Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon

Chapter 20: Knowing Your Place

The sun crept over the horizon, sunlight fighting its way through the cloudy skies. It was going to be a gray early morning, which wasn't an oddity for Paul or his Pokemon.

The plains provided plenty of space, so Paul wasted no time releasing his Pokemon and beginning their training session. Paul left his current squad near the face of a high cliff while he tended his tea and other stuff, but mostly his tea, back at camp.

As soon as they were released, Paul's Pokemon began to start all of their own early morning routines and rituals. All except for the new guy. Cubone stretched towards the sky as it let out a long yawn. Cubone began to lightly tap its skull with its Thick Club in a dazed he felt an uneasiness. After a moment, he realized something was wrong. Cubone began to look left and right in panic. He then froze as he heard the flapping of wings, and from the sounds of it, they were pretty big wings. Whatever it was proceeded to land next to him. In response, Cubone began to turn for a peek, freaked out but curiosty getting the better of him.

Next to him stood a large bird like Pokemon. With its white chest feathers puffed outwards, the Pokemon stood like a dominant and intimidating force. Cubone stared at this new Pokemon, never seeing anything this intimidating.

As Cubone continued to stare, the bird Pokemon stood like a statue. Suddenly, as if it just realized Cubone was there, the bird like Pokemon's beak was shoved right in Cubone's face. With a squint of its eyes the Pokemon stared.

After a moment, the Pokemon relented from its aggressive stare, and returned to its same, statue like stance.

Looking from the corner of its eye the dark blue bird Pokemon began,

Pokespeak: On

"You must be the fresh meat" squawked the Pokemon.

"F-fresh meat!?" said a startled Cubone.

"What's going on here" began a distant but deep voice. Cubone turned around in response. The ground trembled as the owner of the voice approached.

It was the same Pokemon that saved Cubone and the other Pokemon he was trapped with. The first time he saw it, the Pokemon seemed to be big, but know it seemed enormous.

As a ground type, Cubone was extra sensitive to the movements of the earth. So he could feel the power of this Pokemon through the earth. And the way the earth gave way as it moved, he could be sure it was a powerful.

"Honchcrow, you're supposed to be warming up" began the large ground type. Strangely Cubone became fixated on the tree that this Pokemon seemed to carry around its back, "looks like it could be fun on top of there."

"Gah, stop being grumpy all of the time Torterra" Honchcrow waved its wing, "I was just saying hello to the newbie." Honchcrow didn't seem to directly face neither of them as it spoke. "Isn't that right?"

"R-right!" Responded Cubone, unsure how to respond really. Might as well go with the flow for now.

"You" began Torterra, startling Cubon. His voice didn't boom or anything, but did have a demanding tone, "stop looking lost."

"He's right" squawked Honchrow, "if you don't get your head on straight, you'll regret it. I've heard that even a couple of Pokes didn't make it through hell's week and they kicked the bucket."

"W-what!?"

Honchcrow grinned at Cubone's reaction, only to squawk in pain as it felt something clamp on its wing. He quickly retreated to the skies.

"Stop talking out of your ass, asshat. Go and warm up!" Torterra said.

"Geez, your no fun." With that, Honchcrow flew off.

"Don't listen to that crazy bird" Torterra turned its attention to Cubone who still seemed in shock, "still, you better prepare. You're in for a rough ride."

"Y-yes sir!" Cubone wasn't sure, but it felt the need to salute with its Thick Club. Probably because of the aura Torterra seemed to carry around.

Torterra began to walk away without another word, but before it came out of earshot, he added, "you can start off by greeting your new training partners."

Cubone looked as Torterra went off to do its own thing, then he scanned the area. Other than Honchcrow and Torterra, there was only one more. It was a Pokemon he already knew about. Granted, he never talked to a Vivillon before, but he could see them flying over the woods back at his home…or old home. It hit him in the gut as strong as that Raichu hit him yesterday. He probably wasn't going to see that place for a while, possibly never. It was going to be strange, then again he was looking forward to see new places and became stronger. And this might be his best chance to do just that.

"So he did catch you after all." Cubone froze, the same voice that was taunting him yesterday causing everything to come back, unfortunately.

"Eh. Oh hey" Cubone slowly turned to find Raichu. Ugh. He could still feel the pain that vibrated through his body when Raichu punched him. He never felt so much pain before.

O Cubone's surprise, he found a paw shoved right in front of him,

"You have guts, you suck, but you have guts." Cubone took Raichu's paw into his own in a somewhat awkward handshake that Cubone was not prepared for, "I didn't think you would last as long as you did."

"Um, thanks?" Cubone then felt something push him on his back. It turned out to be Raichu's tail.

"Don't worry, training with Paul will be nothing like what happened in that little battle of ours." Cubone began to sigh in relief, but he was cut off by a grinning Raichu who added, "it'll be worse."

Cubone stiffened up while Raichu continued to stare at him with a big grin, unlike his smirk but still unsettling.

"Good luck, you'll need it" Raichu said before running off into some bushes.

"Well, I guess that could have gone worse." Cubone began to think about his situation. He was with a trainer he followed through the region. The trainer seemed to be really tough, though Cuboine had expected that, he was getting anxious.

Cubone suddenly heard flapping wings. He figured it was Honchcrow again, so he decided to pretend not to notice, but soon he felt something land on his head,

"Hi there" said Vivillon, perched on top of Cubone's head.

"Hello" Cubone responded as he looked up, catching a glimpse of Vivillon.

"I heard that Paul just caught you. Thought I'd introduce myself. I haven't been with this group long actually; I'm still kind of new here too."

"Really? So how is it, you know around Paul and the others." Cubone said. So far he was feeling the most comfortable with Vivillon, so he felt like this was a question he could ask.

"Well, there's never a dull moment. We train hard, trying to get stronger. And Paul's Pokmemon are all interesting theirown way."

"And what about Paul?" Cubone asked.

"….."

Cubone took Vivillon's silence as a sign to change the subject,

"I always used to see Vivillon pass over my home. They all look amazing, with their different patterns, especially yours."

"Oh, thanks." Vivillon responded in surprise.

Their conversation was cut off short, when Paul reached them. Without a word, Vivillon quickly perched herself onto one of the few trees nearby.

Paul glanced at Cubone for a moment before moving on. Cubone then began to follow Paul, unsure what to do.

"Torterra" Paul simply said. Without any other direction, Torterra stopped what it was doing and strolled a few paces till he was in the middle of the clearing and next to Paul.

"Stone Edge that clown." Torterra gave a deep grunt in response, before his eyes glowed and stone projectiles began to revolve around his body.

"Ugh" began Honchcrow. He was perched on top of the very tree that Torterra was facing, "here we go again."

Honchcrow vacated the tree and soared into the open sky. Torterra then fired what seemed to be an endless array of sharp stones, aimed right at Honchcrow.

Honchcrow weaved through the assault, making tight turns and sharp cuts with seemingly no space for error. Whatever error Honchcrow made cost a rock to slam in both wings, causing the flying type to crash land on the grassy terrain.

"Your evasiveness has been sloppy lately" Paul said as he walked passed the Big Boss Pokemon.

"You always say that" squawked Honchcrow, "plus, this guy can control those dammed rocks with his head, clearly unfair."

"More than fair" Torterra said as his eyes began to glow again.

Honchcrow began to climb upward, "did I ever tell you how much fun both of you are. Like reeeeaaaaly fun."

Paul stopped in front of a lone tree that was smaller than the other one that Honchcrow was just perched in.

Vivillon didn't respond to Paul's advance and Paul just looked on without a word. After a few seconds, Paulabandoned the tree, leaving Vivillon there.

Cubone looked up, wondering what exactly was going up. Vivillon looked upset, was there a specific reason?

Cubone only had a short moment to wonder because Paul was walking quickly. Raichu then popped out one of the bushes, holding a berry. Raichu then paused to look up at Paul. Paul only nodded towards Vivillon and continued to his destination. Raichu took that as an order and dashed on all fours towards the tree Vivillon was perched on.

Cubone glanced back to see what was going to happen between the two, but Paul was beginning to make space between him and Cubone, and the lonely Pokemon found itself having to play catch up.

What was it about this Cubone that unsettled Paul? Was it the fact that it followed him, or something else? He wasn't excited about training Cubone, but not training it wouldn't really be an option since the idea of having dead weight on his team hurt his head. He could try to release it, but the Cubone already showed it was going to be persistent, and Paul didn't need a hitchhiker.

Paul stopped near the main river which was used by trainers as a major land mark to follow. Paul looked across the river where a steep cliff blocked of the possibility of a farther view of the area. Cubone followed the action of its trainer, his eyes only moving back to Paul when the trainer began with an even voice,

"Looks like I'm stuck with you." Paul turned away from Cubone and took a couple of steps down the dirt path, "you better keep up."

Cubone suddenly found itself thrown into Paul's training regimen, otherwise known as hell's week. With his short legs, Cubone attempted to keep up with Paul as they both made laps around the area.

Not soon after, Cubone began to grow tired and his breathing became labored,

"You're completely out of shape" Paul began, "I can't do anything with you in this condition." Paul was sweating and breathing heavily as well, but not as much as Cubone.

Cubone responded with heavy cry. That cry quickly changed into a yelp when Cubone's was shoved into the river. The small ground type began to flail in Panic, splash water and scarring off any water type Pokemon that would be nearby,

"It's not that deep." Paul showed no urgency as Cubone continued to flail around, his eyes wide.

"Clam down and get yourself out." After a moment, Cubone's flailing became less frantic, but he still seemed to be struggling to get his bearings.

"Aren't you the same Cubone that traveled through the pouring rain to find me in Lumiose?"

Cubone quickly responded by shutting his eyes tight, willing himself back to shore. After a short struggle, he dragged himself to sweet, sweet land, drenched in water and his heart racing, unlike the calm river.

Paul glanced towards Cubone for a moment before walking off as Cubone regained his bearings.

Cubone grunted as the sharp ended stones collided into his body, exploding into rubble at contact.

Cubone grunted as a large dark wing slammed into his tense body, shaking his entire being.

Cubone grunted as Raichu's tail slammed into him, as if a steel beam was drooped on his head.

"Vivillon, now." Cubone prepared for another round off punishment. He could swear that his body was beginning to go numb at this point. After all the training today, Cubone soon realized that all he could do till this point was survive.

Has it only been a day so far? The sun wasn't even near its highest point yet.

Maybe this was a mistake? It's a bit late for that.

Mercy? Not a chance.

Or maybe there was. The next attack never came and Cubone dared to open his eyes.

Paul glared at Vivillon. Vivillon gave a nervous cry in response, but the Scales Pokemon made up its mind and landed by Cubone's side, who stumbled to a knee.

Paul looked up towards the sky before walking away, leaving the Pokemon on their own.

"Are you okay?" Vivillon said softly.

Cubone flopped onto his back, gasping for air.

"I didn't think I'd be able to take anymore." Cubone then turned towards Vivillon, "why didn't you attack?"

Vivillon flinched a bit at Cubone's question, "I just thought you had enough, and I couldn't really bring myself to do it."

"I haven't been with Paul long, so I guess I'm not use to dishing out the punishment, only taking it."

"Oh" Cubone responded. Cubone looked up towards the sky,

"So everybody here went through the same thing" he muttered to himself.

Cubone forced himself to his feet, his muscles screaming in response. Even with his body beaten, Cubone remained standing.

"I know why I did this now" Vivillon gave a worried look as Cubone seemed ready to collapse, "I don't I want to feel helpless anymore." Cubone's grip on his Thick Bone became tighter. "So please, next time, don't hold back."

Vivillon was taken aback by the sudden intensity Cubone emitted. But she understood. She understood because she felt the same thing, "I don't want to feel helpless either."

After the early morning training, Paul traveled for a good part of the afternoon and evening traveling to his next destination. It seemed like he was being trailed by a group of trainers. Cubone was curious, but Cubone had enough to worry about.

The training in the evening was just as brutal. This time, Vivillon did follow Paul's command, but she seemed to show restraint and almost seemed to detest his orders.

After that, everybody began to turn in for the night. The three, other than Vivillon, talked mostly amongst themselves. Cubone didn't pay attention to much of it, but he caught something from Honchcrow, along the lines, "I bet you half of my breakfast for a week that the newbie doesn't make it next three days."

Cubone felt like he should be mad about that, but he was too tired. Strangely enough, he could only smile as they had fun at his expense.

Other than some taunts from Raichu, Honchcrow giving him a crazy eyed look, and Torterra barking the occasional order, Cubone only really talked with Vivillon. Looked like he would have to know his place around here.

Night quickly came up and Paul began returning the Pokemon to their respective pokeballs. When it was Torterra's turn to be returned to his Pokeball, the continent Pokemon responded by turning away and lumbering past Cubone, away from Paul. Paul put away Torterra's pokeball without a word. Paul then pulled out Cubone's Pokeball. Cubone looked at the Pokeball and back at Torterra rapidly. Without a real reason, Cubone chased after Torterra.

Paul followed Cubone's path with the Pokeball; But after a moment, he put Cubone's Pokeball away. And with the Continent Pokemon leading the way, Cubone trailed.

Torterra lumbered at a slow pace. So was the pace of a Pokemon that was as heavy as Torterra was. But there was also no urgency from the leader of the Pack either.

"Um…Torterra?" The silence was starting to make Cubone feel uncomfortable, so he decided to ask something that was bouncing in his head, "are you friends with Paul?"

"Huh?" Torterra began slowly, as if he had expected anything other than that, "of course not."

"Really? You two seem to have a strong bond though, you seem to be really in sync."

Torterra remained silent as he came to stop next to a tree that barely beat Torterra in size.

"We're partners" Torterra began as he lowered his large body onto the ground. If one were far away enough, they could mistake Torterra for just another large tree. After all, it was the Continent Pokemon.

"We both have the same goal, and we want just as bad." With that, Torterra closed his eyes.

"You better sleep as well; you won't make it through tomorrow if you don't."

And Cubone did just that.