Pokemon: Psychic Master

Johan had earned the Gray Badge.

At first glance, it looked like a polished rock.

Johan strongly suspected that the "Gray Badge" was just a peculiar stone Flint had picked up in the wild and smoothed into shape.

No wonder Pewter Gym had the dubious honor of being known as the "poorest gym in Kanto."

Compared to Saffron Gym's solid gold badge, Viridian Gym's emerald, and Celadon Gym's rainbow gemstone, the Gray Badge was… well, worth practically nothing.

Flint also gave Johan a TM for Rock Slide as per custom.

[Rock Slide]: A move with a 30% chance to cause the opponent to flinch (rounded generously).

The Pokédex chimed in, throwing in its two cents.

Rounded generously? Johan smirked. As if my luck could ever hit that 30%.

Unless, of course, Dragonair was the one using it.

Unfortunately, Dragonair couldn't learn Rock Slide—at least not until it evolved into Dragonite. For now, Johan decided to give it to Tinkatuff.

It wasn't a bad choice. The materials required to teach Rock Slide were simple, just rocks—budget-friendly and very fitting for Pewter Gym's identity.

When Tinkatuff had some downtime, Johan figured it could practice Rock Slide as a hobby.

Nightfall. Outside Viridian Forest.

Unlike large cities like Saffron, which boasted multiple Pokémon Centers, smaller areas typically had just one—though exceptions were made for places like Viridian Forest.

With its reputation as an adventurer's haven, the forest entrances were equipped with Pokémon Centers to handle emergencies.

After their battle, Johan and Flint both had Pokémon that needed tending to. Flint also temporarily abandoned his camping plans.

As the familiar healing tune played in the Pokémon Center's lobby, they stepped inside.

Unsurprisingly...

"Miss Joy, allow me to introduce myself! I am Flint—"

WHAM!

Before Johan could even react, Flint—who had just grabbed Joy's hand—was struck squarely on the head by a club thicker than a human thigh.

The assailant?

A Chansey wielding a bone club nearly twice its size.

Even more unsettling was its unnervingly sweet smile.

"Lucky~~"

Johan stood frozen, sweat forming on his brow. Did I just walk into a trap disguised as a Pokémon Center?

"Chansey, put the club down," Nurse Joy said, glancing at Johan. "He's not a bad guy."

"Lucky?"

Chansey tilted its head, then casually tossed the club aside with a loud thud. It placed its hands over its heart and flashed Johan a sweet, innocent smile.

At that moment, Johan felt as if he were looking at a smaller, pink version of Tinkatuff—a deceptively cute demon.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Johan!" Joy apologized, rushing out from behind the counter. "Chansey mistook you for troublemakers."

Johan waved her off. "It's fine."

Given Flint's antics—barreling in late at night, kneeling theatrically, and grabbing Joy's hand—he couldn't entirely blame Chansey for assuming the worst.

Joy quickly explained that, stationed on the edge of Viridian Forest, this Pokémon Center wasn't the safest place. They often dealt with wild Pokémon causing disturbances or even suspicious trainers.

"So Chansey and I learned some self-defense techniques," Joy added.

Johan's eyes flicked to the counter, where a second club—this one with an exposed handle—rested ominously.

Fair enough. A lone boy out in the wild needs to protect himself.

Wait.

"You know who I am?" Johan asked.

"Oh, of course!" Joy said, pulling out her phone. She showed him a photo—it was the selfie he'd taken earlier with Officer Jenny.

"You know, we Joys and Jennys are pretty close," she added with a grin.

Close, huh?

"My apologies for the misunderstanding," Joy said, bowing alongside Chansey.

"Lucky~~"

Johan sighed. "It's no trouble."

As his gaze landed on Flint, now sprawled on the floor and twitching, Johan's lips twitched.

"This here is Flint, Pewter Gym's Leader," he said.

"Ahhh," Joy replied, recognition dawning on her face.

Is my reputation really bigger than his here? Johan wondered.

While Chansey tended to Johan's Pokémon, he kept a close eye on it, silently marveling at the sheer disparity between its cutesy demeanor and brutal combat prowess.

Later, after their Pokémon were treated and checked, Nurse Joy handed Dragonair over for a relaxing spa session.

Flint, meanwhile, remained unconscious on the floor, his twitching growing faint.

While watching Chansey slap Dragonair with expert massage techniques, Johan's Pokédex lit up with a data entry.

[Chansey]

Type: Normal

Ability: Serene Grace

Moves Known: Charm, Wish, Sweet Kiss, Minimize, Rock Slide, Heal Bell, Calm Mind, Egg Bomb, Assist Power...

Serene Grace and Rock Slide? Johan raised an eyebrow.

He turned to Joy. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes?"

"Why not have Chansey fight off intruders instead of, uh…" he gestured to the club.

Both Joy and Chansey blinked in confusion.

"Fight? Chansey?"

For most people, Chansey was synonymous with healing and support—not battling. Its weak offensive stats and association with Nurse Joys only reinforced that perception.

This must be what they mean by ingrained stereotypes, Johan thought, scratching his head.

"Want me to show you?" Johan offered.

"Show me?"

Joy's eyes sparkled.

Minutes later. Pokémon Center's Outdoor Arena.

Flint stood on one side of the arena, still groggy but excited. Opposite him, Joy and Chansey faced off nervously, with Johan coaching from the sidelines.

"Flint, just a demonstration—don't take it too seriously," Johan called.

"Understood!" Flint grinned, releasing a Rhyhorn onto the field.

The match began, and Flint started his introduction.

"Miss Joy, allow me to—"

CRASH!

Before Flint could finish, Chansey summoned a Rock Slide that pummeled Rhyhorn, leaving it flinching and unable to act.

Flint: "???"

Johan smirked from the sidelines. "Rock Slide with Serene Grace. Don't underestimate it."

The match continued, with Chansey using Snatch to steal Rhyhorn's stat boosts from Swords Dance, followed by Minimize to increase its evasion.

While Rhyhorn flailed, missing every attack, Chansey alternated between Heal Bell, Calm Mind, and Soft-Boiled to maintain its stamina.

Eventually, Joy—flush with excitement—was calling out:

"Rock Slide again! Again! Again!"

Johan massaged his temples. It's always the lucky ones who think this strategy is foolproof.

By the end of the demonstration, Rhyhorn was reduced to a trembling wreck, while Flint stood in stunned silence.

"I-I…" Flint stammered. "What just happened?"

"Joy and Chansey happened," Johan quipped.

For the final blow, Chansey used Assist Power, dealing a surprisingly effective hit thanks to its boosted stats.

As Flint's Rhyhorn fainted, Johan couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for it.

Who would've thought the most dangerous thing here wasn't Flint's recklessness but Joy's newfound confidence?

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Powerstones?

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