Pokemon:Trainer

"No… I'm going to die…"

By the end of the match, Fennekin, who had completely mastered the semi-finished "High-Speed Star," was playing against itself.

The earlier bath was wasted, as Link found himself sprawled on the bed in exhaustion as soon as they returned to the room.

Playing against a Pokémon with psychic abilities capable of sensing the entire court was a fool's errand. Wait—Fennekin wasn't even officially a Psychic-type Pokémon… that just further proved how outstanding its latent talents and secondary attributes were.

For a Fennekin hatched purely by chance to turn out this incredible, Link couldn't help but wonder: was this sheer luck, or was it tied to the Badge of Knowledge that shone during its hatching?

The badge, being a symbol of idealistic power, was likely an influence. Did its effects extend to humans too?

After taking another bath, boiling water, and cleaning and grooming Fennekin until its fur was silky smooth, the newborn fox finally dozed off in exhaustion.

Taking advantage of this downtime, Link flipped open a guide to cultivating psychic Pokémon provided by the Pokémon Center: "Psychic Powers, an Introduction to Meditation."

As a trainer, he knew he had much to learn. He couldn't waste Fennekin's talent; he needed to catch up.

"Superpowers are the ability to change the material world through thought and cognition. They stem from developing the brain's potential through focused thinking and calculation. Both humans and Pokémon can develop these abilities."

The book's opening lines left Link wide-eyed. With his simulator and boosted intelligence, did he also have the potential to develop superpowers?

Most Pokémon can learn psychic moves, either through instinct or deliberate effort. Pokémon with natural Psychic attributes excel in these areas, capable of exerting forces thousands of times greater than others.

Humans, on the other hand, lack natural psychic talents. At best, they might manage simple feats like bending a spoon.

The text mentioned legends of extraordinary humans with psychic powers, such as Nancy, a supermodel who could allegedly turn people into dolls.

"Could even Mewtwo do that?" Link wondered. Then again, Mewtwo was infamous as the weakest of the Level One Legendaries, constantly facing setbacks in its plans for domination.

Meditation: A Lost Art

Inspired, Link eagerly continued reading, hoping to find detailed instructions for mastering superpowers.

However, the book simply stated:

"Systematic meditation methods have been lost to time. Please rely on personal efforts to sense your latent psychic potential. Details will not be elaborated further."

"What?!"

Frustrated, Link tossed the book onto the bed, as if it were something disgusting.

To introduce the concept of psychic powers only to withhold its secrets? It felt like a cruel joke, akin to a hero dying just before fulfilling their destiny.

"Fu?"

"Did I wake you up? Don't worry, go back to sleep. We'll head out later," he reassured the half-awake Fennekin.

After cooling down, Link—an adult after all—picked up the book again.

"Without structured meditation, tapping into psychic potential requires heightened perception. While everyone theoretically has latent superpowers, they are often negligible. Unlike Psychic Pokémon, humans must actively train to sense and develop them."

The book suggested visualizing structured, logical images in one's mind or mimicking the behaviors of Psychic Pokémon.

Link decided to give it a try, attempting to clear his mind. He visualized Calyrex, the regal and enigmatic Crowned Pokémon, as his mental focus.

However, after an hour of effort, he only felt drowsy. His supposed "meditation" seemed to be little more than a nap.

Meanwhile, far across the ocean in the Crown Tundra of Galar…

In the icy wilderness, amidst snow-covered mountains, the long-abandoned Crown Shrine stirred. A powerful presence—dormant for three millennia—began to awaken.

This was the Crowned King, a legendary figure who had once ruled Galar and fought valiantly against the encroaching darkness.

Now, weakened and forgotten, the king found itself trapped, its once-beloved steed long gone. The very people it had saved no longer remembered its name, let alone its deeds.

Yet, in its moment of despair, the king sensed something—a burning thought, carried from the distant east.

It wasn't faith, but it was strong and sincere:

"I want to develop my superpowers to help Fennekin."

The king, choosing to answer this plea, sent forth its power. Psychic energy, vast and ancient, began its journey across mountains, oceans, and snowfields toward its summoner

Back in Duskwater Town, Link's eyes snapped open in shock.

He could feel it—a faint spiritual spark igniting within him.

He could sense the flow of weak psychic energy in his body. Though minuscule, this energy was undeniably real.

"It worked…" Link whispered in awe.

Though the energy was too weak to impact even Fennekin's fur, it marked the beginning of something extraordinary. With training, he could one day use his psychic abilities to aid in battles and Pokémon training.

"Fufu?"

The awakened Fennekin glanced westward, toward the setting sun. Its sensitive instincts detected a distant cry for help—someone was calling.

Confused, the fox turned back to Link, seeking answers.

"I understand now," Link said softly.

"Fufu, I think I know who's calling us. It's Calyrex, the Crowned King of Galar. It awakened because of me, and it's asking for help.

"As soon as we're strong enough, we'll travel to Galar—to the Crown Tundra."

With their destination set, Link began reevaluating his Sunny Day team lineup.

If they were headed to Galar, they might need a different roster. Pokémon like Blissey, Alcremie, or Bronzong could provide better synergy for their new journey.

And while the "pseudo-legendary" Dragon-types were tempting, Link dismissed them. "They're overrated anyway," he muttered.

(End of Chapter)