Makuhita and Darumaka
As it was morning, many of the farm Pokemon had been let out to roam the pastures. But the barn wasn't quite empty. At the table, a Makuhita was finishing off its traditional big breakfast. He would become a guard when older and evolved, but for now he prepared and did miscellaneous tasks. A Darumaka was also inside, but he was bounding all over: hopping off the walls, racing around the hay-lined straws, and running along beams. Although he had been brought in by one of the kids, he didn't have a permanent assignment on the farm.
"I hope they don't release me," he mumbled, mostly to himself. "I like my boy, I like traveling, but what do I do here when my boy is here? I don't want to leave, but I've got to do something. What do I do today? They don't like me chasing the Mareep." His rushing around brought him to land on the table that the Makuhita was eating at. "Hey, hey, what're you gonna do now, Frankie? Fritz needs to do something important."
The Makuhita twitched the ears on top of his head, then picked up his food dish to put it away. "Train."
Fritz darted off the table and on top of the food cabinet. "Train? You always train when awake. But you eat so much that you stay fat-sy. I don't mind doing chores, because it's important, and some training is important, but training all the time? What do you do for fun? I always have some fun every day. What do you have fun doing?"
"Training," Frankie replied. Now that his things were set aside to be washed, he headed for the door.
"How can so much training be fun?" the Darumaka said, bounding off the cabinet. "I mean, some training is fun, but after a while, I get tired and bored with it, so I stop."
"Sleep more," he advised.
Before the conversation could continue, the farmer appeared in front of the barn door. He was pushing a wheelbarrow with two large bags, several small bags, and an assortment of tools in it. "Ah, Frankie, Fritz, I found you both in the same spot. Good. I have something I need you two to get done."
Fritz yapped his agreement and rushed over to the other side of the wheelbarrow. Putting his paws on the edge, he peered in. "Oh, yes, yes! I'll help if it means that I can stay with my boy here at the farm. What do I do, huh? I'll do whatever it is as best I can."
Smiling, the farmer patted the red furred Pokemon. "Easy now, Fritz. Here, I have some goods that need to be taken to the town market today." He picked up the two large bags and set one down. "I'm gonna put these bags of goods on you two, so don't get them damaged. And take these bracelets so that the market workers know which vendor you're taking things to. Get them there before noon; the vendor might have some things to return, so wait until you know you have them, then come right back home." He knelt down to put one backpack onto the Darumaka.
Fritz saluted with his right paw. "Oh yes, I can make deliveries! I'll get there good and quick, and not damage anything! You just watch my fiery trail." Once he had the backpack and bracelet, he darted off towards the road.
The farmer chuckled, then helped Frankie put his pack on. "Enthusiastic little guy. Okay, Frankie, I gave you a few things that might bruise if you handle them roughly, so be careful. And make sure that little fellow stays on track and gets the job done. He's a good Pokemon, I can tell, but he doesn't keep his focus well."
Nodding, the Makuhita got the bracelet on his own wrist. "Will do." He picked up a few supplies for himself, then started off towards the road at a quick walk. If he had things that could get bruised (probably fruits and berries), he didn't want to be running.
At the road, he found Fritz looking down both ways. On seeing him, the younger Pokemon looked sheepish. "Um, uh, I haven't been to town except with my boy. Which way is town? And how far is it?"
Frankie pointed with a gloved hand to the east. "Stay on the road and we will get there."
Fritz laughed. "Hey, that's more words than usual out of you! Okay, I'll race you there! And I'll be there first!" He took off down the road, with the Makuhita following at a less hurried pace.
Rushing along, the Darumaka was in high spirits. The air was nice and warm, with a happy sun shining overhead. The dirt road felt great as it passed underneath his paws. Inside, he could feel the fires burning (but this was entirely a good thing, since he lived by and loved fire). Oh yes, he could be a delivery Pokemon? He would get parcels distributed fast. Sure, he'd have to figure out how to get them all to the right spots, but they would arrive as fast as a wildfire driven by the wind!
But… this road was so long. He saw fences and farms pass by on either side. There were several trees around, but not many buildings. Before, he hadn't really noticed, as he'd been focused on entertaining his boy and fighting battles for him. But where was town? And Fritz was starting to feel tired.
On pausing to take a break, he felt his internal fires cool down. Maybe there would be time for a quick nap? Fritz closed his eyes and was soon asleep.
Some time later, Frankie came upon the Darumaka sleeping at the side of the road. He knew the farmer's son liked this Pokemon a lot, but also knew that his kind wasn't all that suited for farm life. Sure, his fires would be nice in the winter, but not if he couldn't sit still. The Makuhita still hoped that the younger Pokemon could find the discipline to be a good worker. Maybe when he evolved.
He nudged him with his foot. "Fritz."
"Hmm?" The Darumaka opened his eyes and got up. "Oh, hey Frankie. What're you doing here…? Oh, the deliveries! You caught up! Well that's not gonna last. I'm still gonna get there first and beat you! Catch me if you can!" Then he hurried off once again.
Frankie shrugged and went back to his quick walk. He was fairly certain that he'd encounter Fritz again, before they reached the market. Actually, it would be better that way.
As he thought, he came across the Darumaka again. He wasn't asleep this time, just drinking carefully out of a stream. But he did look and sound weary. "Oh, no good, no good. There's nothing to eat around here and I so hungry… the road is so long, why does it have to be so long. Town should be just right there; it's more fun with the humans around."
"Patience," the Makuhita said, coming over to get a drink himself. The water wasn't quite as nice as the good stuff humans got out of bottles, but it was suitable.
"This is a long trip," Fritz complained. "Why you seem so awake and ready still? I've been trying to find nuts or berries, but there's nothing edible around. Why you still going?"
"Good breakfast," Frankie explained. Wanting to help, he pulled out an oatmeal and berry bar that he had grabbed before he left the farm and offered it to him. It was something the human women made, and they were great travel food. "Eat well."
The Darumaka took it with glee. "Oh, thank you! You have saved me! I must learn to be better prepared, be like you. You don't mind, right?" He took the bar out of its plastic wrap and chomped off a quarter of it. "Iff wovfff disfff stuffff." Then he swallowed. "It's hard to live on a farm, right? Cause on the road, you mostly battle and that comes naturally. But farm stuff, that's not always easy. I didn't think town was so far away. But! I will get there first, to show that I'm still worthy!" He bit off another piece of the oatmeal bar, then took off running.
Frankie twitched his ears. "Don't get sick," he said. Then he took out another bar and ate it while walking along.
An hour after that, the Makuhita caught up with the Darumaka a third time. This time, Fritz was huddled by a rock, shivering. "Oh no, oh no… no, I can be brave, I am brave for my boy. But he is so tough; there is no way around him. What do I do, what do I do?"
"What happened?" Frankie asked, stopping by the rock.
Fritz pointed with a shaky small paw. "Th-there's a BIG tough Pokemon blocking the road. I can see town, yes, yes, but he is blocking the road and will let no one pass. I would have jump past the fence, run, then jump the fence into town, but he gives me the evil eye and I run away. I fight good, yeah, but not good enough to beat him."
Nodding, the Makuhita waved him to come out. "Then, we both fight. Come."
"You sure?" When he got another nod, Fritz came out. "Um, okay. I'll try. But he's big, and tough. I hope we don't get smushed."
A bit further down the road, they came to a place where the fences came right up alongside the road. In the center of the road, there was indeed a great big and tough looking Pokemon standing there, stirring up dust with his front hoof. A large bulk of fluffy brown fur surrounded his head, but the long sharp-pointed horns made sure it was taken for a credible threat.
When he saw them, the Bouffalant bellowed. "I am a road block!" he yelled. "None shall pass by me! Be gone, heathen invaders!"
"Eep," the Darumaka said in a little squeal, drawing his limbs in closer to become compact. He was trembling.
On the other hand, Frankie took off his backpack and set it on the side of the road. Then he pounded his fist into his chest, making the bulk of his stomach area wobble. "Delusional," he said, then rushed down the road at the Bouffalant.
The other Pokemon snorted and lowered his head, putting his horns in the Makuhita's way. While Fritz watched wide-eyed, Frankie ignored the horns and rammed his stomach into the Bouffalant's head. The blow was powerful enough to knock the larger Pokemon back a few feet. Then, the Makuhita pounded his chest again.
"Get out of the way," he said sternly.
Now it was the Bouffalant who seemed frightened. He sniffled. "Bully." Then he trotted off, running when he felt himself out of sight.
Coming out of his defensive curl, Fritz hopped over to Frankie. "Oh, you're amazing! I have to learn to be brave like you. I have to be a great Pokemon so that they don't ever release me and I can stay with my boy. How do you do it, huh? Will you teach me?"
"Never give up," Frankie said, going back for his backpack.
Fritz scratched his head. "Ah, okay. I will get better, you will see." Looking at the gate into town, the Darumaka grinned, then rushed to get past it. "And hah! I got to town before you did! It was very close, though, and you probably did a better job. Um, where's the market?"
Frankie chuckled as he walked into town too. "Come with me."
…
Sapphire entry: Makuhita has a tireless spirit – it will never give up hope. It eats a lot of food, gets plenty of sleep, and it trains very rigorously. By living this way, this Pokemon packs its body with energy.
Darumaka Black entry: When its internal fire is burning, it cannot calm down and it runs around. When the fire diminishes, it falls asleep.
When I first saw Bouffalant in the game, my first thought was the 'I am a road block!' statement, oddly enough. I dunno; maybe it was because I ran into it when I was trying to get somewhere else in a hurry and it looks like it could block a road well.