Could training under increased gravity make my Pokémon stronger?
The thought lingered in my mind, sparked by something I remembered from Dragon Ball Z. Goku had trained under ten times Earth's gravity and became absurdly strong because of it. The logic made sense—strain the body beyond its limits, and it would adapt to withstand even greater challenges.
But that was fiction.
This was real.
The human body could barely handle changes in gravity, and Pokémon weren't invincible. If I overdid it, I wouldn't be making them stronger—I'd be breaking them down.
Still… the idea had merit. Strength training worked by forcing muscles to rebuild stronger after stress. If a Pokémon trained in higher gravity, their endurance, speed, and power could increase dramatically.
It was worth considering.
But before I committed to anything, I needed an expert opinion.
__________
I found Reggie tending to my Vigoroth and Primeape. He glanced up when he saw me approaching. "Something on your mind?"
I didn't waste time. "What do you think about gravity training?"
His hands paused over the food bowl. "Gravity training?"
I nodded. "If I expose my Pokémon to higher gravity levels, they'll be forced to develop more strength and endurance. It should make them stronger."
Reggie frowned. "Well… in theory, that makes sense. Stressing muscles is how they grow. But too much strain, too fast? You could hurt them."
I expected that response. "So long as I don't overdo it, it should be fine."
Reggie sighed, crossing his arms. "It depends on how you apply it. If the gravity's too high right away, your Pokémon won't even be able to move, let alone train. Their bodies need time to adjust. And you'll have to be careful of internal strain—gravity doesn't just affect muscles, it affects bones, joints, and even circulation."
That made sense. But then, a slower approach would be better anyway.
"I have a Dusclops that used to know Gravity," I said.
Reggie's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Used to?"
I nodded. Moves aren't permanent. If a Pokémon doesn't use a move for long enough, they'll forget how to use it.
"Dusclops knew Gravity before, but I never used it. I'm sure that by now he's forgotten how to use Gravity. I'll have to train Dusclops to relearn Gravity before I can even test this idea."
Reggie gave me a long look, then shrugged. "Well, it's your team. Just don't push them too hard too fast."
That was fair. I wasn't planning to throw them into extreme gravity immediately, but it was good to hear his thoughts.
I hesitated for a moment, then asked, "If it's alright with you, would you be willing to check on my Pokémon after I train them under Gravity?"
Reggie exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I wouldn't mind, but that's not really my area of expertise. If you want a real evaluation, you should have Nurse Joy take a look."
I nodded. That was a good idea.
__________
After a bit of searching, I found Dusclops meditating in the shade, his body eerily still. When I approached, his single red eye flickered open, locking onto me in silent focus.
"We're going to relearn Gravity," I told him.
Dusclops tilted his head slightly before giving a slow, understanding nod.
I stepped back, watching as he closed his eye in concentration. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a faint shimmer distorted the air around him, like a heatwave rippling through the atmosphere. A strange pressure settled over the area—not enough to be overwhelming, but enough to be felt. My breath grew slightly heavier, my body just a fraction harder to move. Tiny dust particles near the ground barely stirred, pressing downward instead of floating freely.
But the effect was weak—unstable. The pressure barely lasted a second before flickering out entirely.
I frowned. "Again."
Dusclops tried once more. This time, the distortion in the air lasted a little longer, the pressure slightly heavier. A few loose leaves from a nearby tree trembled before dropping straight down, as if pulled by an unseen force.
Again.
Each attempt brought minor improvement—more stability, a stronger field—but it was clear the move wouldn't be mastered in a single session. The gravity was still inconsistent, flickering between too weak and too abrupt.
Still, for an hour's worth of training, it was acceptable.
I crossed my arms. "Keep working on it. Train on your own for the next few days. I'll check in later to see your progress."
Dusclops nodded again, his eye gleaming with silent determination.
With that settled, I turned away, already shifting my focus to the other tasks I had planned.
_______
The Veilstone Department Store was massive. Six whole floors packed with supplies for trainers, coordinators, and casual shoppers alike. If I needed something, this was the place to get it.
I had two things on my list: berries and Luxury Balls.
But before heading inside, I took a moment to consider something else.
A Pokémon's nature affected how they grew, what stats they excelled in, and even what flavors they liked. It wasn't something Paul had paid much attention to in the past, but now that I was refining my training methods, it was worth figuring out.
Some were obvious. Torterra was definitely Calm. He had always been level-headed, never reactive or brash. Even as a Turtwig, he never wasted energy panicking or acting out of emotion. Calm boosted Special Defense while lowering Attack—not ideal, but it made sense. It had helped shape him into the defensive wall he was now.
Elekid, though? Adamant. No doubt in my mind. He lived for battle, always attacking with full force. He was pure, unrelenting power, and the Adamant nature fit perfectly—higher Attack, lower Special Attack.
It'll be a bit of a drawback while he's still an Elekid and Electabuzz—at those stages, his Special Attack would normally be slightly higher than his Attack. But once he evolves into Electivire, the boost will pay off. His Attack will naturally surpass his Special Attack, and the Adamant nature will push it even further.
That left Chimchar and Larvitar—and those were trickier.
I had guesses, but I wasn't sure.
Chimchar was reckless—impatient. He jumped into fights without thinking, always reacting on instinct. At first, I considered Naughty—bold and confident, willing to break the rules. But maybe it wasn't confidence that made him reckless. Maybe he just didn't think things through. If that was the case, he could be Naive, boosting Speed while lowering Special Defense.
Then again, maybe his recklessness came from a hyperactive, almost playful energy. That could mean Hasty, prioritizing speed over endurance.
Or, if his recklessness was more of a mischievous streak than carelessness, Impish was also a possibility.
So, four options: Naughty, Naive, Hasty, or Impish.
I'd need to test him.
Larvitar was the opposite—calm, deliberate, and patient. Even when she struggled with something, she didn't rush. She was sturdy, but not in an overbearing way.
I had narrowed her nature down to Relaxed, Gentle, or Careful.
If she was Careful, she'd have a boost to Special Defense—but I wouldn't describe her as overly cautious or wary. Gentle meant a boost to Special Defense too, but it didn't seem quite right either. She wasn't timid or overly soft, just… unbothered.
Relaxed fit the best—it would mean a Defense boost in exchange for a lower Speed. But I couldn't be sure.
Like with Chimchar, I'd have to test her.
My first stop was the berry shop on the third floor. The moment I stepped inside, the scent of ripe fruit filled the air. Neatly arranged rows of berries stretched out before me, sorted by flavor—sweet, spicy, dry, bitter, and sour. Behind the counter, a shopkeeper greeted me with a polite nod.
I walked up. "Do you have Pomeg, Kelpsy, Qualot, Hondew, Grepa, or Tamato Berries?"
The shopkeeper hesitated. "Uh… let me check." She turned, flipping through a small inventory list. A few moments later, she shook her head. "Nope, don't think we carry those."
I frowned but nodded. Figures.
I moved on to another stall on the same floor. Then another. And another.
No luck.
One vendor even furrowed his brows at me. "Never heard of those before. Are you sure they exist?"
I exhaled through my nose. It wasn't worth arguing.
I searched one last shop, hoping for something, anything. This one had a larger selection, even some imported berries from Hoenn and Kalos. But when I scanned the inventory—nothing.
Not a single one of the six berries I needed.
It made sense. To most trainers, feeding a Pokémon something that lowered its stats was ridiculous. They wouldn't understand EV training, wouldn't know why someone might want to reset a Pokémon's growth in certain areas. If there wasn't a demand, stores wouldn't waste space on them.
I ran a hand through my hair. Looks like I'll have to pay the Berry Master a visit.
That added a detour to my plans, but I didn't have a choice.
I had been hoping to fine-tune my team's EVs sooner rather than later. Instead, I'd have to hope the Berry Master could spare at least one of each, then plant them myself and grow enough. That would take time.
Still, the payoff would be worth it.
Elekid's raw power was already great, but I wanted to push it even further—maximize his attack potential.
Larvitar, on the other hand, needed a different approach. Once she got Sand Stream, she'd gain a 50% boost to her special defense. If I could shift her EVs toward physical defense, she'd become an incredible wall—hard to take down from either side.
Chimchar was still early in training, so I could shape his development more freely. He'd likely end up a fast, physical leaning mixed attacker, so I'd need to balance his growth carefully.
Without these berries, I'd have to save EV training for later.
Not ideal. But I could adapt.
For now, I picked up something else—a dozen of each berry flavor:
Spicy (Attack), Sour (Defense), Sweet (Speed), Dry (Special Attack), Bitter (Special Defense)
Every Pokémon had a flavor they liked and disliked. If my guesses about their natures were right, they'd be drawn to the flavor that matched their boosted stat—and avoid the one tied to their weaker stat.
Once I had these, I'd be able to confirm my theories.
__________
With that errand a failure, I moved on to my second objective—the Poké Ball specialty shop.
Luxury Balls were displayed like rare collectibles, locked behind glass cases. Their sleek black-and-red design stood out from the standard Poké Balls stacked in bins nearby.
I glanced at the price tag.
Wow. Okay. That's steep.
Not unexpected, though. Luxury Balls were top-of-the-line. Pokémon who stayed in them grew friendlier with their trainers faster, feeling more at ease inside their Poké Balls. The comfort factor alone made them valuable.
Fortunately, money wasn't an issue. Brandon sent plenty home. He better—he's flying around in a pyramid.
Actually… Does that make me a nepo baby?
…Nah. No way. Having money makes things convenient, but I could handle all of this without it.
I overheard a trainer next to me debating their own purchase. A boy, maybe thirteen, holding up a Net Ball and a Dusk Ball.
"Which one's better for catching a Buizel?" he asked the clerk.
The worker gently smiled at him. "Net Ball will have a higher catch rate, but Dusk Ball works if you're out at night."
The boy thought about it, then grabbed the Net Ball. His partner, a small Starly on his shoulder, chirped in approval.
I glanced back at the Luxury Balls. This wasn't about catching Pokémon—it was about making the ones I already had more comfortable.
I placed my order. "Ten Luxury Balls."
The clerk retrieved the case, scanning my payment before handing them over. I opened the box and took out one of the glossy Poké Balls, feeling its smooth surface in my palm.
Perfect.
Once I got home, I'd transfer Torterra, Elekid, Chimchar, and Larvitar into these.
Luxury Balls would make them feel more at ease. For Elekid, Chimchar, and Larvitar, it'd help strengthen our bond faster. But for Torterra…
Of all my Pokémon, he deserves this the most.
For years, he'd been by my side, pushing through grueling training, never questioning my methods. Even when I was distant, he gave everything he had.
I owed him this.
I pocketed the Luxury Balls and walked out of the store, already planning my next move.
__________
With the Luxury Balls secured in my bag, I made my way back home.
As soon as I stepped inside, I wasted no time. I grabbed Chimchar, Elekid, Larvitar, and Torterra's Poké Balls from my belt, then one by one, released them into the open.
They all appeared before me—Chimchar stretching his arms, Elekid rolling his shoulders, Larvitar blinking up at me curiously, and Torterra standing tall, silent as always.
"I'm switching your Poké Balls," I told them simply. "Luxury Balls should be more comfortable. You'll rest easier inside them."
Chimchar tilted his head, Elekid just nodded, and Larvitar didn't seem to care either way. But Torterra… Torterra held my gaze for a moment longer before slowly lowering his head in understanding.
I stepped forward and tapped the capture button on their Poké Balls, recalling each of them in turn. Once the old Poké Balls were empty, I placed them aside and took out the new Luxury Balls.
I released them again.
There wasn't any grand reaction—Chimchar yawned, Elekid shook out his arms, Larvitar just stood there as if nothing had happened. But it wasn't about that. I wasn't expecting them to care much. This was just… something small I could do for them.
Torterra, though, was the only one who hadn't moved since being released. He watched me, his deep eyes calm and unreadable.
I hesitated for a second, then exhaled and stepped closer. "Torterra."
He blinked, waiting.
I ran a hand through my hair, unsure of how to start. Apologies weren't really Paul's thing, but…
"You've been with me since the beginning," I said finally. "Through everything."
He stayed quiet. He always did.
"I trained you hard. And you always took it, no matter what. You became the strongest Pokémon on my team because of it. But…" I exhaled. "I was never really there for you, was I?"
Torterra made a low rumbling sound, shifting his weight slightly.
"I should've been." My fingers curled into a fist. "You deserved more than just orders. More than just training. You deserved a real partner."
Torterra held my gaze, steady as ever.
"This isn't enough to make up for that. I know that." I tapped the Luxury Ball still in my hand. "But if there's one Pokémon on my team that deserves this, it's you."
A long silence stretched between us.
Then, slowly, Torterra closed his eyes and let out a deep breath through his nose, a slow, deliberate exhale.
Relief.
Acceptance.
I didn't need words to understand.
"…Thanks," I murmured.
He rumbled in response.
That was all.
I stepped back, glancing at the others. Elekid and Larvitar weren't paying much attention anymore, already chatting amongst themselves. Chimchar, on the other hand, had been watching the whole time. When I met his gaze, he grinned.
I rolled my eyes. "Mind your business."
He just laughed.
Maybe it wasn't much.
But it was something.
__________
With the Luxury Balls taken care of, it was time to confirm my team's natures for certain.
I grabbed the berries I had bought earlier—Spicy, Sour, Sweet, Dry, and Bitter—and laid them out.
Each Pokémon's nature would determine which flavors they liked and disliked. The flavor they liked corresponded to their boosted stat, and the one they disliked was their lowered stat.
I already had a strong idea of what Torterra and Elekid's natures were, but I wasn't about to make assumptions.
Torterra was up first. I offered him each berry, watching his reactions carefully.
Bitter Berry → Ate it without issue, made a noise of enjoyment too.
Spicy Berry → Paused, then shook his head slightly
Sweet Berry → Ate it, but slow to chew
Dry Berry → Took a bite, but hesitated before finishing
Sour Berry → Ate it, but seemed indifferent.
That confirmed it—he disliked Spicy(lowered Attack) but enjoyed Bitter (boosted Special Defense). That lined up with Calm exactly.
I nodded. Just as I thought.
Next, Elekid.
Spicy Berry → Ate it immediately, barely even chewed
Dry Berry → Sniffed it, then turned away
Bitter, Sour, Sweet → Ate them, but didn't react much
No surprises. He liked Spicy (Attack boost) and hated Dry (Special Attack drop). That confirmed Adamant.
Now for the real tests.
I turned to Chimchar, placing all five berries in front of him. He sniffed them quickly, barely pausing before making his choices.
Sweet Berry → Grabbed it first, devoured it immediately
Bitter Berry → Took a bite, flinched, and spat it out
Spicy, Dry, and Sour → Ate them, but without much reaction
I smirked. So he likes Sweet and hates Bitter…
That meant Speed was boosted, while Special Defense was lowered.
Naive.
Finally, Larvitar.
She was slower, more methodical in her approach. She sniffed each berry carefully before making her choices.
Bitter Berry → Ate it slowly, but seemed to enjoy it
Dry Berry → Sniffed it, then turned away completely
Spicy, Sour, Sweet→ Ate them, but didn't react much
I nodded to myself. She likes Bitter and dislikes Dry…
That meant Special Defense was boosted, but Special Attack was lowered.
Careful.
Just as I suspected.
With that, my team's natures were confirmed. Torterra (Calm), Elekid (Adamant), Chimchar (Naive), and Larvitar (Careful).
I had already factored these possibilities into my training plans, but now that I knew for sure, I could adjust things even further.
I glanced down at my Pokémon. Chimchar had already finished his berry and was licking his fingers, while Elekid looked like he wanted another one. Larvitar had settled back down, chewing her food at her usual slow pace.
Torterra, as always, was patient, watching the others with quiet amusement.
I crossed my arms. Good. Now I know exactly what I'm working with.
With this confirmed, I could move forward with training the way I intended.
__________
Author's Note:
These last few chapters have mostly been to introduce the mechanics of the setting from Paul's POV. Next chapter is when I'm going to start the events of the anime. Paul will be following a mix of mostly Platinum and some of the anime. The big events from the anime; like tournaments, movies, special episodes. I started writing this while playing a ROM hack of Platinum called Pokémon Renegade Platinum by Drayano. It's mostly the same as regular Platinum, but it's enhanced for a better experience; Harder battles, and bigger events.