Three figures dot a forested scene. Light dapples in from a partial canopy as one of them tenses in the center of a semi-cleared space. The glen is a perfect locale for this particular practice; the crisp, trickling stream that burbles nearby especially pacifying.
"Give it your best shot, Flash!" Evan sits atop a fallen tree, and watches the newly acquired Pokémon work from his place at the side.
"uu-AAh!" The creature cries, as pumped as its small pink body is capable. The Trainer's encouraging expression never falters, even as a hail of small sticks and pebbles crash to the ground.
"Good job, you did better than last time!" The young adult enthuses, more than happy with the minor elevation change. A resounding affirmation calls from next to him on the mossy log, Jewel as much a cheerleader as her best friend, fins waving.
The newbie inhales a great breath, puffing up its combination salamander-hippopotamus body. Fortified, the tired creature lifts the various items again, but this time in short, rapidly successive rounds. Its attempts to raise the bits of nature higher than a single foot from the ground fail, causing blush-pink skin (where eyebrows should be) to dimple. A long, exhausted sigh drags out as nothing further happens.
"Hmm. Let's try something different. You take a break; I'll be right back." Evan turns, voice dropping for only the Magikarp at his side to hear, "Hey Jewel, you wanna go help him de-stress? I know he's worried he won't be good enough, and you know better than anyone how stupid that is. I am gonna go look something up real quick, I don't have any signal here."
Jewel's lips pop twice in agreement, before she flops over to the Slowpoke. The Trainer disappears down a small Nidoran trail as the team mascot does her job.
Sapling branches slide away and sticker bushes part under the push of Evan's thick jacket. Watching a mechanically encased wrist with half an eye, the blonde plods out to a slightly open meadow, before stopping with a small exclamation of victory.
A quick search of the PokéWeb later, and the teen has a game plan. Downloading the data to the Pokétch for out-of-service function, Evan heads right back the way he came.
"Let's try this: I want you to picture a small light inside of you." An immediately blinding Flash illuminates the tiny clearing.
Evan laughs and blinks away spots, missing a look of utter mortification. "Good, good. Like that, but smaller," the teen slips into a special voice, one that rises and ebbs in a pattern. "Except this light is more like a flame; a little warmth, but with a dancing flicker. Do you see it?"
"aaaaaah" the tone is dazed, the Slowpoke zoning out in a way the species is prone to.
"Great. Now, imagine that you don't like that flicker. You don't hate it, it's just a bit too distracting. You want it to calm, as you are calm. Remind the light how to be the gentle glow of a partly cloudy afternoon, perfect for lounging. That's it. Good." Two sets of eyes drift close, both Jewel and Flash giving in to the pleasant imagery. "Now, focus on that feeling. Sun just barely heating your skin, a warm glow that makes you feel almost weightless. Your thoughts can drift, just like that breeze tickling across your skin."
A light pink sheen starts like a mirage across both hide and scales. Evan almost falters, but quickly starts reading again, tone going even softer, "Perfect. You're doing so good." A rhythmic pause. "That feeling is just so nice, wouldn't it be wonderful to share?"
A smile of bliss crosses the half-psychic's face, thinking of giving this coziness to his new Trainer.
"Now, if you're comfortable with it, you can give that feeling a little nudge. Coax if out of your center as you let that smooth flame grow and build. Don't force it. Just let it gently bubble up, like a particularly happy memory. As it expands, just guide it. You can't control a stream by moving the water, you can only make a path for it to flow, channelin—AH!" The two Pokémon startle awake, as their Trainer floats in front, arms pinwheeling. The sight breaks the hypnotic state, and Evan drops from several feet in the air. A massive cloud of debris hits the soft grass a moment later from much higher up. The pair exchange sheepish looks before going to check on their Trainer. The winded male lays sprawled, unwilling yet to move.
Chapter Notes:
-Flash, Flash, Hundred Yard Dash. Great name for a Slowpoke. haha.
-Poketch is a newer version of the Pokegear with way more functions.
-Okay, okay. I originally planned for Evan to not have any other Pokémon. But this just seeded into my head while thinking of a scene I could write, and it just grew. I am going to include another scene dedicated to this Slowpoke in Timeskip Adventures eventually, explaining why it became a thing that he got it. Also, ironically, it just fit so well, because it ties in something that happens in the final scene which is already written. It was just meant to be.
- I am also not entirely sure why this scene turned out the way it did, but I really like it. I could have added more, but it was sweet and just a nice way to explain an alternate method of Training. Helping a Pokémon grow, even without necessarily taking them into battle. Sometimes growth is mental. Not physical. And sometimes the wall holding you back is the same.
-I've listened to a lot of hypnotic recordings, and they actually do sound quite a bit like this. lol