{Approx. 8 years ago}

Thanks to the Tamato Berry incident, I thought more about 'cooking' the berries in some fashion. I remembered how good my mom made food for me, so I went off of that. I needed a fire, so I made a safe space for it under Sensei's instructions. As I was constructing the campfire, Bounsweet passed through. She looked lost.

"You looking for someone?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Treecko?"

She nodded intently.

"Don't know. He's either training or scouting."

She sighed sadly. Before she went off, she looked curiously at my shoddy pile of sticks.

"It's supposed to be a fireplace. For cook…making better food out of the berries I collect. Not of you, of course."

She smiled at me with a hint of relief. [Thank Arceus. I knew you wouldn't eat me.]

[Hey, took a while.]

[Oh yes! You are one of the only two I feel comfortable being around here. Now I can directly talk with you!]

[Is Treecko the other?]

[Ah, yes…] she replied dreamily. [He's the only other one who first saw me as more than just a Pokémon that looks like food. And the way he looked when he saved me…]

Suddenly, Treecko jumped down from the canopy, followed by Knave. [Man, how you move through the trees is nothing like how the Mankey did.] Knave said to Treecko.

[Oh my gosh, you're here!] Bounsweet swooned in her thoughts. [What an entrance!]

[Uh, Bounsweet?] I asked. [You know how I can still hear your thoughts right now, right?]

[Huh?] Bounsweet snapped to reality.

Knave elbows Treecko, smirking. [Hey, Treecko. Looks like your 'shadow' got lost for a minute.]

Treecko only gave a confused expression to him, like he missed something in the conversation.

Knave just shrugged and turned to me. [So Will, has Bounsweet finally joined the telepathic club?]

[Yeah, she did. Just need to come up with a nickname for her.]

[How about Cherry?] He said with a mischievous grin.

[Cherry?] I responded.

Bounsweet, gazing at Treecko all this time, suddenly chimed in. [My name what now?]

[Uh…Sherry. Yeah, Sherry. That can be your name. How's it sound?]

[Sherry?] She thought for a second, then turned to Treecko. He was mostly paying attention to me, but he looked to Sherry when she hopped slowly toward him. [Do…you…like the name?]

His response sounded simple, but with his usual appealing voice. I didn't understand him yet, but whenever he talked, it sounded casually suave without any effort or intention of sounding so on his part. Bounsweet was clearly drinking up all of what he was saying. When he capped it off with a thumbs up, she cooed, [Thank you…] and fainted.

I turned to Knave. [I take it she likes the name?]

[More than that,] Knave crossed his arms with a smile.

Treecko looked back to me, staring intently. It felt like he was staring into my soul.

"Um, did you need something?" I said apprehensively.

He didn't respond. But Knave replied, [I think he's trying to telepathically connect with you. He's mentioned interest in it once in a while.]

"Huh. Well, I can't really make it happen on command. I mean, I've tried, but…"

The Wood Gecko Pokémon still stared me down.

I sighed, "Alright. We'll do it your way. For however long you want."

For hours, we just locked eyes. Neither of us backed down. Nightraider swooped by. Kept Knave company while they watched. Sherry woke up, but didn't interrupt us. Primrose and Gardna joined the other onlookers now finished with their training with Sensei. Now it sort of unnerved me with the crowd of five watching us just stare. But if Treecko was all in, so was I. Even with the thoughts of the onlookers crossing my mind. I could hear bets being place, with heightened fervor between Primrose and Sherry over me or Treecko to back down respectively.

I eventually cut them out of my mind entirely. "Can't let their thoughts bog me down. I have to focus. Treecko seems to really want to connect with me telepathically. More so than anyone. I can't give up yet."

Treecko remained unblinking. He was much better at holding his nerves than I was. Then, just as I felt too antsy, a breakthrough. […t…test…testing…testing, testing, testing, test-]

[Got it! I hear you, I hear you!] There was a moment of excitement. Then a migraine pierced my head. I collapsed into a sitting position, half-blanking out. [Was I…trying that hard?] As the pain passed, Primrose and Nightraider ran up to me.

[Take…easy, Will,] said the latter, but his telepathic link felt frayed.

[Yeah…] said the former. Her link sounded just as wonky. [Did…work…?]

"It did," I replied tiredly. "Though I might need to lay off the mental talking for a bit. Seems I overblew it somewhat."

Treecko nodded at me with a smile. Sherry bounced next to him, seemingly happy for the both of us. Primrose walked back to Sherry and said something to her that made her look embarrassed about.

It wasn't until sunset when I opened my telepathy again. Even though the supper berries were foul tasting, they seemed to somewhat restore my stamina. I would have liked to try the fireplace I made, but it wasn't ready yet. As we ate, Sherry apprehensively inched to Treecko. When he looked to her, she struggled to give eye contact. Although my telepathy was off at the time, her voice was stuttering a lot. But Treecko gave a plain, agreeing response when she finished her question. If she was a fire-type, she'd be giving off steam. She nodded, hopped two paces away, and fainted with an enamored smile. Primrose sat on my lap, and she looked rather pleased when watching that whole stint. I guessed it had something to do with their betting, but I'll never know.

After we ate, I walked up to Treecko. [So, now that I feel better, I'd like to ask: why?]

Treecko stood up as well, standing proudly while looking up. [I'm pleased our connection works. Back from my time in Hoenn, I lived alongside a ninja clan. While I wasn't caught by any ninja trainers there, the master of the clan brought me in. He taught me humility, respect, and 'the way' to a moral life. Now that I'm here, I wish to serve the leader of this team in the same way I served my former master. While the Oranguru known as Sensei is the leader of this team, I was told of your telepathy and personal trials. Therefore, I wanted to properly and personally ask, in your native language, that you may be my next master.]

I almost lost my breath, moved by his serious yet eloquent words. [Oh…uh, are you sure? I mean…I don't know what to say, er, think.]

He gave a slow nod. [I understand your stance in relation to Pokémon. You may treat me in whatever comfortable and good manner you so choose. I simply wish to treat you in 'the way' I know best. But the choice is ultimately yours. I will not judge, and I will respect your choice.]

[Uh, now? Um…] Still thrown off, I kept my thoughts private for a few seconds. "I'm not a trainer, though being a sort of 'Pokemon Master' does have a nice ring to it. Regardless, he says he'll make peace to work within my comfortable bounds. And he seems like a good and strong Pokemon. Wait, I haven't given him a name yet!" A few more seconds later, I re-opened my thoughts. [I made my decision. I accept to work alongside you. I hope I can somewhat fulfill the role that you held to your former 'master'.]

Although his expression hardly changed, he was beaming. He genuflected before me, bowing his head. [My greatest thanks to you. Will, I hereby extend my duty and loyalty to serve you as my next master.]

[Oh, uh, at ease?] I felt incredibly awkward, under the spotlight of our peers still standing around us. [And you may rise under a new name. One that fits your typing. You are now…Sherwood.]

Sherwood stood up and put a fist to his chest. [I am humbled. I accept that name.]

Nightraider tilted his head in slight confusion. [Why does that name bother me?]

Sherry jumped up to me with slight urgency. [Uh, I wish to join you, too!] she said quickly while glancing to Sherwood.

[Sure,] I said. As Sherry squealed a bit to herself, I thought I heard leaves rustling. When I turned, a flash of blue color stormed off. "Was that Oshawott?"