I don't own Pokemon or anything in it
The saddest part of being trapped is that, after a while, you forget the freedom you once had no matter what you told yourself at the beginning. Eventually, you give up on circumstances you have no control over and accept what you know as the present. This was what happened to Swinub.
Back in Box 8, Pokemon came and went. Once in a while, new Pokemon would drop in after being caught, all with the same hope for escape as Swinub had. But after the first few months where the game cartridge wasn't even touched when Trainer Wes had been grounded, Swinub began to realize the dream for freedom was untouchable. He began receding farther into the Box's corners and becoming less social.
Every once in a while, something new would happen that caused a ripple in the stagnant lives of the Box 8 residents. Often, new members would drop in and Swinub was now part of the horde that followed Derp when the new Pokemon was welcomed, however, he tended to cling to the back. Part of him was unable to let go of his freedom and he would not encourage other newcomers to forget their pasts like the more accepting Pokemon in the front of the group would.
On a less common note, Derp would be taken out of the box to occupy the sixth spot on Trainer Wes' team in place of the mighty Aggron to use his HM skills to get through a cave or something. Aggron was a strong Pokemon, but Trainer Wes wanted to teach him more battle-useful moves rather than obstacle clearing moves. This often left him in Box 8, exchanged with Derp, waiting for the next big battle. But unlike Swinub, he did not find this demeaning, he rather took his breaks with a smile on his face.
"I know Wes still needs me, I'm just not as good at some things as other Pokemon. If I were his only Pokemon… well, lets just say I've been saved plenty of times by my teammates and even random Pokemon that Wes puts on the team to train," Aggron had last said with a grin. At his last visit, he had given them the news that Trainer Wes had just beaten the final gym. He was taking time to train, explore and catch some Pokemon he had missed on his journey before he decided to challenge the Pokemon League. "Next time I'm here, Wes should be at Victory Road! He'll need Derp to get him through the obstacles of that massive labyrinth. Ooh, I wish I were there, I've heard that only the toughest wild Pokemon live there… I've wanted to battle them since I was an Aron. Oh well, let another Pokemon have some time in the spotlight am I right?" Aggron chuckled.
But that had been a while ago. The in game clock told them that it had only been a week, but for a captured Pokemon in a box only big enough to comfortably house thirty Pokemon, life dragged on with excruciating slowness. Swinub had found a corner of his own where he was secluded from most of the other Pokemon, spending his time meditating and thinking about random things that young Pokemon contemplate. If Arceus is God, how can he be captured and why is he stored by Trainer Wes in Box 1? If a mere trainer can catch him, what does that mean for the world? Why do water type Pokemon that you find in the ocean need CDs to learn how to Surf and Dive? Such questions circulated through Swinub's mind ceaselessly. Then, one day a long time later, Aggron returned to Box 8.
"Yup, Wes got to the Pokemon Center right before Victory Road! I'm proud, but I can't wait to get back out there and kick some Elite Four butt!" He laughed heartily with the Pokemon listening around him. "Alright, well, it's getting late. The game clock says its already one o'clock in the morning, you all should turn in for the night. I happen to know that when Wes beats the Pokemon League, this Box is full of Pokemon he wants to train for battle and Pokedex purposes, so you all could be getting some good time in the sun!"
There were gasps of delight from the Pokemon surrounding the battle hero. Swinub was shocked. Not only getting out of the Box, but being battle trained as well? That would be a dream come true! He stood there in stunned silence as the rest of the Pokemon began retreating to their dens, chattering excitedly with their friends about the possibility of battle. Soon he was one of the only ones in the clearing, looking in awe at Aggron. The Pokemon was huge, with perfect IVs in both Attack and Defense. He had powerful attacks to wield, no wimpy Growl or Tackle like Swinub had. No, Aggron had Hyper Beam and Iron Head, with Earthquake as well. And to crown it all, he had Giga Impact as a final attack to take out any foes who were almost done for. Aggron was the epitome of tough, and he was the only main team member Swinub had met.
He had heard fables from Aggron's past visits about the speed and skill of Lady Swellow, the cool collected form of Manectric, and the jolly strength of Wailord. Trickster Mightyena he had also heard about, but not so much for his strength as for his tricks of deception. But then, there was the starter. She was a legend in all the Boxes, even Box 1 where the caught legendaries themselves were stored. She had single-handedly taken on the great Kyogre and it had been captured. She had finished off Team Aqua once and for all, and was now leading the team through Victory Road. Ivy the Sceptile was the only main team member with a nickname and she deserved it. She was the strongest Pokemon he had ever heard of. Swinub wanted that, the legacy, the strength. And soon, he may get his chance.
Aggron noticed that the young Swinub was the last Pokemon in the clearing with him. The young Pokemon was staring at him with absent wonder. "Hey, kiddo, you awake?" Aggron waved his hand in front of Swinub's face to rouse him from his dazed thoughts.
"Huh, oh, yeah! Thanks, I just… you guys are all so cool! I want to be as tough as you guys on the main team!" Swinub exclaimed with excitement.
Aggron chuckled. "I hope you become that, Piloswine is your final evolution, yes? Oh wait, no, theres another one… ah, well, its probably in the National Pokedex… well anyway, Piloswine is a powerful form, and theres even one further after that. I can't imagine what a little Swinub like you can become with some training!" He patted Swinub on the back.
"Wow, really?!" Swinub hopped up with anticipation, "I could be even as strong as you are?"
"Sure you can, I'm only level 67, you can easily beat that! Why, I wouldn't be surprised if you took my place some day. Lets see, you're already level 24, right? Well, you're already a third of the way there and you've been sitting in a Box since you've been caught! You, my friend, like any other Pokemon, have limitless potential." Aggron ruffled Swinub's fur and began strolling off to a big thick tree in the clearing. "I'm going to turn in for the night, kiddo. Promise me you won't forget that you have potential, no matter what anyone tells you, ok?" He sat with his back against the tree.
"I never will, sir! Thank you for the talk!" Swinub hurried off to his den, pondering the new inspiration he had received.
Aggron watched him go and then settled against the tree, "Huh, just like I was…" He closed his eyes, dreaming of the days when he was Aron, fighting back to back with Ivy when she was a Grovyle. She had given him inspiration similar to what he had told Swinub. Who knows? Maybe Swinub would grow up to be like him? Aggron smiled. Huh, inspiring young Pokemon, never expected I'd be doing that too much. Quickly, a wave of exhaustion came over him and Aggron fell asleep.
So Swinub could get to be a battler! Woooo! Aggron turns out to be a really cool Pokemon, and from what he said, could Ivy like that too? Nice! This story became based in Hoenn to celebrate ORAS and all that, so the main team is now comprised of a mixture of Pokemon from my awesome new team in Alpha Sapphire and my beloved old Pokemon in Emerald! I hope you enjoyed it so far!