Memory of a Leaf

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SPOILER: Click to show

Pokemon
Skiddo] Caught at Level 5 Nickname: Samis (Sam) Gender: Female Type: Grass Ability: Sap Sipper Height: 3’ 00” Weight: 68.3 lbs Health: Intermediate EXP Rate: Medium Fast EXP Gauge: (83/85) EXP Gained: 76 Level: 18 Division: D8 Total Stats: 198 Attack: 49 (25%) Defense: 27 Sp. Attack: 49 (25%) Sp. Defense: 27 Speed: 46 (+4 10% Pokerus) Vitamins Used: None	Moveset: 1. Tackle 1. Growth 7. Vine Whip 9. Tail Whip 12. Leech Seed 13. Razor Leaf 16. Worry Seed Unique Moves: - Secret Power (Dark) - - - Item: Miracle Seed
Heracross Caught at Level 8 Nickname: Rein Gender: Male Type: Bug/Fighting Ability: Guts Height: 4’ 11” Weight: 119 lbs Health: Above Average EXP Rate: Slow EXP Gauge: (97/109) EXP Gained: 74 Level: 19 Division: D5 Total Stats: 266 Attack: 79 (30%) Defense: 43 Sp. Attack: 35 Sp. Defense: 43 Speed: 66 Vitamins Used: None	Moveset: 1. Bullet Seed 1. Arm Thrust 1. Endure 1. Horn Attack 1. Leer 1. Night Slash 1. Tackle 7. Feint 10. Aerial Ace 16. Chip Away 19. Counter Unique Moves: - Secret Power (Fire) - - - Item:
Pidove Caught at Level 9 Nickname: Flint Gender: Male Type: Normal/Flying Ability: Super Luck Height: 1’ 00” Weight: 4.6 lbs Health: Low EXP Rate: Medium Slow EXP Gauge: (89/92) EXP Gained: 74 Level: 21 Division: D9 Total Stats: 252 Attack: 54 (25%) Defense: 54 Sp. Attack: 28 Sp. Defense: 21 Speed: 54 Vitamins Used: None	Moveset: 1. Gust 4. Growl 8. Leer 11. Quick Attack 15. Air Cutter 18. Roost Unique Moves: - Secret Power (Grass) - - - Item:
Gible Caught at Level 14 Nickname: Gryn Gender: Female Type: Dragon/Ground Ability: Sand Veil Height: 2’ 04” Weight: 45.2 lbs Health: Low EXP Rate: Slow EXP Gauge: (78/82) EXP Gained: 35 Level: 17 Division: D8 Total Stats: 187 Attack: 56 (30%) Defense: 35 Sp. Attack: 33 Sp. Defense: 25 Speed: 38 Vitamins Used: None	Moveset: 1. Tackle 3. Sand Attack 7. Dragon Rage 13. Sandstorm 15. Take Down Unique Moves: - - - - Item:
Castform Caught at Level 15 Nickname: Dusk Gender: Male Type: Normal Ability: Forecast Height: 1’ 00” Weight: 1.8 lbs Health: Intermediate EXP Rate: Medium Fast EXP Gauge: (62/64) EXP Gained: 15 Level: 16 Division: D8 Total Stats: 165 Attack: 35 Defense: 35 Sp. Attack: 35 Sp. Defense: 35 Speed: 34 Vitamins Used: None	Moveset: 1. Tackle 10. Ember 10. Powder Snow 10. Water Gun 15. Headbutt Unique Moves: - - - - Item:
Skiploom Caught at Level 16 Nickname: Speedy Gender: Male Type: Grass/Flying Ability: Leaf Guard Height: 2’ 00” Weight: 2.2 lbs Health: Low EXP Rate: Medium Slow EXP Gauge: (57/62) EXP Gained: 16 Level: 18 Division: D7 Total Stats: 216 Attack: 20 Defense: 39 Sp. Attack: 39 Sp. Defense: 54 (25%) Speed: 64 (30%) Vitamins Used: None	Moveset: 1. Absorb 1.Splash 4. Synthesis 6. Tail Whip 8. Tackle 10. Fairy Wind 12. Poison Powder 14. Stun Spore 16. Sleep Powder Unique Moves: - - - - Item:

The sun was reaching the far side in the sky when Chris found himself back at his original campsite near Skytouch Forest. It was a long walk from Acrelea Valley where he had broken down camp as soon as the sun crested over the mountain wall. Next to him walked Rein his Heracross carrying a large backpack that held his new camping equipment. He still did not know who sent him so much and made another mental note to thank them if he ever found out.

On his other side walked Samis his Skiddo. The small grass type Pokemon kept pace easily despite her size, and she let out a pleased sound when she recognized the place. A small clearing within walking distance to both the forest and Kotoba City it was a nice place that Chris called his own. It was not fancy or anything, but it was big enough to feel comfortable close to the forest. Just a circle of stones for a fire and a flat stretch for a sleeping bag. We’re going to need to clear out a bit more for the tent.

Chris set down his backpack and pulled the other off Rein and set them next to the stones. He then stood up and stretched his tightened muscles. The walk was long, and they only stopped long enough for a quick lunch. Now it was starting to get towards dinner time with the sun slowly moving towards the horizon. He looked in the direction of Kotoba City longingly and shook his head. He was not going to go back until he at least found a place for his own farm.

Letting out a sigh Chris began pulling out Pokeballs and releasing his Pokemon. Gryn his Gible appeared first, and she waved her hands energetically in the air. She spotted Samis nearby and immediately ran over to tackle and wrestle the small Skiddo. Flint the Pidove appeared right after, and the small Pokemon started moving around and looking around for food scraps. Last came Dusk his new Castform, and Speedy his new Skiploom. Dusk floated around lazily looking at the camp, and Speedy looked at Chris with a scowl. The flying/grass Pokemon had already tried attacking the young trainer several time in an attempt for revenge, but Chris was always quick to call the rebellious back into the Pokeball at the first sign of trouble. Now Speedy decided to be sullen instead.

After making sure he wasn’t going to be sneak attacked by the Skiploom; Chris went about setting up camp. He first unpacked the tent and pulled out the instructions. Back in the valley he and his Pokemon lived in a cave that Gryn had dug out of the mountainside. Here out in the open they would need the tent; especially if it rained. He assigned Gryn and Rein to gathering wood for the fire, which he did by picking up a stick and setting it next to the fire. He had Rein repeat the movement, and even Samis helped by demonstrating the same thing. The little Pokemon had helped Chris before many times when going to the campsite. Both Rein and Gryn wandered off to collect fallen sticks and branches.

As Chris worked on the tent, he realized that Flint was moving around awkwardly. He was lethargic and each step looked like he was in pain. Leaving the half-finished tent Chris walked over to the Pidove. ”Are you alright Flint?” The small Pokemon let out a cry that Chris guessed was supposed to be positive, and Flint tried to move faster as if showing off. But the movement still looked painful to Chris. ”Hold on.” He walked over and gently picked up the Pidove.

As soon as Chris picked him up Flint let out a cry of pain. Startled the young trainer almost dropped him. Moving with practiced motions Chris took Flint and laid him on the grass near the campfire. He reached into his backpack with one hand to grab his bedroll while his other kept a gentle grip on the struggling Pidove. Flint did not want to stay still. Chris called out and Samis hurried over from where she was resting; wrapping her vines around Flint to keep him from wandering off. This gave Chris both hands to fish out his bedroll and spread it on the ground. He then took Flint from Samis and laid the struggling Pidove down.

It was several moments of keeping Flint on the bedroll before the small Pokemon realized that he wasn’t going to escape. He sat sullenly on the fabric as Chris began his examination. Gentle pressing revealed some cracked bones in the wings and maybe a few cracked ribs. Flint cried out in protest at the prodding. ”I know, I know. Bear with it ok?” The cries died down but didn’t stop. Finally, Chris pulled his hands away and sat back on his feet. ”Well looks like your external injuries healed when you use Roost, but your internal injuries only get a light mending. You’re going to be sore for a long time. Best you get some rest.”

Flint tried to leave the bedroll, but Samis kept using her vines at a command from Chris to keep him immobile. Chris fished some of the herbs he had found while traveling and mixed them into a green bitter paste. He forced Flint’s mouth open and dabbed a little on the Pidove’s tongue. Of course, Flint cried out in protest and struggled even harder against the vines; however, his struggles became weaker and weaker as the Pokemon became drowsier. He passed out on the bedroll in a pleasant dream a moment later. Chris motioned for Samis to withdraw her vines, and the two let Flint sleep.

Chris looked up to see that Speedy and Dusk were looking at him from across the campsite. Dusk was watching curious, but lazily as if partially asleep. Speedy was more worried after watching the exchange. To him it must have looked like the pair had ganged up on Flint to poison him. Glancing down at the Pidove Chris figured that in a way the grass/flying Pokemon was right, but it wasn’t as vicious as it seemed. He looked back at the Skiploom and the Pokemon flinched. That one is going to be hard to befriend.

Dusk didn’t seem to care one way or the other. The Castform just drifted next to his friend as if having not a care in the world. It’s considered the ‘weather Pokemon’ so it must know all the weather moves right? Dusk used Powder Snow and Ember in the fight against Flint and Samis when he was caught, and Chris guessed he knew Water Gun as well after looking at the Pokedex. He never used any of the weather moves in the fight though, so he might not know them yet. Still Water Gun would be useful so they wouldn’t need to search for a water source. With a sigh Chris fished in his backpack and pulled out the berry pots he bought while in Acrelea Valley.

[Word Count= 1183]

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Encounter Request

Looking around Chris finally settled on the spot where he grew his first berry tree. The surrounding area was still clear, and the previous bush had long since decayed after its rapid growth. Chris was still amazed at how quickly berry bushes grew compared to other plant life, even though he knew the reason through school growing up. Why don’t other plants have the same amount of aura? He realized quickly that it was a good thing they didn’t, or else the entire world would be in a constant state of growth and decay on a daily basis. Shaking his head, he placed the four pots down and began fishing around in his backpack.

In the dry rocky ground of Acrelea Valley he managed to get a better crop of berries than his first attempt. Now with the controlled environment of the berry pots he was sure he could do a better job. Pulling out four different berries he planted them into the dark soil. He had picked Persim, Aguav, Oran, and Sitrus berries again as they were the still the easiest to grow. He wanted to see how well he could grow them in the best environment before moving onto the more difficult ones he had. Taking out his watering can he soaked the soil before closing the dome that would protect the plants.

Setting the pots on the ground Chris turned back to the camp to see Gryn and Rein returning with a small armload of branches each. They dumped the sticks next to the ring of stones and Rein sat down tired. The bug/fighting Pokemon had walked with Chris the entire way from the valley through the woods and to the campsite carrying the backpack. He must be exhausted. Chris felt a little tired himself after the hike, so he could empathize with the Heracross. Still the pile of sticks would only get them about halfway through the night.

Turning to Samis Chris motioned to the sticks. ”I don’t suppose you would be willing to get more?” The Skiddo looked at him questioningly, and Chris blushed a bit in realization. He was talking to a Pokemon as if it was a human. Yes they understood more than most animals, but they were still Pokemon. Sighing Chris picked up a small twig off the ground and added it to the pile. He looked at Samis who seemed to understand now. She left the camp followed by Gryn who went off with her. Rein moved as if to go as well, but a firm push on the Heracross’s horn stopped him. ”Not you. You need to rest.” Rein looked at him quizzically, but stayed seated.

Letting out a sigh Chris turned to check on Flint. As he did he noticed that Speedy and Dusk had moved out of the camp and were looking at the berry pots that were sitting unguarded. He watched as Speedy tapped at the hard plastic a moment, and then Tackled it to get at the Oran Berry inside. The pot toppled over but the hard plastic didn’t even crack under the impact. Inside the soil and the berry rolled around until it was a complete mess.

”Hey, leave that alone.” Speedy just ignored Chris as he examined the pot to figure out how to get inside. Dusk just floated nearby lazily but drifted a bit to the side at Chris’s words. Chris ran over and forcefully pushed the Skiploom out of the way so he could get to the pot. Speedy didn’t like that, and a cloud of blue spores erupted from the flower on top of his head. The last thing Chris saw before he blacked out was a smug expression on Speedy’s lips before something blue Tackled the grass/flying Pokemon out of his view.

[Word Count= 632]

Berries
Oran- Soaked, pot toppled
Persim- Soaked
Augauv- Soaked
Sitrus- Soaked

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It was about half an hour later when Chris woke up. At least that’s what he guessed because he was laying on his back staring up at the sky. His head pounded like a sledgehammer, and he let out a soft groan of pain as he struggled to realize what happened. Squeezing his eyes shut he struggled into a sitting position. Even that was a struggle, but he felt the effects begin to wane as he forced himself to move. Opening his eyes, he looked around to try figure out what happened. Last thing was….

Chris’s eyes fell to the toppled berry pot laying nearby. It didn’t look like it had been disturbed further when he had passed out, but his mind was still a bit foggy. A noise to his left caught his attention and looking in that direction he almost burst out laughing. Speedy was wrapped in a Vine Whip from Samis and held down tight. Gryn was also holding down the grass/flying Pokemon; her big mouth wrapped around the vines and the Pokemon in such a way to prevent movement. Lastly Rein was sitting on whatever was left of Speedy, which made the Skiploom completely immobile. Dusk floated nearby but didn’t make any move to help or hinder his friend.

From the slight scuffle in the grass and dirt around the Pokemon pile Chris guessed what happened. Speedy had used Sleep Powder on him, and while the Skiploom was busy gloating he didn’t notice Rein was following Chris. That was the blue Chris noticed before passing out. The ruckus must have caught the attention of Samis and Gryn; and the trio combined efforts to take Speedy down. Indeed, it looked like the grass/flying Pokemon was unable to move except the barest of twitches. At least he’s still alive.

Shaking himself Chris forced himself to his feet and slowly headed for the pile. Each step was stronger than the last as he mentally shook off the effects. Rein, Samis, and Gryn looked up at him expectantly; though none of them moved from the still twitching Speedy. ”Rein. Gryn. Off.” At Chris’s prodding the two Pokemon reluctantly let go of the Skiploom. Samis moved her vines as if to do likewise, but Chris forestalled her at a touch. He was not strong enough to hold down Speedy for what he was about to do.

Chris knelt on the ground until he was on his knees. He pulled the light Pokemon onto his lap making sure Samis followed. At Chris’s touch Speedy struggled to get away, but the combined strength of Chris and Samis kept him from escaping. Once settled onto his lap Chris raised a hand and spanked the unruly Skiploom. A cry of surprise escaped the grass/flying Pokemon, and he struggled even harder to escape. A second spank caused him to yelp in pain, as it was strong enough to sting.

Holding his hand back from a third strike Chris waited to see if Speedy would stop struggling. When he didn’t Chris spanked him a third time. ”Stop.” The Skiploom struggled again to escape. So Chris struck a fourth time. ”Stop!” Either Speedy didn’t understand or he just didn’t care as he tried even harder to get away. However when Chris raised his hand to spank a fifth time the grass/flying Pokemon stopped. He looked at Chris both pleadingly and fearfully. With a nod to Samis the two released Speedy.

With a cry of fear and relief the Skiploom bolted off Chris’s lap and into the air. He hung there looking down at Chris with worried fear. Chris just stood up from where he knelt and looked at the flying Pokemon. ”I’ll do it again if you don’t obey or attack without reason.” Speedy backed away from him as Chris walked over to inspect the pot.

It was still sitting on its side with the dirt thrown haphazardly in the dome. The berry had started to sprout having had a little soil and moisture to start the process. With a steady hand Chris opened the top of the berry pot and scooped up the small sprout and some dirt; laying both to the side as he righted the pot. He scooped the rest of the fertile soil into the pot with his hands and then carefully planted the sprout back into the center. Satisfied he gave it a little more water and closed the lid.

[Word Count= 737]

Berries
Oran- Replanted, A Little More

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Chris checked on the other three pots before nodding and heading back to camp. Speedy floated nearby Dusk; murmuring to the Castform something Chris couldn’t understand. If they were humans Chris would guess he was complaining about a bruised backside. I didn’t hit him that hard. He shook his head and gave a slight smile. Well he learned to listen faster than Flint. The Pidove was so oblivious that he continued to struggle after several swats.

Thinking of the normal/flying Pokemon Chris moved over to check the blanket where he left Flint. He was still dozing due to the mixture that Chris forced down his throat, so Chris let him sleep. Instead he opened his backpack and rummaged around for a bit before pulling out the canister that held the Pokemon food. He noticed that Samis and Gryn had followed him and were waiting anxiously after seeing the canister. Looking back he saw that Rein had stayed with the berry pots; apparently guarding them against Speedy and Dusk still floating nearby. ”Dinner time.” Rein perked up and looked over at the camp, and then gave a brief scowl to the two new Pokemon before heading over to Chris.

Chris portioned out the food to the three Pokemon and even left a small amount near Flint if he woke up. He moved as if to lay out a smaller amount next to Rein, but stopped himself midway. Looking at the empty spot where Joy used to be caused a single tear to form in his eye. Shaking his head he moved in a fluid motion to make two more piles for Speedy and Dusk on the other side of Samis.

Both Speedy and Dusk hovered over near the berries for a few moments more before seeing that the others were starting to eat. Dusk moved first to fly over to one of the two piles laid out. Speedy hesitated only a moment before flying as fast as he could to the one Dusk was heading for. He landed quickly and began to scarf down the food as if he was starving, though Chris knew he ate that morning. Dusk was as nonchalant as ever; giving what Chris could only describe as a Castform version of a shrug before floating over to the second pile.

Before Dusk could settle however Speedy moved as if to scarf that pile as well. ”Samis, flick!” A vine appeared from the Skiddo and gave a sharp ‘thwack’ on Speedy just as he was about to take the first bite. The Skiploom let out a yelp and jumped out of the way, which let Dusk float down and begin to placidly eat the food. Speedy looked at Samis indignantly, but the grass type simply ignored Speedy and kept eating her food slowly. Gryn appeared to smirk on the other side of Samis, though the grin on the Gible always looked like she was smiling. It didn’t keep the smirk from Chris’s face though.

Speedy floated nearby sullenly for a moment before noticing the untouched pile of food near Flint. He floated around slowly to avoid Samis’s reach if the Skiddo decided to ‘flick’ him again. Once he was sure it was safe he sped forward to make a ‘grab and dash’. However before he could get within range a blur of black and white obstructed the grass/flying Pokemon’s view. He stopped in confusion as Flint, still bandaged up, had used Quick Attack to reach the food first.

Despite the obvious pain he was in the Pidove scarfed down the food as if he were starving. Speedy floated there annoyed as Flint finished off whatever crumbs were left. Then, as if nothing had happened, Flint crawled over to where he was sleeping and fell back asleep. Chris let out a low impressed whistle. Even while drugged the Pidove would rather face death than to let anyone else eat his food. Speedy eyed Flint with a mix of annoyance and grudging respect. He then drifted off as if nothing had happened.

[Word Count= 672]

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Once all the Pokemon were fed Chris put the canister back in his backpack and sat down leaning back on his hands. His eyes looked to the near cloudless sky, and his mind wandered to the past week. It had only been a little over a week since he had started out on his journey. And during that time he had traveled farther than he had ever traveled before. But I was always within a few days walking distance to home. it made him both proud and disappointed at the same time. I need to leave this part of Godai. Maybe then he’d find a good place for his farm.

Chris’s mind wandered to the Pokemon he met; both captured and defeated on his journey. Rein, a Heracross who was determined to grow stronger to protect his group. Flint, a Pidove with a ravenous appetite. The unnamed Pikachu that was killed by aquatic spiders. That one still made him cringe. Gryn the playful Gible. The three Tropius that Gryn tried to befriend. Dusk the laid back Castform. Speedy the sulky Skiploom. And Joy. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he looked up at the sky with watery eyes. Why does life have to be so….wild? He closed his eyes and wept silently for the Budew he couldn’t protect.

He cried quiet tears for what felt like an eternity, though it must have only been a few moments before he felt a weight settle on his stomach. His weeping ceased, and a second pressure on his right hand made him open his eyes. Looking around he noticed that Gryn had climbed up and settled on his chest in comfort. Samis sat at his feet with her vines out and gently wrapped around his legs. On his right Rein sat with his foot accidentally on Chris’s hand. Flint was still sleeping in his spot on the blanket, and Speedy looked like he was trying to convince Dusk to give up the last of his food.

Chris let a sigh escape his lips as the painful memory slowly disappeared. He wiped the remains of the tears off his face and sat up spilling Gryn over to the side. His Pokemon looked at him questioningly and he waved them away with a smile. ”I’m alright.” Gryn rolled over until she was standing, and Rein moved so Chris could reclaim his hand. Samis still looked at him worriedly but got up when he moved his foot.

Stretching his arms Chris stood up walked over to where the berries were growing. Despite being knocked over the pot that held the Oran berry it looked like the sprout was slowly growing stronger. The other three pots were growing at a steadier rate as well. Nodding he gave all four pots enough water to keep the soil moist without overwatering them. Once finished he looked at the watering can with a frown. I have just enough for one more plant.

Letting out a sigh Chris turned to look at Speedy and Dusk floating nearby. The Skiploom kept hovering around the edge of camp as if he wanted to bolt, and the past couple of days showed how true it was. The first couple of days after getting caught Chris had to be quick with Speedy’s Pokeball. Both to keep the Pokemon from attacking him, and also to keep him from running. Once Rein had to run the flying/grass Pokemon down before Chris could catch up and call him back. Now the Skiploom kept close to the camp unless Chris ventured out, though he did it grudgingly.

Dusk mostly just floated nearby his friend. The Castform didn’t really seem bothered by anything except to drift wherever the wind took him. True it was more towards his Skiploom friend, but beyond following Dusk didn’t seem to care.

Grimacing Chris chewed on the thought of how to train the weather Pokemon. That was the main purpose for catching Dusk. Reading up on the Pokemon revealed that he could use all types of the weather moves, as well as a host of different element type attacks as well. That would make him not only a good gardening Pokemon, but it would also make him a great defender if any wild Pokemon attacks. But how to train him.

Sitting back Chris thought about his other Pokemon. Flint was motivated by food, so treats were the best method for him. Rein wanted to get stronger, so the training itself was motivation. Samis just wants to make Chris happy, and if Chris enjoyed training then so did she. And Gryn followed whatever Samis did. I think Dusk would do the same thing if I can motivate Speedy. However right now the Skiploom might be too sullen to train.

[Word Count= 795]

Berries
Oran- Moist
Persim- Moist
Augauv- Moist
Sitrus- Moist

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Chris looked around at the surrounding area for a place to practice. Back in the valley he had a lot of large stones that his Pokemon could practice on without worry of causing too much destruction. Here however there were nothing close to the camp itself, but there were a lot of larger trees deeper in the forest. Frowning he looked around the campsite for something he could use.

As he searched Chris noticed his Pokemon going about their business in camp. Speedy and Dusk kept moving about the edges of the camp; the first fitfully and the second lazily. Samis had settled near the blanket where Flint rested, and Rein took up a guard position nearby the berry pots. Chris didn’t know if the Heracross did it because he didn’t trust Speedy, or if he just took it upon himself to protect the bushes. Shaking his head Chris kept looking for something to use.

Giving up the impossibility of finding something near the camp Chris reached the spot he had cleared for a campfire and pried loose three of the stones. They were about the size of baseballs and had some weight to them so he was only a little afraid that they would break. As long as they don’t shatter I can still use the pieces. Hefting them he considered Speedy.

The Skiploom noticed Chris studying him while gently tossing a rock up and down. His eyes got wide and he bolted to the other side of the camp to get away from the human. Chris looked a the flying/grass Pokemon in surprise, and then realized what he might have looked like. To Speedy he was a rival Pokemon that used others to beat the Skiploom up. And right now, Chris was eyeing Speedy while tossing a large rock to himself.

Shaking his head Chris dropped the rock with the others he selected. It wouldn’t do to have Speedy afraid of him at the start of training. Reaching into his backpack he pulled out the canister of Pokemon food. Immediately the Skiploom perked up in interest and slowly began to edge around the camp perimeter towards Chris.

Ignoring the flying/grass Pokemon Chris turned to Samis who was still lounging next to the blanket. Back in the valley he taught his Pokemon to strike a single spot, and also taught them to attack at the same time. It’s the method he used to shatter a boulder in his way, and also the reason Flint was still injured. this time I’m going to be more careful. He didn’t have a large object to beat against, but maybe he could do something different.

”Samis. Vine Whip.” Chris picked up and tossed a rock towards the Skiddo in one motion. Samis eyed the rock arching towards her, and a vine shot from her side to strike the rock in midair. Chris lunged to catch the rock before it fell to the earth, and only managed to brush it with his fingers before it hit the ground with a thud. He stumbled at his clumsiness, but managed to catch himself before he fell on the ground as well. Smiling he looked at Samis. ”Let’s try again. This time hit it back to me.”

It took several tries before Samis understood what Chris meant; and after the 10th try Chris managed to catch it without moving his feet. As a reward he gave Samis a treat, and then called Rein over. The Heracross was reluctant to move from his spot, but came over after some more urging from Chris. Tossing the rock towards Rein Chris gave the order. ”Use Night Slash.” Again it took a few tries before the fighting/bug Pokemon was able to knock it back to Chris, but Rein was a bit more precise. This time he managed to get it on the 7th attempt.

Gryn came over to watch what the fuss was about, and after giving Rein his reward Chris trained with her. Unfortunately the Gible was a bit too eager for the exercise, and it took her almost 30 tries to get it right. Chris stopped counting after the 11th when the rock sailed 20 ft behind him. Still she managed to get one right, and he gave her the reward. Afterwards he turned to Speedy and Dusk.

The two Pokemon floated nearby staying a few feet away. Speedy looked on curiously, and hungrily eyeing the canister. Chris was surprised the Skiploom didn’t make a try for the food, but then he realized that Samis was watching Speedy casually. Speedy didn’t want to get ‘flicked’ again. Dusk stayed near his friend. The Castform didn’t appear too enthusiastic about the training, and only stayed near his friend because it was something to do. After this exercise Chris planned on teaching Dusk how to garden.

Chris tossed the rock at Speedy. ”Speedy, Tackle.” The Skiploom shied away from the rock instinctively, and then swooped to try and hit it after realizing his mistake. The stone hit the ground with a muted thud. Speedy floated above it vexed that he didn’t even try. Chris just shook his head and walked over to pick up the stone. ”Don’t worry, you just need practice.” After retrieving the rock he returned to where he was standing. ”Let’s try again.”

It took about 10 tries before the Speedy managed to hit the stone back. He beamed in triumph, and Chris clapped to show appreciation. He gave the Skiploom his reward, and Speedy edged the rock to try again. ”Not yet. Dusk needs to practice as well.”

The Castform just hovered nearby unconcerned. Tossing the rock towards the floating Pokemon Chris watched as Dusk didn’t even watch the rock as it flew past him. He frowned and tried a second time. Again the weather Pokemon paid it no attention. A third attempt caught Dusk’s attention, but he only watched the rock fly and fall to the ground. Chris let out a frustrated sigh as he considered the Castform.

Speedy was watching the attempts and the obvious frustrations of Chris. He floated over to his friend and seemed to nudge Dusk. The Castform looked at Speedy, and the Skiploom pointed at Chris, and then at the rock. Dusk looked at both, and then back to Speedy confused. Speedy motioned to Chris to toss the rock again. Curious Chris did so, and Speedy used Tackle to knock the rock back to Chris. Dusk gave a nod of understanding, and Speedy motioned again.

This time when Chris tossed the rock to the Castform it was immediately hit with a Tackle. It didn’t reach Chris, but Speedy praised Dusk on his attempt nonetheless. It was subtle, but Chris detected a slight reddening of the normally grey Pokemon’s cheeks. But it vanished quickly, and Dusk began to drift in another direction. I’m going to have to find a different way to train him.

[Word Count= 1151]

[seenter]

Letting out a sigh Chris picked up the rock and looked to his other Pokemon. They still needed work on hitting the rock back, but he had another idea. He positioned Rein and Samis about 10ft apart facing each other. ”Ok, this is going to be a simple game. I’m going to toss the rock to Samis, and then you’re going to hit it back to Rein with Tackle. Then Rein will hit it back to Samis with his own Tackle.” Both Pokemon looked at him as if he had lost his mind. Right, too complicated.

Chris crossed his arms as he considered how to go about getting his Pokemon to ‘toss’ the rock back and forth. A noise coming from the forest broke him out of his thoughts, and he looked at the trees in confusion. A flash of yellow between the roots caught his eye, and he froze in place. Was that a….Pikachu? He noticed a flash of light purple in the trees above following in the same direction as the yellow. Before he realized it he was already running towards the woods in pursuit.

Once he reached the edge of the woods Chris stopped to look around and try to get any hint of where the Pokemon ran off. A movement to his left caused him to jump, but it was just Rein who followed him. Looking back he noticed that Gryn was halfway to camp, and surprisingly Dusk followed at a more leisurely pace. He could see Samis and Speedy still at the camp with Flint; the former keeping the later from leaving or messing with the berry bushes. Good girl.

Looking in the direction he saw the flashes heading Chris took a step in that direction. However before he could do more a loud chattering came from the trees above, and he saw an Aipom jumping from tree to tree heading the opposite way. Below a crashing in the bushes announced another creature coming close behind the fleeing Pokemon. Indeed a Pikachu appeared chasing after the Aipom in the trees; angry sparks coming from its cheeks. Chris could only watch in surprise at the odd sight.

As they watched the Pikachu was covered in a white aura as it raced up a tree after the fleeing normal Pokemon. The aura focused into its’ feet, and a burst of speed nearly doubled its already quick feet. That was Quick Attack. Indeed the Aipom was unable to react in time, and the Pikachu struck at the Pokemon’s hand-like tail. It opened to drop what looked like a berry to the forest floor. The Aipom let out a cry that sounded to be irritation, and the Pikachu ignored it in favor of retrieving the berry.

The electric type ran down the tree and reached the berry as Chris watched the Aipom glow with a light blue aura. ”Look out!” The Pikachu looked at Chris surprised, and it was obvious it didn’t notice anyone else besides the Aipom. Unfortunately it was distracted enough that the Aipom leaped down and Bounced off the Pikachu’s head. Pikachu did a faceplant into the berry as the result and moshed it flat into the ground making it inedible. The Aipom used the momentum to jump back into the tree with a sound of satisfaction. It looked down at the Pikachu and just chattered away as if announcing its self-importance.

The Pikachu slowly pushed itself out of the dirt and looked at the ruined berry in utter defeat. It looked like the electric type was used to this kind of treatment. Immediately Chris felt bad for the Pokemon, and turned his attention to the celebrating Aipom. ”You think it’s nice to torture someone like that?” The Aipom just looked at Chris and started chattering at him as well. It sounded condescending to Chris, and that just fueled his anger. ”Fine. I think you need to be taken down a peg. Rein, let’s go.”

[Word Count= 660]

[seenter]

Rein took a step forward and stood next to Chris looking up at the annoying chatterbox in the trees. The Aipom looked at Rein as if unimpressed and didn’t even slow its narrative. Instead, it just included the fighting/bug Pokemon in its ‘conversation’, and Chris could feel Rein tense beside him. So the Aipom does have an inflated ego. The two Pokemon didn’t communicate in words, but Chris could tell that the intent was what caused Rein to instinctively tense. He sighed slightly as he thought about what to do. Guess I’ll start by taking the wind out of its sails. ”Rein, use Aerial Ace.”

Rein flew towards the Aipom with an aura of a light blue surrounding him. The Aipom cut off its narrative for a moment in surprise, but then started up again almost immediately. It leaped from the tree as if to Bounce on Rein like it did with the Pikachu. Just before the normal Pokemon connected however Rein blurred with the light blue aura until he was behind Aipom. Aipom looked over its shoulder in shock as the Aerial Ace connected and threw it to the ground. ”Great job Rein.”

SPOILER: Click to show

{Round 1}Rein (Heracross) 100%
Aipom 100%

Aipom used Bounce (miss)
Heracross used Aerial Ace to dodge and hit (20% damage)

Rein 100%
Aipom 80%

The normal Pokemon pushed itself up off the forest floor and spit out dirt. It quickly turned around glaring at the hovering Heracross and began chattering even louder. Rein just hovered there looking down, and Chris could almost tell that the bug/fighting Pokemon looked smug. ”Rein, use Arm Thrust!” Rein sped towards the Aipom with its arm extended. A faint aura of reddish-brown surrounded his fists.

Aipom was smarter than it appeared, because as Rein approached it dug a handful of dirt and dust from the forest floor and threw it at Rein. The Heracross was unable to avoid the Sand Attack and got a face full of dust. His attack disrupted Rein landed on the ground to rub at his eyes. Aipom then ran forward and started swiping at Rein with its claws. A small white aura surrounded the normal Pokemon’s nails as it Fury Swiped Rein twice. Rein stumbled back, but was able to clear most of the sand from his eyes.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Round 2}Rein 100%
Aipom 80%

Rein used Arm Thrust, but Aipom countered with Sand Attack (missed)
Aipom used Fury Swipe, connected x2 (10% damage each)

Rein 80%
Aipom 80%

Chris grit his teeth as he watched the battle unfold. This Aipom was strong and smart, though not as well trained as Rein. It was still putting up a strong fight against the bug/fighting Pokemon. We’re going to have to be smart to win. He watched as Aipom jumped back to give more room after the initial strike. It knows to keep distance while the opponent recovers. And it kept chattering.

Shaking his head Chris pointed at the vocal Pokemon. ”Let’s quiet this chatterbox.” He then remembered their training back in the valley. That might work. He moved his hand to the branch above the Aipom. ”Use Secret Power on that branch.” Heracross looked and gathered a small white aura that formed into a ball. It shot forward, and Chris could just barely see a tinge of red mixed in.

Now the next part. Chris pointed at a spot to the right of where the Aipom stood staring at the white ball. ”Be ready to use Arm Thrust there.” Rein tensed as he waited for Chris’s command. The Secret Power was small in size, as Rein didn’t have much experience using special attacks. However it was strong enough to do what Chris wanted. It struck the branch that Chris indicated; breaking it off the tree and causing it to fall toward Aipom. The normal Pokemon jumped to the right to avoid the branch, since it fell a bit to the left of the Pokemon.

This put Aipom right in the spot Chris indicated. ”Arm Thrust!” Rein struck at the confused Aipom; landing 3 solid hits. The third hit knocked the Aipom back, and it flew several feet before landing hard on the forest floor. It lay motionless on the ground stunned.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Round 3}Rein 80%
Aipom 80%

Rein used Secret Power on a branch to distract Aipom (hit). Aipom dodged the branch.
Rein used Arm Thrust on a confused (not the status) Aipom. Hit 3 times (25% each).

Rein 80%
Aipom 5%

Chris let out a slight curse and rushed over to the downed Pokemon. He knelt and gave a once over as the Aipom stirred. It looked at Chris kneeling over him, and then let out a screech of terror. It used Sand Attack on Chris causing him to sputter and cough, and then jumped to the side and away from the human. It let out a series of loud chattering as it Run Away. Chris just sat there stunned; looking after the fleeing Pokemon in confusion.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Round 4}Rein 80%
Aipom 5%

Aipom used Sand Attack on Chris (hit).
Aipom used Run Away.

Rein 80%
Aipom 5%

-Battle Finished-

[Word Count= 843]

[seenter]

Rein walked up and stood next to Chris, as if debating to go after the rude Aipom. As he took a step forward however Chris reached up and put a hand on the Pokemon’s arm. ”No, it’s alright. Let him run.” The Heracross didn’t pursue Aipom, and instead offered a solid arm that Chris used to stand up.

Shaking off the rest of the sand and spitting dirt out of his mouth Chris turned to look back at where he had left Dusk floating nearby. The Castform wasn’t where he saw him last. Turning around quickly trying to find the missing Pokemon Chris started feel apprehensive. ”Dusk?” He couldn’t see a spec of white in the whole forest. Everywhere he looked he saw nothing but green and brown. He looked over at Rein who looked at him confused. Wait, wasn’t there….? Looking around he couldn’t see any yellow in the forest either. Now he was starting to worry.

A call coming from above caught Chris’s attention. Looking up he noticed that Speedy was floating among the branches looking down at him. Apparently the Skiploom became bored waiting in the camp and had decided to wander over. Once he made sure Chris noticed him Speedy drifted in a direction further in the woods. Curious Chris followed with Rein right behind him.

It only took them a few moments before Chris noticed some color beyond green and brown. Dusk was hovering over an open spot in the woods, and it looked like he was looking down on something in the tiny clearing. As Chris approached, he noticed a bit of yellow among the green, and as he got closer he realized it was the Pikachu from before.

The Pokemon was laying on the ground spread out in a rather lifeless appearance. At first Chris was afraid that the Pikachu was dead but noticed belatedly that it was still breathing. Their approach wasn’t exactly stealthy, as both he and Rein moved through bushes to follow Speedy. However, it didn’t appear to even disturb the Pikachu as it stayed motionless on the ground. Curious Chris waved a hand to keep Rein back as he entered the small glade.

Walking around Chris made sure his movements were slow and non-threatening. He didn’t want to startle the electric type Pokemon into accidentally shocking him when he was trying to help. As he reached the Pikachu’s line of site Chris was struck dumbfounded at what he saw. Despair. Hopelessness. A Pokemon that had reached the point of giving up. It obviously noticed Chris, as its eyes tracked his movement as he moved slowly around to the front. It just didn’t care. ”What was done to make you so?” He got no answer. Only defeated silence.

Glancing up Chris noticed that Dusk wasn’t floating around aimlessly like usual. Normally the weather Pokemon would be off exploring or just drifting wherever his fancy took him. Instead, he was sticking close to the clearing; just drifting around and occasionally looking down at the Pikachu. It seemed the normally disinterested Pokemon had a strong interest in the Pikachu. Speedy drifted over to try and get Dusk’s attention, but the Castform just kept drifting around and occasionally looking down at the Pikachu. I think he has a crush. A slight smile tugged at Chris’s lips.

Kneeling Chris tried to get closer to make sure the Pikachu was physically alright. That finally exacted a response from the unusually lethargic Pokemon, as the Pikachu’s ears went straight up, and the body tensed. It had almost given up the will to live, but it wasn’t ready to die yet.

Its eyes watched Chris cautiously as he raised his hands to show he meant no harm. He moved with exaggerated movements as he moved forward and put his hand close to the Pikachu. When the Pokemon didn’t move he moved forward a little more and stretched out his hand. The Pikachu stiffened even more, and Chris stopped waiting. After a moment the electric Pokemon relaxed a little and Chris moved slowly.

Chris managed to put a hand on the dirty, yet soft fur; and the Pikachu flinched at the contact. But it didn’t flee, nor did it attack him. It just lay there breathing deeply and looking at Chris. Then it closed its eyes, and a tear fell down its dirty cheek. The sight was so surprising that Chris started. Dusk floated down until he rested nearby, and the soft noises he made almost sounded comforting. A branch snapped behind him, and Chris glanced back to see that Rein took a step forward as well. Speedy just drifted overhead; looking down with mild concern.

[Word Count= 778]

[seenter]

”We need to get you back to camp.” The Pikachu didn’t protest as Chris reached forward and gently lifted it up. It just kept its eyes closed and a slight limp to its body. Chris cradled the Pokemon in his arms, and was surprised to see that it flinched even more at being held. Looking closely he couldn’t see any injuries, but he did determine that it was a female. Might be why Dusk was attracted to her. He did remember they were part of the same egg group from working with his mom.

Turning back Chris led the way back towards the camp. Castform kept pace by hovering to his right, and Rein followed on his left. Speedy hung back for a moment before reluctantly following from behind.

It didn’t take long before they reached the camp. Samis was resting next to the blankets to keep an eye on Flint; who was still asleep on the blanket. Chris set down the Pikachu on the other side of the blanket, and Samis perked up at the newcomer. The electric Pokemon just deflated on the blanket like she did in the forest; uncaring and completely defeated. Dusk floated nearby; obviously keeping an eye on the electric Pokemon despite his relaxed nature. Rein sat down near the cold fire looking back at the woods, and Speedy began a slow pace around the perimeter of the camp. Gryn had returned to the camp and now sat watching the berry bushes grow. Chris noticed they were doing very well.

Chris started his quick examination of the limp Pikachu. No external injuries that he could see, and gentle prodding didn’t reveal any internal injuries that he could tell. Just the slight cuts from running through the brush and slight bruising from the brief fight with the Aipom. ”No broken bones or internal injuries.”

The Pikachu suffered through the gentle prodding in silence; her eyes opening and showing the same defeated look. It broke Chris’s heart to see that expression on any Pokemon. He reached into his backpack and pulled out the canister that held his Pokemon food. Speedy immediately perked up at this and drifted closer to get a better view.

”Here, eat this.” Chris opened the cover and poured out a small handful of food that he set before the Pikachu. She sniffed at it a moment, then let out a sigh and seemed to deflate even more. Chris sat back and thought about what he could do. What’s the best method to draw someone out? You either let them be and see if they improve. Talk to them and try to draw them out. Or you engage them and force them to react.

Thinking about it Chris decided on the third option. Looking back at his time studying with his mom he reached out and poked a particular spot on the Pikachu’s side. Nothing happened, so he moved slightly to the left and poked again. This got a response, as the electric Pokemon twitched and exhaled a short breath. Grinning Chris moved back to the original spot and poked again. This time the reaction was another short exhalation of breath accompanied by a twitching of the lips and a more pronounced twitch.

Chris poked a few more times in the same area until the Pikachu couldn’t stand it anymore. She let out a bark of sound before rolling onto her side to get away from the attack. Chris shifted his focus and started poking the other side in the same manner as before. The Pikachu let out a squeal of protest and tried to roll back; only to be attacked on the other side. Small sparks started appearing on her cheeks, and Chris made sure to avoid them as he continued to tickle the electric Pokemon.

Finally the Pikachu sprung to her feet and faced off against Chris. Sparks of electricity jumped from her cheeks in warning, but she had a slight grin to her face. ‘Try it’ it seemed to say. However Chris didn’t press the attack. Instead he pushed the Pokemon food towards her. She looked at Chris for another moment as if expecting another attack, but her growling stomach could be heard and she sniffed at the food. And then surprisingly began to eat it.

Chris sat back as he noticed Gryn, drawn by the noise of the laughing Pikachu, hurried over from where she was watching the berry bushes. She stopped when she saw the Pikachu, and she cocked her head in confusion. She didn’t see me walk into camp with the Pikachu. The Gible sat back watching the famished electric Pokemon.

Looking up Chris noticed Speedy inching slowly closer to the food. The Skiploom was coming from behind Samis, as if to grab and go before the Skiddo had another chance to flick him. However just as Speedy tensed up for the final push a bright light erupted from the other side of the blanket coming from Flint. Everyone watched in awe as the small Pidove glowing with white light grew in size until he was double in height. He changed from being plump to more streamlined in appearance.

When the light faded it was a different Pokemon that was just waking up. Flint rolled to his feet and stretched his wings. One accidentally clipped Gryn, who cried out in surprise. Flint looked at his wing, and then down at the rest of his body. He let out a cry of joy as he fully stretched his wings up. The Pidove had evolved into a Tranquill.

Chris smiled and reached over to pet Flint’s head. ”Great job Flint. You evolved.” Flint let out another joyful cry. Then his eyes fell on the half eaten food in front of the Pikachu. He licked his beak as if he was about to make a grab for it. ”Don’t even think about it.”

The Tranquill looked at Chris, then back at the food. His body tensed, and a white glow surrounded his body. ”Samis.” A vine shot from the Skiddo and flicked Flint in the head before he could use Quick Attack to grab at the food. With a second flick of the vine she did the same to Speedy who was sneaking above her. Both Pokemon jumped and quickly backed off their attempts at the food. The Pikachu looked at all of this as if everyone was crazy. After a moment to make sure she wasn’t getting flicked as well she continued eating.

[Word Count= 1083]

[seenter]

After making sure the Pikachu was going to be alright Chris stood up and walked over to the berry pots standing outside the camp. The bushes were growing well with a few buds already forming along the leafy branches. They might be ready for harvest in the morning. With a nod he checked the soil and still found it a little moist. I’ll water them again before bed.

Rein had followed Chris from the camp and stood by while Chris worked. The Heracross appeared to be a little more focused than before, and Chris knew the reason why. The Pokemon had been focused on training before the incident with Joy, but now it was more personal. Rein was not going to let another fall because he wasn’t strong enough. In this both Pokemon and trainer were in agreement.

So as they turned to walk back to the camp Chris pointed at a nearby rock in the ground. ”Rein, Tackle.” Without hesitation the Heracross glowed a faint white before charging forward and striking at the stone. It moved a bit in the ground from the impact, but otherwise stayed rooted.

”Horn Attack and throw.” This command was a bit odd, and they hadn’t used it in weeks. After a moment to consider Rein’s horn glowed a brighter white before he slammed into the stone again. This time he angled his horn to slip around the rock on impact, and with a twist of his head and body he ripped the stone out of the ground and tossed it up in the air. Chris nodded in appreciation. It was one of the things they did for training when the two first met. ”Arm Thrust.” A quick strike of the claws and the stone broke. Chris rubbed Rein on the horn in congratulations as they headed back to camp.

Upon reaching the camp Chris was met with a welcome sight. Gryn had managed to coax the Pikachu into a playful wrestling match; who was in turn having fun as well. Samis was drawn into the play as well, as the Skiddo used her vines to gently toss the playing Pokemon around. Flint was back to resting on the blanket, and looked to be doing much better after his evolution. Speedy was drifting above next to Dusk; who was watching the match with mild interest.

It was good seeing the Pikachu brought out of her shell. Chris had worried that she would be that way forever, and he could pick out some traces that her depression was still there. The way she played was a bit reserved even as she gave as much as she received. Like she was afraid that this might be taken away from her.

Chris let out a sigh and gathered the collected firewood. He retrieved the rock he used for training and put it back into the circle that was the fire pit. Next he placed small sticks followed by bigger ones in the center until it was a decent starting size. Now comes the fun part. He looked up to where Dusk was watching the fight. ”Dusk, come here.” The Castform continued to watch the ‘fight’. ”Dusk.” Still no answer. He looked to Samis. ”Samis.” The Skiddo looked at Chris, and he motioned at the distracted Dusk. Samis used one of her vines to flick the Castform lightly, which caused him to jump in response. He looked down at Samis, and then at Chris. Chris motioned for Dusk to come closer, and the Castform reluctantly agreed.

Pointing at the fire pit Chris motioned to Dusk. ”Dusk, use Ember.” The Castform looked at Chris quizzically, and then a red aura surrounded his mouth before he let out a quick burst of flame into the air. At least he knows the move. Though that wasn’t what Chris was hoping for. Reaching into the pile of sticks he pulled out one of decent length and held it up to Dusk. Motioning with the stick he gave the command again. ”Dusk, use Ember.”

This time Dusk focused on the stick and lit it on fire with a burst of flame. Chris smiled, as he put the burning stick in the fire pit and began the process of spreading the flames. After a few moments a cozy fire was burning brightly in the darkening camp, and Chris sat back with a smile. On the blanket Flint rooted with his wings folded against his body. With his evolution the now evolved Tranquill appeared to be doing better than before.

On the other side of the fire Gryn and the Pikachu were laying exhausted from their wrestling match, and Chris watched as the Pikachu appeared to be a little less reserved than before. Dusk was floating nearby the Pikachu; slowly moving closer and way as if he wanted to get close to the electric Pokemon but was too nervous to. Speedy kept drifting along the perimeter of the camp, and towards where the berry pots rested Chris could see Rein sitting and guarding the growing plants. It seemed the Heracross had taken it upon himself to watch the harvest before Chris could ask him.

[Word Count= 859]

[seenter]

As night fell Chris pulled his backpack over and reached in to grab the canister of Pokemon food. Both Flint and Speedy perked up when they noticed the canister, and the pair sidled closer to be the first to be fed. Noticing Speedy trying to get to the food as well, Flint let out a cry of annoyance and pushed the floating Pokemon away. Speedy retaliated by bumping Flint back harder causing the Tranquill to flap his wings to keep his balance. The two Pokemon glared at each other, and Chris could see the tension building to a fight.

Then a green vine hovered above both Pokemon, and with a swift ‘thwack’ Samis flicked both Pokemon on the tops of their heads. Both Flint and Speedy jumped and darted out of the way in an effort to get away from the annoyed Skiddo. Chris allowed himself a slight smirk before he began to portion out the food. When he got to the newly evolved Flint he paused before giving a double portion to the Pokemon. It’s twice as big, so it might need twice the amount of food. He would have to double check with his mother tomorrow.

Once all the Pokemon began eating, Samis keeping a close eye on both Speedy and Flint, Chris walked over and sat down next to the recovering Pikachu. He lay out a small amount for the electric Pokemon since it ate not too long ago, and watched with a smile as she ate with the rest.

When she was done Chris reached his hand over as if to pet her, but hesitated as the Pikachu tensed at the motion. After a minute the Pikachu relaxed, and even arced into Chris’s waiting hand as if to invite the pet. He obliged, petting along her fur and keeping his hand away from her cheeks and tail. The Pikachu seemed to relax at the treatment, and as if it was perfectly normal she climbed into his lap and curled up. Surprised Chris kept petting the Pikachu as she seemed to drift in a restful sleep. She must have been a trained Pokemon before being released into the wild.

Oftentimes if a Pokemon was released back into the wild it would have a hard time fending for itself. And the longer it was held in captivity the harder it was to adjust to the wild again. Unless they were bred in captivity, then they wouldn’t know how to fend for themselves. It was one of the biggest arguments to never release captive Pokemon. Not unless you found an accepting Pokemon from the same egg group already in the wild. Chris looked down at the Pikachu with a soft smile. She must have been bred in captivity and released at a young age. No wonder she’s given up.

Chris pet the electric Pokemon for a moment more, and then with some reluctance lifted her off his lap and set her on the blanket near the fire. The Pikachu stirred in response, but then settled back down feeling the warmth of the flames. Chris then stood up and packed everything he didn’t need for the night. He walked over and gave the berry bushes another good soaking before returning to the fire and unrolling his bedroll.

Rein stayed sitting nearby the berries, and Chris set his alarm to wake himself up in two hours so he could take a turn. He was going to have to train his other Pokemon to take a shift to give both him and Rein time to rest. Samis could be trusted to watch the bushes, but the others would take some extra training. Flint and Speedy would be difficult, as both are too greedy for food to be trusted with them.

Once that was done Chris climbed into bed and rolled over to put the fire to his back. He stared into the darkness for a moment; towards the black silhouette of trees against the starlight sky and the rising moon. Some shuffling behind him caused him to look over his shoulder in surprise; and all his Pokemon except Rein, Speedy, and Dusk were leaning against his back for the night. Even the Pikachu, who woke up because of the noise, sleepily crawled over and settled next to Samis. He gave a smile as eventually Dusk, and reluctantly Speedy joined the pile. They all drifted off to sleep while Rein watched the bushes.

Oran- Moist
Persim- Moist
Augauv- Moist
Sitrus- Moist

[Word Count= 740]