{Approx. 8 years ago}
The next day, I did my usual training with Sensei. Near the end, I mentioned how my head felt woozy after using my telepathy to make a connection to Treecko.
[Hm, so there does seem to be other limits,] he said. [Distance is a factor. Did the resulting connection feel any different when it worked?]
[Not that I recall,] I shrugged.
[I see. You did mention that you could hear the other's thoughts during your attempts. How many were watching you?]
[Five.]
[I see…] He looked behind him. Astra, Crest, Gardna, and Primrose were present. They were part of my training today. [You four; I'd like to test one more thing with Will.] He waited for them to come closer. Primrose eagerly claimed her perch on my shoulder. [Will, do you feel your telepathic connection to all five of us? Without even trying to communicate?]
[I do.] It still felt like a slight hum of sorts. But no particular pain came from it.
[Alright. Then…Blindswipe, Nightraider, Knave, come here.] He projected that last part of his thoughts. In a few minutes, the three joined us. Sensei cleared his throat. [Alright, Will. I'd like you to extend your telepathy to them, in addition to the four with you.]
[What about you?]
[My Telepathy works differently from yours, and would not count against your limitations. If you feel any different, please verbally let me know.] With that, he cut his thoughts off from me.
I focused my mind on these seven. Nightraider and Knave talked about their scouting. Blindswipe wondered how Oshawott felt about having her training cut off with him. Gardna, Crest, and Astra wondered what to do after this. Primrose seemed nervous about what I might hear in her thoughts the longer we held our connection, and in that time I felt our connection getting iffy. At first, I thought it was because of her. But then I felt it was on me. Like there was extra pressure just to keep the connection. Not just with her, but all of them in general. I strained myself to keep the connection to all of them, but my mind and body felt fatigued the longer I did so. "I never noticed this before," I finally said to Sensei. "I don't feel as comfortable telecommunicating with all seven of them at once."
[I see,] Sensei replied. [You have usually kept to using telepathy with just one or two Pokemon at a time. How about we cut off one of them?]
[I'll stay out for now,] Primrose said quickly. I felt her connection cut off, and she looked slightly relieved.
To my slight surprise, I could noticeable tell the difference in the strain once Primrose and I let go. The pressure was still there, but it didn't feel taxing. "Huh. That feels better, though I still feel some pressure on my part."
Sensei nodded. [Then that must be your limit.] He gave an amusing expression. [Fitting. Just like the official limit for Pokémon trainers.]
With training over, Sensei waited for his session with Zemblance, Warwulf, and Bravado. Blindswipe, Astra, and Crest went their own ways. I decided to get a drink from the pool, and was joined by Nightraider, Knave, Gardna, and Primrose. To my surprise, Sherwood arrived seconds after we did. He carried Sherry over his head, then placed her next to the pool. The Fruit Pokémon looked knocked out, with an enamored smile on her face.
"What happened?" I asked Sherwood.
He shrugged, [I don't know. I went with her to the beach like she asked, we sat and chat in a safe shady spot, and when I commented on her life story she told me, she fainted.]
"Was it a nice comment?"
[I said she was very brave to have endured her fears, and that she could do it.] He proceeded to gently slip her into the pool, while pouring water over her to wake her up.
[Awww! How sweet!] thought Primrose. [Let me help.] She came over to Sherry and took Sherwood's place of tending her.
In that time, I filled my water containers before taking a drink myself. Knave talked about berry-collecting strategies with Gardna and Nightraider. Sherwood sat next to me while we waiting for Sherry to wake up. When she did, Primrose was there to help calm her bewilderment.
[Hey, relax. See, you got through it,] Primrose said to Sherry.
Sherry looked toward Sherwood, blushing again. [Oh my gosh, that was nerve-wracking!] She steadied herself. [But…he said I can push passed my nervousness.]
[That's the spirit!]
[So…when do you think you will ask Will for…?]
[Uh, I don't know…] She responded quickly. She crossed her legs as it seemed her turn to be bashful. [I'll ask when it feels right.] Then she thought to herself, [Does Will know?]
Hearing their conversation through their minds from where I was sitting, I raised an eyebrow at the last remark. [Know what?] I said through my mind to Primrose's.
She jumped. [Ack! Nothing!] She immediately cut off her thoughts to me, then yipped at Sherry to follow her to a further spot from us that was still close enough in view.
Sherwood looked just as confused as me. [What were they talking about?]
"Don't know," I replied.
[Oh well.] He stood up and stretched a bit. [Hey, Master…]
I shuddered a bit at the name. "Will is preferable."
[Master Will? I have an observation.]
"What is it?"
[I have watched your training with Sensei from time to time. You seem to be making great progress in dodging moves, demonstrating great horizontal mobility to make up for your lackluster physical endurance.]
"Yeah, I think everyone on this island knows what weaknesses I'm hiding," I mumbled.
[But I wonder. You have great horizontal mobility. How is your vertical mobility?]
"Huh?"
[Can you climb trees?]
"I think so? Never actually thought to try that. How hard could it be?"
[Then I'd like to show you.] I followed him to the base of the nearest tree. In seconds he climbed the side of the trunk and onto the lower branches. [The clan I used to be a part of mimicked quite a few of my climbing techniques. I'd be my honor to share what I've learned with you.]
"Sure!" I gripped the trunk with both arms, though my arms only wrap halfway around the tree. "I've dealt with way more than this. Can't be that hard…" I pushed my legs off the ground onto the trunk. As soon as that happened, I fell to the ground. "Ow…okay, so maybe one arm and leg at a time?" I gripped my left hand on the trunk, followed by my right foot. The bark of the trees were fortunately smooth on this island, but my toes were more sensitive to the surfaces having lost my shoes and socks. My next move was to reach a higher point of the trunk with my right hand and pull myself off the ground. I slipped and fell again instead. I excpected Sherwood to laugh or scoff at me. But he respectfully gave no such demeaning expression.
[I am well aware we are not the same. But...] He used his flashy leaves to cut down a vine to me. […that doesn't mean there aren't other ways to take on the challenge.]
I smiled, [Sensei has been trying to teach me to see alternatives. You've been talking this stuff over with him?]
[Not this time. There's a reason certain lessons are commonly shared.]
Although I was slow, I managed to climb the vine to meet on Sherwood's branch. The branch was strong enough for me to sit on it. But I felt constricted by how closely interwoven the canopy of braches were. "Okay, I'm up. Now what?"
There was a flash in his eyes. [Follow me.]
For the next hour, Sherwood jumped a few branches at a time across the canopy. Slowly and carefully, I followed suit. At first, I was stepping along each branch until I could comfortably step to a different branch. I used my hands to grip branches around my eye level, assisting my branch crossing. Sherwood was very patient with me and waited until I caught up before swinging ahead. His movements were like some sort of free-form dance: graceful, precise, loose, and confident. Inspired, I grew confident enough to jump gaps. In an hour, I didn't need to look where I reached out my hands and feet half the time.
Below us, I mentally instructed for the others to stay nearby if they wished to stick with me. Knave led Primrose, Gardna, and Sherry to some obstacle exercises he learned from the Mankey. Nightraider decided to keep pace with Sherwood and I.
[Hey, you've reached 'my level' now!] Nightraider cheered.
I laughed. [Yeah. This actually was as easy as I thought. I bet I can…]
Suddenly, Bravado swung upside-down, inches from my face. [Surprise!] he chortled. [Miss me?]
He certainly surprised me. Unfortunately, I lost my footing and was too slow to grab any branches to stop my fall. Time felt like it slowed during my fall.
[Will!] Nightraider shouted first, trying to fly after me before I hit the ground.
[Will!] Primrose cried, who had the most fear and worry in her voice.
The ground was coming up fast, and for a split second I was certain I'd break a few bones today. But lucky me, Knave was ready. He commanded Gardna to use Brine to create a wave of water. At the same time, Knave used Icy Wind to solidify it. They made a ramp of ice in seconds, which allowed me to slide safely to the ground. Roughed up and bruised, but in one piece.
[You alright?] Nightraider asked, flying next to me.
Before I could answer or sit up, Primrose leaped onto my chest. [Will! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Do you need your wounds licked?]
"I think I'm fine," I grunted. The right side of my body ached from hitting the ice first. I rubbed my right arm as I sat up. "Rough way to end an otherwise fun first tree travel."
Primrose inspected my arm, which didn't appear that scratched up, but had bruised spots. Knave, Gardna, Sherry, and Sherwood caught up to me, also showing concern for my wellbeing.
Bravado was last to approach me. He clutched his arm and had a guilty look on his face. [S-sorry. I, uh, didn't mean for that to happen…] he said hesitantly.
Primrose growled and barked at him. [You! You idiot! You imbecile! Do you ever consider how your actions could hurt others?] She ran up to him and really got in his face. She looked like she was a second away from mauling him.
In a panic, he waved his hands in front of him. [Hey, easy! I said I was sorry!] His voice sounded genuinely apologetic, unlike his usual jokey demeanor.
She kept her snarling up for a couple of seconds. Perhaps debating whether to still maul him. Instead, she spat a bit of flame from her mouth at his face. Then she turned her nose up as she strutted back to me. [Idiot!]
With that tension out of the way, I turned to Knave and Gardna. "Good thinking there. Your training with Sensei and I is paying off."
Gardna sheepishly smiled as he rubbed the back of his head. [Thanks. Well, part of my credit does go to Knave. It was his idea after all.]
Knave put an arm over Gardna's shoulder and grinned. [Well, you have been a great teammate to work with. You, Primrose, Sherwood, and even Bravado are like the teammates I used to have. Now, if that sour-puss could join…]
The sound of a sword unsheathing is heard. Before anyone could even react, Oshawott jumped from the bushes onto Knave. She pinned him down and held her scalchop blade pointed near his neck. I could see the whites in her eyes as she growled through her teeth and spat hateful words toward Knave.
[Uh…] Gardna took a step toward her, but ultimately trembled in place. [Geez, she's scary!]
Primrose approached her first. [Hey, Oshawott. Don't take his comments too hard…]
But Oshawott pointed her scalchop blade at Primrose, keeping her from coming any closer.
In this moment, Knave sprayed Icy Wind in her face to slip away. While she furiously rubbed the ice crystals off her face, Knave squared off against her. He said to her in an afflicted tone, [Sorry, Oshawott. I've heard how you led these guys from captivity to now. But I think they deserve a leader with a different touch.]
Oshawott bellowed something, then charged at him with her scalchop blade. Knave sidestepped to his right, but the Sea Otter Pokémon seemed to catch on to his movements and swung her scalchop after him. By the angle and speed of the swing, Knave only had time to parry the scalchop blade with both his claws. He even used his new move Metal Claw to push back. He smirked, [Heh, I've been getting stronger; just like you. I keep this up, and my attack power will go up…]
Oshawott intensified her eye contact with Knave. She extended her free left hand.
[Uh, oh, I'm exposed,] Knave thought to himself, glancing at his two hands holding the scalchop blade away from his body. [But she doesn't know any punching or scratching moves, so…]
With a flash of her eyes, three metal blades extended from her hand. As Knave gasped, Oshawott used a Metal Claw attack on Knave. The Sharp Claw Pokémon howled in pain as he stumbled back.
I gasped as well. "How did she?! Oshawott can't know moves like Metal Claw or Ember…can they?"
[No,] Bravado replied. He was hugging one of my legs as he watched Oshawott's rage unfold. [But she's got a special ace up her sleeve: Copycat. With that move, she can mimic any move she just saw used.]
[Really?]
[Yeah. Just one of many things about her that make her so scary.]
[I take it you've received a fair share of anger from her?]
He gulped, gripping my leg harder. [Yep. She ain't no Primrose.]
Oshawott retracted her scalchop and used both hands to attack with Metal Claw once again.
Knave grimaced and used his Agility this time to dodge. [I'll prove to you how good I am!] He proceeded to dash around her with Agility, getting faster and faster. Every so often, he came in with a Feint Attack. Oshawott did her best parry the speedy attacks, but each move at least grazed her. Before she could strike back or pin him, Knave would dash out of the way and run circles around her. [What's the matter? I've seen you spar with Blindswipe. Am I not a worthy challenge?]
Nightraider swooped above the battle, but didn't dare get too near. [I think she gets the point, Knave. Can we stop this before this gets worse?]
I thought about calling out to either of them, but I stayed frozen in place. "Oshawott has not been a team player of Sensei's group. But she usually isn't this antagonistic toward us. What more is going on with her?"
After a few failed attempts at striking after Knave, Oshawott stopped moving. Knave ran around and around her. She closed her eyes. The scalchop was back in her hand, unsheathed. She remained absolutely still.
Knave made another go-around and used Feint Attack from her left side. Her eyes flew open. She yelled as she swung her scalchop to her left. The attacks connected. The scalchop blade hit Knave squarely on his head.
Knave grunted as he hit the ground hard. [Am I not…worthy?] He remained motionless and beaten, his stamina and will to fight clearly depleted.
But, to our horror, Oshawott wasn't done. She kicked Knave in the ribs and yelled some things to him. Then she raised her scalchop, ready to strike again.
This time, I stepped forward. "No, stop!" My voice wavered, and I failed to input my 'persuasion'.
She whipped her head around. Her eyes were crazed, like she was stuck in a 'fighting mode'. She yelled again and ran at me with the scalchop blade.
Bravado and Gardna yelped. Sherry hid behind Sherwood. He had his arms crossed and kept watching everything unfold intently. Primrose gave a pained expression, itching between jumping to my defense and staying back. But Nightraider flew between me and Oshawott this time. [You heard the man! Stop this,] he demanded.
She stopped her charge, but still held the scalchop blade toward us threateningly. She fiercely growled some more things to me. Her other hand sort of hovered over the chipped scalchop hanging from her necklace.
I hesitantly held my ground. "Could she use that scalchop, too?"
At this moment, Sherwood stepped in. He calmly walked between Oshawott and Rowlet and I. [Stand down,] he said with a stern but sympathetic voice.
She gritted her teeth and spat a couple of things to Sherwood.
[No, it wasn't by force. The choice to join Will was mine and mine alone. As were the others. And Knave is an ally we trust as much as anyone else. Being among Sensei's team is like being brothers and sisters in arms in our quest for survival.] What he said next was in a more somber tone. [I'm sure you know that feeling…]
She clenched up. Her free hand now gently clasped the broken scalchop. Everyone was still for a few, agonizingly slow, seconds.
Finally, Oshawott lowered her scalchop blade. Her tensed demeanor vanished with a scowl. She placed her pristine scalchop back on her stomach and stormed off. For good measure, she made quick, piercing glares at me and Knave before she disappeared into the bushes.
We all breathed a sigh of relief. I nodded to Sherwood as he turned to me. [Thank you for breaking the tension.]
Sherwood sighed, [Anything to ensure the safety of you and our friends. Although…I might have strained my own good graces with Oshawott. Another encounter with her won't likely be quelled by my words of caution.]
I frowned. [I see. With our luck, that fight will likely break out sooner rather than later. What is her deal?]
He paused, likely thinking carefully of what he wanted to say. [She was the reason we broke free from our captive. When the poacher caught her last, she was placed in our capsule cage. But she refused to be held. She led us through a plan that allowed just us five to escape the poacher in our capsule. Without her, we likely would have remained with the poacher today. And would have perished on our journey through the Unova deserts, to the coast, to where we are now.] Primrose, Gardna, and Bravado stood next to him and nodded in agreement. [We owe her our lives for her leadership.]
[Eeesh,] I grimaced. [So, if she's that good…why come to me?]
[You're not much of a head-on battler,] said Gardna.
[You won't bite my head off if I have a little 'fun',] Bravado said cheekily.
Primrose blushed a bit. ['Cause I li…] she thought to herself before shutting her mind to me. Then she reopened and said, ['Cause you're nice.]
Treecko nodded, [All in all, you possess many social and analytical potentials of a tactician. Which, I can speak for the four of us, is what we need more in this setting. You think before you act, while she acts before she thinks. Not exclusively, but that's where you two feel most comfortable with. And, even though she doesn't want to admit it, I think she needs someone like you, too.]
I looked down. [Maybe. I doubt my words alone would get thought to her…with or without my 'persuasion'. And she can't hear my thoughts. So she'd only answer to combat.]
[That's her way,] Sherwood nodded.
I nodded back with confidence, more so to the four together. [Then that's what we'll do. She is clearly stronger than all four of you individually. But together…we stand a chance. We'll convince her that our combined talents and strategies are what it takes to survive on this island.]
[Then, I'm in,] said Knave weakly. Nightraider helped prop him up by letting him lean on his head.
I raised an eyebrow. [You? Sorry, but this feels more of a personal matter. Thus, requires a helping hand by those closest to her.]
[I got personal beef with her,] he grunted. He motioned to the four. [I work best in a team. These guys have been the next best thing after my former team. I won't lose another. I want to fight for that right…for her approval. So I. Want. In.]
I thought it over for a second. Then replied, [If it's alright with these four, then it's fine with me.]
The four looked at each other, then looked approvingly to Knave. Sherwood gave a thumbs up. [Pleasure to see what you got.]
I smiled, [Okay. Let's get busy.]