Her True Destiny

by SnowFlakes and Foxes

Akari was the Sinnoh Champion. She was the strongest, but Arceus called her to the land of Hisui. It's there that her true destiny awaits. She's desperately trying to complete the mission set forth by the mighty Pokémon God, all in hopes of returning home as soon as possible. However, unexpected friendships and love await her, clouding her vision of home.

5. Chapter 4: Akari's First Day

Chapter Four: Akari's First Day

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Akari crouched in the tall grass, waiting, and watching beneath the shade of a tall tree. She's been here awhile, two or three hours, just watching a berry pile she set up. It is getting closer to sunset though. This was the time she had told Seth, the Fieldlands Camp guardsman, that she would return. The problem is, if she leaves now, odds are good the Pokémon she's after will disappear, so she continues to wait as the sun sinks lower.

So far, she's had good luck with other species, a Ponyta came wondering in, a couple of Wurmple, about six different Starly, and a Mothim. It's not bad for a few hours work, but she'd seen Eevee tracks by the riverbank and that's the one she wants. She peeks at the sun's position, it's getting low, but she thinks she can risk another fifteen minutes.

"Eva!"

Akari stiffens, half surprised, half excited. That's the cry of an Eevee. It finally came back.

The little fox pops out of the bushes, acting adorably as she shakes the leaves off her fur. Akari is delighted to see it's a female, as they are considerably rarer than the males. However, she's not alone. There's another Pokémon with her – a Growlithe. It's the Hisuian Variant too. These guys don't exist in the wild anymore in modern day Sinnoh. The territory they inhabited was primarily in the Cobalt Coastlands. Unfortunately, that area is now heavily populated, making it impossible for them to hunt. The wild ones went extinct about thirty years prior to when she was born. There's still some in the hands of trainers, but not enough to make them a regular sight for the average person.

Akari takes a deep breath; her best shot is to use the back strike technique on both. It should work on Eevee, but the Growlithe, it's hard to say. She isn't overly familiar with the Hisuian Variant and what little she does know; she'd learned from documentaries and books. However, the Kanto Growlithe are tough little dogs, so she's betting this pup will be too.

"Ruff!" "Evi, Eva!" The two are speaking to one another. They appear to be friends. That's an uncommon thing to see in the wild. Usually, Pokémon of varied species don't interact due to competition over food and territory.

Akari readies two Pokéballs, placing one in each hand. She'll toss the first at Eevee, as the little fox is an easy catch. The Growlithe will notice the hit, but if she's quick enough, she might snag the puppy before he can put up a fight. If not, Oshawott will help her weaken him.

The first Pokéball catches Eevee right on the rump, making her yelp in surprise before disappearing inside. The Growlithe snarls, turning just in time to see a red and white object coming his way. It pops him on the forehead, and he disappears inside. The first Pokéball wriggles, then clicks, indicating Eevee's capture. The second doesn't, snapping back open, releasing the puppy. He glares at Akari, growling angerly.

Akari dodges as Growlithe charges at her in retaliation, attempting to use Take Down. He's fast, for sure, but still young, making his attack sloppy. Akari pulls Oshawott's Pokéball from her satchel, tossing it in the air. Growlithe backtracks a little when an otter emerges before him. He's obviously never seen another Pokémon appear like that before. It stupefied him.

"Oshawott!" Akari calls. "Use Razor Shell!"

Growlithe, still slightly startled, doesn't respond quick enough to dodge. The water attack hits him hard, his double typing of rock and fire making the damage more severe. He falls flat on his belly, panting. Oshawott hadn't held back, scoring a critical hit that's causing his opponent to see stars.

Growlithe attempts to get back up. He's stubborn and brave, but Akari isn't about to let this battle keep going. She tosses a third Pokéball, having grabbed it while Oshawott had attacked. It pops Growlithe on the forehead again, pulling him inside. The ball wriggles a lot, showing the pup is fighting, but it clicks, signaling the capture.

"My goodness," Akari says. "You're a tough boy." She walks over to the Pokéball, picking it up, only to release her new Growlithe. He looks up at her with a sulky expression. The pitiful thing obviously hates to lose, and he'd just done so badly.

Akari kneels before Growlithe, pulling a potion out of her satchel. "This is for you." She places it before him. "It will help you feel better."

Oshawott walks up, holding Eevee's Pokéball in his paws. He hands it over to Akari who smiles at him in appreciation. "Thank you."

"Ruff?" Growlithe is back on his feet, having taken the potion. He moved closer, sniffing the Pokéball with interest. Eevee's smell is coming from within.

Akari reaches out, petting Growlithe on the head. It startles him a little at first, but he relaxes. The ear scratch feels wonderful. Akari says, "Eevee is okay, and I promise I won't separate you from her."

"Ruff!" Growlithe is happy, wagging his tail. He gets to stay with his friend.

"You know," Akari begins. "I'm starting to think I have a majority of my team in place." Growlithe and Oshawott look at her curiously. "I only have one spot left to fill. In fact, I think we should have a quick meeting with everyone." She pulls out two Pokéballs from her satchel, releasing Shinx and Starly at the same time, then Eevee is let out soon after. The little fox is a little spooked until she sees Growlithe.

Akari claps her hands. "Alright everyone!" All the Pokémon look at her. "You guys are my chosen teammates! If you don't want to travel with me, tell me now, and I'll find a different Pokémon to take your place. I don't want to force any of you to do this tough and dangerous journey with me if you're not up to the challenge."

Shinx and Oshawott cheer, clearly ready to go. Starly looks around, appearing to think about it, but soon chirps an affirmative. Growlithe looks at Eevee, who seems uncertain. Akari can tell she's a little nervous. However, Eevee knows her friend wants to get stronger. She nods, reluctantly agreeing to go. Growlithe barks happily.

"Great!" Akari smiles brightly. "I'm glade everyone is willing to do this with me." She then looks at each of them appraisingly. They cover each other's weaknesses, especially when Eevee evolves. She's hoping for an Espeon or Umbreon. The last spot should go to a grass or bug type, although she isn't really interested in raising a Mothim again despite just catching one. The Wurmple line is too delicate to manage hard hits, so they're out. Starly is on the weaker side as well, but he'll evolve into a powerful raptor before too long.

"Drif… loom…"

Akari turns to see a Drifloom floating by. It's a nocturnal Pokémon. She gasps, looking at the sky. The sun is on the horizon. "Oh no! I'm late!" She turns, looking at her Pokémon. "The rest of our introductions will have to wait. We must go NOW! I'm supposed to be at the Fieldlands camp by sunset! Let's go everyone!" She turns, starting to run back towards the road.

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Laventon is looking down the path. "She said by sunset, right?" He's obviously concerned. She'd managed to calm that Luxray earlier, but what if the next Pokémon she met couldn't be pacified?

Seth is also worried. It is an unexpected development. He never thought he'd care about the stranger that fell from the sky. "It's what she told me."

"Don't worry," Rei says. He's relaxed and unconcerned. "I've seen her battle twice now, once against Volo, and then during an encounter with a wild alpha Rufflet. Pikachu helped, but she was the one calling all the shots. It was impressive. She sent that bird packing."

This is the first time Laventon has heard about a Rufflet encounter. He crosses his arms, considering. "It's just that the sun has almost set completely."

"I agree," Seth adds. "I think it's time I assemble a search party."

"Don't," Rei states. He's serious about this. "I was with her when she headed out, and trust me, she's a pro at handling herself out in the field. It's why we went our separate ways in the first place. She didn't need me tagging along."

Seth frowns. "I don't get it." He's looking down the path hoping to see her. There's nothing except a couple of Drifloom floating about ominously. "How can someone be that talented with Pokémon when they're a newcomer within our ranks."

"Well," Laventon begins. "She did fall from the rift. That might have something to do with it."

"Perhaps." Rei contemplates this. "But honestly, I don't think so. Akari said someone taught her how to catch Pokémon earlier today. She also knew about Shinx's predisposition towards aggression. Apparently, wild ones roam the area near her hometown. It leads me to believe that she's been catching and battling Pokémon long before falling from the rift."

Laventon nods. "Then the rift is just the portal from her world to ours then. I had suspected as much when I first met her. It seemed unlikely the rift itself created her or that she created it."

"Right!" Rei says. "I believe that too. She was brought here, but I don't peg her as a bad person. I'm betting that she never wanted to come here in the first place. She never told me that, but remember last night, when we all had dinner? It really sounded like she wanted to go home."

Laventon is recalling the conversation. "Yes, she did seem rather distraught."

"She did," Rei agrees.

Seth can't believe half of what he's hearing. Akari from another world? It's so outlandish, and yet, considering her sudden appearance from the sky, it is logical. "I find it hard to imagine what kind of place she's from. She thinks very differently from us."

"Indeed, she does." Laventon is curious. "I wonder what the villages are like in her world, the people too, and even the Pokémon. It seems like everything is vastly different. Akari doesn't fear Pokémon. I suspect this is because those around her raised her that way."

"Wow." Rei is trying to imagine it. "A place without fear. That must be amazing."

Seth nods. "I agree."

"So do I," Laventon adds. "Although we can't know this for sure. It's all speculation until Akari tells us otherwise."

"I suppose." Rei sure hopes it's true.

"But still." Laventon is looking down the road. "The sun has completely set. I can't help but worry. Hisui is a very different place at night."

Seth's in agreement. "I'm going to assemble – " He's cut off by the loud cry of a Starly. It's flying up the road towards camp, his little wings beating hard to maintain a fast speed.

"A Starly?" Laventon is puzzled. "Fluttering about after sunset. I've never seen such a thing."

"It's Akari's Pokémon!" Rei remembers this Starly. It was her second catch during the trial. "I recognize him from this morning!"

"Oh?" Laventon looks at Starly. He's landed on the ground at his feet. "Did Akari send you?"

The little bird nods once, chirping.

Laventon smiles. "Is she just late?"

Starly nods again, chirping.

"See," Rei states proudly. "I told you she's fine." He looks at his two companions. They're relieved.

Laventon crosses his arms, thinking deeply. "Akari sent Starly on ahead to inform us that she's on her way. It's rather impressive, don't you think? It's letting us know she's okay, and that we needn't send out a search party."

Rei is also considering. "You know, this is something we should've figured out a long time ago. I mean, the people of our homeland have used Pidgey for a millennium to deliver messages. In fact, doesn't Commander Kamado use a Pigeot right now to correspond with all our base camps?" He looks to Seth for confirmation. The man nods.

"Oh dear, you're right," Laventon says. "He also uses Pigeot to send quick summons to the leaders of the Dimond and Pearl clans. It's just that I never considered training Starly for post work. I'm ashamed to have been so blind, but I will fix this. I'll speak to the commander tomorrow."

"HAY!" Akari's shout is heard in the distance. She's running up the road, the moonlight reflecting off the white handkerchief in her hair.

Rei smiles, stating "Welcome back!" as Akari enters camp. She's huffing from the exertion of running for so long.

Seth is by her side, a cup of water in his hands. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Akari says. "Just ran a long way to get here as quickly as possible."

Seth offers the water. Akari takes it and drinks it all quickly. It makes her feel much better.

Rei asks, "What kept you?"

Seth looks at her expectantly. Laventon as well. They want answers.

"Several things," Akari admits. "First mistake is misjudging just how far out I traveled. Then, even though I knew I was cutting it close, I stayed hunkered down to catch a Pokémon. I found its tracks by a riverbank, and I couldn't let the opportunity pass me by. I successfully caught her, but before I knew it, I had lost all daylight." She bows apologetically. "I'm sorry to have caused worry."

Seth sighs. "I'll save the lecture, but next time, you'd better be on time."

"I will!" Akari responds.

Laventon steps forward. "So, this Pokémon you wanted so badly. You said you captured it." It's obvious he wants to know what it is.

"I did." Akari pulls out all her Pokéballs – the ones with Pokémon within them – showing the professor proudly. "I caught a Ponyta, several Wurmple, a Mothim, six more Starly, a Growlithe, and finally, the reason I'm late, an Eevee."

Rei is shocked. "That many?!" And not only had Akari caught a lot, but she'd also caught some hard ones. Ponyta for example, and Mothim. As for Eevee and Growlithe, Akari is the first to be successful.

Laventon is excited. "An Eevee, and Growlithe!"

"A Growlithe?" Seth appears concerned. "They're not even known to wonder these parts. Usually, you've got to travel to the Cobalt Coastlands to encounter one."

"That's true." Laventon looks a little perplexed. "According to Rei, a Rufflet is also in the area. That's not a usual species for these parts either. I wonder what's got them moving outside their usual territories?"

Seth suggests, "Perhaps the rift?"

"Maybe." Laventon looked uncertain. "But it's not unheard of for Pokémon to wonder from time to time. It's not obvious as to why in most cases, but it can happen."

"It doesn't matter!" Rei can't hold it back anymore. "Akari just caught two Pokémon we've been after for months! We shouldn't worry about why they were there, only that she caught them!"

Laventon must admit, it's rather extraordinary. "Yes, it's truly unexpected." Eevee is very elusive while Growlithe put up a though fight.

Akari finds herself blushing a little. "It's just practice that makes me successful. I've failed many times when it comes to catching Pokémon."

Laventon shares a look with Rei. Akari had spoken of her past once more. She didn't realize it though. Laventon says, "Regardless, we've been after these specific Pokémon for some time now. The captain will be pleased to hear we've finally procured them."

Akari frowns. It sounds like Team Galaxy plans to take certain Pokémon from her. That's NOT going to happen. She states sternly, "Let's be clear, Eevee and Growlithe are my companions. I won't let them be separated from each other or myself." It's clear that, if they try, she'll leave. She'd made a promise to them that they'd travel together.

"Oh, dear!" Laventon is alarmed. "That's not going to happen! The Pokémon you capture are yours alone!" He smiles wearily. "It's just that having them among us allows us to study them from afar. You'll write all your observations concerning them within the Pokédex. Cyllene and I will then review it. That's all I meant. I beg your forgiveness for distressing you so."

Akari is relieved. "I'm glade to hear that."

"It's getting late." Seth's announcement breaks some of the built-up tension. "I suggest that you all head back. Russ will be looking for you."

"Yikes!" Rei is a little distressed. "You're right." He's worried they'll be scolded for keeping the village guardsman waiting. He's extra moody when worried.

Laventon inclines his head towards Seth. "Thanks for the reminder."

Seth nods. "I do hope your travels back home are uneventful."

Rei bows, then waves goodbye. Laventon does the same. Akari is the last to leave. "Goodnight Seth. I hope to see you again tomorrow."

"Goodbye, Akari." Seth gives her a kind smile. He watches as everyone starts the journey back to the village.

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It's late, but Akari is hungry. Beni might be a jerk who's currently glaring at her from a few tables away, but his mochi is good. Eevee and Shinx are sitting beside her, looking around the village in wonder. Oshawott and Growlithe are on the ground near her feet napping. As for her meeting with Cyllene, that had gone very well. She's advanced in rank to First Star, as well as earning access to the crafting booklet on Heavy Balls. These Pokéballs are designed to be helpful with catching heavy Pokémon, specifically alphas.

Rei is sitting across the table. Laventon is beside him. The professor speaks first. "So Akari, my girl, I believe a jolly good congratulations are in order. Well done on earning your First Star Rank!" He takes a big bite of food, a delightful expression on his face.

"Thank you!" Akari returns the smile. She's beginning to realize that despite his great intelligence, Professor Laventon is just like a big kid at heart in a lot of ways. He's very kind and gets excited about simple things. It's rather refreshing.

Beni approaches their table, a tray in hand with three bowls of potato mochi. He glares at Akari, his eyes narrowing when her First Star Rank pin catches his eyes. "Enjoy your meal." The words are strained. He isn't happy.

Akari understands that he'd hoped she'd fail the trial thus causing her to be banished from the village. She smiles up at him. "Thank you. I can't wait to dig in!" Beni narrows his eyes but says nothing, turning and choosing to walk away. The best way to deal with people who don't like you is to act kindly towards them. It will often make them angry too.

Rei didn't seem to notice the hostility. He stuffed his mouth full of food before speaking. "Our usual order of potato mochi is going to taste even better because there's something to celebrate."

Akari smiles. Like Laventon, Rei is very kind. He's also a messy eater, stuffing his mouth full of food. Akari says, "The food is very good." She takes a bite herself.

Rei looks up from his bowl. "Hey by the way – have you taken on that request Beauregard had?"

"I did," Akari answers. "I planned to give him one of the Wurmple I caught today."

Rei nods. "That's good, he'll be happy." He then looks around the dark street. It's empty due to the time of night. "I'm sure you've noticed, but most people here don't know much about Pokémon."

"I have," Akari responds. It's more than a lack of knowledge. Many of these people are also terrified of them.

Rei takes a few more bites of his food. After swallowing, he says, "Well, it's our job as the Survey Corps to take care of any issues that crop up because of that. We're basically Pokémon problem solvers."

Akari pounders this. Pokémon problem solvers; it's an interesting concept. It also adds more depth to her job within the Survey Corps.

"Indeed so," Laventon agrees. "Some people will ask you for help when you talk with them, while others will post requests on the blackboard I keep in my lab." He turns his attention to Rei. "Speaking of which, weren't you approached with a request recently, Rei? What's that about?"

"Oh man." Rei looks rather distraught. "That one… might be a better fit for Akari than me. I don't think I'll be able to pull it off unless I get better at Pokémon battling first."

Akari is instantly interested. What kind of request is it?

"Ah, yes." Laventon's expression suggests he's worried himself. "That request came from Mai of the Dimond Clan if I recall correctly?"

"It did," Rei answers. "If I mess this up, it could make our relations worse."

"Indeed," Laventon says.

Akari frowns. Is Team Galaxy having difficulty with the natives of Hisui? That's unexpected. She doesn't recall hearing about such issues when she studied Hisui in class as a kid. Had Arceus blocked her memory of these events? It's very possible.

Rei looks at Akari, frowning. "The people of the Dimond Clan have lived here in Hisui since before Galaxy Team arrived. Their leader is named Adaman, and well, he isn't a fan of Team Galaxy. If we could establish good relations, I'm sure there is much we might learn from them, including more about local Pokémon."

It's obvious to Akari that Rei has the right mindset. However, if relations are strained, there's a reason. It could be the Dimond Clan that's the problem, but it could very well be Team Galaxy's fault as well. There's also the Pearl Clan to consider. What are relations like with them?

"I think," Laventon states. "That Akari should go with you. This request must be fulfilled without failure." He looks very serious. "We can't let tensions get any worse."

"I agree." Rei lets out a sigh. "Adaman was furious the last time he was here. Something about making more base camps; one of which would be built on scared land. It was such a mess."

"Why?" Akari wants to understand. "I mean, I can understand why he'd be upset about a base camp being placed in a sacred place, but base camps in general. I don't get it."

Laventon shrugs, looking rather disheartened. "It's complicated," he begins. "But the root of the problem is our commander's handling of troublemaking wild Pokémon. The Dimond clan isn't a fan of our commander's methods; neither is the Pearl clan. I'm honestly surprised that Mai would even make a request."

Akari frowns. So, the bad relations are Team Galaxy's fault. Well, she can't say she's surprised with the way the people act around here. "I'll do everything possible to make sure this request is completed properly."

Laventon looks at Akari with a troubled expression. He understands the undertone to her statement. Akari isn't going to act in any manner that's inappropriate towards Pokémon. He's grateful for it.

Rei sighs. "I appreciate it." He then looks at his food. It's starting to get cold. "But we could discuss all that tomorrow. For today, we should eat up and get some rest."

Laventon nods. "Indeed." He digs in.

Akari did the same. Unfortunately, the food had become tasteless. Exactly what kind of methods is Team Galaxy using that has the natives so upset? If they're truly terrible, she might just leave Team Galaxy on her own, consequences be damned.

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Akari woke up a little late. The day before had been long, and after dinner, she had to prepare her Pokémon a decent meal as well. They ate happily, enjoying the fact they didn't have to hunt or forage for themselves. Oshawott, being more used to life in the village, was helpful with gathering ingredients, bowls, and other useful items.

As for sleeping arrangements, that had been a little awkward. Shinx and Growlithe squabbled about who would get to sleep next to her. Akari put an end to it by forcing them both to sleep at the bottom of her futon. Eevee found it amusing, making a show of it as snuggled in Akari's arms. Starly found this amusing from his perch on the window seal. Oshawott just thought they were all idiots. He'd made his own bed a few feet away.

Once again, the room was chilly in the morning. Growlithe had noticed Akari's reactions to the cold air immediately. He got up, going to the wood pile to grab a few logs. He put them in the firepit and set them aflame. The room was already feeling a lot warmer by the time Akari pulled herself out of bed.

She yawned and stretched, before stumbling over to the closet. Growlithe was sitting there, his tail wagging. He's already acclimated to having a trainer, and like the Kanto Growlithe, it makes him eager to please. Akari reaches down to scratch him behind the ears. "Thank you for setting the fire. It's nice and toasty in here now."

"Ruff!" Growlithe's tail wags even faster. He really is a cute thing, with his fluffy cloud like main hanging over his eyes.

Shinx, not wanting to be left out, rushes over, rubbing her body against Akari's legs. "Mow!" It earns her a smile as well, and a pat on the head. Growlithe huffs, not liking the spotlight being stolen from him.

Akari ignores it. Shinx and Growlithe will learn in time that jealousy between them is silly. They're a team and will eventually learn that. If not, she'll start getting onto them like a mother would. She's done it before with Piplup and Mothim. Those two were like oil and water, always bickering about one thing or another. It made the first part of her journey a lot harder than it had to be until they gained respect for one another. She hopes that doesn't happen again with Shinx and Growlithe.

Akari pulls off her yukata, folding it neatly before placing it in the closet. She then pulls out her Security Corps uniform, her nose wrinkling. It's a little smelly from the day before, but it's still acceptable. However, she's going to need to wash it tonight. In fact, it's time she had a bath herself. She's pretty sure she's getting rather stinky herself. The only question is where and how since indoor plumbing isn't a thing. She'll also need shampoo and body wash. It's just another thing she will need to ask Rei about.

After getting dressed, Akari makes a quick breakfast out of the barriers she collected the day before. There are some oat grains that she also mixed in as well, adding some protein into the mix. Starly loved those the best. Akari makes a mental note to buy more, along with some cured meats and fish. She has a variety of Pokémon now and they'll need a balanced diet.

Once everyone was finished eating, and the dishes washed and put away, Akari recalled most of her Pokémon into their respective Pokéballs. Eevee was left out, allowing her to walk freely by her trainer's side. Akari figured it would help the little fox get more familiarized with the village. She'd been a little jumpy the night before.

Akari opens her front door, stepping outside to find Rei sitting on a bench. He jumps up when he sees her. "Hay Akari!"

"Good morning," Akari responds. "Is it time to go already?" She'd thought she would have a little time to do some shopping before heading out, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

Re shakes his head. "No, not yet." He seems a little shy suddenly. "Hay, Akari," he begins. A nervous pitch appeared in his voice. "Before we go meet Mai about that request, mind showing me how you do in battle?"

Akari wonders what brought this on. "Of course." She wouldn't deny someone a battle. However, Rei had his confidence shaken badly yesterday. If he loses to her now, how will it make him feel? She doesn't want to knock him down further.

Rei smiles. It seems a little forced. "Great, Let's go to the training grounds."

"Alright." Akari hasn't been there yet and is curious. The battle courts of the modern world are big and sometimes fill up massive stadiums. Galar is a prime example of this as they often Dynamax their Pokémon.

The training grounds of Jubilife Village are small though. In fact, she's seen personal battler courts bigger than this. If two people like Volkner and Flint were to go at it here, they'd wreck the place. It's obvious whoever designed this area doesn't know how destructive a high leveled Pokémon's attacks can be. The dojo behind the battle court probably wouldn't be spared either.

Rei is looking at the battle court, a frown on his face. "Thanks for taking a minute for me. I know your plate's full right now with you being new and all."

Akari shrugs; running around and catching Pokémon doesn't really feel like work to her. It doesn't stress her out either. "I don't mind. I'm starting to see you as a friend anyway. You're a nice person."

Rei blushes, sputtering a little. "You want to be my friend?" He smiles big. "I'm happy to hear that. I think you're nice too." However, the happiness doesn't last. There's something heavy on his mind. "I'm going to be straightforward with you about something."

This sounds serious. Akari can't help asking, "Is everything all right?"

"Not really," Rei answers. He's gritting his teeth a little. "This is hard to admit but I don't understand how anyone can handle taking on Pokémon in battle. I know I'm a Survey Corps member, and I've even got my partner… but I just can't do it."

"Oh, Rei…" Akari feels for him. "You shouldn't put so much pressure on yourself. It takes time to gain the skills needed to battle and catch Pokémon. Like I said, I had someone teach me how to do it and even then, I still made a fool out of myself from time to time."

Rei is looking at Pikachu's Pokéball, running his thumb across the smooth surface. He then tosses it, releasing Pikachu. The electric mouse notices Akari right away. "Pika!" He looks very happy to see her.

Rei shakes his head, feeling disheartened. Pikachu has never looked at him that way – not once. "It was a few weeks back, but I was attacked by a small group of Shinx. I should've had Pikachu fight at my side, but my mind just went blank. The Shinx closed in and got me good. Guardsman Seth was the one who found me."

That explains his initial dislike of Shinx. "That can happen to anyone. I mean, it's happened to me. Barry and I got caught up in a raging flock of Starly without a Pokémon. Those little guys banged us up good."

Rei pauses for a moment. He wants to ask who this Barry person is but bites his tongue. This isn't the time for such questions. "That's what I mean," he continues. "Pokémon are terrifying! Why should this thing be able to create fire or electricity or in your case, wind? It's not natural!"

"Rei," Akari begins gently. "Pokémon are of the natural world. Their abilities, although sometimes powerful and frightening, are natural as well. I cannot speak as to why Pokémon have these abilities while humans do not, but that doesn't make them bad. Besides, humans have talents too. Look at this village. It wouldn't be here without human innovation."

Rei sighs. Akari's right. "I'm sorry, it's just hard because I don't understand. I don't get how their powers even work, or what makes one this type or that."

"It's okay," Akari says. "As humans, it's in our nature to want to understand the world around us. I mean, think about it; haven't you ever wonder about where wind comes from or how lightening forms in the sky?" While it's true that Akari understands the scientific knowledge behind these elements of nature, Rei would not. The people of this time have yet to figure out these answers, which makes them great examples.

"Yeah, I guess so." Rei thinks about it. "I don't think I know anybody who really knows where these things come from. I mean, some of the superstitious say that a monstrous beast hides within storm clouds, creating bursts of lighting, but that one seems silly to me."

"It is," Akari agrees. "In fact, I believe that legend comes from Kanto. There's a Pokémon that lives there called Zapdos, who's the embodiment of lightning. It can sometimes be seen in thunderstorms, but he's simply absorbing the electricity, not producing it."

Rei is wide eyed. "That Pokémon sounds incredible! I mean, it absorbs lightening bolts!"

Akari nods. They've gotten a little off track. "All I'm trying to say is this: you don't have to understand everything to find peace. It's okay to be scared, just don't let it consume you."

"Right." Rei looks at Pikachu. The electric mouse is watching him closely. "I can do this; I know I can. I've been watching you at work and I'm convinced. If I want to do my Survey Corps work well, my partner and I have got to be a team. Our first real step towards being a real team is battling your team!"

Now Akari gets it. This isn't about winning or regaining confidence. Rei just wants to work on this teamwork with Pikachu. "Let's do this!" She then looks at Eevee. "You want to be the one to battle?"

"Eva!" Eevee answers by dashing out onto the battle court. She is a little nervous as this is her first battle, but Oshawott and Shinx told her to trust in Akari.

Rei takes his position opposite Akari and Eevee. Pikachu, without being asked, runs out onto the battle court. "Pika!" He's ready to do this.

"Pikachu!" Rei calls. "Use Thunder Wave!" Akari had used this move to slow Rufflet down, perhaps it will work on Eevee. These little foxes are fast after all.

Akari smirks; someone's learning. Rei will put up a challenge if he battles smart. He's already got her on the defensive. "Eevee, focus a Quick Attack to the side of Pikachu! Use that momentum to dodge! Once you do that, use another Quick Attack to get in close. I then want you to use swift on Pikachu! Let's hit them where it hurts."

"Eva!" Eevee doesn't hesitate, having complete trust in her trainer. She dodges the Thunder Wave before twisting on her heels, performing a second Quick Attack. Eevee successfully moves in close. Pikachu's cheeks spark, but he doesn't discharge an attack. He's waiting for Rei's next command, but the young man is hesitating. He'd never expected an attack to be used to help a Pokémon dodge.

Eevee releases Swift, the bright stars hitting Pikachu. The electric mouse cries out in pain and anger. He's furious his trainer can't get it together. This isn't the first time this has happened. Pikachu shakes his head, holding up his paws. "PIKA!" He's telling Eevee to stop. The little fox looks at him confused, then turns her questioning gaze towards Akari.

"Pikachu?" Rei is confused. Pikachu just forfeited the match. He's now stomping off the battle court, looking like an angry child.

"Rei," Akari says. She's using a gentle tone. "You lost your focus, and Pikachu got hurt as a result. He's very upset because you let him down. Pikachu had the perfect opportunity to use Thunder Shock on Eevee, and he waited for you to command it. However, you hesitated, and Pikachu lost the opportunity, getting roughed up instead."

Rei looks at his partner. Eevee's Swift attack had banged him up rather good. "I'm sorry, Pikachu." The electric mouse doesn't respond, except to huff.

Rei feels awful. He did this. "I really messed up." He kneels next to Pikachu. "I was just so impressed by Akari's strategy. She just seems so in sync with her Eevee. That was amazing. The way she fights alongside her Pokémon." He reaches out to pet Pikachu on the head. "I'm going to do better, I promise. We'll catch up the best we can."

Pikachu huffs again. He's still upset, but Rei's words did reach him.

"Ah. Fair enough." Rei stands back up. He knows Pikachu just needs time to cool down. Rei looks back at Akari. "I wanted to work on our teamwork but goofed rather badly."

"You'll get there." Akari smiles. She wants to be encouraging.

Rei nods, no longer appearing depressed. "I think I want to try some different things too. Pikachu's got this tendency to attack, y' see. That's why I normally keep him inside his ball. I got several complaints from different villagers." Rei smiles at Pikachu who's watching him from the corner of his eye. He continues, "I think the first step is for Pikachu and me is trying to get a little friendlier with one another. I'm going to do that by letting him walk by my side a lot more."

Akari nods. "That's a good start. It will build trust and understanding too."

Rei smiles, ready to say something else when a loud voice booms across the battle court. "So, you're the one? That new recruit everyone's talking about?"

Akari is startled, not expecting anyone else to join them. She looks to her left, where a large woman is approaching. Akari's heart skips a beat. This woman, she's an ancestor of Flint. She's got the same wild red hair, and the build of her body is similar. Akari bows in greeting, "Hello, it's nice to meet you."

"Ha! So polite." The woman smacks Akari on the back. It's meant to be playful, but it nearly knocks the wind out of her. "The name's Zisu, captain of the Security Corps. I see you've got some fight in you. That was a short yet good battle. You've got creativity with strategy."

Akari blushes at the praise. "It's just lots of practice." She wished she could admit to Zisu that it was her grandson that often forced her to use her imagination during battle. Well, him and Volkner. Those two can make just about anybody sweat.

Rei steps into the conversation. "Zisu's great." There are stars in his eyes. It's obvious he idolizes her. "She's also a master of an ancient martial art where you guide Pokémon in certain ways through battle. It's tricky but very effective."

Akari thinks she knows exactly what Rei's talking about. Flint liked to use it against her all the time. He claimed it was a battle style developed by his family and refused to share the secrets behind it.

"Now listen," Zisu says proudly. "I'll go over the basics of it. First, your Pokémon must truly master their moves to perform this battle technique. You got that?"

"Yes, Ma'am!" Akari can't believe it. Zisu is just going to tell her? Flint would lose his mind if he knew.

"Alright," Zisu states. "Once mastered, a move can be used in different styles. The two forms, are the strong style and the agile style." This Akari knows, having seen it many times. Zisu continues, "On one hand, you can choose to deliver a move in the strong style. This type of move will deal more damage, but afterward it'll take longer for your Pokémon to recover. It basically leaves you open for attack so you best get you timing right, or your Pokémon will eat dirt."

Akari nods. "Got it." Flint likes to use the strong style as a finisher; now she knows why.

Zisu resumes her lecture. "Now, on the other hand, you can choose to unleash a move in the agile style. These moves will have less power behind them, but your Pokémon can act more quickly afterward. In fact, in truly favorable conditions, you might even get out two hits in before an opponent can act."

Akari smiles. "Thank you for explaining, but I'm betting it's not that simple. There's more to it, right?"

"Smart girl," Zisu is impressed Akari figured it out so quickly. She has told others, only to have them run off without further questioning her instruction. Naturally, they fail and return with their tail between their legs. "Your Pokémon must learn how to control their power. They need to be able to adjust the intensity of the strength within it. If they can't master that, they'll be unable to perform either style."

Akari bows, showing deep gratitude. "Thank you again." It is going to take some practice to get this right.

Rei nudges Akari on the shoulder. "We've got to head out now."

Akari looks at him. "It's time for Mai's request, isn't it?"

"Yep," Rei answers.

Akari looks at Zisu. "It was nice speaking with you. I hope I get to do so again real soon." She knows she can learn a lot from this woman.

"Hay, kid," Zisu calls out. "If that's the case, stop by any time. I'll work on those battle styles with you."

Akari smiles brightly. "I would love you too!" She waves goodbye, before turning to fallow Rei. Eevee is bouncing around her feet as she walks.

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End Chapter Four: Akari's First Day