Author's note: This chapter skims over a series of events because aRiE was originally written as a short story. I've planned for a while to go back and expand this chapter, but never got around to it. I've been wondering if I should frame the sequel as an expansion of this chapter, but I'm not sure yet.
Domestic Pokemon. Wild Pokemon. The Grovyle's words left a mark on Sektek. In the coming days, Elias continued to visit Sektek, shaping the young Pikachu's life, tugging him out from the curtains of adolescence and bringing him into the real world.
Time passed. Slowly, Sektek became a stronger warrior under Slick's tutelage. Again and again, Elias urged the Pikachu to bond with his teammates.
"Teamwork is very important, you know," Elias would say after a sparring round, returning his leaf-blade to his back with a twirling flourish. "Take Shanala's techinque, 'Sunny Day.' She calls down the sun's light and intensifies its rays."
"What about it?"
"It's all about timing," explained the Grovyle. "Normally, in the time that Leroy has charged and fired his Solar Beam technique, the opponent has already had time to strike him twice. But because the sun's rays are much stronger, he is able to absorbe energy far more quickly-"
"A-all right, I get it," said Sektek weakly, trying to cut off Elias before the Grovyle went too far.
Striding back and forth in front of his Pokemon, Slick delivered his pep talk with fire in his eyes. "Remember, Hoenn's not like Kanto or Johto," translated Rush. "The forests are denser, the roads are narrower, and the Pokemon are bolder. No jumping out early, okay? We can't afford to be ambushed."
The team experienced several lineup changes over time. Insyte was temporarily switched out with a Geodude when Slick went spelunking. Shanala was swapped with various Pokemon on three or four occasions. Aohane was switched out with a Wingull twice. Lightning himself was changed out for a Manectric several times.
The first time he was switched out, he was ashamed. Hadn't he worked hard? Wasn't he good enough? But eventually, he understood that Slick still saw something in him, because he always returned to the lineup.
Light brown walls and wooden coffee tables. The motel room was cheap, but clean. Slick was sprawled on the couch, fast asleep, his Pokemon huddled on the rug in the middle of the room.
"The Petalburg Gym Leader's name is Norman," said Rush in a hushed voice. "Four years ago, his son Brendan intervened in the Sootopolis weather crisis and became the Champion three weeks later."
"And then disappeared two weeks after that," muttered Insyte. "How useful."
Paying no attention to the others. Sektek appproached the TV against the wall. The glass screen was cool to Sektek's touch. In the back of his head, he knew the console could come to life at the touch of a button.
Now, 'Route 50' was a pretty good show. Apparently, when humans had been developing the lands west of Cianwood, they'd forgotten to build a Route 50. The show focused on a fictional idea of what life in such a place would be like.
Though the writers had taken great artistic liberties, the series was a major hit, thanks to its wide variety of characters. The fifth season had recently premiered.
Personally, the Pikachu thought most of the male cast needed to be dropped, especially that one Ninetales that rode on Skarmories, but it didn't matter. His favorite character was probably the red-and-blue Torchic.
Why? Why should it remind him of Team Retrievers so much? A TV show was just a story. Venvel was real... wasn't she?
Maybe Rush and the others were right. Maybe it really was all a dream. Maybe, just maybe, he really had imagined everything.
Elias is real, he reminded himself. Elias is proof that the past is real. But Elias was too mysterious. Someone he hadn't known very well.
Six months had passed since Slick arrived in Hoenn, since the Pikachu began training. Even if Team Retrievers had once been real, it wasn't relevant to the present anymore.
Silently, Lightning looked back at the others. He opened his mouth to speak. Wanted to say something. Wanted to gain their respect. But he couldn't bring himself to speak, to let his thoughts become words. Couldn't bring himself to join in.
Suddenly, Rush looked straight at the Pikachu, a pair of searching orange eyes. "You okay?"
"Huh?" The Pikachu shrank back from the Marshtomp's gaze. "Yeah, I'm fine." Why did he retreat? Why did he always retreat? Why couldn't he just talk to them normally...?
Even though this strange world was becoming familiar, the Pikachu couldn't help but hold back, couldn't help but remain quiet on these nights when the entire team huddled together.
But still, Lightning took a seat on the rug between Bailey and Insyte.
