Hello everyone! As promised, there's another episode this week! Now this chapter is shorter than I wanted it to be but I was trying to add more to it and I felt like I was overdoing it, so I decided to leave it short. So, let's get on with the episode!

Ep 5: Timid

A bright ray of sun shone into my eyes as a new day had come. This was my third day of training since Kevin and Bree had left, and I was feeling good. Fletchling and Chespin both have gotten quicker and raised their attack power. The bond between us is growing too which will aid us in battle, so I was feeling quite confident, but not confident enough to go back and challenge Viola yet.

"Alright Chespin, Fletchling, it's time to train!" Chespin and Fletchling woke up and looked up at me, dazed. "Training?" They both looked at me with disgust and went back to sleep. "Guys, it's already 7am! Oh crap it's 7am." I then followed after my Pokemon and fell down onto my bed face first, and rested for a little while longer. You won't bring out you and your Pokemon's true potential if you're not well rested…

"Again! Quick Attack and Tackle!" Fletchling zipped into the air with a trail of white following her while Chespin ran head-first towards her. The two collided over and over and their attacks seemed about even. We were training in a small forest on Route 22 and it was a beautiful day, sun shining onto all of our backs.

"Now, Aerial Ace and Rollout!" Fletchling flew back and then span forward with a rapid Aerial Ace. Chespin jumped into the sky and started to roll forward, and then the two collided, sparks flying from their connecting bodies. Again, they were even. I was happy to see my Pokemon at about the same level so neither of them would feel weak.

"Chessss…" Chespin started to growl. I looked over at him strangely and he had his eyes shut and looked like he was focusing.

"Are you ok buddy…?"

"Chessss…" Chespin continued. Suddenly he started to glow green, and he opened his eyes wide. "Pin!" Out of the blue, he fired a barrage of seeds out and they hit Fletchling. Vines started to come out of the seeds and wrapped around her body. Then she started to be attacked by these vines and Chespin's energy seemed to be restoring.

"No way!" I screamed. "Did you… Did you just learn Leech Seed?!"

"Now swat Fletchling away with your Vine Whip!" Fletchling seemed to avoid Chespin's vines with ease as she came in for a roaring Peck attack. Chespin was sent flying back but stood back up. "Alright now-" I stopped because I heard another person talking. I looked around and couldn't see anyone, but could still hear a voice. It must've been coming from through the trees. I followed the voice and found a rough looking trainer talking to a Froakie along with a very young boy, standing there nervously. I dove into the bushes and listened to what was being said.

"What a useless Pokemon. You know what a starter Pokemon is supposed to do? Start a trainer off on a successful journey! But you, hah! Pathetic!" the rough trainer spat. Froakie backed away and had tears in its eyes. "I already have captured three Pokemon that are far better than you! And I bet I can find a Froakie with real potential!" I had heard quite enough.

"Who do you think you are?" I questioned the trainer and the boy. "That is no way to talk to a Pokemon."

"And you might be?"

"Tyler Colt, trainer of Santalune City," I announced.

"Whatever, this Froakie's useless. Smell you later you stupid frog," he threw a pokeball which I assumed was Froakie's onto the ground and started to walk away. His brother looked as if he was about to cry and stood his ground. "Levi, hurry up!" He quickly ran after his brother but he turned back to me for a second and flashed me a smile. They disappeared but were the least of my worries.

"Froakie…" I murmured as I approached the Pokemon. He scuttled away so I stopped. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you…" I took another step forward and he took another back. "I know you're not pathetic, you just haven't released your true potential yet." I started to walk again and Froakie jumped into a tree. "Froakie, you're safe now." He still looked nervous and had tears in his eyes. I stood there, watching the frightened frog crouched in a tree, crying. It was a horrific sight, especially for any good Pokemon trainer. "Please, Froakie, you are safe with me..." And then I realised the only way to resolve his issue was for him to trust again, he needed a trainer. "Froakie, I can see your potential, so why don't you come with me on my journey?"

"Fro…?" Froakie's tears stopped and he looked hard at me. He turned away for a second but then jumped onto the ground. I put my hand out and Froakie slowly approached me. He then reached out and we touched hands. I smiled at him but he was still stone faced.

"This is your pokeball is it not?" I asked the small frog. He slowly nodded but hung his head low. "Then come with me, please…" Froakie looked up at me but had tears in his eyes for a whole other reason.

"Kie," he smiled wide at me and jumped onto my lap.

"Hehe, Froakie, we're gonna be great friends," I assured him. He smiled up at me but suddenly frowned and got off my lap. I saw him hang his head low, and I assume he remembered his previous trainer. He said that Froakie was his starter Pokemon, how could you possibly abandon your first Pokemon, or any Pokemon for that matter? I also didn't notice it until now but Froakie appeared to have lots of scratches and sores, obviously he took a fierce beating of some kind from that trainer. Ugh! He just grinds my gears!

"Your Pokemon are all healed up, we hope to see you again!" Nurse Joy told me with that all so familiar smile. I nodded in thanks and let all three of my Pokemon out.

"Ches/Fletch!" Chespin and Fletchling screeched as they were released, but Froakie didn't say a thing and backed away from the other two Pokemon. It was early afternoon so we still had time to train so I decided to head back out into the forest…

"Alright Froakie, we're training for a gym match against Viola right now so we need to get you in top notch and bring out your true potential!" I told Froakie who looked nervous and uneasy. "Fletchling, I choose you!" Fletchling flew over towards Froakie to get ready for battle but he quickly ducked down and covered his head with his arms. "Froakie, don't worry, we're not attacking yet! Why don't you show us an attack you can use?"

"Kie!" Froakie suddenly cried out as a Bubble attack was sent out, but it wasn't controlled at all. The bubbles started to shoot everywhere and even I was being hit by the attack! Froakie opened his eyes and saw the damage he'd done to everyone and started to get teary.

"Froakie, it's ok," I ran over to Froakie but he jumped away, lightning fast and into a nearby tree. Froakie hid in the dark of the tree so I couldn't see him. Oh Froakie, how can I heal your broken emotions…?

"Froakie, show us another attack!" I told Froakie as I was getting into the heat of battle. Froakie still hadn't landed a single attack against Fletchling, or performed any for that matter but I had a feeling this next attack would be spot on. I looked over at him, intently, waiting for his power. But, he just stood there, weeping. Fletchling started to blow a small wind, which wasn't even an attack, but Froakie got scared and used a Quick Attack into that nearby tree, which he seemed to love. "Froakie, please come down..."

"Kie!" he cried out to me. I had no choice but to just let Froakie be for a while, until he calmed down, so I went over and got out an afternoon snack, as well as getting some Pokemon food for Chespin and Fletchling, and for Froakie if he felt up to it...

"Now Froakie, try and use an attack ok?" I said to the Pokemon, who had eventually come down from the tree after smelling food. He stood up strongly but one look at Fletchling and he froze up, his head back at his feet. "Froakie, you can do this, I believe in you!" Froakie looked up at me but then started to run away all of a sudden! "Froakie!" I'm trying to connect with Froakie but it doesn't seem to be working… Maybe that's not enough…? He was so quick that I lost sight of where Froakie went. "Fletchling, take to the skies and go find Froakie!"

"Ling!" Fletchling screeched at me while I was walking around the forest. She had been in the air searching for Froakie and obviously spotted him.

"Let's go!" After dashing through the forest for half a minute, we found Froakie, sitting next to a waterfall and drinking from the river. I saw that same old frown on his face, and I looked deep into his eyes. I think that's when I realised what has been troubling him; it wasn't his confidence in others that was stopping him, it was the confidence in himself! After being brutally shamed by his previous Pokemon trainer, no wonder he has no confidence! "Froakie!"

"Kie…?" Froakie questioned as he looked up at me in confusion. He started to take a few steps back as I came closer, but I stopped in my tracks, and explained.

"Froakie, it's ok now. I understand that you not only have lost faith in others, but also in yourself. I understand that before I build your confidence in others, we need to build your own self confidence." For the first time since I had Froakie, I saw a slight smile on his face. "Now that we understand each other, nothing can stop us... And we will bring out your power!" I exclaimed. Froakie smiled up at me because now I knew, he knew we could achieve it together. We would over come this obstacle, but this was just the beginning, the building of Froakie's confidence was a long and tough road…

TO BE CONTINUED…

NEXT EPISODE – MEETING OWEN

So, Tyler has himself a very timid Froakie, that has no confidence in humans or himself. This Pokemon will cause Tyler some trouble, and make for a lot of hard work. Next episode will be the introduction of a familiar face to me, and a lot of you as we share a lot of readers. Not giving away too much, but those readers of us both will already know who Owen is! Pokemon listings:

Tyler:

Chespin: Lv.15 (m) – Tackle, Vine Whip, Rollout, Leech Seed

Fletchling: Lv.15 (f) – Quick Attack, Peck, Aerial Ace

Froakie: Lv.? (m) – Quick Attack, Bubble, ?, ?

Until Next Time – MonfernoFreak