The New Normal – 5-18 – Following Up
I dragged myself out of bed early the next morning because I wanted to spend a bit more time with Euphie before I had to drop her off at Professor Oak’s. After hastily putting together a quick breakfast, I met with the rest of my team in the training fields.
There was no training session today. It was just an opportunity for all of them to frolic around and enjoy the morning breeze. And of course, to say a temporary goodb...
2023-10-16 06:19:06 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-17 - Fairy Odd Discoveries
After a moment to think things through, I decided to stick to my previous plan and take the initiative to publish and announce the Fairy typing on my own terms. However, even with my great scientific reputation, a discovery of this scale would be even greater than when I had created the PIT technique. This was something that was going to need plenty of verification from many esteemed scientists if I didn’t want to be tie...
2023-10-13 06:00:03 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-16 – Interlude – Proton
The facility was filled with a sense of anticipation as the final preparations were being made for their raid against Devon Corp that was going to be launched very soon. And thus, instead of continuing to train up the grunts as was his usual duties, he was instead forced to accompany his boss to participate in the last-minute prep.
“…We’ve confirmed that the data and files are indeed there.” Maxie’s voice ...
2023-10-11 06:00:03 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-16 – INTERLUDE – Whitney
Whitney slowly stirred awake after a good night’s rest, feeling refreshed and relieved from yesterday’s journey towards Saffron City from Celadon. Ever since Janine had joined their little group, they had been taking things much slower as she had said.
Firstly, they had spent a few days earning Sabrina and her Flying Licenses at Celadon. Whitney easily aced those tests, but Sabrina had a bit more trouble and ha...
2023-10-09 06:00:03 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-15 – Strategies and Schemes
Surprisingly, my parents weren’t home when I got back from my match against Bruno. Though they did send me a text saying that they watched my final duel between our starters and congratulated me for my victory. I lumped those in with the rest of the congratulations I got from practically everyone I knew.
Apparently, something came up with the Moomoo milk business, so they were out doing some quick problem solvin...
2023-10-06 06:27:48 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-14 – Interlude – Pokenet Reactions
[A NEW CHALLENGER APPROACHES! ELITE JOHN ISSUED OFFICIAL CHALLENGE BY CHALLENGER BRUNO! WHO WILL WIN?!] by The Indigo Post
We got some exciting news today that threatens to knock over the entire political scene of Indigo as Challenger Bruno has issued an official challenge to Elite John for his position in the Elite Four! If John is unseated, who knows how that will change or affect the political landscap...
2023-10-04 06:25:20 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-14 – Fighting Back
“WHAT AN AMAZING FIGHT EVERYONE! DESPITE BEING DOWN BY ONE POKEMON, CHALLENGER BRUNO HAS REALLY SHOWN THE WORLD HIS STRENGTH! I SUSPECT THAT THIS BATTLE HAS BEEN CLOSER THAN WHAT MANY WERE EXPECTING. LET’S SEE IF BRUNO CAN OVERCOME HIS DISADVANTAGE AND CLAW HIS WAY TO A SURPRISING VICTORY!”
I felt my eyes twitch as the announcer tried to hype up the crowd, but I managed to shrug off and ignore his words. Bruno might ...
2023-10-02 06:21:48 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-13 – Fighting Power
I hesitated for a moment before sending out my next Pokémon, which I had planned to be Zephyr. Originally, I had hoped to send out Zephyr to finish off whatever weakened Pokémon that Luna would have been dealing with, since I was confident that Zephyr should be able to evade enough attacks from one of Bruno’s injured Pokémon.
From the research that I had done, I had seen countless times how Bruno’s Pokémon were ab...
2023-09-29 06:26:06 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-12 – A Fighting Fight
I arrived at the Indigo Plateau where my fight against Bruno would be hosted in less than an hour. The previous week had flown by quickly, yet fruitfully, as I continued pushing my Pokémon in preparation for the battle against Bruno. I had politely called off and delayed any unessential meetings in order to not distract myself from the coming battle, which thankfully they were accommodating.
After all the complications...
2023-09-25 06:26:05 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-11 – Gym Troubles
As exciting as Tyranitar’s evolution was, it didn’t change the fact that I still had to train up for my match against Bruno. We spent the next few days continuing to train together, and Karen discovered with increasing joy just how much of a powerhouse her Tyranitar had become.
As soon as he got used to his new body, it was easily THE most powerful member of Karen’s team. Sure, her Houndoom might be more versatile and...
2023-09-22 06:28:34 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-10 – Interlude – Brock
They were abandoned. Again.
He had just woken up one morning to find an empty bed with a note on it. There was no explanation written on it, other than a simple “I’m sorry.”
Brock didn’t even bother to show that letter to his younger siblings; he had just ripped it apart and disposed it before they could see it. He didn’t want to break their hearts any further. At least he could spare them from this.<...
2023-09-20 06:29:50 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-10 – A Practice Duel
I continued working on training my Pokémon for my upcoming battle the next day. Naturally, I had also texted everyone to not look for me unless my presence was absolutely necessary, as I was going to be devoting all of my time to train up.
Of course, Karen was the one exception to my ‘not meeting anyone’ rule, since she was here to spar with me. This was where I found myself now, idly walking to the training fields ...
2023-09-18 06:27:41 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-9 – Concerns and Preparations
“Are things going to be alright for you, dear?” My mom’s worried voice snapped me out of my thoughts, “Do you think you can win?”
I fiddled with the letter in my hands for a moment as I pondered my mom’s question. Did I think I could win?
Admittedly, I was VERY taken aback by this sudden challenge. I would have thought that my strength within the Elite Four was cemented enough that none would c...
2023-09-15 06:32:24 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-8 – Interlude – Bruno
Bruno rested near his newly built campfire and tent as he watched the sun slowly setting in the distance, a fitting reward for another hard day of training. He had taken the time when he had entered Viridian City, where he had issued his letter of Challenge towards John, to also restock his supplies for the next 2 weeks while he continued his training on Mt. Silver.
Unlike what many likely thought of him, Bruno had no...
2023-09-13 06:26:00 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-8 – Inspector Smith
The next day proved to be a busy one as I pulled myself awake early in the morning, hardly having any time to scarf down my breakfast, before I made my way to Pewter City to meet up with the League Inspectors.
I arrived early, and I was promptly greeted by the group of League Inspectors, all wearing their signature black and gold Pokémon Inspection Agency badge, that seemed to have been waiting for me.
“Good morn...
2023-09-11 06:25:50 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-7 – INTERLUDE - Whitney
Whitney and Sabrina, fully rested from their long trek from Celadon City, made their way to the Fuschia Gym. They had arrived at Fuschia City the evening before and had managed to reserve an appointment for their 5th badge Gym Challenge for the next morning, which was where they were heading to now.
Fuschia City was quite far away from all the other cities, especially compared to how close Vermillion and Celadon City ...
2023-09-08 06:24:58 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-6 – Interlude – Flint
The TV remote clattered to the ground as Flint listened with growing horror to the announcement being broadcasted by the news.
“In light of my recent ascension as Champion, I have just ordered a full inspection of all Gyms within Indigo to ensure that they live up to the high expectations demanded of them by the Indigo League. It is my hope that, through these inspections, we will be able to root out any source ...
2023-09-06 06:24:00 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-6 – A Frosty Transition
The sound of polite applause reverberated throughout the VIP room as we all clapped for Lorelei’s victory.
“It looks like Walker’s finally on his way out.” Agatha commented with a smirk, “Shame, he was such an easy target for my barbs.”
“I’m sure he would be happy enough to escape from your tormenting.” Lance replied sarcastically as he stood up. “Come, we should make our way down to greet ou...
2023-09-04 06:25:35 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-5 – INTERLUDE – Lorelei
‘Three down, three to go. Halfway there.’ She thought to herself as her eyes remained locked onto Walker’s figure in the distance.
Everything else didn’t matter. Not the cheers or jeers that were being shouted out from the crowd, nor the obnoxious calls from the announcer. Her target was remained stubbornly in her way, and she refused to lose to him. It wasn’t personal, but her future depended on ...
2023-09-01 06:22:41 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-4 – A Battle for their Futures
Once again in under a month, the next day I found myself sitting within the VIP section of the spectator stands for the upcoming match between Lorelei and Walker. Obviously, unlike last time, Karen wasn’t here as it was far from appropriate. Instead, her presence was replaced by Lance and Will, the latter of which seemed to be silently avoiding me.
I wonder how long it would take for his ego to recover from h...
2023-08-28 09:46:23 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-3 – A New Generation Arrives
I was joined by all the other members of the Elite Four, and Lance, as we waited at the Vermillion Ports for the Sinnoh delegation to arrive, since it was the closest port available for them to travel to. It had been a few days since my spar against Will, and while I saw that he wasn’t exactly pleased to see me, he at least wasn’t holding it against me.
Of course, he might have been a tad more pissed off if h...
2023-08-25 06:26:52 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-2 – Interlude – Devon Scientist
His frustration grew. Why was it so difficult for his colleagues to understand the potential of the evolution device that he created for Porygon? Science was all about discovering the unknown and furthering the gaze of humanity, so he failed to comprehend why his superiors and colleagues almost unanimously rejected his newly created evolution device for Porygon2.
When his colleagues developed an evolution de...
2023-08-23 06:24:58 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-2 – Political Sparring
Unfortunately, politics rests for no one. And the day after my meeting with the Waterflower sisters I found myself at the Indigo Plateau sitting in and listening to one of the committee meetings.
I guess I shouldn’t be complaining that hard, as it was at least my proposal that they were currently discussing. And, considering the current mood of the members, it really looked like my proposal to reduce the num...
2023-08-21 05:27:25 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 5-1 – The Calm before the Storm
A few days later, with the ceremony come and gone, Karen and I resettled into our normal relationship. While on the surface not much seems to have changed, but I felt that since we opened up to each other on how we wanted our relationship to progress, there was a lot of cleared air between us.
It was hard to describe…but I just felt more at ease when I spent time with her. With our boundaries properly defined,...
2023-08-18 08:57:53 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 4-20 – Interlude – Proton
This ‘meeting between the bosses’ was quickly devolving into a shit show. He didn’t even know how two people could hate each other that much, but looking at the barely restrained look of fury on Archie’s face, he knew better than to voice that at the moment.
Proton was currently just standing around like an idiot as him and all the other admins from Team Aqua and Team Magma were standing around, waiting for ...
2023-08-16 06:30:35 +0000 UTC
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A.N. I made some small edits to the final conversation near the end of 4-19 with the ‘I’ll wait you’ dialogue. Feel free to read through it; I hope it makes it John less ‘creepy’ and more lighthearted.
The New Normal – 4-20 – INTERLUDE – POKENET REACTIONS
[OLIVINE PORT REPAIRS UNDERWAY! CHARITY DONATIONS FUNNELLING IN AS INDIGO RECOVERS FROM THE TYRANNY OF TEAM ROCKET!] by The Indigo Post
[Pictures of construction workers and...
2023-08-14 06:05:15 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 4-19 – Déjà vu
I was dressed to the nines the following evening, wearing a proper suit and tie as was expected for any grand ceremony like this. I had spent the entire day training with my Pokémon, so I made sure to take a thorough shower before I attended Will’s swearing-in ceremony.
Admittedly, I was fairly nervous about the ceremony. Not because of Will, though, but because my mind was filled with thoughts about my conversation with Ka...
2023-08-11 11:01:54 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 4-18 – Interlude – Will
Will stared down at the official letter from the League with a bright smile on his face as he stood in the middle of his decorated living room in his expensive apartment. Finally, the League had begun to recognize his brilliance and properly rewarded him for the hard work that he had done.
To be fair, he had expected such an invitation a few months ago when Blaine stepped down in the Elite Four, but the League could b...
2023-08-09 12:53:14 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 4-18 – The Waterflower Sisters
Early the next morning, I rushed off to Cerulean City to meet the famed Waterflower sisters. I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into the meeting, as they were barely developed characters in canon and were regulated to an extremely minor role. I hadn’t even met them during my first run through of the Gyms all those years ago, as they hadn’t become the Gym Leader yet.
Despite this, I hoped to at leas...
2023-08-07 13:22:34 +0000 UTC
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The New Normal – 4-17 – Local Developments
The four of us made our way to the yard. I was very happy to see that Whitney had made a friend, even if that friend was the future Gym Leader of Saffron. Sabrina was far from the emotionless doll-creating Psychic that she was in canon and seemed to be far easier to embarrass and poke fun of.
I won’t deny that I was initially concerned about Whitney’s first choice of friend, but just by reading their body language...
2023-08-04 12:44:30 +0000 UTC
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