A/N: Okay…It has been seven years since I last touched this story…Seven Years!…Oh my gosh…I cannot apologize enough for being so neglectful in updating this fic. Life has truly been hard for me these last couple of years and as a result, I only focused on my Rangershipping/Pokémon Ranger stories as it was the only thing I could moderate and know I could steadily work on through this hard time in my life. Life is still very oppressing, but I am determined to start working on my many neglected fics, like this one. I can't say how often I will be updating, or how many stories I'm going to work on at a time, but I will update the stories as I can, and hopefully it will not be years in-between as it has been. I can say for sure for right now, I will be working on this story, The Story of a True Hero, and the second Rangershipping book I've been working on, We've Come This Far consistenly. For those of you waiting for me to update A Hero's' Job is Never Done (Colosseumshipping), A Fateful Journey, Manifesting Love (Advanceshipping), Road Trip (Advanceshipping & Gymshipping), and The More Things Change (Advanceshipping), I will get to them. I just will not be focusing on them right now. Also, to those of you who are still waiting for me to update my Kim Possible stories, those are probably going to take even longer for me to get to. I just have so much on my plate and I need to prioritize things in my life and select only a few stories to manage at a time until things get easier and I can manage more. My mental health must come first.
Again, I sincerely apologize for the extreme delay in updating this Chapter. I will try to update this story as often as I can from now on.
Wes groaned as he walked tiredly across the open field. He had been traveling for near what he guessed ten days and he still had not found any hint of civilization anywhere. Everywhere he went saw nothing but Orre's hot red dessert sand. It had been days since he and his Eevee had last eaten, finishing all the sugar cookies his mother gave him with his pokémon four days ago. He still had one Sitrus Berry left, but he was saving it for when his Eevee felt really weak. There was no telling how much longer they would have to travel before they found any source of food. It was tiring enough walking in the blazing hot sun, but if they traveled any longer without any food or water, Wes knew they were goners for sure.
Wes fell to his knees and closed his eyes, his breathing heavy.
His Eevee hopped off his shoulder and onto the ground, looking at him with eyes full of concern.
"Eevee?" he cried softly.
Wes sighed.
"U'm sorry, little buddy. I don't think I got much left in me. I never should've took you away with me. I have no idea where U'm going or what U'm doin'. I can't take care of you…"
The Eevee frowned. He walked closer to Wes and stood on his hind legs, touching Wes' cheek with his front paws.
"Eevee. Vee Eevee."
Wes reopened his eyes.
"Well…I suppose U'm glad you are here with me to keep me company. I don't think Ida made it dis far without yah. You're a mighty good companion."
"Eevee. Vee Eevee." He replied with a smile.
Wes smiled back. He picked up Eevee and held him in his hands.
"I suppose we're in dis together, huh?"
"Eevee! Eevee Eevee!"
"Alright."
Wes stood to his feet and looked around.
"We're nearing the grasslands now. If dere's green growing, it must be being sustained somehow. I reckon if we follow the greenery, we'll find water and more plant-life somewhere. Maybe even some more berries. Whatdayah say?"
Eevee nodded.
"Vee Eevee."
"Oke-Dokey."
Just then, a shrill cry erupted from the sky. Wes looked up to see a glowing ball of wind approaching him. He quickly leaped out of the way and the ball hit the ground, erupting and creating a miniature tornado where he stood.
Wes stumbled and fell to the ground. His Eevee jumped out of his arms landed beside him.
"Vee Eevee!"
Wes sat up and saw a tiny avian creature with a light brown body and cream-colored face flying above them. Angular black markings extended from behind its eyes down its cheeks and both its beak and feet were a grayish-pink.
"What is that thing?" Wes cried as he stood to his feet. "Is dis another Pokémon?"
Eevee took a protective stance in front of Wes
"Eevee!"
The small bird pokémon cried again before flapping its wings quickly and whipping up another miniature tornado in front of them.
Eevee and Wes dodged in opposite directions.
Eevee then charged and leaped in the air, tackling the Pidgey.
"What're you doing?"
Eevee landed back on the ground. He turned his head slightly to glance back at Wes.
"Eevee! Eevee Eevee!"
Wes stared at his Eevee. Then, he remembered watching something on the TV back at home that reminded him of what was going on.
Several weeks earlier:
"What is dis, Mama?" Wes asked as he and his mother sat on their old couch watching television.
"It's a tournament, sweetie. Pokémon Trainers compete in dese competitions to get stronger with dere pokémon and win prizes."
"Ain't dat wrong, Mama, to be pitting creatures against each other jest to win an award? Can't dey get hurt?"
Millicent shook her head.
"That's how pokémon get stronger, honey. They battle each other. See, pokémon are great creatures that possess a fantastical amount of power. And they survive by using dis power to protect themselves and those they love. It's all a part of nature. And dose pokémon who are under the ownership of Trainers use dere power to serve them. Yes, they can get hurt but it's how they grow and nourish dere bond with dere human and grow stronger."
"But then, why don't we battle each other? Why we got to put it on the pokémon?"
"Pokémon can withstand damage taken in battle because dere bodies were created to sustain that kind of injury without too much trouble. Our bodies aren't built like that or meant to tolerate that kind of damage, and that's why we can get seriously hurt if caught in the crossfire."
Wes shook his head.
"Dat sounds mighty dangerous."
"Oh, it can be. That's why you got to be responsible raising pokémon. They trust you to take care of 'em. And they show dere love and appreciation for you by standing up and protecting you. It's how we coexist and support one another. And it's how pokémon survive in the wild."
Millicent put her arms around Wes.
"One day, you'll understand what I mean, when you got yer own pokémon to raise."
"Think I'll be a good Pokémon Trainer, Mama?"
"Oh, I think you'll be the very best."
Wes remembered his mother telling him about pokémon battles and the way pokémon fought to survive and for their Trainers. The fight that was going on between his Eevee and this other pokémon reminded him of the matches he saw on TV between Pokémon Trainers.
The Pidgey then released another whirlwind of air towards them.
Wes tried to remember the various commands the Trainers shouted on the TV.
"Quick, dodge it, Eevee!" he shouted.
His Eevee quickly leapt in the air away from the rotating masses of air the bird pokémon sent their way.
"Now use Water Gun!"
"Eevee?" his Eevee gave him a quizzical glance just before being tackled by the wild Pidgey.
"Oh no!" Wes cried. His Eevee rolled on the ground but quickly stood to his feet. Eevee got hurt because of him. He had to do better. "Um, how about Flamethrower?"
His Eevee dodged another attack from the flying-type pokémon and landed on the ground behind it.
"Can you use Thunderbolt?"
"Eevee Vee!"
Wes shook his head. If he didn't do something correct soon, his Eevee was going to get really hurt from that other pokémon's attacks.
"Um…um…Okay, do you know Quick Attack?"
Eevee smiled and nodded.
Wes smiled back.
"Okay, use Quick Attack!"
Eevee started running at fast speeds and a white trail of energy followed behind him. He shot through the air using his attack and struck the Pidgey.
"Great job!" Wes praised. "Now…use Bite!"
Eevee then bit down on the Pidgey with his jaws and swung it hard in the air.
"Now finish with Tackle!"
Eevee once again leapt in the air and tackled the Pidgey full-on. The bird pokémon cried out as it went in the air before crashing down into the ground, creating a small cloud of dust. When it finally cleared, the pokémon could be seen groaning quietly, spirals now in its eyes.
A large smile spread across Wes' face.
"You did it! You did it, little buddy!"
Wes' Eevee hopped around joyously before turning around and running straight into his arms.
"Eevee! Eevee Eevee!"
"You were awesome! I've never felt so excited in all my life!"
"Vee Eevee!"
Wes hugged his pokémon before he climbed up on his shoulder.
"I guess I can't jest spout orders at yah, huh? I have to know what moves you know and what you can do."
"Eevee Vee."
"I guess you have some things to teach me. And I've got a lot tah learn about caring for yah."
"Eevee!"
Wes then turned back to look at the weakened flying-type pokémon. It was twitching on the ground on its back and couldn't stand up.
Wes then walked over to it and crouched down.
"U'm mighty sorry there, little one. I didn't mean to hurt yah. We were jest trying to protect ourselves."
He picked it up and cradled it in his arms. The bird pokémon whimpered sorrowfully.
Wes felt bad about hurting the startled creature. He could see it was in a lot of pain.
Holding the tiny bird pokémon in one arm, Wes reached for his backpack and took it off his shoulders. He then reached inside and took out the remaining Sitrus Berry.
"Here. Dis will make yah feel better."
The Pidgey weakly opened its eyes. It saw the bright speckled yellow fruit and looked at Wes confusedly.
"Go on. Take it."
Blinking, the small bird pokémon opened its beak and took a bite out of the sweet fruit. It then cried happily and pecked continuously at the rejuvenating berry. As it ate the last piece, it cried out happily again and flapped its wings excitedly.
Wes smiled softly.
"U'm glad you're feeling better. Only thing is that was our last source of food. We don't have nothin' to eat to continue our journey."
Eevee's stomach grumbled and his ears dropped down slightly.
"Eevee Vee…" he said sadly.
"I know you must be hungry, buddy. But I don't got no more food. Can you forgive me for being such a terrible Trainer?"
Eevee smiled weakly and nuzzled Wes' face.
"Vee Eevee."
Wes petted him gently on the head.
The Pidgey stared at Wes for a moment before freeing itself from his grasp and flying up in the air. It cried out as it flew east of them, stopping to chirp at them and circle the ground.
Eevee's ears perked up and it followed the Pidgey.
"Where are you going?" Wes asked.
Again, the Pidgey chirped.
Once he caught up to it, Eevee aboutfaced and hopped up and down, crying out to Wes.
"You want me to follow you?"
"Vee Eevee Eevee!"
Wes kneeled down and picked up his backpack before running up to join his Eevee. Together, the two of them followed the Pidgey into a forest a few miles down. It led them deeper until they happened upon a stream.
Wes' eyes lit up.
"Water!"
He and Eevee quickly ran down to the river and started to drink. Wes knelt down and immersed his head into the water, taking several large gulps, the front of his hair soused.
Wes resurfaced once the need for air begged from his lungs and took several large breaths. He wiped the water dripping from his face and slicked his soaked hair back.
"Oh man…How I needed dat…Water never tasted so good." He sighed.
His Eevee sat up and cried happily before going back to drink more from the stream.
"We gotta make sure we take some wit us for the road."
Reaching in his backpack, Wes took out two canteens secured in a rawhide pouch. He unscrewed the cap before dunking them one by one in the river, filling them to the brim before securing the cap back on and putting the bota bags back in his backpack. He then took out a calabash (white-flowered gourd) that he had cored and cleansed out days ago and dunked it into the river as well. Once it was filled to the brim, Wes took out the vine-like stem and clogged the top, wrapping the extended vines around it and securing it. He then put that in his backpack as well.
"Dere. Now we have enough water to last us several days if'n we're careful."
"Eevee Ve!"
The Pidgey circled around Wes and flew up to a nearby tree. It pecked at the trunk before flying higher and perching itself on a leafy branch.
Wes stood up and followed the Pidgey. He saw that there were several purple berries in bulk all over the tree.
"Wow, Berries! We definitely need dose!"
As he had done many times before, Wes climbed up the wide tree with ease, and gathered as many Bulk Berries he could hold in his arms before climbing back down. He took off his potato sack shirt his mother had made for him and placed it on the ground. Then he went back to the stream to wash the berries and after rinsing them clean, he returned back to his worn potato sack and dumped the berries in it.
Wes looked around and saw more Berry Trees. He ran throughout the forest, gathering as many different berries he could find – Sitrus, Pecha, Oran, Cheri, Leppa, and Hondew Berries, cleansing them in the river and dumping them in his potato sack. He knotted the slits where his mother had made armholes for him before curving up the bottom of the bag, wrapping it around the body and tying it.
Wes put his hand to his chin.
"Hmm, this is gonna be pretty heavy…Don't know if I'll be able to carry it all in my pack. We'll need something more to keep the bag together and travel easier."
"Eevee?"
Wes surveyed the forest again. He saw a mangrove of nippa palms further down on the edge of the river.
"Dose might do."
Wes and his Eevee walked over to the cluster of large, bright green palm leaves. As Wes began to pick them, he noticed a medium oval-shaped object beneath the overgrowth.
"Huh? What's dis?"
He rested down the large palm leaves and dug around the wet dirt. It was brown with a cream-colored zigzag stripe around its middle.
"What is dis?" Wes questioned again as he held the oblong circular-formed object.
Eevee ran closer to Wes and sniffed the ovum. He cried cheerfully afterwards.
"Eevee! Eevee Eevee!"
"You know what dis is?"
"Eevee Eevee!"
Wes then felt something hit his hand from within the object.
"Ah! There's something in here."
"Eevee Vee! EeveeEvee!"
Wes looked back at his pokémon, then back at the egg he held in his hand.
"Well, if dere's life in here, we can't very well leave it out here to all the elements. We gotta make sure we protect it and keep it safe."
"Eevee! Eevee Eevee!"
Wes went back to picking palm leaves, and once his felted he had a sufficient amount, he and Eevee carried them back to where his pack rested. He used a few of the palms to tighten around on the potato sack holding the berries. Then, he weaved the remainder of the palm leaves into a wraparound sling and put one end over his left shoulder. He then picked back up the Egg and nestled it into the pouch in the front.
"Dere. Almost like the wraps Mama would wear. Now you should be nice and snug and warm. Least, I hope you are."
"Eevee Vee!" His Eevee cried happily.
"Well, we better get a move on. We still gotta make our way towards the Ourskirt Stand. But if we follow the evergreen, we might find a village or civilian life. Dey're sure to help us find our way."
Eevee nodded. "Eevee!"
Walking over to his pack, Wes rested the potato sack of berries on top of his backpack. He then put his arms in the straps and hiked it on his back.
He stumbled forward a little bit.
"Whoa…Dis is pretty heavy," Wes commented once he regained his footing.
"Eevee," his pokémon said concernedly.
Wes smiled and nodded.
"Don't worry, little buddy. U'm fine. U'm used to carrying a lot of loads."
He looked up to the Pidgey perched in the tree.
"I thank you kindly for helping us out. You stay outta trouble now, yah hear?"
The Pidgey chirped cheerily and lifted its right wing to wave to Wes.
Again, Wes nodded.
"Alrighty. Let's continue our journey then."
"Eevee!"
Wes and Eevee started walking further into the forest. The Pidgey watched them until they were out of its sight, then it nestled itself on the branch it was perched on and took a long overdue nap.
