Franklin is in his element. He fusses over Ralts, his voice bubbling with excitement. "Are you comfy? Do you want a snack? Can you really read my mind? What's it like being a Psychic-type?" He gently strokes Ralts's head, careful not to jostle the small Pokémon.
Ralts, though initially a little overwhelmed by Franklin's exuberance, found himself enjoying the attention. "I… I am quite comfortable, Franklin," Ralts responded telepathically. "And being a Psychic-type is… well, it's like seeing the world in colors, but those colors are emotions."
As Franklin continues to fawn over Ralts, Valeria watches them with a mix of affection and determination. She is happy for Franklin, but her mind is already racing with plans for Beldum.
She releases Beldum from its Premier Ball. The small Steel/Psychic Pokémon hovers in the air, its single red eye blinking inquisitively.
She turns to Orion, her eyes gleaming with ambition. "Owner, is there a way to speed up Beldum's training and evolution? I want to maximize its potential as quickly as possible."
Orion's eyes spark with entrepreneurial zeal. "Why, Valeria, your dedication is music to my ears! Indeed, there are ways to accelerate Beldum's growth. Here at Pokémon Home, we offer cutting-edge training facilities designed to unlock a Pokémon's full potential!"
With a flourish of his Poké Ball cane, he gestures toward a nearby hallway. "Allow me to introduce you to our state-of-the-art training area. It's a testament to synergy of science and Pokémon spirit!"
He leads Valeria, Franklin, Latias, and Pikachu down the corridor. The hallway opens into a massive, brightly lit chamber that hums with technological energy. The training area is a spectacle of futuristic machines, specialized equipment designed to enhance specific stats and move types. Holographic displays flicker, showing data streams and training simulations. Various platforms and obstacle courses fill the room. A high-tech interface dominates one wall, displaying progress charts and real-time analytics.
"Welcome," Orion announces, his voice echoing slightly in the expansive space. "This is where Pokémon become legends!"
Valeria's eyes dart around, taking in every detail. Franklin gasps, his attention caught by a gravity-defying obstacle course. Ralts, sensing the intense energy of the room, nestles closer to Franklin. Latias surveys the area with a serene smile. Pikachu, perched on Orion's shoulder, crackles with contained excitement.
Valeria's gaze settles on a particular machine, a complex contraption of metal and glowing conduits. It looks like a futuristic furnace. A series of nozzles point towards a central platform. "What's that?" she asks, her curiosity piqued. "It looks like something out of Tony Stark's workshop."
Orion beams, clearly pleased by the comparison. "Ah, yes! That, my dear Valeria, is our specialized Fire-type move training unit. It simulates intense heat and flame, allowing Fire-type Pokémon to hone their abilities and learn new moves with exceptional efficiency."
"Fascinating," Valeria murmurs, already calculating the possibilities in her mind. "Can Beldum use it?"
Orion chuckles. "While Beldum is not a Fire-type, the machine's advanced technology can also be adapted to other types. But unfortunately, Beldum will not be able to get any benefits out of it."
He sweeps his arm across the room. "We have equipment for every type of move and stat imaginable: speed drills, strength simulators, psychic amplifiers... The possibilities are endless!"
Then, he pauses, a hint of reservation in his voice. "Of course, these exceptional facilities are not free of charge. While browsing is complimentary, using the training area requires either a monthly membership or a small daily fee."
Orion leans in conspiratorially, his voice dropping to a confidential whisper. "However, the investment is well worth it. With our specialized equipment, Beldum could level up far faster than it would through random battles in the wild. We also have special training programs tailored to Beldum's unique physiology and abilities."
He straightens up and clarifies. "However, the most efficient method is still a good battle. When Pokémon engage in combat, they gain experience exponentially." He looks at Franklin and Ralts. "Perhaps a friendly match is in order? Beldum versus Ralts?"
Franklin's face lights up. Hearing the word battle, and seeing the possibilities, Franklin becomes very interested. "A Pokémon battle? Really? Can we? Please, Valeria, please?" He bounces on the balls of his feet, his eyes shining with anticipation.
Valeria, though intrigued by the training facilities, is also competitive by nature. A Pokémon battle sounds like a good test of Beldum's capabilities. However, a frown creases her forehead. She glances at Beldum, who floats beside her, seemingly unfazed by the prospect of combat.
"I would like a Pokémon battle, yes, but Beldum only knows Tackle," she says, her voice laced with concern. "It hardly seems fair to Ralts if Beldum can only run into it."
Orion raises a finger, a twinkle in his eye. "Ah, but that is where strategy and ingenuity come into play! While Beldum may currently be limited in its move set, it is not impossible for it to learn other techniques. In fact," he adds with a dramatic pause, "we have just the thing!"
Valeria cocks her head, her curiosity piqued once more. "What do you mean? What other moves can Beldum learn?"
"It involves something known as a TM," Orion says, drawing out the syllables for emphasis.
"A TM? What's that?" Valeria asks, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Orion grins, clearly enjoying her intrigue. "A Technical Machine, my dear Valeria, or TM for short, is a device that contains a specific Pokémon move in a digital format. By using a TM, you can teach a Pokémon a new move that it wouldn't normally learn through leveling up instantly!"
With another flourish of his cane, Orion gestures toward a different corner of the training room. "Allow me to present our TM machine! It's a marvel of engineering!"
He leads them to a large, ornate contraption that resembles a cross between a slot machine and a high-tech vending machine. It is adorned with flashing lights and various symbols representing different Pokémon types. A small screen displays the words: "Insert Funds for Random TM."
"This device can create a random TM for you," Orion explains, gesturing to the slot. "Each pull is one thousand dollars."
Valeria doesn't even hesitate. To spend one thousand dollars to give Beldum another move, so that she can battle Franklin, sounds like a steal.
"I'll take one pull," she says decisively, fishing out the Fantastic Four's credit card.
Orion swipes the card, and the machine whirs to life, spinning and clicking before finally settling on a result. The screen displays a message: "Thanks for playing!" Nothing dispenses.
Valeria stares at the machine, a puzzled expression on her face. "What does that mean?"
Orion chuckles, a touch of sheepishness in his voice. "Ah, yes, well, getting a TM is not guaranteed. Sometimes, the machine dispenses duds. Just a bit of a gamble, you see."
"What?!" Valeria's face reddens. This TM Machine was as wasteful as those darn lootboxes in those online games. But Valeria would not be deterred. The Fantastic Four's credit card had a limit of over one billion dollars, and three thousand dollars was nothing. "I'll buy three more pulls!"
Orion swipes the card again, and again, and again. The machine whirs, clicks, and spits out more messages: "Thanks for playing!" Another dead end. However, despite these setbacks, Valeria was not deterred. She had her sights set on that battle, and a little bit of bad luck wasn't going to stop her.
Finally, on her next pull, the machine erupts with a triumphant fanfare. A TM slides out of the dispenser. Valeria snatches the TM from the dispenser, examining it closely. "TM... Iron Head?"
"Excellent!" Orion beams. "That is a move that Beldum can indeed learn. Lucky you! However, a word of caution: just because you have a TM doesn't mean any Pokémon can learn it. Each Pokémon has a specific list of TMs that it can learn. Some can learn many, but not all!"
Valeria, her eagerness barely contained, turns to Orion. "Alright, I got the TM, but how do I actually teach it to Beldum?"
Orion smiles, pleased that she's taking to this so quickly. "It's quite simple, really. All you need to do is gently touch the TM to Beldum's head. The machine will do the rest!"
Following Orion's instructions, Valeria carefully approaches Beldum, holding the TM in front of her. She then lightly touches the device to its metallic head. Immediately, the TM begins to glow with a bright, pulsating light. A series of digital symbols swirl around Beldum, and the TM dissolves into motes of light before vanishing completely.
Valeria quickly pulls out her Pokédex and scans Beldum. The screen flickers, displaying Beldum's updated stats and move list.
Iron Head:
Type: Steel
Category: Physical
Power: 80
Accuracy: 100
Iron Head deals damage and has a 30% chance of causing the target to flinch
Her face lights up with satisfaction as she confirms that Iron Head has been successfully added.
With Beldum now equipped with a new move, Valeria turns to Franklin, her eyes gleaming with competitive fire. "Still up for that battle, Franklin?" she asks, a smirk playing on her lips.
Franklin, thrilled at the prospect of testing his Ralts against Beldum, accepts the challenge without hesitation. "You bet I am! Prepare to lose!"
Seeing that the two siblings are ready to battle, Orion claps his hands together, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Excellent! Excellent! Now, let's head to the Battle Arena and witness this clash of Pokémon!"
With a grand flourish, Orion leads the way toward the arena.
***
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