Trained- Raticate's Tale
I crawl into my corner, and lie down on a small blanket. It's not much,
but it's more than I used to have. I'm sure you've seen them. The 'junior
trainers'. The little boys who always have a Rattata. Do you know how
they catch those Rattata? They don't. Not the 'right way' at least. They
usually win them at games at carnivals, or buy them from street vendors.
Then they battle each other, trying to see who has the stronger Rattata.
One of them will win, and get cocky. Then, a travelling trainer or gym
leader will beat them with a different pokèmon. Usually an elemental
one. Happened to me...
"Rattata, go!"
I show teeth. Growl. Battle time. Yellow rat. Sparklies. Claw-bite-claw.
Not work. Missed. Bright light. Hurting. Blackness. Pain.
"Wake up you stupid mouse!"
Open eyes. Trainer. Billy mad. Not good. Why Billy mad? Oh. I failed.
Lost fight. What now? Not matter. Billy love me. He not hurt me.
"Excuse me young man..."
Billy look at voice. Lady yellow hair.
"Would you be interested in selling that pokémon?"
Selling? Billy not sell me. He love me.
"You can have it! It's worthless."
What? But Billy love me! Lady yellow hair take my redwhite ball. Billy walk
away. But Billy love me! Redwhite ball open. Light pulls me. I wait. Later,
lady yellow hair open redwhite ball. I battle. Tail-claw-tail-bite. Now I win.
Go back. Battle again. Tail-claw-bite. Win. Battle again. See yellow rat.
Not same. Look at yellow rat trainer. Billy? But Billy loves me. Loves me.
Loves me?
"Hey, what's with the rat?"
Bright light. I change. I am stronger now. I speak, and look around. There
is a pikachu below me. It's trainer stands a few paces behind it. Memories
of being kicked and screamed at flash through my mind. Always
accompanied by a face. I scream, and leap at the trainer. He tries to run,
but I am faster now. I am strong, and he is weak. I scratch him once,
across the face. I am not a trainer. I do not do more than is nessecary. My
attack will leave a scar. That is punishment enough. My trainer walks to
him, takes his redwhite balls, and recalls me. I wake up later. My trainer is
in front of me.
"You did a good job today."
She pets me, and motions to a small blanket.
"You can go to sleep now. Goodnight Raticate."
Over the next few days, there are no battles. I stay in the room, or follow
my trainer. She treats me well. When I was a Rattata, I could not tell the
difference. But I am strong now. And I thank her. Every night. Every morning.
I thank you, Cassidy.
I crawl into my corner, and lie down on a small blanket. It's not much,
but it's more than I used to have. I'm sure you've seen them. The 'junior
trainers'. The little boys who always have a Rattata. Do you know how
they catch those Rattata? They don't. Not the 'right way' at least. They
usually win them at games at carnivals, or buy them from street vendors.
Then they battle each other, trying to see who has the stronger Rattata.
One of them will win, and get cocky. Then, a travelling trainer or gym
leader will beat them with a different pokèmon. Usually an elemental
one. Happened to me...
"Rattata, go!"
I show teeth. Growl. Battle time. Yellow rat. Sparklies. Claw-bite-claw.
Not work. Missed. Bright light. Hurting. Blackness. Pain.
"Wake up you stupid mouse!"
Open eyes. Trainer. Billy mad. Not good. Why Billy mad? Oh. I failed.
Lost fight. What now? Not matter. Billy love me. He not hurt me.
"Excuse me young man..."
Billy look at voice. Lady yellow hair.
"Would you be interested in selling that pokémon?"
Selling? Billy not sell me. He love me.
"You can have it! It's worthless."
What? But Billy love me! Lady yellow hair take my redwhite ball. Billy walk
away. But Billy love me! Redwhite ball open. Light pulls me. I wait. Later,
lady yellow hair open redwhite ball. I battle. Tail-claw-tail-bite. Now I win.
Go back. Battle again. Tail-claw-bite. Win. Battle again. See yellow rat.
Not same. Look at yellow rat trainer. Billy? But Billy loves me. Loves me.
Loves me?
"Hey, what's with the rat?"
Bright light. I change. I am stronger now. I speak, and look around. There
is a pikachu below me. It's trainer stands a few paces behind it. Memories
of being kicked and screamed at flash through my mind. Always
accompanied by a face. I scream, and leap at the trainer. He tries to run,
but I am faster now. I am strong, and he is weak. I scratch him once,
across the face. I am not a trainer. I do not do more than is nessecary. My
attack will leave a scar. That is punishment enough. My trainer walks to
him, takes his redwhite balls, and recalls me. I wake up later. My trainer is
in front of me.
"You did a good job today."
She pets me, and motions to a small blanket.
"You can go to sleep now. Goodnight Raticate."
Over the next few days, there are no battles. I stay in the room, or follow
my trainer. She treats me well. When I was a Rattata, I could not tell the
difference. But I am strong now. And I thank her. Every night. Every morning.
I thank you, Cassidy.