Pokémon: Trainer Paul

The sun dipped lower on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of crimson and gold.

In Jubilife City's Battle Plaza, a crowd roared with excitement, all eyes fixed on the podium below.

On the stage stood Paul, calm and composed. Beside him were his two stalwart partners, Elekid and Ursaring.

This moment belonged to them.

"After three days of intense battles, the Jubilife Victory Cup has finally come to a close."

"Emerging victorious among hundreds of participants is Paul from Veilstone City! With extraordinary skill, he defeated 14 challengers in a row using only two Pokémon, claiming the championship title with an undefeated streak."

"Now, let's give a round of applause to congratulate Paul, our champion! We also invite our sponsor…"

As the announcer finished, a middle-aged man in a suit stepped forward.

"Amazing! A hero in his youth! To win such a prestigious tournament at your age is truly impressive. I hope you continue to achieve even greater success as a Pokémon Trainer."

The man handed Paul a trophy and a Pokémon Egg, his tone warm with admiration.

"Thank you very much." Paul said, bowing slightly as he accepted the items.

"Woohoo!"

"Yeah!"

Clap, clap, clap!

Cheers and applause echoed across the square. The crowd looked at Paul with a mix of admiration, excitement, and respect.

Paul scanned his surroundings, taking in the sea of faces and committing this moment to memory.

For the first time, a flicker of joy welled up inside him. The feeling spread through his chest, and for once, Paul allowed himself to savor the moment, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Bzzzt~"

"Raawr~"

Noticing their trainer's expression, Elekid and Ursaring puffed out their chests with pride, reveling in their first moment of glory.

As the award ceremony concluded and the crowd began to disperse, Paul's expression returned to its usual calm.

When it's time to claim the special reward for his ten-win streak, Paul chose an Evolution Stone, one of the rarer options available. While accepting his prize, he turned to the sponsor.

"Excuse me. May I ask what Pokémon this Egg contains?"

Having grown up in a Pokémon daycare, Paul was no stranger to Pokémon Eggs. However, even experienced breeders found it nearly impossible to identify the exact Pokémon within an Egg without specialized equipment.

"This Egg? Hmm… I'm not entirely sure myself." The man replied after a moment of thought. "We obtained it from the Kanto region. It's said to belong to a species that's quite popular there but rarely seen in the wild here in Sinnoh."

In any region, popular Pokémon typically fell into two categories:

The first included species known for their strength, such as pseudo-Legendaries or those with immense potential, like Dragonite or Tyranitar.

The second were those adored for their appearance—charming, elegant, or cute Pokémon like Eevee or Ralts, capable of winning hearts regardless of their power.

Either way, popular Pokémon generally held significant training value, albeit to varying degrees.

For Paul, however, only one thing mattered: potential.

"Thank you." he said, nodding politely before leaving without further ado.

Had Paul come from a less privileged background, he might have sold the egg to a breeder or daycare for a quick profit, especially without knowing the Pokémon's potential.

But Paul, hailing from a daycare-owning family, wasn't short on resources. Selling the egg wasn't even a consideration.

Still, he thought to himself, let's see when it hatches. If it's talented, I'll keep it. If not, I'll leave it with my brother.

The advantage of having a daycare at his disposal meant Paul could afford to raise many Pokémon. Yet, his personality didn't allow for nurturing "useless" ones.

Better to release them outright than waste food and resources, he thought.

After resting at the Pokémon Center, Paul left Jubilife City to continue his journey.

As for the Evolution Stone, while it could enable Ursaring to evolve into Ursaluna someday, Paul removed it.

"Items are useful for enhancing your power, but you must not rely on them. Dependency only breeds complacency." Paul told his Pokémon as they stood under the blazing sun.

"When the time comes, I'll give you the appropriate tools. But for now, focus on improving your own abilities. The stronger you become, the better those items will serve you."

Facing his Pokémon, Paul continued, "Start training. Avoid using power-boosting moves. Defeat each other using your techniques alone."

Combat, Paul believed, was the best form of training. It allowed his Pokémon to refine their abilities and gain valuable experience, boosting their overall strength with every battle.

"Blissey, your assistance please. Use Gravity on Elekid and Ursaring." Paul instructed.

As Elekid and Ursaring began sparring, Paul sat in the shade, cradling the Pokémon Egg. He wiped it down carefully before placing it in an incubator.

Suddenly, Paul felt a presence—a faint, watchful gaze. His sharp instincts kicked in as he surveyed the area.

Gently setting the incubator aside, Paul stood and walked toward the source of the sensation, his movements controlled and silent.

"Who's there?" Paul called out, parting the bushes with a swift motion.

But all he found was an empty burrow leading underground.

"Dugtrio?" Paul muttered as a set of three heads briefly popped up before vanishing into the hole in less than a second.

"It was Dugtrio, but something feels… off." Paul thought, frowning slightly.

Before he could investigate further, the distant roar of engines snapped him back to reality.

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