Pokémon: Trainer Paul

"Sleeping it off when you're in trouble" might sound like a joke, but there's some truth to it.

Barry had buried himself under the covers for a long time, wallowing in self-pity until he unknowingly drifted off to sleep. When he woke up and looked out the window, it was already late.

As someone even more optimistic than Ash Ketchum, no matter how disheartened or frustrated he felt, a good nap always helped him bounce back.

Feeling hungry, he headed downstairs. After retrieving his Pokémon, he decided to treat them to a nice dinner.

Just as he passed by a ward, Barry caught sight of the trainer who had defeated him earlier today—Winter—and his Dewott. Both seemed deeply troubled, their demeanor off in a way he couldn't quite understand.

What's wrong with these two? Barry wondered. So what if Paul beat them twice?

He thought about his own experience—getting swept by Electabuzz in a six-on-one battle—and how he had already bounced back from it. Compared to that, Winter's reaction seemed unnecessary.

Always the one to lend a helping hand, Barry pushed open the door and stepped inside to check on them.

"Winter, what's going on with you two?" He asked.

"Dewott... Dewott suddenly stopped responding to me." Winter said, his red-rimmed eyes filled with helplessness.

"Stopped responding? That's odd. Sure, your battle strategy might have had... a few issues, but it's not bad enough for something like this to happen, is it?"

Barry had watched the earlier battle. While Winter's tactics weren't perfect, they shouldn't have caused such a dramatic fallout.

"I don't know..." Winter muttered, shaking his head, completely at a loss.

"Wait a minute—where are Dowett's scalchops?"

Barry suddenly noticed that Dewott's signature scalchops which it had used in battle, were missing. Considering how much Dewott relied on those shells for moves like Shell Blade and Fury Cutter, they must have been important to it.

"Scalchops? The shells are gone? How did that happen?" Winter exclaimed, realizing the scalchops were missing.

He recalled that this wasn't the first time such an incident had occurred. After battles, he often forgot to pick up the scalchops Dewott dropped, sometimes finding them later and sometimes losing them entirely.

The pair Dewott had used in the last battle were already its third set, painstakingly reforged over two weeks.

"Let me think... I remember now! Paul picked them up earlier. Maybe we can ask him when he comes to the Pokémon Center."

For once, Barry seemed unusually reliable as he tried to calm Winter down.

"No need to wait."

"Ah!"

A cold voice suddenly came from behind Barry, startling him so much that he jumped aside.

"Paul! Can't you make some noise when you walk? You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

Ignoring Barry, Paul reached into his pocket, pulled out two scalchops, and tossed them toward Dewott.

"Cha-cha~!"

Dewott, who had been staring blankly at the ceiling, lit up the moment it saw the scalchops. With a swift jump, it grabbed its beloved shells and placed them back on its thighs.

Perhaps the emotional turbulence had been too much for it, as Dewott's usual clear crisp cry had turned hoarse and deep.

"Uji~"

Dewott carefully adjusted its shells and then bowed slightly toward Paul, its expression was serious.

Paul gave a slight nod before turning to leave, not sparing Winter or Barry another glance.

After handing the rest of his Pokémon to Nurse Joy for treatment, Paul specifically asked her to examine his Electabuzz, concerned about the effects of the Zap Plate it had absorbed during their intense battles.

While waiting, Paul grabbed some food and sat in a quiet corner to eat, his mind preoccupied with training strategies and refining his approach to raising Pokémon.

He even sent a message to his brother Reggie, about Electabuzz's situation.

Reggie: "Swallowed a Zap Plate? How's that even possible?"

Even Reggie, an experienced breeder, was stunned by the news. Had anyone else told him this, he would've thought it was a joke. But coming from his meticulous younger brother, he took it seriously.

Reggie: "Alright, after your Gym battle, send Electabuzz to me. I'll have Professor Rowan examine it and keep it here for observation until you return to Veilstone City."

"Got it." Paul replied succinctly, putting away his phone after finishing his meal.

As he returned to the front desk to retrieve his Pokémon, he noticed Winter and Dewott standing nearby. Winter appeared nervous, while Dewott's expression remained cold and indifferent.

"Thank you for returning Dewott's scalchops. I really appreciate it." Winter said, bowing slightly.

"Appreciation? Ha..."

Paul let out a mocking laugh, his tone sharp.

"Appreciation... does that mean anything? A trainer's responsibility is to take care of their Pokémon, not trouble others or make their Pokémon suffer for their own incompetence."

"You..."

Winter's eyes turned red, his tears threatening to fall as Paul's words hit him like a hammer.

Paul scoffed, shaking his head.

"Honestly, I don't know how you've lasted this long as a trainer. Looking at the way how you battle, it's hard to believe Dewott is even yours. Do you even know what moves it knows? Trainers like you only raise weak Pokémon."

"Cha-cha~"

Dewott nodded in agreement, its hoarse voice emphasizing its disdain.

"You..."

Winter was at a loss for words, devastated by the realization that even Dewott had turned against him.

At that moment, Nurse Joy returned with Paul's Pokémon.

"All of your Pokémon are fine, and Electabuzz is in great health as well." She said with a kind smile.

"Thanks." Paul replied, collecting his Poké Balls.

"Wait Paul, hold on a second!"

"Is there something you need, Nurse Joy?"

Hearing a voice as gentle as wind chimes, Paul paused briefly and glanced at Nurse Joy.

"Paul, and Winter... I've been observing you both for a while now, and I've also been keeping an eye on Dewott's performance.

To be honest, I feel that Dewott might not be the best fit for you, Winter."

"W-What? Nurse Joy, you must be mistaken! Dewott and I have traveled together and been through so much. Sure, there are... some minor issues, but I care about it deeply, and I'm working hard to become a capable Trainer. I want to grow stronger together with it..."

Nurse Joy's voice remained soft, but her words pierced Winter's heart, touching on the fear he had buried deep within. His face turned pale, and he scrambled for words to prove that he and Dewott were a good match. His eyes darted frantically as he glanced at Dewott, hoping for reassurance.

But this time, he was disappointed.

The Dewott that had always supported, encouraged, and cared for him now looked at him with calm indifference. Even the hands on its scalchops were still, resting motionlessly.

Paul, witnessing the scene, stayed silent. Like an outsider, he politely observed, his mind already shifting to his plans and training schedule.

"Please, don't get worked up. Let me finish what I have to say," Nurse Joy continued gently.

"Winter, I feel that perhaps being a Trainer isn't the best path for you. Maybe you could try exploring other roles, like becoming a Breeder, a Researcher, or even furthering your studies at a Pokémon Academy to find a path better suited for you."

As she offered these comforting words, Nurse Joy's attention returned to Dewott's expression. It was Dewott's calm, distant gaze at Winter that had convinced her to speak her mind. Although she didn't know the full story, she could tell—Dewott had lost all hope in Winter and was ready to move on.

Perhaps it wouldn't be long before Dewott left altogether.

"Not suitable... to be a Trainer? Further studies?" Winter murmured, his voice trembling.

Clap, clap.

Nurse Joy clapped her hands lightly, drawing their attention back to her. She smiled and made a suggestion:

"How about this? Why don't the two of you trade Pokémon? Let Dewott go with Paul, and Paul can offer a suitable Pokémon to Winter in exchange."

"Trade?" Paul remained silent, considering her words. While Dewott's performance was impressive, Nurse Joy's suggestion seemed sudden and uninformed. Did she really understand the situation well enough to propose this?

"Hehe, actually, I'm good friends with your brother Reggie." Nurse Joy explained with a chuckle. "I know your family runs a Breeding Center, and with all the Pokémon you have there, I'm sure there's one that would suit Dongtong."

She continued, "Remember, choosing a Pokémon is a two-way street. Trainers choose their Pokémon, but Pokémon also choose their Trainers. If a Trainer and their Pokémon aren't compatible and can't work through their differences, it's unlikely to end well."

Paul nodded in agreement. Nurse Joy's reasoning was sound. There were plenty of examples, even in the anime. Dawn and Ash, for instance, successfully swapped Pokémon and helped their teams grow stronger. Of course, there were also cases like Ambipom leaving to play ping pong—but the underlying principle held true. Compatibility mattered.

Even in his own past, Paul's relationship with Chimchar had broken down because they were incompatible. The release of Chimchar had been inevitable, though its subsequent success with Ash was another story entirely.

"Fine." Paul said simply. His Breeding Center had plenty of Pokémon. Trading one was no problem.

Besides, he already had a lazy Kabuto he was planning to send back for retirement. It might work as a trade.

Unlike Paul, who approached the situation rationally, Winter was spiraling into an emotional struggle.

"Dewott... Dewott." he stammered.

At that moment, Dewott made its choice. It stepped forward, nodded to Paul, and calmly positioned itself by his side, gazing at Winter. Its eyes were steady, yet they seemed to convey countless unspoken words. Those words pointed to a single conclusion:

We've been through a lot, and I've done so much for you. But now, I need to take a new path and pursue my own growth—perhaps with Paul, perhaps alone, but definitely not as things were.

Winter's eyes filled with tears. He opened his mouth, but the torrent of emotions condensed into one word:

"Alright."

After some time, Winter regained his composure, having come to terms with the situation.

"The only Pokémon I can offer in exchange is this Kabuto. If you're not interested, you can choose any other Pokémon from my Pokemon Center." Paul said, pulling up a list of available Pokémon on his phone.

Though Kabuto didn't meet Paul's exacting standards, it wasn't a poor choice. The real issue was its laziness. Kabuto preferred lounging around unless specifically directed, earning its reputation as a "living fossil."

"I'll take Kabuto." Winter said, smiling through red-rimmed eyes. "Its laid-back demeanor is kind of adorable. I think I'll like it."

Winter's renewed determination shone through, as if he'd grown up overnight. Gone was the timid, hesitant boy from before.

"Alright, follow me." Nurse Joy said, leading them to a large black machine. She gestured for them to stand on either side and instructed, "Return your Pokémon to their Poké Balls and place them in the slots."

"Thank you for everything, Dewott. I promise to take better care of myself moving forward." Winter said sincerely.

"Cha!" Dewott crossed its blades in acknowledgment, then allowed itself to be recalled.

As Winter held the Poké Ball, memories of their time together flashed through his mind. With a deep breath, he placed the ball into the slot.

Paul did the same with Kabuto's Poké Ball.

"Let's begin the trade!" Nurse Joy announced, pulling the lever. The Poké Balls were whisked away, and their contents swapped. Moments later, the trade was complete.

"Come on out, Kabuto!" Winter said, releasing the fossil Pokémon and scooping it into his arms.

"Ka?" The drowsy Kabuto blinked in confusion, then snuggled into Winter's embrace and promptly fell asleep.

"Please take good care of Dewott and help it grow stronger." Winter said, bowing deeply to Paul before leaving with Kabuto in his arms.

Paul glanced at the Poké Ball in his hand. "If you want to grow stronger, let's work hard together." he said to himself.

The ball wobbled slightly in response, as if agreeing.

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