluorescence, with wisps of energy floating up.
[Grassy Terrain: Pokémon on the field can receive the terrain's blessing at regular intervals, recovering stamina while also boosting the power of Grass-type moves.]
"Sni!"
Snivy squinted, trying hard to memorize the scene of Gogoat using Grassy Terrain.
Another move it hadn't learned, and it looked quite useful... even it felt a faint boost in power.
Of course.
The Gogoat using this move naturally gained a much greater boost.
Not only because Gogoat was the user of Grassy Terrain, but also because... Gogoat's ability was "Grass Pelt."
[Grass Pelt: When a Pokémon with this ability is on Grassy Terrain, its Defense increases by 50%!]
Indeed.
As Grassy Terrain spread, the already dense leaf-like green fur on Gogoat's back quickly grew again, giving it a considerable defensive boost.
But for Johan and Snivy, this was actually good news.
At least Gogoat's ability wasn't "Sap Sipper," otherwise there would be no point in fighting at all.
"Snivy, Leer." Johan also gave commands.
"Sni! (#皿)"
Snivy's body curled slightly, like a snake ready to strike, its eyes glaring at Gogoat, bringing its increased physical defense back to normal levels.
At the same time, Snivy's pupils revealed the coldness of being targeted by a snake.
Ramos smiled slightly.
"Gogoat, Grass Slide!"
In an instant.
Gogoat, which had been some distance from Snivy, actually rode the lush grass like surfing, rushing toward Snivy at extremely high speed.
So fast that in the blink of an eye, it was already in front of Snivy.
[Grass Slide: When used on Grassy Terrain, this move's priority +1]
A priority move!
As everyone knows.
In Pokémon battles, move priority was a very unreasonable hidden attribute.
Although in the real Pokémon world, priority wasn't exaggerated to the point of directly determining turn order, it could still largely determine advantages and disadvantages.
Johan quite liked having Tinkaton use Fake Out, a priority +1 move, as an opening.
However.
When Gogoat confidently rushed to Snivy's front at high speed, what greeted it was Snivy's suddenly raised... disdainful, proud, cold gaze.
"Sni!"
Snivy sent out two vines, braced against the ground, and directly lifted its body up!
"Hm?"
Ramos was stunned.
This... could a priority move be dodged so easily?
Pat—
Snivy landed lightly, vines retracting. Though it was a little one shorter than Gogoat, at this moment it gave Gogoat the feeling of... looking up at a queen...
Queenly presence?
Did Snivy, this type of Pokémon, have this ability?
Whether Ramos or Gogoat were clearly somewhat confused.
And Johan was... already quite familiar and accepting of this.
Our little tsundere having some queenly presence—what's wrong with that?
Totally normal!
"Snivy, Quick Attack!"
"Sni! (`ε´)"
Time for my counterattack!
Snivy's speed instantly reached its peak, while also gaining further speed boost through Quick Attack.
In terms of speed, this was Snivy's advantage, so naturally it had to maximize its own advantages.
"Gogoat, Razor Leaf!"
But Ramos, worthy of being Kalos region's eldest Gym Leader, quickly recovered after brief confusion and made the most correct command.
Rustle rustle rustle—
Gogoat's body swayed slightly, immediately sending out emerald green leaves wrapped in fluorescence from its back.
But these sharp leaves didn't shoot out, just circled around its body, forming a barrier.
This was Ramos and his Gogoat's specialty move.
In the original series, when Ash challenged Ramos, Frogadier's moves were easily countered by Gogoat's technique.
But Johan wasn't Ash, and Snivy wasn't Frogadier.
"Vine Whip." Johan half-closed his eyes.
Whoosh—whoosh—
Snivy ran while watching the barrier formed by Razor Leaf, while also sending out Vine Whip.
In its view, Gogoat's technique... coincided with its understanding of certain moves.
However, this was still a battle.
"Release it!"
Seeing Snivy still trying to break through the Razor Leaf "barrier" with Vine Whip, Ramos took advantage and counterattacked, seizing the gap when Snivy was attacking!
Whoosh—
In an instant.
The original protective "barrier" immediately became an emerald leaf tornado, sweeping toward Snivy.
Obviously, Ramos and Gogoat's signature move combined offense and defense!
Bang!!
Gogoat's Razor Leaf hit Snivy before Snivy's Vine Whip could connect.
The little one was sent flying.
Ramos was indeed experienced... Johan thought, but wasn't too worried about Snivy.
Because at the last moment before being hit by Razor Leaf, Snivy had still managed to retract part of its vines with its extremely fast reflexes, blocking the biggest impact of the Razor Leaf "tornado."
Moreover...
As fellow Grass-type Pokémon.
The damage wasn't very high.
But...
"Sni!! (▼皿▼)"
The flying Snivy immediately got back up, looking fierce.
It actually got sent flying!
Since following Johan, it had good food and drink every day, training hard—it wasn't like it had made no progress at all. Moreover...
Snivy raised its hand.
A small cluster of emerald fluorescence appeared in its hand!
Looking carefully, one could clearly see countless leaves forming a small tornado inside.
Then it threw it out—
Becoming a surging leaf tornado!
Leaf Storm!
Hm?
This time.
Not just Ramos, even Johan was somewhat surprised.
Because in his [Pokédex], Snivy clearly didn't know Leaf Storm, but when he looked again... "Leaf Storm" was clearly listed in the [Learned Moves] section.
Learned it at this moment?
No!
Johan quickly noticed something different.
It seemed Snivy's Leaf Storm also contained other moves...
It was Razor Leaf!
Gogoat used Razor Leaf to form a tornado, so Snivy used Razor Leaf to create Leaf Storm?
For a moment.
Johan was somewhat confused.
Was this still the Snivy he remembered—one with perhaps average talent but quite hardworking and a bit tsundere?
Leaf Storm + Razor Leaf—this was "mediocre talent"?
More importantly...
Johan also noticed that behind Snivy, two light green orbs faintly appeared, with glimmering green light flowing from them into the Leaf Storm...
"This is..."
Johan's heart trembled, then his expression became even more confused.
Kyogre's Origin Pulse?!
No, Origin Pulse was a Water-type move, and this was clearly Grass-type energy, so... it used its own way to understand Origin Pulse, then made improvements to suit itself?
This learning ability... wasn't inferior to their Gengar, was it?
No wonder, no wonder Snivy clearly photosynthesized every day, but its food consumption still didn't decrease...
Good heavens.
Did Tyranitar's "Uxie's Claw" get put on you instead?
Boom!!!
The massive Leaf Storm swept out, directly enveloping Gogoat, then... similarly sending it flying.
"Sni!"
Snivy put its hands on its hips, head tilted up slightly, looking down at Gogoat with its gaze.
How's that?
"Cough..."
Ramos raised his hand to stop Gogoat, looked at Snivy across from him, then at the calm-faced Johan.
No wonder... no wonder others said Teacher Johan liked to "suppress evolution" in Pokémon to maintain baby forms. Larvitar evolving directly into Tyranitar to face Groudon head-on, and this Snivy... probably wasn't far behind.
"Johan..." Ramos said slowly.
"Do you have any slightly more reasonable Pokémon?"
With such a Snivy... you're here asking for guidance?
This old man should be asking you for guidance instead!
Johan: "..."
This time it really can't be blamed on me—I'm also a "victim"...
Flint on the side laughed heartily: "Ramos, you'll get used to it. Teacher Johan's Pokémon are like this."
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Powerstones?
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