Training Isn't Just For Moemon (Nuzlocke): Golden Days Ch. 1

AN: In order to get some context, there are some things you need to know from the previous story, but not necessarily from Electric Boogaloo. Just a warning, the content within is adult, and does contain scenes of a sexual nature (even taboo). This is based on a Shiny Gold Nuzlocke run I'm doing, and the story will adjust accordingly. For those of you who don't know what a Nuzlocke is, the basic rules are this: if you pokemon faints, it's dead and you can't use it again; you must nickname all pokemon you obtain; you can only catch the first pokemon you encounter in a route. Now, I have a few clauses that I use that make it a bit more fun, easier to write, easier in general. The clauses in this one specifically are:

Dupes Clause: If the first pokemon encountered is a duplicate of one you have caught earlier in the game, or is a later stage of one you've caught earlier in the game, you may skip that pokemon until you've reached the next new pokemon you haven't caught.

Resurection Clause: You may use any revives or rare candies that you find ON THE GROUND in order to bring back a fainted pokemon. You cannot buy revives to use.

Storybook Clause: Scenes in battles may be dramatized for excitement. As may the names of certain trainers and people. Events may be altered slightly for story purposes.

You may notice that I did not include the Friendly Rival clause this time. This is intentional. The story takes place shortly after the end of the first Training Isn't For Moemon. Enjoy!

When I finally arrived home from another long boring day as League Champion, I let out a tired groan. "Where have you been?" a harsh voice snapped at me.

I opened one eye to regard my wife. Winona sat in a recliner, arms crossed over her chest and a look of fury on her features. I knew almost immediately we were about to fight...again. "I've been at work. Just like I was yesterday. And the day before that. And the day before that."

"Oh really? I called the League today and they told me you were 'out to lunch'. Don't think I'm not on to you, Vulpus."

"What time did you call?"

"Around noon."

"You didn't think maybe I'd be out to lunch around lunch time?" I asked. Taking off my hat, I tossed it onto the hook and walked over to my PC. As I scrolled through my emails, I heard Winona grunt as she got to her feet. She'd been more tired lately...not to mention bitchy.

"Roxanne called again," she huffed. "As did Liz, Taylor, Tania, and Flannery. They were all asking for you."

"What did you tell them?" I replied nonchalantly, just before she grabbed my chair and roughly spun it around. Now that I was facing her, she shoved her nose right in front of mine, fury in her eyes.

"Do you think this is some kind of joke, Vulpus?" she seethed. "I know you. I know exactly how you are! I swear to you, if I find out you've been sleeping around again, I'll…"

"I haven't!" I growled back. "Remember that little promise I made? You know the one that went something like 'I'll love you forever. Til death do us part.' Yeah, I haven't broken it, Winona. I'd appreciate you trusting me a little bit here."

"Just because you're not sleeping with them, doesn't mean you aren't chasing any other tail that comes into the League."

"What tail? No tail has been coming into the League! So far, the only one who challenges me is Wally and he just keeps losing over and over again, getting pissed, healing his pokemon, coming back, and getting his ass kicked again! So, for once, I'd like to be able to come home, relax, and not be accused of the exact same shit that my self-professed nemesis accuses me of. Is that okay with you or do you intend to keep bitching until I off myself?"

The look of anger quickly faded from her eyes. They were replaced by hurt and regret. "Why would you say that?"

Great, now would come the waterworks. "Say what?" I sighed.

"Why would you call me a bitch?" she sniffed, her eyes welling up with tears. "I just love you so much! I don't want you to leave me!"

"I didn't call you a bitch, Winona. I said you were bitching. It's different. I'm not going to leave you, okay? I'm not like my dad was. I promised you the moment I became champion I'd stop sleeping around. Well I've stopped sleeping around, just like I said."

"Tell me I'm beautiful...please?"

She was on the verge of breaking down into sobs now, so I pulled her into my lap and held her close. "You're beautiful," I swore. "You're the most beautiful girl in the world, and nothing could make me leave you, understand?"

"Thank you," she murmured in my ear before kissing my neck. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

I held her there, snuggled against me for a while until a small ping alerted me to a new email. The title read: Dear Champion, and had a Johto address. Curious, I reached around my wife to open it and began to scan its contents.

With every line, my smile brightened. "Hey, honey. I think I have an idea," I told her.

She looked at me in bewilderment. "An idea?"

"Yeah, take a look."

Turning to glance at the screen, she began to read it. "What is this?"

"A job offer. A professor in Johto wants me to come and assist him with training some never before discovered moemon. What do you think, love? Want to say fuck it to our old lives and start somewhere new?"

Her lips curled into a big smile, and I knew she was sold on the idea. Maybe this is what we'd need to save our marriage. Roxanne, Flannery, and the others wouldn't be able to bother us in Johto. I'd work right next door, so Winona would have no reason to be suspicious. Even better, she could retire from the gym, which had seemed to be wearing her out more and more lately.

Not even a week later, and our boxes were packed and we were ready to ship off. Unfortunately, being the defacto champion, I had to leave Toasty and the others behind. I really hoped that they wouldn't throw the Champion match just so they could come with us. This wasn't meant to be a permanent thing after all. Just until we got back on our feet and the job was done.

It wasn't long before Winona and I found ourselves happy residents of New Bark Town. Things were finally starting to look up.

One month later…

I was wrong. I was wrong. I was completely wrong. These thoughts were repeating over and over again in my head as I stomped out of our house towards the lab next door. I hated my job here. It was boring and the hours were long. They didn't even let me interact with the pokemon. They just had me analyzing their stats through the command matrix!

Winona's temperament hadn't improved, not even in the slightest. She'd become less paranoid, true. Now, though, she wasn't even willing to work! She just sat at the house all day, spending the money I brought home buying stupid shit she saw on the shopping network!

Entering the hall, I brushed past the assistant and walked straight to the back room to get to work. Just as I did though, Professor Elm hurried to me and tugged on my sleeve. "Umm...excuse me...V-vulpus," the nervous man said.

"Yes, Professor?" I asked, unable to hide my irritation.

He anxiously removed his glasses, wiping them with a cloth before putting them back on his face. "S-sorry. I just wanted to tell you that something new has c-come up. I wanted to ask if you'd like to g-g-go out in the field."

"The field?" I repeated in surprise.

"Erm, yes. An acquaintance of mine, Mr. Pokemon people call him, he's always giving us these hoax updates, but this time it seems he may have actually discovered something. I n-n-need someone to go see what he has. You'll be given one of the pokemon of c-c-course."

I beamed in delight, grabbing his hand and shaking it excitedly. "Hell yes! I'm your man, professor!"

Surprised by my reaction, he straightened his glasses. "O-oh! I'm glad to hear it. Well, by all means, take your choice of whichever pokemon you want. This will be a prime opportunity to test their efficiency in combat as well."

Moving to the three pokeballs, I pulled up the picture for each one of them. They all slept soundly in their pokeballs. This would be the first time any of them had been awoken. Finally deciding on the grass type, I opened the pokeball.

The girl looked up at me with a yawn, her big eyes peering out from beneath the leaf-like hat she wore. "Hey there," I whispered to her, offering her my hand. Taking it, she let me assist her to stand. "You ready to go on an adventure?" Excitement filled her eyes as she bobbed her head up and down. "Awesome, I'm going to call you 'Rose'."

Rose joined the party!

Species: Chikorita Found: Given by Professor Elm

Grass Type Starting Level: 5 Quirky Nature

Ability: Overgrow- Ups GRASS moves in a pinch

Moves: Tackle, Growl

Just as Chikorita and I were about to leave, I realized that I should probably tell Winona that I was leaving. Opening the door to the house, however, I discovered that she was gone. And I mean gone. All of her things had been packed and were taken. Even some food was missing from the fridge. She was gone.

I stood there, my eyes wide in shock. I couldn't believe this. She'd left. I knew we were having problems but...I never expected this. Tears began to run down my face, as Rose reached up and took my hand. "Why are you crying, Master?" she asked. "You don't need to be so sad. We're going on an adventure, right?"

"Y-yeah, sorry. Just...I thought someone was here was all." I wiped my eyes. No more tears, I decided. You know what? Fuck her! Fuck Winona, and fuck the way she'd been treating me for the last two months. I worked my ass off for her! I gave up everything to make her happy. I even moved away from all of my moemon and family, all to try to save a marriage that she wasn't willing to put any work into.

Righteous anger replaced my sorrow as I tied on my running shoes. To Hell with her. I didn't need her. My life would be better without her. I could finally do whatever I wanted. I could sleep with as many chicks as I liked now! In my head, I thanked her for leaving me. I was finally free again, and it was all thanks to her!

Seemingly pleased with my change of attitude, Rose followed cheerfully behind me until I suddenly head a voice call out from behind me. "Wait!" he huffed. A large man with a read hat and a labcoat came running up to me. I'd never seen the man before in my life.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

He held up a pokeball with ragged breathing. "I challenge you to a pokemon battle!" he cried.

"...Are you sure?"

"What's that supposed to me? Of course I'm sure!"

"Just that...do you know who I am?"

"Of course I do! I came all the way here didn't I? You're the HOenn League Champion. I can't wait to defeat you and be the first person to make you lose."

Rose looked at me and I returned her gaze with a shrug. "All right then, whoever you are. You have a fight on your hands. Show me what you've got. One pokemon each, winner takes all."

"Fine," he agreed. "Go, Slowpoke!"

As the girl, dressed in a pink onesie showed up, I nodded to my new moemon to get ready for battle. "Rose, Tackle!"

The Chikorita dashed forward, slamming her head hard into Slowpoke's. As the pink moemon reeled back from the blow, her trainer let out a growl. "Slowpoke, Yawn!"

With a wide sigh from our foe, I could see that Rose was beginning to get drowsy. "Rose, don't give up! Tackle him before you pass out!"

She gave a squeaky and cute yawn of her own as she rushed towards the creature. Grabbing it, she flipped it onto its back. Pouncing on top, she held it down and fell fast asleep. Unable to do anything in return, it was simply a matter of time before she awoke and finished the job.

As Rose lifted her weight and pounded down on top of the moemon once more, it passed out, completely helpless to fight any longer. Without another word, Carlos scooped up his pokemon and dashed off into the woods.

"Well, that was weird," I told Rose, who'd managed to stave off sleep enough to keep walking with me. "Wonder what all that was about."

"Don't know, Master," she agreed.

Her broken English made me smile. She reminded me so much of Toasty when he was just a Torchic. I couldn't help but reach down and pet her head, causing her to grin brightly at me.

When we'd reached Cherrygrove City, my anger had begun to wane slightly. I opened my pokegear, hoping to see a text or anything from my wife. Instead, there was nothing. Calling the number, I waited patiently for her to pick up. Maybe there was a valid reason for her leaving. Maybe there was an emergency back in Hoenn and she couldn't wait to tell me. While you were right next door? So maybe it wasn't likely, but I wanted to believe…

"Hello?" the man's voice crackled over the line.

Rage flooded me. "Umm, yeah. Who is this? I'm calling for my wife."

For a moment, there was no sound, but then I heard a low moan come from the background. "Sorry, she can't come to the phone right now," the man said before with a click, the line was cut.

After all of that...after all the paranoia, all of the accusations, she went and cheated on me?! I reeled back my arm, planning on hurling my phone as hard as I could into the ocean, but instead, I paused and stopped.

No, no sense in letting this get to me. If she wanted to sleep around, fine. Two could play that game. I stormed further on through Route 30, coming finally to Mr. Pokemon's house.

Knocking on the door, I opened it to find a snazzy dressed man sitting across from an older gentleman in a lab coat. "Ah, hello, hello!" the fancy dressed man greeted me. "Please, do come in. You must be Professor Elm's new assistant. Is that so?"

"Mr. Pokemon?" I asked, taking a seat beside the two. "I'm Vulpus, nice to meet you."

"The Vulpus?" the older man questioned. Shaking my hand as well, he beamed at me. "My own assistant talks about you constantly. My name is Professor Oak. It's a pleasure to put a face to the name."

"Oh! You're May's boss," I realized. "I haven't spoken to her in months. How is she?"

"Just fine, just fine!" he replied excitedly. "She's on leave for a little while, so I figured it'd be best to take a break myself. I never expected to meet Hoenn's undefeated champion though."

"Oh, it's not so grand," I tried, bashful of my title. "Besides, now I'm just a lowly assistant. Nothing special at all."

"Yes, well that ends again today!" Mr. Pokemon stated. "You see, you will be the man who assists in the discovery of a completely new species of pokemon. I spoke to a couple at a daycare center and they found this egg, completely by surprise! They'd never seen anything like it before, so I wanted Professor Elm to examine it."

So I'm a glorified delivery man, great. "I'm sure he'll be eager to analyze it."

"By the way, Vulpus, I've heard he gave you a rather rare pokemon. Would you mind if I took a look?" Professor Oak asked.

"Umm...Sure. I guess that's okay. Rose, go." I summoned my Chikorita forth, and both men immediately began to ooh and ahh over the small girl. Judging by the smile on Rose's face, she was enjoying the attention.

I was simply trying to push Winona out of mind. Once the men had finished their inspections, Professor Oak handed me a small red tablet. "Thank you for sharing. As a reward, I'd like your help on a little venture of my own, if you don't mind. Do you recognize this?"

"Wow," I laughed, opening it up and running my fingers over the screen. "I haven't seen one of these in forever! It looks just like Professor Birch's Pokedex."

"It is. Or rather, it's a revamped version of it anyway. May has been helping me redevelop it for the Kanto region, though judging by the rate you seem to encounter rare pokemon, I'd greatly appreciate it if you used it here as a test run."

"Well…" I began, hesitant. Winona wouldn't like the thought of me...I cut the thought off immediately by reminding myself that she'd left me. To hell with what she would or wouldn't like. "I'd be happy to, Professor. Thanks."

"My pleasure. I'll register in your pokegear. I'll be here for a few months, so this is where you can contact me for now."

"Okay, thanks again." Standing up, I shook both of their hands and began to leave, just before my phone started to buzz. It was Professor Elm. "Hello?" I greeted, trying to hid my disappointment that it hadn't been my wife.

"Vulpus! It's horrible! Oh, the humanity! You need to get back right away, please!"

Looking to Rose, who gave me an equally quizzical expression, we began to race back to the lab. Professor Elm, by nature, was a rather timid individual. If something excited him this greatly, it must have been really bad.

Just as I was leaving Cherrygrove City, I ran smack into someone, sending us both onto our rumps. "Sorry," I began, until I realized who it was.

"You!" Wally roared, jumping to his feet. "I'd hoped I'd run into you! Are you ready to fight?"

"Wally?! What the hell are you doing here? Shouldn't you be challenging the League in Hoenn or something?"

"I don't care about the damned League!" he snapped. "All I want is to teach you a lesson."

"Oh my God, Wally. Get over it! May dumped you! Tough shit! It happens."

"She dumped me because you told her to! She left because you broke her heart when all she did was love you, you bastard!"

I rolled my eyes. "Do you even have a pokemon, Wally? Because I had to leave mine behind."

"I know you have one Vulpus. I've been watching you lately. I know you have a pokemon, but that's okay because I've got one too. Go, Cyndaquil!"

Cyndaquil? As the familiar pokemon appeared, I glared at him. "How in the hell did you get that pokemon, Wally?"

"I caught it, dumb ass. Obviously."

"Bullshit. That pokemon is one of a kind and you know it! You stole it from the Professor, didn't you? I'm going to kick your ass and make you give it back."

"Finally! Let's do this, Vulpus."

The battle was a fierce one. Rose and Cyndaquil slammed into one another again and again. Anger was boiling in her veins at the realization that her friend had been taken from her. Cyndaquil, however, couldn't care less. The command matrix had done its work, leaving it as an obedient slave to Wally.

"Cyndaquil, smoke screen!"

Suddenly, the spiny creature blasted a cloud of black smoke into the arena, making it difficult for Rose to see. "Charge in Rose! Try to find him by sound!"

Sure enough, the crackling fire-like spines got her attention. Running full speed towards them, she charged straight through the crowd, smashing into the enemy and bowling him over, much to Wally's fury and shock.

"That's not possible!" he growled. "You should have lost! What the hell?!"

"I'll never lose to you Wally. Especially not now that you've become no more than a common crook."

He glared at me for a moment then without a word, scooped up his moemon and rushed off to God knows where. I contemplated running after him, but then I realized that Elm's emergency may have had to do with the break in. If Wally had hurt one of the aides, they needed all the help they could get.

Running back to New Bark, the police were already interviewing the Professor. "Everyone okay?" I asked.

"All fine," Elm sighed. "The officer was just finishing up my statement."

"YEs sir, it seems we're looking for a boy with long blonde hair."

"I can give you one better," I offered. "I know his name."

"Really?" the officer asked. "That'd be a huge help to our investigation."

"His name's Wally. He's from Hoenn. I'm sorry Professor, I fear he broke in to try to get back at me. Don't worry though, I'll do my best to get back that Cyndaquil from him."

"Don't bother," Professor Elm replied. "The Command Matrix already bound the pokemon to him. The data is corrupted at this point. Even still, I'd like to see him brought to justice."

"We'll do what we can sir," the officer swore, giving a polite salute before taking off.

"If it helps professor, I think I have something that can cheer you up."

"OH? So Mr. Pokemon's discovery wasn't a hoax this time?"

"Afraid not. See for yourself. I've never seen an egg like this before."

Showing him what I'd been given, he quickly began to examine it with great interest. "Nor have I! This is an amazing discovery. Tests will need to begin immediately!"

I scratched the back of my head. "About that professor…"

"What is it?"

"Well, I'd like to have some time off for leave. Professor Oak gave me this pokedex you see and…"

"Professor Oak?! He gave you a pokedex? That's a huge honor, Vulpus! He's known for being a pretty stern trainer. If he gave that to you, he has a lot of faith in you."

"Well, I appreciate that Professor, but that's why…"

"Go," he said suddenly. "You should go and do some studies with the pokedex, most certainly. Besides, the data you've provided from Rose is astounding. I can only imagine how much more we'll collect as you go."

He offered me a knowing smile, and I could tell that was only part of it. "Thanks Professor, I really appreciate this."

He placed his hand on my shoulder and nodded. "Listen, Vulpus...I know times have been hard for you lately. You used to be so excited for work, but lately you've been in a bit of a funk. IT's nice to see you smile again. I think adventuring is where you belong. Go out into the world and do your best, okay? I'm counting on you."

"Thanks Professor," I repeated. Perhaps I'd pegged him wrong.

Grabbing some pokeballs on the way out, I began my walk down Route 28 on my new adventure. Watch out, Johto. There is a new Champion coming.

Game Saved. (To be continued…)