So, second chapter. Yeah, I've been typing vigorously for the past week for this story. Seriously, addiction is imminent. Though I love drawing, art, and all that, I still think writing is a hobby of mine. Hit and miss hobby, yes.
But I'm gonna shut up and listen to Set it Off. If you enjoyed, please leave a review. Thanks!
Stepping forward, I was cautious. There was a chance for anything to happen. Nothing said we were safe until I picked up the small red orb. Once it was in my hand, I knew I'd caught my first Pokemon. Looking to my Herdier and my mother's Staravia, I smiled openly. I'd never have been able to do it without them. I hugged my dog, who licked my face, and pat Staravia on the head. All I got from Staravia was a painful peck to the hand. I made sure that I didn't touch Herdier's back leg, as he only stood on three legs and occasionally whimpered.
Opening up the built in display, I saw the details of my new partner. It displayed a few special things, aka trivial thing, like weight, height, and even BMI. Looking towards the relative health of the Deino, I saw something that scared me. In bright bold red was a flashing 4%, as well as the words that said 'Critical Injuries'. I knew I couldn't keep Deino in... his condition. I probably couldn't even release it to heal it. It was practically dead already. Luckily, if it stayed inside it's Poke ball, the injuries would be contained. They couldn't heal, but they wouldn't get worse.
Retrieving Staravia, who had a broken wing, I pocketed both old and new Poke balls and picked up Herdier. Though he protested in pain, I managed to get him into a comfortable position in my arms without too much pain. Though I could see it in his eyes every time I moved, it was not enough for him to show it. As we exited the clearing, I stepped on something. Feeling similar to the crunch of a shell, I looked around Herdier to see... the remains of an egg?
Balancing Herdier, I grabbed a shard or three and struggled to put them in my bag without dropping my injured dog. Deciding to simply hold them, I pushed through the foliage and ducked under branches. Making our way back through the forest, I felt the two Poke balls in my pocket clinking together. Herdier, being a trooper, growled at any Pokemon that got too close. Pride, as well as concern were two major feeling in my head as I made my way back onto the road back to town.
.
Deciding to handle the health of the Pokemon, I headed towards the Pokemon Center instead of home. After all, I did have a favor to pick up. With Herdier growling at people on the street and sidewalks, it was difficult to keep him calm. Though he only weighed 40 pounds, he was beginning to feel like a ton of bricks. Making my way to the Pokemon Care Center, I walked back through the now familiar glass doors.
At the counter, I saw the same Nurse Kuro from a the first time I came in. In the lobby, there were also a few newer trainers. They looked slightly travel worn, but they still messed around like regular guys. Among them, I also saw one or two girls, but they didn't look attached to the boys. Minding my business and Pokemon, I carried Herdier to the counter.
"Oh, hello, Sir! Good to see you again. I assume you're here to heal your Herdier again? Boy, you must be quite the fighter to already have to heal him again. Now, could you present your Trainer ID?" His blonde hair and kind smile were all too harsh. It was just my luck that the kind Nurse Joy from the other night wasn't here.
"Uh, I haven't taken the test yet. But I do have more than one Pokemon with me." With Herdier on the table, I retrieved my other two Pokemon and laid them on the tray Nurse Kuro presented. He had a kind smile, even when he knew it'd cost me.
"Well, it is a shame to hear that. Now, I'll have to ask you to return your Herdier to his Poke ball before we heal him. We need it to run an examination and estimation." When I didn't comply, I bowed in shame. Herdier wasn't my Pokemon. He belonged to my parents, but I was his friend. "Didn't you hear me? I need you to return your Pokemon to their ball."
"Um, Herdier isn't really my Pokemon. He was given to me when I was a kid, but he belongs to my parents."
"You haven't been naughty as the Pachirisu, have you? You know, I'll need to call them to bring the Poke ball. In the meantime, I'll have to keep him with me." Looking at me up and down, he expected me to break down or beg him not to, but I simply stood there. I wasn't lying, nor was I concerned with the Poke ball. But what I worried about was my father coming. If he knew what I'd done, he'd turn the house upside down.
"You can call them, but I guess you could say I was 'Naughty as a Pachirisu'. I just caught my first Pokemon, after all." An expression lit up his face. Extending a hand, Nurse Kuro beamed at me. I took it and shook it lightly.
"That's good to hear! Nice to see you're taking those first steps into a great Pokemon Trainer! Now, what'd you catch? Is it this one?" The man held up my new Poke ball, containing Deino inside. I was concerned for his health, but Nurse Kuro simply checked the display. I saw his face go from excitement to shock, then to awe. "T-this is quite the, erm, Pokemon you've got with you. I can tell you're going far."
"Thank you, Nurse Ku-" Suddenly, I hand slapped my back and I stumbled forward. Turning around, two of the boys were behind me and smiling. They were slightly younger than me, probably fresh from Oreburgh or Jubilife.
"Congrats, man! How does it feel to be a trainer? When you planning to take the test, huh? Because me and Henry here passed the test two months ago. We also got this last week!" Pulling back his sleeve, the boy showed a metal badge on it. It was the Oreburgh Gym Badge, a sign he was a stronger trainer than me. Here to brag, huh?
"Cool, man! What'd you get for your first Pokemon?" I feigned interest, to show my awe. In honesty, I was a bit jealous. I'd been stuck here for almost a year longer than I expected.
"Me? I got a Shinx. Though she wasn't much use in the Gym, my Lira is pretty powerful. You don't want to get an electric shock from her. How about you? Obviously it's pretty powerful." Dropping my facade, I smirked and crossed my arms.
"I caught a Dragon Pokemon called Deino. With his powerful draconic attacks and abilities, the first Gym should be a piece of cake." From confidence, the boy and Henry stepped back in fear. I was a Dragon tamer to them, a god. One of the most powerful of trainers. Even if my Deino wasn't tame, he was still a dragon and I was his trainer. I hoped.
"Y-you caught a Dragon? By yourself? Just who are you?" Telling him my name, he pulled out his blue and black PokeDex. He searched me up, but no results came up. Trying to make light of the conversation, "Sorry, but you're nothing to me and the Internet." His words did cause a few laughs, but his and Henry's were strained. They were afraid.
"Mr. Lorano? I'm going to need your parent's phone number. Could you please write it down on this paper?" Turning back to Nurse Kuro, I realized I'd forgotten all about my Pokemon and him. Taking the pen and paper from him, I wrote down the numbers of the house phone. "I'll be back in a few moments. In the mean time, I'll take your encapsuled Pokemon."
No longer interested in talking to me, the boy joined his friends and tried talking up the girls. Unfortunately, they had no interested in him and quickly rejected him. Minding my own, I noticed one of the two girls was more introverted than the other, sitting alone on a bench. Without much notice of me, I snuck past the main group to be right next to her.
"How's it going? You're, uh, sitting alone here, you know?" Looking at me, the girl looked coldly at me. Her bright green eyes glared at me.
"What're you doing? And why are you talking to me?"
"Now, no need to be hostile. Just trying to talk, you know? So, what's your name?" Still, taking the hint, I made sure to make a few more inches of room.
"Just who do you think you are? You obviously are just a local nobody, so bug off. You're annoying me." She huffed at me and turned away, opening her PokeDex instead. I tried not to look over her shoulder, but she was practically showing me the screen. On the page, I saw a list of images of Pokemon. I guess they were her team, as they only numbered four. Still, I tried not to recognize the Pokemon showed on the screen.
"What're you looking at? Mind your own Pokemon if you're so inclined. Or use your own PokeDex. Just stay away from me!" In reaction to her outburst, the guys turned towards me, including their ring leader.
"This guy bothering you, Riley? Don't worry, because we'll take care of him." The boy with the Shinx, or Luxio by now, stepped up and took out a Pokeball. "C'mon, Lorano boy. Let's do this like real men. Just you and me, one on one Pokemon battle. Wha'dya say?" I only had one Pokemon. On top of that, it was in critical condition. I couldn't do this, no matter how big of a coward I may seem. I didn't even want to see what Pokemon was inside that Poke ball.
Fortunately, I didn't have to. As I opened my mouth to respond, the sliding doors opened and two panicked adults ran in. As I turned around to face them, I was tackled by my mother. It also helped me by slamming me back into the hard bench.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt? Where'd they get you, huh?" My mother almost undressed my to see every scrape and scratch on my body. I had to literally push her off me for her to calm to hold back. My father took it better, though he was still worried. He went to the boys confronting me and spoke to them.
"Are you the ones who put my family's Pokemon in the Hospital? I had to stop working so I could come here, so if this isn't as important as my work, then I'll fine you for harassment." Struggling to make sense of the situation, the boys were trying to deny the charges pressed against them.
"No, it wasn't them, Dad." I had my mother attached to my arm and restricted me from getting up. She worried about the small scratch where Staravia had pecked me. He looked at me for an explanation, as well as the boys around him.
"Well? Just who do I need to teach a lesson for hurting my son and Pokemon?"
"It was just a wild Pokemon. But Herdier and Staravia helped me. So, that's the whole situation. That's why they're here."
"So you were out in the forest again? Didn't I tell you not to go in there? You know how dangerous it is." The boys snickered and laughed. They had Pokemon, as well as parental permissions to venture into the forest. I held my head low in embarrassment.
"Well, Herdier needs to go out sometimes. It was while we were on a walk." Catching on, the boys decided to prey on the weak. They tapped on my father's shoulders, and I felt the coming of a storm.
"Stop! I don't even want to hear it. Unless you want me to fine you, just get out of here! " I thanked Arceus that father was pissed. The worst could've been revealed. I watched as the boys shuffled away in fear, among them a single girl. I glanced to the side and saw the other girl, Riley, reading her PokeDex. Then I turned back to my father, who was expecting her to leave. Since she wasn't doing any harm, I assume father let her stay.
"Now, what was I saying? Right, just because Herdier needs to go out and run, that doesn't mean you need to go so far as the forest. Especially at…" He glanced at the clock. "Eleven in the morning." I was starting to sweat and it was a struggle to maintain a straight face.
"Sir," I heard Riley say. "Could you keep it down? I'm trying to study. I don't need loud disruptions." My father, mother, and I looked at the girl, seeing her reading from the mobile computer. Seeing his reaction, father did not take lightly to the disruption to his lecture. Of course, seeing a girl studying and giving a separate lecture would also be just as rude.
"Fine, but you, mister, I'm not through with you. We're going to have a good talk once we get home." I knew we would. Of course, my conversation with him would be different. I had my own Pokemon, so I already was far into my journey. Past the point of no return, you could say.
Walking to the front desk, my father pulled out a Poke ball he hadn't used before. With a ring of the bell, we waited. It only took a few moments for Nurse Kuro to appear. He recognized my mother on sight.
"Ah! I see Mrs. Lorano is here. You must be Mr. Lorano? Joseph Lorano, is it? Have you brought the Herdier's Poke ball?" Showing the Poke ball, the young male nurse took it and retrieved Herdier. He took one last look from behind the counter at me, before vanishing in a flash of red light. "Now, let me see… Hm. Your Herdier should be ready to go by tomorrow afternoon, but your other two Pokemon won't be ready until the next evening."
"Sorry, but 'other two'? I was under the impression it was just Herdier and Staravia. What other Pokemon are you treating?"
"I thought he'd have already told you. Your Staravia and Deino. Well, his Deino, really. Right?" I had a nervous smile when I nodded to Nurse Kuro. My father had a paper white look of shock as he glanced at me and the young man behind the counter. "Do you need any proof, Mr. Lorano?"
"N-no, but… You did say "Deino", right?"
"Yes, sir. Your son here managed to catch it." I saw a look of horror on my father's face.
"A Deino… Caught by my son? By Celebi's wings..."
"Sir, if you'd like, you could come back in two days to pick it up. But the fee for three Pokemon will be 150 Poke bucks. Payment is required to retrieve the Pokemon. Have a nice day! ... Can I help you with something else, Sir?" Suddenly, he fell backwards and I dove to catch him. When father didn't move, my mother and I had to drag him out of the Poke Center. I waved my thanks to Nurse Kuro as we left, who gave me a thumbs up.
"I had hoped this could wait, but it seems we'll have to break the news early to him. But now you have to tell me this. How badly did you hurt my Staravia? And where on earth did you find a Deino?!"
"I found Deino in a cave in the forest. It looked injured and hurt, so I thought we could fight it, me and Herdier. But I didn't know it was a dragon, so we were pretty easily beaten. With Staravia, I was able to capture it, but I don't have any more Poke balls now.
"As for Staravia, he's fine. Though he is a prideful bird, he did as I asked for the most part. He only broke his wing and pride. It was just an accident, really." My mother looked a bit worried about her avian partner, but she was happy he was alright. And probably that I was, too. Of course, he could easily be put in the care of Nurses and Blissey to be healed.
"Well, I'm happy your first catch was a success. But, you did say you're all out of Poke balls now? Just how hard did you have to beat the Deino? Or did you just throw the Poke ball like a rookie?" I smiled at her last sentence. I could tell she was making fun of me, both from her tone and the smirk on her face.
"I had to damn near kill it. Honestly, those dragons take a lot to contain them. Still, I only used three of the four on the Deino. The fourth one was used to capture a tree." I laughed at my own joke, though I knew it was probably still in the forest under a bush.
"I can't believe you'd miss the chance to catch a Pokemon. Literally!" We laughed aloud, creeping passing people as we dragged our unconscious father over our shoulders. It was something that allowed us to lift the heavy tension about my catch, all the way home.
.
After splashing water over his face, my father snapped back and woke up. Spluttering and gasping, we saw as color returned to his face. And it wasn't healthy color either. His face grew red as he looked for the one who soaked him. Still, with wet locks in his face, he had a little trouble seeing.
"Dad, I think we need to talk. It's about the future and what I want to do." Father looked towards me, acting similarly to the Deino. Pushing the dripping hair to the side, he looked into my eyes with fear. I realized I'd become exactly he feared I would. It caused my heart to twinge.
"It's about becoming a trainer, isn't it?" He looked at me, desperate for my mind to change. Instead, I nodded. "I see... I guess nothing will sway you from this path. I guess this is Arceus' Punishment. Perhaps cruel fate? Even going so far as capturing the very beast who tore apart our life... I can't believe you would go so far, even against our warnings. You do understand how dangerous these monsters are, right?"
"Yes, Dad. I know. I've seen the power they can harness. But, I know I can train Deino to be my partner. I know they aren't the plushies on the shelf, but battling companions."
"No, they are more than that. They are the very embodiment of nature. They are the advanced and dominant beings on this world, going so far as being our gods and deities. Not simply our battling companions." Mother stepped back and left the room. She could see an argument brewing.
"That's not true!"
"What isn't? That they are more than simple battling companions? That they are the dominant beings? What? How am I wrong?"
"They aren't gods. Pokemon are part of life as much as we are. If they are gods, then what are we?"
"Humans are weak and unable to do anything. We hide behind stronger monsters, then send them to fight to the death. The only advantage we have is up here." Father jabbed to his skull, pointing to his brain. True, we had technology, but no power. But the brain that created it all could replace those supernatural powers, right?
"We might not be strong, but we can reason and strategize, right?"
"That doesn't make us strong..." He turned away from me and took the towel my mother returned with. "Still, you have demonstrated you are stronger than I am. You even managed to catch a dragon, far greater than I ever could have done." He... accepted it? "So, maybe... you can go on your journey. But, I have one requirement. If you come crying to me, I won't let you inside my home."
Now I understood. He was disowning me. Rather, he would if I was weak. But he was wrong. I was strong. Way stronger than he knew. I would show him who was the one crying.
"Don't worry, Dad. I'll make sure to never give up. I'll become the best, so you can be proud of me and my Pokemon. And then, when I reach the top, maybe you won't be scared of Pokemon anymore?"
"I guess we'll see. Just tell me. How long do you think you need to tame that Deino? How about I give you three months?" Three months, huh? He must be joking. I was planning to leave around November or Christmas. To leave in September with a tame Deino? He must be joking. Still, I was not weak.
"Fine. In exactly three months, 91 days from now, I'll go to Jubilife City. Once I'm there, I'll take the test and be gone. How's that?"
"Very well. But you'd better pass that exam, if I were you." Mother stepped up.
"Now, Jojo, you don't have to kick him out. He's our son. Give him some time to prepare for his journey. You know you took almost two years to leave your parent's home." My father put up his hand.
"That's enough, Myra. I made my decision, as did he. In three months, he's leaving. That's final." Breathing through my nose, I tried to control my breathing. It was enough that I thought my father accepted my dream. Instead, he threatened me if I failed to be a trainer.
Angry, I stomped up to my room, kicking off my shoes as I passed the front door. To take my mind off things, I opened the computer on my desk. With a few taps of the keyboard, I signed in. Using the internet, I looked up any new information I could find on Deino.
.
From food preference, to certain sensitive areas, I learned how to care for my new dragon. Being primarily a carnivore, the blind dragon would eat anything. Among other things, there were also reports of Deino eating human corpses. The thought of it sent shivers down my spine.
I also learned how to differentiate between genders of Deino. It was a bit hidden in the piles of useless speculation, but I managed to find it with visual proof. The difference was the shade of their blue bodies, as well as their tail. Males were more of a purple color, as well as appearing to have their tails torn off.
It was a bit disturbing, seeing as how the Dragons would tear off the tail of one of their own. Still, remembering my own Deino, I couldn't tell if it was whole or not. But the shade of blue it had was still fresh. I would have to examine it later, once healed of course.
Though confusing, the studies of their society was quite in depth. It was almost as if the writers were among the dragons when he/she wrote it. It detailed the status of the dragons was determined by how long their hair hung. Thus, through years of breeding, the young ones were blinded by their hair. They didn't see until they were grown, evolving into Hydreigon.
I remembered the Hurricane again, knowing that the creature on the screen was the same as the one who ruined our lives here. Still, I could see the recovery effects. No hundreds of homeless people, no broken buildings, and no more reports of the dead. Even my fathers berries were beginning to sell was a sign we were back on our feet.
From downstairs, I heard my mother calling me. I read the time as a quarter to seven and my stomach rumbled. I remembered I hadn't eaten all day. The excitement of capturing the Deino had driven the thoughts of food away and I hadn't given it much thought since. I'd been to focused on research to notice my self.
Closing the lid of the computer, I jumped down the stairs. I took them four at a time and sat down at the table. When I did, my father took his plate with him into the living room. Mother sighed, but said nothing.
"So, now he refuses to eat at the same table? Is he actually serious about disowning me?" I picked up my fork and knife to cut into the Mareep chops. With father's return to the market, we could afford this kind of food again.
"He is disappointed in himself, really. Don't take it too seriously. He could never truly hate you. You know that." Mother pushed the berry gelatin around her plate.
"I'm not so sure. He seems to really not like my choice. Maybe he wants to get away from my Pokemon?" I took a hearty bite from the Mareep. I loved the taste of the salts and seasonings, how they complimented the meat. My mother was getting better at this.
"Maybe... But please respect him. He still is your father, even if both of you don't want to accept that fact."
"It's his fault. He was the one who shit on my dream."
"Don't say that! You know I don't like it when you use profanity, especially against your own father. Just... give him some time."
"I only have three months, so that should be plenty. Besides, I have a dragon to train. I'll give him all the space and time he needs."
"There is no need to be like that. You and your father are so alike, you repel each other. Maybe you'll meet a girl the opposite and be attracted to her?" That Magnemite reference? Legendaries, that one was getting old.
"Mom, I'll find a girl when I'm ready. Besides, all the good ones left on their Pokemon journeys already. I think I'm actually the only one left."
"No need to get melodramatic, either. There is Julia. She's alright, isn't she?"
"I said all the good ones." I shoved the last of the Mareep in my mouth.
"Well, I can't argue with what you choose, but I don't think you're gonna find many girls out in the forests. After you see I was right, you'll be 40 or so." I smiled at her joke before starting on the pecha gelatin. It was blissful, the way it slid down my throat.
"Don't worry. By the time I've beaten the second gym, girls will be swarming me. How could they resist me?" I blushed when mother almost choked on her pecha gelatin to laugh at me. "I'm being serious!"
"Yes, and that's what is so funny! Only the second gym?" My mother took a moment to calm down and stopped laughing. "That isn't as far as you think. Maybe the fourth or fifth you will have girls crawling all over you. But, who knows? You do have a dragon with you. Maybe that will give you your girls and fame?"
That was right! Legends swarmed trainers with dragons as starters. With Deino, there was no saying what could happen! But hopefully it's nice and glorious, huh?
Looking down at my plate, I stood and carried my empty dish to the sink. After a second of rinsing, I put it in the washer.
"Going back upstairs?"
"Yeah. See you in the morning, alright?"
"Sure. Just don't stay up too late. You'll burn your eyes out."
"No problem. I'm pretty tired anyways. Good night!"
"Good night." She turned to check on my father as I went up. I entered my room and pulled up a drawing. It was one I'd made when I was eight. It depicted a Pidgeot carrying me as a trainer, soaring over Sinnoh. At least, what it was supposed to be.
I hung it up as proof I was going down my dream's path. With thoughts and expectations of the future in my mind, I drifted off to sleep after one of my favorite days.
...
The sky darkened with a massive shadow descending upon a small town. With a deafening roar, a giant steel being crushed several buildings, as well as a church. It's shadowy claws raked the air and it vanished.
Soon after, two more beings descended and faced each other. With two ear-piercing cries, the two began to wage war. As they fought, time and space seemed to bend around them before they separated. Like the first, they raked the air with claws before entering their own dimensions.
A fourth being descended, a recognizable creature. Drawn under the light of a god, this golden ringed beast pranced through the air and restored the damage of the previous three. Using the four gems embedded on its golden ring, it opened a doorway and leapt into it's own dimensional space.
As time passed, five new churches rose over the city and formed the Five Major Sects of Hearthome. The Sect of Arceus believed to be strongest, their spire rose above the others as the tallest. How foolish humans were...
...
It was torture to wait until dinner to see Herdier again. After deciding to go to get all three at once, mother and I waited until now. Father, wanting no part in it, decided to stay home. I was also excited for the opportunity to eat out. It had been such a long time since we had the funds to do so.
That didn't mean we were by any means wealthy enough handle this any more than once. Still, this was a special occasion. I finally had my own Pokemon!
Arriving at the Pokemon Center, a new Nurse Joy was behind the counter. This one was definition of experienced. She was older than any nurse I'd seen. Deciding to pull that favor, I retrieved the slip of paper the newer Nurse Joy had given to me. Using the phone at the Center, I called the number listed on it.
"Hello? Who is this?" It was answered by a girl after the third ring. She sounded alert, but young and tired.
"Hi. This is the kid from the other day. I just caught a Pokemon and I was wondering if I could get that favor?"
"Hmm... Call me later. I'll cover it this time..." Then the line went dead. So much for a favor. I walked up to the counter with mother.
"Who was that? Didn't know you were still in contact with anyone."
"It was a Nurse Joy who works here. She said she'd help me when I caught my Pokemon, but I thought she'd be on duty tonight."
"Ooh. So you're into nurses, are you?"
"Shut up! I am not!"
"When you're done messing around, what can I do for you?" The grumpy old Nurse spoke in a croaky monotone voice and frowned at us. "Well? What're you here for?"
"We're here for three of our Pokemon. Our name is Lorano, so-" The old lady held up a saggy arm and stopped mother.
"Enough, Sweet cheeks. I can do my job. Just tell me what I need to know." She typed a few things in and a few key presses later, she held out her hand for money. "Well? It's hundred fifty for three unregistered trainer care Pokemon. Cough up."
Rather unceremoniously, my mother shoved a wrinkled was of bills into the hag's hand. Standing, she grabbed three Poke balls on the shelf behind her.
"A mutt, bird, and blind bag for you. Now leave. Got other trainers to serve." What other trainers? Not a soul here, but us and her. And... Did she call Herdier a mutt? What kind of Nurse is she?
Huffing, mother pocketed her Staravia while I released Herdier. Tackling me, I hugged him while he licked my face. I noticed a few new scars along his muzzle, but they were small and hard to see. At least he could walk again.
Together, we walked home and I held Deino tight in my pocket. I knew Herdier had only battled to protect me, but it was valiant and brave to have gone up against a dragon Pokemon. Staravia also fought, but he was already battle-trained. Though it had been at least a few years since battling, he had still retained knowledge on how to. Prideful and stubborn, it still fought well and won against Deino.
Father was waiting in the living room with a glass of Scotch in his hand. He still hadn't gotten over his addiction to alcohol. He looked up at us before turning back to his bottle. His look of defeat was prominent underneath his unshaven stubble. He smiled when Herdier rubbed against his spare hand.
It was rare for him to enjoy Pokemon, but having known him since a Lillipup, it was hard to be scared of him. It was the only Pokemon he would show no flinching or hesitation, being a loyal pet.
"Hey, Dad. Enjoy the drink." Being sarcastic, I ran up the steps to my room. All he cared about was his farm and money. No matter how he claimed it was for me, I knew the truth. What a pitiful and weak parent. I caught mother's eye as I passed, but she shook her head. She understood. She was stronger. How could she stay with such a weak man?
I shook my head and opened my door. I felt the smooth shell of the Poke ball in my pocket. I knew the moment I released the Deino, it would attack me. That much was plain obvious. It was a feral dragon still.
Considering the blind Deino, having been caught yesterday morning, I knew it had to be hungry. But just how hungry was it? How much would it eat? And what would I feed it? I grimly thought up the image of a Deino eating a human corpse, causing shivers to run down my spine as I took my shirt off.
With the decision to train Deino in three months, along with the glowing screen beside my bed, I sat down and studied the data it showed. Considering my Deino knowledge, it didn't show much. Really, it was just battle related details. It wasn't too unexpected, though. That was the main purpose of Pokemon, nowadays.
Being close to nine, I was growing rather tired considering the time. Still, my impatience earlier had made me nervous. It was the most likely cause of my drowsiness. Obeying the sweet commands of my pillow, I closed the glowing display and closed my eyes. It didn't take long for me to fall to sleep's quiet embrace...
...
A shadowy haze crept across the fields and slithered around unsuspecting humans. As the haze engulfed them, they passed from a moment of panic into a deep sleep, collapsing to the ground. Several people and Pokemon fell asleep and cleared a path for a demonic creature's wake.
It's hazy form and red details were similar to a Zorua and a Ghastly, but was entirely different all the same. In the sky, a new moon could be seen. Through the darkness, the wispy form floated along. Soon, it vanished and blended with the shadows.
Suddenly, the moon was full and brilliant. Everything was illuminated as a new and brilliant form flew past. Though briefly, a shimmering pink form paused to survey the area. It's crescent body was shrouded in wisps of pure moonlight. Then it sped off, after the previous creature before it. With it, the light also left, similar to a fading mirage...
...
I woke up with a slight but fading headache. As I sat up, blood rushed from my brain and I blacked out. It was a bit disorienting, the tingling in my fingers and feet. As my vision returned, I noticed my headache vanishing with it. What was my dream about? It was hazy, but I remembered there were Pokemon in them. I rubbed my eyes and yawned.
Looking at my shelf, I saw my Poke ball sitting there. It was a satisfying thing, as if a trophy. With it's red sheen, it was far more vibrant than the other prizes. Even the shiny silver medal from Judo was worthless beside my Poke ball.
Taking it, I took the time to prepare. Checking my bag, I found my Blissey Egg Extract in its small canister, as well as two potions. Reaching in deeper, I felt a prick on my finger. With quick reflex, I retracted my hand, but the damage was already done.
Blood welled on my finger tip as I watched. When it started to drip, I licked the blood off before heading to the bathroom. Using water and toilet paper, I bandaged my finger and pressed until the blood stopped. I thought of my Blissey Egg, but this would be a stupid thing to use it on, even if it would ease the pain.
Once the red blossom stopped growing, I removed the bloody toilet paper. It was a small cut and hardly needed an actual bandage. The bleeding had stopped anyways.
Returning to my room, I reached down into my bag. Being more careful, I came back with more success. In my hand were several sharp egg shards. It brought back the memories of the recent catch. Shaking out the bag onto my desk, I found three shards as well as a pile of dust.
It seemed the shards had been pulverized in the pocket while I moved. Still, at least some of it survived. I guessed it was from my own Deino, being young as it was. But why was it on it's own? Was the egg abandoned or... what? I pondered it before putting the shards in a pile, while I swept the dust into a bin.
After quickly repacking my stuff into my satchel, I consulted the time. Seeing as I fell asleep earlier than usual, it was still a surprise it was already eight. Was it my oversleeping that cause my headache?
I dressed quickly and shouldered my bag. Making sure it was there, I patted the small ball in my pocket. Today, I would start my training. Without the trainee, it would be quite difficult.
"Morning," mother said, knocking on my door. "Breakfast is ready downstairs. Whenever you're ready." I heard the receding footsteps as she went down. Following, I grabbed my wallet before following.
"Morning, Mom," I called. "What's for breakfast?" I reached the bottom of the stairs before she answered.
"See for your self. Pancakes today. We have jam and honey, if you want." Mother came out of the kitchen with a plate of them, revealing the steamy goodness.
"No syrup?"
"Sorry, kiddo. No can do. Maybe next time." Sitting down, I moved a fresh cake to my plate before smothering it in Bluk berry jam. It wasn't the same as sugary syrup, but I'd gotten used to the jams. Syrup wasn't exactly native to Sinnoh, making it an expensive import.
"So," Father said, holding his head. I could recognize it as symptoms of a hangover. "You look awfully prepared. Training that monster, aren't you?" It was more a statement than question. I nodded, but hesitant. In response, he simply took a plate and a few pancakes with him to the living room.
It was depressing, but mother tried to cheer me on. How could he act like that, without caring at all? I knew he would be proud some day, but why couldn't he trust me? It was like he didn't want a son anymore.
Wanting to start as early as possible, I ate two pancakes before slipping on my shoes. I was about to open the door before mother stopped me.
"You're going already? Are you sure you're prepared? Just, make sure you come back safe. It is a dragon, after all." I smiled at her, reading her worry and concern. I knew how she felt, but I could hardly let a dragon take me down.
"I'll be fine. This Deino will be tamed in no time." I put on a more confident look, even if I was a bit scared of the Deino.
"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you? It'll be safer if someone is with you."
"Like I said, I'll be fine. I won't go too far. Besides, Herdier will be with me." I glanced around. "Where is Herdier, anyways?"
"Well... Your father hasn't let Herdier out of his Poke ball yet. He returned him to his ball before going to sleep late night. I don't think he'll let you take Herdier." My Herdier? Why was he being so protective of my... Oh. Right. Herdier wasn't mine.
With a fading look of rage, it was quickly replaced with sadness. Herdier was a house pet. Once I left for the wilderness, he would stay here. It finally drove home the fact he wasn't mine, nor was he a combatant.
"It's alright. Herdier will always be here for when you get home." Mother laid a hand on my shoulder. With a smile, I opened the door and stepped out so mother wouldn't see my tears.
.
I trekked a ways out of town and wiped the trails from my cheeks. Past the old general store, past the smaller houses, and past the farming ranches. All the way to an open field. It was near the forest, but there was plenty of open ground.
Though I knew the dangers of the dragon, I did have the ability to recall and reposition the Pokemon. As long as I didn't get too close, I should be able to contain it. Hopefully, I could try to communicate.
Standing near a large Birch tree, I opened the menu on the Poke ball. Though similar to the info panel, this display told me nothing. It was a bunch of sliders, numbers, and abbreviations.
After a minute of adjusting toggles and sliders, I pressed the middle button on the ball. In a bright flash, the sound of a growling Deino could be heard. Looking at it, the dragon was backwards and faced away from me. It was also less than a meter away.
Panicking, I tried to back up, but tripped over the roots of the tree. Upon hearing me, the Deino swiveled towards me. Barring it's teeth, it charged straight for me. Fumbling with the red sphere, I struggle to point the orb at the Deino in time.
Reaching me by sound, the Deino lunged out with it's open mouth. Holding up my arm on instinct, I felt the pain of sharp teeth piercing my skin. In the split second the Deino held still, I aimed the laser guided recall before pushing the button.
Disappearing in a flash, I was left with several wounds, all of them bleeding. Though they were not deep, the cuts were still bleeding fast. My entire are was coated in my blood within a few seconds.
Using my spare hand, I pulled out the Blissey Egg Extract. I thanked my mother for the insight to buy it. Removing the cap, and to my horror, I realized it was a syringe. Still, already in pain, what was a little more? I looked at the needle in my hand before steeling my nerves.
With careful aim, I stabbed the metal point into my arm and winced. Pressing the button, I injected all of the medicine and withdrew the needle. Casting it aside, I held my arm.
As I watched, steam began to rise as my flesh heated up. In fact, it was burning. I held my arm in pain, but remembered to keep the blood off my clothes. Leaning against the tree, I groaned in pain.
Then, slowly the heat began to cool and I looked back at my arm. In seven spots, I saw small shiny new scars. Rotating it, I saw six more on the under side. I groaned again and sighed. My mother would hate me for this. Hadn't she said 'come home safe'?
Deciding to give it another try, I adjusted the settings. Holding the ball straight and aiming it, I released the Deino again.
This time, the dragon was about five meters away. It was also upside down. Mentally face palming, I realized what the sliders and abbreviated words were. I also understood more of how the Poke ball worked.
While struggling to get on it's feet, I was give the opportunity to examine the Deino. Though not listed on the info panel on the Poke ball, I could tell it was a she. Seeing the full tail and dark blue furry scales, I knew it was female.
The black fur that covered it's face and neck looked quite tangled, but it looked soft. After tamed, I knew I should comb it out.
I also noted 'she' was family small. Not tiny, but hardly considered to be a fierce dragon. As it- she rose to her full height, I could see her small antenna horn was almost laughable as it was bent sideways. Almost, simply because I knew what she was.
"Hello, little Deino," I called. Though softly, it was more than enough to alert her. She turned her head to me and lowered her neck. Smelling the air and listening to me, she zeroed in on me. With a warning growl, I saw her fur rise like a Herdier.
"Please, do not attack me. I am friendly." However, not being friendly towards me, the Deino charged. Opening her jaws, I watched as she came nearer. Though fear was coursing through me, I easily and smoothly step sided the clumsy dragon.
Confused on where I was, she started sniffing again. As I watched and confused my self, an almost evil smile crept onto her face as she turned towards me. Right as she lunged, however, I pressed the button on the Poke ball.
Thinking over how the results of the encounter went, I considered how she must be feeling. I did catch the Deino two days ago, but was she hungry yet? And how much should- would I feed her?
Feeling my wallet, I felt a pang of regret as I knew I'd have to use some of my hard earned funds. Still, at least 1,400 Poke dollars would last a while. It would work for now. I hope.
.
The walk back into town was longer than the walk out. Passing the border, I headed to the butcher shop. Even without a Pokemon, I had been there for dinner shopping.
As I approached the business front, I had to hold back my gag reflex. No matter how many time I did it, no matter how much I loved the cooked taste, the smell of freshly killed Pokemon disgusted me. Still, this was more important. I was here for business after all.
A door bell rang when I stepped through the doorway. "Yes, I'll be there in a sec," called a voice, followed by heavy footsteps. From a back room, a large man rounded the corner. His large and lean muscles were trained to cut meats on busy days. How he handled blades with large muscles was a mystery to me.
"How may I help you? Just don't waste me time. I gots some orders to complete, still." With his strange way I speaking, I coughed to hide my subtle laughter.
"Can I get a Pidgey? A whole one will do, if you have orders to handle." I tried to hide the fact I was going to feed it to a hungry Dragon later. With no training, no one should see it. The risks were too high.
"You're just in luck. Men's just gots an order of fresh Pidgey Fillet. But if you needs a whole one, I'd still got a few to start on." With a grin and my nod, the butcher walked back into the butcher room. He emerged with a dead Pidgey in his hand. It took everything in me to keep my gagging from showing.
"How much," I asked, pulling out my wallet.
"Eh. Pidgey sell for 100 per bird. Just, why do you need a whole Pidgey?" After handing the man the money, I picked up the Pidgey.
"Family dinner is big. It's a cousin's birthday today." I tried to keep my nerves under control, but the feeling of the feet and the smell was getting to me. I exited the building before the butcher could respond. With bird in hand, I walked back out of town, towards the field.
.
I set the Pidgey on the ground and pulled out the Poke ball containing Deino. With better understanding of the sliders, I adjusted them with some experience. Though some I didn't understand, I deemed my work to be complete. All that was left was the signal.
Once a feeding signal was established, Deino would become more dependent on that signal. Of course, nothing said she wouldn't attack me the second she smelled me.
After a few moments of thinking, I pressed the button on the Poke ball. Deino appeared turned around again, but on her feet. Forming the signal, I whistled twice, then stomped on the ground.
Relying on hearing, I hoped a dragon like this would make the pattern sink in easier. Dropping the Pidgey, the blind Deino turned towards in and advanced quickly. I smiled as the plan was falling into place.
Suddenly, she stopped dead. Taking a sniff at the air, the Deino faced the Pidgey, the source of the latest noise, then at me. With a last sniff of the Pidgey, she charged towards me.
Using the tree to escape harm, I climbed into the branches as the dragon nipped after my heels. Once I was confirmed to be out of reach, she turned back towards the dead bird. Nudging it, it waited before digging in. In a gruesome, but also quick meal, the Pidgey was no more than a pile of bloody feathers.
Now that Deino was fed, I felt comfortable retrieving my unnamed Deino. Reaching into my pocket, however, I found the issue. It was the lack of a Poke ball that was the issue. Looking around the ground, I was desperate to find the small orb. Finally, between two roots, I spotted the red glint of the shell.
Second issue was that my Deino was patrolling near the tree. The only way to get the Poke ball would be to climb down and quickly recall it. I did not trust my skills, just as much as I didn't trust my Deino. Still, it was the only option.
Trying to find a safer way to retrieve the ball, I scrambled my brain for something, anything. Almost all were stupid, but I did decide one was worth trying.
Breaking a tree branch was the first step to the plan. Using a smaller and higher branch, I snapped off the end, alerting the Deino below. Step two was ready for action. Climbing down, I got as close as I could to the ball. Then, with Deino looking straight at me, I tossed the branch as hard as I could.
With a thud, the branch landed a fair distance away. As Deino looked at it instead, I prepared to jump. I waited for the dragon to move first. Then the Look of a smile crossed the dragon's face as it made a noise in it's throat. Looking back into the tree, I could tell my plan had failed. I'd been seen through. Coming up with blanks after this, I decided to wait it out. What else was I supposed to do?
.
It was an hour later that I was able to escape the tree. It gave me plenty of time to think during this period and I decided a few things. One was how I was going to feed her. Buying a Pidgey every day would only last about 10 days. Being said, what said anything about her being filled by a single Pidgey once a day?
Like the old say says, Teach a man to fish and he'll never go hungry? Anyways, I decided the best plan of action was to "fish" the dragon's meal. Though I didn't like the prospect of killing Pokemon, it was the better road. Deino were Carnivorous, after all.
I also figured the simplistic way was through trapping. Though I knew nothing on trapping, I did have access to a magical network called the Internet. Using that, I could be a pro by tomorrow.
The second thing I decided was taming methods. Though I knew kindness was always a good and reliable route to take, the time taken to do so was long and arduous. Using a more aggressive approach, I could force her to depend on me for a source of food, as well as power. Once I was a trapper, I could present the meals as my own feats of strength.
Though I didn't like it myself, I had limited time. I would still use the feeding time signal, or 'call' as I came to call it. That part was already started. The rest of the process would be harsh, maybe cruel. But it would make her see me as her trainer. All that mattered right now was the quick end result.
Lastly, I decided on a name for my Deino. Being female, all I could come up with male names. It was difficult to come up with a cool name for her, but I finally settled on one.
Thinking of her evolution, along with the typing of the dragon, the name Akuma (Nightmare) came to mind. Though she wasn't quite there, she was still quite terrifying. It was when she evolved that the true nightmare began.
After an hour or so of pondering, I began to see differences in Akuma's behavior. She began to walk further away from the tree than usual and occasionally bumped into the tree itself. In fact the only reason I noticed was because she had run into it.
It took only a few minutes more to see why. After stumbling to the ground, it remained still for a period of time. After a few minutes, I realized it was asleep. Taking the opportunity, I picked up my Poke ball after climbing down the tree. Being careful and quiet, I was about to recall Akuma, but the way it slept was so peaceful.
Besides, she deserved some time out of her ball. Only one problem. Being untamed, there was no saying where she would go or what she would do. Taking off my belt and shirt, I shredded the cloth as quickly and silently as I could. Though there were moments when my hand flew to my pocket, I finished with the strips of fabric.
Using my belt, I buckled it around her neck. Using the remaining holes, I threaded one of the strips through before tying it off. Knotting each one tightly, I made sure each strip was in no danger of coming loose. Satisfied, but also uneasy, I opened the Poke Positioning System to see Akuma right were she was supposed to be.
I sighed in relief it worked. Moving farther away, I noticed the further away, the less accurate the read was. After I was about thirty meters away, the tracking stopped working. It was as far as the system could position a Pokemon. At least it worked. I just hoped she wouldn't move bythe time I got back.
With the empty Poke ball in my hands, I was nervous about leaving Akuma alone at night. She was a dragon, but she was also obviously young. Still, a dragon needed some freedom and trust. Besides, she was tied to a tree. How far could she get?
.
By the time I came home, it was already past three. Almost four. Having left early this morning, it was a surprise to my mother. Father... he was far less concerned with my dealings with Pokemon. Hiding my new scars, I went upstairs.
After a change of clothes, I signed onto the computer. I opened up my internet browser and typed, 'how to build a snare'. With thousands of results, I smiled and began my search. With every site, I learned a new trick. From the paths of Pokemon and proper tracking, to how to build every type of trap I could imagine.
There was only a few small problems. I needed several items to make the traps. Fortunately, I could eliminate a few of them by using survival tips. By braiding fiber, I could forgo cordage and cost. It was also something we learned in school, so double bonus.
But there was a few things I couldn't make in the wild. A knife was something I would have to buy. Even if I used broken flint or iron scraps, the quality of the traps would be bad. A factory produced blade would work much better, being durable and sharp.
Looking at the clock, I found it to be almost eight. I clicked the button to shut down the computer and walked down the stair, towards the smell of food.
"Oh. I was about to call you down for dinner. You aren't hiding a Psychic up there, are you?" I smirked at mother's suspicions. Still, why shouldn't I get one? I mentally thanked mother for her suggestion.
"I got hungry. So, what is for dinner? I'm starving."
"It's no wonder. You haven't been eating well, missing all your meals. You need them to keep strong." She walked into the dinning room and I helped set the table with her. Bringing out a steaming dish, I saw what was for dinner. "How's Linguine?"
Looking at the white sauce over the flat noodles, my stomach rumbled in an almost painful way. My mother smiled before calling for father. Grumbling, he came out of the garage and washed the oil from his hands as best he could. He hung his dirtied appron by the door and sat down at the table.
"Hey, Dad."
"Hey, kid. So, any luck with the dragon?" He was curious about Akuma? I tried to decide what was his motives for asking.
"Yeah, I guess," I said, hiding my arm below the table. "I was able to keep her at bay long enough to feed her."
"Already feeding it? Shouldn't you assert your dominance first?" I could tell by the mocking tone that he was trying to poke fun at my training methods. He wouldn't help me. Should've known.
"Starting with food dependence, a Deino has to eat every day. Without me, I'll show her what will happen if I'm not around to feed her. Simple as that. Once she sees that, my Deino will be more compliant."
"Well, we will just see, won't we?"
"Both of you, stop it. Just shut up and eat." Mother served the Linguine and forced us to eat in silence. Even when I asked for salt, she shushed me. Instead, I just ate with my left hand, my scarred arm under the table.
Once I'd finished my plate, I rinsed it off before putting it in the washer. After heading up to my room, I worried about my Deino. What if she was in danger? With weaknesses to Faeries, as well as the cold, I worried. I tossed her Poke ball from hand to hand, the info panel displayed.
The health bar was normal, at 98%. No injuries were sustained and she was fine. It was a miracle I still received data on her. Not that Poke balls had trouble at this range, but I still thought it was amazing.
Grabbing a sheet of paper and a pen, I started to sketch under a lamp. Drawing the head, covered in fur. The tail was whole, not a scar to be shown. With my less than average ability, the Deino still looked great. But I felt it could be better. Instead of looking like a Dragon, it looked more like a cartoon. Still, it was the best I could do.
Being close to nine, I pinned up the picture on my wall. Grabbing clothes, I went to the shower. Under the down pour of warm water, thoughts and strategies curled and flowed through my head. What I would be doing in a few months, the fear and excitement. I only wished it would come sooner.
In nightclothes and cleaned teeth and hair, I returned to my room. Yes, it was boring to do nothing. But I sat on my bed and tossed the Poke ball into the air to catch it again. Akuma... how long until you understood me? When will you see that we're partners?
Sometime later, I don't know when, but I fell asleep. I didn't know what was happening until the next morning, when I saw the sunlight peeking through my window. Retrieving Akuma's Poke ball, I rubbed the shiny marks on my arm. How would I hide these marks for three months? Mother was bound to see them sooner than later, but I'd rather she didn't see them now.
Changing out of my nightclothes, aka gym shorts and a tee shirt, I grabbed my bag and felt it was lighter yet. By the end of this, I wouldn't have anything in it. Considering my wallet only had 1,300 Pokedollars left, I would have to make the purchases I made today count.
I checked my clock once I was ready. Seeing as it was almost eight, I felt I was a bit early. At least my clothes were more suited to the task of dragon taming, but didn't look too out of place. The weather was getting cooler by the day. A long sleeve shirt wasn't too weird, right? Plus it helped hide my scars from view.
"Good morning. You're up early, aren't you? Out to train your Deino again?" Mother was also coming out of her room. I froze in surprise when she spoke.
"Y-yeah. Just a little anxious to get out there again."
"That's good! Great to see you are really serious about this. But, eat breakfast first. You'll need the energy."
"Thanks, Mom." Going down stairs, my mother gave me a smirk as she pulled out a Poke ball. Clicking the button, Herdier materialized. With a woof, I hugged him.
"I stole that from your Father last night. Just make sure you don't take him with you."
"You're the best." Grabbing my friend, I carried him to the kitchen before setting him down. I reached into the cupboard and withdrew a box of cereal and grabbed a bowl. With Herdier following me, I set my breakfast on the table.
"Hey, boy. You hungry? Let me get you some food." Going into the back of the house, there was a bag with an Arcanine on it. Scooping a double handful, I dumped it into Herdier's bowl. "There you go." Happily chowing down, I left Herdier for my own food.
Grabbing some moomilk, I poured the cereal into my bowl before dumping a little milk over it. Delicious. With a spoon, I ate the honey-coated flakes. Once I had finished off the cereal, I brought my bowl into the Kitchen.
"Here. This should help you while you're out today." My mother handed me a bag of sandwiches, each with Bluk berry jam.
"Thanks, Mom. See ya! Sorry, Herdier, but I gotta you home this time. I'll be back later, okay?" Herdier whined when he heard me. I pet his head and rubbed his ears before slipping on my shoes. Putting the bag of sandwiches in my satchel, I waved to my mother. I hardly noticed my sleeve reveal one of the scars.
.
It was easy to run the kilometer or so to the field where I left Akuma. After a fair bit of searching and remembering, I found the birch tree. All that was left of my leash was a loop of torn fabric. Akuma was nowhere to be seen.
"Akuma? You naughty dragon." Pulling out my Poke ball, I opened the PPS, trying to find my Deino. But there was no indicator on the map. Was she further than 30 meters? Was she underground? I glanced and searched the relative area. Several small areas had been scratched and dug up, but they simply were too small to be actual tunnels.
Then, by chance, I saw a small icon appear for a second. Turning towards it, I started walking towards it. It was about fifty meters from the tree that I spotted Akuma. Rather, where she was.
It was a small burrow, probably made by another Pokemon. Inside, she was lying next to a Pecha berry. It was half eaten, revealing the pockets inside. As I came closer, I could see the burrow didn't go further than a few feet. Akuma filled most of it.
As she was asleep, I decided she had enough time out of the ball. Aiming, I clicked the small button and she disappeared. "You gave me quite the scare there, Akuma," I said to the ball. I let out a relieved laugh and headed back towards town to buy my supplies.
.
Two hours later, I was in the forest, a brand new knife strapped to my thigh and my wallet 400 Poke dollars lighter. Searching for trails was much more difficult than I had anticipated. Still, as I walked, I was always examining the trees and ground for evidence of a trail.
It was near a large oak that I found signs of Pokemon. It wasn't so much a trail, but a Pachirisu nest. And no one was home. An evil, but also scary smile crossed my face. Ripping up a few small and dried grass stalks, I started to braid them. At the same time, I searched for any new saplings as green wood was a Spring thing.
I had a whole stack of braided grass by the time I found a sapling I was satisfied with. Using the serrated side of my knife, I started to saw the branches off. They were fairly supple and didn't break easily. Perfect.
With a bare tree, I started sawing through the three inch base. Though it was tough work, I still worked the blade back and forth over the wood until it reached the other side. Now I had my force.
Once I returned to the oak tree, I saw a Pachirisu fleeing at the sight of me. I set my armful of green leaves and branches down beside the three meter pole I had. Of the dozens of branches I sawed off, only seven were usable for traps as the rest were too thin and short.
Using the knife's blade again, I started to whittle a small stick I found. It was fairly new and would be used as a trigger. Once the Pachirisu touched this, I'd have dinner for Akuma. But it wouldn't be used until the end.
Once the trigger was complete, I had shavings all over my legs and my arms burned. Thinking back, I remembered I needed a way to hold the noose open. Wire worked well, but I only had plant fibers. Taking an oak's branch, I broke it in half and cut a crude notch into it. Then I set to work setting up the whole snare.
.
I stood back and admired my work while eating one of my mother's sandwiches. The pole was stuck into the ground and was bent next to the opening in the base of the tree. The noose was tied to the end of it and was held down by another piece of crude twine. The twine was tied to the trigger, barely holding on. A piece of my sandwich was stuck to the trigger. And the noose was held open right in front of it.
Camouflaged, the unlucky Pachirisu who got caught in this would hardly see this one coming. Hopefully it died quickly and easily from the force of the sapling. Leaving it behind, I made a trail by notching every tree on the way out of the forest.
At the entrance to the forest, I found another perfect sapling, this one perfect for my second trap. A bird trap.
Using the branch of the sapling, I made a loop and bound it to a large branch of a neighboring tree. This was the tricky one. Using my knife again, I created a small trigger. Taking another branch, I used it, the trigger, and a new noose to set up the trap.
Using the jam of the sandwich, I baited the stick the Pidgey would land on and laid the noose around the perch. The weight of the Pokemon would release the catch and kill the bird. I hoped. Now all that was left was to wait...
.
Back in town, I hid my knife in my bag and ate another sandwich. I only had one more left. Still, I was glad that Akuma was alright, holding her ball in my pocket. With only 900 Poke bucks left, I was a little nervous as it was only the second day, but I held confidence that my traps would pay off. They only needed to work at least five times, anyways.
I was a little nervous now that the traps would fail entirely, but if they did, it would show I was more than ready to leave home. Maybe I could even make money with the Pokemon guild in town?
Deciding to go to the Guild first, I wanted to learn how I would earn money with them. Even dead Pokemon were useful. As I entered, I found the place to be cheerful and full of the cute propaganda that Pokemon were friendly. What a load of bull.
"Hello, sir! Are you looking to buy your first Pokemon? Or have you a different fancy?" A cheery man behind the counter waved to me.
"I've already got my Pokemon," I said, holding up Akuma. "But I would like to ask a few questions. One is what should I look for when I kill a Pokemon? Like, in the general area?"
"Well, kid. One of the most valuable happens to be the smallest. You see, if you kill a Budew, taking their poison... that'll fetch you a profit. But you don't have to kill it. If you catch a Pokemon, you can bring it straight here and we'll buy it. None will buy it for less than the Pokeball, no matter the Pokemon. Any Pokemon will earn profits." But he leaned in closer. "But I'll tell you what. Bring in any rare ones, I'll pay you a bonus. Eh?"
"So, I should go out and buy Poke balls? You do know they aren't bound to catch on the first try?"
"Of course, buddy! I'm an expert, remember?"
"Yeah, but I can't afford to miss a Poke ball. But I can battle them and hunt for them! So, which Pokemon will give me a good pay, besides Budew? You are an expert, right?"
"Geez, kid. You're killing my vibes here." He pulled me aside and through the back. "You seem to be quite the smart individual, so let me tell you a few things. After that, I'm gonna have to charge you." Pulling out a cigarette, he flicked a lighter and lit it. "So, Buizel's fins. Very good for food. Lots of older folks will pay well for 'em. Now, Pachirisu, little buggers, their tails, fur, and electrical pouches are quite valuable. But only if they are whole."
He puffed several times on his cigarette before throwing it aside. I had to hold my breath every time he spewed out a cloud of smoke. The smell simply made me gag.
"Last one. Next will cost you fifty bucks. So, you've seen the Magnamite around the Ironworks, right? Their magnets sell for a high price. Though they are also made of Iron, you can sell that directly to the Ironworks."
I knew the last one wasn't really possible for now, I kept in in mind. If they were so valuable, I'd definitely target Magnamite for that. I knew that a primitive and crude trap like mine would hardly stand a chance against an electromagnet.
The other three suggestions, however, held much more use. I thought of my trap, just waiting to catch one of those Pachirisu. And Buizel, if I was to trap one, I'd remember to remove it's fins. With Budew, there was hardly a point in trapping a plant. Once I tamed my Deino and could command her in battle, Budew would be one of the first targets. Roasted or not, the Poison should be the same.
"Thanks, Mr. Pokemon Expert. I'll be sure to come back with business next time."
"You'd better, kid. I didn't tell you all this just to not come back. And it's Harris. Ask for me and I'll help you out." He turned around and I followed him as he returned to the front of the store.
"Thanks again." I stepped out into the sun and saw it was getting late and pulled out my last sandwich. I was hesitant to eat it, should my traps fail. If I had to feed it to Akuma over myself, I would. It wasn't a Pidgey, but it would do as a last resort.
Still, I was hungry. With a slightly guilt consciousness, I tasted the jam and butter, spread across the bread. Delicious. I just hoped I got something from my work...
.
It was interesting, as well as sadistic and gross thinking of what Pokemon would give you in terms of money. Sure, Akuma and I would eat. But that didn't mean I didn't like killing Pokemon.
Many people didn't have to rely on hunting day to day. They ate ranched meat and field grown crops, and worked a normal job. It was boring. But being a Pokemon Trainer was simply survival, day in and day out. A Pokemon Trainer could handle it, strong to the core.
Right?
As I came to the outskirts of town, near my birch tree, I saw a group of Bidoof. In the center was a person. It was hard to see what was going on, but it looked strange. I moved closer.
"Hey, you," I shouted. The Bidoof turned to me and stopped what they were doing. Then they returned to the person. "What's going on!? Is everything alright?!" I heard a spluttering noise as I moved closer, among the constant chittering noise.
"P-pleash," a voice said. "H-help me." It was a strangled voice and hard to hear over the Bidoof, being twenty meters away. I barely heard what was said. But I saw the blood.
My stomach turned and I nearly vomited. What could I do? My only Pokemon was untrained and didn't listen to me. But... Wait, Akuma was blind! Relying on scents and sounds, the Deino would attack the only things making noise. And God, did they reek!
But, what about the person being mauled? If they made any noises, they would be killed. If they were helpless, Akuma could easily prey on them.
"Please! Just stay quiet! I'm going to try and help!" Clicking the button, a flash of red revealed Akuma in all her glory.
Turning back towards me, the Bidoof saw us as two, a bigger threat. Their chittering fluctuated. It began to sound angry and advance toward me.
Upon hearing their constant noise, Akuma began charging up a ball of draconic power. Beginning a rushing attack, the blind dragon had little trouble aiming before releasing the energy.
In a bright and satisfying explosion, I winced and gagged at the sight of broken and burned Bidoof corpses fly through the air. I didn't even want to look at the bodies. What was left was a crater, three Bidoof around the rim.
If anything, the small rodents began squeaking and chittering louder. They ought to have learned their lesson from their comrades. I watched as one tried to be a hero and advanced towards Akuma.
Big mistake, pal.
With dark fangs, Akuma began to dig in to the Bidoof's throat. Blood began to pour onto the grass. I wrinkled my nose. Flanking around the crater, the remaining two Bidoof rushed to save their friend.
I knew, as well as Akuma, the first Bidoof was dead. The sheer amount of blood was obvious. Dropping the dying Pokemon, the blind dragon turned to face the left Bidoof and lowered her head.
What was she doing? Was she listening for it? Or was she trying to smell for the remaining Bidoof? I realized in fear that if Akuma smelled my scent, I was dead.
At last second, Akuma dodged out of the way of the first Bidoof. As it's tackle launched it passed her, the second Bidoof rammed face first into her rear. Spinning around, Akuma stretched out her neck to bite whatever had attacked her.
But she closed her jaws over nothing. Confused, Akuma backed up. With the squirming and twitching body behind her, she tripped over the Bidoof and fell onto her back. Taking their chances, the two Bidoof teamed up and began to use their chittering teeth to attack.
She wouldn't make it like this. She was helpless. I needed to save her! But... what would she do once I did? Shaking my head, I decided this wasn't the time. There was someone dying, after all!
With a yell, I pulled out my knife and charged the Bidoof. They would not be the ones to bring down my dragon. Not if I could help it. With a sharp kick, I connected with one of the Bidoof and sent it into the Birch tree. I then used my knife to stab the second Bidoof through the torso. It squeaked in pain a few times before I felt the life ebb away from it.
Rising back to her feet, Akuma screeched at me. Realizing what I'd just done twisted my stomach and I was unable to hold it back. My lunch came up and splashed across the ground.
"I-I'm sorry, Akuma. But you're safe now." In response, I received a sharp bite to the shoulder, easily going past skin. With a hiss, I held back the pain. Instead, I pat Akuma on the head before returning her to her ball.
Standing up, I looked over to the person lying in the grass. That's right, they were injured! Running over, I saw several tears in their clothes and body made it hard to determine male or female. I looked into their eyes and saw tears streaking, I would assume, his face. He looked at me and mouthed, "Help"
"S-sir, are you alright? Let me try to stop the bleeding!" Tugging off my own shirt, I tore off an entire sleeve. Using it as a bandage, I wrapped it tightly over one of the worst injuries on his ribs.
Holding up his hand, he stopped me. "Waight," he said in a strangled, but masculine voice. "T-take me to H-hospital." Nodding, I carefully tried to move my arms underneath him. Though he let out a groan of pain, I forced him to bear through it as I picked him up.
Moving quickly, I started towards town. Almost running, I passed the regular shops and houses. I wished I hadn't used my Blissey extract so quickly yesterday. As I neared the Pokemon Center, the man started to spasm. His blood coated my arms and made it hard to hold him.
"Help," I yelled. The people around turned with more interest in the man. "Help me, please! This man needs medical attention!"
"Here, son," a man said, grabbing the man from me. "Follow me! Stay close!" Doing as told, I went with the stranger to the Pokemon Center. The injured man still continued to shake as we went through the sliding glass door.
"Hello, how may I- Oh, my God! We have an emergency. I need two Chancey right away." Two egg shaped Pokemon quickly emerged from a room, one pushing a gurney. "Quick, get him onto the bed. Get him into the operations room right away. Get him Blissey Egg Extract and take his blood test." Calm, the two Pokemon pushed the man back into the room. A red light flicked on over the door.
"You alright there, son? You don't look very well."
"Yeah. I'm alright. Just a little shock is all."
"Your shoulder is bleeding and you're without a shirt. Tell me what happened."
"Why should I? It's not like I know you." I looked at the man and saw the uniform he wore. I realized I'd just made a mistake. "A ranger?"
"Yes. Now, if you can tell me what happened, I can go and help in any ways I can." Nodding, I started with the encounter with the Bidoof and my indirected battle with Akuma. I ended with telling him about my scars on my arm and about the Blissey Egg Extract.
.
"Well, kid. You seem to be lucky today. Not many can take out... How many did you say? Fifteen Bidoof at once? Your Deino might be more powerful than the common breed if it's as young as you say."
"But why were all the Bidoof attacking one man? It doesn't make sense for there to be more than a small few together."
"Pokemon are still learning to adapt to us. It might have been a way for them to survive, sticking together like that.
Just remember to be safe next time you're out on your own. The same could happen to anyone."
"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind." Seeing as I had no use at a Pokemon center, I left though the glass doors. No one tried to stop me, no one noticed.
Doing exactly what the good Ranger said not to, I went back to my birch tree. Though I was disgusted by the corpses, I knew my dragon had to eat. Besides, Akuma was injured. Some good old food would do her well while they healed. My potions would be used when I needed them.
Dragging one of the burnt Bidoof away from the entire tree, I released Akuma a few meters away. I whistled twice, then stomped. The Deino spun around and started sniffing the air. Suddenly barring her fangs, she rushed forward as I held up the Bidoof corpse for her.
"Here you go. Smoked Bidoof, just for you, Akuma." Just before she bit into the corpse, she stopped. Maybe it was a bit too soon. "It's dinner. Go ahead and eat!"
Jumping around the Bidoof, Akuma snarled at me. Instead of being scared, I reached a hand around and touched her head. With quick reflex, I pulled my hand back before it was bitten off. Deciding it was time to start the harsh parts of training, I recalled Akuma. She could wait until next meal time, when she accepted her meals from me.
Going back to the birch tree, I shooed away a Murkrow. They began to gather and peck at the decomposing bodies. As some of the Bidoof were still usable, I decided to skin them. If they had beaks pecked through, they would be worthless. They had to be worth something.
It was a hard task, my knife slipping from the blood and my nerves. It was gross and I nearly vomited again, but since I had already done so, nothing would come up.
After several minutes, I finally tugged the skins free of the body before gagging again. Watching a Deino eating was probably a better sight than this. The sight of muscles and organs of the Bidoof was hard to unsee. Wiping of the blade in the grass, I couldn't bring myself to skin another one.
Leaving the Bidoof to the Murkrows, I started towards the forest. I was alert the whole time, expecting a new and terrifying attack. But, as I came close to the forest, I found there was hardly a reason to attack me. My trap had worked!
Unfortunately, I could tell by the panicked flapping of wings, I was going to have to finish off the job. Why wasn't it dead, though?
As I looked to the tree, I saw a Pidove caught by it's wing and feet. Of course. What other Pokemon was dumb enough to fall for this trap? But releasing it would be a loss for me, and I came to a single conclusion.
Pulling out my knife, I close my eyes and swung. In truth, I kept an eye open as to not miss. The blade connected and slit the bird's throat. I tried to puke again at the sight of blood, but only a small amount of acid came up. I hated puking...
Still, I had a dead Pidove. It was proof enough I could hunt for meals for both Akuma and I. I just hoped Akuma liked what I caught.
Well, now that I'm tired, I think I'll leave it here for now. Time to curl up and sleep on my Deino pillow. Night!
Also, as of now, I am in school. Started on the 6th of September. Any chapters past this will hardly come out as quickly as these two.
Last thing, I'm gonna steal MetalDargon's ideas again.
Current Pokemon
Trainer: Lorano; NOREGISTRY
Pokemon in Possession:
Akuma - Deino