{Approx. 8 years ago}
Sensei wasn't kidding when he said he'd take my training up a notch. In addition to the previous training exercises, he made me go through more nimble tasks. Due to being an easy target for the flying Pokémon, Sensei had me get used to dodging oncoming threats. Sometimes it would be a mock-up simulation, with Sensei as my opponent. He described it as something akin to self-defense classes. But other times it would be much more demanding…like having my friends attack me! Nightraider, Astra, Crest, and anyone else Sensei could throw at me at the time.
At first, Sensei had the attacks be pre-commanded. This way I could get used to how each attack basically worked. He also had them attack one at a time. Gradually, the attacks became more sporadic, and even multiple at once. Those tougher regiments ended quickly so often due to being too slow to dodge. But, as Sensei assured me, I got the hang of it. Sensei drilled in me ways to telegraph my opponents, stay aware of my surroundings, and to position myself in a way that I could always have an out. In a few months, I became almost as nimble as Sensei when caught in a battle for my life.
The self-defense drills also included ways for me to counter attack. I questioned why Sensei would teach me that, as I wasn't exactly fit to 'battle' any Pokémon. But he figured, if I ever got off this island, I could be prepared to defend myself from any shady characters who tried to harm me directly. Through this part of training, Sensei and I found that my physical strength was…underwhelming. My best way to hurt someone back was if I either did some sort of arm drag to flip my opponent hard on the ground, or I happened to strike an opponent's sensitive spot. I got to do the former once successfully on Sensei, which made me feel overjoyed for myself and concerned for him at the same time. The latter…didn't need a demonstration.
The newcomers, as expected, took time to get used to the island. Oshawott was the de-facto leader of the five. Though it didn't appear that way, given how often she kept to herself. She, Chimchar, Treecko, Fennekin, and Squirtle lived mainly independent at first. They stayed confined to the forest, ate the berries they found, and slept apart from Sensei's group or my camp. But they gradually warmed up to us. After a few months, I was able to telecommunicate with each of them.
The first, to the surprise of no one, was Fennekin. Ever since I rescued her from the Pelliper, she followed me almost everywhere. She seemed very interested in whatever activities I did on the island. Whenever I ate with my core teammates, gathered craft-able materials, or had training sessions, she was there. The only time I consistently didn't see her was when I occasionally bathed in the pool…as far as I knew.
She was very observant the first few days she hung around, very mindful of what I and my friends wanted to do. Then she warmed up enough to join in. At some points she looked at me like she wanted to 'talk', like I did with Sensei. Admirable attempts, ones that I tried myself with her, but it wasn't working for a while. In battle, she actually proved quite capable. Sensei noted she had a moveset consisting of Scratch, Tail Whip, Ember, and Magic Coat. That last move was very useful to defend against what Sensei called 'status moves'.
Although she seemed very friendly and perky, there were a few odd quirks I picked up from her. During training, she refused to attack me. Only when I assured her that I could take it did she hesitantly practice with me as a target. She was, however, way more enthusiastic and focused whenever I led her in a trained battle against opponents.
When it came to interacting with others, she got along pretty well. She became fast friends with Astra and Bounsweet, took pointers from Knave, and sparred with Crest whenever he asked. But Nightraider was another story. Fennekin would often give him a hostile glance when in close proximity, while Nightraider tried to glance away, more annoyed than anything. Granted, they didn't do so when they both were in front of me. But I caught them a few times when they thought I wasn't looking.
As the days rolled on, their bitterness grew worse. The two actively competed to see who could hitch a ride on my shoulder. Their fights, confined to training, grew as heated as anyone else. Even Oshawott and Blindswipe grew weary when the two fought close by. Usually when I slept at my campsite, Nightraider would sleep next to me, while Astra, Crest, Knave, and Blindswipe found a spot of grass to sleep on. Fennekin joined our camp the night after her group first made landfall, and I didn't mind. What I did mind was how after I woke up, I suddenly found her replacing Nightraider at his usual spot, having done the deed while we were sleeping, without his consent.
Finally, I had it. One day, while I just finished picking berries with Fennekin, Nightraider flew to us from his recent training. Although he maintained his stealth that I couldn't hear him approaching, Fennekin spotted him first. In an instant, I found Nightraider perched on my right shoulder, while Fennekin simultaneously jumped onto my left shoulder. The two had their eyes meet, and their bickering commenced. I tried to ignore them and walk back to camp, but they practically shouted right into my ears. I could only understand Nightraider's side of their argument, but that didn't help me at all.
I stopped abruptly in such a manner that the two lost their balance and fell in front of me. Then I yelled, "Enough!" I drop the basket of berries down carefully. Then I gave a stern look and snapped at each of them. "I like company; the more the merrier on this island. But if you two can't make amends with whatever's going on between you two, I don't want you anywhere near me!"
Nightraider put his head down in shame. [Sorry…]
Fennekin took my outburst worse. She began to cry and ran off with her head and tail lowered.
I sighed and looked to Nightraider. [I thought you were 'above' fighting with Fennekin.]
[I thought so, too. But she just…got under my skin after so long…]
I crossed my arms. [You mind telling me now what the deal with you two, and me, is?]
He paused for a second. [Well, I can't really explain all of it. But the gist of it is that she still thinks of you as a Pokémon trainer. And she likes it when you give her some…a lot of attention. Sort of like the attention you give me. And she feels kind of left out sometimes…]
[Okay, I think I get it. I'll got talk to her then. You mind taking the berries I gathered back?]
[You know the berry basket weighs more than I do, right?]
[Then do it one at a time.]
[That's so slow,] Rowlet half-whined, half-grumbled.
[It'll get the job done nonetheless. Besides, not like we need to be anywhere in a hurry.]
It took me a little while, but I found Fennekin. She laid down near the beach, curled up and sniffling. I slowly approached her. "Mind if I join you?"
The Fox Pokémon turned her head to me. She gave me an ashamed look before lying her head back down.
With no indication of disapproval, I carefully sat next to her. I didn't say anything for a minute or two. Then I conceded, "I know you enjoy my company more than most on this island. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't as well."
She glanced toward me for a second, but barely moved.
"I got mad at you and Nightraider back there because of how disruptive you two were becoming. As much as I'd like to give you all the attention you want…Nightraider means as much as anyone else. If not, more. He was the first friend I made here, and we've been through a lot. Granted, we're not really in a Pokémon to trainer relationship, at least I don't think so. And neither is anyone else. I…hope you understand that."
She delayed her response, but said something in a sort of sighing, disheartening way.
"Hey, if you're feeling left out, or under my radar, you're not. Besides all the times you hang around by my side, I've noticed you. You are very attentive, you care about us as much as your group of five, and you are more than capable of holding your own…despite our initial meeting."
She was now facing me, though still laying on her stomach.
"Anyone would have it tough facing a horde of Pokémon at a type disadvantage. Lasting as long as you did with your peers, that was impressive. And it shows during your training. You're attacks are quite strong as far as I can tell, and your Mirror Coat deflects thinks like Astra's Growl or Bellsprout's Sleep Powder. With our training, you'll just get stronger still."
Her expression made her seem pleased with my complements. I added with a smirk, "And don't think I haven't noticed how you get a little 'showy' with your moves. Adding those stylish flares to them."
She giggled a bit. She was sitting upright, with a smile creeping onto her face.
I smiled back. "There, see? I do care about you." I reached out and petted her head. She looked sheepishly embarrassed for some reason, but tried to keep our eye contact. "And I am trying to understand you. As well as some of the others, perhaps. Telepathy is kind of a quirky thing for me. Still don't know what really triggers its ease. But maybe someday…"
I began scratching behind her ears as I spoke. Her tail wagged as she radiantly approved. But when I scratched a particular spot behind her lower left ear, she let out a pleasurable moan. [Oooh, yes! You found the spot!]
I stopped scratching as I looked surprised. […or maybe now. Fennekin?]
She jumped, even more surprised than I was. Then her face turned from slack-jawed to ecstatic. [Will! We can talk through our minds! Just like with Rowlet! Yay!] She leapt onto me, almost knocking me over again as she licked my face. [Maybe now you can be my…Pokémon trainer, sort of?]
I gently held her by her waist as I sat her on my crisscrossed lap. [Not a trainer. Something different. I like to think of it as a partnership, like the others.]
[Partners? I like the sound of that!]
I snapped my fingers. [Oh, right! And as a partner whom I can telepathically communicate with, I should give you a nickname.]
Her tail wagged furiously as she beamed. [Eeee! A nickname!]
[Hm…how about…Primrose?]
She immediately jumped up to my face, rubbing her cheek against mine. She let out a series of happy yips. [I love it! Thank you soooo much, Will!]
[I'm glad you like the first name that came in my head.]
Primrose stood on my lap, still giddy. [I've dreamed of this kind of moment with a Pokemon trainer. Now it's sort of come true. This is the happiest moment of my life!]
I tapped a finger on my chin. [Is that what you always wanted? A Pokemon trainer?]
She sat down as she calmed down a bit. [Yeah. Ever since I hatched in a daycare center in Kalos, I always wanted to be someone's Pokemon trainer.]
[A Kalos daycare center?]
[Yeah. Sort of a nursery place where lots of Pokemon are hatched, if not in the wild. But I liked that place. It was cozy, I was well-fed, and it had lots of fun spaces to run around. Best of all, there were young humans who visited the place who could pick up Pokémon there! And keep them as their own!] She started to get starry-eyed. [I sooo wanted to be picked to be cared for by someone! The other Fennekin thought I was weird to be so obsessed with being someone's trainer. But I've heard how much love and attention a trainer brings to their Pokemon, and I wanted it so…] She dreamily stared into space.
[Heh…that…is a nice dream to have,] I replied, sweatdropping.
[Yeah…] She slowly turned crestfallen. [But so many others got picked. One by one, the nursery emptied out, and I was still there. I was never picked…]
[Oh, I'm sorry that happened…]
[And then…a poacher attacked the daycare. He snatched me and as many others as he could before the police got there. I thought…I'd never be with a Pokémon trainer…]
I placed a hand on her droopy head. [That's terrible. How did you escape?]
[It was Oshawott. If it wasn't for her, I'd still be stuck with that poacher…] Primrose looked up to me, beaming. [And I never would have met you!]
[Well, you are safe…r now.]
[I know. I have my shining knight beside me.] She adjusted her body so my hand rested on her stomach as she lay on her back. Then she looked up at me with big, doe-y eyes. [Will, could you pretty please rub my tummy? You did so well with my ears before.]
I sighed and shrugged. [Well, I guess I got nothing else to do at the moment. But…you must make amends with Nightraider right after. Promise?]
She smiled cheerily. [Promise.]
I obliged to scratch her as she requested. She involuntarily squirmed as she pleasurably cooed. But, less than a minute after I started, Chimchar suddenly popped out of nowhere. The moment he spoke cheekily, Primrose jumped in utter shock, like she was caught in the act of something. She madly blushed as she barked angrily back at Chimchar. [Chimchar! I was having a moment! Get out of here, you nosy…!] And she chased after him as he laughed.