A Hard Lesson [move tutor/exp]

[EspaApparition]

Max walked in to the Training Area, it was a small centre in the battle arena but it was stocked with all manner of equipment. A large obstacle course composing of various jumps, tunnels, hoops, see-saws and targets took up one side of the area. On the other side there was an area with several different training dummies and moving targets. Across the centre Max could see a large swimming pool, perfect for training water types.

At his side stood Kokoro, Max's ralts; Kokoro was a shy pokemon who would much rather be sitting in the shade reading. Max was insistent that Kokoro should get some battle practice though, the intelligent ralts was very good at strategy but lacked experience. They'd come here so he could learn a new move, ideal for taking on the gym at Featherwing City. The warm day would make learning this particular move all the more difficult, however.

Max and Kokoro strode across the centre to a large open area of grass and the trainer smiled down at his pokemon, "Are you ready?" Kokoro nodded. "Okay, we're going to learn icy wind today," Max smiled, trying to be optimistic, it would be a hard move for ralts to learn but he'd heard of other ralts managing the technique. Max had read several articles and instruction books on move tutoring so he knew the theory behind ralts' use of the move. In practice it wasn't likely to be that easy.

Max recalled the information he'd read and tried to explain to Kokoro how he could produce an ice move. "Kokoro, start by using your horns to sense the emotion in this area," the ralts focused on his horns, searching for emotions. "Now, look for the emotions inside yourself," Kokoro looked inwards sensing the layers of happiness, worry and nerves. "Okay, try taking some of that emotion away, absorb it into the horns on your head."

Kokoro's concentration broke and he looked up, confused at what Max meant or how he would be able to do such a thing. Max smiled, expecting this, "You can do it, just look for the emotions and slowly take them away, move them up into your horns." Kokoro closed his eyes, hidden beneath the green membrane on his head and concentrated. He could, once again, sense the emotions inside him and he reached out. Taking hold of a piece he pulled it free, a small ball of emotion that, to him, sparkled blue and pink and purple as he moved it. Kokoro moved this small piece of emotion into the horns, storing it there. He opened his eyes and laughed happily.

Max breathed out in relief, that was one of the harder parts, "well done, Kokoro!" He thought back to the next part of the instruction, "now, you have to move bigger pieces, move all of the emotion out into your horns." Kokoro, more confident now, closed his eyes again and looked inwards, he pulled off bigger pieces, cupping them as he moved them upwards. He was doing well but as the emotion in his body grew smaller it put up a greater resistance. He pulled hard on one piece that just wouldn't come free, his forehead crinkled as he grew frustrated. As soon as the frustration built he felt the emotions returned to his body, layers of frustration, confusion and annoyance.

Max sighed when Kokoro opened his eyes and shook his head, "you can do it, just relax and try again." Time and time again Kokoro tried to move the pieces of emotion out of his body but it was very hard and each time he got frustrated.

Kokoro inhaled and forced his mind to still and relax as he reached in to sense his emotions. This time Kokoro forced himself to calm down and slowly moved the pieces of emotion out of his body and into his horns. He moved more of it this time and felt his insides start to go cold, he shivered, tugging to move one of the last pieces of emotion. With a great deal of will power he moved the final piece.

Max saw him shivering and knew he'd managed it, "now Kokoro, breathe out with all the power you can." The ralts exhaled and his breath came out in a gust, it was cold and a few ice crystals glittered in the breath. Max grinned he couldn't believe Kokoro had managed the beginnings of icy wind after just a few hours. The ice crystals melted quickly in the warm sun but Max knew Kokoro could do a stronger icy wind.

"Okay, try it again but this time move all of the emotion in one quick fluid motion." Again, Kokoro inhaled and made his mind go still, he grabbed hold of the emotions and pulled hard in one quick motion like tearing off a plaster. Instantly he felt freezing cold, knowing what to do Kokoro breathed out hard using his mental power to support the breath. This time there were many more ice crystals and the wind seemed more powerful. As Kokoro supported the icy wind with his mental powers the crystals took much longer to melt in the sun.

Max laughed, bending down to speak to his pokemon, "well done, you did it!" Kokoro spun around in a dancing motion, delighted at the icy wind he'd produced. Max straightened up and spotted the targets at one side of the training area, "let's try your target practice, Kokoro." The pair headed over to the targets, They stood on poles impaled on the ground and were at different heights. Next to them was a machine which threw up moving targets into the air.

"We'll use the still targets first," Max decided, try the one on the far left. Kokoro aimed towards the target and breathed in, he made his insides go cold before he breathed out hard. The wind sparkled with ice crystals and coated the target in ice crystals, nearly freezing it. "Well done Koko, now try hitting them one at a time from right to left. Just breathe out a little to hit each target." Kokoro breathed in deeply before breathing out in quick bursts. The Ralts hit all but two targets perfectly but he was determined to hit them all. Koko tried again and again, getting quicker and quicker. Evenutally all of the targets were frozen and glittered with ice crystals.

"Now try hitting them all at once," Max instructed, Kokoro looked at the targets, they were spread out and it would be hard to hit every target in one breath of icy wind. He tried repeatedly but couldn't get the attack to hit the targets on the far left and far right. "Use your psychic powers to direct the wind, spread it out and push it forwards, Koko." With this advice Koko breathed out another icy wind before using his mental powers to push the wind forwards and out, hitting every target with a hard gust of wind.

It was starting to get dark and Kokoro was starting to get tired but Max thought it was important to practice on moving targets. Max set the machine up to send our flying discs. As the first disc was sent out Koko breathed out a small gust of wind, as it hit the disc it shattered. Again and again the discs were sent out and each time Koko hit the disc with a powerful gust of icy wind.

Night was falling and Kokoro was getting tired. He breathed out and sat down hard, Max sat down beside him and smiled, "you did really well today, you've learned so much." If Koko could master this move then it would become much easier to win the gym badge at Featherwing City. As night fell Max decided it was time to find a pokemon centre to rest, he returned Koko to his pokeball and headed out of the training centre. It had been a long day.

I'm so sorry about how long it is.

[/justify]

[KITTYWHISKERS]

Length is more than fine here!

CONGRATULATIONS!
Kokoro has learnt ICY WIND!
& Kokoro has gained 1.5 LVLs!