Nate isn't having a good time. The sun is hot, hot enough to make Nate thinks his sweat will be evaporated the moment it touches the ground. At least Pignite is having a good time with being a fire Pokemon and all.
His blue jacket has tied around his waist and Nate was this close to taking off his black t-shirt too because holy Arceus is there an army of Pokemon using Sunny days right now?! Nate's useless hand fanning himself with zero effectiveness and his overheating mind start contemplating where everything went wrong.
It was a good day. His journey is going smoothly, catching up with his friend, meeting interesting people, a new badge is obtained and his Pokemon and team are growing stronger. Nate takes it into his head it's a fine time to look for Pokemon to add to his Pokedex or even a new member for the team to be ready for the next Gym battle. Now Nate few like all those things gonna be meaningless soon because he's so gonna die here for all the heat that Nate is pretty sure he is boiling from the inside. Why never in Nate's head that he didn't catch water or ice Pokemon yet was beyond him other than he is seriously regretting it.
Nate's head is spinning, overheating, he can't breathe and he can't remember where are they and Nate feels like crying but that gonna make him die faster. In the corner of his vision, Pignite is making some weird gestures and letting some worry noise from his snout.
Nate must have hallucinated because he seriously just heard a "how stupid can these humans get?" And Yeah, Pignite is right but that is so not cool.
White spots appear on Nate's vision and he stumbled, Pignite caught him and hauled him up. It's sweet and all but touching a fire Pokemon at a 50-degree temperature is not so helpful. Nate's too exhausted to realize the line he heard is from a newcomer and Pignite is protectively shielding him with its body.
A panic cried erupting from the fire and fighting Pokemon desperately shook his trainer as Nate went completely limp and faint.
Nate blinked, he is laying on something solf under the shade of some tree. Its leaves are quite strange and foreign but Nate is sure he see it *somewhere* before. It's quite cooling and nice and smells faintly sweet and Nate swears to Arceus that there is a piece of ice in the corner of his eyes.
"Pignite! Pignite! Pigniteee!". Nate was practically crushed when his 55 kgs Fire Pig Pokemon launched itself onto him. pignite hug him tightly and occasionally let out fire through its snout as cried of celebrating. Nate laugh as best as he could while being crushed, hands patting Pignite's back.
"I'm really sorry buddy. I must have scared you really bad." Nate says and hugs his starter back, he did feel real guilt for scaring his best friend like that and how unresponsible of him to let his Pokemon to take care of his unconscious body.
It seems, fortunately, someone must-have found them because Nate recognized the solf thing he's laying on is a bedroll and there is really stalactite ice pointing upward right next to him, the only way to have some goddamn ice around here is through Pokemon and Nate's shading tree just moves.
"You awake." A statement. A statement that rings in his head not his ears.
Nate blink, suddenly tensed, and his hold of Pignite turn rigid which the fire pig Pokemon tilts its head at him. He gulped and gently shifted Pignite off him then sat up.
An Espeon is looking at him. The sun Pokemon sitting not too far, it an elegant and glamorous pokemon, its fur is smooth and well-groomed, Sapphire eyes glinting beautifully with the sharpness of intelligence while the ruby between its eyes glowing. It looks relaxed and Nate dare says it looks amusing with its twin tails switching at the end.
"H-hi?" He croaked out. Throat sore from dehydration.
Nate tensed when the rudy shine brightly but relaxed a little when a water bottle flowed to him. He take it gratefully and drank the bottle with the desperation of a clem man.
"T-thank you." He says, can't quite keep the awkward out but the Sun Pokemon doesn't seem to bother.
"Your welcome."
Nate cringed, he never gets comfortable with having a psychic voice in his head, Nate would argue on and on about that's the self-preservation instinct because C'mon are you seriously okay with *another* voice in your head?
The Espeon tilts its head and Nate sweatdrop at the realization that it could very much read his thought right now. Pignite must think Nate is been bullied by the Sun Pokemon because it nudged him with his snout (an obvious sign Tegid just evolved) and huffs at Espeon.
The Sun Pokemon's unblinking stare at Nate makes him anxious and he prayed to god its trainer is nearby.
And he is, sitting on the large rock by the riverside with a fishing rod in hand. Nate can only see his back so he really can't tell this dude is older than him or not. He has long flat raven hair and wears an equally back T-shirt with blue jeans. Whether he notices Nate is staring at him or not, the man didn't make a move to acknowledge it.
There is a big blue shell Pokemon in the river right next to the mysterious trainer. It has large brown eyes, a short horn on its forehead, and tightly curled ears. It has a long neck and four flippers. The foremost flippers are larger than the hind. On its back is a heavy, gray shell covered in blunt knobs. It looks gentle and kind, well kinder than the Espeon for sure. Nate jumped when he heard a snort in the direction of the Sun Pokemon.
"Stop reading my mind!" Nate call out annoyed. Face a bit redden. Pignite balls his fist and huffs, moral supporting his trainer.
"Apology." It would sound genuine if it wasn't for the thick amusement. And Nate just realized the psychic voice has a feminine tone in it.
He wipes out his Pokedex and started scanning.
"Espeon, the Sun Pokemon. Its fur is so sensitive, it can sense minute shifts in the air and predict the weather."
"It seems my entry is changed again."
Nate sends a confused look to the purple feline before turning back to his supposed shady tree.
"Venusaur, the seed Pokemon. After a rainy day, the flower on its back smells stronger. The scent attracts other Pokémon."
'Neat' Nate thinks, crawling a bit back to see the full view of the seed Pokemon. So it's a flower, not a tree. Bumpy blue-green skin and a thick, brown trunk surrounded by green fronds support the flower on its back. Nate didnt see its face or eyes so he concluded it facing opposite him.
He turns to the blue-ish Pokemon.
"Lapras, the transport Pokemon. It loves crossing the sea with people and Pokémon on its back. It understands human speech."
"That cute," Nate muttered and ignored the snort. The ice sharp properly comes from Lapras so Nate gives it a grateful nodded which it merrily nod right back. a red big shell flowing in the river at the left of the man. It looks tough and scary with how many scratches makes on it.
'It's wasn't there before Nate thinks and curiously scanned the shell.
"Blastoise, the shellfish Pokemon. The jets of water it spouts from the rocket cannons on its shell can punch through thick steel."
"Oh whoa...". It is cool as much as it is dangerous. And he side glance at the man then scanned him too to be sure isn't a Pokemon in disguise. Shif like that happens often and it's ain't fun.
"Human." So he's human...The 'silent protagonist' air surrounding the man seems to say otherwise. This is extraordinary, all these Pokemon aren't navies to Unova, they are Kanto's. The fishing man must be an internal or regional trainer!
"Hello? Um, thank you for helping me!" Nate says. Trainers who faint in the wild or tall grass is a very dangerous situation, they either get robbed or worst get killed, the number of Trainers who died each year isn't many but it's not exactly 0 neither. Nate very much doesn't want to be in the population of 'dead trainers' town.
The man finally turned to face Nate. He looks handsome, maybe in his twenties or so. Sharp chin, thick eyebrow, long eye slash, concave nose, and spotless pale skin though his bangs are a bit too long as it covers most of his eyes, Nate still can see a pair of dark rudy. His mouth pulls in a straight line and the emotionless look on his face sends a really clean signal to Nate that he's disinterested. He nodded once then turned back to fishing.
"Um..." Nate is a bit lost now. His helper just gave him cold shoulder, and Espeon is bullying him and he's being surrounded by 4 final evolution Pokemons. This could really go worst if he makes a wrong move.
At least that Lapras is sending him sympathy looks.
"Don't worry about him." Espeon takes pity on Nate. "Akan really don't like to talk so don't feel too down."
Nate nodded with half confused half accepted. He was taught to accept and respect whatever hobbies or references of anyone as long as it doesn't hurt anybody else. If the man or *Akan* don't like to talk then he doesn't need to talk, his Espeon's doing the job just fine after all.
"Okay. Can you tell me where we are?" Nate looks at the Espeon when he asks that. The feline's head tilts slightly and its gem glow.
"Yes, I can. However, there's a favor I need to ask of you first."
"Okay..." Nate says carefully, he did own them after all but a favor coming from a Pokemon is rather ominous. "As long as it's within reasonable..."
"Nothing like that! I just need a second opinion, that's all"
Nate relaxes at that. "Alright fire ahead."
The sun Pokemon purrs in satisfy, getting on all four and gracefully walking toward its trainer.
"As you can see. Akan here is on a phase." Its says. Rubbing its head against its trainer who is indifferent to the touch or being addressed.
"A phase...?" Nate titles his head sightly in confusion, Pignite copies him. Unsure brown eyes glance up to the mentioning men, who may or may not be hearing this conversation right now.
"Yes, as you human says it. Akan is in a phase. He is bored. Despairing bored. And, well, we have been looking for anything to entertain him but nothing seems to work." Espeon sighed, sounding remarkably like a mother of a teenager. "He has been fishing here for long enough that im afraid there not many fishes left." It chuckled, literally chuckled in his head.
"Um," Nate said.
"I'm hoping that you have the perfect answer. As a human teenager boy, you must know many sources of entertainment. Well, entertainment that doesn't involve talking to other people of course! "
"Um," Nate said again. He was taken back by the strange situation he's in and it seems the day's just getting weirder and weirder. Espeon's expecting an answer from him though.
"Pokemon battle?" Nate guesses, a very unsubtle hint of 'please battle me'. Calling out commands isn't count as general conversating is it? Nate looks hopefully at Espeon.
Espeon looks unimpressed.
"I mean, it isn't counted at conversation?" Espeon just stared at him. Nate feels thoroughly admonished.
Entertainment that doesn't include other people does narrow a lot down, to be honest. "There's gaming, reading, watching movies, fishing, training, and a lot of like that."
The sun Pokemon hums. "We did try half of your suggestions, Akan's try fishing today but it bored him already. He only still doing it because have nothing else to do." The feline snicked, purring and bumping against the man in a teasing manner and Nate feels his lips curd up.
Akan decided to turn into the conversation right then. His upper slightly turn and hand reach out to pet the Espeon much to the feline delighted. The fishing rob lay abandoned by his feet.
Nate takes the chance to examine the man more thoroughly.
His dark Ruby eyes are rather detached and half-lidded. Mouth into pull straight and not a signal movement of the eyebrows to make it easier to guess what he feeling. An unmistakable embody of neutral, the perfect visible manifestation of boredom. contrasting the image of his Espeon who purring like a washing machine on hard mode underneath his touch.
His Pignite jump up then and storm toward the pair. Its snout snorted out flames and its eyes shining with absurd determination. It's started dancing, hooves fists hammering again its chest, and cries out its name loudly.
Nate was dumbfounded but can't help but laugh adoringly. Pignite's dancing to amuse the man as a thank is adorable and precious. Nate has seen this dance when they have some free time at Pokemon Center, little Tepig then later Pignite mimicking a popular Pokemon's dance was so clumsy and adorable that Nate may have wept and smiled for the rest of the week afterward.
Too bad Akan didn't show a hint of change, still thoughtless gazes and a neutral face. Nate started to expect the dude wasn't actually human after all, must have some sobby backstory of his dark past or something equally cliche like that for his lips to not even tug upward. Espeon was a cross between amused and puzzled while the Lapras after them chirped out melodic tunes.
"Your dance is very lovely, young ones. It pleased us greatly, specially Akan." The Sun Pokemon applauded. Pidnite huffs proudly then run to Nate, looking up at him expecting to be praised.
Nate petted his starter without looking away from Akan whom face is emotionless, like being craved into stone. Only his eyes trailing after Pignite then meet Nate's before retreating back to Espeon.
'Maybe he just shy...' Nate concluded.
"I'm glad to hear it," Nate says, awkwardly rubbing his neck.
"Yes, I'll keep what your suggestions in mind though we have already tried most, I supposed asking this off you is a bit sudden."
Nate gets that his advice's more or less useless but Espeaon didn't need to be so brutal about it. "Jeez... you are welcomed"
The feline giggles, in his head. The silence now is much comforted and relaxing so Nate sum up more courage to ask more questions.
" How long are you planning to stay here, if you don't mind me asking".
"Well, it depends really." The feline humms thoughtful.
" Depend on?"
"How long till the Champion of this region found us."
"Huh?" Nate was expecting an answer along the line of 'two or three weeks, sightseeing and all you know?'. Not fucking 'yeah, we might be wanted criminals in hiding.' Or something as terrible.
" Ah..." Nate's hands started to creepy towards the pocket where his phone was located. " Are you...criminals?" He asked measurely, careful letting out words by word. Nate doesn't really think he would make it out, so the phone is more like to record his wills or how he has heroically died. Alder might not be the best example of Champion but he takes his job seriously so Nate trusts his region's champion would bring Justice for him.
Espeon laughs physically laughs out loud. The graceful and composed of it chip away a little bit. The transport Pokemon beside chirps out its name and then started to swim upstream of the river to elsewhere but Nate's gaze is too busy to follow it. Instead, he scowled at the Sun Pokemon, face burning with humiliation.
'Fucking psychics Pokemon...!'
"Hm, a heroic sacrifice? Very adorable young on." The feline humms as its laugh die down. Purrs and pressing to it trainer who *still* indifferent to all of this.
"Shut up!" Nate bark out. Embarrass out of his skin. This is so stupid, he is so stupid. Nate wants to hide under his blanket and never see *this* Espeon ever again!
His Pignite's eyes darting back and front between him and Espeon with a confused look on its face, Nate thank god that it hasn't realized how much of an embarrassing dork its trainer is.
"Now, now. We *all* want our final moments to be heroic, to be eternal and moving after all. To be a part of something more than us is something we all drive for, Pokemon and human alike." Those sympathetic words would land an impact if it haven't for Espeon's Purple jade giving off "LoL" vibes.
"I hate you so much right now," Nate mumbled, face in hands. "So you are, absolutely, completely honest that you guys are not criminal?"
"No young one, we are not. If we were I believe we wouldn't so kindly help you, would we? Much less spare a glance at your vulnerable body." It coos
"I guess..." Nate hates that he can't do anything but take up those words. So he crosses his hands and huffs like a moody teenager. "Then why you say you need leave when Alder finds you?"
Nate eyed the man this time, hands stroking Espeon in his lap, bored and daydreaming like a kid got stuck to his mother's side and have to listen to his mother and her mom friend's conversation that drag on and on.
'He probably is... They probably have this conversation before.'
"Hm, we have planned to leave as soon as someone saw us. Akan is in his solitude phase, so human interaction is limited." Purple jade twinkle with mischievous that Nate can't quite catch.
"... it's a bit extreme," Nate commented. "So you *are* a trainer? A regional one?"
"Hm, we qualify beyond that title I ought to say." The feline purrs proudly.
"An international one?" Nate lend in a bit, excitement sparked and his heart hammering.
Akan shrugged. So he *is* listening in.
Nate gawking may be a little rude but the man finally has some movements that aren't just breathing and dead fish eyes blinking ot just being a stone in general.
'Okay, okay Nate. this's your chance! Don't fuck this up!'
"...so are you gonna leave soon? Like after I left?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
"Um, so I was thinking...If you gonna leave soon. Please Battle me!" Nate pleased. "I'm very grateful that you saved me and I know that you're on a solitude journey but you already saved me! So please battle me too! Please!" Nate's hands are clasped together and he tries to give his best pleasing eyes.
"How troublesome." Espeon sighed. Looking up to Akan who shrugged. "Only 1 vs 1, okay?"
"Yes!"
The man stands up and Nate almost squeals with joy. Battling an International Trainer is a rare opportunity, especially when a beginner trainer like him who only has 3 badges. Akan may look sluggish but he has 4 Pokemon presented and all are in final evolution, all strong looking.
They stand in a space between the river and the forest. Nate and Pidnite were practically vibrating with anticipation while Akan have his hand in his pocket and stare blanking with his Espeon upfront. Nate licked his lips and decided to wipe that nonchalant look on the man's face with everything he have. "Pignite I chose you!"
'Try not to traumatize them too badly.'
Espeon let out a loud and Languid meow. And it jumped.
Nate gasped, eyes wide at the Feline high in the air, an acrobatic backflip and a shadow ball were summoned in front of its mouth. Shooting the dark orb with terrifying speed.
"PIGNITE DODGE IT!" Nate panic yell. The Fire Pig Pokemon hurled itself aside, getting out of the way in the last second. The shadow ball hit the grown and created a dust explosion.
Nate wheeze, scrubbing his eyes to get the dust off. The thick dust clouds obscured his surroundings.
"Pignite! Use flamethrower! Clean up this dust cloud!"
The fire pig Pokemon breath in before blowing out a strong stream of fire. Immediately extinguished the dusting but Espeon was still nowhere in sight.
'Where is it?!' Nate and Pignite dart around then suddenly a shadow comes crashing down.
"Pignite!" Nate cried out as The Fire pig Pokemon was brutally hurled by an iron tail.
Rolling on the ground, Pignite winced but was able to get up.
"Pignite are you okay?!" Nate calls out worriedly. his starter huffs and snorted flame out its snout, eyes glaring at the feline.
'Espeon is fast! Too fast, I need to slow it down!'
"Pignite flame charge!" Nate command.
The Fire pig cried out its name. Stomping on its feet, fire arise and cover its body's whole and Pignite shot itself with incredible speed.
Espeon's eyes glow light blue and Pignite was swallowed up by a bright blue light, completely overflow the fire. catching the pig Pokemon right in the air. Pignite ever so get a chance to squeal a confuse cried before it was tossed back.
Nate bites the inside of his cheek. Even the fastest move can't pass it then Nate needs to distract it enough to land a hit.
"Pignite! Use flamethrower!"
The stream of fire was released but was put to stop with Psybeam, the multicolor beam cut straight through the flame and hit Pignite right in the mouth.
Pignite gasped and wheezed as Nate calls its name out panicky. "PIGNITE! Are you alright?!"
Pignite's panting but is standing, it turns to Nate and chirped out. "Pignite!"
Dark smoke stain cover Pignite's mouth makes Nate heart-throbbing. He glared at the Espeon with anger and something akin to afraid.
The difference between our power is overwhelming. Dining is an option, this is more of a battle just to plant a hit.
"Pignite can you still use Flamethrower?" A head shake was returned. Nate bites his bottom lip. 'No flamethrower for now...!'
"Pignite we can do this! Use brick break on the ground hurry!"
"Pignite!"
The black part of Pignite's arm glows and it slammed into the ground. A flash of Espeon hurry to jumped off as the ground broke up beneath it.
"Fire Pledge!" Nate command, this is their chance, while Espeon was still in the air the possibility of it dodging this is diminished.
Pignite slams its hand on the ground, causing pillars of fire to rush towards its opponent. When the pillars reach where Espeon's at, the fire forms a ring of pillars and then merges into one giant fire pillar. Shooting up to the helpless purple feline.
"Espy!" A cried of pain and Nate grind. A sure hit!
A silhouette of the feline falling back to the ground, the Sun Pokemon lands in all fours. Its purple purs slight burn with dark smokes covering its body. Espeon hissed.
"Pignite! Use Flame Charge! Don't leave it any breathing room!"
"Pig! Pignite!" Fire engulfed the Pig and it shot forward with faster speed than before.
Shadow ball was fired, striking the incoming Pignite. When the 2 attacks met, a blast explode.
Pignite was sent back, crashed, and rolled on the ground. completely knocked out.
"PIGNITE NO!" Nate shouted, running towards his fainted starter. His hands immediately jerk back from the heat radiating from the Fire Pig. "Pignite!"
Across the battlefield, 2 glowing pairs of eyes shine through the dust, the Espeon steps up, and with a psychic wave from the Gem, the dust was immediately wiped out. Vicious and monstrously was the only thing Nate can describe the feline.
Fear for his life and his Pokemon wasn't something Nate have experienced. Mini Pokemon balls on Nate's belt shaking like the boy himself, the rest of his team desperate to get out and protect their trainer but Nate held it back tightly.
Then a clap. Lound and definitive. Akan impassive walk to them, pass his huffing Espeon, and crouch down before Nate. His hand tentatively reach out and set a Revive down.
"I-I...thank you!" Nate gasped. Hurry use the bottle on Pignite.
"Pig...Pignite?" The fire pig Pokemon spring to consciousness.
"Pignite!" Nate joyful cried out, hugging his starter tightly despite the heat.
Akan makes a low sound in the back of his throat. With the tiniest smile he extant a hand to him. Nate take it and almost squealed when he was hoisted up so easily. "H-Hey!"
Akan dipped his head and turn his attention to the purple feline. Potion in hand and he started spraying. Espeon makes an unsavory face but holds still nonetheless.
Nate put his hand on Pignite, comforted himself by psychical contact with his starter. Knowing Pignite is no longer in pain or compromise.
"That Espeon..." Nate shook his head. "How powerful can it be? Catching a flame charge like that...And that shadow ball..." Nate muttered to himself. Fascinated yet terrified.
Akan turns back to Nate with a pouting Espeon in his arms. Nate suppresses a flinched when the Purple Jade eyes him. 'Great, I'm traumatized now...'
"...My deepest apologize." A voice descant in his head. "It's wasn't my intention to traumatize you, I may just go a little overboard" it *does* sound apologetic and remorseful at least.
"It's okay..." Nate honestly doesn't know what to say. He should be angry but he isn't, not after that power display.
Akan lets Espeon down and the feline sits by its trainer's legs and started to groom. "Akan want to apologize by giving you a lift back to wherever you need."
"Oh! Um! there's no need to honestly! I have Braviary so..." Nate trailed off. A fly by an eccentric stranger is a obviously a no-go but those dull rudy eyes are still on him, which made Nate feel the urge to justify his excuse. "Um..."
"Akan *insist*." That feels so much like a warning, like a press to Nate to remember his place.
"I-I..." Nate fumed. Heart hammering.
Akan shake his head and nudge Espeon with his foot. The sun Pokemon rolls its eyes.
"Alright, if you continue to fly North, you can find a there. I'm afraid I can't recall the city name."
Nate just obligate nodded, dazed. Akan waves his hand dismissively, turn his heels, and walk away. Nate tensed, Espeon side glanced at him and chuckled. "Ah, you are lucky that it's me you battled, there other 2 thankfully busy at the moment."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
" The 2 most vicious of my family isn't here and I gravely insist that you should leave hurry. That is not as nice as I am." Espeon says in a matter-of-fact tone, eyes glue to its trainer who resumes fishing. Nate followed its gaze and recoil when he see another 2 pairs of eyes. Hazel grows from Blastoise and bloody red from Venusaur.
If Nate felt like he was being toyed by Espeon was super bad, very fixing terrible then 2 more of these Titans Pokemon ain't gonna *fun* and Nate really needs to book out of here like seriously right now. So he does. He calls out Bravairy and gets on the Eagle Pokemon and gets out of there as fast as possible.
When they soak on the sky, Nate's eyes keep looking back to where that eccentric trainer and his overpowerful Pokemon at. Nate would swear he saw an organ Pokemon flying too far away to be made out of but know enough the frightened look on Bravairy that that flying Pokemon is definitely the man's Pokemon and possibly the member of the family that Espeon mentions off.
They fly straight to North and true to the sun Pokemon's word a town is there. He later then shared his story to his friend who all wide eyes in awe. All in all its was a great story to tell and memories Nate sure to hell never forget.
#toolazytoowriteafullending. #:P.