Litten and Stoutland
Part 1
I got released from my Poke Ball. Before me stood my trainer, Logan. I expected him all happy, but instead he looked to be mad. Why was he mad? Did I do something wrong?
"Why do you embarrass me, Litten?" He wanted to know. This caught me off guard. I cocked my head with confusion and started mewing with him. Embarrass? How do I embarrass him? "Why can't you master Fire Fang?" I try my best. I'm sorry that you don't like it. Be patient and I'll get better, I promise. "Stop your stupid Pokemon language, you know that I can't understand you." I stopped. He's right. He'll never understand. Why am I so foolish? Still I had to try to get through to him. "If you can't master Fire Fang, you can't be a part of my team." Huh?! What is he talking about? "I'm sorry, but I don't want you anymore. Goodbye, forever, Litten." He walked away, leaving me more confused than ever. I ran after him and pawed at his leg, mewing in protest. He looked down at me.
"You heard me, Litten!" He snapped. "I don't want you anymore!" But I just kept pawing at his leg, doing my pathetic cries. "Knock it off; don't you get it?!" He then kicked me away. That is when an angry furry Pokemon ran up in front of me and barked at him.
"You want to be with him, Stoutland?!" He asked him as Stoutland was now growling at him."You want to be with my pathetic excuse for a Pokemon? Fine; he's all yours. You're welcome." He ran off with Stoutland still barking madly behind him. I laid on the ground, speechless at what I just saw. Stoutland turned to me.
"You okay, kid?" I stood up.
"Yeah, I think so." I answered. "Thanks." He must have noticed my expression.
"Are you sure?" I couldn't lie to him. He knows. He'll see right through it, so what was the point? I tried very hard not to cry.
"It's just…I don't get it. We have gone through so much together. Why did he just abandon me like that?"
"Don't know. Some humans are very cruel and heartless like that."
"It's my Fire Fang. He wanted me to perfect it. I try and try, but no matter how much I do it, it just doesn't come out. Maybe I should give up and it's not meant to be."
"Nonsense! Of course you're meant to, all you need is practice after all. You shouldn't give up. The more practice you do, the better you will get. Don't be so hard on yourself."
"But how much practice can you do before you give up, give up practiceing that is?"
"None, because you should never give up on practicing. Practice makes perfect after all."
"But…"
"Do you want me to teach you?" Again, I was caught off guard.
"What?! Really? You'd do that?"
"Sure if you promise to keep at it until you succeed."
"I will." I promised, and then frowned. "but that might take forever."
"I'm not going anywhere. I'll be with you until you master it. You have my word."
"Ok. I won't let you down." He smiled.
"That's the spirit." I frowned again which concerned him. "What's wrong now?"
"Well, Logan's gone. He'll miss it."
"That's his loss. You don't need that pathetic excuse for a human anyway. You still want to master that move, don't you?"
"You bet I want to master it!"
"Good. Now follow me, I know a perfect spot where you can practice."
"Uh, okay." I didn't know where he was leading me, but he was friendly to me when my trainer wasn't. I can't believe I was his Pokemon. He was nothing but a big jerk. If I ever see him again, I'll show him and then he'll regret releasing me back into the wild.
Stoutland led me to a human's house.
"What are we doing here?" I asked him.
"This is where you're going to do your training." He told me.
"Inside this house?" He nodded. "Where did you find it? This place is so huge!"
"If you're this impressed with seeing the outside of it, wait until you see the. Inside. Come on in. I'll let you explore before we start your training." He led me inside.
He was right. The inside was more impressive than the outside. There was a couch, pillows, and cobwebs everywhere.
"Wait, don't tell me you live here, do you?"
"I mostly come here to take naps and sleep here at night."
"Wow!" Was all I could say. I was impressed. When I was a wild Pokemon, I just lived wherever. "Go on, explore. I'll be here when you get back." I walked off.
I explored every nook and cranny of the house. It even had a downstairs. When I came back, Stoutland was laying on the couch. He hopped on down.
"Impressive?"
"Yeah." I told him. "Very much."
"Glad you like it. Ready to start your training?" I nodded, now determined.
"You bet! I was born ready." He laughed.
"That's what I like to hear, now, first things first. Concentrate. Focus your energy, tell it what you want to do. Look at me to see what I mean." I looked at him, watched him as he stayed focus and concentrated all of his energy. He began to glow with a reddish hue color which shocked me.
"You know Fire Fang too?"
"Don't be silly. I'm just showing you what to do. Now, focus and don't lose it. Remember, you are in control." I became determined once again.
"Right." I faced forewards and did what he said. I focused and concentrated really hard, but nothing happened. I told him this.
"That's because you're not focusing hard enough. Really concentrate." I nodded.
"I'll try." And tried I did, but I once again failed and felt nothing. "Again!" I tried again. "Again!"
I tried and tried, but each time ended in failure. I felt nothing each and every time. But I never gave up for I wanted to use the move so badly to show humans like Logan that I could do it. Every once and a while, Stoutland showed me what to do to refresh my memory.
"I feel it!" I said happily when I finally mastered it.
"Good, now hold that focus and let it out." I looked around, then back at him.
"On what?"
"On what in front of you."
"But nothing's…" I lost focus. I frowned.
"Sorry, I messed up."
"But the main thing is that you focused all of your energy. Now you're ready for the next step, and perhaps this little training is better outside." I agreed, There were a lot of nice stuff in here. I didn't want to burn them all with my power. I followed him back outside. He looked around, looking for my target.
"Attack that tree there in front of you."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Now do it." I focused all of my energy, charged at the tree, leapt up in the air and…rammed into it. I slid down the bark.
"Nice try but let's go again." From the top." I backed up and tried again. "And again." I tried again. "And again!" I tried yet again.
"I think that's enough for now." I looked at him, confused.
"But I haven't mastered the move yet."
"And you will. But you had a long day. Practice makes perfect, but you don't want to overdo it. You need your rest." I didn't want to, but I also didn't want to argue.
"Okay." A thought then occurred to me. "Where will I sleep? I suppose since I'm wild again, probably out there somewhere."
"Or you could sleep here if you really want to." I looked at him in disbelief.
"Really?" He nodded.
"You had a rough day. I'd hate for you to sleep out there all by your lonesome. Plus, it's just me here so I could use the company. That and you could be a big help for me."
"Oh yes, most definitely!" I agreed. "You helped me back there with my horrible trainer, plus you're going to help me master Fire Fang, It's the least I could do to help you as well." He nodded again.
"Glad to hear it, because due to my age, I may need lots of it."
"I'll be happy to."
I trained and trained. The sun came up and down each day. I did have some times off, and of course we ate, but for the most part, I trained like I never trained before.
As I came to get my food one day from the market I always steal from, I was surprised when an elderly lady pushed a bowl in front of me. I tensed up. She grinned happily as I looked at her.
"You really like coming here a lot, don't you, Litten?" She petted me gently, but I didn't let my guard down."Don't you worry now. I'm your friend. I won't hurt a cutie like you." I became calm and let her pet me as I licked her hand. Somehow I trust her. She stopped petting me and stood up. "Now I better stop petting you and let you eat. You need your nutrition." I did my sound, nodding in agreement. She went back to her work as I ate my food in the bowl provided for me.
Before I came back, I remembered to steal a piece of fruit for Stoutland. The humans were mad as always and tried to stop me from taking it, even throwing stuff at me. I hate stealing stuff and making them mad, but I can't help it. I do what I have to do to survive in this world.
When I came back to the house, I dropped the fruit for Stoutland.
"I have your food, Stoutland." I announced. He came up to me. I felt bad. He was getting slow, not as fast as when I first met him, but he was moving, so that was good at least.
"Aw, thank you, Litten. You are always a good help. I'm so terribly sorry to have you keep stealing food for me."
"Don't sweat it." I told him. "I told you that I will help you and I'm helping you. It might be easier if those humans weren't mad at me all of the time and throw stuff at me all the time, but if it means making you happy, I'll risk it every time. And guess what?"
"Oh, what?" I told him about the nice lady who offered me food and petted me. He smiled. "See? There may be bad humans out there, but there's a lot more nice humans out there in the world So much so that they outweigh the bad." I smiled.
"There sure are." He then coughed. I grew concerned.
"Are you okay?" He looked at me.
"Yeah, I'm okay. You just worry about yourself, kiddo, not me, okay?"
"Well, okay."
Then one sunny day, I was just napping on the beach when all of a sudden, I felt something step on my tail. I howled loudly in pain and saw that it was a human. He looked at me in panic. He had a Pikachu with him.
"Sorry, Litten." He apologized. I didn't accept that. That idiot stepped on my tail; he should've watched where he was going! To show him that I wasn't amused, I jumped up into my air and did an Ember Attack on him. He yelled in pain, but I didn't care. He deserves it. Stupid trainer. That ought to teach him! I then walked off.
I kept going to get fed at the market by that nice elderly lady. Her name, I have learned, is Anela. She didn't need to prepare my food every day, but I appreciate it. That's how nice she is. I bet she would watch wherever she's going and wouldn't step on my tail. After I'm done eating my meal, I was off stealing food for Stoutland.
However with each day, Stoutland seemed to be getting weaker and weaker. He assured me each time that he was fine, but I couldn't help being uncertain of this, especially when he went into one of his recent coughing fits.
I met that idiot Pikachu trainer again. He smiled at me and offered me a piece of his croquette sandwich. Well, a single piece just wasn't good enough for me. I jumped up and snatched the entire sandwich. He was off course mad and grabbed my tail. Ugh; again with my tail? What is with him? I did my Fury Swipes on him. He screamed in pain. As he did this, I ran off. His Rotom Dex came up to me and tried to get back the sandwich, but I kicked him away as I made my escape. I then ran into a garden. An Alolan Persian blocked my path.
"Get out of my way!" I said to it. "I have somewhere to be!"
"Not until you give me that tasty looking sandwich." He said back.
"No way! I'm giving this to my friend, Stoutland, and I'm not going to let him down because of a stubborn Persian." He laughed.
"A Litten being friends with a Stoutland? How precious!"
"So? What''s wrong with that?"
"Nothing. It's just that it's a shame because it looks like you are going to have to let him down because…" He forced me to drop the sandwich because I was so startled by him. But I wasn't going to let him take what was mine that easily. I used Ember. But he threw the sandwith back at me and the sandwich got burned to a crisp.
"Now see what you've done?" He said to me. "Now none of us get to enjoy the sandwich and it's all your fault!" I wanted so much to argue with him, but decided that he wasn't worth my time. And so I left. I was off to find something else for my mentor.
I attacked a talking non-Alolan Meowth (I knew he was not like normal Meowths, besides not being the right color, because his red and blue- haired humans both understood him) with my Ember and took off to the market again to get food from Anela. That idiot trainer appeared at her market stall while I was eating and started arguing with me. Our fight was cut short by Anela who offered me a berry. I took the berry and went to the abandoned house.
That night, I curled up next to Stoutland. The next thing I knew is that I was walking on a dark path. Three dark figures were with me. Then I was was on Stoutland's back as he was flying in the air. Huh, flying? But I didn't care, I enjoyed it!'
"Whoo-Hoo!" I cried out in joy. "Fly on, Stoutland!" Then something strange happened. Stoutland vanished and I fell down, down, down screaming into a pit below.
I woke up, going back to reality. I noticed Stoutland still sound asleep in front of me. I was relieved. It was all a bizarre dream. And with that, I laid back down and resumed on sleeping.
"Well, well, well." I heard a familiar voice say when I was running with a berry in my mouth. "Look who it is." I looked. It was that no-good Aloan Persian. "Off to give your friend another gift I see. Too bad he won't get it because I want it and you won't mess it up for me like last time. Now give it to me and I won't fight you. I'll then leave in peace." I didn't respond. I just went on my way. "Very well. I see how it is!" He then ran in front of me, blocking my path. I went pass him and he did it again…and again! No matter what I tried, he kept blocking me. "I could do this all day, kitty-cat! Now, fork over that berry and we both can get on our way." But I wasn't going to give this to him without a fight. I also didn't want to fight because that would just waste time. I needed a plan and fast. But that is when he lunged at me and we both toppled to the ground, making me drop the berry in the process. He got up first and ran to the berry. He picked it up with his mouth and ran off. I got up too and gave chase.
"Hey; no fair!" I cried. "Come back here; you can't have that!" But he just kept running and running. I had to do something! I got ready to do Fire Fang, but failed miserably. This made the Persian burst out laughing, dropping the berry on the ground.
"What do you call that?!" He laughed. "Well, whatever you call it, it's a big fat failure!" While he was having his laugh attack, I took this as the perfect opportunity to run in and take the berry in my mouth. Without hesitation, I resumed on running.
"Clever, but don't think I'll let you have it for long!" I then felt something on my ankles, looked down, and saw that he was nipping at them! But no matter how much pain I was in, I kept on running.
He then cornered me. I backed up until I felt my leg touch nothing. I brought it to solid ground again and saw that he had cornered me onto a cliff! He snickered to himself.
"Are you going to give up? You can't possibly jump in; you won't survive. So I suggest you give up and give it to me if you know what's good for you." I eyed the water down below. True, I didn't want to jump in, but I see no choice with this Persian. I had to do it.
Suddenly, I heard another voice call out. It was that Pikachu trainer. He asked Rotom Dex something and it answered. Grrr, why can't this kid mind his own business?! The kid then yelled at Persian and the two went into battle. He'd commanded his Pikachu to use Thunderbolt on Persian before Persian could attack me again. I watched the fight, but then remembered that I had a job to do. I was about to leave when my legs gave way. That darn Persian had injured me so much that I was now hurt. But I can't keep a few injures keep me down, I had to get to Stoutland. That trainer and his Pikachu were concerned and ran up to me. They must have defeated that Persian for he was nowhere in sight. Good. I had no time with that trainer then tried to carry me, but I bit him. But like me, he was stubborn. He picked me up and said he'll take me to a Pokemon Center. I wriggled free and did an Ember Attack on him.
"Litten, please!" Pikachu pleaded. "You're hurt! We just want to help."
"I appreciate that, but I can't go to a Pokemon Center right now. I'm sorry, but I don't have time. I have to give this to a friend of mine, Stoutland, before…" I suddenly collapsed to the ground. The trainer picked me up again by the scruff of my neck.
The trainer looked at the berry, and assured me that he wasn't trying to take it from me. He then proceeded to carry me off, despite me trying to prevent him from doing so.
At the Pokemon Center, I was given a plastic cone thing to wear around my neck. I hated it. It must have looked pathetic on me because that is how I felt and what I imagined. I know they want me to stay here to get better, but I had a job to do. With the berry back into my mouth that Rotom Dex had brought back for me, I dashed out. I heard that trainer shout my name and if I know him, chased after me. But I didn't care. Let them chase me. They'll tire themselves out eventually.
Outside, I ran to a fence. I tried jumping over it, but my darn cone got me stuck, preventing me. I should've gotten the thing off before I made my getaway. That trainer will catch up to me for sure now.
Just as I expected, the trainer, his Pikachu, and Rotom Dex did catch up to me. The trainer helped me out of the fence and demanded I go with him and his two Pokemon. And that is what happened.
He brought me to a house with another human where he told him about me. At dinner, the trainer, who I learned was named Ash, must have noticed my displeasure with the plastic cone and took it off me. Wow! I didn't expect that. I then was on his lap while he pondered out loud that he wished that I could trust him more. I kind of felt bad for him. If only he knew.
That night as Ash and the others were sleeping, I seized this opportunity, took the berry and went off. I stayed here long enough. I hope Stoutland understands and won't get mad. I pawed at the door, and realized that I couldn't open it. Darn! No opposable thumbs. Things aren't going my way today, were they? I then saw the door open and looked up. It was Ash who had opened it. Why had he opened it up for me? Is this trainer finally getting me? Could I trust him now? I could then tell that he was still sleepy and I sped off.
When I got back to our hideout, I placed the berry on the box and pulled on one of Stoutland's long plumes that made it look like he had a really long bushy mustache to wake him up. He did and looked at me.
"You're late." He told me.
"I know." I apologized. "I'm sorry. I got delayed by a stupid trainer as well as other stuff, but I'm here now. I got this berry for you so eat up." He nodded and ate the berry. I smiled, happy that I was finally back. I then heard footsteps. I looked to see Ash, Rotom and Pikachu. I hissed at them. Despite this, they still came in.
"A Stoutland!" Ash observed..
"And getting on in years I'd say." Rotom added.
"I wonder if Litten's been stealing food to bring to Stoutland." No, duh! Honestly, could this human be any stupider? As they all got closer, I hissed louder.
"It's alright." Pikachu assured me. "We mean no harm to you or Stoutland. We were just curious to where you went off to with the berry. We're not mad, or I'm not at least, but I'm sure I can say the same for Ash and Rotom."
"Calm down, Litten." Stoutland said to me. We both looked at him. "They obviously mean no harm. Let them be." Ash knelt down.
"Looks like your food's a little late." Ash said to Stoutland. "Sorry about that, Stoutland." Ash then proceeds in telling me he hoped to catch me, but that it was a bad plan. Yeah, it was a bad plan. I have stuff to do. I don't have time to be someone's Pokemon. I'm grateful that he finally understands that. He stood up and said something I never thought anybody would say, He promised that he'll bring food for us tomorrow. Wow, who would have thought? Maybe this human isn't as bad as I thought.
Just then, a real uninvited guest came. It was that nasty Persian.
"I'm back!" He announced. "And I see that you have some friends with you again. How lovely. I still want my revenge though." We all ran outside as Persian began to attack us, including Stoutland. Ash ordered Pikachu to use Thundershock and I did my Ember. Persian dodged both of our attacks. He then went to attack Stoutland, but luckily Ash stepped between them, making him get scratched instead. I was dumbfounded. He was dumb and brave at the same time!
But that Persian wasn't done yet. I used another Ember, but it didn't work. Why can't this Persian just leave us alone? He was getting on my nerves!
"Litten!" Stoutland called out to me. "Try Ember again; this time stronger!" I was unsure about this, but I did the strongest Ember that I could and let it loose. It worked! Persian's tail was now on fire. Persian noticed this and screamed. He ran off. "Good job, Litten. I'm so proud of you." I smiled. I was proud of myself as well.
Ash and Pikachu came to congratulate me on my Ember Attack as well. Rotom said that everything turned out fine, but that it was a shame that Ash couldn't catch me. Ash said goodbye to us both, then promised again that he'll bring food for us tomorrow.
"You're doing a real good thing by taking care of Stoutland, Litten." Pikachu said to me. "So much so that my trainer and I want to help. Goodbye, Stoutland and Litten. See you tomorrow!" With that, all three of them left.
I then thought long and hard about something. That darn Persian knows where we are now, so it might not be safe for Stoutland to keep being here. As much as this house is nice and comfortable, Persian ruined it by finding our location. I had to think what's best for Stoutland. I looked at the elderly Pokemon.
"How are you on walking?" I asked him. "Can you still do it?You just ran out here so I assume it's not a problem, right?"
"I think so." He answered. "But why do you want to know?"
"Because I'm afraid we can't stay here anymore. We have to move."