The next morning, Kenji and Axel decided to revisit the tutor’s house after their encounter with the Team Rocket imposter. This time, it was the real tutor waiting for them, an elderly man with glasses and a kind smile, sitting in a small, well-kept house on the edge of Saffron City.

  As they approached the tutor's house, the streets of Saffron bustled with activity. Saffron was a city of balance—its tall, modern buildings were contrasted by peaceful parks, where trainers trained their Pokémon or simply relaxed under the shade of the trees. The iconic Silph Co. tower loomed in the distance, while a nearby dojo buzzed with the sounds of sparring trainers. The scent of coffee and baked goods from a nearby café filled the air as they walked.

  Inside the tutor’s house, the walls were lined with books and papers detailing different Pokémon moves and strategies. A polished table stood in the center of the room, and a faint aroma of incense hung in the air.

  “Ah, welcome!” the tutor greeted them warmly. “I am glad about what you did yesterday. You caught that troublemaker. It’s good to see honest trainers around.”

  Kenji grinned. “Yeah, he won’t be fooling anyone anymore. Thanks for seeing us today.”

  The old man nodded and gestured toward Gengar. “So, you’re here to teach Gengar a new move, I presume?”

  Kenji glanced at Gengar, who floated by his side, ready as ever. “Yeah, I’d like Gengar to learn Psychic if that’s possible.”

  The tutor adjusted his glasses, studying Gengar with a knowledgeable gaze. “It’s a powerful move—especially for a Pokémon like Gengar. But it requires a lot of focus. Gengar will need to channel its energy in a way it’s not used to. Are you ready for that, Gengar?”

  Gengar gave a mischievous grin and nodded confidently.

  The tutor smiled. “Good. Let’s begin, then.”

  The process of teaching Gengar Psychic was meticulous. The tutor explained how the move worked, guiding Gengar through the steps of channeling psychic energy. He instructed Gengar to focus, directing its power from deep within instead of its usual Ghost- or Dark-type attacks. Kenji stood by, encouraging Gengar as it concentrated, its eyes glowing faintly with purple and blue energy.

  “Now, visualize your target,” the tutor said. “You need to focus on more than just striking. You’re bending the energy to your will.”

  Kenji watched intently as Gengar’s aura began to shimmer, psychic power swirling around it like a faint mist. “You’ve got this, Gengar. Just focus!”

  After several attempts, Gengar’s eyes flashed with a brilliant light, and a nearby chair lifted into the air, hovering for a moment before gently lowering back down.

  The tutor clapped his hands. “Excellent! You’ve done it.”

  Kenji grinned widely, giving Gengar a high-five. “Great job, buddy! That was awesome.”

  Gengar looked proud, its mischievous grin widening as it floated around the room, showing off its new power.

  “You’ve done well,” the tutor said, adjusting his glasses. “Psychic is a move that will serve you well in many battles. Just remember—using it takes energy and focus. Gengar will get stronger with practice.”

  “Thanks so much,” Kenji said, feeling a new surge of confidence. “This is going to be really useful for our next Gym challenge.”

  As they left the tutor’s house, the sun shone brightly on the busy streets of Saffron City. They wandered for a bit, taking in the sights. Saffron had a certain energy to it—people bustled from one place to another, and everywhere you looked, there was a trainer either gearing up for battle or showing off their latest catch. A few children were running past with Pokémon by their side, and there were several markets open, selling various items for trainers.

  Axel glanced around, taking in the sights as they walked. “Saffron’s always been a busy city. But it’s got this charm, doesn’t it? Everything feels connected. Trainers coming and going, challenging the Gym, visiting the dojo... I bet this place has a lot of stories.”

  Kenji nodded, looking at Gengar, who was still glowing with excitement from learning Psychic. “Yeah, it feels alive. I like it here.”

  As they passed a large fountain in the city’s main square, Kenji turned to Axel. “Hey, thanks for suggesting we stop by the tutor’s house. I feel like Gengar’s ready for anything now.”

  Axel smirked. “Of course. Psychic’s going to give you the edge in Celadon, trust me. Erika’s Grass and Poison-types won’t stand a chance if you use it right.”

  “I hope so,” Kenji said. “What about you? You’ve got your plans lined up?”

  Axel grinned. “Always. But I’m also thinking about what Pokémon I want next. I need to fill out my team before I challenge the Paldea League.”

  Kenji thought back to their conversation the previous night. “Didn’t you say you wanted a Charmander?”

  Axel nodded. “Yeah. A strong Fire-type would balance out my team. Plus, it’s been a goal of mine for a while now. Route 3 has to give me some luck.”

  They shared a laugh as they made their way back to the Pokémon Center, Gengar floating by with its usual playful energy, now with a new move under its belt. The day had been productive, and Kenji couldn’t wait for their next steps toward Celadon.

  As Kenji and Axel walked through the bustling streets of Saffron City after their morning of training and exploration, Kenji had an idea. “Hey, Axel, why don’t we take a Pidgeot Taxi to Route 3? You know, to speed up the search for that Charmander you’ve been wanting,” he suggested.

  Axel glanced at him, pausing for a moment. “A Pidgeot Taxi? I don’t know, man. I’ve never flown on one of those before. Sounds kinda pricey too.”

  Kenji smirked. “It’s not too bad. Plus, it’ll save us a lot of time walking all the way there. Besides, we’ve got to try new things, right? Maybe the flight will give us some good luck in finding that Charmander.”

  Axel chuckled. “You’re really pushing this, huh? Alright, fine. Let’s give it a shot. I’m in.”

  Within the hour, they found themselves soaring through the skies inside a Taxi Pod carried by two massive Pidgeot, the wind whipping through their hair as they looked down at the rolling fields and forests below. The flight was smooth, and Axel seemed to relax after a while, even pointing out landmarks as they passed by.

  By mid-afternoon, they landed near Route 3, where the wild Pokémon were plentiful, and the Pokémon Center sat at the foot of Mt. Moon. As the sun began to set, they checked in at the Pokémon Center and decided to rest for the night.

  “We’ll start searching tomorrow,” Axel said, stretching as they sat by a fire in the common area of the Center. “Hopefully, we won’t have to look too long.”

  Kenji nodded. “I’ve heard they’re pretty rare, but with a bit of patience, we should find one.”

  The next day, they woke up early and began their search. Route 3 was scenic, with patches of tall grass, rocky cliffs, and narrow trails winding between them. Wild Pokémon appeared from time to time—Rattata, Nidoran, Spearow—but no sign of a Charmander.

  “Man, they really are rare, aren’t they?” Axel said, wiping sweat from his forehead after another long day of searching.

  Kenji sighed. “Yeah, but we’ve got time. I’m sure we’ll run into one sooner or later.”

  However, after two full days of searching, the elusive Charmander remained out of sight. As they stood on a hill overlooking the route, about to head back to the Pokémon Center, something caught their attention.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  A trainer was walking towards them from the direction of Mt. Moon. He looked rough—dressed in tattered clothes, his hair disheveled, and his expression fierce. Beside him walked a Charmeleon, its claws flexing, its tail flame burning brightly.

  Kenji narrowed his eyes. “Hey, that guy looks kinda intense…”

  Axel nodded. “No kidding. And that Charmeleon… it’s not like the ones I’ve seen before. Looks way tougher.”

  As the trainer approached, he locked eyes with Axel, clearly sizing him up. “You two looking for a Charmander around here?” His voice was rough, like he’d spent years out in the wild.

  Axel stepped forward. “Yeah. Been searching for a couple of days now. Why?”

  The trainer gave a half-smirk, his Charmeleon snarling beside him. “You won’t find any. They’re mine.”

  Kenji frowned. “What do you mean, ‘yours’? You don’t own the wild Pokémon around here.”

  The trainer crossed his arms. “I’ve been training around these parts for months. Every Charmander that pops up, I catch. This one,” he pointed at his Charmeleon, “was the first one I found, and he’s already evolved.”

  Axel raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by the trainer’s attitude. “So, you’re just hoarding them? That’s not how this works.”

  The trainer’s eyes gleamed. “Call it what you want. If you want a Charmander, you’re gonna have to go through me and Charmeleon here.”

  Axel looked at Kenji, who shrugged. “I guess this is one way to find a Charmander,” Kenji said.

  Axel turned back to the trainer. “Alright, if that’s what it takes, let’s battle. But if I win, you stop hoarding them, and I get first shot at the next one we find.”

  The trainer smirked again, confident in his Charmeleon’s power. “Deal. But don’t think for a second you’re walking away with a win.”

  As the two trainers prepared for battle, Kenji stepped back, watching closely with Gengar at his side. The tension between Axel and the fierce trainer was palpable, and the flames on Charmeleon’s tail seemed to burn even brighter, as if it was ready to unleash its full power.

  Kenji whispered to Gengar, “This is going to be intense.”

  Axel, however, remained calm and focused, knowing this battle might be the key to finally catching the Pokémon he’d been searching for.

  The rough-looking trainer, who had now introduced himself as Dario, stared down Axel with a smirk, his eyes cold and calculating. "They don't call me the 'Charmander Hunter’ for nothing. Every one of those little fire-breathers that shows up around here is mine. I sell 'em on the Black Market. Big money in rare Pokémon."

  Axel clenched his fists, disgust flashing across his face. “So, you just catch them and sell them off? That’s low. Pokémon aren’t tools for your profit, man.”

  Dario chuckled darkly. “You’re not gonna get far in this world thinking like that, kid. But hey, if you want one so bad, let's see if your mutt can handle my Charmeleon.”

  Mabosstiff snarled, stepping forward protectively in front of Axel, its dark eyes locked on Charmeleon. The fur on its back bristled, ready for battle. Axel placed a hand on Mabosstiff's head. "You’ve got this, buddy. Let’s teach this guy what real training looks like."

  Dario, looking entirely too relaxed, waved a hand toward Charmeleon. "Let's start with Smokescreen."

  In an instant, Charmeleon exhaled a thick black cloud of smoke that filled the battlefield, covering the area in a shroud of darkness. Axel's view of Charmeleon was completely obscured, and the air smelled of sulfur.

  “Stay sharp, Mabosstiff,” Axel called out, eyes narrowed. “Use Snarl—keep him on his toes!”

  Mabosstiff let out a deep, guttural snarl that echoed through the smoke, the sound carrying an intimidating energy. A ripple of dark energy shot through the cloud, striking Charmeleon and making it flinch. The smoke thinned a little, but not enough to reveal Charmeleon’s position.

  Then, out of the haze, a sudden flash of light—Fire Fang. Charmeleon lunged out of the smoke with its jaws engulfed in flame, aiming directly for Mabosstiff’s side. The fangs sank in, and Mabosstiff howled in pain as the flames seared its fur, leaving a burn mark.

  "Come on, Mabosstiff! Shake it off!" Axel shouted, urgency in his voice. "Hit him with Crunch! Make it count!"

  Mabosstiff retaliated, its fangs glowing dark as it sank them into Charmeleon’s arm, shaking it violently and forcing Charmeleon back. The force of the bite sent a shockwave through the battlefield, and Charmeleon stumbled, hissing in pain as Mabosstiff’s bite left deep marks on its scales.

  Dario’s smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. “Don’t think that’ll slow us down. Charmeleon, Dragon Breath!”

  Charmeleon reared back, opening its mouth wide, releasing a wave of bluish-purple flames toward Mabosstiff. The blast hit, and Mabosstiff skidded backward, growling through the pain, but its legs buckled slightly.

  Kenji watched from the sidelines, his fists clenched in tension. “That Charmeleon’s brutal… Axel’s going to need a strong move to turn this around.”

  Axel’s mind raced. He couldn’t let this drag out, or Mabosstiff’s burn would worsen. “Mabosstiff, don’t give him any more chances! Use Thunder Fang! Full power!”

  Mabosstiff charged forward, its jaws sparking with electricity, eyes focused solely on Charmeleon. In one swift motion, it latched onto Charmeleon’s neck, the electric shock coursing through the fire-type, causing it to cry out in pain. Sparks flew wildly, and Charmeleon tried to shake free, but Mabosstiff held on, its fangs digging in deeper.

  Dario’s eyes widened, and his cocky smirk vanished entirely. “Damn it! Slash, now!”

  Charmeleon, desperate, raised its claw and slashed across Mabosstiff’s face, leaving deep marks across its muzzle. Mabosstiff yelped but refused to let go, the electricity still surging.

  Finally, with a burst of power, the Thunder Fang caused Charmeleon to collapse to its knees. Mabosstiff released its grip, panting heavily but standing strong.

  Dario growled under his breath, eyes narrowing as he realized the situation was slipping from his control. “You got lucky, kid,” he spat, recalling Charmeleon into its Pokéball. “But I’ll be back for what’s mine.”

  Axel wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart pounding. He took a breath, calming himself. “Not this time. You’re done here.”

  Before Dario could slink away, Kenji stepped forward. “Not so fast.” He pointed at Dario. “You’re not just walking away. Gengar, Hypnosis!”

  Gengar, who had been watching quietly from Kenji’s side, floated forward, its eyes glowing a ghostly blue as it locked onto Dario. The man barely had time to react before his eyelids fluttered and he collapsed, falling into a deep sleep.

  Axel blinked, then turned to Kenji with a grin. “Nice one.”

  Kenji shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Figured we’d let the police deal with him.”

  After alerting the local authorities, they waited there until they arrived. “Thank you, boys,” the policeman said gratefully, grabbing the criminal by the wrists. “I’m in your debt.”

  Kenji nodded. “Just glad we could help.” Then, with a smirk, he turned to Axel. “So, are we still looking for that Charmander?”

  Axel grinned. “Definitely. But first—lunch. I think we’ve earned it.”

  Back at the Pokémon Center, they sat down for a meal, after healing Mabosstiff. Mabosstiff playfully nudged Gengar, and Gengar, in turn, floated around Mabosstiff’s head, occasionally tapping him with a ghostly paw.

  Kenji glanced over. “Looks like our Pokémon are getting along better than we expected.”

  Axel chuckled. “Yeah. It’s weird, but… kinda cool. They’re almost like us, in a way.”

  As the evening sun dipped low on the horizon, casting an orange glow over the rocky outcrops of Route 3, Kenji and Axel prepared to head back to the Pokémon Center. It had been another long day of searching with no luck. Axel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don’t know, man. Maybe Charmander just isn't around this time of year.”

  Kenji, always the optimist, patted him on the shoulder. “We’ve been close. They’re just rare. You’ll get one.”

  Just as they turned to leave, Kenji suddenly stopped. "Axel, look!" he whispered, pointing to the edge of a nearby hill. There, in the fading light, stood a small, orange lizard Pokémon with a flame flickering on its tail.

  Axel’s eyes widened in disbelief. “No way. That’s it! That’s a Charmander!”

  The Charmander seemed cautious but curious, its head tilting as it spotted the two trainers. Without wasting any time, Axel reached for a Pokéball. “I’m not letting this one get away. Marowak, let’s go!”

  Marowak appeared on the field, its bone club at the ready, eyes locked on the Charmander. The wild Charmander’s flame burned brighter as it sensed the challenge, but it didn’t back down.

  “Charmander, let’s make this quick!” Axel shouted. “Marowak, start with Bonemerang!”

  Marowak hurled its bone with a swift, practiced motion. The bone spun through the air, hitting Charmander cleanly and knocking it back before returning to Marowak’s hand. Charmander shook off the hit and retaliated, spewing a small burst of fire with Ember.

  Axel grinned. “That’s the spirit, but we’re not done yet. Marowak, use Body Slam! Go!”

  Marowak charged forward, throwing its full weight at Charmander, who tried to dodge but was clipped by the attack. Charmander staggered, but the flame on its tail flared even brighter, showing its determination.

  “That’s enough, Marowak,” Axel said confidently, pulling out a Pokéball. “You’re coming with us, Charmander!” With a firm toss, the Pokéball flew through the air, striking Charmander and encapsulating it in a flash of red light. The ball wobbled once, twice… and then clicked.

  Axel’s face lit up as he ran over to pick up the Pokéball, holding it up triumphantly. “I got it! I finally caught a Charmander!”

  Kenji walked up with a grin. “Told you you’d get one! Good catch, man. Now you’ve got a solid addition to your team.”

  Axel let out a breath, grinning ear to ear. “Yeah, it feels good. I’ve wanted a Charmander for so long.” He looked down at the Pokéball, his excitement clear. “This little guy’s going to go far.”

  Kenji patted him on the back. “Let’s head back to the Pokémon Center, heal up, and maybe think about training him tomorrow. You’ve got a Fire-type powerhouse now.”

  As they made their way back to the Pokémon Center, Axel glanced at the Pokéball in his hand, still grinning. “You know,” he said to Kenji, “this team’s really starting to come together. I’m glad we stuck around.”

  Kenji chuckled. “Worth the wait, right?”

  Axel nodded. “Definitely.”

  They arrived at the Pokémon Center, and after healing their team, the two sat down for a well-earned rest. Gengar floated lazily around the room, while Mabosstiff laid on the floor, exhausted but content. Axel placed Charmander's Pokéball on the bedside table, staring at it with a satisfied smile.

  “I can’t wait to see how strong this Charmander will become,” Axel muttered, mostly to himself.

  Kenji grinned. “Well, I’m excited to see what happens next, too. Tomorrow, we train, right?”

  Axel gave a determined nod. “Yeah. Tomorrow, we start.”