Pokemon: The Gameboy Effect

After waking up bright and early, John dove into his latest project: making Pokeblocks for his Pokemon. He carefully mixed berries and wild fruits with precision, testing combinations to craft treats that would be perfectly suited to each Pokemon's tastes.

Add 2 Chesto Berries, 1 Wiki Berry, 1 Pecha Berry.

[Generated 7 blue, slightly sweet, and astringent Pokeblocks]

Add 1 Sakura Fruit, 2 Apple Wild Fruits, 1 Persim Berry.

[Generated 6 red, slightly sweet, and spicy Pokeblocks]

Add 2 Pecha Berries, 1 Mago Berry, 1 Chesto Berry.

[Generated 4 pink, slightly astringent, and sweet Pokeblocks]

Add 3 wild apples and 1 cherry fruit.

[Generated 6 red and spicy Pokeblocks]

John's attention to detail was impressive—he ensured each Pokeblock was not only delicious but also balanced in nutrition. But, despite his careful budgeting, the cost of producing these treats was quickly adding up. With Makuhita's voracious appetite, the daily expense was around 1,500 Pokedollars, totaling 45,000 Pokedollars a month! A jaw-dropping cost that made him question if a custom breeding package might have been cheaper.

At least he had a strategy: he could pick berries during battles with Zigzagoon, which he could then sell or use for Pokeblocks at a lower cost. That helped, but his main goal was still quality. Through hundreds of attempts, he'd even managed to create a high-tier Pokeblock—a golden one. These were more effective than regular Pokeblocks, boasting enhanced taste and nutrition. He could already tell that feeding his Pokemon these top-quality treats over time would give them an edge, potentially surpassing those of even the most skilled Breeders.

In fact, the success of his new recipe sparked an idea. John began to dream about someday owning land where he could cultivate his own berry trees, producing unique Pokeblocks that could help him raise ordinary Pokemon into powerhouses.

After wrapping up his morning with breakfast for his Pokemon, John decided to take a walk. Passing his favorite breakfast shop, he exchanged quick greetings with the owner, savoring the routine he'd miss once university life became more intense.

With his bags packed, John hailed a taxi and headed to the train station in Aethermere City. He didn't wait long before a familiar face came into view.

"Over here!" Grace waved excitedly, already waiting by the entrance.

John grinned as he walked over to Grace, He and her shared the same enthusiasm for Pokemons care and training. They were both headed to Riverstone University.

"You're early!" he teased. There were still 45 minutes until the train arrived.

Grace laughed, shrugging. "Better early than late."

The two headed to the waiting area, chatting easily as they waited. Eventually, Grace's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Did you hear?" she began, leaning in conspiratorially. "The winner of this year's military training gets a Dragon-type Pokemon from 'The Draconia Dragon Nest!'"

John's eyebrow shot up. "A Dragon-type? Really?" This was news worth getting excited about.

"Yep!" Grace confirmed, grinning. "First place in military training gets a Dragon-type Pokemon directly from the Dragon Nest. Isn't that awesome?"

John nodded, remembering that Riverstone University's military training was on a different level—it was a mix of survival skills, intense Pokemon battles, and challenging exams. It was also notoriously difficult.

"So, your department gets a Pokemon egg as part of the training?" he asked, intrigued.

Grace nodded. "Yup! The Breeding department always receives a Pokemon egg as part of the training each year. You will hatch it yourself—kind of like a free Pokemon!"

This was the first John had heard of it, so he pulled out his phone to double-check. Sure enough, Riverstone, one of the country's most prestigious Pokemon universities, provided each Breeder student with a Pokemon egg during military training. And, as Grace said, the Battle department freshmen could compete for a Dragon-type prize.

John's mind raced with possibilities. "So… I can compete for the Dragon-type, right?" he asked, his eyes sparkling.

"Of course!" Grace replied, laughing. "It's open to all first-year students, though the Battle department usually has the best odds of winning. But you should absolutely go for it!"

The thought of earning a Dragon-type Pokemon had John more motivated than ever. He remembered that in his Emerald Version game, he could find Dragon-types like Altaria, Kingdra, and Bagon—and if he could win a competition at Riverstone, he might even end up with one of the rarer pseudo-legendary Dragon-types. The idea was electrifying.

"If it's up for grabs, I'm definitely going to try." he said with a determined grin.

Grace smiled, giving him a thumbs up. "I knew you'd be into this. Let's give it our best, John. I'm sure you'll do great!"

They continued chatting, their excitement for the upcoming school year and the challenges ahead bubbling over as the train to Riverstone University drew closer, taking them both one step closer to their Pokemon dreams.