I was currently on the trail in the Unova region. I recently caught up with Iris, who is not only the new Nimbasa City gym leader, but is also a full-fledged dragon master. Her Fraxure evolved into a Haxorus and her Gabite is a powerful Garchomp. Anyways, I'm heading to meet with Alder, the Unova region Champion. We're going to discuss on a trade system between Unova and Kalos. As I walked with Lycanroc and Lucario beside me, dark clouds begin to form in the sky. I looked up and said,"Looks like a storm is coming. We better book it to the center fast before the rain prevents us," with my pokemon agreeing. As we ran, heavy drops started to fall and we were stuck in a downpour. Not even my Umbrella Pack was of any use. We all thought that things could not get any worse for us. Suddenly, as we ran by a cliff ledge, the ground gave way and I was slipping into the drop and water before. Lucario and Lycanroc tried to keep me from slipping, but the rain made it too slippery to keep a firm grip. I slipped out of their hold, I fell fast, giving a mighty shout before splashing into the currents below. They were rough and choppy, making it hard to stay up on the surface. My pokemon followed on the land as I struggled to not get dragged down. Soon, I got dragged into the ocean and the waves were even rougher than the currents. Soon, one wave pulled me down deep and I was running out of breath and energy. I started to go unconscious as the last thing I saw was a rapid blur before passing out.
It felt like hours, but soon, I coughed up water and caught my breath. Once my vision seemed to return and I cleaned my glasses, I saw that I was on an island somewhere. I squeezed the water out of my clothes and hair before realizing that Lycanroc and Lucario were missing. On top of it all, my favorite trainer cap was gone too. I frantically started to look before it got tossed to my feet. I grabbed it before looking up to see who threw it, which turned out to be a pokemon. Not just any pokemon, but an Empoleon. I was in shock as I pulled out my other pokedex, which I have in case Rotom Dex does not work, as it says,"Empoleon, the emperor pokemon. A water / steel type. The final evolution of Piplup, the water type starter of the Sinnoh region. It swims as fast as a jet boat. The edges of its wings are sharp and can slice apart drifting ice. The three horns that extend from its beak attest to its power. If anyone hurts its pride, it slashes those who oppose it with its wings." I was in awe as I say,"Never thought I'd see a wild Empoleon in these parts." It just grunted at me before turning away, walking into the jungle. I was curious about where it was going, so. I followed it. We went deep into the jungle, arriving to what looked like a rock fort. It looked really well-built as I smiled. It saw that I followed as it grew angry and fired off a flash cannon, with me narrowly avoiding it. I instantly said,"Woah woah woah!!! Easy! I'm not a threat"!! It didn't seem to listen as it fired consecutive hydro pumps, trying to hit me. I didn't know how to react, so, I just kept repeating,"I'm not a threat!! I'm innocent, promise"!! I then seemed to notice something: its left wing seemed to be hurt. I then say to it,"Listen Empoleon, you're hurt. Can I look at your injury"? It fired off another flash cannon, meaning no. I tried to talk some sense into it, saying,"Look, I know you don't trust me, but, even you know that your wing is hurt badly.
I can help you, but you need to let me look at it." Empoleon growled and glared at me, but luckily, it stopped firing attacks. As I awaited a reaction, it sighed and motioned me to come over. I smiled, saying,"I promise you no funny business, my word is true." I looked at its wing, not touching it in case Empoleon wouldn't like it. With a theory in mind, I say,"Looks like a bad scratch and bruise combined. Looks treatable, if you'll let me." Despite it not trusting me one bit, it knew that it needed healing. So, it nodded as I pulled out my medical kit and got out a full restore and some gauze. I sprayed it on and applied the bandage, making its wing good as new. Empoleon looked at its bandaged wing and grew surprised for a minute before turning serious again. I mentioned,"It'll take a couple days to heal, but soon, your wing will be good as new." It grunted a thank you before heading towards a tree. It used its good wing and practiced slashing it, sharpening its edges. I watched quietly as it seemed to be training. It saw me watching as it growled angrily before jumping up, using drill peck on a stone wall before getting repelled back. I mentioned,"You'll be able to go through it easier if you make your body more skinnier and aerodynamic, like a tight drill." Empoleon crossed its wings and huffed, turning its head away. I sighed before saying,"It's worth a shot though. Of course you won't believe me since apparently, you don't trust me. However, I know from battle experiences that that method works." It scoffed, but tried it out anyway, breaking through the stone wall with ease. It was surprised and for a minute, smiled, before looking at me and turning its head away and growing serious. In it all, it was blushing for a second.
I was glad that it liked my idea, but I was confused to why it was acting cold towards me. So, I decided to pop the question gently, saying,"Empoleon, I have to ask. Why do you act so cold towards me? Do you by chance have anything against humans? You don't have to answer if you don't want to." Empoleon looked at me, shocked for a minute before turning away momentarily. Then, it turned to face me before beginning to draw something in the sand. I watched carefully before trying to figure out what it was trying to tell me. It drew what looked like a stick human, a broken ball, and a rough sketch of Entei. After seeing what it drew, I determined what it was trying to say as I asked it,"Were you abandoned by your old trainer and replaced by an Entei"? It solemnly nodded before looking down and frowning. I grew shocked as I touched the bandaged wing, my eyes flashing to see its memories.
A man with turquoise hair and a red cloak was walking with Empoleon when they spotted an Entei walking around. He sneered as he says,"Go get it," as Empoleon tried to strike with metal claw. It dodged and fired a flamethrower before Empoleon intercepted with hydro pump. In the smoke, Entei charged in and bit its wing with fire fang, creating the injury it had. Suddenly, a pokeball hit Entei and it was officially captured. The man smiled as Empoleon crowed in pride. The man then returned Empoleon before letting it out again, but with the release light instead of the normal call out light. Empoleon was confused as the man says,"Now that I have a strong team of legendaries, I have no use of you," before smashing its pokeball with its foot. Empoleon felt hurt and pleaded to remain on the man's team. However, he shouted,"Darkrai, dark pulse," as he called out his Darkrai, which used the move and sent Empoleon flying far away, causing it to be really hurt, physically and mentally. Once it disappeared, the man returned Darkrai and pulled out Entei's pokeball, saying,"You'll learn to obey your new master, Tobias." As Empoleon struggled to its feet, some poachers saw it and tried to capture it. It sliced the net with metal claw and sent them flying with flash cannon. It then escaped into the water and swam far away. It soon ended up on the island, ready to live a life of solitude away from humans. Since them, it's had a bad taste and huge distrust for humans because it felt like all humans were bad like its previous trainer and the poachers.
Once it finished telling me the story, I seemed to catch what it was trying to say. I gathered the courage to say,"I'm so sorry Empoleon. Hearing what you went through, I can understand better why you acted so cold towards me." It nodded as I sat next to it, saying,"Can I ask you something? If you don't trust humans, then why did you save me"? It grew confused as I say,"If you don't trust humans, then why did you save me? You could've just left me alone at sea, but instead, you saved me from drowning in the ocean." It just tilted its head and shrugged while smiling, as if to say,"I wanted to." I smiled right back, saying,"Maybe the problem is not trusting humans entirely, but rather, finding the right human to trust. There'll be people like your previous trainer, who care about rarity or power rather than special traits. However, there'll also people like me, who care for all pokemon, whether rare or not." Empoleon was in shock as I continued with,"I can understand what you went through. I care about you Empoleon. If you want, I'd love to be your friend." I offered my hand out as it placed its bandaged wing in it and we both shook on it. I smiled happily as the sun began to shine brightly in the sky. I looked up before looking out towards the beach, missing my pokemon.
I turned to Empoleon and asked,"Empoleon, I need to return back to Unova and my other pokemon. You think you can help return back there"? Empoleon nodded happily as it marched towards the base of the water and dove in before motioning me to hop on its back. I did as so as it began the long swim back to Unova. Meanwhile, Lucario had my backpack safe and sound and Lycanroc was using its nose to try and find me. Out in the distance, it saw that I was riding towards them. We met safe and sound on land as I reunited with my buddies, glad that they were safe. Empoleon smiled at the little scene before I introduced them to Empoleon. They both waved hello as Empoleon chirped a hello. I then knelt down to Empoleon and petted it while saying,"Thanks a lot Empoleon. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have made it through the storm. You're a great pokemon and a good friend." It cooed lightly as I was happy that it was happy. We soon had to go as I said my partings, mentioning,"I hope we meet again soon. Remember me always, ok"? It nodded as I returned my pokemon and was on my way again. Empoleon watched on as it grew determined and followed me by water. Soon, I stopped by a river and was eating lunch. As I bit into one half of my sandwich, the other half was by my feet when suddenly, it disappeared. I looked around and smiled when I saw where it was: gobbled up by Empoleon, who hopped out of the river and followed me in the forest. I say,"Empoleon, it's great to see you again. What brings you here? Did you need something or wanted to ask me a question"? It nodded and drew a circle on the ground before making an arrow, pointing towards itself.
I knew instantly what it wanted as I asked,"You want to come with me"? It nodded as I pulled out a dive ball and rolled it towards Empoleon. It used its healing wing to tap it as it went in and was instantly caught. Once I picked up the dive ball, Empoleon let itself out as I say,"I guess you don't want to remain in there right"? It shook its head no as I say,"That's perfectly fine by me. Glad you're a part of the family." It then went to the other end of the picnic blanket and did a bring it on motion. I tipped my hat as I say,"You want to battle and train huh? Sure thing! Lucario, come on out"! Lucario was called out as both steel types grinned and glared at one another. Empoleon went in with steel wing as Lucario jumped and spun in mid-air, dodging with ease. Empoleon used it as an opportunity to land a potent drill peck. Lucario groaned and shook it off, acknowledging Empoleon and its strength. It went in with bone rush as Empoleon broke it in half with steel wing. Lucario and Empoleon then hit one another with flash cannon, both attacks doing a huge deal of damage, despite not being very effective. Empoleon stood tough while Lucario seemed shaky. I smiled and nodded towards Empoleon, who smiled in pride and joy. Lucario then used aura sphere as Empoleon intercepted with hydro pump, creating an explosion. In the smoke, Empoleon charged in with drill peck as Lucario intercepted with power up punch. The fighting type move was able to overpower Empoleon and do some damage. Empoleon then charged in with aqua jet as Lucario used copycat and met it head on with aqua jet as well. The final call was when both pokemon collided with steel wing and double power up punches. Both moves collided and created smoke on the field.
I covered my eyes and held onto my hat tight as the wind soon died down. Once the smoke disappeared as well, Empoleon was struggling to remain standing while Lucario was flat on the ground, knocked out cold. I smiled and said,"You win Empoleon. That was a heated match up and I like how you battle," as Empoleon almost teared up in joy and happiness. It never got complimented on its strength and power before. I returned Lucario after praising it for a good effort in battle. I then gave Empoleon a Sitrus Berry as it ate it up and recovered quickly. I smiled, saying,"I believe this is the start of a beautiful friendship. Right Empoleon," as it chirped in agreement. We soon packed up and headed out to meet up with Alder. After everything that has happened, I think we're going to get along just fine.