A Note on Evolution Mechanics:
Regarding Evolution: In the games, Houndour needs to reach Level 24 to evolve. While our Houndour already exceeds that requirement in terms of auric energy, things work a bit differently in this story.
In this world, auric energy alone isn't enough. A Pokémon must also be in peak physical condition—meaning it cannot be malnourished or sickly—and it needs the right mental catalyst, whether that's the heat of battle, a surge of joy, a specific item, or some other breakthrough. Furthermore, the Pokémon itself plays a conscious role in the process; it can instinctively suppress its evolution if it doesn't feel ready, or conversely, it can attempt to force the transformation through sheer willpower.
Furthermore, there is no fixed "auric threshold" for evolution. While 24 is a general baseline, a Pokémon could potentially evolve even at an auric level of 20 or 30 if all other conditions are met. Conversely, being malnourished or unhappy makes the process significantly harder, potentially delaying it even if the energy levels are high. While it is technically possible to "force" an evolution prematurely, doing so is highly dangerous and detrimental to the Pokémon's long-term health.
***
Morning I woke up in a semi-wrecked state. The muscle soreness was insane; some of my muscles felt as if lead had been poured into them, and I struggled to even lift my arms above my head. I'd clearly overdone it at the training center yesterday. It didn't help that after the workout, I had to wrestle with Houndour just to get him into the shower. In the end, though, he actually enjoyed it.
Professor Oak would, of course, be against me being this familiar with a new Pokémon... but my instinct told me to trust him. That's why I woke up this morning with the warmth of his body pressed right up against my side.
I didn't get out of the comfortable bed immediately; I just lay there. I carefully reached for the Pokédex on the nightstand, making sure not to wake Houndour. Just as I grabbed it, Houndour let out a little snore and a huff, but stayed asleep.
I let out a small, amused smile and immediately started downloading the P.E.X. app. I had the money, and though a new partner would likely be useless against Brock right away, the sooner I had a full team, the better—I'd be able to train them all just as hard, all at once.
A notification flashed, signaling the app had downloaded successfully. You had to love this world; optical fiber was everywhere and password-free. I launched it instantly. A brief progress bar appeared with a notice that they were creating an account linked to my Trainer ID, and then I was in.
The app's user interface was classic and austere, making navigation a breeze. No unnecessary fluff—I went straight to the Pokémon purchase option.
I was interested in a Water-type; they were practically invaluable for both combat and survival in the wild or at sea. My favorite, of course, was the Kanto starter, Squirtle. They tended to be quite expensive, as their abilities meant they were often used by city fire departments, and as a Blastoise, they were top-tier combatants. A proper, massive tank, if a bit clunky at times.
I knew the price hovered around thirty thousand PokéDollars. I thought about checking Mudkip as well—just to be sure.
However, I stopped short immediately because its price started at thirty-five thousand. It made sense; Mudkip was also essentially a rescue worker, capable of locating people in the most catastrophic conditions. Regardless, for me, Squirtle was the clear choice.
I typed the name into the search bar, and five Squirtles popped up in a second. Most cost between thirty and fifty thousand PokéDollars. Only one was priced at twenty-eight thousand. It was extremely strange because its auric energy level glowed higher than the others, and its icon featured a "Sale" tag.
Logically, I chose the profile of this discounted Squirtle; after all, it had a higher energy level and a better price.
Name: Squirtle
Height: 0.7 m
Weight: 11 kg
Age: Under 5 years
Auric Level: 21 / 100
BMI: Pass
It definitely looked promising; it was larger, heavier, and aurically more advanced than average. What gave me pause for a moment, however, were the comments under its profile.
Comments:
"This Squirtle doesn't listen at all, I do not recommend buying!" – M.
"Bad Pokémon, doesn't do what it's told." – K.
"If you think it will obey you, you're mistaken." – J.
The reality was that many people were completely thick; instead of partners, they viewed Pokémon only as toys or slaves, despite how exceptionally dangerous they were. I decided to give it a chance. Worst case scenario, I'd just put it back into the system.
I hit "Buy" and selected the pickup point in Pewter City. A loading wheel spun for a moment before the system offered specific options: either a P.E.X. store or free pickup directly at the Pokémon Center I was currently in. The choice was obvious.
The wheel appeared briefly again, but then a notification chimed—28,000 PokéDollars had been debited from my bank account. A thank-you message followed, along with info that the Pokémon would be delivered within the next twenty-four hours.
I had roughly 92,000 PokéDollars in my account and just over three hundred in cash, so I was still wealthy.
However, I had to save the money for gear and supplements we'd need in the future. Or for an auric TM. According to memories from my childhood world, it worked by having a technique recorded on some sort of disc that the Pokéball read, and suddenly the Pokémon knew it.
That was, so to speak, impossible. In the real world, there were auric TMs that taught a Pokémon how to handle energy at a total amateur level. They provided the basics: how to sense, shape, and direct it, albeit slowly and clumsily. After that, nothing but hard training could follow.
But it was a brutal help. Imagine an Alakazam learning to feel electric auric energy... electric shocks were quite painful for any Pokémon. Of course, not every energy was compatible with every species. These TMs were quite expensive, as was the entire trainer business, but after selling Scyther, I could afford to feel rich.
"Houndour!" "Haunter!"
My Pokémon completely snapped me out of my thoughts. Houndour was looking at me reproachfully, while Haunter was stretching with his typical wide and terrifying grin.
"Good morning. Did you sleep well?" I asked them.
"Houndour!" "Haunter!"
The answer was one nod and one shake of the head with a tongue sticking out. Take a guess which one shook their head.
"Did you at least eat during the night, Haunter?"
"Haunter, Haunt... Haaaaunter!"
Apparently, he had fed more than well during the night. As soon as food was mentioned, Houndour immediately reminded me of his presence with a low whimper.
"We're going for breakfast now, don't worry. Once I finish my morning hygiene, we can head out, Houndour," I reassured him.
In the bathroom, I quickly pulled myself together to look like a human being. At the doorframe, I stretched with a quiet groan; practically every muscle in my body ached, and the movement was painfully pleasant at the same time. I dressed in comfortable clothes and headed to the dining hall. Houndour walked with a puffed-out chest to my right, and Haunter floated silently in my shadow.
Even in the hallway, the smell of roasted coffee and the tempting aroma of grilled sausages—classic Tauros, of course—hit my nose. Houndour started drooling instantly at the scent, so I walked inside without delay.
The dining hall was almost empty since we'd arrived quite late. I grabbed a tray without waiting, but seeing an impatient Houndour, I started dishing out food for him first.
The buffet tables were divided into a human section and a Pokémon section. While the human selection was more varied and colorful, the Pokémon had specific diets—no salt, spices, or seasonings that would upset their sensitive digestion. I scooped a hearty portion of meat and vegetables into his bowl and added a second helping just to be safe. I scanned my ID at the checkout.
No one was here to supervise the guests; cameras and an automated payment system took care of everything. Since I was in my first year of holding a trainer's license, most of my meals were free within certain limits. Though a Snorlax would eat through my annual budget in a week, with my two companions, I was at ease; Houndour could eat to his heart's content.
To the sound of enthusiastic pitter-patter, I placed the bowl under the table. While he dove into greedy smacking and tearing at the meat, I went to get food for myself. I chose a Pidgey-egg omelet, a piece of ciabatta, some Oddish leaves, a few Bulbasaur stalks, and a cup of strong black coffee without sugar or milk.
I wasn't even halfway through breakfast when Houndour cleared the entire bowl. He stared at me intently and placed a paw on my thigh. That reminded me I hadn't given him his Iron or Calcium today. Fortunately, I'd packed them automatically, so I pulled them out right away. Houndour immediately recoiled with a low growl at the sight of them.
"Do you want more meat?" I asked with amusement. "Eat your medicine and then you'll get another bowl," I promised, dropping one tablet from each box into his bowl.
"Houndour! Hound!" he growled unhappily and imploringly.
But I wouldn't be swayed: "You have to. It's for your own good."
"Houndour!" he growled again, but eventually reached for the bowl and swallowed them quickly. I kept my promise and went to get him a refill.
I scooped him another double portion and, on the way back, loaded a few small grilled sausages onto my plate that smelled so irresistible. With a creak of the chair, I sat down again, laboriously handed the eager Houndour his bowl, and continued eating.
I thought about giving Haunter and Houndour names. They were members of my team, and calling them only by their species name didn't feel familiar enough. Haunter meant a lot to me, and Houndour was currently carving out his own place in my heart. However, I decided I might name them only once they were fully evolved, so the names would truly fit their final forms.
The next thing was analysis. I already had Haunter scanned, and I knew Squirtle's stats from the P.E.X. profile, but I hadn't found the time for Houndour yet.
"After breakfast, we're going back to training. We need to scan you properly, Houndour, so we know where you stand—height, weight, auric energy, and so on," I informed him.
He, of course, ignored me completely, focused exclusively on the food. Haunter, however, didn't miss us; I heard his muffled, amused laughter echoing from my shadow.
I finished the last bits of my omelet; I only had a few grilled sausages and some coffee left, which I continued with relish. Houndour, however, was much faster. Satisfied and full, he simply slumped at my feet with his eyes closed.
After eating, I sat for a while so we could rest a bit after that great meal. Then I gathered all the plates, glasses, and bowls and took them to the rack. Together, we headed to the training room.
Since Haunter couldn't train Acid Spray here, he continued his Shadow Ball training. It was our only real weapon against Brock—the combination of Hypnosis and Shadow Ball. Brock was known for using a weak Geodude and Onix for the first badge, and I was sure we wouldn't have a problem with them.
Houndour was visibly improving physically. He was growing, bulking up, and his fur was taking on a healthier, glossier color. The biological properties of Pokémon were incredible; they could reverse malnutrition and build muscle mass in an abnormally short amount of time. I estimated that we could try some auric techniques as early as this week.
"Haunter, continue with Shadow Ball training. Houndour, we're scanning," I ordered after a brief thought.
"Haunter!" "Houndour!"
Both obeyed. Haunter moved to the target, and Houndour stood expectantly in front of me. I pulled out the Pokédex, aimed it at him, and a mechanical but clear voice spoke:
"Houndour. Dark and Fire type. Common height zero point six meters, weight approximately ten kilograms. A pack-oriented predator known for its relentless loyalty and coordinated hunting. Its howl before dawn serves to mark territory and strike fear into prey. It can breathe intense fire. It exhibits high intelligence and the ability to communicate with the pack using specific barking tones."
The Pokédex continued reading general facts until it finally reached the data that interested me most:
"Subject: Houndour. Height: zero point eight meters. Current weight: ten kilograms. Auric energy level: 28 / 100."
He was taller than normal, which made him look even more malnourished. Looking at the numbers, it was clear he needed to gain several kilos; his weight was the same as much smaller, average Houndours. He had plenty of auric energy, even exceeding the values needed for evolution, but it seemed his physical condition was what was holding him back.
Houndour was still looking at me expectantly, so I spoke up: "You're aurically powerful, Houndour. Physically, you're bigger than the others, but your weight is still low, so we're going to keep feeding you properly!" I promised him.
None of what I said seemed to surprise him. He must have seen other members of his species in the pack and surely knew he stood out. At the mention of food, however, he started wagging his tail enthusiastically and barked happily.
"Alright, let's get back to training. To the treadmill, Houndour!" I commanded.
He obeyed without issue, and after a few seconds, he was already running with twenty kilograms of resistance. And I, like a total weakling with brutal muscle soreness, lay down on the bench-press. I could have sat in a chair—a large portion of trainers didn't train their bodies at all, which the training rooms were adapted for—but that wasn't my style.
I had a desperate urge to nap. My eyes were slowly closing, but I always jerked awake so I wouldn't fall asleep. So, I dutifully paid attention, regulated Houndour's training, and supervised the determined Haunter.
A few hours passed this way. In the meantime, we managed to go eat in the dining hall, which was already full of trainers, but we just ate quickly and antisocially and went back to train.
Without a single command, Houndour and Haunter immediately continued their grind. It felt like I'd acquired two real workaholics; I'd have to be careful they didn't overtrain. Suddenly, my Pokédex beeped. A notification arrived, which was unusual—could Squirtle have arrived so quickly?
P.E.X. NOTICE:Your Squirtle has been delivered. Please collect it at the reception upon presentation of your ID.
I quickly confirmed the notice and issued commands: "I'm popping out to the reception. Continue training, I'll be right back."
I headed eagerly to the reception. I had to wait a moment because a girl was in front of me, handing over Pokémon to Nurse Joy for healing. It didn't take long before it was my turn. Before I could speak, Joy beat me to it: "Patrik from Pallet Town, right?"
"Yes. I'm here for a P.E.X. shipment," I nodded and handed her my ID.
She scanned it in a second and handed me a wrapped box with a small P.E.X. logo. I thanked her and headed straight back to the training room. I sat back down on the bench-press and eagerly tore open the packaging. I pulled out a perfectly ordinary Pokéball.
"Haunter, a second, please. We have a new member," I called out to him. I waited a few seconds for him to fly over after firing off one last Shadow Ball, and then I pressed the release button.
A Squirtle materialized. It was bulkier than I'd expected, though I knew from the numbers it was larger. Its shell had a darker, almost olive tint. It stood there scowling, measuring both me and Haunter, who was levitating right next to it, with a hateful gaze. However, looking at Haunter's dangerously toothy grin, it didn't dare do anything.
"Hey, Squirtle," I addressed it.
There was no answer, so my first partner joined in: "Haunter!"
Squirtle crouched slightly, ready to retreat into its shell at any moment if necessary, and barked curtly: "Squirtle!"
It was probably something nasty, because shadows immediately began to gather between Haunter's claws, forming a Shadow Ball.
"Easy, Haunter," I stopped him. He obeyed immediately, and the shadow ball dissipated.
"Squirtle, I understand that after your previous experiences, you won't be thrilled about a new trainer," I began honestly. "I saw that a few people returned you to P.E.X. and added warning comments... but do you know why I chose you?"
It shook its head distrustfully, but with obvious curiosity. I continued.
"Because we humans are sometimes incredibly limited. Everyone has different goals, values, and intelligence. Some are extremely selfish, stupid, and lazy, while others would wish the best for everyone. I figured only idiots had bought you, and I decided to give you a chance to join our team."
A silence followed for a moment, punctuated only by Houndour's heavy breathing on the treadmill. I went to turn it off so he could rest with us. I felt Squirtle's intent gaze the whole time, but I wasn't afraid; Haunter was watching over everything. I returned to Squirtle with Houndour.
"Houndour also had a bad experience with people. We're currently fixing that, and he's getting proper doses of food."
"Houndour!" my partner barked in agreement, licked my hand, and slumped heavily at my feet. Squirtle was losing its hostile stance and listening in silence.
"I'm an ordinary trainer. You see Haunter and Houndour—they are my partners, and our goal is simple: enjoy good food, travel, fight, and just be cool together. Haunter loves his 'grapefruit juice,' Houndour a proper steak, and if you join us, we'll find out what you like most."
It still didn't react, so I presented a fair offer.
"Let's make a deal: spend a few days with us to see how we function, and if you don't like it, I'll return you to P.E.X., deal? You'll train and eat with us. What do you say?"
At the mention of P.E.X., it looked hateful, but after my last words, it took on a thoughtful expression. I gave it time.
It didn't even take a minute before it finally nodded: "Squirtle!"
"Welcome to the team. I believe you'll like it here," I stated with a smile.
"Haunter!" "Houndour!" echoed through the room in welcome.
***
Author's Note:
I originally intended to jump straight into the battle with Brock in this chapter... but things got a bit stretched out! We needed to handle the new Pokémon purchase, scan Houndour as he recovers from malnutrition, and reach an understanding with Squirtle.
What do you think? Will Squirtle remain a "problem child," or will he respond well to a fair and honest approach?
The next chapter will finally feature the promised battle with Brock (though don't expect a masterpiece of a challenge from him just yet :D).
I also have an important question for you all: What are your thoughts on giving Pokémon nicknames in fanfiction—yes or no? If I go for it, I'll list their names at the top of each chapter. Let me know your opinions!
***
Step into the Restricted Section
The shadows are shifting, and the story goes much deeper... If you can't wait for the next update, Advanced Chapters are already waiting for you.
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Upcoming Chapters – Already Written:
16. The Boulder Badge
17. The Price of Experience
18. Grit and Gold
19. Dogshit Nights and Silver Linings
20. The Moon's Crimson Glow
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