For years, Pulse and Jabetu had been running. They both evolved for one last time, their romance was something unheard of.
The eggs they've collected haven't had a chance to hatch.
Their ultimate decision on the matter was to send Jabetu to a secret location where she would be busy with hatching and taking care of them until they were old enough to continue their legacy.
This was actually the one month anniversary since they've split up to do their own thing.
Pulse had set out to find another possible Pokémon to train in the destruction of the Starter Squad.
Paarthurnax was fully evolved by now, and had been chasing him frivolously until Pulse had finally managed to escape though a secret tunnel in a bush.
Now, he was padding through a very secluded area. It was sandy and dry.
I hate being sandy and dry. He thought as he put a paw over his head to keep the sandstorm out of his eyes.
It was quiet for the most part.
His last apprentice, Rau, was done with her training.
She had finally come crawling back when she was kicked out of starter squad. She had evolved to a Greninja and was a cool black color.
She was kicked out of the squad for multiple reasons.
One of those reasons was because she had gone on a temper tantrum when they told her she couldn't stay because she had fully evolved.
That much Pulse knew was unfair.
Most of the starters accepted it, but some started to rebuttal or attack the squad for not letting them stay.
Rau was one of the worst ones.
When she evolved she thought she would be even more useful.
She had been capturing villains.
In fact, she mostly captured high ranks, but once Pulse heard she had caught Hasira, who had apparently turned to a life of crime and murder once she learned Pulse had been kicked out of Poketown.
She almost murdered Carrion, and Pulsd applauded her for that. Though, he wished she actually was able to kill him because then it would be one less really strong Pokémon he had to deal with.
Out of all the Pokémon he fought from the squad the two he faced the most nowadays was Carrion and Nami, who evolved into Venasaur and Blastoise respectively.
They were the ones did most of Paarthurnax's dirty work.
Pulse knew it was only a matter of time.
He prayed he could find a Pokémon who was a starter who he could trick.
He tried a whole bunch more with some starters, but they all were weighed afraid and ran away—like they should be, or tried to capture him.
There was the occasion where one was interested, but they always said no because they thought it was a lost cause.
Pulse continued to miserably walk through the desert.
He was hoping maybe there'd be a starter here.
After the defeat of Pulse and his team all those years ago by Rau, and Akaldeep and Ciaran were captured, Ciaran had joined their team.
Well, he aided them on occasion.
He wanted to do his own work alone.
He told them that a Police Officer had killed his parents and that's why he was at the cemetery that day.
When he heard them talking about the downfall of the Starter Squad, he immediately thought of helping them out.
After he got out of jail he told them he would help them destroy the squad if they helped him destroy the police.
Pulse and Ciaran had killed a lot of police officers. They had made the police force scared of them, but the police force usually would chase them anyways.
Pulse continued his search when he couldn't find anyone in the area.
How hard is it to find one single Pokémon out in this mess? Who would even be out in this mess? He wonders as he continues to step in the sand.
He couldn't believe there was this secret mass of desert that no one knew of.
This would make a good hiding place. Pulse noted as he almost bumped into a cactus.
He shivered as he felt eyes on him.
There were definitely some Cacturne around here someone.
Pulse shivered.
As much as he would love to try to convince one of those guys to join his team and help in the destruction of the Starter Squad, he'd rather stay away.
Cacturne are known for following lone travelers in the dead of night and wait until they drop before...well Pulse didn't want to experience that.
He continued on, walking until he heard some small sobs.
What is that?! He wonders, thinking it might be one of the Cacturne.
He followed the sound.
They lead him to a small patch of grass in the desert.
In that patch of grass—right next to a small hole with a door in it, was a young Sandshrew.
He can't possibly be older than one. Pulse thought as he felt pity for the small child as he cried.
His little paws were tinier than a normal Sandshrew's was. His whole body was petite despite being a guy.
Is he a runt? Pulse wondered as he approached the Sandshrew. A road was nearby.
"W-what's wrong with me being so small?" The Sandshrew wondered as he rubbed his eyes. They were wet with tears.
Pulse felt pity in his heart for the poor miserable creature.
He also felt hatred for whoever did this to him: abandon him for Pokémon such as Cacturne.
It wouldn't hurt to take him with him.
A smirk found it's way to Pulse's face as he decided to respond to the little guy.
I can manipulate him into helping me and my cause.
"Nothing," Pulse rumbled as he padded towards the little guy.
The little guy was sitting on the ground with his paws to his face.
What a predicament he got himself into.
Who would take one look at him and throw him out?
He obviously wants to prove himself. His worth. I'll let him show that. I'll give him purpose unlike his stupid family.
"Your mother probably wanted some shrew who would protect her." He rumbled, insulting the Sandshrew's mother in the process.
"What's wrong with being small?" The Sandshrew wondered to himself.
"Your mother probably wanted only big and strong Sandshrew. It just work like that. Most Pokémon throw out their runts if they're not satisfied with them." Pulse explained.
It was true.
He remembered a Wingull did that to his child for being small and frail. She died shortly afterwards.
The Sandshrew gazed up at him with tears falling down his face still.
"Why would she want that? They can't go in the smaller holes without digging first. I can! What makes those non-runts so special?! Why over me?! I'm special too, aren't I?" The Sandshrew wondered, rubbing his noses with a paw.
The sadness in the ground types eyes were replaced with something Pulse recognized.
In fact, he was far familiar with it.
A look of anger.
A look that expressed how unfair the world, or a Pokémon was to you.
I know that feeling too, squirt. Trust me, I've dealt with much less of an unfair Pokemon world, but I've dealt with something like that nonetheless.
Angrily, yet very upset, the Sandshrew cried out in anguish: "It's not fair!"
His face contorted in a mixture of pain and anger.
Pain that his mother left him for the Vullaby's, and anger that his mother and his family abandoned him because of his size.
"Of course it isn't, little one. Pokémon are just like that. One minute they love you, the next they throw you out on the streets. Life isn't fair to those of us with revolution, with big dreams of change. Now tell me, small kit: what is your name?" Pulse purred as he smiled with such friendliness at the Sandshrew.
He will do well for a side kick.
The Sandshrew gazed at him in confusion, his head tilting a little.
"A...name?" He wondered.
Pulse's eyes widened.
Not only did this little quake's mother cast him aside because he was a runt, but she didn't even bother to name him before casting him out.
It was not only neglectful, but it was disrespectful too!
Pulse felt anger begin to rise up like a wild fire in his stomach.
"Yeah. You know like what they call you. Not every Pokémon wants to be called Sandshrew. I suppose your own mother called you Runt or something, but I wouldn't know." Pulse informed the little Sandshrew.
"What they..,call me?" He echoed.
Pulse nodded.
This kid was only one.
He probably didn't understand it as much as he did or some other Pokémon did.
"Yeah. What you identify as. You're a Sandshrew, but you also identify as a ground-type. You're identity is what make you, you. I call myself Pulse as a part of my identity. Would you like to have a name other than runt?" Pulse asked the Sandshrew.
The Sandshrew nodded swiftly, his eyes sparkling before they dulled.
"You won't call me anything bad will you?" The Sandshrew wondered with his paws to his face.
Pulse shook his head.
"I mean, Im bad at names, but I think I have the perfect name for you." Pulse woofed with a smirk.
The Sandshrew took his head out of his paws.
"You do?" He asked, his tail wagging as much as it could. It wasn't like any of the long tails. It was one of those tails that made one wonder why Arceus gave that Pokemon a tail.
Pulse nodded, his tail lashing a bit with thought.
This little guy has nowhere else to go. I'm doing him a big favor. He owns me. I'm going to make him my apprentice, and in order for him to become my apprentice he needs to identify as one.
"Yes I do. It may sound silly, but I think Tudi would suit you, young Sandshrew."
"2d? Isn't that some kind of version of the letter d?"
Pulse shook his head.
"No. Tudi. It's a very...uhm...unique name. It's all yours if you want to identify as that name."
The Sandshrew seemed to ponder over the thought.
Because he was only one he wouldn't know it was a really strange name to have.
Usually ground types are called stuff like Quake or Earth or some unoriginal jazz like that.
Not this Sandshrew.
Pulse wouldn't let him fall under that category.
He wanted him to have a name that Pokémon would remember.
His name might not have been as intimidating as Pulse, but some fear could be brought out by this name. It would definitely make one of those too ten names not to name your child.
At least it's better than calling him Runt.
After a bit, the tiny Sandshrew nodded.
"Yeah. I like that name."
He sniffled and wiped his nose.
He seemed better, smiling, but then he frowned again.
"Where will I go now? I've got...No one."
Same, kid. Same. I had someone, but she's trying to hatch some eggs right now. I wonder how it's going.
But, I know what to do. He's still a child. I could let him die, sure, but maybe this is the break I was looking for. I've always wanted to become stronger. Paarthurnax is fully evolved and I might need a boost to help me take him down.
"You can come with me, Tudi. After all, I'm willing to take you in when no one else will." Pulse told him.
He got excited, but his excitement was cut short as was Pulse's victory when a familiar Clefable came into view.
Shit it's one of those pesky PK Police members! How do I get rid of her?
He then smiled.
He knew just how.
He could easily kill her, but he wanted Tudi to do it prove his stuff, so he lied to Tudi.
Tudi fell for it, and long story short, Clefable died.
He was strong for a runt Sandshrew.
His mother was wrong about him. He's got far more strength than she ever will.
