Zenitsu heaved a heavy sigh as he followed the path leading through the forest, kicking pebbles along the way leisurely, not caring if he hit or missed them. Through holes in the roof above him made from countless lush and green leaves beams of sunlight broke through, enlightening the otherwise dark forest. It was a pleasantly warm day even though it was still early spring. That didn't hinder nature from blooming in all its glory already.
With his sharp hearing, a gift he has been blessed with ever since his birth, it was easy for Zenitsu to pick up the sounds of a swarm of Pidgeys high in the skies. They chirped and sang alike and it was easy to lose oneself in the sounds. From somewhere nearby Zenitsu also heard the sound of a deep grumble, followed by meeker squeaks. The rumble definitely belonged to a large Venusaur. That much Zenitsu was certain of. He could only guess about the other noises, but if he had to take a guess they were most likely coming from tiny Bulbasaurs. They were probably a family enjoying the warm and peaceful day.
Yet, Zenitsu couldn't find it in himself to join in the happiness. For him, it was a gloomy day that couldn't get any worse even though it was supposed to be the complete opposite. His friends Inosuke and Tanjiro alongside him had recently turned fifteen, so the time was due for all of them to follow the dream they shared ever since they had been toddlers. According to their parents, the first word each of them ever used was "Pokemon", a word that became their dream shortly after. The three of them had been inseparable, always sticking together no matter what.
So it was no surprise that they would choose their first partner together as well. Professor Oak, grandpa and mentor to all of them alike, didn't hold back and gave them countless options. Many Pokemon lived in his laboratory and the areas around, inhabited by Pokemon Zenitsu had never seen before. The blond teed had no clue which Pokemon he should choose and which Pokemon would even accept him as a partner. While he stood there, totally overwhelmed, his friends were already a step ahead of him.
Inosuke was the first to find a partner. As usual, he ran around like a furious Mankey, screaming words nobody could understand until something crashed into him from behind, sending him face-first into the dirt. "What the hell!" he roared after standing up. From behind him resonated a snarl, the origin the Deino that had attacked him. This Pokemon was famous to be unpredictable which made it difficult to tame, yet the same could be said about Inosuke as well.
Tanjiro and Zenitsu sweat-dropped as they observed the encounter unfold between the two. Both were wild and passionate, constantly bashing their heads together as they struggled to find out who was the stronger one between the two of them. Minutes later both lay exhausted in the grass, skulls aching, but somehow both looked pretty happy. Suddenly Inosuke began to smile. "Alright, I have decided. You're gonna become my partner!" Inosuke proclaimed and with that, the first team was formed since the Deino responded with an affirming grunt.
"Do you think these two will be fine?" Zenitsu asked, uncertain what he should think about this. "I think so," came Tanjiro's uncertain reply. Zenitsu wanted to say something else, but his sharp hearing suddenly picked up noise from behind them. It was so quiet that he had barely noticed it. Turning around he found himself eye to eye with a Riolu, the aura Pokemon, before it averted its gaze away from him and instead to the scarlet-haired teen behind him. From textbooks and Professor Oak's lessons, Zenitsu knew that this Pokemon was extremely shy and rarely showed itself. Yet, this one Sensing Zenitsu's surprise, Tanjiro turned around as well but stopped when crimson met crimson.
"Oh? This is a rather peculiar situation we have here, isn't it?" Professor Oak's gentle voice analysed from the background, observing Tanjiro and Riolu with great interest.
"Professor, I thought Riolu was a reclusive Pokemon?" It was meant as a statement but sounded much more like a question. Tanjiro looked at the professor as well, hoping that the wise man had an explanation for this weird behaviour. In response, the old man massaged his chin, mulling over something before he answered.
"Normally yes, but do you remember why Riolu is called the aura Pokemon?" The teens shook their heads in synchronized denial. "Riolu can sense a person's aura. It is said that every living being has a different type of aura, a summary of their personality believes and wishes. As a matter of speaking, I think you could even call it a person's soul or core and Riolu is able to see this core with its abilities. I guess something about Tanjiro's soul must have picked the interest of Riolu. Maybe their souls are resonating with each other," Professor Oak explained.
After the explanation Zenitsu and Tanjiro looked back to the Riolu, still gazing intensively at the scarlet-haired teen. Long moments passed by before Tanjiro knelt, reaching out his right hand to greet Riolu. A gentle and radiant smile took over his lips as well and seemingly this did the trick because the aura Pokemon accepted the invitation, slowly getting closer and closer to Tanjiro until they were near enough for a hug.
In an unexpected move, Riolu placed its paws on Tanjiro's chest, right above the spot where his heart was. A moment later, a bluish shine emitted from within Tanjiro. Zenitsu was almost freaked out, ready to pull away the Pokemon from his friend, but Professor Oak's hand on his shoulder stopped him from doing so. "Just watch," the wise man said, giving a reassuring pat on Zenitsu's back, telling him that everything was okay and that there was no reason for concern. It helped him to calm down a little bit, but only after he saw Tanjiro's relaxed expression did the blond teen believe that his friend was indeed in no danger.
Soon enough, the blue glimmer within Tanjiro's chest vanished and there was a happy-sounding yelp from Riolu. It looked like the aura Pokemon liked what it saw in Tanjiro's soul because a moment later, it was already grabbing into the pocket of Tanjiro's Charizard sweater and pulled out the Pokeball and placed it in Tanjiro's hand. Then it pushed one of its paws against the button activating the item and vanished in a blending light of red. The Pokeball didn't even wiggle once before a click announced the successful catch.
Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Professor Oak were all surprised by this sudden development, but it was replaced by joy soon enough. "This was so cool Tanjiro! You're really something else!" the blond teen exclaimed, causing a mild flush on the scarlet-haired teen's cheeks. Professor oak's agreement only intensified it.
However, that meant that Zenitsu was the only one who had yet to choose his partner, but no matter how long he looked around, no Pokemon seemed interested in him. It only got worse as he witnessed how Inosuke and Tanjiro were already forming the first bonds with their individual partners. He was of course happy for his friends, but it also fuelled his growing insecurities about whether he was suited to be a Pokemon trainer or not. At some point, everything became too much for him and he broke down.
"I'm sorry Professor Oak, but I can't do this." With that, he ran, ran as fast as his legs could carry him and never stopped. Not even when his friends were calling his name from behind him. He needed to be alone right now and that was how he ended up in the forest, hoping that he would find the solitude he was searching for within the shadows of the trees.
He had no idea how long he was walking through the deep forest, not that he cared anyway. Zenitsu sighed again as he closed his eyes. "I'm really pathetic." the blond teen admitted to himself, letting the words and the weight they carried sink into his heart and soul. Why he had even tried to become a trainer was beyond him. Maybe because he didn't want to feel left out, maybe because he was so uncreative that he was unable to come up with a dream on his own. Either way, he was glad that nobody was nearby to hear the truth about him. At least Zenitsu thought so until there was a noise nearby he was pretty familiar with.
Looking at the source he found a Weedle crawling across the floor, curiously looking at him. He had seen the bug Pokemon countless times and was aware that there was no need to be worried about them. As long as he didn't show any signs of hostility, the large worm would just continue crawling towards its home. But then there was a similar sound and when Zenitsu looked into the direction it came from, he found another Weedle, this one sitting in a bush and also eyeing him curiously. Then there was yet another Weedle calling out, followed by an echo all around him. Wherever he looked, there were Weedles everywhere and all of them were looking only at him.
Zenitsu felt how his heart rate slowly increased, the muscle pounding stronger against his chest than before. Suddenly branches above him began to rustle as countless Kakunas were abseiling from the trees' tops, chirping like crickets. The blond teen began having problems with his breathing as more and more bug Pokemon appeared from the shadows of the trees. Zenitsu disliked how they were staring at him, disliked the glint he could perceive in their large eyes. 'So many Weedles and Kakunas normally means that-' he thought to himself but stopped abruptly as he heard another noise heading towards him.
Buzzing wings and snapping twigs came first before enraged screeches followed, so loud that Zenitsu feared his eardrums would rapture at any moment. A moment later red, gleaming eyes broke through the darkness of the forest before the swarm of Beedrills appeared from the endless green.
"How could this happen?!" the blond teen cried. "Was I really so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn't notice that I walked straight into a nest of Beedrills?!" Whatever the reason, he was in deep trouble now. With the flying bug Pokemon around, the others would get aggressive as well, ready to poison him for years. He turned and wanted to run in the opposite direction, but only discovered a second swarm closing in on him from there as well which meant he was effectively surrounded with no escape route left.
Paralysed by fear, he dropped on his behind, his whole body shaking from fear as the bug Pokemon chirped all around him. One of the Beedrills moved differently than the others before it suddenly darted forward, its large drills directly aiming at him. Zenitsu shrieked as he closed his eyes, waiting for his end to come, only that it never came.
Suddenly the atmosphere was filled with energy as a lightning bolt rained down from the skies, striking the Beedrill and hitting it dead on. It fell to the ground, passed out by the surprise attack, the sound of thunder still rumbling throughout the entire forest as electricity crackled in the air.
Carefully, Zenitsu opened his eyes again, not believing that he was saved. From one of the trees, a small ball of fluffy yellow fur jumped down and landed directly in front of him as if the new Pokemon was protecting him from the onslaught of bug Pokemon. Zenitsu could barely progress what his eyes were telling him. There in front of him was a small Pikachu, its cheeks puffed up as small lightning bolts emitted, daring the Beedrills to come any closer unless they wanted to meet the same fate as their friend.
The blond teen asked before he thought. "Are you here to help me?" Upon his question, the mouse Pokemon turned around and looked him in the eyes. Of course, Zenitsu had no way of exchanging words with the electro Pokemon, yet he still had the feeling that he could understand the small electro mouse. There was some sort of instant connection he felt between them, but the mad screeched of the Beedrills shattered whatever happened during that one moment.
The Weedles and Kakunas fled, but the flying Beedrills stayed and if anything they looked furious now. The loss of one of their friends must have pushed the wrong button as they were aiming their attack on the Pikachu.
Zenitsu could only watch as Pikachu was fighting for his sake against the onslaught of Beedrills, taking many of them out with its powerful electroshocks, but there were simply too many of them and Pikachu was ultimately overwhelmed. Exhausted from the constant usage of its lightning bolts, electricity was running low and it took longer to charge a new attack, the additional pause more than enough for counterattacks of the Beedrills. Yet, despite its serious injuries, Pikachu fought on until it collapsed on the ground poisoned and bruised. One of the Beedrills was about to unleash the finishing attack, but at the exact same moment, something snapped inside Zenitsu.
"Stop it!" he screamed as he moved without thinking, taking the poisoned strike instead of Pikachu. The long drill graced his ankle, burning pain immediately invading his body as he scooped up Pikachu in his arms and began to run as fast as possible, trying to shield the hurt Pokemon from any further damage. The poison was working fast due to all the movement, but the blond teen held firm even though he had no idea where the exit was. He ran and ran, feeling how he became weaker with every passing second, but his guardian angel was luckily still with him. In the distance he saw light, marking the end of the woods, giving him the additional strength he needed.
When he reached the end and was back in the open fields of his home, Zenitsu collapsed immediately, the poison pumping through his veins finally taking its toll. As the world around him became dark he thought he heard someone crying his name, but he fell unconscious before he could be sure it was not a trick of his mind.
XXX
When his sight returned, the world around him was nothing but a blur and Zenitsu could only groan. Also, there was a weight on his chest that made it slightly difficult to breathe. He wanted to push it away but found not the strength to raise his arms. Instead, he tried to wiggle his body in such a way that whatever the thing on his chest was would roll down. However, when the weight suddenly began squirming Zenitsu haltered his actions immediately.
There was a quiet noise, a sound that only came from someone who had just woken up. His eyes were anything but working, yet he still tried to identify who was laying on his chest. He didn't expect it to be a ball of yellow fur.
"Pikachu...?" he asked, uncertain whether he was still dreaming or not. A few seconds later said Pokemon jumped into his face, hugging him as tightly as possible with its short limbs. Zenitsu yelped in surprise at the sudden and unexpected motion as Pikachu nuzzled its head against his cheek, clearly overjoyed that he was awake again. Before he knew what he was doing he had wrapped his arms around the electro Pokemon, pulling it closer as he relished in the warm hug.
The blond teen had no idea how long the two of them stayed like this, simply feeling blessed in their little moment. At some point though, he remembered what had happened before the world turned dark. The forest, the Beedrills, Pikachu saving him, and his passivity during the entire fight.
"I'm sorry-" he began to speak, but there was a sudden zap throughout his entire body. "Ow!" Zenitsu yelped, already knowing the culprit behind the little shock. He didn't expect for Pikachu to give him a disapproving look, almost like a parent was scolding their child. "What was that for?! I'm just trying to apol-" Another zap. "Ouch! Stop that already!"
In response, Pikachu only glared at the blond teen, clearly not liking what he was doing. To think a Pokemon could have such an insight into a human being was hard to believe, but the Pikachu sitting in his lap now was proving to him why Pokemon were such mysterious creatures, even to this day.
"Are you trying to say that there's nothing to apologize for?" Zenitsu carefully asked, relieved that he wasn't zapped again. Instead, Pikachu only nodded its head in affirmation, stunning the blond teen more and more. A moment later Pikachu pointed with its tale towards the bedside table, to the Pokeball laying on top of it.
Curiously, Zenitsu took the item in his hand, not daring to disobey the electro Pokemon. He liked the way the ball felt in his hand, almost weightless yet holding so much meaning at the same time. Pikachu began cheering though Zenitsu had no idea what to make out of that reaction. He watched how Pikachu was almost bursting with excitement, eyeing the Pokeball with lots of expectations. Could it be?
"Pikachu... is there a chance that you want to be my partner?" In response, the electro mouse jumped up and down. "But-" Zap! This one was stronger than the others from before, momentarily paralysing poor Zenitsu.
"Alright, alright I get it! Just stop electrocuting me already!" he snapped at Pikachu who only huffed in annoyance. Zenitsu eyed the Pokeball in his hand with caution, the words bubbling from his mouth before he could stop them. This time Pikachu didn't zap him.
"I can't promise you that I will become the best trainer in the world or that I will always understand your feelings. I can't promise you to not be afraid anymore, but from here on out I will always try my best." Zenitsu took a deep breath before he continued. "Do you still want to become my partner?" The blond teen searched Pikachu's eyes, needing to see that the Pokemon was certain what it was getting itself into, but he only found resolve.
"Pika, pika!" With that, the electro Pokemon touched the button that would seal their bond, disappearing in a blinding red light within the ball. And just like it had been with Tanjiro and Riolu, there was not a single wiggle before the Pokeball clicked, the sign of a successful catch. Zenitsu smiled widely, holding the ball close to his chest as realisation slowly sank into him.
"I'm a real trainer now," he murmured to himself. Suddenly he heard the door to the room he was in opening, and two very familiar faces appeared in the doorway. "Do you think Zenitsu is awa-" It was Tanjiro's voice, but it died down the moment his crimson eyes landed on the blond teen. "Good morning" Zenitsu lamely said since he had no idea how long he had been out. He didn't get a chance to ask though because in less than a second his friend had crossed the distance between them, his arms around Zenitsu's neck in a crushing embrace.
"Zenitsu!" Tanjiro cried, tears forming in his eyes. "You are finally awake! We were so worried about you!" the redhead sobbed, burying his face in the crock of Zenitsu's neck. It was quite shocking for the blond teen to witness such a reaction, even more so because a moment later Inosuke claimed his still free side.
"You damn idiot. Never make us so worried again!" Seeing his two best friends crying in front of him, shedding hot tears with every passing second, broke Zenitsu and he joined them in their crying. The three boys sobbed together for minutes before they had calmed down enough. Zenitsu told them everything that had happened in the forest as well as the events that took place minutes before they arrived, showing them with pride swelling in his chest the Pokeball in which his new Partner was living now.
