AN: Sorry for the delay, busy with work updates might be slow. For anyone who is confused- Charlie= male Farfetche'd Charlotte=female Farfetche'd Tess=female Poliwhirl Jack=male Cloyster Chester= Gyarados
Chapter-3
The days are passing more quickly now as I accompany Dad on his trips into the Ilex forest to cut wood, although I was really against cutting trees, my worries seemed to be unfounded on the second day of cutting wood. Remember how I told you that there were some phenomena that can only be described as game elements well this seemed to be one of them, apparently an experienced wood cutter could pick the most appropriate tree which within a day would grow back, I mean literally you cut it today and tomorrow you would find the tree still standing as before. When I asked Dad about it he said that certain trees at certain times accumulate energy and can completely re-grow in a day, but if he were to cut the same tree again the next day it wouldn't grow back for many years unless other external factors influence it. He also said that it was a wood cutter's job to identify the right tree to cut and be responsible when dealing with nature. I was thoroughly intrigued by the workings of this world and made a mental note not to underestimate it, there was always something more to learn.
After a few days of visits to the forest I really began to appreciate the dexterity boost my skill granted me otherwise I would just be a hindrance to Dad. I also took this as an opportunity to train myself, I didn't want to be just a regular average Pokémon Trainer, from my previous life I found out that regardless of anything else staying fit and healthy was always a plus (I could run away from bullies more easily and also fight well if push comes to shove). I'd also frequently chase the wild Weedles, Caterpies, Butterfrees, Beedrills, Paras, Oddish and other Pokémon I might come across and observe them, I was always cautious though and my skill [Insight] helped me observe if anything I did aggravates them and let me approach them without alarming them. I would also find some items and herbs occasionally that I could turn in for some money, since I wanted to be a Pokémon Trainer it was best to start saving early. Earning money as a Trainer or related profession was fairly different from in the game back in my old world- for one you don't get money from Pokémon battles unless it is prior agreed upon or it is a competition with a cash prize, defeating wild Pokémon in the wild has a 5% chance to drop some petty cash and/or items (wild Pokémon that faint burst into pixels and respawn elsewhere, they are not being murdered) and lastly one can earn cash by taking up and completing Quests from the Pokémon Centre or other such venues.
I learnt all this from my visit to the Pokémon Centre, Nurse Joy was very friendly and explained all sorts of basic information I might need and also gave me a tour of some of the facilities of the Pokémon Centre. Other than the obvious treatment facility they also provide lodging and catering for travelling Trainers, they have a well stocked library(my personal favourite), a counter designated to accept Quests, receive rewards, get information on various events around locality, sign up for certain events as well as submit requests for help that is latter set up as a Quest. I became a frequent visitor to the library to gather general information such as the topography of the region, locations of interest, general information of Pokémon in the region, etc. I also did an in-depth study Pokémon care and grooming, study of herbs and other medicines. So with all that I had learnt and by slowly giving Nurse Joy a good impression of myself I was able to earn some cash by gathering herbs and other natural medicines from my trip to the forest and even get a shot at complete a few basic level Quests.
With all that I had learnt, I decided to see how it would help me in actual practise and the wild Pokémon and Dad's Pokémon became the perfect test subjects. Whenever we came across an injured wild Pokémon in the wild or Charlie and Charlotte got hurt I would perform first aid, I was sloppy and clumsy at first but now I am well versed in basic treatments even if they suffered some status related problems such as burn, poison, etc. I could identify and gather the right herbs and berries for treatment. Eventually on some days wild Pokémon would show up and join us for lunch and would even spend some time playing with me, I have now become friends with a lot of the Pokémon in the forest even the very aggressive and territorial Beedrill swarms have become my friends (mostly had something to do with the syrup coated berries I often bribed them with). Whenever some wild Pokémon is injured its friends even go out of their way to find me sometimes so that I might be able to help them, this shows the extent to which we have grown close. My Dad seems to be very astonished by all this, he told me one day during lunch that he was originally worried for me being in the forest as there are a lot of dangers, but seeing as how I now seemed to be able to progress much deeper into the woods safely than even he ever could that too without any Pokémon of my own he was simply amazed.
Time seemed to fly by, soon Mom returned for a visit and we had a small welcome home party for her at home. It was all nice and fun until Dad opened up about taking me to the forest with him, that's it Mom went ballistic after that-
"How could you? Do you know how dangerous it is in the Ilex forest? Getting lost in that huge place is the least of the dangers." Mom wouldn't listen to anything and was just scolding us saying how upset she was. I felt really bad for making worry so much, but Dad took it upon himself to explain when Mom stopped to catch her breath.
"Dear, I can understand your anxiety but I am trying to tell you that our son has nothing to fear in the forest not with so many of his friends there watching over him."-Dad tries to get his point across.
"What do you mean? Explain, quickly."-Mom commanded.
"Well our son has become friends with countless wild Pokémon in the forest, his safety is absolutely guaranteed, in fact I wouldn't be exaggerating when I say the forest has sort of become a second home for him. The wild Pokémon seem to treat him as one of their own."-Dad, eager to explain himself.
"That's impossible."-Mom didn't believe us until we convinced her to accompany us to the forest the next day; she was still against me going there which was understandable as a walk through Ilex Forest and a walk around the neighbourhood were two entirely different concepts.
As we were walking through the forest the next day Mom led the way proceeding slowly while constantly scanning the surroundings, she had Tess and Jack guard my flanks like bodyguards. Dad was walking off by the side shaking his head at the arrangement, he thought it was all unnecessary and I inwardly agreed with him. Even Dad's Pokémon- Charlie and Charlotte were very relaxed, it was not like before where they had to keep constant guard, lately due my growing interactions with the wild Pokémon we were seldom attacked as they considered us friends.
Looking around I saw some of my friends off in the distance keeping watch from afar, they were probably wary of Mom and her Pokémon as they had never seen them before. Wild Pokémon were quite cautious themselves so it was understandable that they didn't approach or so I thought until a Beedrill flew up to us in a hurry, Mom was starting to panic and just about to order her Pokémon to attack but I stopped her-
"Mom, stop don't attack, I know that Pokémon she's my friend."-I tell her, after spending so much time with them and thanks to my innate skill I was able to recognize the various Pokémon easily and could even differentiate genders.
"Nonsense, get back Beedrill are pack/hive type Pokémon if there's one here the others are not far off."- She said as she tried to push me back but I wouldn't have it as the Beedrill looked extremely panicked itself, it approached and hovered in front of me, circled me a couple of times and quickly flew off back where it came from in a big rush. Looks like something happened and it wants me to follow it, I rush to follow telling my parents to follow while not making any sudden moves in order to not cause the wild Pokémon to panic and attack us. Mom still looked worried as always and still wanted to take me out of the forest fast, but seeing me head deeper in and Dad following behind soon after she had no choice but to relent and follow as well.
We soon arrived in the territory occupied by the Beedrill, we could see many of them flying about while Kakuna hung from trees and the Weedle were crawling around the place. I slowed down for my parents to catch up before heading in the direction the Beedrill from before flew off. Judging from the look on Mom's face she looked like she could empty 10 cans of Max Repel, have Tess use Hypnosis on me and haul us all out of the forest any moment now, but thankfully she held in her impulses. As we proceeded further in slowly we came across a small crowd of Pokémon surrounding a Weedle that was lying on the forest floor, it looked weak and like it had difficulty in moving. I went forward to have a closer look but Mom got a firm hold of the back of my shirt and didn't want to let me go-
"Sage don't you even think about moving another step forward."-She said.
"Its OK Mom they won't hurt me, besides that Weedle looks ill I have to help."-I said as I gently pat her arms and slowly move forward.
As I draw close to the injured Pokémon the others make way for me while making anxious sounds that I take to mean as requests for help. I approach Weedle and bend down to examine it, its entire body is stiff and there is a yellowish tinge around it-its paralysed. Well a Cheri berry would make it feel better but I also know that Bug types don't like the spicy taste of that berry so I turn back to Dad and ask for the bag, I take out the pestle and mortar along with a Cheri berry, an Oran berry and some Syrup. I grind everything into a paste and pour it into a dripper and return to Weedle, I slowly raise its head and feed it the medicine, the taste seems to be to its liking as it soon finishes the entire prepared portion. I then start to slowly massage the Pokémon in the way Nurse Joy taught me to, she said that massaging Paralysed Pokémon helps their muscles relax and the medicine to spread faster she also said that Pokémon in general like to be massaged. It seems to be working as the yellowish glow soon fades away and Weedle starts to move more energetically, it gets up and rubs its head to my arm as the other Pokémon start making sounds of relief and happiness, I pet and rub Weedle's head a little before getting up and slowly making my way back to my parents. Dad seems okay as he's used to scenes like this but Mom is downright shocked and her mouth is hanging open a little.
"How.. h..how did you do that?"-Mom
"I learnt it from Nurse Joy, she taught me some first aid procedures and also a little about raising Pokémon."-I reply.
"Now do you believe that our son is not in any danger here, things like this happen often and even if they didn't who could ever be mean and hurt my dear Sage *humph* even the most ferocious Pokémon would become meek in front of his cute charm."-Dad starts trailing off topic while doting on me *sigh*.
As the day progresses Mom observes how I easily get along with various Pokémon and her worries soon reduce-not gone, just reduced. On our way back home she questions me intensely on all my experiences and where I learnt all the things that I seem to know, but are way beyond what any normal 4 year old should know. I was worried about how I would explain this to them I couldn't tell them that I was actually reincarnated from a 17 year old teen of another world now could I but my innate skill gave me a convenient scapegoat. I told them I learnt to read thanks to my skill (which is part true as I wouldn't be able to learn this world's new language so soon without it) and that I spent a lot of time going through the books in the Pokémon Centre library. They were shocked at first but it soon subsided as they knew of my innate skill and its abilities so they could accept what I said when taking that into consideration.
That night at the dinner table Mom decided to bring up a new topic, she suggested that I enrol into school early as I seemed eager to learn. Although she said that I seem to feel that it was a ploy of hers to keep me away from the forest, must be her reasoning that I was so bored that I decided to adventure in the forest (which was again true). I wasn't particularly against attending preschool as I really wanted to know more about the education system in this world; my only regret was that I would not be able to spend as much time in the forest as before. Thus I was to enrol in Azalea Town Preschool starting next week Monday.
Time was really flying by now, it was soon the day for me to attend school and I would be lying if I said that I wasn't feeling the tension that accompanies any kid on his first day of school at a new place. Anyway the school was housed in a big building near the centre of town, it was really colourful but still didn't look gaudy and the campus was well maintained and clean. Many kids stopped playing to turn and look at me, the new kid, as I accompanied Mom and Dad across the playground to the office to finish off the formalities and have me officially enrolled. After everything was set and my parents were about to leave Mom knelt down to meet my, gave me a hug and a kiss to my forehead then said "All the very best Sage dear, do your best, have fun and make lots of friends. Remember to tell Mommy all about your day later; I'll come to pick you up in the afternoon. *sniff* my son already a school boy..." Mom was tearing up towards the end of it. Dad on the other hand; *pang* a pat landed on my back so hard that I nearly fell over "Bwahahaha... our son is a genius, there's absolutely no need to worry." He said but I could still make out the slight trembling in his voice, apparently he was having mixed feelings too. Eventually they were escorted out by one of the attendants saying that class would start soon and they could come pick me up later.
Another attendant led me towards my first class just as the bell rang. When I arrived at my class and gave my introduction it was just as expected, everyone was looking at me as if I were a rare Pokémon on display; one gaze was especially fierce, that of a young girl I recognized-Heart Campbell. Things were going to get interesting now.