Rustboro City, Hoenn Region
Wally, Aspiring Trainer.
Wally squinted at the floating lens of Tinker, who was zipping around trying to find an angle for better lighting.
Their last stream hadn't gone exactly as planned, Tinker had sulked for an hour afterward, muttering about "tragic backlighting" and "criminal tripod placement."
Now, the Electric-type was treating the morning sun like his nemesis.
"Tinker," Wally said gently, crouching to adjust the tripod he'd wedged into a mossy patch, "the sun's not going to move just because you glare at it."
Tinker buzzed indignantly. "It should," he huffed. "For aesthetic reasons."
Wally chuckled. "We'll get your perfect lighting someday. Today, we settle for visible faces."
He tapped the screen. "We're livestreaming training, not auditioning for a Pokéstar Studios short."
Livestreaming.
It hadn't exactly been a calculated decision, more like a desperate one. But it served a greater cause.
The cause being?
His mom.
She'd been firmly, passionately, relentlessly against him going on a journey. If he even mentioned the very thought, she would go haywire.
Fortunately, with the power of tears, his uncle's reassurance, and his very own guarantee to take care of his health. He was finally free.
Well, with conditions.
She still wanted proof. Regular updates. Visual confirmation that her son was eating, breathing, and not dead in a ditch somewhere.
So, Wally had come up with a compromise: livestreaming.
It reassured his mom, kept his sister in the loop, and hey, if people liked his content? Maybe it'd even help cover Pokéblocks and train tickets.
Perfect.
"Alright, going live."
"Going live in 3… 2… 1! 🎉"
With a pop and a burst of static confetti, the livestream started.
On-screen, Wally's face came into view, soft-eyed, hair windswept, and smiling warmly. Behind him, Briar practiced rhythmic Magical Leaf patterns in the open field while Alice hovered meditatively, arms folded and utterly still. Pearl swam gentle loops in her portable tank.
[LIVE: 10 Viewers]
[TinkerTime: LIVE – "Pre-Gym Training!"]
"Hi everyone," Wally greeted with a small wave. "Welcome back. I know it's kind of early, but I wanted to check in."
[Chat]
[WandaSings]: YOU LOOK LIKE YOU HAVEN'T SLEPT
[MomDotCom]: His socks are dry this time!
[Guitarist Kirk]: Yo!
[PokeBlockChef9]: Is Pearl eating the citrus blend now or still berry-only?[PetalPunk]: BRIAR MY FLOWER QUEEN I MISSED HER
[Whirlwind_Girl]: ALICE, you are so pretty.
[NewFan321]: who's alice
Wally blinked, then laughed softly. "Okay, slow down. Questions, I got this. Pearl's now up to citrus and mild spicy blends. We've got her on daily grooming and hydration routines." He panned the camera to the Feebas, who blinked shyly at the attention and quickly tried to hide behind a decorative rock.
"Alice," he pointed the camera at the elegant, shiny Kirlia now floating beside him,"is my oldest partner. She's not very chatty, but she's brilliant. She's also a shiny."
[Chat]
[NewFan321]: whaaaat she's so pretty
[GymNerd42]: female shiny kirlia... 1/8000 odds. insane.
[MomDotCom]: She's perfect.
[WandaSings]: Better hair than Wally
"Tinker, remind me to set my hair next time," Wally muttered.
Tinker crackled. "Noted."
Wally chuckled, repositioning the camera as Briar unleashed a near-perfect Leech Seed combo, her petals fluttering.
"Briar's been helping Pearl with dodging practice too," he said, pointing to the Roselia. "She's actually the serious one on the team."
[PetalPunk]: AS SHE SHOULD BE
[PokeBlockChef9]: Love how she just bows after every hit
[FloraFury]: any new Pokéblock recipes?
"Yeah, I posted a new video last week, Spicy-Dry blend for elegance and power," Wally nodded. "We've also got a behind-the-scenes Pokéblock blooper reel. Spoiler: it ends with my sleeve on fire."
[TinkerFan69]: yesss chaotic chef content
[NewFan321]: can we see a battle today??
Wally shook his head. "Today's all about prep. Tomorrow I'm taking on Rustboro Gym. Her stronger team."
[Chat]
[GymNerd42]: Roxanne's fossil combo is cracked. You sure you wanna do that?[WandaSings]: You just like scaring me
[CoolTrainerCaleb]: Go big or go home!
[PetalPunk]: You HAVE to stream it
Wally hesitated for a beat, glancing back at his team, Pearl doing little confidence circles in her tank, Briar polishing her leaves, and Alice as usual staring at him.
He smiled.
"Alright," he said. "I'll stream the battle. Tomorrow morning. Win or lose."
[FloraFury]: LET'S GOOOO
[MomDotCom]: ...I'll be there.
[GymNerd42]: make sure you stock potions this time
[WallyFan2025]: can't wait, your team is so unique man
[WandaSings]: try not to lose and if you do lose, don't cry
[WallyFan2025]: No, crying's the best part
Wally rubbed the back of his neck. "You're all awful," he said gently. "I love you anyway."
[TinkerFan69]: host moment
[MomDotCom]: Take care, baby
[PetalPunk]: me too baby
Tinker added a little "awwwww" jingle in the background.
Wally stretched, stood up, and lifted the camera to frame the whole field behind him. "Alright, I'm logging off. We'll go over battle strategy tonight, maybe do a moveset breakdown video."
He waved. "See you all tomorrow. First badge's coming. Wish us luck."
[Stream Ended.]
Tinker blinked back to standby, humming happily. "Audience retention up 12% from last time. Also your mom just DM'd me a picture of Pearl wearing a bow."
Wally smiled. "Guess I really am doing this."
Tomorrow, they begin their journey.
...
Rustboro City, Hoenn RegionJulian, Graduate of the Rustboro Trainer Institute
Julian wasn't used to losing.
Especially, not in front of a crowd, and definitely not to a guy who introduced himself with "I sort of made it up from books."
And yet, here he was, waiting at the front lobby of Rustboro Trainer Institute, checking the time for the third time, and fighting the urge to fidget.
It wasn't bitterness. Not really.
There was something about Wally that stuck with him. The way he battled. Sharp, Surgical, and deceptively calm, as if he hadn't just knocked down Rustboro's sponsored favorite.
Julian wasn't sure if it annoyed him or impressed him more.
Probably both.
Soon, he caught the sound of approaching footsteps just as the glass doors slid open.
Wally stepped in, bag slung across one shoulder, and that strange Rotom-dex hovering behind him.
"Hope I'm not late," Wally said. "Tinker got distracted by a mailbox."
The Rotom gave a spark. "It was suspiciously rectangular."
Julian laughed, stepping forward. "You're fine. I figured you'd want a tour. Show you where we train the next generation of protégés."
"Lead the way," Wally said, smiling.
They passed through the clean, tiled corridors of the Trainer Institute, walls lined with framed league photos, fossils behind glass, and pokédex posters a year out of date.
Julian walked with pride. This place had shaped him. He still ran mock drills here when he had time between Gym duties.
"Still think about our match?" Julian asked as they passed the strategy classroom.
Wally gave a soft shrug. "Sometimes. Mostly I think about how many ways that battle could've gone wrong."
Julian shot him a look. "You won."
"Doesn't mean I don't run simulations in my head anyway."
"Yeah, you're definitely a book kid."
"Now, it's just pot calling the kettle black," Wally answered with a grin.
They turned a corner, and a classroom door burst open beside them.
A horde of young students in orange training vests spilled into the hall. One kid pointed immediately.
"Hey, hey, Julian!" he shouted. "Is that him?!"
A girl with a clipboard grinned. "Is he the one who beat you?"
Julian raised both hands. "Alright, slow down."
The kids circled them like Pidgey around breadcrumbs. Wally blinked, suddenly the center of a miniature fan club.
"He doesn't look very strong," said one boy, squinting.
"Looks like a librarian," another added.
Julian exhaled, putting a hand on Wally's shoulder. "Everyone, yes, this is Wally. Yes, he beat me. No, I don't want to talk about it."
Wally raised a hand, sheepish. "Hi."
"Can you teach us how to beat Julian too?" asked a kid with a crooked hat.
"Absolutely not," Julian said firmly.
Just then, a familiar voice echoed from further down the hall. "Julian. You're attracting a crowd again."
Roxanne emerged from a side door, clipboard in hand, eyes flicking to the gathered students and the two boys at the center.
She gave a brisk nod to Julian. Then she turned to Wally.
"And you are…?"
Julian gestured. "Leader Roxanne, this is Wally. Trainer from Mauville. Sponsored. And, incidentally, the person who served me my first defeat this quarter."
Roxanne blinked once. Then again.
"Ah. That Wally."
Wally gave a polite bow. "Nice to meet you, ma'am."
Roxanne's eyes narrowed with subtle curiosity. "You don't look the part."
"I get that a lot."
Julian coughed. "He is quite strong."
"Well," Roxanne said slowly, adjusting her glasses, "I had planned to give you the standard team, but if you're one of Mauville's new sponsored trainers…"
"I'd like to face your advanced team," Wally said. "If that's alright."
Roxanne gave him a long look, then nodded. "It's customary for sponsored challengers. And I'm curious to see what else you've got up your sleeve."
She tapped her clipboard, scribbled something. "I'd also like permission to record the battle. Our upper-level students could learn a lot from it."
Wally blinked. "Sure. And, um, if it's okay... I'd like to livestream it too. Partly for my mom."
"Is she a fan of Gym battles?" Roxanne asked dryly.
"She's a fan of making sure I'm not dead," Wally said. "We made a deal before I left Verdanturf. I stream, she sleeps at night."
Roxanne chuckled softly. "Reasonable. You have my permission, as long as the stream doesn't disrupt the battle or affect visibility."
"Thank you."
Julian watched the exchange with mild disbelief. Roxanne hadn't smiled that much at him in a month.
As the Gym Leader turned to go, clipboard tucked under her arm, the students around them began whispering furiously again, already speculating about what Wally's team might be, what tricks he'd use next.
Julian leaned over. "You realize she's probably going to use Cradily now, right?"
"I was hoping she would," Wally said.
Julian exhaled. "You're a menace."
Wally grinned, warm and quiet. "Only when I need to be."
...
Thanks for reading~
Livestream probably not gonna be a major part of the story. Next time, gym battle.
Leave a review at your leisure.