A few hours had passed since Hiromi and Jason departed from Jubilife City. The two were heading down Route 203 at a leisurely pace.

"So, would you like to start training your Shinx?" Hiromi inquired as she held tight to his hand.

"Sure, we have a few days to kill. Why not?" Jason replied, snapping off Shinx's ball and releasing him.

Shinx appeared in a flash of light, already in his battle stance. But when he saw no opposition, he was confused.

"Shinx?" The cub stated with a baffled expression.

With a giggle, Hiromi released her Luxray next to Shinx, startling him. Lux stared down at the cub and then looked back at Hiromi.

"So you finally release me? Arceus Hiromi, I was starting to feel like you didn't love me anymore," Lux stated with a smirk.

"Hey! I do so love you. I just don't like it when you steal my food," Hiromi quipped,  sticking out her tongue.

"Killjoy," Lux retorted, getting a slight laugh out of Shinx.

"Something funny little one?" Lux remarked, causing Shinx to shake his head.

"Play nice Lux, we're helping Jason's Shinx learn a few new moves," Hiromi chortled.

Jason nodded as Lux looked his way. Lux turned back to her first stage evolution and gave a sly grin before pacing him, her tail brushing under his chin.

"Really? And what are we teaching the little cub?" Lux asked, causing Shinx to look warily at his trainer. However, Jason gave a reassuring smile, setting Shinx at ease.

"Iron Tail and Ice Fang. Jason has a gym match coming up and he is up against Rock-types. We know how pesky they can be," Hiromi declared.

"I think I can help with that, if the cub thinks he can handle it. What say you, cub?" Lux asked Shinx.

Shinx thought for a moment, though it didn't take long for him to realize that it would make him much stronger. He would do it, not just for himself, but for Jason.

"I'll do it," Shinx stated, nodding to Jason.

Although Jason couldn't hear anything but the name, he understood the motion clearly and heard the determination in his voice. A small smile crossed Jason's face.

"Looks like it's settled! Shinx said yes," Hiromi exclaimed excitedly.

"I could tell. I may not be able to understand them like you, but tone of voice and signals are always easy to read. So, how will this work?" Jason queried.

"Glad you asked! Lux will do the training. You see, we can't exactly teach them the move ourselves. They need to learn from other Pokémon if they truly wish to develop the move to its potential. So we aren't going to do anything but sit back and watch," Hiromi chimed.

But she...never mind, Jason thought, nodding to what she had just said.

"I guess we can grab a seat and see how things play out huh?" Jason mused.

"Yep, that way, you and I can talk for a while," Hiromi beamed.

"About what?" Jason asked, sweat-dropping at the notion.

"Just anything really. It's been a while since I have had anyone else to talk to besides Lux," Hiromi replied.

"And whose fault is that?" Lux quippex while keeping an eye on Shinx.

"Oh hush you!" Hiromi shot back playfully.

Lux simply rolled her eyes and turned back to Shinx.

"Okay, judging by what I see so far, you have been through a few battles. The one where you were caught...and if I am not mistaken," Lux paused, sniffing Shinx a bit before continuing, "a Water-type. Piplup actually," Lux finished.

"Yeah. It was pretty well trained. But not too hard to handle, unlike Jason's Turtwig," Shinx stated firmly.

"As to be expected. They are known to be quite difficult to take down. But that is where I come in. According to my trainer, you have a gym battle against Rock-types. And I have just what you need to win," Lux said proudly.

Before Shinx could ask how Lux, an Electric-type, could defeat a Rock-type, she had walked over to a nearby large rock and braced herself. She concentrated deeply, calling upon a power foreign to her type but familiar to her body. An icy aura appeared around her teeth and she lunged at the rock, biting down and freezing it.

Her tail soon began to take on a steel-like appearance, shimmering as the power thrummed within. She soon swung and slashed clean through the rock, causing the top half to explode into the air. Without missing a beat she lashed out at the top half of the rock as it came down, with deadly precision and crushed it to bits.

Jason blinked as he witnessed how strong Lux was. Hiromi simply smirked at Lux and her showboating. She could feel every movement. Lux simply licked her paws and looked back at a now stunned Shinx.

"Too much for you, cub?" Lux inquired.

Shinx shook his head and gave her a determined stare. "No. I can do it."

Lux gave Shinx a wry grin before stepping back to watch Shinx work. The thunder cub made his way over to another rock and mimicked what he saw Lux do. He braced himself and tried to reach for the power. Sparks flew from his tail, and using that energy he swung hard. His tail hit the rock but it only bounced off, sending a bit of a jolt through him.

"Try again. You're reaching for your electric aura. You can't create iron like that," Lux said sternly.

"Sorry, I'll try again," Shinx replied.

Lux nodded and stepped back to observe. Shinx closed his eyes and focused on the task. He focused on his tail. He needed it to be hard as steel. But how could he do that? He was born to control electricity, not something that conducts it. Shaking off that thought, he tried again. His tail crackled more this time and again he swung, and again the result was the same. Lux shook her head. This was going to be a long day.

"Still doing it wrong," Lux stated, getting an irritated stare from Shinx as he rammed his tail into the rock again, sprawling backward from it.

"I know that," Shinx replied curtly, attempting the attack a fourth time, ad failing.

"Did you not understand what I said. Don't reach for your element, it won't help," Lux retorted.

"Well," Shinx replied, his tail thwacking the rock again, "maybe you would like to tell me how to reach for something that isn't there."

"Are you sassing me?" Lux asked with a raised brow.

X-X-X

"So Jason," Hiromi began, keeping her senses focused on the training at and, "how does it feel being a trainer?"

Jason paused, considering what he would say beforehand. "It's better than I hoped. Honestly I wish I had done this sooner."

"Some people start out really young. Lux and I have been together since I was fifteen. Her and I have some history," Hiromi laughed.

"I had a feeling. She's so strong. Must be all the training you did with her," Jason replied.

"Yep! We worked hard. Which is why she is the best teacher for your Shinx," Hiromi chimed.

"Yeah...but it looks like Shinx is getting a bit frustrated. He's not getting it," Jason replied with a sigh.

"I know, but he will. Lux took a while to learn it too. But when she did, she perfected it until it became second nature to her," Hiromi smiled.

"Besides, Shinx seems determined. I think he will learn it quick enough. Just give him time," Hiromi said with a smile.

"Yeah, you're right. I shouldn't worry," Jason replied.

"That's the spirit!" Hiromi chirped.

X-X-X

Shinx was beginning to tire out. He had swung his tail at the rock numerous times and gotten the same result. The sun was beginning to set.

"I think that's enough for one day, cub,"Lux started, "anymore of that and your tail won't be functional."

Shinx slumped down onto the ground and sulked. "Why can't I get it? I tried at least a hundred times."

"Four hundred and fifty two to be precise," Lux informed.

"You counted?" Shinx sweat-dropped.

"I was bored," Lux responded.

"So you just watched me fail over four hundred times?"

"Don't think of them as failures cub." Lux circled Shinx. "Think of it like you just found four hundred and fifty two ways not to do something."

Shinx let this sink in. Even though Lux could have ridiculed him, she chose not to. Instead, she gave him a new pointof view.

"Tell you what. Why don't we get some rest, and then we can pick tbis up in the morning?" Lux stated, getting a nod from Shinx.

With that, the two made their way back to their respective owners and plopped down next to them.

"We should probably set up camp huh?" Jason suggested, giving Shinx a pat on the head.

"Sure, I have my sleeping bag. Let's get some rest. Though I am certain that these two are more tired than we are," Hiromi sniggered, getting a huff from Lux.

Jason smiled softly and shook his head. This was turning out to be a strange journey. But he had a feeling that he was going to enjoy it thoroughly. After a while, he and Hiromi were fast asleep, Shinx and Lux curled up near them.
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A/N: Shinx has finally begun his training. He certainly exhausted himself didn't he? Can't blame him for trying though, right? Right.