Pokemon: The Gameboy Effect

Rivestone News Express: In an unexpected twist, a student at Riverstone University, John Pokemon, donated an Enigma Berry tree to the school. To everyone's surprise, Saul Badman, the principal and a well-known figure in the world of Pokemon breeding, publicly announced that John would be taken under his wing as a disciple.

John couldn't believe his eyes when he first saw the news. He had never anticipated Saul would make such a bold move. The announcement was clearly aimed at clearing up the confusion surrounding the Enigma Berry tree incident from the day before, when John had brought the tree onto campus. It was also a message to those who might be watching the situation closely, warning them not to get involved.

The Enigma Berry tree had officially been acquired by Riverstone University, and Saul Badman himself had played a significant role in the acquisition. This made it clear that John, while seemingly the main player in this, was not acting alone.

But John hadn't heard a word about any of this from Saul directly. There hadn't been any formal conversation about becoming Saul's disciple. In fact, Saul had stopped taking on students years ago, with the last one joining his ranks more than two decades ago. So when Saul publicly declared his mentorship over John, it wasn't really about teaching him the traditional ways of breeding Pokemon. Instead, it was a protective gesture, an unspoken alliance, signaling to the world that anyone who wanted to target John would first have to reckon with Saul Badman.

"Saul is something else," John thought, his respect for the principal growing even more. The man had such presence, it was almost impossible not to admire him. Riverstone University thrived under Saul's leadership. His Breeder program had produced some of the finest Pokemon trainers, and the graduates often found themselves drawn back to Riverstone, driven by the same sense of loyalty and respect Saul had inspired in them.

It wasn't just about the Enigma Berry tree or even the announcement of Saul's mentorship. It was the way he ran the university, the way his students trusted him, and how they all returned to give back to the place that had shaped their futures.

John had been thinking about this very concept recently, especially after hearing about Scarlett's decision to stay in Riverstone despite being offered better opportunities elsewhere. Scarlett had turned down multiple offers from other nations, preferring instead to return to the university that had helped her become the Pokemon researcher she was today. It wasn't about the best job or the biggest paycheck; it was about loyalty, and that loyalty was forged by people like Saul.

But for now, John had to wait. Daisy, his teacher, was still on vacation, and he couldn't embark on his journey to the Dragon's Island without her. She'd promised they'd head out as soon as she returned. So, John turned his attention back to the Metal Coat Saul had given him. It was the key to evolving his Onix into Steelix.

John sat down with his Gameboy in hand, curious to see what the Metal Coat could do. As he navigated through the interface, he discovered the item's special abilities.

[Metal Coat (Flame Pattern): Increases steel-type move power by 40%, and those moves carry a fire-type burn effect.]

John smirked. He couldn't help but imagine how ridiculous it would be if an opponent were to get burned by a steel-type move. Steel moves were never known for their ability to inflict burns—this was new, and it was brilliant. It could turn the tide of battle in ways his opponents wouldn't see coming. It was definitely a trump card, and John couldn't wait to see it in action.

His mind raced as he thought about the possibilities. But then, a thought hit him—he couldn't evolve Onix just yet. No, he had bigger plans. First, he needed to face off against Flannery at Lavaridge Gym. The problem was, Steelix, being part steel-type, would be weak against fire-type moves, which were Flannery's specialty. It was a bad idea to evolve Onix before the battle, so John decided to postpone it.

Instead, he powered up his Gameboy and decided to battle Flannery. It would give him the practice he needed before with his new pokemon. A few button presses, and John was transported straight to Lavaridge Town, where the temperature had already spiked due to the ever-present heat from the nearby hot springs.

Standing in front of the field, John could practically feel the heat radiating. This was it—his chance to finally defeat Flannery and prove his skills. Flannery, on the other side of the battlefield, stood confidently. Her fiery red hair matched the intensity in her eyes, and she wore her signature outfit—cropped top, long pants—designed for a battle in the extreme heat.

"Ah, it's you again," Flannery called out, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I thought the last time would've been enough to teach you a lesson, but it seems you're back for more. Or did you think you'd actually get better?"

John chuckled. "I've made plenty of progress. And today's the day you lose, Flannery."

Flannery raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? We'll see about that." She stood tall, exuding confidence. "If you haven't improved, you'll be heading home with your tail between your legs just like last time."

With a smirk, John prepared for battle. The referee stepped forward and announced, "This is the Lavaridge Gym Challenge. John, the challenger, faces off against Gym Leader Flannery. Both sides have three Pokemon each. Substitutions are not allowed. The battle ends when one trainer is out of usable Pokemon."

Flannery threw her Pokeball, releasing her Torkoal. The fire-type Pokemon had leveled up since their last encounter, now at LV 38. The moment Torkoal hit the field, the sunlight grew stronger as its Sunshine ability activated, triggering the Sunny Day effect and giving it a clear advantage in the battle.

John, however, wasn't intimidated. He released his Onix, and the massive Pokemon slithered onto the field. It was a beast—its body stretched out over 30 meters, making Torkoal look tiny in comparison. Onix's intimidating presence dominated the battlefield.

Flannery couldn't help but comment, "That's a big Onix. Never seen one quite that large before. Guess I'll have to bring out my best."

The referee raised his flag, signaling the start of the battle.

"Onix, use Sandstorm!" John shouted.

Onix immediately whipped up a fierce sandstorm, creating a haze that obstructed visibility. The Sandstorm not only hindered Torkoal's sight but also lowered its accuracy, making it harder for Flannery to land her powerful fire-type moves.

Flannery scowled. "You're not making this easy."

"I told you," John said, "this time, you're going down."