Celadon City, public training grounds.
"Mr. Masuda, are you really sure you want to battle me?"
Ashu stood in the middle of the training grounds, holding his Butterfree in his arms, his face full of surprise.
Only yesterday, he had received a message from Shiraishi Ritsu asking whether he was interested in a friendly match.
At first, Ashu had thought the manga artist simply wanted someone to help gather material.
Only when Shiraishi Ritsu arrived at the training grounds with Smeargle and seriously proposed a one-on-one battle did he finally become certain.
Masuda Senbei really was going to command a Pokémon himself!
"Of course."
Shiraishi Ritsu smiled and rolled his shoulders.
"But let me say this first: Smeargle and I haven't taken part in an official battle in a long time. We might not even be as good as you."
"How could that be!"
Ashu hurriedly shook his head.
"You're the author of Pokémon Adventures! The tactics in your manga are so impressive. You must be really good at battling too, right?"
The corner of Shiraishi Ritsu's mouth twitched.
Did this kid have the wrong idea about me?
He did know quite a bit about Pokémon battles, but when it came to actual battle experience, he probably couldn't even match the rookie in front of him, who had only recently begun his journey.
As for Smeargle...
Shiraishi Ritsu looked down.
His partner was crouching at the edge of the field, studying Ashu's Butterfree with great interest.
"Smear!"
Smeargle extended its tail, imitating the way Butterfree flapped its wings.
Then it traced a few strokes in the air, seemingly working out a new battle storyboard.
Shiraishi Ritsu couldn't help putting a hand to his forehead.
"Partner, we're here to battle today. Could you put drawing manga aside for a moment?"
"Smear!"
Smeargle hurriedly lowered its tail and put on a very serious expression.
Watching this, Ashu couldn't help laughing.
"Mr. Masuda, can Smeargle really battle?"
"Of course!"
Shiraishi Ritsu answered without hesitation.
"It just learned Quick Attack a few days ago. It's been practicing lately."
"Quick Attack?"
Ashu's eyes lit up.
"So Smeargle can learn moves like that too!"
"It's a Pokémon that knows Sketch. Under the right conditions, it has a chance to learn other Pokémon's moves."
Shiraishi Ritsu reached out and patted Smeargle's head.
"Though it only knows Quick Attack right now, we should still be able to give an ordinary rookie Trainer a try."
"Smear!"
Smeargle proudly puffed out its chest.
It was already itching to try out its new ability.
After agreeing on the rules, the two soon took their places on opposite sides of the training field.
Since this was only a friendly exchange, they decided on a one-on-one format without any complicated match restrictions.
The match would end when either Pokémon could no longer battle or its Trainer conceded.
Several other Trainers were resting nearby.
Seeing that a battle was about to begin, they gathered around curiously.
"Huh? Isn't that Ashu, the one who competed in the rookie exchange tournament before?"
"Who's he facing?"
"Looks like a Trainer with a Smeargle."
"Smeargle?"
One of the boys couldn't help laughing.
"You can use a Pokémon like that in battle?"
Someone beside him shook their head.
"Don't underestimate Smeargle. It knows Sketch."
"But it'd have to learn some powerful moves first, wouldn't it?"
They all began discussing it.
Shiraishi Ritsu didn't mind.
After all, when he had first seen Smeargle, he had also fantasized about sweeping through Gyms with Sketch.
Reality had soon dealt him a heavy blow.
Now he knew better.
Meals had to be eaten one bite at a time, and training had to proceed one step at a time too.
"Are you ready?"
Ashu called out.
"Ready!"
"Then, Butterfree, I'm counting on you!"
"Free!"
Butterfree fluttered its wings and flew lightly to the center of the field.
Shiraishi Ritsu nodded to his partner beside him.
"Smeargle, you're up!"
"Smear!"
Smeargle eagerly ran onto the field and stood opposite Butterfree.
The two sized each other up for a moment.
Butterfree clearly recognized the Smeargle before it.
After all, just a few days ago, it had watched Smeargle draw its portrait at the training grounds.
"Free?"
Butterfree tilted its head.
Smeargle gave it a very friendly wave of its paw.
"Smear!"
Shiraishi Ritsu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Hey, hey, partner! We're in a match right now!"
"Smear!"
Only then did Smeargle catch on. It hurriedly lowered its body and took a fighting stance.
Ashu couldn't help laughing either.
"Mr. Masuda, I'll make the first move, then!"
"Bring it on!"
"Butterfree, use Gust!"
At the command, Butterfree immediately beat its wings.
A strong wind blew straight toward Smeargle.
"Smeargle, dodge to the side!"
Smeargle quickly ran to the right.
But it lacked actual battle experience. After only a few steps, the air currents swept over it, making it lose its footing.
"Smear?!"
Smack!
It landed on its backside.
The watching Trainers immediately burst out laughing.
"Haha! That Smeargle is so clumsy!"
"Doesn't look like it gets much training!"
The corner of Shiraishi Ritsu's mouth twitched slightly.
Partner!
You observe movement so accurately when you're drawing manga. Why can't you keep up when it's your turn to dodge an attack?
Still, he quickly collected himself.
"Don't rush. Get up first!"
"Smear!"
Smeargle quickly scrambled up and shook its head.
"Butterfree, use Gust again!"
Ashu didn't let the opportunity slip.
Butterfree beat its wings again.
This time, Shiraishi Ritsu noticed its movements in advance.
"Smeargle, left! Wait until its wings come down before moving!"
"Smear!"
Following his instructions, Smeargle changed direction in time.
Whoosh!
The air currents swept past, brushing its body.
Though its tail was blown from side to side, it had at least managed to avoid the direct attack.
"Beautiful!"
Shiraishi Ritsu's eyes lit up.
"That's it!"
Ashu was a little surprised.
"You adapted that quickly?"
"Hehe, we didn't come completely unprepared, after all."
Shiraishi Ritsu smiled.
A few days earlier, he and Smeargle had specifically observed Pidgeotto's Quick Attack.
To help Smeargle adapt to high-speed movement, he had also arranged quite a few reaction drills.
Though they hadn't trained for long, it had still helped somewhat.
"Now it's our turn!"
Shiraishi Ritsu raised his hand.
"Smeargle, use Quick Attack!"
"Smear!"
Smeargle abruptly lowered its body, then shot forward.
It moved much faster than an ordinary run, closing in on Butterfree in the blink of an eye.
Ashu hurriedly shouted, "Butterfree, fly higher!"
"Free!"
Butterfree immediately flew upward.
Smeargle's attack skimmed beneath it and missed.
Moreover, having charged too fast, Smeargle nearly failed to stop in time.
"Smear?!"
It hurriedly stretched out its paws, barely managing to steady itself.
Shiraishi Ritsu watched helplessly.
Though his partner had learned Quick Attack, its control clearly still needed improvement.
"Don't rush to use it over and over. Get a clear look at your opponent's position first!"
Smeargle nodded firmly.
Meanwhile, Ashu gradually calmed down too.
He watched Smeargle's movements and began thinking carefully.
Mr. Masuda had said before that Pokémon battles weren't just about attacking. You also had to adjust your tactics according to your opponent's actions.
Since Smeargle was good at moving quickly on the ground, he would restrict its movement!
"Butterfree, use String Shot!"
"Free!"
Butterfree opened its mouth, and a strand of white silk shot toward the ground.
Smeargle hurriedly backed away.
But Butterfree didn't stop attacking. The strands it spat out in succession landed around Smeargle, gradually limiting its room to move.
"Smear!"
Smeargle spun in place in a panic.
Shiraishi Ritsu watched, his brow furrowing slightly.
"This Ashu really is improving fast."
When the boy had taken part in the rookie exchange tournament a few days ago, he had still been blindly copying tactics from manga.
Now he had actually learned to choose moves to suit different opponents.
His tactics were still simple, but he really was starting to think for himself.
"Smeargle, stop running around!"
Shiraishi Ritsu hurriedly called out a reminder.
"Watch your step! Rush out through that gap on the right!"
Smeargle looked down.
Sure enough, there was still a gap between several strands of silk that he could pass through.
He immediately used Quick Attack, charging out along that route.
"It worked!"
Shiraishi Ritsu had only just breathed a sigh of relief when he realized something was wrong.
Butterfree had already flown ahead of Smeargle.
"Now! Butterfree, use Gust!"
Ashu shouted excitedly.
Whoosh!
A powerful current of air blasted straight toward him.
Smeargle had just finished his dash and had no time to adjust his stance before he was sent tumbling backward.
Thud!
He hit the ground hard.
"Smeargle!"
Shiraishi Ritsu's expression changed.
Smeargle struggled to his feet and shook his head.
Although he was still able to battle, he had clearly used up quite a bit of stamina.
"Smear..."
He looked down at his paws, looking somewhat dejected.
Shiraishi Ritsu realized the problem too.
He had kept having Smeargle use Quick Attack, but Smeargle's current stamina simply could not sustain too many high-speed dashes.
If they kept fighting like this, Smeargle would probably collapse from exhaustion before his opponent even needed to attack again.
"Partner!"
Shiraishi Ritsu suddenly called out.
"Rest for a moment and steady your breathing!"
"Smear?"
"Don't rush! We still have a chance!"
Smeargle looked at his Trainer.
Shiraishi Ritsu smiled at him.
"When you're drawing manga, isn't observing Pokémon's movements what you do best?"
"It's the same now!"
"Watch Butterfree's wings closely and work out which way it's about to fly!"
Smeargle froze for a moment.
Then he slowly raised his head and focused his attention on Butterfree.
That's right.
Observe its movements.
That was what he did best!
When drawing Pokémon battle scenes, Smeargle often studied the movement habits of different Pokémon.
Flying Pokémon in particular.
When they turned, accelerated, or descended, the positions of their wings and bodies would change.
Those details had only served as drawing references before.
Now they had become clues for predicting his opponent's actions.
"Butterfree, use Gust again!"
Ashu gave the command.
Butterfree began flapping its wings.
Smeargle watched it intently, then suddenly moved to the left.
Whoosh!
The current of air swept past again.
This time, Smeargle successfully dodged most of the attack.
"Good!"
Shiraishi Ritsu immediately seized the opportunity.
"Wait for it to descend!"
Seeing that Gust had failed, Ashu hurriedly changed tactics.
"Butterfree, use Stun Spore!"
Butterfree adjusted its position and began flying forward and downward.
Shiraishi Ritsu's eyes lit up. Here was their chance!