Next chapter contains very dark thoughts and actions. If you are offended by such things I advise you skip that chapter. Please and thank you.
The vulpine huffed and turned away from Ben as he recalled Oshawott. Logan was smart enough to know where this conversation was gonna go. He and Ben had been seeming to get along. Actually there was no 'seeming' about it. They were getting along, and then Logan went into his ball for a bit, and when he came back out he was like this again. "What happened while you were in the Pokeball? I thought we agreed to start over. I thought we were finally gonna work together. What changed?"
Logan sighed and shook his head. He wasn't in the mood for this. He never was. He just wanted to be left alone. "I don't wanna talk about it. Not like it's any of your business anyways." That was his go to when he didn't want to talk to someone. It's not your business. It worked many times, but it wasn't gonna work this time.
"Logan, we're partners." He always used the word partners. It showed equality, not ownership, even though he did legally own Logan. "If something is bothering you, it is my business. I want to help you." He walked up and placed his webbed left hand on Logan's right shoulder. The muscles in that area twitched as he made contact. The contact was a little awkward with how much taller the Zoroark was. He tried to look Logan in the eyes, but the fox turned again to face directly away from him. "Logan, please. Let me help you."
"I don't want any help. You wanna make me happy? Then recall me and leave me alone. I'm not saying another word to you." The tone indeed had a sense of finality. Ben sighed and grabbed Logan's pokeball.
"If you ever wanna talk, I'll listen."
Logan turned into the familiar red energy and was drawn into the ball. Ben checked his phone once he attached the ball to his belt again. He still had about 80 minutes. He walked over to the grass that was within the ruined building, whatever it once was, and began hunting for a Munna. He found many a Purrloin and Patrat. Patrat he had no interest in, and only served as extra training for Oshawott. Purrloin could be a decent addition, but he already had a Dark Type. Though whether said Dark Type would ever listen to him was still up in the air, but he hoped he would. Finally, about seven minutes before he would have headed for the Center, he found what he was looking for. A Munna emerged from the grass. Though still worried about the mental state of his Zoroark, he was happy he found the Pokémon he was looking for.
"A Munna, great! This thing's Hypnosis could be the difference between victory and defeat in that first Gym." Ben had done his research. He knew exactly what was coming when he challenged the Gym. He'd be pitted against a Pansage. The Grass Type would make quick work of Oshawott, and Logan's cooperation was far from guaranteed, so he needed something else, and here was the something else. He sent Oshawott out and told him to go with a Water Gun. If that Munna got it's Hypnosis off before Oshawott did some damage Oshawott may go down before waking. It would depend on how long he remained asleep. That was chance. Ben didn't like chance. So he elected to do damage now in case it started with Hypnosis. Oshawott opened his mouth and spat water at the pink creature. It seemed to hit pretty hard, but the Munna stayed up, which was good in this instance. The Munna pulsed with pink energy, and Oshawott fell over, asleep. "I was afraid of that. Doesn't matter. Another Water Gun may have knocked it out." He pulled an empty Pokeball out of his back and threw it. His aim was true and the ball hit its mark dead on. The Munna was sucked in and the ball began to wiggle. After a few moments it stopped. That was that. "Guess I better enjoy the easy catches while the Pokémon are low leveled. It's gonna get a lot harder as I go."
He quickly read the info that came up, Male, Level 10, Stored Power, Defense Curl, Hypnosis, and Psybeam. He pretty much disregarded the text that told him about him, because it was very late and he needed to get to the Center and get to bed.
He got there almost exactly at his desired time, got his room, and went in. He sent Logan out, but something was very wrong. Logan didn't insult him, he didn't say anything sarcastic, he didn't say anything at all. He just climbed in one of the beds and curled up. This kind of scared Ben, but he put the fears to rest for now. 'Perhaps he's just holding a bit of a grudge. He'll probably be talking again tomorrow.' Ben took his belt off, set it on the counter with the alarm clock, and got in the other bed.
January 7th. 2019. Dawn
Ben woke up expecting some sort of food smell, but he couldn't detect anything. He was sort of puzzled. Logan was always up and eating when he woke up. He looked over at the other bed, and saw that Logan hadn't even woke up yet, or at least he hadn't got out of bed. Ben took the covers off, put his belt on, and shook Logan gently. He was rewarded by Logan looking over to him. "Come on, time for breakfast." Logan gave a small "Hm," but didn't say or do anything else. Ben was a little concerned, but didn't make a big deal of it. 'Maybe he's just sleepy or a little under the weather. I don't want him getting angry at me for making a big deal out of nothing.' Ben waited for the Zoroark to drag himself out of bed, and they walked down to the lobby together. Ben used the nifty waffle maker to, well, make a waffle, and grabbed some sausage. Logan however, just grabbed a couple pieces of bacon. This sort of put Ben at ease. 'If he's not eating he's probably just a bit sick. Maybe he just has an upset stomach.' Logan clearly didn't like people prying in his personal business, so Ben would only do so if absolutely necessary, or when Logan trusted him enough to open up about his past.
Once Ben and Logan had finished eating, Ben spoke to Logan. "So, today I'm just gonna train Munna and Oshawott up a bit to get them ready for the Gym. Anything tou wanna do?" Logan shook his head. "Do you wanna just be left in your Pokeball?"
"Yeah. Sounds good." Logan's voice wasn't as... confident as it usually was, but at least he was talking. Ben withdrew him and put the ball on his belt.
'Must just be sick.'
Ben returned to The Dreamyard and spent the entire day training Oshawott and Munna. Mostly Munna. With Pokémon challenging them near constantly, he was able to get both of his Pokémon to Level 14 before nightfall, even with the trips he had to make to the Center to heal them and replenish their Moves. He decided they were ready to challenge the Striaton Gym once he had healed his Pokémon one last time. He walked up to the building, took a breath, and stepped in. It was time for his first real challenge as a Trainer.
He stepped into the mostly wooden interior. Cilian was not far away, and when he saw Ben, he walked over. The human brushed his apron down and spoke confidently. "Hello. My name is Cilian. Welcome to the Striaton City Gym. Me and my brothers are the leaders here, and judging by the Pokeballs on your belt, you're here to challenge me." Ben nodded with a smile. "Well then. Which starter did you pick?"
"I chose Oshawott."
"Oh, so you'll be battling me then. I'll be waiting at the end of the Gym. You're much older than most of the other challengers so I assume you know how this works. I'll make it quick. Pick the Type with the advantage over the Type you see on the curtains, win the battles against the trainers behind the curtains, and you'll reach us. Beat me, and you get your badge."
"Simple enough. I'll see you then." Cilian nodded and walked towards the back of the Gym. The first curtain was Fire. Ben quickly located the Water pressure pad and stepped on it. The curtain opened and he walked through, where a human waiter was there to battle him. He introduced himself as Maxwell and sent out a Lilipup. Ben sent out Oshawott, and with a simple pair of Water Guns, the Lilipup went down with Oshawott only taking minor damage. Maxwell congratulated Ben on his victory and handed him some money. A Water Type curtain was next, which Ben quickly answered with Grass. The curtain opened and he was greeted by a female ferret waitress named Tia. She sent out a Patrat, which Oshawott felled with a single Water Gun thanks to a critical hit. The Patrat was recalled and replaced by a Purrloin. Knowing that this battle would require a minimum of two Moves baring another crit, he elected to just use another pair of Water Guns so it would only get the one Attack off. It was another minor hit, but Ben sprayed Oshawott down with a Potion to ensure he was in tip top shape before the Gym Leader. Tia handed him his prize money and wished him luck. The final curtain was Grass, which Ben answered correctly with Fire.
"Man this really is a Gym for kids if this is the rite of passage." Ben brushed his fur off with his claws a bit to make sure he looked respectable, then he walked up to the trio of Leaders. Eager to get into his fight, he spoke first. "Ok look, I know who you three are and I know who I'm facing. Can we please just get on with it? I'm itching for this battle!"
Chili chuckled. "You've got some fire in your belly. I like that. Ok Cilian. Take it away."
Cilian stepped up and stood about 15 feet away from Ben. "Well we may already be acquainted, but it's kinda tradition, so. I am Cilian. Grass Type leader of us brothers. Let us test how well you can overcome a Type disadvantage."
Ben bent his knees a bit and sent out Oshawott, knowing Lilipup was the first of the two to come. The small dog Pokémon appeared in front of his sea otter. "Ok Oshawott, this one is all yours." He ran back through a couple things in his head. 'Tail Whip will lower its Physical Defense, but that won't be useful with Water Gun, which gets STAB. Focus Energy will boost critical rate, but Water Gun should only take two hits to take it down.' "Oshawott, kick it off with Water Gun." Oshawott opened its mouth and shot a stream of water which found the Lilipup. The damage seemed pretty significant. Something which Cilian noticed.
"Ok Lilipu, we're probably only gonna get one shot off, so use Bite." The loyal pup closed in and bit down on Oshawott's arm. Oshawott recoiled in pain, but that damage wasn't anything to worry about. Ben ordered a second Water Gun, which put the Lilipup down for the count. Cilian withdrew it. "Now as you probably know, you may switch out now. Pansage is coming up. Wanna switch?"
"Yes I do. Good work Oshawott. You did exactly what I needed." He recalled Oshawott and grabbed Munna's ball. "Ok Munna, win this for us!" He threw it and the floating Psychic emerged onto the battlefield.
"Nice catch. Those things are pretty rare." Ben gave a thank you in reply, before focusing back on the battle. "Ok Pansage, go for Paralysis. Use Lick."
'Uh oh.' Ben had completely neglected to get any Paralyze Heals. Pansage ran forwards and licked Munna. Munna floated backwards a bit before shuddering. Paralyzed. "Crap. Ok. No reason to panic yet. Munna, use Hypnosis." Munna prepared to use the Move, but it froze. It failed to perform the action, and thus it was forfeited. "This is not going well." Cilian then called for a Vine Whip. It dealt a not insignificant amount of damage. "Come on Munna, try to use Hypnosis again." Munna made to use it, and this time was able to get it off. Unfortunately, the Pansage had its eyes closed at the time, so it did nothing. "Shoot!" Pansage was asked to use Vine Whip again, which it did. The Move struck home, and unfortunately for Ben, it did critical damage, and Munna went down. Pansage had not received so much as a scratch. "No! Well, guess it's up to you Oshawott." He knew this was probably futile, but he sent the Water Type out. Pansage was faster and landed another Vine Whip. The double damage Attack finished off Oshawott to Ben's dismay, but not surprise. He grabbed Logan's Pokeball and froze. "I'm not sure if we should continue. This Pokémon is... not nice."
Cilian gave a warm smile. "Oh how bad could it be?"
"Ok, but for what it's worth, I'm sorry."
