Release That Pokémon!

{T/N: Don't forget to Review, please...}

...

~Afternoon~

When Steven arrived with the Swords Dance TM, Caleb was slacking off during Pokémon battle practice...

Since the main mission of this dungeon had no strict requirements, he could take things easy.

Steven handed the TM and a Pokémon League bank card to Caleb, then paused thoughtfully before asking, "You're from Oldale Town too, right?"

'Why too?' Caleb froze for a moment before nodding.

Steven chuckled, "I heard from the gym leaders of Rustboro and Petalburg that Oldale Town produced an incredibly talented individual..."

"...That person trained this year's batch of rookie trainers for half a month, resulting in both gym leaders suffering unexpected losses against them."

"...Truly impressive. In just half a month, a single person managed to train over twenty rookies to such a level. I'd love to meet him someday…"

Steven mused to himself.

Caleb: "…"

For a moment, he wasn't sure how to respond... Steven was busy digging for fossils...

With his task complete, he waved at Caleb, "I'll head off now. Let's meet again sometime!"

With that, he left the Pokémon School...

The moment Steven was gone, a group of girls from Class 103 swarmed around Caleb.

"Caleb-kun, can you tell us about your relationship with Steven-sama?" Their eyes sparkled with excitement.

Caleb picked up a tree branch and held it in front of himself like a shield, "No. We have no relationship."

To him, Steven was just some silver-haired guy who runs around digging rocks.

One of the girls, a short-haired one, changed the subject, "Caleb-kun, we've never seen your Pokémon. Can you show them to us?"

Caleb: "Of course. How about a battle?"

"Sure! Battling Caleb-kun sounds like so much fun!" The girl eagerly took out a Poké Ball.

A flash of white light later, a petite Kirlia appeared before Caleb.

- Kirlia: the evolved form of Ralts, which would eventually become Gardevoir, the so-called 'Queen of Psychic Types'...

Not wanting to bully a child, Caleb decided to send out Mimikyu, who hadn't yet learned Swords Dance.

These girls who had never left Hoenn had never seen a Mimikyu before. Their eyes filled with curiosity at the sight of this Pokémon.

"What kind of Pokémon is that?"

"It looks like a Pikachu!"

"Is that a cloth over its body?"

"Kirlia, use Confusion!" the girl commanded.

Kirlia's eyes glowed faintly blue as a wave of psychic energy surged toward Mimikyu.

Caleb remained calm and countered, "Mimikyu, use Double Team to close in, then Shadow Sneak!"

Mimikyu's small body split into dozens of copies, all rushing toward Kirlia in perfect sync.

Faced with the sudden multiplication of opponents, the poorly trained Kirlia panicked. Its Confusion hit only one of the illusions.

Meanwhile, Mimikyu had already closed the distance.

"Dodge!" the girl shouted frantically. But Kirlia was too flustered...

Mimikyu struck, sending the tiny Psychic-type flying. It crashed to the ground, knocked out instantly... It was a one-hit KO!

Caleb discreetly used Scout to check Kirlia's level...

[Lv. 21]

With a nearly twenty-level advantage, and Psychic-types being doubly weak to Ghost-types... Kirlia never stood a chance...

"So… so strong!"

"Amazing! Caleb-kun's Pokémon is incredible!"

A chorus of squeals erupted from the girls nearby.

Caleb seriously addressed the defeated girl, "In that situation, you could've ordered Kirlia to use Teleport to evade the attack."

The girl blushed, "I-I'm sorry! I was so nervous battling Caleb-kun that I forgot!"

Caleb: "…"

'Why are you blushing?!' he retorted inwardly.

From a distance, Jinpei sighed as he watched the scene, 'Ah, the perils of being too charming! Or rather, the perils of being too handsome!'

Caleb looked up and asked, "Anyone else want to battle?"

The image of Mimikyu one-shotting Kirlia flashed through everyone's minds. They all shook their heads.

Though disappointed, Caleb didn't press the issue. He picked up a book and retreated to a quiet corner to read.

Jinpei sidled over, eager for gossip, "So many girls in our class have confessed to you... don't you like any of them?"

'Sorry, but I have zero interest in twelve- or thirteen-year-old girls.' Caleb mused.

He gave Jinpei a strange look, "Shouldn't we be focusing on studying at this age?"

Jinpei scoffed, "I've heard that line from my mom a million times. Next, you're gonna say, 'If you don't study hard, you won't even get to eat sh–' Uh, never mind..."

"...Sigh. I'd love to study, but I'm just not cut out for it. I'm not even a decent trainer... I can't even beat the basic gym challenges."

Caleb had nothing to say. He hadn't expected students in this world to think like this too.

Jinpei waved him off and ran away...

...

~Evening~

School ended...

Caleb used the TM to teach Mimikyu Swords Dance, then escorted Lily back to her dorm.

By the time he finished, night had fallen.

He released Dragonite on the school rooftop and climbed onto its back, pointing toward Slateport, "Let's go."

"Wuu!"

Dragonite spread its wings and took off at a leisurely pace, soaring toward the glittering city lights...

...

The night breeze over Slateport was refreshing...

After recalling Dragonite, Caleb wandered the streets before stopping in front of a private detective agency. Pushing the door open, he found a disheveled young man in a suit slurping instant noodles.

"Rent is not due for another week, right? Don't worry! I'll pay on time this go around!" the man said without looking up.

Caleb walked around to face him, "I need something investigated."

Only then did the man look up, his eyes lighting up, "Oh, a client! What'll it be? The Champion's private life? The phone number of Slateport's most beautiful woman?"

Caleb shook his head, "What I need is in Kanto. Can you handle that?"

The detective frowned, "Sorry, this agency doesn't offer cross-region services–"

Without a word, Caleb slapped a stack of Pokédollars on the table, "50 000."

"Right this way, boss! I'll leave tomorrow. What do you need to know?" The man instantly changed his tune.

Caleb: "Find out if there's an investigator in the Kanto League named Caleb Chase, and get me intel on the current status of Team Rocket. Payment will increase based on what you uncover."